Chapter 191 - 187: The Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect Is About to Have Another Core Formation Master

The Flying Boat descended before a massive archway. Lin Sha stowed it away and entered the Holy Blood Sect on foot.

As a True Disciple of a Second-class Sect, her status was extremely high, so a contingent from the External Affairs Hall was naturally on hand to receive her with the appropriate honors.

After a few sips of Spirit Tea, her host inquired about the purpose of her visit. Lin Sha simply smiled. "During our recent exploration of the relics, I was indebted to Fellow Daoist Yu Fei for his assistance. I have come today specifically to express my gratitude."

The External Affairs Hall cultivator receiving her had a disciple on Miscellaneous Tasks make some inquiries before informing her, "Fellow Daoist Lin, your timing is unfortunate. Brother Yu has been in seclusion for several months, and it’s said he will not emerge until our sect’s grand competition."

"It is no matter. I will simply go to his cave residence to deliver a formal note and a gift. That will be sufficient."

Lin Sha’s beauty was celestial, her grace beyond compare.

Her every frown and smile held a charm that captivated the heart.

The External Affairs Hall cultivator dared not gaze upon her for long, simply leading her to the entrance of Du Youqian’s cave residence.

The External Affairs Hall cultivator had the disciple on Miscellaneous Tasks guarding the gate go inside to pass on the message. Out of the corner of his eye, however, he saw Lin Sha lower her head and glance at her palm.

He did not know what she saw, but her face was suddenly streaked with tears.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, what’s happened?" the External Affairs Hall cultivator asked in alarm.

"It’s nothing," Lin Sha said, looking up. Aside from two tear stains on her lovely face, she wore a radiant smile. "I believe I’ve just found my opportunity for Core Formation. I won’t be paying my respects to Fellow Daoist Yu today after all. Please be so kind as to let him know!"

The External Affairs Hall cultivator watched as the barefoot Lin Sha walked away, her hips swaying. Incredibly, her white hair turned to a raven black, inch by inch.

The mere sight of her departing figure was enough to inspire the impulse to do anything for her, to die without hesitation for a chance to make her smile.

