It was dusk by the time I returned to the camp of the Qidan army.

    When Chen Yun and Xiao Gou Teng came back, they saw piles of dead Qidan soldiers lying outside Baozhou city. The land was blackened, as if it had been burned. The camp was filled with wounded soldiers.

    On the contrary, the city of Baozhou seemed to have sustained little damage.

    Chen Yun guessed that the Qidan army's siege had failed, which was why it was like this.

    However, he hoped that the Qidan army could successfully besiege the city.

    However, the wars between ordinary people, they usually don't involve themselves, the cultivators or gods. They only defend the city to stop the enemy's advance, or if they encounter an opponent with a cultivator blocking the path, they will step forward to resolve it through combat.

    As for the rest, it has little to do with their cultivators and deities.

    Of course, Chen Yun wouldn't use his great powers to help the Qidan army break into the city of Baozhou.

    He returned to the pavilion where he lived.

    Nezha, Li Jing, Niupingtian, Niudali, and others were already waiting.

    As soon as Chen Yun came back, Niudali immediately went up to greet him and said: "True Master Chen, how was your trip to Kunlun?"

    Zhang Qian, Lin Chen, and Jiao Dao Ren, all looked towards Chen Yun.

    While leading Xiao Gou Teng to walk inside, Chen Yun said casually: "It was relatively smooth, my ancestors did not blame me."

    Come to the table, sit down.

    He pointed at one side and said to Xiao Gouteng, "You can also sit down."

    "Oh." Xiao Gouteng sat down on the side and looked at everyone with big eyes, as if he was very curious.

    Everyone had already noticed Xiao Gouteng and all seemed very curious.

    Nezha, with his straightforward nature, asked, "Brother Chen, who is this child? Could he be your son?"

    Niudali, Jiao Dao Ren, and Zhang Qian showed a confused expression.

    As Chen Yun's disciples, they didn't remember seeing the child before.

    Chen Yun smiled, "He is Gouteng."

    "Um!"

    "Gouteng?"

    "How does he look like this?"

    Li Jing, Lin Chen, and Baidao Ren were all taken aback at once.

    Chen Yun told about some of the things that happened at Xiwangmu's side.

    He definitely wouldn't mention important matters, but only talked about the parts related to Gouteng.

    After listening, everyone finally understood what had happened. They all marveled at Xiwangmu's boundless power, including the ability to bring the dead back to life.

    After a brief idle chat, Chen Yun changed the subject and asked, "Today's siege did not succeed?"

    Li Jing helplessly shook his head, "Baozhou city had prepared straw and kerosene. As soon as the Qidan army began the siege, they immediately dropped bundles of straw soaked in kerosene. The siege machinery and ladders were all burned clean. Now that we have no more siege equipment, General Zhao says we should wait for the Qidan emperor to bring the main force."

    Chen Yun furrowed his brow and said, "In the morning, our cultivation disciples fought with the cultivators of Baozhou city. We could see that they were delaying time. If we wait for the main force to arrive, there may be changes. If we cannot quickly capture the city, I fear that our vanguard forces may be completely wiped out, or even worse, we may encounter very powerful opponents that we cannot match."

    Nezha seemed to know something, "If I'm not mistaken, Kuaimulang is waiting for the other eight star officials from the Qiu constellation to arrive. Those star officials cannot leave their posts arbitrarily, and they must arrange everything about the star movements. Therefore, I guess they will arrive in two to three days."

    Jiushou Niumuzhelang said, "If we fail to break through the city of Baozhou within three days, we will have to face the nine star officials of the Qiu constellation?"

    Li Jing nodded slightly and said, "Yes."

    Upon hearing this, the mightiest disciples of Chen Yun, Nezha, Li Jing, and Jiushou Niumuzhelang in the pavilion all fell silent.

    The main deity of the nine star officials of the Qiu constellation is Kuaimulang, who belongs to one of the Twenty-Eight constellations.

    Although not among the Twenty-Eight constellations, the other eight officials of the Qiu constellation are only eight out of a total of sixteen stars in the Kuai constellation. It can be imagined how powerful they are.

    The most terrifying thing is that these star officials may or may not bring divine warriors and weapons from the Qiu constellation.

