The Crevice

Yu Ci remained silent, standing under the "Law" column for a while. He suddenly turned and walked to the "Items" column beside it, browsing for a moment. Then, he moved to the "Recruitment" and "Announcement" columns on the other side of the great hall and looked for a long time before finally returning.

The old Daoist was patient and waited with a smile, showing no sign of impatience. Yu Ci walked to the "Items" column, pondered for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "How should this entry be interpreted?"

The old Daoist turned his head. On the white wall of the "Items" column, a line of ink characters appeared clearly: "Entry as an Outer Chamber Disciple: One Thousand Merit Points!"

Seeing this, Old Daoist Yu Zhou nodded slightly. "I preside over Zhixin Temple, serving as the head for outer chamber disciples. I have the authority to accept those with a heart seeking the Dao to cultivate here. For disciples with outstanding aptitude and disposition, and who have rendered great merit to the sect, their names can be reported to the sect elders, and they will be taught secret sect techniques to pursue longevity."

"What are these secret techniques? Are they the longevity arts?"

"Outer chamber disciples can at most obtain sect elixirs, living up to three hundred years. This is not yet longevity, merely clinging to the path of longevity."

"Are these elixirs the ones listed under the 'Law' column?"

"Indeed!"

Yu Ci smiled upon hearing this. "That's quite a bargain."

He was referring to the difference of thousands of merit points between obtaining elixirs and becoming an outer chamber disciple. The old Daoist also smiled. "Our sect's elixirs are not easily bestowed; only those who have rendered great merit to the sect can obtain them. You youngsters seem to have a simpler idea... Moreover, your three hundred merit points are not enough."

"One must eat one bite at a time, and walk one step at a time," Yu Ci replied.

After a brief pause, he pointed to the opposite side, specifically to the "Announcement" column, which displayed messages of good deeds posted by Li Chen Sect cultivators in their own names.

"Master Yu, that column seems to have news of your sect's immortals acquiring Fish Dragons. Do the three hundred merit points the immortal mentioned come from there?"

"That's correct."

The old Daoist added, "The one who posted this message is Senior Brother Lu, a master craftsman of the sect. He is refining a magical artifact and is short of only one material, the Fish Dragon. He has been seeking it in vain, hence this announcement. His offered price is a full thirty percent higher than the sect's acquisition price. You have good fortune, young man!"

Yu Ci forced a smile at the old Daoist's teasing. With the old Daoist's words, his mind was suddenly focused on one matter:

"I have something I'd like to ask you, Master. I am not a disciple of your esteemed sect. May I take on those messages?"

The old Daoist looked into his eyes, paused for a moment, and then stroked his beard, smiling. "Anyone who can come to Zhixin Temple has a destined connection. The immortal path values fate and connections above all else. Therefore, it is naturally permissible. However, the sect has certain rules. Messages on the 'Recruitment' column cannot be accepted by non-sect disciples, but there are no restrictions on the 'Announcement' column."

Without a second word, Yu Ci raised his hand to his forehead and bowed deeply to the old Daoist.

He didn't know if the old Daoist brought him to Tongde Hall out of public spirit or because he found him agreeable, but the matter he had just agreed to was incredibly important to him, and he couldn't help but be grateful.

If the old Daoist hadn't agreed, simply exchanging the Fish Dragon for three hundred merit points and aspiring to become an outer chamber disciple, and subsequently obtaining the longevity elixirs, would have been no different from a fool's dream. But with the old Daoist's words, Yu Ci could continuously acquire merit points from the messages posted on the "Announcement" column until he accumulated enough and finally achieved his goal.

Perhaps the process wouldn't be smooth, but the gate to the immortal path was, after all, being pushed open a crack by the old Daoist, how could Yu Ci not be grateful?

However, he was still a person of experience and quickly regained his composure, focusing his gaze on the present. He asked the old Daoist, "Can one stay overnight at the temple?"