’I fear even Chun Xiao Master’s Charm Skill is a pale comparison to hers,’ the External Affairs Hall cultivator murmured. ’It seems the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect will soon have another Core Formation Master. Their status as a Second-class Sect is secure now. We in the External Affairs Hall had better prepare a congratulatory gift early, so as not to seem disrespectful at her Core Formation ceremony.’

~~~~~~

Meanwhile, Lin Sha walked out of the Holy Blood Sect, laughing through her tears.

Her Charm was now second nature; everyone who saw her felt an irresistible urge to either wipe away her tears or smile along with her.

’It’s him. It’s really him.’

In front of the cave residence, the heavily cracked Life Soul Plate had flared with a faint light, completely confirming her suspicions.

’That heartless man. He’s clearly been reincarnated and has already overcome the Mystery of the Womb. He even remembered to give the monkey a new set of Spiritual Artifacts, yet he deliberately pretends not to recognize me.’

She carefully recalled the details of their interactions over the past few years.

’Just because he’d affected my refinement of a Demon Artifact, he compensated me with 30,000 Spiritual Jade. He must have been worried that I wouldn’t have a proper Demon Artifact for protection and would meet with disaster during Core Formation.’

’In the relics, when the anomaly occurred, he immediately rushed over to hold me.’

’He secretly followed me, and when I was in peril, he intervened without hesitation, even though his opponent was a Core Formation Demon King.’

’After slaying the Demon King, he gave me the Demon Core, no strings attached.’

’When he discovered my Demon Core had turned to dust, he gave me his.’

’All of this... is it affection, or is it emotionlessness?’

’If he cares, why won’t he acknowledge me?’

’If he’s emotionless, why does he care so much?’

Boarding her Flying Boat, Lin Sha gave a gentle smile.

’Affection or emotionlessness... why bother drawing such a clear line?’

’He was reincarnated. He’s alive. He’s living well.’

’That is more than enough.’

Lin Sha threw her head back and laughed, a sound more joyous than any she had made in over forty years.

Her lustrous black hair danced in the wind as the Flying Boat sped toward the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect.

After returning to the Sect, just as Lin Sha was about to enter seclusion, she suddenly received word that her grand-master, Mi Master, wished to see her.

Lin Sha went to Mi Master’s cave residence and paid her respects with all due ceremony.

Mi Master had achieved Core Formation less than a hundred years ago. He had the appearance of a beautiful young man with red lips and white teeth, dressed in wide robes. His delicate, fair skin was enough to make 99.9% of the world’s women jealous, and his enchanting eyes, full of emotion, were bright and vibrant.

Mi Master had never blamed her for Helan Ruojin’s death. Over the past few decades, while he hadn’t doted on her, he had always been fair. The resources she was due were never withheld, and he was never stingy with any opportunities she deserved.

Mi Master’s enchanting eyes studied Lin Sha for a long moment before he smiled and said, "Your Path of Emotionlessness seems to have become unstable. What happened?"

Lin Sha replied calmly, "Your Dao, Grand-master, is not my Dao."

Mi Master looked both surprised and gratified, a flicker of admiration in his enchanting eyes. "Forming the Golden Core is merely the beginning of the Great Dao. To speak arrogantly of the Great Dao before one has even reached Core Formation is to be like a blind man describing an elephant."

Lin Sha bowed again. "I have received your lesson. Grand-master, your subtle words carry great meaning, and I will contemplate them always. However, as for the matter of Core Formation, my success is virtually assured."

"Excellent!" Mi Master clapped his hands and laughed. "In that case, say no more. Go and begin your seclusion. If you require anything, just go and redeem it. I will cover all the necessary Sect Contribution."

"Thank you, Grand-master."

"From now on, let there be no bad blood between us. If Helan knew from the great beyond that you were embarking on the Golden Core Path, he would surely feel honored on your behalf."

Lin Sha did not doubt his words.

The people of the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect were, by nature, both the most passionate and the most heartless of individuals.

It was true that Helan Ruojin had schemed tirelessly to seize her Dao Foundation, but it was equally true that he would have been gratified by her achievements.

After taking her leave of Mi Master, Lin Sha returned to her cave residence.

Looking back, the experiences of her eighty years of life flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern.

From the age of seventeen, her life had been entangled with Qiu Yuanqing’s.

They were intertwined, each a part of the other.

Without Qiu Yuanqing, she probably never would have mastered the Emotionless and Desireless Skill and would have long since deviated in her practice. It would have been impossible for her to be granted the Supreme Purity Emotion Scripture so soon after joining the Sect.

Without Qiu Yuanqing, she would never have even overcome the ordeal with Helan Ruojin.

Without Qiu Yuanqing’s death, how could she have comprehended the state of emotionlessness, progressed by leaps and bounds for the past forty years, and received the Sect’s full support in her attempt at Core Formation?

How could her feelings for Qiu Yuanqing possibly be summarized with simple words like "affection" or "emotionlessness"?

In the Sect, those who walked the Path of Emotionlessness typically forced themselves to fall deeply in love with someone, only to kill that person in the end and fully embark upon their path.

They would become emotionless toward the entire world, haunted only by the memory of the one they had killed.

Only then could they achieve the state of "having affection without being burdened by it."

This also secretly conformed to "emotionlessness is the ultimate emotion"—the true meaning of the Supreme Purity Emotion Scripture.

But now, having witnessed Qiu Yuanqing’s reincarnation, she had lost and then regained the one she loved most.

From this, Lin Sha gained a new enlightenment.

A smile appeared on her face.

’He has already been reincarnated and has recovered the memories of his past life.’

’I no longer have any attachments or regrets.’

She was no longer fraught with anxiety about the success or failure of her Core Formation.

At this moment, her heart contained only immense joy! Immense radiance!

Before long, wind and clouds began to gather above her cave residence.

And so, everyone in the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect knew that Lin Sha had begun her Core Formation.

Even those who’d had past conflicts with her now secretly prayed for her, hoping she would succeed in her Core Formation and solidify the standing of the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect.