《From Xianxia to Wuxia》


 Chapter 1

    The sky was filled with a dreamy purple fog. Screams and wailing echoed through Luo City, but soon, they subsided. All that remained was lamentation and resentment.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°How could this happen? Damn the Gods!¡±


    ¡°Ahahahaha.¡±


    ¡°Three hundred years of cultivation wasted because of bad luck. What a fate... what a way to live, what a way to die.¡±


    Some kept asking why this disaster had occurred, while others cursed the perpetrator. The rest simply laughed bitterly at their misfortune.


    Before long, those who were still able to hold on began to decay. Their cultivation realms regressed, their bodies hollowed out from the inside, and their lifespans drained away¡ªlike water flowing downhill.


    Dao Jun sat, his weakened body leaning against the wall of a building.


    He had only wanted to buy materials for his research after achieving a breakthrough in his attempt to open a new path for his dead nascent soul.


    But now, his lifeless eyes stared at those who still had some time left, stumbling to the ground. Before their bodies even touched the ground, their flesh and bones disintegrated into ash.


    Dao Jun turned his gaze slightly and saw someone soaring into the sky, only to self-detonate in midair.


    ¡°Hahahaha! I, Old Demon Withered Bone, was born in poverty and have always been bullied by others! But I refused to bow down! Now, my time has come¡ªI refuse to die pathetically! I will die with my dignity intact!


    What Venerable Gods? They¡¯re just a lucky bunch who cultivated more than me! I refuse to admit defeat! EXPLODE FOR ME!¡±


    Dao Jun sighed. Even in death, Old Demon Withered Bone held onto his dignity.


    As someone who had reincarnated into this world of immortal cultivation, Dao Jun naturally sought to explore everything it had to offer.


    Because of this, he had managed to survive slightly longer than anyone else.


    Not only had he cultivated Qi, but he had also honed his physical body to the peak stage of the Fourth Level, which was equivalent to the Nascent Soul realm in Qi Refining cultivation.


    Yet now, even that was useless.


    His blood energy had bottomed out, and his Qi cultivation realm was slowly crumbling¡ªall because of the purple fog floating lightly above the sky.


    ¡°Heh.¡±


    Dao Jun let out a dry chuckle and shook his head.


    ¡°I should¡¯ve checked the almanac before leaving my cave this morning¡ªto predict fortune and misfortune. But alas... man proposes, and Heaven disposes.¡±


    His eyelids lowered, then slowly lifted again. He could feel it¡ªhis deadline was approaching, his cultivation rapidly regressing.


    After reaching the middle stage of the Qi Refining realm, cultivators gained insight into their own lifespan.


    Now that his cultivation had fallen to the early stage of the Foundation Building realm, he knew it was far past his deadline.


    At over five hundred years old, he had already outlived his natural lifespan¡ªespecially considering that Foundation Building cultivators only lived up to two hundred years.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a bad life... I did my best.¡±


    Dao Jun closed his eyes, accepting his inevitable fate.


    Seconds passed.


    But death did not come.


    Dao Jun suddenly felt a tugging sensation in his heart.


    His eyes snapped open as he saw a faint green light emanating from his chest.


    An ordinary ring¡ªmade of smooth brown stone, without any inscriptions¡ªslowly rose into the air.


    This ring was the most treasured item of Dao Jun¡¯s life.


    On the day he reincarnated into this new world, he had discovered that the ring he found in a river during a visit to his grandparents had also followed him into this world.


    At first, he thought it was a cheat item, a miraculous artifact.


    But as time passed, he never found any use for it.


    Even so, since it had followed him into this world, he had kept it close.


    Now, after all this time, he was finally witnessing a change in the ring.


    The green light grew stronger¡ªthen, with a blinding flash¡ª


    Dao Jun vanished.


    When Dao Jun opened his eyes again, he found himself in an unfamiliar place.


    A dense forest stretched around him, filled with towering trees and lush green weeds.


    However, as soon as he sensed his surroundings, he noticed a major problem.


    The spiritual energy in this place was extremely thin¡ªso thin that calling it "thin" would be an understatement.


    ¡°This can¡¯t even be called spiritual energy... at best, it¡¯s ¡®inferior spiritual energy.¡¯¡±


    But this problem wasn¡¯t his priority right now.


    Dao Jun immediately turned his focus back to the ring.


    Its luster had faded, and cracks began to form on its surface¡ª


    Until, finally, the ring shattered into dust.


    Dao Jun¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    His body was the first to react.


    The purple fog was a Fifth Rank poison¡ªyet, upon contact with this new environment, it immediately diluted¡ªas if an ice cube had been thrown into a blazing furnace.


    Without hesitation, Dao Jun formed a hand seal and suppressed his cultivation, preventing it from dispersing further.


    After barely stabilizing himself, his mind raced with countless thoughts, trying to find the best way to escape his predicament.


    Various methods flashed through his mind, only to be immediately discarded.


    He was already past his deadline.


    No matter what technique he used, he would not be able to prolong his life through normal means.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    There was only one option left.


    His eyes flickered with determination.


    ¡°Cultivating Qi extends lifespan. But cultivating the body does not stack on top of Qi cultivation¡¯s lifespan extension¡­ I only have a theoretical approach to this method, but I have no other choice.¡±


    Dao Jun took a deep breath.


    He guided his weakened nascent soul from his dantian into his Sea of Consciousness.


    Inside his Sea of Consciousness, his soul avatar flew up to meet the nascent soul.


    The two stopped in front of each other.


    It was as if an invisible mirror divided them.


    Then, they cast the same hand seal, but in inverted versions of each other.


    The invisible mirror began to solidify, transforming into a light curtain¡ªlike a transparent sheet of water.


    The nascent soul and soul avatar continued their ritual, causing the Sea of Consciousness to tremble.


    The boundary of the Sea of Consciousness filled with cracks, and the sea waters began to boil.


    At this point, an ordinary cultivator would be writhing in pain, as the destruction of the soul was unbearable.


    But for Dao Jun, it felt like a faint summer breeze under a tree¡¯s shade.


    As the mirror between the nascent soul and the soul avatar solidified, their bodies flattened into one-dimensional images.


    The mirror absorbed both of them¡ª


    Then it began to spin, increasing its pulling force.


    The sea water from the Sea of Consciousness surged toward the mirror, vanishing into its depths.


    The entire space of the Sea of Consciousness started to shrink, drawn into the mirror¡¯s ever-spinning form.


    Then, in the next moment¡ª


    Everything was absorbed completely.


    The mirror slowed down, coming to a halt.


    Now, it no longer looked like an ordinary mirror.


    It was a masterpiece, its borders adorned with intricate details, filled with profound Daoist mysteries.


    Its body reflected precious light, which flickered and shifted¡ªsometimes roaring like a dragon, sometimes chirping like a phoenix.


    Then, suddenly¡ª


    An arm reached out from the mirror, followed by a body.


    The figure that emerged looked identical to Dao Jun¡ª


    Except this new Dao Jun was made entirely of pure light.


    Dao Jun¡¯s eyes snapped open.


    The suffocating feeling of lifespan depletion was gone.


    The burden of his imminent death had vanished.


    He had made significant progress in soul cultivation¡ªand, in doing so, he had regained a new lifespan.


    But there was one problem.


    ¡°Although I have gained a new lifespan and no longer teeter on the edge of death¡­ it is still far from enough to live normally.¡±


    Dao Jun carefully examined his condition.


    His vitality was greatly damaged.


    His body was like a cracked vessel, constantly leaking energy¡ªhis lifespan might no longer be at zero, but it was still dwindling.


    He needed to act fast.


    With a solemn expression, Dao Jun raised his right hand.


    He held up two fingers before his face.


    Then, in a commanding tone, he ordered¡ª


    ¡°Suppress!¡±


    A strange fluctuation emerged from his glabella (the center of his forehead).


    The fluctuation flowed down into his meridians, fusing into them.


    Dao Jun had just cast a soul technique¡ªone that sealed his Qi cultivation, preventing it from further dissipating in this new world¡¯s inferior spiritual energy.


    Previously, he had tried using ordinary spells to stop his Qi dissipation¡ªbut those were powered by spiritual energy and had been like building a dam out of ice.


    Eventually, the "ice dam" had melted under pressure.


    But now, with a seal formed from soul power, his spiritual energy was completely isolated from this world¡¯s inferior spiritual energy.


    For the first time since his arrival, Dao Jun had breathing room.


    He could finally consider his next steps¡ª


    Where had he been teleported to?


    And how had the ring triggered the teleportation?


    Dao Jun pondered these critical questions.


    The first clue was the spiritual energy itself.


    It wasn¡¯t just thin¡ªit was degraded to an absurd level.


    The second clue was the ring itself.


    It had been his only artifact that could have triggered the teleportation.


    Then, Dao Jun suddenly realized something critical¡ª


    This world¡¯s inferior spiritual energy wasn¡¯t just affecting him¡ªit was affecting everything that contained spiritual energy!


    His clothes, his artifacts¡ªand, most importantly, his storage ring.


    Dao Jun quickly checked his robes.


    At some point, his once-glorious Fourth Rank robe had lost its luster.


    Its effects had disappeared.


    It had degraded into an ordinary piece of clothing.


    Given enough time, it would wear out like any mortal robe.


    Dao Jun¡¯s heart sank as he immediately inserted his divine sense into his storage ring.


    A moment later¡ªhis expression turned cold.


    The storage ring¡¯s portable space had completely collapsed.


    It was now just an ordinary jade ring.


    ¡°This should be impossible.¡±


    Dao Jun¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    Storage rings were built with their own internal space.


    While they couldn¡¯t store living creatures, they shouldn¡¯t be affected by the outside world¡¯s spiritual conditions.


    Unless¡ª


    The portable space inside the ring collapsed due to the teleportation.


    Dao Jun clenched his fists.


    This was highly unusual.


    Teleportation normally doesn¡¯t interfere with storage spaces¡ªat least, not under normal conditions.


    Then, his thoughts took a dark turn.


    ¡°Could it be... I wasn¡¯t just teleported to another place? Was I transported to an entirely new world?¡±


    His reasoning was simple.


    The first time the ring activated, Dao Jun had reincarnated from Earth into the cultivation world.


    Now, on the second activation, he had been physically transported into a place with inferior spiritual energy.


    Unfortunately, since the ring was destroyed, he had no way to verify his suspicions.


    But deep down¡ªhe had a bad feeling.


    Dao Jun scanned his surroundings with divine sense.


    Then, without hesitation, he started walking.


    Soon, he exited the forest, stepping into an open plain.


    Looking ahead, he spotted a road stretching into the distance.


    To his right, the path led into a mountain range.


    To his left, it extended toward an unknown location.


    Dao Jun raised his right palm and focused on it intensely.


    His brows furrowed slightly.


    He had tried using divination¡ªbut his results were unclear.


    "Is this because the spiritual energy in this world is too weak?"


    "Or is it because my cultivation is sealed?"


    Either way, he had no choice but to rely on instinct.


    He turned left.


    After walking for ten minutes, he heard something approaching from behind.


    Turning around, he saw a man driving a buffalo cart, heading in the same direction.


    Dao Jun stepped aside and waited.


    As the buffalo cart pulled up, the man, wearing simple clothes, jumped down.


    Though he looked thin, his muscles were strong¡ªevidence of a life of hard labor.


    With a wary expression, the man hesitated before finally asking¡ª


    ¡°Mister, are you a Warrior?¡±


    Dao Jun immediately noticed his nervousness¡ªyet the man still made an effort to show hospitality.


    Dao Jun smiled.


    ¡°Yes. Can I ride with you to the nearest village? I am a traveler, exploring the world.¡±


    Upon hearing his warm tone, the man visibly relaxed.


    He let out a relieved sigh, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.


    ¡°Please, Mister Warrior, I hope you don¡¯t mind my poor cart.¡±


    Dao Jun nodded and climbed aboard.


    As the buffalo cart rolled forward, he turned his head slightly and asked¡ª


    ¡°What is the name of the nearest village?¡±


    The villager, still focused on driving the cart, turned his head slightly.


    However, the moment his eyes met Dao Jun¡¯s, he froze.


    Dao Jun had no interest in making small talk with a mere mortal.


    After using divine sense to check the man and confirming that he had no extraordinary energy, he made up his mind¡ª


    He would extract the information directly.


    The villager¡¯s eyes turned cloudy, his consciousness fading into a dazed state.


    Dao Jun extended his index finger, pointing it at the villager¡¯s forehead.


    A stream of soul power flowed out.


    Soon, Dao Jun linked his perception with the villager¡¯s subconscious¡ª


    And the two began a literal heart-to-heart communication.


    Normally, when cultivators sought to extract information, they used two primary methods:


    <ol>


    <li>Soul Search ¨C This method involved forcefully tearing open the target¡¯s Sea of Consciousness and scanning their memories. It was fast, but also brutal¡ªleaving the target¡¯s soul severely damaged or even destroyed. Worse still, the extracted information was often fragmented or incomplete.</li>


    <li>Hypnosis ¨C This method involved controlling the target¡¯s mind, compelling them to reveal information willingly. While it was gentler and caused no direct harm, it was time-consuming¡ªand the extracted details could sometimes be distorted by the target¡¯s own bias.</li>


    </ol>


    However, Dao Jun didn¡¯t need to use either of these methods.


    Because he had embarked on the path of Soul Cultivation, his soul was vastly superior to ordinary cultivators.


    Just as body refiners could easily overpower Qi Refining cultivators in physical strength, soul cultivators could suppress weaker souls effortlessly.


    For Dao Jun, extracting memories from an ordinary person was as easy as breathing.


    After a few breaths, the villager¡¯s eyes blinked rapidly, as if coming out of a daydream.


    He looked slightly confused.


    ¡°S-Sorry, Mister Warrior¡­ what were you asking just now?¡± He scratched the back of his head, looking a little sheepish.


    Dao Jun smiled.


    ¡°I asked for the name of the nearest village.¡±


    Of course, he already knew the answer¡ªbut he played along to avoid suspicion.


    The villager, regaining his composure, answered politely¡ª


    ¡°The nearest village is the one we¡¯re heading to¡ªit¡¯s called Zhuzi Village.¡±


    Dao Jun nodded.


    ¡°I see.¡±


    After that, he fell silent, showing no further interest in conversation.


    Sensing this, the villager¡ªwho had initially been worried about offending him¡ªquickly turned his focus back to driving.


    However, from the corner of his eye, he stole glances at Dao Jun, making sure he hadn¡¯t unknowingly angered him.


    Dao Jun, meanwhile, had already confirmed the truth.


    He was not just in a different place¡ªhe was in a completely different world.


    This world was not like Earth, where extraordinary power didn¡¯t exist.


    Nor was it like his previous cultivation world, where immortals wielded divine power and anything seemed possible through cultivation.


    This world existed somewhere in between.


    It had an extraordinary path¡ªbut one that was not as magical as true immortal cultivation.


    Here, the extraordinary practitioners were called Warriors.


    And their path was known as the Martial Path.

 Chapter 2

    As an ordinary villager, Fan Zhuo had limited knowledge about Warriors. He only knew about them from hearsay rather than receiving proper information from someone knowledgeable.


    First of all, the first major realm of the Warrior path was called Warrior. Because of this, even though they practiced martial arts, they weren¡¯t called Martial Artists. They only used that term when referring to themselves.


    Warriors began their practice by meditating and gathering extraordinary power called Internal Energy. With the help of Internal Energy, they were able to lift heavy objects and destroy solid obstacles like trees and walls.


    Dao Jun was skeptical about this Warrior path that relied on Internal Energy. From his standpoint, he felt Warriors were no different from mortal martial artists in his previous world. However, he didn¡¯t jump to conclusions immediately¡ªhe still needed to verify this directly before making any judgments.


    Besides information about the extraordinary path, he also gained valuable knowledge about this world. There was no exact name for it, as Fan Zhuo only knew that he lived in the Chu State, which was part of the Great Tang Dynasty.


