It was late at night, and the wind howled outside.
The dilapidated temple's four walls are leaking wind, causing the hay inside to rustle loudly.
The moonlight streaming through the windows forms irregular, odd-shaped patches on the ground.
Chen Yun, who had just completed his meditation, lies on a pile of dry grass, thinking about things.
"I have just broken through to the eighth rank, and my strength has been further enhanced. I have the ability to draw symbols such as "Healing All Illnesses" and some simple yet offensive symbols from the Five Elements. For example, the symbol of flames, once used, will spew out a blazing flame with extreme heat. Common people who come into contact with it will be burnt to death."
Chen Yun pondered to himself, "From this perspective, I can truly be called a transcendent being. Generally speaking, ordinary evil spirits and demons can be easily dealt with by a single talisman."
The eighth-level practitioner is so strong.
What if he breaks through to the level of a lower mage?
Chen Yun remembered what Cai Rujin had told him: "It is easy to cultivate into a ninth or eighth-level wizard, but it is difficult to become a lower-level wizard, and some people may not achieve it in their entire lives."
Why is that?
If we compare them using spirit light, an eighth-level mage emits spirit light like a candle flame. In contrast, the spirit light of a lower-level mage is more like that of a furnace.
There is a hundredfold difference between them!
"According to my normal progress, even with the help of the Jujube Spirit Bead, it might take me ten years to cultivate to a lower-level mage. People with slightly worse talent may need fifty or sixty years, and those with even worse talent may never be able to achieve it in their lifetime. So, those with even worse talent will never be able to become a lower-level mage."
It can be said that there is a vast chasm between an eighth-level mage and a lower-level mage.
However, Chen Yun shows no concern at all, "Now that I have the red fruit, as long as I gather nine-ha grass dew and zhuyu herbs to distill the essence-turning essence soup, it will take me no more than a year to cultivate into a lower-level mage."
Once one has reached the level of a lower mage, they can then learn true arts!
The power of arts is not comparable to that of talismans!
Chen Yun thinks about this, his heart is filled with expectation.
Chen Yun had originally not thought about collecting the main herbs needed for the essence-turning essence soup when he went down the mountain to accumulate good deeds.
Because whether it's the red fruit, or the grass dew from nine-ha, or the zhuyu herb, they are not easily obtainable.
Nowadays, he is quite lucky, and the moment he steps out of the door, he gets the red fruit.
Of course, Chen Yun set a goal for himself to gather the remaining two herbs within a month.
Just as he was thinking, the door of the dilapidated temple creaked open, as if someone was pushing it from the outside.
Chen Yun, with a high sense of vigilance, looked around.
He saw that the door was indeed pushed open.
Immediately, before he saw any human figures, a fragrant wind rushed from outside.
Following that, a black figure dashed in from outside.
Judging by the silhouette, it was indeed a woman.
However, she was fully dressed in black clothing and pants, and her head was covered with a black veil, making it impossible to see her face clearly.
"Ah?" The black-clothed woman looked at Chen Yun, her tone calm as she asked: "Is there someone living here?"
Chen Yun did not lower his guard because the person was a woman; he simply nodded in response, "Passing through, staying temporarily."
The black-clothed woman nodded politely at him and then pointed to the other side of the haystack, "Young brother, can I stay here for one night?"
This is not his own home, so Chen Yun naturally had no right to object; he merely extended his hand and said, "Please."
The black-clothed woman did not say anything more and walked over to the other side, sitting down, and then removed her black veil.
At this point, Chen Yun finally got a clear look at her face.
The woman was beautiful, giving off a sense of first love.
What is strange is that there is a yellow scarf on her head.
Yes, her hair was tied up like a man's, wrapped in a yellow scarf.
Upon seeing this, Chen Yun couldn't help but pause.
The woman's yellow scarf bears some resemblance to the attire of followers of the Taiping Sect.
The Han dynasty peasant rebellion led by Zhang Jue is called "Heaven has died, Yellow Heaven will take its place, the year is the Chinese calendar year of Jiazi, and the world will be at peace." That's why they tie a yellow headscarf.
Here, "Heaven" refers to the Han dynasty's government, while "Yellow Heaven" refers to the Taiping Tao.
