Chapter One: The Supreme Immortal

  If there were people among the group of Xuan Qing who suddenly changed their minds and returned, they would definitely see the "immortal" in their hearts laughing with their heads thrown back and slapping their thighs. Unfortunately, those people were really frightened out of their wits, and after such a long time, they had already gone far away for several miles, even if Yu Ci laughed louder, they couldn't hear it.

  Yu Ci laughed enough and no longer put on that intimidating aura, directly finding the most comfortable posture, leaning against the fragrant case behind her, with the long sword casually placed to one side.

  Why did he decide from the start that Xuan Qing was a kindred spirit? Because big cheats and small cheats, you cheat me and I cheat you, are all of the same kind.

  "Upper immortal, upper immortal, farting upper immortal."

  Yu Ci was most clear about his own family's secrets. He thought he was some kind of immortal, but at best, he was only on par with Xuan Qing in terms of cultivation. Adding those big men who were not weak in martial arts, if they really saw through him and he got trapped in the encirclement, it would be troublesome indeed.

  Of course, he could bypass this view or tear his face off at the beginning of the entrance and escape before everyone forms a siege. But how can such behavior be like now occupying a shelter from the wind and rain alone, living freely?

  He relaxed his mood and began to estimate the true level of that Xuan Qing. From that Clear Heart Mantra, this person can use ordinary cinnabar as a guide, draw talismans and get spiritual responses, which is also a person with a certain level of Taoist cultivation. Probably, he has already reached the peak of the Ming Kung realm.

  The world cultivates, with Qi moving, long breathing, and clear orifices as the "three ordinary passes".

  Qigong is for ordinary people to temper their bodies, exhale and inhale, guide and lead, so that internal and external efforts are made, giving rise to the sensation of qi, with a saying "refining essence into qi".

  Those who practice long breathing will have a rich and full breath, forming the true inner breath. With each inhalation and exhalation, an enormous power is released, allowing the breath to penetrate the entire body, transforming the physical form. At this point, ordinary people can extend their lifespan by one cycle of sixty years, living up to 150 years.

  As for the realm of Ming Qiao, there is no further progress in the physical body, but under the nourishment of true energy, the human spirit becomes more and more vigorous, gradually opening up the spiritual orifices, and having some wondrous spiritual responses. In this realm, if one's cultivation has reached a certain level, and with the assistance of superior cinnabar, peach wood, and other spiritual elixirs, using methods such as talismans, techniques, and sorcery, those magical arts that summon wind and rain, and command thunder and lightning can also be performed.

  Yu Ji was like that, he was well-versed in over a dozen talismans and incantations. Normally, he could use his talismanic methods to calm his mind and spirit, ward off evil and drive out plagues, and with a few claps of thunder in the palm of his hand, he could barely manage it, but that was all. It seemed that Xuan Qing was about the same.

  However, this person is quite timid. The long sword that Yu Ci had placed across her knees was originally intended to be used to take the initiative in case of defeat, but unexpectedly it directly scared the other party's legs soft.

  Perhaps this Xuan Qing has tasted the bitter fruit of "above"?

  That's not impossible.

  If the enlightenment is the final stage of "Mundane Three Passes", the pinnacle of mundane cultivation, then transcending the "Mundane Three Passes" and ascending to a higher level from the enlightened realm will truly allow one to leap out of the ordinary world and enter a wonderful group composed of special humans and non-humans, as well as that strange and wondrous spiritual heaven.

  In this group of people, they are called Xiu Shi. "Yin Qi Cheng Fu" is a unique skill that only Xiu Shi possess.

  Xuan Qing's understanding and insight were insufficient, and his judgment was unclear. He only thought that he was a legendary cultivator, so he made a big fuss about it, while Yu Ci had personally seen and experienced it before...

  Watching the bonfire, Yu Ji gradually entered a state of trance. The bright red flames penetrated through his eyelids, manipulating its eerie figure, and in a daze, the fire tongue licked his body, almost roasting his internal organs, while he leaped from this boundless sea of fire, pouncing on the table, towards the spot that could change his fate.

  With a "ding" sound, Yu Ci suddenly woke up from her memories and found that she had unconsciously touched the "demon's skull" beside her, unable to help but laugh.

