One person: Lu Jin, do I look like your master?

Chapter 48 The Old Master's Loving Breakfast

Another night passed in silence. As the first rays of dawn pierced through the forest mist and fell upon Wang Xuan, he slowly opened his eyes.

A glimmer of divine light flickered deep within his eyes, then vanished, returning to the calm stillness of an ancient well.

After a night of studying the "Meditation Mantra" and harmonizing his own Qi, he could clearly feel that his cultivation had improved by an imperceptible amount.

This progress is not a surge in power, but a more intrinsic and essential sense of harmony, as if jade has been carefully polished to remove the last minor flaw, becoming more warm and translucent.

For someone who already ranks among the top in the world of supernatural beings, every perceptible improvement is precious, and a barely perceptible, genuine smile of joy appeared on Wang Xuan's lips.

Today is the final day of the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony. After a series of fierce battles, those who have finally stood on the final stage are, as expected.

It is Zhang Chulan, who carries a secret and is very clever, and Zhang Lingyu, a disciple of the Celestial Master's Mansion, who is as bright as the moon.

This duel was quite meaningful. Wang Xuan naturally also came to the venue, choosing a quiet corner to observe the unfolding events.

Yang Five Thunder and Yin Five Thunder are two completely different powers that are passed down from the same lineage, and they are worth seeing.

Watching the white lightning and black thunder clashing on the field, Zhang Chulan's resourcefulness and Zhang Lingyu's composure and steadiness formed a stark contrast.

Wang Xuan's thoughts drifted to the brief but thrilling battle he had recently had with the Old Celestial Master.

The Golden Light Mantra and Thunder Magic cast by the Old Celestial Master appear to be casual and effortless, without many fancy variations, but their power is vast and boundless.

The overwhelming force, imbued with supreme and righteous majesty, seemed to act as if punishing on behalf of Heaven, leaving no room for resistance. It represented a state of ultimate simplicity and a return to nature.

Comparing the two players on the field before him, whose performances were impressive yet clearly immature and who were deliberately pursuing techniques and displays of power, Wang Xuan suddenly recalled a scene from his past life – One Piece.

Zoro exerted all his strength to cut through the massive meteorite, while the world's greatest swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk, casually swung his black sword and easily sliced ​​the meteorite into countless fragments.

The difference lies not merely in the magnitude of power, but in the vast difference in their levels of understanding and mastery.

The Old Celestial Master was to Zhang Lingyu or Zhang Chulan much like Hawkeye was to Zoro at that time.

To outsiders, the result of the final was that Zhang Lingyu had exhausted his true qi and suffered a regrettable defeat. However, Zhang Lingyu believed that it was a side effect caused by his first full-force use of Yin Five Thunder.

But with Wang Xuan's perception and eyesight, how could he not see that Zhang Lingyu's condition was abnormal?

Its Qi circulation suddenly became sluggish and exhausted at the critical moment, which was clearly caused by external forces.

Considering the old master's protectiveness towards Zhang Chulan and the content of the anime from the previous life, the answer is self-evident—this old master probably didn't hesitate to use some "little tricks" to pave the way for his grand-disciple, such as a loving breakfast.

Wang Xuan neither agreed nor disagreed. In this world, it is rare to find things that are truly pure. Even the Dragon and Tiger Celestial Master has his own attachments.

With the match over, he didn't linger. He turned and quietly left, just as he had come, without attracting anyone's attention.

However, at the very moment he turned around, Lu Jin, who had been watching the competition and subconsciously scanning the entire arena, caught that white-clad figure that had been making his heart uneasy once again out of the corner of his eye!

Lu Jin's eyes widened suddenly, almost thinking she was hallucinating.

He even subconsciously raised his hand and rubbed his eyes hard, then looked again—but the crowd was still bustling, and that spot was already empty.

The figure vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.

Lu Jin's heart skipped a beat, and her brows furrowed tightly. Once might have been an illusion, but what about the second time?

That silhouette, that vague sense of familiarity, and that unfathomable aura... who could it be?

Why does he repeatedly appear in Longhu Mountain, only to disappear quickly each time he notices him?

A host of questions swirled in his mind.

The old Taoist master, who was standing to the side, took in Lu Jin's reaction. His face still wore that unfathomable, warm smile, but this time, he said nothing.

He offered neither comfort nor explanation, but simply stroked his long beard meaningfully, as if he were enjoying an interesting show.

Subsequently, the Celestial Master officially announced the results of the competition: Zhang Chulan won and qualified to inherit the position of Celestial Master.

Following that, Lu Jin, as agreed, intended to give the "Tongtian Lu" to the winner.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Chulan refused, saying that even a Qi Source Flow he had never seen before had already put him in great trouble, and now with the Tongtian Talisman, his small body really couldn't handle it.

