The candlelight flickered within the hall, gradually taking over the outer skies.
On the table between the two, a black jade pendant cast a faint glow, sending chills down one’s spine.
However, at this mont, Zhang Rongfang’s curiosity was successfully aroused by the other.
"Is it because my talent is lacking that I can’t reach the level of Celestial Maiden Tong Zhang...? Or is it...?"
He focused his gaze on Yan Shuang.
"I can already defeat the Sea Dragon super-grade, and still such potential isn’t enough. That Silver-faced Cicada... wouldn’t they treat super-grade like pigs and dogs?"
"Young master, please be patient."
Yan Shuang smiled, her eyes squinting into crescent moons.
She picked up the jade pendant, gently stroking the five symbols on it.
Only now could one clearly see that the five symbols were respectively eye, ear, mouth, nose, touch.
These were evidently the five senses.
Yan Shuang caressed the jade pendant, lowering her voice.
"In reality, the super-grade rely encompasses all masters beyond Ninth Grade together.
It’s a broad category.
In this category, not everyone is of the sa level. Just like the Snake King you once killed, and the Sea Dragon rfolk from earlier.
They were only at the first stage."
"The level of super-grade?" Zhang Rongfang’s expression slightly tensed, "Could you elaborate in detail?"
"Certainly, if I didn’t want to say, I wouldn’t have specially co to find you." Yan Shuang chuckled.
"To put it precisely, above super-grade, according to phases, one needs to follow routes like External dicine, Inner thod, Three Emptiness, and others. If one can break through, then it’s Grandmaster.
This path is one of the three, the External dicine phase particularly requires continuous seeking of external substances to stimulate.
Then combining secret thods, transforming dicinal power, and achieving a stronger self."
Yan Shuang continued.
"Every sect and school uses different external dicines. Daoist sects advocate external elixirs, Buddhist sects stress fate elixirs, while external denominations call theirs Holy Blood. Yet many external dicines are essentially the sa, just with different nas."
"Must all super-grade take dicine?" Zhang Rongfang frowned.
"Exactly. Once you reach Ninth Grade, your potential is fully tapped; how could one beco stronger without external forces?" Yan Shuang raised her eyebrows.
"...." Zhang Rongfang understood, but such super-grade was completely different from what he had imagined.
"Additionally, the super-grade routes differ among factions. For example, the super-grade path at Golden Wing Pavilion actually follows the route of the Golden Winged Great Roc, requiring extrely precious external dicine post-Ninth Grade, which can only be collected and provided by Spirit Court.
Thus, Golden Wing Pavilion can never escape Spirit Court. They can only forever be Spirit Court’s dogs."
Yan Shuang’s beautiful eyes twinkled.
"Then, what about you?" Zhang Rongfang retorted, "Which faction do you belong to?"
The way she deaned Golden Wing Pavilion suggested her faction was different.
Indeed, Yan Shuang seed to have awaited this question, spoke gently: "Us? Have you heard of the Sensing Sect?"
"The black-ranked Sensing Sect?" Zhang Rongfang had certainly heard, black-rank list nas, all originate from the Sensing Sect.
Making it hard not to leave a strong impression.
Even the Celestial Maiden Tong Chapter’s na ca with the Sensing Sect lineage.
"Our Sensing Sect is actually a vast and intricate sect. The forces within are varied, with differing beliefs across branches, hence splitting completely different super-grade paths and developnt routes."
Yan Shuang smiled.
"Sensing, sensing, naturally pursuing sensing between heaven and man.
Since humans have five senses, our various branches’ philosophy divides the paths by achieving sensing between heaven and man through different senses."
"Five senses? Then what sense does your faction pursue?" Zhang Rongfang roughly understood, asked with so curiosity.
"We don’t chase after a single sense, but sensory fusion." Yan Shuang smiled.
"Human perception, when stimulated, is always a fusion of complex types.
Like a feast, comprising touch, sll, with so taste blended together. If visually appealing, even sight is rged.
Therefore, to achieve sensory limits, stepping into sensing between heaven and man, searching for natural extres, many many factors are required....."
"You haven’t answered which sensory direction do you pursue?" At this point, Zhang Rongfang’s interest was piqued.
"Color."
"What?"