    Zhuzi Village was located in a remote area with no direct access to official roads. As a result, the people in this village were uneducated and lived solely by farming their land.


    After absorbing this newfound information, Dao Jun shifted his focus to his condition. His physical body wasn¡¯t affected by the regression of cultivation. Right now, his cultivation was at the middle stage of the Qi Refining realm. As long as he didn¡¯t use any spells or utilize his spiritual power, his cultivation would remain intact and unchanged.


    Next was his physical body foundation. He had once cultivated body refining to the peak stage of the Fourth Level, but now it was completely wasted, leaving him with a crippled body. If left alone, his physical appearance would start to degrade over time, turning him into a thin and weak old man.


    The last aspect of his condition was his newfound soul cultivation. In his previous world, as far as Dao Jun knew, no one had ever embarked on pure soul cultivation, not even ghost cultivators. Ghost cultivators were evil spirits or soul entities that cultivated themselves, but in reality, they were no different from Qi Refining cultivators. Ghost cultivators absorbed the yin-natured spiritual energy of the world and refined it into spiritual power, slowly transforming their yin body into a yang body.


    Dao Jun¡¯s soul cultivation, however, was completely different. In fact, it could be considered a new branch of immortal cultivation, much like body refining. He decided to name this path Soul Refining.


    The Soul Refining Path focused purely on cultivating the soul, separating its progress from Qi Refining and Body Refining. Unlike ghost cultivation, which required cultivators to abandon their status as living beings, Soul Refining could be practiced by anyone¡ªeven ghost cultivators.


    Currently, Dao Jun¡¯s soul cultivation was equal to the Second Level, or the Foundation Building realm of the Qi Refining path. This was mainly because he had sacrificed his nascent soul and previous soul foundation¡ªhis Sea of Consciousness at the late stage of the Fourth Level¡ªto condense a soul body.


    Dao Jun focused his mind, and his soul body, which was located within his head, suddenly disappeared and reappeared in an empty space. This space was the mental space¡ªdifferent from the Sea of Consciousness, which hosted memories, soul foundations, and mental strength. Mental space was a purely mental construct designed to host the soul body. If the mental space were to break, it wouldn¡¯t harm Dao Jun¡¯s soul foundation¡ªunlike damage to the Sea of Consciousness, which could have severe consequences.


    ¡°It feels strange,¡± Dao Jun¡¯s soul body carefully observed itself. ¡°I can sense two different perspectives in real time¡ªone from my physical body and one from my soul body.¡±


    The soul body expanded its divine sense to gauge its limits. An invisible wave spread from Dao Jun¡¯s body, reaching a diameter of twenty meters. Then, he withdrew his divine consciousness and noticed something new about his soul refining cultivation.


    ¡°Everything within ten meters is clearly projected into my mind. This is different from spiritual sense and divine sense. I don¡¯t need to do anything¡ªvision, sound, texture, and temperature are all within my grasp.¡±


    In cultivation theory, spiritual sense referred to a passive sixth sense that cultivators gained after refining spiritual power within their bodies. Its coverage was directly linked to a cultivator¡¯s realm and soul foundation. However, the information spiritual sense provided was vague, like a misty landscape, displaying only spiritual light within its range. Because of this, cultivators couldn¡¯t discern colors, textures, or temperatures using spiritual sense alone.


    On the other hand, divine sense was an active ability derived from a cultivator¡¯s soul. Its coverage was the same as spiritual sense, but divine sense could interact with objects, allowing cultivators to perceive visuals, sounds, textures, and temperatures, much like a physical body. However, divine sense had a major drawback¡ªit needed to be activated, and any damage inflicted upon it could cause severe injury to a cultivator¡¯s soul.


    ¡°This new ability feels like a fusion between spiritual sense and divine sense. I don¡¯t need to activate it¡ªit simply reflects everything directly into my soul without consuming any mental strength. But the drawback is also clear¡ªI can¡¯t interact with physical objects. Let¡¯s call this ability soul perception. Based on my estimate, its range is about half of my spiritual sense coverage.¡±


    This soul perception was just one of the many improvements Dao Jun had gained after condensing his soul body and embarking on the Soul Refining Path. Many more mysteries lay hidden within his soul body, but he wasn¡¯t in a hurry to explore them just yet.


    The soul body raised its head to look at the sky within the mental space. Its eyes shone with divine light as the sky above transformed. Small, white clouds gathered, merging into dark, heavy storm clouds, covering the entire mental space.


    ¡°My divination has also received a great enhancement. Now I can visualize my luck within my mental space without relying on divination tools.¡± The soul body commented. However, its eyes dimmed when it noticed that the dark clouds remained unchanged since the last time he performed divination. In fact, thanks to the improvements from soul cultivation, the divination now provided a clearer and more detailed view of his fate.


    Behind the storm clouds, a shadowy phantom of a strange beast could be seen swimming freely.


    The soul body closed its eyes and recited a mystic mantra in an inaudible voice. Waves of spiritual fluctuations radiated from its form and gathered into a ball of light. The soul body opened its eyes, raised its fingers, and pointed at the black clouds¡ªsending the ball of light soaring into the stormy sky.


    "Nothing?" The soul body frowned. He had just cast a divination technique called White Lantern Illuminating the Path. Due to his lack of proficiency, he could only summon a small ball of light instead of the white lantern with golden fire that the technique was supposed to manifest.


    The soul body fell into deep thought. Divination Arts were obscure and difficult to master. The results of divination were never clear and always presented as symbolism, abstract concepts, numbers, images, or cryptic phrases. What had just occurred could mean many things, but Dao Jun wasn¡¯t sure which interpretation was correct.


    "Mister Warrior, that is Zhuzi Village." Fan Zhuo pointed ahead at the village gate, which was now visible in the distance.


    The village gate was crudely built, consisting of two wooden pillars with a small wooden plank on top. The words "Zhuzi Village" were written on it.


    By now, Dao Jun had fully adapted to his dual perception¡ªexperiencing the world through both his soul body and physical body at the same time. He no longer needed to close his eyes to control his soul body separately.


    This was another major benefit of condensing a soul body¡ªDao Jun¡¯s mental processing ability had received a massive upgrade, allowing him to multitask effortlessly. It felt as if he had two brains controlled by a single consciousness.


    Without stopping, the buffalo cart rolled into the village. Some villagers who had finished their farm work were walking along the road, while others, still inside their homes, came out to see who had arrived.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    When they spotted the newcomer, their eyes widened slightly at the sight of his clean, high-quality robes. However, as soon as they noticed his status, they quickly lowered their heads, avoiding direct eye contact.


    Only wealthy individuals could afford such fine clothing. Naturally, wealthy families ensured their children practiced martial arts from a young age.


    Knowing this, the villagers refrained from staring too long at Dao Jun. Instead, they pretended to be busy with their own matters¡ªfinding reasons to turn away or go about their chores to reduce their contact with him.


    Dao Jun observed this cautious behavior and recalled what he had learned from Fan Zhuo.


    The first reason for this reaction was that people who wore expensive robes were often fickle and easily offended.


    The second reason was that Zhuzi Village was controlled by the Zhu family, who owned all the farmland in the area. While the Zhu family wouldn¡¯t outright offend wandering Warriors, they were wary of meddlesome Warriors who might try to interfere in village matters under the pretense of justice.


    This combination of factors had led to the villagers'' wary attitude toward outsiders.


    ¡°Your village seems to fear outsiders,¡± Dao Jun commented casually, though he wasn¡¯t particularly bothered by it.


    Fan Zhuo turned his head, forcing an awkward smile before responding.


    "Mister Warrior, my village is a poor village. We make our living through farming, and we have little contact with the outside world. Other than knowing we are part of the Chu State and which dynasty we live in, we know very little. Occasionally, a Warrior passes through, but¡­ some of them have not been satisfied with our hospitality. Because of past experiences, most villagers are wary of outsiders."


    Dao Jun smiled slightly. ¡°Then what about you? Why did you offer to give me a ride if you¡¯re also wary of strangers?¡±


    Fan Zhuo shook his head quickly and waved his hands in denial.


    "How could I refuse? Helping each other is human nature. Since Mister Warrior has shown no hostility toward me, how could I not help him?"


    "I see," Dao Jun nodded. ¡°Even though this village is secluded from the rest of the world, the people here still have a kind nature and help each other in times of need. Such villages are rare nowadays.¡±


    Fan Zhuo gave a genuine smile, with a hint of pride. "My village is indeed a good village." However, at the end of his words, it seemed as though he wanted to say more, but he ultimately chose to remain silent.


    The buffalo cart continued rolling through the inner part of the village. Various houses lined the road, each with a small courtyard, and children could be seen playing outside.


    Eventually, they arrived at a particular house.


    "Mister Warrior, this is the home of our Village Head. If you have any questions or need to discuss anything, it''s best to talk to him rather than me," Fan Zhuo said as he stepped down from the cart and approached the front gate.


    "Old Man Li," Fan Zhuo called out. The front gate was open, but he remained outside, waiting for permission to enter.


    Shortly after, an elderly man stepped out of the house and approached the gate. He glanced at Fan Zhuo, then shifted his gaze toward Dao Jun.


    For a brief moment, Old Man Li looked shocked upon seeing Dao Jun¡¯s expensive robes, but he quickly suppressed his reaction and greeted him with a warm smile.


    "Welcome, esteemed guest, to our modest village. I hope Fan Zhuo didn¡¯t cause any trouble for you."


    Dao Jun stepped down from the cart and walked toward the front gate. He nodded at Old Man Li and said, "Hello, nice to meet you. I am a traveler exploring the world, and by chance, I arrived at your village. Would it be possible for me to stay here for a day or two?"


    "Yes, yes, of course!" Old Man Li nodded repeatedly. "It is possible. We have an empty house in the village. If the esteemed guest is fine with it, I can have Fan Zhuo take you there. However, if you find the house unsuitable, feel free to speak to me again so we can make other arrangements."


    Dao Jun glanced at Fan Zhuo, who stood ready to lead the way.


    "Alright, I will check the house first," Dao Jun replied.


    Old Man Li smiled and patted Fan Zhuo¡¯s shoulder. "Quickly, take the esteemed guest to the empty house west of the village, near the Niu family¡¯s residence."


    "Ah¡ª" Fan Zhuo, slightly startled, nodded quickly. "Yes, of course! Mister Warrior, please follow me."


    Dao Jun rode the cart once more, sitting in his previous seat. With Fan Zhuo leading the way, the two continued their journey deeper into the village.


    Before long, they arrived in front of an empty house. Although unoccupied, it was clean and well-maintained. However, it was no different from the rest of the houses in the village¡ªit was built from wood and a mixture of mud, giving it a simple, earthy appearance.


    Dao Jun used his divine sense to scan the house and found no issues. He stepped down from the cart and walked toward the front gate.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see any problem with this house. You can go now,¡± he said calmly.


    Fan Zhuo, eager to leave, nodded and replied modestly, ¡°Take care, Mister Warrior.¡± Without another word, he turned the buffalo cart around and left.


    Dao Jun opened the wooden front gate and walked into the house. The interior was simple¡ªthere were two rooms, along with a kitchen area in the back.


    Both rooms contained beds made of mud, slightly elevated from the ground, with thin quilts placed on top.


    Since there was nothing else to do for the moment, Dao Jun entered one of the rooms, sat down, and began meditating. With his eyes closed, he started planning for the future.


    As afternoon arrived, Dao Jun opened his eyes upon hearing a knock at the front door.


    Standing up, he walked toward the entrance and opened the door.


    Outside, he was greeted by two well-dressed men.


    Unlike the villagers he had encountered so far, these men had better-quality clothing and strong, muscular builds. On top of that, they gave off the distinct presence of fighters, rather than farmers.


    Upon seeing Dao Jun, or more specifically, his robe, both men were momentarily stunned.


    They had traveled and met many people, but never before had they seen a robe of such exquisite quality.


    After taking a closer look at Dao Jun¡¯s clothing, they finally focused on him. Despite his youthful appearance, which suggested he was in his mid-twenties, he carried himself with the aura of a nobleman and a scholar.


    However, between his eyebrows, there was a faint hint of arrogance¡ªas though he had no intention of avoiding eye contact with the two men.


    ¡°Ahahaha,¡± the man on the right side let out a friendly laugh, seemingly trying to ease the situation. ¡°Are you the one who arrived at Zhuzi Village today?¡±


    Dao Jun smiled slightly but didn¡¯t reply immediately.


    The man continued, ¡°Zhuzi Village is a remote place, so it¡¯s understandable that you might not be aware of the situation.¡± His expression remained neutral, but his tone carried an underlying meaning.


    ¡°This village actually belongs to the Zhu family. Since you¡¯ve come here, our Young Master wishes to extend his hospitality and formally welcome you. What do you think?¡±


    Unlike Fan Zhuo and Old Man Li, who had been cautious and respectful toward Dao Jun, these two men showed neither respect nor fear.


    In fact, Chen Liu, the man speaking, gave off the impression of someone looking down on him.


    This stirred a strange emotion within Dao Jun¡ªone he had almost forgotten.


    After reaching the Golden Core realm, Dao Jun had long stopped being a helpless cultivator. He had avoided large cities, choosing to live in smaller settlements where he could grow in strength without attracting too much attention.


    As time passed, thanks to his careful nature, he rarely found himself in situations where weaker individuals treated him with disdain.


    This made him feel somewhat amused.


    Spreading his divine sense, Dao Jun examined the two men and detected traces of Internal Energy flowing within their bodies.


    ¡°As I thought,¡± Dao Jun mused inwardly.


    ¡°Their Internal Energy is far inferior to spiritual power. If the spiritual power of a first-level Qi Refining cultivator were measured as one unit, then this Internal Energy would be worth less than one-fifteenth of that.


    It is vastly weaker.


    As Qi Refining cultivators increase their realm, their strength improves drastically¡ªso much so that Internal Energy would never be able to catch up.¡±


    On the surface, Dao Jun remained calm, but his soul body frowned as it observed the thick dark clouds hovering above him in his mental space.


    Previously, he had predicted that people who trained in martial arts might cause trouble for him.


    However, after meeting these two men, he wasn¡¯t entirely sure whether his initial prediction had been accurate.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be hasty,¡± his soul body murmured. ¡°Let¡¯s observe a little more first.¡±


    With that thought, Dao Jun relaxed his expression and smiled at Chen Liu.


    ¡°Since I have been invited, naturally, I should accept the landlord¡¯s request.¡± His tone was calm, almost playful. ¡°Please, lead the way.¡±


    ¡°Good, good.¡± Chen Liu laughed and turned around, motioning for Dao Jun to follow.


    As they walked, Dao Jun continued to examine the two men with his divine sense.


    Since his soul perception could bypass physical obstructions, he was able to directly observe their Internal Energy.


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Dao Jun slightly opened his mouth as if about to speak, but quickly closed it.


    Chen Liu noticed this and turned his head back. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Dao Jun shook his head calmly, as though he hadn¡¯t reacted at all. ¡°I just recalled something I had forgotten.¡± He finished his words with a reassuring smile.


    During his exploration, Dao Jun found that there was nothing special about the Internal Energy these men practiced.


    However, something else caught his attention.


    Their spirits were unusually strong.


    In cultivation terms, the soul could be divided into two aspects:


    <ol>


    <li>Mental Strength ¨C representing self-awareness, experience, and individual willpower.</li>


    <li>Spirituality ¨C representing wisdom, intelligence, and comprehension ability.</li>


    </ol>


    Ordinary people had weak, gaseous mental strength, while cultivators like Dao Jun had fluid-like mental strength, similar to water.


    However, these Warriors had solidified mental strength.


    Even more intriguing was the fact that their mental strength was directly connected to their Internal Energy.


    This meant that the stronger their mental strength, the stronger their Internal Energy would become.


