Xianye

Chapter 503 Xia Qiu
A moment later, the fog dissipated and the clouds parted, revealing a bright, full moon shining directly in the sky.

Under the moonlight, Chen Heng rolled up his sleeve and casually put Qian Lie's corpse into a storage container. Then, the sword light disappeared into the sky again.

When the stewards of Qian Lie's mansion arrived at the central courtyard in a daze upon hearing the news...

Apart from a few blood-stained paving stones, the courtyard was completely empty, without a single person in sight...

The river is shrouded in mist, and the sound of the tide is gentle.

Before long, the sword light stopped in the sky above a territory of the Liang Kingdom.

This place is where hundreds of rivers converge. Several great rivers meander and rush from the vast mountains and fields, where they intersect and merge into one, eventually flowing into the sea with a thunderous roar.

Chen Heng strolled out from there, climbed to the top of the cloud, and looked around.

He saw the moon above the clouds and the water below, the shimmering light and moonlight reflected in the water, all of one color.

The moon and water reflect each other in the distance, a truly wondrous sight created by nature, where everything above and below the clouds is completely clear and bright...

"Does this river eventually flow into the Western Sea?"

Chen Heng pointed and asked with a smile to the still somewhat dazed old dragon Xunjian.

Xun Jian nodded subconsciously, then suddenly remembered something and hurriedly took a few steps back, his face full of vigilance and wariness, as if facing a formidable enemy.

A dignified immortal at the third level of the Golden Core realm, a master alchemist from the Wonderful Treasure Land, and an outer sect retainer of the Hundred Barbarian Palace—

Given his various identities, even Xun Jian dared not underestimate Qian Lie.

But just now, he was easily killed by this person with a single sword strike, like a chicken or a dog.
No, even in death, Qian Lie would not know who had killed him. In this respect, he was even less fortunate than most chickens and dogs...

Xun Jian was extremely annoyed at this moment.

He invited Chen Heng into his water mansion, thinking it would be a good deal to help him find out about Qian Lie. He also wanted to use this opportunity to show off his family's connections, so that he could control Chen Heng in the upcoming Dragon Yuan transaction and gain the most benefits at the lowest cost.

Little did anyone know that the creature he invited into the Water Palace was none other than a dragon that had crossed the river.

With just a slight shift of his body, he created a complete mess, shattering all of Xun Jian's plans and catching him off guard.

This one...

"The way you have acted, Master, is truly beyond my expectations!"

After a while, Xun Jian finally calmed himself down, his guard relaxed slightly, and a helpless, bitter smile appeared on his face.

Although Qian Lie was not known for his magical combat skills, he was still a Golden Core Stage 3 cultivator.

Chen Heng was able to kill him so easily, and considering his previous methods, he must have some background and was not just an unknown rogue cultivator.

But now is different from the past——

Qian Lie has now become an outer disciple of the Hundred Barbarian Palace, and has become involved with Elder Liu of the Hundred Barbarian Palace.

According to Xun Jian, Elder Liu has recently been recruiting top alchemists from all over the world to refine a Celestial Void White Pill to present to the Daoist disciple of the Hundred Barbarian Palace to celebrate his birthday, and Qian Lie is among those recruited.

Such a timing, and such a coincidence...

Who can guarantee that Baiman Palace won't have any ulterior motives? And will Elder Liu stand up for Qian Lie?

In Xun Jian's view, no matter how powerful Chen Heng was, he was ultimately just a Golden Core cultivator.

If he wanted to single-handedly withstand any potential blame from the Hundred Barbarian Palace afterward, it would be nothing short of a pipe dream.

If this person wants to survive, their only option now is to leave...

"Although I do not know what deep-seated hatred you have for Qian Lie, you have acted rashly this time!"

After a long while, Xun Jian finally sighed and said helplessly:

"Go, go! You must have some powerful connections to kill Qian Lie. But Elder Liu from the Hundred Barbarian Palace is a ruthless and vengeful person who is not easy to deal with!"

When this person visited Miaobaodi, we were all there to accompany him. However, Master Sun from Chili Mansion was delayed by family matters and was a step too slow to greet him. Afterwards, Master Sun was executed by this person on some pretext, and even Chili Mansion dared not speak out against it.

So arrogant…

Xun Jian shook his head and said sincerely to Chen Heng:
"Take this old man's advice: do not be so arrogant as to disregard Elder Liu and the Hundred Barbarian Palace! You should return to your sect as soon as possible to avoid trouble and explain this matter to your elders. This is the right thing to do!"

Chen Heng looked Xun Jian over with great interest and said:

"I only met Lord Xun today, why would he speak up for me and offer advice?"

"Naturally, it's for the Dragon Essence!"

Xun Jian, however, remained calm, spreading his hands out casually and saying:
"Initially, because I couldn't figure out your true background, I wanted to test you with wealth and connections. Once you showed any weakness, it would be easier for me to bargain down the price in the following transaction, heh!"

However, while these ideas are good, putting them into practice is often not as easy as one might hope...

