Chapter 767: Black Shaman Mountain (I)

Inside the Discussion Pavilion, the atmosphere of Dao discussion remained as lively as ever. Besides the public Dao discussion gatherings open to all cultivators, private gatherings of every size were constantly being held. Occasionally, experts accomplished in particular fields would even deliver public lectures, drawing large numbers of cultivators to listen. Today, Lin Zheyu had even seen many cultivators from other races in the Discussion Pavilion, including barbarians, ancient yao, and members of the sea clans.

"Fellow Wang Ping's argument is somewhat narrow. I am still more inclined to agree with Fellow Xiao's conjecture."

"As for the Shamanic Dao, what Fellow Xiao proposed..."

Within Hall Ding-Five of the Discussion Pavilion, thirteen cultivators were engaged in a spirited discussion of the Dao.

Ji Haozhong was among them. When Lin Zheyu had asked Wei Lixin about bringing him along yesterday, Wei Lixin had readily agreed and even told him that he could invite several more friends. By now, the Dao discussion was drawing to a close.

Lin Zheyu sat among the group with a smile, quietly listening to the others without joining the discussion. Of the thirteen cultivators present, two were in the Nascent Soul Realm, seven were in the Golden Core Realm, and the rest were Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. Most of them practiced special Immortal Dao techniques that incorporated elements of the Shamanic Dao and possessed their own unique insights into it. Only a handful had merely been brought along by friends to observe.

As expected, I should attend more high-level Dao discussion gatherings like this. Studying the Shamanic Dao from the different perspectives of fellow cultivators who follow other cultivation systems can provide me with a greater variety of inspiration and insights... Lin Zheyu thought to himself.

His thoughts raced as his soul rapidly processed everything he had heard. The various insights he had just gained from the other fellow cultivators collided with his own accumulated knowledge within his consciousness, producing even more flashes of inspiration.

Fellow Xiao, may I speak with you in private? Wei Lixin's voice suddenly sounded in his mind.

Lin Zheyu returned to his senses and gave a slight nod. After excusing himself to the others with a smile, he rose and followed Wei Lixin out. Wei Lixin had organized this Dao discussion gathering. Although he was not the strongest person present, his status as a cultivator of the Wei Family subtly gave him the highest standing among them. Even the two Nascent Soul realm experts in the group treated him as their leader.

The two entered a nearby room. It was furnished in an elegant antique style, and sandalwood incense that calmed the mind and sharpened concentration burned within. Lin Zheyu sat opposite Wei Lixin and leisurely sipped his tea as he waited for him to continue.

"Fellow friend, your understanding of the Shamanic Dao is both profound and distinctive. If you pursue a path of martial cultivation that fuses shamanic and martial arts, you are certain to accomplish great things in the future," Wei Lixin praised with a smile.

His words were not mere flattery, but sincere acknowledgment. During their first exchange, the limitations of Wei Lixin's own knowledge had prevented him from fully appreciating the depth of Lin Zheyu's understanding and insights into the Shamanic Dao. The Shamanic Dao was powerful and profound. Although it was a cultivation path centered on evolving into a Chaos Demon God, its teachings encompassed an immense breadth of knowledge. They were no less comprehensive than those of the Immortal Dao.

It was sheer fantasy for an ordinary cultivator to hope to master the Shamanic Dao in its entirety. Cultivators therefore concentrated on a single aspect, delving deeply into it until they understood it thoroughly. For this Dao discussion gathering, Wei Lixin had invited cultivators who specialized in different branches of Shamanic Dao research.

To his astonishment, he discovered that Xiao Yu possessed distinctive views and insights in every branch they discussed. Although his understanding of each field was relatively shallow, his perspectives were remarkably original.

"You flatter me. Because the conditions of heaven and earth prevent me from cultivating it, my understanding of the Shamanic Dao is merely broad rather than deep," Lin Zheyu said with a helpless, wry smile.

It was deeply frustrating to possess an astonishing treasure yet be unable to make use of it. He had previously attempted to incorporate some of the more fundamental cultivation principles of the Shamanic Dao into martial cultivation, allowing him to break free of his second shackle. That, however, was as far as he could go.

Lin Zheyu was highly interested in how Wei Lixin and the others managed to conduct in-depth research into the Shamanic Dao under the current conditions of heaven and earth. The Immortal Dao was a cultivation system with a long and illustrious history that had produced many supreme experts. In this regard, it possessed many methods unavailable to martial cultivation.

