Mountain Interlude

Essentially, the Zhaoshen Bronze Mirror is a treasure with extremely strong exclusivity.

Whether it's ordinary true qi or the Gang and Sha possessed by cultivators at the Core Formation stage and above, as long as they can't achieve mutual energy resonance with it, no matter how much is injected, only the outermost layer of cyan light will be activated for spiritual guidance. At most, it can store talismans, but it absolutely cannot unlock its deeper functions.

Even if the requirement for mutual energy resonance is met, to further refine it and enhance its properties, there's still a prerequisite: the Zhaoshen Map.

For those who possess the Zhaoshen Bronze Mirror, the Zhaoshen Map is not just about the mirror's deeper functions; it's the true link to establishing a connection with the mirror.

When refining the Zhaoshen Bronze Mirror, the first step is to shift one's thoughts to the center of the Zhaoshen Map, onto one's own image. This image has a name: "Soul Image." According to the refining incantation, it is the projection of the spirit and soul, and the key node for the owner's spirit and soul to connect with the Zhaoshen Bronze Mirror.

The spirit and soul must pass through the "Soul Image" to truly connect with the Zhaoshen Bronze Mirror, unlock the "access points" within the mirror, allow it to actively absorb the owner's vital energy, and begin the refining process.

The more he refined, the more Yu Ci felt the benefits.

"Spirit and qi embrace, transforming into qi, this qi is not that qi, but Gang, Sha, and innate one qi..."

That day in Sky裂谷, Ye Tu said so. According to him, "innate one qi" should be the patent of Core Formation cultivators. It is the energy flow that circulates within a cultivator's body after achieving Core Formation through the longevity arts, replacing true qi. It is the foundation upon which cultivators can move mountains and fill seas, and fly through the sky, and in terms of quality, it is far superior to true qi.

Yu Ci had certainly not reached the Core Formation stage, but after days of verification, he vaguely felt that after the accident half a month ago, the true qi he had accumulated over ten years, through condensation into a bead of essence within the mirror, and then embracing the divine intent, had inexplicably transformed into the appearance of "innate one qi."

Of course, this was purely a feeling, as Yu Ci had never truly witnessed "innate one qi." Come to think of it, he had indeed interacted with cultivators at the Core Formation stage and higher. When he was serving by the side of the Twin Immortals in his youth, he had no corresponding concept. And the female immortal Ye Bin he met a few days ago was such an extraordinary figure. After several encounters, Yu Ci couldn't grasp the profound mysteries at all.

His only experience was the memory of his spirit and soul controlling his sword, with spirit and qi merging and intermingling. According to Ye Tu, that was the state closest to the power of Gang and Sha. For days, the circulation of vital energy in his body had clearly felt like this, and it was stable and clear, no longer the brief moment of his spirit and soul controlling his sword. It was precisely because of this that he was able to calmly unleash that sword finger that day and initially touch the profound mystery of Ye Bin's misty sword intent.

"Innate one qi... let's just call it innate one qi!"

Although there was no evidence, Yu Ci could be sure that the nature of the vital energy in his body had undergone a qualitative change. At his level of cultivation, after a qualitative change, what else could it be but "innate one qi"?

With this question resolved, another very practical problem emerged:

He discovered that apart from the initial wave transformed by the Zhaoshen Bronze Mirror that day, in the following days, the vital energy generated naturally during his practice was still the usual true qi. This true qi was incompatible with the nature of "innate one qi," like oil and water. Circulating in his body made him very uncomfortable.

This was probably the result of him not truly entering the Core Formation stage. If it wasn't changed, over time, his innate qi might be contaminated by acquired qi, leading to the abandonment of all his previous efforts.

Fortunately, he had the Zhaoshen Bronze Mirror.

When he began refining according to the newly acquired incantation, his divine intent naturally focused on it, absorbing vital energy and controlling the heat. Each time was very strenuous, consuming most of his strength. But in this process, it was like quenching and forging, improving the mirror's performance bit by bit, and also refining the impurities in his own vital energy, elevating it to the level of "innate one qi."

Thus, even if he couldn't cultivate longevity arts, he could maintain the purity of "innate one qi" and slowly improve. It had to be said, the Zhaoshen Bronze Mirror was truly...

A great treasure!

The more he refined, the more Yu Ci cherished this treasure. He would diligently practice for several hours every day, and his control over the refining heat improved daily. It was conceivable that as long as he followed this method, step by step and with perseverance, in the near future, as his cultivation progressed and the refining level increased, he could fully unlock the secrets of the treasure mirror, and this treasure would forever belong to him, and no one could take it away!

Every time he thought of this, his heart would be filled with excitement.

His daily practice was finished, and the sky had already turned dark. Yu Ci, like a ghost, floated out from his hiding place and, under the starlight, headed towards the depths of the mountains and wilderness to the southwest.

The information revealed by Lu Yang and Jin Chuan made him very concerned. Given Bai Ri Mansion's absolute control in Juebi City, when they spoke of the Li Chen Sect, they unconsciously placed themselves in a disadvantaged position. It was imaginable how powerful that unfamiliar sect would be. Making a plan in advance was inevitable.

Yu Ci used the Divine Movement Talisman, his feet generating wind. Three hundred li took just over an hour, nearly twenty percent faster than his original speed.

After stopping, his breathing was slightly rapid, but within a few breaths, he recovered. He didn't go deeper but instead activated the Zhaoshen Map nearby. He spent a short time confirming his location and quickly found a cluster of man-made structures in the mountains.

In the faint light, every blade of grass and tree under the night sky came into view. This was a Taoist temple, quite large, divided into east, central, and west courtyards. The central courtyard had three sections front and back, with magnificent halls, housing over a hundred Taoist priests.

With few people within tens of thousands of li, this Taoist temple was clearly not supported by incense offerings. Undoubtedly, this was the destination of Jin Huan and his party.

"An outer affairs Taoist temple... it's a place for handling miscellaneous matters, right?" With similar thoughts, Yu Ci switched perspectives one by one, preparing to survey the Taoist temple inside and out, getting ready for any possible changes tomorrow. His gaze began from the east courtyard where the Taoist priests slept, slowly moved to the central courtyard's halls and pavilions, then to the west courtyard's gardens. For the moment, he found no issues.

But then, a mist arose, and the small gardens became hazy and unclear.

Dozens of li away, Yu Ci's eyes widened: "Is that..."

The next day, as planned, the Bai Ri Mansion group set off at the first quarter of the Chou hour, sparing no effort. By dawn, they arrived at the foot of a verdant mountain. The mountain was not very high, and the forests, streams, clear mist, and strange rocks were all present, giving it a rather immortal aura. Jin Huan stopped his carriage at the foot of the mountain, leaving only one warrior to guard it, while the other nine walked up the mountain together.

Among them, Jin Huan and Lu Yang were accustomed to this place. Jin Chuan and Kuang Yanqi were visiting for the first time and were naturally curious. Lu Yang then advised his disciple: "This is already the territory of Zhixin Temple. Although it is an outer sect of the Li Chen Sect, there are often eminent individuals here. The old temple master, Taoist Priest Yu Zhou, has lived for three hundred years and is a remarkable senior expert. You must not show any disrespect here."

This was already an unknown number of times. These two young people, due to their excellent talent, were highly respected in the mansion, especially Jin Chuan, who always considered himself the next mansion master of Bai Ri Mansion. It was fine within the mansion, but here, they had to exercise restraint.

These thoughts didn't need to be hidden from anyone. Even the accompanying warriors knew. As Kuang Yanqi responded obediently, Jin Chuan glanced at his granduncle and obediently lowered his head.

Jin Huan's party walked along the mountain path. The surrounding scenery was pleasant, but they walked briskly. In a blink of an eye, they passed the halfway point. Seeing the flying eaves and dougong on the mountain, they appeared and disappeared before their eyes, occasionally obscured by the trees. After several li, they reappeared. The Zhixin Temple was almost within reach.

Just then, the sound of stepping on branches and leaves was heard. A Taoist priest emerged from the maple forest beside the mountain path.

The Taoist priest's appearance was abrupt. The five accompanying warriors reacted extremely quickly, their bodies tensing, their eyes fixed on the approaching person. However, they still knew that this was not Bai Ri Mansion's territory, so even if they felt hostility, they had to restrain it.

The Taoist priest had a fair, beardless face and looked very young. He wore a jade-colored Taoist robe, was tall and slender, with black hair tied up at the top, adorned with a star crown. He was impeccably groomed, walking with his hands behind his back, appearing relaxed and composed. Jin Chuan and Kuang Yanqi were also outstanding young talents, but in front of their elders, they appeared constrained, unlike the approaching person's freedom.

The Taoist priest was also taken aback when he saw Jin Huan's group, but he immediately smiled. He seemed completely unfazed by the demeanor of the accompanying warriors and had no intention of approaching them. He merely cupped his hands from a distance, stepped aside, and invited them to proceed, his composed and humble posture earning him favor.

Although Jin Huan was arrogant, with the Zhixin Temple so close, the Taoist priest might be a cultivator from there. Therefore, he nodded slightly, which was considered a great deal of respect from someone of his status. Seeing the mansion master's reaction, the accompanying warriors finally relaxed and bowed their heads.

The two parties passed each other. After they had gone far, Jin Huan suddenly asked, "What do you think?"

Lu Yang frowned and replied softly, "Strange. This person's true spirit is radiant, and he hasn't condensed his Yin God. His cultivation seems to be only between the early and middle stages of Spirit 통, yet his entire being exudes a chilling aura, as if..."

"As if he has formed Gang and condensed Sha, is that it?"

"Is that really the case? Then wouldn't that mean he has formed a Core?"

Lu Yang was astonished, and the two young men behind him turned to look. The handsome Taoist priest, however, walked unhurriedly, as if admiring the gradually reddening maple leaves along the roadside. After turning a corner, he disappeared from their sight.

Jin Huan, however, turned to praise Lu Yang: "Being able to perceive this subtle aura shows that you have a sense of Gang and Sha. Ordinary cultivators at the upper stage of Spirit 통 cannot achieve this. Your cultivation has been progressing over the years, which is very rare. With ten more years, you should be able to attempt Core Formation."

Lu Yang quickly expressed his thanks. As they were talking, Jin Chuan, who had less self-control, couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Grandfather, is that Taoist priest really a Core Formation cultivator?"

Jin Huan did not respond directly, only saying, "He revealed himself from several li away. He should have no ill intentions, so don't treat him disrespectfully."

The two juniors were fine with it, thinking the mansion master was unfathomable and not daring to ask more. But Lu Yang, having followed Jin Huan for many years, knew immediately that Jin Huan himself was also uncertain, hence his attitude.

However, is it really this difficult to confirm whether a cultivator has formed Gang and condensed Sha?