Ultimately, this "Eight Extraordinary Skills," which had attracted countless covetous individuals, fell into the hands of Zhang Lingyu, who ranked second.

This scene left the many remaining members of the supernatural community in the audience sighing with mixed feelings.

The Eight Extraordinary Skills, also known as the "Arts of Chaos," seem to make it difficult for those who possess them to escape the whims of fate, drawing them into endless conflicts and disasters.

However, when such immense power is truly presented to us without any cost, how many people in the world can remain as clear-headed and decisive as Zhang Chulan?

Greed is always the most difficult obstacle to overcome in human nature.

As the competition came to an end, most of the elders from various families and sects led their disciples down the mountain one after another, and Longhu Mountain gradually returned to tranquility from the hustle and bustle.

However, some people stayed behind, including Lu Jin and his disciples.

They stayed, not for sightseeing. In a previous match, Bai Shixue, a friend of Lu Jin's great-granddaughter Lu Linglong, was fighting against Hu Jie.

He keenly sensed that Hu Jie's Qi was unusually evil and mixed, and that it was mixed with an extremely disgusting Qi belonging to Shen Chong, one of the "Four Madmen" of Quanxing, known as the "Root of Calamity"!

This news, combined with Lu Jin's previous "witness account" of the figure resembling his mentor Zuo Ruotong, only added fuel to the fire. New and old grudges surged into his heart, and Lu Jin's anger and hatred towards Quanxing burned to its peak.

He concluded that the sorcerers of Quanxing must have infiltrated Longhu Mountain with ulterior motives!

The old man's face was ashen, his eyes flashing with cold light, and he said to his disciples in a deep voice:

"Everyone, stay alert! The scum of Quanxing can't have gone far, they might even be hiding in these mountains! Search carefully!"

We must not let them defile this sacred place of the Celestial Master's Mansion, and we must not let... any more of them escape!

A storm is brewing. The night on Longhu Mountain is destined to be anything but peaceful.

Wang Xuan was still waiting in the back mountain to meet Xia Liuqing and Balun.

Chapter 49 Baron

On the back of Longhu Mountain, the night was even darker than on the front. Towering ancient trees blocked most of the moonlight, leaving only dappled spots of light that shone on the winding paths and the thick layer of fallen leaves.

The air is humid, carrying the unique scent of earth and decaying vegetation, making this place seem even more secluded and quiet, rarely visited by people.

Wang Xuan, dressed in white, stood quietly in a relatively open clearing in the woods, like a silent lamp in the darkness. He did not wait long before two streams of energy approached from afar.

The first to emerge from the shade of the trees was Xia Liuqing, hunched over and wearing a baseball cap.

He still had that same carefree, grinning face. Upon seeing Wang Xuan, he grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow, sloping teeth, and waved enthusiastically, greeting him in a hoarse voice:

"Hey! Kid Wang, you're here early! This place is really secluded, perfect for doing some shady business, hehe."

Wang Xuan nodded slightly and responded in a calm tone, but his gaze passed over Xia Liuqing and landed on the figure that had quietly appeared behind him.

He was a tall, muscular foreign man dressed in a neat green jumpsuit. His movements were as nimble as a cheetah in the forest. His azure eyes gleamed with a calm and wary light in the dim light as he quietly observed Wang Xuan.

He stood there, his aura seemingly blending strangely with his surroundings, almost imperceptible to the naked eye. This was none other than their target—Baron Griers.

"Hehe, young man, I've brought this old man to you! This is Barron, no doubt about it!"

Xia Liuqing rubbed her hands together, smiling as she acted as the introducer.

"As for the rest... you guys talk it over yourselves. I'm just here to make the connection; it's not appropriate for me to just sit in. You guys talk, you guys talk!"

He was sensible enough to know that the conversation might involve core secrets. After speaking, he strolled over to a large tree in the distance, leaned against the trunk, and seemingly closed his eyes to rest. In fact, his ears were quietly perked up, and his curiosity was clearly not completely extinguished.

On the open ground, only Wang Xuan and Balun remained, standing facing each other.

"You just want to see me?"

Baron spoke first. His Chinese had a slight accent, but it was very fluent, and his voice was deep and steady.

"What's matter?"

Before he arrived, he had already learned from Xia Liuqing that the seemingly young man in white was extremely powerful, even the old man with considerable strength admitted that he was no match for him.

This piqued Barron's interest.

After acquiring the "Six Treasures Immortal Thief," his long life and almost inexhaustible energy, while bringing convenience, gradually brought an indescribable emptiness and boredom. Ordinary things and challenges could hardly arouse his interest.

A powerful individual who can elicit such praise from Xia Liuqing is someone worthy of attention.

