Inner courtyard, three-story red building.
Inside the house, Zheng Wenxun, Wang Laozhi, Cai Rujin, and Wang Zaixi stood respectfully in front of the tent.
The front row still had He Xiangguo sitting.
Inside the tent, a faint silhouette of a figure lying on its side could be seen.
Suddenly, a voice from inside the tent said, "Zaixi, how long have you been building foundation and refining grain?"
Wang Zaixi took a step forward, completed the bow and then said: "Reporting to Master, the disciple took two months to build the foundation, refined grains for a whole year and three months, totaling one year and five months."
That's right, the middle-aged man's figure inside the tent curtain is Zhongli Quan.
Hearing Zhongli Quan asking again: "Rujin, how about you?"
Cai Rujin also stepped forward and bowed respectfully, "Master, the disciple took four foundation-building pills and was fortunate to reach the foundation-building stage exactly in one month. The refining of grain into essence took a full year, totaling one year and one month."
"Under the guidance of the Eastern Emperor Wang, I Zhongli Quan received enlightenment and founded internal alchemy. To this day, only dozens of people have been fortunate enough to practice it." Zhongli Quan slowly said: "Among them, the most outstanding talent is Lv Chuan. He reached the foundation-building stage in one month and refined the grain into essence in three months. He lingered for a century in the refining of essence into gas, and then successfully cultivated a golden body to achieve enlightenment. Thus, he refined his yang-shen."
He Xiangguo, Zheng Wenxun and Wang Laozhi listened to the grandfather's teachings respectfully.
Zhongli Quan spoke with an even tone, "With such talent as Lv Gao's, it took him a month to build his foundation and a full three months to refine grain into essence. Are you really sure that Chen Yun built his foundation in over twenty days and completed the refining of grain into essence in less than a month?"
Zheng Wenxun spoke out: "Master, although Chen Yun asked me for a Yinyang Xingchen Grass and three Red Snow Lychee Fruit from me, he indeed managed to complete the foundation-building and the refining of grain into essence in about two months."
Wang Laozhi couldn't hold his temper and quickly followed, adding: "Exactly because of his incredible talent, the disciple wants to request Master's grace and allow me to admit Chen Yun into the sect."
"Such talent, not to mention that you, Laozhi, like him, even the teacher is moved by it," Zhongli Quan sighed. "However, one doesn't know if his determination to pursue the path is firm."
He Xiangguo, who had remained silent, spoke up: "Master, I once took on the guise of a woman to test him. He is not greedy for wealth or beauty, and the only thing left to be tested is power. At present, it seems that his determination to pursue the path is exceptionally firm."
Zhongli Quan said: "Tell me everything about your test."
He Xiangguo did not dare to hide anything and recounted the situation in detail.
After listening, Zhongli Quan burst into laughter: "Xiu Gu, your test is full of loopholes. I fear he has already discovered the clues and cannot be taken seriously."
"Xiu Gu" is the diminutive or pet name for He Xianggu.
That's true. It would not be a common or formal way to address someone by their pet name in general.
As He Xiangguo's master, Zhongli Quan could naturally refer to her by her pet name.
He Xiangguo sighed, "Master, that can't be? I didn't reveal any flaws at all. Isn't it because of his sincere pursuit of the path?"
Zhongli Quan laughed heartily, "This Chen Yun is very smart and witty. Otherwise, he wouldn't have created soap or chess. Although you think that your test methods are foolproof for ordinary people, how could Chen Yun, who is so intelligent, not find any flaws?"
Cai Rujin, having seen Chen Yun's incredible wisdom, agreed enthusiastically: "Master's words make sense. This Chen Yun is so smart that it's almost suspicious if he was born with innate wisdom. I even suspect that he might be a reincarnation of a Daoist immortality, and if it were as the Daoist sister had said before, there could indeed be loopholes discovered in the test."
He Xiangguo shrugged and left it at that.
She did not feel that her test had any flaws, always believing that Chen Yun was determined to pursue the Dao.
"Well, since Chen Yun has such talent and has the potential to spread my internal alchemy, " Zhongli Quan slowly sat up and said, "I will take the final test of power myself."
Wang Laozhi sighed humorously, "Master, I suspect that your test is not just limited to power, as with the initial test for Lv Xuan. Just think about when he was tested ten times by you before he passed the test and could enter the sect."
Zhongli Quan spoke lightly, "My tests are definitely not limited to power. If he can withstand the test, I will personally impart the teachings to him. If he can't……as long as he is not enchanted by power, Laozhi, I will allow you to admit him into the sect."
Upon hearing this, Wang Laozhi and Zheng Wenxun were startled.
They did not expect their master to take Chen Yun's talent so seriously, not only to personally test him, but also to admit him as a disciple and impart the teachings directly.
Zheng Wenxun was somewhat better.
