Gou Zai Xi You Dao Chang Sheng

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Li Yan stood beneath the World Tree, holding the ball of golden feathers in his hands, his heart filled with unbearable sorrow.

On those fine hairs, golden light flickered, sometimes bright and sometimes dim, as if it could be extinguished at any moment.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, sensing things with his mind.

Within those fine hairs, a wisp of Sun Wukong's primordial spirit imprint was sealed.

Within that mark are the monkey's memories, his joys and sorrows, and his indomitable will.

That will was as strong as metal, unbreakable.

Even when he was pressed under the Five Elements Mountain, even when his bones were shattered and his meridians were severed, his will never wavered in the slightest.

Li Yan took a deep breath and steadied himself.

He took out a jade box from his sleeve and carefully placed the tuft of hair into it.

Then another talisman was pasted on to seal the opening of the box.

On the talisman, the cinnabar runes shimmered with a faint light, ensuring that the primordial spirit imprint within the hair remained intact.

"Junior brother, rest assured. I will definitely rescue you." Li Yan murmured to himself, putting the jade box into his sleeve.

He turned to look at the World Tree, which was thousands of feet tall with a canopy that shimmered with golden light.

On the tree trunk, runes faintly flickered among the fine lines.

Those were his insights gained from years of cultivation, and also the way of the evolution of the grotto-heaven.

Beneath the tree roots, spiritual veins converge, and the earth's energy surges, nourishing the entire land.

The mountains and rivers, spanning 600,000 square miles, appeared exceptionally magnificent under the sunlight.

Mount Tianzhu rises high into the clouds, and at its summit stands the World Tree.

In the paradise, the monkeys were peeking out from their hiding places, cautiously looking around.

Li Yan looked at these monkey offspring and sighed inwardly.

These monkeys followed Sun Wukong from Flower Fruit Mountain to this grotto.

They thought they could finally live a peaceful life, but unexpectedly they suffered this calamity.

He must improve his cultivation level as soon as possible in order to rescue the monkey.

However, his cultivation level is only at the seventh level of the Cave Heaven Realm, which is still a huge gap from the Great Luo Golden Immortal.

The Five Elements Mountain was created by the Tathagata through his boundless supernatural powers, and it is also blessed daily by all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Even a Great Luo Golden Immortal might not be able to break it, let alone a mere Loose Immortal at the seventh level of the Cave Heaven.

Li Yan sat cross-legged under the World Tree, closed his eyes and concentrated his mind, immersing himself in the Mirror of the Mind.

On the mirror's surface, lines of small golden characters slowly emerged:

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 18000/40960]

[Cultivation Level: Seventh Level of Grotto-Heaven (Middle Thousand 60%)]

[Inner Alchemy: Peak of Refining Spirit and Returning to Emptiness, only one step away from True Immortal]

He stared at the line of numbers, secretly calculating in his mind.

He has cultivated the Inner Refinement Golden Elixir Technique to the peak of Refining Spirit and Returning to Emptiness, and is only one step away from breaking through to True Immortal.

He has already evolved the Outer Harmony Cave Heaven Dao, transforming it into a Middle Thousand World, spanning six hundred thousand miles.

We still have a long way to go before we reach the vast world.

The two have now merged into one, cultivating both body and mind, complementing each other.

When the inner alchemy is broken through, the cave heaven will expand accordingly.

As the grotto-heaven evolves, the inner alchemy will also improve accordingly.

This is what is meant by the unity of inner and outer, and the cultivation of both nature and life.

Li Yan pondered for a moment, then took out a jade slip from his sleeve.

That jade slip was a map of the earth's veins given to him by the mountain god when he was in Kunlun Mountain.

It records the spiritual veins of Kunlun Mountain and a host of other mountains.

He delved into it with his mind, trying to understand it carefully.

The earth vein map fully displays the mountains, rivers, and the direction of spiritual veins.

He pondered for a long time, and suddenly an idea struck him.

Within the Three Realms, there are countless spiritual veins, each with its own nature.

The Kunlun Mountains, with their profound and weighty spiritual energy, are the ancestor of all mountains.

The East China Sea's spiritual veins are vast and magnificent, the source of all waters.

The spiritual veins of Jambudvipa are intricate and interwoven like a net.

The spiritual veins of Beiju Luzhou are cold, treacherous, and deeply hidden.

If one could find a place where spiritual veins converge, using a grotto-heaven as a foundation and the spiritual veins as a guide, one could set up a grand formation.

By introducing the spiritual energy into the cave, one can accelerate its evolution and enhance their cultivation.

Li Yan was overjoyed and immediately began to carefully study the earth vein map in order to find the place where the spiritual veins converged.

A moment later, he found a location on the ley line map.

That place, located in the southwest of Jambudvipa, is called Mount Qingcheng.

Although this mountain is not as majestic as Kunlun, it is still a blessed land where spiritual energy converges.

The mountains are filled with ancient trees and shrouded in mist, making them an ideal place for practitioners to live in seclusion.

More importantly, Qingcheng Mountain is not far from Wuxing Mountain, only a thousand miles away.