    If they do bring the divine warriors and weapons from the Qiu constellation, Chen Yun, Nezha, Li Jing, and others' only chance of breaking through is for Li Jing to summon his treasured pagoda.

    The problem is that this pagoda cannot be used lightly.

    Buddha only gave Li Jing the pagoda to prevent Nezha from causing trouble, not for exorcism or subduing demons.

    Chen Yun knew that the ordinary soldiers had to capture the city within three days, otherwise the situation would become unfavorable.

    Without showing any emotion, he asked, "Who is familiar with the situation inside Baozhou city? Explain it to me carefully. I want to see if there are any ways to break the city."

    Li Jing was taken aback and reminded, "True Master Chen, our cultivators and deities are not allowed to participate in ordinary people's wars. Don't you remember that?"

    "I naturally remember," Chen Yun said with a smile. "I didn't say that we would use magic to help break the city, nor would I provide additional intelligence. I'm just thinking from the perspective of ordinary people."

    Li Jing breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Since it's like that, there's nothing to worry about. I remember some of the situation in Baozhou city, let me explain it to you carefully."

    He detailed the situation in Baozhou city.

    Nezha, Jiushou Niumozhelang, Niudali, Zhang Qian, and others were listening attentively.

    Actually, Chen Yun had already heard this information before.

    It's just that the Baozhou city militia has ten thousand men, and the officers have ten thousand men. The leaders are Chen Lang and Zhang Xu.

    The previous city defense general was a minor officer named Shao Ke, but he was brutal in nature. He was later demoted by the governor, Wang Lingwen, and is now a close confidant of Wu Luan.

    Currently, the situation of the city defense in Baozhou is roughly as follows: Wu Luan is personally guarding the East Gate, the militia leader Chen Lang is guarding the West Gate, the adjutant Yang Pu is guarding the North Gate, and Shao Ke is guarding the South Gate, which is the most threatening.

    Spring cold is biting, and the wind blowing from the newly thawed moat still stings the face like a knife.

    Under such conditions, besieging the city is already extremely difficult.

    Furthermore, Baozhou city has prepared in advance, burning the Qidan army's siege equipment.

    It seems there is no possibility of breaking through the city.

    Li Jing soon finished describing the situation.

    The rest of the people shook their heads, feeling that it is impossible for the vanguard to accomplish anything before the main force arrives.

    Chen Yun sat there thinking for a while and suddenly asked, "Why was Shao Ke demoted by Wang Lingwen?"

    Li Jing said, "Shao Ke was brutal in nature and was impeached by his subordinates. He also had a conflict with Wang Lingwen, so his impeachment was natural."

    Chen Yun nodded thoughtfully, and asked again, "Where is Wang Lingwen now?"

    Li Jing replied, "He returned to the court and reported back. The current governor of Baozhou is Wu Luan. Didn't you know this, True Master Chen?"

    Chen Yun blinked and said, "Wu Luan actually dared to have Shao Ke guard the East Gate?"

    Li Jing was quite puzzled and asked, "Why not?"

    Nezha, Niupingtian, and Niudali also had the same view.

    Chen Yun asked in reverse, "General Li, if you were dismissed because of a conflict with your superior, and your superior was thriving and enjoying his position, would you still have a chance for revenge over time?"

    Li Jing suddenly understood, "True Master Chen, are you suggesting we secretly bribe Shao Ke?"

    Chen Yun nodded slightly and said, "That's right. Shao Ke was once dismissed by Wang Lingwen, so he must harbor resentment. However, his position is low, and he has never had a chance to avenge his grievances. If we can have someone secretly bribe him, when we besiege the city, he will open the East Gate for us. With five thousand vanguard troops pouring into the city, how can one thousand soldiers and one thousand militia resist?"

    Li Jing's eyes lit up and said, "I think this can be done. As long as we find someone to infiltrate Baozhou city, persuade him with reason and entice him with benefits, the likelihood of Shao Ke's rebellion is quite high."

    Although Nezha, Niupingtian, and Niudali didn't understand military matters, they still understood human relationships.

    How could Shao Ke not harbor resentment after being arbitrarily dismissed?

