Chapter Six Spring Water Floats Up

  Ji Ruocheng closed the ancient book in his hand, rubbed his tired eyes and let out a soft sigh. This was already the forty-seventh volume of "Biographies of Immortals" he had read. The stories of immortals' deeds, spiritual transformations, and supernatural changes dazzled people's ears and eyes, with tales of elixirs transcending the world, female immortals descending to the mortal realm, and grand spectacles. However, after reading so many books, Ji Ruocheng came to understand that most of the stories and legends in these books were fabricated by later generations, or were simply figments of imagination without any basis in reality. Although there were many immortals listed in the book, they all seemed to be nothing more than subjects of praise, with phrases like "Spiritual immortals ride on auspicious clouds, drive dragons and tread on mysterious waves. Displaying true nature, showing good omens, washing feet and entering the heavenly river." But as for what the immortal realm was really like, not a single word was mentioned in the book.

  It's no wonder that those who write books are separated from the immortals by more than just a distance of heaven and earth; how could ordinary people like us possibly catch a glimpse of the secrets of the divine mountains?

  The library where Ji Ruochen was currently located had already become almost indistinguishable from a celestial realm. The bookshelves here were three zhang high, all made of Xuan Shui purple sandalwood, which could last for tens of thousands of years without decaying. At a glance, the rows and columns of bookshelves seemed to have no end, countless in number. A faint mist lingered between the shelves, and when one reached out to take a book, it was as if they were walking on clouds.

  Although this place is called the Scripture Pavilion, it doesn't have a roof. At this moment, Ji Rufeng sat at one corner of the top floor of the Scripture Pavilion, raised his head to look out and saw the bright moon and numerous stars clearly before him. When he looked sideways, the endless scenery of Xixuan Mountain was all within sight. On the Scripture Pavilion, there were also many rare trees and sacred grasses. At present, it was the blooming season of a certain kind of unknown red flower. Looking out at them, they seemed like a dense mist covering the ground, shining like brocade clouds. As for the birds flying over the sea of flowers and the forest of books, there were occasionally some unknown spiritual birds and birds that flew by, but no more need be said about that.

  He had been reading the Immortal's Biography for many days, but he still didn't understand what a true immortal was, let alone the origin of a fallen immortal. Yun Feng Dao Chang said that this fallen immortal was a secret within the Dao De Zong sect and could not be revealed to outsiders. Ji Ruochen did not give up and had also casually brought up the topic of fallen immortals, but Yun Feng Dao Chang refused to reveal even half a word. The eight true men also never mentioned the two words "fallen immortal" when transmitting their teachings. Ruochen was very astute in human relationships and worldly affairs, knowing that this matter was taboo, so he naturally didn't ask again.

  Ji Ruocheng stretched his limbs, turned his slightly stiff neck, and forced himself to look at the more than ten volumes of immortal biographies that he had not yet read on his left side. He knew that even if he looked again, he probably wouldn't be able to see anything else. So he went to pick up a few ancient scrolls placed on the right corner of the table. These scrolls recorded not only the ethereal and elusive biographies of immortals but also the real stories of those who had achieved enlightenment and ascended to heaven. The books contained records of not only the cultivation and ascension of orthodox and heretical practitioners throughout history but even the transformation of corpses into immortals and the canonization of spirits and demons, yet they were only a few volumes in total, completely incomparable to the vast expanse of hundreds of volumes of immortal biographies.

  Bang!

  A hand as cold as ice and snow slapped onto the ancient scroll that Ji Ruochen was about to retrieve, with fingernails trimmed to perfection just a hair's breadth away from Ji Ruochen's fingers. The tips of his fingers seemed to have sensed the sharp aura emanating from that slender hand.

  This hand is as white as snow, slender and elegant, with a small yin-yang Taiji diagram painted on the nail of the index finger. As I gaze at it, the Taiji diagram seems to be slowly rotating, and before I know it, my eyes are drawn into it.

  Ji Ruochen only felt a sudden turmoil in her mind, and she quickly calmed herself down, forcing her gaze to leave the Taiji diagram and fall on the delicate skin as smooth as cream. Following this hand, her eyes wandered up, passing through the jade bracelet, climbing onto the apricot-blossom cloud-water sleeve, then crossing over the shoulder, and stopping for a moment at the black pearl earrings, before finally coming to rest on a pair of dark, ink-like starry eyes, which smiled and asked: "Miss Yin, how have you been lately?"

