Wanfa Daojun, starting from the Little Cloud and Rain Technique

Chapter 710 Lin Lan's Misfortune

Master Yuxiao was taken aback, his heart filled with complex emotions, but he still uttered his blessing:

"I congratulate my junior brother in advance on breaking through to the seventh level of the Golden Core stage. The sect has gained another late-stage Golden Core cultivator. This is truly a cause for celebration."

If my senior brother Zhengyang knew this in the afterlife, he would surely be very pleased and smile in his grave.

He is currently only at the sixth level of the Golden Core stage, just catching up with Senior Brother Zhengyang's previous level. He still has a long way to go before breaking through to the late stage of the Golden Core stage.

Two of his former juniors in the sect have surpassed him, which makes him feel like a hero in his twilight years. Back then, these two people would call him "Ancestor" when they met!

"Congratulations."

Everyone offered their blessings, believing that the stronger one's fellow disciples are, the safer everyone will be, given the outbreak of the True Demon Calamity.

Lin Jiuxiao and Lin Qiubai exchanged a glance, both seeing the desolation in each other's eyes.

Both of them were cultivators at the third level of the Golden Core stage, and they were currently seeking to break through to the middle stage of the Golden Core stage. Unexpectedly, the sect had already entered the late stage of the Golden Core stage, which made both of them feel bitter.

The fact that cultivators who had once lagged behind him had surpassed him caused him to begin to doubt himself.

'Isn't it said that if you're quick at one step, you'll be quick at every step? Why don't I feel that way?'

Lin Jiuxiao thought to himself, and forced a smile.

Qin Yan scratched his head and smiled gently:

"It's still far from certain, and everyone's blessings are making me feel burdened."

He understood perfectly why he was able to break through so quickly: he had more time than others to think about how to make his cultivation speed even faster.

After careful consideration, he was able to dedicate time to practice and developed a highly effective method that suited him.

In addition, a sufficient supply of elixirs is also a very important factor.

There were only two mid-stage Golden Core cultivators in the sect, him and his senior brother, the sect leader, so the supply of Purple Cloud Jade Mushroom Pills was relatively more abundant than that for early-stage Golden Core cultivators.

Even without the Purple Cloud Jade Mushroom Pill, the Five Qi Pill still allowed him to enjoy the pleasure of rapid improvement.

A high-grade, third-tier Five Qi Pill can support him in refining spiritual energy at high speed for about eight months.

All of this contributed to his rapid advancement in cultivation.

However, Qin Yan knew very well that such good fortune would not come after breaking through to the late stage of the Golden Core realm. The number of pills for the late stage of the Golden Core realm in the sect's treasure pavilion was extremely small and could not last for more than a few years.

He could only rely on the Five Qi Pills to refine spiritual energy and improve his cultivation.

The group discussed the future development of the sect and dispersed two hours later.

Qin Yan stopped Ji An and said humbly:

"Senior brother, I have some questions I'd like to ask you. Do you have time?"

"You said."

Qin Yan recounted his actual situation in great detail, and then said:
"You're the most qualified to speak on the issue of breakthroughs. Am I doing the right thing right now?"

Although the Five Elements Sect's materials are open to all Golden Core cultivators, some experiences cannot be recorded in jade slips and can only be understood intuitively rather than explained in words.

Ji An pondered for a moment and pointed out the problem:
"I suggest you completely change your cultivation method first, and then make a breakthrough when you have achieved and adapted to the harmonious and synchronous transmission of spiritual power and magical power."

The transformation of cultivation methods is the foundation for the later stages of Golden Core cultivation, and the Five Elements Sect has always urged its disciples to make the transition first.

"I see. Thank you, senior brother. Doing that consumes a lot of spiritual energy and greatly shortens the cultivation time. I originally thought it would be better to switch to that after my cultivation level broke through."

Qin Yan knew the drawbacks of the method: the high consumption of spiritual energy was only one aspect; if his concentration was not up to par, his cultivation would be interrupted.

With a bitter face, he knew he would have to continue his arduous training after returning to his cave.

Half a month later.

In the deep of night, a solitary figure entered the protective array of the Golden Spirit Sect.

Lin Lan, disoriented, flew forward on the black water cloud. The identity jade pendant she kept close to her body lit up faintly, indicating that she had passed the array's test.

When the mountain-protecting formation is activated, any non-sect cultivator will be blocked by an invisible force unless they force their way through.

However, doing so would trigger the magic circle's alarm.

Lin Lan used her memory to find her way and flew to Ningcui Cliff, which was her cave dwelling.

She sensed that the spiritual energy in the cave had increased to a higher level, but she didn't feel happy at all.

She hid in the quiet room, curled up in a corner and cried softly, her whole body convulsing uncontrollably.

