Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
While Ji Yuan and the others were still immersed in their cultivation, an increasing number of cultivators had gathered outside the mountain peak where they were located.
After all, an intact cave mansion was an undeniable temptation for the numerous cultivators exploring within the dojo.
Not to mention that three days prior, the few individuals who had been teleported out by the formation had reaped extraordinarily bountiful harvests. Even the weakest of them, a couple cultivating as Dao companions, displayed treasures that made countless people intensely envious after they were besieged and killed by the surrounding cultivators.
It was a pity that a pair of Dao companions with bright futures as formation masters ultimately succumbed to severe injuries sustained during the struggle for inheritance, with their reliant magical artifacts nearly destroyed.
Facing the siege of numerous cultivators, they eventually ran out of strength and their entire fortune was devoured.
Consequently, more and more cultivators learned of this and converged around, waiting for those who would emerge from the inheritance.
The spiritual items outside the cave mansion alone were precious to a chilling degree, so what value could the items left within hold?
Elder Hong Tian also led the disciples of the Nine Profound Sect, waiting outside the mountain peak. Beside him stood a middle-aged man with a stern expression, exuding a palpable aura of the Jianghu.
This person was none other than Nan Xi, the middle-aged swordsman who had been displaced by the formation and nearly killed in the siege!
As a rather renowned figure in the Jianghu of Feiyun Prefecture, he surprisingly shared a good relationship with Elder Hong Tian of the Nine Profound Sect.
It was precisely because of this that the latter, while searching for Ji Yuan, had intervened when he saw Nan Xi being attacked and subsequently learned of Ji Yuan's current whereabouts from him.
Initially, Elder Hong Tian intended to forcefully enter the mountain but discovered that the formation here was too profound. Even after thousands of years, it still retained two to three-tenths of its power.
Even with less than half of its original might, it was sufficient to repel almost all cultivators of the third realm.
If his cultivation had reached the peak of the third realm, and he wielded a couple of offensive magical treasures along with his lightning techniques, he might have had a slim chance of breaking through the protective formation's defenses.
"Senior Hong, there's no need to worry too much. With Fellow Daoist Ji's strength, he can protect himself even if he encounters danger, not to mention he is currently receiving an inheritance."
Seeing the elder frowning incessantly beside him, Nan Xi couldn't help but offer words of comfort.
However, after speaking just a few sentences, he couldn't help but cough. Even though three days had passed, his internal injuries were still quite severe.
Even with the healing spiritual pills from the Nine Profound Sect, he could only barely suppress his injuries. At this moment, let alone fighting others, even mobilizing a trace of spiritual energy would exacerbate his injuries.
"There are things you don't understand."
Elder Hong Tian sighed, some words being difficult to utter directly.
Only Zhao Yuansong, Wu Chengqing, and others behind him understood the meaning of his words.
Ji Yuan was indeed extremely important to the Nine Profound Sect. To achieve a complete and flawless promotion of the sect, his presence was indispensable.
However, on the other hand, if the Nine Profound Sect were to overlook this minor flaw, he would become less important to the sect.
Everything ultimately rested on the Nine Profound Sect's decision.
But for now, everyone in the Nine Profound Sect valued Ji Yuan immensely, fearing any accident might befall him.
After a total of seven days had passed, Ji Yuan, who had been meditating in the bamboo house, finally slowly opened his eyes.
A potent soul light was rapidly converging within his brows. Although his cultivation had not improved significantly, he exuded a palpable sense of greater power than seven days prior.
His entire demeanor had become much more reserved, giving him an aura of Daoist tranquility and non-action. Had he been a little older, he could have been mistaken for an immortal detached from worldly affairs.
Seven days of cultivation had allowed him to achieve an initial grasp of the Myriad Source Origin Spirit True Law. It wasn't merely entering the threshold but rather gaining significant insights. He estimated that within a year or two, he should be able to reach the minor accomplishment stage.
In fact, Ji Yuan had already achieved the introductory stage of this profound law four or five days earlier. His soul light, which was already comparable to the mid-stage of the Spirit Pointing Realm, immediately surged, bringing him just a hair's breadth away from the late stage.
Although this slight gap might take years to bridge.
After all, soul light was different from spiritual energy; it was a manifestation of soul power. Any carelessness could lead to the disintegration of the three souls and seven spirits, leaving behind only a physical body.
After ceasing the operation of his cultivation techniques and secret arts, Ji Yuan tidied up the meditation cushion he was sitting on, as well as the incense burner and the remaining stick of incense on the table. He then rose and opened the door.
He had sensed that the two individuals who had been cultivating behind closed doors had emerged from their respective bamboo houses, which prompted him to end his own cultivation.
As expected, when he opened the door, he saw Li Buwei and Zhou Lianying standing between the bamboo houses with smiles on their faces.
Judging by their expressions and the soul light fluctuations emanating from them, they had clearly cultivated the profound law to an introductory level, causing their soul power to surge considerably.
"You really are..."
Ji Yuan walked over a few steps, a look of exasperation and amusement appearing on his face.
Zhou Lianying was not only cradling the meditation cushion but also the incense burner and a stick of incense, while dragging a table behind her.
