Chapter 187: Mood Changes Because of Events

Several powerful cultivators from Yu Huai Mountain, who were present, worked together to stabilize Qiu Feng's internal and external qi flow. At the same time, other cultivators cooperated with the Jade Dome Hall's formation to sever his qi connection with the outside world.

The vibrating hum of the golden bell within the hall gradually subsided, becoming completely silent after about a dozen breaths. Simultaneously, Qiu Feng's qi flow stabilized, and he entered a meditative state, enveloped in a layer of magical light, temporarily isolated from the outside world.

The recent phenomenon could not have been caused by inner demons. With so many immortal cultivators from Yu Huai Mountain present in the Jade Dome Hall on Jade Casting Peak, an external demonic invasion was even less plausible.

The cultivators present frowned in concern. Ren Bu Tong looked first at Yang Ming, who was beside him, then at Qiu Feng, who was enveloped in the magical light.

"Is the power of a True Immortal truly so awesome and formidable?"

While startled, many cultivators nearby couldn't help but be curious.

"That Mr. Ji, by inadvertently contemplating the changes in worldly affairs, actually caused such a strange phenomenon. Could it be a manifestation of his inner artistic conception?"

"The Great Dao undergoes vast changes, like seas transforming into mulberry fields..."

As Ren Bu Tong had said, the True Ones present indeed felt a sense of awe and reverence.

Qiu Feng merely felt something while sitting nearby and tried to express it. The phenomenon was somewhat akin to the danger faced by those with shallow cultivation who forcefully try to reveal heavenly secrets, yet it was not identical. Qiu Feng's cultivation level meant he would certainly be aware of such risks. Furthermore, the continuous trembling of the golden bell in the hall was exceptionally strange.

Ju Yuanzi stroked his beard with his right hand while performing divinations with his left, his eyes unfocused. He had attempted several times but gained no insight. Now, after listening to the discussions of his fellow Daoists, he couldn't help but speak.

"No, something is not right. It's true that the profundity of a high-level True Immortal is difficult to fathom, but I am not without experience. Yet, someone like this Mr. Ji... it's simply too incredible... it's almost as if..."

Ju Yuanzi subconsciously glanced at Qiu Feng, still enveloped in magical light, and the surroundings of the Jade Dome Hall, then stopped speaking.

The surrounding cultivators from Yu Huai Mountain also seemed to understand his unspoken thought.

"One should not rashly speculate about the profound True Immortals of the Dao, and even among True Immortals, there are differences in power!"

"Precisely, precisely. The key is that since Mr. Ji has a good impression of Yu Huai Mountain and has also mediated our old grievances with the Dragon Lord, it is a joyous occasion."

No other cultivator refuted this statement. Clearly, the cultivators of Yu Huai Mountain were more inclined to credit Ji Yuan's influence than to believe the old dragon of Tongtian River was truly so magnanimous and forgiving, indicating a degree of personal bias.

"Good. Although the Mountain Peak Talisman Edict cannot be shown to outsiders, I believe we can present Mr. Ji with some of Yu Huai Mountain's insights from studying the talisman edict for his perusal!"

"Wouldn't that be inappropriate? Would a True Immortal who deeply studies edicts even bother with our modest insights?"

"Fellow Daoist, you are mistaken. Didn't Mr. Ji clearly tell Fellow Daoist Qiu that it was just a private suggestion? This is an act to show our sincerity, valuing intent over formality. It's to inform Mr. Ji that we have seriously discussed his request within the mountain, and while we cannot fully grant his wish, we can express our sincere intentions."

"That makes sense!"

"Very well, let's proceed with that."

It was over a month later when Qiu Feng awoke from his meditative state. During this time, his senior brother, True One Yang Ming, had also been meditating in the Jade Dome Hall, while the other cultivators had long since dispersed. Ren Bu Tong had also returned to Shuyun Tower to attend to his duties.

The current situation remained unclear, yet it was a time fraught with many affairs. Several Great True Ones had left Jade Casting Peak, returning to their original residences within the mountain gate to oversee affairs, enabling them to react more promptly to any incidents.

