Opening Spiritual Eyes

"Naturally, I know!"

Wu Qing's eyes sparkled with tears. "I have a feeling in my heart that this is a tribulation for my cultivation!"

She then sneered, "So what if there are obstacles? I'll just slash them with my sword!"

As soon as she spoke, a muffled thunderclap echoed from the sky.

Outside, the wind and snow raged like a gathering storm, yet inside, the female Daoist's hair was disheveled by the wind, her beauty ethereal, possessing an air of transcendence that momentarily stunned Wu Ming.

"I wonder what this Dragon Gate Gathering is all about?"

Realizing his gaffe, he immediately coughed to change the subject.

"The Dragon Gate Gathering..."

Wu Qing's pretty face flushed for a fleeting moment. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Do you know that in our Chu Feng Commandery, there's an Angry Dragon River that flows for three hundred miles, gathering the water veins of the commandery before finally flowing east into the sea?"

"I've heard a little..."

Wu Ming blushed. His former self, a dissolute young master, knew nothing of geography beyond the name Angry Dragon River.

"This Angry Dragon River is a tributary of the Heavenly River Great Dragon Vein of our Red County Divine Land. It passes through Dragon Gate Gorge, where its current abruptly slows, allowing it to benefit all the people... However, a hundred years ago, this Angry Dragon River was still turbulent and fierce, frequently endangering the populace and causing floods for a thousand miles! It was thanks to the commandery governor at the time, Wang Zhong, who opened up the mountains, quarried stones, built a dam along the gorge, and captured and killed water Yao, establishing a monument to suppress it, that the downstream three hundred miles became a land of abundance, free from floods and droughts, and a veritable paradise... In gratitude, the people erected a shrine to Wang Zhong. After his death, his spirit became the Chu Feng City God, possessing immense divine authority..."

"Is the Dragon Gate Gathering related to this?" Wu Ming inquired.

"Indeed! Beneath the merit monument erected by Governor Wang Zhong, a White Python was actually suppressed, one that already possessed the appearance of a flood dragon!" Wu Qing finally revealed a shocking secret. "This python is a descendant of that water Yao from back then. Since ancient times, a python takes five hundred years to transform into a flood dragon. I've heard this snake has already grown a single horn, showing the signs of a flood dragon, and is connected to the water veins of the Angry Dragon River. It cannot be killed, yet if it were to transform into a flood dragon, it would cause floods for a hundred miles, bringing ruin to all living things. Since it cannot be killed, nor can it be released, it can only be suppressed!"

"Back then, Wang Zhong, with the support of the imperial court's destiny and the aid of many extraordinary individuals, erected the merit monument and sealed the White Python. The participating Daoist sects would also organize rituals periodically to replenish the seal with Magical Power and destiny. Over time, this became a tradition, and this is the origin of the Dragon Gate Gathering!"

"This time, my cultivation has advanced, and I've been selected as a High Official, so I'm going to suppress the White Python, or rather, the White Flood Dragon. It's not just a trial, but also a meritorious deed!"

"So that's how it is!"

Wu Ming nodded, inwardly shocked. "To put it simply, the Dragon Gate Gathering is a large-scale suppression ritual. But there's actually a flood dragon? This world..."

"Was the water Yao from back then a flood dragon? But mortals are often hesitant to kill flood dragons, so they simply called it a water Yao?"

At this moment, still feeling uneasy, he asked, "Is there... really no danger? Will that white snake break free?"

"Of course not!"

Wu Qing appeared very confident. "This is merely an opportunity for the younger generation to train. How much danger can there be? The true task of maintaining and reinforcing the seal falls to the City God and the elders of the Daoist sects. If we go, we'll also receive generous rewards from the commandery, and we'll gain heavenly merit. It's quite a lucrative position. Your sister had to defeat countless opponents to snatch this opportunity! Because this is my tribulation, if I avoid it, the repercussions in the future will be even greater, and the harm will be more severe!"

