Sword Sect Outer Sect

Chapter 350 The Secret Technique of Peeping at the Heavens
Upon hearing this, Song Yan looked at Zhang Cheng with a somewhat complicated expression.

The Golden Elixir Immortal is about to pass away.

For ordinary people, living for four or five hundred years is truly like being a god.

Song Yan has always been a pragmatic person.

When I was in the Qi Refining stage, I thought that I would be grateful to have been able to build a foundation for my Dao in this lifetime.

After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, I would occasionally think that if I could achieve the Golden Core stage in this lifetime, that would be something I would have no regrets about.

He knew, of course, that both the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages would eventually come to an end.

But now that this matter is truly before us, the feeling is completely different.

Golden Core, it seems, is still not enough.

He put these thoughts aside and had no lingering concerns about the Nangong family.

From his initial arrival in the Nangong clan's territory to attending the Jiangtian Night Banquet, and then to comprehending sword energy in the river's heart, the Nangong family has always treated him with great courtesy.

Even though he had caused so many changes, Senior Zhang Cheng chose to be forgiving and did not make things difficult for himself.

Even if people say it's a blessing rather than a curse for the Nangong family, that's just a polite way of putting it.

But if you really think that way and don't appreciate it, then you're being ungrateful.

Moreover, the person in front of him is a Golden Core Realm ancestor who has been living in seclusion in Jiangxian Pass for many years and is the pillar of the entire Nangong family.

He did not bully the weak or demand the return of the sword energy or any compensation. He simply made a humble request in the cultivation world, driven by the desire of an aging person to protect his family.

Moreover, this request is probably based on his background in the Dongyuan Sect.

In terms of sentiment, the Nangong family treated him very well, especially the sincerity and tolerance of Senior Zhang Cheng, which touched his heart.

Logically, this request was not excessive. It did not force him to save Nangong from danger, but merely pleaded that, to the best of his ability, the Nangong family line should not be broken. It left him with enough room for maneuver.

He had no reason to refuse, both emotionally and logically.

Song Yan stood up and bowed: "I will remember Nangong's kindness."

"I, Song Yan, have accepted your request, senior."

"If that day ever comes, as long as it is within my power, Song Yan will do everything in my power to protect the Nangong family bloodline from being lost."

A hint of relief seemed to flash across Zhang Cheng's cloudy eyes. He nodded slightly, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed out a little: "Good, good... Thank you, young friend Song."

The two chatted for a while and drank tea.

Song Yan then cupped his hands again and said, "If Senior has no further instructions, this junior will take his leave now."

After receiving a tacit look of approval from Zhang Cheng, he turned and left Shuiyun Pavilion.

The door closed gently.

Shuiyun Pavilion fell silent once again.

Zhang Cheng sat on the narrow wooden bed, his gaze slowly shifting to the corner of the wall.

The flying sword, resting quietly there, was inconspicuous, with not even a trace of spiritual light flowing across its blade, just like the most ordinary weapon in a mortal blacksmith's shop.

"Miss……"

His gaze pierced through the window lattice, landing in the direction of the Lingyang River. His gaze was distant, as if it had traversed hundreds of years of time.

"I have done my best."

……

After leaving Shuiyun Pavilion, Song Yan did not linger in the Nangong clan's territory.

He politely declined Nangong Ming's invitation to a banquet and also refused the Nangong sisters' attempts to persuade him to stay. At this moment, all he wanted was to return to his sect as soon as possible.

Li Yi and Li Qingfeng knew his feelings and said they would meet again another day.

They then continued their travels with Cen Qinghe.

Gu Qingqing had already returned to her sect. Song Yan bid a brief farewell to Sheng Yun and then left the Nangong clan's territory.

The journey home was smooth and uneventful.

You Taixu exerted all his strength, and several days later, the majestic mountain gate of Dongyuan Sect was in sight.

Outside the Earth-character 21 cave, I was surprised to find that several communication talismans had been left outside the courtyard after I had only been gone for a little over a month.

After checking them one by one, I found that two of them contained information about the sect, which were all trivial matters. After learning about them, I used my spiritual power to send the communication talisman back the way it came.

The last message came from Granny Qin. It was very simple, just to let her know that she had to go back to the Qin family for some business.

Normally, whether Song Yan is adventuring in the cultivation world on his own or Qin Xijun is going out, there would be no need to specifically send a telepathic message to inform her.

But this time was indeed different, after all, it was a trip back to the Qin family. Perhaps even Qin Xijun herself felt that her hometown was now full of danger.

Song Yan put away the communication talisman and walked straight through the bamboo grove courtyard, disappearing into the cave.

Months passed by, and time flew by.

Half a year is not a short time, and a lot has happened in the cultivation world.

One of them was Gentō of Kakudō-ji Temple, who died half a year ago.

