Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 503 The Mysterious Path Within the Gourd Reveals Profound Principles; Undercurrents Within the Mansion are Subdued in the Palm of One's Hand (Seeking Rewards and Subscriptions!)

On the vast and boundless sea, as light and shadow flowed and primordial energy settled, four figures gradually solidified, manifesting in this location that had escaped the chaotic laws of the Sea Abyss Maze:
Lu Cheng, Fairy Jin Hong, Yu Yi, and the insane Black Demon Taoist each held a magic gourd in their arms.

These are, respectively, an orange-skinned gourd containing the wondrous energy of cleansing the eyes, a yellow-skinned gourd containing the energy of cleansing the marrow of the I Ching, a green-skinned gourd containing the energy of primordial fire, and a purple-skinned gourd containing the energy of creation from the void.

There's nothing to hesitate about in choosing between refining one's Dharma eyes, enhancing one's aptitude for cultivation, and nurturing the true fire of Samadhi.

The primordial yang energy within the red gourd can greatly advance the physical cultivation of body refiners, and can even directly elevate Nascent Soul cultivators who have not yet refined their bodies to the level of dual cultivation of body and spirit.

This treasure is most beneficial to Nascent Soul cultivators who have not yet refined their bodies, but it is not necessary for Lu Cheng.

His self-created Xuan Tian Divine Skill for body refinement and self-cultivation is unparalleled in the world. He has comprehended it on his own and has not yet encountered any insurmountable bottlenecks in the Daoist arts.

The innate profound water energy inside the green gourd can enable cultivators to obtain a top-tier water-type spiritual body. It is most meaningful for cultivators who have highly talented juniors in their families. However, these juniors must also have poor innate aptitude. The better their aptitude, the less valuable the innate profound water energy inside the green gourd becomes.

Of course, if one is already a water-type spirit, the combination of the two might break through the limits and be different, but it would be useless to Lu Cheng.

Lu Cheng hesitated slightly between the blue gourd and the purple gourd. The Taiyi Condensed Void Qi inside the blue gourd could be refined into "Heaven and Earth Shadowless Sand". Although this divine sand is a consumable, once used, it can even disappear into thin air in front of a Void Returning cultivator, making it a life-saving treasure for low-level cultivators.

However, Lu Cheng is a true disciple of the Taiqing Sect, one of the nine sects of the human race. It cannot be said that he is without danger, but his situation is completely different from that of Yu Yi's ancestor, "Haiyuan Zhensou" Yu Cangbai. Moreover, his body is an avatar, which can escape back to the mortal world when things are not going well.

Therefore, Lu Cheng ultimately chose the purple-skinned gourd among the Seven Treasures Gourds, which possessed the strongest spiritual power.

He cultivates the Mysterious Heaven Divine Art and possesses the true blood of the Ice Phoenix. Combined with this rare spatial spiritual treasure, he might be able to refine an extremely powerful top-tier magic weapon.

Lu Cheng reached out and made a gesture, and the spirit treasure gourds in the hands of the three people present flew out and landed in mid-air around him, where they were collected by the Taoist with a hand seal.

Lu Cheng had also considered capturing several Nascent Soul cultivators and forcing them to bring out the Spirit Treasure Gourd for him.

However, on the one hand, he had been hiding his true form on the Aurora Island for two hundred years, and once his murderous instincts were aroused, he could no longer control them.

On the other hand, Lu Cheng had carefully studied the immortal restrictions within the treasure hall, but he truly couldn't understand them. Forcibly capturing three Nascent Soul cultivators and seizing the spiritual treasures would be somewhat dangerous.

There are precedents in the cultivation world where high-level cultivators capture low-level cultivators to work for them, only to find themselves trapped in forbidden techniques they cannot comprehend, or even killed by cultivators whose cultivation is far inferior to their own because of those forbidden techniques.

Lu Cheng was confident that he wouldn't end up in such a miserable state, but the immortal restrictions within the treasure hall were incredibly profound. If other Nascent Soul cultivators were to secretly gain control of it, it wouldn't be impossible for them to kill him or make his efforts in vain go to waste.

Of course, a large part of the reason was that Lu Cheng couldn't control himself once he drew his flying sword. His subsequent thoughts were not without an attempt to excuse himself.

