I began to understand the myriad things by chopping wood

Xie Yuan looked at the simple bronze candlestick in his hand, and the corresponding information emerged in his mind.

The Black Book, the True Shadow Candlestick.

Sure enough, it was another page of the Black Book.

Xie Yuan looked calm, just carefully examining the new treasure.

The candlestick is shaped like a cup, green all over, and has an ancient shape, not a modern style.

There was a little light on the candle holder when Wu Daoji held it, which Xie Yuan saw clearly, but now there was nothing inside.

However, what is strange is that even if the candlestick is empty, the candle holder still emits a warm and bright light. If you look closely, there seems to be a faint candle shadow and wick, which seems to be there and not there, and transparent like a shadow.

Xie Yuan stared for a moment, and gradually developed a mysterious feeling, as if he could see himself in the candlelight.

He calmed himself down and realized that this True Shadow Candlestick was the Black Book related to spiritual consciousness.

As the light flickered, the surrounding environment changed quietly.

The cave was still the same cave, and the study was still the same study, but Xie Yuan saw the stone door he had come through reappear.

It was closed, but at least it was still there.

I was inexplicably standing in the center of the cave, holding a candlestick, and there were seven burning lights around me.

"Xie Yuan!"

Mu Chaoyun’s low cry was heard.

Xie Yuan looked up and saw the extremely beautiful woman looking at him with concern.

Mu Chaoyun's clear eyes stared at Xie Yuan, and when she saw him wake up, her face rippled.

"Xie Yuan, are you okay? I saw a shadow attacking you! The shadow was in a strange state, and its aura was both frightening and weak and decayed, like the true spirit of an ancient strong man!"

Her brows were slightly furrowed, like a cloud of smoke.

Xie Yuan exhaled and smiled:
"It's okay. The old ghost has already died. He calls himself Wu Daoji, and he was a top grandmaster during the transition between the old and new dynasties..."

"Wu Daoji?"

Mu Chaoyun showed a look of surprise and his voice tone became slightly higher.

Seeing this, Xie Yuan guessed that she had heard of this name before, and asked curiously:
"Have you heard of him? Is this person very powerful?"

Mu Chaoyun took a deep breath and nodded solemnly:
"More than just powerful? In the hundred years when dynasties changed, noble families competed for supremacy, and heroes emerged, he was also one of the most brilliant figures. It is said that the legendary leader of the Kitchen God Cult and the ancestor of the Ji family had a close relationship with him and often sat and discussed Taoism; and when Dali Taizu was young, he also had a relationship with him and received guidance from him.

"He was involved in many important events of that era. In terms of strength and status, he was at the top of the times. I didn't expect that he is still alive and living here..."

Xie Yuan was surprised:

"Is he really so powerful? Why have I never heard of him before?"

"I also only saw him in some ancient books and unofficial histories. A lot of information about him has indeed been lost. As far as I know, it should be related to several major events in the past. After that incident, he offended both the Kitchen God Cult and the imperial court, so the Dali Dynasty officials covered it up. His name will never appear in the official history, and there is very little information about him among the people. After a thousand years, few people know about him."

Mu Chaoyun explained.

Xie Yuan listened and seemed to be thinking about something.

Although Wu Daoji's intentions were not pure when he spoke, some of the things he said might not be lies.

For some unknown reason, the ancestor of the Ji family asked him to challenge the God together. In the end, he retreated, and his spirit survived. It was probably because of a series of disputes that he had to seize the True Shadow Candlestick and many treasures to survive for a thousand years. Also, the Dali that had just unified the world and the Kitchen God Cult that was still alive and well among the people all regarded it as a taboo and never mentioned it.

Although thousands of years have passed and everything has gone with the wind, even such a powerful person is unknown to many people, and the real story can no longer be unearthed, but Xie Yuan feels that this speculation makes some sense.

From the brief encounter between him and Wu Dao Ji, he could sense his viciousness and treachery. In addition, as a top warrior, he was willing to throw himself into a cage just to survive. He felt that it was natural for Wu Dao Ji to be hated by those truly indomitable warriors.

Xie Yuan shook his head and waved the candlestick in his hand:

"Thanks to this True Shadow Candlestick, he has lived a thousand years longer than those great figures."

"Is the method so mysterious? Then..."

Mu Chaoyun pondered for a moment, then stared at Xie Yuan intently, his eyes as calm as a lake reflecting Xie Yuan's figure:

"Xie Yuan, are you sure you really destroyed it?"

Xie Yuan looked at Mu Chaoyun's expression and immediately understood what she was worried about. He said with a bit of a smile:
"Of course! The one talking to you right now is the real Xie Yuan."

"How should I know?"

Mu Chaoyun asked steadily.