  But in his heart, he was secretly lamenting that time flies like a white horse passing through a crevice, and the hard-won seven days of peace and quiet had passed unknowingly.

  Zhang Yin looked a bit thinner than before, her face was also pale as if she hadn't seen the sun for a long time. She stared at Ji Ruochen, suddenly curved up the corners of her mouth, and burst into a bright smile like a spring flower. In a drawn-out tone, she said: "Great, I'm doing great! After seven days of meditation in the Tianxin Cave, living on plain rice porridge and water, how could I not be fine after such purification?"

  Ji Ruocheng couldn't help but chuckle when he saw her unusual and coquettish demeanor, saying: "Miss Yin, Ziqing is a true man with a hard exterior and a soft heart. He actually loves you deeply and wouldn't intentionally make things difficult for you. The seven days of bitter cultivation in the Tianxin Cave are actually very beneficial for your practice. This is also Ziqing's intention to cultivate you..."

  "Go to hell!"

  Zhang Yin was provoked by this, and the grievances of many days turned into flames, suddenly bursting out. Before she came, she had repeatedly warned herself that she must not be taken advantage of by this little devil's words again. At this moment, her anger attacked her heart, and she threw away that bit of composure to the nine heavens.

  Zhang Yin grabbed a stack of ancient books in front of her with one hand, and the Taiji diagram on the tip of her left index finger suddenly rotated rapidly. These thick ancient volumes were wrapped around by an invisible force, and two or three of them had already left her palm, suspended in mid-air, about to smash into Ji Ruocheng's head.

  Ji Ruochen didn't think that she would reveal her true nature after just one sentence, and in the midst of her shock, she was unable to dodge in time. She hastily shouted: "Damaging an ancient scroll requires seven days of purification!"

  Zhang Yin immediately thought of the gloomy seven days he spent in a damp cave, surviving on plain rice porridge. He was so frightened that his whole body shook. The heavy ancient scrolls also shook with him, and the controlling technique almost failed, causing the few suspended scrolls to nearly fall to the ground. Zhang Yin swiftly dodged, and after a flurry of frantic movements, he managed to catch over ten ancient scrolls one by one, carefully placing them back on the table before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

  The ancient scroll returned to its original position, and Zhang Yin saw Ji Ruocheng's strange smile. In an instant, his anger rose again, and he suddenly turned his hand over, and a Qing dynasty green glaze turtle pattern vase appeared in his hand. It first spun around in the air for two weeks, accumulating momentum, before preparing to smash it down fiercely!

  Ji Ruochen had already jumped up from his chair, dodging to the side while shouting: "Damage to spiritual objects requires thirty days of reflection!"

  "Think it over? Thirty days!" Zhang Yin took a deep breath in, that vase was raised high, but he finally didn't dare to smash it over.

  She was furious and suddenly shouted: "You, you! Nonsense! How could I not know that there are so many messy rules!"

  Ji Ruochen almost instinctively replied, "Disrespecting the sect rules, sweeping the Sanqing Hall for a month... Ah, I didn't mean that." He scratched his head and said, "I remember that damaging ancient scrolls is listed as a punishment in the second part of the third chapter of the sect rules, eleventh item. Damaging spiritual objects is listed under the ninth item. If you don't believe me, we can check right now."

  Zhang Yin was both anxious and angry, but in the end she didn't dare to make a move, carefully putting the vase back in its original place, stomping her foot and saying: "Have you memorized all the department rules or something?"

  Ji Ruochen smiled but didn't answer.

  "You, you... you're good!" Zhang Yin's anger had nowhere to vent, and she slammed her hand heavily on the desk. This slap was made with a hint of true yuan, and unconsciously used a thread of it. With a splashing sound, the thick ink in the inkstone suddenly surged up a fine wave, like a tiny black dragon, rushing out, and then lightly printed a large ink flower on the cover of an ancient book.

