Hidden moth

Chapter 315 The Covenant of Heaven and Earth

After finally handing over the task, Jiang Daozhen remained silent for a while, seemingly lost in thought.

Although he walked at the pace of an ordinary person, the old man never stopped. Seeing that they had reached halfway through the canyon, he suddenly asked, "Leaving aside what was mentioned in the announcement of the Sect Law Hall, what is the biggest attraction of the magic sect for independent cultivators?"

He Kao answered with certainty: "Of course, there are many benefits to sects, but for high-level sorcerers, the greatest attraction is the opportunity to explore the grotto heavens together."

Especially those fourth-tier sorcerers, if they had known beforehand the wonders of breaking through to the fifth tier within a sect's grotto-heaven, they would probably all want to find a way to return to the sorcery sect..."

The so-called "co-existence with the grotto-heaven" means to master the grotto-heaven array pivot, enabling a fifth-level cultivator to experience the ultimate state of oneness between body and spirit and the world, and to feel the wonder of divine sense in advance.

However, the greatest benefit to cultivation came during the breakthrough from the fourth to the fifth stage. Li Xiuyuan had told He Kao to break through in the Floating Color Cave Heaven, but He Kao only understood why when he actually broke through.

When a fourth-order cultivator breaks through to the fifth-order cultivation level in the corresponding cave heaven, their form and spirit merge with the cave heaven, and they enter a profound state of enlightenment, as if heaven and earth have pointed out the path of cultivation... This is He Kao's personal experience.

How long one can remain in this state and how deeply one can understand it depends on one's foundation. In any case, this opportunity only comes once, and once it is missed, it will not come again.

To give a somewhat inaccurate analogy, if someone originally had only a 10% chance of reaching the fifth level of perfection in cultivation, then breaking through to the fifth level in the cave heaven might increase that chance to 30%.

This is an incredibly rare opportunity that one might only encounter once in a lifetime.

More importantly, many people who originally had no hope of breaking through to the sixth rank now have a sliver of a possibility... Don't underestimate this sliver of a possibility!
If this news gets out and is confirmed, those cultivators in the Free Alliance who have already broken through to the fourth level will probably all be thinking about how to come to the Magic Gate Cave to cultivate.

There are only two options to achieve this: either overthrow the sect and seize the cave heaven, or return to the sect. The high-ranking members of the Free Alliance, who are familiar with the situation, certainly understand what this means, and they will generally take three measures to deal with it.

One measure was to block information; only core high-ranking members knew this secret, and it was strictly forbidden to disclose it to other members of the organization.

Secondly, they assigned various tasks, intentionally causing many disciples to commit forbidden acts.

Thirdly, a group of key members were trained and instructed to infiltrate the sect by concealing their origins. This way, they could enjoy opportunities while also being secretly used by the Free Alliance.

This is He Kao's answer, and his analysis is quite detailed.

After listening, Jiang Daozhen shook his head slightly and said, "Actually, there is another situation that has occurred most frequently since ancient times, but the Clan Court doesn't have a good solution."

Many people return to their sects under the guise of accepting the summons of the grotto heavens. They have no past misdeeds to be found, and they do not violate any rules after returning to their sects. They simply focus on cultivation. However, after breaking through to the fifth rank, they disappear without a trace after a while.

Some people did indeed lose contact for various reasons, but others deliberately slipped away, many of whom were likely members of the Free Alliance.

He Kao exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, you can do that? Isn't that just getting something for free?"

Jiang Daozhen laughed: "Such a simple trick, if it were your company's President Qian, he would probably have thought of it in the blink of an eye. The fact that you didn't think of it just now is not because you are not smart enough."

In fact, the Zongfa Hall doesn't care about whether it's free or not. These are all opportunities left by the ancestors for future generations. What they care about is that there shouldn't be such behavior that deceives the sect!

It wasn't until two years ago, when the Clan Court conducted a comprehensive survey of its disciples and subsequently implemented full information-based management, that a better solution was found.

He Kao: "No wonder the Xiaomeng was so desperate!"

In an era when transportation and communication were underdeveloped, such freeloading was indeed difficult to prevent, because once a cultivator left the sect headquarters, unless someone was constantly watching him, he would be out of contact most of the time.

Communication and information gathering were extremely difficult and inefficient.

However, in today's information age, the situation is different. Techniques have the conditions to implement comprehensive information management, which has largely blocked this path.

