The Three Teachings Converge into One: The Path of the Mortal and the Saintly is the Same

Poetry:

The abyss of illusion is filled with ghostly energy; an evil array sacrifices all living beings to silence them.

Even a golden immortal fears the approach of aging; would he dare to abandon the common people for a mere moment?

Meanwhile, Su Qingxuan, accompanied by four women, Chu Lingxiao, and the remaining disciples of the Qingming Sword Sect, arrived.

Following the indicated path, we ventured deeper into the misty abyss, stealthily entering the cliffside cave.

The further we went, the thicker the dark fog became, like being immersed in a cold pool.

Strands of dark red light entwined with the protective aura, emanating a bone-chilling coldness.

The evil fluctuations originating from the depths of the Ruins were already clearly perceptible, like a sleeping ferocious beast slowly opening its eyes through a thick fog.

The air felt oppressive, almost tangible, not only from the corrosive power of demonic energy, but also from a growing restlessness that permeated the soul.

A disciple of the Azure Sword Sect soon became flushed and breathless.

The longsword in his hand trembled involuntarily, and he murmured:

"My lifespan is coming to an end... all my cultivation is wasted... I am not reconciled..."

Seeing this, Su Qingxuan's eyes darkened slightly, and he immediately activated the "Great Celestial Immortal Technique".

The primordial golden core in his dantian trembled slightly, and a warm, clear light rippled out, enveloping everyone in the Azure Sword Sect.

Lin Wanqing also picked up her brush and wrote the two characters "Quiet" and "Peace," their golden light merging into one's consciousness;

Xiao Lingyue softly chanted Buddhist mantras, and the Buddha's light cleansed away all distracting thoughts.

The disciple suddenly came to his senses, breaking out in a cold sweat, his face filled with shame:

"Thank you, Palace Master Su. This junior just now..."

He was troubled by his inner demons, his mind filled with thoughts of lifespan and reincarnation.

Chu Lingxiao was also still shaken, and sighed while stroking his sword:

"This place is so strange that it can arouse the deepest fear in the hearts of cultivators."

We have cultivated ourselves for thousands of years, seeking nothing more than immortality.

The most frightening thing is the five signs of decay in a celestial being, which can lead to complete decay in an instant.

This illusory mist strikes directly at this pain; those with even a slightly weaker Dao heart will succumb.

Upon hearing this, Su Qingxuan's heart stirred slightly.

Since entering the Illusionary Demon Sea, the conservative faction has acted ruthlessly, not hesitating to collude with evil forces.

It may seem to go against the right path, but it always hides a trace of unspeakable obsession.

Previously, he only thought that the man was blinded by power and wanted to use demonic arts to seize power and control the situation.

However, at this moment, Chu Lingxiao mentioned lifespan and the five signs of decay in the celestial beings.

Then, thinking about Ling Yunzi, Yu Xiaozi, and others, all of whom are Heavenly Immortals and Golden Immortals, yet have not yet broken through to the Great Luo realm, he had some doubts in his heart.

However, this speculation was too radical, so he remained silent for the time being.

"We are now close to the cave dwelling. There must be conservatives around, and they have set up spies and traps. Everyone, please concentrate and do not be careless."

Su Qingxuan gave a solemn instruction and raised his hand to summon the Mountain and River Seal.

The spiritual light emanating from the body was contained, shrinking to a size of about an inch, and hovering in front of the body.

Any concealed illusion array, trap, or cultivator's aura can be detected by the power of the Mountain and River Seal.

After traveling about two hundred miles, the fog suddenly dissipated, and a towering cliff that seemed to pierce the void stretched out before them.

The walls are pitch black, the rock surface is smooth as a mirror, and it is covered with dense ancient runes.

The runes were dark red, as if stained with blood, exuding an ancient and majestic aura.

It completely blocks out the surrounding demonic energy and illusions, creating a peaceful place.

Below the wall, there was a cave entrance about ten feet wide, covered with a pale purple light curtain, with faint flowing light, and the power of space intertwined with the fluctuations of ancient restrictions.

This was the entrance to the cave that Chu Lingxiao had mentioned.

Outside the light curtain at the cave entrance, there was a strange black array with winding patterns like snakes, exuding a terrifying demonic aura.

Nine blood-red bone pillars were planted in the formation, each pillar bound with chains.

