There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 117 Separated by the Moon [Second Update]

"call--"

The cold wind howled.

Ling Wan led the way, stepping on the Ice Soul Longsword, while Chen Qing followed in a miniature flying boat.

Like streaks of light going against the wind, the two headed straight into the depths of the cave.

The deeper you go, the more pronounced the original, warm and nourishing cold becomes, gradually turning bone-chillingly cold.

In just a few breaths, Chen Qing was greeted by howling wind and snow, with goose feather snowflakes swirling in the air!
"The depths of the cave are actually a world of wind and snow?" Chen Qing was astonished upon seeing this. He circulated his aura, dispelling most of the biting cold that was invading him.

Ling Wan then said, "This was formed when the Guanghan Ancestor and another great master meditated and deduced the profound art. Their thoughts resonated with each other, and the Daoist charm manifested outwards, causing the cold veins of this place to resonate for thousands of years."

Chen Qing focused his attention and observed closely. Sure enough, he saw that the chaotic and violent wind and snow faintly revealed a certain rhythm and hidden mystery. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Leaving the Daoist rhythm in the wind and snow, truly a divine skill! Such a realm is truly awe-inspiring!"

Ling Wan smiled upon hearing this, and her sword light pierced through several layers of ice storm, revealing a majestic ice gate in front of her.

This gate is over ten zhang high, and above the lintel are two ancient and simple characters—

Xuan Shuang!

Two guards stood solemnly on either side of the ice gate.

One was burly and covered in scales, while the other was agile and had a striking appearance; they were clearly a hybrid of a hundred races!

Seeing Ling Wan and Chen Qing land, the scaled guard spoke in a deep voice: "So it's Senior Sister Ling. Do you have a token?"

Ling Wan took out an ice talisman.

The scaled guard took the whistle, and he and another person each took a bone whistle, brought them close to the ice talisman, and poured two streams of pure cold energy into it.

"Woo buzz——"

The ice symbol lit up.

The runes on the ice gate lit up one by one, and the gate slid open inwards, creating a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.

A cold current, ten times stronger than the outside air, roared out and instantly condensed into a thick layer of ice outside the door!
Ling Wan immediately placed a warm, smooth jade pendant into Chen Qing's hand.

The jade pendant, once in hand, emitted warmth that protected Chen Qing's heart meridian.

"This is the Warm Sun Pendant, capable of warding off the extreme cold of the Dao Realm." Ling Wan instructed, "Within the Dao Realm, everything depends on fate. Stone tablets, ice walls, and even cold winds and snow may contain the imprint of inheritance. You must be careful, because some opportunities, once missed..."

At this point, she actually showed a hint of regret, but quickly recovered and added, "Besides, remember not to disturb others' enlightenment! Some people have been sitting here for a hundred years, just to capture a trace of the Dao. Among them are many Golden Core cultivators. If you disturb them, it will be a great enmity."

Chen Qing felt a chill run down his spine.

Based on this calculation, the number of Golden Core cultivators in the Guanghan Palace far exceeds that of the Hidden Star Sect. No wonder it can stand firm in the Northern Underworld, surrounded by hundreds of races.

He gripped the warm sun pendant tightly and nodded, saying, "Understood."

Ling Wan nodded and cupped her hands in greeting, saying, "Take care." With that, she retreated into the wind and snow.

Chen Qing withdrew his gaze, saluted the two guards, and stepped into the ice gate crevice.

Inside the door lies another world.

The vast ice cave has a high, lofty dome, with countless icicles hanging upside down, reflecting a cold, eerie blue light.

The wind and snow have lessened here, but the omnipresent cold air has condensed into frost particles, permeating the air.

As far as Chen Qing could see, there were pieces of ice of various shapes, some standing like monuments, some lying like platforms, and some embedded in ice walls.

On the ice surface and between the ice walls, countless runes, graphics, seal characters, and even fragmented scriptures appear and disappear intermittently.

Dozens of figures were scattered among them. Some sat cross-legged in front of the ice monument, their aura seemingly merging with the ice cave; some meditated with their eyes closed under the ice wall, surrounded by a chilling aura; some were suspended in mid-air, lifted up by the chilling aura, with strange phenomena changing around them.

As he was observing, he suddenly felt a jolt in his heart. The Yin energy that had been nurtured in his body in the dream for decades suddenly vibrated and became active, and then spontaneously surged out from his dantian and circulated throughout his body!
A mysterious feeling rose from the depths of his heart!

Most people had no reaction to Chen Qing's arrival.

However, near the entrance, a blue-robed cultivator sitting cross-legged in front of the ice monument frowned, sensing an aura on Chen Qing that was quite different from the Guanghan inheritance.

"The first outsider left not long ago, and now another one has arrived. The first one caused quite a disturbance here, ruining my chance for enlightenment. This one doesn't seem like someone who follows the rules either."

He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Chen Qing's unfamiliar face. Doubt and displeasure flashed in his eyes. Then he quietly got up, transformed into a wisp of cold smoke, and drifted deeper into the Dao Realm.

