From a martial arts disciple to a god through countless trials and tribulations

Chapter 349 Chen Xuan, Not One of the Same Kind

As dusk fell, the Qingnang banquet was not large in scale, and the participants were basically important figures in Qingnang. The nimble young Taoist boys ran around with lanterns, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

Old Zhang sized up Chen Xuan, and after a long while, he slowly said, "The ancients often said that Xinzhai only kills and does not save, but the evil spirits of destiny in the world are still rising and their strength is growing wildly without restraint. Are you going to abandon them and stop halfway?"

Xinzhai (the Pure Heart) was born from this; this is the path that Xinzhai should follow, this is its destiny.

In other words, Chen Xuan's Xinzhai has not met the expectations of some people. He has come this far without suppressing many of the Heavenly Mandate Demons.

"Old Zhang, what do you mean?"

Chen Xuan glanced at Hua Liuli and Xiao Hou in the distance, looking bewildered. He then turned to Old Zhang and asked, "You want me to kill your Xuan Nu and Second Senior Guest Elder? Wouldn't that be a bit cruel?"

He had met many chosen ones, and thus came to a deep understanding that there were no good people in the Qi cultivation world, but there were also very few evil people.

Compared to those True Lords who devour the heavens and earth and cause massacres of corpses and bloodshed at every turn, the Chosen One, who is called a demon, doesn't seem so evil.

For example, the Human Emperor Banner Heng Gu is so vicious that it can sacrifice the souls of an entire city to cultivate. However, the True Lord, who is both righteous and evil, can start a great war if needed, arbitrarily destroying a large state and causing the deaths of hundreds of millions of people. It is ten thousand times more vicious than the Human Emperor Banner.

Those with the qualities of Hua Liuli and Xiao Hou are rare and precious beings in the world of Qi cultivation.

As for Wan Shi Zun, his reputation is actually more upright. Many people say that Di Tian is arrogant and conceited, but no one says he is evil.

"Xiao Chen, you're too kind. That's not good. It's not the kind of character Xinzhai should have," Old Zhang commented with a sigh.

“Maybe I’m wrong, but so what?” Chen Xuan replied, frowning.

Xinzhai's evil thoughts are more terrifying than fate, but he has suppressed them all these years. Nothing can control his thoughts; Xinzhai is just a man-made "weapon."

“Your mindset is like that of a fake Xinzhai (a Taoist practice), you really don’t need to use Taoist scriptures to purify your mind,” Old Zhang remarked with a sense of unease.

"Old Zhang, is this a final burst of energy before death, or are you about to become an immortal?" Chen Xuan chuckled and asked Old Zhang, who was reclining in the chair.

In the battle of the True Lords, although he finally overcame the predicament on his own, the Mountain Spirit Goddess seemed to have some unusual behavior, and Old Zhang also became somewhat different, as if he had regained some of his clear will.

If Chen Xuan had not resolutely burned out his heart's fast, perhaps the outcome would be different now.

"Xiao Chen, your trip to the Mountain and Sea Banquet should have broadened your horizons and made you realize that the world is full of wonders. There are geniuses in the world who are like ants, while some geniuses are as clear as the sky. Even if the geniuses do their best, they can only see their backs."

Old Zhang paused for a moment, then continued, "Without the fasting of the mind, no one will be afraid."

This is a harsh reality: when cultivators strive forward and receive great fortune, those protagonists favored by heaven are equally resilient and will have brilliant opportunities, rather than stagnating.

Old Zhang looked at Chen Xuan and finally spoke, "If you need anything, you can come find me..."

Soon, the banquet was over.

As Chen Xuan descended the mountain, he glanced back and saw Old Zhang sitting in a rattan chair, facing forward, his two fingers seemingly pinching a chess piece and placing it down, as if playing a game of chess with a wisp of air in front of him.

In a daze, Chen Xuan heard some indistinct conversations.

"Tai Xuan, you've acted rashly this time..." came a slightly familiar, authoritative voice.

"Senior, I have been entrusted with this task and dare not slack off," Old Zhang said, seemingly in a sober state.

"Tai Xuan, another old True Lord of Dali has reached the end of his life and reincarnated. The old emperor of the Ji family has been driven mad for the past thousand years because of you."

"When I was young, I often looked at pictures in search of immortal traces. When I looked up, the immortal palace seemed too far away. When I grew old, I realized that the distant immortal palace was not wrong. There is no longer a way to prove oneself in this world. To become an immortal, one must make a choice..."

"..."

