In the morning, I had just finished my practice.

    Chen Yun, as usual, offered incense and made offerings to the divine soldiers and generals.

    Later, he again tidied up the Daoist temple.

    Since he moved in for twenty-three days, the entire Huixian Guan has become completely different from before.

    Chen Yun not only transplanted many plants from the mountain, bringing a lot of vitality to the Huixian Temple, but also had furniture made by carpenters from the foothills, decorating each room to give it a touch of domestic warmth.

    This kept him busy for the whole morning.

    Just before noon, he had just finished feeding the White Ape and the Flying Snake.

    Suddenly, the voice of Xie Ziran echoed from behind, "Chongyong."

    Chen Yun quickly turned around to bow, "Teacher."

    After speaking, he found that today Xie Ziran had changed his appearance, no longer in a single white chiffon dress, but dressed in a Taoist robe, with his hair wrapped in black silk.

    Although it was just a change of attire, it brightened everyone's eyes.

    Chen Yun couldn't help but secretly look at him a few more times, and at the same time, he was secretly guessing that Xie Ziran's elaborate appearance might indicate that he had something important to do outside.

    Sure enough, Xie Ziran spoke in a serious tone: "Winter solstice is approaching, and the birthday of Master Pure-Qing Xuanyan, the Jade Supreme Ancient Dao Force Yusheng Tiandian Shangdi, falls on the Winter Solstice. At that time, all heavenly gods will converge in the capital city of our sect to participate in the universal Great Sutra Offering Ceremony to celebrate Master's birthday. Although I am not currently employed in the realm of immortals, I still need to attend. Normally such a grand event should involve you as well, but you are close to breakthrough. The Grand Sutra Offering Ceremony usually lasts forty-nine days and has already been held for five generations so far. Only two generations are left before its completion. Therefore, I cannot take you along."

    The Grand Sutra Offering Ceremony is the largest and most significant Daoist festival in terms of format, meaning, and duration.

    It is an activity of sacrificing to the deities in the entire universe, aiming to express sincere respect and gratitude.

    "The Grand Sutra Offering Ceremony" refers to a ritual in Daoism for worshipping the Three Pure Ones, the Four August Ones, the Five Stars and the List of Stars.

    In the early days, the purpose of holding ritual offerings in Daoism was for healing diseases and forgiving sins. Over time, it gradually evolved into a ritual for seeking protection for the country and its people, extending longevity, aiding in the passage of souls, eliminating disasters and evil, and praying for blessings and expressing gratitude.

    In this realm, the Grand Sutra Offering Ceremony is held annually, lasting forty-nine days around the birthday of Master Pure-Qing Xuanyan. The reason for this is twofold: on one hand, it is a way to thank Master for opening up the heavens and creating the universe; on the other hand, all heavenly gods will come to pay their respects to Master's birthday on that day, which also facilitates earthly emperors in seeking blessings from various deities for national prosperity and stability.

    It can be said that the Grand Sutra Offering Ceremony in this realm is the most solemn and grandest ritual among all.

    As for the Zhou Tian Grand Sutra Offering Ceremony and Luo Tian Grand Sutra Offering Ceremony, they are held annually in this realm as well, corresponding to the birthdays of the Two Deities: the Pure and Profound Lord of the Heavenly Resembling Treasure and the Great Clarity Lord of the Celestial Dao.

    In terms of scale, the Grand Sutra Offering Ceremony surpasses the Zhou Tian Grand Sutra Offering Ceremony, which in turn is superior to the Luo Tian Grand Sutra Offering Ceremony.

    Chen Yun would of course like to go and broaden his horizons, but as Xie Ziran said, his own breakthrough is imminent, and the Grand Sutra Offering Ceremony is held over a long period of time, making the timing seem somewhat inappropriate.

    He could only express his regret and say, "I will go next year if I have time."

    Xie Ziran nodded slightly and said, "Hmm, you have been diligent in your cultivation. I hope that when I return, you will have reached the realm where water and fire cannot harm you. If you can achieve what I expect of you, then I will take you to find the Mountain Fiend to spar with it and awaken your Dao Essence."

    Chen Yun's eyes lit up. "Teacher, do you mean I have already met the requirements for awakening my Dao Qi?"

    Xie Ziran said, "Being impervious to blades and bullets, and water and fire, indeed barely meets the lowest requirements. Alright, I need to go to Luoyang. Stay in good care at Huixian Guan."