  The monster's skull rolled twice, and it happened to be sideways in front of the blazing bonfire. Under the firelight, its crimson eyeballs emitted an eerie glow, which was caught by Yu Ci's eyes. To be honest, he didn't like this ugly thing, but just now when he held it with a pretentious attitude, he found that the texture was quite strange, feeling not like flesh and blood, yet under the cold bony shell, there seemed to be a faint warmth emanating from within.

  Well, I'll just have to study it later then.

  With a mind to collect, Yu Ci still felt that it was strange to keep an unknown skull close, so she tore off a piece of cloth and wrapped it in two layers before putting it in her sleeve.

  When he picked it up, his fingertips touched something else. He smiled again and carefully put away the skull of the monster before taking out that thing.

  This is a circular copper mirror, about the size of a palm, with a round and flawless exterior. The surface of the mirror is clean and bright, reflecting every detail of one's hair and face. However, when looking at the back of the mirror, there is no mirror knob, only some faintly engraved lines that are irregular and seem to have been casually drawn on.

  This was indeed a mirror, but Yu Ci didn't use it as one.

  He held the mirror with its face upwards and after he had infused his vital energy into it, he gently shook it. The mirror suddenly flashed a green light which illuminated his hair and beard to be of the same colour.

  He bent his middle fingers, and in the cyan light reflected by the copper mirror, he pinched it lightly, and a faint glow detached from the main body of the cyan light, following the tip of his finger to draw in the air, creating a clear trajectory. This also brought forth sparkling lights that fluttered around him like flowing stars, gathering around him.

  This is the true face of "leading gas into a symbol".

  Yu Ci ultimately did not transcend the "three mundane passes", and his talismans also required spiritual guidance. However, Xuan Qing relied on cinnabar talisman paper, while Yu Ci used a copper mirror in his hand as a substitute.

  He drew out a green light from his sleeve, and with a few swift strokes in the air, as long as the technique was clever, it was easy to create a scene where spiritual energy could be gathered without relying on external objects.

  This kind of deceitful and manipulative tactic, Yu Ji was already familiar with, precisely because he was originally from this kind of background. In his childhood, when he was only eight or nine years old, just starting to cultivate his mind and energy, not even considered a practitioner yet, he was already known as the "Sage Child" in the Double Immortal Sect, with countless followers within a thousand miles, receiving worship from tens of thousands of people. Compared to Xuan Qing pretending to be an immortal in this desolate mountain and broken temple, wasn't he a hundred times more brilliant?

  As he thought of this, he couldn't help but laugh again, only that smile was cold and eerie, the copper mirror's green light was like frost, as if it had a feeling.

  From then on, going north, I don't know how many tens of thousands of miles away, there is a country called Chen with a thousand li. The Chen Kingdom has 100,000 households, but they do not believe in Buddhism or Taoism, only deeply believing in what is called the "Double Immortals". The Double Immortals are male immortal Purple Thunder and female immortal Red Yin, who founded a sect in the Chen Kingdom and can summon wind and thunder, ride on clouds and create fog. In the eyes of the common people of the Chen Kingdom, they are no different from gods.

  Yu Ci, on the other hand, was a close attendant of the Double Immortals Sect and was also revered as "Immortal Child", receiving the worship of thousands. However, his temperament was different from ordinary people, and he did not have the same fervor for the so-called "Double Immortals" as the common people of Chen Guo. After serving as an attendant for several years, he saw even more clearly that the Double Immortals were also flesh and blood, with seven emotions and six desires, and on some levels, their desires were even stronger than those of ordinary people.

  For example, fear of death.

  Most of the time, the twin immortals were in the research institute, known as "Changsheng Shu", their ultimate goal was to achieve immortality, and for this, they could pay any price.

  It's precisely because of this that Yu Ci and these "immortal children" aren't as dazzling as they seem to the outside world. Yu Ci is very clear that so-called "immortal children" are actually just test subjects for various longevity techniques. The twin immortals use "eternal youth and longevity" as bait, letting them practice those strange and bizarre longevity methods, without regard for the possible severe consequences.

  The lucky ones, like Ruyu Ci, were arranged to learn the method of symbols, although it was hard work, but the safety was still passable. But those who were unlucky, inexplicably suffered from internal injuries, meridian fractures, and madness, and finally disappeared inexplicably.

