The Heavenly Dao's Power

Zhuang Yan said, "Perhaps one day a monk holding a powerful treasure and possessing profound cultivation will pass through Guangci Prefecture. Hearing of your deeds, he will debate scriptures and doctrines with you. You will be defeated, and when you fight him, you will be vanquished. At that time, Guangci Prefecture will return to the Buddhist Sect, and you will only be able to die, your Dao extinguished, and fall into Reincarnation."

Fire Spirit True Immortal asked in surprise, "How could such a powerful monk appear out of nowhere?"

"Yes, how could a monk capable of taking your life coincidentally appear?" Zhuang Yan retorted.

Looking at Zhuang Yan's expression, Fire Spirit True Immortal seemed to understand. Zhuang Yan continued, "The affairs of the world are like cultivation, repeating in cycles, ultimately unable to escape Reincarnation."

"It's not that the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas cannot tolerate you, but rather that the great momentum of the Buddhist Sect is difficult to defy. The Buddhist Sect has profound foundations; among the mounts of just the Bodhisattvas, there are countless beings capable of taking your life," Zhuang Yan said calmly.

Fire Spirit True Immortal sighed deeply, finally understanding Zhuang Yan's meaning of "saving a life." He lamented, "Is it truly this difficult for cultivators without roots or foundation to seek longevity?"

Zhuang Yan replied, "The path to longevity, how could it be easy?"

Fire Spirit True Immortal said dejectedly, "Even if one cultivates to become an Earth Immortal, one only has six thousand years of lifespan. When the great limit arrives, one must face tribulation and enter Reincarnation."

"Are six thousand years very short?" Zhuang Yan said, "The destiny of a dynasty lasts at most eight hundred years, and the lifespan of mortals is at most one hundred and twenty years."

Fire Spirit True Immortal said firmly, "The Great Dao is boundless. I do not care about mortals; I only seek to live forever and continuously pursue the Great Dao."

Zhuang Yan said indifferently, "The positions of power in heaven and earth are fixed. Your wishful thinking of eternal life is no different from a fool's dream."

Fire Spirit True Immortal suddenly stared at Zhuang Yan, "Your Excellency is merely at the Spirit Refinement and Return to Void realm, yet you can easily seal me. Such magical power is by no means ordinary."

Having said that, she suddenly knelt and bowed, "Since I have been saved by Your Excellency, I implore you to guide me. How can I achieve longevity?"

"Where is the path?" Zhuang Yan chuckled, "The path is beneath your feet."

Fire Spirit True Immortal lowered her head to look at the ground, then suddenly realized and repeatedly kowtowed, "Fire Spirit is willing to follow the immortal to cultivate, going through fire and water, sparing no effort."

Zhuang Yan said calmly, "I am but a small Mountain God of Spirit Platform Mountain. Are you still willing to follow?"

Fire Spirit True Immortal said without hesitation, "I am willing! Fire Spirit pays respects to the Mountain God." She solemnly kowtowed three times.

Zhuang Yan nodded, "Good. My Mountain God Temple is in need of a Mountain Guard General. Are you willing?"

"This humble immortal is willing!" Fire Spirit True Immortal bowed again.

"Mm." Zhuang Yan took out the Mountain God Jade Scroll and recorded Fire Spirit True Immortal's name. This Mountain Guard General was not an Immortal Official of the Heavenly Court, but merely a minor deity under Zhuang Yan's command.

Immortal Officials were formal positions in the Heavenly Court. Those ranked among the immortals enjoyed heavenly stipends; how could they be easily obtained?

However, minor deities had the chance to become official. As long as they performed meritorious deeds, they could receive rewards from the Heavenly Court.

This was much easier than the positions within the Daoist or Buddhist sects, which required not only merit but also consideration of background, virtue, and even destiny.

The Heavenly Court was different; as long as one possessed great divine abilities or achieved great merit, there was a possibility of being ranked among the immortals.

Therefore, there is a saying in the cultivation world: To achieve a true fruit, first become a minor deity.

Zhuang Yan held the Three Treasures Silver Pestle and handed it to Fire Spirit True Immortal, "Since you have joined my sect, I bestow this Spirit Treasure upon you. I hope you will use it wisely."

Fire Spirit True Immortal's eyes lit up. Looking at the magical artifact radiating Buddhist light, she could not hide her joy. She respectfully accepted the Silver Pestle, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Mountain Lord, for your generous gift."

She already possessed several True Treasures, but they were far less precious than this Spirit Treasure. To receive such a great reward upon her first allegiance, this Mountain God of Spirit Platform Mountain was indeed worthy of loyalty!

After subduing Fire Spirit True Immortal, Zhuang Yan diligently cultivated in his simple dwelling. Every ten days, he consumed one Suoluo Immortal Fruit, channeling its spiritual energy into his magical power and physical body.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye. Three days after refining the last immortal fruit, the opportunity for a breakthrough arrived as expected.