Chen Xuan withdrew his gaze, but saw no outlines of anything. The ethereal sounds seemed like illusions, as if they had never existed.

Xinzhai is gone.

He could no longer see the mysterious things behind the mist; when he looked up, even the Candle Dragon and the Great Sun could not be seen in their true form.

……

As night fell, Chen Xuan returned to his small room in the teahouse.

"Next, I should take advantage of this rare quiet time to strengthen myself," he thought to himself. He had obtained a lot of resources from the Mountain and Sea Banquet, some of which were shrouded in mystery.

The jade book given by the Celestial Green Bag Force is suspected to be related to the Goddess Houtu.

The gift of the will of the Candle Dragon suggests that the little dragon is a resurrected remnant of the Mountain and Sea mythology.

The Jade Box of Supreme Creation.

Without a doubt, these three things were the most important gains of Chen Xuan's travels to the Mountain and Sea Banquet, all of which were related to the Supreme Heaven, but they were very troublesome to study.

In addition, he also confiscated the spoils of war from powerful figures such as Wan Shizun and the Sparrow King, some of which were damaged in the battle.

However, some resilient treasures have been preserved almost intact, numbering in the double digits. These include swords and cauldrons, most of which are mortal artifacts. The small sword of the Sparrow King, named "Black Sparrow," is of the highest grade and was forged by the Celestial True Lord.

There is also a colossal weapon from Mount Jilei, called the Chaos Iron Rod. However, this colossal weapon possesses a spirit, making it difficult for outsiders to activate. For the time being, it can only be used as a sufficiently hard material.

"Opening the Supreme Creation Jade Box might reveal astonishing phenomena. Let's wait for True Monarch Xiao Hei to return before discussing it further." Chen Xuan was cautious by nature and did not want to cause unnecessary trouble.

Moreover, the Black and White True Lords led the Lesser Underworld to block the Lesser Dragon Palace, and this good fortune should be shared.

"Bang bang!"

There was a knock on the window, and a round, dark shadow was reflected on the windowpane: "Meow~"

"Come in and talk." Chen Xuan stood up, preparing to open the window to welcome the Black Cat Lady.

"Meow meow!"

Startled, the black cat cried out twice in alarm and ran away shyly. Soon, a sound came from the window of another room, and the black cat ran into Hua Liuli's room.

"The Black and White True Monarch was injured and returned to the Lesser Underworld Dojo to recuperate in seclusion. Does it not want the Supreme Creation?" Chen Xuan discerned the news of the Black True Monarch from the meow of the Black Cat.

Xuanmao came to the Qingnang Dojo today not by invitation, but with a mission.

"Even the Black and White True Lords have disappeared."

For the first time ever, Chen Xuan felt a sense of loss and disillusionment. With the loss of his Xinzhai (a spiritual practice), not only did the Qi cultivation world become quiet towards him, but the people around him also underwent tremendous changes.

Black and White True Lord, is this a clean break? You no longer need him and have unilaterally ended the cooperation?
After all, Xinzhai Tiandu has now disappeared.

"Roar!"

Just then, a ferocious roar came from the dark night sky, and a hideous giant tore open the Taixu, its thick golden fur descending upon the Two Realms Market.

The air was thick with tension, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts, filling them with fear and unease.

Feeling something, Chen Xuan opened the window and looked out. He saw a ferocious ape tens of thousands of feet tall, with golden eyes, six ears, and exposed fangs. Its murderous aura surged in the sky like a raging storm.

"That six-eared ape from the Mountain and Sea Banquet? It has advanced to the Divine Travel Realm." Chen Xuan then knew who had come.

"Little Liu, be quiet."

The woman's voice was clear and melodious, like a mountain spring. Yan Yushu, perched on the shoulder of the ferocious ape, spoke, her black hair flowing, her bright eyes and white teeth gleaming. In the night, she possessed an elegant and otherworldly beauty, yet also a captivating charm, like a peerless enchantress descending to earth. In an instant, the peerless ferocious monkey of the Dou tribe shrank its divine form, transforming into a nimble little ape, knee-high in stature.

"Is my new demon pet fierce?" Yan Yushu appeared in front of Chen Xuan, leading the six-eared ape on a rope.

During the Mountain and Sea Banquet, the Little Dragon King and Little Six Ears were driven by the Divine Wandering Immortal Seed to cause trouble. The Little Dragon King was killed by Chen Xuan with heavy blows, while Little Six Ears was spared and imprisoned by Yan Yushu.