    At first glance, this information didn¡¯t seem particularly shocking.


    However, Dao Jun, being well-versed in cultivation theory, immediately understood what this implied.


    Unlike spiritual power, which followed a fixed path of improvement, mental strength had no upper limit.


    Which meant¡ª


    ¡°These Warriors can endlessly refine their Internal Energy, with no ceiling, as long as they continue to meditate and comprehend life itself?¡±


    Dao Jun¡¯s soul body smiled with interest.


    ¡°Maybe this Warrior Path is far greater than I initially assumed.¡±

 Chapter 3

    Dao Jun continued to spy and silently explore the Warrior path through the two men in front of him. He expanded his understanding of the extraordinary path of this world.


    Not long after, they arrived at their destination. Ahead of them was a large residence, towering over the surrounding houses like a crane among chickens. Its tall stone walls, neatly arranged, provided strong and firm protection for the residents.


    Chen Liu turned his head slightly to observe Dao Jun¡¯s reaction, but he was disappointed. There was none¡ªDao Jun did not even bat an eye. He remained calm and composed.


    Without saying anything, Chen Liu continued leading Dao Jun toward the grand gate of the residence. Above the gate, a wooden plaque of high quality bore the words "Zhu Family" in grand lettering.


    Two guards stood on either side of the entrance, gripping long wooden staffs to prevent unwanted visitors from lingering. As soon as they noticed the two men in front of Dao Jun, they straightened and greeted them respectfully, bowing.


    "Warrior Chen. Warrior Li."


    After receiving nods of approval from Chen Liu and Li Guang, the guards lifted their heads, only then allowing themselves a glance at Dao Jun. Their eyes were immediately drawn to his exquisite robe before they quickly averted their gazes, realizing their mistake in staring too boldly.


    Without hesitation, they opened the gate and stepped aside, allowing the three men to enter the residence.


    Once the trio had passed through the entrance, the two guards exchanged glances. The one on the left whispered, "Do you think he¡¯s from a noble clan?"


    The guard on the right sharpened his gaze and sneered. "Shut your mouth! Do you think someone from a noble clan is a person you can gossip about behind their back? If you value your life, stop talking to me about this."


    With that sharp remark, the guard on the right turned his attention back to his duty, completely ignoring his companion, who remained oblivious to the noble clans¡¯ great reputation.


    After passing through the front hall and entering the main hall, Dao Jun was greeted by a young man. He had a clean, slightly handsome face and wore a lavish robe that restricted his freedom of movement. Seated on the main seat of the hall, his posture exuded authority.


    The hall itself was arranged with two main seats at the back and two rows of common seats in front.


    The young man, Zhu Xing, immediately noticed Dao Jun¡¯s robe. He smacked his lips in envy, his eyes betraying a hint of jealousy.


    Chen Liu stepped forward, cupping his fist and bowing slightly as he reported to Zhu Xing. "Young Master, we have brought the person."


    Zhu Xing smiled from the corner of his eyes and waved his hand dismissively. "Okay, stand back." Then, as if suddenly realizing something, he showed a troubled and embarrassed expression. "Ah, Brother Liu, how many times have I told you to show respect to others? Why must you refer to my guest as just ¡®the person¡¯ instead of ¡®guest¡¯?"


    Zhu Xing shook his head in feigned helplessness.


    Chen Liu, who had just straightened his posture, immediately bowed again. "I apologize, Young Master. I will keep your words in mind for the future."


    Turning toward Dao Jun, he offered a polite smile. "Guest, please pardon my previous rudeness."


    Dao Jun smiled faintly, brushing it off. "No problem."


    "Come, come," Zhu Xing gestured warmly, inviting Dao Jun to sit beside him.


    Without hesitation, Dao Jun stepped forward and took a seat next to the host.


    As soon as he sat down, Zhu Xing, unable to contain his curiosity, asked, "May I know your name, Mister? Should I call you that, or do you prefer another title?"


    "Mister is fine," Dao Jun answered calmly. "We don¡¯t seem to be far apart in age, so just call me Feng He."


    "Hahaha," Zhu Xing laughed, cupping his fist in a friendly manner. "Then you may also call me by my name, Brother Feng. I am Zhu Xing. Nice to meet you."


    Dao Jun returned the gesture politely. "Nice to meet you."


    After exchanging pleasantries, Zhu Xing leaned in slightly, his tone more inquisitive. "I hope I am not being too abrupt, but may I ask what brings Brother Feng to this village?"


    Dao Jun¡¯s response was casual. "I have no clear goal. I just wished to leave home and see the world with my own eyes."


    While Dao Jun maintained a friendly demeanor, Zhu Xing continued probing for information, subtly attempting to uncover Dao Jun¡¯s background. However, despite their cordial conversation, he was unable to gather any useful details.


    Time passed quickly, and before long, darkness had settled outside. Yet, Zhu Xing still had no clear grasp of who Dao Jun truly was.


    Noticing Zhu Xing¡¯s persistent yet unsuccessful attempts, Chen Liu saw an opportunity to contribute. He suddenly raised his voice, drawing attention.


    "Mister Feng, I must say, your robe is extraordinary. My brother Li and I have traveled to many places and met many people, yet we have never seen such fine craftsmanship. May I ask where you acquired it?"


    Both Dao Jun and Zhu Xing turned their heads toward the shameless Chen Liu, who had interrupted their conversation. Zhu Xing¡¯s face darkened with displeasure, but he quickly calmed himself. He merely pointed at Chen Liu and scolded, "You! It seems I have failed to teach you proper etiquette."


    Then, turning back to Dao Jun, Zhu Xing sighed and apologized. "I am sorry, Brother Feng. You need not answer his question if it makes you uncomfortable."


    Despite his scolding, Zhu Xing secretly appreciated Chen Liu¡¯s direct approach. He had long sought a breakthrough in his conversation with Dao Jun but had hesitated to ask direct questions out of fear of being rude. Chen Liu¡¯s bluntness, however, had served the same purpose.


    Zhu Xing made a mental note to reward Chen Liu later.


    Dao Jun remained silent for a moment, as if contemplating whether to answer or not. Then, he lightly tapped the center of his brow.


    An invisible wave spread through the air, covering the entire Zhu family residence.


    Zhu Xing, Chen Liu, and Li Guang were immediately bewildered by this strange action.


    In truth, Dao Jun¡¯s soul body was occupied with organizing his newfound insights after making immense progress in condensing his soul body. There were countless mysteries hidden within this power, a brand-new path that had previously only existed as a theory in Dao Jun¡¯s mind.


    His pursuit of Qi Refining cultivation had come to an abrupt halt after his failed attempt to condense a living Nascent Soul. Unable to advance further, he had devoted himself entirely to researching a method to resurrect his dead Nascent Soul or to forge a new path toward immortality.


    Soul cultivation had been one such attempt, though he had initially discarded it after encountering a dead end. Instead of discovering a method to revive his Nascent Soul, he had stumbled upon the possibility of opening a new path beyond Qi Refining and Body Refining. However, as it was not his immediate priority, he had set it aside, conducting only minor experiments from time to time.


    After condensing his soul body and advancing directly to the Second Level, he found that many aspects of his soul had changed. His Sea of Consciousness had ceased to exist, merging instead with his soul body. Further exploration revealed that his divine sense had also undergone a major transformation.


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    Most importantly, Dao Jun now possessed a new kind of extraordinary energy.


    If Qi Refining cultivators refined the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into spiritual power, storing it within their dantian, then soul refining cultivators condensed a soul body that mirrored their physical form¡ªcomplete with acupoints and meridians¡ªwhile producing an entirely new power: soul energy.


    Soul energy differed from divine sense. While divine sense functioned as an extension of a cultivator¡¯s Sea of Consciousness, allowing them to perceive the world around them, it was also fragile¡ªdamage to it would cause severe harm to the soul. Soul energy, on the other hand, behaved more like blood energy in the physical body or spiritual power in Qi Refining cultivation. It could regenerate over time and had far more applications than divine sense.


    When Dao Jun tapped the center of his brow, sending out an invisible ripple, he was actually casting a soul spell¡ªa technique that used soul energy rather than divine sense. Although soul energy shared similarities with divine sense, the two were vastly different, requiring adjustments to existing spells before they could be effectively used.


    A cautious individual by nature, Dao Jun always sought precise guarantees before taking action. After scanning the Zhu residence and confirming that there was no significant threat to him, he decided that there was no longer any need to humor the pampered Zhu Xing.


    Under the watchful eyes of his three observers, Dao Jun remained motionless. However, his soul body, separate from his physical form, began forming a seal to cast another spell¡ªone designed to immobilize his targets.


    Unlike the investigative spell he had just used, this one did not send out a visible ripple. Instead, it emitted a silent sound, an inaudible vibration that spread across the room. The moment the sound reached the three men of the Zhu family, their minds froze in place.


    Dao Jun studied the stunned expressions on their faces and nodded in satisfaction.


    "Not bad," he muttered. "This is only a preliminary adjustment, but there¡¯s still plenty of room for improvement."


    His eyes gleamed with excitement as he analyzed the results.


    "Soul energy truly differs from divine sense. When a cultivator uses divine sense, there is always a risk of depletion, which is why most soul-based techniques in Qi Refining cultivation are either consumable or risky¡ªfailure often results in severe backlash."


    "But with soul energy¡­ I can cast as many spells as I want, without limitation!"


    Dao Jun clenched his fists, feeling a rush of exhilaration.


    "What difference is there between this and divine intervention? When physical cultivators fight Qi Refining cultivators, they often win by sheer brute force. But now that I possess soul energy, I am like a shark among shrimp¡ªno one will be able to resist my soul spells."


    His excitement was short-lived, however. He quickly sobered, his emotions shifting from exhilaration to contemplation.


    "That was the case in my previous world, where no one had a soul stronger than mine except those with higher cultivation. But in this world, people practice martial arts¡­ and while that may seem like mere physical training, in truth, what they are strengthening is their spirit."


    He sighed, his mood deflating slightly.


    "Mental strength accumulates through life experiences¡ªlearning, suffering failures, and attaining enlightenment. This alone wouldn¡¯t be enough for Warriors to resist my soul spells, but the problem is the solid nature of their mental strength. It¡¯s as if, after training in martial arts long enough, their spirits transform into something unshakable, like a stone."


    He chuckled at the thought.


    "Truly hard-headed people."


    Shaking off unnecessary distractions, Dao Jun turned his attention back to Zhu Xing. He extended a finger and lightly pressed it against the young master¡¯s forehead.


    This time, instead of using the crude soul method he had previously used on Fan Zhuan, Dao Jun executed an improved technique.


    In the past, when using divine sense, he had to form a soul connection with his target, engaging in deep, heart-to-heart communication to extract information directly from their subconscious. But with soul energy, this process had become much more efficient.


    Now, instead of connecting with the target¡¯s soul, Dao Jun¡¯s spell directly copied everything Zhu Xing had seen, heard, and experienced¡ªwhether consciously or subconsciously.


    However, Zhu Xing¡¯s spirit resisted.


    Unlike a mere mortal like Fan Zhuo, Zhu Xing was a Warrior. His mental fortitude provided an extra layer of defense, forcing Dao Jun to spend more time than expected to extract the information.


    As he continued absorbing Zhu Xing¡¯s memories, Dao Jun suddenly noticed a change¡ªChen Liu was showing signs of awakening.


    His soul body took note of this and immediately recorded the observation as data for refining his immobilization spell.


    Without hesitation, the soul body casually snapped its fingers.


    Another silent soundwave rippled through the air.


    Chen Liu, just on the verge of regaining consciousness, was struck again by the spell¡ªand fell into a deep coma.


    Dao Jun paid him no further mind and continued with his work.


    After about the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, he finally withdrew his finger from Zhu Xing¡¯s forehead.


    A vast amount of information surged into Dao Jun¡¯s mind. Not only had he gained crucial intelligence about the Zhu family and the Warrior path, but he had also made significant improvements in his technique.


    "The original name of this spell, when it was still based on divine sense, was ¡®Two Hearts Communication¡¯¡­ but now, after this revision and its immense potential, it deserves a new name."


    He thought for a moment before nodding to himself.


    "Let¡¯s call it ¡®Life Inspection¡¯."


    He made a mental note of the new name, though he suspected that in the future, he would simply refer to it as soul searching¡ªthe standard term for forcibly extracting memories.


    Having finished with Zhu Xing, Dao Jun moved on to Chen Liu.


    Now that the Life Inspection spell had been refined, the process took much less time. Dao Jun completed it in just six minutes before shifting to Li Guang.


    By the third attempt, the technique had been fully standardized¡ªhis proficiency had increased to the point that he could now use it instinctively.


    Through these extractions, Dao Jun gained valuable insight into the Warrior path.


    Warriors practiced mental techniques to meditate and cultivate Internal Energy, progressing through four levels in the first realm, known simply as Warrior. The journey began at the Third-rate level, the starting point attained upon achieving enlightenment and gathering the first ray of Internal Energy. Advancing to Second-rate required refining mental techniques to minor accomplishment, while reaching First-rate demanded further mastery, bringing those techniques to major accomplishment. Finally, the Peak level represented the state of perfection, where a warrior''s mental techniques were fully honed.


    Unlike the rigid progression of Qi Refining, the Warrior realm had no quantitative measurements¡ªonly mastery and comprehension mattered.


    Beyond the Warrior realm lay the Master realm. Unfortunately, the three men¡¯s knowledge on this stage was limited.


    Chen Liu and Li Guang, being mere lackeys of the Zhu family, knew only its name. Zhu Xing had slightly more information, but his father had deliberately restricted his access to advanced knowledge to prevent him from going astray.


    What little Zhu Xing did know was limited to this. Masters transformed their Internal Energy into Qi¡ªa higher-quality power far superior to even the purest Internal Energy. However, the exact process and capabilities of a Master remained unknown to him.


    Dao Jun sat back in his seat, lost in thought.


    His vast experience with immortal cultivation allowed him to see beyond what these Warriors understood about their own path.


    The realization made him chuckle.


    "So, these so-called ¡®Warriors¡¯ are actually walking the path of the spirit rather than just physical strength. Their so-called ¡®martial arts¡¯ are merely a disguise for something far deeper."


    In the world of immortality, cultivators focused on refining spiritual energy from the heavens and earth, gradually comprehending the Great Dao through continuous cultivation. Although their understanding deepened over time, their path was fundamentally about absorbing external energy and making it their own.


    By contrast, Warriors in this world followed a purely internal path. Instead of drawing in external energy, they refined themselves¡ªstrengthening their minds, sharpening their will, and honing their spirits. Their power, Internal Energy, was merely a byproduct of this spiritual practice.


    Dao Jun narrowed his eyes in deep thought.


    "But this doesn¡¯t entirely make sense. If simply meditating and practicing mental techniques were enough to develop such solid spiritual strength, then mine should be just as unyielding as theirs."


    He pondered for a moment before realization dawned on him.


    "I see¡­ so that¡¯s how it is."


    He let out a quiet chuckle.


    "Martial arts? What a joke. These Warriors aren¡¯t just training their bodies¡ªthey are cultivating their spirits as their main practice. Their so-called Internal Energy is merely an aftereffect of their true cultivation method."


    In the immortal cultivation world, the path of Qi Refining was built upon the constant absorption of spiritual energy. Cultivators sought enlightenment, but ultimately, their survival and progress depended on external resources¡ªspiritual herbs, pills, and various treasures.


    "Cultivators refine external energy first, then come to understand the Great Dao."


    But here in this world, the process was reversed.


    "Warriors comprehend the Great Dao first¡­ and only then do they develop Internal Energy."


    Dao Jun sat in silent disbelief at his own conclusion.


    "Ridiculous."


    By his standards, the difference between the two paths was night and day.


