Daoist Master Of Qing Xuan-Chapter 693: Heart of Destruction
Jing Shu thought to herself since she had involved herself in such a huge karma, she would not be able to return to Palace Yaoshi. Moreover, Shen Lian had asked her to leave too. Though the world had many places, there were not many suitable places for her. Hence, Palace of the Undead was a decent place to go to.
Therefore, when Mahā-mayūrī-vidyā-rājñī ordered someone to request for Kui Li's return, she willingly supported the idea.
Since Jing Shu had agreed on behalf of Kui Li, she did not reject the request any further. Nonetheless, she still missed Shen Lian. If she insisted not to return, Jing Shu might make unnecessary comments and embarrass her. Thus, Kui Li said, "I will return."
As she was not someone who lingers, she returned with the lad that came from the Palace of the Undead promptly. The young lad was relieved since his mission was successfully completed. He was more composed.
They did not know that their actions were overseen by Shen Lian. He only stopped watching when the three of them left Netherworld. His decision for them to leave was for Jing Shu and Kui Li's own good. Shen Lian had predicted the arrival of the people from Palace of the Undead. Hence, he took this opportunity and ordered them to leave.
Once Shen Lian's secret was exposed, the Palace of the Undead might not be able to protect Jing Shu. However, there was still some hope. Moreover, as Jing Shu was from Yaoshi Palace, there would be differences in perspectives in the long-term despite their amicable relationship. In the future, they might even hinder each other.
From Shen Lian's point of view, the union of Netherworld and refining this devastated Nine Underworlds was a task that would naturally be accomplished. His obstacle was actually the need to obtain the imprints of Yuqing and Taiqing. It was almost impossible to accomplish that.
Nevertheless, he was left with no other options. As his cultivation experiences were increased, his Primordial Spirit had grown even faster. Within a span of thousands of years, his Primordial Spirit might be able to reach the state of Daluo whereby others needed to cultivate theirs for tens of thousands of years. Some even needed hundreds of thousands of years.
Although this seemed beneficial, he felt increasingly threatened by the impending God's punishment as his Primordial Spirit grew continuously. Moreover, his psychological trauma had been worsening.
God's punishment was not like any other trial of Dao. It was a trial of death.
Naturally, the trial of death was dictated by the laws of heavens to disallow him to have any possibility of survival. Only people like Daoists who had detached could defy the God's punishment and escape the trial of death. If he did not want to die, he had to seek for the only chance of survival. That was to collect all imprints of the Three Pristines.
In addition, he had a major problem to face. If his cultivation experiences increased rapidly, God's punishment would occur earlier. Nonetheless, it was impossible to successfully collect all of the imprints if he did not have supreme abilities. In face of this dilemma, other people would already be in despair.
Shen Lian was also desperate. However, he was different for he had understood the state of forgetting one another in hopes of better lives. In fact, the story mentioned before had another marvelous adage, 'Instead of extolling Yao while reprimanding Jie, it would be better to forget and deem their doings as a result of the laws of nature'. In other words, one should forget everything and integrate himself with the great path of Dao instead of being troubled by the goods and bads.
Forgetting the rights and wrongs was a natural principle. Only then can one face everything.
Under Yi Zhi's ruling, the Zhou nation had become a union of cultivators and mortal civilization. The difference between celestials and mortals was the slow pace of eradication. For cultivators, this was necessarily non-beneficial. However, it was advantageous for a country.𝐟𝓇ℯ𝒆we𝒃𝘯𝒐νe𝑙.co𝚖
Cultivators' qualities of being unrestrained and free-willed contradicted a country's intention of amassing power through violence.
Amongst this contradiction, there was a commonality. This was why Yi Zhi was so abled. He had found this commonality, or rather he had created a balance.
Of course, the foundation of this balance came from Shen Lian.
Yi Zhi stared at Shen Lian while he was writing. In actuality, Yi Zhi did not know Shen Lian well. This was not because Shen Lian was too mysterious. Instead, it was because Shen Lian could improve continuously. Whenever one thought he was nearing Shen Lian's level, he would progress massively in a blink of an eye. Before you could realize, he was already extremely powerful.
In the face of such a figure, any opponents would be in despair. Fortunately, Yi Zhi was on Shen Lian's side. Not being Shen Lian's foe was a blessing.
When Shen Lian practiced his writings, it seemed extremely natural. Every movement of his hand or feet was perfect. Such perfection was indeed admirable.
Many a time, you would not know the ways to achieve perfection. However, some people were able to display perfection such that you need not toil to imagine the beauty of it since you can view their works directly.
The ink dried when Shen Lian stopped writing. As such, Yi Zhi could see what Shen Lian had written.
It was a passage.
Although he was a self-controlled person, he started to read this passage irresistibly when he saw it:
If I was born as trees, I would flourish to prosperity; If I was born as grass, I would thrive to blossom in green. There was no need to admire towering trees despite being a small grass for I could still grow into a lush of greens.
This was not a long passage but it encompassed an irresistible energy that touched Yi Zhi.
When he finished, he said admirably, "The essence of Daoism was actually delineated by you in a vernacular passage. This is unbelievable."
Shen Lian smiled and said, "These are not my thoughts. It originated from a book I once read before."
Yi Zhi asked, "What book?"
Shen Lian smiled but did not reply to him. He took the piece of writing and hung it to the right side of the throne in the main hall. This passage came from a novel. In fact, he preferred the title of the novel- 'Heart of Destruction'.
This was because the name 'Heart of Destruction' was a portrayal of his current state.
After all, he had cultivated Daoist Master Shangqing's supreme art of Spiritual Enhancement and was about to face destruction from God's punishment.
That passage was a brief introduction of 'Heart of Destruction'. It was also a reflection of his current state of mind.
Both of them remained silent for a while before Shen Lian broke the silence and said, "Can they pass the formation created by The Flying Celestial Formation Chart with ease and familiarity?"
Yi Zhi replied, "Yes they can. Moreover, that little celestial master Su Xiuqing is very talented. She created a kind of spirit-amassing rune whereby cultivators' can channel their mana into it. Amidst battles, this spirit-amassing rune can help to replenish mana when all mana has been used. This provided much help to cultivators who had not reach the state of Huandan."
Shen Lian nodded and said, "This young lady is truly talented. Moreover, Dao of Talisman has a greater suitability than the cultivation of Qi. I believe the research of Dao of Talisman will become the mainstream of Zhou nation in no time."
Yi Zhi hesitated and said, "However, if this happens, cultivators would prioritize external goods. This reduces the training of their conscious. In the future, not many could attain immortality."
Shen Lian said, "Every art is different. Dao of Talisman is also a path of Dao. If those who attained immortality did not understand the path of Dao, they are merely ordinary beings who led a long life."
Yi Zhi let out a sigh in his heart. Only figures like Shen Lian can make such statements.
In addition, the Dao of Talisman could benefit many people and reduce the number of Qi cultivators. As such, it could reduce the depleting pace of spiritual vigor which was commonly used by men. Thus, this was very beneficial for the whole of Netherworld.
