Guidance

The pill entered his mouth, and only then did Wu Ming realize he had underestimated it.

This Five Stone Return Bright Powder was meticulously recorded in the Yellow Court Yin Talisman Scripture and took such a great cost to assemble. How could its effects be ordinary?

It even had a certain effect on Refining Masters and even Pháp sư.

For him, a novice who had just started practicing, to swallow it directly was too potent, greatly hindering him.

At this moment, he felt a surge of heat welling up from his entire body, ceaseless, coursing through his limbs, bones, and organs, making him want to leap up and dance wildly.

While this medicine was not an immortal elixir that would cause ordinary people to explode and die upon ingestion, most Daoists truly couldn't handle it.

Wu Ming was only wearing a thin garment, yet he was now steaming and visibly sweating.

If I get up now and let my restless mind run wild, the medicinal power will take full effect, and I'll likely turn into a beast, greatly depleting my vital energy!

Wu Ming's thoughts were clear, and he forcefully suppressed the urge.

Before taking this medicine, he naturally had preparations and a reliance: his martial arts cultivation!

Ordinary people couldn't withstand the potency of this medicine, but his Innate body could barely protect a sliver of clarity in his spiritual platform.

He forcibly suppressed it, silently recited the Yellow Court, and circulated the Yin Talisman method, locking the heat within. It flowed from his dan tian, along the Ren and Du meridians up his spine, straight to the crown of his head, and through the Niwan acupoint.

Everyone had a sea of consciousness, but before it was developed, it was a chaotic void.

For a Daoist to open their sea of consciousness was to illuminate it with light, serving as the source of Magical Power.

Although martial arts and Daoist magic followed different paths, some methods were still interconnected.

At this moment, Wu Ming firmly guarded his spiritual platform, letting the heat pass through the Niwan acupoint. It transformed from heat to cold, like a clear, icy thread, churning within his sea of consciousness.

Within the chaotic void, a wisp of vitality lurked, stirring restlessly.

To the outside observer, Wu Ming's earlier appearance, like a steamed red shrimp, had vanished, replaced by a calm demeanor.

The Jade Rabbit set, the Golden Crow rose.

Unknowingly, a night had passed.

At this moment, Wu Ming, who had been sitting cross-legged, suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them before disappearing.

"On the verge of emerging..."

He touched his brow, a hint of joy appearing: "Now that I'm in meditation, I can clearly feel a line of light in my sea of consciousness on the verge of emerging... This Five Stone Return Bright Powder truly has extraordinary effects. Although any medicine is most effective the first time, the remaining portion should be enough to help me open my sea of consciousness!"

"Even if I enter the Daoist Academy, I'll at most be an outer disciple handling miscellaneous affairs. Only by truly opening my sea of consciousness and receiving a Daoist talisman can I be considered initiated, an inner disciple worthy of entering the inner sanctum..."

"But now, I can catch up in just one month!"

Wu Ming's lips curled into a smile.

Becoming an Ordained Daoist was naturally not that simple. As far as Wu Ming knew, disciples in the Daoist Academy could be stuck at this stage for years, even decades, and many never found the way in their entire lives.

To this end, the Daoist sect had also specifically developed various Daoist talismans, such as the Supreme Three-Five Capital Merit Talisman, the Supreme True-One Alliance Might Talisman, the Eight Trigrams Body Protection Talisman, the Evil Warding God Talisman, the Four Divisions Qi Restriction Talisman, and the Life Protection Longevity Talisman, as means to accelerate progress.

However, using talismans to open the sea of consciousness was a last resort. Their potential was inferior to those who opened their sea of consciousness themselves, the True Dao Seeds known as 'Heaven-Bestowed Dao Talismans'.

Moreover, even these Daoist talismans were not readily available.

As far as Wu Ming knew, Yunping Daoist Academy taught the Nine Phoenix Dirt Breaking Talisman, with only three spots available every five years, which were fiercely contested.

Wu Qing, after entering the academy, opened her sea of consciousness within three months, achieving a Heaven-Bestowed Dao Talisman. It was then that her reputation spread, and she was regarded as a True Dao Seed and meticulously cultivated.

"Hmm... Compared to Sister Wu Qing, I'm cheating. But the Great Dao has three thousand paths; as long as I can achieve my goal, what does relying on external aids matter? However, with my rapid progress, my Dao heart and Dao nature must keep pace, otherwise, an unstable foundation will be rather tragic... I should calm myself down and read more Daoist scriptures, cultivate my character..."

Wu Ming looked at the dark clouds in the sky and suddenly sighed.

At this moment, large snowflakes, like goose feathers and willow catkins, began to fall from afar. In an instant, the land was dyed white, draped in silver, and a chilling, murderous atmosphere swept over them...

Peace Year Four, December Thirtieth.

Firecrackers herald the old year's end, spring breezes bring warmth to Tu Su wine. A thousand doors and ten thousand households glow in the morning sun, all replacing old peach charms with new.

This world also had a Spring Festival, an ancient ritual of the Great Zhou, quite similar to his previous life.

There were even customs like replacing peach charms, burning bamboo whips, and drinking Tu Su wine. The entire Fortified Village was filled with a boisterous and enthusiastic atmosphere, evoking a sense of nostalgia in Wu Ming.

And on this very day, Wu Qing, who had been away at the Daoist Academy, was about to return home.

"Hurry up, clean thoroughly! If the young lady is displeased, you'll pay the price!"

Early in the morning, the entire Fortified Village was in motion. Steward Wu was bustling about energetically, his reprimands occasionally heard.

"It seems there are indeed many matters at the Daoist Academy. I heard Sister was even promoted, so busy until now..."

