Chapter 395: Refining the Void into Reality, obtaining the Nine Swords, ascending in broad daylight, the Flood Dragon emerges

【The Demon Master and the others were filled with disbelief.】

【Purple Qi suddenly came from the east at the horizon, with the Three Flowers gathering at the crown!】

【This is the omen of feathering and becoming an immortal recorded in Daoist classics; how could it appear on a person whose Yang Spirit is about to dissipate?】

【The Demon Master thought of a possibility, "Could it be?"】

【The Second Gentleman smiled lightly, "In the end, I have finally achieved it, but unfortunately... it is too late."】

【"That Lu Chen from back then, I do not know what level he had penetrated to; he only spent sixty years to ascend from this realm."】

【"I am far from his equal!"】

【The Second Gentleman slowly spread his left palm, and between his slender fingers, a golden lotus seed seemed to be slowly rotating.】

【The body that had already dissipated gradually solidified, presenting colors of cyan and purple.】

【The lotus seed flew out from his palm, then exhaled purple rays of light.】

【A world of floating light and fleeting shadows appeared, like a mirage laid out before the few of them.】

【Lu Hua looked over; it was a desolate and bleak world.】

【The golden lotus seed flew into it, like a seed drilling into the soil; in an instant, clear streams emerged from the cracked earth, gathering into a pond, upon which grew a patch of lotus flowers and leaves—pink-white petals and pink stamens, green lotus leaves, layered and overlapping.】

【Behind the broad lotus leaves, the water rippled gently. A crimson carp swam out leisurely, its scales shimmering with golden light under the moonlight.】

【In an instant, a lotus pond actually appeared before the Demon Master and the other three, with lotus leaves stretching out and lotus flowers standing tall, almost condensing into physical reality!】

【Master Lianchi's withered fingers trembled slightly:】

【"Refining the Void into Reality."】

【Ripples appeared in his turbid eyes, as if he had seen the realm of "One Thought Producing a Lotus" recorded in Buddhist classics.】

【Alas!】

【Before the lotus pond could fully solidify, it collapsed like a reflection in a mirror or the moon in the water. The swimming fish in the ripples turned into specks of golden light, dissipating between heaven and earth.】

【Only four lotus flowers remained, their fragrance overflowing.】

【The Second Gentleman sighed softly, the cinnabar red jade between his brows suddenly dimming:】

【"In the end, it cannot be done."】

【"Before dawn breaks today, I fear I will be unable to remain in this world."】

【The Second Gentleman looked at the crowd with a faint smile, "Today's kindness cannot be repaid; let these four lotus flowers serve as a memento."】

【The four lotus flowers flew into the hands of the Demon Master and the others.】

【The Demon Master stared at the nearly physical lotus flower in his hand, his eyes thoughtful.】

【The Second Gentleman smiled slightly, his tone carrying a touch of emotion, "Yu Shixiong, my life has been one of swift grudges and gratitudes, laughing at princes and nobles; though many revere me, and not a few follow me, those who can truly speak with me are few and far between."】

【"Yu Shixiong, you are one of the few people I have admired in this life, and you have always been a good Yu Shixiong in my heart."】

【The Second Gentleman lifted his hand gently, and the crystal-clear cyan lotus flower before him, its petals like jade, slowly bloomed.】

【"Yu Shixiong, this Gentleman Lotus is the Dao of vitality I realized between life and death, transformed from a wisp of spiritual energy condensed when I opened the Tianmen. You are severely injured today; by consuming this lotus daily for seven days, you will not only recover your physical body, but your cultivation can also advance to a higher level."】

【The First Gentleman stared at the cyan lotus flower in his hand, a vigorous vitality overflowing from it.】

【He did not say much, silently putting the lotus flower away. The opportunity for ascension in this life had already arrived; no one seeking the Dao would easily give it up.】

【The First Gentleman nodded slightly, his tone carrying a touch of gratitude: "Thank you, Junior Brother."】

【The Second Gentleman's gaze shifted, landing on Master Lianchi, "This is the Buddha Mountain Lotus, which can help one shed their mortal shell and wash away the leaden dust; it is quite fitting for you."】

【Master Lianchi pressed his palms together and respectfully received this golden lotus flower.】

【The Second Gentleman looked at the Demon Master again; before him appeared a deep blue lotus flower, its petals like waves, with the faint sound of flowing water: "This Heavy Water Flower can nourish the Primordial Spirit and help your Dao Heart Demon Planting reach the Perfected State."】

【The Demon Master accepted it gladly, "Thank you, Second Gentleman."】

【Finally, the Second Gentleman's gaze fell upon Lu Chen, revealing a twin-lotus, its petals growing in pairs, light flowing: "Your talent is peerless, and you lack no techniques; this twin-lotus is most suitable for you and can help you penetrate this destiny-bound opportunity."】

【Lu Chen could not hide his joy, respectfully receiving the lotus flower before him, his eyes full of gratitude.】

【The Second Gentleman finally cast his gaze upon Xie Guan, his eyes carrying a touch of a smile, and he spoke slowly: "Back then, in the Hongjing Yuan of Xie Fu, I left behind three characters, and hidden within the lake were my Nine Swords. You took the Demon-Slaying and Ghost-Slaying swords; this is the opportunity you deserve."】

He said in a calm tone, "Today, I shall officially bestow the Nine Swords upon you."

