Chapter Four: If I Attain Enlightenment, I Shall Grant You Eternal Life!

Lin You suppressed the joy in his heart, steadied his breath, and began to focus, attempting to communicate with the jade-green sapling in his sea of consciousness using his spirit.

The moment his spirit touched the little tree, a sudden flood of insight welled up within him.

The seed of this tree was indeed the very culprit responsible for his transmigration to this world.

Only after absorbing the Dao essence left behind on the old pine by the elder in hemp robes had this mysterious seed finally managed to break its shell, take root, and sprout.

What he had just witnessed was, in truth, a fragment of the scene from a thousand years ago, when the elder preached the Dao.

Time rewound; a single dream spanned millennia.

The abilities of this little tree were truly beyond belief.

Yet what excited Lin You most was the tiny fruit that had formed at the tip of the sapling after it absorbed the Dao essence left by the old man in hemp robes.

This must be the very foundation of entering the Dao, the True Seed of the Great Path, as the elder had spoken of during his sermon!

However, unlike a genuine Dao Seed, this one was but a half-finished product, hence its bluish-grey hue.

To fully refine it, it would need to absorb much more Dao essence, transforming the false into the true, and finally nurturing a flawless golden-purple Dao Seed.

As for the three glazed jade leaves: the two green ones represented the innate divine abilities of the Dao Seed—Vital Dew and Rejuvenation.

The white jade leaf, on the other hand, was the manifestation of a Daoist art called Riding the Wind.

Lin You realized at once—this must be the legendary technique of the Pine-Crane Daoist, “Soaring Step.”

This method had been acquired by the Pine-Crane Daoist from a stone chamber in the mountains, refined through years of study, and ultimately developed into his peerless lightness skill.

Who would have thought that today, the little tree had restored this Daoist art to its true form.

Lin You’s heart burned with eagerness to try out his newly acquired divine abilities and arts, but reality quickly doused his enthusiasm.

Both divine abilities required spiritual energy to activate; though the Riding the Wind art could be powered by true qi as a substitute, the meager true qi of Lin You’s current stage was far from sufficient.

To soar on the wind for miles, as the Pine-Crane Daoist once did, would require at least the mastery of the Grandmaster level.

At this moment, the old pine behind him seemed to sense Lin You’s thoughts and began to sway gently.

Pine needles fluttered down like a fine rain in the forest.

Moved, Lin You slowly extended his right hand.

Three pine needles, carved of crimson jade and brimming with boundless vitality, landed precisely in his fair palm.

The jade felt smooth and warm to the touch.

In an instant, three lively currents of spiritual energy flowed from the needles into Lin You’s body through his palm.

The jade-green sapling in his sea of consciousness quivered slightly, and three fresh, dewy leaves sprang forth from its branches.

These three streams of spiritual energy represented nearly a month’s accumulation from the earth veins of Red Pine Peak, now all gifted to Lin You by the old pine.

Having given away these three strands, the old pine’s once fiery crimson foliage immediately dulled, clearly a heavy burden for it.

Seeing the now withered branches and leaves, Lin You could not help but feel deeply moved.

Now, with spiritual energy in the world growing ever scarcer, the old pine barely survived as it was.

He never expected the old tree to relinquish something so precious to it.

The affection of plants rivaled the innocence of children!

Eight words surfaced unbidden in Lin You’s mind.

After a long, silent moment, he carefully tucked away the now-lusterless pine needles as treasured keepsakes.

Then, gently stroking the old pine’s rough bark, he solemnly declared, “I, Lin You, swear here and now: should I ever attain the Great Dao, I shall see to it that you remain evergreen through the ages!”

The pine leaves swayed softly, as if in joy—not for Lin You’s vow, but for the happiness of being able to help him.

At that moment, dawn broke, mottling the forest floor with light and shadow. From the Daoist academy behind, three peals of a bell suddenly resounded.

Dong...!

Dong...!

Dong...!

The bell’s deep, resounding tones echoed, startling countless birds from the branches.

Three chimes of the bell: a sign that an honored guest had arrived!

Lin You returned to his senses and looked back.

He saw Qingyangzi, who had just returned to Red Pine Palace, following behind three white-haired Daoist priests, all walking toward him.

“Blessings of the Infinite Celestial Sovereign! I am Yu Jing. Forgive us for keeping you waiting, young friend!”

