Gou in the world of comprehension

Chapter 1454 Entering the World to Cleanse the Heart
Several months passed in the blink of an eye, and the stone gate of the cave suddenly opened, allowing Su Fan to finally break through the barrier and emerge.

At this moment, his eyes were as calm as a deep autumn pool, without any of the sharp edge he used to have. Even the aura around him was clear and transparent, completely free of the dust and grime of the world.

Over the years, he has devoured the essence and blood of countless great demons and monsters, and even refined the original essence and blood of the true dragon clan.

Even though most of the power had been integrated into his bloodline, it still made his bloodline impure and chaotic.

Although he inherited the demon race's bizarre supernatural powers and the true dragon's powerful secret techniques, the accompanying side effects followed him like a shadow, often disturbing his mind.

This chaos had a great impact on Su Fan's state of mind, especially the tempering of his Dao heart, which could no longer keep up with the speed of his breakthroughs, becoming the biggest obstacle on his path of cultivation.

In addition, he has committed too many killings over the years, and has even used blood sacrifice to devour the lifeblood of countless living beings.

Even if the "Blood Shadow Divine Descent Array" can purify and absorb power to the greatest extent, how can it not be eroded by malevolent energy after being immersed in it for a long time?

Now, wisps of evil energy often seep out from his body, which is completely out of place with the pure and ethereal aura that disciples of the immortal sect should possess.

It should be understood that once a cultivator's Dao heart is flawed, it will undoubtedly pose a fatal threat to their breakthrough to the Integration Realm.

In the past, every breakthrough Su Fan had faced a perilous situation at the final stage of his Dao Heart. If he did not perfect his Dao Heart this time, he would likely encounter an even greater crisis when breaking through to the Integration Realm.

In this world of cultivation, cultivators at the Integration Realm are already at the very top of the pyramid, but the process of breaking through to this realm is a life-or-death ordeal for countless cultivators.

Throughout history, countless geniuses have been stuck at this step, ultimately dying and disappearing into the dust of the world.

After stepping out of the cave, Su Fan left the gate of the "Guangfa Dao Sect" without lingering.

With a flash of inspiration, the jet-black ghost crow took flight. He lightly touched the crow's back with his toes and transformed into a streak of light, speeding eastward.

After flying for more than a month on the back of the ghost crow, the scenery below gradually changed from towering mountains to crisscrossing plains, and a vast mortal kingdom came into view.

According to the map in his hand, this is the dynasty called "Da Xuan", with a vast territory and a population of billions, making it a dominant force in the mortal world.

Su Fan controlled the ghost crow to land in a prosperous area of ​​the Great Xuan Kingdom, eventually stopping in a dense forest near the city of Lishui County.

He raised his hand to put the ghost crow into his personal secret realm, straightened his robes, and then slowly walked towards the county town.

By the time he reached the city gate, he had already concealed all his cultivation aura, and his appearance and clothing had become ordinary, indistinguishable from the common people entering the city.

As Su Fan joined the crowd and entered the city gate, passing through the spacious bluestone passage, the moment he stepped into Lishui County, a sense of vicissitude and antiquity belonging to the mortal era rushed towards him.

The city was more bustling than anyone could have imagined: the streets were teeming with pedestrians, carriages and horses flowed endlessly, and shouts and cries of vendors rose and fell, weaving together a lively and vibrant atmosphere.

Teahouses, taverns, foot inns, butcher shops, grain stores, and general stores lined both sides of the street, their eaves connected.

The shops displayed a variety of goods, including silks and satins, jewelry and spices, ceramics and jade. There were shops that specialized in one type of goods, as well as merchants that sold a variety of items. All kinds of businesses were represented.

Many large shops also have exquisite gate towers at their entrances, with banners embroidered with their names hanging in the wind, attracting diners and merchants passing by.

The enticing aroma of food wafted from the restaurants and taverns, accompanied by the melodious and alluring singing of the female singers.

Inside the bookstore, several scholars dressed in blue robes sat together, holding books and discussing animatedly, their brows furrowed with high spirits.

Farmers dressed simply displayed their homegrown fruits and vegetables on the street, calling out their wares loudly.

In the cloth shop, women dressed in simple clothes and adorned with gold hairpins and dangling ornaments were picking and choosing from various fabrics, chatting and laughing.

Occasionally, in a few small courtyards with blue-tiled roofs, several children with pigtails are playing games like pitch-pot and hopscotch on the blue stone steps, their silvery laughter carried far on the wind.

