Chapter 64: Journey to the Wen Clan

Wen Yang had left.

After his conversation with Lin Jiufeng, he returned to the Wen Clan's secluded realm without hesitation.

Lin Jiufeng and Wen Xinyun watched him depart until his figure disappeared into the horizon.

Lin Jiufeng then turned to Wen Xinyun and asked, "Are you truly willing to sacrifice your cultivation for the Wen Clan?"

Wen Xinyun shook her head. "Not for the Wen Clan, but for my mother. I must find her."

"If the Qiulong Root is as miraculous as Wen Yang claims, your recovery will be swift," Lin Jiufeng reassured her.

Wen Xinyun nodded obediently.

—

After Wen Yang's departure, Lin Jiufeng and Wen Xinyun went their separate ways.

Lin Jiufeng returned to the Sutra Pavilion, where a white fox immediately approached him with concern.

"Did you reach an agreement?" the fox asked.

Lin Jiufeng nodded.

"So you're really going to unseal the Wen Clan's realm at the cost of losing your cultivation?" The white fox frowned with worry.

"Wen Xinyun has no other choice if she wants to learn the truth about her mother," Lin Jiufeng replied.

"But sacrificing one's cultivation has severe consequences." The white fox sighed.

Lin Jiufeng clasped his hands behind his back and walked slowly through the Sutra Pavilion. After a moment, he suddenly asked, "In your inherited memories, do you have any information about the Qiulong Root?"

The white fox halted in place, closed her eyes, and searched through her ancestral knowledge.

Lin Jiufeng waited in silence.

After a long pause, the white fox finally opened her eyes and nodded. "Yes, the Qiulong Root is indeed recorded in my bloodline's memory. It is extremely rare."

"The Wen Clan will offer a Qiulong Root to restore Wen Xinyun's cultivation after she sacrifices it," Lin Jiufeng stated.

"If it's a genuine Qiulong Root, then it's worth it," the white fox agreed.

"How can we verify its authenticity?" Lin Jiufeng asked.

"I'll share the relevant knowledge with you. My inherited memories contain several identification methods," the white fox replied, leaping into Lin Jiufeng's arms.

Lin Jiufeng carried the fox back to his study and opened his mind to receive the shared memories.

—

A sudden boom echoed within Lin Jiufeng's consciousness.

Vast knowledge about celestial herbs flooded his mind.

Long before civilization emerged, the legendary Shen Nong had sampled countless herbs, discovering medicines that could heal the wounded. His name was immortalized in history.

Following his records, later generations developed alchemy, creating numerous pills and elixirs that saved countless lives.

These pills required a variety of rare medicinal ingredients.

Herbs were categorized into three grades: Mundane, Spiritual, and Celestial.

Mundane herbs were for ordinary mortals.

Spiritual herbs aided cultivators.

Celestial herbs possessed divine properties.

Qiulong Root was a Celestial-grade herb, capable of healing injuries, restoring cultivation, and even enhancing one's natural talent.

According to legend, Qiulong Root was born when a divine dragon's essence blood fell upon a medicinal plant, imbuing it with immense power. Though unverified, the root's effects were undeniable—it was truly worthy of being called a Celestial treasure.

Identifying a Qiulong Root was straightforward: when placed in water, a true root would manifest the image of a soaring dragon.

The greater the medicinal potency, the more dragons would appear.

It was said that if nine dragon shadows emerged, the root had the power to resurrect the dead.

Lin Jiufeng studied this information meticulously, knowing that Wen Xinyun's future depended on it.

Time passed as he carefully absorbed every detail, ensuring there were no mistakes.

Once he finished, a mysterious message suddenly appeared before his eyes:

[Through your diligent study, your unparalleled comprehension has been activated—you have now mastered the Fundamentals of Alchemy.]

In the next instant, vast amounts of alchemical knowledge surged into Lin Jiufeng's mind.

From an absolute novice, he transformed into a grandmaster alchemist.

The Fundamentals of Alchemy encompassed everything: gathering herbs, refining essences, formulating combinations, fusing ingredients, controlling flames, and finalizing the pill-making process.

Lin Jiufeng had now gained the wisdom of an ancient alchemist who had practiced for centuries.

He looked at his hands in amazement.

"With this knowledge, I can refine most common pills with ease," he murmured before breaking into a smile.

Skills were always useful. Unlike martial techniques, alchemical knowledge was immediately applicable.

—

With Wen Yang gone, Lin Jiufeng's days returned to their usual rhythm.

Drinking tea.

Meditating.

Watching the sunrise and sunset.

Observing the drifting clouds.

Having reached the Ninth Restriction's peak, ordinary books no longer held much value to him. Instead of seeking more knowledge, he chose to focus on experiencing life itself.

He no longer strained himself to trigger his unparalleled comprehension—he simply followed the flow of life.

One day, Lin Jiufeng sat outside the Sutra Pavilion, enjoying the gentle mountain breeze.

Green grass stretched before him.

Distant mountains, shrouded in mist, stood like shy maidens hiding behind veils of white clouds.

Beside him, a teapot gently steamed as he conversed with the white fox, his mind at peace.

As he watched the clouds drift and the flowers bloom, a realization struck him.

Life was no different from flowers and clouds.

Flowers bloomed beautifully, yet their time was fleeting.

One moment, they stood in full splendor; the next, they withered and fell, becoming nourishment for the next generation.

Clouds gathered and dispersed without warning, much like people.

Some traveled together for decades, only to part ways when fate dictated.

As these thoughts churned within him, Lin Jiufeng's consciousness suddenly surged.

A mighty revelation erupted like a volcano within his soul.

A message appeared before his eyes:

[By witnessing the cycle of life, your unparalleled comprehension has been activated—you have now mastered 'One Thought, A Thousand Blossoms.']

Lin Jiufeng's trance ended.

The floating text dissolved into shimmering light, merging into his mind.

And thus, a powerful new Dao technique was born within him.

—

Back in his consciousness, Dao energy swirled endlessly.

It transformed into flowers.

Into clouds.

Into the wind.

Each manifestation radiated unfathomable power.

Even a single drop of this Dao essence could annihilate a Ninth Restriction cultivator.

Yet in Lin Jiufeng's consciousness, there was an entire sea of it—one that continued to expand.

This was the power of One Thought, A Thousand Blossoms.

A Dao so profound, so unfathomable, it could shape reality itself.

His Book of Eternal Time opened to a new page, recording the birth of this celestial technique.

Lin Jiufeng slowly exhaled and opened his eyes.

The white fox, who had been watching him anxiously, let out a sigh of relief.

"You finally woke up! You scared me!" she exclaimed.

"How long was I in deep thought?" Lin Jiufeng asked.

"Three days! You didn't move at all! I had to guard you the entire time!" the white fox complained.

Lin Jiufeng patted her head gently. "Enlightenment comes unexpectedly. It's all about timing."

"What did you learn? Are you about to break through the Tenth Restriction?" she asked eagerly.

Lin Jiufeng chuckled. "I gained a new technique, a fusion of countless Dao insights. A breakthrough is not far off."

"That's amazing! But before you do anything else, you should know that Wen Yang has been waiting to see you for two days," the white fox informed him.

"Already?" Lin Jiufeng raised an eyebrow.

"He's been waiting patiently. He didn't get angry when I turned him away—he's still in the sect now," she explained.

Lin Jiufeng stood up. "Tell him to come, along with Wen Xinyun, Bai Yunfei, and the others."

"Got it!" The white fox leaped away to summon them.

A new journey was about to begin.