Chapter 123: Chapter 120: Divine Desire, A Single Thought Profanes Master Liuli

[Fortune reduced by ten, current fortune: 171/382.]

...

[In this lifetime, I must focus on Qi cultivation and practicing the Dao.]

[I currently have three paths: one is Qi cultivation, another is the Martial Dao, and the last is the Sword Dao.]

[Qi cultivation is about understanding heaven and earth, naturally and effortlessly, with peace and freedom. The Martial Dao is like a dragon battling in the wild, its blood Xuan Huang; if my heart is discontent, I must strike. The Sword Dao requires extreme obsession, "Absolute Will" is needed to distort and annihilate everything.]

[I truly can’t treat a "pear" as an "apple," as this destroys my own perception.]

[There is a conflict of paths.]

[For three years, I used the method of "One Qi Transformed into the Three Pristine Ones" to cut off the spiritual thought belonging to the "Martial Master" and turned it into Guardian Divine Techniques.]

[For three years, I also cut off the spiritual thought belonging to "Ning Wushuang·Demon Sword."]

[After cultivating for three years, I still felt it wasn’t right.]

["Sword Demon Heart Eye," "Unrivaled Heavenly Sword," "Ant Sword," "Heaven-Slaying Sword," "Severed Water," "Seven Swords of Cross and Vertical," "Gentle Breeze Breathing Technique," "Flowing Water Breathing Method," "Wind of Suffocation" — none of these belong to me.]

[I severed all "True Meaning of Sword Dao" one by one.]

[Moreover, I severed all inheritances regarding the "Soldier Master" and "Martial Dao," handing them over to the "Martial Master."]

[My own Dao practice plummeted to ten years.]

[I felt relieved, I was free, I returned to the beginning, leaving only the three Qi cultivation methods, "Purple Sky Innate Skill," "Cyan Heaven Great Sun Burning Qi Scripture," "Cyan Mountain Seventy-Two Marvelous Techniques."]

[I started anew from a mortal, advancing rapidly in my Dao practice, and when I turned to Master Liuli’s left behind "Jade Sky True Understanding," I couldn’t remember a single word; it was a wordless Celestial Book.]

[Is this the "Jade Sky True Understanding"?]

[A hundred years later, when my daughter Ling Yu was born, I left Cyan Mountain Heaven and Earth, stepping onto Jade Sky Immortal Island.]

[There I saw Master Liuli seated quietly at the top of Three Immortals Palace, her waterfall-like black hair gently falling, surrounded by a thin halo of glowing clouds, resembling a fairy in a painting, transcendent and extraordinary.]

[I did not look more, standing respectfully aside to wait.]

[Master Liuli slowly opened her eyes, those eyes gazing at the young man with weak breath, a faint smile appearing at the corners of her lips: "Qingyun, you have fully comprehended the "Jade Sky True Understanding," and the Realm of Enlightenment is not far from you."]

[Overjoyed, I quickly asked, "Master, how long until I can attain enlightenment?"]

[Master Liuli pondered slightly, her vermilion lips gently parting: "At the slowest, several billion eras; at the fastest, tens and thousands of years, you should be able to attain enlightenment."]

[After hearing this, I wasn’t greatly disappointed, only inquired, "Master, is there any faster method?"]

[Upon these words, Master Liuli lightly frowned, slowly got up, and stood beside the young man, showing a puzzled expression: "Qingyun, you have now attained ’Great Freedom,’ you shouldn’t be so impatient."]

["Time holds no meaning for beings like us who are ’Innate Divine.’"]

[Master Liuli’s attitude towards me changed, evidently treating me as a "newborn divine," a being of the same level, someone who could accompany her on the Great Dao path as a Dao companion, like Master Linglong and Master Caiyun.]

[The road of the Great Dao is long, and although the divine do not fear death, they worry about "losing their true self," which is the only obsession for those who transform into aliens and step on the path of cultivation.]

[Hence, they treasure every hard-earned "thought."]

[It is their proof of being ’alive.’]

[Mortals see heaven and earth as merciless, so they must be desireless and selfless to attain Dao. But Innate Divine beings must do the opposite in cultivation, to separate from the chaos of being desireless and selfless.]

[To become beings with joy, anger, sorrow, and joy.]

[They are eternal "stones" that suddenly one day develop a desire to "move," such "great desire" is the beginning of divine "attainment."]

