Qin Shi: I went astray in the Heavenly Sect

Chapter 155 The Arrival of Bai Feng, the Path of Cultivation
The moon was like a hook, and the night was like water.

In the silent night, a young man in white seemed to sense something, paused, then pushed off with his feet and rushed in one direction.

After a while, he came to a big tree. His body was as light as a feather. His toes touched the trunk and he made no sound.

Upon seeing the scene before him, the newcomer's gaze froze, and he was taken aback.

In an open space, there was a young couple, a boy and a girl. The boy was lightly tapping his hands on a wooden sword, as if he were playing a tune, while the girl did not make any extra movements, with one small hand resting on the hilt of the sword.

A flock of birds circled around them in mid-air, as if paying homage to their king. Surprisingly, these birds did not utter a single chirp.

"A hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix?"

The visitor was then startled. This extraordinary sight reminded him of a legend: it is said that there are those in the world who have attained enlightenment through music and can gather hundreds of birds with their music, creating the auspicious scene of hundreds of birds paying homage to the phoenix. The scene before him was precisely the legendary sight of hundreds of birds paying homage to the phoenix.

Standing on the tree branch, the white-clad youth's eyes flickered uncertainly, and he seemed unsure of what to do. Then he looked down carefully.

The next moment, his expression suddenly changed.

He recognized the boy below; he was a boy who had disappeared from Xinzheng for a long time. According to the later description by Xueyi Hou Bai Yifei, this boy was the one who fought against him in the cold palace of Han, the mastermind behind eliminating the two top-level assassins of Luo Wang, and the expert who forced Ji Wuye to retreat with two swords.

Upon realizing the terrifying methods of this young man, the man instinctively wanted to retreat. However, before he could make a move, he felt a chill run down his spine, followed by his limbs. In a short while, he felt his limbs were ice-cold and he could no longer move.

The young man in white turned his somewhat stiff eyes and looked down. He felt his heart race and his breathing quicken. Only then did he realize just how terrifying the powerful figure that Bai Yifei had mentioned was.

"Birds that yearn for freedom won't stay in one place forever. The Black Crow saved you not so that you would stay in the night forever."

Before long, a voice slowly rang in his mind. Upon hearing the name Mo Ya, the white-robed youth's face darkened.

After a long while, the boy lowered his finger, the birds slowly flew away, and another sound entered the heart of the white-clad boy standing on the branch.

"Let's go!"

The newcomer felt relieved and, without further hesitation, leaped into the sky like a bird.

These three people were none other than Xiu Yuan, Xiao Meng, and Bai Feng.

Just then, the girl slowly opened her eyes, and her gaze towards the boy became more radiant.

She didn't know what method Xiu Yuan had used to let her hear that beautiful melody, but to be honest, it was indeed a moving piece of music.

Perhaps the girl who taught the piece was thinking about how to leave that place and pursue freedom, but in the hands of the boy, it has been elevated.

The world is vast, I can roam freely; the great path leads to heaven, and when the dust settles, light shines forth.

This is an uplifting force, like flowers and trees facing the sun, carrying a vibrant vitality.

Compared to the sorrowful melody she heard from Qingxuan, this melody evoked a completely different feeling in her.

You might get the answer you're looking for from him.

Suddenly, Bei Mingzi's words resurfaced in Xiaomeng's mind, and now she perhaps understood why Bei Mingzi had said such a thing.

"Peach Blossom?"

Looking at the two characters on the hilt of the wooden sword, Xiaomeng frowned again. This seemed to be the name of the wooden sword.

She then examined the wooden sword in front of her closely. In fact, neither the carving nor the other craftsmanship was considered good for a sword.

But the sword still possessed a unique spirit, and thinking of this, Xiaomeng couldn't help but look at the young man beside her.

This was the first time she had ever seen anyone use a wooden sword while traveling the martial arts world.

Who was that person just now?

