Bestowing Treasures and Seclusion

After explaining to Jiang Yun the cultivation techniques for the Grand Unity Realm, Jieyin and Zhunti began to preach the Dao to him.

A Dao Sound like a great bell or bronze cauldron resounded throughout the hall.

"Let all conditions cease; let no external thoughts enter, no internal thoughts arise. Stir not a single thought, forget all matters. Still your ears, close your eyes, silence your tongue, regulate your breath. Preserve your spirit and steady your mind, focus solely on guarding within."

"All things in the world have cause and effect; cause and effect cycle endlessly, like a ring without end."

"The Way of Bodhi—Bodhi means awakening. Awaken the self, awaken others, awaken to perfect conduct..."

As the waves of Dao Sound arrived, Jiang Yun felt countless great principles within reach. He hurriedly immersed himself in contemplation, afraid to miss this golden opportunity. The great paths of Causality, Bodhi, and Nirvana intertwined like a beautiful symphony, drawing him into a state of blissful absorption from which he could not extricate himself.

A hundred years passed in the blink of an eye. The Dao Sound suddenly ceased, and Jiang Yun awoke from his enlightenment, struck by a sense of loss and emptiness.

"We will stop here for today's sermon. Disciple, after you return, you must deeply contemplate the content of this lecture. Do not be greedy for more."

Jieyin and Zhunti voluntarily ended the sermon. Teaching too much at once would hinder understanding and digestion.

After speaking, Jieyin took out a mid-grade innate spiritual treasure, the Golden Spirit Pearl, and called Jiang Yun forward to bestow it upon him. He said, "The Innate Metal Element Spiritual Power within this treasure can help you cultivate the Five Qi in the Chest and forge a stronger Dao foundation. Your master and your uncle will also keep an eye out for the other four top-grade elemental spiritual objects."

Though Jiang Yun had only recently become Jieyin's disciple, the two had already taught him everything they knew. The Western World was barren, and before the distribution of treasures at Purple Firmament Palace, Jieyin and Zhunti themselves possessed few innate spiritual treasures. Yet now, for his cultivation, they had bestowed such a precious gift. Deeply moved, Jiang Yun silently resolved to cultivate diligently and, in the future, wholeheartedly assist his masters in fulfilling their grand vow of prospering the West.

He respectfully accepted the Golden Spirit Pearl, rose, and said, "Thank you, Master, for the gift! Master, when your disciple was born, an Earth Spirit Pearl accompanied me. Later, while repairing the Western earth veins, I fortuitously obtained a Water Spirit Pearl. Now, with the Golden Spirit Pearl you have bestowed, I have three of the Five Elements Spirit Pearls. Only the Fire and Wood Spirit Pearls remain, and I do not know their whereabouts."

"Your disciple is grateful for your gift. On my way to Mount Sumeru, guided by the Heavenly Dao, I entered the Pengxuan Grotto-Heaven and collected some Three Lights Divine Water. I humbly present this to you and my uncle."

With that, he took out a portion of Three Lights Divine Water from his own world, manifested a bowl with his spiritual power, and offered it to the two.

Seeing this, the two were momentarily stunned. They had heard of the fame of Three Lights Divine Water—it was exceedingly rare and a precious treasure even for Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals like themselves. They had not expected their disciple to directly offer them a portion. Coupled with the fact that he already possessed two mid-grade innate spirit pearls, it seemed this disciple was quite wealthy.

The two were not the type to be overly modest. Since it was a gift from their disciple, they accepted it. After all, he was their first personal disciple, unlike outer or nominal disciples. He was the one who would inherit their complete teachings and, in the future, establish their lineage and spread the Dao on their behalf.

Accepting the Three Lights Divine Water, Jieyin felt deeply gratified. He said to Jiang Yun, "Give me the three spirit pearls. Your uncle and I will combine our efforts to deduce the whereabouts of the other two."