The streets, teeming with people and filled with laughter, together paint a vivid and lively picture of humanity in a mortal world.

At this moment, the great battle between "Mountain and Sea Boundary" and "New Guangtian" is raging fiercely, staining the land with blood and causing immense suffering to the people.

But the ordinary people's kingdoms far away from the front lines were completely unaffected by the war and remained a scene of peace and prosperity.

Looking at the peaceful scene before him, Su Fan couldn't help but recall the mortal cities and states destroyed by strange beasts when he first arrived in "New Guangtian".

The ruins and wailing of those days are a stark contrast to the peaceful and prosperous life we ​​enjoy today—it's like night and day.

After wandering around the city for about an hour, Su Fan frowned and turned to leave Lishui County.

Although the county town was bustling and lively, full of the warmth of everyday life, for him, this liveliness was too noisy and disturbed his mind.

More importantly, the city is densely populated, and the air is filled with a kind of turbid air that ordinary people cannot detect. If cultivators stay here for a long time, they are very likely to have their Dao foundation eroded by the turbid air.

After leaving the city, Su Fan traveled westward along the official road on the banks of the Li River.

After walking for about half an hour, a bustling town suddenly appeared on the shore ahead.

This is "Xihe Town", which is actually the dock outside the city of Lishui County.

Xihe Town is located at the confluence of three rivers, making it both a waterway transportation hub and an important town for canal transport.

The shore was filled with official and merchant ships, their prows and masts standing side by side, stretching as far as the eye could see, a scene of bustling activity.

The town's dock area is lined with restaurants and inns on both sides of the street, with colorful pavilions and gates decorated in an exceptionally splendid manner, and wine flags embroidered with patterns fluttering in the wind.

There were also beautiful courtesans standing by the railing, smiling charmingly as they beckoned customers, creating a lively scene that was dazzling to behold.

However, the area on the east side of Xihe Town, which is farther from the shore, is much quieter than the dock.

Fortunately, this area is right next to the official road, and there are still many shops on both sides of the street. Although it is not as bustling as the dock, it is still quite orderly.

A few days later, a shop called "Tiangongge" quietly opened on the street east of Xihe Town.

The shop mainly sells solid wood furniture and wood carvings. When it opened, there were no firecrackers or guests; it was almost completely quiet.

So much so that many people in the town didn't notice the new shop on the street for several days.

The townspeople were surprised to learn that someone had opened a furniture and wood carving shop here.

It's important to know that land in Xihe Town is incredibly valuable, and even the shops on the east side of the street have exorbitant rents.

Selling solid wood furniture and wood carvings in such a place is really out of place.

With such exorbitant rent, selling these items alone probably wouldn't even cover the costs, and the business would have to close down soon, suffering huge losses.

Although the townspeople were not optimistic about the store, according to local custom, when a new store opens, the owners of surrounding shops will visit and offer their congratulations.

The owner of "Tiangongge" also left a very deep impression on everyone.

The shop owner was a middle-aged man in his forties, of medium build and with an ordinary appearance, whose temples were already streaked with gray.

He usually wore a worn-out gray robe, with a coarse cloth apron and cloth sleeves on top, looking like an ordinary carpenter.

He spends most of his time in the backyard of the shop, sawing wood, planing materials, and sanding, focusing on making all kinds of furniture.

But whenever a customer comes to his door, he will immediately put down what he is doing, smile and go up to chat with the customer for a few words, his attitude is easy and friendly.

What's even more remarkable is that this shop owner has an exceptional way of speaking; even when chatting about mundane family matters, he can always offer some unique insights.

With just a few words, he can win people's favor.

Therefore, although the townspeople felt that "Tiangongge" was unlikely to last long, they had a very harmonious relationship with the shop owner.

As dusk fell, the setting sun, like blood, dyed the sky above Xihe Town a brilliant orange-red, and the afterglow enveloped the riverside town, adding a touch of gentle warmth.

Su Fan put down the plane, gently brushed the sawdust off his clothes, took off his apron and sleeves, turned around and walked into the kitchen in the corner of the yard to start a fire and cook.

He had been in Xihe Town for several months, and during that time he had not even stepped into his personal secret realm, living every day like a pure mortal.

During the day, he did woodworking and entertained guests; at night, he cooked, meditated, and cultivated his spiritual practice. His days were simple and regular.

