Chapter 105: Immortal’s Abode Restrictions, Great Sun True Fire

Before his eyes was still the magnificent Immortal’s Abode, with golden halls and jade pillars, jade palaces and gemstone steps. It was solemn and majestic, and even more so, radiantly splendid, making one’s heart stir and spirit wander. Beyond the cave abode, he could faintly see jadelike flowers and fabulous plants, jade forests and immortal trees. This Immortal’s Abode was extremely vast. It had not only clear streams and flying waterfalls, but also mountain ranges and strange rocks. Further on, there was a green, jade-like mountain peak, sparkling and transparent, with golden mist swirling around it. A spring, whose source was unknown, cascaded down this mountain like a winding jade dragon, grand and majestic. Elsewhere, the sound of murmuring water was clear and elegant, serene and quiet. In the clear spring, kudzu vines and green threads swayed with the water’s movement. Fish darted about, turtles lay hidden, and giant turtles lay dormant. On both sides, there were lush, green pines and cypresses forming cool shades, their branches and leaves thick and luxuriant. Mu Yuan was astonished by the sight!

“Where did those three go? Could it be that this Immortal’s Abode has other spaces? It’s truly marvelous!” Having just broken through the grand formation, Mu Yuan felt somewhat relaxed. Seeing such a beautiful scene, he had just taken a step when he suddenly heard the clanking of mechanical devices. Those serene and secluded beautiful scenes instantly vanished. Instead, several huge golden-iron figures reappeared around him. Their bodies shone with golden light, and they stood ten feet tall. Their faces were no different from ordinary people’s, staring at Mu Yuan. Their hollow eyes were inlaid with emerald-green luminous pearls, which gave Mu Yuan a bit of a scare!

“I really can’t enter carelessly. There are mechanisms everywhere. If it were someone else, unable to break the restrictions, they would die without even seeing the crystal pillars outside!” Mu Yuan’s thoughts wandered, and his feet shifted slightly. Those puppet iron men had already pounced on him. Their speed was as fast as wind and lightning. Mu Yuan was startled. The Six Harmonies Sword Pills transformed into six bright rainbows and clashed with the incoming puppet iron arms, sparking a trail of fire sparks. However, they could not cut through. Mu Yuan was shaken so much that he staggered continuously, deeply surprised by the strength of these puppets!

Fortunately, besides their great strength, these puppet iron men had no other Divine Abilities. Mu Yuan activated the Sword Pills, turning them into a dense thicket of vines, which immediately bound these iron men tightly!

After restraining the iron puppet men, he felt strong and weak forces alternately passing through the Sword Pills, making his hands tingle and go numb. Knowing these iron men were powerful, he did not dare to put them into his Gourd. He immediately drew the Longevity Sword. Purple rainbows swirled around it, and its light shone brilliantly. He chopped all these puppets into pieces!

The severed iron pieces of the puppets still jumped on the ground. These puppets were made from Taiyi Geng Metal, forged in a crucible with raging flames, and cooled and shaped with North Dark Cold Water, making them extremely sturdy. However, they could not withstand the might of the Longevity Sword. Not wanting to waste materials, Mu Yuan tossed all the pieces into his Gourd!

After slaying the iron men, before Mu Yuan could take a step, the surrounding space shifted again. The killing aura vanished, and a faint, delicate fragrance filled the air, smooth and warm. All he could see were sheer curtains and light veils, layer upon layer. Fragrant candles emitted light. Within the veils, countless young maidens faintly appeared, their bodies covered by light veils. They sang softly and danced gracefully, their voices smooth, their skin whiter than frost and snow!

He saw these maidens moving seductively. As they danced gracefully, their veils slipped off, revealing their enchanting figures. Their delicate legs stretched out gently, their slender waists swayed lightly, displaying their exquisite bodies fully. Moreover, they uttered soft, murmuring words and made all sorts of wanton gestures toward Mu Yuan!