    Chen Yun was about to say goodbye when he suddenly thought of something else. "Teacher, please forgive me for asking a bold question, but have you ever met the Supreme Lord of the Great Dao?"

    Xie Ziran burst into laughter and said, "The Supreme Lord of the Great Dao is formless and voiceless. In the universe, no one other than Master Pure-Qing Xuanyan and the Supreme Lord of the Great Dao has seen the true appearance of the Supreme Lord of the Great Dao. However, the Supreme Lord of the Great Dao has thirty-six transformations and seventy-two manifestations. When people want to see him, he will appear in response to their feelings. He can appear in countless places at once by dividing his body into a million pieces. Many have seen incarnations of him, and I have been fortunate enough to see an embodiment of the Lord."

    Is the Lord of the Heavenly Resembling Treasure so mysterious?

    Chen Yun once again became very interested in this supreme deity and really wanted to see the true appearance of the Lord.

    Xie Ziran said nothing more, with her hands clasped behind her back, feet generating cloud qi, ascending into the high sky.

    Then, Chen Yun heard a resounding roar like a muffled thunder. He looked up in a hurry and saw that, unknown to him, a golden dragon with scales glistened across the sky had been churning. Xie Ziran stood between the dragon's horns, her light robes fluttering elegantly like a maiden's, riding on the clouds and breaking through the mist towards the east.

    Watching this scene, he couldn't help but recall the description of the Guoshaying Fairy from "Xiao Yaoyou" (the Confucian Analects): At the foot of Guoshaying Mountain there dwells a god who is like a woman in grace and beauty, whose skin is as white as snow and ice, whose form is that of a maiden's. She does not eat grain or fruit, but breathes air and drinks dew. She rides clouds and flies on dragons, exploring the seas beyond the realm of mortals.

    "Xie Ziran is so similar to the Guoshaying Fairy described in 'Xiao Yaoyou' (The Book of Chunqiu). She truly is a divine being."

    Chen Yun harbored a deep affection, his mind filled with images of Xie Ziran.

    He was unaware that he had once again fallen into the trap of desire.

    The emotional bondage, in fact, is deeply rooted in one's heart, emotions and feelings such as love, anger, sadness, joy and grief. Love is also one of them.

    Chen Yun's emotional bondage is indeed generated by Lin Feiyun, but it is also temporarily alleviated by dealing with that demoness. However, emotional bondage is not just sorrow and sorrow.

    He has only experienced one aspect of it, so he has not truly overcome the emotional bondage.

    Chen Yun was attracted to Xie Ziran's appearance because it conforms to his aesthetic tastes. With constant contact and today seeing her as a goddess, his emotional bondage was fully unleashed.

    As the saying goes, "a third-party is clear", he now fell into the plight of desire unaware.

    Perhaps it was due to the "power of love," Chen Yun secretly vowed that he must cultivate to the point where he is impervious to water and fire before Xie Ziran returns. Then, he would wait for her return and go find the Mountain Demon to fight with it, in order to awaken his Dao Qi.

    ...

    Night.

    Chen Yun came to the top of the mountain alone to cultivate the Flying Spirit Jade Talisman.

    He sat in meditation, focusing his mind towards the northeast corner. The vast and boundless Qi before him transformed into a dense purple cloud, enveloping his entire body.

    He felt as if his entire body was enveloped within the purple cloud, both outside and inside of him.

    After a long time, Chen Yun imagined these purple clouds transforming into a nine-colored beast, resembling the shape of phosphorus, appearing before his eyes.

    He counted his teeth sixty-three times.

    Sixty-two kinds of Qi merged into his body.

    Chen Yun continuously introduced the essence of the spiritual energy from the heavens and earth into his body.

    Once he was filled with Qi throughout his body, he used the Nine Swallow Method to swallow spiritual energy.

    Instantly, he opened his eyes and saw a faint light illuminating his entire body.

    As these spiritual energies merged into his body, Chen Yun was in the process of "inner vision," observing any changes in his flesh.

    At first, there was no significant difference from everyday life; these energies merely integrated into every inch of his body.

    However, as time went on, Chen Yun gradually observed that there were some small changes happening to his body.

    For instance, his blood and marrow seemed to become "dense" as Qi merged with them.

    Yes, he was quite certain that the blood and marrow were becoming "dense."

    As if after the large amount of spiritual energy merged into his body, his blood and marrow had become Qi.