    Cultivators from the immortal world relied on talent¡ªan innate, measurable quality that determined one¡¯s future. The path of cultivation was straightforward but rigid: Qi Refining ¡ú Foundation Building ¡ú Golden Core ¡ú Nascent Soul, and so on. Yet despite its structured progression, it was a resource-dependent path, heavily influenced by wealth, status, and connections.


    In contrast, Warriors simply meditated and let enlightenment come naturally. Their growth depended not on talent or resources but on understanding and perseverance.


    Though external aids existed, they were far less crucial than in the immortal world, where cultivators consumed pills like candy to advance their realms.


    Dao Jun couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    "Perhaps the stone ring meant to send me to this world instead of the immortal world. This place suits me far better."


    He shook his head.


    "All I ever wanted was to retreat into seclusion, cultivate in peace, and become immortal. But instead, I was reincarnated into the world of immortality first, only to end up here. Still, this isn¡¯t a bad outcome."


    A smirk crept onto his lips.


    "With my knowledge and mastery of various immortal arts, I am now a dragon among koi in a small pond. Soaring to the heavens and ruling this world will be all too easy."

 Chapter 4

    Dao Jun swiftly finished dealing with the Warrior path and turned his attention to the new information he had extracted.


    The Great Tang Dynasty was divided into nine states, with the emperor seated on the throne as the apparent ruler of the country. However, this was merely a misconception among ordinary people. In reality, the true power lay in the hands of the noble clans who governed and controlled the nation.


    These noble families, known as the major clans, numbered seven in total, each ruling over one state independently. As for the remaining two states, one housed the capital and was jointly controlled by all seven clans, while the last state was considered public property, lacking a clear owner among the major families.


    Dao Jun currently found himself in the Chu State, a territory under the dominion of the Xiang clan. Everything within Chu State belonged to them without exception¡ªa rule that applied to all other states governed by the noble clans.


    With the emperor incapable of exercising real control, the only force capable of keeping the seven clans in check was the six major sects. These sects, despite not owning any territory of their own and existing within the nine states, acted as a balancing force. They provided ordinary people with a sliver of opportunity to walk the path of cultivation and practice martial arts, preventing the noble clans from gaining absolute dominance.


    After grasping the geography and power structure of the Great Tang Dynasty, Dao Jun decisively chose to remain in Zhuzhi Village to heal his flawed body.


    The Zhu family, which had taken residence in this village, was a wealthy martial clan with some influence in Yufeng City, located outside Zhuzhi Village. This house in the village functioned as both a front office for managing the village¡¯s resources and a retreat for Zhu family members seeking a countryside escape.


    At present, the only occupants of the house were Zhu Xing and his uncle. However, not long ago, Zhu Xing¡¯s uncle had returned to the main house, leaving Zhu Xing alone with only a few Warriors for protection.


    Among these Warriors, apart from the uncle who had already left and had a Second-rate cultivation, the remaining guards were all Third-rate Warriors¡ªwithout exception.


    This made the Zhu family residence a perfect hiding place for Dao Jun to recuperate and begin his training on the Warrior path.


    Having made up his mind, Dao Jun proceeded to enslave Zhu Xing, Chen Liu, and Li Guang.


    Lining the trio before him, he placed his finger on Zhu Xing¡¯s forehead first. A wave of soul energy flowed through his fingertip and into Zhu Xing¡¯s mind.


    Warriors did not possess a Sea of Consciousness¡ªor rather, they did not open it in the same way as Qi Refining cultivators did. Their minds, spirits, and souls were an enclosed space, solidified within their heads. While they could access their own consciousness, they were unable to explore beyond its limits. This was the result of enlightenment gained through comprehending the mysteries of their mental techniques.


    On top of this solidified mind, additional protection came from their Internal Energy, as both were interlinked like the relationship between a chicken and an egg. More precisely, bypassing a Warrior¡¯s Internal Energy was virtually impossible since it surged from the mind itself.


    Dao Jun had long mastered the art of enslavement, having refined and improved upon the technique he had acquired from the outside world through his own experiments. With some modifications, he had adapted it to work using soul energy, making it both more flexible and potent.


    Zhu Xing¡¯s body convulsed as he instinctively resisted the foreign invasion. Unlike soul searching, which merely extracted information, enslavement required the cultivator to plant a slave brand within the target¡¯s Sea of Consciousness.


    Sensing the intrusion, Zhu Xing¡¯s Internal Energy flared up in an attempt to shield his mind from the external force.


    Dao Jun remained unfazed, continuing his actions while carefully observing how a Warrior¡¯s mind reacted to his probing.


    It didn¡¯t take long for him to overcome the resistance from Zhu Xing¡¯s Internal Energy. With his soul body at the Second Level, he effortlessly broke through and proceeded to drill an opening into Zhu Xing¡¯s hardened mind, carving an entry point to implant the slave brand.


    As Dao Jun retracted his finger, he exhaled slowly. Under his soul body¡¯s command, Zhu Xing awakened from his unconscious state. His eyes widened the moment he saw Dao Jun¡¯s face, and he instinctively took several steps back.


    "You¡­ what are you? What did you do to me?" Zhu Xing¡¯s voice trembled with shock and confusion.


    Though he had been unconscious, his Warrior¡¯s mind had allowed him to sense everything that had transpired. He was fully aware that he had suffered a mental attack and that someone had tampered with his mind.


    Dao Jun frowned slightly. He had believed his enslavement technique to be flawless¡ªholding control over life and death, the ability to inflict punishment by triggering the slave brand, and even reducing hostility toward him.


    Yet, unexpectedly, a mere Third-rate Warrior had managed to resist the final modification. At this moment, Zhu Xing still harbored animosity toward Dao Jun, displaying none of the obedience expected of a servant toward his master.


    "Silence," Dao Jun commanded sternly.


    A formless power instantly forced Zhu Xing to shut his mouth. His wariness transformed into sheer horror¡ªhe hadn¡¯t expected the situation to escalate to the point where he couldn¡¯t even speak against his will.


    "Come here," Dao Jun gestured.


    Zhu Xing¡¯s body defied his own will, moving forward despite his desperate desire to retreat.


    Ignoring the terrified expression on Zhu Xing¡¯s face, Dao Jun resumed his work, determined to uncover the flaw in his enslavement method.


    His soul energy entered Zhu Xing¡¯s mind once again. This time, there was no obstruction from the Internal Energy since the mind had already granted him passage.


    "I see," Dao Jun muttered as his awareness explored Zhu Xing¡¯s consciousness.


    Unlike when Zhu Xing was unconscious, his mind was now filled with a dense web-like structure of mental strength. This intricate network allowed him to resist the force of the slave brand, functioning almost like a subconscious will.


    Warriors strengthened their minds through meditation on their mental techniques, enhancing their spiritual awareness and fortifying their will. In doing so, they wove thread-like structures within their consciousness, solidifying their minds from the inside out. These threads granted them access to a deeper level of their spiritual potential and enabled the production of Internal Energy.


    From a certain perspective, this process separated their active consciousness from their inherent nature, allowing them to cultivate a will untainted by biological factors such as hormones and neural impulses. In essence, it granted them the ability to impose their conscious control over their subconscious.


    In the world of immortality, Dao Jun¡¯s method of enslaving cultivators of the same realm or lower had been flawless. By planting his slave mark deep within the target¡¯s subconscious, he could control them at their very core, gradually altering their personalities into that of loyal servants.


    The current situation did not prevent Dao Jun from truly enslaving a mere Third-rate Warrior like Zhu Xing¡ªhe simply lacked the necessary factual data to refine his method.


    "If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯ll just resort to a more direct approach," Dao Jun smirked, pressing his palm against Zhu Xing¡¯s forehead and sending a surge of soul energy into his mind.


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    Zhu Xing¡¯s consciousness was bombarded with overwhelming force, causing him to wail in agony. His bloodshot eyes reflected the sheer torment he was experiencing, yet he remained powerless to resist.


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Dao Jun observed as he noticed the web-like structure in Zhu Xing¡¯s mind rapidly expanding under extreme pressure.


    This confirmed his hypothesis¡ªWarriors grew stronger through meditation and trials, but the most effective method for their advancement was facing life-and-death situations.


    ¡°But that¡¯s as far as it goes,¡± Dao Jun remarked.


    With a mere thought, he suppressed the sudden growth in Zhu Xing¡¯s mind, preventing any further resistance. Then, he continued engraving the slave brand directly onto Zhu Xing¡¯s consciousness. Since the subtle method had failed, he opted for brute force instead.


    With Zhu Xing¡¯s martial will crushed, his support system collapsed, and he immediately lost consciousness. However, Dao Jun had already seized control of the web-like mental structure, preventing it from hiding or resisting his influence.


    Not long after, the process was complete.


    Dao Jun issued a silent command through his soul body, and Zhu Xing¡¯s eyes snapped open. Unlike before, his expression was no longer filled with defiance or fear. Instead, his face turned solemn as he instinctively bowed, his posture that of an unquestioning servant.


    Dao Jun took a moment to analyze the drawbacks of this brute-force enslavement technique. Since it involved directly branding the consciousness, it effectively stripped the target of free will.


    In the immortal world, this method was equivalent to severing the path of future advancement, and the same seemed to apply to Warriors in this world.


    He shook his head. He didn¡¯t feel any guilt about his actions, but he also had no intention of creating useless subordinates.


    Dao Jun was a true Taoist¡ªhe followed the natural flow of the world, avoiding unnecessary harm to living beings in order to keep his spirit pure from external influences.


    With that thought, he moved on to enslave Chen Liu and Li Guang.


    ¡°Master,¡± the two warriors greeted in unison, bowing deeply in submission.


    Since he had decided to claim the Zhu family house as his base, ensuring absolute control was his top priority.


    ¡°Go and summon the other two guards,¡± he ordered.


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Chen Liu and Li Guang immediately obeyed, leaving the main hall without hesitation.


    A short while later, two more men arrived, following Chen Liu and Li Guang. They seemed completely unaware of the situation, chatting casually along the way.


    Without a word, Dao Jun¡¯s soul body cast an immobilization spell on them, freezing them in place. Then, he swiftly enslaved them just as he had done with the others.


    Once the process was complete, Dao Jun had officially taken full control of the residence¡ªat least, until Zhu Xing¡¯s uncle returned from the main house.


    ¡°Inform the servants that I will be residing here from now on. Have them treat me as an ordinary guest,¡± Dao Jun commanded Zhu Xing before turning away and leaving the hall.


    His next destination was the study room.


    Although he had already extracted all of Zhu Xing¡¯s knowledge, he knew that this so-called young master had been a useless fool¡ªone who never bothered reading anything beyond the martial books his father had forced upon him.


    Upon entering the study, Dao Jun released his divine sense, scanning every book in the room. There was no need to physically pick them up or flip through their pages; his divine sense was powerful enough to read them directly.


    Moreover, his divine sense was no longer as fragile as that of ordinary Qi Refining cultivators. For most, damage to their divine sense would directly impact their soul. But Dao Jun¡¯s divine sense had evolved¡ªif it suffered harm, it wouldn¡¯t fully rebound to his soul, and it could even regenerate with the aid of his soul energy.


    It didn¡¯t take long for him to finish reading all the books in the study. After withdrawing his divine sense, he began to process the information.


    Most of the books were related to culture and primary education. Only a few contained valuable knowledge, such as those on medicinal theory and martial arts.


    Among them, Dao Jun discovered three mental techniques and five martial skills.


    In this world, the techniques practiced by Warriors were classified based on both level and quality.


    For those in the First Realm, mental techniques were referred to as Entry-level techniques.


    For those in the Second Realm, they were known as Qi-level techniques.


    ¡°The classification is quite straightforward,¡± Dao Jun mused. ¡°Entry-level techniques are essentially a beginner¡¯s guide to cultivation, while Qi-level techniques correspond to the type of energy that Masters in the Second Realm use.¡±


    Beyond levels, techniques were also categorized by quality: Inferior, Ordinary, Superior, and Perfect. These classifications applied not only to mental techniques but also to martial skills and secret techniques. Martial skills were active techniques that enabled Warriors to wield extraordinary energy in combat, while secret techniques were specialized methods used to refine something internal within a Warrior¡¯s body¡ªnot an external object, but a condensation of Internal Energy with unique characteristics.


    Having acquired all the useful knowledge, Dao Jun left the study room and headed to one of the guest chambers. Since he had now arrived in this world and obtained a method to cultivate the Warrior path, there was no reason to hesitate.


    It was time to begin his training.


    Of the three Entry-level mental techniques he had found in the study, all were of Inferior quality. Instead of choosing one of them, Dao Jun decided to practice the technique he had obtained from Zhu Xing¡ªthe Zhu Meditation Method.


    This was the Zhu family¡¯s inherited technique, refined over generations from an older Inferior quality method. As for its original name, Zhu Xing hadn¡¯t even bothered to remember it.


    The Zhu Meditation Method required the practitioner to regulate their breathing rhythm and enter a meditative state. From there, they had to comprehend the deeper meaning embedded within the method¡¯s teachings.


    For an ordinary person seeking to step onto the Warrior path, enlightenment could be achieved by understanding just the first two lines of the Zhu Meditation Method:


    "The moon drinks the ocean, yet the river remains unbroken; in stillness, the tempest is born. A single leaf drifts through ten thousand autumns, but the root has never moved."


    Dao Jun silently chanted these lines as he entered meditation.


    Since he had sou searched Zhu Xing, he had inherited Zhu Xing¡¯s lifetime of experiences, including his understanding of these two lines.


    However, Dao Jun had lived for five hundred years in the immortal world¡ªhis comprehension of the Dao far surpassed that of an ordinary Warrior.


    After two minutes, he opened his eyes.


    His gaze remained calm, without the slightest ripple of excitement or change.


    ¡°It¡¯s useless,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°The key to stepping onto the Warrior path is enlightenment. This can come naturally¡ªthrough everyday experiences like eating, drinking, separation, or survival in a dire crisis. Those with great comprehension and wisdom can achieve this without external aid. This is known as natural entry.


    ¡°The other method relies on mental techniques passed down from predecessors. By deciphering their mysteries, one can gain insight into the truth of the world.¡±


    Dao Jun compared his situation to a student copying an answer from a textbook.


    ¡°I used Zhu Xing¡¯s understanding to decipher the technique¡¯s meaning¡­ but I lack the personal realization needed for true enlightenment.¡±


    Although he had comprehended the first two lines of the Zhu Meditation Method, it wasn¡¯t enough to initiate his cultivation.


    ¡°This mental technique is too shallow for me.¡±


    Even if he had access to a Superior or Perfect quality Entry-level technique, Dao Jun doubted it would be enough. His vision was simply too high.


    What he needed was either a mental technique of the Qi level or a natural moment of enlightenment.


    ¡°Since I can¡¯t cultivate for now, I¡¯ll simply follow the natural course,¡± Dao Jun decided.


    Closing his eyes, he shifted his focus to other matters. His soul spells required further modifications, as they had originally been designed to function with divine sense.


    With his soul body assisting him, his efficiency was far greater than before¡ªnot simply one plus one equals two, but something even greater.


    While communicating with his soul body, Dao Jun could sense that his entry into the Warrior path was not far off, as his Soul Refining path also required him to undergo enlightenment. Unlike Qi Refining cultivators, who refined the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, or Body Refining cultivators, who absorbed medicinal substances or trained under extreme conditions to strengthen their bodies, Soul Refining cultivators like Dao Jun followed a different path.


    Technically, Dao Jun could take the medicinal route to supplement his soul. However, this approach was problematic, as he was now in a world with inferior spiritual energy.


    Alternatively, he could train his soul through extreme conditions, but this was risky. Unlike the physical body, the soul was inherently fragile. Given his lack of knowledge about Soul Refining¡ªand his own current soul body condition¡ªthis path was also uncertain.


