A New Path!

Deep within the Great Luo Heaven, chaos gradually subsided.

Only the [Primordial Spirit] body in the center, radiating a bright yellow noble Baoguang and exuding a vast and profound aura, stood quietly, becoming the most dazzling existence in this newly opened Domain Heaven.

"The Way of Oneness, refining the soul into a spirit, is called— the Primordial Spirit!"

Qi Yun, the original form, looked up, his eyes gleaming as he gazed intently at the Primordial Spirit Fahai before him.

Those deep, starry eyes were now swirling with color as they carefully examined this creation, which had completely broken free from the established system of enlightenment in the Xuanhuang Realm.

"Tsk tsk tsk, I never expected this! You stumbled upon something amazing while tinkering with this Shakyamuni Dharma Body, and you actually managed to create this thing!"

Cai Shen's golden phantom solidified completely, floating on Qi Yun's shoulder, his small face full of amazement and keen interest as he looked up and down at the bright yellow Primordial Spirit.

"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!"

The true spirit is condensed and does not disperse; divine thoughts gather and Changsheng, implying immortality.

This is indeed something completely different from the path of the Xuanhuang Dao Attainment Method, which combines Samadhi and Unity!

Kid, that risky move of yours might actually have been the right one!

Hearing Cai Kun's undisguised praise, Qi Yun's face showed little pride.

In his deep eyes, the light of scrutiny and calculation burned even brighter.

For him, verifying the existence of the [Primordial Spirit] was only the first step; more important was assessing its potential!

If the [Primordial Spirit] that emerges from this new path is inferior to the mature Xuanhuang Dao Attainment Method in terms of power, potential, and even the possibility of ultimately reaching a higher realm.

Then this so-called "new path" is meaningless.

"Fahai."

Qi Yun's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of command.

"Open your mind and let me personally take control of this [Primordial Spirit]."

"Amitabha."

Upon hearing this, Fahai's Primordial Spirit uttered a long Buddhist chant, its gentle and peaceful voice echoing in the chaotic void.

The compassionate and wise smile on his face slowly faded, transforming into a pure, thoughtless emptiness.

In the next instant, he completely relinquished all control and defense over his "Primordial Spirit body," like a palace with its doors opened, awaiting a new master.

A sudden flash of divine light appeared in Qi Yun's eyes, and a wisp of chaotic immortal light rippled slightly at the Ancestral Aperture between his brows.

A torrent of divine thought, condensed to its extreme and containing the will of Qi Yun and the fundamental Daoist principles of the Great Luo Heaven, pierced through the void in an instant, like an invisible sword, and entered the space between the eyebrows of Fahai's Primordial Spirit!

"Buzz----"

The body of the bright yellow Primordial Spirit trembled slightly, and the Baoguang and Daoist charm flowing around it became momentarily disordered.

It then stabilized at a frequency more aligned with the will of the deity Qi Yun.

Those eyes, which were originally gentle and compassionate, now quietly took on Qi Yun's signature deep and indifferent look.

Qi Yun himself has temporarily taken over this newly born [Primordial Spirit]!

He slowly raised his arms and looked down at the hands that were formed from pure, bright yellow spiritual light, yet seemed to possess a real tactile sensation.

a long time.

Qi Yun's divine sense withdrew slowly from Fahai's Primordial Spirit, like the receding tide.

Minghuang Primordial Spirit's body trembled again, the deep indifference in his eyes faded, and the gentle, wise light unique to Fahai was restored. He nodded slightly to his original form.

Qi Yun slowly opened his eyes, his gaze flickering, and a rare look of contemplation appeared on his face.

"How is it? How does it feel? Is there anything mysterious about this [Primordial Spirit]?" Cai Shen asked impatiently, his small eyes blinking.

Qi Yun remained silent for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts and processing the unique and profound experience he had just had. He frowned slightly and slowly said, "Indeed—it's a completely different path from the Xuanhuang Dao Attainment Method."

"The Xuanhuang Dao Attainment that the Dharma Body is the boat, the Immortal Aspect is the sail, Fruition Status is the compass. Only when the three samadhis are united can one sail far on the sea of the Great Dao and seek the Golden Nature."

Its core principle is to elevate one's spiritual attainment ("Fruition Status") through the [Dharma Body " and [Immortal Aspect], thereby achieving enlightenment.

He paused, a sharp analytical glint flashing in his eyes. "But this [Primordial Spirit] is completely different."

In terms of power, it is far inferior to the [Immortal Aspect] formed from the Foundation Establishment Realm Heaven.

Upon hearing this, Cai Shen's face showed a hint of disappointment: "Then wouldn't that mean—"

"However," Qi Yun changed the subject, a strange fluctuation appearing in his tone.

