Clarifying the Mind

The sect leader placed a yellowed, thread-bound book in front of Liu Jin. The cover was inscribed with the title "Laoshan Magic - Illusion Manual" in ancient seal script. It was not a rubbing, but a handwritten original manuscript. The edges of the pages were frayed from repeated readings, and the margins of each page were crammed with annotations in tiny, neat characters, the handwriting slender and powerful, exactly like the style of Mingzhen and Mingshan when they drew talismans.

The sect leader explained that this was a collection of illusion techniques passed down through generations of sect leaders of Laoshan, never to be shared with outsiders. He was making an exception today, lending it to Liu Jin for a look—not as a gift, but as a loan, and that it must be returned afterward. Liu Jin took the copy, flipped through it, nodded his thanks, and did not refuse.

The sect leader then looked at the Taoist priest and said that although his cultivation had stagnated due to being trapped in the illusion for so many years, his understanding of illusion techniques had probably surpassed that of any of his peers in Laoshan. This understanding was gained at the cost of his life and should not rot on the mountain. He should be allowed to go down the mountain with Liu Jin so that he could see what was happening in the human world and do something when he was truly needed.

The sect leader then took out a palm-sized bronze mirror from his sleeve. The mirror was simple and unadorned, with Bagua patterns engraved on the edges, and a crane with outstretched wings cast on the back. He handed the bronze mirror to the Taoist priest, saying that any news would be transmitted to him through this mirror. If that fellow cultivator of corpses had indeed cultivated a drought demon, Laoshan would not stand idly by.

After explaining these things, the sect leader turned to Liu Jin, his tone becoming more serious. Although the Taoist had awakened, remnants of illusion still lingered deep within his soul, suppressed only by his own illusionary arts skills. Without supervision, he could easily sink into an excessively deep meditative state again while practicing illusionary arts, repeating the same mistake. Therefore, he requested Liu Jin to take him down the mountain for some time to hone his skills. Liu Jin pondered for a moment and nodded.

The Taoist priest listened silently. When he heard the sect leader say "repeating the same mistakes," a slight twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth, a half-smile, as if he wanted to refute but dared not argue. Only after the sect leader had finished explaining everything did he speak and ask, "Master, is my Taoist name still the same? Or will you give me a new one?"

The sect leader stroked his beard and looked at him for a long time before slowly saying that the Daoist name given to him back then was "Mingxin," meaning "to understand one's mind and see one's true nature." Unfortunately, he had been wandering in illusions all these years, neither seeing his mind nor understanding his true nature. The Daoist name must not be changed until he truly understands his mind and sees his true nature; only then will the name be truly fitting.

After listening, Mingxin bowed his head and recited his Taoist name twice, then bowed deeply.

Before their departure, the sect leader escorted the two to the mountain gate. Mingzhen and Mingshan were already waiting there. Mingshan slipped a bundle into Mingxin's hand, containing several changes of Daoist robes and a bag of dry rations for the journey. Mingxin's eyes reddened slightly as he took the bundle, but he only managed to say, "Thank you, Senior Brother." Mingshan patted him on the shoulder without saying anything more.

......

"When Liu Jin went down the mountain, he was alone, but when he came back, there were two of them, one of whom was entrusted by the head of Laoshan Sect to be a 'key person under his supervision'."

"Sanyi Temple is becoming a refuge for fellow countrymen from all over the world."

"It's not exactly a shelter, because Chen Xiaoman wasn't with him before. Zhao Fengnian came to him on his own initiative, while Mingxin was entrusted by the sect leader, so they're not the same thing."

"The Taoist name Mingxin is so fitting. Being trapped in illusion for so many years is just a struggle with things that one's own mind cannot understand."

"Sect Leader: Only when you truly understand will this Daoist title be truly fitting. Mingxin: Master, I've remembered your words for decades. Sect Leader: Then hurry up and explain yourself."