    That left two remaining options. The first was the Visualization Method, commonly used by ordinary Qi Refining cultivators to expand their Sea of Consciousness and increase soul power. However, since Dao Jun no longer had a Sea of Consciousness, this method was ineffective for him. The second option required a different approach, which he considered in two ways: immersing himself in the mortal world to experience various emotions, desires, and struggles, thereby stimulating the natural growth of his soul, or developing a new form of soul training, akin to physical exercise, based on the idea that if the body could be refined, then perhaps the soul could also be strengthened through specialized techniques.


    ¡°There¡¯s a lot of work to do, and each task has its own priority,¡± Dao Jun¡¯s soul body remarked with a hint of excitement.


    The main reason Dao Jun had been able to reach the Nascent Soul realm in his previous world¡ªdespite being a mere commoner with poor talent¡ªwas his ability to improve old methods and innovate new ones.


    He had taken countless immortal arts and refined them into his own personal creations.


    Now, he had an opportunity to do the same in this new world.


    Exploring the mysteries of the soul body, modifying his soul spells, researching Soul Refining techniques, and seeking the moment of enlightenment¡ªthese were not mere tasks to him.


    To Dao Jun, this was like opening a treasure trove of knowledge.


    His soul avatar smiled at his soul body, sharing the same enthusiasm.


    ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s do more research,¡± Dao Jun agreed. ¡°There¡¯s no greater joy than creating something new and growing stronger.¡±

 Chapter 5

    Everything had returned to normal in the Zhu family house.


    Dao Jun was deep in discussion with his soul body. Every time they spoke, sparks popped inside the mental space, signifying significant progress.


    With his poor talent and lowly background, the only advantage Dao Jun had in the world of immortality was his modern knowledge. However, in a world where gods and buddhas existed, the scientific theories he had learned were rendered nearly useless. Thus, apart from his knowledge, Dao Jun relied heavily on his modern perception of the world and life.


    After studying for nine years under compulsory education, he had learned one crucial thing.


    If someone had a poor memory, no matter how much they studied for an exam, the results would always be disappointing. So, when he began his cultivation, the first goal he set for himself was to find a way to attain a permanent memory¡ªa photographic memory and beyond.


    After years of effort and countless experiments, he managed to find an entry point into his own Sea of Consciousness while still being a Qi Refining cultivator. From then on, his ability to learn improved by leaps and bounds. He mastered the arts of drawing talismans, refining pills, forging weapons, and setting up formations. Among the hundreds of Immortal Arts, these four were the most recognized in supporting a cultivator¡¯s journey, providing both financial gain and status to open many opportunities.


    In the present, Dao Jun had the ability to record everything he encountered and store it within his soul¡ªwhether it was something he actively perceived or anything that happened around him. The most useful function was that he could replay his own actions, preventing himself from making the same mistakes while learning.


    This was why the mind space was filled with graceful air currents and colorful lights that appeared out of nowhere. Every passing second meant either the complete modification of a spell soul or the birth of a new idea that opened new possibilities.


    The moon hung silently in the night sky. The villagers had already closed their doors and rested their weary bodies on their beds. Time passed unnoticed.


    It was more than two hours past midnight when Dao Jun''s eyes suddenly snapped open. Just now, his heart had started racing for no apparent reason. An ordinary person might have brushed it off, blaming it on poor health. But for Dao Jun, a master of the Divination Arts, every bad premonition signified a real and imminent threat¡ªto his life and to his path toward immortality.


    Dao Jun placed his right palm on his chest, feeling his heart pounding like an enraged boar trying to break free from its ribcage. Even before he could calculate the cause and effect of this bad omen, his face had already grown pale, and his back was drenched in sweat.


    The danger was real, and it was near!


    Without hesitation, Dao Jun pinched his fingers together and performed a divination about his near future. In his vision, he saw a group of men heading toward his location. Though he couldn¡¯t see their exact numbers, he deduced that his freedom¡ªand possibly his life¡ªwas in danger. Just as he tried to probe deeper into his enemies¡¯ identities, a blinding light engulfed his vision.


    Dao Jun coughed up a mouthful of blood.


    He was stunned, frozen in place.


    ¡°How can this be?!¡± He had never even considered this possibility. ¡°There are people in this world who can compete with me in divination? And to think they managed to cover their tracks for this long¡ªlong enough to get this close to me?¡±


    ¡°Ridiculous. Ridiculous! Isn¡¯t this supposed to be a world of martial arts? Why are there people practicing divination to such a degree? Where is the suppression caused by the inferior spiritual energy?¡±


    After venting his frustration, Dao Jun took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He began another round of divination¡ªbut this time, not on his enemies, but on himself.


    Divination was tied to karmic connections, which had their own causes and effects. Since his enemies could protect themselves, Dao Jun sought a solution from his own side.


    With the help of his soul body, he used soul energy at the Second Level as the source and performed a divination spell on himself. Invisible soul energy flowed from his seven orifices, gathering above his head and transforming into a floating eyeball. However, this eyeball exuded an eerie, evil aura¡ªits very appearance was enough to bring nightmares to ordinary people.


    This was a demonic method.


    The vertical pupil of the evil eyeball moved erratically for a moment before suddenly stopping and staring directly at Dao Jun from above. Then, a blood-red light illuminated his body.


    Under the crimson glow, hidden patterns began to emerge. Soon, Dao Jun¡¯s entire body was covered in black markings, oozing dark smoke.


    His figure was now completely shrouded in darkness.


    At last, he received his answer. The evil eyeball''s pupil resumed its erratic movements before disappearing, taking the black smoke with it. Dao Jun reappeared on his bed, still sitting cross-legged.


    His eyes reflected complex emotions. He had already suspected the reason for this, but that didn¡¯t make the truth any easier to accept.


    The soul body also looked solemn but soon relaxed its expression. It shook its head and spoke.


    ¡°Five hundred years crossing rivers and climbing mountains, only to return to the sea. All achievements are illusions. Nothing is permanent in this world. The waves of time roll forward¡ªwhether I follow them or not, I have no other choice. Fellow Taoist, put down your burdens and let go of your obsessions.¡±


    Hearing those words, Dao Jun clenched his fists so tightly that blood began to seep from his palms. In the end, he sighed and muttered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, me. I¡¯ve become too obsessed with my achievements. This is my foundation. This is my proof of existence. I can¡¯t help but feel reluctant to part with it.¡±


    Dao Jun closed his eyes for a brief moment before reopening them. His previously conflicted emotions had vanished, as if they had never existed in the first place. Instead, his usually calm gaze turned slightly cold.


    Then, he stood up from his bed. His eyes locked onto a certain direction, and a flicker of murderous intent flashed through them.


    ¡°Even in a new world, this truth remains the same.¡± Dao Jun murmured to himself, his voice slow and tinged with helplessness.


    ¡°In a world of the extraordinary, personal power holds more weight than virtue. This is not human nature¡ªit is the nature of the world itself. You cannot change it, nor should you try.¡± The soul body replied.


    Dao Jun spread his arms to the side, and using his soul power, he slowly undressed himself.


    His robe, a finely crafted garment imbued with various effects beyond mere protection, was placed neatly on the bed, followed by his inner garment and the rest of his clothing. Now, he stood bare, staring at the neatly arranged attire before shifting his gaze to the jade ring on his finger.


    This ring, once his storage ring, was now nothing more than a useless trinket. Yet, it held memories¡ªfragments of his past life in the world of immortality. And now, he had to let it go.


    Dao Jun placed the jade ring atop the folded clothes, alongside his boots. Now, he was a man with nothing¡ªonly his body remained. Yet, under the cover of his soul power, the cold night wind could not touch his skin.


    With a wave of his hand, a new set of ordinary clothes flew toward him. As if guided by invisible fairies, they draped themselves over his body, fitting him perfectly.


    For the second time, Dao Jun looked at the only objects that tied him to the world he had left behind. Then, slowly, he closed his eyes and turned away.


    ¡­


    More than one kilometer from Zhuzi Village, a group of masked men dressed in all-black suits, fully covering themselves from head to toe, moved swiftly under the moonlight. Their figures resembled ghostly shadows, flickering across the landscape.


    At superhuman speed, they maneuvered through the natural terrain with ease until they reached their destination¡ªa high ground overlooking Zhuzi Village.


    At the forefront, the group¡¯s captain retrieved a compass from his waist and flipped it open. The needle pointed straight at the village below, steady and precise, its tip locked onto the Zhu family house.


    Raising his hand, the captain signaled his men to spread out and surround the village, preventing their target from escaping.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    With practiced efficiency, the group moved to their designated positions, strategically taking spots around the village. Their movements were silent, their steps light, as though they were mere phantoms in the night.


    Then, in unison, they each pulled out a small flag hidden within their clothes and poured their energy into it.


    An invisible wave rippled outward.


    The individual waves from each member connected, forming a seamless, unseen barrier that enclosed the Zhu family house.


    The captain, now standing in front of the house, glanced down at the compass once more. The needle still pointed in the same direction, but now, its tip glowed with a hazy light.


    A silent gesture.


    The team advanced.


    Closing in like a tightening noose, they moved toward the guest room where Dao Jun was supposed to be.


    One of them kicked the door open and immediately threw in smoke bombs and poison needles. Another entered through the window, ensuring the target had no chance of escape.


    But the room was empty.


    The man who entered from the window landed lightly on the frame, scanning the smoke-filled room with keen eyes. His vision, enhanced beyond normal human capabilities, was unaffected by the smoke. He could see everything clearly.


    Yet, there was no one inside.


    The captain stepped into the room, his eyes flicking left and right, analyzing the emptiness before turning his attention back to the compass. The needle still pointed at the bed, where a neatly folded set of clothes and a pair of boots lay undisturbed.


    Without hesitation, he waved his hand.


    A subordinate behind him pulled out a wooden tube from his waist and tossed it toward the bed.


    The moment the tube neared the clothes, it emitted a bright light and exploded mid-air.


    Yet, there was no sound.


    No smoke.


    As the light faded, the wooden bed was reduced to splinters. The clothes and boots suffered the same fate.


    The only thing that remained intact was the jade ring, which had been flung a short distance away by the force of the explosion.


    Without needing further orders, another subordinate stepped forward.


    Retrieving a small package from his body, he threw it at the jade ring. The package dissolved mid-air, releasing a liquid that coated the ring.


    A second later, cracks began to spread across the jade surface.


    Then, with a soft shattering sound, the ring crumbled into dust.


    The captain checked the compass once more.


    This time, the needle moved¡ªshifting from the original location and pointing in a new direction. However, the hazy glow at its tip had disappeared.


    Without speaking, the captain turned and exited the ruined room.


    ¡°Captain, there are five Warriors and six ordinary people in this house.¡± One of his men sent a silent message through a secret transmission.


    ¡°There will be no clues left behind,¡± the captain replied, his voice emotionless.


    He stepped forward toward the main door. But before he could take another step¡ª


    Boom!


    An explosion erupted.


    Then another.


    And another.


    A total of five explosions shook the house.


    The captain turned just in time to see a man rushing toward him.


    ¡°Report, Captain! The bodies of the five Warriors exploded, heavily injuring five of our men.¡±


    The captain stared at him, his gaze cold and devoid of emotion.


    ¡°How bad?¡±


    The reporting soldier hesitated before answering, ¡°Their lives aren¡¯t at risk, but they can no longer continue the mission.¡±


    ¡°One man will escort them back,¡± the captain ordered before continuing his steps.


    As he exited the front door, the member responsible for maintaining the formation was already waiting for him. Judging by his silent demeanor, he had likely realized that their mission had failed.


    Hearing the five explosions just now only confirmed it.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± the captain said, his voice carrying a slight shift in tone when speaking to this one team member.


    Previously, there had been fifteen of them.


    Now, with five injured and one escorting them back, only nine remained.


    They resumed their pursuit, following the compass¡¯s guidance.


    Dao Jun was fleeing with all his might.


    He was even using his spiritual power, despite knowing how difficult it would be to replenish. He was at risk of losing his cultivation realm altogether¡ªbut he had no choice.


    His divination had shown it clearly: no matter what he did, he would lose.


    It wasn¡¯t just because he was seriously injured or because his physical foundation had been crippled. His Qi Refining cultivation was only at the middle stage, and using spiritual power would consume his already fragile foundation. On top of that, his soul techniques, even after modifying them, were still immature.


    The only way to survive was to run¡ªrun as far as he could.


    Through his divination, he had discovered the reason his enemies could track him so accurately: the spiritual power within his body, his Qi Refining cultivation, and the items he had brought from the world of immortality.


    Now that he had abandoned his possessions, only the spiritual power in his body remained.


    Without hesitation, Dao Jun burned through his remaining cultivation¡ªusing it to accelerate his escape and, at the same time, abolishing it completely.


    As he ran, he felt the master-slave brand in his soul shifting.


    His preparations for his pursuers had been triggered.


    Yet, he did not slow down.


    The premonition of death still loomed over him, undiminished.


    That meant the true threat¡ªthe main force that could defeat him¡ªwas still at full strength.


    Dao Jun knew that his pursuers were still able to track him because of the conflicting nature of his spiritual power. The higher-grade spiritual energy within him clashed against the inferior spiritual energy of this world, creating a contrast that made him stand out.


    The world and everything in it were connected by karmic ties and causal interactions¡ªeven when they never directly met. This world was filled with inferior spiritual energy, and when it encountered a higher-quality force, it instinctively sought to assimilate and neutralize the contradiction. This very principle allowed his enemies to track him, even from afar.


    After running at full speed for a long period, Dao Jun realized that escaping wasn¡¯t working.


    No matter how far he fled, his pursuers remained on his tail.


    Even if he completely abolished his cultivation, the mastermind behind them remained a complete unknown. Their capabilities were beyond what he could determine in his current state.


    Running would only buy him time¡ªbut not change the inevitable.


    As for why he was being hunted? That question no longer mattered.


    No one would bother explaining themselves when wealth and power were within their reach.


    Dao Jun came from a world where the Great Dao was ever-present, where spiritual energy flourished, and wondrous techniques were as abundant as bamboo shoots after a heavy rain.


    That wealth of knowledge alone was enough to make him a target.


    Even if that wasn¡¯t the reason, being captured in his current state would spell disaster.


    At best, he would be used as an experimental subject¡ªhis body and soul dissected for study.


    His mind was still clear. He would rather destroy himself than fall into their hands.


    Dao Jun halted his movements.


    Instead of continuing to flee, he searched for a place to rest and plan his next move.


    Now that he had put some distance between himself and his pursuers, he had a brief window to take action. Before completely destroying his Qi Refining cultivation, he needed to make one final move.


    Right now, he was like an empty shell.


    His spiritual energy was the only thing keeping his body from collapsing entirely, nourishing it along with his soul power.


    But once he fully abolished his cultivation, the consequences would be very dire for him.


    Dao Jun lifted his head, gazing at the lonely moon through the gaps in the tree branches above him.


    Despite the leaves filtering its glow, the moonlight still reached the ground.


    For a moment, his thoughts wandered.


    He felt pity for the moon.


    ¡°You are the only light in the vast darkness, yet even that radiance is not your own. Still, you shine tirelessly, casting your pale glow upon the earth. But when the sun rises, all who once relied on you will forget your existence, as if you were never there."


    His voice carried no clear emotion.


    Was he mocking the moon¡ªor himself?


    Dao Jun lowered his gaze and sat cross-legged on the ground. His hands came together in a seal, fingers forming a sacred gesture. The remaining emotions within him no longer mattered at this point¡ªonly his survival did.


    Then, in a solemn tone, he whispered a prayer.


    "I sacrifice the sword for the heavens."


    Deep within Dao Jun¡¯s dantian lay three treasures¡ªartifacts he had personally refined and continuously nurtured with his natal fire.


    Before being teleported to this world, these treasures had been of the highest quality. But the damage inflicted by the purple poison had severely degraded them, lowering their rank to low-grade Second Level artifacts.


    Unlike his discarded clothes and boots that were outside his body, these items still retained traces of their original high-grade materials.


