Zhang Yang exhaled a lungful of stale air, the tight knot in his brow suddenly smoothing out. In that instant, he seemed to grasp everything anew, achieving a profound moment of enlightenment.

At that precise moment, the aura surrounding Zhang Yang vanished completely, not a single trace of a cultivator’s presence remaining. Even if a Great Perfection realm cultivator were standing directly before him, face to face, they would be unable to detect that Zhang Yang was also a Great Perfection master.

It could be said that Zhang Yang had truly reached the stage of returning to simplicity, requiring no conscious effort; his presence would not leak outward. Unless Zhang Yang willed it, no one could discern the true extent of his current cultivation level.

Closing his eyes, Zhang Yang slowly sat down, quietly absorbing the insights he had just gained. “Zhang Yang, what’s wrong?” Of the other five people, Mi Xue was the most easily distracted.

While the Leshan Giant Buddha had indeed shaken her, the impact wasn't strong enough; she didn't feel that magnetic pull. However, seeing Zhang Yang sit down, Mi Xue sensed that he had changed again, though she couldn't pinpoint exactly how.

Deciding to ask directly, she spoke. Opening his eyes and seeing Mi Xue like this, Zhang Yang offered a wry smile.

The reason the exquisitely crafted Leshan Giant Buddha hadn’t stunned Mi Xue was quite simple: although Mi Xue practiced Neijin, her method of cultivation was far too simplistic. Mi Xue currently possessed the strength of the second layer of Neijin, the Qi Realm, but this power was entirely derived from Zhang Yang.

Without their dual cultivation sessions, it would have been utterly impossible for her to reach her current level. Taking shortcuts naturally carried the drawbacks of those shortcuts.

For instance, everyone else seemed to gain some insight before the Leshan Giant Buddha, but Mi Xue gained nothing. The other four remained standing on the deck, gazing at the majestic and awe-inspiring Leshan Giant Buddha, unable to tear their eyes away.

Zhang Yang observed them, nodding in satisfaction. Regardless of what happened today, these people would gain something.

Now it was only a matter of seeing who experienced the greater epiphany and thus gained the most profound reward. Among the four, Yan Yefei suddenly shuddered, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

Immediately following, Li Juan displayed the same reaction. These two were just like Zhang Yang had been moments before—experiencing revelation and breakthrough.

What Zhang Yang hadn't expected was that the first to gain insight would be the couple, Yan Yefei and Li Juan. Yet, thinking it over, it wasn't surprising after all; Yan Yefei and Li Juan were cultivators possessing the Tribulation-Enduring Physique and the Shadow Demon Physique, respectively.

Next, Zhang Yang watched Yan Yefei and Li Juan, a look of surprise suddenly crossing his face. He vaguely sensed that what they were perceiving from the Giant Buddha was the epiphany closest to the Great Dao of Nature.

Yan Yefei and Li Juan themselves were completely unaware of this. They merely felt that the Leshan Giant Buddha before them was expanding infinitely, until even the faint, pale green moss on its face and the interwoven branches surrounding it became perfectly clear.

The ancient stone, carved into the colossal Buddha, was riddled with signs of weathering. Though the Leshan Giant Buddha hadn't changed much over millennia, it couldn't escape the marks of time.

Age had finally etched indelible traces upon it. Even the strangely shaped trees around it, whose branches stretched out with such ancient gravitas, displayed withered leaves alongside new sprouts on the same limb—a sensation of endless, cyclical life, where leaves withered only to bud anew, an eternal transmission of life force.

Among the disciples of the Medical Saint Martial Sect, the couple had endured the most arduous path in their pursuit of knowledge. Their ability to cultivate had been hard-won.

This current epiphany made them recall even more of their past. It was when they first met Zhang Yang in the Savage Mountain region that he unraveled the mysterious world of Neijin for them.

Afterward, the two journeyed through famous mountains and rivers, enduring hardships solely to find a renowned master who could impart the secrets of Neijin mind techniques and admit them into the world of cultivators. However, that journey turned into a road of disaster.

They achieved nothing, eventually being kept by the Long Family and treated as indentured servants. If Zhang Yang hadn't appeared in the end, they would likely still be serving tea, sweeping floors, and cooking meals at the Long Family residence, forever barred from the path of Neijin cultivation.

Initially, it was Zhang Yang who wanted to take them as disciples, yet ultimately, they bowed to him, finding that bitterness had yielded to sweetness. This cycle of karma, was it not merely the shifting nature of reincarnation?

Never mind, never mind. In the end, everything turns to dust.

Whether one cultivates or not, Yan Yefei and Li Juan understood that their true aspiration was the pursuit of their dreams. Thus, regardless of the outcome, nothing else mattered.

It felt as if something had suddenly brushed past the two of them. Yan Yefei and Li Juan exchanged a glance, suddenly breaking into smiles.

They didn't know what they had missed, but whatever it was, it brought them no disappointment. Zhang Yang, watching from the side, widened his eyes sharply.

Yan Yefei and Li Juan were unaware of what they had let slip by, but Zhang Yang was perfectly clear. The Dao of Nature!