Dozens of cultivators were chained to the end of the chain; they were all righteous disciples undergoing this trial.

Their faces were deathly pale, their spirits were weak, and their life essence and cultivation were being continuously drained away by the great formation, causing them to let out weak moans.

"It's the Nine Netherworld Demon-Summoning Formation!"

Lin Wanqing's expression changed, and she gripped her writing brush tightly.

"This is an ancient forbidden formation!"

Using the essence, blood, and soul of living beings as a catalyst, it draws upon the demonic energy of the Void, loosening the seal; it is an evil formation that sacrifices living people!

Chu Lingxiao's eyes were bloodshot as he glared at the disciples from other factions in the formation and roared:

"Ling Yunzi, Yu Xiaozi!"

"You, who belong to the three schools of thought, have actually set up this evil formation and harmed your fellow practitioners. Aren't you afraid of being struck down by heavenly lightning?!"

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Before the words were finished, a chilling laugh came from behind the cliff.

Yu Xiaozi, Ling Yunzi, Fa Yan, and Meng Xingjian walked out slowly.

Later, dozens of Golden Immortals and Celestial Immortals, along with conservative disciples and evil cultivators, sealed off all escape routes around the cave.

Yu Xiaozi stroked his beard, his eyes no longer displaying their usual righteous majesty, but only a sinister and ruthless glint.

"Is the heavenly lightning striking immediately?"

Those who cultivate themselves only seek longevity; why would they suffer divine retribution?

"Chu Lingxiao, you are still young, what do you know about the path to immortality?!"

"The Path to Immortality?"

Su Qingxuan stepped forward, his gaze sharp as a sword, sweeping over the four people and the evil cultivator.

"Harming fellow practitioners, sacrificing the living, colluding with the Demon Lord, loosening the seal—is this what you call the path to immortality?"

"You, as elders of the three religions and distinguished figures, disregard the well-being of all beings in the three realms and discard your millennia-long cultivation of the Dao as worthless trash. How are you any different from demons?!"

"The Dao Heart? The Common People?" Yu Xiaozi laughed wildly, his voice filled with resentment and bitterness.

"Su Qingxuan, you became famous at a young age, you are exceptionally talented, and you inherit the sacred bloodline of the Su family, so it's easy for you to talk without knowing the pain!"

Do you know the suffering we endure in our spiritual practice?

He cultivated diligently for millennia, ascending from the mortal realm to the Golden Immortal. He poured his heart and soul into his cultivation, enduring countless tribulations, yet ultimately remained stuck at the Golden Immortal level.

I've been stuck at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm for three thousand years, three thousand years...

I have no hope of ever becoming a Great Luo!

Do you know that beneath the Great Luo, all are but ants?

Lifespan eventually comes to an end. When the five signs of decay arrive, all supernatural powers and millennia of cultivation vanish into nothingness, and one is reborn into the cycle of reincarnation, leaving not a trace of one's past lives!

He became increasingly agitated, his aura became chaotic, and demonic energy began to emerge.

"The Heavenly Peaches, Ginseng Fruits, and Longevity Elixirs are controlled and distributed only by the Heavenly Venerable, the Quasi-Saint, the Supreme Saint, and the Great Golden Immortal."

We Golden Immortals are merely mid-level beings in the Heavenly Realm. Even with our status, we usually cannot obtain even half a longevity fruit.

Do you understand the fear of watching your lifespan decrease day by day and the signs of the five signs of decay gradually appearing?

After ten thousand years of painstaking cultivation, who could willingly accept the end—death, the annihilation of their spiritual path, and the extinction of their cycle of reincarnation?!

Su Qingxuan was shocked. His previous guess was confirmed in an instant, and a complex mix of emotions welled up in his heart.

He never expected that the conservative faction would be so contrary to the righteous path and collude with the Demon Lord's origins...

It was out of fear of the end of one's lifespan and resentment at the five signs of decay in the celestial beings.

Fayan clasped his hands in prayer, yet showed not a trace of Buddhist compassion; his eyes were filled only with obsession.

"Benefactor Su, although Buddhism speaks of reincarnation, it also speaks of longevity and ultimate bliss."

We who have cultivated to the level of Golden Immortal have severed all worldly desires, yet we cannot let go of the fruits of our cultivation.

The Demon Lord once said that the secret to immortality is hidden beneath the seal of Guixu.