Xiaomeng had sensed the white-robed youth who had already left. She had indeed not mastered the skills of "Ten Thousand Rivers Autumn Water" and "Heart Like Still Water," but that did not mean that Xiaomeng's cultivation level was still stagnant.

The Heavenly Sect's techniques are known for their emphasis on internal strength. Now that Xiaomeng has crossed the threshold of the Acquired Realm and entered the Innate Realm, she has already sensed that person.

“An assassin from the Hundred Birds Organization, who has a good relationship with Mo Ya, can be considered a bird that seeks freedom.”

Upon hearing the boy mention Mo Ya, Xiao Meng felt a strange sensation. If the other party was an assassin, then what about Mo Ya?

"The black raven also comes from among the birds??"

Speaking of this, Xiaomeng sighed inwardly.

"Hundred Birds" is clearly an assassin organization named after a bird, and Mo Ya happens to be a bird as well, a bird with an ominous meaning.

So even if Xiu Yuan didn't answer the question, she had already guessed it.

He seems very afraid of you!

Upon hearing Xiaomeng's question, Xiuyuan's eyes flickered.

He had guessed something about this; after he left Xinzheng, the Blood-Clad Marquis Bai Yifei would probably reveal some information about himself to Nightfall.

It's not surprising that Bai Feng knew this.

“I’ve made a few moves in Xinzheng, so it’s normal that he knows my strength.”

Upon hearing this answer, Xiaomeng said "Oh," feeling a bit surprised. Given her senior brother's personality, she hadn't thought he would make a move outside!

After thinking for a moment, Xiu Yuan got up and picked up some dry branches nearby. He carried them to the open space where he had been standing, then flicked his finger, and a wisp of fire fell down, instantly igniting the dry branches.

Xiaomeng was stunned when she saw Xiu Yuan's move. She didn't remember that the Heavenly Sect had any fire-attribute techniques, let alone the ability to control flames.

However, Xiaomeng didn't say much about Xiuyuan's display of skill, after all, everyone has their own little secrets.

Watching the orange flames burn quietly, Xiaomeng remained silent for a moment before asking, "Back then, when you were practicing the 'Ten Thousand Rivers Autumn Water' and 'Heart Like Still Water' techniques, how did you manage to make them complement each other without interfering with each other?"

This is the most difficult problem she faces in her current cultivation. The progress of these two techniques is extremely difficult to control, and they could easily get out of control if she is not careful.

Bei Mingzi told her that he was stuck because of his own inner conflict, but she also wanted to hear Xiu Yuan's opinion.

Upon hearing this, Xiu Yuan's eyes showed a strange glint. Harmony and unity, each complementing the other, this level of understanding had already touched the core of the two cultivation techniques.

In other words, he didn't expect Xiaomeng's cultivation progress to be so fast.

"Actually, you can start by practicing one of them individually."

When the two mental cultivation methods, Wan Chuan Qiu Shui and Xin Ruo Zhi Shui, were mentioned, Xiu Yuan's gaze became somewhat complicated. These two methods, one being restraint and the other being release, represent two extremes. To cultivate them simultaneously would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Just like in another timeline, Chu Nan Gong praised Xiao Meng for mastering two different cultivation methods, calling her the first person in the Taoist Heavenly Sect in hundreds of years.

Without the help of the small porcelain pillow, it would probably take him several times longer to cultivate to the highest level.

Upon hearing this, Xiaomeng frowned slightly, then said, "Didn't Senior Brother also start cultivating at the same time?"

The boy was speechless. He felt that the girl in front of him seemed exceptionally strong-willed, but he couldn't say it out loud. He could cultivate at the same time, but that didn't mean everyone could.

Xiu Yuan gently poked at the fire with the branch in his hand, and flames leaped out from the gaps in the branch, illuminating the surroundings even brighter. Then he slowly asked, "Do you remember the first time you saw me?"

Xiaomeng seemed to remember something, a faint smile flashed across her eyes, and then she nodded.

Her first meeting with the boy in front of her was quite dramatic. At the time, she thought the boy by the stream was just a naughty child! But she never expected that he was not only a disciple of the Heavenly Sect, but also her senior brother.

