Chapter Thirty: The Aura of Immortality

Mingyuan Daoist Temple.

After Qingyuan and the mountain demon returned, they sought out Old Ge to retrieve the Crimson Training Goldstone Treasure Casket.

The ancient mountain demon, Gu Cang, remained beside Old Ge, practicing his swordsmanship.

Qingyuan, meanwhile, returned to his room and took out the wooden box acquired from the Bai family.

The wooden box was crafted from sandalwood, exquisitely made. Qingyuan placed it on the table, gazing at it in silence for a moment, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

After a long pause, he finally reached out and opened the box.

Inside, wrapped in silk cloth, lay an object at the center, shaped like a key, its color subdued, showing a faint yellow amidst the green.

Qingyuan picked it up and held it in his hand.

It was neither jade nor stone, but in terms of weight, it was akin to gold or iron.

"Is this the key?"

Even though Qingyuan had attained true energy and possessed a calm mind, he could not help but feel dazed at this moment.

Everything seemed almost too smooth.

The key had no surprises, no twists—it was simply in the Bai family!

And the Bai family made no move as Qingyuan had imagined; they simply handed it over without resistance.

He had obtained what he desired without the slightest effort...

Taking a deep breath, Qingyuan gripped the key and looked at the treasure casket on the table, reaching for it.

The casket was dark in color, with a faint orange-red sheen, heavy in the hand, made from Crimson Training Goldstone.

"Is this the clue?"

Qingyuan inhaled deeply, aligned the key to the casket, and unlocked it.

The casket slowly opened.

From the crack, a wisp of white vapor suddenly emerged.

As the casket opened, the aura within spilled out.

This vapor was white, arising leisurely.

Just a single breath of it, and his spirit was immediately invigorated.

The true energy within him flowed and stirred.

"This is..."

Qingyuan was startled; he was not of the mortal world and naturally knew what this was.

It was immortal energy!

The aura of immortal power!

This nine-layered treasure casket isolated the contents from the outside, sealing them within, and the aura left behind by Guangyuan Ancient Lord when he cast his spell had not dissipated into the world but remained inside the casket.

Just one inhalation, and Qingyuan felt a hundred times more energetic.

He knew this was a tremendous fortune.

He sat cross-legged and began to practice the Yellow Court Immortal Scripture with all his might.

...

Ordinary people, when practicing breath and energy, achieve varying results depending on sect tradition, their own foundation, aptitude, comprehension, and their location.

Those with superior true transmission and exceptional talent can cultivate true energy in about a year; even those less gifted can achieve it in three to five years.

Those of ordinary lineage might need thirty or fifty years to reach the initial stage of true energy, and may never cross the threshold of refining form in this lifetime. Without fate or fortune, a lifetime might not break through the third heaven, nor achieve greatness.

Those without true transmission, relying solely on self-exploration, mostly never enter the halls of mastery, perhaps only sensing a wisp of energy—illusory and fleeting. Occasionally, by luck, one might refine a strand of true energy, but by then, their vigor and lifespan are spent, unable to pursue higher cultivation.

Besides the importance of method and talent, location is also crucial.

If one cultivates in an immortal blessed land, it's naturally far better than in barren mountains and rivers.

In the early stages, one breathes ordinary air, expelling impurities from the body, circulating the organs, and smoothing the blood. But in places where the five elements are balanced and the geomancy is excellent, progress is twice as fast.

Guangyuan Ancient Lord was a true immortal. The aura he left behind when casting spells is more extraordinary than any spiritual or Daoist energy.

Right now, this room itself had become an immortal blessed land!

...

Qingyuan sat cross-legged, tongue pressed to the palate, thoughts circulating.

The strand of true energy within him drifted like silk, much stronger than when first condensed.

Years of diligent cultivation had not yet formed true energy, but his foundation was deep, and he had broadened many of the meridians for the Yellow Court Immortal Scripture.

Thus, his cultivation progressed rapidly.

With the earth dragon within him, his foundation and talent were extraordinary. Combined with diligent practice, though little time had passed, his true energy had grown to three inches.

True energy, when first formed, is only a strand, less than an inch.

Now it was three inches tall.

It is said that when true energy reaches ten inches, one can attempt to break through the second heaven.

With the aid of immortal aura, Qingyuan had little worry.

He breathed through nose and mouth; the immortal energy entered his body, nourishing flesh and blood, merging with his true energy, causing it to grow.

Yet, his cultivation was still too shallow to fully absorb the immortal aura, so the breath of immortal energy soon flowed out again.

However, with his tongue pressed to the palate, he managed to retain a small amount.

This cycle repeated.

Until the immortal aura in the room was exhausted.

Qingyuan slowly finished his practice.

By then, the true energy within him had reached eight inches and seven parts.

He opened his eyes, a glimmer of light flashing.

Tongue pressed to the palate, saliva generated.

The residual immortal aura he had retained lingered there.

The Daoist texts call this saliva "the wine of longevity."

He swallowed it in a single gulp.

True energy instantly rose to nine inches.

"Just one more inch, and I can attempt to condense true energy into form and break through to the second stage."

Qingyuan showed joy, but also a hint of regret.

His cultivation was still too shallow to fully absorb the immortal aura. Moreover, he had not shut the doors and windows tightly; once the casket was opened, the immortal aura began to dissipate.

Much of it was lost, with little gained.

Yet, thanks to the earth dragon within him, his dragon bones transformed into Daoist bones, his foundation and talent were excellent, and the benefits were so obvious, raising his true energy to nine inches.

For an ordinary cultivator at the first heaven, they would have gained less than half of his benefit.

"External assistance has reached its limit."

Qingyuan thought to himself, "Too much reliance on external power makes one's foundation hollow."

The aura left behind from immortal spells can be compared to miraculous medicines, even helping to strengthen one's foundation. Yet, his cultivation was shallow, and in the early stages, such aid could only take him this far.

To break through the next barrier, he would ultimately have to rely on himself.

Thus, he felt little regret for the aura that had escaped.

"It's a pity that Gu Cang missed out on this fortune."

...

The aura in the room had dissipated.

It is said that when an immortal appears, the room is filled with fragrance.

The mountain is not high, but becomes sacred with the presence of an immortal.

A wisp of immortal energy nearly turned this place into a blessed cave.

Qingyuan recalled many stories.

The patriarch walked the earth, giving guidance with a gesture, causing rocks to awaken, flowers and grasses to become human, birds to gain enlightenment, and beasts to become spirits.

Or, the patriarch played with a stubborn stone, which, nurtured by immortal energy over time, became a magical treasure.

Or, the patriarch sat cross-legged, teaching the Dao; the meditation mat beneath him, after many years, developed spirit and became a demon.

Such stories are endless.

Guangyuan Ancient Lord is one of the oldest immortals in the world. Though not a primordial golden immortal, the aura he left behind when casting spells is far from ordinary.

Back in the mountain, he arranged the geomantic formation, gathered the rivers and mountains, and condensed the earth dragon, unknowingly releasing much aura.

But time washes all things away; even immortal aura, over the years, has vanished.

Only this wisp, sealed in the nine-layered treasure casket, remained undissipated.

Whether Guangyuan Ancient Lord left this aura intentionally or not, it is unclear.

But regardless, the benefit to Qingyuan was unfathomable.

"Such a profound kindness, there is no way to repay it."

Qingyuan sighed inwardly, his gaze settling on the table.

Inside the treasure casket, a map lay quietly.