  Yu Cai has been by the side of Shuang Xian for more than four years, and the "Xian Tong" who was with him had changed several times. He understood that if he continued like this, his name would eventually be added to those who disappeared without a trace.

  It's okay, he has some good fortune. One night when he was thirteen years old, the Double Immortals seemed to have arrived at the Chou household, and all that could be heard was the sound of the Huanyu sword, like thunder rumbling, occasionally with a remaining wave crashing down, causing houses to collapse and trees to break, as if doomsday had arrived.

  While most people were resigned to their fate, Yu Ji was determined that this was his best chance to escape.

  He was also bold and daring, before escaping, he rushed into the already ruined Purple Thunder Immortal's bedroom, took away two treasures, one of which was the copper mirror in his hand, and the other was a copy of "The Secret Scripture of the Upper Clear Congregation of Mystical Stars", and then took advantage of the chaos to rush out and escape.

  Perhaps it was the blessing of heaven, after several months, he hid and escaped from Chen Guo, far away from the influence of Shuang Xian Jiao, and Shuang Xian never pursued him. But he no longer dared to stay in the vicinity of Chen Guo, and for many years afterwards, he traveled south, traveling thousands of miles, gaining more knowledge, and only then did he realize how vast the world was, and that there were many superior people. If his vision had been limited to just Chen Guo, it would have been like being a frog at the bottom of a well.

  He knew what kind of person a guy like Shuang Xian was.

  The Twin Immortals are also cultivators. This group of cultivators either absorbs the mist and guides the energy, or takes elixirs to refine the alchemy, or seeks the divine and worships their ancestors, or searches for the heavenly caves. Of course, there are also those like the Twin Immortals who receive incense offerings from people to increase their cultivation, with only one ultimate goal: to prolong their lifespan through cultivation, ultimately aiming to achieve eternal life and immortality.

  There is also a distinction between strong and weak among masters.

  Transcendence, Returning to Cinnabar, Walking on Emptiness, True Man, Calamity Law, Earthly Immortal.

  People use these six realms from low to high to divide the cultivator groups.

  These six realms, along with the "three mundane gates" of breath movement, long inhalation, and clear orifices, form the nine gates of cultivation. However, they are fundamentally incomparable, as each step up from the beginning of Tongshen is a transformation that turns heaven and earth upside down.

  A more detailed situation, Yu Ji was not clear, but he knew that the two immortals, Zi Lei and Chi Yin, were high-ranking masters of the Huandan realm. The two could ride their flying swords to kill people hundreds of miles away, had a lifespan of several hundred years, and remained youthful and ageless in appearance, already being quite extraordinary in the eyes of ordinary people, like gods.

  But above them, there is an even more wondrous realm. Legend has it that the strong among cultivators can ride dragons and drive clouds, overturn mountains and seas, with all sorts of inconceivable great magical powers.

  People are like this, having seen a lot, they don't think it's strange. After wandering for a while, the shadow of the Double Fairy covering Yu Ciren's heart was blown away, replaced by an eager and impulsive urge.

  They weren't one of a kind after all; if they could do it, why couldn't I?

  Yu Ji then began his cultivation, until now.

  A loud noise suddenly came from the bonfire, breaking the quiet atmosphere in the hall. Yu Ji let out a sigh and withdrew from her memories, gently stroking the edge of the copper mirror, and what rose to her mind was pure gratitude.

  Yes, he can't help but feel grateful for this treasure in his hands.

  At first he burst into Zilei Daxian's bedroom and rolled away this "Zhēnshén Tóngjiàn", which was the most valuable adventure he had made in his life.

  It is only when one has truly started practicing that one comes to know the difficulties of practice.

  He has been learning the method of storing thoughts and calming his breath since he was eight years old, and then used the way of talismans from the "Shangqing Juxuan Xing Shu Mijiao Fu Jing" to assist him. After more than ten years, he only reached the peak of Ming Kao, and there is still a difficult-to-cross threshold between him and the basic standard of a true cultivator - the realm of "Tong Shen".

  To catch up with and even surpass the two immortals is a simple idea, but to put it into practice, in addition to an unwavering faith, one must also have extraordinary courage, unmatched luck, and of course, unimaginable great consumption.

  Cultivation is just two words, but to actually do it, you need a method, you need elixirs, and you need spiritual veins. Just talking about the way of talismans, you also need excellent materials like cinnabar, talisman paper, incense, etc., all fully equipped. How can Yu Cui, a wandering vagrant, get these resources?