"I promised to wait for you for over a month so that I could fulfill your wish to obtain the elixir to save your sect's masters. However, forty-seven days have passed before you finally returned. During that time, many cultivators coveted the Seven Treasures Gourd, but I quelled them all with a single sword strike."

This act of killing is far more heinous than a promise made.

As he spoke, Lu Cheng's fingertips twitched slightly, and the ice-blue jade box that Fairy Jin Hong was holding tightly slipped out of her hand.

Lu Cheng opened the jade box, and there floated a pure white ice lotus, its cold aura contained within, shaped like a lotus flower. The lotus had nine petals, each of which resembled a solidified ice crystal from ten thousand years ago.

"This item will remain in my possession for now. You must return to your sect and retrieve seven Primordial Golden Essences before you can exchange it for your item. This is a fair trade."

Upon hearing this, Fairy Jin Hong's pretty face paled slightly, and she bit her lip lightly. Despite her immense reluctance, her expression changed several times, and she could only suppress all her thoughts and bow her head in agreement.

"Junior...yes. Thank you for your protection, senior. I will do my utmost to find the seven innate golden essences."

The Great Bright Palace, one of the top Taoist sects in the Earth Immortal Realm, is renowned for its Gengjin Sword Dao and Zhuyuan Secret Technique. Lu Cheng believed that as long as he was willing to pay a sufficient price, Jin Hong, as the leader of the Seven Swordsmen of the Great Bright Palace, was confident that he could take seven innate gold essences from the sect's treasury.

Seven innate gold essences are enough for me to refine the Five Elements Flying Sword again.

Yu Yi, who was standing to the side, witnessed all of this, and her emotions churned even more violently.

On this trip, she witnessed firsthand the charisma of Lord Lu as he overcame all obstacles and took control of the situation from the depths of the Sea Abyss. His demeanor, methods, and Taoist arts were all far beyond the ordinary.

Yu Yi felt that only by becoming such a person could she have lived a worthwhile life of cultivation.

At this moment, Yu Yi took a deep breath, ignoring the astonished gaze of Fairy Jin Hong beside her, straightened her appearance, and then solemnly knelt down before Lu Cheng, performing the most solemn apprenticeship ceremony:
"I know I am dull-witted and have a shallow foundation in the Dao. However, Senior's Daoist arts are profound and your divine swordsmanship is superb, as if you were a banished immortal descended to earth! I am willing to give everything I have, offering up what I obtained from this secret realm, only asking for Senior's mercy to accept me as your disciple with pity for my sincere heart. I, Yu Yi, wish to serve Master by his side for all eternity, diligently cultivate the Great Dao, and never slacken!" Her voice was earnest, and her eyes were filled with boundless longing and awe.

Lu Cheng's gaze fell on Yu Yi, calm and undisturbed. He remained silent for several breaths, and even the sound of the surrounding waves seemed to be suppressed by this invisible scrutiny.

The Taoist priest finally shook his head slowly: "It takes a lot of effort to train a disciple. Those who lack aptitude, comprehension, and good fortune will ultimately find their path to immortality as nothing more than a mirage."

Lu Cheng paused, then seemed to remember something and continued:
“In my younger days, I was also greedy for wealth and took in a disciple. At that time, he was of mediocre talent but impetuous and impatient. As his teacher, I poured my heart and soul into guiding him towards goodness, teaching him the Dharma, and hoping that he would become a dragon. However, in the end, it was a case of an old man sending off a young man, which only added to my sorrow.”

"The effort and time spent afterward far exceeded the apprenticeship gifts received, a thousand times more, but in the end it was all for nothing. I am unwilling to do such things again."

These few words encapsulate the hardships and bitterness of accepting disciples and passing on the teachings on the path of cultivation. That detachment born of worldly experience carries more weight than any harsh rejection.

Upon hearing this, Yu Yi felt as if she had been struck by a heavy blow. Her kneeling body trembled slightly, and her eyes instantly reddened.

