Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path

"Eh..."

"There's a change."

Zhou Ping'an silently rejoiced in his heart.

This silk handkerchief had always been hidden in a personal pouch by the deceased Fiery Flame Messenger, a testament to its treasured status.

The most important thing was, considering the identity of the Fiery Flame Messenger himself.

And the drawing on the silk handkerchief was that of a red lotus flower...

How could it not lead to a wealth of speculation?

Zhou Ping'an had been in this world for some time now.

Through casual chats and banter, he occasionally caught bits and pieces of information and knew that the path of martial arts was vast and profound, with the Noble Clans and Great Sects and Secret Sect Origins holding not just techniques for refining energy and qi but also the mystic divine martial arts that unlocked the divine will.

They claimed to lead from mortal martial to true martial and then from true martial to divine martial...

Legends spoke of predecessors achieving a divine form from a mortal one, breaking free from the world, and attaining longevity.

No version of the myth could bypass something called the "True Intent Fundamental Diagram."

Without the "True Intent Fundamental Diagram," a cultivation technique could at most be refined to the ninth level of mortal martial; it would never reach the True Martial Realm.

This needed a diagram, that needed a diagram.

Coincidence?

Though obtaining a True Intent diagram from a Red Lotus Sect Divine Envoy with a mere fifth-level Blood Exchange Realm of mortal martial might seem far-fetched.

One always hopes for serendipity, to harbor a thought...

Zhou Ping'an's thought was always hopeful that this Red Lotus Diagram could be the legendary item.

After all, on one hand, the history of rebellion of the Red Lotus Sect was indeed lengthy, with an ancient lineage.

Moreover, this sect was known for its generosity regarding techniques taught to subordinates.

They might as well have wished that the whole world learned their techniques and plunged into chaos.

Whatever it was they truly sought was still unknown.

On the other hand, this Red Lotus Diagram did indeed possess various mystical qualities.

Just looking at it for too long could make the mind dizzy, preventing any further focused visualization.

This was an experience Zhou Ping'an had never had in his twenty-two years of life.

"So-called Red Lotus Karmic Fire, according to some texts of other sects in the original world, generally comes from Buddhism terminology.

It is said to 'split flesh and skin, washing away all sins', and this particular sect's forte should be the visualization technique...

How exactly does one visualize with the visualization technique?"

At this thought, Zhou Ping'an remembered seeing a ritual called "Three Gates of Body, Speech, and Mind Prostrations" and seemed to grasp the essence of it.

In summary, it was all about sincerity, right thought, and chanting.

Sincerity and right thought needed no explanation—extreme focus was key.

What exactly to chant Zhou Ping'an did not know, but he understood its purpose.

It was to hypnotize oneself, fervently imagining, fervently imagining.

Turning fiction into reality.

So, Zhou Ping'an, for the twenty-third time these days, tried again.

He keenly felt that this time might be different.

Indeed.

As myriad thoughts receded like the tide...

The Red Lotus Diagram before his eyes seemed to ignite into a blazing fire, breaking free from the silk handkerchief and gradually moving towards his brow.

Zhou Ping'an remained neither sad nor happy, aware that he could not afford any disturbance in his thoughts.

He continued to maintain a state akin to contemplating yet not contemplating.

Then, he saw it clearly.

The true or illusory flame shaped like a red lotus was actually being pulled and propelled by more than a dozen thin white threads, entering the sea of consciousness at his brow.

Boom...

A clap of thunder seemed to ring out in his mind.

Before his eyes, a roaring fire consumed him...

Zhou Ping'an was slightly startled in his heart, he opened his eyes, no longer able to maintain the meditative seated posture, and leaped backward.

Only then did he discover that he was actually not on fire.

His clothes were not burnt either.

What he experienced was just an illusion.

...

Under the glow of the red candle's light, the red lotus on the silk handkerchief had lost its mystique, its color already faded by seven or eight degrees.

No matter how closely one inspected it, it was just ordinary cinnabar, casually painted on silk.

Deep within the mind, with a mere concentration of thought, one could sense a lotus flower slowly rotating.

"Is this the success of visualization, or the failure of it?"

"And what exactly is its use?"

Zhou Ping'an tried his punching and kicking strength and found no substantial difference.

Aside from feeling as clear-headed as if his mind had been washed with water, he felt nothing else.

"The white threads, those white threads..."

Suddenly, Zhou Ping'an recalled the white threads that had abruptly appeared when he visualized the Red Lotus Diagram earlier.

It was these lines that had brought him success.

The murmuring voices he'd heard vaguely seemed to be related to the threads.

Once again immersing himself in his thoughts, Zhou Ping'an discovered the true nature of the white threads.

The lines were not truly threads but strands like silk or light, radiating a faint halo.

