[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-borrowing-the-sword":3,"chapter-borrowing-the-sword-borrowing-the-sword-chapter-104":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Borrowing the Sword",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},2214669,3888,"Chapter 104: Audience with the True Person","borrowing-the-sword-chapter-104",104,"\u003Cp>Audience with the True Person\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Ci had not been away for very long, just over two years. Everything in the sect seemed unchanged, except that her cave dwelling had been tidied up into a riot of flowers by the maidservants sent by True Person Wang. The few sect members she originally had were now one after another opening their meridians to cultivate, managing her secondary residence at Zhuiyue Cliff. Hearing that their master had returned, they naturally came to greet her. Ruan Ci had slept for several days, and they dared not leave for even a moment, fearing a lapse in etiquette. But Ruan Ci had no time to see them. After asking that everything was fine, she sent word for He Tong and Li Ji, the two who had come to pay their respects, to cultivate for a few more days in the cave dwelling. The spiritual energy of Zixu Heaven was naturally far superior to the outside world, which could be considered their good fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This trip out had certainly been full of ups and downs and was wonderfully extraordinary, but it was also fraught with danger. Returning to Zixu Heaven now and resting so wantonly, she felt that the hidden vigilance in her heart had melted away like ice and snow, and she felt a sense of freedom like a long-traveled person returning home. Ruan Ci was in no hurry to see the True Person. She said to Tianlu, \"The True Person only said to see him when I wake up, but didn't say when. It's been a long time since I've seen my master, and it's rare to return to the mountain. Shouldn't I bathe and burn incense, and tidy myself up properly before daring to have an audience?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tianlu missed Ruan Ci very much and was obedient to her in every way. Although Wang Panpan was very disapproving on the side, he acted as if he didn't see it and smiled, \"Then Miss Ci should eat something first. I asked the spiritual chef who serves the True Person to cook a table of good dishes for Miss Ci. Miss Ci seems to have lost weight outside, so you should nourish yourself well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Ci was naturally very satisfied, but Wang Panpan couldn't stand Tianlu's spineless appearance. Seeing that Tianlu was just pestering Ruan Ci and acting like a spoiled child, it jumped to the window and curled up to sleep. Tianlu rubbed against Ruan Ci, and couldn't help but rub his face against Ruan Ci's shoulder again. Ruan Ci laughed, \"Tianlu, it seems only cats would rub against people like this to leave their scent. Are you a cat-deer?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tianlu's face turned slightly red. He grabbed the two hair buns on top of his head to show his innocence and defended himself, \"After Miss Ci left, I went back to the pavilion to work. The True Person is usually in seclusion, and few people come to the pavilion. I wanted to work faster, so I turned back into my original form to run faster in the pavilion. I've probably been in that form for too long, so even though I've transformed into a human now, I still have a trace of deer nature. When I went to see Miss Fengyu a few days ago, I couldn't help but rub against her several times.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Ci asked about Qin Fengyu. She had nothing major. Once she returned to the mountain and rested for two days, she had already gone into seclusion to charge toward the Core Formation stage. Once she entered meditation, it would be at least a year. If it didn't go well, it could take ten or twenty years, depending on when the most suitable timing for achieving Core Formation appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke, a table of banquet dishes was already set. The taste was naturally perfect, using all precious spiritual materials from the Foundation Establishment stage. This was naturally Tianlu going to the warehouse again, using True Person Wang's chicken feather as an arrow to get some benefits for Ruan Ci. Ruan Ci ate a few mouthfuls and thought of the delicious spiritual food in the Hengze Heaven, and couldn't help but laugh, \"It's a pity. The spiritual food in the Eternal Dao City must be very delicious, but when Fengyu and I ate it, it was like eating mud; we couldn't taste anything. On this journey, only in the Jinbo Market did I eat some good things that were palatable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she was with Qu Tanyue, the two of them only cared about talking and didn't pay attention to their appetite. Ruan Ci mentioned the Jinbo Market and remembered, \"By the way, I also bought some spiritual tea for Master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Person Wang, as a Cave Heaven True Person, not to mention being wealthy, the amount of materials he held was unimaginable to Ruan Ci. Why would he care about her little intentions? When Ruan Ci bought it, she thought that since she had forcibly made Wang Panpan live in Zixu Heaven, True Person Wang must not be very happy, so sending some things could be considered an apology. For some reason, returning to the sect now, she felt that it was a bit embarrassing to give it away. After hesitating for a moment, she took it out and handed it to Tianlu, saying, \"It's not anything good, just keep it. You don't need to tell the True Person specifically.