Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 522: Chapter 318: Will Eventually_2

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“Five Elements Immortal Sect, Great Sun Immortal Sect, Haoyu Heavenly Sect!”

“Big Dipper Immortal Sect, Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion, Taixuan Tao Mountain!”

“Tao Veins Immortal Gate, Liuzong Erpai, all have gathered.”

“Five Elements Saint Lord Mysterious Spirit True Monarch, Big Dipper Saint Lord Yu Xiu True Monarch, and the Great Sun Saint Lord, Ninth Heaven Sword Master, four of the Saint Lords are here, but who knows how many Mahayana True Immortals are hidden in the shadows?”

Retreating over a thousand miles away, far from the fires of war, everyone began to watch again, displaying the natural curiosity of cultivators to its fullest extent.

In the vast sky, Xu Yang stood alone, watching the battle with a cold eye.

The situation had developed somewhat unexpectedly.

Although he had been stirring up trouble during this period, planting cultivation techniques and jade slips everywhere, inciting strife among the Western Barbarians’ cultivation realm, it was just that and no more; the matter of the Five Elements Immortal Mansion had little to do with him.

Why would the Five Elements Immortal Mansion emerge in the Long Yuan secret realm?

Could it be because there were too many cultivators seeking opportunities, and by coincidence, they triggered the hidden Five Elements Immortal Mansion?

Impossible. The Long Yuan secret realm had been open for many years; countless cultivators had visited, and it had been searched by all the sacred places, as well as his own “Opportunity Old Man” laying the groundwork. If it could be triggered, it would have been triggered long ago and not dragged on until now.

The emergence of the Five Elements Immortal Mansion was probably not passive, but rather active…

“Void Spirit Monarch!”

Xu Yang’s gaze sharpened as he turned his eyes toward where the Void Spirit Cave Heaven was located.

The Five Elements Immortal Mansion, emerging actively!

How could it be active?

The most likely possibility was the contingency plan of Void Spirit Monarch!

But why would Void Spirit Monarch need to set up such a contingency for the Five Elements Immortal Mansion to emerge actively?

After thinking it through, there was only one explanation.

Lure the tiger away from the mountain, create a diversion!

The Five Elements Immortal Mansion was just a target, a bait to attract the firepower of the sacred places. The real key was probably still in the Void Spirit Cave Heaven.

“False shall be true, true shall be false?”

“What a Void Spirit Monarch indeed!”

Xu Yang smiled, then turned and left.

The Five Elements Immortal Mansion had become the focus of many, with sacred places entering the fray, and a battle between Saint Lords and great powers was about to erupt, not to mention Mahayana’s watching from the darkness. Getting involved in such a conflict was not the act of a wise person.

Even going to the Void Spirit Cave Heaven was now problematic.

Xu Yang never considered himself unmatched in wisdom, nor did he underestimate the strategies and plots of the heroes of the world.

What he could think of, others could surely think of as well.

At Void Spirit Cave Heaven, there must also be surveillance, even strong forces lying in wait.

Even if one were to enter the fray for contention, this was not the right time. It would be best to wait until the sacred places were locked in a fierce battle over the Five Elements Immortal Mansion, until Integration cultivators risked their lives, and Mahayana stepped into the fray at the critical moment.

That would be the best time for Void Spirit Cave Heaven to make a move.

This was probably also Void Spirit Monarch’s calculation.

So…

In the blink of an eye, three months passed.

In the midst of a bustling market, rumors were flying everywhere.

“For that Five Elements Immortal Mansion, Tao Veins Immortal Gate and Liuzong Erpai are almost going mad with fighting!”

“The four great Saint Lords, a host of Integrations, have fought for three months, through a hundred bouts, yet no victor has emerged.”

“To this day, several Integration Great Powers have perished; both sides are truly incensed, and even Mahayana True Immortals have exchanged blows.”

“Several Integrations have perished; oh my, the holy lands of Immortal Sects are indeed extraordinary!”

“Five Elements Immortal Sect fights to the bitter end for their legacy, and that is understandable. Big Dipper Immortal Sect just to suppress its opponents is now exerting all effort; aren’t they afraid of mutual destruction, annihilation together with their rivals? They both belong to holy lands of Immortal Sects, can they really fight to the death?”

“You don’t know the full story. The Big Dipper Immortal Law of Big Dipper Immortal Sect is fully named ‘Cycle Big Dipper Star Master Spell,’ which takes the Big Dipper as the leader to dominate the Cycle of Heaven Constellation and command the stars.”

“Yet among the Cycle of Heaven Constellation, there are two major stars, Taiyin and Taiyang, which are closely related to the Great Sun Scorches Sky Immortal Scripture of Great Sun Immortal Sect, so there is a rivalry for the Taoist path between Great Sun Immortal Sect and Big Dipper Immortal Sect.”

“And the Great Sun Immortal Sect has a close relationship with Five Elements Immortal Sect; ten thousand years ago, they joined forces in the Ten Thousand Star Sea to intercept Big Dipper Immortal Sect, costing it a Heaven Reaching opportunity and bearing a grudge till today, naturally seeking revenge.”

