Chapter 29

Lin Fan was puzzled, as if the sect leader meant to say that only our Orthodox Sect is the true path of cultivation, where everything follows the heart. If you can fight, you fight; if you can't, you can be a coward. Persistence is not necessary. But the taste is different. Laozi advocates non-action, but it does not mean inaction. Non-action is an attitude, a way of letting go. Do not act based on subjective wishes and imagination. The way of heaven is non-action, following the natural trend, without favoritism, without distinction. Governing by non-action means focusing on meeting the needs of the people, not imposing the will of a few, making governance easy or smooth.

The sect leader seemed to see through Lin Fan's thoughts and said, "Nothing should be taken to extremes. Drinking water is beneficial to people, but excessive drinking can be fatal. Persistence is not wrong, and letting go is also right. The key lies in harmony and adaptability. This is the grasp of the degree. The biggest difference between us and the demon sect is that the demon sect is resolute and opposes harmony and adaptability, believing that man can conquer nature."

Lin Fan asked, "Who is right and who is wrong?"

The sect leader laughed, laughing for a while, "Lin Fan, there is no right or wrong in this world. Rain is good for farmers but bad for those drying grain. Too much rain is bad for both farmers and those drying grain, but it is good for people in drought-stricken areas."

Lin Fan asked again, "Is this the way of heaven?"

"No, this is the way of man."

Lin Fan: "..."

The sect leader hit Lin Fan's head with a chess piece, "Heavenly way, earthly way, human way... don't laugh. I, your sect leader, have limited talent and can only understand the human way. The rules of the Yunqing Sect are also the human way, not bullying the good, not bullying the weak... maintaining the heart with the law. The earthly way is the realm of natural law, simple to say, but few can understand it. As for the heavenly way? Haha, even the Great Luo Golden Immortals cannot escape the heavenly way. Who can ask the heavens?"

Lin Fan smiled, "The Bamboo Grove will open next year, which can solve your human way problem."

"Check." The sect leader, with a black line on his face, made a move.

"Huh?" Lin Fan asked in surprise, "Where is my elephant?"

"Feinting." The sect leader opened his left palm, revealing Lin Fan's lost elephant. The sect leader said, "You were listening too intently... like your senior brother Gu Yan's persistence, he doesn't know how much he has lost. Those who only want to gain always ignore a lot. By the way, I have to go out soon. The new leader of the Zixiao Hall in Zhongzhou will hold a ceremony in a few days. The invitation was sent to the Yunqing Sect, and the leader asked me to go."

The leaders of major sects or religions rarely leave their territories unless there are special circumstances. The leader is responsible for protecting the territory, such as activating the mountain protection array or even the forbidden array to repel enemies, which only the leader can do.

After the leader, it is the sect leader. Among all the sects, only the Orthodox Sect's sect leader is the most idle. Naturally, the Orthodox Sect's sect leader was sent to represent Yunqing Mountain to congratulate the new leader of the Zixiao Hall.

"Oh!" Lin Fan nodded casually, "Check."

The sect leader looked at the chessboard for a while, "You have three chariots, four horses, six cannons, and... two generals."

"Yes!" Lin Fan looked at the chessboard.

"..." The sect leader was frustrated, "I've already exposed you."

Lin Fan said, "I prepared a few more for your feinting."

In the end, the sect leader lost. After washing the dishes according to the bet, he floated away. Lin Fan watched the sect leader leave on a flame, wanting to ask if it was a magical treasure or a spell. Over the years, Lin Fan had almost never seen the sect leader use his powers. Every time he asked about the sect leader's cultivation level, the sect leader calmly replied, "Higher than you." Some say even the worst disciple has a third of the master's skills, but Lin Fan felt he had not inherited any of the sect leader's skills. Old Zhang told Lin Fan that Lin Fan was not suitable for the sect leader's cultivation method, otherwise, he would have taken Lin Fan as a disciple long ago.

Old Zhang was on his last legs, his time was running out. The sect leader asked him to leave Yunqing Mountain and gave him a pill to keep him alive for half a year. Old Zhang wanted to return home. He left home at the age of eight and was now 202 years old. Perhaps no one would recognize him, but it didn't matter to him; he just wanted to go back and see.

The Orthodox Sect was empty, with only Lin Fan alone. Lying on the rubble of the sect hall, Lin Fan looked up at the stars, feeling a bit lonely. Life is a hundred years, and for cultivators, it is even longer. He didn't know where this path would lead... Old Zhang's departure added a faint sadness to Lin Fan.

Suddenly, Lin Fan flipped up and shouted, "Who?"

No one answered.

Lin Fan stood up and looked around, "Who dares to intrude on our Orthodox Sect? Show yourself, or don't blame me for being impolite." Damn, Yunqing Mountain has a mountain protection array, but he couldn't control it. He only knew someone had intruded on Yunqing Mountain and was approaching the sect hall.

"Hehe, it's me. Do you remember me?" A white figure gracefully flew from the side of the hall, stopping three zhang in front of Lin Fan, opening a fan and gently waving it. Who else could it be but Ximen Shuai?

Lin Fan smiled, "Ximen Shuai, you're really asking for it."

Ximen Shuai shook his head, "Your sect leader is already in Xiaodongzhou. Your mountain protection array has been neglected for a long time and is no longer functional."

This kid had been lurking for a while. Why? The Orthodox Sect had no treasures. Ximen Shuai smiled, "Don't worry, look!" Ximen Shuai took off his ring.

"Qiankun Ring?" Lin Fan asked.

"You should know about the Qiankun Bag. The main material for the Qiankun Ring is the skin of a spirit beast. Your Yunqing Sect is too proud to harm spirit beasts, but you can find demon beasts."

Lin Fan's eyes twinkled, "Demon beasts? Thousand-year-old demon beasts?"

"Thousand-year-old demon beasts are not only powerful but also extremely cunning. You alone are not a match, but with me, we might have a chance." Ximen Shuai said, "I happen to know of a demon beast in a certain place. How about..."

Lin Fan countered, "Just say it, where are you trying to trick me to?"

Ximen Shuai smiled and replied, "The Vast Wasteland."

"The Vast Wasteland?" That is the lair of the evil sects, with hundreds of large and small evil sects. For a small orthodox Taoist to enter would be like a moth to a flame.

Ximen Shuai said, "You should know I stole the Blood-Crying Sword from the demon sect, right?"

"Uh-huh."

"The Blood-Crying Sword is the eye of the Heavenly Demon Blood-Crying Array, not a treasure sword or a magical treasure. To set up the Heavenly Demon Blood-Crying Array, many things are needed... let me put it this way." Ximen Shuai thought for a moment, "I was betrayed while setting up the array, and the Blood-Crying Sword was stolen. The one who stole my Blood-Crying Sword is likely the tenth-ranked evil sect in the Vast Wasteland: the Purple Pupil Sect."

Lin Fan knew about the Purple Pupil Sect. The disciples of the Purple Pupil Sect have purple eyes. Their most powerful ability is their eyes, which can capture your mind when you look into them, allowing them to attack you at will. It's like a paralyzing spell, but while a paralyzing spell can be broken and lasts for a short time, the Purple Pupil Sect's mind-capturing technique can trap you in an illusion. You can only escape if you break the illusion.