In winter, white is the most eye-catching color. Ginkgo, plane tree, and water cypress trees are clustered together, with thick snow hanging on them, turning the Qingcheng Mountain into a natural snow landscape.

    Chen Yun glided through the rugged mountain path, with all he could see being snow-white.

    The snow landscape mills empty-baked rice cloud, covers the sun to reveal tangerine-red clouds.

    Isn't this exactly the beautiful snow scene of winter that is described?

    After a moment, he returned to the Taoist temple.

    Perhaps, after being away for over two months, Chen Yun couldn't help but feel a slight sense of nostalgia when he returned here.

    When he left, he was just an ordinary monk.

    By the time of his return, he had not only reached the level of a middle-grade magician but also mastered the great method of Xie Ziran, and successfully manifested his Taoist body.

    The achievements he accomplished in just two months were far beyond what countless people who spent their whole lives cultivating could achieve.

    I've grown so much.

    Thinking that, Chen Yun stepped over the threshold.

    He saw Zhong Liuyuan standing under the magnolia tree, admiring the beautiful peach blossoms.

    Chen Yun quickly approached and kneeled down on the snowy ground, bowing his head and said: "Master, my disciple has returned."

    "Returned?" Zhong Liuyuan asked with a smile like an elderly father, extending his hand to help his disciple up from the ground, "From your appearance, it seems you've learned quite a lot from Master Xie."

    Chen Yun stood up respectfully and said, "Master Xie's teachings are diligent, and I am very grateful."

    Zhong Liuyuan made a grunting sound and, seemingly casually, smilingly asked: "With your one battle, you have become famous throughout the Shu region. What feelings do you have in your heart?"

    To be honest, Chen Yun was quite proud of this.

    Of course, if someone else asked this question, Chen Yun would definitely be humble.

    However, the one asking this question was his master. He spoke frankly: "I am quite satisfied with myself."

    "Being respected by all is a natural feeling for a person," said Zhong Liuyuan, first affirming his disciple's words, then pointing to the plum blossoms in the corner of the room, "Look, in this harsh winter, the colorful flowers that compete for beauty in spring are nowhere to be seen. Only the plum blossoms still bloom amidst the howling cold wind. As cultivators with the great power of heaven and earth, it's quite easy for us to bloom in spring. However, what's difficult about cultivation is enduring loneliness during this harsh winter."

    Chen Yun, who was still lost in self-satisfaction, suddenly became enlightened.

    Master Zhong Liuyuan is using the plum blossoms to warn himself that cultivation is a solitary endeavor and not to be distracted by temporary achievements.

    Without realizing it, Chen Yun couldn't help but think of the poem "Plum Blossoms" written by Wang Anshi, and exclaimed out loud, "There are several plum blossoms in the corner, blooming alone in the cold. Know that they're not snowflakes. It's the faint fragrance that comes from them."

    "Eh?" Zhong Liuyuan glanced sideways and smiled, "I never thought that kid would be able to write poetry as well."

    Chen Yun was about to say that the poem was not his own.

    Zhong Liuyuan continued, "Since you can compose such a poem, I'm sure you understand the meaning of this. Every era comes and goes, and people are like fish swimming across a river. Temporary reverence may bring you comfort for a while, but these are all fleeting. The only way to achieve eternal existence is to endure loneliness and stick to the heart of seeking truth as a child."

    He was teaching him about heart cultivation. Chen Yun understood the kindness and hardship of his master's words, so he deeply bowed and said: "I have learned from you, thank you for your enlightenment."

    Zhong Liuyuan nodded slightly, then gave him his first formal praise, "This time, you were able to defeat a stronger opponent, though it was due to the favor of heaven, the advantages of the terrain, and the harmony of people. But winning is winning. You've protected the safety of the 200,000 people in Liu Xi City. My heart is very satisfied."

    Chen Yun said, "It's all thanks to your teachings."

    "I can't teach you everything," Zhong Liuyuan smiled and said seriously, "From today on, the cultivation matters. I also have little to teach. You need to cultivate your mind by yourself."

    At this point, he made a different suggestion, "In the future, if you want to take disciples or subordinates, or if you want to set up your own school of thought, just let me know."

    Hmm?

    Does Master mean that I have graduated from apprenticeship?