    Of course, this was just his sensory perception. In reality, the blood remained blood and the marrow naturally remained marrow, but the energy contained within them was boundless, causing his blood and marrow to undergo a slight and subtle transformation.

    "This cultivation method is to transform the physical body into a state of 'energy body,' or a more advanced form of life. Now that my blood and marrow have undergone a qualitative change to some extent, it seems I have preliminarily touched the edge of small achievement. Next, I only need to elevate the sinews, muscles, skin, tendons, bones, as well as the five internal organs and six bowels."

    Chen Yun knew that several days would be needed.

    However, starting anything is always the hardest part. Since I have already initiated a qualitative change in my blood and marrow, subsequent transformations in the sinews, muscles, skin, bones, as well as the five internal organs and six bowels will proceed more swiftly.

    He continued to meditate in the lotus position for a long time before riding the wind back to rest and sleep.

    ...

    On the second night, Chen Yun's skin and bones also underwent a qualitative transformation. If before his bones were as unbreakable as steel, now they had evolved into a "jade" texture, making him immune to extreme cold and heat, as well as water and fire.

    On the third night, Chen Yun's tendons also underwent a qualitative transformation. Each major tendon became as supple as the string of a nine-stone bow, yet without any stiffness; on the contrary, they were as soft as an infant's.

    On the fourth night, Chen Yun's entire body underwent a qualitative transformation. From the originally bulging muscles, they became as soft as a woman's, and a layer of jade-like luster covered him. It seemed that no matter whether it was weapons, fire, or water, he was immune to any harm.

    On the fifth night, the skin...

    On the sixth day...

    On the seventh day...

    The twelve days flew by in the blink of an eye.

    ...

    This night, Chen Yun had just completed his cultivation of the Flying Spirit Jade Talisman.

    He felt that the energy within him was like an underground surge beneath the sea, roaring and surging. With every move he made, it seemed as if he could unleash an endless amount of power.

    "The powerful force of my physical body seems to be several times stronger than before!"

    Chen Yun couldn't believe his eyes as he gazed at his hands, which were as white as jade.

    The power surged unceasingly, as if it could split mountains and break stones.

    "The traces of my previous cultivation for accumulating essence and refining my body have completely vanished, and my power has greatly increased. If I had to describe it in terms of realm, my physical body's strength should have reached the mid-level of a fifth-grade sorcerer."

    In just a little over a month, my physical body has gone from the early stage of a fifth-grade sorcerer to the mid-level, this kind of improvement is not small at all.

    What's most crucial, cultivating the Flying Spirit Jade Talisman, has not only enhanced my strength.

    Chen Yun's entire body had undergone a transformation. His skin was as smooth as cream and snow, his features more regular, and his height had increased from the original 1.75 meters to around 1.85 meters, tall and majestic.

    At this moment, if someone were to see him, they would certainly praise him as a handsome man.

    "That's why Xie Ziran is so beautiful. It seems this great law can also enhance one's appearance."

    Chen Yun couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

    Thinking of this, he teleported some dry branches from a distance.

    Chen Yun ran the true qi and used a fireball spell on the dry branches.

    Instantly, the dry branches were ignited, and a fierce blaze rose into the night sky.

    Without hesitation, he stood up and leaped into the surging flames directly.

    Even though the flames were fierce, Chen Yun emitted a faint glow from his entire body, preventing the fire from reaching his clothes.

    Immune to both water and fire!

    After one month of hard cultivation, I have finally reached the level of water and fire invincibility, as described by Xie Ziran as the lowest standard of revealing Dao Qi!

    Although this rapid advancement was due to the foundation of accumulating essence and refining the body, Chen Yun still felt a great sense of accomplishment in his heart.

    He bathed in the flames and let out a long, echoing cry.

    The sound of his scream was like the horn of a cargo ship, suddenly sounding in the night sky.

    This howling sound soared higher and higher, endlessly.

    Even after a moment, it scattered the low-hanging clouds.

    Just one scream, and it scattered the low-hanging clouds. It can be imagined how powerful it is!

    Chen Yun knew that his improvement was too great, but he did not become arrogant or complacent. Instead, he looked up at the stars in the sky and secretly set a goal for himself: "Once Xie Ziran returns, I will quickly display Dao Qi in battle to gain Dao body and raise my inner Dan to the realm of a mid-level sorcerer!"

    (Chapter ends)