Because Ji Yuan had clearly stated his wish for Yu Huai Mountain not to widely publicize his existence, the sect had carefully considered how to interact with him.

Unless absolutely necessary, it was deemed better for individuals like Qiu Feng, who already had a prior acquaintance with Ji Yuan, to visit him. Once they became more familiar with each other and learned more about him, they could then invite him to be a guest in the Yu Huai Sacred Realm. At that point, other Yu Huai cultivators could naturally get to know this True Immortal better.

To put it plainly, Yu Huai Mountain still maintained a certain indefinable "reserve."

Therefore, it was naturally Qiu Feng who was tasked with delivering the jade slips to Juyan Little Pavilion.

In fact, during Qiu Feng's hazy state while in meditation, he once again heard the crisp sound of a chess piece being placed, just as he had heard it previously in the small pavilion courtyard. Immediately after, he awoke.

The feared after-effects did not materialize. He had initially been afraid to recall the glimpse of the changes within the small pavilion, but when he forced himself to do so at the Jade Dome Hall, it yielded unexpected benefits. Though dangerous at the time, once his Dao heart was stable, his comprehension of his inner world ascended to a new level, proving to be a blessing in disguise.

Learning of this, Ju Yuanzi personally selected some of Yu Huai Mountain's classical texts on comprehending the Mountain Peak Talisman Edict and had Qiu Feng deliver them to Ning'an County.

So, around the end of July, Ji Yuan received a gift of tribute from Yu Huai Mountain.

Qiu Feng left the three jade slips and, after a brief exchange of pleasantries with Ji Yuan, returned to the mountain. It wasn't that he didn't want to chat more; rather, his cultivation was showing signs of progress, and he was eager to return to the mountain to cultivate further.

Ji Yuan had actually been quite hopeful that Yu Huai Mountain would truly allow him to observe the Mountain Peak Talisman Edict. However, he had clearly overthought it. Having only met a few times, they might still be wary of him; how could they casually show him their sect's most treasured artifact?

However, receiving these three jade slips seemed even better than Ji Yuan's original plan. Ji Yuan had just briefly scanned one of them; the research on edicts written there seemed somewhat abstruse and difficult to comprehend, yet its profound subtlety was undeniable.

The other two jade slips, at first glance, seemed as disordered as heavenly scriptures. Without careful contemplation, they would likely be incomprehensible. And even with Ji Yuan's current knowledge of immortal arts, he might not fully understand them even after detailed consideration.

After all, these were not instructional cultivation texts like the miscellaneous books and cultivation techniques he had previously encountered. Their difficulty was perhaps comparable to the difference between a textbook and personal research manuscripts.

'It seems the true Edict Law is quite different from my Edict Sound,' he thought. 'The difficulty of studying this is no simpler than trying to refine and explore the old dragon's inhumane immortal arts...'

This made Ji Yuan realize he had been somewhat naive. If he had directly viewed the Mountain Peak Edict Talisman, he might have been completely clueless and wasted the opportunity.

But the jade slips before him were truly marvelous methods. Although abstruse and difficult to understand, any knowledge he managed to grasp he could comprehend and absorb, making them true treasures for quickly advancing his cultivation.

At this moment, on the stone table in the small pavilion courtyard, the three jade slips, crafted from white jade, appeared crystal clear under the dappled sunlight filtering through the jujube tree branches.

Each jade slip consisted of sixteen jade tablets, each two fingers long and one finger wide. The golden threads connecting them in the middle appeared to grow out of the jade rather than passing through it. Each jade tablet was densely covered with tiny heavenly talismans; if one's cultivation was insufficient, they would only see smooth, blank white jade tablets.

Furthermore, after every complete narrative section of the heavenly talismans, a method of conveying profound insight would manifest, allowing one to intuitively grasp the author's insights from both the literal text and the spiritual essence of the heavenly talismans.

"To transmit the essence of their study using just a few short sections and phrases – truly profound!"