Zhang Rongfang hadn’t heard clearly.
"Humans are born with the potential to step into extremity, and among all senses, during the union of Yin and Yang, naturally arises the source light of life, the spirit of ultimate bliss."
Yan Shuang dressed in Daoist attire, yet her light blue eyes faintly glistened like rippling water. Stirring one’s heart.
"Young master should understand, color is human nature, ultimate bliss is the natural heavenly way, the source of all thods, and further the foundation for the continuation of us living beings.
Our branch called Taiqing, aims in pursuing the ultimate purity of single color, is also the largest branch within the entire external sect, and the entire Sensing Sect."
"Taiqing...." Zhang Rongfang was speechless.
What the other said made sense, but he didn’t know why, it just felt off.
He glanced at the other.
Yan Shuang didn’t speak further, just quietly watched him, seemingly waiting for him to digest the previous content.
Zhang Rongfang organized his thoughts.
Indeed, if one learns they could grow stronger while remaining happy, surely they’d be overjoyed.
Yet Zhang Rongfang knew well, there would never be such simple logic in this world.
Even if such a road existed, in such a fiercely competitive world, it would absolutely beco a difficult and exhausting path.
"Yan Shuang, young lady, haven’t ntioned what the other two paths are?" He thought and continued asking.
"The other two are the path of Spirit Court’s worship and the human extre."
"Spirit Court worship path?" Zhang Rongfang instantly recalled the copper-colored statue he had previously completed gathering.
That statue, could it be sothing that mutates upon worship?
"Seems you’re sowhat familiar."
Yan Shuang smiled and extended her hand.
Her palm, white as jade, held a crescent moon-shaped copper piece.
"Such things are everywhere, but all are used by Spirit Court for fishing purposes. They are gods once worshipped in secret cults.
"But later, the Spirit Court only allowed one supre god, so they annihilated the others."
"What about the pinnacle of humanity?" Zhang Rongfang felt that if what Yan Shuang said was true, then tonight, the amount of information he received would far surpass what he had learned in the past few years.
These might be the things the Celestial Maiden initially wanted to keep hidden from him.
"The third path is the pinnacle of humanity. It’s actually the Extre Realm." Yan Shuang slightly restrained the smile in his eyes.
"The Extre Realm was a path first forged by the Black List’s top Saint Emperor, ng Qian, a long ti ago.
After years of observation, he discovered that human emotions and desires drive people to strive madly in a certain direction.
And in this process, the mont of greatest strength is when hope is faintly visible yet unattainable.
So... there’s no point in saying more. The Extre Realm doesn’t end well. They are rely deceiving themselves repeatedly, driving themselves insane. Then madness brings power."
"..... Why do they have to do this? Why force themselves even if they go insane?" Zhang Rongfang asked in a deep voice.
"What else could it be for?" Yan Shuang suddenly felt a bit bored, "The path of the Spirit Court is the strongest, but life and freedom are entirely controlled by the Spirit Court.
The Extre Realm is just a dead-end path martial artists find in desperation."
"Surely, your Sensing Sect is not as strong as the Extre Realm, right?" Zhang Rongfang countered, "If you could grow stronger both happily and quickly, the Extre Realm wouldn’t even exist."
"You’re right." Yan Shuang laughed, "Before the Spiritual Veins, we were indeed not as strong as the Extre Realm, but we were happy.
The Great Spirit ostensibly hunts us down, but there’s no telling how many high-ranking noble Spirit People are our supporters.
In ecstasy, we gain supre truths, making our bodies stronger, and our lives longer.
Would anyone refuse a path like this?
Moreover... we also worship gods, just not as tyrannical as the Spirit Court’s."
Zhang Rongfang was left speechless.
"What about the Sea Dragon then? What’s its relationship with you?"
"That has nothing to do with us. It’s a subordinate organization the Western Sect created to curry favor with the royal family." Yan Shuang’s eyes twinkled, denying it outright.
"So, you see, the path of the Spirit Court is controlled by others, leaving no freedom.
The path of the Extre Realm is intensely painful, with no hope in sight.
Only our path of ecstasy, worshipping the Great Ecstasy Heaven, remains uncontrolled, indulging desires as we please. With joyous cultivation, our power is vast, and brothers and sisters are everywhere.