After several busy months, the once empty "Tiangong Pavilion" is now filled with all kinds of solid wood furniture.

The tables, chairs, bookshelves, wardrobes, and beds are all exquisitely crafted with elegant patterns.

The shelves on both sides of the wall are also filled with wooden carvings of various shapes and sizes, depicting flowers, birds, fish, insects, landscapes, and figures, all lifelike.

At this moment, "Tiangong Pavilion" finally began to resemble a shop.

After working as a carpenter for several months, Su Fan's carpentry skills are now comparable to those of a master carpenter in the mortal world.

After all, he had been immersed in the art of crafting artifacts for hundreds of years, so making furniture for ordinary people was nothing to him. However, the shop's business was as slow as the townspeople had predicted.

Even the town's gangsters who collected protection money, after browsing the shop, felt a little sorry for the situation and only collected a token amount.

Xihe Town was originally a canal port, and most of the people coming and going were merchants and boatmen. Few people would buy furniture and wood carvings here.

Su Fan didn't care about this at all. He didn't come here to make money, but to temper his Dao heart through this mundane life.

This is precisely the method of "purifying the heart by entering the world" recorded in the "Precious Record of Cleansing the Heart by the Bright Moon and Clear Breeze" passed down in the Divine Soul Dao of the Immortal Sect.

To understand human nature amidst the hustle and bustle of the world, and to cultivate a tranquil state of mind amidst the ordinary.

After several months of worldly cultivation, Su Fan felt an unprecedented tranquility in his mind. The restlessness he used to experience due to his mixed bloodline and murderous aura was gradually dissipating.

Every night, he would sit cross-legged and practice the "Clear Breeze and Bright Moon Illuminate the Spirit and Cleanse the Heart Precious Talisman," contemplating the imagery of a gentle breeze blowing through the bamboo forest and the bright moon reflecting on a cold pool.

As the cultivation technique circulated, his Dao heart became increasingly clear and pure, and his past flaws were gradually repaired.

Looking at the bright moon outside the window, Su Fan couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

If he had obtained this Immortal Sect's Divine Soul Dao inheritance earlier, his Dao heart might have been perfected long ago, and he wouldn't have had to take so many detours on his cultivation path.

Fortunately, it's not too late. As long as you can polish your Dao Heart to perfection before breaking through to the Integration Realm, your chances of breaking through will increase.

At that time, I believe I will be able to handle the final, perilous test of my Dao heart with ease.

As my thoughts faded, a feeling of emptiness welled up inside me.

Su Fan turned and went into the kitchen. Dinner was simple but substantial, consisting of several steamers of snow-white spirit flour buns made from spirit wheat flour, a special type of wheat found only in the cultivation world. Each bite carried a subtle sweetness.

Then slice a plate of marinated monster meat, which is firm and savory.

This is a dish he made in his spare time by braising the leg meat of demon beasts with ordinary spices. It suits the tastes of cultivators and also carries the flavor of everyday life.

He picked up a steamed bun, broke it open with a little force from his fingertips, put in a few slices of juicy braised meat, and took a big bite.

The sweetness of the barley, combined with the savory aroma of the braised pork, melts in your mouth, instantly bringing a sense of satisfaction.

In no time at all, he devoured several steamers of steamed buns and more than ten pounds of braised meat, wiping the oil off his fingertips with the crumbs of the steamed buns.

That's the downside of body cultivators: they can eat way too much.

Su Fan patted his bloated belly and smiled helplessly.

Cultivators have a special physique, and ordinary grains can no longer meet their body's needs. They can only rely on spiritual food to supplement their energy.

If it weren't for his substantial accumulation over the years, the spiritual food he consumes daily would probably bankrupt an ordinary cultivator.

After clearing away the dishes, Su Fan moved a bamboo recliner to the yard, slumped down on it, put his hands behind his head, and swayed gently with the movement of the recliner.

The evening breeze brushed against my cheeks, carrying the moist scent of the Li River, so comfortable that I almost squinted my eyes.

In the past few months of secular life, apart from practicing the "Clear Breeze and Bright Moon Illuminate the Gods and Cleanse the Heart" talisman every night to hone his Dao heart, he has not touched anything related to cultivation.

The coarse gray robe he wore was bought from a cloth shop in town, the wood plane and saw he used were made of iron, and even the bed he slept on was a solid wood bed he made himself.

Apart from the spiritual food he consumed, there was no trace of a cultivator left on his entire body.