Deep within the Dao Realm, the chill intensified, and the light grew even dimmer.

Before the largest ice wall, which depicts the rising and setting of the moon and its waxing and waning, sat an old man dressed in hemp clothing.

The old man had white hair and beard, an ordinary face, and a thin build. He had no magical power fluctuations and looked like an old farmer.

His eyes were closed, his breathing was long and almost stopped, and his whole being seemed to merge with the ancient frost.

The wisp of cold smoke condensed about ten feet in front of the old man, transforming back into a blue-robed cultivator.

He bowed respectfully and transmitted his thoughts telepathically: "Elder Yuan, an outsider has arrived, not a disciple of our palace, and his aura is mixed. Should we..."

The old man didn't even lift his eyelids.

But an ancient divine voice resounded directly in the blue-robed cultivator's sea of ​​consciousness—

"The Xuan Shuang Dao Realm is open to all who are destined to enter. Those from other sects, without the guidance of the Guanghan Fundamental Method, can at most glimpse the surface and touch upon some scattered techniques. There is no need to pay attention to them; let them go on their own."

He paused slightly, and his divine voice became more impatient: "Quickly leave. I have reached a critical juncture in my comprehension of the 'Lunar Phase Rotation Dao,' so do not let trivial matters disturb my peace."

"Yes!" The blue-robed cultivator's heart tightened, and he dared not say another word before turning into cold smoke and disappearing.

Before the ice wall, deathly silence returned.

The old man in hemp clothing sat as still as a stone, his breath growing increasingly ethereal.

The ice wall in front of him faintly exuded a sense of eternal freeze and annihilation.

Suddenly!
A ripple silently spread across the ice mirror.

"Hmm?" The old man opened his cloudy eyes, revealing a look of surprise. "Is this the arrival of an opportunity for enlightenment? What is this opportunity? How is today different from the past?"

He was confused and confused.

This "lunar phase rotation path" is one of the fundamental principles upon which the Guanghan Palace stands, pointing directly to the supreme realm of the annihilation of the moon and the rotation of the void!

But precisely because it is so profound and unfathomable, only those with extraordinary talent and profound good fortune can comprehend it.

Since the mysterious disappearance of the Frost Fairy who comprehended this path five thousand years ago, this path has been like a pearl covered in dust. Since then, any disciple with exceptional talent has been sent here to comprehend it, but no one has been able to enter the gate.

Although profound paths can be sustained for a long time even without nurturing and guidance due to their deep foundation, even after five thousand years, they can only be barely maintained.

Left with no other choice, the old man came to try to comprehend it himself, but the path of cultivation is ever-changing, and different paths are like different worlds. Even with his level of attainment, after sitting in meditation for a hundred years, he still could not find the way in!

This unexpected opportunity today naturally caught his attention, and his thoughts turned to what had just happened.

"An outsider, without the fundamental laws of Guanghan, naturally cannot comprehend it, but perhaps he can provide inspiration and help me comprehend it?"

With that thought in mind, he no longer hesitated and reached out with his withered hand to grab at the air!
The outer edge of the Dao Realm.

The blue-robed cultivator had just returned and was about to immerse himself in his meditation when he suddenly felt the surrounding scenery rushing by!
When he came to his senses, he was already standing in front of the moon phase ice wall again.

"Please forgive me, Elder Yuan!" The blue-robed cultivator's heart tightened, and cold sweat soaked through his inner robe. He thought he had disturbed the ancestor's cultivation and hurriedly bowed to apologize.

"It's alright." The old man's voice was hoarse. "You just mentioned that an outsider has entered the Dao Realm? Do you know their background or origins?"

The blue-robed cultivator breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly said, "This disciple only came to report because he is new here and was afraid that he would not know the rules and would disturb the fellow disciples' cultivation. So I came to inquire whether he should be confined to the outer area and not allowed to go deeper..."

"Restrictions?" The old man slightly raised his eyelids, then shook his head and said, "No need."

"Huh?" The man in the blue robe was taken aback.

"Let him see," the old man said. "Let him walk and comprehend. You keep an eye on him, and if there is anything unusual, report to me immediately!" He paused, then added, "If anyone else in the Dao Realm makes a breakthrough or exhibits any unusual behavior, report to me as well."

The blue-robed cultivator was filled with doubts, but dared not ask any further questions, and could only reply, "Disciple obeys!"

Once he returned to the outer area, he carefully observed Chen Qing, who was sitting cross-legged. He saw that Chen Qing had his eyes closed and was concentrating, his aura resonating faintly with the surrounding cold air, and he did not do anything out of line.

The blue-robed cultivator thought to himself, "Without a fundamental method, there's no way to activate the spiritual energy of the Dao realm. What can one comprehend by simply sitting in meditation? Why did Elder Yuan tell me to keep an eye on this person?"

He patiently observed for several days, but seeing that Chen Qing remained unmoved, he gradually grew impatient, feeling that this task was a complete waste of time for comprehension. If it weren't for the ancestor's strict orders, he would have left long ago.