“Previously, Big Dipper Immortal Sect allied with Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion for a fierce battle in the Ten Thousand Star Sea against the duo of Five Elements and Great Sun Sects. It was a battle where Mahayana stepped in, and Integration cultivators perished, continuing to this day, still not giving up. Unless more than a dozen Integrations die, this matter may not come to a good end.”

“That Five Elements Immortal Mansion is also marvelous; a treasure of Superior Immortal Spirit, although Mahayana can refine it, it also requires time. Surrounded by Liuzong Erpai, after constant fighting until now, still no one has entered the Five Elements Immortal Mansion.”

“…”

Rumors and whispers, word of mouth in the market.

“Little junior sister, you’ve seemed distracted recently; is there something troubling you?”

Within a tranquil monastery amidst the chaos, a woman in white showed a look of concern, kindly asking.

“Senior sister, don’t worry, Meng Fanying is fine.”

“`

Meng Fanying shook her head placidly and said, “It was just the nostalgia of the past haunting me for a moment.”

“So that’s how it is.”

The woman in white relaxed, her eyebrows unfolding as she consoled, “Before leaving, the Monastery Head entrusted you to me. Although I am powerless about that matter of the past, at the very least, I can help you unload the weight on your heart.”

“Fanying is aware.”

Meng Fanying’s gaze was distant, “But even I am confused by this turmoil; truly, I do not know how to express it.”

“Well… okay then!”

Hearing this, the woman in white did not insist further, “Then you may cultivate here in peace. There is no need to concern yourself with the matters of the outside world.”

“Hmm!”

“…”

The woman in white stood up to leave, leaving Meng Fanying alone, sitting in the pavilion in silence for a long time, eventually still taking out a jade slip.

“War God’s Atlas?”

“Mercy Sailing Sword Scroll?”

“Who are you?”

“What… do you have to do with me?”

In low whispers, her eyes revealed an entanglement, complex and intricate, impossible to unravel.

After struggling for a while, she eventually stood up and turned towards the courtyard entrance.

Leaving the Buddhism monastery behind, she entered the bustling market, momentarily directionless, unsure where to go.

She wanted to find an answer, but did not know where to start searching.

“Red dust refines the heart, rendering it transparent and clear.” n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“Wisdom Sword severs attachments, the past is not the self.”

“Master…”

Standing in the midst of the bustling market, watching the constant flow of life, she felt completely out of place, incapable of blending in.

How does one refine the heart in the red dust?

How does the Wisdom Sword sever attachments?

How does a Buddhist comprehend, how does one make sense of the Chan mysteries?

Lost for a moment, bereft of direction.

In that moment, near the edge of the market, she suddenly caught sight of a figure, distinctly entering her view.

A single glance seemed like an eternity, shrouded in the confusion of reincarnation. The silhouette in green robes, the hint of a smiling face, so unfamiliar yet so familiar, momentarily clear then hazy, near yet far, elusive to comprehend.

“Hmm!?”

A ripple of emotion surged within her, an oddly familiar sensation causing Meng Fanying’s expression to sharpen, and her twin swords behind her vibrated slightly.

However, the person paid no heed and strode straight toward her. Coming face-to-face, he then lifted a hand, reaching out towards her face.

“!!!”

Meng Fanying’s expression hardened, instinctively startled, ready to resist, yet her body inexplicably stood still, rooted to the spot, allowing his palm to approach and lift the light veil from her face.

As the veil was lifted, a face full of astonishment was revealed, her delicate features uncovered. Before she could react, the surroundings abruptly changed, the bustling city vanished, the stream of carriages and the crowds replaced by nothing but the serene wilderness.

Transcendental movement?

Such terror?

What sort of great power?

What is the intention?

Her heart pounded momentarily in shock, her thoughts in disarray. She inadvertently stepped back half a step, staring fixedly at the person before her.

“It has been a long time,”

Xu Yang said with a smile, unconcerned. Looking at the disoriented her, he extended the light veil forward, “Do you still remember?”

“…”

Meng Fanying fell silent amidst the chaos of her thoughts, yet inexplicably feeling at peace. Torn by contradiction, she forced herself to calm down, feigning composure, “Meng Fanying of the Purity Temple pays respects to the senior. May I ask what brings the senior here?”

“Purity Temple?”

Xu Yang muttered to himself, his smile still gentle, “I didn’t expect your connection with Buddhism to be so profound. Or could it be because of that Rebirth Mantra from back then?”

“…”

This remark plunged Meng Fanying back into silence, unable to quell the turmoil in her heart, until the twin swords on her back let out a faint whine. She then regained her focus and said solemnly, “Does the senior share a past bond with Fanying?”

Xu Yang shook his head lightly, asking with a soft laugh, “What is the past, really?”

“Bygones are like smoke, what was me is no longer me, that is the past,” she replied.

With those words, Meng Fanying steadied her heart in an instant, her face still tinged with a semblance of loss, yet her gaze gradually returned to calm, “In this world today, there is only Fanying, nothing more!”