After a thorough investigation by the cultivators from Huadu Temple and Jiangxian Pass, it was discovered that Master Xuantong had left early on the day of the Jiangtian Night Banquet.

Since then, no one has seen him again.

It was only after his life candle was extinguished that his fellow disciples searched for him, and the Nangong family learned that this master had died.

This matter is not big or small.

As the only Buddhist sect among the six major sects, Huadu Temple has always maintained a friendly relationship with the other five sects and rarely appears in the public eye.

They also offered assistance to other Zen monasteries and temples within the Chu Kingdom, doing their best to support them.

Since there were no enemies, there was naturally no question of seeking revenge.

But if the reason for the ambush was the treasure, that's even harder to explain.

The spiritual items required for Buddhist practitioners' cultivation are quite different from those of Taoist practitioners; even spirit stones are not used very often.

Killing Buddhist practitioners is a thankless and exhausting task.

Another thing is that the cultivators of the Demon Ruins have completely disappeared, at least on the surface.

In this way, it can be said that this calamity in the Demon Ruins has officially come to an end.

The cultivators who had remained in Red Maple Plains returned to their respective sects one by one.

The cultivation world of Chu was bustling with activity.

Markets and gatherings that were closed due to war have now reopened, and sects of all sizes have opened their gates to recruit disciples.

Although the Demon Ruins cultivators were completely defeated in this battle, the Chu Kingdom's cultivation world also suffered a considerable number of casualties.

All major factions are in dire need of fresh blood.

This day.

Northwest of the Chu Kingdom, at Huanling Cave.

A figure in a greyish-white robe walked back from outside the cave, seemingly having seen off a friend.

This man appeared to be middle-aged, with a listless expression.

Inside the cave, there were several hopping little paper figures, some cleaning the cave, and others setting up some kind of formation.

He was holding something in his hand as he slowly walked towards the quiet room.

The stone door closed, leaving him alone in the quiet room.

Looking at the jade talisman in his hand, Xin Shan Sanren's laziness vanished, replaced by an expression of excitement and agitation.

This talisman is entirely golden, with winding blue patterns on it, and hidden sword energy flowing beneath the surface like swimming fish.

Golden Elixir Sword Talisman.

The talisman is a good talisman, but if its power is unleashed, even an ordinary golden elixir would likely perish on the spot.

However, Xinshan Sanren's mind was not on the power of the talisman at this moment.

Once I regain my youthful body, given time, I may very well attain the Golden Elixir.

He was more interested in the owner of the talisman, Chen Linyuan.

This person, whose fame resounded throughout the Central Region, yet only appeared in rumors.

I heard that this once peerless genius who dominated the Central Region lost his heart and abandoned the path of cultivation because of the early death of a woman, and now he has no will to live.

Xin Shan Sanren was somewhat skeptical.

What is this "Number One Prodigy" again? What is this "Reincarnation of an Immortal"?

If this person's self-destruction were truly so simple, how could someone with such a mindset possibly achieve the position of a Nascent Soul True Monarch?

Xin Shan scoffed at this.

His eyes gleamed with a cold, insightful light; he refused to believe things were so simple. The legendary secret of an immortal's reincarnation, the self-destruction of a once-dominant genius—each and every one of these events gnawed at his curiosity like a venomous snake.

Therefore, he now wanted to use a secret technique to peer into Chen Linyuan's memories.

Xin Shan Sanren's fingertips slowly caressed the undulating patterns on the sword talisman, and grayish-white spiritual energy quietly probed in, capturing a wisp of inspiration.

This inspiration came from the talisman maker himself.

Xin Shan put two fingers together and touched his forehead.

A faint, ethereal light rose from the top of his head and spread instantly, silently reflecting the illusory image of the stars moving within the quiet room.

A mysterious power permeated the quiet room.

"Peering into the sky."

The sword talisman in his hand seemed to sense something, and suddenly emitted a soft hum and began to vibrate.

The wisp of spiritual energy belonging to Chen Linyuan was drawn out by an invisible force, transforming into a stream of light that suddenly disappeared into Xinshan Sanren's brow.

Xin Shan Sanren's consciousness suddenly sank.

The mountain wind was biting, carrying fine snowflakes that lashed against my face.

Xin Shan Sanren found himself suspended on the edge of a thousand-foot-high solitary cliff, with a surging sea of ​​clouds below.

As far as the eye can see, there is only this solitary peak.

On the cliffside, a huge blue stone has three inches of snow on it.

A figure in a white robe sat upright on the rock.

Xin Shan Sanren stared at him quietly without saying a word.

This person should be Chen Linyuan.

This secret technique of peering into the heavens allows one to obtain three memory scenes from another person's mind by observing the spiritual energy left behind in their belongings.

However, the content is random and the caster cannot choose it.

This secret technique of peering into the heavens has many limitations and comes at a high price. Xin Shan originally wanted to see Chen Linyuan's memories from his time in the Central Region and to find out the mystery of that year.

