Chapter 238: Cultivation is a Serious Pastime

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Huang Longzi’s favorable impression towards Yanxu increased. He was not aware that Yanxu had added something extra to the Chijing Elixir.

In the past years, even though Yanxu had been lighting the fire in Daoist Dengfeng’s cauldron for a long time, in actual fact, he had allowed his Free Form Incantation to enter into an abstruse state stably within these few years of peaceful time.

When cultivators of Daoism enter the Powang state, they would also encounter demonic distractions. In actual fact, the demon in one’s heart transformed by those demonic distractions was part of the process breaking through Xuwang. That was why even when Buddha was all great and powerful, but still could not entirely eliminate the evilness on earth. As the heart of the masses was impure, and there would always be the bloom of evil thoughts. Yanxu could not break through Xuwang with his Free Form Incarnation because he himself as a part of it. Therefore, it was difficult for him to attain such achievements as the Buddha and celestials.

No matter how formidable Yanxu was by using his Free Form Incantation to calmly advance and retreat before the immortal Zhenren, he still lacked something. He needed another way to break through the limitation of the Free Form Incantation and coagulate his Devil’s Body.

It was said that the ancient Dipamkara Buddha, the bringer of lights, had gotten twenty-four Sea Setting Pearls, broke through twenty-four incarnations of heaven and had great attainment.

The road Yanxu chose had some similarities. As long as he was able to turn twelve Powang-state masters from the same origin into his incarnation forms, he then could train a secret technique to reap one of the greatest strength of this universe. When the time comes, it may allow him to break the original form of his Free Form Incantation and establish a new one, see through falsehood and reality, make him no less inferior than any figure of heaven and earth and become one of the rare almighty of this universe.

Yanxu freely and simply smiled, “You do not need to be courteous to me, Senior Apprentice-Brother Huang Longzi. By the look of your expression, the condition of your injuries should not be a problem for you. Now, you do not need to go to the Qingjiang Sword Sect to get spiritual medicine.”

As he was saying this, the Free Form Incantation secretly worked as an inconspicuous fluctuation primed an unknown aura inside of Huang Longzi. At that moment, Huang Longzi got really angry and the malignancy within him expanded even more.

This was the extent of the subtleness of the Incantation. Huang Longzi was not aware that the seed of devilry had been planted in his heart and soul. Furthermore, in his current state, if he did not notice Yanxu’s little trick from the beginning, even if he was occasionally irritated, he would take it that he was agitated by Xuwang, which caused his unstable state of mind. It was difficult for him to be conscious of this abnormality.

Huang Longzi raged, “The Qingjiang Sword Sect cater to those in power. They had actually join Qing Xuan just like that and to think Senior Apprentice-Brother had treated them kindly. Only the Senior Apprentice-Brother, who is moderate in temper, would not punish them. But I am unable to stomach this insult. I have to teach them a lesson and we’ll see if Qing Xuan would speak out for them or not.”

Now that his anger was stoked, he had no choice but to search for the Qingjiang Sword Sect’s trouble.

Yanxu was indifferent when he heard the mention of Qing Xuan. To him, the few people in Qing Xuan that he slightly cared about were Zhang Ruoxu and Biyun. Nonetheless, both of them had passed away and their deaths were directly or indirectly caused by him.

The purpose of him provoking Huang Longzi to search for the Qingjiang Sword Sect was so that he could begin slaughtering without regards and become even more lost. At the same time, he could get Qingjiang’s cultivators Qi of essence and blood of the soul to cultivate once again the Blood Dissipating Sword.

Back then, it was unfortunate for the Blood Dissipating Sword while he schemed against Shen Lian. After all, to harvest the blood of the soul, one needs to be discreet. Most formidable cultivators have an extensive background and could not be easily killed.

Now, by pushing Huang Longzi to the frontline, Huang Longzi could take the blame and lose even more of himself. He only needed to sit back and reap the benefits.

Without being hunted down by Uncle Master Ziling, no one was holding him back anymore and now he could dispel apprehensions and act with courage. As long as he could reach his target in twenty years’ time, even when Uncle Master Ziling recovers from her injuries, he did not need to be afraid of the Taixu Strategy already.

Yuming the Honored Celestial’s secret martial exercises were also something he had to obtain. With his wisdom, he had long found out that the Guangqing Celestial Sect did not only conspired for the position of the four main Daoist sects, they were also planning for a big event. Unfortunately, even with his unparalleled intellectual and wit, he still did not have a clue on that event in the past few years.

This was also due to the fact that he did not want to trigger anyone’s suspicion and have Yuming the Honored Celestial and Daoist Dengfeng to have their guards up.

Even though Daoist Dengfeng was part of the school of land immortals, the Taiyue Real Shape Incantation that he cultivated was also one of the few Dao formulae with boundless mana in this universe. Speaking solely about the profoundness of mana, it would be difficult to be equally matched. But he was still not as well versed as Yuming the Honored Celestial when it comes to being unpredictable. Most likely only the old fool in Qing Xuan would be on par.

Speaking of that old fool, Yanxu still did not know how he feels towards him. For him to be able to be at where he was, it was credited to that half-dead old fool who wasted his time keeping watch the Taiwei Pavilion. Or else, he would have stick to the conventional method, cultivate with the authentic Xuanmen martial exercises and attained immortality.

Yanxu did not think about the states in life. He did not feel remorse for the things he had done which was similar to how Shen Lian was.

Of course, Shen Lian did not know that Yanxu now was creating a big problem for the Guangqing Celestial Sect. Now, he was with Zhao Xiaoyu on the high cloud, simply watching the deep blue sea beneath.

