31: Moonlit robes, naturally imbued with Daoist charm

The seventeenth day of the twelfth lunar month, at the end of the Yin hour.

The mountain mist was thick, wrapping Qingfeng Temple in a milky white cocoon. Only a sliver of crab-shell blue peeked through the eastern horizon, while night dew condensed on the branches of the ancient cypress tree, shattering into ten thousand silver stars in the dim light.

Inside the main hall, the morning lessons were nearing their end.

"One who can constantly banish desires shall find the heart naturally still; clear the heart, and the spirit shall naturally be pure..."

The chanting was clear, melodious, and peaceful, faintly resonating with the vitality of the ancient cypress tree outside the hall, the subtle ripples of the Spirit Gathering Formation, and the trickling flow of the Power Of Will from beneath the mountain. The rhythmic sound drifted through the morning mist toward the silent mountain forest.

Upon the eaves, walls, and cypress branches, birds perched like ink dots. Sparrows huddled into fluffy balls, tits tilted their heads to listen, and magpies folded their wings like sculptures. Two long-tailed pheasants had even flown in at some point, perching on the ruined eaves of the side hall, their magnificent feathers drooping as if they had entered a state of Zen meditation. At the top of a distant pine, a squirrel curled its body with its bushy tail, its black eyes gazing toward the hall doors.

"...Nothing among the myriad things is enough to disturb the heart, thus it is still."

As the final verse was uttered, the lingering sound circled the rafters three times before gradually dispersing.

Li Muchen opened his eyes.

His eyes were as clear as mirrors, reflecting the faint dawn outside the hall. The sense of mental clarity and resonance with heaven and earth brought by the morning lessons allowed his liquid gold True Essence to circulate even more harmoniously. The Spiritual Sense in his Purple Mansion felt as if it had been washed by morning dew, becoming transparent and ethereal.

The birds on the eaves chirped softly, preening each other's wings, yet they were in no hurry to leave, seemingly savoring the tranquility permeated with Dao Rhyme.

He stood up and performed the ritual salutation toward the statue. The clay statue stood silently, the clear glow surrounding it becoming a fraction more solid than yesterday.

After the ritual, his mind settled into stillness as he prepared for his routine check-in.

Since reaching the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, the rewards from checking in were mostly basic resources—Spiritual Plant seeds, Low Grade Medicinal Pills, and talisman paper with cinnabar, with the occasional mid-to-Low Grade Magical Artifact or fragmented Cultivation Technique pages. Key Opportunities like the Spirit Gathering Formation diagram or the Cold Jade Prayer Mat were rare now. But Li Muchen was not in a hurry; cultivation was like building a tower—every brick and tile was part of the Foundation.

What would it be today?

With a slight thought: "Check-in."

[Ding! Check-in successful! Congratulations, Host, you have received an Opportunity reward: High Grade Magical Artifact · moonlight flowing cloud robe x1]

As the notification faded, the System space rippled slightly.

A neatly folded robe appeared out of thin air, suspended before him.

Li Muchen's heart skipped a beat.

A High Grade Magical Artifact!

In the half-year since he obtained the System, this was the first time an item was rated as "High Grade." Previously, the Qingfeng Whisk was "Low Tier" and the Cold Jade Prayer Mat was "Low Grade"; this time, it jumped directly to "High Grade"!

He reached out and took it.

It felt slightly cool to the touch, light as if weightless, yet subtly resilient. Unfolding it, he saw a moon-white Daoist robe of ancient design, with wide sleeves and flowing lines as natural as clouds and water. The color was not pure white, but a soft, clear glow like the autumn moon reflecting off clouds, with a faint shimmering light rotating within.

Observing the material closely, it seemed like silk yet wasn't silk, like satin yet wasn't satin. The fabric was naturally born with extremely fine dark patterns of clouds and water that flickered in and out of sight with the movement of light. It was indeed as the description stated—"woven from Celestial Silkworm silk."

His Spiritual Sense swept over it.

The robe contained pure and constant spiritual charms of "Moonlight" and "Cloud-Water." This was not a force for offense or defense, but a permanent "field." The robe had several uses:

Untainted by Dust: Filth does not adhere, constantly maintaining cleanliness.

Impervious to Water and Fire: Ordinary water and fire cannot harm it; it can ward off wind, rain, cold, and heat.

Calming the Heart and Soothing the Spirit: Emits a moonlight glow and cloud-water tranquility to help stabilize the mind and guard against external demonic interference.

Size at Will: Adjusts itself according to the wearer's form and intent, fitting comfortably.

Aura Concealment: Slightly masks the wearer's breath and fluctuations; difficult to detect for those whose Spiritual Sense is not far superior.