He thought for a moment, then handed over a mountain and river bag. He had obtained this from Hong Lie after defeating him. As for the contents, he had already transferred them to his Emerald Ring in the previous few days.
"You... Thank you..."
Zhou Lianying fumbled to accept the mountain and river bag, her heart filled with a myriad of emotions.
There was touch, gratitude, and many other indescribable feelings.
However, these emotions abruptly ceased, interrupting suddenly.
"No need to thank me. Just remember to return the money from the mountain and river bag to me later, preferably in banknotes from the Great Yu Dynasty's Bank."
Ji Yuan thought seriously, "If it's gold notes, spirit stones, or spirit coins, that would be even better. Spiritual materials are fine too, but selling them off would be a bit troublesome."
"..."
Li Buwei silently raised his head, suppressing a smile, his eyes even welling up with a tear.
Zhou Lianying, on the other hand, felt as if she had been struck by lightning, gripping the mountain and river bag even tighter.
"Since you've all successfully entered the introductory stage of the profound law, let's activate the teleportation formation."
Ji Yuan, as if oblivious, took out the inheritance pearl and looked at them calmly.
Upon seeing this, the two took a deep breath, their expressions turning serious.
If they couldn't successfully activate the formation and teleport outside the cave mansion, they would likely have to find another way, or else they would starve to death here.
The three exchanged glances and then simultaneously activated their soul light, slowly pouring it into the inheritance pearl.
As layer upon layer of soul light flowed in, the patterns on the inheritance pearl began to glow brightly, and after more than ten breaths, they became dazzling.
The entire cave mansion was bathed in a soft radiance, and a complex formation pattern silently materialized beneath their feet. Immediately, they felt a dizzying sensation, as if being swept by a gale into the ninth heaven.
In the intense feeling of weightlessness, Ji Yuan suddenly felt a flash of white light before his eyes, and then a sharp pain in his brow. The previously sealed acupoint was forcefully opened.
The sea of consciousness, which could only be opened after reaching the Ming Dao Realm, was instantly forced open. A pearl, carrying immeasurable light, rushed into it.
In less than a moment, heavy soul light cascaded into this acupoint, bringing Ji Yuan a sense of warmth, as if a long-lost wanderer had finally returned home.
After a few breaths, the sensation of weightlessness on their bodies subsided like a receding tide, and they found themselves teleported outside the cave mansion, precisely within the mountain gate.
At a glance, Li Buwei and Zhou Lianying saw an uncountable number of cultivators gathered outside the mountain protection formation, currently glaring at them menacingly.
They instinctively turned their heads to look and saw Ji Yuan with his eyes closed, waves of radiant light emanating from his brow.
After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, a soul-stirring gleam flashing within them.
In just a few breaths, he discovered with pleasant surprise that his upper Dantian, also known as the Mud Pill Palace, had been unexpectedly and forcefully opened!
Under normal circumstances, this acupoint could only be slowly opened upon reaching the third realm, that is, breaking through to the Ming Dao Realm.
This acupoint, referred to as the Mud Pill Palace and the upper Dantian, is the location of the sea of consciousness. In Daoism, it is also known by other names like the Heavenly Palace and Kunlun, and it is where the soul and spirit reside.
Only by opening the upper Dantian do the three souls and seven spirits truly have a 'dwelling' and are no longer disturbed by various yin winds and malevolent energies, nor do they fear being startled by seasonal storms.
With the Mud Pill Palace occupied, soul light can then transform into divine sense, allowing one to extend their divine consciousness several miles with a single thought, perceiving everything far more clearly than with the naked eye.
Furthermore, once the sea of consciousness is filled, one can even attempt to gather the three souls and seven spirits, condensing them into a primordial spirit.
Upon success, the primordial spirit can then leave the acupoint and travel thousands of miles in the world in the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.
In summary, opening this acupoint brings numerous benefits to cultivators. The divine sense alone can gain immeasurable advantages, whether for avoiding danger, probing the cultivation realms of enemies, or searching for heavenly treasures, all of which have infinite applications.
The reason Ji Yuan was able to open the acupoint housing the sea of consciousness a full major realm ahead of schedule was due to the inheritance pearl at that moment.
The inheritance pearl, containing the Myriad Source Origin Spirit True Law, inexplicably entered his brow during the teleportation of the three, bypassing the Zi Fu Palace and forcefully opening the upper Dantian.
He speculated internally that perhaps it was because the extent to which he had cultivated the Myriad Source Origin Spirit True Law was far more profound than the other two?
Shaking his head, Ji Yuan temporarily suppressed these thoughts. He then sensed the gazes of those beside him. As he looked up, he saw the scene behind them.
The endless stream of cultivators and their menacing gazes made his scalp tingle, and he almost took half a step back.
He had considered the possibility of encountering some cultivators loitering nearby after leaving the cave mansion, but he had never expected such a large number!
It was no wonder. Had Lü Xian and the other pair not been besieged and their spoils publicly displayed, it would not have attracted so many cultivators.
Even now, the number of cultivators gathered here was somewhat fewer than a few days ago. Some, after waiting for a period, had chosen to leave and seek opportunities elsewhere.
Even so, there were at least over a hundred cultivators gathered here, a vast throng lingering outside the mountain gate guarded by the mountain protection formation.