Immortal Destiny

After producing the tea set from thin air, Lin Yu cast a casual glance at Sima Chengzhen, wanting to see his reaction.

But who would have guessed that Sima Chengzhen's expression remained unchanged, and he walked over naturally, as if completely unbothered by Lin Yu's method...

Hey, hey, this isn't right!

Conjuring objects out of thin air!

Such a great divine power, and you, an old Daoist seeking immortality, have no reaction?!

Lin Yu was a bit surprised.

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

After all, in this world, there were indeed many wondrous techniques, like the illusions in the main storyline.

Most of these illusions were tricks performed using hallucinogenic drugs and psychological suggestion.

Some were even just Mechanism Art and sleight of hand, with no supernatural elements at all.

A trick like pulling objects out of thin air could be done with magic techniques.

Sima Chengzhen had cultivated the Dao for so many years, even becoming the founder of a sect—he'd probably seen such Daoist performances before, or maybe even knew how to do them himself!

So this is what they mean by failing to recognize a true master...

Lin Yu sighed inwardly, but kept his face calm as he said, "Since true arts have emerged, discussing the Dao within this temple would only cheapen them. Fellow Daoist, would you be willing to follow me to the clouds?"

"..."

Sima Chengzhen was momentarily stunned.

Lin Yu nodded. "Then it's settled!"

With that, he waved his sleeve again, and the surrounding water vapor instantly condensed into mist, which gathered into clouds, eventually forming a patch of Magic Power clouds that carried the stone table and stools slowly into the sky.

The clouds beneath their feet gave a soft yet firm texture, and a cool breeze brushed their heads.

Sima Chengzhen sat stiffly on the stone stool, slowly lowering his head, his gaze somewhat dazed as he watched the distant Jade Firmament Peak shrink below him, as if he hadn't yet processed the change before him.

After a moment, the old Daoist raised his head, his movements rigid as he glanced at the teapot floating on its own, then at Lin Yu across from him, who was holding a teacup with a casual, carefree expression. Finally, he couldn't help but tremble all over.

He suddenly stood up, ignoring the danger to himself, and knelt on the cloud, his lips quivering as he said:

"This humble Daoist Bai Yunzi, failing to recognize the true Immortal's presence, dared to seek the Dao with clever words—this... this..."

That's more like it~

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

Lin Yu smiled, then waved his sleeve, lifting Sima Chengzhen back to his feet with an invisible force.

"Ignorance is no offense. This Seat is not one to hold grudges. Rest assured!"

"Thank you, Venerable Immortal!"

Sima Chengzhen quickly bowed in thanks, then cautiously looked at Lin Yu across from him.

Unlike before, his gaze now carried a mix of emotions—excitement and thrill at meeting an Immortal, mixed with the anxiety and fear of having accidentally offended one.

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

Lin Yu chuckled lightly. "My name is Huanyu. By the standards of White Jade City, I may be called True Lord."

White Jade City?

Sima Chengzhen was taken aback, then quickly replied with reverence:

"So it's Huanyu True Lord!"

Lin Yu smiled, manipulating the teapot to pour a cup of hot tea, which flew over to Sima Chengzhen.

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

Sima Chengzhen hurriedly thanked him, excitedly taking the teacup and taking a sip.

Mm~ Truly fine tea!

No wonder the True Lord carries it with him...

Sima Chengzhen showed an expression of awe.

Just one sip, and he felt a lingering fragrance in his mouth, and his body seemed to lighten considerably.

Without a doubt, this was Immortal tea!

Sima Chengzhen thought with certainty.

Seeing the cherishing look on his face, Lin Yu couldn't help but find it amusing.

What lightness of body—it was all just his imagination!

The tea Lin Yu had taken out was from that Great Red Robe Mother Tree, exquisite in flavor but with benefits to the body no greater than an unenhanced Green Jujube.

Seeing but not exposing, Lin Yu didn't explain. He waited quietly until Sima Chengzhen finished his tea, then said softly:

"The Inner Elixir Art is profound and mysterious—neither can it be spoken, nor can it be named. Seeing your sincere desire to learn, This Seat can make an exception and take you to glimpse the world after forming the elixir..."

Sima Chengzhen was overjoyed and quickly bowed in thanks. "Your disciple thanks the True Lord!"