On the contrary, Wang Laozhi had an underlying hope that Chen Yun might fail the other tests aside from power, because he truly loved Chen Yun's incredible talent and wanted to pass on the tradition of the path.
It's not just Wang Laozhi who doesn't want Chen Yun to pass Zhongli Quan's tests.
Cai Rujin and Wang Zaixi also had an underlying hope that Chen Yun might fail all the tests. Otherwise, Chen Yun would climb over them and become their uncle!
If there's anyone among them who most hopes that Chen Yun can pass the test successfully, it would likely be He Xiangguo alone.
Why?
Because if Chen Yun can pass all the tests set by Zhongli Quan, it means that all the previous tests carried out by He Qiong were without any flaws. This would validate her efforts and demonstrate her own ability to discern potential in others.
Despite being a female cultivator who has already attained true enlightenment, He Xiangguo is fundamentally competitive and proud. She always believes that she does things the best. Now that Zhongli Quan says her tests have flaws, how can she accept it in her heart?
Even though Zhongli Quan is her master, He Xiangguo is still not willing to be outdone.
Because of this, He Xiangguo secretly encouraged Chen Yun in her heart, "Chen Yun, you must pull through and pass all the tests with flying colors."
...
In the afternoon, in the spell-casting pavilion.
Chen Yun is painting the talismans with all his effort.
After so many days of guidance from Cai Rujin, Chen Yun can't claim that there are no problems with drawing talismans.
Of course, this is only limited to drawing talismans.
He is still unaware of how to create talismans with the magical, extraordinary functions that they possess.
Chen Yun is currently drawing the "Invisibility Talisman."
Though this talisman is called the "Invisibility Talisman", its effects are not limited to invisibility. It also possesses the function of "Covering Souls".
In summary, once the Invisibility Talisman is used, it can hide both the physical body and the soul, making them undetectable.
"This talisman is particularly magical. If I were to possess one, I could also escape from those who can see auras with it."
Chen Yun thought while drawing whether he should find an opportunity to ask Cai Rujin for a hidden symbol for himself.
Hmm, he doesn't have many virtues; the only one is that he has a thick face.
Thinking about it, Chen Yun also recalled his cultivation progress, "Now that I've completed the refining of grain into essence, my qi and essence have formed a cycle within my body. As long as I don't consume too much of my postnatal essence on a daily basis, I can maintain my internal structure and seem to have nothing else to cultivate except for accumulating essence and refining the body."
When will I have the opportunity to truly learn the method of refining essence into qi?
Wang Zaixi didn't show any signs, it seems that it's not easy to learn the method of immortality.
Chen Yun was quite troubled in his heart.
Since the secret art of immortality is in the hands of others, there's no way to force them to teach it to oneself.
Just thinking about it, Cai Rujin walked in from outside with both hands behind his back.
Chen Yun quickly stopped painting the talisman, stood up, and bowed respectfully, "Brother Cai."
Cai Rujin nodded without expression in response, "Have you gained any insights from painting talismans?"
While saying that, he walked to the long table and sat down.
Chen Yun also sat back in front of the table and told the truth, "I can draw all the basic talismans now."
Cai Rujin said, "Alright, from today on, I will teach you which materials to use for different types of talismans..."
As he spoke, it seemed like he remembered something, "Oh, by the way, the yellow paper and red ink in our hall are all used up. Go buy some from the mountain."
Chen Yun nodded and replied: "Yes."
Cai Rujin took out a silver ingot, "Go to the Cao family in the west of Xigou City. Their yellow paper is good quality. And buy the vermilion ink from them as well; I'll have to mix it anyway."
Chen Yun took the silver ingot, "I'll go buy it down the mountain right now."
"Wait a moment." Cai Rujin took out two talismans from his sleeve, "I will give you two Godspeed Talismans. You should stick them on your calves. This way, you can save some time when traveling back and forth."
The Godspeed Talismans are an upgraded version of the Horse Grammar talismans, capable of traveling 3,000 li in a day and 2,400 li at night.
Of course, the Godspeed Talismans are similar to the Horse Grammar talismans in that they will automatically burn up after being used for a certain distance.
The Horse Grammar talisman can travel 1,800 li, while the Godspeed Talisman can cover 5,400 li.
Chen Yun was surprised that he could obtain Godspeed Talismans simply for running an errand down the mountain.
Without realizing it, he was overjoyed and took the Godspeed Talismans, saying, "Thank you, Brother Cai."
Cai Rujin waved his hand, "It's nothing. Go quickly and come back early."
Chen Yun said no more and turned to leave.
Cai Rujin stared at Chen Yun's back and his eyes became somewhat complex.
He thought to himself, "The final test has begun, and I wonder if this kid can pass the test with Master Zhongli personally involved. If he can't pass, he will still be my Chen younger brother in the future. But if he truly withstands the test, I will really have to call him Chen elder uncle!"