If one could live in seclusion in those mountains and cultivate, one could both improve one's cultivation by borrowing the energy of the spiritual veins and keep an eye on the monkey's condition at any time.

Li Yan put away the jade slip and stood up.

He looked at the World Tree, made a hand seal, and silently recited mantras.

The World Tree sensed his magical power, trembled slightly, and golden light shone brightly on its crown.

The golden light condensed into a pillar of light, rising from the treetop and piercing the sky.

Within that pillar of light, runes flowed faintly, densely packed, like celestial script.

Those runes were a restriction he set up using the art of divination and strategy.

This restriction is called the Heavenly Lock, which can lock the aura of the cave and prevent outsiders from noticing it.

The beam of light shot into the sky, and after a moment it gradually receded, transforming into a golden sphere of light that hung above the World Tree.

The sphere of light slowly rotated, locking all the aura of the cave within it, without letting it leak out at all.

He stood atop a cloud, looking down.

The Flower and Fruit Mountain was no longer what it used to be.

The mountains were deserted; not a single monkey could be seen.

The waterfall in front of the Water Curtain Cave has also dried up, revealing a bare cliff face.

The peach trees covering the mountains and fields have withered their leaves and scattered their fruit on the ground, uncollected.

A wave of sorrow washed over Li Yan.

This Flower and Fruit Mountain is the monkey's home, and also the place where he cultivated himself for many years.

Now it has fallen to such a state, things have changed, and it is truly lamentable.

He sighed, turned around, and rode on the clouds, flying towards the southwest.

Along the way, he deliberately concealed his aura and suppressed his magic power to the minimum, relying only on the breeze to carry him slowly.

Although the pursuing troops had been withdrawn from the Heavenly Court, there might still be eyes and ears there.

He must be careful not to reveal his whereabouts.

After flying for about two hours, a large mountain suddenly appeared ahead.

That mountain was about a thousand feet high and covered an area of ​​several hundred miles.

Ancient trees reach for the sky and vines entwine the mountainside.

Below the mountainside, clouds and mist swirl, creating a scene resembling a fairyland.

Atop the mountain peak, a faint golden light flickered, caused by the leakage of spiritual energy from the mountain's veins.

Li Yan descended from the clouds and landed on the mountainside.

He looked around and saw that the mountain was full of spiritual energy, with lush vegetation, and cranes flying by and deer running around.

A stream flows gently through the mountains, its waters making a clear, crisp sound.

He followed the stream upstream, and after walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he suddenly saw a valley ahead.

The valley is surrounded by mountains on all sides, and there is only one narrow path leading to it.

In the valley, there was a flat area, about a hundred feet in circumference, with a smooth surface covered with green grass and wildflowers.

At the bottom of the valley is a waterfall that cascades down from the mountaintop, its roar echoing and splashing countless droplets.

Below the waterfall lies a clear pool, its water so clear you can see the bottom, and a faint spiritual energy seems to rise from it.

Li Yan was overjoyed.

This valley is the perfect place for seclusion and spiritual practice.

He sat cross-legged by the pool, took out a jade tablet from his sleeve, and activated it with his magic.

Runes flickered on the jade tablet, transforming into a curtain of light that enveloped the entire valley.

This is the Heaven-Covering Formation, capable of concealing heavenly secrets and preventing outsiders from prying into them.

Back when he was in Huaguo Mountain, he used jade as material and imprinted runes with his divine sense to refine several of them.

This is exactly the kind of thing that comes in handy right now.

As the formation was completed, clouds and mist gradually rose in the valley, swirling and swirling.

The once clearly visible valley entrance is now obscured by a thin layer of mist.

From the outside, all that can be seen are mountains, rocks, grass and trees, all blending together seamlessly, with no trace of the valley that once existed.

Li Yan stood by the pool, gazing at the clear water and rising spiritual energy, and felt a sense of peace in his heart.

Qingcheng Mountain is indeed a blessed land.

The spiritual vein descends from the mountain peak and converges here to form a pool, the water of which contains an extremely rich spiritual energy.

He found a flat, large rock by the pool, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes to concentrate.

It was nearly dusk, and the afterglow of the setting sun shone down from the western mountains, turning the entire valley into a golden-red hue.

The waterfall roared, its spray splashing, and under the setting sun, it transformed into a rainbow spanning the clear pool.

As Li Yan gazed at the rainbow, a sudden realization dawned on him.

Between heaven and earth, all things have yin and yang; when yin and yang interact, rainbows are born.

The rainbow, seemingly a combination of light and water, is actually a manifestation of the interaction of the energies of heaven and earth.

His path of cultivating both body and spirit is also like this.

The method of internal alchemy is Yin.

The external harmony with the Dao of the Cave Heaven is Yang.

Only when the two interact can the Great Dao be born.

He took a deep breath and focused his mind on his dantian.

Within his dantian, the twelve-petaled golden lotus had now merged with the World Tree.

The lotus flower spun, and the World Tree swayed in response.

The two are like one, inseparable.

The stripped runes on the lotus flower have reappeared, but they are no longer the same as before.

