In the following time, Yuan Ming and the Emperor talked more about their experiences and amusing incidents related to cultivation. When recounting his experiences in Biluo Cave, Yuan Ming suddenly thought of someone and asked, "Your Majesty, could you help me inquire about a disciple from Chang Chun Temple?"

The Emperor was curious and said, "Who is worth such a special inquiry from Brother Ming? Could it be a confidante you met outside?"

Yuan Ming rolled his eyes and said irritably, "What are you thinking? This person's name is Ma Xingkong; he was originally a disciple of Biluo Cave and later joined Chang Chun Temple. That's why I'm asking."

"Ma Xingkong? It seems I've heard this name before. I'll ask around for you after I go back," the Emperor promised.

Yuan Ming then described Ma Xingkong's appearance, personality, and some past events.

The two of them continued their conversation until the evening, not parting until they had finished the wine in the jar and the eunuchs waiting outside the pavilion began to urge them, reluctantly saying goodbye.

...

The tribute wine the Emperor had brought was indeed extraordinary; not long after parting with him, Yuan Ming felt the effects of the alcohol and slept in his room until midnight before waking up.

Gazing at the dense night outside the window, Yuan Ming chuckled softly, circulated his mana throughout his body, and dissipated the last traces of drunkenness.

During the past three years in the Southern Border, although he could not say he was on tenterhooks every day, he really did not dare to indulge himself like he had today, chatting merrily with a close friend and drinking to excess.

After calming his mind, Yuan Ming took out the "Nine Elements Technique" the Emperor had given him and began to read it closely.

When he had possessed the Emperor before, Yuan Ming had only obtained the first part of the "Nine Elements Technique" from the State Preceptor, but this time, the Emperor did not hold back and directly gave him the complete "Nine Elements Technique."

Besides the earlier part for the Qi Refinement Realm, the "Nine Elements Technique" also had a middle and a final part, corresponding to the Foundation Establishment Stage and Core Formation Stage cultivators, respectively. Apart from the Cultivation Methods for each stage, it also recorded some divine spells.

With Yuan Ming's current level of cultivation, the contents of the final part were too abstruse for him, so he focused his attention on the middle part.

The middle part consisted of four levels, corresponding to the four stages of the Foundation Establishment Stage, where the focus of cultivation shifted from consolidating the meridians and regulating the qi-blood to nurturing the Sea of Consciousness and tempering the Dantian.

This also demonstrates just how terrifying a Soul Cultivator, as an anomaly within the Cultivation World, can be.

The "Ming Yue Technique" Xi Ying gave was required to nurture the Sea of Consciousness and refine the Divine Soul even during the Qi Cultivation Stage, and from the description in the middle part of the Nine Elements Technique, it seemed even less effective than the "Ming Yue Technique" during the Qi Cultivation Stage in nurturing the Sea of Consciousness.

Yuan Ming thought for a moment and then let it go quite easily.

After all, as an orthodox Daoist Cultivation Technique, the "Nine Elements Technique" had a rare effect in absorbing Spiritual Energy and accumulating mana, and it was understandable that it lacked in the aspects of the Sea of Consciousness and the Divine Soul.

Setting aside his distractions, Yuan Ming sat cross-legged with his eyes closed and began to cultivate the "Nine Elements Technique - Middle Part."

As he operated the Cultivation Technique, the originally calm lake of mana within Yuan Ming's Dantian suddenly rippled.

The clear, liquid mana roiled violently like ocean waves, crashing against the inner walls of the Dantian with every sweep, each wave making the Dantian tighter, while the liquid mana gradually thickened in the process.

Simultaneously, all the pores on Yuan Ming's body opened up, just like when he had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, frantically absorbing nature's spiritual energy and transporting it through the meridians to the Dantian, further condensing and refining it to replenish the liquid mana's consumption.

After about fifteen minutes of cultivation, Yuan Ming opened his eyes, feeling both surprised and delighted.

The familiar feeling had returned; the "Nine Elements Technique" was indeed a secret transmission of Chang Chun Temple. The middle part was as cohesive as the first part, and there seemed to be no bottleneck in cultivation.

With this, he could be free of worries regarding his cultivation path.

After a moment of excitement, Yuan Ming collected his emotions, set aside the "Nine Elements Technique," and turned to cultivate the "Ming Yue Technique."

After establishing his foundation, his Divine Soul Power had increased greatly, allowing him to truly start the "Ming Yue Technique - Fourth Layer" and its divine skills.

Beyond the increase in the number and range of soul crows with each elevated level, the advancement in Soul Cultivation also granted Yuan Ming the ability to use illusion techniques, something he had long coveted.

In the battle at Biluo Cave, Chen Cangqiong's use of an illusion technique covered a vast area. Not only could the three Core Formation Stage cultivators caught in it not distinguish reality from illusion, even Yuan Ming and the others watching from the outside could not discern the truth.

With Yuan Ming's current level of cultivation, the illusion techniques he could perform naturally could not reach that level.

Based on his estimation, at full strength, his illusion technique could affect people and objects within thirty feet at most, and could only be maintained for an hour at most. The more people affected, the shorter the duration would become.

However, through repeated trials, he figured out several new applications for it.

After silently operating the "Ming Yue Technique" for a moment, Yuan Ming suddenly got up and left his room, wandering aimlessly around the General Mansion.

On the way, a servant patrolling the night spotted Yuan Ming. He hesitated, then asked in confusion, "Wang Shun, why are you wandering around in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"

Yuan Ming looked at him but said nothing. Nonetheless, the servant seemed to hear something and nodded, "A horse is ill and you're going to check on it? Alright then, go and come back quickly. You know the rules, don't wander off."