Wu Ming, through his martial arts alone, had reached a state impervious to cold and heat. Now, wearing a large robe, a silver crown, and with his wide sleeves fluttering, he had also read many Daoist scriptures. His demeanor was leisurely and carried an ethereal air, causing the maids below to stare in a daze.

"Clear the paths properly. Also, plant a few more plum blossoms in the courtyard. Qing-jie likes them..."

He casually instructed Steward Wu, then saw a figure and was momentarily stunned: "You, come here!"

"Young Master!"

Li Xiuyun, adorned with a silver hairpin and a red jacket, her face flushed, stepped forward and curtsied gracefully. She nervously fiddled with the hem of her clothes: "This servant wishes to help..."

"Mm! If you don't mind, you can join us for the celebration this year. It will be livelier!"

Wu Ming smiled, "This woman is being watched, but nothing improper has been discovered. Naturally, I must show some kindness."

"Good! ... No, thank you, Young Master!"

Upon first hearing this, a flicker of joy suddenly appeared in Li Xiuyun's eyes, almost losing her composure.

"Miss's carriage has arrived!"

At this moment, another gatekeeper came in to report. Wu Ming quickly went out to greet her.

Li Xiuyun also intended to move, but her expression suddenly dimmed, and she slowly stepped back.

"Eldest Miss, the Young Master is personally coming out to meet you!"

From the carriage, a maid with a charming smile and considerable beauty alighted. Upon seeing Wu Ming, she smiled and bowed, then said to the person inside the carriage.

Wu Ming naturally recognized her as the maid by his sister's side, named Xue'er.

"You little rascal, you actually know manners now. It's truly rare!"

The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing Wu Qing's peerless beauty. Although she wore a Taoist robe, it couldn't conceal her loveliness. The cloak she wore added a touch of heroic spirit.

"Sister, you've worked hard. Little brother was ignorant before and has neglected you. I hope you won't blame me!"

Wu Ming stepped forward to help her. He seemed to be taken aback when he saw Wu Qing, then gave him a sidelong glance, followed by a look of relief, as she slowly alighted from the carriage.

"Greetings, Eldest Miss!"

At this moment, Steward Wu, Feng Han, and others bowed. Wu Ming, holding Wu Qing's hand, entered the fortified village and casually recounted his recent actions.

"Hmm, establishing a school and training the village militia are all solid, legitimate endeavors..."

Arriving at the main hall, Wu Qing removed her cloak, shook off the snow, and her phoenix eyes held a hint of playfulness. "However... with both civil and military wings prepared, do you, brother, intend to become a dragon? To contend for the world?"

Pfft!

Wu Ming spat out his tea directly, nearly falling to the ground. "You... what did you say?"

"Pfft!"

Seeing Wu Ming's reaction, Wu Qing burst into laughter, her body shaking. "I was teasing you! Seeing you so startled is quite amusing!"

Her expression turned serious again. "We who cultivate the Tao are meant to transcend the three realms and be beyond the five elements. Worldly power and the passage of time are merely obstacles. We can simply disregard them! Otherwise, we can never achieve true mastery!"

"Thank you for your guidance, Sister!"

Wu Ming listened, feeling deeply moved. His recent accumulation of Taoist merit seemed to be just one step away from breaking through the bottleneck and opening his Sea of Consciousness. He immediately thanked her, then shivered, "Sister, you've seen through me!"

"Your spiritual energy is surging, your primordial spirit is budding. This is the result of your Taoist cultivation and character being honed to their peak. You are only one step away from opening your Sea of Consciousness, so naturally, I can see it!"

A flash of crimson seemed to appear in Wu Qing's eyes. "I had originally intended to find you a couple of cultivation techniques, but I didn't expect you to have obtained one yourself already. Moreover, it is a genuine orthodox technique of the Xuanmen. This is your good fortune!"

"What I am practicing now is the Yellow Court Yin Talisman Scripture, which I obtained from Daoist Qingping of the Zhou Family. Sister, please take a look..."

Wu Ming handed over the Silver Seal Jade Book with complete openness.

"The Zhou Family?" Wu Qing's sword-like eyebrows furrowed, a hint of killing intent appearing. She took it and examined it closely, her expression changing. "Good! This cultivation technique is no less than mine, but it's a pity it's only a partial text... Whether you can find the rest will depend on your destiny!"

"Sister, you don't seem surprised? You're not even going to ask about my secret?"

Wu Ming was truly astonished now.

Anyone who underwent such a radical transformation would naturally become suspicious.

He had already prepared his explanation, relying entirely on the memories of the dissolute young master, making it seamless.

Yet, unexpectedly, Wu Qing showed no suspicion at all.

"Your aptitude and Taoist nature are only average. To have progressed so rapidly to this point, you naturally have your own opportunities!"

Wu Qing smiled faintly. "Do you know that since entering the pháp sư rank, I have had premonitions and can even divine people's fortunes? Since you are you, and your soul is unharmed, what else is there to say? The deeper your destiny, the happier I will be!"

Wu Ming felt a pang of shame upon hearing this.

If not for the powerful Main God Hall backing him and helping to conceal him, his secret would likely have been exposed by now, and he would have met a miserable end.

"My eldest sister has returned, and she has something to instruct you on!"

Wu Qing said a few more words with a smile, then her expression turned solemn. With her hands behind her back, she gazed at the snow. "I have been promoted by the Head of the Academy and selected as a High Official. Next year, on the second day of the second lunar month, I must go to the county town to participate in the Dragon Gate Gathering. Whether it brings fortune or disaster is unpredictable!"

"Sister, do you know how perilous the Dragon Gate Gathering is? And the County Magnates will be targeting you. Can you not avoid this sharp edge for a while?"

Wu Ming's brow immediately furrowed.

If something were to happen to Wu Qing, not to mention whether he could bear it, even the Zhou Family would no longer hold back.