Daoist Master of Qing Xuan

Shen Lian’s heart of Dao was rather sensitive. Hence, he knew that Jing Shu’s fear was not falsified. Although she had an impressive origin, her Spiritual cultivation experience was not as profound given that she seldom face hardships. However, since she had lived for such a long time, she would be able to grasp the state of concentration. Shen Lian was even more curious about the reason that made her so terrified.

In the past, Shen Lian would not question over such matter and avoid unnecessary troubles. Nevertheless, ever since his state of mind experienced the sense of helplessness and despair, Shen Lian was more open-minded. He was no longer afraid of major troubles.

He asked directly, “Can you tell me what is this about?”

Jing Shu glanced at Kui Li disconcertedly. As Kui Li’s talents were the best amongst all demons, she understood Jing Shu’s intentions swiftly.

She smiled and said, “I will take my leave.”

A green light flew out of Bi You Palace like the streams of a waterfall.

Jing Shu spoke after she saw Kui Li’s departure, “This matter involves too many things, If she had known, I am afraid that calamities may occur,” When she finished, Jing Shu looked towards Shen Lian with resentment. Clearly, she felt that she had been deceived.

Shen Lian smiled and mentioned, “Tell me about it.”

He spoke calmly as if nothing could cause him to lose his sense of serenity.

Jing Shu thought to herself, “Wait till I tell you about this matter. I shall see whether you can remain as composed as you are.”

She calmed her state of mind and said, “The Art of Spiritual Enhancement you cultivated is not the complete version.”

Shen Lian nodded and said, “I have sensed this too. Although my spirit has been strengthening continuously and has not faced any hindrance ever since I cultivated this art but I have always felt that something was lacking.”

He was telling the truth. Others who cultivated the Art of Spiritual Enhancement, like Zhao Xiaoyu’s Book of Nine Lotus, for example, the Nine Lotus characteristics of phenomena could be formed when the cultivation reached its end. If Tianyi’s Nine Transformation Technique was explicitly cultivated, his Primordial Spirit would never be shattered. However, his Shangqing’s art of Spiritual Enhancement seemed to have only strengthened his spirit. There were no other specialties. The only specialty Shen Lian could think of was that the visualization of Daoist Master Shangqing had great resistance against many forms of enigmatic and heart-demonizing techniques. With this, Shen Lian had successfully survived several hardships.

Jing Shu spoke slowly, “This Art of Spiritual Enhancement is made incomplete by Shangqing Lord of Dao intentionally. The very few elites in the world would have known about his intention in imparting this art. However, though this art had been present in the universe for such a long time, none of the indomitable connoisseurs went to obtain it, not to mention cultivating it.”

Shen Lian asked curiously, “Are there any taboos over this?”

Jing Shu replied, “In cultivating this Art of Spiritual Enhancement, your spirit would strengthen for an infinite period of time. Even if you stop cultivating this art, you would still be able to reach a level just below that of Daluo after millions of years. You would have the most profound Primordial Spirit and even possess abilities which are compatible with the presence of State of Daluo’s great land. It can be said that if the cultivators of this art have lived long enough, they would eventually become great figures in the world.

Shen Lian was not pleased by these facts. Instead, he asked, “If there are such great advantages, I believe the disadvantages are severe too?”

Jing Shu said, “Those are not exactly disadvantages. In the world, there is no such principle of permanent thriving. Daoist Master Shangqing’s creation of such art had truly defied the fundamental rules of the universe. He does not fear God’s punishment for he is a Daoist. However, those who cultivated this art would ultimately suffer God’s punishment at some point in time. Death is their fate and there would be no exceptions.”

Shen Lian said, “The laws of Heaven states that a chance of survival in any forms of despair would always be present. According to what you have mentioned, possibilities for survival does not seem to exist.”

