Qi Yuntian and Fan Changqing lingered at Zhang Yan’s place for a day before finally getting up to take their leave. Before departing, Fan Changqing reminded Zhang Yan, "Junior Brother, in this battle, you must not hold back. Any technique or trick you have must be employed. The more merits you earn, the better. I know you’ve just returned from the Demon Cave, so I’ll give you a few days to sort out your miscellaneous affairs. Ten days from now, come to Chengwang Peak and find me. I’ll personally lead you to the Three Pools to join the campaign."
After more than two months of preparation, the Mingcang Sect was ready to launch a full-scale assault on the Three Pools Lake Demon. However, this was not something that could be accomplished overnight. It required a gradual, systematic approach: starting with sending disciples with strong cultivation to clear out the scattered tribes outside of the Three Pools, and only then moving on to attack the myriad magical peaks and Water Mansions scattered throughout the lake.
Fan Changqing was one of the first disciples assigned to this preliminary mission.
Zhang Yan responded promptly, then stood at the entrance of his Cave Mansion, respectfully seeing Qi Yuntian and Fan Changqing off.
After turning back into his Cave Mansion, he began to ponder silently to himself, "If I act alone, with the Taiyin Golden Fire Light and various Dharma Treasures in my possession, I should be well-prepared. But if I am to accompany Senior Brother Fan and other sect members, I should make additional preparations. I cannot let them underestimate me."
Since reaching the Xuan Guang Realm, he had originally intended to begin cultivating the "Five Directions and Five Elements Tai Xuan True Light." Although this spell was profoundly intricate, with no end in sight at a mere glance, he had the Broken Jade in his possession. The last thing he feared was such Dharma Techniques that required transformation and adaptability in True Qi.
However, there was a difficulty involved. Practicing this spell required the essence of the Five Qi to nurture it, and where could he currently find the time to gather such materials? As such, this Dharma Technique was not something he could utilize at this moment.
Fortunately, he had other methods at his disposal. Aside from the You Yin Heavy Water, he had also obtained a copy of the **Talisman Bag Book** from Shen Yuefeng. This book contained the marvelous techniques of using various talismans. He recalled that during his battle with Shen Yuefeng, these talismans were capable of resisting Dharma Treasures and even dispersing cloud mist—a truly remarkable feat.
The Guangyuan Sect had once been a Great Sect. Though now in decline, such methods from their sect were likely to have unique merits.
Zhang Yan thought to himself that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to use these few idle days to enter the Broken Jade and practice briefly. When the time came, he would have another method to counter his opponents.
He reached into his sleeve, intending to retrieve that Daoist book, but his hand touched another object. A thought stirred in his mind: "Now that I am a Xuan Guang Practitioner, this object should be usable."
He took out the item, which emitted a faint yellow radiance. Its shape was not much different from ordinary talismans. It was precisely the "Primordial Talisman" capable of channeling Primordial Qi into True Yuan.
This Primordial Talisman had been stored in his sleeve bag for a long time without being used. Most of the True Yuan originally left in it by Shen Yuefeng had already dissipated. Zhang Yan brushed his Xuan Guang across the talisman, expelling the last remaining trace of Essence Qi within. He then sat down and began infusing his own Primordial Qi into it.
He had initially assumed that half a day would be sufficient to complete the process, but to his surprise, as soon as his True Yuan entered, it felt as though it was being poured into a bottomless abyss, impossible to fill. It wasn’t until two days later, when a Deacon Daoist boy came to visit, that he finally stopped.
Zhang Yan fetched a few Elixir Pills and swallowed them for a quick adjustment before calling the Deacon Daoist inside to ask about the matter.
The Deacon Daoist boy, with a respectful demeanor, explained that he had been sent to deliver the specialized Daoist robe, Jade Pendant, and various Magic Artifacts for True Disciples of the Xuan Guang Realm, along with a thousand Spiritual Shells. In addition to these, there was also a branch of vibrant green bamboo.
This green bamboo exuded an intense Spiritual Energy, clearly nurtured with secret medicine. If planted, it would grow into a lush bamboo grove within days.
Holding the green bamboo in his hand, Zhang Yan couldn’t help but ask curiously, "What is the meaning of this gift?"
The Deacon Daoist boy, bowing humbly, replied, "Master Uncle, as the new year begins, with One Origin signaling a fresh start, the sect bestowed this item to symbolize your cultivation climbing ever higher, progressing further still atop the hundred-foot pole."
Zhang Yan chuckled. "The sect is unexpectedly sentimental this time, quite different from when I first arrived." Suddenly recalling something, he asked, "Are you a disciple of the Spirit Mechanism Institute?"
The Deacon Daoist boy responded, "Exactly."
Zhang Yan nodded in understanding. Within the sect, all rewards and distributions were managed by the Spirit Mechanism Institute, which was overseen by True Master Meng. Yet True Master Meng rarely handled mundane affairs himself. Who held real authority in the institute was obvious at a glance. No wonder they had showered him with such benefits.
The Daoist boy added, "Now that Master Uncle is a Xuan Guang Realm Cultivator, if you have any family, you may bring them to reside on the island. Alternatively, if you prefer solitude, they can be settled in one of the nine cities of the Mystic Turtle Land Continent. Though within the sect’s Mountain Gate, life there is no different from a bustling Great City in the Mortal World."