[But I am a mortal.]

[I looked up at Master Liuli’s divine appearance, and in that breath, 84,000 thoughts arose, eliminating those of pure mind, leaving three thoughts lingering:

One thought follows like a shadow, one thought stealthily breeds desecration, one thought of white bone eerily emerges.]

[I remained true to my heart, honestly saying: "Master, I bear a great tribulation..." I recounted the matter of the ’Barbaric Realm’ to my Master.]

["Hmph." A faint anger flashed across Master Liuli’s face, a soft grunt as she said, "Fellow Daoist Ancestor Dragon acts too tyrannically, I will retrieve the ’Jade Sky Streaming Light Galaxy’ to protect you, you have nothing to fear from him."]

["We Three Immortals of Jade Sky will demand the ’Barbaric Realm’ from Fellow Daoist Ancestor Dragon, to conclude the past karma."]

[Seeing the concern on Master Liuli’s face, warmth surged in my heart. Divine beings lack the complex thoughts of mortals, yet Master Liuli could "be angry" for me.]

[I gently shook my head, slowly saying: "Master, the Mountain and River Realm is a treasure forged by the Three Saints to suppress the Ancestral Dragon and is the site of Divine Land Ancestral Vein Fortune, key to the birth of the ’Lord of Mountains and Rivers.’]

[Upon hearing this, Master Liuli paused, hesitantly asking: "So, you won’t..."]

[I nodded: "Yes, I am already the ruler of the Mountain and River Realm, there is no longer a "Mountain and River Seal," nor a Divine Land Human Emperor, so even if Master obtains the Barbaric Realm from the Ancestral Dragon. The next calamity would be the Three Saints knowing this and acting against me..."]

[Hearing this, Master Liuli raised her eyes to glance at me, there were seven sacred beings of Divine Land, together with the Ancestral Dragon, I had offended them all, quite something... She sank into deep silence.]

[I always felt Master Liuli was about to "condemn me for the greater good," cautiously asked: "Master, Master, is there any faster method?"]

[Master Liuli gently raised those clear autumn-water-like eyes: "How about you... reincarnate?"]

[After a pause, she said with a serious face: "Qingyun, rest assured, Master will take care of your wife and daughter, ensuring you enter Dao in every life, becoming Jade Sky True Inheritance, until you attain Dao."]

[Looking at Master Liuli’s earnest and serious face, I couldn’t help but laugh and cry: "Master, once I attain Divine of Attainment, I will be able to protect myself."]

["Protect yourself?" Master Liuli asked with a slight frown, a trace of doubt in her eyes.]

[Gently waving my fingers, a tiny galaxy unfolded slowly in the void, radiant and dazzling.]

["Is this... the Jade Sky Streaming Light Galaxy?" Master Liuli was taken aback, the reason she felt inexplicably familiar and affectionate towards Qingyun was revealed, she then shook her head slowly, "Not enough."]

[A black sword suddenly appeared in my hand, I gently wiped its blade: "This is my companion treasure ’Sword of Chaos,’ this sword can seal a Holy Primordial Spirit..."]

[Master Liuli stared at the ordinary-looking Sword of Chaos, her pupils suddenly contracting, two Jade Sky Streaming Light Galaxies, along with this sword, equated to three sacred beings, if assisted by one more "divine," they would remain unbeaten.]

[It’s doable.]

[Master Liuli moved her thoughts, summoning Linglong Fairy and Fairy Caiyun, who were cultivating separately on the island.]

[Regarding the matter of Qingyun.]

[I conversed with the Three Immortals of Jade Sky.]

[They too felt the crisis of downfall due to the actions of the Three Saints and Ancestral Dragon, and to protect themselves, decided to gamble big.]

[They are determined to fully assist me in cultivation.]

[I unreservedly handed my "Jade Sky Streaming Light Galaxy" to Master Liuli, and handed "Nine Bends of the Flowing Clouds, Star River and Exquisite" to Master Linglong.]

[Master Caiyun aids me in perfecting "Cyan Mountain Heaven and Earth."]

[And I’ve dual cultivated with Master Linglong in "Jade Sky Streaming Light Galaxy" for two thousand years, with Master Linglong painstakingly helping me dissolve all the power of "Despair", neither increasing nor decreasing my Dao practice.]

