"You should cultivate on Meiji Mountain for the time being. Focus on mastering transformation techniques first. Walking around with a bamboo staff is too conspicuous, even within the sect," Wen Sukong said.
Cheng Xinzhan thought it made sense.
He didn’t mind it himself, but others might find it strange.
"The Guangcheng Chixu Suixin Mantra I taught you earlier contains transformation spells, but they are quite advanced and not easy to learn. For now, I’ll teach you a simple illusion technique as a temporary solution," she said, then tapped the bamboo figure’s head, using the Tihu Guanding technique to impart the knowledge directly into his mind.
Cheng Xinzhan quickly understood that the illusion technique was based on the principles of the Five Elements.
By using the energy of the Five Elements, one could create an image in their mind and project it outward.
However, this was merely a disguise—it couldn’t change size or shape.
For example, he could use the Five Elements energy to outline a small temple and cover himself with it, but he couldn’t transform into an ant to squeeze through tight spaces or into an eagle to soar through the sky.
True transformation techniques were far more profound.
Still, the illusion technique shouldn’t be underestimated.
With sufficient spiritual power and precise control, one could even create a small world, complete with weather, scents, and sounds.
That would be the pinnacle of illusion arrays.
For now, though, Cheng Xinzhan was only creating a simple human form.
As he focused, the Five Elements energy dispersed and transformed, wrapping around the bamboo staff and forming a human figure that looked exactly like him.
"For now, I can only create the shape. As for body temperature, voice, and scent, I’ll need more time to figure those out," Cheng Xinzhan said, bowing slightly.
His movements were indistinguishable from a real person.
Wen Sukong suppressed her surprise and nodded calmly.
"Good. Being able to create a form is already a decent start."
Cheng Xinzhan smiled and asked, "Master, can I absorb spiritual energy as usual? Is the spiritual power stored in the talismans within the bamboo joints? Also, I’ve been meditating on the Pleiades and have gained some understanding of the Sun’s Bing Fire and the Three True Fires. Can I store these in the talismans as well? And what about my inner spirit and flying sword? Can I store them inside this body too?"
He asked many questions, but Wen Sukong only nodded once and said, "This bamboo staff has been passed down from my master’s master, who started by planting bamboo shoots. It took three generations to refine. The talismans inside are made from Daxi Cave Jade, known as the ‘external dantian.’
For cultivators at the third or fourth realm, it might not be ideal, but for someone at your level, you can treat it as your real body." To be precise, in terms of meridians and energy points, this bamboo staff has already opened all three residences and five palaces.
It’s practically at the peak of the first realm.
The only thing missing is the activation of the Yin-Yang Hall in the eyes, which might give it sentience.
"Cheng Xinzhan nodded, finally understanding."
After you cultivate thunder techniques, you can store thunder energy in the bamboo’s thunder residence.
When you use thunder energy to refine the true evil in your body, you’ll first relieve the thunder residence, expel the true evil, and then open the thunder residence to form your inner spirit.
Once your inner spirit is formed, it will help you refine the rest of the true evil.
Meanwhile, you can continue cultivating with the bamboo body, comprehending the true meaning of the Dao.
This way, you won’t waste any time.
Once all the true evil is removed, you can return to your original body.
"Cheng Xinzhan agreed. It was a well-thought-out plan."
Stay on Meiji Mountain for now and get used to the bamboo body and the illusion technique.
At least make sure your fellow disciples can’t tell the difference before you leave the mountain.
You’ve been through a lot, so don’t make your friends worry about you.
"He smiled and agreed. That was exactly what he had in mind."
Now that you’re a true disciple, you should move from Wanhu Mountain to Meiji Mountain and establish your own cultivation site.
Meiji Mountain is vast and sparsely populated, with many spiritual nodes.
You can go find a suitable spot for your site.
"Once you’re familiar with the bamboo body, you can leave the mountain and attend the thunder technique lectures at the Jiutian Yingyuan Hall. When you’re ready, come find me, and I’ll write you a letter to take to Hall Master Zhao. He’ll arrange a mentor for you. You’re clever and polite, so I won’t say much more."
Also, when you’re setting up your site, if you need anything, go to the General Affairs Hall.
They’re obligated to assist true disciples in establishing their sites.
They have everything from seeds for spiritual plants to formation flags.
Just pick what you need.
"Cheng Xinzhan nodded and then remembered something."
Master, what about the flying sword I took from the Emei disciple? The one that protects the Purple Palace?
"Wen Sukong asked him to explain how he obtained such a high-grade flying sword and how he ended up in the evil energy cave. Cheng Xinzhan recounted the entire story. After listening, Wen Sukong frowned."
No matter how you look at it, the Emei disciple killed people from Hongmu Ridge and Baiman Mountain.
You were the one who killed the Emei disciple first, so if this were brought up, we’d be at a disadvantage.
"But there’s no need to argue. In recent years, the Eastern Daoist sects and the Shu region sects have been at odds. The conflict has long gone beyond words. You’re not the first to kill, nor will you be the last. They’ve also made the first move many times. It’s all about who’s stronger."
