From Five Animal Exercises to being hailed as a saint and ancestor

The night was as dark as ink, quietly staining the Green Deer Villa.

In the courtyard area allocated to outer disciples, most of the rooms had their lights off.

Only a few rooms still emitted a faint glow, where disciples were still making the most of their time to meditate and cultivate.

Xuanyuan Po sat cross-legged in his room, his eyes closed, with a faint, icy sword aura surrounding him.

He tried to sense the legendary, mysterious Chaos Chakra.

However, the spiritual power that was once so easily under my control now seemed somewhat restless.

That barrier leading to the forbidden realm remains as illusory as a mirage, leaving no trace whatsoever.

He suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of barely concealed frustration and defeat flashing deep within them.

Once upon a time, before the Foreign Languages ​​Department's Invitational Tournament, he was undoubtedly the number one student in the department, standing alone at the top, looking down on his peers, and clearly outmatched by everyone else.

That loneliness and pride were his medals.

However, during the Fengyun Championship, Yao Mengkang suddenly appeared and, with his strange and powerful chaotic attribute, managed to win by a narrow margin in the area where Yao Mengkang was most confident!

At that time, although he was unwilling, he regarded his opponent as a worthy opponent to fight with all his might, and the two were still evenly matched.

But what happened next?

Within the Meteorite Realm, Yao Mengkang always seemed to be one step ahead, gaining greater opportunities.

In the life-or-death battle of Baiwei City, he broke through to the Spirit Sea and displayed a composure far beyond that of ordinary beginners... unfathomable.

What about yourself?

Having also undergone tempering in the secret realm and survived life-or-death trials, their gains were considerable, and their strength was steadily improving. However, compared to others, the gap not only did not narrow, but seemed to be... getting bigger and bigger.

This forced him to start examining himself.

Is it jealousy? Perhaps. As fellow geniuses, who would willingly settle for second place?

Is it that one's own qualifications have truly reached a bottleneck?

Or... has one's own Dao heart been unknowingly tarnished?

This realization, like an invisible thorn, pierced his heart, making it difficult for him to calm down and even harder to accept.

He took a deep breath, unable to sit in the cramped room any longer. He suddenly stood up, pushed open the door, and went out, wanting to blow away the pent-up frustration in the cool night air.

The winding paths within the villa are lined with hardy, exotic flowers and herbs that gleam softly in the moonlight.

A small artificial lake dotted the landscape, its waters rippling gently in the night breeze.

He strolled to the lakeside and saw a familiar figure leaning against the railing of the pavilion in the middle of the lake, throwing fish food into the lake with one hand, which attracted all kinds of colorful carp to leap out of the water and splash up circles of water.

It is Elder Qin Feng.

He was still wearing a blue robe, his profile looked somewhat pale in the moonlight, but his expression was unusually calm, even with a hint of leisure.

Qin Feng seemed to have sensed his arrival long ago. Without turning around, he simply spoke calmly, his voice carrying a knowing chuckle: "Not at peace?"

Xuanyuan Po paused, remained silent for a moment, then bowed respectfully: "Elder Qin."

Qin Feng turned around, his gaze falling on Xuan Yuanpo's furrowed brows and slightly gloomy eyes, as if he were seeing himself many years ago.

He sighed softly in his heart. Wasn't that the same spirited young man in blue robes who was brought down to his knees at the Heavenly Dao Academy back then?

"The night is still beautiful, there's no point in sitting idly." Qin Feng threw the remaining fish food into the lake, causing the fish to thrash about.

"I know a place on the western outskirts of the capital with an excellent view, overlooking half of the city at night. Would you like to come for a walk with me?"

Xuan Yuanpo was slightly taken aback. Looking at Qin Feng's pale face, he subconsciously said, "Elder, your injury..."

"It's alright." Qin Feng waved his hand, his tone carrying a sense of magnanimity born of experience.

"Half a month has passed, that's about it. Besides, some scenery, viewed from a different angle, might evoke a different feeling."

Having said that, he took the lead and walked out along the path, his steps unusually steady. Xuan Yuanpo hesitated for a moment, then silently followed.

The two left the villa one after the other, their figures blending into the tapestry of the city's dazzling lights and deep night.

Qin Feng seemed quite familiar with the capital city. He wandered through the streets and alleys, avoiding the noisy main roads, and finally arrived at the foot of a not-too-high but rather quiet hill in the western suburbs.

Climbing the steps, we arrived at a flat viewing platform at the top of the mountain.

The night wind howled, fluttering the robes of the two.

Looking out, most of the royal city can be seen.

Countless lights, like stars scattered across the earth, outline the crisscrossing streets and the majestic, continuous architectural silhouettes.

Further away, the imperial city area, like a lurking dragon, exudes an aura of majesty and mystery.

In the sky, colorful lights continue to streak across the landscape, reflecting off the sea of ​​lights on the ground and together creating a magnificent, prosperous, vibrant, and powerful picture of a prosperous era.

Standing here, one feels so small.

Qin Feng stood with his hands behind his back, letting the cold night wind caress his face, his gaze distant, as if piercing through time.

"Back then, I had already entered the seventh level of the Spirit Sea, with a Spirit Sea of ​​40,000 zhang. I was the number one genius recognized by the Qinglu Academy. My ambition was higher than the sky, and I thought that among my peers, I had no equal."

Filled with pride, he voluntarily went to the headquarters of the Heavenly Dao Academy to participate in the assessment…

He paused, his voice carrying a complex sense of reminiscence.

