Yu Ci remained silent, standing under the law column for a long while. Suddenly, he turned and walked to the nearby Object Column, scanning it for a moment before heading towards the levy and fabric columns on the other side of the hall. He studied them for a while before returning.
The Old Daoist was patient, maintaining a gentle smile as he waited without a hint of impatience. Yu Ci stood under the Object Column, pondering for a moment before abruptly asking, "How do you interpret this?"
The Old Daoist turned his head, seeing a layer of ink characters emerging on the snow-white wall of the Object Column. The entry was written very clearly: "To become an Outer Disciple, one must accumulate a thousand merits!"
Upon seeing this, Old Daoist Yu Zhou nodded slightly, "I preside over Still Heart Temple as the leader of the Outer Disciples, and I have the authority to accept those with a heart towards the Dao for cultivation here. If there are disciples with exceptional qualifications and temperament, and who have made great contributions to the Sect, they can also report to the Sect's Mountain Gate, be taught the Sect's secret methods, and seek Immortality."
"What are these secret methods? Are they methods for longevity?"
"For Outer Disciples, at most, they can obtain the Sect's Elixir Formula, which can extend their lifespan to three hundred years. This is not yet Immortality, but merely a step on the path towards it."
"Are the so-called Elixir Formulas the ones listed on this law column?"
"Yes!"
Upon hearing this, Yu Ci laughed, "That seems like a very good deal."
He was referring to the difference of thousands between the Elixir Formula and the Merit Points that Outer Disciples could accumulate. The Old Daoist also laughed, "Our Sect does not lightly bestow the Elixir Formula. It can only be obtained by those who have made great contributions to the Sect. Junior, you are oversimplifying things... Moreover, your three hundred merits are not enough."
"One must eat a meal bite by bite, and walk a road step by step," Yu Ci responded.
After a pause, he pointed to the opposite side, directly at the "Bulletin Board". This was where the Lichen Sect Cultivators posted their Merit Points messages under their own names.
"Taoist Yu, it seems that there is a message about the Noble Ancestral Immortal Master buying a Fish-Dragon on that board. Are the three hundred merits you mentioned coming from there?"
"Correct."
The Old Daoist added, "The one who posted this message is Brother Lu, the Sect's Sacred Artisan. He needs a Fish-Dragon to craft a Magical Instrument. He has been unable to find one, hence, he posted this message. His offer is a full thirty percent higher than the Sect's purchase price. Junior, you are in luck!"
In response to Old Daoist's teasing, Yu Ci managed a smile, his mind immediately focusing on a particular matter due to the former's words.
"I have a question for the Temple Master," he began. "As someone of a younger generation who is not a disciple of your esteemed sect, I am unaware of certain information. Is it possible for me to undertake certain tasks?"
Old Daoist gazed into his eyes, pausing for a moment before breaking into a smile. "Being able to come to the Still Heart Temple is a sign of destiny. The Path of Immortality prioritizes the Karmic Method. Naturally, it is possible for you to undertake tasks. However, the sect has certain rules. The Merit Points listed on the 'Quest Column' are exclusively for our disciples to undertake. There are no restrictions on the 'Bulletin Board' though."
Without uttering another word, Yu Ci raised his hand to his forehead, bowing deeply to Old Daoist.
He was unsure whether Old Daoist had brought him to the One Mind Hall out of goodwill or personal preference, but the opportunity he had agreed to was of utmost importance to him. He couldn't help but feel grateful.
If Old Daoist had refused, the three hundred merits he had earned from the Fish-Dragon would have been insufficient to become an Outer Disciple and subsequently acquire the Method of Longevity. It would have been nothing more than a pipe dream. However, with Old Daoist's words, Yu Ci could continually earn Merit Points from the 'Bulletin Board', accumulating enough to eventually fulfill his aspirations.
The process might not be smooth, but the door to the Path of Immortality had been slightly opened by Old Daoist, and how could Yu Ci not be grateful?
However, being a man of experience, he quickly composed himself, focusing on the matter at hand. He asked the Old Daoist, "May I inquire if I could lodge here?"
