Inside the secluded chamber of Jade Pool Courtyard, all was silent except for the flowing Daoist chants.
Li Qingshan's mind sank completely into the deepest part of the Sea of Bitterness Secret Realm.
The Bitter Sea is boundless, surging with golden light, and in the center of the Bitter Sea lies the fountain of life, the Life Spring.
It is gushing forth, bursting forth with the most primal essence of life and the source of divine power.
He mobilized his vast divine sense and pure magical power, as if protecting a newborn infant.
Carefully guiding the ball of seven-colored celestial light, it slowly and steadily sank into the very core of the Eye of Life Spring.
This place is the physical manifestation of the Wheel of Life, one of the ultimate sources of a cultivator's life and power.
It contains a trace of the primordial energy of the beginning of heaven and earth and the birth of life.
The instant the Kirin Immortal Medicine Seed touched the core of the Life Spring, an unexpected change occurred.
A deeper, more essential resonance.
The entire Life Spring paused slightly at first, then "boiled" in an unprecedented manner, causing ripples to rise in the dark sea of the Bitter Sea.
But this time, what surged was no longer a purely violent wave of divine power; it also contained an indescribable joy of "life" and the rhythm of "beginning."
It was like a long-awaited rain after a drought, or like a wanderer returning home.
The Qilin Seed seemed to have keenly sensed the uniqueness and affinity of this place where life originated.
It also began to spontaneously, more gently and continuously exude the aura of Nirvana unique to the elixir of Immortal Medicine.
This aura no longer caused extraordinary phenomena in the heavens and earth as it had when it was first born; instead, it transformed into a gentle stream.
Like a gentle spring breeze and nourishing rain, it seeps out silently yet continuously.
It actively integrates into Li Qingshan's limbs and bones, nourishing his internal organs and warming his meridians and bones.
Ultimately, it reached the mysterious Immortal Platform Sea of Consciousness, cleansing his divine consciousness.
Li Qingshan did not take the opportunity to greedily absorb this longevity essence originating from the Immortal King level to forcibly improve his cultivation level.
He knew that this would be tantamount to draining the pond to catch all the fish, or buying the box and returning the pearl, thus missing the greatest opportunity.
He completely emptied his mind, cut off all distractions, and transformed his physical body and divine consciousness into a furnace, using the Dao he had comprehended as fuel.
Carefully and devoutly contemplate the true meaning of " Nirvana ".
His divine sense seemed to transform into billions of the most exquisite and agile Dao patterns, gently yet tenaciously wrapping around and enveloping the seed at the core of the Life Spring.
His thoughts pierced through the restrictions, disregarded time and space, and directly "contemplated" the divine medicine seed that was in the deepest state of annihilation.
He "saw" that beneath that seemingly lifeless, hard shell, a vast vitality accumulated over countless years lay dormant, waiting;
"I heard" the faint fetal heartbeat before the pulse of new life, hidden within that withered exterior;
"Felt" that supreme law that gives birth to hope in absolute silence and hides revival within eternal decay.
Life and death, decay and prosperity, annihilation and revival, end and beginning—fragments of the great laws that seem contradictory but are in fact unified.
Nourished and catalyzed by this pure Nirvana essence.
Within Li Qingshan's vast mind and sea of consciousness, it flowed, collided, intertwined, and merged with unprecedented clarity.
I don't know how long I've been immersed in this mysterious state; perhaps it's a moment, or perhaps it's eternity.
At one moment, Li Qingshan had a sudden inspiration, and his hands seemed to bear the weight of the Great Dao, unconsciously moving slowly in the Void in front of him.
With a flick of the fingers, the pure divine power within the Bitter Sea and the Nirvana Daoist aura permeating the Life Spring were activated.
Like a symphony under an invisible conductor, they began to intertwine and resonate harmoniously.
Countless intricate and profound Dao patterns flowed from his fingertips.
It did not coalesce into a weapon of fierce attack, nor did it evolve into a shield of solid defense.
Instead, a miniature yet magnificent scene naturally unfolded in the Void before him:
A small, primordial world emerged and evolved within it, where vegetation flourished, and all living things thrived, eventually reaching its zenith.
But prosperity inevitably leads to decline, all things wither, mountains and rivers lose their color, and ultimately everything returns to death and silence, leaving only Eternal darkness and coldness between heaven and earth.
However, at the very moment when absolute silence and darkness reached their peak, as if even time itself was frozen, at the very center of that destruction...
A tiny, almost imperceptible, yet incredibly resilient ray of light, like a spark that has traversed countless ages, stubbornly shines forth!
