Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad seed genuinely angry.
Because after that, he kept picking on Sha Chen. He felt not the slightest guilt for hitting soone, nor was there any apology. They could barely exchange a few words before he would start nitpicking. Sha Chen had thought he would be so angry he would just leave, but he didn’t; Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad stayed by the Flowing Sand River for three days and nights. This tornted Sha Chen for those three days and nights; it was truly exasperating.
Regardless, Sha Chen had to ensure three perfect als a day. Any slight dissatisfaction, and Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad would resort to violence. Sha Chen lost count of how many tis he was hit. In short, speaking more led to more mistakes, yet staying silent was also wrong. And mistakes ant a beating.
「Finally, after three days, Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad decided to leave.」
Sha Chen found it hard to express his bittersweet emotions. He gathered a few jars of fine wine and so tea leaves, bringing them to the entrance of the cave dwelling.
Looking at him, Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad still couldn’t let go of his anger. He raised his hand, ready to strike again.
Sha Chen quickly dodged. "Saint, if you hit again, you might break ! Anger harms your health. Why be so upset with a junior like ?"
He was actually angry too. You ca here, ate and drank on my di for three days and nights, hit for three days and nights, left nothing behind, and now you want to hit again as you’re leaving? If it weren’t for the fact that you’re a Sub-Sage, I’d twist off your head and use it as a ball!
Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad withdrew his hand, huffed, and said, "During these past few days, haven’t you even once begged for rcy, or considered asking to take you as my disciple?"
Of course, Sha Chen hadn’t. He wanted nothing more than to send Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad away. But he couldn’t say that; otherwise, it would an another three days and nights of tornt.
Instead, he said, "Indeed, I had thought several tis about asking again to beco your disciple, but I feared rejection from you, Saint."
Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad huffed. "Then ask to beco my disciple now. I assure you, I will not refuse."
Sha Chen was taken aback. This old codger... he plays dirty!
He hurriedly said, "Saint, it’s getting late. You’ve been out for a long ti; it’s ti you returned to tend your ox."
Furious, Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad raised his hand. A Tai Chi Diagram, filled with infinite Daoist insight, condensed in his palm. A single glance was enough to entrap Sha Chen, terrifying him. Looking at the Tai Chi Diagram, he felt as if he were falling into an abyss, trapped in an endless cycle. If it hit him, he feared he would die and his Dao would perish.
It was over; the Saint’s magnanimity was too small. Is it too late to call him ’Master’ and beg for forgiveness!?
Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad slapped down his palm, but it didn’t land on Sha Chen. Instead, it struck a nearby sheer cliff.
Suddenly, on the cliff, a gigantic, lifelike Tai Chi Diagram appeared, rotating endlessly. One glance was enough to draw a person in, making it impossible to break free.
Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad huffed. "I am not an unreasonable person. You’ve fed and watered these past few days. This is your recompense; I imagine you’ve been anticipating it for so ti."
After saying this, he vanished.
Sha Chen stood stunned, a wave of lingering fear washing over him, followed by relief. He quickly turned to look at the Tai Chi Diagram on the sheer cliff.
That cliff was ford from a pile of discarded God Source Stones from an abandoned mine, which had basically beco useless rubble. Sha Chen had planned to clear it away. But now, with the Tai Chi Diagram on it, he beca engrossed the mont he looked. Where would he find the ti to clear it?
Moreover, gazing at the Tai Chi Diagram, he seed to grasp sothing profound, feeling his Primordial Spirit power subtly increasing.
Originally, his physical body had reached the Small Achievent Realm of the Da Luo Dharmakaya, and his cultivation had advanced to the Middle Level of Daluo Golden Immortal. His Primordial Spirit had progressed in tandem, but he found it difficult to enhance it independently.
