Upon hearing the voice, Yu Ci recognized it as He Qing's, though he couldn't tell whom she was conversing with. Just as he was pondering this, He Qing herself appeared, seemingly descending the steps. Yu Ci caught sight of her, and naturally, she noticed him as well.
Both were momentarily taken aback. In fact, Yu Ci's smooth entry into the Star Plucking Main Tower had been entirely thanks to the protective backing of the Power Guardian Saint. Without it, the successive seals and checkpoints would have alerted the tower's occupants to his presence from miles away. Now, however, he was caught off guard.
Regaining her composure from her elevated position, He Qing asked, "Do you need to use the Star Plucking Main Tower?"
"Uh, no..." Yu Ci hadn't actually devised a clear plan for those eighteen days, but his intention in coming here had indeed been to seek guidance from He Qing.
He Qing's gaze was piercing, and she could guess at his thoughts with considerable accuracy, but now was not the time for instruction. After a moment's thought, she said, "The ancestor is here. You should meet him."
"The ancestor?"
At this time within the Lichen Sect, the term 'ancestor' in most contexts referred to only one individual—the sect's sole Great Thunderbolt Tribulation Cultivator, Grandmaster Fang.
Yu Ci was aware there was another person upstairs, but he hadn't expected it to be this particular individual. Suddenly, he felt his scalp tighten. He Qing paid no mind to his thoughts and stepped aside, allowing another figure to approach, descending the staircase. How many steps could one take on a dozen stairs? Before Yu Ci could organize his thoughts, the figure had already reached the lower floor.
Out of politeness, Yu Ci lowered his face, only to feel his scalp grow hot, as if that person was scrutinizing him with their eyes. The next words spoken caused his heart to skip a beat:
"Whose disciple is this, that his master is so muddled? Already at the critical point, why has he not been taught the Golden Elixir Formation Technique?"
Without another thought, Yu Ci abruptly looked up. The man who had descended the stairs was of average build, clad in a black robe with his hair tied up neatly. He was simply clean, with nothing particularly striking about him. However, his expression was stern, and years of pursing his lips had left deep marks on his cheeks, making him seem as unapproachable as He Qing.
The longer Yu Ci looked, the more his eyes began to ache. Someone like Grandmaster Fang, a formidable being who radiated Divine Light and shielded others from his presence, also possessed the ability to harm invisibly. Although Yu Ci had encountered several great Divine Power masters before, he had never fully witnessed their true strength due to various reasons. Now, with Grandmaster Fang standing before him, even with his aura contained, the pressure was immense.
At that moment, He Qing softly addressed the ancestor, "This is Yu Ci."
No wonder!
Grandmaster Fang's gaze was electrifying, sweeping over him without a word, yet his demeanor said it all. With both of them exhibiting such an attitude, Yu Ci had little to add. He stepped forward and bowed respectfully:
"Outer Disciple Yu Ci, at your service, ancestor."
After a moment of silence, a deep and resonant voice finally spoke, "Your foundation is peculiarly laid. The Primordial Root Qi Method, along with the Seed True Golden Talisman, you lean towards Talismanic methods..."
"Master's insight is as bright as a torch," Yu Ci said with heartfelt sincerity.
Given his level of cultivation, it was indeed difficult to conceal anything from Grandmaster Fang. However, unless one was in close contact, it was nearly impossible to probe the unparalleled mysteries of the Inner Void of the Heart, where the Great Mysterious Prohibition lay. Grandmaster Fang did not focus on this aspect either.
"I've heard He Qing mention you. If I recall correctly, around this time last year, you were still at the Nature-Connecting Upper Stage. Going back further, it's only been a year or two since you entered the Nature-Connecting Realm. Yet now, with the Seed True Golden Talisman and the Mechanism of the Cauldron, you can justly be considered a Golden Elixir Cultivator. Such speed in cultivation is rare even in our sect."
Hearing Grandmaster Fang recount his progress with such intimate knowledge, Yu Ci felt inexplicably mystified. Why would such a lofty ancestor of the sect concern himself with the cultivation level of an Outer Disciple?
Amidst his surprise, his response was still proper: "Disciple is fortunate to cultivate within the sect, and to be looked after by many elders such as Taoist Yu, Master Jie Liang, Immortal He..."
Grandmaster Fang clearly did not dwell on this and was not inclined to converse with a junior for long. He replied indifferently, "Having such people assist you is your good fortune; reaching this stage is your own merit. There is no need for excessive modesty in a person, but rather the need for courage and continuous progress."
With those words, he did not stop walking. Hands clasped behind his back, he left the room. He Qing, however, whispered something by his side and stayed behind.
Yu Ci stood up straight, no longer able to see Grandmaster Fang's figure, and felt that this preeminent leader of the sect was indeed as unapproachable as his reputation suggested. This made him all the more curious—when had he, a mere Outer Disciple, become worthy of being "Recorded in the Emperor's Heart"?
Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
At that moment, He Qing turned to him and said, "Let's go upstairs."
Yu Ci was unsure whether this was a command or an invitation, but he responded and followed He Qing upstairs. As soon as he stepped on the staircase, he sensed something amiss—there seemed to be traces of void changes, something he had encountered several times within the Sword Immortal's Secret domain, seemingly capable of compressing vast distances into a mere span of a finger's reach.
He ascended a few steps and had already climbed quite a distance. Reaching the upper level, he found himself in an open space, surrounded by vermilion railings without any other decoration, offering a broad view.
He Qing led him to the railing. "This is the most suitable place for cultivation in the tower. Above us is the Star-Gathering Platform, where a Rune Array attracts the All-Heavens Star Power. Given your current Cultivation Level, it is not advisable for you to go there just yet."