Chen Heng smiled and said, "In Lord Xun's eyes, since the Hundred Barbarian Palace is so powerful, aren't you afraid of offending the Hundred Barbarian Palace and that Elder Liu by doing this?"

"I didn't kill anyone, so how can you pin the blame on me? Besides, I've been bribing Wen Zhaotian quite a bit over the years. Even if Elder Liu wants to take his anger out on me, his fellow disciples probably won't allow it!"

Xun Jian stood with his hands behind his back and smiled proudly.

Upon hearing this, Chen Heng realized that although Xun Jian was greedy and ambitious, and had some petty schemes, he was not a vicious person and had a good heart.

Faced with Xun Jian's repeated earnest persuasion, Chen Heng didn't keep him in suspense, shook his head, and truthfully said:

"The reason I killed Qian Lie today is not out of personal vendetta, but out of public justice. Even if the Palace Master of the Hundred Barbarian Palace were here, he would find it difficult to criticize me on this point."

"Of course, if the Hundred Barbarian Palace insists on using this place to make things difficult for me, I am not afraid."

Xun Jian noticed that although Chen Heng's voice was calm, his tone was extremely arrogant.

A sudden curiosity arose in his heart, and he seized this opportunity to ask the question that had been lingering in his mind once again:
"Could the True Man be a person from Wenzhaotian? I wonder which family's outstanding disciple he is? Qingya Sect? Zongyuan Mountain? It can't be that Fangkanghai Dao Palace, can it?"

The families Xun Jian mentioned earlier are all renowned powers within Wenzhao Heaven, with over a hundred lineages under their jurisdiction, boasting long histories and exceptionally profound foundations.

Compared to them, Xun Jian's vast family fortune, passed down from his ancestors, was but a drop in the ocean, utterly insignificant.

Especially the latter, the Kanghai Dao Palace, whose lineage is even more closely related to the legendary Xuanfeng Cave!
Legend has it that the founding patriarch of Kanghai Dao Palace was once a disciple of Xuanfeng Cave. However, he lost the struggle for a position in the sect, which greatly diminished his power. He was then framed for a crime, which stripped him of most of his influence.

In his anger, he had no choice but to accept the sect's decree and travel across the vast void to Wenzhaotian, where he established the Kanghai Dao Palace, a lineage of Dao, in this unfamiliar heaven.

After years of hard work by the founding patriarch and the diligent governance of successive palace masters, Kanghai Dao Palace finally achieved its current prosperity and prestige.

Although Kanghai Dao Palace cannot be considered a truly top-tier immortal sect within Wenzhao, neither Qingya Sect nor Zongyuan Mountain would dare to underestimate its power.

Even when his disciples traveled outside, if they encountered disciples of the Kanghai Dao Palace, they would treat them with great courtesy, regarding them as members of a major sect of equal status.

The reason for this is simply that the founding patriarch of Kanghai Dao Palace was a disciple of Xuanfeng Cave, and after some maneuvering, he returned to Xuanfeng Cave and once again took power.

Xun Jian thought that if Chen Heng really came from one of these families, then with the support of his elders, he really didn't need to be too afraid of Elder Liu.

However, to say that the Palace Master of Baiman Palace personally came would be an exaggeration and not credible.

“I was born in Yu Chen,” Chen Heng said.

"Yu Chen? Which Yu—"

Xun Jian was puzzled when he first heard this.

But soon, his voice stopped abruptly, and he turned to look at Chen Heng, stunned.

"Qian Lie, who is the so-called Ji Lei Zhenren whom I just killed, was originally a cultivator from Yun Ting Mountain of the Yu Chen Dao lineage. Because his secrets were exposed, he absconded with his treasures and betrayed his sect."

This matter was reported to Xiaoming Great Swamp by Yun Tingshan, and the sect naturally set a reward for Qian Lie's head.

Chen Heng briefly explained:
"And those who accepted this talisman from the sect were far more than just a handful. I was just one of them, and I happened to be ahead of them."

Even without me, Qian Lie would have died at the hands of Yu Chen's disciples sooner or later.

Xun Jian felt as if he were in a fog when he heard these words.

He felt as if he were floating, his legs were weak, and for a moment he couldn't tell whether he had really heard clearly.

"Yu Chen of Xudu Great Heaven? Is that the Yu Chen that is one of the Eight Sects and Six Clans?"

Xun Jian asked in a trembling voice, and seeing that Chen Heng did not deny it, he suddenly became bold and asked, almost as if possessed:

"May I ask where you reside in the Jade Emperor Immortal Sect, sir?"

"My name is Chen Heng, and I am now a true disciple of the sect, having been apprenticed to Daoist Tongxuan."

After he finished speaking, Xun Jian was struck dumb, his mind went completely blank, and he couldn't utter a sound for a long time.

It took him a while to recover from the shock, and he was still in a daze.

Looking closely, one could see Chen Heng gazing at the vast expanse of heaven and earth, his eyes deep and thoughtful, seemingly lost in thought.

"..."

Seeing this, Xun Jian naturally dared not disturb him. He quietly moved his feet and stood behind Chen Heng with his head bowed, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

It was a time of clear skies and gentle breezes, with the sky a vast expanse of blue.

