studiobondurri Chapter 222: Youthful spirit
Chapter 222: Youthful spirit
Chapter 222: Youthful spirit
Yuan Ming, harboring his doubts, keenly observed Lin Junsheng’s cultivation process. He quickly noticed that the way Lin Junsheng circulated his technique, and the sensations of mana flowing through his meridians, were significantly clearer than what he had experienced when practicing the Explosive Flame Technique in the body of the young emperor.
Lin Junsheng’s cultivation method closely resembled the Nine Elements Decision, a technique Yuan Ming had largely mastered through self-study, without any mentor’s guidance. Directly experiencing it in contrast with his own practice of the Nine Elements Decision, Yuan Ming found this observation surprisingly beneficial.
Nevertheless, Yuan Ming’s purpose in attaching himself to Lin Junsheng wasn’t for these insights. He intended to investigate whether Lin Junsheng had any connection to a recent assassination attempt on himself. But with Lin Junsheng engrossed in his immobile practice, Yuan Ming found himself unable to delve into this matter.
Yuan Ming attempted to influence Lin Junsheng, but despite their seeming proximity, they were as if separated by vast distances. No matter how he exerted his soul power or made other efforts, he couldn’t affect Lin Junsheng in the slightest.
This left Yuan Ming feeling helplessly powerless.
All he could do at present was to share Lin Junsheng’s perspective and sensations.
"This must be the disparity between imitation and authentic Black Incense," Yuan Ming mused after his fruitless attempts, resigned to giving up.
Shortly thereafter, his vision darkened, and he returned to his own consciousness.
Upon opening his eyes, Yuan Ming’s brow furrowed slightly.
This time, despite using the same materials for the incense, except for the addition of incense ash from the Lord’s Manor, the attachment sensation was clearer than before, yet the duration remained similar. It seemed this variance was due to the different incense ashes used.
Unable to use the incense burner for another seven days, and with no immediate way to unravel the truth behind the assassination, altering his upcoming plans became a necessity.
Yuan Ming pulled out a piece of beast skin on which he had personally drawn a map of the Southern Frontier. With no option to return to the Central Plains from the Northern Region, he had to choose a detour through the Eastern or Western Regions.
The Western Region of the Southern Frontier, shrouded in mystery and controlled by a large, religiously tinted cultivation power, was known for its extreme exclusivity and minimal interaction with the other three regions. Cultivators from elsewhere were strictly forbidden entry.
Yuan Ming’s eyes settled on the Eastern Region of the Southern Frontier on his map. It seemed that was his only viable route.
After a brief contemplation, he retrieved a somewhat dirty token from his storage ring. This token, a gift from a Xuanhua Sect master during a purchase in Black Rock City, was a pass to visit the Eastern Region’s Xuanhua Sect if ever he passed through.
At the time, Yuan Ming had listened without much regard, storing the token more as an afterthought than anything of importance. However, following the synergistic effects of Qingxuan Incense and pills during his cultivation, and his deepening understanding of spiritual incenses, Yuan Ming had come to reevaluate the value of spiritual incenses, previously underappreciated in the Northern Region.
Now, with many tasks at hand, a visit to the Eastern Region wasn’t Yuan Ming’s initial intention, but given the circumstances, it seemed an inevitable detour. Fortunately, it presented an opportunity to consult the old Taoist about incense-making techniques.
With this in mind, Yuan Ming planned his route on the beast skin map. He then set off in his white jade shuttle, soaring out of the valley and heading eastward.
***
The vast expanses of the Southern Frontier and the Northern Region made for a long journey. The white jade shuttle, though fast, consumed substantial mana. The Qingyun Crane, less demanding in mana, lacked endurance. Yuan Ming alternated between the two, traveling day and night, taking a full five days to reach the border of the Northern Region.
There, a dignified woman in her forties, adorned with a blue jade hairpin and draped in a white fur coat, sat alone. Her eyebrows, arched like crescents, and her demure, distant demeanor, exuded a serene grace.
Seeing her, Yuan Ming felt a surge of indescribable emotion. She was General Yuan’s wife, his mother. Compared to his memories, fine lines now framed her eyes, and strands of silver mingled in her dark hair.
"Madam, why are you out with your cold still troubling you?" General Yuan inquired.
Yuan Ming tensed. His mother was unwell? Her pallor indeed seemed off.
Colds, trivial or serious, should not be taken lightly. He regretted not being home to tend to her.
As he pondered, General Yuan unexpectedly grasped the lady’s wrist.
"Why are you holding my hand? You’re no physician," the lady queried, puzzled.
"It’s nothing..." General Yuan, momentarily disoriented, released her hand and sat down, slightly confused.
He couldn’t fathom why he had grasped her wrist, driven by a sudden, inexplicable urge.
Was Yuan Ming influencing his father’s actions? He pondered, perplexed by the incident.
"Any news about Ming’er?" the lady asked, ignoring the general’s odd behavior.
"Don’t worry, he’s been found," General Yuan assured her, his stern face softening with a hint of a smile.
"Truly?" She stood, a mix of surprise and joy in her voice.
"Indeed. And Ming’er has turned misfortune into a blessing, joining a sect in the Southern Frontier for cultivation," General Yuan elaborated.
"He’s safe , that’s what matters. Ming’er once aspired to join the Changchun Sect but was rejected for lack of talent. He was too proud to accept it, swearing off the path of immortality. I knew his heart wasn’t at peace. Now, he’s achieved his heart’s desire," the lady said, relieved.
"Ming’er may be a cultivator, but his skills are still nascent. The journey from the Southern Frontier to Great Jin is long. I’ve sent for him; he should be home soon," General Yuan added.
Yuan Ming realized General Yuan was unaware he hadn’t accompanied the sent guards. The vast distance between the Southern Frontier and the Great Jin capital, lacking quick communication like transmission talismans, was likely the cause.
He shook off these thoughts, his mind returning to the issue at hand.
Except for the black incense inherent to the censer, which could directly manipulate others’ actions, Yuan Ming had always been a mere ’observer’ during previous possessions via homemade spiritual incense, never influencing the host’s actions. This was evident when he tried to affect Lin Junsheng seven days ago, to no avail.