Chapter 97

Shen Lian stood up, but Gu Caimei had already turned her head away. After Shen Lian came ashore, a feathered robe appeared on his body, a Daoist technique known as the Sleeve of Heaven and Earth, which was not uncommon.

After dressing neatly, a wisp of black smoke surrounded him, dissipating with the wind. This was the scene of the river water evaporating, also known as soul smoke.

By his physical age, he was already over thirty, but his appearance had not changed much since he first entered Qingxuan. He had clear eyebrows and a handsome face, like a young man who had not yet reached adulthood in the mortal world.

In the mountains, time seemed to stand still, and Shen Lian had hardly changed.

Gu Caimei had also not changed, but Shen Lian could sense the aura of decay. Even with the invincible Daoist techniques of the world, if one could not break through the realm, one would still become a withered bone in a grave when one's lifespan was exhausted.

However, Shen Lian himself had not even entered the gate of the Great Void Divine Strategy, let alone help Gu Caimei.

Entering the gate was already so difficult, and the difficulty of embracing the elixir was even more unimaginable.

But the path he chose, he could not blame anyone.

Moreover, he had only endured fifteen years of monotony, during which he had not been without other progress.

Chen Jianmei had lingered at the gate of the elixir for forty years, a kind of torment that even the current Shen Lian could hardly understand. After all, Shen Lian still had the Supreme Clarity Spirit Treasure Natural Heart Locking and Spirit Stabilizing True Explanation to cultivate. He even had a feeling that if this method was cultivated to a very high level, even if his physical body withered and died, he might continue to exist in the world in another form of life, though he might lose something in the process.

Whenever he delved deep into contemplation, he felt that he had forgotten sorrow and joy, leaving only a wordless loneliness and solitude.

When he withdrew from this state, he would feel repelled by it, but the demonic obstacles brought by the eight qi entering the body also needed to be countered with the method of refining the spirit.

It seemed he was caught in a contradictory situation, and only by breaking through the Great Void Divine Strategy and entering the gate could he resolve it.

Moreover, if he were to change to another cultivation method now, it would be absurd.

The path of Dao was fraught with difficulties and obstacles, and if one retreated today, one would stop tomorrow due to other difficulties. By the time one was old, one would have gained nothing and would only be waiting for death.

Shen Lian clearly recognized his own contradictions and complexities but did not give up easily. From the moment he resolved to seek the Dao, he knew that cultivation would not be so easy.

The current situation was even better than his worst expectations.

Gu Caimei had already faced Shen Lian directly. At first, Zhang Ruoxu had asked her to take on a disciple on his behalf, and she had only agreed out of respect for Zhang Ruoxu.

However, Shen Lian indeed had exceptional qualities, not just because of his talent, but because he was different from most cultivators in the world.

Most cultivators were determined to struggle against fate, striving for every moment and rarely wasting time on others.

Moreover, those cultivators who had not yet reached the elixir stage were mostly focused on how to break through their current bottlenecks and would not waste time guiding others unless necessary.

Even if they did guide, it was usually with a purpose, and they would consider the other person's talent and potential.

But Shen Lian, as long as he was not in seclusion or had something particularly important to do, would patiently share his views on any cultivation questions asked by others, trying to avoid subjective bias and merely explaining his thoughts.

Whether it was a senior or a junior in the same sect, they all maintained a moderate distance, and only a few who were more familiar would be closer. That was all.

Shen Lian had never treated anyone differently because of their lower cultivation, nor had he ever been perfunctory.

In this aspect, Gu Caimei saw the shadow of Zhang Ruoxu in Shen Lian.

Zhang Ruoxu was not the strongest or the most talented patriarch in Qingxuan's history, but he was certainly the best patriarch.

In fact, if Zhang Ruoxu had not suffered an incurable injury, he might have already broken through the illusion, for his state of mind was flawless.

Shen Lian said softly, "What is Senior Sister thinking about?"

Gu Caimei was taken aback and then said, "Nothing, I am here to convey a message from the patriarch."

Shen Lian nodded and said, "The patriarch hasn't shown concern for me in a long time. What is it this time?"

"When I first entered the Great Void Divine Strategy, it was partly because my grandmaster and master had laid the foundation for me. Although your talent is better than mine, you did not have this advantage. Unfortunately, my understanding of the Great Void Divine Strategy is not deep enough to explain it clearly. The patriarch has profound cultivation, though he has not practiced the Great Void Divine Strategy, all methods are interconnected. I explained the Great Void Divine Strategy to him and shared my insights from my cultivation. Although he cannot directly guide you to break through, he asked me to tell you, 'Go down the mountain, and do not return to the sect until you have reached the elixir stage.'"

The patriarch's decision to have Shen Lian not return to the sect until he reached the elixir stage was indeed difficult for Gu Caimei to understand.

Initially, when Chen Jianmei's realm had not broken through and wanted to go down the mountain to train, Zhang Ruoxu had prevented him.

After forty years of waiting, the clouds finally parted and the moon shone.

Shen Lian was also stuck at a bottleneck, wanting to use stillness to overcome restlessness, but the patriarch took the opposite approach, sending him back into the world.

The situations were similar, but the methods were different.

Shen Lian pondered and said, "The patriarch has not seen me. How does he know my current situation, and how does he know if what he says is correct?"

Gu Caimei said, "The patriarch anticipated you would ask this. He asked me to tell you that your difficulty lies in your own nature, not in anything else. He also said that if you are unwilling to go, I should force you to go."

At the end, Gu Caimei smiled. If Shen Lian had not yet reached the elixir stage after she had, it would be difficult to discipline this junior brother. She really wanted to see Shen Lian resist and give him a memorable experience.

Of course, Shen Lian had long known about Gu Caimei's hidden mischievous nature beneath her gentle exterior and would not give her the chance.

He said calmly, "Then I will follow the patriarch's command."

Shen Lian had nothing to his name, and the sandalwood sword was always with him, stored using the Sleeve of Heaven and Earth technique. He did not need to pack any luggage.

He only bid farewell to Gu Caimei and did not go to see the patriarch Zhang Ruoxu again.

This was his second time leaving the mountain. Unlike the first time, he did not know when he would return, or if he would ever return.

A person's life is essentially a bare arrival and a bare departure.

Shen Lian did not feel much attachment, but once he left Qingxuan, he felt that the vast world was still best in Qingxuan, a place without strife, a blessed land!

Putting aside these scattered thoughts, Shen Lian thought of the Shen family. Perhaps he should go back and see them, as they were still closely tied to his physical body.

Sixteen years had passed, and although it was not a vast change, it was enough to bring about significant changes in the mortal world.

The biggest change was that the Da Wei dynasty had changed to the Zhou dynasty.

This world was vast and boundless. In Qingxuan, there was a record of a cultivator who chose a direction at random, rode a magical tool, and flew for a hundred years, but died of old age without finding the end of this world.

The Da Wei dynasty was located on a continent spanning hundreds of thousands of miles, which was only a part of it.

In Qingxuan's records, this continent was called Yuanzhou, and most people living there had never been to other continents.

Only immortal beings had the means to cross such distances.

PS: Thank you to Xiao Xun, Huan Tie, and Hua Sui Ying Shi for your support.

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