"Ever since I came across the martial arts techniques 'Autumn Waters of Ten Thousand Rivers' and 'Heart Like Still Water,' I've been unable to grasp their essence. Later, I went to the Jade Liquid River and sat by the stream at the foot of Mount Taiyi for two years."

When talking about his enlightenment back then, Xiu Yuan's tone was still quite emotional. Even with the help of the little porcelain pillow, it still took him two years to master these two Heavenly Sect techniques. One can imagine how difficult these two techniques were.

Compared to the Evergreen Skill, the introductory technique of the Heavenly Sect, it's like comparing heaven and earth.

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Xiaomeng's eyes. She knew that the young man in front of her had been sitting in the Jade Liquid River for a long time, but she didn't know exactly how long.

Hearing that Xiu Yuan had been sitting for two years, she felt a mix of emotions. Enlightenment was not something that could be achieved overnight. Even a genius like Qingxu had taken two years to finally enter the Dao.

When asked about Yu Ye Jiang's enlightenment, Xiu Yuan shook his head inwardly.

The reason why the two techniques, "Autumn Waters of Ten Thousand Rivers" and "Heart Like Still Water," are well-known to the outside world is not because of their widespread use, but because of their power and difficulty. Many elders within the Heavenly Sect have not been able to cultivate these two techniques to the point of mastery.

After a moment of silence, he spoke again: "Even if you cultivate only one of the two techniques, Autumn Waters of Ten Thousand Rivers and Still Water of the Heart, you can still enter the Grandmaster realm after mastering it."

Xiaomeng sat to the side, looking at the fire, without saying a word. Seeing the girl's expression, Xiuyuan shook his head helplessly.

Practicing two techniques simultaneously requires coordinating the conflicts between them, which is no easy task. Of course, he only learned this after he had mastered the techniques, since he did not experience this period himself, but instead achieved enlightenment in one day and ascended to the heavens in one step.

"There is another way."

After a while, Xiu Yuan spoke again.

Upon hearing this, Xiaomeng looked up at her, her eyes flickering slightly, as if she were moved.

Seeing this, Xiu Yuan shook his head. He didn't understand why his junior sister was so determined to improve her strength. With her talent, she would at least reach the Grandmaster realm in ten years.

However, since the other party was interested, he continued, "The Dao is inaction. Enlightenment can help you understand the world and learn from nature. You can also learn from the experience of your predecessors. These two paths have their advantages and disadvantages, but the principle is the same. As the saying goes, haste makes waste. While learning from the experience of your predecessors can be helpful for your current breakthrough, it also has its limitations."

Xiaomeng pondered for a moment, then continued, "What limitations are you referring to, Senior Brother?"

Xiu Yuan's eyes turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "Everyone's understanding of the Dao is different, which determines the different paths they take. For those who come after them, the Dao of others is actually a shackle. If they cannot transcend it, their future achievements will only be below those of that person. Can you accept such an outcome, Junior Sister?"

Upon hearing this, Xiaomeng's face darkened, and she fell silent again. Just as Xiuyuan said, everyone has their own path, and she didn't want to be trapped in someone else's.

As night deepened, the fire crackled, the sound of flames scorching the branches. "Whom are you referring to, Senior Brother, as a predecessor?"

After a long while, Xiaomeng finally spoke again.

Xiu Yuan suddenly smiled.

"I."

Seemingly having guessed the answer, the girl suddenly said leisurely, "Senior brother, do you think it's possible for me to surpass you?"

Xiu Yuan did not answer. He put his hands behind his head, then looked up at the night sky. A crescent moon hung in the sky like a sickle, and the surrounding area was a quiet field.

"The student surpasses the master, so naturally I hope you can surpass me, your senior!"

Xiaomeng leaned closer to Xiuyuan, then, without changing her expression, grabbed one of his arms and rested her head on it, her movements incredibly natural.

