Chapter 40

Over the years, Lin Yuan kept to himself.

Yet, he got along quite well with Qingping.

Mainly because Qingping would often come over for small talk with Lin Yuan whether there was something to discuss or not.

By the way, he would also mention various news from Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Besides Qingping,

Changqing visited Lin Yuan from time to time.

For Changqing, Lin Yuan was no different from his own offspring.

No matter whether Lin Yuan became a Celestial Master or not, Changqing’s attitude wouldn’t change.

In Changqing’s heart, there was always a sense of guilt towards Lin Yuan.

If only he could have arrived in time back then, Zhang Family Fort might not have met such a fate.

And Lin Yuan wouldn’t have had to live a hard life on Dragon Tiger Mountain ever since he was a child.

“A few days ago, the Sect Leader ordered the four of us to descend the mountain for trials one by one,”

Qingping said casually.

The ‘four’ he mentioned naturally referred to the four Daoist children who were chosen by the Celestial Master to inherit swords during the trip to the Sword Tomb.

Although they couldn’t compare to someone like Lin Yuan who was chosen by the True Martial sword,

they were still the hope of the Celestial Master Mansion.

As for why they descended the mountain one by one… it was to prevent extreme incidents.

Like the situation where all four might die at the same time.

If, with Lin Yuan being a Celestial Master seed that took a ‘detour,’ the four Celestial Phenomena Realm seeds were to die,

Dragon Tiger Mountain would not recover for at least fifty years.

“Descend the mountain?”

Lin Yuan was somewhat curious.

Having arrived in this world with his consciousness eighteen years ago, Lin Yuan had only spent one day outside.

The rest of the time, he had stayed on Dragon Tiger Mountain.

“Brother Shanfeng, as a Celestial Master seed, you’re different from us; you cannot leave the mountain,”

Qingping said, immediately feeling somewhat nervous.

Now he was no longer the ignorant little Daoist boy.

He understood the importance of a Celestial Master seed to the Celestial Master Mansion.

Only disciples recognized by the True Martial sword could become Celestial Master seeds of the Celestial Master Mansion.

And each Celestial Master seed was never without the True Martial sword.

If Lin Yuan were to leave the mountain, it would mean that the True Martial sword would have to leave as well.

If something unexpected happened and the True Martial sword were lost, it would be an unprecedented blow to the Celestial Master Mansion.

The current Sect Leader of the Celestial Master Mansion might spit blood on the spot from anger.

A Celestial Master seed like Lin Yuan taking a detour was indeed a serious matter, but it could not shake the foundation of the Celestial Master Mansion.

At worst, when Lin Yuan died of old age, the True Martial sword would return to the Sword Tomb, and the Celestial Master Mansion would still have the chance to give birth to another Celestial Master.

But if the True Martial sword was lost, that would truly be an irreversible catastrophe.

Qingping could fully predict that if he caused Lin Yuan to sneak out, the Sect Leader, Master Cang Qing, might even consider flaying him alive.

“Just kidding.”

Lin Yuan shook his head slightly.

He was not really an eighteen-year-old youth.

In fact, considering all the time he had spent, Lin Yuan was probably over fifty years old.

Moreover, with his Against-Heaven’s Understanding, he did not need what was known as trials outside the mountain.

For Lin Yuan, Dragon Tiger Mountain was the best place. There was food, drink, and unparalleled safety.

Why would he even think about leaving?

“That’s good.”

Qingping let out a huge sigh of relief.

“By the way, Brother Shanfeng,”

“My recent cultivation has felt rather strange…”

After chatting for a while, Qingping broached the subject of cultivation.

Lin Yuan casually asked a few questions and soon understood the cause.

“You’re wrong.”

“Your state of mind is wrong.”

“You’re following the path of Taiyang Wuji.”

“Taiyang Wuji, is the utmost rigid and yang, out of the thirty-six past Celestial Masters of our mansion, the majority followed the path of Taiyang Wuji, including the strongest First Generation Celestial Master.”

“What is Taiyang Wuji? It is the utmost rigid and yang, unyielding and unstoppable.”

“Recently your mindset hesitates, looking forwards and backwards. Continuing to cultivate Taiyang Wuji, naturally you feel that everything is strange…”

Lin Yuan pointed out the problem directly and spoke slowly.

It’s not to say that those who follow the path of Taiyang Wuji are all rash,

but that kind of indomitable spirit and decisive character is required.

“So that’s how it is…”

Qingping suddenly understood.

Indeed, he had been quite stirred by the thought of descending the mountain for trials, wanting both to see the outside world and fearing potential dangers.

Now, after Lin Yuan’s reminder, his state of mind started to clarify.

Hum.

Qingping only felt the qi within his body flowing smoothly, and a hot current surged through his limbs and bones.

“Ninth Grade.”

After a short while, Qingping opened his eyes, his expression excited.

Taking advantage of Lin Yuan’s comment, he had managed to break through from Fourth Grade directly to Third Grade.

It must be known that in this world, cultivation levels are divided into nine grades.

The Ninth Grade is the lowest, while the First Grade is the highest.

Being at the Third Grade, he was already among the upper echelons, even when considered amongst the powerhouses of Dragon Tiger Mountain.

“Many thanks to Brother Shanfeng for the guidance,”

Qingping bowed deeply to Lin Yuan.

He was aware that without Lin Yuan’s words, not to mention breaking through to the Third Grade, he might have regressed if he continued as he was.

“No trouble at all.”

Lin Yuan waved his hand, unconcerned.