"Using a demon immortal as a pet, aren't you afraid the demons of the Doubu tribe will cause you trouble?" Chen Xuan clicked his tongue in amazement upon seeing this.

"The Six-Eared True Lord of the Dou Department has been to the Tongtian Dojo, but Little Six refuses to leave no matter what. I have no choice but to keep it."

Yan Yushu covered her mouth and chuckled, then beckoned to Xiao Liu's ear with her finger and said, "Xiao Liu, suckle suckle."

"Woof~" The six-eared ape immediately wagged its tail and, like a puppy, happily moved its limbs and ran to Yan Yushu's feet, nudging her crystal-clear jade feet with its head.

This demon immortal from the Doubu tribe, who had once fought against the Ten Thousand Worlds Venerable, now appeared to be mentally deranged and foolish, as if he had been converted by Buddhism.

Clearly, the other party encountered some terrifying things when undergoing the tribulation of the six desire realms in the mortal world.

Yan Yushu laughed heartily, her fox-like eyes blinking. She pointed at Chen Xuan and said, "Little Liu, be good, call him Uncle Chen."

"Yan Yushu, you'd better rein yourself in!" Chen Xuan felt a chill run down his spine. After ascending to godhood, she became even more rampant, truly resembling a wicked and bewitching woman.

The fact that a demon immortal was treated like a dog is a horrifying thing anywhere.

"Just playing around. If you don't like it, I won't let it bark anymore." Yan Yushu tried to cheer Chen Xuan up, but he clearly ignored her efforts.

"What do you want from me in the middle of the night?" Chen Xuan asked directly.

"Here, I'll give you the 'Xuanwu True Scripture' from the Sword Dojo." Yan Yushu took out a bamboo scroll personally carved by the old Sword Master and explained, "Sword Fairy Su Fuyao ascended to godhood by borrowing the [Bai Xiaotian], and I came to see you, my old flame, on the way."

With the Yaochi Realm sealed off, no one in the mortal world has been able to undergo the tribulations of the mortal realm, resulting in chaos. Although the tribulations can be completed quickly, the danger is many times greater, and many who have undergone the tribulations have perished in the flames of their inner demons.

Su Fuyao is of noble status, and Tao Hongchen is a major event, so she invited Liuyutian to oversee the matter.

"Yan Yushu, you're being a bit presumptuous." Chen Xuan was furious. What ex-lover? Yan Yushu's smile was captivating; she was seducing him. In the past, she wouldn't have dared to blatantly seduce him like this.

Once Xinzhai left, chaos ensued.

"Chen Xuan, come back to Tongtian Dojo with me. Those people don't need you." Yan Yushu invited, as if expressing genuine feelings: "Only I will feel sorry for you now."

With Xinzhai lost, the roles of offense and defense have changed. She is no longer a "plaything" that can be summoned and dismissed at will, and can now take the initiative.

"Nonsense, Yan Yushu, I really need to control you!" Chen Xuan slapped Yan Yushu on the head to bring her back to her senses.

"...You always hit me, do you have some kind of special fetish?"

Yan Yushu's face was radiant. She tidied her disheveled hair, turned around, and led her demon pet, Liu Er, away, saying, "Wild, I'm leaving. If you need anything, come find me at the Tongtian Dojo."

Clearly, Chen Xuan was still able to resist her charm and remained unmoved, which was incredibly disheartening.

Chen Xuan put away the "Xuanwu True Scripture" and then stared blankly at Yan Yushu's back.

"What does it mean that she didn't mention the [Great Delusion and Joyful Zen Technique]?" Chen Xuan pondered. Since he could no longer enter the Six Desires Heaven space to enlighten her, was he no longer of any value to her?

People say that the Six Desire Realm is heartless and ruthless, possessing the most extreme clear-headed will, and is even more indifferent than the innate gods. Is this really the case?
Things have changed, and the place is desolate.

……

Time flows forward like a great river, and the five directions of the land are shrouded in the shadow of the True Lords and Great Beings. They use heaven and earth as a chessboard, attacking and fighting each other endlessly.

Today, the sword masters of the Sword Inquiry Dojo in the Southern Region joined forces to attack the Little Spirit Mountain in the Western Lands, destroying temples, ruining Buddhist statues.

Tomorrow, another near-immortal Great True Lord will use the demon Scarlet Moon from Nuwa Mountain as bait to capture traces of the Immortal Palace.

The battle between True Lords raged day and night. Many "conservative" True Lords who had been cultivating in seclusion were dragged out one by one. And when most of the True Lords revealed their whereabouts, an even more brutal battle ensued.

