novelraw Chapter 573 - 572: Action is Better than Heartbeat
Chapter 573 - 572: Action is Better than Heartbeat
"Crack!"
As soon as Yun Mo landed on the summit of Mirror Mountain, he saw thunder clouds densely packed, rolling black clouds rushing in, with arcs of electricity flickering ominously.
At the same time, Bai Yunqi and Hu Zhile sensed the presence of the Venerable Family and the Thunder Tribulation, and quickly flashed to the mountain summit to pay their respects.
Watching the arcs flickering through the sky full of thunder clouds, Bai Yunqi squinted and praised, "It seems Little Mingchuan has gained much from this journey, even attempting to break through the Enlightenment Realm, exploring Secret Realms truly is a rare opportunity for cultivators to advance."
"Indeed, just a few months ago, he was still a rough mountain village youth, and now he’s transformed into a graceful young man, he looks younger the more he lives." Yun Mo recalled their first meeting.
Back then, Wan Mingchuan in Riverfront Village was working in the fields year-round under the sun, carrying a simple and honest temperament, appearing even older than the fair-skinned and handsome gentlemen.
Who would’ve thought in such a short time, he’s not only become more delicate-skinned, but his youthful vigor is steadily revealing its sharpness with cultivation.
I must work harder to cultivate myself, Yun Mo thought, both envious and nervous watching the Thunder Tribulation. Latecomers surpassing the former, Little Mingchuan has caught up to my realm, though terms may differ slightly between human cultivators and demon cultivators, it’s indisputable their speed is fast, I have to acknowledge it.
"Master, I’ll cross the tribulation first!" Wan Mingchuan, just expelled from the Secret Realm, immediately sensed the gust mixed with the Thunder Tribulation’s aura.
Sure enough, raising his head to see the sky full of thunder clouds, he also saw his master standing on the summit welcoming him out of the Secret Realm, making him immensely happy inside.
Excitedly he waved to signal, then sent Wan Li to join master and the others, unhurriedly took out a Spirit Core Pill from the Storage Bag and swallowed it, waved his right hand to draw out the Lifebound Sword crafted specially by his master, spiritedly charging toward the Thunder Tribulation.
Although it’s his first time crossing a Thunder Tribulation, Wan Mingchuan had closely observed others like Dragon brother crossing tribulations, and humbly sought advice.
Upon learning that the fiercer the lightning strikes during tribulation, the more each inch of skin and meridians gets baptized to solidify, he decided to treat the Thunder Tribulation as training like Dragon brother, striving to be thoroughly struck to purify spiritual power to the highest, to lay a solid foundation to climb higher peaks.
"Time really flies, in a flash, Little Mingchuan has crossed Thunder Tribulation to ascend to the Enlightenment Realm." Hu Zhile’s eyes filled with envy.
She usually strives for excellence, but since joining the courtyard, seeing Senior Bai cross tribulations twice, Yun Mo, Qingniao, Wan Mingchuan all successfully ascended, yet her realm hasn’t seen significant improvement.
Little sister adds to the headache, spending so many years just on Foundation Establishment, she worries if little sister has hopes of ascending to Gathering Spirit Realm in this life.
Jiang Yuan nodded at her words and just about to speak, turned his head to see the withered Earth Spirit Root within her, pondering that despite Hu Zhile’s consistent diligence in cultivation, her slow progress must be due to Spirit Root issues hindering her.
How to replenish it for her better?
It’s a pity, the planted Spirit Roots are explicitly non-transferable or replaceable, else planting heavenly-level Spirit Roots for all courtyard members would be wonderful, wouldn’t it?
We’ll wait and see, since just starting with planting Spirit Roots, as those side tasks level up with increasingly generous rewards, perhaps methods to cultivate Spirit Roots will emerge.
As the saying goes, the fundamentals never change, planting Spirit Roots is akin to farming, who says a Dantian isn’t soil, can’t be "cultivated"?
Thinking of this, Jiang Yuan became excited.
After all, initially farming in the Wilderness World never expected to progress from ordinary crops to planting Spirit Rice, Spirit Fruit, now Spirit Roots can be planted. The expanded cultivation range seems reasonable for Dantian cultivation someday, right?
"Once the disciple completes the tribulation and this side task, it’s back home, using the Acceleration Card to plant Spirit Roots, find suitable targets for implantation to complete two tasks!" Decided, he took advantage of everyone focusing intently on the Thunder Tribulation, glanced at the interface for the Melting Workshop’s materials needed for leveling to seven.
The backpack’s pile of mysterious Soul Fragments awaited refining and purifying to eliminate within the level seven Melting Workshop, needs prioritizing its upgrade next round, or this stuff feels like a safety hazard.
Throughout the Celestial Sword Sect, aside from the clueless onlooker Jiang Yuan, everyone else were insiders seeing the real substance.
Upon Ouyang Qing learning the grand Thunder Tribulation was triggered by his grandson emerging from the Secret Realm, he gleefully stroked his beard unable to close his mouth from smiling.
He reckoned with the generous conditions provided by Mr. Jiang, along with grandson’s talent and aid from the Divine Sword, the future is set to become a dominator!
Positioned at the Thunder Tribulation’s center receiving a comprehensive baptism, Wan Mingchuan wasn’t aiming so high, now his mind focused on accepting more of the ancestral legacy after advancing to Enlightenment Realm.
By then if he could meet the Lin Family ancestor named Lin Ruyun, asking if he could learn more at once, he’s always felt lacking being unable to fully teach the heavenly-level cultivation technique he possessed to his master and others.