This flying sword suits you, and since it’s already stained with blood, there’s no returning it.
They won’t come asking for it—it’s too embarrassing.
Just be careful when you’re out in the world.
If you’re robbed or killed, it’ll be hard to explain.
"Cheng Xinzhan nodded. That was only natural."
Oh, by the way, this is a drop of heart blood that Red-Haired Ancestor sent as compensation.
I’ve examined it carefully, and there’s nothing hidden inside—just immense vitality.
"Red-Haired Ancestor was right. When you forcefully opened your heart residence in a hurry, you saved your life but drained your vitality. Once you’ve refined the true evil in your body, you can consume this blood and refine it into your heart. It’s the heart blood of a long-cultivated Dao Embryo realm expert, so it should heal your hidden injuries."
Also, I noticed a trace of dragon aura in this blood.
It seems the rumors that Red-Haired Ancestor’s true form is a brocade dragon might be true.
Since he willingly gave you this blood, it means he’s trying to show goodwill.
Keep that in mind.
"One more thing. When the Ancestor explained the Five Thunders, he didn’t mention one detail: among the Five Thunders, only the Dragon Thunder requires the aura of a dragon to cultivate. You originally had no hope of cultivating it unless you found dragon energy. But now, with this drop of blood, you can try it sooner. Keep that in mind when you cultivate thunder techniques."
Wen Sukong handed him a white jade bottle, slightly transparent, with a faint red glow inside.
Cheng Xinzhan took the bottle.
"Alright, I’ve said all I needed to say. You can leave now and go find your cave."
Wen Sukong was always like this—once she finished speaking and teaching, she would dismiss her disciples.
Cheng Xinzhan bowed and left, taking his original body with him.
After he left, Wen Sukong noticed that the robe she had used to cover his body was left behind.
She flicked her finger, and a spark of flame landed on it, burning it to ashes.
Cheng Xinzhan left the "Zhan Biyun Bamboo Repository" stele and wandered around, looking for a suitable place to settle.
Previously, when he came to Meiji Mountain, it was only to study.
He would always land directly at "Liangjun Crossing" and then go to the bamboo stele to learn.
He had never truly explored Meiji Mountain.
Now, as he wandered, he noticed several pavilions and huts scattered around, not just near the bamboo stele.
They were likely the cultivation sites of previous elders.
Cheng Xinzhan naturally avoided them, not wanting to intrude.
Meiji Mountain was covered in green bamboo, with many varieties like long branches, tall heads, hairy bamboo, tear bamboo, Xiangfei bamboo, phoenix tail bamboo, tortoiseshell bamboo, and dragon scale bamboo.
Eventually, he settled on a sunny slope covered in tear bamboo.
The tear bamboo was lush and vibrant, a deep green that seemed to drip with life.
The spiritual energy in this bamboo forest was dense, and the edge of the slope was a cliff, making it convenient for landing clouds in the future.
Moreover, the name "tear bamboo" seemed fitting, as he was about to cultivate water thunder techniques.
It felt like a good omen.
Tear bamboo loved water, so there should be a water vein nearby.
As he ventured deeper, he found a small pool with dark green water, so deep he couldn’t see the bottom.
Since it was high on the mountain, there were no fish, but he could raise some later.
To his surprise, there was a stone cave not far from the pool.
The entrance was small, only wide enough for two people to enter side by side.
At first, he thought it might be the cave of some elder, but upon closer inspection, he found it empty—a natural cave.
Inside, the cave was wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, shaped like a funnel.
The bottom was about three to four zhang wide, while the ceiling was at least five to six zhang high, separated from the outside cliff by only a thin layer of stone.
The cave was spacious and clean, with nothing but dust and small rocks.
The only downside was that it was quite dark, with no natural light.
After confirming that no one had claimed the cave, he summoned Taodu from his body’s acupoints and carved three large holes in the side of the ceiling, letting in sunlight.
This made the cave much brighter.
He gathered the fallen rocks and shaped them into a stone bed.
Then, using a few small spells to repel dust, circulate air, and gather water, the cave became much more comfortable.
He dressed his original body and placed it on the stone bed, covering it with the illusion technique he had just learned.
Now, this was his cave.
In the future, he could plant some spiritual herbs and trees nearby, raise some fish and birds, and set up formations to gather spiritual energy, warn of intruders, and provide protection.
Then, it would truly be a proper cultivation site.
As he planned and dreamed, he walked to the cave entrance.
After a moment of thought, he used Taodu to carve three characters into the stone wall:
Carefree Cave.
Then he looked down at his bamboo body, glanced back at his motionless original body, and gazed out at the endless sea of bamboo.
Suddenly, he began to sing:
"Bamboo soul, bamboo spirit, bamboo essence, Falling by the waters of Xiao and Xiang. Thousands of stalks compete in verdant green, Drinking dew, swaying in the wind for a thousand springs."
Notes:
1. The poem at the end of the chapter is by Bai Yuchan, a Southern Inner Alchemy Daoist master, and is also the source of Cheng Yunqi’s name.
2. At the beginning of the month, I’m asking for your votes so more people can see this book.
Thank you all.
(End of Chapter)