Chapter 76: Communion with the Divine

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It had not been long since he last increased his strength. Fortunately, his cultivation remained stable, showing no signs of weakness, and there was no possibility of external corruption invading his mind. For most cultivators, it would be impossible to advance again in such a short span of time. Even with fortuitous opportunities, few would dare to recklessly ascend; if their spiritual power were to lose control and run amok, the consequences would be dire. At best, their realm would regress and they would suffer grievous injuries, losing all hope of further advancement for the rest of their lives. At worst, their souls might scatter instantly, leaving no chance for reincarnation.

He, however, had no such worries. He checked his system: after reaching the third stage of the Dao Foundation, he tapped to upgrade.

Immediately, a surge of mysterious energy thundered through his body, illuminating every acupoint like stars scattered across the heavens, shining with brilliance and revealing all hidden corners within him. The world fell silent; time itself seemed to pause. It was as if centuries had passed, or perhaps merely an instant. The myriad stars formed by his acupoints burst forth with a hundredfold radiance, exposing every secret deep within his soul.

In a realm of primordial chaos, awakened by this dazzling light, a consciousness stirred, sending waves of power rolling forth. At that moment, Yi Fan felt his whole body tremble; a sudden insight flooded his mind. He formed hand seals as the revelation struck, and in that fleeting instant, it seemed as though he had experienced a hundred years of cultivation. All the mysteries of practice flowed through his heart.

“Open.”

He uttered a soft command, his hand seals shifting. He felt a shudder run through his flesh, leaping outward, and as he opened his eyes, the world appeared incomparably clear. Threads of spiritual energy drifted before him; grass, wood, and stone pulsed with life, each suffused with the ineffable rhythm of heaven and earth.

Looking down, he saw himself seated cross-legged on a stone, eyes closed and fingers forming seals. His physical aura was faint. He understood: that was his corporeal self, while this extraordinary vision was his soul leaving the body.

The sensation was marvelous, as if his body had grown light enough to fly. The very thought carried him on the wind, and in the blink of an eye he soared hundreds of meters through the air. Hastily, he suppressed his impulse and returned.

Though there was no immediate danger in the mountains, his body remained unguarded. Should it be destroyed, he would have no recourse but bitter tears. Thus, he refrained from further experimentation, conjured a vision in his mind, and transformed into a stream of light, merging back into his body.

As his soul rejoined his flesh, a torrent of spiritual energy swept through him, purging all impurity and leaving only a pristine form. Half an hour later, the process was complete.

Opening his eyes again, he found that mountains were mountains, water was water—reality was utterly true. Within several miles of the mountain, wisps of ghostly energy drifted about. Though hidden, none escaped his sight.

Indeed, the “Spirit Communion” realm lived up to its name; everything seemed miraculous, as if endowed with divine powers.

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His heart brimmed with joy. He opened the system interface and, as expected, saw his realm had become “Spirit Communion, First Stage.” In this state, one's soul could depart the body and wander for a hundred miles by day, no different from a true adept. One could even enter the Underworld, roaming among the spirits, so long as one returned within the allotted time.

A few years ago, Yan Chixia had reached this very realm, granting him such extraordinary abilities, even allowing his soul to leave his body and enter the Underworld to hunt down the tree demon.

Naturally, with Yan Chixia’s talent and accumulation, he had likely advanced to even higher realms in the intervening years. Nevertheless, Yi Fan believed that one day he would catch up, perhaps even surpass him.

Composing himself, he checked the system and found he still had considerable energy remaining. Though insufficient for another ascension, it was enough to upgrade his secret techniques.

He pondered for a moment, reviewing his skills. They were pitifully few: only “Thunder in the Palm” and “Minor Evil-Banishing Talisman” were truly formidable. The rest were minor arts of little consequence.

This was a sign of his lack of foundation. In the great sects, disciples would have several secret techniques at their disposal. Unfortunately, such arts were reserved for core disciples, inaccessible to outsiders.

Yet he felt no regret. On the path of cultivation, secret arts are valuable, but true strength matters most. Many cultivators focus on mastering a single technique, achieving great success and even earning widespread fame.

He chose to upgrade “Thunder in the Palm” first. This thunder art was both offensive and reliable, and over the years had helped him survive many deadly trials. Even in his recent battle with the tree demon, its power had astonished him.

Within moments, he seemed to hear a thunderclap that shook the heavens, jolting his entire being and unsettling his soul. He opened his eyes and checked the system—“Thunder in the Palm” was now marked as Level Three.

Curious to test its power, he raised his hand and summoned a bolt of thunder that crashed onto a nearby slope. The earth exploded, sending sand and gravel flying. Thunder and fire rolled forth, and when the smoke cleared, a massive crater was revealed.

Yi Fan was amazed. He hadn’t expected the technique to be so powerful. Had he possessed this level of thunder art during his duel with the tree demon, he wouldn’t have needed to fight so desperately; a dozen bolts would have guaranteed its utter destruction.

He examined his spiritual reserves and smiled wryly. Though the power had increased, so had the consumption of energy. If he unleashed a dozen thunder strikes, he’d be completely spent, his spiritual power exhausted.

Checking the system again, he saw his energy was depleted, insufficient to upgrade any other secret arts. He did not force the issue. This advancement in realm and “Thunder in the Palm” was already a tremendous gain. His overall strength had risen by more than a single level, and even if he faced another demon like the tree spirit, he would no longer be at a disadvantage.

…

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Several months passed without incident. Yi Fan enjoyed rare peace, focusing on his cultivation in the mountains. Winter gave way to spring; all things flourished, and even Guobei County seemed to awaken with renewed vitality.

One day, he held a gourd in his hands, carefully carving talismans onto its surface. He had plucked it from a field beside the temple months before, hollowed it out, and had been nourishing it with spiritual energy, preparing to forge his own magical artifact.

Though he had a plan, whether it would succeed remained to be seen.

“Master, Daoist Zhao has arrived.”

Chen Lan approached. Yi Fan set aside the gourd and went to greet his guest. Sure enough, Daoist Zhao was waiting in the courtyard with his apprentice. Yi Fan smiled and said, “It’s been some time, Elder. You look more spirited than ever—surely something good has happened?”

“You and your jokes,” Daoist Zhao replied, half amused and half exasperated. He accepted the tea Chen Lan brought, took a sip, and said, “I’ve come to bid you farewell.”

“Oh?” Yi Fan was surprised. “Are you setting out on a journey?”

“Indeed,” Daoist Zhao replied, setting down his cup with a look of pleasure. “Since battling those demons a few months ago, my realm has loosened somewhat. I’ve been unable to break through in quiet meditation, so I’ve decided to travel, to see the world.”

Over the past months, the two had grown closer since their last ordeal, often visiting each other and discussing the Dao, forming a bond that transcended generations.

Yi Fan spoke sincerely, “Congratulations, Elder.”

At Daoist Zhao’s age, advancement was rare except through extraordinary opportunities. Now that such a chance had arisen, he would not let it slip by. Seclusion would not suffice; he needed new insights.

This was why so many cultivators choose to wander the mortal world in search of deeper understanding.