However, the strength of one’s Primordial Spirit is, in fact, crucial to combat prowess. A strong Primordial Spirit enhances spells and Divine Powers, and also makes wielding Magical Tools much smoother. Mana provides the foundation for casting spells and wielding Magical Tools, but the Primordial Spirit is what enables their perfect execution and control. One could say the Primordial Spirit adds the finesse that makes spells stronger and allows for more versatile use of Magical Tools.
It’s like a mortal practicing martial arts: greater physical strength ans more powerful strikes. But a sharper mind allows for a greater variety of techniques and more adaptability. That sharp mind is analogous to the Primordial Spirit. This analogy illustrates the point: for cultivators, the Primordial Spirit is extrely important.
It was just that in his past cultivation, Sha Chen had mostly relied on advancents in his cultivation base to drive the progress of his Primordial Spirit. It wasn’t that he lacked thods to cultivate his Primordial Spirit—his Spirit Summoning Decree, Sutra of Immortality, and Wide-hearing Decree were all Dao Techniques greatly beneficial to the Primordial Spirit. Unfortunately, after obtaining them, his comprehension of these Dao Techniques had only reached the Small Achievent Realm and wasn’t particularly profound. Once his Primordial Spirit reached the Da Luo Realm, further cultivation of these techniques yielded limited improvent. He found it more effective to use that ti to advance his cultivation base, which would then spur his Primordial Spirit’s progress, rather than practicing these techniques separately for a faster, isolated increase.
Therefore, gradually, Sha Chen had begun to neglect his Primordial Spirit cultivation.
Now, rely by looking at the Tai Chi Diagram, Sha Chen felt his Primordial Spirit loosen and rapidly expand. The light of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top above his brow grew more brilliant.
Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, Five Qis Returning to the Origin.
Sha Chen’s Primordial Spirit erged, sitting cross-legged atop his head. It focused intently on the Tai Chi Diagram, continuously comprehending and growing stronger. His Primordial Spirit was indeed growing stronger.
「A year passed.」
Sha Chen opened his eyes. It felt as if only an instant, a re blink, had passed. Before him stood a person—none other than Lady Di Yong.
He exclaid in astonishnt, "When did you co out of seclusion?"
Lady Di Yong replied, "Master, I’ve been out of seclusion for three months. You’ve been here for a very long ti."
Sha Chen made so calculations and realized he had indeed been standing there for over a year. He was imdiately shocked beyond asure. His Primordial Spirit had returned to his body, and he could clearly feel its significant increase in strength. rely gazing at and comprehending the Tai Chi Diagram for a year had increased his Primordial Spirit more than a thousand years of cultivating the Spirit Summoning Decree.
His Primordial Spirit power had increased by a fair amount, and he felt that the Divine Power of Six Ears of All Heavens was more natural to execute than before. He could also hear more sounds, including the very thoughts of Lady Di Yong before him, which he could now hear more clearly.
Lady Di Yong is concerned for , but she’s also wondering if I’ll discover she stole my Peaches of Immortality these past three months.
Sha Chen couldn’t help but glance towards the Innate Earth. He noticed that the Peach of Immortality Tree within the Formation seed to have all its Peaches of Immortality intact. He couldn’t help frowning; sothing felt off.
Lady Di Yong said, "Master, you’ve been standing here for a very long ti, haven’t you?"
Sha Chen replied, "Indeed, a year. But the gains were imnse, comparable to a thousand years of arduous Primordial Spirit cultivation."
Lady Di Yong exclaid joyfully, "Really? That’s wonderful! Master, did you learn so new Divine Power? Teach !"
Sha Chen pointed to the Tai Chi Diagram on the sheer cliff. "That is a Tai Chi Diagram left by the Saint. It seems to contain Daoist principles. If you contemplate it, you will surely benefit as well."
Lady Di Yong said, "I looked at it too, but it just felt strange, as if it wanted to suck in completely. I didn’t dare look for long." She added, "But since Master says so, I’ll take another look."