The white-haired Daoist at the front, whisk in hand, stepped forward with a smile and greeted Lin You with a Daoist salutation.

Lin You straightened his robe and returned the greeting with due respect, “Lin You pays his respects to the Abbot!”

Standing there, Yu Jing scrutinized Lin You, a flash of surprise crossing his face.

Though the youth before him was not yet of many years, his bearing was ethereal and extraordinary, with an air of detachment so pure that he seemed ready to ascend to immortality at any moment.

Behind him, Qingyangzi was already gaping in astonishment.

Though he had sensed Lin You’s uncommon presence before, it was nothing like this—how could a mere moment’s absence have wrought such a transformation?

Stammering, Qingyangzi asked, “Brother Lin, did you... did you ascend to immortality?”

Realizing his words, he hastily covered his mouth, stepping aside in embarrassment.

Within the Daoist tradition, death was often called “ascending to immortality” or “transcending to feathered form,” so his words could be construed as inauspicious.

But Lin You’s metamorphosis stunned him so deeply that even the grandmaster Pine-Crane Daoist himself had never possessed such an otherworldly aura.

Lin You chuckled, shaking his head, “Just now, I met the Old Pine and had a sudden insight. Forgive me if I startled you, Brother Qingyangzi!”

Through his dreamlike communion with the little tree, Lin You had glimpsed the old, red-bearded elder preaching the Dao and absorbed some of the lingering Dao essence.

Thus, to those in Red Pine Palace, Lin You now seemed every bit the exiled immortal of legend.

Such bearing could never be nurtured within the mundane world.

At this moment, Yu Jing’s heart brimmed with irrepressible joy.

He had harbored some doubts about Lin You’s identity, but upon seeing the youth, all suspicion vanished.

Even if this young man was not a true disciple of the Pine-Crane Daoist, he was surely born for the Daoist path!

He had seen many a prodigy in his time—from martial upstarts to princes and nobles—but none compared to the youth before him.

Such a natural, distinguished grace could not be feigned! With proper cultivation, he might very well become a great Daoist master.

A thousand thoughts flashed through Yu Jing’s mind. No matter what, he must keep this young man here!

Resolved, the wrinkles on Yu Jing’s face smoothed as he beamed at Lin You, his whole demeanor seeming younger.

“Young friend, since you are a disciple of the Pine-Crane Master, by seniority, you are my junior brother! May I ask if you possess any keepsake left by your master?”

Lin You nodded, “Indeed I do, Abbot. Please take a look.”

He withdrew from his pack a pinewood seal engraved with the Pine-Crane Daoist’s name and the mark of a Red Pine Palace elder, along with a letter, which he handed to Yu Jing.

Yu Jing received them solemnly, the other Daoists behind him holding their breath and watching intently.

He examined the seal first—a work of the palace’s craftsmen, easily distinguishable as genuine; this was undoubtedly the real article.

He then unfolded the letter and read it carefully several times, his expression growing somber.

His free-spirited uncle had, in the end, failed to reach the immortal path he had pursued all his life, perishing along the road of seeking the Dao.

A tightness gripped his heart, and he let out a soft sigh.

After putting away the letter, Yu Jing asked Lin You a few more questions, confirming his identity.

He then adjusted his robes, and, together with the two white-haired Daoists, stepped forward, bowing solemnly before the ancestral tablet in Lin You’s arms and intoning, “Disciples Yu Jing, Yu Yin, and Yu De, respectfully welcome Pine-Crane Master back to the mountain gate!”

Dozens of Daoists behind them all bowed in unison, “Welcome Pine-Crane Grandmaster back to the mountain gate!”

Holding the ancestral tablet, Lin You was suddenly deeply moved by the scene before him.

The Pine-Crane Daoist, that wayward leaf in exile, had at last returned to his roots! This Red Pine Daoist Palace was his true home!

Within his sea of consciousness, the little tree glimmered like jade. Lin You wondered, would it one day lead him home as well?

He stood there, lost in thought, his mind wandering to the ties severed in his previous life in pursuit of the Dao.

After a moment’s silence, he smiled freely and murmured, “Though my heart yearns for the Dao, I would not regret it, even if it cost me my life a hundred times.”

Since heaven had granted him such fortune, this life, he would see for himself the grandeur of the immortal path!