It was faint, yet contained unimaginable vitality; it began to draw upon all the remaining destructive power and shattered laws around it.
Using this as nourishment, we can reverse the tide and be reborn from the dead!
A tiny green shoot breaks through the soil, a glimmer of life bursts forth, and the entire desolate world seems to be infused with a soul.
It began to radiate a vitality even more vigorous, more abundant, and full of infinite possibilities than before it withered!
"Buzz!"
The Void trembled slightly, and the Great Dao resonated in harmony!
All the evolving anomalies suddenly subsided, and the countless flowing Dao patterns flowed like rivers returning to the sea.
Finally, at the tip of Li Qingshan's right index finger, a simple and unadorned rune was formed, seemingly containing all the mysteries of life, death, and reincarnation.
The shape of this rune is difficult to describe precisely; it resembles the divine feathers unfurled by a phoenix during its Nirvana, or the raised horns of Qilin newly born qilin.
Its entire body shimmered with a hazy radiance, exuding a life force so rich it was almost tangible, and a profound understanding of the cycle of reincarnation.
Li Qingshan slowly opened his eyes, and a fleeting image of the birth and death of the universe and the cycle of all things seemed to flash in the depths of his eyes.
He calmly gazed at the rune that had spontaneously formed at his fingertip, connected to his very being, and understood.
"This technique originates from the true meaning of the Qilin Divine Medicine's Nirvana and regeneration. Its core lies in drawing upon the power of annihilation to reverse the cycle of life and death, and to rejuvenate in dire straits."
Let's call it " Nirvana ".
He murmured to himself, revealing the name of this newly created secret technique.
This is not the legendary, flawless rebirth technique that allows one to live a second life.
It's more like a supreme healing technique at its pinnacle, or an extremely powerful trump card for survival.
As long as one is not instantly annihilated, with one's true spirit scattered, even if one is severely injured and on the verge of death, with one's Dao foundation damaged.
This technique can be used to unleash one's own life potential and awaken the Daoist principles of Nirvana.
There is a very high chance of reversing a dead end, turning death into life, and even possibly rebuilding from ruin.
This makes the foundation of the Dao more solid and deepens the understanding of the Great Dao.
This undoubtedly elevated his survivability and combat endurance to an astonishing level.
Just then, a soft and respectful report came from outside the quiet room, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake.
This awakened Li Qingshan from his profound understanding.
With a thought, the " Nirvana " rune at his fingertips, containing the secrets of life and death, dimmed its light and silently merged into the depths of his body, settling on one side of the Immortal Platform.
It is gently nurtured, subtly resonating with the Qilin Seed in the Life Spring.
He stood up, his aura perfectly harmonious, and strode out of the quiet room.
Outdoors, Elder Yunxia, the person in charge of Jade Pool's residence in the Holy City, and several core disciples stood solemnly waiting.
This included Junior Sister Lin and Senior Sister Zhao, who had come to the Holy City with him.
At this moment, the excitement and exhilaration that had once filled the faces of the crowd when the Holy Son cut out the celestial treasure were nowhere to be seen.
Instead, a lingering sense of melancholy prevailed, making the atmosphere somewhat somber.
"Holy Son," Elder Yunxia stepped forward as soon as she saw Li Qingshan come out. Although she remained calm, her tone was more solemn than ever before. "Recently, there have been undercurrents in the Holy City. On the surface, it seems calm, but in reality, various forces are stirring up trouble."
Our informants have reported that at least ten unidentified forces are secretly working tirelessly to find out your exact whereabouts, cultivation level, and even your daily habits.
Even more problematic is that, based on analysis of top-secret information transmitted through secret channels of the Holy Land, it is highly likely that "shadows of the Human World " are mixed in.
She paused, lowering her voice even further, tinged with a chill. " The Assassin Divine Dynasty, once they set their sights on you, it's a fight to the death."
Holy Son, you are tied to the future of Jade Pool and have just obtained the Qilin Immortal Seed. You have become the target of everyone's attacks. The risks are too great.
In my humble opinion, shouldn't we immediately send a message to the sacred site using the highest-level secret talisman, requesting a Tai Shang elder who has been in seclusion for many years to personally come and receive the Dharma protector?
Only in this way can we ensure that the Holy Son returns to Jade Pool safely without any mishap.
"Yes, Holy Son!"
Junior Sister Lin standing to the side, couldn't help but speak up, her pretty face full of anxiety, "Those rats in the shadows will stop at nothing. Although you are incredibly powerful, it's easy to dodge a spear in the open but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark!"