It seems I can only face the challenges as they come. If all else fails, I'll go to the commandery government once. I can't let Wu Qing perish...

His mind made up, Wu Ming showed no outward sign, smiling as he said, "Sister, you're busy with your affairs, but you've returned at just the right time. Tomorrow night is New Year's Eve, we must have a few more drinks!"

"New Year's Eve?"

Wu Qing seemed a little nostalgic. "For those who cultivate the Dao and become monks, how much longer can I witness such boisterous festivities and worldly prosperity..."

Wu Ming's heart chilled. Knowing Wu Qing's profound Dao cultivation, he understood she had a premonition of something ominous, which led to her remark. At this moment, he said, "Speaking of which, it reminds me of when I was a child, the pork-filled dumplings we made for New Year's Eve, they were so delicious, piping hot and oily. I used to snatch them from Big Sister..."

"You still remember that..."

Wu Qing shot Wu Ming a look, but her face bloomed like a hundred flowers, revealing a captivating smile.

Night fell.

Inside the quiet room, Wu Ming sat cross-legged, his expression resolute.

"Sister Qing's reminder today was very accurate! Previously, I relied on elixirs and was worried about an unstable foundation and a fragile sea of consciousness, so I proceeded cautiously step by step. In doing so, I lost my fierce and determined Dao heart!"

A single true teaching, at this moment, cleared the fog. Wu Ming felt as if he had been enlightened. He took a deep breath and, with a surge of resolve, dripped three drops of Five Stone Return Bright Powder into his abdomen before quietly closing his eyes.

Instantly, a more ferocious and domineering stream of heat than usual formed. It was swept along and rushed directly towards the ancestral aperture in his Mud Pill.

Within his sea of consciousness, chaos churned, accompanied by a terrifying sense of fragmentation.

If it were any other time, encountering such a situation, Wu Ming would have long since stopped his reckless advance and dispersed the medicinal power.

But now, he gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain in his sea of consciousness, and urged the heat current to transform into icy water, pouring it in.

"Open for me...!"

BOOM!

In an instant, it was as if a certain boundary was broken. The chaos receded, revealing a layer of bright light.

Although it was only a small area in the center, Wu Ming instantly felt a wondrous sensation, as if his spirit had undergone a transformation. "My sea of consciousness has been opened!"

At this point, he had truly advanced to the Daoist rank and could be called a Daoist!

With spiritual sense and Magical Power arising naturally, he could now cultivate Daoist techniques without depleting his own vital energy and essence.

It could be said that by taking this step, he had entered the Daoist path!

"Hoo... changing professions is not easy. I've now become a Mage!"

Wu Ming chuckled self-deprecatingly and took out the Yellow Court Yin Talisman Scripture to read.

"After Daoist comes Refining Master... refining the five energies internally, merging them with the five organs, absorbing the morning sun's purple qi and golden elixir and jade liquid daily to temper the physical body, reaching the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment... In this regard, with my martial arts experience and my original physical foundation, I have a significant advantage. My progress may not be a thousand miles a day, but it will certainly be astonishing!"

"And now that my sea of consciousness is formed, I can choose to learn a few minor spells. My adaptability to various mission environments will greatly improve... Furthermore, using Magic Tools and Dao talismans will add an extra third of their power, allowing them to be activated more quickly!"

Talismans and Magic Tools were originally prepared for Daoists, and this was only natural.

Wu Ming pondered for a moment, took out the iron box, which contained a copy of the Great Yin Corpse Refining Method and a handwritten journal.

"The Great Yin Corpse Refining Method has too many restrictions, and stealing corpses is against the natural order. If discovered, I'll be branded a demon... Besides, I can't possibly bring two zombies with me on every mission, can I?"

Wu Ming shook his head regretfully. "And... Bronze Corpses and Iron Corpses are troublesome to refine and are extremely afraid of lightning, making them quite vulnerable. Unless I can refine a Golden Corpse... Unfortunately, my Magical Power is far from enough!"