"You may also be considered my closing disciple."

Before his voice had even faded, an ink-colored flood dragon suddenly emerged from the Second Master's sleeve; its body was like ink, and its scales shimmered with a deep, profound luster.

The flood dragon gently coiled around his wrist, appearing reluctant to part, as if unwilling to leave.

The Second Master smiled slightly, raised his hand, and gave a light tap; only then did the flood dragon soar into the air, transforming into a stream of ink-colored light that flew straight toward Xie Guan.

Xie Guan did not block it, allowing the ink-colored flood dragon to fly into the center of his brow and merge into his Niwan Palace; it turned out to be the last remaining character from the lake!

In an instant, his mind was shaken, and seven sharp sword intents suddenly emerged within his sea of consciousness, their sword light like frost, their sharpness fully revealed.

Feeling the surging sword intent within his body, Xie Guan bowed respectfully and, without realizing it, changed his form of address: "This disciple thanks you, Master, for bestowing the sword!"

The Second Master smiled with gratification, looked at Xie Guan, and said slowly with a profound gaze: "There are many varieties of lotuses in the lotus pond; there is the Chaoti Temple Lotus, which can save you twenty years of bitter cultivation; there is the Desk Spring Lotus, which can help you make a thousand miles of progress in your comprehension of sword intent in a single day."

His tone paused, carrying a relaxed and leisurely smile: "But after thinking it over, you are much stronger than I was when I was young; you are a person of talent."

As he spoke, the Second Master made a light stroke with his hand, and a white lotus, as pure as snow, quietly emerged; its petals were crystal clear, as if unstained by any dust.

He walked personally to Xie Guan and handed the white lotus over, saying in a gentle tone: "This is just an ordinary white lotus; it has no special use."

"It emerges from the silt without being stained, and is washed by clear ripples without being seductive. This white lotus is quite a perfect match for a young man like you."

Upon hearing this, you solemnly accepted the white lotus.

The Second Master turned around, his wide sleeves fluttering in the wind, his smile free and indifferent.

"Cai Yu'an, I depart!"

As his voice fell, his figure began to gradually dissipate; the blue and purple intertwined phantom became transparent under the moonlight, as if merging into one with heaven and earth.

"Respectfully sending off the Second Master!"

The Demon Master and the others also had solemn expressions and bowed respectfully.

The Second Master smiled lightly, looked one last time toward the direction of the Yao Xian Lou, and then his figure gradually dissipated into the river mist.

Just at this moment!

A golden radiance suddenly shone down from above the nine heavens, as if the firmament had been torn open, and the golden light spilled down, illuminating the Second Master.

The figure that had already begun to dissipate unexpectedly re-condensed under the shroud of the golden brilliance, surrounded by thousands of auspicious vapors, with illusory cranes dancing gracefully beside him.

The Demon Master and the others were shocked and looked up one after another, only to see jade towers and pavilions faintly visible above the golden light, as if a fairyland had descended into the human world.

The towering Tianmen that had originally dissipated now reappeared, blooming with brilliant radiance, as if it were a portal leading to another world.

Master Lianchi could not help but blurt out, his voice carrying undisguised shock: "This is... the guidance for ascension!"

A look of surprise also appeared on the Second Master's face; he raised his head slightly, his gaze piercing through layers of golden light, looking toward the unreachable firmament.

A light of guidance descended from the nine heavens, the seven-colored clouds brilliant and dazzling, as if connecting heaven and earth, linking the mortal world with the Immortal Realm.

Two sharp sword lights suddenly ignited in the Second Master's eyes.

His gaze seemed to have captured a figure—it was a man, overlooking heaven and earth, who then quietly vanished into nothingness.

The Second Master smiled, his expression composed.

He bowed solemnly toward heaven and earth, and then his entire body transformed into a stream of light.

The Second Master finally glimpsed a trace of heavenly secrets, looked at the few people below, and said, "This era is the time for ascension; the heavenly timing has arrived!"

"Everyone, within ten years, the Tianmen will open again."

After speaking, he went straight up to the nine heavens and merged into that towering Tianmen.

In the night sky, the Tianmen slowly closed and vanished without a trace in an instant, leaving behind only a pitch-black night sky and cold moonlight.

The crowd remained silent for a long time, with only the river breeze blowing gently.

This scene came quickly and went quickly, vanishing in a flash.

The First Master, Xu Xian, stared at the night sky for a long time before slowly speaking, his tone carrying a touch of emotion and gratification.

"Junior Brother, it seems he has truly ascended."

Master Lianchi pressed his palms together, his expression calm yet unable to hide his shock: "It seems that the matter of ascension is not as difficult as the legends say."