Xie Yuan said subconsciously:

"Haha, we first met under the azure fruit tree deep in the back mountain of Xiaoshi Village. Well, we escaped from Lu Laosan's pursuit together, and went to Yunshan together in disguise... and in the Nine Netherworld, and in that temple..."

As he was talking, he suddenly felt some yellow mud falling into his trousers, and he couldn't explain it.

If his true spirit was really devoured by Wu Daoji and his body was occupied by him, it seems that these are all things he would know...

Xie Yuan was silent for a moment, then his eyes slightly brightened, and he emptied his sea of ​​consciousness, allowing Mu Chaoyun to check directly.

At the same time, he scanned his body with his spiritual consciousness and examined it again.

As Mu Chaoyun said, Wu Daoji was able to survive for a thousand years, and his methods were unimaginable.

Although he was certain that the Shanhai Ding had suppressed it, he felt that it would not be a bad idea to be cautious.

Seeing this, Mu Chaoyun hesitated.

Xie Yuan seemed to have no resistance and allowed her to examine him openly. But if Xie Yuan was already under Wu Daoji's control, then this was a trap. If she went to investigate his spiritual consciousness, she would have to face the true spirit of a thousand-year-old master directly. It would be extremely dangerous to engage in a spiritual confrontation with such an existence.

But if this is really the case...

Mu Chaoyun's eyes focused and he no longer hesitated. His eyes also lit up with a dim light and he looked through Xie Yuan's eyes.

Mu Chaoyun scanned Xie Yuan's sea of ​​consciousness carefully, not missing any corner.

This is something that would be impossible for any two masters to happen.

Opening up your sea of ​​consciousness is equivalent to revealing your most private secrets and most vulnerable parts to others. Even if there is even the slightest bad intention, you will be doomed.

However, going deep into the consciousness of others, especially a problematic consciousness that may be invaded, is more likely to lead to a trap and put oneself in danger.

Without 100% trust, neither side can do this.

However, it can be said that this was not the first time that Xie Yuan and Mu Chaoyun had done this. Feeling the mutual blending of spiritual consciousness, they suddenly felt somewhat familiar with it.

Seems like there's really no problem?

Mu Chaoyun's eyes brightened slightly, he looked at Xie Yuan, nodded slightly and said:

"It seems that there really is no trace left. But...

"Why has your spiritual awareness increased so much?"

Xie Yuan explained:
"I used the Mountain River Cauldron to refine it. I didn't expect it at first, but he insisted on coming to my sea of ​​consciousness in such a weak state... I couldn't help it."

After listening to it, Mu Chaoyun felt that there was no problem and finally believed it 90%.

With the Black Book by his side and the soul lamps she had set up, it was indeed unlikely that he would be possessed by another soul.

She nodded and smiled faintly:
"This is a pleasant surprise. Wu Daoji has been active for a hundred years and has been planning for a thousand years, but in the end, he still fell into your hands. I really... don't know how to explain it."

Mu Chaoyun suddenly felt an inexplicable feeling in his heart.

Having read all kinds of classics and secret books, she was deeply impressed by the name Wu Daoji. Throughout the past thousand years, he was also one of the top few people in history.

But when such a person met Xie Yuan, who was not even a fraction of his age, he disappeared silently and completely returned to history.

Xie Yuan smiled and looked at the bright lights around him:
"Thanks to you for helping me." Mu Chaoyun came back to his senses and shook his head:

"Since you have figured out his moves and have the Mountain River Cauldron, it doesn't matter whether I'm here or not."

Xie Yuan quickly said:
"I can't do it without you."

Mu Chaoyun smiled and said nothing.

Xie Yuan glanced across the cave and saw that the study was simple and clean, spotless and empty, so he stared at the door opposite.

He said in a deep voice:

"I'll go see what's in there."

Mu Chaoyun nodded gently:
"I'll be watching from the side, don't worry."

Xie Yuan nodded, walked cautiously to the door of the room, drew out his sword, and then gently pushed the door open with the sword.

Silently, the door opened, revealing the scene inside.

It was still a simple cave in the same style as the outside, except that it was a living room.

A wardrobe and a bed.

And the old man sitting cross-legged on the bed.

Wu Daoji.

Xie Yuan's pupils shrank and his vest tightened.

But the next moment he discovered that although Wu Daoji looked lifelike, his eyes were closed and lifeless, just like a puppet statue that had long lost its breath.

Xie Yuan understood that this should be his body, and his true spirit had been stored in the candlestick.

His eyes darkened, he stepped in, turned his sword into a spear, and moved forward.

With a loud bang, red lotus fire ignited on Wu Daoji's body, and he was burned to ashes in a few breaths.

Xie Yuan didn't really want to compete with the dead, but the fact that Wu Dao had lingered on for a thousand years really opened his eyes. He was worried that if he kept the remains of the great master that had not decayed for a thousand years, something bad would happen.

