The little creature was the size of a baby's palm.
Its skin was transparent, resembling a crystal doll, allowing one to faintly see its internal meridians and organs.
Golden spiritual liquid flowed through its veins, clearly containing an infinite life force. The meridians resembled meticulously carved silver rivers, shimmering with light.
At that moment, the jade hairpin Jiang Shouzhong had placed in a secret compartment of the wardrobe suddenly emitted a buzzing sword sound.
The jade hairpin flew out from the gap of the cabinet, pointing directly at the crystal figure.
The crystal figure was startled, then, with hands on hips, glared at the jade hairpin with a haughty look as if relying on some dependable backing.
It completely lacked the frightened demeanor it had when it first crawled out of the book and was intimidated by the other.
Seeing that the jade hairpin's murderous intent did not subside, the crystal figure shrank again, timidly pointing at Jiang Shouzhong, who was asleep.
The two sides confronted each other.
Eventually, the jade hairpin flew around the figure before drifting to hover above Jiang Shouzhong's forehead.
After hovering for a moment and apparently deciding the figure would indeed not harm him, it returned to the wardrobe's secret compartment.
It lay quietly next to the decree.
The crystal figure, seemingly relieved, closed its eyes and began to twirl and leap like a ballet dancer, ending up on Jiang Shouzhong's chest.
It then transformed into a streak of light and entered the man's ancestral cavity.
...
Outside the Capital, amidst the cold wind, a middle-aged Confucian scholar with a pack on his back was slowly walking along a winding path.
The scholar was of medium build and slightly slender, with a slightly dark face that sported a few unruly whiskers. Wearing a light blue robe that swayed in the wind, he exuded an air of calm and elegance.
Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.
The middle-aged man frowned slightly and took out a book from his pack.
The old book trembled and buzzed, emitting a faint sword sound as if sensing something.
"The Yin charm from the Tianyuan River Map Book has found its master already?"
The middle-aged scholar was somewhat surprised, squinting towards the location of the Capital, "Dead men, people dead, both the Qi and the Five Elements are for naught… it's really strange. Using death energy to summon Yin charm."
He looked down at the book struggling to break free and said with a smile, "Don't rush, since the book has acknowledged a master, I won't compete for it. I'll take you to your companion. A good deed from a thousand miles, a favor to a man."
The man sighed, "The 'Observing the Boundless Wonderful Dharma Sutra' of Buddhism has already appeared, the Taoist River Map has acknowledged a master, only the mysterious book of the Yin Yang Sect is left. Is the era of great strife coming?"
The middle-aged scholar picked up his pack, ready to proceed, when his shape suddenly stilled, and he looked up at a tall figure standing on the branches of a high tree ahead.
The newcomer was also a middle-aged man.
With a tall and broad build, he wore a silver-edged brocade battle robe that made him look imposing and majestic.
He held a silver spear.
The baleful aura of blood and battle from the battlefield that radiated from him made the surrounding air oppressively heavy.
In this small world, everything was suffused with an aura of slaughter.
"Mr. Yan, I've discovered you possess half of the Taoist River Map. Could you turn it over to me, and I would exchange it for a 'Golden Armored Puppet'?"
The spear-wielding man got straight to the point.
The man addressed as Mr. Yan said with a smile,
"I've heard that this military strategist Saint of yours has recently taken the Crown Prince as a disciple, congratulations! It seems you want this half of the Taoist River Map to give it to the Crown Prince."
The military sect is divided into four factions.
Military power strategy, military formations, military Yin and Yang, and military skills.
And the man who suddenly appeared was a representative of the Yin Yang military sect named Yuwen Lie.
He had already reached the Saintly Ascension Realm.
The Yin Yang military sect emphasizes "obtaining the right timing and location" and is adept at using geographical terrain and changes in weather to arrange their strategies, aiming to ensure an invincible position for themselves.
They also used "deceiving the spirits for aid," employing a variety of techniques under the governance of Yin Yang and the Five Elements in their military theory and practice.
In an era that values cultivation, the Yin Yang military sect undoubtedly leads the military factions.
Yuwen Lie, named as a saint of the military sect, spoke indifferently,
"In an era of great contention, the military faction is revered! The Crown Prince has received heavenly favor and possesses the vein of a hidden dragon; taking him as a disciple is in accordance with the heavenly trend. Moreover, a Confucian saint has also bestowed upon him a tool for cultivating his mind."
Mr. Yan smiled and said, "But how come I heard that the heavenly favor and dragon's vein on the Crown Prince were stolen by the head of the Heavenly Observatory from someone else?
Since the Crown Prince adheres to Confucianism as his foundation for cultivating his mind and virtues, he should know that building virtue begins with cultivating oneself. If it isn't rightfully his, even a tiny bit shouldn't be taken. Aren't you worried that this would harm the Crown Prince's cultivation state of mind?"
Yuwen Lie laughed heartily, "What Confucianism does is none of my concern, but for my military faction, the process is unimportant; what matters is the result. On the battlefield, whether by schemes, overpowering tactics, or sheer luck, losing is losing, and winning is winning.
You, Mr. Yan, who switched from Confucianism to the military sect, understand the principle of 'the victor becomes king, the defeated bandit' even better than I."
"Whether the divine favor on the Crown Prince was stolen or snatched, it doesn't matter. What matters is that it is now with the Crown Prince; that alone is enough."
Mr. Yan nodded slightly, "That makes sense."
Yuwen Lie asked, "So, Mr. Yan, are you swapping or not?"
Mr. Yan slightly tilted his chin upward, the cold wind untangling some of his graying hair, his eyes clear and bright as he smiled and said, "If I don't swap, what can you do?"
"Then I... can only snatch it."
Yuwen Lie shook the silver spear in his hand, his killing intent profound.
...
Taoist, Zhenxuan Mountain.
A mystic mountain far from the earthly turmoil, concealed amidst swirling clouds and fog.
The area was lush with plants, and exotic birds chirped melodiously on branches, the air filled with faint spiritual essence and the scent of flowers, completely devoid of winter's bleak coldness.
At the peak of the mountain, palace pavilions lofty and majestic, with flying eaves shyly peeking through the dense bamboo, appeared like an ethereal paradise hidden from the world.
Occasionally, one could see Taoists of various ages, either sitting or standing on mountain rocks, holding magic artifacts, muttering incantations, immersed in profound Taoist practices, displaying a transcendent and detached scene.
Suddenly, a melodious bell sounded throughout the valley.
Time seemed to freeze.
Atop the cliff, an elderly Taoist with a youthful face and crane-like hair, wrapped in azure talismans, abruptly opened his eyes, a surprised expression on his face, "The Taoist River Map has recognized a new master?"
He looked down towards a young Taoist meditating on the mountainside and slowly said, "Yichen, go retrieve the River Map."
The handsome and ethereal young Taoist didn't immediately agree but asked a peculiar question first, "What if that person is destined for the River Map?"
The elderly Taoist was silent for a long time before saying indifferently, "Heavenly rain does not nourish rootless grass; Taoist methods only ferry those with destiny. No Dao, no destiny."
The young Taoist nodded and shouted towards a distant waterfall, "Let's go, Skyfall."
Boom!
A Spirit Sword rushed out from within the waterfall, wielding the authority of perfected Daoist magic, whirling above before settling into the sheath on the young Taoist's back.
The majestic waterfall vanished.
The young Taoist, with the sword on his back, sleeves fluttering, sang out,
"The Dao is not far, within the body, where all things are void yet not void. If nature is not void, it sustains the qi, qi returns to the origin sea, life is eternal. If you wish the spirit in the body not to leave, don't retain anything on the Spirit Platform..."