Immortal's Cloud Mica Pill

As the box opened, there was no dazzling radiance or refreshing aroma of medicinal herbs, but rather a piece of paper the size of a palm.

This was a very old piece of paper, yellowed all over, with even traces of breakage in some places, as if it would crumble into dust with a gentle blow.

What was most surprising was that there were no words or patterns on the paper; it was completely blank.

He frowned slightly, looking left and right, unable to discern the mystery of this paper, nor daring to test it by water or fire.

Suddenly, he remembered his master once saying that the writing of those in the Underworld was different from that of the living world, called "underworld script." If a living person did not possess the Wise Eye, it was difficult to see its contents.

Wise Eye...

His eyebrows shot up. It seemed that although the City God had sent something, he had also left a test.

If one's skill is not up to par, one can stand by a treasure mountain but have no way to use it.

Zhou Sheng smiled slightly, then quickly stood up and kicked, his toe landing precisely on his glabella, sticking the pre-formed, paper-thin gold foil "Wise Eye" hidden in his shoe tip onto his forehead.

A theatrical stunt, kicking the Wise Eye!

This stunt was often used in performances of Weituo in "Golden Mountain Temple" and Erlang Shen in opera, and it most tested one's waist and leg strength.

This leg kick had to be both fast and steady, emphasizing flexibility like a vine and strength like iron, with a rigid and crisp posture.

When Zhou Sheng practiced diligently back then, he had to high-kick his toes through the hole of a suspended copper coin to pass.

With a kick in the air at this moment, his eyes lifted, and a golden, dazzling Wise Eye appeared on his glabella.

For a Ghost Opera Performer, the Wise Eye could recognize changes, break invisibility, and connect the Yin and Yang. It was a very useful divine ability, but it also consumed a great deal.

As soon as the Wise Eye opened, Zhou Sheng felt a coolness on his glabella, and the world around him became exceptionally clear. He could even see colors invisible to the human eye, a kind of indescribable splendor and fantasy.

His master had warned him that if his Dao cultivation was not high enough, he should not easily open his Wise Eye, otherwise, if his gaze offended passing Ghosts and Gods, it would easily lead to disaster.

Fortunately, Zhou Sheng was only in his room at the moment, so he didn't have to worry too much.

Picking up the paper and observing it with his Wise Eye, he indeed saw lines of text appearing on it.

"Immortal's Cloud Mica Pill (Fragment)"

"One jin of mica, two liang of Alisma, eight liang of Asparagus, eight liang of Poria..."

Zhou Sheng's eyes lit up. This was actually a Daoist medicinal formula for consuming mica!

Mica, the essence of twelve hundred kinds of minerals, the spirit of seventy-two atmospheric currents, solid and luminous, indestructible by water, unburnable by fire, enduring as heaven and earth, shining with the sun and moon.

In his past life in China, there were many legends of immortals attaining the Dao by consuming mica, such as He Xiangu, one of the famous Eight Immortals. It was said that "at the age of fifteen, she dreamed of a divine being teaching her to eat mica powder, after which she became light as a bird and flew freely over the mountain tops."

Wei Shuqing in the "Records of Immortals" directly became an immortal by consuming mica.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, mica is also a precious medicinal material, with effects of calming the spirit, improving vision, lightening the body, and even prolonging life.

However, it is, after all, a mineral. Gold and stone are the most difficult to digest. If one does not have immortal methods, consuming too much can be harmful.

Zhou Sheng had not expected that the City God would give him such a great gift.

It was just the word "fragment" on the prescription that made him dare not relax easily. After memorizing the prescription, he quickly closed his Wise Eye.

After a moment, his head began to ache faintly.

He must improve his cultivation as soon as possible!

He performed Turtle Shell Divination again, asking for information related to this prescription. If there were no hidden dangers, he could take it directly.

The result made him very happy.

"Fragment of the Immortal's Cloud Mica Pill, the most crucial part is lost. After decades of diligent research and repair by a divine physician, although its efficacy is greatly reduced, it can now be consumed."

"Take one dose every seven days, for a total of two doses. It will increase Blood Essence internally, strengthen muscles and bones externally, lighten the body, improve vision, and prolong life. If supplemented with guiding exercises, it can enhance cultivation."

