Chapter 94

In the grand hall, all the cultivators suddenly felt a tremor in their spiritual platforms, an indescribable sensation rippling through their hearts. Everyone involuntarily looked at Chen Jianmei, who seemed to be there yet transcended the heavens and earth.

This feeling did not last long, flashing by in an instant.

Everyone understood that just now, it was the Ancestor Yuqing who was bestowing the Dao intent to Chen Jianmei.

This also proved that the founding ancestor still existed, guiding the way in the endless journey ahead, subtly protecting the Dao lineage of Qingxuan.

Chen Jianmei showed no joy, as if the Dao intent bestowed upon him was not his own. Only those who had experienced the cold and loneliness could understand him; any glory was merely a footnote to his past arduous cultivation.

Reaching the stage of Returning to the Elixir was a difficult path, even for those who had experienced it once, it was hard to clearly explain how they had succeeded. Even if they tried again, they might not succeed.

Therefore, there were not many in the world who could truly persist in achieving the Elixir through their own efforts. Even if they persisted, they might end up like the Three Questions Daoist, facing death when their time came.

However, achieving the Elixir through external elixirs or immortal pills, though not easy, had a clear path to follow. Thus, even Qingxuan, which emphasized the cultivation of the Dao heart, could not do without these two methods to enter the stage of Returning to the Elixir.

After seeing Chen Jianmei's success, some disciples in the grand hall who had reached the stages of Manifestation or Transformation were reinvigorated, wanting to emulate Chen Jianmei. After all, only after the sixth transformation of Returning to the Elixir did one have the chance to become an Immortal True Person. Since the founding of Qingxuan, including other sects, there had never been anyone who became an Immortal True Person before the sixth transformation.

Previously, Zhao Siming, the white-clad man who had a grudge against Lu Shouyi, felt even more strongly that "a great man should be like this," wishing to immediately return to seclusion for cultivation.

The ceremony proceeded in an orderly manner, with various expressions in the hall, but as cultivators, their emotions were hard to show on their faces, and the exterior appeared calm.

******

Three days had passed since Chen Jianmei's ceremony, and the excitement it caused had gradually subsided. Unexpectedly, after achieving the Elixir, he did not choose to open a cave abode on Tianyuan or Zifu Peaks but left Qingxuan.

Of course, Zhang Ruoxu had said that Chen Jianmei was now free to go anywhere, but Shen Lian felt that things were not that simple. Zhang Ruoxu might understand, but Shen Lian knew that if he asked, the other party would not say.

Shen Lian did not have the leisure to worry about Chen Jianmei's destination, despite his curiosity about "Returning to the Elixir."

Because Zhang Ruoxu had made the final arrangements for Shen Lian, he was now here.

Shen Lian had been to Zifu Peak before, as the Taowei Pavilion, which housed the Qingxuan Dao techniques and the images of past Immortal True Persons, was located there. The old Taoist who guarded the Taowei Pavilion was unfathomable.

Shen Lian was in one of the scattered Dao courtyards on Zifu Peak, situated on a cliff. This place was more like a Dao temple than a Dao courtyard.

Inside, there was a painting, depicting a clear pond with a few white clouds floating in it. Upon closer inspection, the water remained still, but the clouds inside changed constantly, embodying the profound Daoist principle of movement and stillness, giving one a sense of enlightenment, yet leaving one with nothing after deep thought.

Shen Lian entered with a woman, the same gentle woman he had seen at Chen Jianmei's ceremony, whose name was Gu Caiwei.

According to Zhang Ruoxu's wishes, Gu Caiwei would take on the role of a substitute master for Shen Lian.

Gu Caiwei's master had also fallen over a hundred years ago, being the disciple of the purple-clad girl Shen Lian had seen before.

The purple-clad girl was a previous Immortal True Person, with the Daoist name "Ziling." Due to a calamity, she had to reincarnate and cultivate again, so Zhang Ruoxu called her "Aunt."

In Qingxuan, unless it was a direct master-disciple relationship, other seniority was determined by cultivation level.

Those below the stage of "Returning to the Elixir" called those above "Uncle" or "Aunt," and Immortal True Persons were called "Grandmaster." This was generally how it was addressed.

Of course, one could also call them by their Daoist names or "True Person."

After all, in the immortal world, the hierarchy was not overly strict.

Given Shen Lian's current situation, the most suitable cultivation method was the Taixu Divine Strategy of the Ziling lineage, one of the fundamental techniques of Qingxuan. In ten thousand years, only two people had achieved immortality through this method, including the Immortal Lady Ziling.

Apart from Immortal Lady Ziling and the founding ancestor of this lineage, only Gu Caiwei's master had achieved the Elixir through the Taixu Divine Strategy alone.

Therefore, before each disciple joined this lineage, it was clearly explained.

Shen Lian knew the details beforehand but still chose to cultivate the Taixu Divine Strategy.

Because rather than doubt himself, he trusted the unfathomable Zhang Ruoxu. After all, Zhang Ruoxu was a master in the path of cultivation, and if he had to choose himself, he would not know which technique to cultivate.

He was straightforward, and Gu Caiwei agreed. Shen Lian could see that Gu Caiwei genuinely respected Zhang Ruoxu.

In fact, whether it was the Three Questions or Chen Jianmei, these senior disciples from the past all held Zhang Ruoxu in high regard. Shen Lian, in his interactions with Zhang Ruoxu, was deeply impressed by the patriarch's demeanor and wisdom. Without Zhang Ruoxu, he would still be worrying about the hidden dangers in his past cultivation.

Shen Lian noticed the painting in the temple and casually thought about various matters since he entered the Dao.

Then, Gu Caiwei brought out an object, a feather robe. It was covered in dust, seemingly stored for a long time.

Gu Caiwei said with a smile, "Our lineage hasn't had a male disciple for a long time. We could only find this robe used by a previous master. Try it on."

Although it was a substitute master-disciple relationship, some rituals could not be omitted.

Gu Caiwei handed over the feather robe and turned away, but Shen Lian still heard her low laughter, finding it somewhat amusing.

After all, for someone like her, whether she turned or not made no difference. If she wanted to see Shen Lian change clothes, she could do so even if she left the room.

Shen Lian was quite calm, as in his previous life, undressing in public was not considered a big deal.

Putting on the robe, Shen Lian infused it with his cultivation energy, discovering it was a magical artifact. Under the energy, he felt as light as a leaf, and the wide sleeves flapped like wings, almost making him fly.

However, he did not try to fly, as Gu Caiwei was watching him with a smile.

After shaking off the dust, Shen Lian was clean and tidy.

Gu Caiwei then said seriously, "The Taixu Divine Strategy was created by our Qingxuan's 20th Immortal True Person, Ancestor Li Qingshui, and is one of the top 36 techniques among the 108 techniques of Qingxuan. The difficulty of cultivation has been explained to you. Now, I, on behalf of my master 'Biyun' True Person, will take you as a disciple. Are you willing?"

PS: Thank you to Mei You Xiaolili for the 1888 reward, and to Wen Risheng, Hundi Mou Dian, Yiye Jiangshan, Meiyin Youming Jian, and 5566 Detective for their rewards.

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