Chapter 123: The Realm of Divine Determination
In the woods, Ling Xueyan looked at the heavily injured Ku Baidiao and said calmly, "Are you alright?" In her heart, she thought: How come she won't die?
Ku Bai Diao protected his heart meridian, regulated his breathing, and said coldly, "This person was actually able to absorb my poison and retaliate. Fortunately, I am immune to all poisons, otherwise I would have died on the spot."
Hearing this, Ling Xueyan rolled her eyes at her, then turned around and said, "Now you should believe that there are always people more capable than you!"
Upon hearing this, Ku Baidiao snorted coldly and said, "Why didn't you make a move when the opportunity presented itself?"
Ling Xueyan sneered, "Make a move? Ha! That little woman wasn't poisoned at all, which shows that her strength is unfathomable. If I hadn't been lying in wait, do you think you could have escaped alive?"
Upon hearing this, Ku Baidiao considered that Ling Xueyan's words were not unreasonable, and then said calmly, "Now that we haven't captured the person and our identities have been exposed, what do you think we should do next?"
Ling Xueyan said resolutely, "Since Yi Mingzhao is hiding here, he won't escape for the time being. We can wait for an opportunity to act. As for how to explain things to the Brahma Emperor, I believe you know better than I do." After saying that, she turned and left.
Ku Bai Diao leaned on his cane, watching Ling Xueyan's retreating figure. Though lost in thought, he remained silent with his head down.
On the Wind-Welcoming Platform of Tianji Palace, Xiaoyao Lang flipped through several herbal books, getting a general understanding of the martial arts techniques and moves. With this in mind, he closed his eyes and sat down to meditate, determined to integrate the techniques with his mind, and for a moment fell into a deep slumber.
Yu Linglong, not seeing Xiaoyao Lang for a while, felt a strange feeling in her heart. Involuntarily, she stepped out of the main hall and came to the Yingfeng Platform.
Seeing Xiaoyao Lang sitting in front of her with unusually vigorous energy, Yu Linglong said leisurely, "Others meditate to concentrate their breath and spirit, but you are so restless and agitated. I am truly impressed!"
Despite the provocative words, Xiaoyao Lang showed no reaction. Yu Linglong frowned, puzzled, and stepped forward to inquire. Just as she was about to get close, a powerful aura suddenly assaulted her.
"Hmm?" Yu Linglong suddenly felt a pressure pressing down on her, and her pure white clothes fluttered under the force. Yu Linglong was not sure what was going on, so she gathered her strength to meet it.
Just as their energies clashed, Yu Linglong exclaimed to herself, "This energy? It's the power of consciousness! This is bad."
Sensing danger, Yu Linglong immediately withdrew all her energy and retreated several feet away, fearing that the clash of the two energies would injure the meditating Xiaoyao Lang. She then murmured, "Yu Lang's mind isn't on this, yet he can still use his consciousness to protect himself. Even with perfect concentration, he wouldn't be able to do this..."
After pondering for a while, Yu Linglong uttered a thought: "Xiaoyao Lang, just how many secrets does your body hold? You truly haven't disappointed me!"
Just then, Dongxue arrived and saw Yu Linglong standing there. Holding her sword, she bowed respectfully and said, "This subordinate greets the Palace Master!"
Upon hearing this, Yu Linglong immediately turned around and raised her finger to cover her mouth, indicating to Dongxue to stop talking.
Seeing this, Dongxue was puzzled, but seeing Xiaoyao Lang sitting in front of her, she stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Is Young Master Xiaoyao practicing the Abdominal Qi Technique?"
Yu Linglong did not answer, but simply shook her head.
Dongxue's own cultivation had already reached its peak (Master), and she could fully sense the aura of Xiaoyao Lang from a distance of several feet. The aura was chaotic and turbulent, a mixture of rapid and slow movements; Xiaoyao Lang's current state of mind was a major taboo for cultivating the body and consolidating the essence. While she sat there meditating, Yu Linglong remained completely oblivious. If she weren't practicing the Abdominal Qi Technique, then...
"Divine stillness!" After thinking for a moment, Dongxue's eyes widened and she blurted out the two words.
Yu Linglong turned around and glanced at Xiaoyao Lang. Dongxue also knew that she had spoken too loudly just now. If Xiaoyao Lang was truly divine, this sound would have caused his soul and body to be separated (and he would die).
Upon realizing what was happening, Dongxue quickly covered her mouth with her hand. However, seeing that Yu Linglong did not blame her, the two understood each other and went to the entrance of Yingfengtai (the guard point between Yingfengtai and the main hall of Tianji Palace). This way, they could protect Xiaoyao Lang without hindering their conversation.
Seeing that Yu Linglong was already far away, Dongxue immediately asked her questions to find an explanation for her disbelief.
"Palace Master, according to the records of our ancestral master, the Divine Realm is a cultivation level that only those who have entered the Saint Realm can achieve. How could Xiaoyao Lang... no, Young Master Xiaoyao have already reached the Saint Realm in less than a month of cultivation?" At this moment, Dongxue was excited and surprised, but she still spoke in a low voice, afraid of disturbing Xiaoyao Lang, who was several feet away.
