Chapter 70

Lin Fan thought that there was no need for the Heartless Vine to deal with the demonic beast; he could just use the Golden Thunder to electrocute it to death... No, that's not right. The demonic beast's inner core had just formed. If it were a thousand-year-old demonic beast, even without any defensive means, how long would it take to defeat it... Lin Fan felt that his offensive abilities were too weak. After returning from the Desolate Wasteland, he had planned to study the Thunder Technique, but the Three Three True Man had made him practice the Heavenly Light Heart Method, so he could only throw embroidery needles. Fortunately, he had transcended the Golden Core stage; otherwise, the octopus wouldn't have died, and his true qi would have been exhausted.

There was also the Green Jade Buddha Knife... He was most in need of a suitable magical treasure and spell. It was strange; the Sect Master had said that his bone structure and talent were more suitable for practicing Daoist techniques, so why did the Three Three True Man insist on swordsmanship? If it were swordsmanship, then why did he make him practice needle manipulation? The Three Three True Man himself didn't practice swordsmanship but focused on weapon manipulation and Daoist techniques. Swordsmanship was indeed powerful; Zhang Tongyuan had nothing but a sword and was incredibly arrogant. But first, you needed a sword, at least one better than one made from the Cold Pond Cold Iron.

As they were about to reach the land, Lin Fan saw something good, but unfortunately, it wasn't his. In the clouds, there was a small boat shuttling about. Lin Fan recognized it as a product of the Mo Family from Mo Mountain in the central Qingzhou, between Zhongzhou and Beizhou. The Mo Family was ingenious and could not only build boats for transportation but also create Daoist artillery towers. Placing the towers inside the boat and using spirit stones as the source, they could attack and defend, making them quite formidable.

Seeing the small boat disappear, Lin Fan felt itchy again. He still hadn't resolved his need for a powerful offensive method and now envied the speed of the small boat. Among the people he had seen, Zhang Tongyuan was the fastest. His swordsmanship was much faster than Ximen Shuai's control of the Heaven and Earth Ring. There was also Gu Yan's sword flight technique, which could cover several miles in an instant. He himself had only learned the Heaven Shrinking Technique, which consumed a lot of true qi. Even at the Golden Core stage, it wouldn't last long. With the Heaven Shrinking Technique and swordsmanship, who could catch up to him?

...

The Cloud Clearing Sect remained unchanged, but the Orthodox Sect had undergone a complete transformation. Entering the Orthodox Mountain, he faintly sensed the operation of a magical array. This array could not only attack enemies but also save people. If a mischievous child fell from a cliff, the Sect Master could activate the array to gently lower the child. However, that was only if the Sect Master was at home. Thinking of this, Lin Fan smiled. No wonder the Sect Master got a headache when he saw these little brats.

Although the Three Three True Man's chess skills were poor and his character was bad, he couldn't resist his love for chess. When Lin Fan landed, the Three Three True Man was playing chess with Yingying. Without turning to look at Lin Fan, he said to Yingying, "This young man can't be retained. Even if he stays, he won't play chess with me. I can only promote a chess player from among you to keep me company."

"Pointing at the mulberry and scolding the locust!" Lin Fan sat down and said, "Sect Master, I witnessed the Heavenly Tribulation."

The Three Three True Man laughed dismissively, "With your level of cultivation, Heavenly Tribulation? You must have encountered a thunderstorm... Hmm?" The Three Three True Man looked at Lin Fan and placed his hand on Lin Fan's forehead without hesitation. "Could it be that you really encountered the Heavenly Tribulation? You just completed your Foundation Establishment, and now you're at the Golden Core stage."

Yingying smiled, "Congratulations, Senior Brother."

"No congratulations, it was just a thunderstorm."

"Let's stop playing." The Three Three True Man had never seen the Heavenly Tribulation before. Hearing that Lin Fan had insights, he couldn't resist and pulled Lin Fan to the mountaintop.

Lin Fan didn't act coy and described what he had seen, adding, "The scene was so overwhelming that I can only describe a fraction of it."

"There are many ways to advance in cultivation. One is through the trials of life and death in the demonic sect, breaking through realms. For example, you almost died in the Desolate Wasteland, which completed your Foundation Establishment. Another is through enlightenment, understanding the principles of heaven and earth. This time, it was the latter. Humans are not plants or trees; who can be without emotion? If I were heartless, I wouldn't care about your life or death. If the Sect Master were heartless, he wouldn't care about the sect's survival. If a teacher were heartless, he wouldn't care about his disciples. If cultivators were truly heartless, they would have long since become extinct."

