Immortal Path in the Palm of a Mortal's Hand

After returning to his stone chamber on Fire Cloud Peak, Chen Fan did not set foot in the market for several days.

He went into seclusion as usual, meditating and cultivating his Qi daily, circulating it throughout his body, and refining three Qi-refining pills using the mysterious vortex in his palm. When his spiritual energy was exhausted, he would silently adjust his breathing to recover. Everything seemed no different from usual. However, if someone who knew him well were to observe closely, they would notice that he spent more time in quiet contemplation than before, and his gaze would occasionally drift to a certain spot outside the window, as if he were weighing his options repeatedly.

That direction leads directly to the location of True Man Chiyun's cave.

True Man Chiyun, a cultivator in the early stage of Core Formation, is one of the three Core Formation elders of Fire Cloud Peak in Spirit Beast Mountain, and also the master of Chen Fan's parents before their deaths.

Several years ago, True Immortal Chiyun needed a rare elixir that existed only in a certain dangerous secret realm, and sent several of his disciples to search for it. Chen Fan's parents were among them. Suddenly, something unexpected happened in the secret realm. The survivors were tight-lipped about it, only saying that they had triggered an ancient restriction, and three people perished on the spot, including Chen Fan's parents.

Afterwards, Master Chiyun entrusted Chen Fan with the two men's belongings and promoted him from an outer sect servant disciple to a nominal disciple of Fire Cloud Peak, as a way of giving closure to the orphans of the fallen disciples. However, that was all. Over the years, Master Chiyun summoned him only a handful of times, each time merely asking a few routine questions about his cultivation progress before waving him away.

Chen Fan harbored no resentment.

It wasn't that he didn't want to, but that it was useless. The cultivation world has always only recognized strength and interests, not human relationships. True Master Chiyun had given him a corner of Fire Cloud Peak to settle down in, along with a meager but stable monthly allowance from the sect. In terms of the exchange of benefits, that was already enough to repay the orphan of his fallen disciple. As for his meticulous teaching and imparting all his knowledge? That was the treatment reserved for personal disciples. How could he, a nominal disciple with three spiritual roots, dare to hope for such a thing?

Now, however, he has no choice but to seek out True Man Chiyun.

There was no hope for spiritual cultivation techniques in the marketplace. In the past few days, he had secretly inquired and found that even the most rudimentary fragments of techniques that could enhance spiritual sense commanded astonishingly high prices. One broken jade slip, claiming to slightly enhance spiritual sense, was priced at a staggering eight hundred spirit stones! Moreover, the content was incomplete, and the seller bore no responsibility for its feasibility or potential risks.

Eight hundred spirit stones for an unknown outcome. Chen Fan gave up without hesitation.

Instead of relying on a gamble in the marketplace, it's better to try his luck with True Immortal Chiyun. After all, he's a Core Formation cultivator with hundreds of years of cultivation experience; he should possess a few decent cultivation techniques. Even if he doesn't have a secret manual for cultivating spiritual sense, learning a few methods for using spiritual sense would be far better than relying solely on his innate talent.

Whether or not Master Chiyun is willing to give it is another matter.

But we must give it a try.

The Crimson Cloud Immortal's cave is located on a recessed cliff halfway up Fire Cloud Peak. A square blue stone platform, more than ten zhang in size, has been carved out in front of the cliff, with several unknown dark red spirit trees planted along its edge. The trees have long, thin needles and emit a faint, exotic fragrance of pine resin.

Chen Fan stood at the edge of the platform, straightened his worn gray robe, and, making sure his appearance was impeccable, stepped towards the tightly closed, heavy stone door. Before the door crouched a bronze beast head, about half a person's height, with menacing fangs and a slightly open mouth. Chen Fan knew this was one of the key points of the cave's protective restrictions, so, following protocol, he took out a communication talisman, whispered his purpose, and placed the talisman into the beast's mouth.

The sound transmission talisman transformed into a faint flame and disappeared into the beast's mouth.

All that remains is to wait.

Chen Fan stood quietly before the stone gate, his posture as straight as a pine tree, his gaze unwavering, his face showing no trace of anxiety. His eyes were fixed on the bluestone ground three feet in front of him, like a stone sculpture. He was already accustomed to this feeling of waiting for a superior to summon him.

About an incense stick's time later, the heavy stone door finally slid open slowly to both sides with a dull rumble. A pure spiritual energy, several times richer than the outside world, carrying a faint scent of sandalwood, flowed out from the crack in the door. This was the advantage of a Core Formation cultivator's cave dwelling being located at a unique spiritual vein node.

"Come in." Master Chiyun's voice came from the depths of the cave, flat and emotionless.

