CHAPTER 157: SWORD-PRESSING STONE

The question momentarily stunned Mu Wanxuan and Wang Sheng. Wang Sheng then remembered that the monk often played online games, allowing him to finally catch on to Huai Jing's intentions.

He had spent so much time chanting "The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao" that he had forgotten many common online phrases.

"Of course we do,” Wang Sheng responded with a smile.

Huai Jing grinned, hoisted his devil-subduing staff, and slipped into the room. After placing the devil-subduing staff in the corner, he dragged over a chair, went around Mu Wanxuan, and sat beside Wang Sheng.

"Ahem. I discussed it with Mou Yue. I'd like to join you two on missions from now on." Huai Jing then sighed. "The recent battle made me deeply feel the importance of teamwork. I also saw the brilliance of your swordsmanship, Fei Yu, and the power of your Yin-Yang Grand Formation, Bu Yu. I greatly admire you two."

"Huai Jing, your devil-subduing staff is just as impressive. It's no weaker than my swordsmanship," Wang Sheng said.

"I wouldn't go that far, considering I only rely on brute strength and a few years of staff training. There's not much room to grow from here. After thinking it over, I've decided to continue down the path of subduing corruption with overwhelming force. When I return to my temple, I'll focus more on studying Buddhist arts that can ward off corruption."

Smiling, Wang Sheng nodded. He didn't know much about Buddhist arts, but they certainly seemed formidable. "How are your injuries?"

"They're just minor wounds." Huai Jing laughed bitterly. A gloomy, pessimistic air hung over him. "Haaaa. I don't like to label myself as a tank, but the cultivation methods my master taught me all revolve around having thick skin and rapid recovery...

"From now on, when we go on missions together, I'll handle defense and exorcism. Fei Yu, your sharp swordsmanship will be our main offense. Bu Yu, you'll provide crowd control, support, and additional damage output. If we work together in sync and raise our cultivation realms a bit more, we'll be able to hold our ground even against a corrupt Golden Core Realm cultivator."

Wang Sheng understood all too well that Huai Jing hadn't just come for his swordsmanship. On the contrary, he was here mainly for Mu Wanxuan's Yin-Yang Grand Formation.

Within her formation, Mu Wanxuan's yin-yang qi would increase his strength by at least twenty percent. Moreover, once she unleashed her full power, her yin-yang qi would influence most cultivators of the same realm, revealing openings. Wang Sheng was swift and sharp enough to use those vulnerabilities to instantly finish their enemies off.

Right now, Mu Wanxuan was far stronger than Wang Sheng, but he didn't look down on himself anymore. Ever since the resurgence of the primal qi, he had been trying to catch up to her. Now, he was finally starting to catch a glimpse of her silhouette.

"I plan to go into secluded cultivation soon. I want to break through to the Illusory Core Realm as soon as possible," Wang Sheng said.

"Mm!" Mu Wanxuan tapped away on her phone and sent him a message, revealing that she also wanted to enter seclusion for a while. Having spent the last two years constantly rushing around the mundane world, she hadn't had a real chance to cultivate quietly.

They needed their master's permission first, though.

"I also need to spend some time pushing for a higher ranking in the seasonal ladder—ah, no, I mean, spend some time in seclusion, studying Buddhist arts, and working on my cultivation realm." Huai Jing chuckled sheepishly. "Anyway, since we're all in agreement, I'll send Mou Yue a message too to inform that we're forming a team."

"Alright. I'll make a group chat," Wang Sheng replied.

"Perfect."

Huai Jing pulled out his phone and waited. Wang Sheng soon added him, Mu Wanxuan, and Mou Yue to a chat group.

Their team formation model was actually worth promoting. Whenever the Special Investigation Unit needed help from cultivators, they could assemble teams of those with complementary Daoist arts. It would expand everyone's network and foster mutual learning. After building a rapport over time, it would also greatly improve their combat effectiveness.

With the matter settled, Huai Jing left in high spirits, while Wang Sheng continued to ponder.

Who else can complement Senior Sister, Huai Jing, and my Daoist arts?

Liu Yunzhi of Mount Mao was the first to come to mind.

The Godspeed Talisman and Ape's Leap Talisman were standard gear for every member of the Special Warfare Unit. A stable supply of talismans could further boost the strength of a sword cultivator like Wang Sheng.

Moreover, Liu Yunzhi specialized in lightning arts. Wang Sheng still vividly remembered Liu Yunzhi and channeling lightning from the sky with his sword during the exchange meeting on Mount Mao years ago. Although his lightning back then had been thin and short, he had likely improved a lot over the past two years.

Unfortunately, Liu Yunzhi's cultivation realm was still too low. While he ranked among the best of the younger disciples, in the grand scheme of the cultivation world, he was still average. It would be difficult for him to coordinate with the three.

Corrupt cultivators didn't care if their target was young or old. In a clash between righteous and corrupt forces, those whose strength failed to measure up would be cut down without hesitation.

Wang Sheng stood up and paced the room. In the end, he could only make a mental note to keep an eye out for suitable candidates. For now, he could ask Mou Yue to prepare some basic talismans. Even a slight boost in his and Mu Wanxuan's power would help.

"Senior Sister, let's go ask Master if we can return to the mountains for secluded cultivation."

"Mm!"

The two left the meeting room and headed to the Daoist temple up the mountain, where Qing Yanzi was having tea and discussing the Dao with several Daoist elders and Daoist masters.

***

Qing Yanzi naturally did not refuse his disciples' wish to enter seclusion and focus on their cultivation.

