Mortal: Fairy Song Yu has issued you a task.

Chapter 33 "The Moon Gazing Technique"

Baifeng Peak is about 1,500 zhang high and covers a vast area, spanning a radius of 100 li.

Viewed from above, this snow-covered peak resembles an ice phoenix with its wings half-folded. It coils and raises its head, as if about to soar into the clouds, its form and spirit perfectly natural.

The summit resembles a phoenix's head, while the three steep ridges extending from the mountain and facing each other in the distance are like the tails hanging from the sky.

A figure in white, riding a flying sword, carried a girl of about eight or nine years old towards the summit.

The little girl gazed at the highest cliff opposite, Phoenix Tail Cliff, and asked curiously, "Senior Sister Meng, which elder of the peak has that cliff shrouded in white mist as his residence?"

Meng Yao turned her head and looked over, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes: "This is not a place for elders to cultivate in seclusion, but the Tranquility Cliff. Disciples who make mistakes within the peak are sent here to reflect on their actions."

"The Land of Punishment?"

"That's right. It is said that there are strange minerals in the cliff, and with the special geographical influence, the spiritual energy is transformed, which is why this white mist that never dissipates is formed."

This mist can suppress inner demons and illusions, but it also severely restricts the five senses and six perceptions. Delving into it can even completely strip one of all awareness of the outside world.

Meng Yao glanced at her junior sister who was listening intently beside her, and her lowered voice sounded even more eerie in the mountain wind that swept through the valley: "Disciples who are sent into the cliff are like those who have fallen into an endless dark prison, becoming lonely ghosts, wandering and roaming in endless silence."

The little girl felt a chill run down her spine as she listened, then suddenly her eyes widened, she pointed behind Meng Yao, and screamed, "The wild ghost is out!"

Meng Yao turned around abruptly and saw a figure in white, riding a jade flute, rushing out of the white mist towards her. She raised her hand and gently patted her junior sister's shoulder: "That's Senior Sister Song."

Having said that, Meng Yao faced the approaching white figure: "Junior Sister Song, you've successfully established your foundation!"

Song Yu nodded, looked at the little girl who was staring at her with wide, curious eyes, and asked, "Junior sister, are you a new member of White Phoenix Peak?"

"She comes from the Shen family of Tiantong City in Nanzhou and possesses a unique spiritual root. After learning of her aptitude, Master decided to take her as a disciple and specially ordered me to go and guide her." Meng Yao turned to the girl and said, "Quickly pay your respects to your Senior Sister Song."

"Hello, Senior Sister Song!" The girl hurriedly bowed.

Song Yu smiled gently at her and then said, "I am on my way to pay my respects to my master, so I will travel with you."

The three figures set off again, gradually leaving the misty Tranquil Cliff behind.

"Senior Sister Meng," Song Yu suddenly spoke up along the way, "how has Xiao Yun been lately?"

Xiaoyun was the Snow Cloud Fox that she bought from Lin Jingchu.

"All it does all day is eat and rest; it'd become a fat fox by now," Meng Yao said with a smile.

Song Yu's lips curled slightly upward, and he casually asked, "Is it still Junior Brother Zhou who's delivering the Purple Frost Fruit these days?"

Meng Yao glanced at Song Yu quickly, knowing in her heart who she really wanted to ask.

"It's still Junior Brother Zhou. According to him, Junior Brother Lin has been in seclusion ever since he became Elder Feng's disciple."

He's been in seclusion for over two months? Is he trying to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage?

Song Yu's heart tightened suddenly, feeling a mixture of joy and worry. Could it be that what he said that day had spurred him to be too eager for quick success?

He obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill from his mother and then asked Elder Feng to deliver it to him, but he didn't know if he could succeed.

Amidst their fluctuating thoughts, the three of them arrived at Peak Master Song's cave.

Then came the customary apprenticeship ceremony.

The new junior sister presented her apprenticeship gifts, and Peak Master Song bestowed upon her cultivation provisions and offered a few words of encouragement.

"Xiao Yao, show the new junior sister around the area and its rules."

Meng Yao bowed and accepted the order, then led the girl away.

Silence fell over the cave. Peak Master Song's gaze fell on Song Yu: "Yu'er, because of the special nature of your cultivation method, I was worried about disturbing your state of mind and didn't interfere much in your affairs. Now that you have successfully established your foundation, I will speak frankly."

