Chapter 278: Elder Xinran's Healing, Thanks

"There are no absolutes in worldly affairs, Elder Xinran—don't you understand?"

Chen Chuyang had his hands behind his back, gazing up at the sky.

"We cultivators do nothing but defy heaven; a mere awakening of the Flight Immortal Body—what's that worth?"

Elder Xinran heard this, and her pupils contracted.

She lifted her head, saw Chen Chuyang's silhouette—endlessly towering, endlessly stretching, like a giant.

That aura, that silhouette—even heaven falls short of him.

Her heart jolted once, violently shaking.

"We cultivators are inherently meant to go against heaven."

"Yeah, I even forgot—cultivation is fundamentally about defying heaven."

Elder Xinran was deeply moved inside; the things and memories she had forgotten surfaced again.

She stared at Chen Chuyang's figure for a long time before coming back to herself.

She lowered her head, looked at her own hand—when had she forgotten all this, forgotten everything, the bold words of her past cultivation, the dreams of her youth—seemingly all forgotten.

Tormented by this world, she had forgotten everything—forgotten her original intent, forgotten all, left only with a body full of sword qi, tormented to the brink of death by that very sword qi; she had long since forgotten everything.

Looking again at Chen Chuyang, he remembers everything and knows why he cultivates—perhaps it's because he's young, or perhaps he hasn't yet experienced setback, and so…

"You… can you still hold onto your original heart?"

"Why not?"

Chen Chuyang smiled, raised his right hand, pointed at the sky: "I want this heaven to not be able to cover my eyes."

"……"

"I want this earth."

Elder Xinran hastily raised her hand: "Wait, don't say it—some words must not be spoken recklessly; you'd better stop here."

She didn't want to hear what came next; it would cause trouble.

Some words you know in your heart, but you must not provoke heaven and earth.

"Boom—"

Thunder rose from flat ground.

Thunder rumbled.

It seemed, heaven was angry.

Elder Xinran felt fortunate she had stopped him in time, preventing Chen Chuyang from speaking fully; otherwise, this place might have to endure heaven and earth's wrath.

Heavenly punishment could possibly descend; those words of Chen Chuyang were a disrespect to heaven and earth.

Chen Chuyang turned around, having finished putting on his act when needed; he was very satisfied with Elder Xinran's attitude.

"Elder Xinran, you're already old."

"And I, I'm still young."

"You're afraid, but I—I'm not afraid, nor will I be fearful."

Elder Xinran was stunned again.

She felt something was off, yet seeing Chen Chuyang's appearance, she still unconsciously froze.

She didn't speak, nor did she… voice an opinion.

Instead, she stared blankly at him, gazing at him.

After a long while, Elder Xinran lowered her head and spoke softly: "Such words, from now on you'd better not say them—it's for your own good."

"Chen Chuyang, I know you're very aspiring and ambitious, but this heaven and earth are not as simple as you imagine."

"Heaven and earth will not allow you to speak like that, nor will they allow you to act that way."

"Between us, talking about this is fine, but you must not make the move you just did."

Elder Xinran felt some lingering fear, and gave him a serious warning.

Chen Chuyang didn't care; heaven and earth—so what, he wasn't the slightest bit afraid.

However, some things still need to consider their impact.

Though heaven and earth are incomplete, even a rotting boat has three nails' worth of strength.

"Elder Xinran, extend your hand."

Elder Xinran instinctively complied; Chen Chuyang placed his hand on her right hand, examining the sword qi within her body.

After not seeing each other for a while, the sword qi had increased.

It wasn't as much as before, nor as terrifying; these sword qi were much more docile.

They could be controlled by her, yet some of the sword qi within her body remained unruly.

"One more time, and it will be healed."

"Your sword qi can basically be controlled; after this configuration of the medicinal liquid, you will be able to fully master yourself."

"Your heart-sword Dao can also advance a step."

The words paused for a moment.

Chen Chuyang said again: "Have you figured out how to break through?"

Elder Xinran laughed: "Naturally it's a direct breakthrough—how else could one break through?"

The sword Dao, the way of the sword cultivator, differs from other cultivation paths.

There aren't so many reservations; improving oneself is simply improvement.

Unlike those other cultivators, their strength lies within themselves.

Of course, they also suffer suppression from heaven and earth, just not as severely.

Moreover, she has her own methods; these sects all have some special ways, otherwise they couldn't have endured this long.

As for this, Chen Chuyang didn't bother with it, and he didn't want to either.

He can do it himself; other factions naturally have a way, otherwise they'd be too useless.

One cannot underestimate any person, any sect, any sect that can stand firm in heaven and earth for hundreds or thousands of years; they all have their foundation.

This time, I want to change your method, to speed up your mastery of the Technique.

Chen Chuyang took out the Alchemy Furnace; this time, all the Items were thrown inside, and Xinran Zhanglao did the same.

You, dare to go in?

She, does she trust Chen Chuyang?

Xinran Zhanglao nodded and directly entered the Alchemy Furnace.

Chen Chuyang laughed, began to add the spiritual herbs and ignite them.

The Item appeared.

Wrapping around her surroundings, the Alchemy Furnace lid was closed, and the Formation was activated.

Flames wrapped around Xinran Zhanglao, beginning the first round of burning.

The burning was swift; that layer of Item was devoured, refined, the flames burned, and the Technique within Xinran Zhanglao's body was gradually burned and absorbed.

Chen Chuyang extracted the Technique from the Alchemy Furnace with both hands, sending it into his own Golden Core; the sword-path seed began to devour, becoming his own Technique.

Devouring, merging, improving.

Chen Chuyang's heart sword path was also improving; this rate of improvement was very fast.

Three days later.

Chen Chuyang maintained this posture; Shang Yue walked out of the pot, went to bathe on his own, then cleaned all the Items inside the pot, being self-aware, needing no instruction from Chen Chuyang.

Shang Hongxue came to see Chen Chuyang several times, not disturbing him; others were also busy with their own affairs.

Everyone was busy, but had no time to attend to Chen Chuyang.

As for food and drink, it was all handled by Liu Yuer and her mother; they had adapted to their identities.

On Longshe Shan, everything had entered the proper track.

Heishanyang glanced, then continued lying there, not knowing whether it was digesting or cultivating.

After the little carp returned, it didn't wake up, digesting the absorbed Wild Dragon Snake blood and so on, entering a dormant state; it is not Heishanyang, which can digest quickly; the little carp, with relatively weak strength and cultivation, needs a long time to digest.

"Hum."

The Alchemy Furnace vibrated; the Technique was completely devoured.

All of it was drawn out by Chen Chuyang, becoming part of him.

Devouring, merging, comprehending, enhancing one's sword path.

Chen Chuyang stopped cultivating and opened the lid.

A figure flew out, surrounded by Technique, the Technique fierce.

Her long skirt fluttered, she hovered in the sky, lowered her head, and surveyed all.

Her eyes were icy, the Technique biting cold; whoever she looked at, none failed to lower their head.

That sword momentum was too terrifying; ordinary people could not withstand it.

Xinran Zhanglao lingered a moment, then slowly descended.

"Thank you."

He cupped his fists, expressing gratitude.