Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The sun sets down to the ocean as the stars took over the skies. The ocean gradually regained its calmness and eventually returned to peace unlike the tsunami scenario just moments before.
Shen Lian peeped to his right and could sensed a dash of murderous aura.
As he turned his head, the aura vanished without a trace, as if it was never there.
Shen Lian’s mind was clear as he perceived that the person who was secretly peeping them has left.
This person is certainly not any weaker than Bai Suhuan and is a highly skilled Dao cultivator. He was able to enter and exit the realm in a clear cut fashion and that certainly would make him a fearsome person.
And after that, a dejected Bai Suhuan was finally ready to tell Shen Lian the truth.
Apparently Bai Suhan had another relative named Chen Mubai, who is one of the twelve Guang Qing Da Zhen Ren. Bai Suhuan only found out about this relative 50 years ago.
Shen Lian thought a person like Bai Suhuan who has given up desires would not be easily affected by the words of other people, even if that person is a blood relative. But this person used this excuse to get in touch with Bai Suhuan and used him to gain insider information about Qing Xuan. It was also through Chen Mubai that Bai Suhan found out about the celestial medicine that could extend one’s life.
When Qing Xuan declined, Bai Suhuan felt that it’s not a big deal to leak confidential information as Qing Xuan will most probably not punish him as the school is desperate to fill up the vacancy.
He objected the idea of Shen Lian taking over the chief’s position because he felt that Shen Lian’s talent and young age would jeopardize his position in the Qing Xuan should Shen Lian proceed as the chief.
Because of that incident, Bai Suhuan felt that Shen Lian is suspicious of him. As for the case of the celestial medicine, he find it hard to explain to Shen Lian. Under the pressure that his time is about to end soon, he made the risky decision to first obtain the medicine and then decide what to do with it later.
In order to obtain the medicine, he has probed Shen Lian a couple of times and realized that Shen Lian had no idea about the whereabouts of it. That was when he decided that he needed to take action.
He coaxed Zhang Ruoxu’s nephew, Zhang Lingxian to join him as he knew that this person is extremely dissatisfied with Shen Lian. Besides that, everyone knew that Zhang Ruoxu’s treatment towards Shen Lian was beyond a teacher-student relationship. If things did not work out, at least he could use Zhang Lingxian to cushion the impact or even turn the tables around.
After hearing Bai Suhuan’s side of the story, Shen Lian responded, “Bai Doyen, do you seriously think that your thing with Chen Mubai could be concealed from the Great grand master who has been protecting the Taiwei Pavilions for years? If he sensed something odd in your activities all these years, he could easily trace back to you even if the Guang Qing celestial school tried to cover up your tracks. If he has the intention, with his skills, he could easily track you down and watch every step you take.”
Bai Suhuan smiled bitterly, “Yes, I’ve thought of it but I’ve been fine for all these years. Naturally, I assumed that he knew nothing about it. But looking at it now, he probably knew everything but he chose to not tell me about it.”
Shen Lian calmly responded, “But you’ve never visited the Taiwei Pavilion for all these years.”
“Why would I want to go to the Taiwei Pavilion since I’ve committed something so terrible like this?” Bai Suhuan said.
Shen Lian responded, “Perhaps he’s waiting for you to come. If you are not willing to face such a small matter, how would you overcome Xu Wang? Practice and cultivation is like sailing against the current; you either keep forging ahead or you fall behind. Bai Doyen, can you rediscover your original intention when you first started practicing Dao and achieving Huan Dan. I believe you were more courageous and intelligent and determined back then compared to the person you are today.”
The journey of Dao cultivation was never an easy one as cultivators have to endure many painful experiences that ordinary people cannot withstand and they might face all sorts of obstacles anytime anywhere. But the biggest obstacle is the long-term maintenance of the heart of Dao. Some people were still able to stay high-spirited when they achieve Huan Dan but once they get to the stage of Po Wang, they have long abandoned their original intention of choosing Dao.
And that is how the age old saying ‘It is easy to obtain Dao but it’s difficult to preserve Dao’ came about.
A true Daoist not only is willing to sacrifice themselves in a deadly fight but they too are brave enough to face the stains on the mirror of their bier.
Although Shen Lian was impressed by Bai Suhuan’s determination to fight him, but at this very moment, he could see through the weakness behind Bai Suhuan’s lack of courage. He has lost his heart of Dao and that’s why failed to make any progress for the past years. All he could do is cultivate his mana and refined his techniques.
Bai Suhuan asked, “If I wasn’t involved in the incident today and instead waited for you to appear and request for the celestial medicine, would you have given it to me?”
Shen Lian calmly replied, “I would have given it to you if you’ve done so. But I would feel sorry for you. You have yet to breakthrough Xu Wang after hundreds of years, so what’s the point of living a few extra years. You’re only wearing down your Dao.”
Bai Suhuan replied in a sad tone, “That is true and it sounds foolish but I always had that hope that perhaps if I lived longer, I could do away with the contaminated and recover to the nature.”
Shen Lian sighed, “It’s not too late for you to realize this now but there’s a price to pay for your actions today. I have decided to insert a celestial sealing nail on you to lock your cultivation. You will be in captivity for a hundred years at the back mountain of the Taiyi Peak. Do you subdue to that?”
Bai Suhuan calmly replied, “I only have three years left, there’s no point of keeping my in captivity for a hundred years.”
Shen Lian smiled but did not answer. The melodious sea breeze led Shen Lian and Bai Suhuan back to the shore of Qing Xuan.
Time slipped by without a trace.
It’s been a year since Shen Lian captured Bai Suhuan. He sat by the door and talked about Daoism. Even the Huandan doyen benefited from his talk. Bai Suhuan and Zhang Lingxian were imprisoned at the back mountains to reflect on their actions. This was an extremely lenient punishment for them.
Zhang Lingxian’s prejudice towards Shen Lian was too deep, he insisted that Zhang Ruoxu was biased and unfair towards him.
Shen Lian couldn’t care less on trivials as such. Right or wrong, Zhang Lingxian psychosis-liked paranoia is hopeless.
This turmoil in Qing Xuan was just a mini episode.
Shen Lian believed the old Daoist monk has seen it coming but wanted to help Bai Suhuan face his fears and do away with the contaminated and recover to the nature, and to obtain immortality.
Unfortunately, Bai Suhuan failed to prevail over his barrier as he is still hoping to extend his lifespan and for a miracle to help him overcome Xu Wang and obtain immortality.
Miracles will not happen in an uncertain future. A true Daoist will seize the moment.
The old Daoist monk takes this as a test to sharpen Bai Suhuan, hoping that he could genuinely enlightened and clean of external desires. Unfortunately Bai Suhuan failed to pass this level and took the road not taken. As for why Shen Lian would appear at the right time when things were most critical, it was actually the old Daoist monk’s consciousness that lead Shen Lian out.
This is Qing Xuan’s way of honing their disciples; it is also the reason why they were able to produce countless immortals in their million years of history.
“Qing Xuan will never give up on their disciples, unless it is the disciples themselves that has given up. Qing Xuan too will not bind on to any of their disciples, unless it is the disciples that limit themselves.” A melodious voice of Dao could be heard on loop by the River of Spirits.
Every doyens and disciples who were present looked up to the Taiyi Peak to see Shen Lian who was on a lotus flower, leisurely spoke his words.
At this very moment, they felt that Shen Lian has entered the state of holy deities. Everything he said or do left a deep impression in them.