This ti, as she looked at it seriously, she truly beca engrossed, unable to extricate herself. Her Primordial Spirit erged and automatically settled into a ditative posture. Lady Di Yong was completely entranced, staring intently at the Tai Chi Diagram, her complexion gradually becoming rosy.
Sha Chen observed this and said, "Guard your true heart. Silently recite the Wide-hearing Decree I taught you, and do not let your thoughts wander."
Only then did Lady Di Yong begin to silently recite the Wide-hearing Decree. Her complexion improved, and the aura around her normalized.
However, when she had lost focus earlier, her flailing hands had torn off her clothes, releasing a pinkish aura. That issue was now resolved, but her clothes lay on the ground. Sha Chen glanced at them, then went to help her put her clothes back on.
These spirits are becoming increasingly seductive. I must not succumb.
He then let Lady Di Yong continue her contemplation while he found a spot to properly consider recent major and minor events. The Tai Chi Diagram left by Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad appeared to offer significant benefits for Primordial Spirit cultivation; he could contemplate it more in the future. Tianpeng and the Black Bear Spirit could also contemplate it upon their return and gain much from it.
But at this mont, Sha Chen wasn’t thinking about these things; instead, his brows were furrowed.
Why did Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad, after being here for several days, pay no attention to the Innate Earth? Why didn’t he ask about the Peach of Immortality Tree, the Osmanthus Tree, the Willow Tree, or the other Innate Spiritual Roots? Seeing such a patch of Innate Earth, wouldn’t he be tempted? Perhaps I underestimated a Saint’s magnanimity. However, I refused to beco his disciple and was beaten for three days and nights. That suggests a Saint’s magnanimity isn’t as boundless as I imagined.
As he was lost in these thoughts, the voice of Tongtian Hierarch descended from the sky.
"You’re awake. It seems you’ve gained sothing worthwhile from Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad. Do you regret not taking him as your master?"
Sha Chen was taken aback for a mont, then chuckled. "Not at all. I only wish to cultivate. Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad is involved in too many mundane affairs, and I don’t wish to be entangled in them."
It’s true that Saints are said to practice ’non-action’ (wu wei), but Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad, as Laozi’s representative, is far too involved in worldly affairs. I didn’t want to beco Tongtian Hierarch’s disciple because I didn’t want to be implicated with the Sect of Interpretation. And I refused to beco Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad’s disciple, not because I looked down on him for being rely a Sub-Sage, but purely because he’s too busy. I just want to keep a low profile and cultivate in peace.
Besides, Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad has a feud with Tongtian Hierarch. If the Sect of Interpretation wants to stage a coback, they’ll need soone to fight that pivotal battle. Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad isn’t a Saint, but he is a Saint’s representative—making him the perfect target. After defeating him, they might go after his disciples, or even target his disciples directly. No matter how I slice it, I’d be finished. I absolutely cannot beco Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad’s disciple.
That was why he had refused without hesitation.
Tongtian Hierarch chuckled. "You are astute. Do you wonder why Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad, a stubborn man, would let you off so easily? And, as an avid alchemist, why wasn’t he tempted upon seeing your Innate Earth and nurous Innate Spiritual Roots?"
Sha Chen clasped his fists in all directions. "Please, Saint, enlighten ."
Tongtian Hierarch replied, "Because, after I took a bite of one of your Peaches of Immortality, I threw the rest of it onto the ground. It was stained with my saliva and carried my aura. He knew I had been here, had eaten your food, and thus incurred a karmic debt to you. He doesn’t know if I’ve repaid that karmic debt, but he knows there’s so connection between you and . You practice the Eight-Nine Profound Art, the 72 Polymorphic Transformations, and the Thirty-Six Transformations. Why do you think he didn’t ask about their origins?"
Sha Chen broke out in a cold sweat.
Tongtian Hierarch declared haughtily, "Although I don’t know how you learned them, he knows you’re connected to , so he wouldn’t dare ask! Rember this: I disdain to ask you; he dares not ask!"
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