They were like the silk spun by a spider, stretching into the unfathomable night sky.

The silk strands varied in thickness...

His mind focused intently, he could hear faint sounds emanating from within the threads.

After contemplating, he concentrated his attention on the thickest and most solid line.

The whispers that were barely perceptible became clearer.

"Why is Brother Ping'an so long-winded? Did the Monkey King ever sit on the Jade Emperor's throne or not?

Just some lowly Spiritual Officer Wang blocked him, it's so frustrating."

"Doesn't the monkey know about the risks of waiting too long? Kill the Jade Emperor first; there's always time to fight later."

"This is..."

Zhou Ping'an was astounded inside.

This voice didn't exist in reality; instead, it echoed within his own heart.

It was the inner voice of Little Jiu Girl.

He looked up toward the left side of the backyard, which was shrouded in darkness by now, presuming that the little one had already gone to sleep.

Yet, in her dreams, she was still thinking about the "Monkey King's Havoc in the Heavenly Palace" story he had told her during the day.

The story was certainly a good one.

It couldn't be finished in a day; it had to be divided into chapters...

After all, the little one's studies couldn't be neglected.

He never expected that deliberately breaking the story off at the chaos in the Heavenly Palace would cause the little girl some distress.

"I understand now."

This white line represented the thoughts of Little Jiu Girl.

"What about the other threads?"

Zhou Ping'an sensed each one in turn.

"This person's sword technique is exquisite, his perception is top-notch. It's a pity I didn't meet him sooner; what a waste...

Otherwise, it wasn't impossible to secure a spot in the Cloud Water Immortal Sect and support each other. Who then would fear the machinations of others!"

This thought streamed with immense trust and regret.

The voice was melodious and gentle, like the light calling of an oriole, melting one's heart down to the bones.

Zhou Ping'an had heard it before.

When he first arrived on the battlefield and heard the Green-Clothed Ghost Mask on a white horse say, "County Captain Tian had better not break his word."

No need to ask; it was The Third Miss Lin, Lin Huaiyu.

He had never seen the true face of the Third Miss.

Yet he never imagined that she would contribute a thread of her thoughts to him.

So, what did this thread represent?

It was already quite clear.

He listened to another.

The threads ranged from thick to thin, and this time a man's voice, full of hesitation, sounded.

"How exactly did Zhou cultivate? I've cultivated the 'Purifying World Lotus Body,' entirely transforming my constitution and root bone, making learning exceptionally fast, yet still cannot surpass him.

Is there no justice in this world, is birth so crucial? It's so disheartening..."

Well, this voice belonged to Tang Lin'er.

Good heavens, he indeed harbored a significant secret.

"Purifying World Lotus Body? It must be a formidable Red Lotus Secret Technique by the sounds of it."

"Then, what role does he play within the Red Lotus Sect?"

"Why, after defeat, did he flee to Qingyang City, feigning foolishness to infiltrate the Lin Family? What exactly is he plotting?

Could it be that he genuinely wishes to learn the Lin Family's Wave Subduing Blade?"

Questions arose in his mind.

Zhou Ping'an didn't delve into what exact meanings the more than ten threads conveyed.

He had almost figured it out.

Those connected to him and holding him in high regard would contribute a thread of their thoughts.

Such things were never meant to be seen or heard.

Yet, activated by the Red Lotus Diagram, they were revealed, allowing him to see and hear them.

Among them, the most affectionate was undoubtedly Little Jiu Girl, followed by The Third Miss Lin, and Tang Lin'er.

There were also two female voices, which seemed to be maids from Third Miss Lin's side.

Others included the Guardian House Servants of the Lin Family.

By coincidence, Qian Sanliang and a few others he had met that night were among them.

"Clearly, there's a threshold for the lotus visualization to succeed... Gathering the thoughts of ten people is necessary for visualization.

Having just gathered enough tonight, I succeeded.

So, what is the use of these mind threads? Could it simply be for probing secrets?"

With that thought,

the eleven threads suddenly converged into the raging Red Lotus Karmic Fire in his Sea of Consciousness, igniting into a spiritual light.

Merging into his heart.

In this moment, fragments of forgotten pasts, glimpses of books read casually, and myriad trifling encounters surfaced,

crystal clear as if observing the lines on one's palm.

Merely thinking made everything transparent, revealing their true nature at a glance.

"Well, I'll be; this must be my brain hitting an overclocking state...

I wonder how long the energy from the ten mind threads will last."

At this moment, Zhou Ping'an, with his blessed spiritual heart, focused his thoughts precisely on the "Wave-Cleaving Jin" that he had failed to grasp despite three days of diligent practice and contemplation.

The other mysteries could wait to be unraveled.

A storm was coming...

His top priority was to ponder and comprehend something that could enhance his immediate combat strength.