    If someone were to stir the pot now, adding fuel to the fire and making promises of gold, jewelry, and official positions, while giving him the hope of avenging Wang Lingwen with his own hands, Shao Ke might be more than willing to break through the city.

    Chen Yun said, "If Your Majesty thinks it's feasible, then this method is definitely correct."

    At this point, he turned to Zhang Qian, "Brother Zhang, I need you to go and find General Zhao and discuss my proposal with him and Master Li."

    Zhang Qian quickly said, "Okay, True Master Chen, I'll go and find General Zhao and bring him to see you."

    Chen Yun waved his hand and said, "There's no need to let him come and see me. I still have some things to do. Just tell him the plan."

    Zhang Qian replied, "As you say."

    After saying that, he turned and left the pavilion hurriedly.

    Chen Yun looked at Lin Chen and said, "Brother Lin, could you please take care of Guoteng for me?"

    Lin Chen replied, "Alright."

    Seeing that Chen Yun had matters to attend to, the others did not disturb him and left one by one.

    After everyone left, only Chen Yun was left alone in the pavilion. He sat down and started pondering over the fifth turn of "Mr. Chen's Inner Dan Dharma" as planned.

    "My inner cultivation not only involves cultivating golden dan and cultivating one's spiritual being, but also involves combining the 'Pangu True Body Dharma' to shape one's body."

    Chen Yun kept thinking, "Currently, the most important aspects are: first, cultivating the Yang spirit, and second, shaping one's body. That is to say, the fifth turn of the cultivation technique should be designed around these two points."

    The method for cultivating the Yang spirit can be found in the "Song of Breaking through Delusion and Correcting the Path."

    Xiwangmu also taught me another method.

    He naturally didn't need to worry about it.

    Chen Yun's current task is to figure out how to combine the fifth level of the "Pangu True Body Technique" with the methods he has learned.

    "At this level, it is very difficult for me to enhance my physical body. Unless I can use the fifth level of the 'Pangu True Body Technique' to completely replace my bones with immortal bones, I will not be able to continue getting stronger."

    He kept thinking, "To replace my bones with immortal bones is not to take out my bones and then use great methods to condense them into immortal bones. Instead, it is to use the Qi of the sun to undergo a process of Yang sand bone replacement, allowing the common bones to be absorbed with sweat. Once I can achieve this, my physical body will be so strong that it will be unimaginable. Perhaps even the deities like Erlang God and Xie Ziran, who have become saints with their physical bodies, may not have as strong a body as mine."

    Chen Yun didn't rush, continuing to ponder over the similarities between cultivating the Yang spirit and bone replacement that could be integrated.

    In fact, there is one point in common: both cultivating the Yang spirit and bone replacement require the use of the Qi of the sun.

    He thought he could do something with the Qi of the sun.

    After thinking for several hours, the outside world was already dark.

    Suddenly, Chen Yun had a rough idea. "I need to establish a Yang spirit 'palace', where the essence of my spirit can be refined away using the Qi of the sun. However, in order to establish this palace, my own body must achieve pure Yang both inside and out."

    The fourth turn cultivates internal Yin, the third turn cultivates internal Yang, and the fifth turn encompasses both inside and out, achieving the balance of Yin and Yang.

    This is the work of creation. If accomplished, both the spirit and the physical body can be truly pure Yang.

    Chen Yun combined various mystical arts and continuously experimented on himself while recording the results and making corrections to the incorrect parts.

    ......

    Time passed by bit by bit, and soon it was dawn.

    Since all the siege equipment had been burned, the Qidan troops did not attempt to besiege the city today.

    Chen Yun knew that Zhao Yan Shou was not idle; he had followed his strategy and sent someone to secretly infiltrate Baozhou city to persuade Shao Ke with reason, move him with emotions, and entice him with benefits, hoping to get his help in accomplishing the Qidan army's goals.

    From the current situation, it seems unlikely that the Qidan army will attempt to besiege the city today.

    Of course, he had no intention of going out and remained hiding inside the pavilion.

    He continued to contemplate the fifth turn of the "Mr. Chen's Inner Dan Dharma" technique.