From the vantage point of the railing, Yu Ci looked out over miles of surging clouds, their billowing forms in constant motion. Below was the Sky-Supporting Mountain Pillar, emitting Divine Light that soared like a dragon.
The Star Plucking Main Tower had no foundation to speak of; its base was formed of pure white jade, elevated high above the ground, seemingly suspended in the air by the dense Divine Light. The structure was square, with its corners adorned by gracefully upturned eaves and intricate brackets, all meticulously arranged. From each corner, a thick chain stretched down to the earth, swaying and clanging in the Gang wind.
Looking further down, a narrow mountain path staircase was distinctly visible. It spiraled down from the summit of the mountain pillar, from the base of the Star Plucking Main Tower, disappearing into the deep layers of mist below. At first glance, this might not seem unusual, but upon reflection of the Sky-Supporting Mountain Pillar's immense height, the path felt almost absurdly fantastical.
Yet, in reality, this mountain path staircase had another name, the "Self-Enquiry Route." Yu Ci was not entirely familiar with the specifics, only aware that it was the site of a ritualistic ceremony. It required Cultivators to begin their ascent from the mountain's base, adhering to a set pace, climbing step by step over several days, until reaching the Star Plucking Main Tower to be deemed complete. Nowadays, some still undertook this journey, mainly to temper their will, but it was also a means to closely interact with the mysterious powers of the Star Plucking Tower and thereby enhance their Cultivation Level. At one point, this practice had become so prevalent that the Sect had to impose restrictions on the qualifications of the participants; now, the mountain path was much more deserted.
As he surveyed the surroundings, the voice of He Qing resonated beside him, "Using the Star Plucking Main Tower for seclusive cultivation is somewhat wasteful. Its greatest utility lies in increasing the odds of breaking through barriers. When your meridians are clear and wisdom is within your grasp, coming here to draw upon the nimbus Qi within the tower can yield twice the result with half the effort."
Yu Ci came to his senses and hurriedly thanked her for the guidance.
He Qing offered a slight smile and continued, "However, since you're here today, there's no need to go back down. Grandmaster Fang has already taken your pulse and understood the cause; now you can seek the effect. Do you know what to do?"
With the few remarks from Grandmaster Fang, Yu Ci had indeed set aside a burden in his heart. With clarity of mind, he immediately replied, "Disciple should learn an Elixir Formula."
He had already condensed the Seed True Golden Talisman, which was indeed a part of the Mechanism of the Cauldron, laying the foundation for the Golden Elixir Stage. To say he was a Golden Elixir cultivator was not inappropriate. Yet, if one were to be pedantic and claim he had not yet Formed the Golden Elixir, that would not be incorrect either.
Forming the Golden Elixir was a major undertaking. The "Mechanism of the Cauldron" was indeed indicative of the Initial Stage of Golden Elixir, but it was merely the most basic requirement for Aura perception. Beyond it, a series of precise and regulated techniques were necessary, akin to building a house upon a foundation. One had to follow the rules strictly, for otherwise, even if the "house" was constructed, a single kick could bring it tumbling down.
In this sense, an Elixir Formula is essential.
He Qing glanced at him and said softly, "You indeed need an Elixir Formula, but don't forget, you belong to the Empirical Department."
Empirical Department?
Yu Ci was no fool. With a quick thought, he realized, "That's right, I am from the Empirical Department."
The Empirical Department has always required its disciples to exchange Merit Points for longevity techniques. No matter how urgent the need, without Merit Points, there's no point in discussing it. Given Yu Ci's actions and contributions in the Sword Garden, converting them into Merit Points would have posed no problem in obtaining an Elixir Formula. But wasn't he at the Star Plucking Tower? A year's worth of cultivation time, including the eighteen days of cultivation rights in the Star Plucking Main Tower, was also a significant expense. After careful calculation, such treatment might even include additional benefits from the Sect.
He took out his Merit Points plaque and, sure enough, it displayed a pitifully small number.
Yu Ci blinked and then respectfully bowed to He Qing, "Please, Immortal Elder, give me some guidance."
Since He Qing had said as much, she certainly had an idea in mind. She wasn't one for put-on airs; with a slight nod, she said, "Have you practiced the Gui Xu Shen He method I taught you, along with the Great Dream Yin-Yang technique, recently?"
Yu Ci made an awkward sound. To be honest, because he had devoted himself entirely to refining, he had almost forgotten this method. But upon reflection, he felt something was amiss.
The letter Meng Wei gave him discussed the Dao of positive and negative, yin and yang, motion and stillness, defining it as "the most original and simplest decree of the Daoist Sect," which also formed one of the theoretical foundations of his Inner Void of the Heart structure. Therefore, it would be correct to say, "The Dao of Yin and Yang has long been embedded deep within the Inner Void of the Heart, inseparable from it."
While this was true, Yu Ci still felt somewhat embarrassed, cautiously using this theory in response.
He Qing just looked at him, not angry at all: "You understand this matter, which saves me a lot of explanation. Indeed, when the Daoist Sects of the world discuss yin and yang, they always focus on its original, simple, and fundamental traits. This is not a cliché but an undeniable truth of the universe.
"Because of its 'original' fundamental traits, all things in the world can be described, depicted, and even deduced through yin and yang. You already have the foundation. Today, I will impart to you the art of 'Yin Yang Transformation.' On the basis of your own foundation, you can deduce the success or failure of your path, allowing your cultivation technique to emerge from nothing and gradually become complete.
"Of course, with your current abilities, for a long time, you won't be able to 'create something from nothing' and develop a method truly your own. But using it for verification will still save you a lot of effort."
Yu Ci was overjoyed and was about to bow in gratitude, but he heard He Qing say:
"Hold on, this technique is not given to you for nothing. We need to discuss a condition."
...