The magical power within his body surged like a tide, the Five Qi in his chest converged, and a brilliant beam of light erupted from his Niwan Palace. This light, carrying the Five Qi, rushed directly to his spirit platform. Instantly, myriad magical powers erupted from the Niwan Palace, transforming into a rainbow that lifted the Five Qi to the pinnacle of the spirit platform.

The Five Qi bloomed in the air, and the precious light illuminated the entire spirit platform in an instant. Continuous magical power was injected, and the Five Qi gradually solidified, suddenly transforming into a golden lotus hanging in the sky, casting a clear radiance.

The Niwan Palace subsequently shone brightly, and the aura around Zhuang Yan's body changed dramatically. Once the golden lotus took shape, the surging magical power gradually subsided, leaving only the shadow of the lotus floating in the air as the spirit platform returned to clarity.

As he exhaled and inhaled, Zhuang Yan opened his eyes. His skin was as lustrous as jade, and his demeanor was extraordinary—he had advanced from the Spirit Refinement and Return to Void realm to the Refining Void into Dao realm.

This realm was profound, truly embodying the saying:

The Five Qi Facing the Origin enter the spirit platform, and the mysterious precious lotus blooms on its own. If one obtains the True Immortal method in the future, the Three Flowers above the head will shake the land.

On the southern slope of Mount Fangcun, Patriarch Bodhi gently stroked the Longevity Immortal Peaches on a branch and said with a smile, "This tree is a sapling gifted by the Old Man of the South Pole. It was planted this spring, and I never expected it to bear so many fruits by the end of the year."

He then plucked two peaches and gave them to his two young attendants, Xianyun and Guhe. The young attendants held the peaches and leaped with joy, "Thank you, Patriarch, for your gift."

Although this peach only increased one's lifespan by ten years, it bore fruit every year. The Patriarch's gaze swept over the peach grove, and he said to the young attendant Guhe, "Later, pick ten peaches and give them to my Daoist friend to congratulate him on entering the Refining Void into Dao realm."

Guhe hurriedly swallowed the peach flesh in his mouth and respectfully replied, "Yes, Patriarch."

"The rest will be distributed to everyone, one peach per person, no more, no less. It is precisely the number decreed by Heaven," Patriarch Bodhi lightly waved his whisk and gracefully returned to his dojo.

A moment later, Guhe arrived at the Mountain God Temple with a basket of Longevity Immortal Peaches.

Fire Spirit True Immortal was sitting cross-legged on the eaves of the temple, concentrating on cultivating the "Three Treasures Silver Pestle," completely unaware of anyone approaching.

Guhe saw her first and frowned slightly, saying, "You are quite presumptuous. The Mountain God Temple is a solemn place; how can you perch on the roof? This is disrespectful to the deities."

Fire Spirit True Immortal opened her eyes and looked down. She could not discern the depth of this child's cultivation, and she was secretly alarmed. She immediately restrained her aura and leaped down, landing in front of Guhe. She cupped her fists and said, "I am the Mountain Guard General under the Mountain God, my Daoist title is 'Fire Spirit True Immortal'."

Guhe suddenly realized, "So you are the Fire Spirit True Immortal who caused a disturbance in Guangci Prefecture and seized the Buddhist incense and fire?"

"Indeed," Fire Spirit True Immortal raised an eyebrow. "I didn't expect my name to be known even by a child of the mountains?"

Guhe smiled faintly, "The Patriarch once said that if the Mountain God of Lingtai had not subdued you, within ten years, you would have met your doom and your spirit would have scattered."

The Fire Spirit True Immortal paused and quickly asked, "Who is your ancestor?"

"His Daoist title is 'Subhuti,' and the world respectfully calls him 'Patriarch Bodhi.'"

"Subhuti?" the Fire Spirit True Immortal asked in surprise, "Could he be one of the Ten Great Disciples of the Buddha?"

"No," the Guhe attendant shook his head. "The Subhuti of the Buddhist Sect specializes in Buddhist dharma. My ancestor integrates the true essence of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, making him an immeasurable True Immortal of this era."

Upon hearing this, the Fire Spirit True Immortal relaxed slightly but then asked suspiciously, "If he is such a figure, why have I never heard of him? Are you perhaps bluffing?"

A hint of arrogance appeared on the Guhe attendant's young face. "A frog in a well cannot speak of the sea. Mountain Guard General, is the Mountain God in the temple?"

Seeing his extraordinary demeanor, the Fire Spirit True Immortal felt a measure of respect for Patriarch Bodhi and replied, "Yes."

"Please inform him."