"As a result, I was utterly defeated by a fellow disciple of the academy who was also at the Spirit Sea Realm, but whose cultivation level was even lower than mine. I was completely powerless to fight back and ended up spitting blood."

"The disbelief of that moment, the frustration and bewilderment of falling from the clouds into the mud... I still remember it vividly."

Xuan Yuanpo listened quietly, able to imagine the immense impact of such a stark contrast.

Qin Feng continued, his tone calm, as if he were telling someone else's story, "I doubted myself, I doubted what I had learned."

"Later, it was the dean who enlightened me."

Qin Feng turned his head and looked at Xuan Yuanpo, his gaze deep.

"The abbot said that those who cultivate the Tao cultivate their own path, not compete with others."

"There are mountains beyond mountains, and people beyond people; this is the ultimate truth of the universe."

"If you only see the heights of others, you will never find your own path."

"No one is perfect. Even someone as strong as the Dean has shortcomings outside of alchemy."

"The important thing is to know yourself and walk your own path."

Xuan Yuanpo's body trembled slightly; these words echoed in his heart like the morning bell and evening drum.

"Elder, I understand these principles."

Qin Feng looked at him and smiled slightly, a smile that contained understanding and a hint of helplessness.

"Understanding and actually doing are two different things."

"This is exactly what is meant by 'knowing is easy, doing is hard.' Everyone understands a few profound principles, but when inner demons arise, it's like falling into a fog. How easy is it to reconcile knowledge with action?"

He patted Xuan Yuanpo on the shoulder.

"The one who tied the knot must untie it. The knot in your heart must be untied from the source. No matter how much others say, it's just scratching the surface."

Xuanyuan Po stood there, gazing at the boundless sea of ​​lights below, and remained silent for a long time.

Qin Feng's words were like a key; although they didn't immediately unlock all the locks on his heart, they allowed him to see the location of the keyhole.

It was already late at night when we returned to the villa.

Xuanyuan Po did not return to his own room, but went straight to the small courtyard where Yao Mengkang was.

The light was still on in Yao Mengkang's room. He was meditating on a futon, his aura restrained, as if he had merged with the surrounding environment.

Sensing someone's arrival, he slowly finished his practice and opened his eyes.

Upon seeing Xuan Yuanpo standing at the door, Yao Mengkang's eyes flashed with surprise. He then stood up and gave a peaceful smile.

"Junior Brother Xuanyuan, what brings you here so late at night?"

Xuanyuan Po entered the room with a complicated expression. He took a deep breath, abandoned all pride and reserve, and spoke frankly.

"Senior Brother Yao, I... am confused and have come to ask for your guidance."

Upon hearing this, Yao Mengkang did not show any disdain or surprise. On the contrary, his eyes lit up, and he seemed quite pleased.

He led Xuanyuan Po to sit down at the tea table, took out the tea set, and skillfully boiled water and brewed tea.

Soon, two cups of tea were placed on the table, steaming and fragrant.

"Please speak, junior brother." Yao Mengkang gestured for him to speak.

In the quiet of the night, the two burned incense and sipped tea. Xuan Yuanpo poured out his heart, expressing his frustration, his helplessness in the face of the gap between them, and his uncertainty about the future.

He did not hide his resentment, nor did he shy away from the possible hint of jealousy.

Yao Mengkang listened quietly, occasionally taking a sip of tea, until Xuan Yuanpo finished speaking. Only then did he put down his teacup and look at the other person with clear eyes.

"Junior Brother Xuanyuan," Yao Mengkang spoke slowly, his voice steady and powerful.

"Do you know that back in Hundred Flavors City, I also hesitated about whether I should suppress my cultivation level and stay at the Meridian Opening Realm to participate in the assessment, just to be on the safe side?"

Xuanyuan Po looked up at him.

Yao Mengkang continued, "But when I thought about how Ziyi took that blow for me and was on the verge of death, I suddenly realized the truth."

"Deliberately suppressing one's cultivation level in order to dominate at a lower level is a sign of falling into a lower realm."

His tone carried an unwavering certainty.

"The path to strength requires courage, diligence, and following one's heart!"

"Follow your heart; break through when it's time to break through, fight when it's time to fight!"

"If one stagnates due to fear of competition from peers or greed for fleeting fame, one is shackled with invisible chains, obscuring one's true Dao heart. How then can one glimpse the true essence of the Great Dao?"

"My senior brother and I may walk different paths, but our pursuit of strength should be the same."

"Your sword should be unstoppable, cutting through all illusions and obstacles, including... that mountain in your heart called 'others'."

Yao Mengkang's words were not profound, but they were like thunderclaps, each word striking Xuan Yuanpo's heart.

Xuanyuan Po's hand holding the teacup suddenly stiffened, and the tea swayed slightly.

His pupils suddenly contracted, as if something had exploded in his mind!

The furrowed brows relaxed in an instant, and the cold eyes that had been filled with confusion and struggle now shone with unprecedented sharpness and clarity, like a star that had been wiped clean of dust!

He seemed to have shed an invisible, heavy shell. Although his aura remained unchanged, the lingering sense of unease vanished instantly.

He didn't speak, but sat there quietly, his gaze piercing through the roof and reaching towards the boundless starry sky.

It was as if I had seen a completely different path of swordsmanship, one that belonged to me alone.

Inside the room, only the lingering aroma of tea and the silent yet profound aftertaste of enlightenment remained.