Mu Yuan knew clearly that this was likely an illusion and demonic apparition. But as these women crowded around him, their skin touched his. Not only did a strange fragrance penetrate his mind, but a hot energy also spread from the soles of his feet upward. In an instant, it coursed through his entire body. His blood vessels felt like they were swelling, and his whole body seemed indescribably uncomfortable. In his Dantian and lower abdomen, it felt as if a great force was pent up with no way to release it. Every part of him itched unbearably, with no way to scratch it. Furthermore, enveloped by those women’s soft, boneless jade-like arms, his mind grew confused. Uncontrollably, he began to sway and fall!

Although his Dao Heart was clear and his foundation deep, Mu Yuan was only about eighteen or nineteen, an age of vigorous vitality where innate nature is hard to extinguish. Where had he ever encountered such a situation before? Moreover, that strange, faint fragrance in the air relentlessly drilled into his nostrils, making him somewhat dazed and unable to think clearly. Just as he was about to sink into it, from somewhere came the low, resonant sound of Buddhist chanting. The Brilliant Salvation Curse, dormant in Mu Yuan’s Dantian, suddenly shone brightly, responding in harmony. In an instant, the purity of the Northern Dark Water Curse, the domineering force of the Purple Lightning Dragon Curse, the enduring nature of the Longevity Curse, and the heavy, solid essence conveyed by the great curse formed from the Refining Furnace True Qi all erupted together. His aura swept out, and all those alluring women crowding around him were wiped into nothingness!

“That was close, so close!” Mu Yuan snapped awake and couldn’t help wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. Seeing those sheer veils and curtains in the distance, a wave of shame and anger surged within him. With a flick of his hand, he unleashed the immensely powerful Purple Heaven Immortal-Slaying Thunder. The thunder and fire raged, blasting those veils and women into fine dust!

Once the surrounding illusion was dispelled, Mu Yuan freed himself and saw a withered, thin old monk sitting on the ground. He held a string of prayer beads, and behind him, a red sun manifested. Drenched in sweat, the monk continuously recited scriptures. Mu Yuan found it strange. There was nothing around, so what was this monk resisting?

“Mani is the banner, constantly emitting light, ever producing wonderful sounds, with nets of various treasures, wonderful incense, flower garlands…” The old monk rapidly uttered a series of incantations and scriptures. The fiery light swirling around his body suddenly flared, as if breaking free from something, and he slowly opened his eyes.

“Isn’t this the Great Sun True Fire of the Great Sun Divine Sect?” Mu Yuan was surprised inwardly, but he guessed that it was this old monk’s scriptural chanting that had awakened him. Otherwise, the consequences would have been hard to predict. Feeling grateful, and seeing the monk’s compassionate appearance and his wise eyes shining with light, which made people instinctively feel respect, he stepped forward and expressed his thanks. “Thank you, venerable master, for your wonderful words and Buddhist texts, saving this young one from sinking into the illusion!”

The old monk seemed very surprised to see Mu Yuan, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. Hearing Mu Yuan’s thanks, he said gravely, “Young friend, you must have also fallen into an illusion just now. This old monk has also just emerged from his own obstructive phenomena, overcoming countless difficulties and dangers. But observing your cultivation, young friend, how did you pass through the grand formation outside the abode completely unscathed?”

Mu Yuan smiled. “Master, are you a senior from the Great Sun Divine Sect? There were several fellow Daoists who entered this Immortal’s Abode with me. Relying entirely on their immortal arts and wonderful techniques, we were able to enter safely. Among them was a fellow disciple of yours, master. Strangely, after entering the cave abode, they all disappeared!”

The old monk nodded. “This Immortal’s Abode is very powerful. No matter how many people enter, they are all separated to different places the moment they break through the formation and enter. This old monk and a fellow Daoist passed through the Desert Divine Sand grand formation outside and also got separated. While breaking through the formation, both of us were injured by the Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, damaging our Primordial Qi. Although we forced our way through, as soon as I entered the palace, I was attacked by two Dragon Mermaids. I managed to kill them, but the impact severed my channels. I lost most of my Magical Power, and then fell into an illusion, troubled by Heavenly Demons and Inner Demons disturbing my heart. I exhausted all my effort before finally breaking free. But within this Immortal’s Abode, every step is difficult, full of dangers and numerous obstacles. What comes next is still unknown. I suppose I have no affinity with this Immortal’s Abode, unlike you, young friend, with your deep foundation and blessed fortune, allowing you to come this far without harm.”