    The first treasure to be sacrificed was a sword.


    Its blade was brown, aged, and worn by time appearing like an ancient relic that had never once been drawn.


    This sword was named Old Age.


    From the moment of its creation, Dao Jun had never wielded it in battle. Instead, he had cultivated it in accordance with a secret technique known as Hidden Sword Refining Life.


    The technique¡¯s principle was simple: the wielder would never unsheathe the sword until their final moment. If they held onto it until death, they would have the chance to open the path of immortality gaining a second chance.


    But if circumstances demanded it, they could sacrifice all their efforts in an instant to escape certain death.


    The brown sword let out a sorrowful hum as it was consumed by Dao Jun¡¯s soul energy.


    It did not mourn its own destruction.


    It mourned the pathetic fate of its master.


    Under the guidance of Dao Jun¡¯s divination spell, the essence of Old Age transformed into a thin, black incense stick floating in front of him.


    The incense stood tall and unwavering.


    At its tip, a green flame flickered to life, releasing a wisp of white smoke into the night air.


    "I sacrifice the seal for the earth."


    The second item was a wooden seal.


    Its base was rectangular, and a dragon coiled around a pearl atop its surface.


    This treasure was named Price.


    It had served as the core of Dao Jun¡¯s formations, his primary tool for protection.


    The cultivation method behind it followed a simple truth: every action had a price.


    For every sacrifice made, the seal would only grow stronger.


    The seal hummed and sold itself as the price for its master¡¯s survival.


    As before, the seal was consumed, and its essence formed the second incense beside the first.


    "I use the bamboo to open the path to the mysteries."


    The third and final item was a simple bamboo slip¡ªplain and unadorned.


    This slip, named One, was the tool Dao Jun used for his divination techniques.


    It enhanced his calculations and provided passive protection against divination attempts from others.


    Its meaning was clear.


    There is only one life.


    If you failed, everything ended.


    You would be forgotten, and the world would move on.


    The slip let out a clear sound and accepted its fate. It had meddled too many times with destiny, and now, it would embrace its ending gracefully.


    Among the three treasures, only this jade slip had awakened a trace of spirituality, and with its final act, it sent its last thought directly into Dao Jun¡¯s mind.


    Unlike its previous communications¡ªwhere it could only convey emotions through faint fluctuations¡ªthis time, its final words took form in a childish voice.


    "Life and death. You either live or die. Now, I die so that you may live, Master."


    Though he had severed all emotions at this moment, his eyes were still turning red. No matter how much he suppressed his feelings, he could not silence them completely.


    To prevent the ritual from being disrupted, the soul body stepped forward in his place. With a quiet, knowing voice, it offered a final farewell to the bamboo slip.


    "Thank you for your sacrifice¡­ and farewell."


    Then, in a voice barely above a whisper¡ªbut laced with profound hatred and killing intent¡ªDao Jun spoke his final request.


    "Show me the mastermind."

 Chapter 6

    The billowing white smoke gathered above the incense, forming a dense cloud. Under the effect of the ritual, the karmic lines intersected and followed the lead originating from Dao Jun, heading toward the mastermind.


    Soon, three pairs of closed eyes formed within the white smoke. They slowly opened their eyelids, staring lifelessly, unaware that someone was peeking at them.


    But Dao Jun took no action. Instead, he squinted his eyes and pinched a seal with his right hand. His little finger rested on top of his thumb, while his index finger was placed over his little finger. Pouring his soul energy into the three incense sticks, Dao Jun forced them to unravel deeper secrets.


    Hidden within the cloud of white smoke, a half-transparent pair of eyes revealed itself. It had always been there, concealed within the layers of causality. Like the previous three pairs, this fourth set of eyes slowly opened its lids.


    At first, its gaze was lifeless and unfocused, but soon, a flicker of movement appeared¡ªthe pupils trembled slightly, as if trying to break free from some invisible restraint.


    "Four," Dao Jun said heavily. These four pairs of eyes were the true masterminds behind his perilous situation. They were also the ones capable of deducing his location, even after he abolished his Qi Refining cultivation.


    The fourth pair of eyes continued struggling, attempting to break free. The person represented by these eyes clearly possessed a deeper understanding of divination than the other three and was now trying to counter-divine Dao Jun¡¯s actions.


    Cutting off the tail was easy for Dao Jun, but dealing with these four would be a challenge in his current state. At first, he thought sacrificing his three treasures would be enough to kill the mastermind, but who would have thought there were more than one?


    Moreover, the nature of the vision indicated that these four had special protection against divination. It could be a secret skill, a powerful divination tool, or even a formation shielding them from prying eyes.


    Dao Jun calculated his chances of cursing his enemies, but the odds were against him. Even if he exhausted the incense¡¯s power, he wouldn''t be able to kill them all. If he focused the curse entirely on one person, he might succeed in stopping them from constantly deducing his location¡ªbut at best, they would be gravely wounded, and at worst, dead.


    "Not enough," Dao Jun muttered between clenched teeth. The feeling of powerlessness against those weaker than him filled him with anger and hatred. He had once been a mighty Nascent Soul True Lord, yet mere mortals in this world dared to covet his treasures.


    If only... if only his foundation remained intact, he could have flicked his finger and cursed them to death one by one, making their final days more miserable than death itself.


    Alas¡­ he was no longer the esteemed Nascent Soul True Lord. Except for the knowledge and skills he had mastered, nothing remained to help him eliminate his enemies from this distance.


    It wasn¡¯t impossible, but it would require meticulous preparation. Right now, however, he lacked the time.


    The fourth pair of eyes was already halfway to breaking through the barrier concealing Dao Jun¡¯s spying. Once they realized they had been exposed, they might throw everything they had at eliminating him.


    "If the three treasures aren''t enough to stop them, then there''s nothing more to say," Dao Jun stated coldly. Since he had already decided to abolish his cultivation, he might as well use it to fuel the ritual.


    "But my cultivation alone is not enough¡­" Another surge of anger erupted from the depths of his heart. He roared furiously, "Then I will also sacrifice my soul body!"


    Under his control, the green flames atop the incense flared wildly, consuming the remaining incense bodies and pumping more white smoke into the air.


    A red thread suddenly emerged from Dao Jun¡¯s dantian and flew toward the dense cloud of white smoke. From the four pairs of eyes, similar red threads formed and met Dao Jun¡¯s in midair. The threads fused seamlessly without obstruction.


    From the center of Dao Jun¡¯s forehead, a faint light emerged¡ªit was his soul body, identical in shape to him but composed of pure light. The soul body covered its right eye with its left palm, and when it uncovered it, the right eye was gone, leaving an empty socket. Then, it placed its left hand on its right shoulder, and the right arm disappeared into nothingness.


    But that was still not enough. The soul body moved its left hand, pointing its index finger at its right leg. The right leg soon vanished like the right arm.


    "It¡¯s barely enough," the soul body remarked with an emotionless expression.


    The three incense sticks burned away completely.


    "But," the soul body observed as the white smoke gradually turned gray, darkening with each passing moment. The fourth pair of eyes, which had been struggling to break free, was now being suppressed by the spreading gray smoke.


    This level of preparation was only enough to sever the karmic connection between Dao Jun and the first three pairs of eyes. The fourth, however, was simply too powerful.


    Moreover, severing the connection wouldn''t solve the problem permanently¡ªa new link could always be forged in the future.


    The soul body turned toward the physical body. At some point, Dao Jun¡¯s eyes had turned pitch black, and a dark aura, thick with negative emotions, radiated from him.


    The world of immortality was rich in spiritual power, but those with weak talent often sought shortcuts, becoming demonic cultivators. They absorbed the blood and essence of others to increase their cultivation, refined souls to harness resentment as strength, and had no bottom line¡ªeverything could be used to make themselves stronger.


    Dao Jun had explored the demonic path as well. He studied their methods and mastered their secrets. From there, he transformed techniques riddled with drawbacks, traps, and dangers into extreme methods.


    Though still demonic in nature, these methods had their negative aspects mitigated or neutralized¡ªeither through Dao Jun''s refinements or through safeguards he had devised. One such method was the Red and Black Demonic Attachment of Worldly Possession.


    This extreme technique involved planting an obsession seed in the heart, tying it to physical objects. The user would then become emotionally bound to their possessions, to the extent that losing them would drive them into madness.


    Dao Jun had already been forced to abandon his external possessions, and the obsession seed had germinated in his heart, slowly clouding his sanity. To perform the ritual, he sacrificed his three treasures, further nurturing the seed¡¯s growth. Now, he had also sacrificed his cultivation and parts of his soul body, catalyzing the seed into full bloom.


    At this moment, no sanity remained in Dao Jun¡¯s physical body. However, his awareness was split¡ªtwo separate perceptions, two separate minds. His soul body retained clarity and had assumed control, while his physical body had descended into demonic madness.


    The inferior spiritual energy surrounding Dao Jun was stirred, surging toward him. The black aura around his body intensified, strengthening him further.


    "Turning into a demon is indeed a good way to gain power," the soul body murmured, observing the transformation. "But the price is too steep. Only the truly desperate resort to this path."


    The obsession seed had grown into a tree of attachment, and Dao Jun¡¯s mind had collapsed. Yet something was missing.


    ¡°There is only black aura¡­ If I can also produce red aura, it will be better and further increase my strength¡­ but¡­¡± The soul body¡¯s voice was steady, cold. "Red aura requires the loss of loved ones."


    He made a mental note of the timing. Once Dao Jun fully transformed into a demon, the final stage of the ritual could begin.


    Inside Dao Jun¡¯s body, above his heart, a small, leafless white tree quivered. A black flower bloomed at its tip.


    Dao Jun let out a deafening roar.


    The black aura surged skyward but was suppressed by the ongoing ritual.


    The time had come.


    The soul body raised its hand. ¡°Cut.¡±


    It made a swift chopping motion toward Dao Jun.


    The black aura around him went wild, spiraling into the air and gathering into a single point. The dark mist poured out of Dao Jun¡¯s body, coalescing into a demonic figure above him.


    The demon was pure black, its bloodshot eyes blazing with silent fury as it glared at the soul body.


    "A mere heart demon?" The soul body sneered. "Go."


    Activating the ritual, he directed its power to consume the newly formed demon.


    The demon writhed in agony, its form slowly dissipating as though it were evaporating. The gray smoke surrounding it darkened further with each passing moment.


    When the last trace of black aura was extracted, Dao Jun¡¯s body collapsed.


    His once-youthful figure had withered. His skin was dry, wrinkled¡ªhe now resembled an old man on the verge of death. His physical perception had fallen into a coma, leaving the soul body as his sole awareness.


    The soul body formed a hand seal, executing a complex series of gestures drawn from his vast knowledge.


    At the ritual¡¯s center, the now pitch-black smoke trembled violently. The red thread connecting Dao Jun and his enemies quivered as an immense force of causality pressed upon it, ready to snap.


    "Better to never meet again than to turn into enemies.


    Five autumns of long dreams, five springs of fleeting nights.


    Let cause and effect be fulfilled at the destined place."


    With these words, the soul body pointed at the red thread.


    Snap.


    The thread broke instantly, severing the karmic connection between Dao Jun and his pursuers.


    But it did more than that¡ªit granted him ten years of absolute protection from their divination arts.


    The soul body exhaled softly. ¡°Now, only the tail remain¡ª¡±


    Before it could finish, its consciousness faded.


    The light within its body dimmed, and under its tether to the physical body, it was drawn back into Dao Jun¡¯s glabella.


    ¡­


    One of the neighboring states of Chu State was Qiuye State, controlled by the Lin Clan.


    At the heart of Qiuye State, where a noble clan held dominion, stood the Lin Clan¡¯s main estate¡ªa vast territory, nearly the size of a city itself. Within its boundaries lay countless pavilions, towering buildings, and forbidden areas.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Among these restricted zones was the White Bamboo Forest.


    The entire area was shrouded in dense, pale bamboo that stretched skyward, their narrow gaps leaving no space for prying eyes to glimpse beyond. At the center of this secluded forest, a clearing had been carved out, where a simple yet elegant pavilion stood in solitude.


    Two men sat within it, engaged in a game of chess.


    The man on the right was an elderly figure, his head full of white hair, facing another man who, though aged, still retained the vigor of his youth.


    They played in silence¡ªuntil, all at once, both men raised their heads and turned toward the same direction.


    A feeling of absence had settled upon them.


    As masters of Divination Arts, they immediately sought to deduce what had just transpired. Soon, they arrived at an unsettling realization.


    ¡°What a disaster,¡± the old man on the right sighed. His name was Lin Chongmo, but though his voice carried weight, his gaze never wavered from the chessboard.


    Seated opposite him was Lin Yude.


    ¡°Someone¡­¡± Lin Yude attempted to speak but found his thoughts severed, his words dissolving before they could be uttered. His lips parted, yet nothing came forth, as though an invisible force had cut off his ability to express what he knew.


    He frowned deeply, his agitation growing. The harder he tried to recall his interrupted thoughts, the more restless he became.


    After straining his mind and body to their limits, all he managed was a few silent movements of his lips¡ªopening, closing, but producing no sound.


    ¡°Ten years,¡± Lin Chongmo suddenly interrupted.


    ¡°Ten years¡­¡± Lin Yude echoed, exhaling sharply as he regained control over his energy. He squinted his eyes and added, ¡°Ten years is not long. For those like us, detached from the mortal realm, it is nothing but the blink of an eye.¡±


    ¡°Yet it is still enough for us to hunt¡ª¡±


    Again, he was cut off.


    Each time he reached a subject, his mind turned blank, refusing to hold onto the thought. He understood what had happened¡ªbut no matter how much he struggled, he could not express it.


    Lin Chongmo, though similarly affected, remained composed.


    ¡°Ten years is the standard duration for such a spell to take effect. Cutting off causality so completely that it manifests physically¡­ It is no small feat.¡± His fingers tapped lightly against the chessboard. ¡°I can hardly recall anyone outside our clan possessing such mastery over the Divination Arts.¡±


    He let out a soft sigh. ¡°Alas¡­ the sun sets, the moon rises. What has happened cannot be undone. The cause and effect between us have already become irreconcilable.¡±


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Lin Yude scoffed at Lin Chongmo¡¯s reflective tone, his expression sharp. ¡°What do you know? You¡¯re so old that you¡¯ve lost your courage¡ªhiding your fangs, dulling your claws. You¡¯re no different from a domesticated house pet.¡±


    His voice grew colder.


    ¡°Like you said, ten years is the standard duration¡ªbut that is only if we do nothing about it. I don¡¯t know what kind of Divination Inheritance was used, but the Lin Clan will not be hindered for long. If we persist, we can reduce this so-called ten years to just five!¡±


    Lin Yude spoke with conviction. He was not boasting about breaking Dao Jun¡¯s method of severing their causality¡ªhe truly believed that in five years¡¯ time, its flaws would reveal themselves.


    As Lin Yude plotted his next move against Dao Jun, Lin Chongmo silently observed the chessboard. His gaze lingered on the hanging chess piece that Lin Yude held midair, hesitating to place.


    ¡°Are you going to play your move or not?¡± Lin Chongmo¡¯s voice was calm, yet his meaning was clear¡ªno matter what you do, you cannot change the current situation.


    Just like their game of chess, Lin Chongmo had the advantage.


    Lin Yude lowered his gaze, realizing the parallel between his predicament on the chessboard and their clan¡¯s situation. In both cases, no immediate solution existed.


    ¡°Humph.¡±


    Annoyed, Lin Yude rose from his seat and threw the chess piece back into its bowl. Without another word, he strode out of the pavilion, his footsteps firm as he stepped onto the white stone path, the sole opening in the bamboo forest.


    ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood to play today,¡± he declared. ¡°We¡¯ll continue another time.¡±


    With that, he disappeared into the dark tunnel at the end of the path.


    Lin Chongmo watched as the shadows swallowed Lin Yude¡¯s figure.