    Chen Yun felt overjoyed in his heart, but he said aloud, "I would like to serve Master for the rest of my life. However, this time I did bring back a few spirits from Jin Quan Mountain and would like to take them as my disciples. That's why I came back to ask for your opinion."

    Zhong Liuyuan said, "I have investigated the backgrounds of those few spirits. They are indeed kind-hearted and celestial beings. I allow you to take them in as disciples. In the future, they can also accompany you and fulfill various duties such as patrolling the mountains and protecting you. By calling them up to the mountain, I will teach them several cultivation methods that will make them practice day and night without rest, so that they can purify their bodies from evil spirits and avoid being mistaken for malevolent ones by people."

    Chen Yun was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, Master."

    He hurried down the mountain to bring Gongjuji, the monkey monster, and the white monkey to the mountain.

    After seeing these spirits and beasts, Zhong Liuyuan taught them all the vitality cultivation method except for the white monkey.

    Chen Yun then thought that Master Zhong Liuyuan didn't like the white monkey, so he didn't teach him the vitality cultivation method.

    Later, Zhong Liuyuan casually mentioned that the white monkey had learned the cultivation of the flesh from Xie Ziran.

    Chen Yun remembered the scene of Xie Ziran patting the white monkey's head when he first taught him. He realized then that he had already been taught.

    The Vitality Cultivation Method is not a great law for the true orthodoxy of Xuanmen.

    However, for spirits like Gongjuji and the monkey monster, it was an extremely effective method.

    They all kneeled and worshipped Zhong Liuyuan with tears in their eyes, vowing to follow Chen Yun wholeheartedly and never betray him.

    ……

    Evening time.

    Chen Yun was called to the upper room by Zhong Liuyuan.

    Today he has been extremely busy. He has bound more than a thousand orphans and wild ghosts using secret methods, reshaped the ghost image and tablet for the newly arrived ghost soldiers and ghosts he had just subdued, and also arranged for Gongjuji, the monkey monster, and the white monkey.

    Of course, he also had to comfort his mount.

    Chen Yun could say that he has been working non-stop for a moment.

    In the room.

    Zhong Liuyuan was sitting in front of the tea table, sipping tea.

    He took a sip of tea, put down the cup, and said, "Since I won't have much to teach you in the future, and you have now cultivated to the level of a middle-grade magician, this is a good opportunity to pass on some basic magic techniques while I'm still here."

    Chen Yun was surprised to hear that his master was going to teach him magic techniques again, and he joyfully exclaimed, "Thank you, Master."

    "When you were earlier in cultivation, I feared that you would become obsessed with magic, so I didn't teach you. Now that you have made some progress, learning more magic techniques won't be a problem."

    Zhong Liuyuan said, extending his hand and suddenly a jade tablet appeared in his palm, "It contains hundreds of basic magic techniques. I will go back to Zhongshan soon. You can learn by yourself. If there is any specific magic technique you want to learn and it is not recorded in the jade tablet, you can ask when you return to Zhongshan. For the rest of the time, stay here for quiet cultivation. Well, cultivate quietly for three years, and after three years, enter the world to temper your heart."

    The instructions were very detailed.

    Chen Yun thanked him while taking the jade tablet, "Master, is there a magic technique for flying like clouds and floating in the sky in the tablet?"

    "There are, all basic magic techniques are included, but there are no particularly powerful ones."

    Zhong Liuyuan reached out again and a second jade tablet appeared in his palm. "This jade tablet contains many miscellaneous skills, such as refining weapons, making talismans, refining elixirs, and other methods. Today, I will pass all of them on to you at once."

    Chen Yun took it again and thanked him while storing it in his storage ring.

    Who would have thought that the storage ring, due to its serious damage from the previous battle, would suddenly explode when opened again, scattering its contents all over the floor.

    It was somewhat painful to have the storage ring break, but Chen Yun still had the patch he received from Xie Wuming, so he wasn't too upset.

    He was about to use his magic to collect the scattered items.

    Who would have thought that Zhong Liuyuan suddenly said something nonsensical, "There is no record of the jar heaven technique."

    Chen Yun hesitated and exclaimed, "Ah?"

