Immortal Opportunity

After producing a tea set out of thin air, Lin Yu casually glanced at Sima Chengzhen, wanting to see his reaction.

But to his surprise, Sima Chengzhen's expression did not change. He simply walked over naturally, as though he did not care about Lin Yu's methods at all...

Hey, hey, this wasn't right!

Taking things from thin air!

Such an incredible divine ability, yet you, old Daoist seeking immortality, had no reaction at all?!

Lin Yu was somewhat surprised.

But he soon realized that this old fellow before him had probably misunderstood something.

After all, this world truly did possess many miraculous methods, such as the illusions in the main storyline.

Most of those illusions were merely tricks of the eye performed through hallucinogenic drugs and psychological suggestion.

Some were even nothing more than Mechanism Art and stage magic, with no supernatural elements whatsoever.

A method like taking things from thin air could also be accomplished with magic tricks.

Sima Chengzhen had cultivated the Dao for so many years and had even become the founder of a sect. Forget whether he had seen such Taoist performances before—he might even know how to perform them himself!

Was this what it meant to have eyes but fail to recognize Mount Tai...

Lin Yu sighed inwardly, but outwardly said calmly, "Since the true method has emerged into the world, discussing the Dao in this temple would inevitably cheapen it. Fellow Daoist, would you be willing to accompany me into the clouds?"

"..."

Sima Chengzhen froze slightly.

Lin Yu nodded. "Then I'll take that as agreement!"

After saying that, he waved his sleeve again. The moisture in the air instantly condensed into mist. The mist gathered into clouds, eventually forming a cloud of Magic Power that carried the stone stools and stone table slowly into the sky.

The cloud beneath their feet felt soft yet resilient, while a cool breeze blew overhead.

Sima Chengzhen sat stiffly on the stone stool. He slowly lowered his head, his somewhat vacant gaze fixed on Jade Firmament Peak as it gradually receded below. He seemed not to have recovered from the changes before his eyes.

Before long, the old Daoist raised his head. He stiffly glanced at the teapot floating on its own, then at Lin Yu across from him, who held a teacup and looked utterly relaxed and at ease. At last, his entire body began to tremble.

He suddenly rose to his feet. Ignoring the danger to himself, he dropped to his knees atop the clouds, his lips trembling as he said:

"This humble Daoist, Bai Yunzi, failed to recognize a True Immortal's presence and even presumptuously tried to seek the method through clever words. This... this..."

Now that's more like it~

I thought you really didn't care about such methods!

Lin Yu smiled, then waved his sleeve and helped Sima Chengzhen to his feet from afar.

"The ignorant are not guilty. I am not a petty man, so set your mind at ease!"

"Many thanks, Venerable Immortal!"

Sima Chengzhen hurriedly bowed in thanks, then cautiously looked toward Lin Yu opposite him.

Unlike before, his gaze now contained many emotions. There was both excitement and exhilaration at encountering an Immortal, as well as unease and fear at having accidentally offended one.

After a moment of silence, he asked respectfully, "May I ask the Venerable Immortal's esteemed name?"

Lin Yu chuckled. "My name is Huanyu. By the conventions of White Jade City, you may address me as True Lord."

White Jade City?

Sima Chengzhen was startled upon hearing this, then quickly replied with respect:

"So it is True Lord Huanyu!"

Lin Yu smiled and controlled the teapot to pour a cup of hot tea, which flew before Sima Chengzhen.

"Thank you, True Lord, for the tea!"

Sima Chengzhen hastily thanked him, excitedly lifted the teacup, and took a sip.

Mmm~ As expected, it's fine tea!

No wonder True Lord carries it with him...

Sima Chengzhen's face was filled with amazement.

After just one sip, he felt a lingering fragrance on his lips and teeth, and even his body seemed to have become lighter.

There was no doubt about it—this had to be immortal tea!

Sima Chengzhen thought this with certainty.

Seeing the cherishing expression on his face, Lin Yu found it rather amusing.

What lighter body? It was all merely an illusion!

The tea Lin Yu had taken out was actually from the Great Red Robe Mother Tree. Its flavor was indeed exceptional, but its benefits to the human body were not even comparable to a Green Jujube that had not been enhanced with Magic Power.

Seeing through it without exposing it, Lin Yu did not explain. He quietly waited until Sima Chengzhen had finished the tea before softly saying:

"The Inner Elixir Art is mysterious beyond mystery. It cannot be spoken, nor can it be named. Seeing your sincere desire to learn, I can make an exception this once and let you glimpse the world after Core Formation..."

Sima Chengzhen was overjoyed upon hearing this and hurriedly bowed. "This disciple thanks True Lord!"

