Xiu Zhen opened his eyes in satisfaction.
"Ah—!"
Even though he possessed a Primordial Spirit body, he seemed to truly be able to breathe. Letting out a long breath, he astonishingly exhaled the pent-up frustration he had held in his heart for countless years.
Perfected.
In the micro domain imperceptible to ordinary people, Xiu Zhen's Primordial Spirit violently disintegrated, turning into countless thoughts, and then reassembled in a more perfect manner.
Before this, although he was a Primordial Spirit miraculously born from the fusion of the World Honored One's Evil Consciousness and Du Xuan's Good Consciousness, his foundation had always been unstable. He wasn't much better off than Du Xuan. It was only because he lacked cultivation and only possessed the essence of a Primordial Spirit that he survived; otherwise, he might not have been able to withstand getting lost in the dark void.
However, it was different now.
After listening to Sisui's lecture on the Dao, his originally wavering condition stabilized like never before, even giving rise to a solid sensation that only a physical body possessed.
But soon, he sobered up.
'...Not good!'
Turning around, Xiu Zhen saw the "Ancestral Dragon" beside him, only to see that the latter's mind was still wandering beyond heaven, seemingly having not yet recovered from the state of Dao comprehension.
This finally allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief.
'Thank goodness. It seems Sisui treats me and the Ancestral Dragon equally. He didn't make me alone fall into a state of Dao comprehension so he could go talk to the Ancestral Dragon privately.'
This was what was normal.
After all, he was highly likely Sisui's handiwork, born because of him. Meanwhile, the Ancestral Dragon was mortal enemies with Sisui back then. Which one was more important was clear at a glance.
'The fact that I woke up earlier than the Ancestral Dragon now is ironclad proof!'
In the next second, Xiu Zhen saw Sisui standing in front of the quiet room not far away. He became even more certain in his heart; this was clearly waiting for him!
"Xiu Zhen greets Senior."
Without a sliver of hesitation, Xiu Zhen immediately stood up and bowed respectfully. He no longer put on airs, completely placing himself in a subordinate position.
If nothing else, just based on the fact that Sisui truly solved the hidden dangers of his Primordial Spirit for him, his perception of Sisui immediately underwent a brand new change. If not for worrying about disgusting the other party, he would have loved to yell "Dad" at Sisui to express his attitude.
Moreover, in a certain sense.
Sisui truly was his "Dad." After all, without him, he fundamentally wouldn't have been born. Calling him Dad wouldn't lose him a piece of flesh; as long as there were benefits, it was fine.
"..."
Looking at Xiu Zhen—who appeared respectful on the surface but was actually exuding the stench of "scheming" from head to toe—Sisui sighed silently.
He was different from Lu Yang.
He could tell that although both were "scheming," Lu Yang's attitude and Xiu Zhen's were different. In Lu Yang's words and actions, there was actually sincerity.
Scheming was merely his protective coloration.
However, for Xiu Zhen, his "scheming" was entirely driven by profit. However respectful he was at this moment, he would be equally ruthless in the future for greater profit.
Despite this, Sisui only sighed.
He didn't care.
If he cared about these things, he wouldn't have saved Du Xuan back then and lent him a hand when he was forcing a breakthrough. Because he believed these things could be changed.
They just lacked guidance.
Thinking of this, Sisui couldn't help but smile slightly: "Fellow Daoist has gained no small harvest this time. If Fellow Daoist wishes, I can reshape a physical body for Fellow Daoist right now."
"...Really?"
Xiu Zhen raised his head. The massive pie Sisui offered smashed him dizzy. After a brief moment of confusion came hesitation; he couldn't be trying to scam me, right?
However, in the next second, Sisui used his actions to display his attitude. He gently raised the ferule in his hand. Boundless imagery surfaced on the ferule: a clear breeze and bright moon, a rising sun in the east, ethereal clouds and smoke interacting and piling up. Then, he gently tapped Xiu Zhen's head with this ferule.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
Three muffled sounds as the ferule tapped lightly.