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sighed again, \"There's nothing good in the Jinbo Market. I wanted to buy some fun things for you, but I didn't see any. Later, when I was looking at Yiyunbei, there was a peddler selling immortal paintings. I wanted to buy a black and white flying bear to look at with you when I got back. Do you know the black and white flying bear? It's a kind of monster in the Green Jade Hall. I haven't seen what it looks like, I just heard it's extremely cute. It's a pity he didn't have a painting of it. Later I asked him, and he said he hadn't seen a black and white flying bear and couldn't paint it, and wanted me to go to the Green Jade Hall with him to catch one, take a good look, and then give me a painting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them whispered, talking about these trivial matters, but they did so with great interest. Ruan Ci couldn't care about buying any gifts later, but Tianlu didn't care at all. His eyes were bright and shiny as he said, \"I don't like anything, I just like to hear about all the fresh things in the Langhuan Zhou Tian. Miss Ci went to the Eternal Dao City in the Hengze Heaven; Miss Fengyu already told me. She didn't go in, so she doesn't know much. What exactly is in that Eternal Dao City? I can't wait for Miss Ci to tell me about every single thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Ci was about to tell him, but Tianlu didn't dare to listen, saying, \"The True Person hasn't heard about it in detail yet, how dare I listen first?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the one who arranged the banquet for Ruan Ci, but now because he was anxious to hear these things, he wished Ruan Ci would finish eating quickly. But thinking about it this way, his arrangement was very inappropriate. Tianlu was so anxious that sweat beaded on the tip of his nose. Ruan Ci saw through his thoughts at a glance and felt he was extremely cute. She had seen too many clever, resourceful, and deep-thinking people when she went out. Now that she was with Tianlu, she loved his innocence even more and laughed, \"Then let's go to Master's place quickly, and when we come back, we'll arrange the banquet properly and set up another table.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This remark hit the nail on the head for Tianlu. He nodded like a garlic-pounding machine and led Ruan Ci out. Ruan Ci took time out of her busy schedule to touch Wang Panpan and said, \"You just have to wait a little while.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Panpan turned over and exposed its chin for Ruan Ci to scratch, looking extremely cooperative. It was unknown if it was afraid that Ruan Ci would take it to True Person Wang to listen together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them fussed for a few hours and finally got on the flying carriage, heading toward the high cliff courtyard where True Person Wang lived daily. Ruan Ci also inquired whether Chi Pengpeng had returned to the mountain. Tianlu said, \"The Hengze Heaven was open for a year, which is considered short. The illusion in the Wan Diegu might take several years. That bad girl probably hasn't come back yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could never forget the flying carriage he borrowed, and also talked about the movements of disciples like Lin Xianen, \"They are all cultivating properly in the sect. I'm afraid they will all reach Foundation Establishment within these ten years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Ci had only been in the sect for twelve years and was already at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment. Her cultivation speed had left her fellow disciples far behind. Even Ruan Rong was still in seclusion in the Seven Stars Small Building. Two years of time was just an insignificant period in their boring cultivation, but for Ruan Ci, she had already experienced many stories. She couldn't wait to ask True Person Wang many questions. As soon as she arrived at the high cliff courtyard, she jumped off the flying carriage, rushed into the room, and called out, \"Master, disciple is here to pay respects! I missed you so much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words were spoken without sincerity, just casually said to please True Person Wang. When she was away, she missed Tianlu more times than she missed True Person Wang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Person Wang was here in his Cave Heaven true body. A faint glance from him had its own majesty. Ruan Ci was glanced at by him, and her willfulness and impetuosity faded slightly. She knelt down and performed the ceremony according to the rules. She wanted to climb up without waiting for True Person Wang to speak, but when she moved, she remembered the etiquette, so she stuck out her tongue and knelt there properly again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tianlu followed her and broke in. Seeing Ruan Ci kneeling there, his footsteps paused. Remembering that he was also a bit rude, he backed away a few steps and slipped out. True Person Wang shook his head slightly and said to Ruan Ci, \"As soon as you come back, you've made my spiritual pet wild too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No joy or anger could be heard in his words. In the end, he waved his hand to signal Ruan Ci to get up on her own. The furnishings in the room were very simple, still just a bed and a chime, with nothing else. Ruan Ci looked left and right, not knowing where to sit. It wouldn't do to sit next to True Person Wang by the bed. Just as she was hesitating, Tianlu walked in steadily with a tea tray and said, \"True Person, Miss Ci's filial piety is commendable. She bought some spiritual tea for you at a high price.