One day passed quickly.
Chen Yun, Yan Feng, Niu Dali, and Jingchen the Nun returned to the real world along the passage that led away from the Sun and Moon Lake Realm.
After parting with Yan Feng and Jingchen the Nun, Chen Yun used his transmutation technique to bring Niu Dali to return to Qingcheng Mountain through countless mountains and rivers.
At that time, it had been several decades since Chen Yun left Qingcheng Mountain to go to the capital of the Khitan people.
Walking on the steps of Qingcheng Mountain in spring, gazing at the beautiful sight of lush green trees and blooming flowers everywhere.
Chen Yun felt a sense of returning home.
He walked along, pointing to the ancient tree next to the steps and saying to Niu, "Brother Niu, when I left, this tree was only as thick as my arm. Now it's as big as a water bucket. And look at those flowers over there. I remember it used to be empty, but Qingcheng Mountain has changed so much."
Niu Dali smiled and said, "Master, you are an enlightened one with an immensely long lifespan that is beyond the imagination of ordinary people. You will go through many changes and upheavals, like the drying up of the sea and the crumbling of the heavens. How can some changes in Qingcheng Mountain evoke such a sigh from you?"
Chen Yun chuckled and shook his head, "There is a difference between emotional and non-emotional change. Since I first came here, my teacher has arranged me to live here, and I've long considered it my second home. So, it's only natural that I feel sighs when I see any changes. The same applies to cultivation. Sometimes, when you look back, you will also find that cultivation is not easy and cherish the current situation even more."
This statement is quite ordinary.
However, Niu Dali seemed to have heard some profound truths in the words and nodded thoughtfully, deep in contemplation.
This "strange" combination of a cultivator, a water buffalo spirit, and a unicorn with golden light behind them naturally attracted the attention of people inside the Daming Mountain Cultivation Academy.
......
Qingfeng and Mingyue are Taoist disciples who were recently taken in by Jiao Taoist.
They are not normal humans, but a wind and a moon as a spark, under the nurturing of the earth and sky spiritual energy, they were fortunate enough to take on human form.
It is precisely because they are materialized from otherworldly beings, and their strength is very strong, approximately at the level of upper-level magicians.
At first, when Qingfeng and Mingyue had just transformed into their human forms and were unfamiliar with the ways of the world, they played around mischievously around Qingcheng Mountain, causing quite a bit of trouble for many creatures.
Fortunately, Jiao Taoist stepped in to subdue them. He took pity on Qingfeng and Mingyue for being naturally born and grown in the world, and out of mercy, he took them in as apprentices for refining pills, teaching them the rituals and etiquette of the human world.
Over the years, due to the influence of Taoism, Qingfeng and Mingyue, though still in their childlike forms, have acquired a style and appearance befitting immortal children.
Today, Qingfeng and Mingyue are preparing to go down the mountain to accumulate good karma.
As they walked to the entrance of the observatory, they suddenly saw a tall and imposing young Daoist with an imposing demeanor, carrying a water buffalo spirit and a unicorn with golden light all over it, leisurely making his way towards the observatory.
Qingfeng was startled at the sight and his eyes grew serious. In a low voice, he said to Mingyue, "Mingyue, this Daoist seems enveloped in mist, and the water buffalo spirit exudes a formidable aura like the vast ocean. Even that spiritual beast is enough to make one's heart tremble. It's certainly not a good sign. You go back to the observatory quickly and inform Master and the other senior brothers that there is an evil person who has dared to intrude upon Qingcheng Mountain."
Just as Mingyue was about to speak,
Suddenly, the water buffalo spirit seemed to have sensed something, and with an unamused tone, it said, "You two little brats, do you really not know how to behave? Master Chen hasn't even returned to the observatory yet, and you're already treating us as demons?"
Master Chen returning to the observatory?
Qingfeng and Mingyue were taken aback for a moment, and then seemed to have figured something out.
The next moment, the two young Taoist disciples quickly knelt down on the ground, calling out in unison, "Qingfeng (Mingyue) kowtowing to Grandmaster."