They merged with the texture of the World Tree, transforming into even more mysterious runes that flowed endlessly across the lotus.

Li Yan immersed himself in the runes, carefully studying them.

Those runes contained all the insights he had gained from his years of cultivation.

These insights were originally independent and scattered throughout his various stages of spiritual practice.

At this moment, however, under the influence of this method of cultivating both body and mind, they merged into one, transforming into a clear and unobstructed path.

That great road leads to the Great Golden Immortal.

Li Yan was delighted and was about to continue his contemplation when he suddenly felt a tremor in his sleeve.

He reached into his robes and pulled out the jade box.

On the jade box, talismans flickered, and the golden light within the hairs dimmed slightly.

Li Yan felt a chill run down his spine.

Sun Wukong was imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain, where he was eroded day and night by the power of the Five Elements.

Although the spiritual energy of the peaches protected his heart meridian, his condition continued to deteriorate.

If not rescued in time, the monkey's foundation will be damaged over time.

He pondered for a moment, then took out a jade bottle from his sleeve.

The jade bottle contained the golden elixir he had collected in the Tushita Palace.

Laozi's elixir, whether raw or processed, yin or yang, each has its own use.

He carefully examined them and selected a few pills that were most suitable for healing and restoring vitality.

The Nine-Turn Purple Gold Pill can strengthen the body's foundation, nourish vital energy, and repair damaged meridians.

The Taiyi True Elixir nourishes the primordial spirit and restores depleted spiritual consciousness.

The Three Flowers Gathering at the Top Pill can harmonize the five internal organs and balance the five elements.

He used his magic to crush the three pills into powder and mixed it into the jade box.

The Three Flowers Gathering at the Top Pill can harmonize the five internal organs and balance the five elements.

He used his magic to crush the three pills into powder and mixed it into the jade box.

Nourished by the power of the elixir, the hair shone with a faint golden light, then stabilized somewhat.

This is a method of nourishing the primordial spirit by using the imprint of the primordial spirit, but it is ultimately not a long-term solution.

While pondering, Li Yan put the jade box back into his sleeve.

"Junior brother, please hold on for a little longer. I will improve my cultivation as soon as possible and come to rescue you."

He muttered to himself, closed his eyes, and continued to comprehend the path of cultivating both body and spirit.

This period of contemplation lasted three days and three nights.

Three days later, Li Yan opened his eyes and felt that the lotus in his dantian was spinning even faster.

The World Tree swayed in response, and the golden light on its canopy shone even brighter than before.

He focused his mind into the mirror of his heart, and there, on the mirror's surface, a line of small golden characters slowly appeared:

[Having comprehended the path of cultivating both body and spirit, the grotto-heaven expanded by 30,000 li, and the World Tree grew three zhang taller.]

[Aura of Destiny +500 (Following the Way of Nature, Unity of Nature and Life)]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 18500/40960]

[Cultivation Level: Seventh Level of Grotto-Heaven (Middle Thousand 63%)]

Li Yan stared at the line of numbers, secretly calculating in his mind.

In three days and three nights, it only grew by 30,000 li. At this rate, it would expand the cave to a radius of one million li.

The evolution of the vast world is uncertain, and who knows when it will take?

He needs a faster way.

After a moment's hesitation, Li Yan took out a golden fruit from his sleeve.

The fruit was shaped like a pigeon's egg, and was crystal clear, as if it were carved from crystal.

Within it, one can vaguely discern mountains and rivers, the sun, moon, and stars, which is none other than the Bodhi tree, the fruit of enlightenment.

This fruit was a gift from the spirit of the Bodhi tree, formed from the essence of the Great Dao. Consuming it can aid in enlightenment and allow one to glimpse the ultimate truths of heaven and earth.

He obtained three on Bodhi Mountain, but never used them.

Now is the perfect time to use it.

Li Yan held the Bodhi Enlightenment Fruit in his palm, closed his eyes, and focused his mind to sense it.

The fruit contained a profound Daoist essence.

That Daoist aura was pure, ethereal, and lofty, like the stars in the heavens, visible but unattainable.

He took a deep breath and put the fruit in his mouth.

The fruit melts in your mouth, turning into a cool sensation that slides down your throat and into your stomach.

It's like drinking a mouthful of clear mountain spring water on a hot summer day; every pore from head to toe feels relaxed and refreshed.

After the cool energy entered the abdomen, it spread in all directions along the meridians.

Li Yan felt lightheaded, as if he were about to fly.

The cool energy spread to the Niwan Palace, and the primordial spirit within it sensed this energy and trembled slightly.

The primordial spirit stood up, formed hand seals, and chanted incantations.

The voice of those true words was the voice of the primordial spirit, profound and mysterious, and it resonated mysteriously with the cool air.

The cool energy was absorbed by the primordial spirit, and a faint halo gradually appeared on the primordial spirit.

The halo was initially just a thin layer, like the morning mist.

Gradually, the halo grew thicker and thicker, transforming into a golden radiance that enveloped the primordial spirit.