Lu Cheng's words were like ice, extinguishing the burning hope in her heart. She opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word. She felt a huge sense of loss and shame filling her heart. She silently lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Lu Cheng stopped looking at her, waved his sleeve, and a gentle breeze lifted Yu Yi up, while simultaneously throwing a Qiankun bag into her arms.

This is a benefit that this woman deserves, and it's more than she should.

He turned to Jin Hong and said:
"The path to enlightenment is long and arduous, and everyone has their own destiny and opportunities. Once you have obtained the seven innate golden essences, you can come to Huangyun Mansion to find me. Go now."

Having said that, he said no more, and his figure gradually blurred in the vast sea mist and starlight, eventually transforming into a mighty sword rainbow that merged with heaven and earth, tearing through the void and disappearing in an instant.

“Little Yu, you don’t need to be so sad. The Great Dao is like mercury, seeping into everything. As long as you have a heart that yearns for the Dao, you can cultivate anywhere.”

Jin Hong stepped forward and hugged Yu Yi. The two had experienced life and death together in the Sea Abyss Maze and had formed a deep friendship. This was why Yu Yi was willing to accompany Jin Hong on his adventures. Only under such circumstances could she, with her status and cultivation, catch the eye of this great swordsman and even form a deep friendship.

Finally, Yu Yi took away the Black Fiend Daoist who had become mentally unstable. Lu Cheng and Jin Hong didn't care, but for her, it was good to keep the Black Fiend Daoist at home and be able to ask him a few questions about cultivation secrets.

...

Huangyun Mansion, Dongzhen Pavilion

Clouds and mist shrouded the sky like woven silk, auspicious clouds filled the air.

As the Daoist temple of the Taiqing Sect in the border city, Huangyun Prefecture has been developed for two hundred years. Relying on the Nine Heavens Merchant Ships and a large number of spiritual resources, it is no longer the same as when it was first established.

Jade palaces and pavilions appear and disappear amidst the misty spiritual energy, with gushing springs, frolicking cranes and beasts, and exotic flowers and rare herbs planted everywhere, presenting a vibrant scene of a righteous immortal sect.

Lu Cheng's figure solidified quietly on the star-gazing platform at the highest point of Dongzhen Pavilion.

He did not make a show of it; he simply circulated his aura, and the invisible yet vast pressure of the peak Nascent Soul stage silently covered the entire Huangyun Mansion blessed land and its Qian Tian True Yang Divine Thunder Array.

The disciples, stewards, retainers, and even the hidden sentries within the manor, regardless of their status, all felt a jolt in their hearts as long as their cultivation had reached a certain level. No matter where they were, they involuntarily stopped what they were doing, faced the direction of Dongzhen Pavilion, and bowed in respect from afar—such a sight meant that Lord Huangyun had finally emerged from seclusion!

Two hundred years of seclusion is a vast change for ordinary people, but for a Nascent Soul cultivator, it is merely a brief moment in the comprehension of the Great Dao.

Because of the presence of his personal disciple Zhang Zhaodi, who used her shrewdness and skillful maneuvering to employ a strategy of alliances and counter-alliances, and because of the lingering fearsome reputation of Daoist Lu Cheng for killing many alien Nascent Soul cultivators, the situation was further complicated by the fact that Lu Cheng Daoist's infamous reputation for killing many alien Nascent Soul cultivators was still intact.

The numerous powerful alien races and sects, large and small, within a radius of hundreds of thousands of miles of Huangyun Prefecture have lived in peace for over two hundred years, even mutually benefiting each other. The accumulation of resources, the cultivation of talents, and the repair of magic arrays and restrictions within the prefecture have all been well-organized, making it even more prosperous than before.

Over the course of several days, Lu Cheng's divine sense swept across Huangyun Prefecture like an invisible wave. The accumulated documents, resource allocation, disciples' advancement bottlenecks, and even the slightest signs of laziness and conflict of interest quietly growing in some dark corners were all revealed as clearly as the lines on the palm of his hand.

He did not immediately take action to rectify the situation, but appeared at several key points: he paused briefly in front of the Daoist Pavilion, he provided some gentle rain in the Spirit Beast Garden, and he made an appearance once in the Offering Hall.

These subtle actions, though gentle, firmly announced his return and control to everyone.