Chen Yun lifted his hand in the air from a distance, and the two young Taoist disciples automatically stood up, "Qingfeng, Mingyue, you can call me Lord. But you cannot call me your Grandmaster. My teacher is still alive and I am still in the Qingshan cave and Jingyang Cave, passing down teachings to the disciples of our observatory."
A 'Grandmaster' is generally a title of respect for the founder of an entire industry or the creator of a sect.
As he is still under the tutelage of the observatory, it is naturally inappropriate to use the title of 'Grandmaster'.
If in the future Chen Yun reaches mastery and establishes a sect of his own, then he could be referred to as an 'ancestor' by his disciples.
The title of 'Lord' is not inappropriate at all.
This term originally referred to elders in the family.
In Daoism, many senior monks with high reputation and respect can be considered elders of a sect, so they can be called 'Lord' by their juniors.
Chen Yun is the same in that regard.
He is the "head of family" of Qingcheng Daming Mountain Cultivation Academy.
Qingfeng and Mingyue, as juniors, calling their grandmaster 'Lord' is appropriate.
Additionally, many sacred beings can also be referred to as "Lord" by cultivators or by the people in the folk, which is an extremely respectful title.
Qingfeng and Mingyue were afraid to disobey the order and nodded in agreement.
The two disciples greeted Chen Yun into the observatory with reverence while they sneaked to take a peek.
Though they had been in the Daming Mountain Cultivation Academy for just a few years, they had heard plenty of stories about Master Chen from their teachers, such as Jiao Taoist and Bai Taoist, who frequently spoke of his heroic deeds that had shaken mountains and rivers. They knew that the seemingly youthful master before them was a figure of extraordinary power.
It is said that several years ago, Master Chen had already achieved enlightenment and become an immortal.
Thus, Qingfeng and Mingyue were naturally curious to see Chen Yun and kept sneaking glances at him.
Chen Yun paid no attention to the looks of awe from the two disciples, engaging in a light-hearted conversation with Niu Dali as he leisurely made his way into the observatory.
The disciples and students inside, including Jiao Taoist, Bai Taoist, Zhang Qian, Lin Chen, Qin Ming, Mei Junyan, and others, had long seen the celestial anomalies in the sky and knew that Chen Yun was returning. They were waiting with a large group of disciples and students.
Just then, as soon as everyone saw Chen Yun walking in, they all bowed respectfully.
"Welcome Master Chen back to the observatory."
"Honored to welcome Lord back to the observatory."
Numerous people, about a hundred of them, kneeling down in respectful posture.
These are visible to the naked eye.
Additionally, there are tens of thousands of divine soldiers and generals floating in the air, bowing and greeting.
Niu Dali was shocked and said, "Chen Master, how could you have so many disciples?"
Chen Yun had used his "Omniscience" ability to sense such a large number of disciples, but he had been paying attention to the Khitan people and the Moonlight Cave for the past few years, and had truly not known that so many disciples had joined Qingcheng Mountain.
He did not respond to Niu Dali, instead, he simply raised his hand towards the crowd, "No need to bow, don't be so formal."
As soon as the words fell, everyone in the crowd felt a gentle but unresistable force, and they all stood up at once.
Jiao Taoist looked stunned and moved closer, taking a deep breath and whispering to the master, "Teacher, I was born with extraordinary talent and have cultivated Daoist Xuan Gong these years. A few days ago, I happened to achieve enlightenment and become an immortal. Even so, I am unable to perceive where the tremendous power you exert comes from. Your cultivation realm is so profound that it is beyond belief."
Niu Dali smiled warmly at Jiao Taoist, "Master Chen has long reached the Earthly Immortal realm, while you've just become a Human Immortal and it hasn't even been a year yet. Naturally, you can't sense his power."
"Ah?"
"Lord Chen has reached the Earthly Immortal realm?"
A hundred or so disciples and tens of thousands of divine soldiers and generals were all greatly startled.
They had never expected that after hearing the news from the Khitan that Chen Yun had achieved enlightenment, not many years have passed, and he has cultivated to the Earthly Immortal realm again.
This shook their hearts and made them marvel at the grandeur of the Lord, and how one's cultivation grows by leaps and bounds, far beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.
For a moment, the eyes of everyone present looked at Chen Yun with even greater reverence.