Jiang Daozhen then asked, "When disciples of the Technique Sect break through to the fourth level of cultivation, the elders of the sect will tell them that when they break through to the fifth level in the future, the best place for them to go into seclusion is within the sect's cave."

The elders, however, would not reveal the specific reasons, but rather let them experience it for themselves at that time. The announcement from the Ancestral Hall also made no mention of such benefits for returning to the martial arts school. Do you know why?

This time, He Kao stopped guessing and said respectfully, "I was just about to ask you for your guidance."

Jiang Daozhen: "This is the tacit tradition of the art school since ancient times. Those who are willing to accept the call of the cave heaven and return to the art school can obtain this opportunity, while those who refuse to return to the art school have missed their own opportunity."

If this matter is made public to the disciples of the Free Alliance, hoping to attract them with an opportunity, then there's another possibility: if they come lured by profit, they could also leave lured away by profit... Why are you shaking your head?"

He Kao was listening attentively when he asked in surprise, "I didn't shake my head!"

Jiang Daozhen: "Although you didn't shake your head directly, your expression showed a hint of disapproval, which meant you were shaking your head in your heart."

He Kao: "I didn't disagree!"

Jiang Daozhen: "No, you do! Think carefully, what reason do you have to disagree with this statement?"

He Kao wanted to complain, but suddenly realized something. After thinking for a while, he tentatively explained: "This is an objective fact that has existed since ancient times. Opportunities are the same for everyone. Otherwise, why would there be a grotto-heaven to summon people?"
The sorcerer has no intention of bribing anyone; success in cultivation is simply a matter of fate for the sorcerer.

Even sorcerers have desires; achieving success in cultivation is the greatest temptation. If we follow that logic, wouldn't transmitting the art itself be a form of enticement? As long as the disciples of the Free Alliance do not violate any prohibitions and are attracted back to the sect, they only need to abide by the sect rules.

To put it bluntly, if all the employees of a company want to switch to another, instead of the original company examining its own shortcomings in terms of career prospects, benefits, and corporate culture, it's all the employees' fault?

Jiang Daozhen glared at him: "Your analogy is absurd! But what you said before is not without reason. So, in your opinion, what should we do?"

He Kao: "There is no need to issue an announcement to publicize it, but people should be able to find out about it privately, and there should be specific eyewitnesses who can testify to it. Such news will be more credible."

As for the content of the message, it could be that the Zongfa Hall detests this kind of deceitful freeloading behavior, is conducting a thorough investigation, and has implemented a stricter management system!
The core message it conveys is actually about the opportunity for disciples of the martial arts sect to participate in the celestial realm. Jiang Daozhen stopped and turned to look at He Kao: "You've learned pretty quickly, kid! In the martial arts world, this move is also considered a 'rolling ball in a plate' technique. To be honest, I didn't originally intend to do this."

But since the Free Alliance has acted unreasonably, we have no reason not to retaliate. Even if I can't survive the Bone Transformation Tribulation, I will try my best to resolve this trouble and prevent future generations from suffering the consequences.

This sounds rather ominous. Could it be that the old man lacks confidence in surviving the bone-changing tribulation and has already begun making arrangements for his passing?

Recalling the series of conversations just now, He Kao became more and more worried. He carefully chose his words and said, "With your cultivation level, you have a long life ahead of you. There is no need to rush many things."

"Now that you are undergoing a tribulation, please try to worry as little as possible. If there is anything, let your junior disciples do the work."

Jiang Daozhen nodded and said, "Yes, that's what I meant. Otherwise, why would I tell you so much?" Then he found a rock by the roadside, sat down, and said, "Since you've told me to rest, then let's rest our feet."

He Kao looked at the old man, hesitating to speak several times.

Jiang Daozhen waved his hand again and said, "Just say what you have to say. Anyway, Wei Luo can't hear you, including what we just said. She doesn't know your identity as Yin'e."

Wei Luo, who is in charge of the Cave Heaven Array's core, is in a state of simultaneous communion with the Cave Heaven, and theoretically can perceive all movements in this world. However, Jiang Daozhen cast a spell while walking, shielding him and He Kao from each other's messages, including their movements and voices.

What Wei Luo could perceive was this shielded movement space. If he wanted to know what the old man and the young man were talking about, he would have to use the power of the cave to break through the shield.

But Jiang Daozhen was her master, not her enemy, so Wei Luo certainly wouldn't do that.

He Kao: "It's not that I'm worried that my junior sister will hear me, but people in our rural area are very particular about auspicious words."

