Chapter 10

Xiao Yi was captivated by *Dong You Zaji* (Miscellaneous Notes of the Eastern Journey). To him, it undoubtedly opened a wondrous door to a magical world of cultivation, revealing a fantastical realm of immortality.

From *Dong You Zaji*, Xiao Yi learned that the small brocade pouch was a 'Qiankun Bag' used by cultivators, made from rare materials and containing a miniature universe created by the Jiuzi Array. Cultivators could easily control it with their divine sense, capable of storing anything from a grain of rice to a massive boulder.

The mysterious feeling of a divine sense was unique to cultivators. The light orb behind the yintang point was the sea of consciousness. Cultivators with profound cultivation could extend their divine sense for a hundred miles with a mere thought.

Suppressing his inner shock, he picked up another jade slip. This was *Bai Cao Hui Bian* (Compendium of a Hundred Herbs), divided into two volumes. The upper volume contained little information, and Xiao Yi was very familiar with it, as it described the herbs and formulas of the mortal world and their effects. The lower volume, however, contained things he had never seen before, detailing various treasures and illustrated medicinal herbs, along with descriptions of their different properties and effects based on their age and appearance. At the end of *Bai Cao Hui Bian*, there were several elixir formulas and detailed cultivation techniques. These were likely compiled by Immortal Xuanyuan.

A new world had opened its door to him. Although he had not yet truly entered it, the wonders beyond the door had deeply moved and attracted Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi took a deep breath and picked up the third jade slip.

"…In the chaos of heaven and earth, humans are endowed with yin and yang. The interplay of yin and yang is the Dao, and the distinction between pre-natal and post-natal arises. Pre-natal is pure yang; post-natal is pure yin. When these manifest in humans, they are assigned life. The pre-natal primordial qi, though intangible, contains something that is not a thing, and within it is essence that is not essence…

…I have practiced for two hundred years to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, but I have stopped here. The Heavenly Dao is difficult, nothing is more so… When my lifespan ends, the Heavenly Dao abandons me…

…Heaven and earth have spiritual things, but there are no true immortals in the world…"

Xiao Yi was stunned and slowly put down the jade slip.

The true reasons for the rise and fall of Xuanyuan Temple and the mystery of Immortal Xuanyuan's ascension gradually became clear.

Immortal Xuanyuan's origins were unknown. During his travels in the Eastern Sea, he joined a cultivation sect of the Daxia Kingdom by chance and obtained a cultivation legacy in a cave.

This ancestor of Xuanyuan Temple practiced alone for over two hundred years, finally breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, a feat of immense difficulty.

Lifespan is limited, and the Great Dao is sparse!

For unknown reasons, Immortal Xuanyuan left Daxia and traveled to this place, planting the Purple Crystal Fruit Tree behind the cliff on Immortal Peak of Taiping Mountain.

The Purple Crystal Fruit, also known as the Immortal Return Pill, is said to bear only seven fruits. According to legend, cultivators who consume it can instantly enhance their cultivation and achieve immortality. Mortals who eat it can undergo a complete transformation, and martial artists can solidify their foundation and gain sixty years of cultivation. If combined with other spiritual herbs, it can be refined into an elixir, a miraculous medicine for cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage to break through their cultivation.

Perhaps to protect the Purple Crystal Fruit Tree, or perhaps to spread the Dao to the common people and benefit the countryside, Immortal Xuanyuan opened a school on Immortal Peak and established Xuanyuan Temple.

Immortal Xuanyuan must have thought that the Purple Crystal Fruit could enhance cultivation, but he did not live to see the tree bear fruit, and he passed away with infinite regret. He did not know that it would take a thousand years for the tree to flower, bear fruit, and mature.

Reading this, Xiao Yi sighed deeply. He understood that the strange changes in his body were due to consuming the Purple Crystal Fruit.

At such a young age, he felt as if he had experienced the洗礼 of thousands of years in a short time. He gained a vague understanding of the difficulties of the cultivation path, and his youthful and carefree nature became more serious.

Heaven and earth have spiritual things, but there are no true immortals… Do immortals exist, or do they not? When one's lifespan ends, the Heavenly Dao abandons them… Living for two hundred years is still a false extension of life. What does it mean when the Heavenly Dao abandons someone?