After overcoming countless hardships, she comprehended the divine meaning of the mutual generation of the five elements. Eager to return home, she encountered a powerful demonic cultivator while crossing the mountains.

The opponent's overwhelming spiritual pressure slowed her reaction, and then he unleashed a soul attack, after which she lost consciousness.

When he woke up again, he found that he had been corrupted by the demonic seed, and his sea of ​​consciousness was covered with black patterns.

The other party told her that this was a demonic seed condensed from a demonic soul at the Nascent Soul level, and the only way to recover was to disperse her cultivation and cultivate demonic arts; otherwise, the conflict between her magical power and demonic energy would become more and more serious until she died.

She didn't want to die, but the other party told her there was a way to avoid death and gave her a bottle of pills that could suppress the demonic seed's attack. However, they demanded that she find out the details of the sect's magic array defenses and send them out.

She refused, but the other person simply smiled gently, left her the pills and all her belongings, and said:

'You can go back and think about it, and also try to see if you can withstand the pain of the clash between demonic energy and spiritual energy.'

By the way, there are only three pills available. Each pill can suppress demonic energy for half a year. If you are sure you want to go to Qingyun Immortal City, someone will contact you.

Don't hold out hope that the demonic seed can be purified; without fourth-tier power, it's simply impossible to succeed.

After the other party finished speaking, they disappeared like smoke. After flying far away, she immediately took out a third-grade top-quality purification talisman, trying to purify away the pollution.

The result was excruciating pain; the demonic runes emitted black mist, which quickly extinguished the talisman's spiritual light.

She used two talismans in a row and both resulted in the same thing, so she couldn't bear the pain anymore and stopped using them.

Her consciousness gradually faded, but she didn't want to take the pills given to her by the enemy. If she took the pills, she might really be doomed.

The sect gave her warmth and honor, and she was unwilling to betray it, but where did the future lie?
Lin Lan fainted.

When she woke up again, she felt a sharp pain in her head, as if a red-hot steel needle was stirring inside her. Her whole body was trembling violently, as if she were having an epileptic seizure.

She knew that the conflict between the demonic energy and herself had begun again.

three days later.

Covered in bloodstains, Lin Lan collapsed weakly in the corner of the room; she could no longer hold on.

The conflict between spiritual energy and demonic energy is becoming more and more frequent. At first, it only happened once a day, then twice, and now it happens five times a day.

Her will has been almost completely worn down; if it happened again, she might give in.

Clutching the pills given to her by the enemy, she pondered what to do.

The third-tier top-grade purification talisman and mind-stabilizing talisman had no effect; instead, they brought her even more pain.

If we yield to the enemy, we don't know how many fellow disciples will die, but if we don't yield, what will our future hold?
The sect has no Nascent Soul cultivators, and given her current appearance, how should the sect view her?

Her mind was in turmoil, and she didn't know what to do.

As the sunlight outside the cave gradually slanted westward, Lin Lan felt the pain return. She writhed in agony, occasionally banging her head against the wall in a frenzy.

Her knuckles turned white from gripping the pill so tightly that it was said to suppress the conflict, tears streaming down her face.

After a while, she couldn't bear it any longer and brought her trembling arm to her mouth. Two voices echoed in her mind, one of resistance and the other of surrender. The pill was as black as ink, as if it could absorb light.

She fainted as the pill was brought close to her lips. The pill rolled to the side, but her body continued to twitch reflexively.

When Lin Lan woke up again, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

She gritted her teeth, smashed the black pill in one swift motion, and then walked out of the cave.

The sunlight outside was blinding, and she shivered like a mouse afraid of the light.

She hurriedly flew to a stone house and teleported to Crimson Flame Peak.

In the world of gourds, Ji An received a report from the golden retriever that Lin Lan had returned, and he was overjoyed.

The disciple has likely grasped the concept of the five elements' mutual generation and is ready to proceed to the next stage of cultivation.

He left the small world in a cheerful mood, and used a hand seal to break the magical barrier.

Seeing his disciple's exposed skin covered in bruises, he said angrily with a grim face:

"What happened? Who hurt you?"

Tears streamed down Lin Lan's face, and she could no longer maintain her feigned strength. "Master."

After her wailing subsided, she recounted the whole story in fits and starts, adding:

"I am deeply indebted to the sect and my master, and I have no way to repay them. I only ask for a swift death."

"Want to die? You're still a long way off."

Ji An was somewhat angry and said:

"Open your mind, I want to probe into your sea of ​​consciousness."

Lin Lan closed her eyes, pursed her lips, and tilted her head back.

Ji An condensed his divine sense into a thread and pierced it into the disciple's brow, causing the disciple's body to tremble.

He perceived the black grid, and the entry of his divine sense triggered a counterattack. The black energy spread towards his divine sense, quickly contaminating many of them.