Additionally, it possessed a minor self-healing ability (for light damage) and a weak Spirit Gathering effect.

"What a fine moonlight flowing cloud robe!" Li Muchen praised inwardly. This robe was not a weapon of slaughter, but a supreme treasure for auxiliary cultivation and protection. The abilities of "Calming the Heart" and "Aura Concealment" perfectly suited his current situation. Uses like "Untainted by Dust" also provided great convenience for daily life.

No longer hesitating, he took off his old robe and changed into this one.

As the robe touched his body, it immediately conformed to his shape, loose and fitting without the slightest restriction. The moon-white fabric made his skin look even more clear and refined, and his temperament became more otherworldly. The hem moved without wind, with faint light flowing through the cloud-water patterns, adding a touch of mysterious elegance.

Even more wondrously, a cool and tranquil aura, like a moonlit spring, permeated his body from the robe, slowly nourishing his mind and Physical Body. His mind, already clear after the morning lessons, became even more bright and ethereal, devoid of stray thoughts. The circulation of his liquid gold True Essence was slightly stimulated by this aura, becoming even more harmonious and natural. Wrapped in this coolness, his Purple Mansion's Spiritual Sense also became more agile and sharp.

He stepped out of the hall and stood in the morning mist and dim light.

In the hazy mist, the moon-white Daoist robe seemed to generate its own soft glow, blending perfectly with its surroundings yet remaining distinct. The cloud-water patterns on the robe seemed to come alive, changing slightly with his breathing and the flow of Spiritual Qi.

The surrounding birds seemed attracted by this sudden change in "aura." They turned their heads one after another, tilting their little heads to "size up" the brand-new Temple Master. They showed no panic; instead, they felt the Temple Master's aura was even closer and more peaceful.

With a slight thought, Li Muchen activated his Breath Concealment technique, combining it with the robe's "Aura Concealment" effect.

In an instant, his entire presence completely merged with the mist, grass, trees, and rocks! Unless seen with the eyes, his existence was almost undetectable. The faint light of the moon-white robe vanished, returning to a state of simplicity.

"Wonderful!" he praised secretly. This concealment effect was more than twice as strong as using the Breath Concealment technique alone! In the future, if he needed to move stealthily or avoid observation, it would be much more convenient.

He withdrew the concealment, and the robe's radiance reappeared. He then flicked his finger against the cuff, shooting out a wisp of liquid gold True Essence as a tiny beam of light—it only left a nearly invisible indentation on the moon-white fabric, which slowly leveled out and became perfectly intact again in moments! It truly had self-healing capabilities.

Walking to the well, he scooped up water and splashed it on his sleeve. The well water dispersed upon contact, rolling off like dew on a lotus leaf; the cuff was not wet in the slightest. He brought a spark of lightning from his fingertip to the corner of the robe; the lightning flickered, but not a single scorch mark was left.

Impervious to water and fire—it truly lived up to its reputation!

Li Muchen felt delighted. The practical convenience of this robe and its benefits to his cultivation temperament both exceeded his expectations. A High Grade Magical Artifact was indeed no ordinary object.

Wearing the new robe, he walked slowly through the courtyard, experiencing that mysterious state where he was more in tune with heaven and earth and his mind was more tranquil. The vitality of the ancient cypress, the moisture of the spirit well, the ripples of the Spirit Gathering Formation, the trickling Power Of Will from down the mountain... all kinds of perceptions became clearer and more delicate.

The morning light finally broke through the mist, spilling over the Daoist temple.

The golden glow reflected off the moon-white robe, merging with the robe's own clear light, plating Li Muchen's entire body in a layer of hazy, sacred radiance.

The birds on the eaves chirped in unison, as if celebrating the Temple Master's new attire, before flapping their wings and taking to the sky, like colorful clouds merging into the dawning horizon.

Li Muchen looked up, watching the flock of birds vanish into the distance, then looked down at his sleeves with their faint shimmering light, the corners of his lips curving slightly.

On the path of cultivation, he had gained another layer of reliance.

Turning around, he walked back into the hall with composed steps. The moon-white hem fluttered gently in the morning breeze, the flowing cloud patterns shifting—Dao Rhyme formed by heaven, extraordinary and refined.

A new day began amidst this unexpected surprise and brand-new atmosphere. Meanwhile, in the online world outside the mountain, ripples concerning this temple were quietly spreading, attracting gazes of curiosity, inquiry, or ulterior motives, all converging toward Yuntai Mountain.

Inside the hall, the statue stood silently.

The speck of spiritual light deep within the clay body seemed to sense the change in the Temple Master's aura, brightening slightly before returning to silence.

Everything was as usual, yet everything had changed.