"Heaven has died, Yellow Heaven will take its place" means that the "Heaven" representing the Han dynasty's government will be replaced by the "Yellow Heaven" represented by Zhang Jue's Taiping Tao army.
This is determined by the "Five Elements Cycle" of Heaven's will.
In the Han Dynasty, the theory of "Five Elements Cycle" was very popular.
The "Five Elements" refers to the five virtues represented by the five elements of wood, fire, earth, gold, and water.
These five virtues, or "Five Elements," are cyclic and recurrent in their operation.
Because the Han Dynasty was a fire sign, fire giving birth to earth.
Therefore, earth will replace fire and achieve succession.
Since earth is symbolized by the color yellow, the numerous followers of the Taiping Tao wore yellow scarves as a symbol to signify their intention to replace the Eastern Han court.
None of this is particularly significant.
The issue is that the Taiping Dao, having failed in its rebellion, had its doctrines recognized by some Taoist sects. There were people who continued to practice it afterwards. However, those who practiced the secret teachings of the Taiping Dao considered themselves the orthodox lineage and did not tie yellow headscarves or engage in any activities that would be considered grievous or unjust.
However, the followers of the Taiping Dao were different; they not only wanted to continue the rebellion but also secretly committed many heinous acts that were universally condemned by both gods and men.
For example, there was a Taiping Dao cultivator who wanted to cultivate his yin spirit, and he almost offered up the lives of the entire people of a county as a sacrifice.
Now he sees a woman who might be a follower of the Taiping Dao.
Of course, Chen Yun's vigilance increased.
The black-clothed woman seemed to have noticed Chen Yun's gaze, and she said without expression, "My name is Lin Feiyun."
Chen Yun hadn't expected the woman to introduce herself, so he bowed respectfully and said, "I am Chen Chongyong. I have the pleasure of meeting Miss Lin."
Lin Feiyun looked at him without expression, "I am the 23rd successor of the Taiping Dao, currently serving as the channel leader of the West Gou City in the church. My strength is approximately equivalent to about the seventh-level mage in your internal elixir path."
Hearing this, Chen Yun had already begun to feel that something was not right.
The woman seemed to have figured out his true level and was here specifically for him!
Chen Yun casually patted Zhang Qian and stretched out the time as much as possible, "Indeed, you are the Channel Leader Lin of the Taiping Dao. I am Chen Chongyong, a disciple of Zhengyang Pure Yang True People in the Jingyang Pavilion of Chongyang Cave on Zhong Nanshan."
By stating his background, Chen Yun was trying to intimidate Lin Feiyun and deter her from taking any hasty actions.
Zhang Qian seems to be sleeping very soundly, and even after Chen Yun shook him twice, he didn't wake up.
"I know you are a disciple of Zhengyang Pure Yang True People," Lin Feiyun's face still showed no expression, "That is why I want to give you an opportunity to survive."
Chen Yun furrowed his brows, "Channel Leader Lin, what do you mean by that?"
He even touched Zhang Qian's flesh!
"Ah!" Zhang Qian woke up from the pain suddenly, rubbing his sleepy eyes with a blurry voice: "Chen Master, what…"
Before he could finish speaking, he also saw Lin Feiyun sitting on the other side and exclaimed in shock: "Heir of the Taiping Dao!?"
Lin Feiyun didn't bother to respond to Zhang Qian and just kept staring at Chen Yun, "The Taiping Dao has left many treasures in the West Gou City. Some that you don't know about, I won't reveal them for now, but the jade spirit bead from Wu's mansion and the red fruit from Huang's cellar in the temple, aren't you supposed to return them to me?"
Ah, so the West Gou City has treasures like the jade spirit bead, as well as rare heaven and earth roots like the red fruit, all left by the Taiping Dao.
Although I don't know why the Taiping Dao left these things in the city, since someone has come looking for them, there is no reason for me not to return them.
He was about to speak when he saw the other side of Lin Feiyun and immediately said, "I'll return them."
Unexpectedly, Lin Feiyun suddenly spoke in a sinister tone, "Return the things to me, and I will only break both of your limbs. But if you do not return them, don't blame me, Lin Feiyun, for being heartless and ruthless. I will take your lives!"
With that, Lin Feiyun's eyes revealed a look of ferocity!