Startled, he immediately withdrew his consciousness, and a few black wisps appeared in his sea of ​​consciousness.

Ji An immediately took out a third-grade top-quality purification talisman, which emitted a reassuring white light. Snowflakes floated in his sea of ​​consciousness and surged toward the black energy.

The purification energy was exhausted, but a small amount of black energy remained.

Ji An felt the situation was thorny. He was a Golden Core Ninth Level cultivator, and even a little demonic energy could force him to this point. What kind of pain was his disciple enduring?

He clenched his fists, and a crackling sound came out—it was suppressed anger.

Now he believed his disciple's words. There were enemies at the Nascent Soul level who could make a move, but there was only one cultivator in the entire Western Continent who could do it—the leader of the Xuan Yin Sect, who had never revealed his appearance in public.

His teeth were clenched, and he exhaled, then took out a purification talisman and activated it, finally purifying all the pollution.

At this moment, Lin Lan had another attack, letting out suppressed, sorrowful sobs, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.

She clutched the cuffs of her Taoist robe tightly, her pale knuckles telling a story of sorrow and despair.

Ji An immediately activated his magic incantation, releasing the Spirit Sealing Technique. Five-colored light bloomed in the void, forming mysterious patterns.

He pressed his hand down slightly, and the pattern spread onto the disciple's body, blending into his skin.

Lin Lan suddenly felt that the pain had subsided by more than half, and she was stunned. She felt that the pain she had endured was meaningless. She should have told her master earlier!

"Master, can you heal me?"

Her trembling voice held an uncontainable joy, and tears streamed down her face again, blurring her vision.

Ji An remained silent for a moment, then gently shook his head:

"This is merely a temporary fix; a more powerful purifying force is needed."

The Spirit Sealing Technique can seal the spiritual power within a disciple's body, but it cannot completely seal off the methods of demonic cultivators.

Doing so will only make the disciple more and more corrupted, until one day he will be unable to bear it and turn into a twisted monster.

"Feel the changes in your sea of ​​consciousness."

The Spirit Sealing Technique can also suppress divine consciousness, but the suppression power is not particularly strong. Those who are affected can usually retain about half of their divine consciousness that they can use.

Lin Lan hurriedly checked the situation in her sea of ​​consciousness, and after a moment breathed a sigh of relief, said:

"The activity of those black mists has been greatly suppressed."

She suddenly became delighted and said:
"Master, is it feasible for us to use the purification talisman to cleanse the pollution at this time?"

Her eyes brightened as she looked at her master with hope.

Ji An's eyes flickered, and he gently shook his head:

"The pollution has already taken root in your consciousness, and the purification process will also harm your soul."

Moreover, the source of pollution was of such a high grade that even hundreds of top-grade Tier 3 Purification Talismans could not purify it.

A force capable of protecting the disciple's soul is needed; whether it's a cultivator or a pill, it's essential.

Only by protecting the soul and then purifying it with a higher-quality purification talisman can one be absolutely certain of success.

If only a fourth-tier purification talisman is used, the disciple's soul will burn during the purification process, ultimately leading to their death and destruction.

Lin Lan's eyes instantly dimmed, her expression dejected, and she murmured:

"I have no hope."

At this moment, her heart was filled with despair, and she once again fell from the cliff of hope into an abyss.

Ji An sighed. He was furious at the enemy's actions. Killing someone was nothing to him, but he couldn't help his disciple.

From this perspective, it is impossible for the Xuan Yin Sect and other sects to coexist peacefully. Conflicts will either break out when the True Demon Tribulation fully erupts or after the catastrophe ends.

"I need to make sure you haven't been contaminated by anything else. I need to activate a purification talisman. Bear with the pain."

Lin Lan nodded dejectedly and closed her eyes.

Ji An activated the talisman, and a warm white light enveloped the disciple, who trembled as if in spasms.

He felt heartbroken, but he endured the pain and carefully observed the area. He only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that there was no other pollution.

He inquired in detail about the enemies his disciple had encountered there, and also asked about some details after he woke up.

"You rest here first, I'm going to Chaoyang Peak."

He needed to discuss the current situation with his senior brother, the sect leader, as there was no way he could expect to purify the pollution by breaking through to the Golden Core realm.

Even if the opponent can cultivate to the Five Elements Gathering Realm, they will not be able to withstand the tribulation during their breakthrough.

Conflicts between spiritual energy and demonic energy erupt from time to time, making it impossible for the other side to even refine a seed pill.

Another point is that if he triggers the Golden Core Tribulation, he might be considered a demonic cultivator.

In that case, there would be no chance of survival; one would not even survive the first round of the Five Elements Thunder Tribulation.

(End of this chapter)