Chapter 98: Quanzhen and Zhengyi

  Lin Fan said, "Master, I have a few questions. First, Master, you were talking nonsense earlier, so why did you suddenly give me these two needles today? Second, according to the story, after my father and mother had an affair, my mother disappeared, and he was left alone on Dongyan Island. Who was my mother? Where did she go? And who sent me to Dongyan Island? Third, there are only three needles, so why is the heart method based on having more?"

  "Firstly, the thing you're looking for will naturally come to you, but this needle is difficult to refine. Don't put all your thoughts into refining it, and as for its power, I don't know either. Thirdly, your father's master has already achieved a certain level of mastery with this needle, which can be transformed in various ways... However, it's not about mastering it, but rather about understanding its subtleties. As for the second question, I don't know. Lin Fan, I'm still quite satisfied with you - you're eager to learn powerful techniques, but you haven't tried to deceive me. You've practiced the basic techniques fairly well, and going forward, it's not just a matter of practicing the embroidery needle technique... So, I think it's time for me to pass this on to you. Just like when you were searching for the Nine Yang Flower, I couldn't guarantee that there would be ten petals this year. Whether or not this needle can be refined depends entirely on your own abilities. You have the benefit of two generations' research and are younger than them - it's possible you might succeed."

  Bai Mudao: "True person, this... even I can hear it, you must know who Lin Fan's mother is."

  "Yes, I know, so I won't say. San San Zhenren teased again. However, this time he sighed and added: "Lin Fan, when your mother passed away, she was good to both of you. Alright, the two of you can leave now."

  ……

  Under the starry sky, Bai Mu and Lin Fan were by a small stream at the foot of the mountain. Bai Mu looked at Lin Fan: "What are you thinking?"

  "What's on your mind?" Lin Fan asked.

  "Tenma Kōfuku and Muhou, Shippū."

  Lin Fan smiled lightly: "Everything goes with the flow, if it can be refined then refine it, if not then it's also fate, why force it."

  "What about your mother?"

  Lin Fan thought for a moment: "If the master didn't lie, my mother must have had her reasons for not being with my father. She wouldn't be unaware of my father's impending calamity and yet send me to him instead of an ordinary family. I think she must have some unspoken difficulties too. The Yunqing Gate has many orphans, everyone is used to having no parents. Everything goes as it pleases, one day you meet and ask how they're doing, if not, why force it."

  Bai Mu Zan: "These few sentences of yours have a rather extraordinary meaning, somewhat like the atmosphere of Quanzhen, for example Penglai is just like that, once you enter Penglai there are no parents..." No.

  "What?" Lin Fan asked in puzzlement.

  "Your master said that your father's master was a top-notch expert from Penglai, and his master could control the three needles and write down the Tianmang Heart Method. Your father was able to reach the Small Heavenly Tribulation, at least he is considered an elite disciple of Penglai. We, Yun Qing Shan, Zi Xiao Temple, Lei Shan, and the entire Quanzhen sect, including the Tian Kun Men of the Zhengmo Alliance, have no dealings with each other, let alone Penglai, and Penglai doesn't like to entertain outsiders either." Bai Mu Dao said: "Being able to enter Penglai and having a relationship with your father, it's clear that there was some interaction time. Then...your mother is probably also from the Quanzhen sect."

  Lin was thinking carefully: "That's right, the Quanzhen sect can't form a family, two people broke their precepts, my father was expelled from the mountain gate, and my mother was naturally punished by the door... She wasn't expelled from the door, otherwise the two would be together. So calculated, my mother may have been a person with background in the Quanzhen sect."

  Bai Mu nodded: "The largest Quanzhen sect in the Twelve Continents is the Tian Kun Gate, but the Quanzhen sect does not like to get involved in worldly affairs. The scattered people of the Eastern Sea, Northern Sea, and Southern Sea, or the various sects, are mostly from the Quanzhen sect, who have gone out to sea to avoid worldly matters. For example, a large sect like Penglai has four or five of them. The Quanzhen sect has always not considered our Zhengyi sect as people in the same path, basically with no contact. It's difficult, hard to find."