By simply helping it loosen the seal and release its demonic energy, we can use that energy to cultivate, break through the shackles of the Golden Immortal realm, and achieve the Great Luo Immortal Body.

To be spared the suffering of the five signs of decay and the cycle of reincarnation.

Such an opportunity should not be missed!

"An opportunity? This is a catastrophe that will destroy the world!" Xiao Lingxi retorted angrily.

"The Demon Lord broke the seal, the Three Realms were overthrown, and countless lives were lost."

Even if you achieve the Great Luo realm, what is the point of living in this desolate, demonic land of the end times?

Meng Xingjian spoke in a cold voice, his tone resolute:

"What do I care about the suffering and destruction of the people? My own immortality is the only true goal!"

"If the Three Realms exist, we will eventually perish; if the Three Realms fall into chaos and the Demon Lord is born, we may be able to fight for a chance of survival."

Su Qingxuan, your ancestor Su Lie, even the Great Enlightened Golden Immortal, was immortal and indestructible, so naturally he could sacrifice himself for righteousness.

But we are not like them; we are merely ordinary immortals who cling to life and fear death, seeking only to preserve our own Dao attainment. What wrong have we done?

Thus, the secret of the conservative faction's collusion with the Demon Lord was completely revealed.

The cultivation realms in the celestial realm are divided into: Human Immortal, Earth Immortal, Celestial Immortal, Golden Immortal, Great Luo Golden Immortal, and Great Awakening Golden Immortal.

The Great Enlightened Golden Immortal is like the Supreme Sage of Confucianism, the Heavenly Venerable of Taoism, and the Buddha of Buddhism; he is immortal and transcends reincarnation.

Great immortals, such as quasi-sages, true lords, and venerable ones, have endless lifespans and are not subject to reincarnation.

However, even those below the Golden Immortal level, despite having a lifespan of tens of thousands of years, will eventually reach the end.

When the five signs of decay arrive, the physical body decays, the soul dissipates, and one is reborn into the cycle of reincarnation.

All past life cultivation, memories, and supernatural powers are wiped clean.

Celestial longevity items are scarce, and only top-level powerful beings control these resources.

There are countless cultivators in the celestial realm, making it a case of too many monks and too little porridge.

The vast majority of immortals, without immortal fruits or elixirs to prolong their lives, will find it difficult to break through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm.

Only when his lifespan was exhausted did he face the prospect of his cultivation being rendered useless.

Yu Xiaozi, Meng Xingjian, and others were all at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm.

When one's lifespan is about to end, the first signs of the five signs of decay appear.

Knowing that he had no chance of breaking through to the Great Luo realm through normal cultivation, he took a risk and made a deal with the Demon Lord.

They secretly set up an evil formation, loosened the seal of the Void, and drew upon the demonic energy of the Demon Lord to nourish themselves and break through their cultivation realm.

The Demon Lord then used them to weaken the seal, waiting for an opportunity to break free and reclaim control of the Three Realms.

The so-called righteous path and the common people of the three realms.

Faced with the temptation of "immortality" and the fear of "the five signs of decay," they were all discarded like worn-out shoes.

The higher one's level of spiritual cultivation, the closer one's lifespan is to the end, the more one fears death and the more unwilling one is to accept it.

This is the root cause of the conservatives' unscrupulous methods; it is the cruelest and most helpless truth hidden within the celestial cultivation system.

Su Qingxuan remained silent for a moment, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He thought of his ancestor Su Lie, who had long ago attained the status of a Great Sage Golden Immortal, immortal and indestructible, and no one in the Three Realms could harm him.

However, in order to seal the Demon Lord and protect all living beings in the Three Realms, he resolutely sacrificed himself, abandoning the path to immortality and giving up his life.

Our ancestors possessed countless immortals, the ultimate realm they dreamed of, yet they regarded it as mere smoke, dedicating themselves solely to protecting all living beings.

The people before us, having cultivated diligently for thousands of years, have fallen into the demonic path and harmed the righteous path because of their greed for life and fear of death.

The two are worlds apart.

"You are afraid of death and unwilling to return to nothing in your cultivation. This is a common feeling in the hearts of cultivators."

However, you should not sacrifice the common people, nor use the righteous path as a stepping stone, nor exploit demonic calamities for your own selfish gain.

Su Qingxuan's voice carried an awe-inspiring righteousness:

"Our ancestor was in the realm of supreme sainthood, immortal and indestructible, yet he was able to sacrifice himself to seal the Demon Lord and protect countless lives."

