One month later, the mental cultivation method for condensing the true fire of the moon was completed;
Six months later, the mental cultivation method for condensing the Southern Ming Fire was completed;
A year later, the cultivation method for condensing the true fire of the earth was completed.
From then on, all seven innate true fires were incorporated into the changes of the Star River True Qi, and were no longer Daoist methods that needed to be cultivated separately.
As Lin Yi's cultivation level improves, its power will naturally increase.
After 365 days and nights of refinement, Lin Yi's soul was cleansed of the traces left by his past experiences. His past forbearance, madness, and final outburst were all embraced by the vast ocean, like the mountain streams.
The moon was like a silver plate, and the sky was filled with countless stars.
Lin Yi lay on a large rock with his hands behind his head, his gaze fixed on the sky.
There was one thing that he found very regrettable: although the Divine Sect and the Demonic Sect had the true cultivation methods for the Seven Great Innate True Waters, the power of True Waters emphasized purity and refinement, so there was no Black Emperor's Heart Method among the Ten Great Divine Magics.
It would be quite difficult for Lin Yi to collect all the techniques for condensing the seven innate true waters.
------------
Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Chang'an Assembly, the Yellow-Faced Youth
"It's time to go to the Tang Dynasty in the south."
During this year, Lin Yi also inquired about the situation in the south from some cultivators he happened to meet in his spare time.
The Tang Dynasty currently rules the Central Plains. Emperor Li Ying is on the throne, and his reign title is Tianbao. Calculating the timeline, it should be the ninth year of Tianbao now.
Without hesitation, Lin Yi packed his things and set off south.
The border between the northern demon kingdoms and the Tang Dynasty in the Central Plains is very long, about 13,000 li, with a total of six or seven demon kingdoms bordering the Tang territory.
Everywhere here are huge cities with high walls and deep fortifications, and the soldiers in these cities are strong and well-equipped, with even ordinary soldiers possessing some level of cultivation.
These cities lined up along the border, with one every hundred miles or so, and they were all very prosperous.
However, the people of the north do not interact with the central lands and have no trade relations, so they are quite distinct and separate.
For ordinary civilians, crossing this heavily fortified, insurmountable northern demon defense line would be extremely difficult. But for a cultivator like Lin Yi, it was a piece of cake.
More than a month later, Lin Yi had penetrated deep into the heart of the Tang Dynasty and set foot on the land of Chang'an.
Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, Chang'an had been its capital. Although the city retained the architecture of the previous dynasty, it had also undergone two major renovations, expanding its scale more than tenfold. It was already arguably the most magnificent city in the land, and its wealth and luxury were unparalleled.
Lin Yi entered Chang'an City and happened to arrive just in time for the grand and lively Chang'an Ceremony.
Emperor Li Ying of the Tang Dynasty was celebrating his 100th birthday, and he specially invited eminent Buddhist and Taoist masters from all over the land to Chang'an to hold a grand Buddhist and Taoist ceremony. He also asked these masters to pray to Heaven for an extension of his life by one cycle.
It must be understood that lifespan is governed by Heaven. Even emperors, generals, ministers, officials, those with immense power and wealth cannot simply extend their lifespan at will.
This prayer ceremony became a grand event for both Buddhism and Taoism, attracting countless wandering immortals, monks, sorcerers, and practitioners to participate.
Lin Yi followed the surging crowd to Zhuque Avenue, the widest street in Chang'an City.
At this time, the Tang Dynasty was the wealthiest country in the world. Not only was the court politically enlightened, with capable ministers and renowned officials governing the country, but it also had fierce generals who expanded its territory, repeatedly launching expeditions to the Western Regions and returning victorious each time. Its military prowess was at its peak, and all the foreign tribes submitted to it. Furthermore, its literary style was open, with a great number of literary masters emerging, and their brilliant writings far surpassing those of previous dynasties.
The Western Regions and overseas countries all admired the civilization of the Great Tang Dynasty, which had a long history. They often sent delegations to pay homage, and some princes and kings even stayed in Chang'an for a long time, reluctant to leave.
The sheer grandeur of Chang'an City inspired the poem: "A beautiful city and stunning scenery, yet the dance of the Western Region women is breathtaking."
Zhuque Avenue is the main street of Chang'an. It is a straight avenue that runs from Xuanwu Gate in the north of Chang'an City all the way to the palace. It is wide enough to accommodate eight carriages side by side.
On both sides of Xuanwu Gate were the East Market and West Ward, the most bustling and prosperous markets in Chang'an, even the Tang Dynasty, and perhaps the whole world. Not to mention the products of the Tang Dynasty, even horses and weapons from the Western Regions, spices and exotic items from overseas countries, were all available.
The grand assembly of water and land, convened by the Holy Emperor Li Ying, was held on Zhuque Avenue.
Lin Yi looked up and saw groups of monks, Taoists, and strange people walking in through the Xuanwu Gate.
Some were weary from their journey, dressed in rags, yet exuded an air of grandeur; others carried large trays with their servants; still others sat upright, displaying their superiority, accompanied by music and entourage.
The current emperor is fond of Taoism, so there are quite a few people who have traveled thousands of miles to Chang'an, including foreign monks from the Western Regions and strange people from overseas, who have also participated in this grand event.
Lin Yi glanced at it a few times and then shook his head slightly.
Nine out of ten of these monks, Taoists, and eccentrics possessed no real skill; their eyes shone with scattered light, and their heads glowed with no spiritual aura—clearly, they were charlatans with no magical power whatsoever. The remaining one-tenth, while stronger than ordinary people, also had their limits.
Although Li Ying was the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, in the end, all his efforts were in vain.
Just then, a beggar with a giant snake coiled around his waist suddenly burst into Suzaku Street.
The man's eyes seemed to glow with a red light, and a faint black aura rose from his head. The large snake at his waist was entirely crimson, shrouded in a fiery, demonic aura. A single horn was faintly visible on the top of his head, and his eyes flashed like lightning, his forked tongue flickering with lightning speed; he was clearly no ordinary creature.
The beggar already had a fierce face, and with such a vicious object wrapped around his waist, no one dared to approach him. He strolled leisurely down Zhuque Street, as carefree as a top scholar parading through the streets.
"This beggar does have some magical power," Lin Yi thought to himself, but he didn't bother with him. He turned around and walked outside, and the crowd behind him involuntarily parted to make way for him.
Lin Yi arrived outside the crowd and saw a girl in white staring intently at him. Although she was still young, she had bright eyes, white teeth, and snow-white skin, making her a real little beauty.
"I apologize for my rudeness, Daoist Master," the woman in white said, smiling radiantly, her beauty as exquisite as a blooming flower.
Unfortunately, Lin Yi traveled through various realms, single-mindedly pursuing the path to immortality. He had long since become as calm as still water, regarding women as mere skeletons, and seeing all beauty as an illusion.
For example, in the world of the Ming Dynasty, the Lanruo Temple, which had a beautiful female ghost and a moving legend, was burned to ashes by him.
There was also Qingfeng Yuechi, and countless young ladies from noble families, who, for various reasons, wanted to meet Master Qingxuan, but were never able to do so.
"It's alright," Lin Yi said, continuing to walk outside without stopping.