Nine Transformations of the True Spirit.

"Since you recognize the luminous pearl, you must come from a wealthy family. Are you perhaps a member of the Marquis of Dangkou's household?"

With the help of the luminous pearl, Chen Mochuan was able to see the faces of the two people clearly and was taken aback.

Although the man and woman were not exceptionally handsome—he had seen far more beautiful women and more handsome young men in the capital—their demeanor was incomparable to these two.

In this dusty, dirty, and dilapidated military camp, the two men, dressed in spotless white robes, exuded an ethereal and otherworldly aura, unlike ordinary people. Upon seeing them, one was immediately filled with admiration and stood frozen in place.

When Chen Mochuan came to his senses, he heard the young man's words and his heart skipped a beat. He immediately denied it, saying, "You have mistaken me for someone else. I am just a soldier in the supply camp and have nothing to do with the Marquis of Dangkou's mansion."

The young man said calmly, "After the Marquis of Pacifying the Bandits was beheaded and his head displayed to the public, the men of the Chen family were exiled to the army, and the women were sent to the brothels."

"Your face is marked with a blue mark, you are a soldier in the supply camp, you recognize the luminous pearl, and you know about cultivation techniques. If you are not a member of the Chen family, who else could you be?"

Chen Mochuan's pupils contracted: "What did you say? I don't understand..."

The young man laughed and said, "If I couldn't be sure you were from the Chen family, why would I be here? Have you ever heard of Chen Erniu?"

Chen Mochuan was taken aback: "Who exactly are you? How do you know the name of the Chen family's ancestor?"

The young man said, "I am Chen Erniu. The 'Crimson Flame Technique' you cultivate was personally written by me and given to Chen Huaide and his son Chen Yanwei back then."

Chen Mochuan was greatly shocked and had no more doubts. He immediately knelt down and kowtowed heavily, stirring up a cloud of dust.

"This unworthy descendant, Chen Mochuan, pays respects to his ancestor!"

Chen Yuan sighed softly and gestured with his hand, saying, "There's no need for that. Stand up and talk."

Chen Mochuan wanted to continue kowtowing, but he was lifted up by an invisible force, and several blood marks appeared on his gray-black forehead.

He lowered his head again, tears streaming down his face, sobbing uncontrollably.

Chen Yuan comforted him, saying, "Don't worry, I'm here today to rescue you. You won't have to stay here and suffer anymore."

Chen Mochuan hissed, "Although the environment in the supply camp is harsh, at least we can still survive."

“I hate that Heaven is so unfair. If our ancestors could have returned home sooner, my father would not have been punished, our clansmen would not have been exiled, and the Chen family would not have fallen into ruin.”

"It is only after the Chen family has fallen that our ancestor was allowed to return home. Is this not the will of Heaven to destroy the Chen family?"

Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow: "So, you are Chen Yunxiao's son?"

Chen Mochuan clasped his hands in a bow and said, "Indeed, I am my father's third son."

Chen Yuan said calmly, "You don't need to regret it. The reason I came here is because you are a descendant of my elder brother, and I couldn't bear to see you suffer such a calamity."

"Even if I had returned to the Chen family five years ago, I would not have interfered with the rise and fall of the Chen family."

"Your father was entrusted with an important task by the court, but he was negligent and careless, suffered a great defeat and fled with heavy losses of soldiers and generals, and lost the pass."

"Therefore, being sentenced to death and beheading is both legal and justifiable, and I will not intervene to save him."

Chen Mochuan gritted his teeth and said, "If Father was not careless but was deliberately framed, which led to his defeat, would our ancestor have come to our rescue?"

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes: "Is that so? Tell me the details."

Before he and Jing Shuhan arrived at Yurong Pass, they had traveled almost all over the Qi Kingdom, secretly helping the descendants of the Chen family who had suffered disasters, poverty, exile, or other misfortunes.

He also overheard from someone in the Marquis of Dangkou's mansion the reason why Chen Yunxiao was punished.

He wouldn't go to save a defeated general, but if there were other hidden reasons for Chen Yunxiao's defeat, then things would be different.

Chen Mochuan gritted his teeth and said, "My father and I are both legitimate sons in the family, and we will inherit the title in the future."