Chen Fan stepped inside. The passage wasn't long; after about twenty steps, he arrived at a spacious stone hall. The furnishings were simple yet exquisite. Several fist-sized luminous pearls were embedded in the walls, their soft glow illuminating every detail of the stone hall. In the center of the hall was a meditation table carved from a single piece of pale blue spirit jade. The jade was warm and lustrous, with a subtle, flowing light within. Several futons were scattered around the jade table, and a low table stood to the side, on which a bronze incense burner emitted wisps of blue smoke—the source of sandalwood incense.

Master Chiyun sat upright on the Lingyu Platform.

The man had a face like jade, with three long strands of beard under his chin. He wore a crimson Daoist robe with cloud patterns and a lotus-shaped jade crown. His eyes were slightly closed, and his breath was long and deep. Although he did not deliberately release the pressure of a Core Formation cultivator, the trace of his aura that naturally flowed out was already pressing down on Chen Fan's shoulders like an invisible mountain. He gritted his teeth inwardly, steadyed his body, and did not show the slightest abnormality.

True Man Chiyun did not open his eyes, but nodded slightly as a sign of respect. After a moment of silence in the stone hall, he slowly spoke: "Your cultivation has reached the tenth level of Qi Refining." His tone was calm, not a question, but a statement.

"Yes," Chen Fan replied, bowing his head without saying another word.

"With three spiritual roots, reaching the tenth level in just a few years is quite diligent." True Immortal Chiyun's tone remained calm and indifferent, as if commenting on something unrelated to himself. He finally opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Chen Fan with a tangible intensity, and asked indifferently, "What brings you to my court today?"

Chen Fan did not beat around the bush.

Trying to outsmart a Core Formation cultivator is utterly foolish. True Immortal Chiyun has lived for hundreds of years and has witnessed far more of the treacherous nature of human hearts than he has consumed any pills. It's better to be straightforward than to beat around the bush and be seen through at a glance.

"I have recently encountered obstacles in my cultivation, and I deeply feel that my spiritual sense is insufficient, which restricts the progress of my magical power. I earnestly request my master to guide me and bestow upon me a method to enhance my spiritual sense."

Master Chiyun remained silent.

His gaze fell on Chen Fan, lingering for only a breath or two, yet Chen Fan felt as if ice water had been poured over his head, chilling him to the bone. That gaze carried scrutiny, a hint of surprise, and some profound meaning that Chen Fan could not fathom.

The atmosphere inside the stone hall quietly froze.

After a moment, Master Chiyun withdrew his gaze, his right hand slowly stroking his long beard, as if weighing his options. Chen Fan remained bowed, motionless.

"I do indeed possess a method to enhance one's spiritual consciousness," Master Chiyun finally spoke, his voice still calm. "However, this method is not given away for free. I have already repaid the debts owed to your parents over the years."

Chen Fan bowed his head and replied, "Disciple understands. If Master has any orders, disciple will gladly die for them."

Master Chiyun nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with his attitude. He didn't immediately state his conditions, pondering for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before slowly saying:

"Three years from now, the seven factions of Yue will join forces to open the Blood Forbidden Land."

Chen Fan's heart skipped a beat.

The Crimson Forbidden Land! He had seen records of it in the sect's records. It was an extremely dangerous secret realm in the cultivation world of Yue Kingdom, opened only once every few decades, and only allowed disciples at the Qi Refining stage to enter. Within it, spiritual herbs were abundant, and hidden opportunities lurked, but the dangers were even greater. Each time it opened, less than half of the disciples would emerge alive.

"Deep within the forbidden land, where yin energy gathers, grows a spiritual herb called 'Mysterious Soul Grass.'" True Man Chiyun looked directly at Chen Fan and continued, "This herb is entirely black, with ghost-face patterns on its leaves. I need one, and it must be over three hundred years old."

He paused slightly, his tone becoming more serious: "If you agree, enter the forbidden area three years later and retrieve this herb for me. In return, I will bestow upon you a cultivation technique right now. If you do not agree, then let's call it quits."

Chen Fan did not respond immediately.

His mind raced, rapidly weighing the pros and cons. He knew the dangers of the Crimson Forbidden Land better than most of his fellow disciples. Of the disciples who perished there, half died from the realm's own restrictions and the prey of demonic beasts, while the other half were killed by fellow cultivators who had entered the realm. Disciples from seven sects lived together in one place, without rules or restrictions; killing and plundering were commonplace. For him, with his Qi Refining cultivation, to enter was tantamount to walking with his head hanging by a thread.

However, that was three years later.

If he doesn't act now, he might not even qualify to enter the forbidden area in three years. For a disciple with no background and no resources, possessing only three spiritual roots, to accumulate enough resources to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage within three years is almost a pipe dream. However, if he obtains this technique, he can cultivate his divine sense to a certain level within three years, greatly increasing the effectiveness of his palm vortex pill refining technique. At that time, he might not be unable to fight for a chance of survival in the forbidden area!

To risk the future three years later for immediate gains.

This is a great deal!

"This disciple is willing to go." Chen Fan's voice was not loud, but it was steady and powerful.