94: Miaoyin Temple

He vaguely felt that Liu Wanjun was quite extraordinary, and perhaps they would have a chance to meet again in the future.

Watching Xu Sanyan's departing figure, Liu Wanjun let out a long sigh, touching the wound on her back, which had stopped bleeding.

She then took out the heart from her bosom; she always felt an inexplicable connection to it.

After a brief thought, she reached up and unbuttoned her collar, revealing her round, firm breasts, and looked down at her chest—there was no scar there either.

She didn't know if this was her own heart; ever since she woke up, she hadn't felt her heart beating, nor did she need to breathe or eat.

It was as if she existed on the boundary between life and death, like living, yet also like dying…

……

Xu Sanyan took out his token to confirm the direction, then resumed his journey, taking out the book Liu Wanjun had given him from his pocket to read.

The book, made of an unknown material—not paper, but rather like some animal hide—opened to reveal a line of large characters.

“Borrowing Life to Return Soul, a Heaven-Defying Act.”

He continued to flip through it,

“This method harms the natural order, and none have succeeded. Those who come after should proceed with caution.”

No successful practitioners meant no one knew what would happen!

Following this were dense pages filled with the numerous taboos of this method, along with many Formation combinations, which left Xu Sanyan utterly bewildered.

The Dao of Formation was profound and extensive, far from something that could be learned in a short time.

Xu Sanyan had no interest in this Dao and no intention of learning it. He instead took out the three items he had found in the secret chamber.

A long sword, a token, and a book.

First, he opened the book.

“I was originally an Elder of Shangyin Mountain. At thirteen, I embarked on the Dao. At nineteen, I reached the Inner Qi Realm; at twenty-seven, the Heavenly Human Realm; and only at sixty-eight did I finally enter Foundation Establishment.”

“After Foundation Establishment, I truly understood the vastness of Heaven and Earth, and my heart for seeking the Dao grew even more resolute. At one hundred thirty-seven, I entered the Mystic Path Realm.”

“Mystic Path means seeking the Dao. One must choose the Dao one cultivates and strive forward, never changing it, otherwise cultivation will not advance an inch. The Dao I cultivated was the Dao of Formation. After more than five hundred years of arduous exploration, I finally reached the Soul Refining Realm at exactly six hundred fifty years old.”

Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow, “That old man only reached Soul Refining at over six hundred years old?”

“My fellow disciples praised my extraordinary talent, even saying I had a chance to glimpse the Void Amalgamation Realm. I was full of ambition and confident that the Void Amalgamation Realm would be easily achieved. However, when my Lifespan was nearing its end, I had yet to touch the door of Void Amalgamation.”

“Difficult, difficult, difficult! I am unwilling! A thousand years of cultivation, yet unable to escape a handful of yellow earth—I am unwilling!”

Through the handwriting, one could feel the old man’s immense resentment, a sense of helpless disappointment born of hatred.

It was like a group of beautiful girls, stripped naked and lined up, enticing him with their alluring poses. Though his heart was already burning with desire, he could only helplessly feast his eyes.

“Tsk, tsk…”

He continued to read,

“Thus, I left behind this book. If I return through Reincarnation and my Divine Soul is lost, I can use this to find my memories and continue my immortal destiny. This token is an entrance token for Shangyin Mountain; holding this token grants entry to Shangyin Mountain’s gates.”

“This sword is a Spiritual Artifact that I Dual Cultivated with my life. By cultivating the Sect’s Cultivation Technique, it can be absorbed into the Qi Sea for nourishment…”

Xu Sanyan understood. No wonder he couldn't use the azure-crimson twin swords before; it turned out they required a corresponding Cultivation Technique and needed to be nourished.

Closing the book, Xu Sanyan pondered, “Shangyin Mountain…”

This Sect should be stronger than Guangyuan Sect, where he was headed. Lan Yue had previously said that Guangyuan Sect’s Sect Master was only at the Soul Refining Realm, yet this Imperial Advisor, merely an Elder of Shangyin Mountain, was already at the Soul Refining Realm.

Comparing the two, it was clear which was stronger and which was weaker.

Xu Sanyan took out the token and infused it with his magical power, but there was no reaction.

“Huh… is this not right?” Xu Sanyan curiously flipped the token over. How was it different from the Guangyuan Sect’s token?

This token seemed to be just a token, with no other functions.

Xu Sanyan put it away in disappointment. It seemed he still had to go to Guangyuan Sect first.

…………

Time flew by; in the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed.

Xu Sanyan led his horse with one hand while checking his token. He was already past the halfway point of his journey. At his current pace, he would arrive in about three more months.

The closer he got to Central Continent, the more active he felt the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to be. Qi Country, where he had been before, was truly a barren land.

It was already dusk. Xu Sanyan looked up and saw a temple not far ahead. It appeared very grand in the twilight, with its golden-yellow pagoda shimmering brightly in the lingering light.

The temple occupied a considerable area, roughly estimated at nearly a hundred mu. A wall of bluestone surrounded it, and a plaque hung high above its two vermilion gates.

“Truly rich!” It was the first time Xu Sanyan had seen a temple of such scale.

He had been traveling for several days without rest. While he could endure it, his horse was showing signs of fatigue. So, Xu Sanyan decided to stay overnight at the temple, rest, and regain his energy before continuing his journey.

As he drew closer, he saw three large characters written on the plaque above:

“Miaoyin Nunnery”

“A nunnery?” Xu Sanyan raised his eyelids. Such a large temple was actually a nunnery?

Creak—

Suddenly, the temple gate opened on its own. Xu Sanyan raised his eyebrows and peered inside. The temple was empty, but the ground was covered with withered branches and fallen leaves, indicating it hadn't been cleaned in a long time.

Just then, a gentle breeze swept through, and the fallen leaves on the ground drifted, revealing a small path extending inward, as if inviting him to enter.

“Hmm?”

Xu Sanyan’s eyes narrowed. He hadn’t felt anything just now.

He saw no one, nor any fluctuation of magical power. It was as if it truly was just a gust of wind pushing the leaves aside.

But he knew this was impossible; there wouldn't be such a coincidental wind.

Xu Sanyan cautiously retreated. This place couldn't be entered; it was too sinister.

“Whoosh…”

The treetops swayed gently with the wind, and the sun completely set in the sky, plunging the land into darkness.

Suddenly, a voice came from behind him,

“Why is this patron here?”

Xu Sanyan abruptly turned around. Not far behind him, an old nun dressed in plain monastic robes was holding prayer beads, looking at him with a benevolent expression.

He hadn't sensed her at all!

Xu Sanyan swallowed, suppressing his wildly beating heart, and calmly said, “I was passing by and was amazed by the temple’s grandeur and majesty. I will leave now.”

The nun placed her palm together before her chest and said, “It’s late now. Why not stay inside for a night? It won’t be too late to travel tomorrow.”

As soon as her voice fell, a voice came from inside the temple, “Abbess, you’re back.”

Xu Sanyan’s pupils contracted. He quickly turned around and saw two young nuns sweeping fallen leaves at the temple gate. Judging by their appearance, they were no older than twenty.

Xu Sanyan was shocked to his core. Was he seeing ghosts?

When did two more people appear behind him?

His Foundation Establishment Completion cultivation seemed fake, as he hadn't even noticed the people behind him!