Yu Ci had no idea of the conversation related to him that had taken place deep within You Qiu Palace. However, he was now quite clear about the thoughts of those in the White Sun Mansion.
Upon leaving You Qiu Palace, Yu Ci headed straight for the city and up to Cinnabar Cliff, where the White Sun Mansion was located. The path was unimpeded. Almost everyone on Cinnabar Cliff recognized him. There was no shortage of malicious intent among them, but no one dared to act. The decree from the Still Heart Temple had already reached the mansion. After hearing the news, Li You, who had been stiflingly bored in the mansion, came down to meet him and together they ascended the cliff.
"Since the Sect agreed to let me return to the mountain, almost a month has passed! I was thinking, whoever is to replace me should have arrived by now, even if they took their time sightseeing along the way. I didn't expect that you, Uncle Master Yu, were the one they were waiting for... I've heard that you've accomplished your Yin Spirit and made great progress in your abilities. How about we spar when you return?"
Li You was clearly excited about his impending return to the mountain. He was a naturally enthusiastic person, and at this moment, he seemed even more amiable. Seeing his demeanor, Yu Ci glanced to the side and said, "Seeing you in such high spirits, how boring must the situation in Cliff City be?"
Li You was no fool. He had heard of the grudges between White Sun Mansion and Yu Ci. Seeing Yu Ci's smirk, he chuckled, "It was quite boring, but things have become a bit more interesting these past few days. It seems the nearby demons knew you were coming and have been causing chaos. Elder Tu is still seriously injured and in seclusion, unable to help. Master Jin has been away for several days now to stabilize the situation..."
In other words, Jin Huan was deliberately avoiding him.
This was within Yu Ci's expectations. At this point, Jin Huan probably wished he could grind him to dust, but he had to face this awkward situation. The only way to save face was to temporarily avoid him.
However, just because Jin Huan could evade him didn't mean others could. Especially people like Jin Chuan and Kuang Yan Qi, who were in the most awkward position. On one hand, they were the rising stars of White Sun Mansion, and on the other hand, they were stuck with the task of mediating for the Lichen Sect. They had no choice but to accompany Li You down the mountain. Kuang Yan Qi was somewhat better, but Jin Chuan's face was rigid. Throughout the ascent, he could only keep his head down and pretend to be deaf and mute.
Yu Ci couldn't be bothered to argue with these youngsters. Besides taking control of the situation in Cliff City, he had other matters to attend to. However, when he arrived at the council hall, he only saw the fake smiles of Lu Yang, Kuang Zheng, and other mansion officials. The person he had expected to see was not there.
He was puzzled and shook the birdcage covered with cloth in his hand, asking Li You, "Where is Elder Xie? This is something he wanted, and I brought it along."
At his words, Li You's expression turned strange, "Elder Xie is always elusive and rarely stays in the mansion. But since you're here, he should come to find you."
As he spoke, he pulled Yu Ci aside, ignoring the others in the hall who were smiling on the surface but not in their hearts. He whispered, "Brother, you must be very careful. Elder Xie is solitary and difficult to talk to. He is especially harsh on us younger swordsmen. You should be prepared."
"A swordsman?" Yu Ci was utterly perplexed.
Spending the night in an environment filled with hostility, even hatred, seemed perilous, yet Yu Ci was remarkably unperturbed.
His handover of affairs with Li You was uneventful. He did not express any opinions about the recent arrangements in Cliff City, simply stating that everything should follow the precedent. Then, citing fatigue from the journey, he asked White Sun Mansion to arrange a private courtyard with a Meditation Room for him to rest, displaying a strikingly low-profile demeanor.
This understated approach, of course, did not cause White Sun Mansion to let down their guard. On the contrary, it made them more suspicious and cautious. Yu Ci, however, was indifferent to all this. He had come to Cliff City not to insult or humiliate anyone, but to accomplish something!
He was destined to make a mark in Cliff City. How else could he clarify his mind and seize the opportunity to enhance his Cultivation Level?
From this perspective, he did not come to Cliff City to appease anyone!