"You should be alright, right? Regarding this complete transformation, is there anything I can help with? Like finding some rare medicinal herbs or something? That's my specialty."

Jiang Daozhen: "You've been a great help in refining the Pure Yang Pill. I have some good news for you. Would you like to hear it?"

He Kao: "I would like to hear the details."

Jiang Daozhen looked up at the sky as if recalling something, and said, "When I was young, I was injured and was sent to the hospital for an abdominal debridement surgery. The doctor was an acquaintance of mine and we had a good relationship. He also removed my appendix without charging me extra."

He Kao hesitated for a long time before finally speaking: "Is this the good news?"

Jiang Daozhen: "I haven't finished speaking yet. The good news is that the appendix that was removed back then may very well grow back... Want to know what it feels like to be reborn? Try your sensory communication technique."

He Kao's telepathic technique had reached perfection, but it was useless against a master like Jiang Daozhen. At this moment, Jiang Daozhen took the initiative to release his physical form and spirit. He then used this technique, and his body went limp as he sat down on the tree root next to him.

Jiang Daozhen laughed as if he had succeeded in playing a prank, and sent a divine thought to He Kao.

The mystery of his transformation was something he didn't explain much beyond telling a funny "good news" story. However, He Kao personally experienced what it felt like.

One question is, are ordinary methods of torture effective against high-level sorcerers? They certainly have a deterrent effect, but they won't actually feel pain, because any high-level cultivator has the ability to shield their senses.

The main feeling of undergoing a transformative ordeal is discomfort, an indescribable discomfort throughout the body. This discomfort cannot be masked, because no abnormalities are outwardly apparent; it directly affects the primordial spirit.

Those undergoing tribulation must constantly circulate their magical power to smooth the flow of qi, blood, meridians, and life force; otherwise, the furnace may collapse. If one's cultivation is not profound enough, one will not be able to persevere and will be unable to complete the transformation process.

He Kao had already stood up, leaning against the tree trunk, and stood there stunned, not knowing what to say.

Jiang Daozhen asked, seemingly mocking himself, "Have you ever heard people say that I am too calculating and ruthless, that I speak of heavenly secrets and that I harm people, and that therefore my life is destined to be full of misfortunes?"

He was trapped in the vacuum for twenty-three years while trying to break through to the seventh level, losing all his supernatural powers and magic, and had to make a living by setting up a stall in the countryside. Now, having recently broken through to the seventh level, he hasn't had many good days before suffering the torment of rebirth, enduring this torture every day..."

He Kao quickly interrupted, "Who's spouting this nonsense? Isn't this utter rubbish!"

Jiang Daozhen: "You haven't heard of it?"

He Kao: "Of course I haven't heard of that. Who would dare say such things in front of me?"

Jiang Daozhen nodded and said, "This is indeed nonsense. The wonder of advancing in rank and the freedom of cultivation are beyond the comprehension of such people. Isn't it carefree to be leisurely under the Jade Wutong tree?"
Remember, many of your experiences are unique to you, and no one else in the world can match them. I called you here today to make sure everything that needs to be settled is done, and then you can retire and rest in peace.

The tribulation of transformation is excruciating, a constant torment, but there is a way to escape it: to give up. However, once you give up, even just having the thought of giving up means that the transformation has failed, and your cultivation will never improve again.

If one does not give up, then it is certainly no longer suitable to show one's face in public or to worry and exert effort. The best choice is actually to do nothing, calm one's mind and shut oneself in seclusion to regulate the furnace, and when one's cultivation has accumulated enough, until the practice is perfected.

This is the usual situation; each type of technique, such as the Spirit Rhinoceros Technique, should have its own unique rules.

Jiang Daozhen certainly wanted to rest, but the sect had encountered so many problems, many of which involved his schemes. He had no reason to ignore them and had to arrange everything he could before he could go into seclusion in peace.

He Kao quickly said, "It's all because this junior disciple is not up to par that you have to worry so much. I wish you a speedy breakthrough to the eighth level of cultivation!"

Jiang Daozhen stood up and smiled, "Thank you for your kind words. Actually, what you did was helping me... You've rested enough, let's continue our journey."

He Kao: "If you feel unwell, let me carry you on my back. Otherwise, at this pace, we probably won't be able to get out until dawn."

Jiang Daozhen: "You were just telling me not to rush, how come you're in such a hurry now? What are you doing going out in the middle of the night? Are you disturbing the neighbors? It's just dawn, you can talk to me for a while on the way..."

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(End of this chapter)