Chapter 326: Drinking poison to quench thirst, the difficulty of seeking the truth

The eighty-eighth year of Xianlin.

This should have been a year that sounded quite auspicious.

However, in the Buzhou Mountains, everything seemed so tense.

After the spiritual rice was harvested, the recruitment of immortal seedlings, which had never been interrupted since the establishment of the Immortal House, was put on hold.

Of the six immortal pavilions, five are now closed to the public, with exit only allowed and one completely closed, with no entry or exit allowed.

Even some ministers in the temple heard the news through various channels and were worried all day long.

However, even so, at the foot of the Buzhou Mountains, a large number of people still gathered there waiting, eager to be fortunate enough to join an immortal academy, to embark on the immortal path, and to become the legendary celestial immortals who live in the morning glow and eat dew and are not stained by the worldly affairs.

In Ningfang, on the martial arts stage.

Gu Dan pointed with one finger, and spiritual energy condensed along the meridians in a specific trajectory. Then, on the ground where Gu Dan's finger fell, a spiritual vine suddenly rose up and transformed into a vine that was three meters in size. It was extremely terrifying, and rather than a vine, it looked more like a small hill rising from the ground!

But looking at that vine hill, it is covered with spiral thorns, with a red flower with a bloody mouth opened wide on the top, and it is covered with a pale green color. This strange-looking thing is enough to stop children from crying at night.

"So cruel?"

In the field, Lu Yu was startled, literally jumped a full five meters high, and stayed in the air for a short time, avoiding the attack and saving his face.

If he hadn't sensed that the overly violent fluctuation of spiritual energy was not right, even a master would have felt uncomfortable for a long time.

"Unfortunately, it was still avoided."

Gu Dan shook his head, a look of helplessness showing on his face.

"It's quite good. You have just reached the middle stage of Qi training, and you can use such a powerful spell. It is not easy. However, this attack will probably completely drain your spiritual energy. Why don't you learn some more auxiliary spells?"

Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Lu Yu asked.

"Ha, who among those who have established their foundations nowadays doesn't have the status of a Grandmaster? If we really have to fight in close combat, we might even be dragged down to be the scapegoat. Learning a powerful spell might give us a chance to achieve a surprise victory."

Gu Dan shrugged slightly and said seriously.

Nowadays, foundation building is basically achieved through the practice of grandmasters. It is extremely rare to find those who truly practice the way of immortality.

"That's true."

Lu Yu nodded slightly and said, "However, although your move is powerful, it is too loud and the fluctuation of spiritual energy is too obvious. As long as you are prepared, you can always dodge it. If you fail, you will waste all your spiritual energy."

"It doesn't matter. How can you have the best of both worlds? You have to give and you have to gain!"

Gu Dan said indifferently.

He is practicing magic.

Moreover, it is a spell with enormous power for those in the Qi Refining Stage.

Theoretically speaking, it is no problem to damage the foundation, and there is even a chance of causing serious damage.

Its name is 'Soul-stealing Flower', and the name itself is cruel enough.

It is said that the person who originally studied this spell hoped that someone would use his spell to attack him.

If we ignore its slightly exaggerated shortcomings such as huge spiritual energy consumption, conspicuous spiritual energy fluctuations, and overly shocking momentum, this spell is really good.

Of course, if the Soul-stealing Flower was really so tasteless to eat and a pity to throw away, there would be no need for Gu Dan to practice it.

This is because this spell has two forms. One is the 'must-kill' form, just like the one he just performed, which is extremely powerful and has extremely obvious side effects.

One is closer to a normal spell, differentiating into the normal form of several spiritual vines.

The second form is very useful whether it is used for fighting, dividing the battlefield, or restraining the enemy.

After all, he had agreed to Huang Chao's participation in the attack, so Gu Dan had to master a magical skill that he could show off. It would be bad if he just rushed up and killed two foundation-building warriors with just three punches.

Even if it was to conceal his tracks, he had to do it.

When someone is watching you and you need to take action, use the Soul-stealing Flower.

If no one is watching, you can use whatever you want.

"Okay, then go and recover your spiritual energy."

Lu Yu waved his hand and did not really fight with Gu Dan.

He just came to be Gu Dan's target and help experiment with this magic.

Gu Dan also wanted to let this magic art set an example in everyone's mind. If he really killed a foundation-building cultivator in the future, he could blame it on this magic art.

As soon as the two of them stepped out onto the martial arts stage, new monks immediately jumped up impatiently.

Unconsciously, after the closure of Ningfang, many cultivators became more enthusiastic about fighting than ever before, and even many spiritual fields began to become barren.

But the top management of Ningfang didn't react at all.