  Fortunately, there is still the divine bronze mirror.

  These years, Yu Ji didn't just use it to pretend to be a ghost. In fact, saying that she was pretending to be a ghost isn't quite accurate, the effect of the copper mirror was real.

  This mirror, once activated by the true energy, will reflect a green light. This light is an excellent spiritual guide, and using it to draw talismans has a more powerful effect than those made with cinnabar or talisman paper. Moreover, it can be obtained at any time, and its use does not lead to consumption, making it very practical for Yu Cai, who is not wealthy.

  Yu Cizhi was able to cultivate to this extent without anyone guiding him, thanks in large part to the copper mirror.

  However, this is not enough. The path of cultivation is not something that can be sustained with just one or two treasures. Yu Ciyi traveled alone, and it was very difficult. Every time he made a small progress, he had to pay a price that ordinary people could hardly imagine. But he did not give up. He was actively seeking a way to quickly advance, even if he gained nothing in the short term.

  I don't know if this time the White Day Palace's "Three Yang Symbol Sword" used to exchange for shrimp whisker grass can serve as a reference, allowing him to make some progress in the way of symbols.

  Slowly, thoughts dispersed and ultimately returned to nothingness. Yu Ji entered a state of quiescence that was neither sleep nor wakefulness. At this time, the primordial energy of the five organs presented itself in the colors blue, yellow, red, black, and white, arrayed in an orderly manner, gradually coalescing and revolving between the Niwan and Fengfu points.

  At the same time, the cool and refreshing air of Mudan Palace revolves like a pearl, like a bright moon hanging in the sky, sprinkling radiance everywhere, with light rays falling on the five-colored mist above the heart. Between the two, a force is born. The bright moon hangs motionless in the void, while the colored clouds are affected by the force and slowly float up to the bottom of the 12-story tower at the throat, where the force is exhausted, and then slowly sink down, repeating this process several times.

  In this process, the five internal organs and six entrails, four limbs and hundred joints, all the orifices of the body seem to be pulled by gravity, subtly responding to the Mud Pellet Palace, connected in every breath. Slowly, the whole body's breathing becomes one piece, undivided, with the original energy of the five internal organs as the core, forming a slightly more ethereal mist that permeates the entire body. Only the brain is illuminated by the bright light of the moon, with the Mud Pellet Palace at its center, the four directions and eight corners are calm and clear, unaffected by the clouds and fog below.

  Due to its serenity, it is therefore sensitive. Unknowingly after a long time, Yu Cibei was in a state of daze and confusion, suddenly his heart had a reaction, his mind slightly moved, and the scene of the bright moon and colorful clouds dispersed on its own, he also opened his eyes.

  This method of storing thoughts was passed down to me by the Red Yin Female Immortal when I was young, and is called "Nine Palaces Moon Brightness Returning to Reality Mysterious Method", also known as "Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon". The name implies that one takes the spirit as the moon and the energy as clouds. When storing thoughts, the intention causes the spirit and energy to intersect and merge, rubbing against the top of the head and penetrating the pulse, using this as a path for refinement.

  This Dharma method doesn't have anything extraordinary, it's just easy to get started with and the path is relatively smooth. After twelve years of diligent practice, I've reached the stage where my spirit and energy resonate, opened up my spiritual orifices, and can nourish my soul with true energy at all times, which counts as some achievement.

  He didn't have the mood to appreciate his own progress at home. Because at this time, outside the house, there were some people approaching, and relying solely on their aura, Yu Ci knew that these people were not from Xuan Qing's group, but he didn't know what they were thinking.

  He put the copper mirror into his sleeve, held the long sword in his hand, and slightly adjusted his state to remain unchanged amidst all changes.

  Wait for a moment, and there are already people outside the house, but no one enters the house. Instead, someone knocks on the door frame across the front door that has lost its door panel: "Friends inside, we are medicinal guests going to Tianlie Valley, is it convenient?"

  Yu Cilüe exhaled a breath, sheathed his sword, and burst out laughing: "In this desolate wilderness, what's the point of who came first or last? Come on in."

  A straightforward and generous attitude is undoubtedly the most able to alleviate others' doubts. Tonight, it's bustling again.

  Collectibles and red tickets, none of them are missing.