Wang Xuan didn't beat around the bush. He looked directly into Baron's eyes, which seemed exceptionally deep in the darkness, and stated his earth-shattering purpose:

“I would like to ask Mr. Barron for the ‘Six Treasures of the Immortal Thief’.”

Baron raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of genuine surprise flashing in his azure eyes.

The other party's directness actually made him find it somewhat interesting.

Do you know what the Six Treasuries Immortal Thief is?

Baron countered with interest, his tone carrying a hint of testing and inquiry.

Back then, in the extreme dire situation of Kangchen Zhangjia Peak, when he inherited this ability from that mysterious "mentor," the other party only told him this name—"Six Treasures Immortal Thief."

Everything else, including its principles, origins, and even potential costs, is vague and requires him to figure it out on his own.

Wang Xuan's expression remained unchanged, as if stating a well-known fact, clearly and accurately stating:

“I know, the Six Treasuries Immortal Thief, also known as the ‘Saint Thief’.” He paused, then continued to explain, each word striking a chord in Baron’s heart.

"The 'Six Treasurys' refer to the six viscera of the human body (gallbladder, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, bladder, and triple burner).

This extraordinary skill allows one to refine and transform their internal organs into a perfect digestive and absorption system that transcends ordinary understanding.

It is not 'stealing' in the ordinary sense, but rather 'stealing' the vitality and energy inherent in all things in heaven and earth.

"Through this system, users can almost perfectly absorb all the nutrients from the substances they ingest and convert them into energy to sustain their life activities."

As a result, the body ages extremely slowly, almost to the point of stagnation, and maintains a level of energy far exceeding that of ordinary people.

In a sense, it achieved the 'immortality' that countless practitioners dream of.

Wang Xuan revealed all the core secrets about the Six Treasuries Immortal Thief that he knew in one breath, in a level of detail that even surpassed Baron's own understanding.

The ease and playfulness on Barron's face gradually disappeared, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity and scrutiny.

The person before me not only knows the name, but also understands the essence of the matter! How did he know this? Could he be related to my "mentor" from back then?

However, Wang Xuan's next words went even further, striking into the area deep within Baron's heart that he felt vaguely uneasy about but was unwilling to delve into.

Wang Xuan's gaze seemed to see through people's hearts. He stared quietly at Baron, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable power, and slowly said:

"Furthermore, Mr. Baron, after practicing this technique for so long, you should have already felt it... that gradually growing, uncontrollable... desire for certain 'things'."

This sentence, like a precise key, instantly unlocked a box that Barron had deliberately ignored or suppressed.

His azure pupils contracted imperceptibly, and a slight stiffness appeared in his usually calm demeanor.

Craving? Yes... that feeling... Initially it was just the pursuit of the ultimate deliciousness of food, but later it gradually became... different.

Sometimes, looking at a vibrant life, one might even inexplicably feel a primal urge to "devour" or "digest" it, not out of hunger.

Rather, it was to savor the vitality itself… This strange “desire,” which deviated from other people’s human norms, often made him feel fear and self-doubt, yet he could not express it to others.

How did he know? !

Baron's eyes instantly sharpened like a hawk's, and the aura that blended seamlessly with the environment around him suddenly became clear and wary, locking onto Wang Xuan.

The atmosphere in the woods suddenly became tense.

Wang Xuan smiled.

"Don't be nervous, Mr. Baron. As long as you understand the essence of the Six Treasuries Immortal Thief and the essence of cultivation, I believe many people will be able to guess the side effects of the Six Treasuries Immortal Thief."

Wang Xuan said to Baron.

Chapter 50 Dual Cultivation of Life and Life

Upon hearing Wang Xuan's question that directly addressed the deepest secrets of his heart, Baron's relaxed and playful expression vanished completely, replaced by deep doubt and a hint of barely perceptible vigilance.

His azure eyes were fixed on Wang Xuan, as if trying to discern deeper intentions beneath the other's calm and composed expression.

Wang Xuan didn't keep them in suspense. Meeting Baron's probing gaze, he spoke directly, his voice clear and calm, yet carrying a certainty as if stating a truth:

"The path of cultivation, in the final analysis, is about the dual cultivation and perfection of 'nature' and 'life'. The two are like the two wheels of a cart or the two wings of a bird; neither can be lacking or neglected."

He took a slow step and continued to explain in more detail:

The so-called "fate" refers to our physical body, which is the foundation of life and the manifestation of qi, blood, energy, and even lifespan.

Your 'Six Treasures Immortal Thief' is so extraordinary that it can amplify your 'fate' to the extreme, even domineeringly.

It creates a near-perfect digestive system and energy conversion engine for you, giving you boundless energy and slowing down aging.

From the perspective of 'fate,' you have far surpassed ordinary people, and can be considered 'immortal.'