Though we are nurous, the path is wide and long. With your talent and potential, spending each day with dozens of won in ecstasy, wouldn’t your power skyrocket?"
"And you? Have you tried such skyrocketing gains?" Zhang Rongfang countered again.
"Do you wish to co-cultivate with Shuangshuang?" Yan Shuang narrowed his eyes, revealing a hint of a smile.
"But unfortunately, Shuangshuang practices a heart of one, living a life of purity and abstinence, all for that one night upon marriage, to step onto the ultimate ecstasy.
Of course, if you are excellent enough, perhaps in the future you could win Shuangshuang’s heart...."
"Heh, in the end, your approach sounds good, but isn’t it still about worshipping gods? And you yourself are unwilling to cultivate it, yet you try to persuade , so the rits and faults are obvious." Zhang Rongfang smiled faintly.
"What you say is absolutely right." Yan Shuang nodded with a smile. "But in worshipping gods, our Sensing Sect does not allow arbitrary enslavent after worship.
Moreover, now the Golden Wing Pavilion falls under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Sect, swayed by storm. If it were other geniuses, there’d naturally still be options available.
But you... can’t afford to remain unchoosing, or else...."
"Can’t I choose the Great Dao Teaching sect?" Zhang Rongfang countered.
"Sure, of course." Yan Shuang laughed again with unconcern. "However, the Great Dao Teaching is known for prioritizing the Cultivation of Literature and longevity first. Martial skills for Super Grade just...."
"Thank you, miss, for your candid words." Zhang Rongfang clasped his hands in thanks. "Our talk tonight has revealed nurous secrets, enlightening greatly."
"Do you know why the Celestial Maiden sister didn’t tell you these things in the first place?" Yan Shuang continued.
"Why?"
"..... Because...." Yan Shuang gently tossed the jade pendant forward, letting it land in Zhang Rongfang’s arms.
"Because even if you reach the pinnacle of Super Grade and beco a Grandmaster, you can’t kill any Spiritual Veins.
But once you beco a Spiritual Vein, your lifespan greatly extends."
She stood up, the gentle breeze blowing against her robe, highlighting her curvaceous figure.
"As long as you worship, with your potential and aptitude, you can definitely pass the Spiritual Veins selection, then your strength will skyrocket, your life eternal, and lifespan greatly increased.
Compared to painstaking years of cultivation, inching forward like a snail.
Isn’t the gap as vast as heaven and earth?"
"And all this, only requires you to face the gods, bow your head in worship.
After that, you can traverse the world, achieving above Grandmaster. Such temptation...."
Whoosh!
A silhouette suddenly flashed between the two.
Yan Shuang’s figure flickered, appearing beside Zhang Rongfang in an incomprehensible motion.
His whole body bristled, raising his hand in an eagle claw aid at the other’s wrist.
Yet he grabbed nothing but air.
Their hands shadowed, exchanging several moves in an instant.
The more Zhang Rongfang fought, the more astonished he beca.
With his current Ninth Grade body quality, his speed and strength could only match the opponent.
No....!
It’s not matching.
He noticed that from start to finish, Yan Shuang’s moves always matched his exactly.
This was plainly holding back on purpose!
"Do you understand now?"
Yan Shuang’s fair fingers suddenly tapped lightly on the back of Zhang Rongfang’s hand, leaving a bruise.
Her figure flickered again, with a speed far exceeding Ninth Grade, even far beyond the forr rfolk Xue Chengyu, she suddenly appeared behind Zhang Rongfang.
In the previous body technique movent, Zhang Rongfang could only catch a glimpse of her outline.
Such speed....
"If you’re not resigned... you can try.
The Great Dao Teaching follows the route of external alchemy, with your talent, maybe in over ten years, you can indeed transcend External dicine, internal techniques, and break through the Three Emptiness, achieving Grandmaster.
And then.... still not better than a royal dog."
Before her words were finished, amidst a burst of silver bell-like laughter, Yan Shuang suddenly disappeared into the shadows.
Even Zhang Rongfang didn’t know when she left.
His muscles tense, squinting, he picked up the jade pendant in his arms, lost in thought.
User Comments
0 comments from readers