Divine Transcendence

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Yuan Ming’s brow furrowed slightly as he took out a green robe and put it on before stepping out.

The robe, acquired from Lin Liumu’s storage artifact, was the standard attire of a disciple from the Changchun Temple.

"I dare not claim to be a master; I am merely an ordinary disciple of the Changchun Temple," Yuan Ming said frankly.

"Disciple of the Changchun Temple!" Bai Lin and the others’ gaze fell upon Yuan Ming, who was clad in the temple’s attire, exuding a spirited and proud demeanor.

The eastern region of the Southern Frontier bordered the Central Plains, with frequent interactions and a far greater understanding of the Central Plains’ cultivation world than other parts of the Southern Frontier. Although Bailong Island was one of the four major sects in the eastern region, it was not on the same level as the Changchun Temple.

The expression of the Blue Lizard Hermit turned solemn as he slowly stood up from his chair. Upon hearing Yuan Ming’s words, Xuanhua also showed a look of surprise, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Hehe, so you are a disciple of the Changchun Temple. I, Bai Lin, also know a few friends from there. May I ask your esteemed name and which master you follow?" Bai Lin discreetly signaled with his eyes, prompting the crowd to step back as he stepped forward with a fist and palm salute.

The white light barrier outside the Xuanhua Temple gradually dissipated. "I am Lin Liumu, a disciple under Elder Xu Changqing of the Changchun Temple. I have come to the Xuanhua Temple to represent my master in discussing the trade of spiritual incense," Yuan Ming said, shaking Xu Changqing’s identity token in his hand.

Bai Lin, responsible for the trade of spiritual materials on Bailong Island, had indeed interacted with disciples from the Changchun Temple and had vaguely heard of Xu Changqing. Seeing Yuan Ming’s identity token, he no longer doubted and showed a warm smile.

"So it’s Lin Daoist, a pleasure to meet you. I wonder if Elder Xu is in Ning City? I have long heard of his name but have yet to meet him. I hope Lin Daoist can introduce me."

"My master has other important matters to attend to in this place, but I will convey Elder Bai’s greetings," Yuan Ming replied unhurriedly. Bai Lin nodded with a smile, his thoughts racing. He hadn’t expected the Changchun Temple to be involved in this matter and knew he had to handle it carefully. Angering them would be disastrous for him.

"My master is already aware of the dispute with the Xuanhua Temple. This Vortex Beast was personally hunted by him as an explanation to Bailong Island. I wonder if Elder Bai Lin is satisfied?" Yuan Ming asked, looking towards Bai Lin.

"Satisfied, of course, I am satisfied. It’s a small matter for me, and to have Elder Xu personally handle it, I must express my gratitude in person if I have the chance," Bai Lin said with a laugh. "That’s good. The Xuanhua Temple will need to provide various types of spiritual incense to our Changchun Temple in the long term. Let’s not let minor details hinder important matters," Yuan Ming said with a smile. "Of course, I understand," Bai Lin nodded repeatedly.

"Who is this?" Yuan Ming nodded satisfactorily, his gaze shifting to the Blue Lizard Hermit beside him, his tone shifting from light to somber.

The atmosphere around them cooled rapidly, and many people held their breath subconsciously. The Blue Lizard Hermit clenched his fists, unable to utter a word. Although Yuan Ming was only a Qi Refining stage cultivator, he had the backing of the Changchun Temple, an entity far beyond the reach of Bailong Island, let alone a solitary cultivator like him.

"This is the Blue Lizard Hermit. I was originally planning to entrust him with hunting the Vortex Beast in the sea, but now that Elder Xu has taken action, his services are no longer needed," Bai Lin, having brought the Blue Lizard Hermit, could not ignore the situation and spoke up with a forced tone.

"Oh, so this is the Blue Lizard Hermit. I heard from the master of the Xuanhua Temple that you wanted their incense-making secret manual. My Changchun Temple also appreciates the spiritual incense produced by the Xuanhua Temple, but we only discuss trades with the temple master and have never thought to seize their heritage. You certainly have quite the appetite," Yuan Ming’s expression cooled, his eyes like two icy pools. The Blue Lizard Hermit’s face turned pale, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

"Lin Daoist, the Blue Lizard Hermit was greedy and caused a misunderstanding. I assure you, such incidents will not happen again. Blue Lizard Hermit, step forward and apologize to Lin Daoist," Bai Lin hesitated slightly before speaking, giving the Blue Lizard Hermit a look.

"I was foolish, please forgive me, Lin Daoist, and the master of the Xuanhua Temple," the Blue Lizard Hermit took a deep breath and saluted with a fist and palm.

"I am also to blame for this matter. In addition to the Tianshui glue, there are three pieces of precious spiritual wood from Bailong Island, all of excellent quality. Please accept them, Lin Daoist, and the master of the Xuanhua Temple," Bai Lin took out a storage artifact and passed it over.

Yuan Ming did not accept it, instead glancing at Xuanhua. Xuanhua took it, scanned it with his divine sense, and nodded at Yuan Ming.

"Alright, for Elder Bai’s sake, I will not pursue this matter," Bai Lin said with a smile plastered across his face, and after exchanging a few more pleasantries with Yuan Ming, he quickly left with everyone, looking dejected.