"At least today, we witnessed this scene with our own eyes."

Xu Jiangxian, however, furrowed his brows and asked in confusion: "But just a moment ago, the Second Master was clearly at the end of his strength, his energy exhausted; how could he, in the blink of an eye, be..."

Lu Hua, however, had a joyful expression: "Heaven does not fail those who work hard! The Second Master spent his life seeking the Dao, and today he attained the Dao and ascended; this is truly Heaven rewarding diligence."

The three-thousand-year grand plan of the San Zhen Yi Jiao finally had hope.

For her, this was undoubtedly exciting good news.

The Demon Master repeatedly chewed on the words the Second Master had left behind: "This era is the time for ascension; the heavenly timing has arrived!", "Within ten years, the Tianmen will open again!"

A flash of realization crossed his eyes, as if he had glimpsed some heavenly secret within them.

On the other side, after a period of regulating his breath, Xu Jiangxian's vitality gradually recovered; he operated the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Technique, and his originally severed lower body began to be wrapped in dense demonic energy, gradually condensing into new limbs. It was just that this body condensed from demonic arts appeared ferocious and terrifying, far less aesthetically pleasing than his original physical body.

The First Master took the lotus bestowed by the Second Master, and his originally broken body began to grow muscle, bone, and flesh buds at a speed visible to the naked eye, bursting with vitality.

This scene greatly moved the Demon Master; it seemed the Second Master had truly attained enlightenment at the final moment, refining the void into reality—it was indeed profoundly mysterious.

His gaze fell upon the lotus in his hand, a flash of anticipation crossing his eyes; the harvest from this trip to Bianjing far exceeded his expectations.

Everything seemed to have settled!

The mist on the river surface gradually dissipated, and tranquility returned to heaven and earth.

However!

The First Master suddenly spoke: "You loach, how much longer do you intend to hide?"

The surroundings were silent, and the river surface was calm and undisturbed.

A smile appeared on the Demon Master's face; with his hands behind his back, he cast his gaze toward the river surface.

One could see that on the nearest part of the river, the surface was calm and still, and even the sparkling light from the flowing water had disappeared.

Master Lianchi also pressed his palms together, his tone peaceful yet carrying a touch of majesty: "Benefactor, please reveal yourself."

The Demon Master laughed: "How could a normal river surface have no sound of waves?"

After he finished speaking, the nearby river surface began to have ripples from the downstream current.

The First Master spat out a "Spring and Autumn Brush" sword intent, which was like a rainbow, striking directly at the river surface.

In an instant!

The river surface exploded violently, water splashing everywhere, and a black shadow shot up from the water, accompanied by a low roar like both a cow and a tiger, shaking the surrounding air.

The black shadow twisted in the water, a faint light rippling behind it, transforming into a stream of light as it seemed to want to take this opportunity to escape. A passage unfolded out of thin air, and it looked as if it were about to be teleported away.

"Petty tricks, daring to be presumptuous in front of me." The First Master gave a cold snort; his life-bound art was "Carefree Wandering," wandering heaven and earth, unrestrained—how could a mere escape technique escape his discerning eyes?

In an instant, the black figure was forcibly struck out when it had only half-escaped; the joy on its face gradually solidified, replaced by a touch of solemnity and fear.

The black shadow circled in mid-air for a moment, then transformed into a man in black robes, landing steadily on the riverbank.

The man had a sinister face, with a ghostly light flickering in his eyes.

Seeing this, Lu Hua gave a cheerful laugh: "Long Yi, hiding your head and showing your tail is not exactly an honorable act."

The Demon Master gave a cold laugh: "This one has been wanting to sit back and reap the rewards of the fisherman all along."

The man in black robes was none other than the flood dragon of Ze Lake, who had been lurking in the water, waiting for an opportunity to act.

He had originally been intimidated by the First Master's scholarly appearance and prestige, fleeing far away, but in the end, he could not bear to part with such "heavenly treasures" in Xie Guan's hands, and could not help but return, attempting to fish in troubled waters.

Unexpectedly, he saw the true Master appear, scaring him out of his wits, yet he was too afraid to flee.

Later, the Master fell, the Second Master appeared, and he hid in the water, glimpsing many secrets.

Little did he know that the Second Master, the Demon Master, the First Master, and others had long since discerned the secret of his lurking at the bottom of the river.

Neither the Master nor the Second Master wished to waste a moment of time on him, so they paid him no mind.

The man in black robes, transformed from the flood dragon, had an increasingly gloomy face; his gaze was like a torch, scanning the crowd, his voice hoarse and muffled: "Why... must you force me so?"

Inside the Academy, on the fifth floor.

It happened to be the moment of the Second Master's ascension, when the Tianmen suddenly appeared.

At this moment!

On the low white bed hidden behind the beaded curtain, the one-armed old man who had been lying there without any sign of life began to have his heart beat, and he slowly opened his eyelids.

(End of chapter)