…

In the back of the jade slip, Immortal Xuanyuan annotated the items he left behind.

The Xuanyuan Talismans were compiled and organized by Immortal Xuanyuan in the Daxia Kingdom, containing talisman techniques for mortals and more advanced methods for cultivators. Inside the Xuanyuan Pendant, there were his personal cultivation techniques, left with the Xuanyuan Talismans as the legacy of Xuanyuan Temple.

The small sword and flag were obtained by Immortal Xuanyuan when he received the cultivation legacy in the cave, and they had saved him from danger several times.

The four small flags formed a set of array flags, which Immortal Xuanyuan considered very useful.

The jade slip also included a few minor spells: wind riding, invisibility, and fire control.

Immortal Xuanyuan's final message read: "…It is difficult to cultivate and establish a foundation, and even more challenging to refine the infant and face the wall. Those who glimpse the Heavenly Dao are one in a million. The difference between immortals and mortals is like a piece of paper, separated by a thousand mountains. Only those with great perseverance and great fortune can achieve it. Those who inherit my legacy, it is fate and destiny. Seek it alone, be cautious, be brave, and dare. Act, and do not act. This is to follow the Heavenly Dao and take what is not given. I leave these words for future generations."

Xiao Yi put down the jade slip. The small stones in the brocade pouch were actually spirit stones, which could replenish a cultivator's spiritual energy and serve as currency, similar to silver in the mortal world.

He sat quietly for a while, looking at everything Immortal Xuanyuan left behind, feeling a deep silence. The remains in the stone room must be those of Ancestor Xuanyuan. I wonder what Master would think if he knew all this?

"Oh no!"

Thinking of his Master, Xiao Yi felt a bit panicked. He didn't know how long he had been gone, and his Master would surely be worried. It seemed he couldn't avoid a scolding. Hopefully, if he reported everything truthfully, he could make up for his mistake.

With this thought, Xiao Yi stood up and returned to the stone room. He bowed four times to the stone bed. One must show respect to the deceased, so he bowed an extra time. The remains of Ancestor Xuanyuan would be dealt with after informing his Master. Then, he returned to the cave entrance and put the items left by Immortal Xuanyuan and the arrows back into the Qiankun Bag. He looked at the golden silk sash, which he hung around his neck. It was full of treasures!

Xiao Yi pressed his chest and looked down. Seeing the steep mountain wall, he frowned. He had to find a way out of the cave. Jumping down was out of the question; it was about twenty feet to the ground, too high. Jumping onto the large tree near the cave entrance was also impossible; he wasn't a squirrel.

He had to think of another way! Looking at the sky outside the cave, Xiao Yi realized it was past noon. He paced anxiously at the cave entrance, frustrated by his lack of lightness. If he could ride the wind, such a high cave wouldn't be a problem… Suddenly, he slapped his head. Yes! The jade slip had a spell called Wind Riding, which sounded similar to lightness techniques. Maybe he could try it.

Xiao Yi quickly took out the jade slip, immersed his divine sense, and found the Wind Riding spell.

The Wind Riding spell consisted of incantations and hand seals, allowing one to ride the wind and hover. The incantations were only a few short sentences, which he memorized after reading them a few times. He also memorized the hand seals and practiced them a few times.

Thinking he was ready, Xiao Yi muttered the incantations and quickly performed the hand seals, shouting "Go!" He was somewhat dismissive, thinking the Wind Riding spell was quite simple.

But his body didn't change at all. Xiao Yi scratched his head, hesitant to jump down without knowing if the spell worked.

That's not right! Since it's a spell, it shouldn't be easy to master or usable by just anyone. What did he do wrong? He carefully read the Wind Riding spell in the jade slip again, but he didn't see any mistakes.

Oh! Could it be this?

Xiao Yi adjusted his breathing, and a faint warm current followed his thoughts, flowing from his dantian through his arm meridians to his fingers. He then performed the hand seals, and several spiritual hand seals appeared before him, forming a sphere of energy that was absorbed back into his body.

Instantly, a feeling of lightness and grace filled Xiao Yi's body. He felt weightless, as if he had lost all his weight.

Delighted, he didn't hesitate. He pushed off with his toes and shot forward, moving swiftly toward the large tree near the cave entrance. As he approached the treetop, he tapped his toes and twisted his body, landing gently on the ground like a leaf.