With the meager Magical Power he possessed after just opening his Sea of Consciousness, it was truly difficult to cultivate any Daoist techniques with astonishing destructive power.

"Should I go to the Main God Hall to exchange for one? But merit points are precious, and I should at least save some for the next mission..."

Wu Qing was also an option, but Wu Ming knew that Daoist Academies had strict regulations regarding Daoist techniques. He didn't want to put Wu Qing in a difficult position or expose her to danger.

"However, Qing Ping Daoist's journal does record a few minor spells he obtained while wandering. It seems worth looking into..."

Thinking this, Wu Ming opened the journal.

Qing Ping Daoist was a rogue cultivator, but he had a great talent for Feng Shui and divination. Relying on a few true incantations obtained through trickery and chance encounters, coupled with his own cultivation and insights, he had managed to figure out a few things.

While other matters were secondary, he was particularly proud of a method for Spiritual Eyes and recorded it with great care.

"Spiritual Eye Technique?"

Wu Ming mused for a moment.

In fact, there were many methods in the Daoist sect for opening Spiritual Eyes, all intended to see ghosts and communicate with Yin and Yang.

But Qing Ping Daoist claimed that his Spiritual Eye method could not only see the underworld but also observe fortune and discern the Feng Shui of residential buildings, which was truly extraordinary.

"Among the physiognomy in Daoist arts, there is the 'impression,' 'name,' 'person,' 'family,' and 'tomb' physiognomy. From observing people to observing Feng Shui and dragon veins, and even the fortune of a nation, mastering just one can ensure a lifetime of food and clothing. Qing Ping Daoist's ability to secure a position in the Zhou Family through this is not an exaggeration..."

The incantation recorded by Qing Ping Daoist was quite simple. Wu Ming meditated on it for a moment, then closed his eyes.

Within his Sea of Consciousness, his Magical Power condensed and suddenly transformed into a character.

This was the foundation of a spell, the true seed of a Daoist text!

When he opened his eyes again, runes were reflected in his pupils, and wisps of spiritual light flashed.

"This easily?"

Although it was just a minor spell, its instant success left Wu Ming somewhat incredulous.

"This Spiritual Eye Technique... I've already cultivated it?"

Wu Ming looked around the room with disbelief, but found nothing out of the ordinary. A thought struck him, and he raised his left hand, causing the Black Gold Ring to emit a faint glow.

Feeling more confident, he took out a bronze mirror and looked at himself.

"What is this..."

He saw a reflection of a youth, seemingly only sixteen or seventeen years old, with a face like jade. Red and white energies swirled above his head like waves, and a circle of clear light protected his entire body.

"So clear?"

Wu Ming was surprised. "And without any consumption..."

He then went outside and climbed to a high vantage point.

He saw that in the vast land, wisps of white energy surged from all directions, converging on the fortified village. Within the mist, it turned red, supporting him.

"This is Earth Vein energy! The power brought by two thousand mu of fertile land and two hundred tenant farmers!" Upon seeing this, he immediately understood.

"Strange, the journal didn't say '...to observe Qi, one must meditate and gather the spirit, and one can see colorful hues... If the Earth Veins are thick, one can discern them mentally, but it will cause a three-month illness...'?"

Wu Ming couldn't help but recall Qing Ping Daoist's own account.

He had previously performed physiognomy for others, but could only get a general, very vague idea. The only time he chose a burial site for the Zhou Family, he first burned incense and prayed, fasted and bathed for three days and three nights before daring to act. Even then, he could only see the Earth Veins as colorful hues, and he had to expend great effort to identify a single auspicious color, even suffering a backlash from the Earth Dragon and falling gravely ill for three months.

And yet, the journal still revealed a hint of pride.

"Then what does this of mine count as?"

"Could my physique be extraordinary, perfectly suited to this Daoist technique, or have my eyes... undergone a mutation?"

In a flash, Wu Ming thought of the Main God Apostle's hint.

"Acquired True Sight... Could this power to see through illusions be brought into the Great Zhou world as well?"