After watching Bai Lin and the others leave, Xuanhua opened his mouth to speak but was stopped by Yuan Ming, who turned and entered the inner chamber. He took out a Four Directions Sealing Talisman and set up a barrier, then touched the silver token to the barrier’s light screen, which immediately took on a silver sheen, completely isolating the inside from the outside. Only then did he relax.

"Yuan Daoist, are you really a disciple of the Changchun Temple?" Xuanhua asked eagerly. "Of course, I am a disciple of the Changchun Temple. My master and I came from Tiehu Town in the Southern Frontier to Yue Country for business," Yuan Ming said.

"A fortunate meeting indeed," Xuanhua said, looking into Yuan Ming’s profound eyes, feeling a sudden jolt in his heart and refraining from further questions.

He took out the storage artifact given by Bai Lin, infused it with mana, and waved it towards the ground. A flash of white light later, a small pile of spirit stones, totaling two hundred, and three pieces of spiritual wood – two red and one white – as well as a white jade box appeared on the ground.

"It’s all thanks to Yuan Daoist that Bai Lin left these items. I only need this Tianshui glue; the spirit stones are yours," Xuanhua said, taking the white jade box.

Yuan Ming only took the three pieces of spiritual wood. He recognized them as Fire Pine Wood, Blood Red Branch, and White Yuan Bamboo, all containing abundant spiritual energy. He planned to mix them into the Black Incense later to see if it could extend the possession time.

Xuanhua felt both awe and gratitude towards Yuan Ming, not saying much and taking the spirit stones. "The matter of the Foundation Establishment Incense, I’ll leave it to Xuanhua Daoist," Yuan Ming said.

"Don’t worry, I’ve got this," Xuanhua patted his chest and said.

With the crisis of the Xuanhua Temple fully resolved and thanks to Yuan Ming’s previous words, neither Bailong Island nor the Blue Lizard Hermit would dare to bully them in the future. Xuanhua now felt light-hearted and was confident in successfully creating the Foundation Establishment Incense.

***

Seven days later, Xuanhua successfully emerged from seclusion. "Congratulations, Daoist, on your successful emergence," Yuan Ming said with a smile. Xuanhua was half joyful and half worried as he spoke, "I’m ashamed to say that with those materials, I only managed to make two sticks of incense."

"Success is already an achievement worth celebrating," Yuan Ming said with a smile. "Now we can only each take one and see if we can succeed in Foundation Establishment; it’s all up to fate," Xuanhua said, temporarily putting aside his worries and handing a stick of incense to Yuan Ming.

Yuan Ming took it and examined it closely, noticing that the aura it emitted was somewhat similar to that of a Foundation Establishment Pill, which gave him a bit more confidence.

"Then let’s both entrust our fate to the heavens and wish each other well," Yuan Ming said with a smile. Xuanhua nodded silently.

Half a day later, the two made their preparations, each choosing a quiet room to retreat into for their Foundation Establishment attempt.

Xuanhua was unaware, but Yuan Ming was holding his breath and concentrating, sitting cross-legged within the quiet room, silently circulating the Nine Elements Formula, adjusting his state until late at night.

At midnight, feeling that he had reached his peak condition, Yuan Ming immediately took out a Foundation Establishment Pill and swallowed it whole, holding a ball of energy in front of him, with the Stealing Heaven Cauldron placed in his arms.

As his mana began to circulate, the medicinal power of the Foundation Establishment Pill slowly transformed, and a burning sensation began to rise slowly in Yuan Ming’s lower abdomen.

Feeling the heat, Yuan Ming immediately circulated his mana, guiding that power towards his dantian. As the burning force continued to pour into his dantian, Yuan Ming felt as if it had become a blazing furnace, constantly heating and burning his mana, making it rise in temperature.

This burning force was difficult to endure, but it was the necessary path for mana to transform from gas to liquid, becoming more condensed and pure.

Yuan Ming knew this was a long and arduous process, so he couldn’t be too hasty. He had to stabilize his mind and use the power of the Foundation Establishment Pill to slowly refine the mana in his boby.

***

Time ticked away, and Yuan Ming spent a difficult twelve days in the quiet room.

During these twelve days, he completely refined the power of the Foundation Establishment Pill and transferred it to his boby.

The burning power in his boby tormented and tempered him, making his mana boil, but he was still unable to cross the final hurdle to achieve the qualitative change from gas to liquid. At that moment, a stick of incense with a unique scent was inserted in the incense burner. It had burned more than halfway, with the crimson flame at the tip still flickering, emitting thick white smoke.

The smoke enveloped Yuan Ming, not dispersing, making it look as if he was wrapped in a white cotton coat.

Yuan Ming’s eyes were tightly closed, his brow furrowed, his cheeks covered in sweat, and his expression pained.

This morning, he felt the power of the Foundation Establishment Pill in his body had peaked and then began to wane – not a good sign. His previous experience told him that this meant his Foundation Establishment was likely to fail again.

At this critical moment, he didn’t hesitate and immediately lit the Foundation Establishment Incense. The blue smoke rose and swirled around the quiet room. However, half a day had passed, and the incense had burned down significantly. Aside from maintaining the gradually fading power of the Foundation Establishment Pill in his body, Yuan Ming didn’t feel anything special. His mana was still boiling in his boby. Could the incense also not make up for the deficiencies in his spiritual root?

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