Jinshen slowly woke up in the garden. For him ages had passed in the moment of enlightenment, he had been laying in the garden all this time. The spirit watching over him.
"Well, how was your momentary of pseudo-enlightenment, Jinshen Zhe?"
Jinshen looked at the spirit silently, his expression calm and peaceful. His eyes now a deep blue and his hair longer and more well kept. He was also slimmer, less bulky and strong.
"Amazing. But I suppose it didn't last long enough. I don't remember anything yet I still feel it in my body. Is this Righteous Qi?"
The spirit nodded, floating a few steps back before running a hand through his beard a few times, smoothening the strands out before speaking.
"Righteous Qi feels likes that yes. It seems your body is more suited towards the righteous side of things."
Jinshen slowly nodded, looking around the garden—his eyes skimming over every minute detail—from the ladybug on the leaf of a flower to the water getting absorbed by the soil beneath.
"Old man, I'm weaker now aren't I?"
The spirit nodded slowly—its eyes narrowing in on Jinshen's chest where a small halo of light had formed.
"Well, yes. But your soul is like an open ocean now. It just needs constant rain to fill it up. Like the ladles of extra salty broth on a warm day."
Jinshen remained calm, not annoyed at proverbs the old man was using—his composure was now renewed and he had lost his emotions—at least for now
"Teach me the basics. Old man,"
Jinshen said, his voice flat. He brushed a speck of dust from his sleeve without looking up.
The spirit nodded, raising a finger into the air as the scenery shifted from the garden to a large desert—white snow like sand beneath their feet.
"The Righteous Qi awakens something inside its users, Jinshen Zhe"
the Dao Spirit spoke from far away, picking up the white sand—the grains falling from its fingers, its ethereal voice now resonating with a deep, almost cosmic power.
"That something is the Heavenly Essence."
Jinshen walked towards the Spirit, ignoring the burning heat of the sun above and the blazing hot sand underneath his feet—it instantly numbed out for him. He didn't feel it.
"Why are you stopping. Continue."
He spoke in a monotone and almost bored voice, his eyes again, skimming over the surroundings.
"I see.. Well, the Heavenly Essence itself is just a principal, a basic force one that envelops every law, everything. Its the universe itself. We righteous cultivators aim to try and become one with it. However it is still debated whether or not it is the same as enlightenment."
Jinshen nodded—eyes falling back to the Diamond Dao's spirit—whose words were all of a sudden making a lot more sense.
"Furthermore, the path that leads us towards the heavenly essence is called the Path of the Celestial Dao. From that path is derived all righteous cultivation techniques in our world my boy. Its an attempt to grasp at the Heavenly Essence's true nature."
He slowly floated closer towards Jinshen who stoically stared into the ghostly eyes of the Diamond Dao with unyielding composure—one that was born from his momentary out of body experience.
"I see.. And I assume the most best form of the 'attempt' to gasp the Heavenly Essence was the Heavenly Flesh and Blood scripture, written by you?"
The Diamond Dao's eyes gleamed with pride—it nodded. Crossing its arm over its chest.
"Well, I did write it. But it was updated by my disciples after my death. One of them, Yu Huashi melded my consciousness with the scripture so i could study it for eternity.. I think Huashi isn't his name. Maybe it is... I've forgotten all about my disciples now unfortunately."
Jinshen nodded, walking with the Diamond Dao who made the scenery change from the desert to the garden once more.
"I also forgot to mention. The strange machine you have. It'll be changing alongside you."
The Diamond Dao said while curiously looking at Jinshen's body up and down—curiosity burning in his eyes.
Jinshen looked at him silently, narrowing his eyes momentarily before slowly nodding.
"I suppose that would be warranted. I would rather have a calmer companion."
The Diamond Dao smiled, putting a hand on Jinshen's shoulder firmly—his grip comforting yet motivating.
"It'll be calmer indeed. But I suppose you'll miss its chaotic self. Especially since you genuinely care about it."
Jinshen looked at him—pushing his hand off his shoulder before tilting his head towards his side.
"Yes. But I won't miss it. I'll think about it but longing for its chaos? That's too much even for you old man."
The Diamond Dao remained un-offended by the bluntness of Jinshen's actions and words.
"I already miss you before your awakening and transformation."
Jinshen was indifferent, looking around Yunxia's garden—his senses were still amazingly detailed and strong but now they were more or less dampened, he narrowed his eyes softly, hearing the soft creak of wood far behind him.
"Diamond Dao, hide yourself."
Jinshen's eyes glided over to the small sliding noise of the door behind him—Xie standing behind with a small frown on her face.
"Husband!"
She yelled out into the darkness of the garden—not expecting Jinshen to suddenly appear before her, eyes gleaming blue.
"I'm not your husband yet. Anyways, what brings you here."
Xie let out a small yelp, looking up at his calm and stoic expression with a flustered expression.
"Well.. Mother wanted me to tell you that the Darkwing Sect is preparing for an event to celebrate its steady rise.. Their back in the Jianghu alliance.."
Jinshen's calm expression almost fell—it hardened into one of anger and hatred before he quickly composed himself, narrowing his eyes.
"I see... Very well."
Xie took a deep breath before she suddenly hugged Jinshen, tightly wrapping her arms around him—her face bright red.
"Stupid.. You suddenly have blue eyes.."
Jinshen calmly hugged her back—reluctance evident. For a few moments they stood in silence before Jinshen started stepping away, looking down at her.
"Well, I'll be leaving now."
Xie smiled softly, waving at him—watching silently as Jinshen walked past her with an ever stoic expression
He smiled didn't he?
She thought to herself, a small bit of pride in her eyes—and indeed, there was a small twitch of the lips at the corner of Jinshen's mouth.