If they cling to life, no one in the Three Realms can do anything to them.

But how could it be resolved through military force?

This is because the path of cultivation is not only for achieving immortality, but also for the responsibility of protection.

They uphold the principles of morality and shoulder the responsibilities of righteousness.

But if one seeks immortality, one abandons the Daoist path and sacrifices all living beings.

Even if one attains immortality, it is merely the demon of immortality; neither immortal nor saintly, it will ultimately be punished by heaven!

Su Qingxuan paused for a moment, then continued to persuade him: "Fortune and misfortune are determined by Heaven. Heaven rewards the virtuous and punishes the wicked. How can ghosts and gods defy Heaven?"

Colluding with the Demon Lord is a self-inflicted sin, from which there is no escape. The calamity that has befallen us is inevitable retribution. Cultivating virtue and accumulating good deeds is the natural order of those who cultivate immortality. What else is there to interfere with?

"Sharp teeth and sharp mouth!"

Yu Xiaozi's face turned ashen, and he shouted angrily.

"Su Qingxuan, stop pretending to be benevolent and righteous!"

Now that you have come here today and know our secret, you must not be allowed to stay!

The Nine Netherworld Demon-Summoning Formation is complete. These righteous disciples will be our sacrifices to break through the Great Luo realm, and also your means of burial!

"Gentlemen, let's begin!"

"First, eliminate Su Qingxuan; his three treasures are the keys to the Void!"

Upon receiving the order, the conservative disciples and the evil cultivators attacked together, unleashing their magical treasures and spells, their demonic and malevolent aura soaring to the sky, heading straight for Su Qingxuan and his group.

The nine pillars of blood within the formation shone brightly, and the trapped cultivators wailed even more mournfully.

The extraction of essence, blood, and soul accelerated, and the demonic energy of the great formation intensified, faintly resonating with the seal deep within the Ruins of Return.

The ancient runes on the cliff face began to tremble slightly, revealing fine cracks.

"Form the Five Elements into one array to protect Brother Chu and the others. First, break the array and rescue our comrades!"

At Su Qingxuan's command, the five people immediately took their positions, and the Five Elements Unity Formation was completed in an instant.

Five-colored spiritual light intertwined, protecting the members of the Azure Sword Sect and resisting the incoming attack.

With the Crimson-Tasseled Demon-Slaying Spear at the forefront, the military aura soared to the heavens, the spear's shadow like a celestial dragon, rushing straight towards the front row of evil cultivators.

Where the spear tip passed, the demonic energy dissipated, and the evil cultivators fell to the ground one after another.

Lin Wanqing held the Spring and Autumn Annals Pen, and the Threefold Righteousness transformed into thousands of runes, forming a defensive light shield to block the bombardment of magical treasures.

At the same time, he wrote the two talismans "Break" and "Suppress" and threw them at the Nine Netherworld Demon-Attracting Array.

Xiao Lingxi offered sacrifices at the Purple Cloud Furnace, and the Three Ones True Fire surged forth, forming a wall of fire to block the spread of demonic energy.

True fire is specifically designed to extinguish evil spirits; demonic energy ignites upon contact with it.

Xiao Lingyue played the pipa, its melodious notes resounding with Buddhist chants and radiating a vast Buddhist light.

On one hand, it purifies the demonic energy within the cultivators' bodies and stabilizes their souls.

On the one hand, it resists and counterattacks against the evil practices of Fayan Buddhism, using orthodox Buddhism to suppress and corrupt Buddhism.

Su Qingxuan was in the center, with the Mountain and River Seal hanging above his head. The seal itself grew to be about ten feet in size, suppressing a part of the void.

The Gentleman's Sword unleashed its full power, aiming directly at Yu Xiaozi, Ling Yunzi, and others.

Intense battle erupts instantly!

Aura and demonic energy collided, their roar echoing through the misty abyss, the sounds of battle mingling and shaking the rock walls.

Yu Xiaozi, Fa Yan, and Meng Xingjian are all at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm, while Ling Yunzi is at the peak of the Heavenly Immortal realm.

The four of them joined forces, their power was immense, and with the addition of dozens of Golden Immortals and Celestial Immortals, their offensive was extremely fierce.

Su Qingxuan faced four opponents alone without showing any fear.