This, he had no doubt about.
There were no lights in the Meditation Room, only the gentle glow of Night Pearls, which was very soothing.
Unaffected by the external environment, Yu Ci concentrated on his own matters. He took out the Dharma Seal given to him by the Old Daoist and played with it in his hand. The "Tao Scripture Master Three Treasure" inscription on the seal was carved in ancient seal script, still fresh under the light of the pearls, with the indentations between the strokes seemingly shimmering.
The "Tao Scripture Master Three Treasure Seal" was the most versatile Dharma Seal, suitable for all Talismans and an excellent aid for cultivation and application of Talismans.
After calming his mind, he placed the Dharma Seal on the table in front of his knees, freed his hands, and slowly formed a hand seal. The air vibrated with a hum, and the Dharma Seal on the table was swept up by the shock wave, leaping up. As it tumbled in the air, Yu Ci changed the hand seal, and a Talisman formed in the void, shot into the Dharma Seal, which then hung in mid-air.
Then dozens of Rune Patterns condensed one after another, flashing in the Meditation Room, arranging and combining in the void according to Yu Ci's intentions, forming a more complex Talisman, encircling the Dharma Seal. The spiritual light of the Rune Patterns and the treasure light of the Dharma Seal echoed each other, and slowly, the light of the Dharma Seal grew stronger, absorbing the spiritual light of the Rune Patterns.
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Having absorbed the spiritual light of the Rune Patterns, the light of the Dharma Seal peaked and receded, returning to its original form of an ordinary square seal. Only at this time, with a slight breath from Yu Ci, one could see a faint glow on the seal, with vague images changing within it, like a deity shouting thunder, or a demon riding the wind, constantly shifting and changing.
At this point, the second layer of the Talisman refining was added.
The refining of this Tao Scripture Master Three Treasure Seal went very smoothly. Even though the first three to five layers of the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Refining Method are relatively easy to add, completing two layers within half a month is still very rapid. Part of this is due to the excellent material and craftsmanship of the Dharma Seal; another part is due to Yu Ci's mature Yin Spirit, his potential is stimulated, his Cultivation Level is advancing by leaps and bounds, and due to the uniqueness of the Primordial Root Qi Method, his proficiency in Talisman is also advancing rapidly.
Upon layering two Talisman, the "Tao Scripture Master Three Treasure Seal" could be preliminarily manipulated, necessitating the use of the "Yin Spirit Manipulation" technique.
The so-called "Yin Spirit Manipulation" involves the use of the rapidly growing Divine Soul power after condensation into the Yin Spirit, to control Magical Instruments for attack, defense, and combat. Particularly after the Yin Spirit exits the body, this method can break free from limitations, greatly enhancing offensive and defensive capabilities, and fully utilizing the power of the Magical Instruments to achieve many unimaginable effects.
That day in Sky Rift Valley, Tu Du manipulated the Sun Soul Banner, driven by the "Star Slaying Shadow Method", from dozens of miles away, he managed to injure Yu Ci with a single strike. Do not forget that before this, his Yin Spirit and physical body were tens of thousands of miles apart!
According to Old Daoist Yu Zhou, this art of Yin Spirit Manipulation is not a grand dao study, but merely a skill to manipulate Magical Instruments. But it is extremely practical. All cultivators in this realm with a mature Yin Spirit must practice diligently for self-defense. Moreover, without the Yin Spirit's manipulation, can it still be called a Magical Instrument?
Yu Ci casually drew a spirit symbol. While drawing, the Tao Scripture Master Three Treasure Seal hovered over his shoulder, glowing brightly, resonating with his aura. The speed of forming the symbol was at least ten percent faster than before, and its power had also increased.
But this is not the true effect of the Dharma Seal, its full potential can only be revealed when applied to a more complex Talisman.
Because of this, Yu Ci has been learning a new Talisman, hoping to expand the use of the Dharma Seal.
After finishing his practice for the night, Yu Ci put away the Dharma Seal and turned his gaze to a "birdcage" on the side.