    After a moment of silence, he picked up a chess piece, rolling it between his fingers as he stared down at the board.


    His eyes gleamed with a faint divine light.


    He tried everything he could to trace back the cause¡ªbut nothing worked.


    ¡°Such a powerful method¡­¡± he murmured. ¡°And demonic in nature, at that.¡±


    With a flick of his fingers, the chess piece crumbled into fine dust.


    ¡°But it is more than that¡­¡±


    Lin Chongmo suffered the same limitation as Lin Yude.


    Even he could not directly name their target.


    He exhaled slowly. ¡°Such a fierce individual¡­ This spell holds no power on its own¡ªit merely serves as a platform for an exchange.¡±


    It followed the natural laws, upholding cause and effect as dictated by fate.


    Yet somehow, its user had weaponized it¡ªtwisting a simple technique into a force capable of severing a karmic connection.


    ¡°This is far too dangerous¡­¡± Lin Chongmo muttered, turning his gaze toward another location.


    ¡°Zhongyun¡­ how will you deal with this disaster?¡±


    A hint of foreboding flashed across his expression.


    ¡°There are only two obstacles in your way, yet neither is something our Lin Clan can hope to contend with¡­¡±


    His voice dropped to a whisper.


    ¡°You have meddled too much, blinded by immediate gain¡­¡±


    A long sigh.


    ¡°What a shame¡­ what a shame.¡±


    His final words drifted into the air, swallowed by the rustling of the white bamboo grove.


    Deep within the Lin Clan¡¯s main estate.


    In the deepest part of the Lin Clan¡¯s territory, an area where only a handful of people were permitted entry, a set of heavy doors suddenly swung open.


    A man strode in, his pace swift, though his face showed no trace of urgency.


    With each step, he crossed more than ten meters in a single breath.


    Seated at the center of the room on a high chair was an old man. Time had left deep marks upon him¡ªhis skin wrinkled, his body weathered, yet his presence remained unshaken.


    Without lifting his gaze, the old man spoke.


    ¡°Why do you barge in so rudely?¡±


    His voice was calm, yet cold, devoid of emotion.


    This man was Lin Xian, First Grand Elder of the Lin Clan.


    The one who had entered was Lin Zhongyun. He had been moving forward when, suddenly, he halted, raising his head to meet Lin Xian¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Something is wrong.¡±


    His words came out in a single breath, sharp and direct.


    Lin Xian, however, remained unmoved.


    ¡°If you speak of causality, then there was no need to come rushing to me,¡± he said coolly. ¡°Even if you hadn¡¯t informed me, Chongmo and Yude would have already noticed it.¡±


    His voice was as distant as ever¡ªsteady, measured, magnetic.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not just that,¡± Lin Zhongyun shook his head firmly. ¡°This goes beyond causality.¡±


    He inhaled deeply, his expression filled with a mix of excitement and anticipation.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to tell you how powerful this method is¡ªto not only sever cause and effect but to materialize its effects in the physical world. That alone is astonishing.


    "But that¡¯s only part of the picture. What I want to discuss is far more than this!¡±


    His body quivered as he spoke.


    ¡°Can you see it, First Grand Elder?¡±


    A grin spread across Lin Zhongyun¡¯s face. His eyes gleamed with ambition.


    ¡°It is immortal fate!¡±


    A low, delighted chuckle escaped him.


    ¡°Hahaha! My prediction was not wrong¡ªan immortal, banished into the mortal realm!¡±


    His breathing quickened as his excitement swelled.


    ¡°As long as we capture¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, his words cut off.


    The spell¡¯s effect had taken hold once more.


    Lin Zhongyun could not say the name.


    But his fervor did not wane.


    Since he couldn¡¯t directly name Dao Jun, he merely replaced him with a placeholder.


    ¡°As long as we capture the Little Dog, our Lin Clan will flourish beyond imagination! We will rise to heights that no other clan can rival!¡±


    Even as First Grand Elder, Lin Xian had to admit¡ªwhen it came to Divination Arts, he was not as skilled as Lin Chongmo or Lin Zhongyun.


    All he could perceive was the blockage in causality, nothing more.


    ¡°Tell me more.¡±


    His curiosity had been piqued.


    Lin Zhongyun¡¯s smile deepened.


    ¡°The way of Heavenly Secrets has not been completely severed, as you might expect,¡± he explained. ¡°In fact, it is impossible to truly cut off karmic connections¡ªnothing in existence is entirely independent.


    ¡°The only exceptions would be a transcendent sage or a Buddha.¡±


    Lin Xian¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. ¡°Then, what has happened?¡±


    Lin Zhongyun¡¯s eyes gleamed.


    ¡°The connection hasn¡¯t been severed. It¡¯s merely been blocked¡ªby two things.¡±


    He paused for effect.


    ¡°One is strength.¡±


    ¡°The other¡­ is luck.¡±


    Lin Xian¡¯s gaze sharpened.


    ¡°What are they?¡±


    Lin Zhongyun shook his head, frustration flickering across his features.


    ¡°I can¡¯t see them clearly right now. The Little Dog¡¯s technique is too refined, and his energy is too stable. I will need time to observe¡ªonce his spell starts to weaken, I¡¯ll be able to unravel its mysteries.¡±


    Lin Xian remained silent for a moment, contemplating the implications.


    Then, with an air of finality, he said,


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then you may leave.¡±


    Lin Zhongyun, however, suddenly pulled out a compass from his sleeve.


    ¡°Wait! Wait, First Grand Elder!¡±


    He hurriedly pointed at the compass¡¯s chaotic needles¡ªfive pointers of varying lengths, each moving erratically.


    ¡°Look! The situation has changed!¡±


    Lin Xian narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°We are no longer limited to sending only one team!¡±


    Lin Xian¡¯s gaze flickered with surprise.


    Previously, they had been restricted¡ªonly one team had been allowed to pursue Dao Jun.


    Lin Zhongyun had insisted that sending more would alert the target.


    It had already been an achievement to track Dao Jun to within a kilometer before he noticed them.


    But now¡­


    Lin Xian did not respond immediately.


    Instead, he waited for Lin Zhongyun to continue.


    The compass needles spun wildly, devoid of pattern.


    But to Lin Zhongyun, they spoke volumes.


    He raised his head, staring beyond the ceiling, as if peering directly into the Heavens.


    ¡°The dynasty¡¯s luck is barely enough to counter the Little Dog¡¯s skill.¡±


    His voice was filled with conviction.


    ¡°Though the signs indicate change, the path ahead remains treacherous. We are no longer limited to just one True Master for the search¡­¡±


    Lin Zhongyun paused, then emphasized his next words heavily.


    ¡°But we still cannot deploy a Grandmaster.¡±


    Lin Xian absorbed his words carefully.


    ¡°There is a vast chasm between True Masters and Grandmasters,¡± Lin Zhongyun continued. ¡°If a Grandmaster were to enter the fray, it would destabilize the balance, introducing unforeseen variables.


    ¡°The final outcome would become unpredictable.


    ¡°And worse¡­ we might lose the Little Dog for more than ten years.¡±


    Lin Xian pondered deeply.


    Then, he made his decision.


    ¡°Very well. Send everyone. Search the land and the rivers.


    ¡°We may no longer be able to use divination, but brute force will suffice.


    ¡°We have already offended the Little Dog¡ªso we might as well end this quickly.¡±


    With that, he sent a secret message to his subordinates, ordering the full mobilization of the clan¡¯s forces.


    Though he could not mention who or what they were searching for, he simply gave a single command:


    Eliminate anyone suspicious.


    With one order¡ªcountless people would be caught in the blind hunt.


    Lin Xian¡¯s eyes flickered.


    ¡°Is there anything else you wish to say?¡±


    Lin Zhongyan, still staring at his compass, glanced at Lin Xian. He hesitated for a moment before deciding to voice his thoughts. ¡°First Grand Elder, without our assistance and clear information, searching for the Little Dog will be difficult. How about we use the clan formation to shift the dynasty¡¯s luck once more and pinpoint the Little Dog¡¯s location?¡±


    Lin Xian cast a look at Lin Zhongyan, who still seemed uncertain. ¡°It¡¯s not as simple as you think. Moving it occasionally won¡¯t have much impact, but using it multiple times in a single day will alert the other clans. It¡¯s not impossible to use it again, but proper preparations must be made. In the meantime, the clan members will do their best to search for the Little Dog.¡±


    Just as Lin Zhongyan was about to say something, Lin Xian continued. ¡°No objections. Just as every warrior has their own unique insight into martial arts, the same applies to those of us who practice the Divination Arts. You excel at reading the heavenly secrets, while I specialize in ending karmic entanglement. Our clansmen won¡¯t search for the Little Dog blindly¡ªthey will have clues to follow under my guidance. However, it will take time to implement.¡±


    Lin Zhongyan looked at the cold and emotionless Lin Xian. He knew Lin Zhongyan was a genius in Divination Arts, yet compared to the elders, he still lacked their expertise. Among the four Grandmasters that mastered Divination Arts, the other three had already forged their own paths. Only newly promoted Grandmasters like Lin Zhongyan were still learning and carving out his own specialties.


    With a respectful bow, Lin Zhongyan left the room.


    Meanwhile, on the other place in the Chu State.


    A group of pursuers raced across the land, their figures ghostly shadows in the moonlit dark. At the forefront, their captain led the charge, his hand gripping a compass that pulsed with guiding energy.


    Then, without warning, the compass lost its reaction.


    The captain came to an abrupt halt.


    Though the needle still pointed in a direction, it no longer tracked its target.


    His eyes flickered coldly as he recalled the orders he had been given before departure.


    After a moment of deliberation, he turned to his subordinates. ¡°Our mission ends here. Follow the previous arrangements and stay in contact. Disperse.¡±


    At his command, the group immediately scattered, each operative vanishing into the night, heading in different directions.


    Soon, only the captain and one other man remained.


    The remaining man stepped forward hesitantly. ¡°Uncle¡­ may I follow you?¡±


    The captain turned, his gaze settling on the young man, his name was Lin Tuling.


    "This mission is of great importance to our family," he said slowly. "If we succeed, the merits will be unparalleled¡ªgreater than any accomplishment since the family¡¯s founding. Do you understand what that means?"


    Lin Tuling pondered for a moment before answering. ¡°Because it will influence the balance between the great clans?¡±


    The captain, Lin Yangshe shook his head, his disappointment evident.


    "You are only half right. What you see is the bright side. But because this mission is so important, failure will bring consequences unlike anything our family has ever faced.


    "Tell me, did you notice who was leading this operation?"


    Lin Tuling hesitated, then realization dawned. ¡°The Sixth Grand Elder¡­¡±


    Lin Yangshe nodded. ¡°Do you know what level he has reached in the Art of Divination?"


    Lin Tuling swallowed but did not answer.


    "Before we departed," Lin Yangshe continued, "I saw the Sixth Grand Elder activate the clan¡¯s grand formation to assist him."


    That alone spoke volumes.


    After a moment of silence, Lin Yangshe¡¯s voice softened. He reached out, placing a firm hand on his nephew¡¯s shoulder.


    "You are only twenty-four and already a Master. Your future potential is limitless. If you train steadily, reaching the True Master realm is only a matter of time. As for the next realm¡­"


    He withdrew his hand. ¡°That will depend on your luck.¡±


    Lin Tuling was deeply moved by his uncle¡¯s words. With newfound resolve, he bowed slightly. ¡°I will remember Uncle¡¯s advice and train diligently.¡±


    Seeing his nephew¡¯s sincerity, Lin Yangshe turned away.


    ¡°The dangers ahead are unknown," he warned. "If you follow me, you must obey my every command without question. Can you do that?¡±


    The young man straightened his back. Though the night wind was cold, the warmth of conviction burned in his chest.


    ¡°I will follow your orders without hesitation. Captain!¡±


    Lin Yangshe heard the firm response and, beneath his mask, allowed a faint smile.


    With a stern voice, he gave his final order.


    "Let¡¯s go."

 Chapter 7

    When the sun finally rose, the first ray of light illuminated the land.


    The wind traveled freely through the forest, producing a whistling sound as it gently rustled the leaves.


    Lying on the hard, cold ground, Dao Jun slowly regained consciousness. The first thing he did was spread his divine sense before opening his eyes. Two different perspectives emerged in his mind¡ªone from his soul body and another from his physical body.


    Through his soul perception, he could see everything within a one-meter radius. Previously, his range had been five meters, but now it had diminished significantly.


    His divine sense, which once reached much farther, did not detect any danger, so Dao Jun turned his attention to his current condition.


    The ritual last night had placed a tremendous burden on his body. Calling it a burden was an understatement¡ªit had essentially crippled his foundation.


    "My Qi Refining cultivation is gone."


    Dao Jun checked his dantian. Even without cultivation, there should still be an empty dantian, but due to the nature of his ritual, he had not held back in making his sacrifice. He had not only given up his cultivation but also severed his immortal dao foundation.


    "My physical body is exhausted and has regressed to its natural state¡ªmortal, plagued by aging and sickness."


    Now, Dao Jun resembled an old man in his seventies, with sagging skin, discoloration, unkempt white hair, weak muscles, brittle bones, and dulled senses.


    "Lifespan¡­"


    As an immortal cultivator, Dao Jun naturally paid great attention to his longevity. Now that the primary source of his prolonged existence was gone, he could not escape his demise. However, as his soul perception displayed everything within his one-meter range, he noticed something strange.


    "Hmm..?"


    Dao Jun frowned as he retracted his divine sense, directing it deeper into his own body. As his divine sense intertwined with his soul perception, he discovered something unexpected¡ªhe could not determine his own lifespan.


    Just as he was about to cast a soul spell to investigate further, he halted his actions. He raised his gaze, staring at the trees before him. He sensed the inferior spiritual energy that barely existed in this world. Lastly, he looked up at the rising sun.


    A strange premonition settled in his heart.


    "Is it possible?"


    Dao Jun''s first instinct was to deny the thought that surfaced in his mind.


    A cultivator''s lifespan was determined by their vital essence, which acted like fuel, while lifespan was the fire that burned upon it. Though there was a clear connection between them, it was not absolute causation. A cultivator could have a short lifespan despite abundant vital essence¡ªthis was often the case for those who cultivated wood-based techniques in the Immortal World. However, the reverse was never true. Depleted or insufficient vital essence always resulted in a shortened lifespan.


    Lifespan was a shackle imposed by the heavens to limit living beings and maintain balance.


    Right now, Dao Jun, who had crippled both his Qi and Body, should have had little to no vital essence remaining¡ªespecially considering he had lived for five hundred years in the Immortal World.


    Yet reality deviated from his expectations. He indeed had only a small amount of vital essence left, but his perception of his lifespan was distorted. It did not match his previous understanding¡ªwhere low vital essence equaled a short lifespan.


    "According to the rules of immortal cultivation, with this amount of vital essence, I should only have hours left to live. I shouldn¡¯t even see the sunset at the end of the day¡­ I anticipated this outcome when performing the ritual. So why¡­ why is my lifespan gone?"


    "No, it isn''t completely gone, but the direct correlation between vital essence and lifespan has weakened¡ªwhy? What is happening? Does this mean that despite my low vital essence, I can still survive for much longer?"


    "This doesn¡¯t make sense!"


    Dao Jun had always been someone who sought to understand the why and how of things. He had extensively researched lifespan and vital essence, hoping to find a way to cheat death through his ingenuity¡ªhis mind, which was unlike any other.


    But in the end, his research had failed him. Though he had made many discoveries, he had been incapable of achieving his ultimate goal¡ªto prolong his lifespan without any drawbacks.


    Of course, he had come across various methods to extend his life, but all were heavily limited. They either required precious resources or outright plundering the lifespans of others. None of these were acceptable solutions, so he had abandoned his research.