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing him say this, Ruan Ci felt embarrassed. Thinking about it now, the spiritual tea was bought casually in the Jinbo Market, how could it match True Person Wang's status? Tianlu seemed to be completely unaware of her expression. As he spoke, he pointed to the ground, and a jade table and a embroidered stool appeared. Ruan Ci took the opportunity to sit on the embroidered stool. Tianlu gave her a wink, so Ruan Ci had to pick up the teacup from the tea tray and offer it, \"Master, please drink tea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Person Wang took the jade cup with his long fingers, and a smile finally appeared on his lips, but he didn't drink it. He just sniffed it slightly and put it down. Ruan Ci thought he didn't like the tea she bought and felt a bit resentful in her heart, thinking, \"I won't buy you tea again in the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she thought this, True Person Wang said, \"Where is the Jade Dew? Why haven't you taken it out yet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Fengyu had naturally already told him. Ruan Ci hurriedly took out the jade bottle and handed it to True Person Wang. True Person Wang picked up the jade bottle with his long fingers and stared at it for a moment. A look of satisfaction finally appeared on his face. Tianlu didn't miss the opportunity to say, \"True Person, have you decided which of the nine countries to take for use?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Hengze Jade Dew watered the spiritual mountain, the output of the spiritual mountain would belong to the Shangqing Sect, and the sect would allocate the output of one of the nine countries under the mountain to Zixu Heaven. This millennium of output must not be a small number. Zixu Heaven had a shallow foundation, and with this nourishment, it was believed that it could gradually catch up with other Cave Heavens in terms of assets. This was all the benefit Ruan Ci had earned for Zixu Heaven—and True Person Wang accepted all of this, but was unwilling to drink a cup of her tea!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Ci couldn't help but pout her mouth and made a sour face there. True Person Wang saw it and couldn't help but chuckle slightly, then asked her, \"What about the East Flower remnants? Did you get them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was serious business, so Ruan Ci had to put down her little resentment and hurriedly said, \"I got two things in the Hengze Heaven, I don't know what they are, and I don't know which one is the East Flower Sword Intent. But I got some in the Huangshou Mountain, and my cultivation has improved because of it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, she had actually burned incense to report to True Person Wang halfway through, but at this moment, she started from the beginning and told True Person Wang everything that happened after she went out in detail, even the friends she made along the way, except for Xiao Su and Qu Tanyue, she didn't hide anything from True Person Wang. She had many stories on this journey, and it took several hours to tell them slowly. Tianlu was anxious, happy, and regretful for a while. True Person Wang listened without changing his expression, so he made enough reactions for two people by himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The part in Huangshou Mountain was fine. After getting on the boat, Tianlu began to hold his breath. When he heard how Ruan Ci judged that the Hengze Heaven was a remnant of the old universe, and how she and Qin Fengyu were unable to integrate into the Dao City because of this, and later by chance she entered the city, and even the various changes in the Eternal Dao City, and how everyone climbed the Dao foundation, and what scenes they saw on each level, and how they used Xiao Su to get the Dew-Bearing Plate, and came to the turning point of the Dao struggle, and obtained the Hengze Jade Dew from the Phoenix's blood tears, and was given some things by True Person Hengze, and extinguished the illusion array, and escaped from the sea through the tunnel, and was fixed by spiritual pressure in the sea, and had to trigger the Hengze Jade Dew, and was injected by something inexplicable in the Treasure Cloud Sea, and a series of strange changes, he couldn't help but exclaim, staring at Ruan Ci with big eyes without blinking, almost dancing with joy to express his emotions, but he was afraid that this would delay him from continuing to listen to the story, so he had to force himself to endure it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Ci omitted all the narratives related to the Dao Ancestors. Some were intentional, but some were impossible, such as the fall of the Phoenix. She saw many details, but in the end, she could only say one sentence, 'The Yin-Yang Five Elements Dao Ancestor killed them all'. But True Person Wang did not pursue it. He at least knew that Ruan Ci was hiding a very critical magic weapon, which was the silver hairpin, but Ruan Ci didn't say it, and he didn't ask. Ruan Ci told the experience until the two met again on the clouds, and then stopped. The first question that floated into her heart at this time was about the Dao struggle. \"Master, in your opinion, why can't those cultivators return to the Langhuan Zhou Tian?