Jing Shu said, “There is only one solution to survive the God’s punishment. That is to obtain both Daoist Shangqing and Yuqing’s own imprint. This is because the art was created from Daoist Shangqing’s own imprint. After you have obtained both of their imprints, you would be able to amass the imprints of all three Pristine Daoist Masters in one form. With that, the art would be completed and flawless. Since there was no beginning, there would be no end as well. Even if you did not become a Daoist, you could still escape this lethal punishment.”

Shen Lian smiled bitterly and said, “Now I understand. There is no one in the world who dare to take the original imprints of Daoists. No matter who managed to cultivate this art, it only meant that they are against the favor of both Daoist Shangqing and Yuqing.”

Jing Shu said, “Not bad, you would have also understood that one would be in immense despair in the face of both Daoist’s techniques.”

Shen Lian sighed in his heart. It was not merely despair. Even if he was a thousand times stronger, he knew that he was still not compatible with the Daoists.

He then mentioned, “It seems like all Daoists have not appeared in the world for a long time. The two Daoists are remarkable figures. If they were no longer present in the Three Realms, does it mean that the cultivation of this art will never be successful?”

Jing Shu said, “In actual fact, you need not find the two Daoists. If you can find two treasures that enabled the Daoists to attain Dao which are Pangu Hatabu and Tai Chi diagram, they might contain the imprints of the Daoists. Moreover, it was rumored that two of these treasures have always been in Yuxu Palace and Bajing Palace.”

Shen Lian was instantly in joy. He finally understood Daoist Master Shangqing’s intentions. Once he started cultivating Shangqing’s art of Spiritual Enhancement, he was fated to defy both Shangqing and Yuqing Daoists. In other words, he was subverting their orthodoxy. If even Jing Shu was aware of its secrets, there was no reason for both Daoists and their orthodoxy to have no knowledge of it.

Clearly, prior to this incident, the people of Yuxu Palace and Bajing Palace did not know Shen Lian had cultivated Shangqing’s art of Spiritual Enhancement. This was rather odd. However, this news might have been purposely suppressed by Daoist Master Shangqing. Only so, could Shen Lian’s secret be concealed. However, no secrets could last forever. Once the secret of him cultivating this art has been exposed, he would be murdered by the connoisseurs from Yuxu Palace and Bajing Palace before he could unify the Netherworld.

Moreover, if the God’s punishment against him surfaced someday in the future, he would definitely have to meet the people of Yuxu Palace and Bajing Palace in order to avoid the punishment. Hence, his secret would ultimately be exposed.

Daoist Master Shangqing adage, ‘If you do not undergo hardships nor experience misfortunate trails, you would never become a Daoist Master’ was like a depiction of biscuit. If there was someone who could sustain the hostility of both Daoists, it would not be surprising for him to become a Daoist Master. Nevertheless, how can anyone manage to survive through such misfortunate trial? As what Jing Shu had mentioned, none of the elites in the world had the intention of obtaining it. Obviously, the cultivation of this art was like diving into a deep pool of water, it was too difficult to be handled. Even those who were present feared the prospective troubles which entailed.

Amongst all the benefits, it can be said that Shen Lian only became a knife that belonged to Daoist Master Shangqing. He was a knife that fought against the knives of Daoist Masters Taiqing and Yuqing. The Daoist had long attained detachment. Even if Shen Lian cultivated into a Daoist Master, he still could not go against the Daoist. All he could do was to challenge the orthodoxy of both Daoists. This was probably the intention of Daoist Master Shangqing.

If the legend of the Investiture of the Gods was true, Daoist Master Shangqing’s orthodoxy would be destructed in the hands of two Daoists. All Daoist Master Shangqing’s actions were meant for revenge. If he had not done so, annihilation would be his fate.

Irresistibly, Jing Shu observed Shen Lian closely. She wanted to find feelings of terror and unsettlement. However, Shen Lian disclosed no emotions. Of course, she was not a fool. She knew the intentions of Daoist Master Shangqing. Unfortunately, she was brought into this sophistication unwillingly. After all, she knew Zhenren Yuding’s temperament. Once this secret was exposed, she would not survive unless the Founding Master protected her from death.