With the support of the Broken Jade, the challenges within the Lin Yao Inquiry Method were resolved effortlessly.
Afterward, when Zhang Yan encountered Xuanmen terminologies such as "Heng Ming, Kuang," "Zhuansu, Zheng," and "Bu Xu, Shun," he no longer needed to spend painstaking effort trying to decipher them. Instead, he could directly "test the methods with his avatar" within the jade.
However, he did not solely rely on the Broken Jade. Each time he faced a perplexing challenge, he would first combine his learned knowledge to analyze and infer, then verify his deductions within the jade. Over time, he gradually unraveled some pathways and deepened his understanding of these Daoist Formulas and terminologies. Sometimes, he even felt he could grasp certain concepts without the jade.
Within five days, he not only comprehended nearly all of the formula but also grasped the general meaning of various terminologies used by Xuanmen Families, attaining significant gains.
This further convinced him that this Broken Jade was undoubtedly akin to a Divine Object. On the day it fell to the ground alongside a meteor, its origins must have been extraordinary.
At this moment, an idea suddenly struck him. The jade itself was originally an empty void, containing nothing but his avatar. Since the "avatar" could change in life or death according to his will, could the objects around him also exist or transform within this Broken Jade?
This thought was not whimsical or baseless; his reasoning was grounded in the fact that his avatar within the jade wasn't naked but clothed.
The outfit his avatar wore was similar to the one he constantly donned. If clothing could exist, then wouldn't it suggest that other items might also be able to appear within?
Thinking this through, he stretched out his hand in a book-holding gesture and focused his consciousness on the Lin Yao Inquiry Method. Yet before he could figure anything out, he suddenly felt discomfort in his chest and a moment of dizziness, abruptly withdrawing from the avatar back into his physical body.
Zhang Yan abruptly opened his eyes, and in that instant, he felt an intense headache and sweat pouring down his back like raindrops.
Genuinely startled, he couldn't help but think to himself. Since starting Qi Refining, it had been a long time since he felt such exhaustion. He quickly conducted an inner inspection and found that it was as if he'd endured severe fatigue—his Divine Soul was weary, and his Inner Qi was greatly depleted. A single thought revealed the cause: his attempt to create Daoist Books within the jade.
He nodded slightly, acknowledging this trial was beyond his current capabilities regardless of its feasibility. Yet he did not feel disappointed.
If he succeeded, it would have been a delight. If he failed, there was no need to dwell on it. Forcing success would only leave a hindrance in his Dao Heart.
His Dao Heart remained harmonious and balanced, allowing him to easily move on and cast aside the matter within moments.
From the desk, he picked up the bottle of True Origin Elixir gifted by Ai Zhongwen, unscrewed the lid, and poured out a single pill into his palm. Instantly, a faint aromatic fragrance reached his nose, clearing his chest and lungs. This made it clear to him that this elixir pill was extraordinary. Without delay, he swallowed the pill, sat quietly for a moment, and as the elixir power dissolved, a warm, soothing stream radiated throughout his internal organs, filling him with comfort.
Typically, elixir pills of this kind required cultivation and Qi circulation to guide the elixir power through the entire body after ingestion. Otherwise, if the power accumulated, it could harm oneself. Without any hesitation, he immediately entered meditative stillness for Qi refining.
An hour later, his cultivation achieved perfection. All fatigue vanished, and his Inner Qi surged; his Primordial Root was brimming, and his Divine Qi was so abundant it surpassed what he'd usually attain after meditating overnight!
Zhang Yan was silently astonished. He had always acknowledged elixir pills' advantages for cultivators, but their exceptional effects still exceeded his expectations. He had underestimated the potency of elixir pills before. No wonder disciples of Xuanmen Families all succeeded in Foundation Building—apart from having superior Daoist Records, they were likely supported by abundant elixir pills as well.
Unfortunately, his supply of pills was limited. In the future, he would only consume them under critical circumstances, avoiding waste. Deep within, he resolved to focus on elixir pill collection opportunities—he would not let a single chance slip by.
What Zhang Yan wasn't aware of, however, was that this bottle of True Origin Elixir would rank among high-grade pills even within the Xuanmen Families. Ai Zhongwen had given it to him on purpose, hoping to strengthen their bond and ensure Zhang Yan returned his Daoist Records. If Ai Zhongwen found out Zhang Yan had treated his sincere gift like a commonplace commodity, he might feel so stifled that he'd sustain internal injuries.
While Zhang Yan cultivated diligently within his Cave Mansion, Zhou Zishang was in a cool pavilion on Haohue Peak, the Main Peak of Cangwu Mountain, listening to the reports of a servant.
"So, you're saying Zhang Yan has recently been interpreting the Erosion Text on Cangwu Mountain, and now his name is well-known across the Three Daoist Temples?"
A sharp-witted servant, with lowered eyebrows and submissive demeanor, replied softly, "Yes, Young Master, that's correct."