Wang Sheng wanted to reach the Illusory Core Realm as soon as possible, and Mu Wanxuan also had to temporarily distance herself from the turmoil surrounding the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect. Even if the two hadn't brought it up themselves, Qing Yanzi would have sent them back to the mountains to keep them out of trouble.

However, Qing Yanzi did not send them back to the Wudang Mountains. Instead, he told them to go to the Zhongnan Mountains and "seek refuge" under Jingyun.

Before Yuan Pu Zhenren and a few other Daoist elders, Qing Yanzi pulled out a cheap notebook from his robes—one clearly worth no more than five yuan. "I have to remain in the secular world for a while to help your mistress handle matters related to the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect. Since you two have likely drawn the attention of corrupt cultivators as well, you should lay low for now. Fei Yu, this contains some of my insights on breaking through to the Illusory Core Realm using the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra. Use it as a reference while you're cultivating."

Mu Wanxuan blinked. She couldn't help but feel that the notebook looked rather familiar...

Yuan Pu Zhenren merely nodded and stroked his beard. The Yin-Yang All Creation Sect had already infiltrated the Wudang Mountains once. It would be unreasonable to insist that Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan return there to enter seclusion.

"I was trying to break through to the Golden Realm in seclusion when Fei Yu assisted the Shu Sword Sect. Hence, to my regret, I couldn't meet him in person back then. To make up for that, if he's planning to break through to the Illusory Core Realm, I'd like to offer some suggestions," Qing Long said.

Qing Yanzi turned to the sect master of the Shu Sword Sect and cupped his hands. "Please extend your great guidance to my disciple, Senior. Since I am far from proficient in the Dao of the Sword, I am already running out of things to teach him."

Qing Long waved his hand. "No need to be so formal. These are merely methods recorded in ancient texts. I simply wish to share them with fellow Daoists."

He then cleared his throat.

"The Illusory Core Realm is actually a concept proposed by a great cultivator over two thousand years ago. Completing the Foundation Establishment Stage is the first step to rebirth, which transforms their acquired body to an innate one. It is said that you haven't truly set foot on the path of cultivation unless you have done that first step.

"Unfortunately, after that comes the Golden Core Realm—the first barrier of the Celestial Embryo Stage. It is a chasm—a threshold that halts the progress of the majority of cultivators. The strength of those who have reached the realm varies drastically depending on the techniques they practice.

"A cultivator's Golden Core is not only extremely difficult to form; it also determines their future achievements. Hence, the great cultivator I speak of spent a hundred years in contemplation to devise a new path: adding a realm before the Golden Core Realm. He created the Illusory Core Realm to help reduce the difficulty of condensing a Golden Core. Simply put, it exists as preparation for forming the Golden Core Realm..."

In front of the Daoist elders, Qing Long provided a fluent elaboration. He first spent over ten minutes explaining what the Illusory Core Realm was, then another ten minutes detailing its profound intricacies to Wang Sheng.

Forming an Illusory Core within, opening the qi sea, and comprehending one's personal Dao—they were collectively a solid "half-step" toward ascending to immortality.

In truth, Qing Yanzi had already explained most of this to Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan. The other Daoist elders were also all experienced veterans, each with countless disciples and grand-disciples. They naturally already knew about most of what Qing Long was revealing.

However, the Shu Sword Sect's sect master also revealed some "insider knowledge."

"All things and methods in the world are like a longsword—double-edged, with both benefits and drawbacks. A thousand years ago, the forefathers of our sect discovered that after reaching the Illusory Core Realm and expanding one's qi sea through the accumulation of true essence, only the quantity of true essence increased in most cases. True essence itself could not be further refined.

"Once the qi sea is fully developed, the Illusory Core solidifies immediately and condenses into a Golden Core, leaving no further opportunity to refine one's true essence. However, after reaching the Golden Core Realm, true essence transforms into enchanted power. Refining and purifying enchanted power takes far more effort than refining true essence during the Foundation Establishment Stage."

The Daoist elders all fell into contemplation. They then slowly nodded.

Qing Long added, "Nowadays, cultivation methods in the world have already established the Illusory Core Realm as a standard realm—there's no way around it. Hence, our sect's elders spent a lot of effort developing a way to refine true essence before entering the Celestial Embryo Stage. Fei Yu, are you willing to try it?"

Wang Sheng looked at his master. Qing Yanzi gave him a wink, signaling him to hurry up and flatter—er, accept and give the senior a Daoist salute.

Wang Sheng stepped forward and bowed with cupped hands. "I would be honored to. I humbly accept your guidance, Senior."

"No need for courtesy. You're an honorary elder of the Shu Sword Sect, Fei Yu. That makes you one of us." Qing Long took out a piece of paper from his robe and casually tossed it. It floated to Wang Sheng, who caught it with both hands.

Qing Long smiled. "That outlines the method. I prepared it for you before coming."

Wang Sheng skimmed through it, then looked up. "What exactly is a Sword-Pressing Stone, Senior? It seems to be the key to this method."

"Here." Qing Long flicked his sleeve, and a massive, tombstone-shaped stone sword appeared before Wang Sheng. He held it up with one hand and slowly set it down on the stone pavement.

As expected of the sect master of the Shu Sword Sect, Qing Long had a truly excellent storage artifact.

"This is a Sword-Pressing Stone, our sect's secret treasure. Once you're done using it, be sure to return it. Our sect only has three left."

Qing Long let go of the Sword-Pressing Stone, cracking the stone tiles beneath it. Wang Sheng clicked his tongue in amazement.