  Lin Fan smiled: "Bai Mu, I'm really casual, if you don't look for it, you won't find it. Tomorrow I'll go to the main hall to see the sect leader and ask for a Golden Elixir trial, to see if I can enter the Yun Qing Academy."

  Yun Qing Academy is like the Zixu Hall of the Purple Mansion, but what's different is that Yun Qing Academy doesn't have historical records, strange people and events, only Taoist scriptures and cultivation experiences related to Taoism. The scriptures and techniques of various sects are different, and to enter Yun Qing Academy, one must first have the realm of Golden Elixir, otherwise, practicing Taoist techniques will be harmful. After that, it's necessary to pass the trial. Lin Fan had been thinking about going there after achieving Golden Elixir, but San San Zhen Ren kept holding back his Tian Mang Xin Fa, which delayed this matter.

  Bai Mu's face was filled with envy: "All of you have reached the Golden Elixir stage, but I've only just completed the Foundation Building stage. Especially Brother Gu Yan, who has already passed the middle stage of the Golden Elixir."

  Lin Fan smiled: "The book itself has a Yuan Ying in it. Who knows, you might not even need to go through the Golden Elixir stage and can directly advance to the Yuan Ying stage."

  Bai Mu Dao: "In addition to Cui Yu in the book... Lin Fan, it seems that this reader who seeks Cui Yu is not picky." Bai Mu has some feelings.

  Lin Fan didn't understand what Bai Miao was looking at.

  Bai Mu said: "These bookworms don't even care if Xue Yu and I are compatible, they just go after her... Xue Yu, with a face as white as jade, is a beautiful woman. Is being beautiful enough? Is it really enough?"

  Lin Fan thought for a moment: "Being handsome is the basic requirement, right? Otherwise, in the future, wouldn't it be 'ugly as a pig' in books? Who would still read them then? Everyone has a love for beauty, don't they? Bai Mu, have you fallen in love?"

  "It's moved, but I won't tell you." Bai Mu waved his hand: "Let's go." Having mixed with San San Zhen Ren for a while, he had learned San San Zhen Ren's tricks.

  Lin Fan waved his hand, watching White Pasture walk away, playing with 'Rapid Wind' in his hand. He walked all the way to Zhang Lao's grave and sat down beside the stone, savoring the Rapid Wind. It seemed like a lifeless object, but he could feel a massive spiritual energy inside. Lin Fan felt that it was unassuming yet powerful, hiding its true nature.

  To refine the sword, one had to utilize their true energy to circulate and invade the spiritual energy with their divine sense. Then, they had to communicate with the spiritual energy, allowing Rapid Wind to feel his true energy. To put it bluntly, it was like boiling a frog in warm water - slowly making contact, letting the spiritual energy get used to his true energy form. Finally, when his true energy and the spiritual energy merged as one, this treasure would be at his command.

  High-grade magical artifacts could achieve a state of harmony between the heart and spirit. The Yuanying Sword was an example, where harmony between the heart and spirit was the most basic condition.

  But is this needle a martial instrument or a magic treasure? It's clearly not something that can be ridden, and the sect leader had me start practicing it after I reached the golden elixir stage... But it doesn't seem like a magic treasure either, as magic treasures are used to drive or guide Daoist techniques. This needle can only attack enemies, it can't be ridden, it can't defend against attacks... It seems even less useful than a magic treasure. Is it perhaps what the mortal world's Jianghu calls a hidden weapon?

  Spicy chicken silk, where's the Shadowless? Lin Fan was about to put away the two needles when he discovered that the cowhide bag was missing a Shadowless. This thing can't be found with the naked eye, so Lin Fan closed his eyes and searched the surrounding area with his spiritual sense. Soon, he felt a faint aura near his feet, bent down to part the grass, and reached out with his hand. His fingertips hurt as he grabbed onto the needle tip. With his right hand, he grasped the Shadowless and inserted it into the cowhide bag, then tossed the bag into the Qiankun Ring.

  No wonder Miebing lost it, this little thing says no and it's gone.