  "Ah!? Another seven days......" Zhang Yin's whole body trembled, her face instantly turned pale as paper, she had just come out of the Tianxin Cave yesterday!

  The two of them made a big commotion, and the Taoist priest guarding the Scripture Pavilion was already alerted. As the footsteps approached, Zhang Yin's face turned paler and paler. Her body trembled slightly, and she thought about making a run for it, but where could she escape to? She also had the idea of framing Ji Ruochen, but then she remembered that the true people were extremely biased, and no matter who she framed, it would be this Ji Ruochen who wouldn't let her get away with it. And after several clashes, this little guy was as slippery as a mud eel, he didn't come to frame her, which was already being very generous of him.

  At the thought of entering Tianxindong for quiet meditation again, Zhang Yinyin felt her body getting colder and colder, and her hands and feet began to go numb. For someone who was used to being pampered and indulged, facing the wall in quiet meditation was even more unbearable than death itself.

  Just as she was at a loss, Ji Ruochen suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Don't worry, when the guardian comes over later, just say that I made this book dirty. I think you can't bear hardship either, so I'll take the blame for the seven days of facing the wall."

  "You...". Zhang Yin thought she had misheard, her mouth agape, and it took her a while to regain her composure. "You'd be so kind? Tell me, what's your motive?"

  Ji Ruocheng glanced at her, stretched out his hand to gently pull the ancient scroll stained with ink in front of him, and suddenly smiled: "Miss Yin, you are already so beautiful now, when you grow up, you will definitely be a heavenly being."

  Zhang Yin was only thirteen years old and had never heard such a straightforward and explicit compliment in person. For a moment, she was stunned, her eyes wide with wonder, and she let out a soft cry, feeling as though all the blood in her body had rushed to her face, even her ears burning with embarrassment.

  But such flattering words to women, Ji Ruochen has said hundreds or thousands of times over the years, and it's so familiar that it's straightforward and sincere, as if it came from his own heart. He looked at the ink marks on his fingertips and continued: "It's just that the fairy should have the fairy's dignity and integrity, and I'll return the purple mist tripod to you when I turn my head back. Miss Yin, please let me go from now on!"

  Zhang Yin-yin felt a sense of confusion in her heart, not knowing how to respond when the Taoist guardian stepped out from the clouds and fog, saying: "What's all the commotion about?"

  He immediately saw the ancient scroll on the table being desecrated, and his expression changed in an instant. Zhang Yin's face began to turn pale again, she had just been suspecting that Ji Ruochen had other plans, but now that the guardian of the Taoist temple was right in front of her, she was afraid that Ji Ruochen would go back on his word and not help her ward off this disaster. Even if he had ulterior motives, as long as she could survive the seven-day purification ritual, she would be willing to give him ten Purple Cloud Cauldrons.

  Ji Ruochen bowed to the Daoist priest and said, "Daozhang, this ancient scroll was accidentally stained by me." Zhang Yinyin's face suddenly turned red and she let out a sigh of relief.

  The guardian of the Taoist temple originally had an angry expression, but upon seeing Ji Ruochen and Zhang Yin, his face also eased a lot. He said: "It's actually you two, Ruochen and Yin. Although I don't want to make things difficult for you, our Taoist sect has strict rules. Damaging books requires entering the Heavenly Heart Cave for seven days of purification according to the rules, unless the Purple Sun True Person who is in charge of the gate has other benevolent arrangements..."

  Ji Ruochen smiled and said: "Master has never been partial, and he won't make an exception for me either."

  Zhou nodded and said: "That's right, then follow me into the Tianxin Cave. All the things you need to use, I will send someone to bring them to you later."

  At this time, the sky had already passed noon. Now entering the cave for quiet contemplation could also be considered a day. The Daoist guarding the entrance was indeed thinking about Ji Ruocheng. Ji Ruocheng didn't say much, hastily packing up a few personal items before following the Daoist to leave. In his heart, he actually had other plans: "Tomorrow that Mingyun little Daoist should also come out of the Tianxin Cave, at that time it will inevitably be another entanglement. Hmm, this time entering the cave is again seven days of quiet contemplation, not bad, not bad."