Gu Dan would never believe that there was no one secretly fanning the flames.

Ningfang was established only over twenty years ago. Strictly speaking, the immortal seedlings here have not even been fully harvested.

If we really talk about overall strength, it is definitely far behind the other five immortal pavilions.

However, the combat power of the top leaders is not inferior to the other five immortal pavilions.

After all, a new immortal pavilion means a large number of vacant high-level positions. People may complain about too many leeks, but people will complain about too few positions for the top people.

When Ningfang was established, Huang Chao had already won over many cultivators from the other five immortal squares to become members of Ningfang. Those people are the real backbone of Ningfang.

Misfortunes often bring blessings, and it is precisely because of this that Ningfang can still maintain the situation. No matter how dissatisfied the people below are, they do not have the ability to challenge the top management of Ningfang.

"Xianfang.Xianfang"

Murmuring these two words, Gu Dan looked up at the sky.

Now the sky has been completely covered by the formation. One can only see a large area of ​​misty fog-like thing flowing in the sky, completely enveloping the surroundings.

"Rather than calling it a fairy house, why does it look more like a cage?"

Gu Dan shook his head, put away his sad mood, and was about to go back to the cave.

However, when he glanced at it, Gu Dan was suddenly stunned.

He saw a boy who looked quite familiar.

No, it is not appropriate to call him a teenager at this time. It should be called a young man.

Niulan or Ningyuan!

The other party was already in Ningfang, so there was nothing to be surprised about seeing him.

What really surprised Gu Dan was the fluctuation of spiritual energy on the other party. The third level of Qi training!

A year ago, Ning Yuan was only at the first level of Qi training, close to the second level. Only a year later, he has already reached the third level?! What, you also have the help of Qingmu Liquid? This is totally unreasonable!

How could such progress be due to inferior spiritual roots? I'm afraid only heavenly spiritual roots can barely match it.

After observing him more carefully and quietly investigating with his spiritual sense, it was not difficult to find that Ning Yuan's aura seemed a little weak and scattered. Looking at Ning Yuan's face, it was full of joy. Even though he tried his best to restrain himself, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but reveal a hint of joy that was hard to conceal. It should be that he had just made a breakthrough not long ago.

"Ning Yuan."

Gu Dan walked forward and called softly.

"Master Kong Kong."

Ning Yuan was startled when he saw Gu Dan, then his face turned red and he said with some shame: "I didn't mean to betray you!"

"What's the point of betraying or not? Just follow me."

Gu Dan waved his hand and took him to a big tree where there was no one around.

Looking back, Ning Yuan lowered his head, looking cautious and not daring to look him in the eye.

It was probably because the spiritual rice harvest seriously exceeded the standard, which led to him being questioned by Lingzhen Hall and having to "confess" the matter of Gu Dan, leaving him speechless.

Gu Dan waved his hand lightly, and spiritual energy rippled, forming a faint wall that isolated the surroundings.

This is a method of sensing spirits. Any abnormal spiritual energy that does not belong to oneself that touches the wall will be sensed by Gu Dan. It is also an auxiliary magic technique, usually used to explore the surroundings or have secret conversations.

"Master Kong!"

Ning Yuan was shocked and frightened.

"Don't be nervous, just answer my questions truthfully."

Gu Dan's face turned serious. He didn't explain anything, but just asked, "Tell me honestly, how did you advance to the third level of Qi training in just one year?"

Ning Yuan was stunned.

His face turned pale and blue for a moment, and he was terrified beyond words.

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He had just made a breakthrough, but he was discovered by others at a glance?

"Don't even think about hiding it. Even the Soul Concealing Technique can only barely conceal the fluctuations of one's own spiritual energy. It's still useful to deceive cultivators with similar strength to oneself. But if one or two small realms are behind, it will be almost useless.

And you don't have the blood and energy of a Grandmaster to cover you up, so for most of the cultivators in Ningfang, your cultivation level can be seen at a glance."

Gu Dan said calmly.

The way of immortality is mysterious.

Even at the most basic level of Qi training, there are numerous techniques that can be mastered.

Just the auxiliary methods he had learned included: the method of sensing spirits, the flash of spiritual light, the method of tortoise breathing, the method of controlling the wind, the method of clearing dust, the method of concealing spirits, the method of peeping into spirits, and many other immortal methods with various effects.

Among them, the Soul Concealing Technique is used to hide one's own cultivation, while the Soul Peering Law is used to spy on other people's cultivation. The specific effectiveness depends on one's personal strength.

Gu Dan could tell at a glance that someone like Ning Yuan was not very capable.

“That’s how it is.”