Old Daoist blinked, smiling as he replied, "We always accommodate those from outside. Of course, you may stay."
Without any hesitation, Yu Ci responded, "In that case, please allow me to stay, Temple Master."
Before he could successfully enter the sect's Mountain Gate, the White Sun Mansion would undoubtedly want him out of the picture. But as long as he was in the temple, the Lichen Sect would serve as a protective umbrella over him. Even the terrifying Great Dazzling Extreme Yang Method of Jin Huan couldn't touch him for the time being.
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Yu Ci settled down in the Still Heart Temple, living in a peaceful single courtyard. Meals were delivered to him, and the treatment was quite good, with a nominal fee that made his stay comfortable.
Yu Ci had been residing in the temple for a few days. He wasn't one to confine himself indoors; rather, he gallantly roamed about the temple, familiarizing himself with the environment. In his plans, the Still Heart Temple was to be his long-term dwelling for many years to come. It couldn't hurt to familiarize himself with it sooner.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
As time passed, Yu Ci made a new discovery. Although the Still Heart Temple was the External Affair Temple of the Lichen Sect, not everyone in the temple was an Outer Disciple. Out of the hundred or so Taoists, a significant portion were "single hangers" who had no legal ties with the Lichen Sect. They remained in the temple to cultivate and do chores, maintaining the operation of the Daoist temple. They also occasionally accepted Merit Points tasks from the One Mind Hall, harboring a slim hope that they might leap over the dragon gate and become disciples of the Lichen Sect.
Yu Ci's circumstances were not much different from these people. During his days in the temple, some people actively sought to befriend him, while others deliberately kept their distance. The subtleties of human nature were evident even in this place of quiet cultivation.
However, whether they sought friendship or distance, Yu Ci didn't take these deliberate interpersonal relationships to heart. He had his own reasons for staying in the temple, which had nothing to do with others.
Sitting in the courtyard, Yu Ci held a fiery red glow in his palm, burning fiercely without harming his skin. At the same time, tiny bits of charred debris slid from his palm, gradually accumulating into a thin layer on the ground.
With his eyes slightly closed, Yu Ci maintained steady breathing. Before doing this, he had meticulously refined the Divine Bronze Mirror, thus keeping the purity of the "Primordial Qi" in its most perfect state. Now, his internal Heartfelt Energy was as harmonious as one, his heartbeat in sync with the vibration of his Divine Soul. His divine intention extended into the flames in his palm, as if seeing with eyes and touching with hands, without any hindrance.
In his palm, the Nine Yang Talisman Sword was "devouring" another three Yang Talisman Sword. Their Rune Patterns joined together, and in an instant, a Red Glow flowed, etching new Rune Patterns onto the wooden sword body. Throughout this process, the three Yang Talisman Sword was constantly burning, yet not a bit of heat escaped. Instead, it was fully absorbed into the Nine Yang Talisman Sword. If one were to lean close to Yu Ci's palm and listen carefully, they could hear a soft rumbling explosion within the flames.
This was merely the aftermath of the flame's impact. The truly terrifying power was locked between his palms by Yu Ci using the Rune Patterns on the sword, causing a violent reaction within.
Yu Ci was refining the "Pure Yang Talisman Sword".
During the half-month journey from Sheer Cliff City to here, the Jade Slip of the Forged Talisman Sword he had obtained from Yan Daoist had been thoroughly studied by him. In these few days, Yu Ci had begun to try refining the Sword Talisman in preparation for his plans.
Over the course of a decade, thanks to the existence of the "Shangqing Star Secret Talisman Book", he had laid the most solid foundation in talismanic arts. Hence, whether it was the Six Yang Sword Talisman or the Nine Yang Talisman Sword, none posed any difficulty. The only thing that required caution was the final Pure Yang Talisman Sword.
It was only when Yu Ci began to integrate this series of Sword Talisman that he understood why the Sha energy he stimulated with the Divine Soul Sword Control to activate the Nine Yang Talisman Sword was so devastatingly powerful.
