On the official road leading away from the Provincial City, a carriage rolled along at an unhurried pace.
The curtains hung low, shutting out the noise outside. Inside the carriage, Uncle Nine sat with his eyes closed, regulating his breath and consolidating his Foundation Establishment cultivation. His aura had grown rounded and harmonious, blending ever more naturally with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy.
Mo Yuan held two Medium-Grade Spirit Stones in his hands, silently drawing in their pure spiritual energy to nourish the meridians slightly depleted after his battle with the Holy Maiden. At the same time, he reflected on the life-and-death struggle in the mine.
That battle had given him a deeper understanding of the cultivation world's cruelty.
Strength ruled all; the weak were prey to the strong. If his master had not broken through to Foundation Establishment in time, and if he had not luckily found the formation eye, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
At the same time, he saw his own shortcomings more clearly.
Faced with the half-step Foundation Establishment Holy Maiden, even after using every means at his disposal, he had been almost completely unable to fight back.
Seventh-layer Qi Refinement cultivation was still nothing in the face of true powerhouses.
Cultivation is the foundation, but spells, magic items, and even combat awareness are equally crucial, Mo Yuan realized.
He recalled the magnificent sight of his master using the Five Thunder Incantation to invoke the might of heaven and earth. Compared to his own crude reliance on magic items and physical strength, the difference was obvious.
Foundation Establishment was a qualitative leap. It was not merely about possessing deeper spiritual power, but also about improving one's understanding and application of the Dao.
He looked inward at his Dantian, where the strand of origin dragon energy obtained from the Thunderglory Dragon King quietly coiled, blending seamlessly with his own spiritual power.
That dragon energy was of an extraordinarily high level, but with his current cultivation, he could barely wield a fraction of it.
Perhaps only after reaching Foundation Establishment would he be able to truly unleash its power.
Meanwhile, the virtue power fed back by the Soul Cleansing Banner was like a spring rain that moistened all things in silence. It continuously nourished his soul and foundation, making his spiritual power ever purer and his comprehension of the laws of heaven and earth faintly clearer.
System, sign in while riding in the returning carriage, Mo Yuan silently thought.
Though the surroundings were ordinary, signing in had become a habit. Perhaps he might receive an unexpected reward.
[ Ding! Sign-in successful! Congratulations, Host, for obtaining: Medium-Grade Spirit Stone x10, Basic Alchemy Overview x1, Mind-Clearing Jade Pendant (Low-Grade Magic Item) x1, and lingering aura from the Primordial World: Essence of Vegetation (a wisp)! ] [ Basic Alchemy Overview ]: Records the basic theories of alchemy, identification of common spirit herbs, and methods for refining several basic medicinal pills. [ Mind-Clearing Jade Pendant (Low-Grade Magic Item) ]: Wearing it calms the mind and spirit, resisting a certain degree of heart demon interference and illusion techniques. [ Essence of Vegetation (a wisp) ]: Contains vitality; can promote the growth of spirit plants and slightly increase wood-element affinity.
The rewards were not especially generous, but they were quite practical. Basic Alchemy Overview broadened his cultivation path, the Mind-Clearing Jade Pendant was perfect for his current need to settle his state of mind, and the Essence of Vegetation gave him the idea of cultivating the Dragon Blood Grass he had previously obtained through signing in.
He hung the Mind-Clearing Jade Pendant at his waist. A cool sensation curled around his sea of consciousness, and his thoughts immediately became clearer. Then he opened Basic Alchemy Overview and immersed himself in the world of alchemical knowledge.
His Primordial Comprehension made understanding those basic theories effortless. The principles of medicinal compatibility and the essentials of heat control were swiftly mastered by him.
Several days of travel passed without incident.
During the day, Mo Yuan studied alchemy manuals, practiced talismans, and nourished his magic items. At night, he meditated and refined qi, consolidating his cultivation.
With the virtue power accumulated by the Soul Cleansing Banner aiding him, he felt his seventh-layer Qi Refinement realm becoming increasingly stable. He could even faintly touch the threshold of the eighth layer, though his accumulation was still shallow and required gradual effort.
Uncle Nine would occasionally open his eyes to check on Mo Yuan's condition. Seeing that he had not become restless because of what happened in the Provincial City, but had instead calmly cultivated and studied broadly, a satisfied look appeared in his eyes.
Such an exceptional temperament was truly rare.