With the first sound, a true body appeared in front of Xiu Zhen. With the second sound, the stature of the true body began to climb. With the third sound, the Primordial Spirit entered and took command of the true body.
"Boom!"
In an instant, Xiu Zhen opened his eyes. All the imagery sank into the depths of his eyes, finally condensing and transforming, astonishingly presenting a beam of bright divine light!
Immediately after, his aura skyrocketed!
Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Perfected Lord, Great Perfected Lord... in just a short breath, Xiu Zhen, who previously only had a Primordial Spirit, filled in his missing parts.
Golden Core Great Perfection! Dao Lord!
Placed in the ancient era, before [Paramita] appeared, he would also be considered a Dao Lord!
In this instant, even the "Ancestral Dragon," who was originally in a state of "Dao comprehension," was startled awake. He turned his head and looked at Xiu Zhen with a look of astonishment.
This time he wasn't faking it; he was truly astonished.
'Damn it, what the hell is this awesome thing? Can you tap me a few times too to see?'
Of course, Lu Yang was only thinking about it.
He also knew clearly in his heart that this wasn't really Sisui casually enlightening someone to Golden Core Great Perfection. It was mostly because Xiu Zhen himself possessed the essence of a Primordial Spirit.
On the other side, Xiu Zhen was in ecstasy.
"Many thanks, Senior!"
Without any hesitation, Xiu Zhen immediately performed a tiger's descent, about to give Sisui a grand bow, but was forcefully held up by a gust of gentle breeze.
"You are thanking me too early."
Sisui shook his head with a helpless expression: "It is only within this place. Once you leave this place, without [Yin and Yang], you will be knocked back to your original form."
The expression on Xiu Zhen's face instantly stiffened.
'It's gone once I leave?'
He looked at his hands and feet, then sensed the surging spiritual power within his body, as well as the Dao Lord-level stature. His face instantly contorted.
'How could this do!'
Without having seen the light, one wouldn't know exactly how dark the darkness is.
Before this, although he had been constantly scheming for the unorthodox path of [Yin and Yang], he hadn't succeeded after all; it was purely a scheme, so he was actually somewhat apprehensive in his heart.
But now, he succeeded.
Without paying any price, he succeeded effortlessly. Yet now he was told he had to change back once he left. He was a thousand, ten thousand times unwilling!
Thinking of this, Xiu Zhen's tone was dry as he said with difficulty:
"Is... is there no method to retain it?"
Sisui shook his head:
"If Fellow Daoist has made up your mind to stay in this place with this poor Daoist, then it does not matter. But if you choose to leave, this poor Daoist truly has no method."
"This..."
Xiu Zhen gritted his teeth, clearly unwilling to stay in the seal to serve time. For a moment, his state of mind was in chaos, until the "Ancestral Dragon" beside him suddenly said:
"Actually, it's not that there isn't a method."
"...Hm?"
Xiu Zhen abruptly turned around, his eyes burning as he looked at the Ancestral Dragon. He said straightforwardly: "If Fellow Daoist has a method, I will definitely repay you generously in the future!"
"It's actually very simple."
Lu Yang smiled, then took out a jade slip from his robe: "I have a Dao Lineage here, named the Investiture of the Gods Method. Perhaps I can give it to Fellow Daoist to peruse."
"By cultivating this method, Fellow Daoist doesn't even need a physical body."
"You can directly erect a divine statue outside the sea of light. When the time comes, with Fellow Daoist's abilities, you can easily elevate your cultivation without worrying about being discovered!"
As his voice fell, Xiu Zhen gradually furrowed his brows.
On the other side, Sisui looked deeply at the gently smiling Lu Yang, feeling somewhat helpless, and couldn't help but sigh again inwardly about the degenerating public morals.
This little Fellow Daoist is truly not a good person!