"Speaking of which, this trip to Laoshan has been quite fruitful, yielding a copy of the Illusion Technique manual and a Mingxin. On the surface, we came to exchange ideas, but in reality, we came to recruit people."

......

The two descended Laoshan Mountain along the same path they had come from. The mountain path was lined with lush pine and cypress trees, shrouded in mist, just like the scenery they had encountered on their way there. But Mingxin observed it with exceptional focus. He had been trapped in the stone house for too long and had not seen real mountains, real clouds, or real sunlight for a long time.

After walking for a while, he suddenly asked Liu Jin, his tone filled with barely suppressed curiosity: "Master Liu, what did you experience during your travels through the various realms?" The most exciting stories of his life were all in the illusions. After waking up, he found that they were all fake, so he was particularly eager to hear about other people's real experiences.

Liu Jin thought for a moment and decided there was nothing to hide, so he started with the main storyline. He began with the entrance exam for the San Yi Sect, skipping the details: Zuo Ruotong's sermon, the three-stage breakthrough of Reverse Life, the Zhuge family borrowing fire, the fight with Zhang Zhiwei at the Lu family's birthday banquet, slapping Wu Gensheng on the ridge, and breaking through to the third level and ascending to Liaozhai in the martial arts arena.

Mingxin remained silent for a long time after listening. He had woven countless similar stories for himself in his illusions: joining a prestigious sect, having a master who imparted all his knowledge, having junior brothers to fight alongside, and having rivals who respected each other. Each time he woke up, it was all a lie. But Liu Jin's experiences were all real. He suddenly smiled, shook his head, and sighed, saying that this was exactly what cultivation should be like in his imagination.

When we returned to Sanyi Temple, Zhao Fengnian was squatting in the yard watering the vegetable garden. After making some progress in his water-manipulation skills, his method of watering the vegetables changed. With a gentle flick of his finger, the water in the bucket would automatically split into several thin streams, precisely landing at the base of each seedling without spilling a single drop.

Hearing the sound of the courtyard gate, he looked up and first saw Liu Jin, grinning from ear to ear; then he saw Ming Xin following behind Liu Jin and paused for a moment. They had agreed to go and come back quickly, but he had brought back a grown woman.

He put down the water ladle and went to greet him. Liu Jin briefly introduced them. Mingxin took the initiative to extend his hand and said "Hello" somewhat awkwardly, a greeting he hadn't used in many years.

After settling in, Mingxin stayed at the Sanyi Temple for a few days. Every day, he did morning prayers, chopped wood, and swept the floor with Zhao Fengnian. Occasionally, he would go down the mountain to Jinhua City to help with some small matters. If a child was plagued by nightmares, he would gently touch the child's forehead, and a flash of light would dispel the nightmare.

He discovered that the skills he had honed in the illusions over the years were surprisingly useful in reality. Illusion magic is all about subtle influence, and it's a hundred times more effective at helping people than at harming them.

However, he never asked Liu Jin for the cultivation method of the Samadhi True Fire. Zhao Fengnian initially thought he was just being polite, but later realized that he really didn't want it, so he found an opportunity to ask him privately.

Mingxin thought for a moment and explained that it wasn't out of politeness, but because his own conditions didn't allow it. He had been trapped in the illusion for too many years, and his spirit had been constantly tempered, making his soul far stronger than his peers. However, his physical body had also been depleted due to prolonged lack of food and water, and his vital energy was severely insufficient.

Currently, the three elements of essence, energy, and spirit are completely unbalanced. The spirit is too strong, the essence is too weak, and the energy is barely holding on through the illusionary realm. If one were to learn the Samadhi True Fire at this point, regardless of which Samadhi is learned first, it would automatically transform into divine fire because the spirit is too dominant. The essence and energy would never catch up, and the foundation would be completely skewed.

He understood this principle the moment Liu Jin saved him. The operating logic of the Samadhi True Fire turned his strength of soul into a weakness, which was extremely poisonous to him.