Lin Yu smiled and extended a hand. "Come forward!"

Sima Chengzhen hurried forward, his slightly hunched body standing respectfully before Lin Yu.

Lin Yu lowered his eyes and placed a hand atop his head. His psychic power instantly enveloped the old Daoist's entire body.

In an instant, Sima Chengzhen's whole body shuddered. The clarity vanished from his slightly clouded pupils, as though his soul had left his body.

In truth, that was indeed the case. From the moment True Lord placed his hand on his head, the world before Sima Chengzhen had changed, as though he had instantly stepped into an entirely new realm.

It was a wondrous world where essence, qi, and spirit had been manifested.

Essence became jade flowers, qi became golden flowers, and spirit became nine flowers. Thus came Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.

The essence and qi of the five organs generated, restrained, and transformed one another before returning to the Yellow Court. Thus came Five Qi Towards the Origin.

At the hub of the heavenly cycle, a golden, round pellet floated in the air.

Sima Chengzhen gazed at that Golden Elixir with fascination and unconsciously wanted to move closer.

Thus, his consciousness rushed into the Golden Elixir, and his vision finally shifted from within the body to outside it.

At that moment, he already possessed the power of a Golden Elixir. Every movement he made contained immense Magic Power.

With a wave of his hand, he could cause great mountains to collapse. With a single step, clouds and mist would arise.

Soaring across heaven and earth, flying over the four seas, wandering the North Sea in the morning and reaching Cangwu by dusk—all of it could be done with but a single thought...

Such vast and unfettered divine abilities made Sima Chengzhen lose himself, nearly sinking into them completely.

Fortunately, Lin Yu noticed his condition and withdrew his psychic power in time, saying leisurely:

"Wake up~"

The not particularly loud voice entered Sima Chengzhen's ears, yet it was as deafening as thunder on a clear day.

In an instant, Sima Chengzhen recovered from the illusion of immense Magic Power and divine abilities before him, and his consciousness returned to clarity.

Seeing the lost expression on his face, Lin Yu could not help but smile and ask, "How was it?"

"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!"

Sima Chengzhen excitedly said "wonderful" three times in a row. Then his expression hardened, and with a thud, he fell to his knees.

"This disciple has devoted himself to cultivating the Dao for decades. I have never dared say that I was negligent, yet I could never find the way in. Now that I have encountered True Lord and received this Immortal Opportunity, I finally understand what the path of a True Immortal is!"

"For such kindness, this disciple has no way to repay you. I only hope that True Lord will take pity on this disciple's heart that seeks the Dao and permit this disciple to erect an image of True Lord. From this day onward, the Upper Clarity Terrace Sect shall revere True Lord above all, offering worship day and night, with incense never ceasing!"

Hearing Sima Chengzhen's words, Lin Yu could not help revealing an admiring expression.

This old taoist priest truly was shrewd. He was clearly itching to take Lin Yu as his master, yet he did not dare say so aloud. Instead, he only spoke of erecting an image, using the entire sect's worship to bind them together indirectly.

Unfortunately, Lin Yu did not care about an image of a True Lord.

He had already made his own plans for this journey. No matter what Sima Chengzhen said, it could not change the outcome.

After a brief consideration, Lin Yu smiled and said, "I am an unfettered Immortal and do not consume incense offerings. But if you wish to erect an image, I will not stop you."

Sima Chengzhen was overjoyed and bowed in thanks once more.

Lin Yu shook his head and flicked his sleeve, helping him up.

"There is no need for this. Your realization of the path of the Inner Elixir this time was itself the fulfillment of this Immortal Opportunity. It was only fitting that the Inner Elixir Art should emerge into the world from this day onward!"

"I have already planted a Spirit Seed within you. From now on, you will be able to transform essence, qi, and spirit into Magic Power..."

Upon hearing these words, Sima Chengzhen's face immediately filled with wild joy.

But immediately afterward, Lin Yu said calmly, "Don't be so eager to rejoice. In the illusion just now, you became immersed in Magic Powers and divine abilities, immersed in that illusory freedom. Therefore, you did not pass my trial."

"According to the old rules, I cannot bestow the Great Dao upon you. I can only lead you through the gate."

"As for the later Inner Elixir Art, you will still need to deduce it yourself..."

At this, the wild joy on Sima Chengzhen's face faded, replaced by deep regret and shame.

But he was Sima Chengzhen after all. In less than ten seconds, he had composed himself and regarded the matter as a new round of trials. With a determined expression, he said, "This disciple will certainly not disappoint True Lord's expectations again!"

Lin Yu nodded approvingly. "Good!"