Immortal Taoist

Meng Lin couldn't sit still. She once again left the villa and headed to the other side of  Pavilion Mountain.

The path was unfamiliar, but with her spiritual consciousness, she wouldn't get lost, walking through the lush landscape she quickly reached an area with a dozen or so pagodas.

Meng Lin's eyes widened in surprise, as she saw an array of pagodas, surrounding a platform that shone with splendor, these were ancient structures, each exuding their own unique aura, nine of the 12 pagodas were 20 meters tall and the three in the middle were even bigger, reaching 25 meters.

Seeing 12 pagodas she recalled what her senior sister Liu had mentioned about releasing some restricted areas, it seems those three large pagodas were part of the restricted areas.

Walking towards the pagodas she felt scrutinizing gazes on her, realizing it was the gazes of spiritual imprints, the gazes which were becoming more prominent the more she walked towards the pagodas.

As she reached the platform that the pagodas surrounded, she noticed intricate symbols and ancient runes etched into the ground, glowing faintly with residual spiritual energy.

Each pagoda appeared to be guarded by its own unique spiritual imprint, some more welcoming than others, now that she was close enough she felt an oppressive force everywhere she moved, she quickly began to read the sign inscribed on each of the pagodas.

** Spiritual Essence Pagoda**

**Zenith Pagoda**

**Illusion Pagoda**

**Elemental Pagoda**

**Martial Arts Pagoda**

**Body Strengthening Pagoda**

**Spiritual Mind Pagoda**

**Enlightenment Pagoda**

**Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda**

**All Human Pagoda**

**All Earth Pagoda**

**All Heaven Pagoda**

Looking at the names, Meng Lin saw familiar names, mainly the Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda, it seems even the Pavilion Mountain had it as well, however, it was obvious that this one was completely different from the last one.

Looking at the other pagodas Meng Lin began to think about their purpose, however, she could only guess the purpose of 7 of these, the rest she couldn't make heads or tails on.

After thinking for a bit she went to the pagoda closest to her, the Spiritual Essence Pagoda, reaching the huge door of the pagoda, she waited as she felt her sect token glow faintly before the door opened abruptly and she felt a great force of teleportation on her.

Inside the Spiritual Essence Pagoda, Meng Lin found herself in a vast, ethereal room that seemed too wide for the pagoda. The space felt weird, If she had to give it a word, it would be fragile, she even felt that she could form a crack in space if she unleashed an attack.

"Why would they create such a place, is this not a fighting pagoda" Meng Lin wondered as she looked around.

"Of course not, I created this subspace just for the Essence Circulation Pedestal," a deep yet authoritative voice echoed through the pagoda.

Meng Lin turned sharply, her eyes scanning the surroundings for the source of the voice. Emerging from the midair was the figure of an elderly man, his presence exuding wisdom and calmness. His form floated gracefully above the ground, robes flowing as if caught in a breeze.

"Who are you?" Meng Lin asked, her voice steady but filled with curiosity.

"I am the spiritual imprint of StarLord King," the figure replied, a kind smile forming on his lips. "Disciple Meng Lin, your blood essence is weak, it seems you used the Vital Essence Exchange Technique"

Meng Lin felt a mix of awe and apprehension. "King?" 

The StarLord King's spiritual imprint nodded, understanding her confusion. "Yes, the title of 'King' is given to Nascent Soul cultivators whose powers are on the verge of breaking through to the Ensoulment Realm. It signifies a level of mastery and strength that few attain."

Meng Lin's eyes raised in realization. "I see. So you were one of the most powerful cultivators below the Ensolument Realm."

The StarLord King smiled with bitterness, his gaze turning cold. "Heh, within this small continent yes but outside this continent are countless who can skip levels, I've nothing to be proud of."

Meng Lin's curiosity grew deeper as she listened to the StarLord King's words. "I see. Your humility speaks volumes about your true wisdom and strength, StarLord King."

The StarLord King's expression softened slightly. "Humility is a lesson learned through many trials and tribulations. But let's not dwell on the past. You are here to cultivate and grow stronger. The Essence Circulation Pedestal will help you restore and refine your blood essence, making it purer and more potent."

Meng Lin nodded, her determination rekindled. "Thank you, Starlord King. I will make the most of this opportunity."

The StarLord King gestured towards the glowing pedestal at the center of the room. "Sit upon it and focus your mind. Let the energies of the pagoda flow through you and merge with your essence."

Meng Lin approached the pedestal, her steps steady yet filled with anticipation. She seated herself on the pedestal, closing her eyes and calming her mind.

As she began to focus, she felt the blood within her steering, quickly moving through her body while a certain energy entered her pores, mingling with her blood essence, creating a harmonious circulation. The sensation was both invigorating and soothing, akin to a river of warmth coursing through her veins.

Time seemed to lose its meaning as Meng Lin immersed herself in the cultivation process. The spiritual energy entering her body was unlike anything she had ever experienced – it was pure, potent, and filled with a timeless aura that resonated deeply within her. She could feel her blood essence being restored, each circulation making it even stronger, purer, and more vibrant.

As the hours passed, Meng Lin's aura grew more luminous, her spiritual energy harmonizing perfectly with the blood essence within her. She felt a newfound clarity and strength, a sense of balance that was both empowering and rejuvenating.