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Person Wang did not answer immediately, but asked, \"What did you think at the time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Ci stammered, \"I just thought, True Person Hengze has already lost in the Dao struggle, so this Dao struggle is also destined to fail. Being in it may not be a good thing, and it may perish with the final battle. I have already seen how the Yin-Yang Five Elements Dao Ancestor killed that innate Phoenix during my cultivation in Huangshou Mountain. If that sword was also reproduced on the battlefield, all the Dao soldiers here in Hengze Heaven might die. —Of course, maybe this is just my wild imagination, and it may not end like this in the end, but no matter what, it's only a few months in the Hengze Heaven, and it's not worth taking such a risk for the reward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn't expect that in the end, the illusion array disappeared, and everyone was safe and sound, but they couldn't return to the Langhuan Zhou Tian at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Person Wang did not laugh at Ruan Ci, but said, \"With your knowledge, being able to think of these things is still... not stupid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, and Tianlu gave Ruan Ci an affirmative look, as if saying that Ruan Ci was actually very smart. True Person Wang acted as if he didn't see it and said lightly, \"After you got the Dew-Bearing Plate, if you hadn't extinguished the illusion array, those Hengze Dao soldiers might have died at that time. The sword issued by the Yin-Yang Dao Ancestor, except for mortals who can be spared, the cause and effect spread, and all cultivators of the Hengze Dao lineage would be killed. Although it was in the illusion array, they had already entered the array. If the master of the illusion array didn't have special arrangements, the illusion array would continue to operate according to certain laws. You saved their lives at that time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Ci couldn't help but say, \"This is also my thought. I thought that since I turned off the illusion array in time, maybe they wouldn't die. But I didn't expect that they couldn't return to the Langhuan Zhou Tian—I met a person in the Hengze Heaven, and she told me that she was a dream within a dream, a remnant of a remnant, a void of a void. Is it because they were contaminated with too much of the void's aura, so they were rejected by the real numbers?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Person Wang stared at Ruan Ci for a moment before saying, \"It's not like that. After the illusion array is extinguished, the level you are in is already real numbers. Cultivators who are contaminated with too much void aura and cannot return to real numbers will merge into the void with the illusion array and cannot come out. Since they can return to real numbers, it shows that contamination with aura is not the problem. —Before they joined the city defense, did they know it was a Dao struggle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Ci murmured, \"They knew.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Person Wang asked again, \"Did they know who the enemy was?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Ci said, \"Although it wouldn't be specifically mentioned, if asked, they would all say it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Person Wang said, \"Did they contribute to killing the Yin-Yang Dao soldiers?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Ci stammered, \"Does contributing count? Senior Brother Li and Junior Brother Fan also contributed to building the city wall array disk...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Person Wang asked her to draw the array disk, looked at it twice, and said coldly, \"What they built was only a secondary array map, which only served for defense. If this array map had killed even one Dao soldier, I'm afraid they wouldn't be able to come out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though this matter had nothing to do with her, Ruan Ci's cold sweat couldn't help but trickle down—the horror of this cultivation world is not in the real sword and gun fighting, but in one wrong step, and the body and Dao will perish. This step might just be building a small array map for one side in the illusion array!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then, does that mean... if any cultivator, knowing that the opponent is the Yin-Yang Five Elements Dao Ancestor, still contributes to the Hengze Heaven and has killed the Five Elements Dao soldiers, even in the illusion array, they will be rejected by this universe from now on and can no longer return to the real numbers?