The old Daoist blinked and smiled, "Those outside the world help others; of course, we provide lodging."

Yu Ci didn't stand on ceremony. "In that case, please allow me to stay, Master."

Before he could successfully join the sect, Bai Ri Mansion would likely want him gone. But as long as he was within the temple, the Li Chen Sect would be like a protective umbrella over him. Even if Jin Huan's Supreme Blazing Sun Method was terrifying, it wouldn't be able to reach him for a while.

Yu Ci settled into Zhixin Temple, occupying a single courtyard with a serene environment. Meals were delivered to him, and his treatment was quite good. The remuneration was merely symbolic, and he felt very comfortable.

After staying at the temple for three to five days, Yu Ci didn't stay cooped up. Instead, he freely roamed the temple, familiarizing himself with the surroundings. In his plan, Zhixin Temple was a place where he intended to stay for many years to come, so familiarizing himself with it sooner rather than later was always a good idea.

As he stayed longer, Yu Ci made a new discovery. Although Zhixin Temple was an external Daoist temple of the Li Chen Sect, not everyone in the temple was an outer chamber disciple. Out of the hundred or so Daoists, about eighty percent were "lodgers," having no legal relationship with the Li Chen Sect. They simply cultivated there, handled chores, and maintained the temple's operations. They also accepted some merit point tasks from Tongde Hall, holding onto the slim hope of a chance to ascend and join the Li Chen Sect.

Yu Ci's situation was similar to these people. During his few days walking around the temple, many people took the initiative to befriend him, while others deliberately kept their distance. The subtle nuances of human relationships could be observed even in this place of quiet cultivation.

However, whether it was those who befriended him or those who distanced themselves, Yu Ci didn't pay too much attention to these deliberate interpersonal relationships. He had his own reasons for staying at the temple, which had nothing to do with others.

Sitting in the courtyard, a red light burned fiercely in Yu Ci's palm, yet it didn't harm his skin at all. Simultaneously, fine charcoal fragments slipped from his palm, gradually forming a thin layer on the ground.

Yu Ci slightly closed his eyes, maintaining a steady breath. Before doing this, he had diligently refined the Zhaoshen Bronze Mirror, thereby maintaining the purity of his "Innate One Qi" to its most perfect state. Now, the vital energy within his body was unified, his heartbeat harmonized with the vibrations of his spirit and soul, and his divine intent extended into the flames in his palm as if he were seeing and touching them, encountering no obstacles.

In his palm, the Nine Yang Talisman Sword was "devouring" another Three Yang Talisman Sword. Their talisman patterns merged, and in an instant, red light flowed, inscribing new talisman patterns onto the wooden sword body. During this process, the Three Yang Talisman Sword was constantly burning, but its heat was not dissipated at all. Instead, it was entirely absorbed into the Nine Yang Talisman Sword. If one were to listen closely beside Yu Ci's palm, they could even hear faint rumbling explosions within the flames.

These were merely the aftershocks of the flame impact. The truly terrifying power was locked within his palms by Yu Ci, utilizing the talisman patterns on the sword, and undergoing intense reactions there.

Yu Ci was fusion refining the "Pure Yang Talisman Sword."

During the half-month journey from Juebi City, he had deciphered the jade slip obtained from Daoist Yan for refining talisman swords. In the past few days, Yu Ci had begun attempting to fusion refine talisman swords, preparing for the plan in his heart.

With over ten years of cultivation, and thanks to the existence of the "Shangqing Juxuan Xing Shu Mi Shou Fu Jing," his foundation in Talisman Arts was the most solid. Therefore, he encountered no difficulty with either the Six Yang Talisman Sword or the Nine Yang Talisman Sword. The only thing requiring caution was this final Pure Yang Talisman Sword.

Only after beginning the fusion refining of this series of talisman swords did Yu Ci understand why, when he had previously used his Original Spirit to control the Nine Yang Talisman Sword and unleash its Sha energy, it had such potent destructive power.