Lin Yu smiled and extended his hand. "Come closer."

Sima Chengzhen hurried forward, his slightly stooped figure standing respectfully before Lin Yu.

Lin Yu lowered his gaze and placed his hand on the old Taoist's head. In an instant, his spiritual power enveloped the old priest's entire body.

In that moment, Sima Chengzhen shuddered, his somewhat murky pupils losing their clarity, as if his soul had left his body.

And indeed it had. From the moment the True Lord's hand covered his head, the world before Sima Chengzhen's eyes transformed, as if he had stepped into an entirely new realm.

It was a wondrous world where essence, energy, and spirit were made manifest.

Essence became the Jade Flower, energy the Golden Flower, and spirit the Nine Flower—hence the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.

The vital energies of the five organs generated and transformed, cycling back to the Yellow Court—hence the Five Qi Towards the Origin.

At the hub of the heavenly cycle, a golden, round elixir pill floated suspended in the void.

Sima Chengzhen stared at that Golden Elixir with infatuation, instinctively wanting to draw closer.

So his consciousness surged into the Golden Elixir, and his vision shifted from within his body to the outside world.

Now, he had 'obtained' the power of the Golden Elixir. Every move he made contained immense Magic Powers within it.

With a wave of his hand, he could shatter lofty mountains; with a single step, mist and clouds would arise.

Soaring through heaven and earth, crossing the four seas, roaming the North Sea at dawn and reaching Cangwu by dusk—all were but a single thought away...

Such unrestrained great divine abilities caused Sima Chengzhen to lose his composure, nearly sinking into them.

Fortunately, Lin Yu sensed his state and withdrew his spiritual power in time, saying calmly:

"Awaken."

The not-so-loud voice fell upon Sima Chengzhen's ears, yet it struck like a thunderclap, deafening and jarring.

In an instant, Sima Chengzhen recovered from the illusion of great power and divine abilities, his consciousness returning to clarity.

Seeing the wistful expression on his face, Lin Yu smiled and asked, "How was it?"

"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!"

Sima Chengzhen excitedly uttered three 'wonderfuls' in succession, then his expression hardened, and he fell to his knees with a thud.

"Decades of devoted cultivation, and this disciple dares claim he never slacked, yet he could never find the way in. Now, meeting the True Lord and receiving this immortal fate, I finally know what the path of a True Immortal truly is!"

"Such grace, this disciple has no way to repay. I only beg the True Lord to take pity on this disciple's sincere heart for the Dao and permit me to erect a statue of the True Lord. Henceforth, the Upper Clarity Terrace Sect shall honor the True Lord as supreme, offering incense day and night without cease!"

Hearing Sima Chengzhen's words, Lin Yu showed an expression of admiration.

This old Taoist was indeed a shrewd one. Clearly, he was itching to beg Lin Yu to take him as a disciple, but he dared not say it outright. Instead, he spoke only of erecting a statue, using this method of whole-sect worship to bind them together indirectly.

Unfortunately, Lin Yu cared nothing for statues of a True Lord.

He had long had his own plans for this journey, and no matter what Sima Chengzhen said, it could not change the outcome.

After a moment's thought, Lin Yu said with a smile, "This Lord is a carefree immortal and does not partake in incense offerings. But if you wish to erect a statue, This Lord will not stop you."

Sima Chengzhen was overjoyed and bowed again in thanks.

Lin Yu shook his head and flicked his sleeve to help him up.

"No need for that. Your enlightenment of the Inner Elixir path this time is precisely in accord with this immortal fate. It is fitting that the Inner Elixir Art should now emerge into the world!"

"This Lord has already planted a Spirit Seed within you. From now on, you can convert essence, energy, and spirit into magical power..."

Hearing this, Sima Chengzhen's face was filled with ecstasy.

But then, Lin Yu said flatly, "Don't be too happy just yet. In the illusion just now, you sank into the Magic Powers and divine abilities, into that false freedom, and thus failed This Lord's trial."

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

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

At this, the ecstasy 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 composed himself, treating this as a new trial, and said with a resolute expression, "This disciple will never again disappoint the True Lord's expectations!"

Lin Yu nodded with satisfaction. "Good."