  As for Ming Xin, who had repeatedly caused trouble, it wasn't just a matter of speaking out of turn and being arrogant. He needed to reflect on his actions in solitude for 49 days before he could be considered forgiven. At that time, there was still a considerable amount of time before Ming Xin would be allowed to come out. The other young Taoist priests who were present also received varying degrees of punishment, but Zhang Yin's punishment was the lightest, which was naturally due to the fact that Jing Xiao Zhen Ren had spoken up for him.

  That Yan stood still on the spot, staring blankly in the direction where Ji Ruochen had left, and didn't know what he was thinking about.

  When the morning bell rings, Ji Ruocheng opens his mouth and spits out a faint yellow mist. He slowly opens his eyes, taking in everything in the cave. It's been seven days since he was trapped here. By noon today, the Taoist priest who guards the Tianxin Cave will come to remove the seal at the entrance of the cave and let him out.

  Ji Ruocheng's stone cave was different from the others. Under his seat was a pad made of dark green jade, which had the effect of calming the mind and spirit. Next to him was placed a purple mist soul-calming tripod, from which slowly emerged threads of large Luo five immortal smoke. On the other side of the stone cave was placed a small table, on which were arranged over a dozen volumes of Taoist scriptures, as well as several bottles of spiritual elixirs. Hanging high above the top of the cave was a wooden plaque that was purple with black undertones, on which was carved a picture of nine dragons playing in the clouds; this plaque could be used to gather the wood energy from all eight directions and was extremely beneficial for cultivators.

  What a grand layout! Even if the Eight Trigrams True Man were here to cultivate his mind and body, it would be nothing more than this.

  After entering the cave, Ji Ruochen abandoned all his miscellaneous studies and devoted himself to cultivating the Taiqing Sacred Code. After meditating for seven days, he finally absorbed all the crystal energy from the Purple Crystal Talisman, and his true yuan was once again whole and unbroken. However, although his true yuan was easy to repair, the hidden injuries in his meridians and internal organs were not so easily healed. Every time he moved his true yuan and breathed in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, his meridians would still ache secretly. Ji Ruochen had learned a lesson from this experience and understood that the Separation Immortal Code was not to be used lightly. If he accidentally separated another one of his magical artifacts, with his weak cultivation level, he would likely suffer a meridian explosion and dispersal of his primordial spirit, and even an immortal might not be able to save him.

  He silently recited the mantra, slowly gathering his true yuan into his body and storing it in the mysterious aperture. These seven days of quiet refinement were about to come to fruition. Just as Ji Ruochen finished reciting the last sentence of the mantra, the true yuan that had already begun to return to the mysterious aperture suddenly spread throughout his limbs and torso, then contracted and expanded again, shaking Ji Ruochen so hard he almost bounced off the ice stone pedestal! The shock from the true yuan caused all the damaged meridians in his body to ache intensely, as if countless tendons and veins were being ripped out of him alive!

  Under the severe pain, Ji Ruochen was not surprised but delighted. He endured the severe pain and concentrated his mind with all his might, allowing his true yuan to fluctuate continuously throughout his body. After seven shocks, the true yuan in his body suddenly returned like a thousand rivers flowing into the sea, sweeping back and returning to the mysterious aperture.

  The Seventh Movement of Truth is a sign that the practice of the Supreme Sacred Mantra has been completed.

  After a while, Ji Ruochen struggled to get up from the stone pad. Although the remaining pain in his meridians had not dissipated, he was overjoyed and couldn't help but feel elated. He had only wanted to absorb the spiritual energy of the Purple Crystal Talisman during the Seven-Day Cleansing, but unexpectedly, after fusing with the True Origin, he broke through the Taiqing Sacred Realm in one go.

  He came to the cold pool in front of a corner of the stone cave, looking down. The pool water was waveless, its light like a mirror. On the surface of the water, Ji Ruochen's face was clearly reflected. In the blink of an eye, he had been in the Dao De Palace for nearly half a year. Compared to half a year ago, this face was still clear and elegant, only losing its childishness, with a more ethereal and otherworldly air, and his bright starry eyes also had a subtle luster.

  For a moment, Ji Ruochen couldn't recognize himself. He rubbed his eyes and looked carefully for half a day before daring to confirm that the person reflected in the water was indeed himself.