While the crowd was examining Chen Yun, he, in turn, was examining the numerous disciples and divine soldiers and generals.
After not seeing each other for so many years, everyone's cultivation has grown significantly.
For example, Jiao Taoist, with the true dragon bloodline and the orthodox Xuanmen's Xuan Gong grand technique, has just cultivated to the level of a Human Immortal.
In contrast, the previous one who had cultivation level ahead of Jiao Taoist, Bai Taoist, is still at the level of the leader and has not yet achieved enlightenment.
Moreover, Zhang Qian and Lin Chen, two good friends, cultivated the "Yin God" technique. Their bodies now appear quite old, as if they were in their forties or fifties.
However, their cultivation has also seen considerable improvement, advancing from the initial level of superior magicians to the early stage of senior magicians.
Apparently, in these years, my several embodiments have taught them a lot of good things.
Qin Ming has reached the late stage of senior magician.
Gong Jue has reached the mid-stage of the leading master, while the four demons have reached the mid-stage of senior magician.
Ba Xin, who turned into a money leopard spirit, is currently only at the initial stage of the leader's realm. His cultivation progress is relatively slow.
Additionally, like the tiger spirit that was his mount before, his disciples Mei Junyan, Jiang Mengchen, Lu Yuan, and others have cultivation levels ranging from moderate magicians to senior magicians.
Just like the tiger spirit before, it had the strength of a superior magician and cultivating to the senior stage is no surprise.
What surprised Chen Yun was that among the disciples, others had reached the maximum level of superior magician stage, while only Mei Junyan had cultivated to the late stage of senior magician.
This girl seems to have very good talent and has the potential to achieve enlightenment and become an immortal in the future.
Chen Yun also saw Zhao Kuangqi, his famous disciple, among the crowd.
Under the guidance of my embodiments, Zhao Kuangqi had steady and solid progress, cultivating to the initial stage of moderate magician.
The most surprising thing to Chen Yun was that among the divine soldiers and generals, excluding those enhanced by "subordinate deities," the weakest ones were comparable to the level of leading master.
The strongest Qin Liang, Ji Jixin, and Cui Ming, etc., even surpassed the strength of ordinary ghosts and demons, but they had not yet reached the level of a Human Immortal.
Chen Yun knew that the rapid growth of these divine soldiers and generals had nothing to do with cultivation. It must be due to the extensive incense, which allowed their strength to grow rapidly.
Although the divine soldiers and generals can also enhance their strength through cultivation, it is far less effective than achieving divinity through incense.
Of course, this is the surface level of their strength.
In reality, Chen Yun was deified by Laojun, and some of his disciples and divine soldiers and generals, because they were appointed as his subordinate gods and yin difference, their true strength would be much stronger.
For example, Bai Taoist's "deity nature" allows him to unleash the formidable power of a late-stage Human Immortal.
Qin Liang and Ji Jixin, as they were officials, had even more abundant divine power and could unleash the strength of a mid-stage Earthly Immortal.
In addition, Chai Ming, Ba Xin, and other disciples, under the enhancement of divine power, could all unleash the strength comparable to that of Bai Taoist.
Among the divine soldiers and generals, three thousand of them became yin difference, with about the strength of an early-stage Human Immortal.
The remaining tens of thousands of divine soldiers and generals have not been improved.
Because they did not become yin difference.
Although divine power is an external force, the power it provides can be used as effectively as one's own cultivated strength.
Furthermore, as it is fixed and constantly replenished, it allows yin difference, subordinate deities, and humans to fight without exhausting themselves.
Chen Yun knew that these troops would be the backbone of his upcoming god-appointed war.
After examining the disciples and disciples' strengths, Chen Yun introduced them willingly, "This person is Niu Dali, my best friend. In the future, he will also live in our cultivation hall. You should treat him like I do, and call him teacher. Do you understand?"
"Understood."
"Obey the teacher's command."
Everyone could feel the incredible strength of Niu Dali, and with Chen Yun's instructions, there was no objection at all.
After introducing Niu Dali.
Chen Yun looked at Jiao Taoist, "When Chen Da returns from his mountain inspection, have him come to see me."