Yu Linglong was also puzzled by Dong Xue's problem. After she and Xiaoyao Lang had made love, her cultivation level had jumped from the Transformation Realm to the Saint Realm. Even if she cultivated with her mind focused and separated from her conscious body, she could not release any energy to protect herself.
Seeing that Dongxue was staring at her, Yu Linglong said, "The records of our ancestral master are true. Yu Lang's cultivation is not even at the level of an ordinary expert, so to say that he has reached sainthood is a long way off."
Hearing this, Dongxue still asked with doubt, "Then what is Young Master Xiaoyao saying in this state?"
Yu Linglong said softly, "Yu Lang is a man of extraordinary talent and ingenuity. It is possible that he has comprehended unorthodox methods and found a shortcut."
"This... Young Master Xiaoyao is truly an extraordinary person!" Yu Linglong explained lightly. Dongxue found it hard to believe, but recalling Xiaoyao Lang's extraordinary idea of comprehending the sword control technique, which allowed even a person with unparalleled cultivation to use martial arts of the highest level and control a sword remotely, and now seeing him standing here with such composure, she had no choice but to believe it.
"From now on, has Young Master Xiaoyao's cultivation reached the Saint level?" Dongxue asked Yu Linglong softly.
Upon hearing this, Yu Linglong replied softly, "No, even if Yu Lang can truly distinguish between human and human, with his current foundation, he can't change anything in a short time. His internal strength is weak, his moves are few, and his judgment (combat experience) is insufficient. All these limitations make him only an ordinary cultivator."
Dongxue listened without speaking, but she understood perfectly. The essence of martial arts lies in the combination of internal cultivation and external training. Even if one aspect is lacking, the power of the techniques will be greatly reduced. Although Xiaoyao Lang has extremely high comprehension and excessively strong internal cultivation ability, his external martial arts skills are insufficient. When he encounters a master, he is simply helpless.
Seeing that Dongxue seemed lost in thought, Yu Linglong asked, "Dongxue, what did you want to see me about earlier?"
Upon hearing the call, Dongxue finally came to her senses and asked, "Three days from now is May 25th, the memorial day for Master's passing. Should the palace be closed for three days?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Linglong looked sad and said softly, "No need. On the day of the sacrifice, everyone can just follow the proper etiquette. I will personally visit my master."
Upon hearing this, Dongxue respectfully nodded and said, "Yes, then this subordinate will take his leave." He then turned and left.
Thinking of her master, Yu Linglong was overcome with sadness. She looked up at the blue sky and white clouds, as if she had let go of all the bitterness in her heart.
At this moment, in order to integrate the mental cultivation method and techniques, Xiaoyao Lang's spiritual consciousness had reached his own illusory realm, the realm of the divine. (Everyone has their own realm of the divine, a place where the eight senses and seven emotions and six desires reside. The illusions within the divine realm and the utilization of the divine realm depend entirely on one's own inner cultivation.)
Within the realm of the carefree wandering spirit, there was nothing—no sound, no color, no eight forms—only the body derived from the spirit of the carefree wandering.
Xiaoyao Lang used what he remembered from books, used those memories to gain knowledge, used knowledge to connect with the spirit, used the spirit to create moves, and finally used the moves to enter his memories. He repeated this cycle endlessly, practicing his moves in all directions. He didn't know how much time had passed, but he had completely mastered all the moves he had just observed.
Just as Xiaoyao Lang's mental cultivation technique and moves were fully integrated, another version of himself appeared out of thin air within the divine realm. Except for the translucent black hair and the cold, murderous gaze, every other feature resembled his own. Xiaoyao Lang, now a manifestation of his consciousness, stared in astonishment for a long time. He then asked, "Who are you?"
The man calmly released his grip and asked, "Who are you?"
"I am who I am," Xiaoyao Lang replied boldly.
"Who am I?" the man asked again.
Xiaoyao Lang was puzzled for a moment, then immediately struck out with a palm strike, and the illusory figure vanished with the palm.
After pondering for a long time, Xiaoyao Lang stopped thinking about it, gathered his energy, and his mind instantly became empty, and his consciousness returned to his original body.
When Xiaoyao Lang opened his eyes, he saw Yu Linglong standing beside him with a worried look on her face, which warmed his heart.
When Yu Linglong saw that Xiaoyao Lang had woken up, she bent down and asked with concern, "Yu Lang, are you alright?"
Xiaoyao Lang stood up and smiled, "I'm fine, I'm sorry to have worried you!"
Yu Linglong smiled sweetly and said, "It is only natural for Master to care about his disciple!" As she spoke, she looked at Xiaoyao Lang with interest.
Upon hearing this, Xiaoyao Lang turned his back to Yu Linglong, waved his hand, and said, "Even now, you, who were once so high and mighty, are making such jokes?"
Yu Linglong smiled and replied, "There's a saying among the people, 'The husband sings and the wife follows,' isn't that exactly what it means!"
Xiaoyao Lang chuckled but remained silent. Yu Linglong sensed that he was no longer the witty, carefree, and unrestrained Xiaoyao Lang of the past.
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