Within the light, one could vaguely discern mountains and rivers, the sun, moon and stars, plants, birds and beasts, wind, rain, thunder and lightning.

That was the power of heaven and earth in the cave.

At this moment, the primordial spirit and the grotto-heaven merged into one.

Li Yan felt as if his consciousness had transformed into a whole world.

That land, spanning over 600,000 li, boasts magnificent mountains and rivers and ever-changing scenery.

Mount Tianzhu soars into the clouds, and atop its summit stands the World Tree, its golden light shimmering.

In the paradise, the monkeys were playing and frolicking, completely unaware of what was happening outside.

Consciousness, like a spring breeze, blows across every inch of land.

That feeling was indescribably comfortable and at ease.

This is the wonder of cultivating both body and mind.

His primordial spirit is the grotto-heaven.

The grotto-heaven is his primordial spirit.

The two are originally one, inseparable.

The medicinal effects of the Bodhi Enlightenment Fruit lasted for seven days and seven nights.

Seven days later, Li Yan opened his eyes and felt completely refreshed, his spirit clear, and his essence, energy, and spirit abundant and complete.

He focused his mind into the mirror of his heart, and there he saw lines of small golden characters slowly appearing on its surface:

[By consuming one Bodhi Enlightenment Fruit, one comprehends the wonders of cultivating both nature and life; the grotto-heaven expands by 100,000 li, and the World Tree grows ten zhang taller.]

[Aura of Destiny +1500 (Uniting with the Dao through the Dao, Connecting Heart to Heart)]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 20000/40960]

[Cultivation Level: Seventh Level of Grotto-Heaven (Middle Thousand 73%)]

Li Yan looked at the line of numbers and felt delighted.

A single Bodhi Enlightenment Fruit expanded the grotto-heaven by 100,000 li and increased the cultivation level by 10%.

If you have three full servers, wouldn't you be able to directly break through to the Great Thousand World?

He thought this to himself, but he also knew that although the Bodhi enlightenment fruit was good, he should not be greedy for more.

This fruit contains the essence of the Great Luo Dao, and is no ordinary fruit.

If he were to take three pills in a row, with his current cultivation level, he might not be able to withstand the impact of the medicine.

One must proceed step by step, and only take the second pill after the medicinal power of the first pill has been fully refined and absorbed.

He took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and was about to continue his contemplation when he suddenly felt a pang of hunger in his stomach.

For seven days and seven nights, he neither drank a drop of water nor ate a grain of rice.

Although a person practicing spiritual cultivation can abstain from grains, they cannot completely abstain from food and drink.

He took out a peach from his sleeve and devoured it in a few bites.

The peaches melted in the mouth, their sweet juice sliding down the throat and into the stomach.

After eating and drinking his fill, Li Yan stood up, took a few steps by the pool, and stretched his muscles.

The waterfall roared, water splashed, and the spray, under the sunlight, transformed into a rainbow.

He gazed at the rainbow, his thoughts churning.

In the original work,

Sun Wukong was imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain, where a local earth god was in charge of guarding him and feeding him iron pellets and copper juice every day.

The iron balls and molten copper, seemingly a punishment, were actually meant to maintain the monkey's life.

Sun Wukong has an indestructible body; he cannot be harmed by swords or axes, nor can he be attacked by thunder or fire.

However, he was trapped under the Five Elements Mountain, unable to move, and unable to draw spiritual energy from heaven and earth on his own.

If no one feeds him, he will starve to death in time.

Although the local earth god was under the command of the Buddha, he was also a kind-hearted person.

Every day, the monkey was fed iron pellets and copper juice, which, though unpalatable, kept it alive.

Li Yan secretly pondered that the local earth god feeding Sun Wukong was an opportunity.

If he could manipulate the local earth god, he could deliver the elixir to Sun Wukong without anyone noticing.

Although the Earth God was a deity appointed by the Heavenly Court, he was merely a minor deity with weak magical power, and his abilities were not apparent.

He only needed to apply a trick to the elixir, making the local earth god think it was just an ordinary iron ball and copper molten metal, and he could deceive everyone.

Having made up his mind, Li Yan stopped thinking about it and sat down cross-legged again to continue comprehending the path of cultivating both body and mind.

This period of contemplation lasted several more days.

The roar of the waterfall had transformed into a profound sound between heaven and earth in my ears.

The image of splashing water has been transformed into the flow of yin and yang energies in the eyes.

During this time, he refined all the medicinal power of the two Bodhi Enlightenment Fruits.

Within the grotto, the landscape stretches for 850,000 li, majestic and magnificent, with ever-changing scenery.

In Anleyuan, the monkeys had long been accustomed to life in this grotto.

They frolic and play in the orchard every day, quite content.

Li Yan focused his mind into the Mirror of the Mind, and there he saw lines of small golden characters slowly appearing on the mirror's surface:

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 23500/40960]

[Cultivation Level: Seventh Level of Grotto-Heaven (Middle Thousand 85%)]

[Inner Alchemy: Peak of Refining Spirit and Returning to Emptiness, only a hair's breadth away from Heavenly Tribulation]

He stared at the line of numbers, pondering to himself.