Each lineage produces its own immortals; no one will give up until an immortal is killed.

The entire Five Directions Land and the Dark Great Ruins were turned into a mess by the True Lords.

"There are probably only a handful of True Lords left in the world." At some point, an old True Lord in the Great Ruins sighed and told his lineage successor that his ancient lineage was coming to an end.

However, the bloody battle will not stop because of anyone's will; one side finishes its turn and another takes the stage, making it quite a lively spectacle.

When Chen Xuan was in seclusion, he once thought of "transgressing the rules" to enter the Taixu, but he found that various corpses were floating in the air in the Taixu, which was in a state of ruins, and every once in a while, there were forced battles between True Lords.

He immediately abandoned the idea and decided not to set foot in Taixu for the time being. He calmed his mind and quietly cultivated himself in the secret room of the tea house.

The Five Elements of the Immortal Body is the foundational method. Chen Xuan began his efforts with the Water Virtue Sage Scripture, the Xuanwu True Scripture. Once integrated, the Five Elements of Mountains and Seas approached perfection, achieving a state of balance.

Time flies, and a year has passed.

"call!"

Chen Xuan emerged from seclusion, his brows slightly furrowed. In just one year, his cultivation had greatly improved, reaching the pinnacle of the Ninth Heaven of the Cauldron Realm.

Advancing to the Ninth Heaven was not difficult. Cultivating in the mortal world only required refining immortal energy. With his immortal body weighing over ten thousand jin, he broke through to the next level naturally after more than two months of seclusion.

"But breaking through the limits of the cauldron is still not enough; it lacks certain things." Breaking through the limits of the cauldron transcends the physical body level. It is said that it can determine the Great Dao and allow one to see the true path of immortal energy. It cannot be advanced by relying on pure immortal energy.

Chen Xuan was not discouraged at all, because even those top geniuses from various provinces who were listed in the Immortal Register had not undergone the Cauldron Breakthrough during their time in the mortal world. This hurdle would stump even the most outstanding immortal seed geniuses for a long time.

He has not been cultivating for long, yet he has reached this level and has caught up with the top successors of various major lineages. What more could he ask for?
Furthermore, he has vaguely touched the threshold of breaking through the limits of the cauldron. Given some more time, he will eventually break through the limits and will not be far from becoming a true great figure.

“But recently I’ve been in seclusion for intensive training, and my progress has been a bit slow. It’s really not advisable to try to build a car in seclusion.” Chen Xuan pondered whether he should change his training plan.

After all, comprehension alone cannot accomplish everything. Without external influence, he estimated that reaching the level of godhood would likely take years. To the world, this would be incredibly fast; even those destined for immortality would be hindered for many years. But for him… it would be far too long.

Moreover, I recently heard that the Heavenly True Lords are fighting tooth and nail, but the more True Lords fall, the more vibrant the lesser cultivators on earth seem to be.

It is said that he secretly attained the status of a True Lord through a divine journey, but he was quickly discovered by the veteran True Lords of that path and was forced to reincarnate.

But this is undoubtedly a sign that some things are now easier to do than before.

"Hua Hua, what interesting things have happened outside lately?" As soon as Chen Xuan came out of seclusion, he subconsciously looked for the know-it-all Hua Liuli, but couldn't find her. He tried calling her with the communication talisman, but got no response.

"Her Highness Xuan Nu, along with Xiao Ke Qing, Cat Lady, and others, went out to explore the hidden realms." The remaining cauldron of the Two Realms Market responded, "It is rumored that an unparalleled treasure has recently appeared in the Yunmeng Great Swamp, and even important figures such as the Tongtian Goddess from other states have crossed the border to go there."

Chen Xuan nodded, and after learning the latest information from the other party, he nodded and said, "Okay, I understand."

The chosen one no longer sees him as one of their own, and they can no longer play together. Since that's the case, he should just do his own thing honestly.

"Even the Black and White True Lords aren't coming to find me." Chen Xuan thought to himself. A year had passed, and Qingnang Mountain had been almost forgotten by the other True Lords, making it very safe.

He decided to begin exploring the Supreme Creation Jade Box.

"Huh?" Just then, Chen Xuan's pupils burned, and a faint, shimmering image of light appeared. He vaguely sensed that a major event was happening in the distance.

"What are those people doing?" He frowned, took out the communication talisman again, and called out to Hua Liuli and the others, but there was still no response.

(End of this chapter)