Finally, as she opened her eyes, the glowing symbols around her dimmed, and the ethereal room seemed to settle. Meng Lin rose from the Essence Circulation Pedestal, her spirit invigorated and her mind clear. She bowed deeply to the StarLord King, gratitude shining in her eyes.

"Thank you, StarLord King. I feel... transformed," she said, her voice filled with awe and respect.

The StarLord King nodded, his expression proud and approving. "You have done well, Meng Lin. This is only the beginning. Continue to seek balance and understanding, and you will achieve greatness."

With those words, the spiritual imprint of the StarLord King began to fade, his presence lingering like a gentle breeze. Meng Lin watched as he vanished, leaving her alone in the vast, calm space of the Spiritual Essence Pagoda.

Determined to make the most of her time, Meng Lin stepped towards the door of the pagoda and as she exited, she felt the scrutinizing gazes of the spiritual imprints once more.

She found herself standing at the platform once more and she immediately called upon the system. 

[Meng Lin]

[Soul Wondering Stage (Early)]

[Experience points:40>45%]

System coin: 9,920

Immortal Jade: 3

Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable

Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth]

Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness]

[ Heavenly Dao ]

[Death]

Comprehension 0.02%

Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method]

Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer]

Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] 

Skills: [Immortal Flesh]

Ancient Spirit Seals: Black Tortoises, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard.

[Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission]

Meng Lin noticed her percentage which was at 40 after cultivating the Imperial Water Art had now jumped to 45 after her cultivation session within the Spiritual Essence Pagoda.

A sense of accomplishment filled her as she realized the profound impact the session had on her progress. She felt more connected to the elements and her spiritual roots, even the Elemental Qi were more vibrant to her.

As she stood on the platform, Meng Lin took a moment to absorb her surroundings once more. The other pagodas stood tall and imposing, their spiritual imprints still watching her with varying degrees of interest and scrutiny.

Her gaze wandered to the remaining pagodas, and she contemplated which one to explore next. The names were intriguing, each hinting at unique challenges and rewards. The **Zenith Pagoda**, **Illusion Pagoda**, and **Elemental Pagoda** all seemed interesting to her, not to mention the big three in the middle, but she was particularly drawn to the **Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda** due to its familiar yet mysterious aura.

Before making a decision, Meng Lin decided to see if she could still enter the Spiritual Essence Pagoda, and after reaching the door of the pagoda she felt a strong force blocking her way, she didn't know if it was the spiritual imprints or just a restriction set on the pagoda.

Shaking her head, Meng Lin made her way towards the **Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda**. The towering structure exuded a savage aura that she was a bit familiar with. As she approached, she felt the spiritual imprints intensify, their gazes more probing and curious.

Upon reaching the entrance, she took a deep breath and activated her sect token. The massive doors of the pagoda creaked open, and she felt the familiar pull of teleportation. Within moments, she found herself in an expansive, forest space, this one filled with a very stable space, it seemed to be more like the floors of the last **Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda**.

Meng Lin's eyes adjusted to the dim light of the space, and she found herself surrounded by lush, ancient forests. The air was thick with the scent of foliage, and she could feel the presence of countless spirit beasts lurking in the shadows, their auras ancient.

Releasing her spiritual consciousness she saw that there were plenty of rank 3 beasts within the forest, looking in her direction, two of them radiated the power of the fourth rank, however, they were only within the early stages.

Suddenly a rustling sound to her left caught her attention, and she turned just in time to see a flash of golden fur darting through the underbrush. Her eyes raised as she recognized the aura of a Peak Rank 3 Ancient Golden Mane Lion, an ancient beast known for its speed and strength.

She raised her arm and formed a qi barrier as the Lion arrived, bitting at her with ferocity!

Crack!!

"Oh!" Meng Lin's mind raced as she saw its teeth forming cracks in the barrier. Granted the barrier was only the most ordinary, but it was still a barrier that she formed, and her spiritual Qi was even more powerful than your average early-stage Soul Wondering cultivator.

With a swift motion, she summoned a surge of Elemental Qi, creating a wave that crashed against the Golden Mane Lion's face, blasting it to the ground and raising dust in the air.

Grr!

From the smoke cloud, the Lion got up with a large gash on its face, the combined elemental qi seemed to have done a lot of damage to it.

Roar!!

The lion's eyes glinted with a predatory gleam, and it roared in defiance, shaking the leaves and branches around them.

Meng Lin's eyes narrowed as she decided to stop holding back. With a flick of her wrist, she gathered an immense amount of Elemental Qi, channeling it into a concentrated point in her palm. The air around her crackled with energy as she prepared to unleash her full Elemental qi.

With a swift motion, she conjured a massive fireball, its flames swirling with an intensity that illuminated the entire forest. She hurled the fireball at the Golden Mane Lion, and it exploded upon impact, engulfing the beast in a roaring inferno.

When the flames subsided, all that remained was a charred figure lying lifeless on the ground. The Golden Mane Lion was now nothing more than a scorched remnant of its former self.

Meng Lin stood over the defeated beast, her breathing steady and her expression calm, the battle had been swift and decisive however Meng Lin just wanted to see how strong the beast was.

It seems that while powerful within the same realm, these Golden Mane Lions were not powerful enough to cross realms. 

Roar!!!

Suddenly she was startled awake as she noticed the group of beasts began to appear before her, all of them were Golden Mane Lions and the two with fourth-rank auras were at the forefront. Meng Lin's eyes narrowed as she realized that defeating the first lion had drawn the attention of the entire pride.