His inner alchemy cultivation has reached the peak of Refining Spirit and Returning to Emptiness.

The three calamities and their consequences that the Patriarch spoke of when he preached at Fangcun Mountain should soon come true.

Those three calamities are tests imposed by Heaven and Earth on those who cultivate themselves, and also punishments imposed by the Great Dao on those who steal creation.

Li Yan felt no fear whatsoever.

These three calamities, though they are tribulations, are also opportunities.

If one can survive this ordeal, one can shed one's mortal form and attain immortality.

At that time, one's inner alchemy cultivation will break through the Refining Spirit and Returning to Emptiness realm, directly reaching the realm of True Immortal.

If one can advance further, one will become a Golden Immortal, and eventually a Taiyi Golden Immortal or a Daluo Golden Immortal.

He took a deep breath, pulled his mind back from the mirror of his mind, and opened his eyes.

Upon opening my eyes, I noticed something unusual about the sky.

The sky was originally clear and blue, but now a dark cloud has drifted in from who knows where.

The dark clouds, as black as ink, churned endlessly, hanging over Mount Qingcheng, completely obscuring the blazing sun.

Amidst the dark clouds, the rumble of thunder could be faintly heard, and flashes of lightning rippled through the clouds, like silver snakes weaving through them.

Li Yan felt a chill run down his spine. Could this be the Heavenly Tribulation?

He stood up, stood by the pool, and looked up at the sky.

The dark clouds gathered thicker and thicker, pressing down lower and lower.

The thunder roared even louder in the clouds, illuminating the entire Qingcheng Mountain.

Sensing the oppressive force of the heavenly tribulation, all the beasts in the mountains prostrated themselves on the ground, trembling in fear.

Birds and beasts, insects, ants, snakes, and rats all hid in their nests, not daring to show their faces.

Even the grass and trees in the mountains were pressed down by that oppressive force, causing their branches and leaves to droop and rustle.

Li Yan remained calm, his hands forming a hand seal as he silently recited:

"The mysteries of heaven and earth are the root of all energies. Through countless eons of cultivation, I will attain divine powers."

Within and beyond the Three Realms, only the Dao is supreme. My body is enveloped in golden light.

As soon as he finished speaking, a layer of golden light surged out from his body, enveloping him.

That golden light was the protective divine light condensed from the dual cultivation of body and spirit, containing the power of a celestial cave, and was no small matter.

Just then, a loud bang came from within the dark clouds.

"Snap!"

A bolt of lightning, swift as lightning, struck Li Yan's crown chakra.

The lightning bolt was as thick as a child's arm, and its entire body was purplish-black. Wherever it passed, the void was torn open with a crack.

That was heavenly thunder, containing the power of heaven and earth.

Li Yan formed hand seals and unleashed the Wind and Rain Technique from the Thirty-Six Transformations of the Heavenly Gang.

With a wave of his hands, the waterfall transformed into a water dragon, soaring into the sky to meet the thunderbolt.

The water dragon and the thunder collided in mid-air.

Rumble!

The sound was like a mountain collapsing and the earth splitting, causing the entire Qingcheng Mountain to tremble.

The water dragon was shattered by the lightning, turning into a mist that spread and dispersed everywhere.

The lightning was weakened somewhat by the water dragon, but it still had considerable force and struck towards Li Yan.

Li Yan dodged to the side, and the lightning grazed the hem of his clothes before striking the ground.

"Snap!"

A deep trench was cleaved into the ground, sending rubble flying and dust billowing everywhere.

The water in the pool was also shaken and surged, splashing water several meters high.

Li Yan stared at the ravine, secretly astonished.

The water in the pool was also shaken and surged, splashing water several meters high.

Li Yan stared at the ravine, secretly astonished.

The power of this heavenly lightning was indeed extraordinary.

He steadied himself and continued to use his supernatural powers to contend with the heavenly lightning.

One, two, three...

Within the dark clouds, bolts of lightning struck down one after another, without ceasing.

Li Yan responded using various supernatural powers from the Thirty-Six Transformations of the Heavenly Gang.

Summoning wind and rain, whipping mountains and moving stones, pushing mountains and filling seas, overturning rivers and churning the seas... one move after another, in an endless stream.

The lightning was fierce, but it couldn't harm him in the slightest.

But the thunder within the dark clouds grew ever more intense.

At first, he simply chopped down one stroke at a time.

Then three or five strikes came down at once.

Then it poured down like a torrential rain.

Li Yan's expression was solemn as he formed hand seals, maximizing the protective golden light around his body.

The golden light surged, enveloping his figure like a golden shield, keeping the lightning out.

"Boom boom boom!"

The light shield trembled violently, but it never broke.

Li Yan gritted his teeth and poured the magical power in his dantian into the light shield.

With the enhancement of magical power, the protective barrier became even more stable, blocking the lightning bolts one by one.

After an unknown amount of time, the thunder in the dark clouds gradually thinned out and finally stopped completely.

The dark clouds then dispersed, revealing the sky behind them.