"Forget it, I was out of my mind. Did I really think this person could change? I'll just spare a sliver of my attention to keep an eye on him." After thinking it over, the blue-robed cultivator finally sat down cross-legged, focusing most of his attention on the ice tablet in front of him, leaving only a trace of his senses to lock onto Chen Qing.

Chen Qing appeared calm on the surface, but the Yin energy within his body surged and flowed like lightning under the stimulation of the Xuan Shuang Dao Realm, becoming exceptionally active.

Furthermore, a faint yet powerful force emanated from the surroundings, seemingly attempting to resonate with the Yin energy. However, it was blocked by an invisible and indestructible barrier.

After several failed attempts to break through the membrane, Chen Qingming realized something.

"This is the restriction Ling Wan mentioned. No matter how thorough the hospitality of the Guanghan Palace is, how could it easily open up the core path of inheritance to outsiders? Those who are not disciples, who do not cultivate its methods, and who do not have the key, can only look on with envy even with a treasure mountain in front of them, and will ultimately find it difficult to fathom its mysteries..."

However, that great power was of the same origin as the power of Taiyin. Once obtained, it would surely point out the path to enlightenment. But he could not obtain it. Just like a cat scratching an itch, it stimulated the Taiyin energy to be restless and made him restless.

"This path is subtly aligned with this realm, so its level must be extremely high. Even if Guanghan were to offer the Great Sun True Flame Path, she might not be willing to exchange it, and even if she were, it wouldn't be something that could be achieved overnight..."

Just as Chen Qing was pondering whether to leave this place first and try to exchange the Great Sun True Flame Path for it, a surge of white mist appeared all around.

"Seven days have passed? I didn't pay attention to the time this time, since I need to use Dao traces to continue my dream."

At this moment, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration and recalled several past experiences!
"That's it! Actually, there's another way, we might as well give it a try!"

Upon realizing this, Chen Qing immediately stopped hesitating. A series of Dao traces unfolded before him, first continuing the dream, then imbuing his body with a strong determination to continue comprehending and adapting to his own path, before his consciousness was withdrawn!

"I'll be back soon!"

The next moment, the demeanor of his dream body suddenly became ethereal and indifferent, and his aura changed abruptly!

hum!
Inside the Niwan Palace, the Lapis Lazuli Tathagata Talisman and the Samadhi True Fire Talisman trembled rapidly, as if they had reached their limit!

In his eyes, a multitude of lights began to intertwine and collide!
"Ok?"

Not far from Chen Qing, a thin man sitting cross-legged in an ice crystal was the first to notice something amiss.

He was drawing upon the earth's cold energy to temper his Yin spirit when he suddenly stopped. A wisp of the gathering cold current split off and poured towards Chen Qing!

"what happened?!"

He opened his eyes and immediately saw the fine frost crystals filling the air, like iron filings attracted by a magnet, swirling and converging towards that person. He immediately took notice.

"Who is this person? I've never seen him before. He seems to have triggered the spiritual energy of the Dao Realm?"

A gust of cold wind blew, and the blue-robed cultivator suddenly came to his senses. He looked up and saw that the place where Chen Qing was sitting had been transformed into the eye of a storm!
"Damn it!" He felt a chill run down his spine. He had been distracted while trying to comprehend something, and this person had caused such a commotion right under his nose. "I have to report this immediately!"

The man was about to crush the communication jade talisman—

The space beside him rippled, and a gaunt figure stood there.

It was Elder Yuan.

His cloudy old eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light, revealing surprise and solemnity. Then he slapped the blue-robed cultivator down and said, "Stay put and don't disturb him!"

The blue-robed cultivator also looked over, but was confused. He said, "This person has not cultivated the Guanghan Fundamental Method, so how can he activate spiritual energy?"

"This child may possess the Xuan Yin or Tai Yin body!"

At that moment, a slightly deep voice came from the side; it was none other than the man inside the ice crystal.

He also stared at Chen Qing, noticing something amiss. The more he looked, the brighter his eyes became. He praised, "His affinity with the spiritual energy of the Dao Realm is too high! Too high! So even though he hasn't cultivated the Guanghan Technique, he has forcibly activated the spiritual energy, but he is hindered by the ancestral master's restrictions and ultimately cannot reach it! Is this person a newly accepted disciple? Or is he a collateral descendant of some family returning to the main lineage?"

“Unless one’s cultivation surpasses that of the patriarch, it’s impossible to break through the barrier! No matter how high one’s talent, it won’t work!” A cold female voice rang out. It was a female cultivator who had been comprehending profound mysteries and had been awakened by Chen Qing’s movements. There was a look of doubt in her eyes. “But logically speaking, under the restriction, it is impossible to accept the spiritual energy of the Dao Realm, so it should stop now…”

"He's not fusing spiritual energy! He's not comprehending the Daoist principles of the Xuanmen! He's not trying to break through the restrictions!" After watching for a while, Old Yuan's beard twitched, as if he had figured something out, and his old eyes actually opened a few more times, "He... he's..."

　Third update, aiming for midnight...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)