329: Go to Jialuo City

The dark gold tower ship glided leisurely through the endless sea of clouds, heading towards the western part of Xuan Continent. Its bow sliced through the rolling cloud waves, leaving a long wake that was quickly smoothed by the strong winds.

Inside the ship, it was as warm as spring, isolated from the outside's clamor and chill.

Xiao Zhuo sat cross-legged on the bow deck, his eyes slightly closed, an indescribably profound aura swirling around him.

The insights gained from his three-day and three-night discussion of the Dao with Ying Mingkong flowed, settled, and fused within his heart like a trickling stream.

The core of the Dao Principle of Freedom became increasingly clear. Although the four pillar Great Daos of time, space, thunder, and Soul had not achieved a Breakthrough in Realm, their connections and applications became more harmonious and refined.

Ying Mingkong's insights, honed through years of arduous Cultivation and countless life-and-death struggles, also greatly benefited him, allowing him to gain understanding.

This largely compensated for his Heart-Nature, which had become slightly “superficial” due to the rapid enhancements from the System panel.

In the process of digesting these insights, his state of mind, like refined gold repeatedly tempered, shed traces of impetuousness, becoming more clear and transparent, subtly ascending a notch further.

Although it could not rapidly increase his Cultivation, the stability of his Foundation and the resilience of his Dao Heart were no longer comparable to when he first entered the Taiyi Realm.

“Young Master,” Wang Xianzhi's respectful voice sounded from behind him, carrying a hint of apprehension and a thirst for knowledge.

He had already changed back into his green pageboy attire, his posture tall and straight, his eyes sharper and more composed than before.

The three-day discussion of the Dao on the peak was nothing short of a rebirth for him.

Many of his Cultivation perplexities were suddenly resolved, and his understanding of his family's inherited Cultivation Technique reached an unprecedented height.

In just a few days, his Golden Core Early Stage Cultivation showed a subtle tendency to advance to the Middle Stage, and his magic power flowed more smoothly and effortlessly.

Xiao Zhuo did not open his eyes, merely stating faintly, “Speak.”

“Disciple observed Young Master and Senior Ying discussing the Dao, when you mentioned, ‘The wrath of thunder originates from the Nine Heavens, yet its creation and destruction also lie within a single thought's breadth.’ Disciple Cultivates the family's Thunder Shock Induction, drawing Nine Heavens thunderous Qi into his body, and often finds it violent and unruly, damaging his Meridians. How should this ‘single thought's breadth’ be grasped?” Wang Xianzhi asked a question that had troubled him for a long time.

Xiao Zhuo's fingertip moved slightly, and a wisp of purplish-gold electric arc, as fine as a hair, leaped into existence, exceptionally nimble and devoid of any violent sensation: “Thunder is not solely destruction. Its swiftness, its uprightness, and its power to nurture life are all its nature. When you draw in thunderous Qi, you only seize its ferocity, which naturally causes backlash. Try to feel the instantaneous trajectory and rhythm when lightning tears through the sky, feel the vibrant life force that erupts between heaven and earth after a thunderstorm. The wrath of thunder is also the rhythm of heaven and earth. Use Divine Thought as a guide, and your own will as a sheath; it is not about forceful suppression, but about guidance and resonance, transforming its ferocity for your own use. Where your Heart-Nature goes, thunder can also be commanded as easily as an arm.”

Wang Xianzhi felt as if enlightened, looking at the docile electric arc on Xiao Zhuo's fingertip, which was like a spiritual snake. His eyes lit up, and he immediately sat cross-legged, faint electric arcs subtly flickering around him, beginning to attempt to adjust the operation of his own magic art and Divine Thought.

Although it was a bit clumsy, the violent thunderous Qi indeed seemed to have become a touch more docile.

“Young Master!” A clear, bell-like voice rang out as Wang Xianyu scampered over, her small face flushed with excitement, her clear, large eyes brighter than the stars.

The yin-sha that had plagued her for fourteen years was completely removed. After several days of gentle nourishment in the Myriad Shadow Sect's retreat and occasional soothing by Xiao Zhuo's Free and Easy True Intent, she was now full of vigor and youthful vitality.

She had changed into a well-fitting light green maid's dress, which made her appear even more delicate and charming.

“I... I feel like there are many little sprites dancing in my body! It's warm and so comfortable!” She excitedly gestured, describing the feeling of Spiritual Qi naturally flowing through her newly tempered body.

Xiao Zhuo opened his eyes and looked at Wang Xianyu, his gaze carrying a hint of understanding and satisfaction.

His Divine Sense silently swept over her body.

“It is indeed the Spirit Communication Dao Body...” Xiao Zhuo's heart stirred slightly.

This was an extremely rare and superior Dao Body, possessing an extraordinary keen perception of the spirituality of all things in heaven and earth.

The whispers of flowers and trees, the emotions of birds and beasts, and even the fluctuations of a Magic Treasure's Artifact Spirit were all crystal clear in her perception.

This Physique was naturally close to the Great Dao of the Soul, making Cultivation of Spirit Refining type Cultivation Techniques twice as effective with half the effort.