Looking down, the rivers and lakes seem to intertwine to form a vast water network. Even when the night dew is heavy, small boats are scattered across the river and lake, with fishing lights flickering like tiny fireflies among the grass.

Try to calm your mind.

All I felt was stillness in the sky and the earth, utter silence...

The dense network of waterways beneath their feet converges into a great river, eventually flowing into the Xidu Sea.

Regardless of whether it was clear or turbid before, or whether it was large or small before, in the end, they all become one, without any distinction.

Chen Heng stood suspended in mid-air, feeling inexplicably moved.

He had already pried open that sliver of mystery and comprehended the wonders of cultivating inner vision.

Once everything is settled, one must follow in the footsteps of those who came before, and venture into the mortal world to gain experience and advance to the third level of the Golden Core stage.

The inner realm is also called the minor Dharma form, and its closeness with the primordial spirit Dharma form is far beyond that of ordinary realms.

It is not only the last minor realm before a cultivator reaches the primordial spirit, but also a prerequisite for achieving the primordial spirit; the inner landscape can also be considered the prototype of the Dharma form.

Even if an ordinary cultivator comprehends the profound mysteries and reaches the third level of the Golden Core, it is still difficult to fully grasp the wonders of the true Dao. When one first forms their inner landscape, they can evolve it to its ultimate potential in one fell swoop.

One needs to put in a lot of time and effort to gradually accumulate insights before one can gradually perfect one's inner vision skills and then attempt to cultivate one's primordial spirit.

Five or six tenths is the maximum that most cultivators can achieve when they first form their inner vision.

As for 70% or 80%, those are feats that only those with exceptional talent and intelligence can accomplish.

As for those who, upon breaking through the small realm, have evolved their inner landscape to ninety percent, perhaps only a top disciple of a major sect like Lü Rong could achieve that.

And 100%...

As far as Chen Heng knew, within the vast Jade Palace, only Jun Yao and Ji Fakai had accomplished this in the past three thousand years.

Both of them later attained the highest level of enlightenment and became famous throughout the land!

One was the previous Jade Emperor Daoist, the dignified master of Mount Xiyi, who once ruled the vast Zhouxing Palace in his primordial spirit form.

The other is the eldest son of the Le Cen Ji clan, the leader of the younger generation in the twelve generations of the Xu Du clan, and Chen Heng's undisputed greatest rival in the struggle for the Jade Emperor's throne!
Although in order to realize the Dharma, worldly practitioners need to evolve their inner vision to its fullest extent, until there is no further progress.

However, being able to complete the practice at the very beginning of the inner vision undoubtedly saves a great deal of trouble later on.

Moreover, the depth of skill achieved in this step undoubtedly reflects the level of a practitioner's spiritual attainment.

Since Chen Heng had the desire to seek immortality, he was naturally unwilling to lag behind others and wanted to reach the ultimate realm in one fell swoop!
While those who cultivate the inner realm in the world will generally have to go out into the mortal world to practice their inner vision.

However, the specific path one takes in worldly trials varies depending on the different spiritual manifestations one seeks to attain.

Some chose to immerse themselves in the marketplace, learning from ordinary people to make a living through trade and establish a family and career. Others devoted themselves to the imperial court, wielding power and holding high positions, receiving rewards and honors at will.

Some are game literature and classical literature.

Some have been on the battlefield for a long time, seeing only the clash of weapons...

Chen Heng was initially somewhat doubtful about how he should experience the world and which path he should take.

But tonight, with its fine breeze and bright moon, and upon seeing the vast scene of hundreds of rivers flowing beneath the clouds and converging into the sea, he suddenly felt all his confusion vanish and all his worries disappear.

He felt as if he had finally grasped a ray of inspiration, which brought him peace of mind and body, and he couldn't help but clap his hands and laugh.

The primordial spirit he sought to cultivate was ultimately "Great Qian Yuan," not the mysterious wisdom of silent opening and closing, nor any kind of righteous principle or heavenly order.

He wanted to discover the wonders of his own inner world, which he sought within the human relationships of this mortal realm, but even more so within this very world.

Since his great path is right before his eyes and feet, it is nothing more than feeling the mountains and rivers and comprehending the waters. There is no need to seek far and wide or do other kinds of work.

What is the name of this city?

Suddenly, Chen Heng pointed to a small town by the water below the clouds. There were several villages outside the town. Because of the vast waters and crisscrossing rivers, most of the villagers made their living by fishing, and many fishing boats were moored deep in the shadows of willows.

"Reporting to the Master, this place is still within the territory of the Liang Kingdom, and the small town seems to be called Xiaqiu."

"Xiaqiu?"

Chen Heng seemed to be deep in thought, nodded, and sighed:
"This is the place where I will knock on the door and open it!"

Xun Jian was momentarily at a loss for words. He wanted to say something, but he stopped himself and simply lowered his head, respectfully agreeing.

The next day, a traveling scholar suddenly appeared in Xiaqiu City and stayed there for half a year.

(End of this chapter)