Immortality starts from the liver proficiency

Chapter 525 One must rely on oneself

They must wait for an opportunity that is even more chaotic than today, one that can better conceal the secrets of heaven and disturb the True Lord's vision; otherwise, to demand the Golden Proof of Dao is utterly delusional.

The best-case scenario would have been the chaotic war between the three sects a thousand years ago, in which all the Golden Core True Monarchs were caught up in it and unable to spare any resources.

With countless thoughts swirling in his mind, Xu Yunfan slowly walked to Chu Chengnan's side.

The once imposing and powerful Master Baiyue, who was eager to attain the Golden Elixir, was now emaciated, like a withered tree whose essence had been drained, and collapsed to the ground in a sorry state.

His meridians were shattered, and the cave heaven that supported his cultivation had withered to the point of near-dryness. His cultivation level visibly plummeted, almost knocking him back to the early stage of Foundation Establishment, or even worse.

The air was thick with the stench of blood and burnt flesh. The faint light emanating from the dilapidated foundation, like a flickering candle in the wind, illuminated Chu Chengnan's pale, paper-white face.

However, when Xu Yunfan's gaze met his, he saw that a faint smile had been forced onto that bloodless face.

A calm beyond imagination settled deep in Chu Chengnan's eyes, devoid of the anger, despair, or resentment one would expect. It was as if what had just been shattered was not the faint hope of attaining enlightenment that he had fought so hard for five lifetimes, but something external to him.

He spoke weakly and haltingly, each word seemingly exhausting his remaining strength.

“Junior Brother Xu, I have ultimately failed. My attempt to ascend to the throne has come to naught…”

His voice was dry and hoarse, yet strangely carried a sense of relief after everything had settled down. "In the end, I have failed Qingyuan Zhenjun's expectations. He invested so much in me..."

Xu Yunfan remained silent.

The icy, oppressive feeling in the air had not yet dissipated, and the scene before them only confirmed the terrifying calamity that had just struck them.

Seeing the once spirited Master Baiyue reduced to such a state, his heart was heavy.

He squatted down and said in a deep voice, "Senior brother, there's no need to be so hard on yourself. The path to the Golden Core stage is inherently fraught with difficulties and dangers. Although this calamity is fierce, it is not a dead end. The path of cultivation is long. If senior brother is willing to reincarnate and start cultivating again, it is not impossible to try again."

Upon hearing this, a faint trace of bitterness and helplessness finally flashed across Chu Chengnan's calm eyes.

He shook his head slowly, very slowly, as if this action had exhausted his strength.

"Junior Brother, you have been in the Foundation Establishment stage for five lifetimes. This is the limit of the soul of a true Foundation Establishment cultivator."

The path of cultivation eventually comes to an end, and beyond that…” he took a breath, “the chances of resuming the path of cultivation are slim, perhaps after countless reincarnations, there might be a slight opportunity.”

Xu Yunfan remained silent for a moment, recalling Chu Chengnan's obsession with power when they made a deal before Chu Chengnan attained enlightenment.

He pondered for a moment and said, "The promise you made before you attained enlightenment—half of the resources of the Great True Man—is true. If you are able to reincarnate and return, no matter where you are, Xu Yunfan will definitely guide you into the Dao."

These words were like a faint spark, landing in Chu Chengnan's silent eyes.

For the first time, a clear, even somewhat relieved smile appeared on his usually calm face, though it was distorted by the intense pain in his body.

"Very well, if Junior Brother Xu has said so, then Senior Brother..."

His voice trailed off, as if the strength to even speak was rapidly slipping away.

However, his next whisper carried a calm acceptance of the world's ways: "Qingyuan Zhenjun has abandoned me; from now on, I can only rely on myself."

Xu Yunfan's eyes narrowed slightly, but his heart remained calm.

Yes, quite some time has passed since Chu Chengnan failed to attain enlightenment, and Qingyuan Zhenjun has still not appeared.

This in itself says it all.

In a sect as powerful and demonic as the Yuanshi Sect, those whose value has been exhausted will naturally be discarded like worn-out shoes.

Xu Yunfan chuckled, and at this moment he spoke freely. "The Yuanshi Sect has long been known as the Yuanmo Sect, and there is a reason for it."

The coldness that Qingyuan Zhenjun shows you is heartless, yet understandable.

If, after this crushing defeat, he were to become unusually enthusiastic and offer unsolicited concern, wouldn't my senior brother be terrified?

Chu Chengnan's lips twitched with difficulty, as if he wanted to laugh, but the pain from his injuries caused it to turn into a suppressed groan.

He closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time, as if gathering his last strength.

The turbid wind blew through his tattered Taoist robe, making a whistling sound.

After a long while, he spoke again, his voice clearer than before, but it sounded more like a dying whisper:

"Junior Brother Xu, remember this: one must rely on oneself to achieve one's goals."

He faced difficulties yet remained calm.

"True lords and powerful beings are not to be trusted, and the consequences of relying on me today are inevitable."

He gasped for breath again, seemingly interrupted by a sharp pain in his chest. After a long pause, he said softly, "Your talent and fortune surpass those of your senior brother, so you may be able to achieve something different. Do not follow in my footsteps, remember that well. Do not trust others, only trust your own strength."

A person must rely on themselves.

Xu Yunfan listened quietly, his heart filled with turbulent emotions.

The warning that Chu Chengnan inscribed for him with his own bloody lessons was more profound than any secret martial arts techniques.

He said in a deep voice, "I will keep your words in mind, Senior Brother! The principles behind them are now etched into my bones and I will never forget them."

Just as Xu Yunfan thought Chu Chengnan had finished explaining and was about to activate the remaining soul power of the secret technique to prepare for reincarnation, an astonishing scene unfolded.

The body, which should have been exhausted and on the verge of collapse, suddenly moved.

Chu Chengnan struggled to prop himself up with his elbows, his movements extremely slow. Each friction of bones and tearing of broken veins was accompanied by a tooth-grinding sound and bright red blood seeping from his broken skin.

But the eerily calm expression on his face remained unchanged, even carrying a sense of indifference as if he were facing certain death.

Xu Yunfan's eyes flashed with deep surprise. He subconsciously reached out to help him up, but stopped, asking in confusion, "Senior brother? Are you... not dead?"

To be honest, he had made ample preparations to see the other person off and even to protect their reincarnation. He even had a bit of sadness brewing in his heart to put on a show.

Chu Chengnan did not answer immediately. Instead, he continued to grit his teeth, enduring unimaginable pain, and with great difficulty, he crossed his legs and barely maintained a seated position.

After doing all this, his forehead was covered in large beads of cold sweat, and his lips were bluish-purple from excessive blood loss.

He was breathing heavily, his chest heaving violently like a broken bellows.

After his breathing calmed down a little, he raised his eyelids and looked at Xu Yunfan with his eyes, which were still as calm as a deep pool. Although his voice was weak, it was no longer as intermittent as before, but instead had a kind of rock-solid tenacity.

"Junior Brother Xu, do you perhaps think that your senior brother is about to be reborn because he can't hold on any longer?"

He gave a self-deprecating smirk, "Destroying the foundation of the Dao is one thing, but dying is another. We're still a long way from that."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yunfan's lips twitched involuntarily.

It's a real waste of time and energy.

(End of this chapter)