"This [Primordial Spirit] possesses a unique [vitality] that far surpasses even the [Immortal Aspect] and [Dharma Body]."

"[Vitality]?" Cai Shen asked, puzzled. "What do you mean by that?"

Qi Yun turned his gaze back to the bright yellow Primordial Spirit, as if trying to see through its most fundamental structure.

"This [Primordial Spirit] was formed by drawing upon the pure essence of the Divine Soul and refining it with the immortal energy from the the Unseen."

He extended his finger, pointed it at the Primordial Spirit, and said in a deep voice, "If one goes deep into this path, the [Primordial Spirit] can continuously differentiate and strengthen its own divine thoughts. Theoretically, the ultimate goal is to transform a single Primordial Spirit into 129,600 independent yet homogeneous divine thoughts!"

Each divine thought is incredibly resilient and indelible.

At that time—as long as even one divine thought remains, the Primordial Spirit can be reunited and reappear in the world!

These characteristics make them practically immortal!

Cai Kun's gaze changed, and he asked with slight surprise, "129,600 divine thoughts?"

"If one remains undestroyed, one can be reborn?"

"Not only that," Qi Yun's eyes grew brighter and brighter, as if he had parted the thick fog and seen a more distant landscape, "I also discovered that after this [Primordial Spirit] is cultivated, there is a subtle sense of integration flowing between it and the [Dharma Body] that carries it."

"But my current level of understanding is still shallow, and this feeling is still very vague."

He looked up at Cai Kun and, word by word, uttered his boldest and most shocking conjecture. "I suspect—if we resolutely pursue this path to seek gold—"

He paused slightly, his tone carrying an almost certainty. "Very likely—it doesn't require the blessing of [Fruition Status]."

"What?!" Cai Shen's golden phantom shuddered, his small eyes widening in surprise, his expression almost overflowing with astonishment!

Is [Fruition Status] not required?

This news is even more shocking than hearing that the Primordial Spirit is immortal!

[Fruition Status] is the proof of True Lord's position, the seal of authority over heaven and earth, and the manifestation of the source of the Great Dao!

Countless brilliant talents, having devoted their entire lives to countless schemes, seek nothing more than a [Fruition Status] that suits them!

Now, Qi Yun is even speculating that this newly embarked path of "Primordial Spirit" might bypass the almost insurmountable barrier of [Fruition Status]?!

"Is this... even possible?"

Cai Shen's voice even changed slightly.

"[The Fruition Status] contains not only power, but also guidance on the direction of the Great Dao, and the basis for guarding one's position!"

Without attaining [the Fruition Status], how can one stabilize one's own Dao Path and solidify the Immortal Golden Nature?

"So, this is just speculation."

Qi Yun regained his composure, but the fire of exploration in his eyes burned even brighter.

"The path to [Primordial Spirit] has only just begun; whether it leads to a smooth road or a precipice remains to be seen."

He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the chaotic, undifferentiated "sky" of [Great Luo Heaven], his voice low and firm. "But in any case, this path has already shown a glimmer of light beneath my feet, and it is worth my continued investment to explore and verify it!"

The chaotic energy flowed silently, and the earth, fire, wind, and water evolved quietly.

Cloud-Resting Chan Monastery.

The courtyard, paved with bluestone slabs, is bathed in the soft golden light unique to Spirit Mountain. The ancient pine branches sway gently in the breeze and the Buddha's light, casting dappled and shimmering spots of light.

Qi Yun under an old plum tree, the sunlight seemingly falling flat on a few late-blooming pale yellow plum blossoms on the branches.

In reality, his mind was calm and he was carefully experiencing the mysterious and profound connection between the [Great Radiance Mahasthamaprapta Dharma Body] and the newly born [Primordial Spirit].

"Thump, thump, thump."

Three soft, rhythmic knocks broke the tranquility of the courtyard and interrupted Qi Yun's thoughts.

Qi Yun's eyes flickered slightly, and the deep, mysterious aura that belonged to his true self quickly disappeared, replaced by the clear and peaceful expression befitting "Fahai".

He straightened his spotless dark blue monk's robe and walked calmly toward the courtyard gate.

"Squeak"

The heavy wooden door was pulled open, and a bright yet gentle Buddhist light poured in, clearly outlining the figure of the person who was coming.

Wearing a white robe embroidered with pale golden lotus patterns, holding a lustrous glass rosary, with a compassionate face and a familiar, gentle smile that seemed to dissolve all troubles, it was none other than the Huijue Arhat.