Even if all else fails, it would be good to borrow his eyes to see the classic texts and secret collections of the major sects in the Central Region.

However, judging from the scenery here, this place should still be the ancient state of Chu.

Xinshan Sanren's interest naturally waned.

At this moment, Chen Linyuan remained silent. Frost and snow almost covered his shoulders and hair, making his white robe indistinguishable from the snow.

There were no fluctuations of spiritual energy, no traces of breathing, and not even a hint of life.

He seemed to be nothing more than a human-shaped rock, blending into the desolate loneliness of the cliff.

Xin Shan's divine sense, carrying a scrutinizing quality, surveyed this scene from the void.

Without any particular idea, he immediately activated his divine sense.

The memory scenes instantly distorted and shattered, then reassembled.

This is a pavilion, around which many books and jade slips are stored.

Xin Shan Sanren was initially delighted, but then he discovered that he seemed to still be in the State of Chu.

It seems this is the scripture repository of the Dongyuan Sect.

I just don't know what a sect leader like him would do coming to the family's scripture pavilion.

In the picture, there is a tea table with two cushions on the left and right.

Chen Linyuan sat alone on one side and drank the wine in the gourd in one gulp.

There seemed to be someone sitting opposite him, but they must have just left.

Who is capable of speaking face-to-face with Chen Linyuan?
Although this fragment of memory has no value to Xinshan Sanren.

But if we can deduce something from it, it's better than skipping it altogether.

"Could it be that there is a second Golden Core cultivator in the Dongyuan Sect?"

Xin Shan Sanren had doubts in his heart.

It doesn't matter if they are. If the cultivators of the Demon Ruins want to kill Chen Linyuan, they would at least need to be at the Nascent Soul stage to guarantee it.

At that time, having one or two Golden Cores was no longer of any significance.

Chen Linyuan just sat there listlessly, which annoyed Xin Shan Sanren.

This secret technique only allows for three attempts, and the first two attempts are essentially fruitless.

With a thought, Xin Shan Sanren changed the scene before him once again.

In a flash, the refreshing scent of grass and trees wafted over him, and Xinshan Sanren found himself in a quiet, secluded valley.

The stream babbles, the vegetation is lush, and exotic flowers and plants dot the landscape.

At the end of the valley, a huge, steep rock wall rises abruptly from the ground, with something seemingly engraved on it, but it is blurry and indistinct.

Beneath the rock face, the stream converges into a small, crystal-clear pool.

Beside the pool stands a blue stone tablet.

At this moment, Chen Linyuan sat in front of the blue stone tablet with his back to Xinshan.

In front of the stone tablet, several empty wine jars were scattered. A tree of pure white pear blossoms bloomed silently beside the stone tablet, and the petals occasionally drifted away with the wind and fell in front of the tablet.

This place is still the State of Chu.

Xin Shan Sanren sighed, saying that he was simply unlucky.

All three opportunities to spy have been used up, and the left and right secret techniques can no longer be effective.

Now that things had come to this, Xinshan Sanren put aside his utilitarian mindset and wanted to linger a little longer in this last memory.

He looked around as he approached Chen Linyuan.

My thoughts lingered on that blue stone tablet.

"Jiang Qingrou..."

It appears to be a woman's name.

Xin Shan Sanren frowned.

Could it be that the rumor is true?

Did Chen Linyuan really abandon his promising career and fall into depravity to come to the State of Chu because of a woman?
He was immediately disappointed in Chen Linyuan.

"What an idiot..."

Despite possessing such extraordinary talent and noble bearing, he gave up on himself because of his attachment to his children.

If only such talent were within oneself...

The world is unjust.

What some people spend their entire lives seeking but cannot obtain, is something that the person who possesses it can squander at will and is dispensable.

Just as he was thinking this, the figure who had been sitting alone drinking in front of the stone tablet made a move.

Chen Linyuan stood up and walked out of the valley.

It seems we should leave this place.

Xin Shan Sanren sighed inwardly, finding it utterly boring.

Three attempts to glimpse the heavens yielded no useful results.

Clinging to his last glimmer of hope, he looked up at the stone wall in the valley, not knowing what was carved on it.

It is covered with many messy characters that are not clearly visible.

But these things were most likely carved by Chen Linyuan. How could he not see them clearly in his memory?

It’s weird.

Just as Xinshan Sanren was lost in thought.

Suddenly, a hand landed on his shoulder.

"?"

Xin Shan Sanren turned his head blankly to the side, mechanically lowered his head, and looked at the hand on his shoulder.

What's happening here?
Isn't this the world of memories?
His gaze followed the hand, inch by inch upwards, until it met a gentle and handsome face.

"Fellow."

Chen Linyuan smiled gently: "We've been standing here for quite a while now. It's windy in these mountains, so why don't we..."

"Sit down and rest."

(End of this chapter)