"Actually, during the time my senior brother was away from the mountain, I would sometimes go down the mountain to look for Miss Nongyu and inquire about things related to my senior brother."

Xiu Yuan was about to pull his arm back when he heard these words, and he paused in his actions.

Then he heard Xiaomeng's words, which were then relayed over.

"Once, I met a very beautiful lady. She said something to Nongyu that left a deep impression on me."

At this point, Xiaomeng paused, glancing at the young man beside her out of the corner of her eye, seemingly wanting to see his reaction. Unfortunately, the young man's expression didn't change at all after hearing about the lady.

Xiu Yuan seemed to have guessed what the girl beside him meant, so he followed her lead and asked, "What did you mean?"

Xiaomeng seemed to have thought of something, and a playful smile appeared on her lips.

"A man never tells the truth."

Upon hearing this, Xiu Yuan was both amused and exasperated. He had already guessed who the speaker was. Who else could be saying such things to Nong Yu but Madam Hu? However, he felt that Li Kai was not that kind of person.

"You must have met General Li Kai, right?"

General Li Kai?

Upon hearing these four words, Xiaomeng was slightly taken aback. If she wasn't mistaken, General Li Kai should be the man beside Madam Hu, but she never expected that the slovenly man would be a general.

"Are you talking about the man next to Madam Hu?"

Xiu Yuan nodded.

"His name is Li Kai, and he was the Right Sima of the State of Han. He was framed and almost died on the battlefield. There was not much passion between him and Madam Hu. There was only silence between them and a complicated and unresolved relationship."

"If we're talking about the only time General Li Kai broke a promise, it was probably on the battlefield! He almost died there, which wasn't what he wanted."

Upon hearing this, Xiaomeng's eyes suddenly narrowed. If that's the case, why did Madam Hu say those things?

"Perhaps it was because she had lost something that Mrs. Hu acted that way. She probably didn't want her daughter to be deceived and repeat her mistakes."

After a while, Xiu Yuan's voice came again, his words seemingly carrying a sense of worldly wisdom.

Xiaomeng rolled her eyes at him, a rare occurrence for her. Had she been tricked? That girl probably wouldn't fall for anyone else besides the boy beside her, and her senior brother was acting like an outsider.

This time, however, Xiaomeng did not respond. For a moment, the world fell silent. By the fire, the young couple quietly watched the stillness of the world.

Above the night sky, the stars twinkle, like chess pieces scattered on a chessboard, depicting the trajectory of fate and recording the changes of time.

This time, it seemed like a long time had passed before the girl finally made up her mind.

"Senior Brother Qingxu, I'd like to give it a try."

The boy seemed somewhat surprised by the answer, but then smiled and shook his head.

"Aren't you afraid?"

The boy's voice had a hint of teasing, and his words sounded cryptic, but Xiaomeng understood them perfectly.

For the boy next to him, those things might just be a trivial matter, but for him, the impact could be lifelong.

A shackle that could trap you for life.

"I believe in you, brother."

This is Xiaomeng's answer. As for the understanding of cultivation techniques, as long as it is high enough, such shackles do not exist for some people, because some people cannot reach the level of others even if they spend their whole lives.

Hearing this, Xiu Yuan couldn't help but smile. This little girl was really confident in herself. Such experience might be invaluable to some people, but to others it was a barrier or a prison.

"Close your eyes, and I'll show you my path!!"

A voice rang out from the depths of Xiaomeng's heart. A hint of determination appeared in her clear eyes. She then placed her hands naturally in front of her and slowly closed her eyes.

"Boom~~"

A voice seemed to explode in her heart, and Xiaomeng was shocked. The next moment, she felt her vision change.

When she came to her senses, a great river suddenly appeared before her. Looking at this surging river, Xiaomeng seemed to understand something. This must be the Jade Liquid River near Mount Taiyi.

Before long, she saw another boy, a boy who looked somewhat familiar. She knew who this boy was; he was her senior brother, or rather, the senior brother who had attained enlightenment back then.