“He followed his grandfather from a young age, growing up in the border military camp, where he studied military strategy.”

"When I was sixteen, my father took up a pseudonym as a squad leader and shared weal and woe with the soldiers."

"At the age of eighteen, my father led a battalion and fought alongside my grandfather in battles across the land. Over the course of more than thirty years, he made countless contributions."

"Although he lacked the qualities of a famous general, he was familiar with military affairs, and was good at accepting advice, with many advisors to assist him."

"How could I be so careless as to drink heavily on my second brother's wedding night, and even lift the alcohol ban to reward the three armies?"

Chen Mochuan's face was filled with hatred as he said, word by word, "The reason Father got drunk was because he was assassinated!"

"That night, his mind changed drastically. He became willful and ignored the advice of his staff. He even took the initiative to remove the soldiers on night watch and gave them wine and meat, which was definitely not the behavior of a general."

"The next day, the army suffered heavy casualties and fled Yurong Pass. Only then did my father come to his senses, claiming that he had been bewitched. He wrote a memorial and presented it to the emperor."

Chen Mochuan sighed deeply: "But the Emperor was still furious and punished my father, even implicating the entire Chen family."

"My father submitted memorials to defend himself several times and asked the civil and military officials he was on good terms with to plead for him, but he could not change the emperor's mind. In the end, he could only die in despair."

"Later I learned from a friend of my father that it was Duan Gui, the Marquis of Pingnan, my father’s nemesis in the army, who had asked a monk to help him."

"I don't know what kind of magic was used to bewitch my father's mind, which made him destroy the city's defenses and lead to a great defeat."

"As for my father's memorial, it was bribed by Duan Gui with a large sum of money to the Grand Eunuch Yu Fuguo, and the Emperor never saw it."

Chen Yuan frowned: "So, this calamity for the Chen family is truly a man-made disaster?"

Chen Mochuan nodded emphatically: "Exactly! Duan Gui is a narrow-minded person. When attacking the Si Kingdom, he attacked Yushan Pass with his father."

"When his father entered the pass first, Duan Gui thought that his father had stolen his credit and made sarcastic remarks at the victory banquet."

"My father was upright and ruthless, and he refuted Duan Gui, causing him to lose face."

"From then on, Duan Gui deeply hated his father and fought with him openly and secretly many times."

"In the end, they went so far as to hire cultivators to cast spells on my father, causing his death and bringing ruin to the entire Chen family. They are truly despicable!"

Jing Shuhan frowned slightly: "Since your father has an old friend, why don't you ask him for a favor?"

Chen Mochuan hesitated for a moment: "This...this..."

Jing Shuhan said, "Since you possess spiritual roots and know the methods of cultivation, you can simply call me senior."

Chen Mochuan quickly bowed: "Senior, you may not know this, but Duan Gui is vengeful and, after killing my father, he was still not satisfied and wanted to implicate the entire Chen family."

"He spared no expense to have Yu Fuguo slander the Chen family before the Emperor, which resulted in the Chen family being exiled."

"Duan Gui was very dissatisfied and kept a close eye on the Chen family, even trying to use underhanded means to harm them."

“Thanks to an old friend of my father’s, I was able to enter this supply camp, and the other members of the tribe were also able to save their lives.”

Chen Yuan said calmly, "If the emperor truly valued the Chen family's contributions, he wouldn't have killed Chen Yunxiao."

"He favors treacherous eunuchs and is bound to be a foolish ruler. The Chen family's current calamity is thanks to Duan Gui, Yu Fuguo, and the emperor."

Chen Mochuan's eyes dimmed: "Our ancestor had keen insight. The emperor was wise and powerful in his youth, but after the age of fifty, he began to indulge in pleasure."

"But both thunder and rain are acts of imperial favor. Even if the emperor is unjust, what can be done?"

Chen Yuan frowned: "Since you know that cultivators exist in the world and you have cultivated the Crimson Flame Technique, why are you still afraid of the emperor in the mortal world?"

Chen Mochuan said, "Our ancestor has long since become an immortal and attained enlightenment, so naturally he doesn't take mortal emperors seriously."