In an instant, the undercurrents and probing thoughts that had been accumulating within Huangyun Mansion for two hundred years were quietly suppressed by an invisible hand and vanished into nothingness, replaced by an even stronger sense of cohesion and awe.

Several months later, an unexpected matter arose that required Lu Cheng's personal attention.

A sea of ​​clouds and a jade terrace, a garden of a hundred herbs.

On the jade platform deep within the cave, a spiritual spring flowed gently, its steam rising and transforming into iridescent light. The miraculous healer Bai Zhi gracefully moved her lotus-like steps, standing elegantly beside Lu Cheng, holding a glass cup in her hands filled with freshly picked spiritual tea. The tea soup was clear, fragrant, and imbued with the spirit of herbs and plants.

“My husband, my old friend Liu Qingmei came to Huangyun Prefecture seeking refuge a hundred years ago to escape her enemies, carrying the token I gave her. I have settled her in ‘Jade Dew Residence’ next to Hundred Herbs Garden for quiet cultivation. But Sister Qingmei cannot hide like this for the rest of her life because of this.”

Liu Qingmei, the Fairy of Ten Thousand Gu, and Bai Zhi, the Miraculous Healer, were both cultivators among the Seven Friends of Hanshan. Lu Cheng, through his fellow disciple Han Qingyun, explored a secret realm with the Seven Friends of Hanshan.

Afterwards, Bai Zhi became one of Lu Cheng's concubines and also had some acquaintance with Liu Qingmei.

Now that Liu Qingmei has encountered trouble, she has fled to Huangyun Mansion to avoid disaster.

The two Nascent Soul cultivators she offended, though rogue cultivators, possessed profound magical power and were not easy to deal with. Zhang Zhaodi almost couldn't withstand their attacks when they came seeking revenge. Fortunately, the two were wary of the Taiqing Sect's reputation, which delayed the matter until today.

"Since you've already sent people, please let Fellow Daoist Liu in. You need to explain this matter so I can have a response."

Lu Cheng took the teacup but didn't drink it. He sighed inwardly, thinking that if he hadn't been so lecherous back then, he wouldn't have gotten involved in these things.

The so-called immortal of purity and virtue is one who restrains their desires, remains untainted by karma, and focuses solely on cultivation. However, Lu Cheng is somewhat lacking in this aspect:

"Lust is a knife above one's head," the ancient sages were right.

A moment later, Lu Cheng looked up at the two female cultivators who were gracefully walking towards the entrance of the jade platform.

The woman at the forefront wore a colorful pleated skirt, her complexion was beautiful yet slightly pale, she was tall, with sharp eyes, slightly pursed lips, her hair styled in a noble concubine's bun, and she carried two strangely long flying swords on her back, exuding a very heroic and dashing air. It was none other than the Myriad Gu Fairy, Liu Qingmei.

The fairy Bai Zhi, who was following behind her, glanced at her husband with a slightly apologetic expression.

Liu Qingmei stepped forward and bowed gracefully: "I am Liu Qingmei, and I am deeply grateful for the kindness of the Divine Lord and Sister Baizhi in taking me in. This kindness is as high as a mountain and as deep as the sea."

"Fellow Daoist Liu, we've known each other for a long time, so there's no need for such formalities."

"...The matter is like this. A hundred years ago, I was inadvertently drawn into a struggle for spiritual treasures in the far north's 'Mysterious Ice Ridge,' thus offending 'Mysterious Netherworld God Lord' Ice Soul Hermit and 'Heavenly Centipede Old Monster' Wu Qianzu. Both of them are old monsters in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, ruthless and vengeful. Recently, they seem to have discovered that I am hiding in the Yellow Cloud Mansion and have spread the word. I am terrified, fearing that I will bring disaster upon the manor!" Liu Qingmei's tone was uneasy, her beautiful eyes filled with both fear and a trace of expectation for Lu Cheng.

Bai Zhi added at the opportune moment:
"What Sister Qingmei is fighting for is the 'Ten Thousand Year Ice Soul,' which can help her natal Gu King transform. This item is of utmost importance to her. The Ice Soul Hermit was originally at odds with the Heavenly Centipede Old Monster, and Sister Liu benefited from it. But now, for some reason, the two of them have joined forces."