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn't this the common sense of the world? Knowing that you are you, yet still attacking you, and even causing you damage, even if this damage is extremely small, do you still not recognize him as an enemy?\" True Person Wang asked back, \"Since he is your enemy, how can you allow him to enter your Dao domain? Isn't this universe the Dao domain of the Yin-Yang Five Elements Dao Ancestor? Since they have already become enemies with the Yin-Yang Dao Ancestor, the Yin-Yang Dao rhyme will never allow them to enter the Dao domain for a single step. If they were allowed to come in, it would be very bad news for this universe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Ci had nothing to argue, \"But—that's an illusion array!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For you, it's an illusion array, but for the Dao Ancestor, time, space, truth and illusion, cause and effect are all just hourglasses in his hands, which can be reversed at will.\" True Person Wang said lightly, \"Even in the Cave Heaven, there are people who can touch these rules. For example, the Heaven Boat you once rode. At that time, you only rode it and didn't understand the principles. It was like an ignorant baby. Now that you understand a little bit of human affairs, think about it again. It anchors cause and effect, and being in front of the action, isn't it a kind of supernatural power that manipulates cause and effect in its hands?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Ci had already experienced the five senses of cultivators of various realms on those few levels of Dao foundation, and could also imagine the vision of Cave Heaven cultivators. Indeed, in the perception of Cave Heaven cultivators, time was no longer a river flowing downstream, but a solidified and twisted fragment, but it was not yet clearly seen. Because of this, she remembered True Person Qingshan. Her true body was so huge. Thinking about it, for True Person Qingshan, space might be a rule that could be slightly twisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had seen the spiritual energy star map of the Central Continent at the peak of Langhuan, and at that time, the Central Continent had the image of a giant holding a candle, which left a deep impression on Ruan Ci. This True Person Qingshan was holding a lantern, which was also an object that shone with light. Ruan Ci wanted to ask True Person Wang if that giant was True Person Qingshan, but suddenly remembered the black and white flipping eyes. She was most curious about this object, so she hurriedly asked, \"What about that Envoy? Is he also a Yin-Yang Dao soldier? He guards the Langhuan Heaven and doesn't allow True Person Hengze to escape! But he looks very bad! But his cultivation seems to be extremely high. Is this the peculiarity of the Dao soldiers under the Eternal Dao Ancestor?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Person Wang shook his head and said, \"His cultivation is indeed very high, even a notch above the Cave Heaven, but he is not a Yin-Yang Dao soldier, but a Dao slave of the Dongyang Dao Ancestor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dao slave? Cultivation even exceeding Cave Heaven?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Ci immediately fell into deeper confusion, \"Dao slave... what is a Dao slave?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Person Wang said lightly, \"Do you think that a Cave Heaven True Person has already lived for a long time, and apart from fighting each other, there is no danger of perishing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Updated, sorry for the long wait. The rhythm of these chapters will be relatively slow, mainly about the daily life of cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I said I would have a lucky draw before, so let's draw 100% subscription rate, 10000 JJ coins, draw 10 lucky readers~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I read a few articles yesterday that were quite good, but they are not suitable for recommendation...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to the little angels who cast overlord votes or irrigated nutrient solution for me between 2020-10-02 12:06:30 and 2020-10-03 12:00:03~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to the little angels who cast landmines: Yu Wanyao, Zhenjian Bisha kira, Moyu Junzi Zhou, Suan Suan Ningmeng, Huajiao Ya, Xiyue, 41927092, Long Qian, Qiran, Wu Mingya 1 each;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to the little angels who irrigated nutrient solution: iris 50 bottles; Zheyang A 40 bottles; clzmpess 20 bottles; Xuan, tracy, Mu Liu Feng Piao, Bai Rongrong, 37736068 10 bottles; Weiwei, Qinghou, Nalan Langyue, sidewalker, Mingji 5 bottles; Ginaaaaaa, Yisheng's Big Bacteria, Mo, Wa Wangwang, Cheng Bi 1 bottle;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank you all very much for your support, I will continue to work hard! \u003C\u002Fp>",4267,"2026-06-17T08:48:53.797Z","2026-06-18T03:10:38.119Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","e680b0293ff821a7d22d2b73f25d99c7e88f3885d6d988d5526ac2272aabd7be","borrowing-the-sword-chapter-105","borrowing-the-sword-chapter-103",286,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fborrowing-the-sword-cover.jpg"]