In aspects such as beast taming, spirit communication, and even Alchemy and Artifact Refining, she possessed unique advantages, with potential no less than some offensive Divine Physiques.

“Yu'er, your Physique is special; keen perception is a natural talent,” Xiao Zhuo said gently. “Try to calm your mind, don't deliberately think about those ‘little sprites,’ but use your heart to feel this ship, feel the wind flowing outside the ship, feel the moisture contained in the sea of clouds... Tell Young Master, what do you feel?”

Upon hearing this, Wang Xianyu immediately sat down obediently, crossing her legs, and closed her eyes, imitating her brother.

Her long eyelashes trembled slightly. Initially, her expression was a bit scattered, but soon, a serene and focused look appeared on her small face.

“The ship... it's so big, it's breathing... The wind is playful, circling the ship... The clouds... are wet and cool, inside... it seems like little water droplets are sleeping?” She described haltingly, and though naive, she accurately captured the faint spiritual fluctuations of the dark gold tower ship Treasure Artifact, the flow trajectory of the wind, and the water spirit Qi contained in the sea of clouds! This spiritual perception surprised even Wang Xianzhi, who was nearby.

“Very good.” Xiao Zhuo nodded approvingly. “Remember this feeling. Your Physique is special, and ordinary Qi Refining magic arts may not be suitable. These few days, brother will teach you a basic Spirit Nurturing Art, focusing on nourishing the Divine Soul and guiding your spiritual perception to lay a good Foundation. When you find a suitable Great Dao of the Soul Cultivation Technique in the future, it won't be too late to switch.”

Xiao Zhuo intended to first create a Cultivation method specifically for Wang Xianyu.

With his Cultivation and knowledge, creating a Cultivation Technique below the Immortal Realm was as easy as turning his hand.

“Mm! Thank you, Young Master!” Wang Xianyu nodded happily, her eyes full of anticipation.

The subsequent journey passed in such a tranquil and fulfilling atmosphere.

Xiao Zhuo spent most of his time in meditation, sorting out his gains. His Dao rhythm was internalized, and his aura became increasingly unfathomable.

Wang Xianzhi was immersed in adjusting the Thunder Shock Induction and digesting the insights from the discussion of the Dao. Fine electric arcs occasionally flickered around him, and his aura steadily improved.

Wang Xianyu was the most lively. The Spirit Nurturing Art taught by Xiao Zhuo seemed tailor-made for her; her Cultivation was unhindered, and her Soul power grew robustly at a visible rate, like tender shoots after spring rain. Her perception of surrounding spiritual fluctuations also became increasingly clear and agile.

The dark gold tower ship traveled a hundred thousand li daily, passing through towering mountains and vast plains.

Seven days later, when a magnificent city bathed in faint golden Buddha light appeared on the horizon, Xiao Zhuo slowly opened his eyes.

The city was built against a mountain, with towering city walls made not of ordinary bricks and stones, but of a kind of warm, jade-like white stone, upon which countless tiny Sanskrit characters were carved, exuding an auspicious and solemn aura.

At the highest point of the city, several majestic pagodas could be seen piercing the clouds, their spires shimmering with golden light, and faint chanting sounds transcended space, cleansing the Soul.

Jialuo City, the gateway to the Great Brahma Sound Temple, had arrived.

The dark gold tower ship slowly decelerated, hovering at the sky dock outside Jialuo City.

The city's outline below was clearly visible, with a bustling flow of people. Although it was a city at the gateway of a Buddhist Sect, it was not as desolate as one might imagine; instead, it was full of worldly vitality and prosperity.

Peddlers, merchants, Cultivators, and devout pilgrims came and went in an endless stream.

The air was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood, incense, and a mixture of various spiritual materials, Medicinal Pills, and Buddhist artifacts.

“Shortened name, find a quieter inn for us to stay,” Xiao Zhuo instructed, his gaze, however, directed towards the tallest pagodas in the city, a hint of interest appearing in his profound eyes.

His discussion of the Dao with Ying Mingkong had yielded rich rewards. He wondered what insights the Great Brahma Sound Temple, this Buddhist Holy Land, could bring him?

He had learned from Ying Mingkong that the Buddha who presided over the Great Brahma Sound Temple must possess even more extraordinary Buddhist Cultivation and state of mind.

Wang Xianzhi acknowledged the order and controlled the dark gold tower ship to slowly move towards the designated landing area in the city.

Wang Xianyu, meanwhile, leaned over the ship's railing, curiously observing the unique, Buddha-light-infused city below. In her spiritual eyes, countless spiritual light points, strong or weak, peaceful or restless, were reflected, forming a colorful tableau that ordinary people could not see.

And far away, in the heart of the city, deep within the most magnificent and purest Buddha-light-infused Great Brahma Sound Temple, in a simple meditation room, an old monk clad in a plain kasaya with a benevolent face, as if sensing something, slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze seemed to penetrate layers of halls and space, falling upon a dark gold tower ship slowly descending in Jialuo City. A faint, almost imperceptible ripple appeared in his otherwise placid eyes.