The heavenly wind brushed past the side of his ear, it was pleasant to listen to. The sea water beneath was like a mirror that reflects the blue skies and white clouds. Even though the scenery was infinite, he was tired of looking at it.

Zhao Xiaoyu sweetly said, “Shen, I actually enjoy this journey.”

Shen Lian’s gaze stopped at the cumulus clouds at the horizon. It followed the heavenly wind and irregularly change into different shapes. Sometimes it was like a dragon, sometimes it was like a tiger. There were no tangible shapes.

He hard Zhao Xiaoyu said that and asked, as though surprised, “How so?”

Zhao Xiaoyu gently replied, “Because it is during this time I do not need to think of anything. Occasionally I look at the sky, the sea and there’s nothing to fuss about. You are truly someone who could keep people at ease.”

Shen Lian chuckled and said, “If you were an ordinary woman, I would take that you were entrusting your entire life to me but I understand what you mean. This universe is like a sea of misery. As you and I swim across it, it is unknown when the stormy waves would annihilate us. All of these are really hard for us to predict so we could not loosen up anytime.”

Zhao Xiaoyu smiled slightly, “Exactly. To pursue Dao is like sailing against the current, one either charges ahead or gradually falls behind. But if one persevere for a long-term, one’s mind would be indifferent and would not take many things into consideration. The feeling you give me, however, was like in this never-ending sail against the current, you are quite happy and gratified with yourself. When you face the stormy seas, you take more delight in it and did not struggle in this never-ending sea of misery and finally have your heart become as set as hard stone, not swayed by anything at all.”

Shen Lian chuckled and said nothing. Maybe he truly gave others this kind of feeling.

Zhao Xiaoyu saw Shen Lian’s facial expression and an unknown relish of emotions welled up within her. She thought, “Perhaps cultivation is a serious pastime for you.”

She deeply understood that Shen Lian was mild and gentle like a jade. Even though he was not as forceful and overbearing as Chen Jianmei, but he was firm and tenacious as a jade stone, it was hard to break him and he did not even treat people with any prejudice. Other people would not have done what they have promised but as long as he gave his words, he would do his best to keep it.

Or else Shen Lian would have dropped the burden, Qing Xuan, and have more freedom. After all, even though there were many benefits to this, it was more troubles for him also.

For a cultivator who pursues Dao wholeheartedly, any obstacles in the path of Dao would be kicked to a side. Even if it was their school. If it ever violates their pursuit of Dao, they would rid off this entanglement without hesitation.

If it was said that Shen Lian did not want to attain immortality, that he did not want to pursue this universe’s way of Dao, it was impossible but he could have his own bottom line and persistence.

If slaughtering every living creature means attaining the supreme way of Dao, Zhao Xiaoyu would not hesitate but Shen Lian would not do that. He would prefer to pursue Dao in a way that he was comfortable with, it was also one of the rare kind of persistence.

She now hated slightly her cold-blooded self but she would not change a thing. As for who was the more proper cultivator between herself and Shen Lian, even the ancient god could not give an answer.

They roamed through the sea of clouds very quickly and they did not know how far had they went, the two did not keep count.

Suddenly, a continent appears before them. It was a humongous island to be more precise. On top of it were endless forests and mountains, it was unknown that the number of years it took for the lush ancient trees to be this towering tall and straight.

Shen Lian asked quietly, “Is it here?”

Zhao Xiaoyu nodded and said, “This is called the Yan Continent, it is an island that spans across five thousand miles. The Fengsheng Beast you mentioned was found here. But with your mana and mine, to search in such huge area, I’m afraid it would be impossible.”

“Indeed, but once we know the approximate position, there must be a way to look for it.” Shen Lian gazed across the endless Yan Continent, his eyes flashing.

Zhao Xiaoyu asked, “Can I ask you something?”

“You want to ask me why for a person who does not like killing as I would want to capture this spiritual beast, is it?” Shen Lian simply asked.

Even though Zhao Xiaoyu who was used to Shen Lian’s extremely alarming insight, she still admired Shen Lian for it now. He was always able to have an unimaginable expression while mentioning something so casually.

Shen Lian continued, “Because I feel like I have to do it, there was no psychological burden.”

This was his answer. Zhao Xiaoyu understood, at the same time, not really.

Both of them glided down from the head of the cloud. With the boundless woodlands blocking in front, the size of these two was very insignificant against this immense forests.

But with the strength they bear, it was enough to destroy the trees that blocked their vision.

Shen Lian and Zhao Xiaoyu would not do such thing, of course, rather, they walked into the forest carefree. The wind brushed past the woods, the rustling of the leaves merrily blew.

In front of the huge branch, a giant snake twined around it. Its red fork tongue flicking, its eyes as big as lanterns.

It was one of the many dangerous species of this forest but with slight spiritual pressure released by Shen Lian, the giant snake lowered its head as though it had met its king. There was only esteem and respect.

Figures like them had already gradually become a higher level of life. All they needed was to practice some coercion, the average living creatures with spirituality would naturally be fearsome of them.

Especially for the creatures in the forest, the survival of the fittest was one phenomenon that they could not go against. Towards higher living being, they were really modest.

They did not know how far they walked into the forest. Shen Lian stopped in his tracks and asked, “You noticed it?”

Zhao Xiaoyu said, “Last time, I came and go in a haste and did not notice the strangeness of this forest. By right, places such as this should at least have a formidable demon beast or a demon king appearing here. But now, we could not even detect a trace of demonic Qi, which is truly out of the ordinary.”

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