"Brother Fahai, how are you doing in your recent meditation at the Zen monastery? This humble monk—"

Huijue Arhat spoke with a smile, his tone as friendly as ever, his gaze naturally falling on Qi Yun's face.

However, he paused slightly midway through his sentence, his usual greeting trailing off.

A fleeting, almost imperceptible look of surprise flashed across those slender eyes, which held boundless wisdom.

"Huh?"

A faint, almost inaudible nasal sound of doubt escaped from the throat of the Arhat Huijue.

The glass prayer beads he was slowly turning in his hand also paused for an extremely brief moment.

"Junior Brother's cultivation level----"

The Huijue Arhat spoke again, his voice still gentle, but with a hint of inquiry.

"It seems you've improved quite a bit."

His gaze, like an invisible breeze, gently brushed over Qi Yun's body.

The Fahai before us was still dressed in a simple monk's robe, exuding a harmonious aura and Buddhist charm, perfectly in harmony with this Spirit Mountain Sacred Realm.

However, upon closer inspection, it appears significantly different from when we first met it a month or so ago.

The ancient luminous meaning derived from the "Great Radiance Glazed Treasure Scripture" seems to have become more restrained and mellow, as if it has been refined and purified, reaching a new level.

What surprised Huijue Arhat even more was that beneath this pure and radiant Buddhist aura, he faintly sensed a trace of—

--The meaning of vastness.

This change cannot be brought about by ordinary meditation, chanting, or comprehending Buddhist principles.

Qi Yun met Huijue Arhat's gaze, which was filled with inquiry and a little surprise. He raised one hand to his chest and bowed slightly. "Senior brother, you flatter me."

It is truly thanks to the boundless Buddha's light shining upon this sacred place, and the generous teachings of our Arhat brothers and sisters, who expound the profound truths.

My junior brother listened to his teachings every day and felt as if he were drinking sweet dew and basking in a spring breeze.

"If one were to reside in such a supreme Buddha-land, listening to the most sublime sounds, yet after more than a month have passed without the slightest progress, wouldn't that be a waste of precious resources, and a betrayal of the World-Honored One's compassion and the kindness of all fellow practitioners?"

His words were True Intention, attributing his progress in cultivation entirely to the unique advantages of the Spirit Mountain Sacred Realm and the selfless exchanges among his fellow disciples.

Upon Huijue this, the surprise and inquiry in Arhat's eyes slowly faded. He twirled his prayer beads and nodded with a smile, "Junior brother's words resonate deeply with me."

The Dharma is like the ocean; only through diligence and wisdom can one cross it.

Since you, my junior brother, have this intention and this opportunity, it is only natural that you strive harder.

Good, good."

Immediately, Huijue Arhat stopped dwelling on the topic of Qi Yun changes.

He flipped his hand, and a simple, unadorned calligraphy scroll, about the size of a palm, with a faint, warm white light flowing over it, appeared in his palm.

The surface of the rubbing is inscribed with intricate patterns and a few ancient characters in golden Sanskrit, subtly exuding an aura of solemnity, dignity, and inviolability, and is also faintly connected with the magnificent Buddhist atmosphere of the entire Spirit Mountain Sacred Realm.

"Junior brother, please keep this safe."

The Huijue Arhat handed the Dharma copybook to Qi Yun, his tone becoming more solemn.

"Three days later, when the sun rises and the purple qi appears in the east, you can use this [Spirit Mountain Dharma Invitation] to follow its guidance to ascend to the highest point of Spirit Mountain and reach the Little Thunderclap Temple."

He paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through the monastery to reach the summit of Spirit Mountain, shrouded in endless Buddhist light and auspicious clouds. His voice carried a strange sense of remoteness and anticipation: "The World-Honored One's Chan Assembly— "

"It's about to begin."

Qi Yun solemn, and he respectfully accepted the Spirit Mountain Dharma Invitation, which was still warm to the touch, with both hands.

"Thank you very much, senior brother, for the generous gift of this Dharma text. I will certainly attend the gathering on time to listen to the World-Honored One's supreme and wondrous teachings, and not waste this fortuitous opportunity."

Huijue Arhat smiled and nodded, saying nothing more. He turned around, the hem of his white robe tracing an elegant arc, and his figure gradually merged into the magnificent sea of Buddhist light outside the temple, disappearing from sight.

The courtyard gate closed gently.

Qi Yun stood alone under the old plum tree, gazing down at the Spirit Mountain Dharma Invitation in his palm, which emitted a warm white light, his fingertips unconsciously tracing its High Antiquity patterns.

Three days later, at the summit of Spirit Mountain, in the Little Thunderclap Temple, the World-Honored One's Chan Assembly.

Is it finally about to begin?