Chapter 240: Destiny

Chapter 240 -237: Destiny

“Senior Brother, are you alright?”

Lin Qingxuan asked from behind him.

“I’m fine. I was almost injured by one of his Magical Artifacts. After what I saw today, I have to re-evaluate your strength!”

After seeing Lin Qingxuan defeat Senior Brother Qin in a single move, Chen Qingyang suddenly felt his previous worries had been unnecessary.

Given Senior Brother Qin’s state, if Lin Qingxuan had been willing to risk her life, she definitely could have beaten him in a one-on-one fight. It just would have been a bitter victory.

“No, it’s all because you severely wounded him that I had the opportunity. Besides, if it weren’t for you, Senior Brother, neither of us could have stopped him today.”

In her heart, Lin Qingxuan was truly astonished. ‘I can’t believe Senior Brother’s Cultivation is so high that he could fight a Sixth Realm Cultivator to a standstill.’ Otherwise, she wouldn’t have felt at ease hiding in the shadows, waiting for a chance to launch a sneak attack.

“Forget it. Let’s not talk about that for now. Let’s get the Magical Treasure first.”

“Okay.”

It was unclear what Dharma Gate she used, but as she gently swept her hand over the corpse, an object flowed out from Senior Brother Qin’s abdomen amidst a pure white halo.

It was golden all over, shaped like a Jade Talisman, with complex patterns and metal inlays. An incomparably powerful aura emanated from it, causing both of their clothes to whip about.

“A moment ago, I think this was the thing that injured me!”

Lin Qingxuan slowly closed her fist, and the aura from the object gradually receded. She handed it to Chen Qingyang. “Senior Brother, this is called the Thunder Shocking True Record. It’s a Magical Artifact that my master personally refined years ago. It absorbed the power of lightning and is also aligned with the orifices of Dongming. While it can’t be called one of the twelve ultimate treasures, it’s still an incredibly rare item.”

“Back then, our master had high hopes for Senior Brother Qin. He hoped that with this, he could break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and support his bid to become the Palace Master. It was under these circumstances that Senior Brother Qin succumbed to Qi deviation.”

Gazing at the body on the ground, Lin Qingxuan’s eyes held not a trace of sentiment, only coldness and finality. It seemed there was no affection between them as senior brother and junior sister.

‘Just how chaotic must the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace be?’ Chen Qingyang had always held one belief: that these Cultivators, who excelled at fighting alone, were extremely difficult to unite.

He didn’t accept the Jade Talisman, simply saying, “It’s enough for me to have seen it. The lightning power in this item is so potent. If you refine it, will you be able to step into the Sixth Realm of Essence Condensation?”

Lin Qingxuan replied, “That’s right.”

Chen Qingyang’s tone grew earnest. “Given the predicament you’re in, it’s a good thing for your Cultivation to improve quickly, but you must also understand that more haste means less speed. Don’t just focus on this one thing. You must build a solid foundation.”

Lin Qingxuan understood. Chen Qingyang was just worried that she too would fall into Qi deviation.

No one in the entire Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace cultivated the way she did. Her senior brothers, senior sisters, and master not only had to polish their Divine Souls, but also had to master an Artifact Refining Skill.

At least half of the Armor-Protecting Treasures they carried had to be personally refined through Sacrificial Refinement. Only then could they achieve a true connection with them and avoid problems in their cultivation.

But on her path, she had done nothing but kill and contend, with almost no rest. Her senior brother was right. “Yes, I’ll be careful.”

“Sigh…” After a long sigh, Chen Qingyang pointed ahead. “In another day or two, we’ll reach Duling City. I’ve been there once before, so I won’t be going this time. After you break through to the next realm of Cultivation, let’s part ways.”

Even if you escort a friend a thousand miles, the parting must come.

Lin Qingxuan knew this day would come, but hearing it spoken so suddenly, she couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of loss lingering in her heart.