At his current level, giving pointers to a cultivator who hadn’t even reached the Celestial Phenomena Realm was too simple.

True Martial Hall.

Master Cang Qing rubbed his brows, his expression revealing a hint of fatigue.

The Myriad Demons Sect was constantly causing trouble outside, and the key issue was that the Celestial Master Mansion couldn’t do anything about it, only able to join forces with other orthodox powers to suppress it as best they could.

Moreover, the Sect Leader of the Myriad Demons Sect had obtained the heritage of the Primordial Demon Gate, which greatly boosted the morale of the Demonic Tao Forces.

This resulted in a series of encounters between orthodox and Demonic Tao forces, all ending with the orthodox forces being defeated.

The multitude of pressures was indeed making it hard for Master Cang Qing to catch his breath.

“It seems that the Sect Leader of the Myriad Demons Sect truly is a remnant of the Primordial Demon Gate. The previous generation Celestial Master had discovered traces of the Primordial Demon Gate while traveling the world but was unable to find the source.”

“At the time, we thought it was a coincidence, but now it seems that the remnants of the Primordial Demon Gate were already there at that time.”

“Over the years, the Myriad Demons Sect has been secretly supported by the remnants of the Primordial Demon Gate…”

The hefty Master beside him spoke up.

As Dragon Tiger Mountain was the ancestral home of the Dao, and the Celestial Master Mansion the foremost authority under heaven, their intelligence capabilities were naturally not bad, quickly figuring out the details of the Myriad Demons Sect.

“It’s too late to discuss this now.”

Master Cang Qing shook his head; right now, the most important thing was how to continue suppressing the Myriad Demons Sect.

At that moment.

A figure ran in from the outside.

It was Qingping.

“Master, I have reached the Third Grade.”

Qingping’s tone was light-hearted as he shared the good news.

As a celestial seed of the Celestial Master Mansion, Qingping and the three other Daoist children were always directly taught by Master Cang Qing.

Whenever any of them made a breakthrough in cultivation, they had to inform Master Cang Qing at once.

“Third Grade?”

“So soon?”

Upon hearing this, Master Cang Qing slightly furrowed his brows.

It wasn’t that he didn’t wish for Qingping to break through, but he was worried that Qingping had used some rapid, but unsafe method.

According to the cultivation speed of disciples from past generations who received the Celestial Master’s sword, reaching the upper Third Grade took at least fifteen to twenty years.

But since Qingping started his cultivation, it hadn’t even been ten years.

His rate of cultivation was clearly abnormal.

“The foundation is solid; I see no problems.” The hefty Master stepped forward, carefully examined Qingping for a while, and concluded.

Hearing this, Master Cang Qing’s brows finally relaxed.

“Qingping, what’s with your rate of cultivation?”

Master Cang Qing was still somewhat astonished.

“Master, it’s because Shanfeng gave me pointers that I was able to break through so quickly,” Qingping honestly explained.

Before this, although Qingping often received guidance from Lin Yuan, his speed of cultivation was only somewhat faster compared to the other three Daoist children.

It was still within normal limits.

So Master Cang Qing did not question it, thinking that Qingping was just very diligent.

But this time, jumping from the Fourth to the Third Grade normally requires five to eight years.

Qingping’s effortless advancement naturally caught Master Cang Qing’s attention.

“Shanfeng… gave you pointers?”

Master Cang Qing’s tone was somewhat astounded.

A few casual pointers were enough to enable Qingping to step into the Third Grade, which meant that his strength must far surpass the Third Grade.

Even most cultivators in the Celestial Phenomena Realm might not be capable of achieving this.

“Yes, Shanfeng has been guiding me over the years. He’s really powerful. Every word he says enlightens me, and then my strength improves,” Qingping said.

These words were like thunderclaps in the ears of Master Cang Qing and the other powerful Celestial Phenomena Realm masters.

Every word spoken.

Brings enlightenment.

And then strength improves.

Although these sentences might seem trivial.

To someone like Master Cang Qing, who was a powerful being, he realized something was amiss.

Anyone capable of such feats must have an extremely profound understanding of the essence of cultivation and the nature of power.

And this was coming from Lin Yuan, whom Master Cang Qing had completely given up on?

“I also feel that Shanfeng is very strong. When I see Shanfeng, it’s like seeing Master…” Qingping, seeing Master Cang Qing silent, gathered his courage to speak.

Upon hearing this.

The surrounding area fell quiet once again.

Like Master Cang Qing?

Isn’t Master Cang Qing a Celestial Phenomena Realm powerhouse?

Could it be that Lin Yuan was also at the Celestial Phenomena Realm?

To step into the Celestial Phenomena Realm before the age of twenty was unheard of among past Celestial Masters.

“Could it be that Shanfeng is truly an unprecedented prodigy?” murmured the hefty Master, his expression one of shock.

“A prodigy…”

Master Cang Qing lapsed into silence.

Then a look of bitterness crossed his face.

If what Qingping said was true, then Lin Yuan was indeed a prodigy.

A prodigy beyond all their imaginings.

But in the end, no matter how talented, cultivating both Taiyin Wuji and Taiyang Wuji meant his limit was the Celestial Phenomena Realm—he could never reach the heights of past Celestial Masters.

Because the powers of Taiyin and Taiyang within him would explode at the moment he became a Celestial Master.

“So young, yet with such an understanding of the nature of power, our Celestial Master Mansion…”

The lofty Master paused halfway through his sentence, stopping short.

A deeply painful thought surged in his heart.

Such a prodigy.

Why did he have to go astray?