[For a thousand years, I absorbed the resources, cultivating three thousand years of Dao practice myself, perfecting the "Purple Sky Innate Skill" and "Cyan Heaven Great Sun Burning Qi Scripture", thus comprehending "Purple Sky True Understanding."]

[Innate purple qi was born—my heart was filled with great joy, shedding my mortal shell to transform into an Innate Spirit.]

[At this moment, the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth began.]

[I once again entered the world, shrouded by a layer of haze between heaven and earth.

Sea beasts lacking Spiritual Wisdom roared to the heavens.

Before reaching Purple Bamboo Mountain, I saw from afar a group of evil cultivators setting up a "Grand Array" and doing magical combat with the "Purple Bamboo Lineage."

The grand array was filled with swirling evil qi, ghastly ghosts’ faces terrifying and hideous.

Two strands of purple sword light darted among them like dragons.

"Is there still tribulation at Purple Bamboo Mountain?"

Ning Xunqiu revealed confusion in his eyes, his thoughts moved.

He has been in seclusion with the Three Immortals of Jade Sky for three thousand years. Without him, the True Inheritance of Jade Sky sitting outside, the Dragon Race does not fear Purple Bamboo Mountain, and sea beasts unrestrainedly follow Ancestral Dragon’s Dharma Decree, ravaging everywhere.

"Let’s hold on a bit longer, Third Sister has gone to seek help!"

Wenren Hong shouted loudly.

On the other side, Bi Ji and Old Niu were responsible for containment, with Zizhu Demon Master, Wenren Hong, and the panda as the main warriors, struggling under the siege.

Ning Xunqiu immediately took action, raising his hand and waving lightly, a stream of purple qi surged like a mighty river, instantly securing "Purple Bamboo Mountain" firmly.

The group of evil cultivators turned abruptly, seeing a Daoist in cyan robes, without any magical power surging, yet standing in mid-air, a flash of purple aura on his brows, his demeanor handsome and graceful, they exclaimed in surprise:

"Innate Spirit?!"

"Not good!"

"Withdraw quickly..."

The evil cultivator with reddened eyes suddenly had a clarity flashing in them.

Before he finished speaking.

A light blue sword light pierced the sky, all evil cultivators being enveloped by a strong shadow of death in an instant, they exerting all their skills, some sacrificing magical artifacts, attempting to preserve their lives from this deadly strike.

"The magical artifact shattered..." An evil cultivator looked at the sudden crack on his magical artifact with disbelief, his voice trembling.

"That... was just a sword..."

"Such power from merely a sword..."

The evil cultivators showed fear on their faces, their eyes fixed on the cyan bronze sword floating in the sky, then collapsed helplessly onto the ground.

Swish!

The glow of the cyan bronze sword flickered and vanished, instantly transforming into a tall, slender woman draped in light gauze, with a cold countenance, as if walking from the moon, exuding an extraordinary noble aura.

It was none other than Dongfang Mingyue.

Seeing Ning Xunqiu, delight flashed deep in her eyes: "Mr., you’ve finally exited the pass."

She and Gao Fei Xue would visit "Galaxy" periodically to check on Ning Xunqiu’s state, always returning in disappointment.

Ning Xunqiu smiled gently: "Ming Yue, you’ve made considerable progress over these years."

Dongfang Mingyue remained silent, lightly raising her jade hand, elegantly tucking the softly falling strands beside her ear.

"Second Brother."

"Qingyun."

Seeing this, those from Purple Bamboo Mountain finally relaxed their tense nerves, feeling a wave of post-crisis relief.

With this Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth beginning, demons and ghostly fiends from the Four Seas all emerged suddenly.

Ning Xunqiu and Dongfang Mingyue landed hand in hand on Purple Bamboo Mountain, greeting everyone.

"Impressive Divine Techniques!"

Zizhu Demon Master praised, retracted his magical artifact, slightly bending his body in a bow, saying: "Many thanks to the two fellow Daoists for lending a hand."

Wenren Hong’s joy at meeting old friends froze upon hearing this, bluntly saying: "Master, you call Qingyun a Daoist, how should your daughter address him?"

"On the cultivation path, those who attain are masters."

Zizhu Demon Master, a cheerful person, laughed heartily, "Naturally, each calls according to their particular acquaintance."

...