Jiao Taoist quickly replied, "Yes, teacher."
Chen Yun could naturally sense the locations of his three embodiments.
Chen Da is on a mountain patrol.
Chen Er is guarding Zhao Kuangqi.
Miao Shansan seems to be close to breakthrough, meditating quietly in the inner courtyard.
Although these three are avatars, they can be considered as independent entities capable of self-cultivation.
Chen Da is currently at the late stage of the leader's realm.
Chen Er, because of the "materials" that are quite extraordinary, has now approached the stage of enlightenment and becoming an immortal. However, he has not yet reached that critical point and thus, he has not yet achieved enlightenment.
What surprised Chen Yun somewhat was that the avatar of Miao Shansan, which evolved from the immortal lotus root, had already broken through towards the level of a Human Immortal.
He couldn't help but exclaim that Guoteng Daoist had indeed spent a lot of effort on Shen Xiu, managing to obtain such a mystical heavenly root as the immortal lotus root. No wonder Miao Shansan's cultivation progress is so rapid.
The immortal lotus root is not an ordinary thing.
There is a legend that the third son of the five treasures king of the north, Naza, was given the title of "third son."
At his birth, there was a "Naza" character on his left palm and an "Zha" character on his right palm, hence his name.
This prince caused trouble at the age of three by diving into the sea, destroying a crystal palace, and capturing a dragon to use its tendons as a belt.
The king knew that it might cause future troubles, so he wanted to kill him.
Naza, full of anger, took the knife in hand, cut his flesh to return to his mother and scraped his bones to return to his father. By returning the father's essence and mother's blood, a soul essence went straight to the Western Paradise of Bliss to inform Buddha.
The Buddha was teaching the Dharma to a crowd of bodhisattvas.
Only to hear the sound of drums and banners and someone calling for help.
The Buddha, with his wisdom eyes, recognized it as the soul of Naza, who was about to use the green lotus root as his bone and lotus leaves as his clothes. The Buddha recited the incantation of reviving the dead and bringing back to life, and Naza was thus saved.
Later, Naza used his divine power and magical abilities to subdue ninety-six demons in their holes. His power was boundless, and he sought to kill the king in order to avenge the bones that were stripped from him.
The king, feeling helpless, appealed to the Buddha, the Lord Buddha.
The Lord Buddha, advocating harmony, gave the king a jade-like, transparent, and gold-threaded Shali Fortress filled with precious treasures.
The tower, with Buddha figures layer by layer, shone brilliantly.
The Buddha called Naza as his son and explained the grievance.
The Buddha made Naza's earthly body using the lotus root of immortality, which originated from the same source as Miao Shansan's lotus root of immortality.
Although Miao Shansan's lotus root of immortality is relatively lower in grade, as it is a treasure of Buddhism, it naturally allows for rapid cultivation.
At this point, it must be mentioned that in the current era, Naza and Liwang, the tower-carrying king, have not yet become deities of Daoism. They will only be absorbed into Daoism during the Song and Yuan dynasties.
Additionally, at present, Liwang the Tower-Carrying King is not called Liwang the Tower-Carrying King. Instead, he is known as the Northern Weisamen King of the Heaven.
Chen Yun is the only one who is puzzled by the fact that Guoteng Daoist, as the refined spirit of Huo Teng in the Western Queen Mother's medicinal garden, managed to obtain Buddhist divine lotus root.
He nodded slightly, put his hands behind his back and walked in, saying, "These years I've been out of town and haven't taught you proper cultivation. In that case, tomorrow I'll find a time to tell you about Daoism and cultivation."
"Thank Master."
"Thank you, teacher."
A group of disciples were moved to tears.
Following Chen Yun, Niu Dali, upon hearing this, couldn't help but light up his eyes, "Master, you are going to open a teaching session. Can old bull attend and learn the authentic and wonderful methods of the Tao tomorrow?"
Chen Yun smiled and said, "You are very close to me, so you can certainly attend. In the future, I will rely on you to protect the various disciples and disciples in my cultivation hall."
Niu Dali said "I'm not worthy" but his eyes showed great excitement. He, of course, hoped to learn the magical law from Chen Yun's opening teaching session.