"The Qi royal family has never fallen in its tens of thousands of years of history. My grandfather once met a cultivator at a prince's residence and had some dealings with him."

"He later told his father that the Qi royal family was secretly supported by a major sect called Lingyun Sect."

"The Lingyun Sect is extremely large. Although the Qi Kingdom is nominally under the Emperor's rule, it is actually owned by the Lingyun Sect."

"His sect has countless cultivators, and is even renowned throughout the entire Donghua Continent."

"Although I can cultivate the Crimson Flame Technique, after several years, I still haven't been able to get the basics down."

"I only hope that before Duan Gui and Yu Fuguo die, I can cultivate to the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refining and surpass the Innate Martial Artist."

"I will then sneak into the capital, personally kill Duan Gui and Yu Fuguo, and slaughter the entire Duan family to avenge this great grudge. Then I will have no regrets."

At this point, he suddenly knelt down and kowtowed heavily to Chen Yuan: "The descendants are unworthy and have ruined the foundation of our ancestors."

"However, the Chen family suffered this great calamity not because they brought it upon themselves, but because of human error."

"I want to kill the thief and avenge my family, but after years of arduous cultivation, I still cannot enter the Dao."

"We implore our ancestors to intervene and kill Duan Gui and Yu Fuguo to avenge the Chen family!"

Chen Yuan said, "Although these two are hateful, the one who ultimately issued the edict to punish the Chen family was the Emperor of Qi. Don't you hate him?"

Chen Mochuan raised his head, his forehead covered in bruises and bloodstains: "I dare not deceive my ancestors. The Emperor did not remember the loyalty of the Chen family for generations, who fought for the country without fear of death and made countless contributions. He turned his back on us without mercy after just one defeat. I also deeply hate him."

"However, the Qi royal family has the support of a powerful and deeply rooted immortal sect."

"How could I, for my own selfish reasons, allow my ancestors to offend the Lingyun Sect and be put in danger?"

"I only ask that my ancestors kill these two men to avenge my father, so that when I meet my father again in the afterlife, I will not be filled with shame."

Chen Yuan smiled and said, "It is quite rare that you have such a thoughtful intention."

"But since you can cultivate the Crimson Flame Technique, why don't you use the Marquis's mansion to seek out other cultivators?"

"If we take a master and cultivate ourselves, we can enter the Dao sooner and the Chen family will not suffer this calamity."

Chen Mochuan said, "When my father was convicted, I was only twelve years old, and my ancestors said that I could only start practicing immortal techniques after the age of thirteen."

"Therefore, when I was in the Marquis's mansion, I never saw any immortal techniques; I only practiced martial arts and accumulated true energy."

"It was only after the Emperor issued an edict that the Chen family was on the verge of collapse, and that my uncle secretly passed on the five volumes of immortal techniques to me."

“I remembered it well, destroyed the original, and then was exiled to the army, and all my martial arts skills were also destroyed.”

“Duan Gui repeatedly tried to harm me, and I suffered endless torment, living with resentment. It was only through the care of my father’s old friend that I was able to enter the supply camp and save my life.”

"After I turned thirteen, I sought an opportunity to cultivate the Crimson Flame Technique, and unexpectedly, I developed a trace of magical power."

"After that, I endured the insults during the day and never got angry, no matter how much the other soldiers humiliated me."

"He would seek opportunities to practice his martial arts late at night, and it has been four years and five months since then."

"However, as my ancestors said, I am physically weak and my natural talent is probably mediocre. When spiritual energy enters my body, it first nourishes my physical body and then returns to my dantian."

"The progress of the technique is extremely slow. Several years have passed, and I have not even entered the door."

Chen Yuan nodded slightly: "All cultivators possess spiritual roots, which are divided into five elements. The fewer spiritual roots one possesses, the higher one's talent, and the easier it is for one to cultivate."

“You possess the four spiritual roots of metal, wood, earth, and fire, also known as ‘pseudo-spiritual roots,’ indicating extremely poor natural talent.”

"Without the help of spiritual veins, blessed lands, elixirs, and spirit stones, there is no hope for my path to immortality in this life."

Chen Mochuan looked dejected and gave a bitter smile: "As expected, I guessed it too, that I am not talented."