As the servant was about to leave, Yuan Ming's mind shifted, and the servant suddenly turned around on the spot and walked back the way he had come.

Seeing this, Yuan Ming smiled faintly and returned to his room, casually lifting the illusion he had placed on the servant.

At the same time, the servant's body suddenly stiffened. He looked around and realized that the scenery had changed out of the blue, a drop of cold sweat falling from his forehead: "Ghost… hitting the wall?"

Yuan Ming had just used two illusion techniques, one covering his own body, making anyone who saw him think he was Wang Shun, and the other purely targeting the servant, altering his senses and making him see a reality entirely opposite to what was actually there.

Anyone whose Divine Soul Power was inferior to Yuan Ming's was unable to see through his disguise.

Moreover, this spell targeted only a single individual; any other person present would not be deceived.

Yuan Ming returned to his room, sat down cross-legged again, felt the consumption of his Divine Soul Power, pondered for a moment about the shortcomings when casting the illusion, and then immersed himself once more in cultivation.

...

More than half a month later.

Yuan Ming had just finished cultivating when he opened the door and saw several young servants carrying a huge pile of items towards him.

"Young Master, these are the letters and congratulatory gifts that have been delivered to our residence today."

Yuan Ming held his forehead, helplessly saying, "Sigh, just do as I instructed before, organize the letters and the list of gifts on the desk, and take the rest to the storeroom."

Such scenes had nearly become a daily occurrence over this period.

As the news of his return spread more widely, former friends began to write their congratulations, sending their warm regards and numerous gifts.

Additionally, there were many who, unaware of his experiences, simply admired "Young Master Sheng's Southern Journey" and sent their thoughts and greetings.

Among them, quite a few old friends also made special trips to visit Yuan Ming, whom he could not refuse; thus, they would drink and talk at length, resting only when the jovial atmosphere subsided.

Considering this, the actual time Yuan Ming had for cultivation was remarkably scarce.

No sooner had he finished giving instructions to the servants, than he saw another doorman running over.

"Young Master, a man named Ma Xingkong has arrived outside, claiming to be an old acquaintance of yours," the doorman reported with his head bowed.

"Please invite him in immediately," Yuan Ming, feeling a stir in his heart upon hearing this unexpected visitor, promptly instructed.

The doorman obeyed and soon returned with a young man of striking appearance.

Upon seeing Yuan Ming, Ma Xingkong immediately clasped his hands and said with a smile, "During the battle at Biluo Cave, I, Ma, failed to recognize you, unaware of Brother Yuan's true identity. If I have offended you in any way, I ask for your forgiveness."

"Brother Ma speaks too humbly. We have shared similar experiences and are now both cultivators. Mundane identities are not worth mentioning," Yuan Ming replied, waving his hand.

Ma Xingkong nodded in agreement, showing no signs of restraint, and Yuan Ming led him inside to sit down. They shared their experiences at Biluo Cave. Ma Xingkong empathized and naturally began to recount his own past encounters.

The two conversed at length, recalling the hardships they endured as Beast Slaves and their current circumstances, both feeling a sense of melancholic reflection.

Seeing that Ma Xingkong had gradually let down his guard, Yuan Ming suddenly asked, "Brother Ma, do you still have the Recording Artifact you used before? May I borrow it?"

"That should be fine. The artifact isn't anything rare, and it can be found in the Cultivation Market outside the city. If Brother Yuan needs it, why not just go there and buy one?" Ma Xingkong asked, curious.

"I have only recently returned home, spending all day meeting friends and family. I have had no time to go to the market," Yuan Ming said with a wry smile.

"That makes sense. But Brother Yuan, if you find some free time, you really should visit the markets near the Capital. Our Central Plains have rich land, especially near the Capital. The prosperity of its market is incomparable to the smaller places of the Southern Border," Ma Xingkong advised, suddenly realizing.

"Good, I will definitely take a look when I have the time."

Seeing Yuan Ming respond vaguely, Ma Xingkong did not mind and took out a blue Treasure Bead from his Storage Bag, handing it over to Yuan Ming.

"Ever since I returned to the Central Plains, I haven't used this artifact again. Brother Yuan, please feel free to use it," he said.

The use of the Treasure Bead was very simple, and under Ma Xingkong's guidance, Yuan Ming quickly learned how to use it.

Afterwards, the two chatted casually for a while longer before parting ways.

After seeing off Ma Xingkong, Yuan Ming instructed his servants not to disturb him, then closed his room's door, sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, and shifted his perspective to the soul crow located in Lin Junsheng's residence.

On his first night back in the Capital, Yuan Ming had quietly sent a soul crow to Lin Junsheng's residence to watch his every move.

However, Lin Junsheng seemed as though he had taken root, focusing solely on cultivation day and night without ever stepping out of his room.

If Yuan Ming hadn't confirmed through a possessed incense burner that Lin Junsheng was indeed inside the house, he might have thought that the man had already left the Capital.

Through a month of observation and surveillance, Yuan Ming also discovered that the others in Lin Mansion seemed unaware of the true events of their journey to the Southern Border.

Lin Junsheng's father had even prepared a gift after hearing of Yuan Ming's return and sent it specifically to him.

Yuan Ming continued to monitor for a while, and seeing that Lin Junsheng still had no intention of leaving the house, he withdrew his attention and bowed his head in contemplation.

"Eh!"

His eyebrows suddenly raised, and he let out a light exclamation. Then, using an illusion to cloak his figure, he got up and left the room.

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