Hearing the old monk’s explanation, Mu Yuan realized how lucky he truly was. Looking at the old monk, although his aura was obscure and his complexion ashen, his demeanor was strict, and his methods formless. He was considerably higher in cultivation than Mu Yuan, yet ended up in such a state. Meanwhile, Mu Yuan had reached this place completely unscathed. In his heart, he thought, the Dao Ancestor must have protected him, and heaven took pity on him!

As the two were speaking, the surrounding scenery slowly changed, transforming back into the serene and marvelous beautiful scene Mu Yuan had seen when he first entered the cave abode. Beside them appeared nine huge jade pillars. Colored mists steamed, brilliant light flashed, resplendent like brocade clouds, illuminating the entire hall. The two felt a surge of joy, but before they could step forward, they saw a coiled fire dragon appear on each of the nine jade pillars. Their scales were distinct, their dual horns shimmered with illusory colors. An intense fire energy drifted about, seeming strong enough to burn mountains and boil seas. They all spat flames toward the two simultaneously. Mu Yuan was greatly alarmed. He hadn’t expected such a sudden change. He had thought that with the appearance of the jade pillars, all was safe. But in an instant, the situation changed. He hurriedly retracted his Longevity True Qi, transforming it into Tide True Qi. A misty water vapor spread out, and upon contact with the flames, it immediately sizzled and produced an illusory vapor. His whole body felt scorched. The Minghe Immortal Sword materialized at his thought, forming a band of starlight, and he retreated far away!

When he looked back at the old monk, who was already at his limit, like a spent arrow—although he cultivated the Great Sun True Fire energy, he couldn’t withstand such might. He had already turned into a human torch. Even so, no screams were heard. Mu Yuan felt only terror and trepidation. Having already retreated outside the range of the fire dragons, he quickly extended the river of stars formed by the Minghe Immortal Sword, encircled the old monk, and pulled him out!

With the two gone, the fire dragons on the nine jade pillars rested. They coiled and moved for a while before vanishing along with the jade pillars. Mu Yuan hastily stirred his Tide Water energy to extinguish the True Fire on the monk’s body. However, he saw that the monk had already been burned to a skeleton. His posture remained unchanged, but from his body fell a thin booklet and a fiery red pearl!

Mu Yuan reached out and touched them. The old monk’s remaining skeleton also turned into a pile of ashes, scattering with the wind. Even though he had profound Magical Power in life, without his Magical Power and with his channels completely destroyed, how could he withstand the scorching of the fire dragons?

Feeling somewhat sorrowful, Mu Yuan picked up the booklet from the ground. It was smooth and cool to the touch, made of some unknown material. It remained undamaged even under the Raging Flames of the fire dragons. On the cover were five ancient seal script characters in vermilion, strikingly clear: “Great Sun True Fire Art”!

Mu Yuan couldn’t help but feel a bitter smile in his heart. He never thought that while heading south for the True Fire Art, originally intending to seek the Southern Bright Leaving Fire Art or the Nirvana Art, he would end up obtaining the Great Sun True Fire Art! And he had entered the Immortal’s Abode, yet hadn’t obtained even a tiny bit of the abode itself. Instead, he got the art from someone else who had entered the abode! The tricks of fate were truly like this!

Slightly flipping through it, Mu Yuan felt a surge of joy. This Great Sun True Fire Art actually contained the complete set of heart techniques, from Qi Refinement and Channel Passage all the way to achieving the Great Sun Golden Crow Primordial Spirit. There were even supplementary explanations and annotations up to the ninth layer of Qi Refinement. He guessed these were the insights from the old monk’s cultivation. Seeing this, Mu Yuan could confirm that the old monk had already achieved complete Qi Refinement, but had not yet broken through to the Primordial Spirit stage. He felt even more emotional!