My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 664 - 438: Just Afraid of Begging Min Ning_2

The three women were somewhat surprised, especially Min Ning. She originally thought last night's incident was a trick played by this grey-clothed Taoist, but the man seemed honest and upright, nothing like that at all.

Min Ning pondered briefly and was about to speak when Yin Weiyin spoke first:

"Elder, there's no need for formalities. Speak your mind."

"Last night, as the ghost mist was thinning, I had a hunch. Now seeing that the demonic barrier has indeed dissipated, I am truly grateful and came specifically to express my thanks,"

The grey-clothed Taoist paused for a moment and then asked:

"May I ask if you all are heading straight up to the mountaintop to the sword-washing site?"

"That's right."

The grey-clothed Taoist sighed and said, "I'm afraid that will be difficult. Over the past few centuries, the Sword Pool has undergone a major catastrophe and has been plagued by demons and monsters. The journey is fraught with dangers that are indescribable, and venturing in rashly could easily lead to disaster..."

"Tell us in detail?"

The grey-clothed Taoist nodded slightly and continued, "I'll share all I know without reservation. Although there are many demons and monsters along the way, if you carry the token of Chongyang Temple, you can avoid many dangers."

Yin Weiyin instantly grasped what this implied, "Have the Taoists of Chongyang Temple in the Sword Pool Secret Realm... all turned demonic?"

"Most of them." The grey-clothed Taoist lamented before giving a nod.

"Where is this token?"

"In the cave where I sat and died. For many years, that cave has been occupied by the demonic barrier of my making, preventing me from approaching it. Today, I can finally glimpse the place where I sat and died."

......

Thunder rumbled incessantly as the group walked further, and the outline of the mountaintop became clearer, with jagged edges and clefts that suggested a scene of a massive battle. As Lu Ying walked along the mountain path, she could occasionally sense subtle Sword Intent passing by.

This fragmented Sword Intent drifted around like small fish, easily overlooked, but Lu Ying felt that they were circling her, as if there was some inexplicable attraction about her.

Even she did not know why this was.

Though she was the first disciple of the Sword Armor, her martial arts prowess had always been lacking; she couldn't compare with Min Ning, or even a martial apprentice of five or six years. In comparison to her Swordsmanship, her Taoist skills were more remarkable.

At the front, the grey-clothed Taoist spoke eloquently:

"The Sword Pool is ancient, modeled after the Cave Heaven Secret Realm of the ancestral Chongyang Palace. Through the ages, Quanzhen Taoists from Chongyang Temple have tempered Immortal Swords in the Sword Pool. First, for inner core cultivation, to eliminate the three deadly sins and nine worms. Second, to benefit the world, subduing demons and monsters. That's why I once said you were mistaken. We Taoists are not ones to live for ourselves alone.

We Taoists do not seek the afterlife, only immortality. Hence, though we seem reclusive, it is worlds apart from being indifferent and uninvolved."

Min Ning listened absently. She never cared much for immortality, and although she learned some Taoist skills under Zhu Yu's tutelage, it was purely for convenience. In her view, all those like Quanzhen and Zhengyi… were a bunch of kooks.

Thus, she decided to ask something more meaningful: "Master Taoist, I heard the Sword Pool almost collapsed after the battle between the Loulan Sword Emperor and Sword Demon Wu Buxu. Is that true?"

Min Ning had always been fond of swords.

Wu Buxu, one of the three names that swordsmen across the world couldn't ignore, had held the title of the world's best for nearly a full cycle, only to be defeated by the heavenly being Xu Qi. His martial prowess plummeted, and his last appearance was a decade ago in the Sword Tomb.

It's rumored that Zhou Yitang of the Yin Sword Mountain Sword Armor once visited the Sword Tomb to choose a sword. Though still young, she made it to the martial rankings. Whether this is related remains unknown.

The grey-clothed Taoist displayed a look of reminiscence and said:

"Though I was already a ghostly soul at that time, I could vaguely witness the grandeur of their battle. I only remember the sky turning dark, the mountains shaking, countless Immortal Swords in the Sword Pool moving with their Sword Intents, thunder snakes rolling, Sword Qi intertwining. Such a Sword Immortal's scenery is perhaps no more than this."

"And after that?"

"After that..." The grey-clothed Taoist furrowed his brows, "The sky cracked open, as if... a heavenly gate appeared... I can't recall further; I truly can't remember."