During the integration of the Sword Talisman, the conversion of Rune Patterns of several Sword Talisman was extremely unstable. From the beginning of the integration, a delicate dynamic balance was used to form the final form of the Rune Patterns on the sword, allowing the powerful flame Sha energy on the sword to be in constant motion, continuously grinding and reacting, accumulating even greater power.
Of course, on the outer layer of the Sword Talisman, there was a seal aimed at this dangerous balance. As the levels of Six Yang, Nine Yang, and Pure Yang progressed, the strength of the seal was also enhanced. Simultaneously, once the seal was broken, the erupting flame Sha energy became increasingly terrifying.
This was the essence of this series of Sword Talisman.
After understanding the nuances, Yu Ci felt that this kind of Sword Talisman, at its core, was actually a type of Talisman, and it was the kind of high-powered Talisman that was meant for a one-time use. The usage in the White Sun Mansion seemed frugal, but in reality, it was a greater waste.
However, for the current Yu Ci, treating the Pure Yang Talisman Sword as a sword wielder was more realistic.
The integration of the Sword Talisman entered its final stage. In the crimson light, the Three Yang Talisman Sword had completely disappeared, and the Nine Yang Talisman Sword was distorted. Countless Rune Patterns danced in the tongues of fire, then converged like a multitude of rivers flowing back to the sea, to be engraved onto the Sword Talisman.
In the blink of an eye, the flames extinguished, and the Sword Talisman revealed its form. The black sword body looked like it had been burnt, but upon closer inspection, one could see a dim light flowing on the black shell, and the Rune Patterns were hidden underneath, flashing with a molten red glow, like magma deep underground, slowly flowing.
"Phew, it's done!"
Yu Ci seemed somewhat weary. After all, he had been taking risks. If he had just failed, the painstakingly acquired Sword Talisman would have all gone down the drain. Fortunately, he was strong enough, and his luck was not bad.
The just-refined Pure Yang Talisman Sword was still a bit hot, but Yu Ci couldn't put it down. With this sharp weapon, his planned journey had an extra layer of security.
As time passed, the temperature of the Pure Yang Talisman Sword dropped to a normal level, and the hot wind formed during the refining process was dispersed by the chill of deep autumn, restoring the courtyard to its cool silence. However, this tranquility was abruptly shattered by a shout:
"Brother Yu Dao, are you there?"
Surprisingly, the voice came from above.
Yu Ci looked up, only to see a white cloud streaking across the autumn sky at an astonishing speed, then diving down from above. When it reached the sky above the courtyard, before it could even stabilize, a person jumped down.
The newcomer was a young Taoist, ordinary-looking with slightly thick lips, appearing to be a very honest child. However, his face was somewhat anxious. He was the one who had guided Jin Huan and others that day.
The young Taoist was called Bao Guang, a Registered Disciple of Old Daoist Yu Zhou, and held the status of an Outer Disciple in the Lichen Sect. Although his aptitude was average, he had the guidance of a wise master. At only nineteen years old, he had already reached the upper stage of Acupoint Developing Cultivation Level, not far from the Nature-Connecting Realm, making him quite a promising young man. These days, he had been staying in the observatory, and Bao Guang had brought him meals morning and night. The young Taoist was kind-hearted and not blunt, which suited Yu Ci's temperament, and they had developed a certain friendship over the past few days.
Bao Guang jumped into the courtyard and saw Yu Ci staring at him. He hurriedly covered half of his face with his hand, reacting in a strange way.
Yu Ci couldn't help but laugh, "What's the matter? Have you been bullied, or did you eat Taoist Yu's head?"
Bao Guang knew he had overreacted, and his face turned slightly red. He awkwardly lowered his hand, revealing several scratch marks on the left side of his face. They were only superficial injuries, but they were very embarrassing.
"I wasn't bullied by people, but by a damn beast!" The young Taoist knew how to mock himself, but this was ultimately an embarrassing matter, and as he spoke, his face turned even redder.
"A damn beast?"
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I have also posted the following more chapters [All free] on: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e