But Li Yan dared not relax, because he knew that after the lightning disaster, there would be a fire.

In a short while, he felt a burning sensation in the Yongquan acupoint on the sole of his foot, as if two balls of fire were burning inside.

The raging fire rose from the Yongquan acupoint and spread upwards along the meridians.

Wherever it passed, the meridians felt as if they were being burned, causing excruciating pain.

This is Yin Fire.

This fire originates from the Yongquan acupoint on the sole of the foot and burns directly into the Niyuan Palace, representing the transformation of the cultivator himself.

The stronger the desire, the more intense the yin fire.

If one cannot subdue it, one's internal organs will turn to ashes, one's limbs will decay, and all one's spiritual practice and arduous cultivation will be in vain.

Li Yan sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and focused his mind inward.

Within that dantian, a twelve-petaled golden lotus slowly rotated, and the runes on the lotus shone brightly.

He guided the Yin Fire into his dantian and refined it with lotus flowers.

Sensing the aura of the lotus, the yin flames surged towards it like moths to a flame.

The lotus flower spun, drawing in the yin fire and refining it with golden Buddhist light.

The yin fire struggled within the lotus for a moment before transforming into a wisp of pure energy that merged into the lotus.

But the yin fire kept gushing out from the Yongquan acupoint, wave after wave, without end.

Li Yan calmed his mind and, without haste or impatience, refined each lotus flower one by one.

Over the years of his spiritual practice, he has refined his mind to the point of stillness, unmoved by external things.

Although the yin fire was fierce, it could not shake his Dao heart.

After an unknown amount of time, the eerie fire gradually weakened and finally disappeared completely.

Li Yan let out a long sigh of relief, opened his eyes, and felt completely relaxed and comfortable.

Although that yin fire was dangerous, it was also a stroke of good fortune.

It burned away all the impurities in Li Yan's body, making his body pure and his meridians more unobstructed.

Before he could even feel joy, he felt as if countless steel needles were piercing his brain through his fontanelle.

It is the wind of Bifeng.

This wind blows from the fontanelle into the six internal organs, passes through the dantian, and penetrates the nine orifices; it is the manifestation of the practitioner's own attachments.

The deeper the obsession, the fiercer the wind.

If one cannot resist, one's flesh and blood will disintegrate, and one's body will disintegrate on its own.

Li Yan closed his eyes and concentrated his mind, focusing his inner thoughts.

The wind blew in through the fontanelle like a sharp blade, severing meridians and wearing away bones wherever it passed.

He gritted his teeth and mobilized the power of that cave to protect his internal organs, nine orifices, and four limbs.

The wind, though slowed by the power of the cave, continued to erode the surrounding area bit by bit.

Li Yan knew in his heart that simply resisting was not a long-term solution.

The problem must be addressed at its root to completely resolve this calamity.

This wind is a manifestation of obsession, so we must use wisdom to sever that obsession.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind inward, searching for the root of his obsession.

He found it in a short time.

That obsession stemmed from the guilt he felt towards Sun Wukong for being suppressed.

It was also anxiety about his own insufficient cultivation, and even more so anger towards the mastermind behind it all.

These obsessions, like venomous snakes, gnawed at his Dao heart day and night.

Normally, he can suppress his emotions with reason.

But at this moment, it was triggered by the wind, like a volcanic eruption, and it was out of control.

Li Yan visualized each of those obsessions and severed them with the sword of wisdom.

The guilt he felt towards Sun Wukong transformed into a golden light and dissipated into the void.

Anxiety about one's own lack of cultivation also dissipates like a gentle breeze.

The anger towards the mastermind behind it all turned into sweet dew, nourishing my heart.

The wind, having lost the nourishment of its obsession, gradually weakened and eventually disappeared completely.

When Li Yan opened his eyes, he felt light as a feather, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his body.

He finally survived those three calamities safely.

Just then, he suddenly felt the twelve-petaled golden lotus in his dantian tremble violently, and its golden light intensified.

On the lotus, the runes lit up all at once, like a sky full of stars, dazzling and brilliant.

The golden light surged from his dantian, flowing through his limbs and bones, enveloping his entire body.

His physical body underwent a tremendous transformation within that golden light.

The internal organs became incredibly pure, like crystal.

The golden light lasted for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before gradually receding.

Li Yan opened his eyes and felt his whole body filled with power.

That power was no longer just an accumulation of magical energy as before.

Rather, it is a perfect fusion of the physical body and the primordial spirit, forming an inseparable and flawless whole.

This is the Golden Elixir Immortal Body.

Shedding one's mortal form and attaining an immortal body, one becomes a true immortal.

Li Yan was overjoyed and focused his mind on the Mirror of the Mind. There, on the surface of the mirror, lines of small golden characters slowly appeared:

Having safely weathered the three calamities, shed his mortal form, and achieved an immortal body, his inner alchemy cultivation broke through the Refining Spirit to Return to Emptiness realm, directly reaching the True Immortal realm.

[During the tribulation of lightning, one comprehends the power of thunder and obtains the true meaning of thunder magic.]