"The path to immortality is long and arduous, relying primarily on aptitude and opportunity. Aptitude is fixed, but opportunity is rare. Even if one successfully establishes their foundation, their lifespan is only a little over two hundred years, which is insignificant compared to your long journey..."

She walked up to Song Yu and sighed softly, "In the end, he was just a passerby."

Song Yu looked up, meeting his mother's gaze, his eyes unwavering: "Mother, I understand that the great path is ruthless. But encounters and connections, the understanding and care we share, cannot be easily summarized as mere passersby. Even if the days to come are short and the road ahead is different, I will have no regrets."

"Alright, as long as you know what you're doing." Knowing her daughter's temperament well, Song Fengzhu stopped trying to persuade her and her expression suddenly turned stern: "But you must not lose your virginity before you form your core. This is my bottom line."

Song Yu's face flushed instantly, and she said, both embarrassed and anxious, "Mother! What are you saying! He and I haven't reached that level of relationship yet!"

"Then why did you go to Elder Feng and shamelessly beg for the title of his personal disciple?"

"I have important matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now." Song Yu turned and left, blushing.

As Song Fengzhu watched her fleeing figure, he sighed softly, "Back then, wasn't I just as stubborn... Once Yu'er reaches the Core Formation stage, she will probably re-evaluate whether this relationship is worth continuing."

As the ice and snow melt, grass and trees sprout. In the bamboo forest valley of Tianquan Peak, wildflowers grow in abundance on both banks of the stream, and the shimmering water reflects the bright moon hanging in the sky.

Inside the cave, moonlight poured in like a silver waterfall through the gaps in the dome.

Lin Jingchu sat cross-legged in the moonlight, with strands of moonlight swirling around him.

The Moon Gazing Technique

By condensing moonlight and aiding in cultivation, one's magical power can be five or six levels deeper than others of the same level. It also has the effects of nourishing the soul and strengthening the divine consciousness.

This cultivation method is divided into twelve levels, with four realms: Qi Refining, Foundation Building, Core Formation, and Nascent Soul. Each realm corresponds to three levels of cultivation. Each time you break through a realm, you can learn a unique supernatural power.

After successfully establishing his foundation, Lin Jingchu continued his seclusion to cultivate the "Moon Gazing Technique".

The residual foundation-building medicinal power, the elixir given by Song Yu at the Chengxin Terrace, the Qi-cultivating pill refined from the spiritual lotus root, plus the blessing of the Heavenly Spiritual Root aptitude.

After more than three months of arduous training, Lin Jingchu finally advanced his cultivation technique to the fourth level.

He raised his hand and waved his palm, and a silver crescent moon shot out, carving a deep mark on the stone wall.

The supernatural power, Cold Moonlight, allows the physical body to conjure a strike comparable to a high-grade magic weapon. It can also be activated by a magic weapon, increasing its sharpness. However, due to the low level of the technique, the power of this strike can only be maintained within one or two zhang of the body, and it rapidly diminishes beyond that.

Moreover, when he reached the fourth level, he unlocked another supernatural power.

A mirage.

It can conjure an avatar that is indistinguishable from the true body, and can even replicate personal magical artifacts. Although this avatar possesses less than one-tenth of the original's combat power, it is sufficient to confuse, harass, and restrain the enemy, with endless uses.

However, this technique also has drawbacks: First, each use consumes at least 10% of spiritual power; second, the clone's existence time is limited, about two or three hours, and it will immediately dissipate even if it is slightly injured; third, it requires distraction to control, and the distance from the original body cannot exceed fifty miles; fourth, if a rare treasure like the Jade Heart Pendant is to be replicated, the spiritual power consumed will be two times higher.

Fortunately, with each subsequent advancement in the technique, the combat power, duration, and control range of the clones all increase.

Once one breaks through to the next major realm, one can create an additional clone. If one cultivates to the tenth level of the Nascent Soul stage, one can summon three clones simultaneously.

Lin Jingchu gathered his breath and finished his practice, then stood up.

Having completed the Foundation Establishment stage and revising the "Moon Gazing Technique," seven or eight tenths of the elixirs I had prepared have been used up. It's time to emerge from seclusion.