Divine Transcendence

Having learned the location of Xuanhua , Yuan Ming immediately left the small town and set off for the country of Yue.

Yue was the largest country in the southern and eastern regions, bordering the Central Plains. Over a hundred years ago, it had even conquered a small country in the Central Plains, claiming its territory as its own. In fact, it could no longer be considered a purely southern country.

Ningcheng was a large city in Yue, located by the sea and surrounded by beautiful scenery.

***

Several days later, Yuan Ming stood on the edge of a cliff outside the city, overlooking the sea.

As far as the eye could see, there was boundless blue sea water, with the sea breeze causing waves to rise and fall, splashing layers of white foam and carrying a slightly salty scent in the air.

Most of the sea ships had gray and white sails, sailing or mooring on the sea. The sunlight reflected off the sea, creating countless golden scales that extended to the end of the field of vision, blending into the pale blue sky. Occasionally, groups of seagulls soared freely above the surging waves, emitting a few loud and clear calls as they lightly touched the wave crests.

Yuan Ming had lived in the capital of the Great Jin since he was a child and had never been to the seaside. He had only heard people talk about the magnificent waves of the sea, never having seen it with his own eyes. His previous travels to the southern regions had mainly been by land and river. Now, for the first time, he was truly shocked to be by the sea. "The chaotic rocks, the shocking waves, and the surging snow. It is truly breathtaking," he murmured to himself, beginning to understand why Wu Lu was so fascinated by the sea.

Yuan Ming did not stay by the sea for long. He quickly turned and entered the city.

Yue spanned the Central Plains and the southern regions, and both the layout of the streets and the architectural style of the city combined the characteristics of both regions. Most of the buildings were surrounded by lush and broad-leaved trees, and were mostly built with trees or green bamboo, creating a space that was both scattered and verdant, giving people a refreshing exotic atmosphere.

However, Yuan Ming had something on his mind and had no time to appreciate the scenery of Ningcheng. He went straight to a dilapidated temple in the west of the city, with the three characters "Xuanhua Guan" written on the plaque above the main gate. He walked over and knocked on the tightly closed door.

After a while, a white and clean-looking boy of about eleven or twelve years old came out and, seeing Yuan Ming’s unfamiliar face, showed a hint of nervousness on his small face.

"Senior, may I ask what business you have at our Xuanhua Guan?" Although the young boy was nervous, he did not lack courtesy, and he bowed to Yuan Ming, speaking crisply.

"I am Yuan Ming, an old friend of Xuanhua Zhenren. I am passing through Ningcheng and have come to visit. Please inform my junior brother." Yuan Ming had seen this young boy a few times during the time he was with Xuanhua Zhenren, and knew that he was Xuanhua Zhenren’s disciple. He took out an ancient bronze token and said.

"Our master is practicing inside the temple. Please wait a moment, senior." Upon hearing Yuan Ming’s name and seeing the token, the young boy seemed to relax and then ran into the temple.

Yuan Ming raised his eyebrows, looking at the young boy’s expression. It seemed that Xuanhua Guan was not very peaceful?

After a while, a hearty laughter came from inside the temple.

"Haha, so it’s Senior Yuan who has come. What a rare guest, a rare guest indeed." Xuanhua walked out with a pair of wooden clogs, laughing heartily.

"Xuanhua , I hope I am not disturbing your meditation by coming unannounced." Yuan Ming clasped his hands and said. "How could you be a bother? Please come in quickly." Xuanhua smiled and led Yuan Ming into the temple.

As the two chatted, the young boy had quickly set up a table of food in a reception room and began to arrange the dishes and utensils.

"Xuanhua has set up a banquet, and I will bring a jar of fine wine." Yuan Ming smiled and took out a bright red wine jar.

This was a fine wine he had bought on a whim from a market he passed through on his way to Ningcheng. It was brewed with a hundred-year-old spirit fruit and cost him more than twenty spirit stones.

"Hundred Fragrance Wine? Senior Yuan has good wine!" Xuanhua was taken aback for a moment, then smiled.

The two old friends caught up, talking about trivial matters. It was only after they had eaten and drunk their fill that they got to the main topic.

"Senior Yuan has come all the way from the northern region to Ningcheng. I presume you are not just here to visit me?" Xuanhua asked.

"Xuanhua is straightforward, so I will be direct. The incense you sold to me last time was very useful, and I have since spent a lot of effort learning the art of making incense. I have come to Ningcheng today to discuss the method of making incense with you and to purchase some incense from you again." Yuan Ming said with a smile.

"Senior Yuan is also interested in the art of incense? This art of incense, compared to alchemy and talisman making, is considered minor, and is not well-regarded by many." Xuanhua looked at Yuan Ming with some surprise.

"I do not think so. Incense has many wonderful uses. For example, the Qingxuan Incense can accelerate cultivation. Although it is not as fast and remarkable as the effect of elixirs, it is beneficial in the long run and can complement other methods. In addition, making incense is much simpler than alchemy, artifact making, and formation setting. I regret not having come into contact with the art of incense earlier." Yuan Ming said.