Ning Yuan smiled bitterly. He thought he had concealed it well, but he was actually deceiving himself. Lord Kong could see it at a glance, so wouldn't it be even easier for those foundation-building cultivators to discover it? "Such progress is unreasonable. Even if you ate all the spiritual rice you planted, it would be impossible for you to make such rapid progress."

Gu Dan asked: "What's the reason?"

Ning Yuan pursed his lips and said, "Spiritual Stone."

"Spiritual stone?"

Gu Dan frowned.

"Artificial spiritual stone."

Ning Yuan took out a spirit stone from the bag tied around his waist and handed it to Gu Dan.

Gu Dan reached out and took it.

I saw that the spiritual energy inside was indeed reduced by more than half.

"Are you crazy? How dare you absorb this thing?"

Gu Dan’s brows furrowed deeply.

The spiritual stones of the Xianfang, whether they are "standard spiritual stones" or "artificial spiritual stones", are actually the same kind, but the former are recognized by the Xianfang, while the latter are only private goods and cannot be traded with the Xianfang.

These spirit stones are usually used as materials for operating formations, or simply used in conjunction with the "Rongsheng Method" to add more spiritual energy to the spirit rice and increase its growth.

But if you really want to use it for personal cultivation, that is absolutely not possible! Its spiritual energy does not belong to the "ownerless spiritual energy" and naturally has the imprint of others. If you absorb it into your body, you are simply playing with your own life.

Even if you keep absorbing the same attribute and the same technique, there will be a "rejection" reaction. If you can really cultivate first and then cultivate later, what caves does Ningfang sell? There will be no current situation! He saw that Ning Yuan's breath was scattered and empty, and thought it was because he had just broken through the realm. He never thought that it was because he secretly absorbed the artificial spirit stone! This is not a shortcut at all, but it is asking for his life!

"Mr. Kong"

Ning Yuan bit his lip and whispered, "I only have low-grade spiritual roots. If I want to practice normally, even if I reach the middle stage of Qi training, it will take 20 to 30 years."

Gu Dan looked at him without saying anything.

"Even if there are side effects when absorbing artificial spirit stones, you can quickly reach the middle stage of Qi training. Even if you farm after reaching the middle stage of Qi training, the harvest will be several times higher than that of the early stage, and you can even grow more."

Ning Yuan said.

"Then have you ever thought that absorbing artificial spiritual stones will 'contaminate' your own spiritual energy, making it much more difficult to break through? Not to mention breaking through, once your own spiritual energy increases, the spiritual energy that is forcibly absorbed from each other will eventually become entangled in your body? If you are not careful, you may go astray, suffer serious injuries, or even die suddenly! As for building a foundation? It's almost a pipe dream! Using artificial spiritual stones to improve your realm is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst!"

Gu Dan couldn't understand this choice at all.

This is simply making a joke of your own future.

No, after absorbing the artificial spirit stone, my future is almost over.

When you advance to the foundation-building stage in the future, do you still want to turn your spiritual energy into liquid? If you don't blow yourself to pieces, it will be considered a success.

"Master Kong, even if one practices diligently, how many people with low-grade spiritual roots can successfully build a foundation?"

Ning Yuan asked.

Gu Dan was stunned.

I couldn't answer it.

He considered the consequences of this matter.

But he didn't take into account Ning Yuan's current situation.

Without the help of artificial spiritual stones and forcefully raising the realm, can I definitely reach the foundation-building stage by practicing diligently on my own?

I'm afraid that won't work.

Otherwise, is it because the Law Enforcement Hall has so many people in the late stage of Qi training that they are not working hard enough? Hard work pays off, that is simply the most beautiful fairy tale in the world.

"Thank you, Master Kong."

Although Gu Dan didn't say anything, Ning Yuan bowed to him.

"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have enough spiritual rice to exchange for spiritual stones for cultivation. It would have been difficult for many more years. Thank you for your help."

Ning Yuan said sincerely.

Gu Dan's lips moved, but he couldn't speak.

It turned out that the one who was high above was actually himself.

Prospects, foundations, future... these things are too far away for many people, so far away that they dare not even think about them.

If it can make life better now, there are many people willing to do it, even if they know it is a temporary solution, and some even want it.

The future is not that bright to begin with, so who can blame him for spending the second half of his life to make his first half better?

Could it be that if he honestly planted spiritual rice for Ningfang for fifty years, he would have a brighter future? "Master Kong, I still have spiritual rice to take care of. If there is nothing else, I will leave first."

Ning Yuan said.

Gu Dan: “.”

Watching the little figure disappear into the distance, Gu Dan couldn't help but take a deep breath.

It is difficult to seek the Tao and to practice the Tao, as difficult as ascending to heaven.

(End of this chapter)