Because only in these past few days had she been able to feel genuine warmth, and her restless soul had found a moment of peace.

All her relentless Cultivation was just a search for that same peace.

“I just broke through, so I still need a month to stabilize my foundation. During this month, I’ll find a place to go into seclusion. I’ll go back after I break through again. That way, even if my master is unwilling, he’ll have no choice but to hold his nose and cultivate me carefully. Who else advances two entire realms at once?”

As she spoke, her eyes reddened slightly. “I know the Demon Sect’s Ten Thousand Souls Locking Dome Array is incredibly powerful. As soon as it detects the presence of a Daoist Sect disciple, they will be placed under heavy observation. I suggest you don’t go to the Demon Sect for the time being, Senior Brother… I’m afraid you’ll run into danger!”

As a member of a Demon Sect herself, Lin Qingxuan naturally knew more about this. ‘And with that formidable person still hunting for me, it’s not a good idea for Senior Brother to go looking for trouble.’

“I understand. Then… shall we part ways here?” Chen Qingyang said after a moment’s hesitation.

It was very sudden, but life is unpredictable. All one could do was accept it. “Okay.”

With her head lowered, Lin Qingxuan took out a booklet from her robes. “I don’t know why you’re always so aware of your surroundings, Senior Brother, but I suspect it has something to do with your Divine Soul. My Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace has a legacy of over ten thousand years, even longer than the Yu Xiao Demon Sect. This is a Cultivation Technique from our Hidden Skills Pavilion, used for Divine Soul Cultivation.”

“I took it to study, but I couldn’t make heads or tails of it. I even asked my master about its origin. He said that when the Ancient Divine Court fell, at least two-tenths of it landed in Cyan Nether State. My Divine Palace occupies one of these Lost Secret Realms. Our so-called Armor inheritance is related to it, and this Dharma Gate was obtained from there.”

She pushed her hand forward again, tucking the booklet into Chen Qingyang’s robes. “I think… it should be suitable for you, Senior Brother. I don’t have anything else to give you, so please take this as a memento.”

From Lin Qingxuan’s expression, it seemed she didn’t consider it some ultimate treasure. But to Chen Qingyang’s ears, it was a completely different story.

‘The Ancient Divine Court… obtained by an ancestor of the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace… and a Divine Soul Cultivation Method… Could it be…?’

The booklet was thick, densely packed with characters. Chen Qingyang glanced at it and found it extremely familiar, yet it also felt foreign and distant.

It was as if a large section was missing from a complete text, making it unsatisfying to read.

But he could confirm that it was part of the original text. It was indeed the Great Soul Scripture, but not Volume Three. It was most likely Volume Four.

‘This…’

For a moment, Chen Qingyang was truly stunned. He never expected that Volume Four, which he had been searching for so desperately, would be delivered to him so easily—and by the very same junior sister who was once a girl with a fragmented soul.

“Senior Brother, don’t tell me you can understand what’s written in it?”

Lin Qingxuan asked, seeing Chen Qingyang staring at it in a daze for a long time.

“I think… I can understand it. Junior Sister, this gift you’ve given me is extremely important. Thank you!”

He bowed solemnly to her, as if it were a matter of great importance.

Lin Qingxuan, in turn, took an item from her sleeve. It was a Jade Pendant, a Warm Jade Scroll.

It was the very same one Liu Tao had given him for protection back then. He, in turn, had given it to Lin Qingxuan, who, by a strange twist of fate, had used it to repel the last remnants of Master Xuan Gui’s Divine Soul.

If someone were to say there was no such thing as fate in this world, Chen Qingyang wouldn’t believe it. Liu Tao, Lin Qingxuan, the three youths in his courtyard, and even Xu Baoling…

The longer one lived, the more one discovered that some things were preordained.

‘I wonder… where does my destiny lie?’

…

Lin Qingxuan left. After this parting, he didn’t know if they would ever have the chance to meet again.