The Fire Spirit True Immortal waved his hand. "The Mountain Lord has decreed that all beings may enter the hall directly to pay their respects without prior notice."

The Guhe attendant said seriously, "The Mountain God and my ancestor have a deep friendship. Propriety must not be neglected. I would trouble the General to relay my message."

The Fire Spirit True Immortal was helpless and was about to turn when he suddenly saw a graceful figure standing at the temple entrance. She quickly bowed, "Mountain Lord."

The Guhe attendant also stepped forward and bowed, "By order of my ancestor, I have specially brought ten Longevity Immortal Peaches to congratulate the Mountain God on his advancement in Dao cultivation."

Zhuang Yan descended the steps and looked at the bamboo basket, smiling. "Your ancestor's generous gift is deeply appreciated, Zhuang Yan."

The Guhe attendant said respectfully, "My ancestor said that the Mountain God of Lingtai and he are old friends. Now that my fellow Daoist's cultivation has greatly advanced, it is fitting to prepare a gift to celebrate."

The attendant added, "This Longevity Immortal Peach tree was originally a sapling gifted to my ancestor by the Old Man of the South Pole. it was planted on the southern cliff of Mount Fangcun this spring and has borne much fruit. After distributing it to fellow Immortals, the rest have been entrusted to me to bring here. Please accept it, Mountain God."

Zhuang Yan took the fruit basket and nodded. "Please thank your ancestor on my behalf. I will personally visit the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars to express my gratitude another day."

The Guhe attendant bowed and replied, "I will obey the Mountain God's instructions. This humble one shall take his leave." With that, he rode the clouds and transformed into a streak of light, returning to Mount Fangcun.

After the attendant left, the Fire Spirit True Immortal approached and examined the peach basket, curiously asking, "Mountain Lord, who exactly is this Patriarch Bodhi? How could he receive an immortal tree as a gift from the Old Man of the South Pole?"

Zhuang Yan smiled. "The ancestor's origins are unfathomable, but the techniques he casually imparts are enough to transform someone and make them a formidable power in the region."

"Is it truly that miraculous?" The Fire Spirit True Immortal's face showed surprise.

Zhuang Yan activated his Cave Heaven True Sight to examine the immortal peaches, took out two, and handed them to her. "These are Longevity Immortal Peaches. Eating one can extend one's lifespan by ten years."

The Fire Spirit True Immortal took the peaches, appearing slightly disappointed. "The Old Man of the Stars' immortal tree only yields ten years of lifespan per fruit?"

Zhuang Yan chuckled. "This peach ripens once a year."

The Fire Spirit True Immortal suddenly realized—if it bore ten fruits annually, that would be a hundred years of lifespan. Planting this immortal tree was equivalent to extending one's life by a hundred years every year.

Her eyes flickered, and she mused how difficult it used to be to compete for incense and fire for the sake of longevity, while powerful beings could simply enjoy eternal life with just one tree.

Clutching the peaches, a thought suddenly occurred to her: could the peach pits be planted?

Zhuang Yan saw through her thoughts and smiled. "Don't get any ideas about the peach pits. Those planted from ordinary peach pits will only yield ordinary fruit. Only branches and seedlings from the mother tree can inherit its precious spiritual essence. Otherwise, why would the Old Man of the South Pole have gifted branches?"

The Fire Spirit True Immortal was still unwilling. "I wish to try."

Zhuang Yan was unconcerned. "As you wish."

She put away the immortal peaches and solemnly bowed. "Congratulations, Mountain Lord, on breaking through to the Refining Void into Dao realm."

Zhuang Yan flicked his sleeve. "I will continue my seclusion. You must patrol Spirit Platform Mountain for ten days and inspect the mountains and rivers of Guangci Prefecture every month. If you encounter demons harming people, they shall be executed without mercy."

The Fire Spirit True Immortal solemnly accepted the order. "Your subordinate obeys."

Zhuang Yan transformed into divine light and entered the secluded dwelling. Silence returned to the mountain.

After Zhuang Yan returned to his secluded dwelling, the Fire Spirit True Immortal lightly leaped onto the eaves and lay lazily on the tiles.

Basking in the warm sun and facing the gentle breeze, she took a Longevity Immortal Peach from her sleeve and slowly savored it.

Time flew by, and three years passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside Zhuang Yan's secluded dwelling, he looked at the accumulated 270 points of Heavenly Dao Power and had a plan in mind.

Consuming 200 points could add or restore a major function. He reviewed his existing six abilities: Add Status, Infinite Space, Cave Heaven True Sight, Instantaneous Refinement, One Thought Capture, and One Thought Seal.

He decided to activate "Infinite Dodge" to break through distance limitations. After confirming, he refined the Heavenly Dao Power, and a crisp notification sounded in his mind instantly: "Infinite Dodge" has been added.