One day, the carriage arrived at a place of clear mountains and beautiful waters. Uncle Nine suddenly called for it to stop.
"Mo Yuan, come take a walk with me."
The two got out of the carriage and strolled along a clear stream.
The brook murmured, birds called amid the secluded mountains, and although the spiritual energy was not dense, it felt especially fresh.
"The path of cultivation requires both tension and relaxation."
Walking with his hands behind his back, Uncle Nine spoke evenly. "What happened in the Provincial City was quite a shock to you.
But remember this: do not let the aura of slaughter cloud your Dao heart, nor let the presence of powerful enemies leave you anxious and unsettled.
The Dao follows nature. It should be like this stream—flowing without cease, yet able to contain all things and wash away the dust of the world."
Mo Yuan watched the clear water, deep in thought.
He recalled his journey from drawing qi into his body to reaching the seventh layer of Qi Refinement. Though he had the system's assistance, he had relied even more on his own effort and comprehension.
Every battle, every soul passage, every study of cultivation techniques and magic items had been part of his cultivation.
"Master, I understand," Mo Yuan said respectfully. "Power is a means, not an end.
What I seek is longevity and freedom beneath heaven and earth.
I will hold the heart of one treading on thin ice, while pursuing courageous and diligent advancement. I will not lose myself because of external things."
Uncle Nine nodded approvingly. "With such understanding, I can rest easy. From what I can see of your aura, you are not far from the eighth layer of Qi Refinement. After we return, you may visit the Scripture Pavilion and read some insights on condensing spiritual power in the later stages of Qi Refinement and breaking through bottlenecks. My Maoshan lineage has endured for a long time, and the experience of our predecessors may be of use to you."
"Yes, Master."
Just then, a clear crane cry rang out from the sky.
A majestic white-feathered immortal crane emerged from the clouds and landed precisely before Uncle Nine. An exquisite jade slip was tied to its leg.
"It is a sect messenger crane." Uncle Nine's expression turned solemn as he removed the jade slip and sent his divine sense into it.
A moment later, he withdrew his divine sense. A complicated expression appeared on his face—grave, yet faintly relieved.
"Master, what instructions has the sect sent?" Mo Yuan asked.
Uncle Nine handed him the jade slip. "See for yourself."
Mo Yuan accepted it and extended his divine sense inside.
The message in the jade slip was simple, yet carried great weight: "Junior Brother Fengjiao, I have heard that you have broken through to Foundation Establishment and become an Earth Master. This is truly a blessing for Maoshan. Senior Brother Sect Master has already been informed of the Black Fiend Sect matter.
You are hereby ordered to return at once with your disciple Mo Yuan to Stone Bamboo Shoot Mountain, the main Maoshan sect grounds, to report this matter in detail and discuss a response. There may be assistance along the way, so exercise utmost caution. Senior Brother, Qian He."
The message was signed "Qian He." Mo Yuan knew that he was one of his master's close fellow disciples, a senior uncle who had long been stationed at the main sect.
"Uncle Shi Jian, the sect master, has summoned us..." Mo Yuan set down the jade slip and looked at Uncle Nine.
He knew there seemed to be a subtle relationship between his master and that sect master senior brother.
Uncle Nine took a deep breath and gazed toward the main Maoshan sect, his eyes profound. "What is meant to come will come. Since Senior Brother Shi Jian has personally given the order, we can no longer take our time returning. Good. You can use this chance to see where the true gates of Maoshan lie."
With a sweep of his sleeve, he said to the driver, "Change course. We are not going to Ren Family Town. Head directly for Stone Bamboo Shoot Mountain in Jiangxi!"
The carriage immediately turned around, its speed increasing by several degrees.
A trace of anticipation and solemnity rose in Mo Yuan's heart.
The main Maoshan sect was one of the leading orthodox forces. There, more geniuses gathered, deeper inheritances awaited, and a greater stage—and fiercer storms—lay ahead.
The threat of the Black Fiend Sect and Sect Master Shi Jian's summons both foretold that peaceful days were about to end.
He touched the Mind-Clearing Jade Pendant at his waist, feeling the steady power emanating from the Thunder Dragon Evil-Slaying Spear and the warm connection to the Soul Cleansing Banner within his sea of consciousness.
After all he had gone through on this journey, he was no longer the ignorant youth who had just stepped onto the path of cultivation.
"Stone Bamboo Shoot Mountain..." Mo Yuan quietly repeated the name, determination shining in his eyes.
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