"But the great revenge has not been avenged. I am humiliated every day and I am only sustained by this bloodlust. I dare not think too deeply."

"Now that my ancestors have pointed this out to me, I dare not harbor any more delusions."

Chen Yuan said calmly, "Although your talent is not good, there are quite a few people who have achieved success in cultivation despite possessing a pseudo-spiritual root." "You have also been able to persist in cultivation in this supply camp. Although you harbor hatred, your Dao heart is quite firm. I can help you enter the Dao."

Chen Mochuan was overjoyed and kowtowed heavily, his head hitting the yellow earth with a loud thud: "This unworthy descendant kowtows to thank our ancestor for his great kindness!"

He kowtowed nine times in a row, and when he straightened up, his forehead was covered in blood and flesh.

Chen Yuan said, "Don't thank me yet. If you want me to help you cultivate, you can't avenge the Chen family. You have to do it yourself. The choice is entirely up to you."

Chen Mochuan looked troubled: "May I ask, Ancestor, how long will it take me to cultivate to the mid-stage of Qi Refining?"

Chen Yuan shook his head: "I can only help you enter the path of cultivation. As for how far you can cultivate in the future and how many years it will take, that depends on your own destiny."

Chen Mochuan's expression shifted, then he gritted his teeth and said, "I beg my ancestors to help me enter the Dao. Once I have achieved mastery, I will personally kill my enemies and avenge the Chen family!"

Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow: "You just claimed to be enduring humiliation and hiding your life only to avenge your grievances, but now you want me to help you enter the path of cultivation."

"But just because you have the opportunity to cultivate the Tao, do you forget the hatred of killing your father and destroying your family?"

Chen Mochuan said, "I want revenge every moment, but even if my ancestors could kill Duan Gui and Yu Fuguo, it would still be difficult to quell the hatred in my heart."

"These two men are in their prime; Duan Gui is forty-one years old, and Yu Fuguo is thirty-six years old."

"Although I am not naturally gifted, if I receive the help of my ancestors and diligently cultivate after entering the Dao, I should be able to reach the mid-stage of Qi Refining within twenty years."

"As long as I can defeat a Xiantian martial artist, I can kill Duan Gui and Yu Fuguo, exterminate the entire Duan clan, and avenge this grudge."

Chen Yuan nodded slightly: "Since you have this ambition, I will lend you a hand."

He flicked his sleeve, and a burst of light swept up Chen Mochuan, sending him soaring into the sky.

Chen Mochuan was startled as his body was lifted into the air, but he forced himself to calm down and suppressed his fear, not daring to look down.

The three of them arrived at the clouds, and Chen Mochuan couldn't resist taking a quick look down.

Below him was pitch black, with only a few torches as small as beans. Everything else was indistinct, and it wasn't as dangerous as he had imagined. He breathed a sigh of relief, but a hint of disappointment still lingered in his heart.

Seeing this, Chen Yuan smiled slightly, increased his speed, and flew away into the distance.

Chen Mochuan's heart jumped again, but he soon realized that although the wind was howling all around, he could only hear the sound and not feel its intensity, so he was relieved.

Jing Shuhan followed behind, and the three of them fled into the darkness for about half an hour before descending into a vast mountain range.

The three landed atop a mountain peak, surrounded by towering mountains that loomed in the night, their strange shapes resembling giant beasts lying on the earth.

Chen Yuan held a luminous pearl in one hand, illuminating an area of ​​several feet in radius. He then took out a hundred-year-old spiritual herb and held it in his palm.

With a thought, a surge of true fire erupted, enveloping the century-old spiritual herb.

Chen Mochuan's eyes widened. Within a few breaths, the impurities of the spiritual herb were burned away by the true fire, turning into a ball of pure spiritual liquid. It was divided into ten portions, and within a few more breaths, it condensed into ten pills.

Chen Yuan took out another jade bottle, and the bullets flew into the bottle in a straight line. He then put the stopper on the bottle and slowly flew towards Chen Mochuan.

Chen Yuan said calmly, "These ten pills are just right for you. They can strengthen your foundation, nourish your vital energy, and improve your cultivation."