    His final conclusion had been that vital essence was indeed difficult to increase and replenish. Lifespan, bound to higher concepts and laws¡ªsuch as the will of heaven¡ªwas even more difficult to manipulate.


    Now, after scanning his body with every method available to him, Dao Jun was finally able to make some sense of his situation.


    "First, I am no longer in the Immortal World. This is an entirely new world with its own set of rules and laws.


    Second, my own condition is strange. I have embarked on a new path¡ªmy Soul Refining path.


    And lastly, though I appear human in this world, I may not be the same as them."


    These three factors were the only reasonable explanations Dao Jun could think of.


    The first was due to his limited knowledge of the world''s laws¡ªhe had only been a Nascent Soul cultivator, after all.


    The second was his intuition¡ªhis Soul Refining path was vastly different from the paths of Qi and Body Refining, full of mysteries waiting to be explored.


    And the third¡­ his arrival in this world had been unconventional. He had not simply traversed space; he had been directly transported into this world through an unknown method.


    After making some adjustments in his calculations, Dao Jun finally determined his lifespan.


    "According to my new deductions, I should be able to live for another four years. But that is the optimistic outcome. My body is in such a terrible state that my lifespan will likely be shortened in the near future.


    In the end, if I don¡¯t take action to restore my body, I will only have a week left to live."


    Four years¡ªthis was based on the assumption that Dao Jun¡¯s condition would remain stable. But that was not the case. His body was still suffering from the effects of the Rank Five poison he had been afflicted with before arriving in this world. His decline would not be a linear process but a cascade of problems¡ªone after another¡ªleaving him with only a single week to survive.


    After assessing his lifespan, Dao Jun turned his attention to his soul body.


    Sacrificing the heart demon had not been enough¡ªhis soul body had also suffered severe damage. At present, it was still recovering from the aftereffects.


    "I won¡¯t be able to use my soul energy for a day or two," Dao Jun muttered, shaking his head.


    His soul methods were the only abilities he had left to defend himself, and now, even that last resort was beyond his reach.


    Dao Jun raised his right hand and pinched his fingers together. He was attempting a simple divination to glimpse into the near future.


    Although he could not mobilize his soul energy, his vision remained intact. As someone who had attained great accomplishments in the Divination Arts, performing a minor reading would still offer him some insight.


    It took him more than five minutes to barely enter the proper state of mind. Yet, once he did, the attempt lasted only two breaths before he was violently repelled.


    He coughed heavily, gasping for breath.


    "I always looked down on those divination masters who sacrificed their lifespan to glimpse heavenly secrets beyond their reach. But now that I¡¯m in their position, I finally understand their struggle. It¡¯s like a mortal trying to split the sky¡ªthe burden is simply too great."


    Dao Jun had always been someone who acted in moderation. Since he could not see further into the future, he decisively abandoned the attempt.


    He glanced around. The trees were sparse but provided enough cover to blend into the wilderness.


    Approaching the nearest tree, he placed his palm against its trunk. He inhaled deeply through his nose, and a small amount of soul energy stirred, transforming into a soul spell.


    The once-healthy tree withered rapidly as if washed away by the torrents of time. Within a minute, all that remained was a brittle, lifeless trunk.


    Dao Jun carefully examined the vitality he had extracted from the tree, analyzing its characteristics.


    "Not as abundant as I had hoped¡­ There is some life force within, but it isn¡¯t suitable for human consumption. I could refine a better conversion method, but the upper limit remains."


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    Though trees were living beings, their spirituality was far inferior to that of humans or animals. They contained abundant life energy, but that was their sole advantage.


    Yet, just because it was not ideal for absorption did not mean Dao Jun would ignore it.


    He moved to the next tree and absorbed its vitality. Then another. And another.


    By the time he finished, he had drained five trees in total.


    It was not that he could not absorb more¡ªhis soul body was reaching its limit. Extracting and converting the trees¡¯ vitality required soul energy, and while it nourished his physical body, it came at the cost of further exhausting his already damaged soul.


    Now reinvigorated, Dao Jun finally moved from his spot.


    His earlier divination had been successful, but only marginally useful. Still, it was enough to provide some guidance¡ªbetter than wandering aimlessly.


    After walking for over three hours, Dao Jun finally emerged from the forest and found a dirt road.


    He pinched his fingers together, intending to perform another divination. But the moment his fingers met, he stopped himself.


    He could no longer afford another reading. His soul body was stretched too thin¡ªif he forced another divination, his soul would suffer further damage before he could obtain any meaningful insight.


    Without the aid of divination, Dao Jun could only rely on his intuition. He chose to head left.


    He was not necessarily seeking the nearest human settlement¡ªhis priority was avoiding danger. At least until he recovered enough to protect himself.


    Staying in the forest was an option, but his pursuers would not be far behind. Some of them would likely conduct a thorough search of his last known location.


    That left him with one choice¡ªto blend in among others and hide his presence.


    Dao Jun focused on the road ahead, carefully observing his surroundings. On the surface, however, he appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary old man.


    Thirty minutes later, his divine sense detected movement.


    With a range of only three meters, his divine sense was far less useful than his own eyesight. Even before it registered the disturbance, his eyes had already spotted three figures approaching.


    Two of them had been chatting but fell silent upon noticing Dao Jun.


    Dao Jun instinctively wanted to avoid them, but doing so would only draw attention. Instead, he remained where he was, waiting for them to close the distance.


    The man leading the group was the largest and clearly the leader. His name was Da Hu. His rough, scarred face and imposing frame exuded menace. A sword hung from his waist.


    Behind him were his two younger brothers, Er Hu and San Hu. The three called themselves the Tiger Brothers¡ªbandits who terrorized nearby villages and lived in the wilderness to evade capture.


    "Oh? Old man, why are you alone?" Er Hu asked, grinning as he brazenly scanned Dao Jun from head to toe.


    "Second Brother, why bother talking to this old thing? Just kill him already!" San Hu said eagerly, drawing his sword.


    "You¡¯re too bloodthirsty," Er Hu scolded. He turned to Da Hu. "Big Brother, what do you think?"


    Da Hu stood directly in front of Dao Jun, towering over him. His eyes were cold and emotionless.


    "Who are you, and where are you headed?" Da Hu demanded. His voice carried the weight of violence.


    Dao Jun displayed fear and anxiety befitting his current appearance. His body trembled, and he avoided their gazes.


    "Heroes, please¡­ show mercy. I am just an old man, traveling to visit my relatives."


    He dropped to his knees, kowtowing as he pleaded for his life.


    "Please, Heroes, show mercy. Please¡­"


    Er Hu remained silent, but San Hu grew irritated.


    "You old thing, shut up!" San Hu barked. "You¡¯re already at death¡¯s door. What¡¯s the point of sparing your life?"


    Though San Hu was impatient, he did not overstep his role as the youngest. He merely hurled insults without taking action.


    Dao Jun''s body stiffened under San Hu¡¯s shout, but he kept his head low, continuing to beg silently.


    Da Hu observed everything calmly before finally speaking.


    "Old man, raise your head."


    Dao Jun obeyed, though his eyes remained lowered, avoiding direct eye contact.


    His face bore the marks of time¡ªhis eyes, once sharp, were now clouded with the dim light of dusk.


    "Please, spare my life, Heroes," Dao Jun begged again.


    "Your clothes are in decent condition. Were they given to you by your relatives?" Da Hu asked.


    Dao Jun had anticipated this issue. He had deliberately rolled on the ground several times to make his clothes appear worn, but the fabric''s quality was still evident. He could have used a soul spell to degrade them further, but it would have been a waste.


    "No, they were given to me by some generous travelers. My old clothes were falling apart, and on my journey to visit my relatives, I received these as charity."


    Then, in an effort to avoid unnecessary trouble, Dao Jun added, "Heroes, if you want them, please take them. Just spare my life."


    Da Hu continued to scrutinize Dao Jun without missing a single detail.


    Finally, he said, "Alright. You can buy your life with these clothes."


    Dao Jun displayed immense relief and kowtowed three times, each bow producing a loud thud as his forehead struck the ground.


    "Thank you, thank you, great heroes!"


    He then began removing his clothing while still kneeling. First, his outer robe, then his inner garments, leaving his upper body bare. With some difficulty, he removed his pants as well, leaving only a single undergarment to preserve his modesty.


    He neatly folded the clothes and placed them in front of him, offering them to Da Hu.


    "Great Heroes, please accept my offering."


    Da Hu watched silently, his expression unreadable. He could find no flaw in Dao Jun¡¯s behavior, yet something about the old man unsettled him.


    As a bandit, Da Hu understood how dangerous the world could be. Appearances were deceiving¡ªone could not judge a person¡¯s depth by their looks alone. Old or young, weak or strong, every individual could carry hidden dangers.


    Since choosing this life of banditry, Da Hu had always been cautious. He and his brothers had established their base in this remote area precisely to avoid risks beyond their capabilities.


    As the silence stretched on, Dao Jun¡¯s anxiety visibly grew. He wanted to speak but dared not do so.


    Da Hu¡¯s sharp eyes remained locked onto him before he finally made a subtle hand gesture.


    San Hu responded immediately, his face lighting up with excitement. The Big Brother had given his approval¡ªthere was no need to wait any longer! He stepped forward eagerly.


    ¡°Hahaha! Old thing, you should be grateful to Big Brother!¡± San Hu sneered.


    Dao Jun remained kneeling and kowtowed once again, shifting his body slightly to present the folded clothes.


    San Hu reached out and grabbed them carelessly. Running his fingers over the fabric, he could not help but admire the texture.


    "Not bad, not bad! Clothes like these are wasted on an old thing like you."


    Holding the bundle in one hand, he circled around Dao Jun, then suddenly threw an arm around his neck.


    "You really are an old bag of bones," he said mockingly before withdrawing his arm as if touching something filthy.


    Seeing his offering accepted, Dao Jun hesitated before speaking, his voice timid.


    ¡°Heroes¡­ may I leave now?¡±


    Da Hu did not answer. Instead, San Hu responded with a cruel chuckle.


    "You old fool, can¡¯t you see the situation?"


    With a sudden kick to Dao Jun¡¯s back, San Hu sent him sprawling onto the dirt. The frail body trembled, and a muffled groan of pain escaped his lips, though he suppressed any further outcry.


    ¡°He-heroes, please¡­ spare my life! I have nothing else of value¡ªI only wish to see my relatives one last time before I die,¡± Dao Jun pleaded, pushing himself up to kowtow once more.


    "Hahaha!" San Hu laughed before snorting.


    "What are you even talking about? No one said you could leave."


    "But¡ª" Dao Jun started, his voice weak.


    Before he could finish, San Hu kicked him again, sending him tumbling forward.


    "Not only are you old, but you¡¯re stupid as well! Don¡¯t you realize how valuable these clothes are? If I killed you while you were still wearing them, I¡¯d have to waste time washing out the blood. But now that you''ve taken them off yourself, I can cut you down without the hassle! Hahaha!"


    San Hu playfully swung his sword, ready to strike.


    Dao Jun sighed inwardly.


    He had hoped to avoid confrontation. Right now, his soul body was still injured, and any use of soul spells would worsen its condition, delaying his recovery.


    But that did not mean he was powerless.


    His soul body, which had remained in a meditative state since he woke up, opened its eyes. Even while healing, it had continued to analyze and adjust itself, working toward a method that could restore its full strength efficiently.


    Dao Jun¡¯s mind raced.


    "The big one is the strongest¡ªa Second-rate Warrior. The other two are Third-rate Warriors. A simple immobilization spell won¡¯t work on them; it would only waste energy. A direct killing spell is the most cost-effective choice."


    Under normal circumstances, a simple restraint technique would have sufficed. But now, with his soul foundation damaged, the effectiveness of many of his techniques had plummeted.


    Since deception could buy him time, he had chosen to act like a helpless old fool. His mental state had long since transcended pride¡ªhumiliation meant nothing in the face of survival.


    Strength, wealth, status, pleasure¡ªnone of it mattered if he became nothing but a pile of dirt in the end.


    There was no shame in survival.


    Just as his soul body prepared to cast a spell¡ª


    "Wait!"


    A sudden shout cut through the air, halting San Hu¡¯s downward strike.


    But San Hu was too bloodthirsty to listen. His sword still swung down at Dao Jun.


    By sheer instinct, Dao Jun¡¯s body trembled and jerked away at the last moment, narrowly dodging the attack.


    The Tiger Brothers turned their heads toward the source of the voice.


    From the road, a monk was approaching them at a run.


    The monk was young, likely in his early twenties, yet his physique was robust¡ªhis muscles were well-defined beneath his simple cassock.


    Er Hu, being the closest, moved to intercept the monk.


    Before he could react, the monk struck him with a single palm. Er Hu raised his arms to defend himself, but the force sent him flying several meters backward.


    Da Hu¡¯s eyes widened in shock. He did not step forward, but he no longer dared to act rashly.


    San Hu, seeing his older brother sent flying, immediately lost his earlier arrogance. He backed away instinctively.


    The monk finally arrived in front of Dao Jun. He clasped his hands together and chanted,


    "My Buddha is merciful. I am glad I arrived in time."


    Extending a hand, he helped Dao Jun to his feet.


    Dao Jun¡¯s expression remained frozen in disbelief for a moment, then filled with gratitude.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    He seemed at a loss for words.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Donor. I will help you through this trial.¡± The monk¡¯s voice was warm and reassuring.


    Dao Jun nodded repeatedly, his head bobbing like a chicken pecking at grain.


    ¡°Thank you! Thank you for saving me, Master Monk!¡±


    Once Dao Jun was standing, the monk turned his attention to the bandits. His expression remained calm, but his intent was clear.


    Da Hu spoke first, his tone cold but measured.


    "Monk, we will let you and the old man go. We will go our own way. There is no need for a fight."


    The monk pressed his palms together and recited,


    "My Buddha is merciful. If the donors have already come to this decision, then let us part peacefully."


    Er Hu and San Hu regrouped with Da Hu, retreating cautiously. They walked backward, keeping their eyes on the monk until they vanished into the forest.


    The monk then turned back to Dao Jun, concern in his voice.


    "Donor, how are you feeling?"


    Dao Jun remained silent for a moment, staring at the spot where the bandits had disappeared.


    When he finally spoke, his voice was filled with curiosity rather than gratitude.


    "Monk, you are stronger than them. Why did you let them go?"


    The monk had encountered this question many times before. He had an answer ready.


    But just as he was about to speak, he hesitated.


    He could see something deeper in Dao Jun¡¯s expression¡ªthis was not a question of anger, nor was there hatred. There was no emotion at all. Only pure confusion.


    The monk followed his intuition and asked, "Donor, what do you mean by that?"


    Dao Jun blinked and responded in an innocent tone,


    "You let them go now. But who will help their future victims?"


    The monk had heard similar arguments before and already had his answer.


    But before he could speak, Dao Jun continued.


    "Yes, you are right. I shouldn¡¯t be so prejudiced against others. It is wrong of me. I should give those bandits a chance to repent."


    The monk was slightly surprised. He had not even begun his explanation, yet the old man already seemed to understand.


    Just as he was about to commend Dao Jun¡¯s wisdom, the old man continued,


    "You let them go because you believe they still have a chance to turn over a new leaf.


    But while they are on their path to redemption, every misfortune they inflict upon others will be your sin, Monk."


    The monk maintained his gentle smile. He had an answer for this as well.


    Dao Jun continued speaking, his tone unwavering.


    "You speak of kindness and compassion, but you fail to uphold them.


    You only preach according to your beliefs while turning a blind eye to the suffering of others.


    You sympathize with villains, yet you take the pain of the innocent for granted.


    Oh, Monk, your righteousness is incomplete. If you still do not understand what you claim to know¡­ it is better that you do not preach at all."


    Dao Jun shook his head, pity in his eyes.

 Notice

    Sorry, but there will be no new chapters for a short time as I will be focusing on editing and rewriting previous chapters.


    Have a nice day, everyone.


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