The Five Elements Spirit Pearls shared the same origin. They were formed from the shattered essence of the Thirty-Six-Petaled Green Lotus, the protective treasure of the Great God Pangu. Later, when Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire gave rise to the Five Elements, the Green Lotus's essence merged with them, creating these five pearls. They contained the primordial Five Elements essence from the dawn of heaven and earth, mutually generating and restraining each other in close connection. With three pearls in hand, deducing the general locations of the remaining two was not difficult.

Jiang Yun took out the pearls. The two received them, used them as a guide, and jointly performed a divination. After some time, they obtained the results.

The Fire Spirit Pearl was near the Immortal Volcano in the south, a region thick with fire energy and the stronghold of the Phoenix Clan, one of the Three Innate Races. It was likely that the Phoenix Clan had already obtained it. The Wood Spirit Pearl was in the North Sea region. After the Great Tribulation of Fierce Beasts, the remaining fierce beasts had taken refuge in the Northern Wasteland. Perhaps the pearl had not yet emerged.

After deducing the results, Jieyin returned the three spirit pearls to Jiang Yun and informed him of the findings. However, neither the Phoenix Clan in the south nor the fierce beasts in the north were easy to deal with. Moreover, since he already had three pearls, there was no need to rush in searching for the other two. It was better to focus on cultivation first.

After offering further encouragement, Jieyin told him to leave the hall, find a mountain, and carve out a cave dwelling to settle down.

Jiang Yun found a nearby mountain peak rich in spiritual energy, used his magical power to open a cave, set up a warning formation, and began refining the Golden Spirit Pearl.

On the other side, after he left, Jieyin and Zhunti discussed the matter.

"Junior Brother, what do you think of my disciple?" Jieyin asked Zhunti.

Zhunti thought Jieyin was showing off his disciple and replied, "Senior Brother, this disciple of yours possesses an Aura of Merit and deep fortune. He is a Person of Great Fortune. He practices Dual Cultivation of Dharma and Body, with a stable foundation in both flesh and Primordial Spirit. Even among those of the same realm, he is among the best."

Jieyin shook his head. Under Zhunti's slightly puzzled gaze, he said, "Junior Brother, you don't know. When I set out earlier and tried to deduce this child's location, I found it impossible. If not for the guidance of the Western World's fortune, I would have struggled to find him."

"Oh? Could he have a Treasure that Conceals Heavenly Secrets on him?"

"Having such a treasure is not surprising. What's interesting is that when he formally became my disciple, the Western World's fortune surged and boiled, and the spirit of fortune conveyed joy to me. I believe his existence is crucial to the great prosperity of the West. As you know, I cultivate the Way of Causality and have a deep understanding of cause and effect. In the unseen, I can sense the immense benefits this Master-Disciple Affinity brings. Both of us must take this seriously." Jieyin spoke heart-to-heart.

Cultivators placed great importance on such unseen intuitions. Zhunti nodded in agreement after hearing this.

The two kept their conversation in mind, then closed their eyes and entered meditation, contemplating the Dao.

Back in his cave dwelling, Jiang Yun continued refining the Golden Spirit Pearl. He channeled his internal spiritual power to wash away the restrictions within the pearl, breaking through and refining one after another. At the same time, his Primordial Spirit comprehended the Power of Metal Element Laws contained within the restrictions.

Another hundred years passed in the blink of an eye. He had refined eighteen of the pearl's twenty-four restrictions, the limit of his current cultivation. He put away the pearl and went into seclusion, comparing the content he had recorded during the sermon with his own insights, slowly digesting what he had learned. Then, referencing the Mount Sumeru Treasure Record and his own sermon comprehension, he continued to organize his accumulated knowledge, beginning to construct and perfect a cultivation system suited to himself.

Thus, another three hundred years passed. Not only had he initially built his own cultivation framework, but he had also perfected the Divine Path Techniques he had previously created. His Attack Dharma Seals and Escape Divine Abilities were greatly enhanced. With his increased cultivation, he also re-refined all the magical treasures in his possession with his Primordial Spirit and spiritual power, strengthening his control and making them more responsive to his will.