The days had long passed, and the grey-clothed Taoist's face was filled with a pained expression, genuinely struggling to recall the scenes of that time. Min Ning did not press further.

She let her imagination run wild, becoming slightly absent-minded. What kind of scene would it be for a Sword Immortal to ask a sword question?

Would it be the same when she eventually seeks swords from Zhou Yitang?

Min Ning's thoughts traveled far. Others might think she was aiming too high, but Min Ning was always confident in herself, especially with Zhu Yu present. This mysterious master being a remnant soul, though unclear in origin, must be of great importance.

The group slowly traversed a stretch of mountain path.

Min Ning suddenly frowned.

The thin mist reappeared.

The group's steps inexplicably seemed more sluggish as if dragged by something.

The grey-clothed Taoist paused, puzzled:

"How has the mist arisen?"

He turned around, hesitating to speak.

Yin Weiyin seemed to guess his question, frowning, "The master's body has been properly buried by me, with spells performed, and in theory, the demonic barrier should be dispelled. Yet it's misting again?"

Min Ning squinted her eyes,

"Indeed, why is that?"

The grey-clothed Taoist stopped in his tracks, dumbfounded.

Min Ning had already drawn her long sword and thrust it directly forward.

The grey-clothed Taoist swiftly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the sword, exclaiming:

"I truly know nothing of this matter. This mist has nothing to do with me!"

Min Ning did not retract her sword, its tip directed at the grey-clothed Taoist,

"You said this mist was formed by your demonic barrier. Since the demonic body has been eliminated, yet the mist still rises, you must be hiding something from us."

As her words fell, both Yin Weiyin and Lu Ying's expressions sharpened, drawing their swords and making hand seals with one hand.

Yin Weiyin spoke slowly, "Though your body turned demonic and unrested, it doesn't prevent your soul from entering the underworld. With your years of virtuous cultivation, at least the merits and demerits should balance out."

The grey-clothed Taoist appeared anxious, hastily explaining:

"I did withhold something. In life, I formed a Golden Core, but I never ascended. After death, I cultivated arduously for hundreds of years, and my Golden Core finally perfected, giving me a chance to attempt tribulation and ascension. So, I sought your help to dispel this demonic barrier. But with this ghost mist reappearing, I truly have no part in it."

Min Ning glanced at the rising mist and asked:

"How do you prove it?"

After racking his brains, the grey-clothed Taoist said:

"It's possible... it is the demonic energy lingering in the cave where I sat and died that's causing the mist to rise again. The cave is nearby; allow me to lead you there for a look…"

Min Ning slightly furrowed her brow.

This grey-clothed Taoist, who claimed to be the chief law elder, previously hid something. Whether his current words are true or false is unknown, nor is it clear if there are any traps. However, if they don't follow him to investigate, they might get trapped in the ghost mist again.

Unable to decide, Min Ning asked with her heart's voice, "Zhu Yu, should we follow him?"

Zhou Yitang "looked" at the bewildered Lu Ying,

"Follow him."

With the response received, Min Ning then said to the Taoist,

"Alright, I'll believe you one last time."

The grey-clothed Taoist hurriedly bowed, thanking them repeatedly, not daring to delay, and swiftly led the group towards the cave.

Previously, the atmosphere was slightly relaxed, but with the reemergence of the ghost mist, no one was in the mood for chatting, and the mood turned somber.

They pushed aside the branches, and the sound of dry leaves crunching was piercing, making Lu Ying inexplicably restless.

The cave mentioned by the Taoist gradually came into view.

Lu Ying made some calculations, finding no danger, but still approached cautiously.

She watched as the grey-clothed Taoist slowly entered the cave but he did not emerge for a long time.

The three couldn't help but feel puzzled. After confirming there was no danger, they moved closer to the cave.

At this moment, Yin Weiyin noticed something and exclaimed,:

"Feather... white feathers?!"

Following the voice and glancing, Lu Ying saw an old, frayed prayer mat covered in dark dust. In stark contrast, white feathers scattered around the area maintained their lustrous, pristine appearance despite the centuries.

Lu Ying suddenly thought of a phrase: feathered ascension.

Turning back, she saw the grey-clothed Taoist standing upright.

First, he appeared to be crying, then laughed,

"So, I've already ascended…

The soul... was merely the severed three corpses."

Both sorrow and joy, neither laughing nor crying...