"After refining it all, it will not only allow you to enter the Dao, but also enable you to cultivate to the second or third level of Qi Refining."

Chen Mochuan was overjoyed. He accepted the pill with both hands, ignoring his bloodied forehead, and knelt on the hard rock, kowtowing heavily: "Thank you, Ancestor, for bestowing this pill!"

Chen Yuan pondered for a moment and asked, "The path of cultivation is divided into Dharma cultivation and physical cultivation."

“Dharma practitioners specialize in cultivating magical power, their magical treasures are mysterious, and their supernatural abilities are ever-changing.”

"Body cultivation tempers the physical body, allowing one to overcome all techniques with sheer force, possessing the power to overturn rivers and seas and move mountains."

Which path do you want to take?

Chen Mochuan replied without hesitation, "I am willing to follow the path of cultivation and learn magical treasures and supernatural powers!"

Chen Yuan took out a jade slip, left a divine imprint on it, and handed it to Chen Mochuan: "There is a fire-based cultivation technique in this jade slip. To prevent you from being too ambitious, I have sealed it."

"Once you successfully establish your foundation, you will be able to break through the restrictions and gain access to the cultivation techniques."

Chen Mochuan accepted the jade slip with both hands: "Thank you, ancestor, for bestowing this teaching."

Chen Yuan then took out another hundred low-grade spirit stones: "These hundred low-grade spirit stones are enough for you to cultivate to the mid-stage of Qi Refining. Please accept them."

Chen Mochuan accepted the stone with both hands, placed it on the ground to the side, and kowtowed in gratitude: "Thank you, ancestor, for bestowing this sacred stone."

Jing Shuhan pondered for a moment, then took out a talisman and handed it to Chen Mochuan: "After this talisman is torn up, you can escape ten miles away. In times of danger, it can save your life."

Chen Mochuan bowed solemnly: "Thank you for bestowing the talisman, senior."

Chen Yuan said, "Spirit stones, pills, cultivation techniques, and talismans are all things that ordinary rogue cultivators dream of. Now that you have this opportunity, you must not waste it."

Chen Mochuan knelt down again: "I will definitely cultivate diligently and dare not slack off in the slightest, and I will never fail to live up to the great kindness of my ancestors."

Chen Yuan nodded slightly: "You'd better take care of yourself."

He turned around and prepared to take flight and disappear into the distance.

Chen Mochuan quickly raised his head: "Ancestor, please wait!"

Chen Yuan turned around: "Is there anything else?"

Two lines of tears streamed down Chen Mochuan's face: "I was saved by my ancestor and was also given treasures. I should not be so greedy as to ask for more."

“But whenever I think of my brothers and uncles suffering in the border army, and my sisters and aunts forcing smiles and using their beauty to entertain others in the brothels, my heart aches as if it were being torn apart, and I feel like I am dying.”

"Could we ask our ancestors to use their divine powers once again to rescue the Chen family members? We dare not ask to restore their titles and honors, or to enjoy wealth and glory again."

"I only wish to live in anonymity and never suffer again. Your unworthy descendant, Chen Mochuan, thanks you!"

After saying this, Chen Mochuan kowtowed heavily, striking the rocks three times until his white bones were visible on his forehead.

But he felt no pain at all; he just looked at Chen Yuan with pleading eyes.

Chen Yuan smiled slightly: "You don't need to worry. Before coming here, I rescued them all and sent them thousands of miles away, and bestowed upon them gold and silver."

"As long as they act carefully and do not flaunt their wealth, they can live a comfortable and worry-free life."

Chen Mochuan exclaimed with excitement: "The kindness of our ancestors is something I could never repay, even if it meant dying ten thousand times!"

He was about to kowtow again when Chen Yuan flicked his sleeve, and an invisible force surged forth, supporting his body.

Chen Yuan said, "You are weak and frail; you must not harm yourself further."

"If you are truly grateful for my kindness, then remember that cultivators should aim to attain immortality and not develop any obsessions, such as seeking revenge."

Chen Mochuan nodded emphatically: "I will certainly follow the teachings of my ancestors."

Chen Yuan smiled slightly, and together with Jing Shuhan, they rode the escape light and flew into the sky.