Lu Cheng remained calm after listening.

He knew that with Liu Qingmei's abilities, if it were just an enemy, she might not be afraid of him if she hid in her own cave and relied on the terrain.

However, if one were to fight two, then he would be no match for them.

"The Ten Thousand Year Ice Soul is a spiritual object, but it is not particularly valuable. I will help Fellow Daoist Liu to avert this calamity."

Ten days later. The moonlight was like silver, and the cold dew turned to frost.

The Moon Invitation Platform is a magnificent sight located a thousand miles away from Huangyun Prefecture. The building is suspended above the sea of ​​clouds and supported only by nine black jade pillars engraved with the trajectory of stars. It offers an unparalleled view, overlooking the rolling spiritual mist below and the towering mountains in the distance, creating a picturesque and magnificent landscape.

Lu Cheng sat high in the main seat, his aura harmonious and mysterious, as if he had merged into the world and the moonlight.

Bai Zhi and Liu Qingmei sat upright on the seats to her left and right behind him.

"Shu! Su!"

With a whooshing sound, two streaks of light, each carrying a chilling aura, landed on the stage almost simultaneously.

The man on the left, dressed in a snow-silk Taoist robe, had a cold and stern face like ice that had stood for millennia. His hair and beard were all white, and his eyes seemed to whirl and vanish between opening and closing. He was none other than the Xuanming Divine Lord, the Ice Soul Hermit.

The man on the right was tall and thin, with a bluish-black complexion and narrow, snake-like eyes. He wore a dark green robe adorned with dark gold runes and exuded a faint, sweet, and pungent odor. He was none other than Wu Qianzu, the Heavenly Centipede Monster.

The two men's gazes swept over Liu Qingmei, filled with undisguised coldness and greedy killing intent. Then, they looked at Lu Cheng, the Divine Lord, whose aura was as deep as an abyss, with extreme apprehension. They felt that although the other party's figure was right in front of them, it was as if they were separated by endless void when their divine senses swept over him, making him unfathomable.

If it weren't for this invitation, and if it were at the Moon Invitation Terrace, a thousand miles away from Huangyun Prefecture, the two of them would never have dared to come.

The true master of the great sect is in the Qian Tian True Yang Divine Thunder Formation. With a single thought, he can annihilate two people, body and soul.

Even though they were thousands of miles away from the great formation, the two felt that even if they were no match for the enemy, they had a good chance of escaping, since they were both rogue cultivators.

They slightly restrained their auras, made hand seals, and bowed, saying, "Ice Soul Hermit (Wu Qianzu) greets Lord Lu!"

Lu Cheng nodded slightly, gesturing for them to sit down: "You two fellow Daoists have come a long way and must be tired. Please sit down." His voice was calm, yet it contained a sense of authority.

Ice Soul Hermit's eyes were sharp as icicles as he cut to the chase: "Lord Lu summoned us, presumably because of that vile woman Liu Qingmei's theft of our treasure! This item is crucial to our cultivation paths. Huangyun Mansion is renowned, so surely they wouldn't..."

"Hey, such a small matter shouldn't spoil our enjoyment of the wine today." Lu Cheng gently raised his hand, interrupting Ice Soul Hermit's words.

His gaze swept over the two of them. His eyes were not sharp, but they seemed to be able to see through all illusions, causing both Ice Soul Hermit and Wu Qianzu to feel a shiver in their hearts, as if all secrets were exposed in those eyes.

The next moment, as Lu Cheng clapped his hands lightly, beautiful palace maids came forward from both sides of the palace to set out spiritual food and wine, which was extremely luxurious.

Because of this politeness and respect, Bingpo Sanren and Wu Qianzu exchanged a glance, suppressing their anger and not acting out immediately.

"The causes and conditions of this world are entangled and inextricably linked. It is only natural for us cultivators to fight and kill for treasures." After a few rounds of wine, Lu Cheng said slowly, casually picking up the pot of "Moon Laurel Frost Brew".

He personally stepped forward and filled the jade cups in front of the two with spiritual wine. The amber-colored wine fell into the cups and naturally formed the phantom of a cold dragon, showing extraordinary spirituality.