Xuanhua looked at Yuan Ming, his eyes becoming brighter, but soon dimmed again. "Senior Yuan can see the unique aspects of incense. Your insight is remarkable. It’s just a pity that the current cultivation world is so focused on quick results and is obsessed with elixirs and artifacts. Few people pay attention to incense. Even in the market, incense is sold in a corner." He said, downing a mouthful of wine and shaking his head with a bitter smile.

"It is precisely because of this that we, as incense makers, should work harder to produce high-quality incense and change people’s misconceptions about incense." Yuan Ming encouraged Xuanhua as he refilled his cup."Hehe, Brother Yuan speaks the truth; it is I who have become disheartened." Master Xuanhua adjusted his breathing, smiled, and then asked, "Since Brother Yuan is interested in discussing, I naturally cannot refuse. May I ask to what extent you have reached? Do you have a finished product of spiritual incense for me to review?"

Yuan Ming knew that his words had already moved Master Xuanhua, and he was secretly delighted. He took out a stick of Zixuan Incense and handed it over.

"Zixuan Incense!" Master Xuanhua’s eyes narrowed as he took the incense to examine it closely, his expression gradually becoming solemn.

He then took an incense burner, inserted the incense, and lit it, closing his eyes to meditate.

After a moment, Master Xuanhua opened his eyes and looked at Yuan Ming with a peculiar gaze.

"Is there a problem with this incense?" Yuan Ming inquired.

"No, this Zixuan Incense is excellently made. Aside from one or two minor details that are slightly flawed, it can be considered perfect."

"Brother Xuanhua flatters me," Yuan Ming said with a smile.

"However, I am puzzled about one thing. The recipe for Zixuan Incense is exclusive to me in the entire Yue Kingdom, and even in the South Borderlands. Where did Brother Yuan obtain it?" Master Xuanhua stared at Yuan Ming, as if trying to discern something from his eyes.

Yuan Ming did not have the recipe for Zixuan Incense. He had previously explored the refinement of Qingxuan Incense on his own and accumulated some insights. Not long ago, he had chanced upon a stick of Zixuan Incense in a market and, after identifying it, had attempted to replicate it. Yuan Ming met the other’s gaze and explained.

"What!" Master Xuanhua’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Among alchemists, there is a saying: "Even immortals struggle to deduce the formula from a pill," meaning that it is nearly impossible to reverse-engineer a formula from a finished pill. Although spiritual incense is simpler than pills, deducing the recipe from the finished product is also extremely difficult, requiring vast experience, talent, and skill.

Master Xuanhua knew he couldn’t do it himself, and yet Yuan Ming had managed? "Although I do not know how Brother Yuan achieved this, I truly admire you from the bottom of my heart. Now, I have an impolite request. Could Brother Yuan demonstrate making a stick of Zixuan Incense on the spot, so I can better understand your current level of incense-making?" He paused before continuing.

"Of course, I was about to ask Brother Xuanhua for guidance," Yuan Ming readily agreed.

Master Xuanhua led Yuan Ming into the temple and soon arrived at a secret chamber. There was a set of incense-making tools, somewhat more rudimentary than Master Xuanhua’s but much better than what Yuan Ming had.

Yuan Ming did not stand on ceremony. He took the tools, gathered the materials for Zixuan Incense, and began to make the incense. Over the past month, he had repeatedly observed Master Xuanhua’s process of making Zixuan Incense and had practiced many times himself, becoming thoroughly familiar with the process.

Of course, to avoid suspicion, he had made some unimportant adjustments to the incense-making technique, which took slightly longer than the original process. Even so, it did not take long before he produced a finished product.

Master Xuanhua took the newly made spiritual incense and inspected it carefully before sighing deeply, seeming to age several years in an instant.

"If we disregard the process, this stick of Zixuan Incense is perfect. I ask myself, even if I were to make it, I could only streamline the process a bit, but the quality of the product would be no better."

Yuan Ming felt a twinge of guilt but said nothing to comfort him.

"Brother Yuan’s talent in incense-making is truly unparalleled. I am far inferior. Are you sure you researched the art of incense on your own, without any guidance?" Master Xuanhua quickly recovered and asked.

"A few months ago, I visited various towns and temples to learn incense-making and did receive some introductory knowledge from a senior. Afterward, it was all my own haphazard exploration, lacking any systematic approach. That’s why I came to visit Brother Xuanhua today," Yuan Ming said, mixing truth with fiction.

"Just introductory knowledge, and you were able to easily replicate Zixuan Incense. It seems that senior must be a hidden master of incense, a grandmaster unknown to the world. May I be fortunate enough to know his name?" Master Xuanhua pressed.

"That senior did not reveal his name to me and strictly forbade me from telling anyone about him. I ask for your understanding," Yuan Ming said with a bow.

"Not revealing his name means no formal apprenticeship, that’s wonderful, that’s wonderful," Master Xuanhua muttered under his breath.

"What did Brother Xuanhua say?" Yuan Ming asked.

"Nothing much. Your incense-making skills are already very advanced; there’s hardly anything I can teach you. I noticed you handled some materials as if you’re not very familiar with the knowledge of incense. Perhaps that’s where you lack," Master Xuanhua said with a serious expression.

"Indeed, that is where I fall short. I would appreciate any guidance Brother Xuanhua can provide," Yuan Ming said, sitting up straight and performing a gesture of respect as if to a teacher.

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