As Chen Mochuan gazed at the two figures disappearing into the distance under the ethereal starlight, tears streamed down his face. He knelt down and kowtowed deeply.

But just as his forehead was about to touch the rocks, it was held up by a gentle, invisible force, preventing it from falling.

Tears flowed even more joyfully. Chen Mochuan slowed his movements and gently tapped down, only then did the invisible force dissipate.

Chen Mochuan kowtowed nine times in succession. By the time he straightened up, Chen Yuan and Jing Shuhan's figures had already disappeared into the night. In the sky, a slender crescent moon emitted a faint and gentle light.

……

After parting ways with Chen Mochuan, Chen Yuan and Jing Shuhan flew towards Dongxu Mountain.

Jing Shuhan said, "Since you admire this boy so much, why not bring him into our sect and nurture him properly?"

Chen Yuan shook his head slightly: "If we take him into our sect, it will only harm him."

A hint of curiosity flashed in Jing Shuhan's eyes: "Why is that?"

Chen Yuan said, "The most important thing in cultivating immortality is one's Dao heart, followed by opportunities, and then aptitude."

"If one's heart is firm in the pursuit of the Dao, even without the right opportunities or with poor aptitude, as long as one is single-minded in seeking the Dao and perseveres through all difficulties, one can still achieve something."

"If one's resolve is not firm, even with exceptional talent and opportunities presented to one, one will not go far on the path of cultivation."

"This boy was born into a royal family, but he suffered a great calamity. His father died and his family was destroyed. He is determined to take revenge."

"If we allow him to join our sect, he will suddenly encounter many high-level cultivators, or learn of my identity."

"Most of them have no intention of cultivating; they only want to borrow my power, or the power of their teachers and fellow disciples, to avenge their great grudge."

"If he were to cultivate on his own, without any support from others, he would have no choice but to work hard in order to avenge his family. He would certainly not slack off."

Jing Shuhan smiled and said, "My husband is really stubborn but soft-hearted. He says he won't interfere with the rise and fall of the Chen family, but he takes such good care of this son. He even said he wouldn't care about the Chen family members?"

Chen Yuan said, "Among the descendants of my elder brother and younger sister, only this child possesses spiritual roots and has a very firm will. Naturally, I will take care of him."

Jing Shuhan blinked and said softly, "Husband, how about we have a child?"

Jing Shuhan also slowed down, and Chen Yuan asked, "Why did you suddenly bring this up?"

Jing Shuhan lowered her eyes slightly: "The Chen family is not related to my husband by blood, yet he takes such good care of you. Why not have a child with whom I can raise him with care?"

"Moreover, my husband will soon leave the human world, leaving me alone to guard this empty room."

"If I could give birth to a son, it would somewhat alleviate my longing."

Chen Yuan fell silent and remained silent for a long time.

Jing Shuhan raised her head: "Husband, are you unwilling?"

Chen Yuan considered it for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Not bad."

Jing Shuhan slowly opened her eyes wide: "Why?"

Chen Yuan sighed softly: "As you know, I am single-mindedly pursuing the Dao. If I were to have offspring, even if we were separated by two realms, I would inevitably feel attached and it would affect my state of mind."

Jing Shuhan frowned: "Is it because you don't want to affect your state of mind that you are unwilling to have children?"

Chen Yuan remained silent for a moment, then said, "Not only that, but in less than a year, I will be fulfilling the century-old promise and entering the spatial passage."

"If you do give birth to a child, you won't even be able to see him once; you'll have to raise him all by yourself."

"How can a father be so derelict in his duty?"

Jing Shuhan was taken aback: "Husband..."

Chen Yuan grasped her hand: "We may seem to have profound cultivation, but in reality, the path to enlightenment is difficult and uncertain. We are barely able to take care of ourselves."

"Having offspring only adds to our worries. If their cultivation is not high and they pass away before us, we will be heartbroken and grief-stricken, unable to forget them, and our Dao heart will be worn down."

"How can one forge ahead without hesitation and seek that sliver of opportunity to attain enlightenment?"

Jing Shuhan remained silent, her eyes slightly lowered, and she sighed softly, "My husband is right; I had misunderstood." (End of Chapter)