The cage had been uncovered, revealing the Fish-Dragon inside. The Fish-Dragon, restrained by the "Three Yin Soul Falling Cage", was unwilling to move, lazily. Out of instinct, it was still absorbing the Primordial Qi of heaven and earth and the vitality of the surrounding living beings. Yu Ci, who had just refined the Ritual Seal, faintly felt its influence.
He found it difficult to estimate the value of this creature. However, since Immortal Xie Yan specifically asked for it to be presented at the "Treasure Exchange Banquet", it must be of considerable worth.
Just as he was about to take a closer look, a sudden sense of danger arose in his heart.
Before the impending crisis, Yu Ci's body had already reacted. He contracted, propelled himself forward, and instinctively reached out to grab the "birdcage", hurtling towards the nearest wall.
The expected collision did not occur because, a moment earlier, the fierce Sword Energy that swept over had catalyzed everything in and outside the Meditation Room. Even half of the courtyard where he resided collapsed into dust in the swirling fog.
"Has the White Sun Mansion made their move?"
The moment the thought crossed his mind, he dismissed it as impossible.
Then he guessed the identity of the visitor. Just as he was about to call out, the overwhelming pressure of the sword was already imminent, carrying within it a cold voice:
"Let the sword do the talking!"
A slight gap appeared in the suffocating sword pressure, a chance for him to draw his sword.
Without a second thought, Yu Ci tossed aside the birdcage, drew out his Pure Yang Talisman Sword, and the Flame Sword Blade emerged with a swoosh.
With a clang, the Flame Sword Blade collided with the opponent's sword. There was no doubt; this confrontation was deliberately sought by the other party.
A Sword Qi Storm abruptly arose.
Yu Ci had once crossed swords with Yu Zhou. That was his first battle with a superior whose Cultivation Level and Swordsmanship completely overwhelmed him. The outcome was predictable, but during the battle, Yu Ci truly felt the effortless control and mastery of Yu Zhou's Swordsmanship and Cultivation Level.
However, this time, facing the dear friend of the Old Daoist from the same sect, his feelings were completely different.
In the Cultivation World, superior sword intents generally take two paths: one is subtlety, the other is momentum, or more vividly described as mistification and rainbowization.
The former emphasizes subtlety and transformation, refining Sword Energy to be as fine as silk, as ethereal as mist, until it becomes formless and immaterial. Typical examples include the Half Mountain Mirage that Yu Ci inexplicably mastered, the legendary deadliest Heaven Escape Killing Sword, and the Transforming Dust Sword Technique of the Lichen Sect, in which Old Daoist Yu Zhou has profound accomplishments.
The latter does not deliberately focus on the refinement and purification of Sword Energy, but emphasizes the infinite enhancement of Sword Energy's power, until it can split mountains, divide seas, and cleave the earth. At its peak, only the Sword Light Transforms into Rainbow can be seen, spanning thousands of miles, unrivaled in momentum.
The visitor obviously took the path of "rainbowization", wielding his sword with overwhelming momentum. His Sword Energy was like a hurricane, a tidal wave, a thunderstorm... Yu Ci could only perceive so much, simply because the following sword stroke swept away all his extraneous thoughts.
The sword pressure rolled over him like a landslide, almost tearing him to pieces. He knew the identity of the opponent, but a stronger instinct overpowered everything else. In that moment, he was sure he was going to die!
In that instant, Yu Ci could remember nothing else, only the sword in his hand, the only thing that still connected him to this world!
When he came to his senses, he saw himself holding the sword in position, the Flame Sword Blade on the Pure Yang Talisman Sword had already extinguished, but the sword tip was pressed against the throat of the person in front. The blunt sword tip indented the soft skin of the throat. Yet the man seemed unaffected, coldly saying:
"Brash boy, do you want to kill me?"
"Elder Xie!"
Li You, who had hurriedly arrived, called out.
Why did I fall asleep in front of the computer again? It always happens around seven or eight in the evening, but it's fine if it's later. Seeking solutions. Also asking for favorites to boost my spirit!
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I have also posted the following more chapters [All free] on: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e