A smile appeared on Zhou Sheng's face. Now he could finally put his mind at ease.

Especially the words "enhance cultivation," which was exactly what he needed most urgently at the moment.

However, it was already late at night, and the pharmacies were closed. His own condition was also not good, so he suppressed his excitement and soon fell into a deep sleep.

He slept soundly, only waking up leisurely when the sun was high. After eating some simple food, he went to the pharmacy to gather the required ingredients.

Then, following the steps on the prescription, he ground them, mixed them with a jar of semi-fermented wine, put them into a bamboo tube, dried them over a fire, stirred them into a paste, and then dried them in the sun on a board for half a day, finally grinding them into a fine powder like white sand.

Success!

However, it could not be taken directly; it had to be supplemented with White Dew Water. Otherwise, if the Yin and Yang were unbalanced, the immortal medicine would immediately turn into poison.

Strictly following the steps of the prescription, with White Dew Water, Zhou Sheng took the medicine.

The doors and windows were locked, so he didn't have to worry about being disturbed by outsiders.

He quietly waited for the medicine to take effect.

At first, there was no sensation, but after about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, streams of heat suddenly surged from his lower abdomen, continuously flowing to his limbs and bones.

There was no expulsion of impurities through pores, nor were there broken and repaired meridians, but an extreme sense of comfort.

It was like bathing in a hot spring, with every inch of muscle stretching to its fullest, and as if soaring on the clouds of the nine heavens, feeling light and ethereal.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

His heart pounded like a war drum, each beat causing his Blood Essence to surge. His skin glowed like crimson clouds, emitting wisps of white mist, while his eyes glinted with sharp light.

Remembering the words from the Luoshu, Zhou Sheng quickly spread his feet apart, rooting his toes into the ground. He cupped his hands in a void embrace, shifting into a special breathing rhythm.

This was called the Primordial Basket-Lifting Stance, the first of the twelve movements taught by Lan Caihe.

Zhou Sheng had been practicing this guiding method for sixteen years.

According to his master, Lan Caihe, one of the Eight Immortals, was named Xu Jian, but was known as Lan Caihe. He was once an actor in a troupe in Liangyuan, Luoyang, before being converted to immortality by Zhongli Quan.

Some opera troupes even worshiped him as their Patriarch.

The twelve movements of Lan Caihe's guiding method were said to have been passed down to Ghost Opera Performers after his ascension. It could strengthen Blood Essence and increase vital energy. If one's talent was exceptional enough, they could even cultivate true Dao cultivation.

Zhou Sheng had practiced this technique for sixteen years, without interruption through heat and cold, before cultivating Dao cultivation three years ago.

It was only from that time that his master was willing to let him venture out on his own.

However, despite his diligence, cultivation was a matter of slow and steady progress, so his advancements had always been very slow.

But now, stimulated by the continuous flow of medicinal power, his Dao cultivation began to advance by leaps and bounds.

The magical power, which had been like a faint thread, was growing at a visible rate, changing with almost every breath.

As the guiding technique was performed, his Dao cultivation progressed vigorously with each inhale and exhale.

Void embrace like a basket lifted high, parting clouds and gathering mist between fingers.

Left foot grounded, right foot draws from the spring, rocking the sea to open the Governing and Conception channels.

Tossing the basket disperses the turbid three winters, bare feet stamping out all illness and cold.

Don't laugh at the madman in his tattered blue robes, the true secret of guiding lies in the mortal world!

Zhou Sheng performed the guiding technique six times in a row before the heat within his body slowly dissipated.

When he opened his eyes again, a divine light shone from them, brilliant as the morning sun, fading slowly after a long while.

His body felt as if it had shed half a pound of impure bone, giving him a feeling of being as light as a swallow, with the wind beneath his feet.

Of course, the most gratifying thing was his Dao cultivation, which had doubled.

A single dose of the medicine was equivalent to his sixteen years of arduous cultivation!

And this was only a fragment of the Immortal's Cloud Mica Pill, with the most crucial core part lost.

If it could be completed, could it be that...

He could truly become an immortal?