Time flew by. One day, two days, three days passed. The boy kept coming to the riverbank, sitting on a large blue stone and staring blankly at the river. Xiaomeng was not annoyed; she just watched quietly.

Having cultivated for so long, this girl already knows how difficult it is to attain enlightenment. Many people cultivate for decades, just for the sake of attaining enlightenment in a single day. There are also many people who, throughout their entire lives, never have the opportunity to glimpse the mysteries of heaven and earth.

As one of the very few unparalleled geniuses in the history of the Heavenly Sect, that young man's enlightenment was absolutely brilliant; it's just that some people either couldn't see it or, even if they did, couldn't understand it!

No matter the wind or rain, the boy never gave up. Seeing this, the girl felt a little more emotional. In fact, what makes people despair is not that a person is talented enough, but that a person is both talented and hardworking, and works harder than ordinary people.

Another day passed, and the boy suddenly stood up. Instead of going to the Jade Liquid River, he came to the stream at the foot of the mountain. Looking at the large blue stone, a smile involuntarily appeared on the girl's lips.

That was the place where they first met.

Then came the monotonous sitting, the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, day after day. Everything the boy saw was recorded in her eyes without missing a single detail, and her calm heart began to ripple with emotion.

She didn't know what the process of enlightenment was like for others, but this young man's enlightenment gradually underwent a qualitative change over time.

Following the boy's gaze, she saw the water change, from its initial wildness, surging, and overwhelming power, to its later tranquility, calmness, and purity.

If the former corresponds to the vast autumn waters, then the latter corresponds to a heart as still as water.

A feeling arose in the girl's heart: although such a change was commendable, it seemed that it was not enough.

Days passed again, one after another, and the boy became quieter and quieter, but the aura around him became more and more ethereal.

Until one day, the girl saw the boy again by the stream, and there was a hint of charm in the depths of his calm eyes.

From the perspective of the Dao, nothing is inherently noble or base!

Suddenly, eight words struck the girl's heart like a great Taoist magic—the Lion Seal—capable of cleansing the soul and enlightening wisdom.

A stream of water appeared beside the boy, a stream of water swirling around him. Upon closer inspection, this stream of water resembled a colorful ribbon, radiating a strange luster.

The girl frowned, somewhat surprised to find that the current of this water flow seemed to be the same as that of the stream.

"Is this imitation??"

The girl didn't understand, but a bold guess formed in her mind.

But then the girl realized that her guess was wrong; the aura around the boy was becoming increasingly heavy.

At some point, the boy slowly opened his eyes. His extremely calm gaze held a hint of transcendence. He gently touched the water, and the water suddenly stopped. The next moment, the world became still, and even the stream stopped flowing.

The girl's expression suddenly changed, as if she couldn't believe it.

Then, to her puzzled look, the boy reached out and slowly slid his hand across the water, causing it to flow in another direction, and then the stream began to flow backward.

"From the perspective of the Dao, things have no inherent value or worth."

"I can be this flowing water, or this stream, or even that Jade Liquid River. Heaven and earth and I are nothing more than one, one begets two, two begets three, and three begets all things!"

A wondrous aura began to swirl in the girl's heart. Then her gaze sharpened. Although she had never experienced this aura before, she was certain that this was the ultimate state of harmony between man and nature.

The next moment, she saw the boy reach out and lift up the stream in front of her.

"This"

"If the heart is still, the autumn water of thousands of rivers will flow"

A dazzling light shone from the girl's heart; she seemed to understand the Dao that the boy had seen.

The mind is one, like still water. Viewed from the perspective of the Dao, the water of the mind is no different from the water of the Jade Liquid River. What shakes heaven and earth is nothing other than the water of the mind that stirs the pulse of heaven and earth.

Compared to the vast天地 (heaven and earth), humans are insignificant, but in the eyes of the Dao, humans and the heaven and earth have the same status. Changes in the heaven and earth affect a person, and a person can also change the heaven and earth.

"Is this the path of my senior brother?"

(End of this chapter)