    He had been pondering over the fifth level of the cultivation technique since he emerged from the Moon and Sun Cave more than a year ago. Although he had not yet put it into action, some ideas had formed in his mind.

    These ideas might not have been useful in everyday life, but now as he contemplated the fifth turn of the cultivation technique, they immediately integrated with it, allowing his thoughts to traverse thousands of miles in an instant.

    It was probably around sunset in the afternoon when Chen Yun finalized the rough draft of the fifth level of "Mr. Chen's Inner Dan Dharma."

    "I'm not sure if it will work. I'll record it first."

    Chen Yun brought out the four treasures of the study—paper, ink, brush, and inkstone—and then cast a spell to isolate the possibility of outside eavesdropping. Only then did he pick up the brush and begin to write:

    Choose the 9th, 19th, and 29th day of the twelfth lunar month at noon, ascend to a high place facing south and sit cross-legged. Close your eyes and sit facing the sun. When you feel calm, close your breath to make sure there is no exchange of qi, fill yourself with it internally, and mentally connect the true fire within and outside. The whole body will turn red and be filled with light. After twenty to thirty minutes, you will gradually feel a cold qi (Dan qi) rising from your Dan field to your heart, like a crystal ball in your heart. Then open your eyes and breathe in solar energy from the sun through your nose. Mentally guide it back to your heart and mix it with true water. Do this ninety-nine times for one hundred times until it stops.

    This is the basic method of practicing the exercise, but in fact, it contains many other methods of practice that are not written in detail.

    After writing the method, Chen Yun wrote the possible effects he believed it could achieve:

    The fifth turn will achieve the creation of Yin and Yang, forming an infant about one foot in length that can manipulate Yang energy.

    Sleeping, wandering the seas, awake knowing where; going and staying in a state of non-action, walking with faith.

    Write here, he thought for a while and still wrote the analysis on the upper part: fourth turn to cultivate internal Yin, third turn to cultivate internal Yang, fifth turn to cultivate both inside and outside, sufficient number of Yin and Yang. It is the work of creation, and it has been accomplished. The spiritual fetus has achieved its innate abilities, so it is said that it has been created. After the fifth turn, the spiritual fetus has been nurtured, and the divine body is one foot long. From then on, it collects solar energy to nourish the external Yang, which also takes advantage of the earth's creation. Ordinary people have nothing to nourish their inner selves, so their spirits are scattered without direction. During the day, the spirit is in one's heart; at night, it comes out of one's body. When sleeping, there is no rapid guarding of the spirit because it cannot be maintained; one does not know where they are or what they look like. Their spirit follows their soul or their body into ghostly realms; in dreams, there is nothing but ghosts gathered together without seeing any four elements or objects breaking in dreams. This happens automatically without realizing it because one's spirit follows their soul or their body which follows life and death based on oneself. Practitioners who have achieved enlightenment through cultivation have a unified mind which cannot be hindered by external factors or desires; their spirits rest within them like a well-guarded treasure that cannot be taken from them by evil forces or desires. This is why they have no worries or fears; they can leave behind life and death because they are in control of themselves. They can move freely between heaven and earth with ease through spirit transportation techniques if necessary.]

    Finally, Chen Yun wrote another "The Melancholy of the East" poem to pretend as a metaphor.

    "The Melancholy of the East":

    Zhu from the right, Zi electricity into the Dan city. Inner Yin and Yang are cultivated, and an infant is formed into a red elephant. When encountering the fifth turn, Yang energy is collected. Fire emerges from water.

    Burning the ghost mountain, purple lightning rising majestically. At will, playing and wandering within the world, sleeping like sand dunes lying on a giant whale, following the order together.

    After writing it, Chen Yun carefully checked and found no errors.

    He nodded slightly to himself, thinking: "Whether it works or not will be known after the ninth day of the first lunar month. If there's no problem with absorbing the Qi of the sun, this fifth turn technique should be about right."

    Chen Yun calculated the dates. Today is the seventh day of the lunar month. If the Qidan army manages to breach the city walls of Baozhou tomorrow, then he would be able to test the fifth turn cultivation technique the day after tomorrow.

    That means, I will finally begin to cultivate my Yang spirit!