The Three Three True Man sighed to himself, "A thousand bolts of lightning pouring down, this is not something a human or a demon can resist. This dragon had deep feelings, knowing that his old friend was about to die, he defied heaven to seek the tribulation, hoping to transform into a dragon to save his friend. Lin Fan, do you remember Yang Xuerao?"

Lin Fan thought for a moment and nodded, "I remember."

"What do you think now?"

"I have no thoughts."

"Indeed, you are a man of desire but without emotion." The Three Three True Man nodded. The Cloud Clearing Heart Method was easy to drive away desires, but emotions arose from the heart and could not be dispelled by any heart method. Apart from romantic love, other emotions required time to cultivate. Lin Fan had overcome his feelings for Shangguan Feixue and his desires for Zhao Luoyan, and the Three Three True Man was quite satisfied with him.

Lin Fan said, "Sect Master, please give me guidance. On this sea voyage, I encountered a hundred-year-old octopus and fought for twelve hours straight."

The Three Three True Man said, "All the scriptures are in the library; you can look them up yourself. For example, if you want to learn the Great Yin Thunder, forget it. Even the Hidden Immortal Sect doesn't have anyone who knows it, and there is no cultivation method for the Great Yin Thunder; it requires enlightenment."

"Then why did you make me learn the Heavenly Light Heart Method?" Lin Fan asked.

"Learn it if I tell you to, no need for so many questions." The Three Three True Man became unreasonable when asked about the Heavenly Light Heart Method. After a moment, he said, "Lin Fan, in spring you sow, in autumn you harvest. You can't force a harvest in spring. You have already passed two tribulations, and now you are jumping into the rapid advancement tribulation. Do you know why Zhang Tongyuan can control the White Rainbow Sword? The White Rainbow Sword was left by Zhang Tongyuan's father and has been with him since childhood. Zhang Tongyuan's ability to control the sword at the Golden Core stage is not by chance. What about Ximen Shuai? He had the external force of a former demon lord to establish his foundation and was left the Noon and Midnight Heaven and Earth Ring and the Seven Break Flags, all important treasures of the demonic sect. Your parents only left you the Heavenly Light Heart Method."

Lin Fan asked, "Are my parents definitely cultivators?"

"Yes, I took you in because I saw the Heavenly Light Heart Method on the cloth bag your grandfather sent. But I don't know who your parents are. There is no record of the Heavenly Light Heart Method in any literature. The more swords controlled by the Heavenly Light Heart Method, the greater the power. For example, the Blood Shadow Sect's Bamboo Sword Hall can control over a hundred bamboo swords, but they are all lifeless and only controlled, not manipulated. The most anyone has ever controlled is four swords." The Three Three True Man pondered, "Speaking of the Bamboo Sword Hall, the Heavenly Light Heart Method has a similar elegance."

Lin Fan asked, "Do you mean we should go to the Desolate Wasteland, capture a disciple of the Bamboo Sword Hall, and force them to write down the method for controlling bamboo swords?"

The Three Three True Man was angry and slapped Lin Fan on the back of the head, "I want you to enlighten yourself. From what I've seen, the Heavenly Light Heart Method is quite profound. You need to practice and enlighten. But you mentioned the Bamboo Sword Hall... The Bamboo Sword Hall's method is not evil; it was understood by a former disciple of the demonic sect. If you have the opportunity, you can also look at the Bamboo Sword Hall's method for controlling bamboo swords. I have something to tell you."

"Hmm?"

"The Sect Master is very concerned about Wu'er. He specially sent the Right Guardian to the Purple Flute Hall to inquire about their offerings. Although it's somewhat ambiguous, it is basically confirmed that Wu'er has been affected by a curse." The Three Three True Man said, "This curse was planted in the lotus seed during her Foundation Establishment, and as her cultivation realm improves, it will become more apparent. However, the Sect Master is puzzled. This curse only disfigures her appearance and has no other use. Moreover, it brings great benefits to her. Although Wu'er has good talent, she is not a once-in-a-thousand-years talent. Her ability to reach the Golden Core stage is due to the benefits of this curse."

Lin Fan was puzzled, "This curse was most likely planted by the old woman Jiuwu, but just to disfigure Wu'er's appearance?"