[During the fire disaster, one comprehends the wonders of Yin Fire and attains the true meaning of fire magic.]

[During the storm, one comprehends the secrets of the wind and grasps the true meaning of wind magic]

With the three calamities overcome simultaneously, the three treasures of essence, energy, and spirit are perfected, and the inner elixir and outer grotto-heaven are further integrated.

[Aura of Destiny +10000 (Three Calamities, Trials of Heaven and Earth)]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 33500/40960]

[Cultivation Level: Ninth Level of Grotto-Heaven (Middle Thousand 90%)]

[Inner Alchemy: True Immortal Realm]

Looking at the line of numbers, Li Yan felt a surge of satisfaction.

This tribulation not only allowed him to break through to the True Immortal Realm, but also enabled him to comprehend the true meaning of the Three Laws.

More importantly, the three treasures of essence, energy, and spirit are perfected, and the inner elixir and outer grotto-heaven are further integrated.

His cultivation level also rose to the ninth level of the Cave Heaven, and he had reached ninety percent of the Middle Thousand Worlds.

He returned his primordial spirit to his Niwan Palace and stood up.

At this stop, I felt as if the ground beneath my feet had become lighter.

The roar of the waterfall, the splashing water, and the gentle breeze all become clearly perceptible.

The spiritual energy between heaven and earth is like an old friend who has been separated for a long time.

This is the true fairyland.

Below the True Immortals, all are mortals. Above the True Immortals lies the Path of Immortality.

He took a deep breath, rose up on the clouds, and stood above Mount Qingcheng.

Looking towards the Five Elements Mountain, he saw that although the mountain was thousands of miles away, it seemed to be right next to him.

The Five Elements Mountain consists of five large mountains, each corresponding to one of the five elements.

Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth are mutually generating and mutually restraining, forming a unified whole.

Above the mountain, there is a faint flow of Buddha's light, which is the blessing power of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

At the top of the mountain, there was a golden sticker with six large characters: 【唵曼呢叭咪吽】.

The golden characters pressing down on it were the Buddha's decree and also the seal of the Five Elements Mountain.

That six-syllable mantra contains supreme Buddhist teachings and can suppress all evil spirits.

Li Yan stared at the gold-lettered inscription, his gaze slightly narrowed.

He sensed a vast Buddhist power emanating from the pressing object, as deep and unfathomable as a boundless ocean.

With his current cultivation level, he is simply no match for him.

To rescue the monkey, you must first remove the golden seal.

But that seal is the Buddha's decree; how could it be so easily revealed?

Li Yan pondered for a moment, then descended from the clouds and landed in Qingcheng Mountain.

He sat cross-legged by the pool, closed his eyes and concentrated, immersing his mind in the mirror of his heart.

On the mirror, lines of small golden characters slowly emerged.

He began his deductions using the Qimen Dunjia method, but his magical power was depleted like flowing water.

In the mirror of the heart, images gradually emerge.

That was the view around Five Elements Mountain.

He saw a golden-haired monkey being pressed down under the Five Elements Mountain.

The monkey, its bones shattered and its veins severed, still gritted its teeth and persevered, refusing to give up.

A glimmer of light still flickered in his golden eyes.

He saw that the local earth gods and mountain spirits guarded the Five Elements Mountain day and night.

The local earth god fed the monkey iron pellets and molten copper every day, keeping it alive.

The iron balls and molten copper contained the blessings of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, which sustained the monkey's life.

He saw that on the golden characters pressed down, there was a wisp of the Buddha's divine consciousness.

Although the divine consciousness was dormant, it still possessed the power to sense.

If anyone approaches the seal, its divine consciousness will awaken and unleash boundless Buddhist power to suppress the intruder.

"If you can't force it, you have to get it cleverly."

He muttered to himself.

He took out a jade pendant from his sleeve and activated it with his magic.

Runes flickered on the jade tablet, gradually transforming into a cloud of mist that enveloped his figure.

When the clouds and mist cleared, he had changed completely.

He was dressed in a gray Taoist robe, with a turban on his head, a handsome face, and three long strands of beard.

Holding a whisk, surrounded by a pure aura, he looked every bit the enlightened sage.

This method is one of the Thirty-Six Transformations of the Heavenly Gang, specifically the Transformation of the Embryo, which can change appearance and alter aura.

Even a Taiyi Golden Immortal would find it difficult to see through.

Li Yan had completed his transformation. He leaped into the air, becoming a gentle breeze, and flew towards the Five Elements Mountain.

The Five Elements Mountain is located northwest of Qingcheng Mountain, no more than a thousand miles away.

He deliberately concealed his aura, using the gentle breeze as his shield, and walked slowly.

Before long, five majestic mountains appeared in front of them; these were the Five Elements Mountains.

Above the mountain, there is a faint flow of Buddha's light, which is caused by the daily blessings of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

At the top of the mountain, a golden plaque fluttered slightly in the wind.

The six-character mantra on the post is written with vigorous strokes and shimmering golden light.

Li Yan dared not approach, but instead descended from the clouds a hundred miles away and landed on a hill.