Now he truly resembles a homegrown, ordinary carpenter, and his furniture-making skills are astonishing.

The wardrobe I made before had perfectly fitted wood grain, and the doors made no sound at all when they were pushed or pulled.

The desk was crafted with a surface polished smooth as a mirror, so smooth that not a single splinter could be found.

Even his wood carving skills improved rapidly through daily practice.

The flowers and birds carved before were only similar in appearance, but the birds carved now have clearly visible patterns on their wings, as if they are about to take flight at any moment.

Now, the landscapes he carves have distinct layers of distant mountains and nearby waters, and even the clouds and mist have an ethereal quality, already possessing a certain "lifelike" quality.

This wasn't because Su Fan was exceptionally talented, but because he had already developed a rock-solid hand and an eye for detail when he was drawing talismans, making artifacts, and manipulating puppets in his early years.

Although carpentry is different from cultivation skills, the pursuit of "precision" is the same, so it is easy to learn.

Although the furniture business at "Tiangongge" remained sluggish, the reputation of his wood carvings quietly spread throughout Xihe Town.

Almost every shop in town displays one or two of his carved trinkets.

These are all decorative items symbolizing wealth and prosperity, such as the God of Wealth, the Golden Toad, cabbage, and the Pixiu.

These ornaments are so exquisitely carved that a few days ago, a wealthy family from Lishui County came specifically to commission a few pieces.

Su Fan was always easygoing. He quoted a high price and only sold ready-made items. He didn't care whether people bought them or not.

Anyway, he doesn't make money from this.

Su Fan was comfortably rocking back and forth in the chair when a sudden knocking sound broke the tranquility of the courtyard.

Su Fan frowned slightly, sat up from the recliner, dusted off his clothes, and slowly went to open the door.

A man stood outside the door, about nine feet tall, with long hair casually tied behind his head, somewhat disheveled, and his face bearing the marks of hardship, but his physique was as strong as a black bear, with arms thicker than an average person's thigh.

"Oh, it's Brother He! Please come in and have a seat..."

Upon seeing who it was, Su Fan smiled and stepped aside to let the person into the shop.

This man's name was He Song. He was from the "Yihetang" in Xihe Town and was responsible for collecting protection fees from the street on the east side of the town.

Normally, gangs are never lenient when it comes to collecting protection money, but He Song's "Tiangong Pavilion" is unusually lenient.

They probably felt that Su Fan's shop didn't look like it could make any money, so every time they came, they would only symbolically take a few copper coins, and sometimes they would even just wave their hands and leave.

Su Fan also knew that the Xihe Town wharf was bustling and most of the shops in the town were very profitable. Apart from his "unorthodox" carpentry shop, there was almost no business that didn't make money.

The gangs in the town were also better off than elsewhere, so there was no need for them to bother with this "poor carpenter".

He Song walked into the shop, his eyes sweeping over the shelves full of wood carvings, and he scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.

"Our patriarch is having a birthday celebration and would like to choose a decorative item from you as a gift..."

Following his gaze, Su Fan pointed to the shelf further inside.

"There are quite a few here, take your pick. I think that figurine of the Three Star Gods of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity is quite nice. It's carved with the auspicious meaning of both fortune and longevity, making it perfect for birthday celebrations..."

He Song looked in the direction he pointed and saw that the statue of Fu Lu Shou was about half a foot tall, with the three immortals having different expressions.

The God of Fortune holds a jade ruyi with a kind smile, the God of Prosperity holds a court tablet with a calm demeanor, and the God of Longevity leans on a cane with a lifelike forehead protrusion.

He leaned closer to examine it for a moment, becoming more and more satisfied, and nodded emphatically.

"Okay...this is it! Old Su, wrap it up for me..."

After wrapping up the ornaments, He Song held the gift box, then suddenly looked up at Su Fan as if he remembered something.

"How much does this cost...?"

"What money..."

Su Fan waved his hand and pushed the gift box into his arms.

"It's just a little gadget..."

He Song wasn't one to mince words. Seeing that Su Fan was being honest, he stopped being polite, thanked him while holding the gift box, and strode away from the shop.

Su Fan watched his broad back disappear around the street corner, shook his head helplessly, and reached out to close the wooden door of the shop again.

This He Song is a local resident and a legitimate gang member.

Although he usually acts like a scoundrel, he is different from those scoundrels who bully and dominate the market.

(End of this chapter)