Chapter 437 - 237: All Rivers Flow to the Sea (Part 2)

Chapter 437: Chapter 237: All Rivers Flow to the Sea (Part 2)

However, the tense atmosphere had already dissipated. Hong’Er breathed a sigh of relief. She shot the Mixed Element Child a look, whispered a few words to Xuzhuang, then transformed into a streak of rainbow light and returned to the Vermilion Gourd.

The Mixed Element Child paid her no mind. He waited leisurely for the Taiyi Rainbow Sword to return to the gourd before asking, "The Flying Sword has been successfully refined. When do we depart?"

Xuzhuang considered this for a moment before replying, "In another ten days or so."

The Mixed Element Child knew that the Taiyi Rainbow Sword had just endured its tribulation and needed to recover its vitality, which was why he had asked. He nodded at the answer. Lan Su Nu, however, was delighted. "In that case, does this mean you’ll be staying a while longer, Senior Brother?"

Xuzhuang said pensively, "I have imposed on you for three years, and today I caused such a great commotion. I don’t wish to trouble your esteemed sect any further."

Lan Su Nu couldn’t hide her disappointment, but Xuzhuang continued, "Besides, the Mixed Element Child and I will be heading to the outer realms soon. Before that, I must return to my own sect to complete my mission and borrow one of its magical treasures to make the journey easier."

"Alright," Lan Su Nu said wistfully. "After you leave this time, who knows when we will meet again."

Xuzhuang smiled. "For us seekers of the Dao, time together is not measured by days and nights. I can see you are not far from mastering your Li Xuan Skill, Junior Sister. You should focus your heart on cultivation."

Lan Su Nu was a cultivation genius, after all, and her progress was indeed swift. But she simply said, "I understand." After a brief pause, she continued, "Since we are to part ways so soon, I can only wish you success in attaining the Primordial Spirit and achieving eternal life, Senior Brother."

Before Xuzhuang could reply, Lan Su Nu stopped him. "Please don’t be so modest, Senior Brother. Did you know? I have some news for you."

Xuzhuang was surprised. "Please, go on, Junior Sister."

Lan Su Nu said, "There are rumors spreading across the Divine Continent that Brother Zhong Shenxiu has broken through the Life and Death Profound Gate, achieving true longevity."

"Oh?" Xuzhuang raised an eyebrow.

Lan Su Nu smiled brightly. "You and Brother Zhong have long been known as the Twin Prodigies. Although he has been cultivating for a little longer than you, Senior Brother, he’s still been at it for less than a century. I’m sure you’ll be able to catch up and stand as his equal."

Upon hearing of Zhong Shenxiu’s ascension, Xuzhuang felt no sense of urgency. He simply said, "Becoming a Primordial Spirit True Man is no simple feat." But then he immediately added, "Still, I’ll take those auspicious words to heart, Junior Sister."

Lan Su Nu’s eyes curved into crescents as a smile blossomed on her face. "I knew you had it all figured out, Senior Brother."

Xuzhuang smiled faintly and, after exchanging a few more pleasantries with Lan Su Nu, prepared to depart. She insisted on seeing him off, however, and her warmth was difficult to refuse. Xuzhuang could only let her escort him to the edge of the Grotto Heaven before finally bidding her farewell.

Seeing that Lan Su Nu had returned his salute but made no move to leave, Xuzhuang no longer stood on ceremony. He rode the wind up into the sky, but then a thought struck him, and he called out, "Hong’Er."

As the thought formed, the Taiyi Rainbow Sword instantly produced a wave of Sword Qi that enveloped Xuzhuang. In a flash, he transformed into a streak of white light and vanished into the vast sky.

Xuzhuang had long been able to ride the wind on his sword, soaring through the Qingming. But it was only now, traveling via the True Form Flying Sword, that he truly understood the meaning of covering ten thousand miles in a single moment, the landscape receding into the distance behind him. Before long, he parted the clouds and a vast, boundless marsh came into view.

For a Primordial Spirit True Man, roaming the Star River was a simple matter; traversing the entire continent, from the eastern sea in the morning to the western mountains by dusk, was an ordinary feat. With the Taiyi Rainbow Sword at his side, the vastness of the Profound Yellow Realm felt as if it were just a stone’s throw away.

This was true freedom!

For a moment, Xuzhuang felt he could already achieve everything a cultivator could ever dream of, but a sudden jolt of awareness brought him back to reality. ’No matter how powerful the Taiyi Rainbow Sword is, it is ultimately an external object.’

’This power, comparable to that of a Primordial Spirit True Man, doesn’t stem from my own cultivation. There’s no harm in wielding it, but it would be a disaster if I were to lose sight of my true self.’

Xuzhuang took a shallow breath and retracted the Sword Qi of the Taiyi Rainbow Sword, instead conjuring his own escape light to fly toward his sect. Though he was still as fast as lightning—so fast that an ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivator would struggle to keep up—it was a world of difference compared to the speed of the Sword Escape.

Now, however, he had severed these distracting thoughts. All that remained in his heart was a yearning for the Great Dao of the Primordial Spirit. ’That day is not far off.’

Xuzhuang flew straight across the great marsh and returned to the sect. Reaching out a hand, he beckoned, and a stream of primal qi flew toward him, which he promptly swallowed.

As he carefully processed it, Xuzhuang learned that in the three short years he had been away, quite a few things had indeed happened within the sect.

It turned out that he had combined an avatar technique with the Tai Su False Form Method to casually create an ordinary Daoist art. He had left this construct in his grotto-dwelling to receive messages, and by reabsorbing it now, he instantly became aware of all the changes within the sect.

But ultimately, only two pieces of information were directly relevant to him—both concerning his disciples.

First, not long after he had departed for the North Ming, Lieyun had also broken out of his seclusion, bringing his cultivation to a state of perfection. The life-nourishing Spirit Medicine was truly miraculous.

However, due to his flawed foundation, this flood dragon had already reached his absolute limit by attaining this realm. It would be impossible for him to ever achieve the Great Dao.

The second piece of news was that Li Changfeng had actually refused to use an Armor Pill to extend his lifespan. He had severed all hesitation, leaving himself no path of retreat, and entered seclusion with an indomitable will to forge a Top-grade Golden Core.

Forging a Top-grade Golden Core after facing the trial of the heart at three hundred years of age... while not entirely without precedent in the sect, such cases only existed in the annals of the Tai Su Orthodox Sect’s ten-thousand-year history.

Moreover, Li Changfeng was different. His essence, qi, and spirit were already depleted, and he was unwilling to take a pill to extend his life. Even if he were to pass the trial of the heart, he was doomed to fail at the final stage of Solidifying the Pill. By doing this, he was undoubtedly prepared to use the final moments of his life just to catch a glimpse of the beauty of the Golden Core Dao.

As his Human Master, Xuzhuang truly did not know whether Li Changfeng’s choice was for the better or for the worse. He stared blankly for a long moment before letting out a soft sigh, a decision forming in his heart.

He did not head for Chongyun Peak. Instead, he rode the wind to the Cloud Palace. After Zhi Xing led him into the grand hall and he had paid his respects, Xuzhuang spoke with great solemnity, "Sect Leader, I have a favor to ask."