"Only by having a respected elder in charge can we deter these scoundrels!"
Senior Sister Zhao echoed in a deep voice, "Holy Son, your safety is of utmost importance."
This is not the time to be reckless; caution is the best policy.
Several young disciples nodded in agreement, their eyes fixed earnestly on Li Qingshan.
In their hearts, the Holy Son Li Qingshan is the hope for the future of Jade Pool and the pillar of the future holy land.
Furthermore, they extracted the Kirin Immortal Medicine Seed, which is enough to elevate the Jade Pool's foundation to a new level. Its importance is immeasurable, and no mistakes can be tolerated.
Li Qingshan's gaze swept calmly over the crowd, taking in their worries, anxieties, and concerns.
His expression remained calm and composed, yet a barely perceptible hint of eagerness flickered deep within his profound eyes.
A slight smile curved at the corners of her lips.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his gaze seemingly possessing the power to pierce through the Void.
The light passed through the layers of restrictions and radiance of the villa, landing on the seemingly prosperous and peaceful Holy City outside, which was actually fraught with danger.
"The Venerable Protector?"
He gently shook his head, his voice not loud, but filled with absolute confidence, clearly reaching everyone's ears, " Elder Yunxia, and all my fellow disciples, I appreciate your kindness."
But, it's not necessary.
Under the momentary astonishment, confusion, and even a hint of anxiety in everyone's eyes, Li Qingshan slowly took a step forward.
His dark robes fluttered without wind as he continued to speak calmly, his voice like a resounding bell, striking the hearts of everyone present. "They are nothing but cowardly, shady monsters, mere mortals. Do they even deserve the presence of an elder of the Jade Pool?"
If they truly dare to come, they're merely offering themselves up as whetstones for me to hone my combat skills and verify the truth of the Dao, saving me the trouble of searching for adversaries elsewhere.
He paused slightly, and an invisible yet powerful aura slowly spread out from his body.
It wasn't meant to be deliberate oppression, yet it still made even someone like Elder Yunxia feel a chill run down her spine.
His tone carried an absolute confidence that looked down on the younger generation and disdained the Eastern Wasteland: "The struggle for the imperial path has always been like this, treading on mountains of corpses and seas of blood, stepping on thousands of bones to move forward."
Transcend yourself in extreme battles, and prove your path amidst life-or-death crises!
If even this minor storm requires the constant protection of the sect elders, then...
Like a flower carefully cultivated in a greenhouse but unable to withstand wind and rain, what right will it have to compete with the young figures of emperors and kings throughout history?
What invincible ambition could one have to climb to the summit of the path of cultivation and survey all the mountains below?
His gaze sharpened, like a drawn sword, sweeping over every Jade Pool disciple present. "Perfect! I want to take this opportunity to see for myself just how many overconfident and greedy people there are in this vast Eastern Wasteland."
You'd better weigh whether I, Li Qingshan, am tough enough, and taste whether my fists are sharp enough!
It also allowed me, whose understanding of the " Nirvana " technique was still somewhat raw, to witness real bloodshed and unleash its untested potential!
His words were plain, without any shouting, yet they contained an air of domineering confidence and an unwavering belief in his own invincibility.
Hearing this, the young disciples, including Junior Sister Lin and Senior Sister Zhao, felt their blood boil and their hearts surge with excitement.
His eyes shone with intense admiration and longing, as if he could see an invincible emperor rising in the future.
Elder Yunxia's lips moved slightly. She knew the terror of the Assassin Divine Dynasty and understood what kind of crazy old monster the Qilin Seed would attract. She wanted to offer a few more words of advice on the grounds of caution.
But when she met Li Qingshan's eyes, which were as deep as the starry sea and as firm as a rock, all the words that were about to come out were swallowed back.
The absolute confidence and extraordinary vision revealed in his eyes were by no means blind arrogance.
She sighed inwardly, knowing that the Holy Son's resolve was firm and could not be swayed by outsiders.
I have a nagging feeling that perhaps this choice to face the storms head-on and hone one's skills amidst calamities is the true path to the pinnacle.
She ultimately transformed all her worries into a respectful reply, bowing deeply. "I will obey the Holy Son's command!"
I, along with all the disciples stationed here, will do our utmost to strengthen internal and external defenses, providing support at any time, and will absolutely not allow any villains to interfere with the Holy Son's cultivation!
Li Qingshan nodded slightly, said no more, and turned to walk back to the quiet room.