    "The ring you have that engraved with the Jar Heaven Technique has been broken, so it will no longer be convenient to carry things in the future," Zhong Liuyuan explained in detail. "The Jar Heaven Technique is a great magic, but it was not recorded in the jade tablet I gave you before."

    Jar Heaven Technique?

    If I'm not mistaken, this technique was later included in the "Chronicle of Immortals through the Ages," among the seventy-two Dizai arts.

    This is an extremely powerful technique!

    Chen Yun, upon hearing Zhong Liuyuan's implication that he knew the Jar Heaven Technique, immediately put on a thick face and said, "Master Zhong Liuyuan, can you teach me the Jar Heaven Technique?"

    "Haha, even if you didn't ask, I would have taught it to you," Zhong Liuyuan slowly said. "The Jar Heaven Technique is a magical technique that is not easy to cultivate. Although this technique can be vast as the universe when cultivated to a high level, where heaven and earth are held in the palm of your hand, it is very energy-consuming. Therefore, before I teach it to you, I must remind you of one thing."

    Damn!

    The Jar Heaven Technique is so awesome?

    Vast as the cosmos in the sleeve, and heaven and earth in the palm?

    Chen Yun's first thought was of Zhenyun Da Xian's "Sleeve Heaven and Earth Technique" in Journey to the West. Although the two techniques are not similar in description, they share some similarities in concept.

    Zhenyun Da Xian had used "Sleeve Heaven and Earth" to subdue Sun Wukong, which shows the incredible power of this technique.

    Furthermore, the description of "heaven and earth in the palm" also seems very similar to the method used by Emperor Buddha to subdue Sun Wukong in Journey to the West.

    Now that Master Zhong Liuyuan explains the function of the Jar Heaven Technique, it seems that it is similar to both "Sleeve Heaven and Earth" and "Palm Land and Universe," and may even be stronger.

    Chen Yun was naturally thrilled at the thought.

    He hurriedly said, "Disciple is all ears."

    Zhong Liuyuan said, "When you practice this technique, you can create a space for storing items. Do not get obsessed with it. At the very least, do not become addicted to techniques before you attain enlightenment."

    Master Zhong Liuyuan's words have deep meanings.

    Chen Yun would definitely not ignore his master's words. "Disciple will strictly follow Master's teachings."

    "Alright, then I will teach this technique to you."

    Zhong Liuyuan blew a breath of fairy essence, and a jade tablet suddenly appeared on the table.

    This shows that he had never intended to teach Chen Yun the Jar Heaven Technique beforehand. He only taught it after seeing that Chen Yun's storage ring was broken and spontaneously decided to impart the technique.

    That being said, if Chen Yun had not damaged his storage ring during the battle against Yin Wuji, he might not have learned the Jar Heaven Technique.

    Chen Yun hadn't expected that the battle with Yin Wuji would bring him an unexpected blessing. At that moment, he felt slightly moved in his heart. It is indeed the case that every action has a consequence, and the concept of carrying and bearing is too difficult to fathom.

    "The technique is recorded in the jade tablet," Zhong Liuyuan slowly stood up and said: "You will meditate here for three years. I will return to Zhongshan first."

    Just as he spoke, his form collapsed, turning into bits of radiant light and vanishing.

    Chen Yun quickly bowed and loudly said, "Disciple respectfully sends off Master."

    Chen Yun respected his teacher wholeheartedly.

    Of course, whether Master Zhong Liuyuan was really there or had left, Chen Yun would still put on a proper display of courtesy.

    After completing the etiquette, he then picked up the jade tablet on the table and stored it in the patch.

    "I didn't expect that after I broke through to the level of a middle-grade magician, Master would actually teach me hundreds of basic magic techniques, as well as skills in refining weapons, making talismans, and refining elixirs."

    Chen Yun was overjoyed in his heart, "The most important thing is that I also learned the powerful 'Jar Heaven Technique.' In the next three years, besides practicing diligently every day, I can spend my free time researching magic techniques."

    Thinking of this, he was about to use his true essence to gather the scattered items and store them in the purple patch.

    Suddenly, Chen Yun slapped his head and said, "I haven't checked the war booty I obtained from Yin Wuji yet. Now that I have some time, let me see what I got. I hope there are more good things. Don't let me down."

    (End of this chapter)