"The road ahead for martial cultivation is shrouded in endless darkness. No one knows whether an abyss or a path to the heavens lies ahead. Moreover, the Shamanic Dao cannot be cultivated under the present conditions of heaven and earth. If you persist in the Martial Dao and continue seeking a path that fuses shamanic and martial arts, the most likely outcome is that your exceptional aptitude and natural talent will go to waste." Wei Lixin took a sip of tea and looked at Lin Zheyu with an intense gaze. "Would you be interested in switching to the Immortal Dao, joining the Wei Family, and working for me?"

"Given your aptitude and remarkable natural talent for spatial laws and the Shamanic Dao, you would undoubtedly accomplish great things if you switched to the Immortal Dao. If you are willing, I can teach you the technique I currently cultivate. This technique is a secret art of the Wei Family and is never taught to outsiders. Anyone who wishes to learn it must change allegiances and join the Wei Family. You possess astonishing natural talent in the Shamanic Dao. If you are willing to join us, I will pass on everything I have learned from this technique." Wei Lixin's expression was solemn, and his gaze was filled with sincerity.

Wei Lixin had investigated Xiao Yu's background during this period. Combined with their discussions of the Dao over the past two days, what he had learned convinced him that Xiao Yu possessed tremendous latent potential.

Lin Zheyu shook his head slightly. "I must decline the offer to switch cultivation paths. Although the road ahead for martial cultivation is strewn with thorns, and a single misstep may even send me plunging into an abyss, I, Xiao Yu, have devoted my entire life to martial cultivation and will continue to dedicate myself to it in the future."

Although the Immortal Dao was a complete cultivation system, it had many problems of its own. Merely advancing to the Golden Core realm required one first to obtain permission, let alone advancing to the Nascent Soul realm or even the Deity Transformation realm. By then, every increase in strength would depend upon Great Wei and its approval.

If he switched to the Immortal Dao, he would likely become bound to Great Wei and remain forever at the mercy of the Wei Family. This was why Lin Zheyu had never considered cultivating the Immortal Dao alongside Martial Dao. Even though he intended to join the Heavenly Derivation Sect, he only wished to study the Formation Dao as a martial artist and had no intention of changing cultivation paths.

"That is a pity," Wei Lixin said regretfully. He picked up the teapot beside him, refilled their empty cups, and leaned back slightly.

"Still, only cultivators as devoted to the Martial Dao as you could possibly carve out a path through that boundless darkness filled with thorns," Wei Lixin said with a smile.

He showed no displeasure at Lin Zheyu's refusal. Wei Lixin had anticipated this response. After all, if Xiao Yu had been willing to switch to the Immortal Dao, he would have done so immediately after breaking through to the Martial Innate realm rather than waiting until now.

"May your auspicious words come true," Lin Zheyu replied with a smile.

"Although you are unwilling to switch to the Immortal Dao, given your attainments in the Shamanic Dao, there is no reason we cannot cooperate. Because of the present conditions of the world, fewer and fewer cultivators are willing to practice techniques involving the Shamanic Dao. Cultivators like us should work together and support one another. Only then might we forge a path through these difficult times. Wouldn't you agree?" Wei Lixin asked with a smile.

"Of course." Lin Zheyu nodded with a smile. This was precisely what he had been hoping to achieve. He had not expected Wei Lixin to propose it himself, which saved him considerable trouble.

"Haha... Since you are unwilling to switch to the Immortal Dao, would you be interested in joining the Immortal Shaman Alliance? It is a small mutual-aid alliance formed by cultivators interested in the Shamanic Dao. It is not a tightly structured organization, but more of a platform for exchanging knowledge and assisting one another," Wei Lixin explained. Both he and Wei Jiarou were members of the Immortal Shaman Alliance.

"Oh? What conditions must one meet to join the Immortal Shaman Alliance?" Lin Zheyu asked with interest.

"Even though I'm the one who extended the invitation, you'll still need to pass a trial. After all, I did not establish the Immortal Shaman Alliance, and it does not admit just any cultivator or worthless riffraff. Given your abilities, however, passing its trial should not be difficult," Wei Lixin said with a smile.

"Please enlighten me," Lin Zheyu said.