Having survived the ordeal and been reborn, his physical body and spiritual foundation are becoming increasingly perfect.

The Chaos Golden Elixir was operating at full capacity, and the origins of the three religions merged.

The four-person attack from Shanheyin Town, the Gentleman's Sword radiating chaotic spiritual light.

The sword techniques embody the true meaning of the unity of the three religions; each sword strike is as heavy as a mountain and as sharp as an unparalleled blade.

Ling Yunzi unleashed his natal magic weapon, the Lingyun Sword, its sharp sword energy aimed directly at Su Qingxuan's heart.

Yu Xiaozi brandished the Confucian whisk, the dust containing demonic energy that coiled around the Gentleman's Sword.

Fa Yan chanted the demonic Buddhist mantra, and demonic energy intertwined, transforming evil into strange light in his palm.

Meng Xingjian controlled the battle flags and set up a small formation to surround Su Qingxuan.

The four worked closely together, launching a continuous offensive.

However, Su Qingxuan's Dao heart was clear and transparent, and he had the power of the Three Treasures by his side.

Furthermore, he has mastered the techniques of the three religions, possessing both offensive and defensive capabilities, and is in no way inferior to them.

He chanted the incantation and thrust out his sword: "I will find coolness and bright light, and then I will admire the moon on the altar."

He turned around and slashed with his sword again: "Entwined in spirit, with a firm life force, it can even grow a golden lotus in fire."

Su Qingxuan's sword dance was graceful and flowing, not like a life-or-death battle, but rather like writing the rhythm of the Great Dao in the midst of battle.

While dealing with the four men, he also kept an eye on the movements of the large formation.

As the Nine Netherworld Demon-Summoning Array grew more frenzied, the aura of the cultivators within it weakened.

He immediately said to the four women in a deep voice, "Wanqing, Lingxi, break the formation with all your might, first destroy the blood pillar!"

Lingyue, protect the cultivators within the formation, lest their souls be annihilated!

"Red Tassel, sweep away the surrounding evil cultivators and sever their great array's blessing!"

The four women obeyed the order and their offensive intensified.

Lin Wanqing pushed the righteous energy of the Trinity to its limit, and with her Spring and Autumn Brush, she wrote a huge "Broken" character in mid-air.

With the overwhelming pressure of Confucianism, he smashed a pillar of blood.

Xiao Lingxi controlled the Three True Fires, condensing them into a pillar of fire, which she then burned towards the other pillar of blood.

Under the scorching heat of the real fire, the blood sizzled and the demonic energy gradually dissipated.

The crimson spear shone even brighter, instantly killing more than ten evil cultivators. The conservative disciples suffered heavy casualties, and the power of the great formation's blessing was greatly reduced.

Xiao Lingyue played the Myriad Sounds Pipa to its strongest setting, and Buddhist light and chanting enveloped the entire formation.

The wails of the cultivators in the formation gradually subsided, their souls were stabilized, and the loss of their essence and blood slowed down.

Upon seeing this, Ling Yunzi was both shocked and furious, and shouted sternly:

"Su Qingxuan, if you insist on ruining my chance at immortality, then I will perish together with you!"

He bit his tongue hard, spitting out a mouthful of blood essence, which melted into the great formation.

The nine pillars of blood shone brightly, the power of the great formation increased dramatically, and a large amount of demonic energy was drawn out from the depths of the Ruins.

The cracks in the runes on the cliff widened, and an even more terrifying and evil aura seeped from them—

It's the aura of the Demon Lord!

"Oh no, the seal is weakening badly!"

Su Qingxuan's expression changed, realizing he could not delay any longer, and he immediately shouted:

"Five people united, three treasures combined, the Primordial Rebirth Formation—break through the formation and slay the demon!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the five people instantly changed their formation, transforming the Five Elements into One Formation and then into the Primordial Rebirth Formation.

With Su Qingxuan at the core, the three treasures of mountains and rivers, the Spring and Autumn Annals, and Bodhi wood were all produced.

The three colors of spiritual light intertwined, with golden, blue, and white light merging together to form a chaotic pillar of light ten feet thick.

The pillar of light, imbued with the true meaning of the unity of the three religions and carrying the noble will of our ancestors who sacrificed themselves for righteousness, crashed down fiercely towards the Nine Netherworld Demon-Attracting Array.