Yan Yefei and Li Juan had nearly grasped the Dao of Nature. Zhang Yang shook his head, lamenting for the pair.

He hadn't expected their epiphany to be the most advanced among the four, striking directly at the comprehension of the Dao of Nature, yet they ultimately chose to abandon it. “Thank you, Master, for making this possible.” After emerging from their shock, Yan Yefei and Li Juan immediately bowed deeply to Zhang Yang, offering their solemn thanks.

“No need to thank me. These were all your own choices.” Seeing their expressions, Zhang Yang knew that even if they realized they had passed up the chance to grasp the Dao of Nature, they felt no regret.

They had touched the threshold of true cultivation; their mental states had circled the edge of the Dao of Nature. It could be said their foundation was now incomparably solid, ensuring their future cultivation would be twice the result with half the effort.

Even without grasping the Dao of Nature, this experience was immensely fruitful. “Hah!” Suddenly, Qiao Yihong let out a loud roar, his eyes widening into perfect circles.

In that instant, several waves erupted around the yacht—all triggered by Qiao Yihong’s epiphany. Looking at the immense structure, built by the hands and wisdom of the ancients, something that even Neijin cultivators couldn't replicate, Qiao Yihong was profoundly moved.

This Great Buddha was built through the hard work and toil of countless ancient people. They possessed no Neijin power; they couldn't scale walls or move mountains like Neijin practitioners.

This Buddha, embodying the wisdom and strength of the working people, was not merely an idol of Buddha, but a crystallized collective spirit of ancient laborers. Gazing at it, Qiao Yihong was reminded of his own past—the solitary, dedicated cultivation deep in the mountains, where he neglected his family until his brother’s descent into gambling ruined them all.

He hadn't even managed to stop the collapse, and boundless regret surged through him. In that moment, he felt an intense urge to kneel before the Buddha and confess his sins.

Too many people in the world recognize their mistakes but refuse to correct them, refusing to repent. Yet, isn't it true that mending the fold after the sheep are lost is better than never mending it at all?

This conflict instantly led Qiao Yihong to an epiphany: his internal Neijin condensed in his Dantian, spinning rapidly! Following the revelation experienced by Yan Yefei and Li Juan, Qiao Yihong also achieved an epiphany and a breakthrough.

Zhang Yang’s gaze shifted from the couple to Qiao Yihong. Qiao Yihong had finally broken through his bottleneck; his Neijin advanced past the third layer, making him an early Fourth Layer Neijin master.

Qiao Yihong had been hovering at the edge of breaking through, constantly seeking the right catalyst. Unexpectedly, here at the foot of the Leshan Giant Buddha, he found his opportunity and achieved a breakthrough, raising his Neijin to the early Fourth Layer.

The yacht slowly began to move; it was time to return. At this point, only Mi Xue and Qu Meilan had gained nothing.

However, as the yacht pulled away and the Giant Buddha disappeared from view, Qu Meilan remained on the deck, staring in its direction, utterly lost in thought, not yet awakened. Zhang Yang stopped Qiao Yihong and the others from disturbing her.

Just because Qu Meilan hadn't had an immediate epiphany while watching the Buddha didn't mean she had no hope of gaining insight or reward. As the yacht left the river and headed for shore, Qu Meilan finally snapped back to reality, letting out a soft breath, shaking off the feeling of awe.

“Young Master, may I ask you a question?” Though she had gained no direct insight, Qu Meilan felt no discouragement. She turned to Zhang Yang, her expression thoughtful.

“Ask away.” Zhang Yang looked at her, curious about what she wanted to know. “Young Master, if I cultivate diligently, can I also one day grow from a small pebble into a great Buddha, like that one?” Qu Meilan asked softly, her eyes wide.

Zhang Yang smiled faintly and nodded affirmatively. Qu Meilan still lacked confidence; otherwise, she would have experienced an epiphany and breakthrough right there before the Buddha, just like Yan Yefei and Qiao Yihong.

“Keep your feet on the ground. If you walk step by step and persist for a long time, even a snail will eventually climb to the top of the tower, surveying the scenery below with the eagles!” Upon hearing Zhang Yang’s words, the stiffness melted from Qu Meilan’s face, replaced by a smile.

Suddenly, Qu Meilan broke through as well. Her current cultivation realm had surpassed the second layer.

This ten-percent chance of epiphany allowed all of them to advance their state of mind, a benefit no spiritual medicine could match! A trip, a journey of spiritual growth.

In a daze, it felt to the others as if everyone around them had become a different person. “Congratulations to you all.” Only Zhang Yang clearly understood what had transpired within each of them, congratulating them with a smile.

Qiao Yihong laughed heartily, his heart sweeter than honey now that he had broken through to the Fourth Layer. Yan Yefei and Li Juan exchanged a glance, their clasped hands tightening further.

As for Qu Meilan, she exuded a newfound confidence that surpassed anything she had before. (To be continued.

If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to cast recommendation votes and monthly tickets on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.) No Pop-up Novel Website