This was because, during the fusion refining of the talisman swords, the conversion of talisman patterns on the swords was extremely unstable. From the beginning of the refining process, a delicate dynamic balance was used to form the final configuration of the talisman patterns on the sword, keeping the potent flame Sha energy on the sword in a constant state of flow, continuously grinding and reacting, accumulating even greater power.

Of course, on the outer layer of the talisman sword, there was a seal against this dangerous balance. As the levels progressed from Six Yang, Nine Yang, to Pure Yang, the strength of the seal also increased. Simultaneously, once the seal was broken, the erupting flame Sha energy would become even more terrifying.

This was the most fundamental aspect of this series of talisman swords.

After Yu Ci understood the intricacies, he increasingly felt that this type of talisman sword, in essence, was still a talisman, and one that was a single-use, high-power talisman. Bai Ri Mansion's method of using them, while appearing thrifty, was actually a greater form of waste.

However, for Yu Ci at the moment, using the Pure Yang Talisman Sword as a sword was more practical.

The fusion refining of the talisman sword entered its final stage. Amidst the crimson firelight, the Three Yang Talisman Sword had completely vanished. The Nine Yang Talisman Sword was distorted, countless talisman patterns danced in the flames, then converged like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, and were finally branded onto the talisman sword.

In the blink of an eye, the flames extinguished, and the talisman sword took shape. The black sword body, at first glance, appeared scorched, but upon closer inspection, one could see a layer of dim light flowing on the black outer shell. The talisman patterns were hidden beneath this shell, flashing with a fluid red glow, like magma deep underground, slowly flowing.

"Phew, it's done!"

Yu Ci felt a bit tired. He had taken a risk after all. If he had failed just now, the hard-earned talisman swords would have been wasted. Fortunately, his strength was sufficient, and his luck was good.

The Pure Yang Talisman Sword, which had just been successfully fusion refined, was still quite hot, but Yu Ci couldn't put it down. With this sharp weapon, his planned journey had an added layer of security.

As time passed, the temperature of the Pure Yang Talisman Sword dropped to normal levels, and the heat generated during the fusion refining was dispersed by the cool autumn air. The courtyard returned to its cool and quiet state. But in an instant, it was broken by someone's loud shout:

"Brother Yu, are you there?"

The voice came from the sky.

Yu Ci looked up. In the clear autumn sky, a white cloud streaked across the heavens at an absurd speed. It then swooped down from above. Before it had even stopped over the lone courtyard, a person jumped off.

The newcomer was a young Daoist priest. He had an ordinary appearance with slightly thick lips, looking like a simple, honest boy. However, he currently wore an anxious expression. It was the same young priest who had guided Jin Huan and the others that day.

The young Daoist priest was named Baoguang. He was a registered disciple of the old Daoist Yu Zhou and an outer disciple of the Li Chen Sect. Although his aptitude was merely average, with the guidance of a skilled master, he was already at the Bright Aperture Upper Stage at the age of nineteen, not far from the Spirit 통 realm. He was considered a promising young man. For the past few days, he had been staying at the temple and delivered Yu Ci's meals every morning and evening. The young Daoist priest was kind-hearted and not simply blunt; he suited Yu Ci's temperament, and they had developed some rapport over the days.

Baoguang jumped into the courtyard. Seeing Yu Ci staring at him, he quickly raised a hand to shield half his face, his reaction quite peculiar.

Yu Ci couldn't help but laugh. "What's wrong? Were you bullied, or did you get a scolding from Abbot Yu?"

Baoguang knew his reaction was excessive. His face flushed slightly, and he sheepishly lowered his hand, revealing several shallow scratches on his left cheek. They were only superficial flesh wounds, but he looked quite disheveled.

"I wasn't bullied by a person, but by a 'feathered beast'!" The young Daoist priest even knew how to make light of the situation, but it was ultimately an embarrassing matter. As he spoke, his face grew even redder.

"A 'feathered beast'?"