This beam of light is incredibly powerful; it is not only a light that breaks through formations, but also a light that purifies, and a light that protects.

As the beam of light fell, the nine pillars of blood exploded instantly, shattering the Nine Netherworld Demon-Attracting Array and breaking all the chains within it.

Dozens of righteous cultivators who were trapped were freed and protected by Xiao Lingyue's Buddhist light, thus escaping danger.

Upon seeing this, Yu Xiaozi and the other three were filled with rage. They mustered all their strength and rushed towards the pillar of light, trying to prevent the great formation from being destroyed.

However, the power of the light pillar was too overwhelming, and the four people's attacks collapsed as soon as they touched the light pillar.

The beam of light continued its momentum, slamming heavily into the four people.

Ling Yunzi, whose cultivation was the weakest, was hit by the pillar of light on the spot. His physical body exploded, his soul was purified, and he perished completely.

Fa Yan and Meng Xingjian, their demonic powers were countered by the orthodox light pillars of the three religions, and they were seriously injured and tried to escape in a panic.

Seeing the situation, Chi Ying pursued relentlessly, piercing through both souls with a single spear thrust, and the two immortals perished on the spot.

Yu Xiaozi was also severely injured and fled after exhausting all his cultivation.

However, Su Qingxuan suppressed the void with the Mountain and River Seal, and the Chaos Sword Qi followed closely behind.

With a single sword strike, his physical body was shattered, leaving only a remnant soul. Filled with endless resentment and fear, it vanished into the mists of the void, its whereabouts unknown.

The remaining conservative disciples and evil cultivators, upon seeing their leader fall, immediately collapsed and fled in all directions.

Su Qingxuan did not give chase.

Now that the seal on the Ruins of Return has become erratic, the most urgent task is to investigate the seal and stabilize the situation.

After this battle, most of the demonic energy in the misty abyss dissipated, the cracks in the runes on the cliff temporarily stopped widening, and the aura of the Demon Lord gradually subsided.

Su Qingxuan closed the formation, and the spiritual light of the three treasures receded. Although the four women had lost some of their magical power, they were not seriously injured.

Chu Lingxiao and the other freed cultivators stepped forward to bow and express their gratitude to Su Qingxuan and the other four, their thanks evident in their words.

"Palace Master Su, if it weren't for your presence, we would all have become sacrifices in this formation, causing a great calamity to the Three Realms. We will forever remember this kindness!"

A cultivator who survived the demonic array bowed respectfully and spoke sincerely.

Su Qingxuan helped everyone up and said in a deep voice:

"Fellow practitioners, today's matter concerns the safety of the Three Realms."

Although Yu Xiaozhi and his followers were defeated, their remnants were not eliminated, and the seal on the Demon Lord was also weakening.

The secrets of Guixu are fundamental to cultivation; we will find out after this trial concludes.

I hope that you will inform the leaders of your respective sects of what you have seen and heard today.

This serves as a warning to the cultivators of the Heavenly Realm: Do not be tempted by the allure of immortality and repeat the mistakes of Yu Xiaozhi and his ilk.

Everyone responded, their expressions solemn.

After this battle, they all learned the secrets of the five signs of decay in the celestial beings and the allure of immortality.

Upon learning the truth about the collusion between the conservative faction and the Demon Lord, Yi Ming was not only shocked, but also strengthened his resolve to protect the righteous path and his Dao heart.

Su Qingxuan looked towards the cave on the cliff. The light curtain at the cave entrance had shattered, and faint fluctuations from the Guixu Seal could be heard from inside the cave.

He said to the four fairies, "I am going into the cave to investigate the outer seal. You all stay here to guard and take care of our fellow cultivators. Do not enter recklessly."

"Young master, be careful!" the four women warned in unison.

Chu Lingxiao also volunteered to lead his disciples to guard the perimeter and prevent any remaining evil cultivators from attacking.

Su Qingxuan took a deep breath, composed himself, and slowly stepped into the cave.

The cave was not pitch black; the walls were inlaid with crystals that emitted a faint spiritual light, illuminating the path ahead.

The passageway meandered, covered with ancient runes. The runes' aura was the same as that of their ancestor Su Lie, clearly left behind when their ancestor sealed the Demon Lord...

It is:

Alone I return to the cave entrance; the human heart is perilous, and the Way is subtle.

What is the essence of the ancient tradition? It lies not in immortality, but in the purity of the heart.