"I am aware of Liu Qingmei's past disputes with you two, as she has sought refuge with our family. What's the point of pursuing the matter now that it has already happened?"

Lu Cheng put down the jade pot, and before Ice Soul Hermit and Wu Qianzu could react, he lightly tapped the jade table in front of him with his finger. A soft, clear light flashed, and three items immediately appeared on the table:
A "Taiyin Cold Marrow Pearl" the size of an infant's fist, with what appears to be flowing icy clouds inside; a scroll of ancient jade slips containing the "Seven Cultivations to Detoxify Scripture," a formula filled with the fragrance of medicine; and a jade bottle containing a purplish-gold liquid, faintly emitting a misty aura that can repair the soul, known as "Nourishing Spirit Jade Dew."

"This Cold Marrow Pearl will be of some help to Fellow Daoist Bingpo in cultivating the Cold Soul Dao; this Poison Scripture may help Fellow Daoist Wu perfect your 'Ten Thousand Poison Golden Centipede' Dao; this Jade Dew will be used to soothe the depletion of your spirit and soul. Consider it compensation for Qingmei's reckless actions earlier."

Ice Soul Hermit and Wu Qianzu looked at the spiritual object on the table, their pupils shrinking slightly.

While these three items may not be considered rare treasures, they are precisely what they need for their cultivation now or in the future, making them both precious and perfectly suited.

In terms of value, the Ten Thousand Year Ice Soul far surpasses these three treasures, but in terms of actual benefits, it may not be much better.

Lu Cheng's actions not only saved face for them, but also allowed them to escape unscathed from Huang Yunfu's influence, and even provided them with some compensation.

Most importantly, the other party's profound understanding of their respective martial arts techniques, and even their knowledge of certain weaknesses, creates a subtle deterrent that far outweighs any actual threat.

Ice Soul Hermit and Wu Qianzu exchanged a glance, both seeing shock, greed, fear, and a strong sense of compromise in each other's eyes.

Ice Soul Hermit took a deep breath, suppressing the icy coldness in his eyes, and raised his cup first, forcing out an extremely awkward and stiff smile that he hadn't seen in a thousand years:

"I am unworthy of such a generous gift from the Divine Lord! The Divine Lord's heart is as vast as the sea, and his actions are fair and just. I admire you greatly! Let's let bygones be bygones regarding Fellow Daoist Liu! I will not refuse any orders from now on." With that, he raised his cup with both hands and drank it all in one gulp.

Wu Qianzu followed suit and immediately raised his cup, his voice slightly dry and hoarse: "I also thank the Divine Lord for his kindness! If there is anything I can do to help you in the future, I will certainly not refuse within the Huangyun Prefecture!" He also tilted his head back and drank the spiritual wine to the last drop, choosing to let the matter drop.

Lu Cheng nodded slightly, a faint smile finally appearing on his lips. He raised his cup to the two of them and drank, saying, "Good. Let's drink this cup to the last drop, and let bygones be bygones."

The three raised their glasses in greeting, and then Bai Zhi and Liu Qingmei joined in and drank several cups together.

Several hours later, the wine was finished and the banquet ended. The two old monsters took their leave and disappeared into the distant sea of ​​clouds, leaving no trace of resentment behind.

Liu Qingmei felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders, her gaze towards Lu Cheng filled with awe and gratitude. Bai Zhi gently held her hand beside her, indicating that everything was alright.

Lu Cheng could certainly draw his sword and kill Bingpo Sanren and Wu Qianzu. While rogue cultivators might have some fighting skills, they were not worth Lu Cheng's attention.

However, these two had teachers, relatives, friends, and disciples. Lu Cheng killed them, and their relatives and friends dared not come to Huangyun Mansion to cause trouble for Lu Cheng, but they could go to the Ten Thousand Gu Immortal Cave to cause trouble for Liu Qingmei. In the end, there was still some harm to be done.

Instead of the current situation where Ice Soul Hermit and Wu Qianzu gained some benefits, Huang Yun Mansion also gained two more useful people, and both sides benefited.

In other regions, these two old monsters would have been killed without consequence, but since it was near his home, Lu Cheng's methods were more lenient.

(End of this chapter)