He looked up and saw a golden-haired monkey being pressed down under the Five Elements Mountain.

Only the monkey's head was visible; its hands could barely move.

Li Yan felt a pang of sadness, but he forced himself to hold it back.

He found a secluded spot on the hilltop, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and concentrated.

Use your mind's mirror to sense the surroundings of the Five Elements Mountain.

This sensation made me realize that there were undercurrents surging around me.

Around the Five Elements Mountain, there was only one local earth god on the surface, but in reality, there were several other eyes watching from the shadows.

The few gazes from the Heavenly Court were hidden in the clouds, barely perceptible.

Those were spies sent by the Jade Emperor to constantly monitor the movements of the Five Elements Mountain.

We need to see whether the monkey is dead or alive, and also what actions the Ling Mountain side takes.

The sacred mountain is hidden in the Buddha's light, solemn and secretive.

That is the wisdom eye of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, watching the state of the gold characters pressed on the paper, in order to prevent anyone from coming to rescue it.

As for those unknown gazes, they were even more enigmatic.

Li Yan felt a chill run down his spine.

On the surface, the Five Elements Mountain is just a mountain peak used to suppress monkeys.

In reality, it is a game of chess where various forces from the three realms vie for power.

The Heavenly Court, Mount Ling, and that unknown force were all secretly watching this place, each with their own agenda.

If he were to act rashly, he would be making enemies of three parties at the same time.

While pondering, he closed his eyes again and focused his mind, trying to sense the location of the local earth god.

Although the Earth God is of low rank, he is a local tyrant who governs the land and water.

The local earth god beneath the Five Elements Mountain is surnamed Zhang and named Fude.

It was personally appointed by the Buddha to guard the monkey, feeding it iron pellets and molten copper every day.

This person in Mount Ling is merely a minor deity with weak magical power and a lowly status.

Yet, at the foot of the Five Elements Mountain, he was a man of absolute authority.

If we can manipulate this person, we can deliver the elixir to Sun Wukong without anyone noticing.

Having made up his mind, Li Yan sensed the aura of the local earth god.

He sensed it in a moment.

The aura of the local earth god was located at the foot of Five Elements Mountain, only a few dozen miles from where the monkey was suppressed.

There was a small earth god temple there, its door half-closed, with candlelight flickering faintly inside.

Li Yan transformed into a gentle breeze and drifted towards the direction of the local earth god temple.

The local earth god temple was small, just a stone house with two stone pillars in front of the door, on which a couplet was carved.

The first line reads: "A demon monkey guards the Five Elements Mountain."

The second line reads: "A minor deity within the Three Realms."

Above the door hangs a wooden plaque with three characters: "[Land God Shrine]".

The ancestral hall was tightly closed, and faint sighs could be heard coming from inside.

Li Yan stepped forward and raised his hand to knock on the door.

"Knock knock knock".

After three knocks, an aged voice came from inside the door: "Who is knocking?"

Li Yan cupped his hands and said, "This humble Taoist has been traveling and has come to this place. Seeing that it is getting late, I would like to ask if I could rest here for the night."

We hope the land authority will grant us this favor.

There was a moment of silence inside the door, followed by the sound of footsteps.

The door opened a crack, and an elderly man with white hair and a ruddy complexion peeked out.

His eyes were somewhat cloudy, and his eye sockets were slightly red, as if he had just been crying.

He looked Li Yan up and down, and seeing that he was a Taoist priest, he nodded and stepped aside, saying, "Please come in, Taoist priest."

Li Yan stepped into the ancestral hall and saw that it was not large, consisting of only one main room.

In the center stands a stone statue of an old man with a flowing beard, holding a cane, seated on a lotus pedestal.

In front of the stone statue, there is an incense burner with wisps of smoke rising from it.

The local earth god invited Li Yan to sit down and offered him a cup of tea.

The tea, brewed with mountain spring water, was refreshingly cool on the palate, yet had a subtle hint of bitterness.

Li Yan took a sip of tea and glanced at the face of the local earth god.

Although his face was rosy, there was a hint of worry in his brows and his eyes were slightly red.

"Land God,"

Li Yan put down his teacup and said gently.

"I see you look unusual; have you encountered some difficulty?"

Upon hearing this, the Earth God's expression changed slightly, then he shook his head with a wry smile:

"You flatter me, Daoist Master. I am but a minor deity; what difficulties could I possibly face?"

Li Yan smiled slightly, not pressing for further details, and simply said:

"I have traveled far and wide and met many people. Some smile on the surface but suffer in their hearts."

Some people may appear bitter on the surface, but are at peace in their hearts.

Although the Earth God smiled and said nothing was wrong, he couldn't hide it from this poor Taoist priest.

The Earth God was startled, and reached out to touch the corner of his eye, only then realizing that the traces of his tears had not yet dried completely.

He was silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "Daoist Master, you have a good eye. This humble one... this humble one does indeed have something on my mind."

Li Yan said, "If the local deity trusts me, please feel free to speak."

"Though I am of little talent, I do possess some meager skills, which may be of some help."

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