Chapter 92

Shen Lian smiled and said, "Since this method of cultivation is so swift, why not raise a batch of demons? Life is like grass; once one batch is cut, another will grow."

Zhang Ruoxu gave Shen Lian a deep look and said calmly, "Raising demons is no different from raising living beings. The difficulty does not lie in the extraction of essence, but in maintaining one's true nature. Even if one is naturally cold-blooded, they can still be controlled by fierce and violent energy. Therefore, when heaven wants to destroy someone, it will make them go mad. Moreover, even if one maintains their true nature and achieves immortality, they cannot pass the heavenly thunder tribulation."

Shen Lian said indifferently, "Why do you explain it so clearly to me, are you afraid I will also take this path?"

Zhang Ruoxu sighed slightly, "As you said, the instinct for survival can sometimes surpass human nature. The higher your talent, the more I fear you will make a mistake." If the previous patriarch had explained certain things clearly, that person would not have taken another path, and the great Qingxuan would not have suffered the calamity a hundred years ago.

Shen Lian was silent, even the patriarch could not fully understand him. He asked for clarity out of curiosity about this path, but he had no intention of taking the path of killing to achieve enlightenment.

Of course, he could guarantee his current thoughts, but he could not predict where he would go in the future. The magic of fate lies in its eternal unknowns. Even if the number of days is predetermined, it is still full of variables before it happens.

Nature is governed by the law of the strong preying on the weak, but endless destruction without regeneration, even a mighty river, cannot last forever.

Cultivators, though they steal the essence of heaven and earth and the mysteries of the universe, also know when to stop. The Blood God Blade, however, knows no bounds.

"Disciple has only one word: know the male, but keep to the female, and dare not be the first in the world." Shen Lian straightened his clothes and bowed deeply. This bow was both a thank you to Zhang Ruoxu for his kindness and a sign of his humble attitude.

Daring not to be the first in the world is a sign of eternal respect for the future, not timidity. Cultivators can clear the way, but they should not boast of their abilities.

Zhang Ruoxu looked at Shen Lian, unsure whether he was satisfied or dissatisfied. Shen Lian's strength lies in his quick understanding and ability to apply knowledge, but the downside is that it is hard to feel a master-disciple relationship with him, more like a fellow cultivator.

Suddenly, Shen Lian heard a sword cry, like a dragon's roar and a tiger's howl. The Qingxuan Hall had restrictions, but they could not block this sword cry.

Zhang Ruoxu, hearing the sword cry, was not surprised but delighted. He clapped and laughed, "Half a life spent honing a sword, the frosty blade has never been tested; today I show it to you, who has any grievances?"

After speaking, the Heavenly Mirror rolled out of Zhang Ruoxu's sleeve, emitting a green light like water. It landed on the ground, forming a huge screen. Below, the sky was blue and the clouds white, with a solitary peak, the Qingliang Peak.

The clouds in the mountain gathered in one direction, forming the shape of a dragon and a tiger, emitting a rainbow of light, dazzling and mesmerizing. A mighty sword qi pierced through the layers of obstacles, straight into the void.

The sword cry, like a dragon's roar and a tiger's howl, echoed endlessly, resonating in Shen Lian's ears, making him feel a spiritual tremor and unconsciously becoming engrossed.

It was as if a dried-up stream suddenly had a new source of water, unknown but full of vitality, inspiring countless insights.

It seemed that countless profound truths were coming, but each one was like the moon through a veil, hazy and indistinct.

The clouds in the sky also gathered, rolling and surging.

Shen Lian, listening to the sword cry, had forgotten the scene before him, while Zhang Ruoxu gazed deeply at the scene on Qingliang Peak.

The sword cry could penetrate the restrictions of the Qingxuan Hall because it resonated with the harmony of heaven and earth. Chen Jianmei, who had undoubtedly entered the Return to Elixir stage, was the only one Zhang Ruoxu was concerned about whether he could achieve the eighth or ninth transformation.

For many years, Qingxuan had finally produced another cultivator who had entered the Return to Elixir stage through their own strength, a sign of the sect's revival.

Hopefully, in the future, disciples who achieve the eighth or ninth transformation will sprout like bamboo after the rain, endless. At that time, he would have no regrets.

He was trapped in the Breaking Illusion stage, with no hope of breaking through, not because of his Dao heart, but because his body and soul could not bear the burden of his breakthrough.

This was an inevitable matter, and Zhang Ruoxu did not cling to it.

Qingxuan's principle: to cultivate one's actions, one must first cultivate one's heart.

A complete heart leads to the completion of one's cultivation. But if the foundation of the Dao is damaged, even the most perfect heart is of no use without the rarest elixirs in the world.

If he could ensure a smooth transition for Qingxuan before his demise, he would be worthy of the legacy of the founder, Yuanqing.

Shen Lian regained consciousness on the fifth day. His eyes had a thin film, as if covered by a very thin layer of mercury. After a while, his eyes were as clear as before.

The heavenly resonance continued, becoming longer and more profound, but compared to the beginning, it had become more obscure and difficult to understand.

Zhang Ruoxu said to Shen Lian, "You have listened to the heavenly resonance for five days when entering the Return to Elixir stage. Once your cultivation reaches a certain level, you can use external elixirs to enter the Return to Elixir stage. In a thousand years, you are the second person to have such a Dao heart at your level."

Shen Lian smiled inwardly. He had just said he dared not be the first, and now he was the second. He also heard Zhang Ruoxu's teasing, indicating that the other party was in a good mood.

He was self-deprecating but not angry.

The heavenly resonance was indeed profound, but Chen Jianmei practiced a sword path that was solely about the sword and self, breaking all with a single sword.

Its power was boundless, but without such a heart, he could only realize a part of the gains from the heavenly resonance. Even so, Shen Lian's understanding of the 'interdependent sword qi' had reached a new level, even touching on its fundamental mystery.

It seemed that this sword qi was just a foundation, like basic arithmetic, which could advance to more complex levels, even to infinity.

The Dao has no end, and the sword path has no end.

Shen Lian waited with Zhang Ruoxu in the Qingxuan Hall for the completion of the Return to Elixir stage. After another four days, a total of nine days and eight nights, the scene of the elixir formation finally ended.

Zhang Ruoxu, however, showed no joy. If it had been nine days and nine nights, it would have been the ultimate, the ninth transformation, without a doubt. But it was one night short, leaving the ninth transformation in doubt.

It was not that there was a huge difference between the eighth and ninth transformations, but Chen Jianmei was proud. If he fell short by one transformation, it would be like a thorn in his throat, hindering his Dao heart.

But the emergence of a new true disciple in the sect was still a cause for celebration.

True disciples, in terms of treatment, were not much different from elders. In some key positions, after an elder's demise, a true disciple would naturally take over. If he refused, it would be someone else's turn.

PS: Thank you to Xiao Xun, Xianzhi Xianzhe, and Yueye Zhenhunqu for your support.

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