After confirming that the body had indeed been reduced to ashes, Xie Yuan checked the room again, and it was still empty.

He simply set a fire, burning down the entire inner room, and then led the fire to the study, ready to burn down everything there before he could feel at ease.

Standing at the entrance of the stone gate, watching the slowly rising flames, Xie Yuan and Mu Chaoyun stood side by side.

Xie Yuan said quietly:
"It is indeed the Black Book... We already have the fifth page in our hands. There are nine pages in total scattered in unknown places around the world, and we have more than half of them."

"That's a good thing."

Mu Chaoyun said softly:

"The Black Book will be of great benefit to your practice. The more the better. Moreover, since we already have five pages, such things will happen more and more quickly until we have all of them."

Xie Yuan nodded slightly, and then suddenly said:
"And after that?"

"after?"

Mu Chaoyun smiled slightly and said:
"After that, you will definitely become the best in the world, one step away from the great way. And then..."

She looked up, at the stone ceiling of the cave, which was illuminated by the leaping orange flames.

But she was obviously not looking there.

"You'll go to the top and take a look, too."

Xie Yuan pondered and said:
"Like Xie An and the ancestors of the Ji family?"

"No, you're not like them."

Mu Chaoyun lowered his head, looked at Xie Yuan beside him, and said seriously:
"You are the one who can end this. You are the most unique one."

Xie Yuan frowned and sighed:
"I don't quite understand, can you explain it more clearly?"

Mu Chaoyun's face showed a little distress, a little sadness, and many indescribable emotions:
"I can't, Xie Yuan. I really want to, but I can't now. If I say it out loud, everything might change..."

"Is there really such a thing? Is there really a predetermined fate? And can it be changed by a single word?"

Xie Yuan frowned.

Mu Chaoyun sighed:
"It is difficult for those who are not into this path to understand. Perhaps it can be said that -

"Destiny is never predetermined, but the river of destiny has a direction. I tried hard to clear the fog, stood on tiptoe, and saw a glimpse of the direction of the river. Then I moved the stones and carefully piled them up to form a riverbed, allowing it to change a little bit, and then a little bit..."

The more she spoke, the more effort she had to put in, and her face gradually turned paler, even transparent.

Xie Yuan inexplicably felt that Mu Chaoyun was moving away from him, and suddenly felt panicked, and hurriedly grabbed her hand:
"Okay, okay, I get it. I don't understand what you're telling me. I only know a little bit about martial arts. Don't tell me anymore! I won't ask again."

Mu Chaoyun was held by Xie Yuan. He took a breath and his expression gradually became better.

She smiled:

"It's okay. I want you to know, too. And you will know it when you are supposed to. That day is not far away."

She was silent for a moment, then smiled gently:
"Xie Yuan, you have to believe that I am doing this for your own good. You also have to believe in yourself."

Xie Yuan nodded heavily:

"Of course I understand."

Mu Chaoyun looked at him, wanting to say something but stopping himself, the emotion in his eyes was so strong that it could not be dissolved.

The firelight shone on the two people, and the dancing shadows were violent and wild.

After making sure that the fire had reduced everything to ashes, Xie Yuan and Mu Chaoyun pushed open the stone door and left the cave.

However, as soon as he went out, Xie Yuan noticed something was wrong.

He glanced around and his eyes suddenly narrowed:
"Where is Long Qianqiu's body?"

Xie Yuan and Mu Chaoyun looked at each other, both revealing a look of surprise and doubt.

The bodies of the three great masters of Ji'nan should have been on the corridor outside.

And now, here we have Mr. Tong and Luo Dongsheng.

But Long Qianqiu is gone.

Tianxiang Villa.

Long Danyun was sitting in the study, holding a book on plants in his hand.

However, his attention was obviously not on this, and the book remained on the current page and had not been turned for a long time.

He looked at the sky outside the window for a while, then turned back, trying to force himself to concentrate on reading and not be distracted.

But I can never do it.

Long Danyun sighed, stood up, and couldn't help pacing in the study, thinking to himself:
"My uncle said that we should be calm when facing big events. But if this big event succeeds, Tianxiang Villa will definitely become the number one force in southern Hebei! If it fails, I'm afraid it will be a disaster. How can I stay calm?

"Well, I've made all the preparations that my uncle told me to do. Let me think about what else I've missed... Hey, why hasn't he come back yet?"

Just as he was thinking this, Long Danyun quickly walked to the window to look at the sky, sighing anxiously:

"It's already daybreak, almost noon!"

He shook his head repeatedly and turned around with his hands behind his back.

Then he saw Long Qianqiu appear behind him silently without a sound, standing there motionless. (End of this chapter)