This technique greatly impressed Ji Yuan. He could also sense that the authors' cultivation and magical power were extremely profound. In comparison, while the old dragon was formidable, his research was often more of a hobby, lacking true craftsmanship.

Ji Yuan murmured in admiration, reaching out to touch the opening heavenly talismans on one of the jade slips.

Unlike those miscellaneous books, these jade slips were all signed.

"Ju Yuanzi of Yu Huai Mountain."

Ji Yuan then looked at the other two. Of the three jade slips, two were authored by Ju Yuanzi, and the other by Yuan Wan'er. They appeared to be two highly accomplished individuals from Yu Huai Mountain.

'Perhaps Yu Huai Mountain also has true Daoist True Immortals!' Ji Yuan speculated.

Ji Yuan speculated this, reasoning that Ju Yuanzi and Yuan Wan'er seemed quite similar; he was at least certain that both could definitely use the "Book-leaving Edict."

Ji Yuan was now filled with joy. Receiving these three jade slips was like getting a brand-new flagship smartphone in his previous life; he treasured them immensely. After tucking them into his sleeve, he went out for breakfast as usual, his steps noticeably lighter, and a wide smile spread across his face.

In the alley, a neighbor carrying water passed by and, upon seeing Ji Yuan, greeted him warmly.

"Good morning, Mr. Ji, you seem to be in a good mood!"

"Morning, morning," Ji Yuan replied with a chuckle, "I'm doing well!"

Ji Yuan nodded with an infectious smile as he passed, carrying his good mood all the way to Sun's Noodle Stall. There, he greeted Old Man Sun and ordered a bowl of wontons.

He had barely sat at a table in front of the stall for a moment when Old Man Sun brought him a large bowl of wontons.

"Mr. Ji, your wontons are ready!"

"Great, thank you!"

Ji Yuan clasped his hands in greeting, picked up a ceramic spoon from the chopstick holder, and began to eat. His good mood seemed to make the wontons taste even more delicious...

"Uncle Sun, a bowl of wontons and two steamed buns."

Another customer sat down and called out to the stall owner.

"Alright, coming right up!"

Soon after, the wontons were ready. Old Man Sun brought the bowl of wontons and a small plate with two steamed buns to the man's table, but noticed the man looking dejected.

"Uh, Xiao Liu, why are you sighing? What happened?"

"Sigh... my wife's cold hasn't gotten better for quite some time, and I'm so worried. The prescriptions from those doctors haven't been effective."

Old Man Sun and the man were clearly quite familiar with each other, so he naturally sat down at the man's table.

"Have you seen Doctor Tong yet?"

"Don't even mention it," the man replied. "Doctor Tong isn't here, otherwise I would have invited him to my home long ago!"

"Oh, Doctor Tong still hasn't returned? He must have been gone for over a month, right?"

"Indeed!"

Ji Yuan, who was eating his wontons, slowed his movements upon hearing this. He had a faint, strange feeling, so he turned to the nearby table and asked a question.

"Do you know where Doctor Tong went?"

Old Man Sun, seeing Ji Yuan ask, quickly replied.

"I heard he went to Deyuan County last month and hasn't returned yet."

"Deyuan County?"

Ji Yuan thought for a moment and recalled someone: the old divine physician, Qin Zizhou.

'Could it be...' he wondered.

As he thought this, a certain feeling in his heart grew stronger. Ji Yuan couldn't help but perform a divination using Qin Zizhou's name, his left hand quickly performing calculations within his sleeve.

A moment later, Ji Yuan stopped his calculations.

"Sigh... Even a divine physician cannot escape the cycle of birth, old age, sickness, and death!"

"Mr. Ji, what did you say?"

Old Man Sun vaguely heard Ji Yuan mumble something, but didn't catch it clearly.

"Oh, nothing," Ji Yuan replied. "I was just about to pay the bill."

Ji Yuan turned back, quickly finished his wontons and broth in a few mouthfuls, left the money, and hastily stood up and left. The joy he had felt moments ago was now diluted.