As the last bolt of lightning struck, Wan Mingchuan suddenly sensed a rebirth from his crown to his feet, and everything seemed different from before. Even the absorption of the elixir’s energy within his body became faster and smoother.
There was a warm, tingling sensation from the flames and lightning coursing through his meridians, and the increasingly mighty spiritual power surged within. He knew he had finally completed the tribulation crossing and succeeded in advancing!
"Buzz!"
Before he could excitedly report the good news to his master, Wan Mingchuan suddenly felt his soul tremble and enter an exquisite state.
The familiar comfort spread from the Shenting Acupoint, filling his sea of consciousness with a gentle, bright light. Everything was so serene and warm, instantly soothing the fatigue from the full-force tribulation crossing.
"Good child, we meet again." Lin Ruyun stood tall in the pure white world, resembling an untainted immortal descended to earth.
He gestured, "Last time, I inscribed the entire Supreme Divine Technique in your mind, but with your limited strength, you could only comprehend a small initial part. Now that you’ve advanced a level, I’ll personally explain a small part of what’s next. Mastering these will be enough for you to cultivate to the Fusion Realm."
Indeed, seeing the senior again, Wan Mingchuan was overjoyed and stepped forward to express his gratitude. After listening to the explanation, he asked, "Senior, is there a way to inscribe the Supreme Divine Technique?
I want to give this cultivation technique to my master. He is a very, very good person, and without his helping hand, I would have died long ago, so I want to repay him with concrete actions."
"Oh? Repaying kindness?" Lin Ruyun, who was about to ascend before his fall, did not easily jump to conclusions upon hearing this and was not angry that he wanted to give away the cultivation technique he created. With a wave of his hand, a table and chairs appeared, inviting Wan Mingchuan to sit, "In the Divine Sense Space, there’s plenty of time. Don’t rush, tell me the details carefully. Only by understanding the situation can I help you come up with ideas."
After Wan Mingchuan expressed his thanks and sat down, he began to recount his background, the Lin Family’s grievances, the difficult days in Riverfront Village, his apprenticeship to learn skills, up until finding the seemingly scrap Divine Sword in the Secret Realm and being disappointed that he couldn’t present it to his master, all in great detail.
Listening patiently to the child’s troubles, Lin Ruyun’s expression gradually turned serious, "Mingchuan, what you need to understand most now is one thing—everyone says cultivating immortality is great, but the moment you become a cultivator, you’re actually bearing a kind of curse."
Curse?
Wan Mingchuan was dumbfounded, "Senior, can you explain in detail? I don’t understand."
"It’s normal not to understand. Even many immortals who have ascended haven’t figured it out." The other party smiled and explained patiently, "Mortals can maintain their integrity and not do evil, and after death, they can have a complete soul to reincarnate. As a result, many mortals, though unable to cultivate, can endure several lifetimes of reincarnation, steadfastly doing good, and ascend with an unblemished soul.
But it’s different for cultivators. Our body and soul are both made and unmade by spiritual energy. Absorbing and utilizing spiritual power is itself a kind of curse.
One must paddle against the current and forge ahead, or face death and soul dispersal without even a fragment remaining. And once spiritual energy is lost, even a Daluo Golden Immortal would fall to mortality and perish, let alone a divine artifact?
Spiritual energy is refined by us, absorbed and fills every corner of our body and soul, most important to us, yet spiritual energy is easily tainted. Whether void strangeness or the evil aura of the Demon Realm can silently contaminate it, causing our soul to gradually degrade and decay."
Seeing Wan Mingchuan’s look of shock, Lin Rufeng smiled gently, "Knowing this principle, there’s only one path to immortality if one wishes for undying and indestructibility. The worries you have now are entirely pointless, as from what you described, your master is stronger, richer, and more experienced than you.
Thinking hard to repay kindness without strength is merely self-sentimentality.
I understand your master’s thoughts, as a high-tier cultivator always feels the need to protect his disciple, who is too weak, and waits until you’re formidable enough before letting go.
But to him, even if you advance to the Golden Core or Nascent Soul Realm, you’re still a weak cultivator. If you spend your life under your master’s protection, relying on him for everything, how can you talk about repaying him? Even if you willingly use your life to repay, he might not even want it."
"Senior’s words are absolutely true." Wan Mingchuan was enlightened by the words.
Yes, relying on his master for survival, always under his protection, not even independent, what qualifications does he have to repay kindness?
"As they say, enduring countless trials to emerge as true gold, having stepped on the path of cultivation, there are only two outcomes—either die and disappear; or ascend to immortality. From the comforts of a gentle village, one cannot emerge a general who rides to the battlefield. Cultivation must be paired with training, suffering through trials to progress."
Lin Ruyun stood with his hands behind his back and slowly merged into a white light, leaving only a light promise, "Go forth boldly to explore and grow. Should you face a mortal threat, if necessary, this remnant of my soul can lend a hand to ensure your life is worry-free."
Wan Mingchuan hurriedly bowed and thanked him. As he was exiting the pure white Divine Sense Space, he vaguely heard an urgent voice by his ear, "Little one, you’ve ascended to the Enlightenment Realm with the capital to walk independently in the Cultivation Realm. Isn’t it time to fulfill my last wish?"
Lin Feng’s resentment was attached to him, waiting for this very moment, urging impatiently, "Quickly find the Observatory and head to the third Otherworld emitting a faint orange light in the first row. I have so many treasures waiting for you to inherit!
Besides the Lin Family’s thousands of years of heritage, there are treasures I acquired in the Otherworld, unknown Immortal Cave Mansions, unopened Secret Realms. Little one, action speaks louder than words, I’m anxious for you already!"