Chen Qingyang had gained much from this trip. His knowledge had increased, his Cultivation had grown, and he had accumulated so many Immortal Seedlings.

After crossing the Cyan Nether River, it should only be a few more days until he reached Nine True Mountain.

‘First, I’ll pay a visit to Senior Brother Lu, then go retrieve the Immortal Grass. If I happen to run into any Demon Sect Disciples, I might as well take care of a few.’

The more his visible Cultivation increased, the more Immortal Seedlings he would need. He wondered when this cycle would ever end. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Across the vast expanse of heaven and earth, the touch of autumn colored the mountains.

The layered forests were dyed crimson and golden-orange. As the mountain wind swept by, withered leaves rustled down.

On Nine True Mountain, the stream water was cold, and a light mist veiled the peaks. The sky above was high, distant, and clear. All around was silent, leaving only the bleak and vast expanse of the autumn mountains. The sight filled Chen Qingyang with a myriad of thoughts.

「Five days later.」 He stood before the Nine True Temple.

He wasn’t wearing his Vermilion and Purple Attire, so the Little Daoist Child guarding the gate was reluctant to let him in. Fortunately, he ran into the one to whom he had bestowed an Elixir last time. Seeing him today, the boy was already at the First Realm of Qi Refining.

“This is a Senior Brother from the Tai Xu Upper Sect! How dare you block his path!”

First, he berated his fellow disciples, his posture arrogant and smug. Then, turning to Chen Qingyang, he bowed and scraped with extreme servility. “Senior Brother, please, come in! Are you here to see the Temple Master?”

Chen Qingyang merely gave a slight nod, not answering.

“Senior Brother, please follow me. I’ll take you inside right away.”

Nine True Temple was quite large. The boy led him up the mountain, chattering nonstop and constantly fawning over him in a deliberate attempt to curry favor.

‘After all,’ he thought, ‘even the smallest reward from this Tai Xu Upper Sect Senior Brother would be enough to change my destiny.’

But… even when they reached the Temple Master’s door, the Senior Brother still made no move.

“The Temple Master is inside. You can go right in, Senior Brother. Is there anything else you require of me?” he asked deliberately, which was nothing more than a hint for Chen Qingyang to give him another reward.

Chen Qingyang paid him no mind and pushed the door open, stepping inside.

As evening approached, in the small courtyard, charcoal crackled in a ceramic brazier on a long table. Steam rose from the teapot on top. Senior Brother Lu sat behind the teapot, laughing.

“It is said that a man’s heart is never satisfied, just as a snake tries to swallow an elephant. Only when virtue and the Dao walk hand in hand can one achieve greatness. If one has only Daoist Techniques but no virtue, they will inevitably bring about their own destruction.”

“That Little Daoist Child was originally diligent and conscientious, chanting scriptures, meditating, and doing his work earnestly every day. But then one day, someone opened the door to a shortcut for him. Once he tasted the allure of gaining without sowing, how could he ever go back to honestly chanting scriptures and meditating?”

‘He was a Golden Core True Monarch, after all.’ Chen Qingyang was not surprised that he knew everything. He bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Senior Brother Lu. By that logic, does it mean I’m the one who harmed him?”

“Not at all, not at all!” Senior Brother Lu shook his head, looking every bit the old-fashioned scholar. “You are not to blame. Your intentions were good; you simply felt the boy had some potential. But when the opportunity came, he couldn’t handle it. Who is there to blame for that?”

Chen Qingyang said, “But didn’t you say this all started because of me, Senior Brother?”

“It started because of you, yes, but that wasn’t the root of the karma, merely a catalyst. If there were no Chen Qingyang, there might have been a Ma Qingyang or a Zhang Qingyang. This is the principle of the strong growing ever stronger.”

Chen Qingyang mulled it over for a moment, then smiled. “It seems all the principles in the world are found within such contradictions!”

“Exactly, exactly! To understand contradiction is to be able to comprehend the Great Dao of Yin and Yang!”