Chapter 569

Lin Jue looked at his several disciples and asked:

“How is your cultivation progressing?”

A tipsy fox stumbled past him, swaying and lurching.

“Master, I have trained diligently, read scriptures regularly, and cultivated my nature, but in recent years, my progress has slowed considerably,” Xu Yi said solemnly. “Thus, I’ve devoted more time and energy to deepening my own cultivation and comprehending the Dao of spells.”

“I’m much the same as my senior brother,” Pu Mei also spoke seriously. “In recent years, I’ve likewise devoted more time and energy to comprehending the Dao of spells.”

Lin Jue nodded as he listened.

Xu Yi’s natural talent was roughly equal to Pu Mei’s, perhaps slightly better—just barely.

Compared to Pu Mei, Xu Yi was more intelligent, which was an important gift; thus, with similar talent, he grasped insights faster and took fewer wrong turns. But Pu Mei was more diligent and invested more effort—this trait closely resembled Lin Jue and his junior sister.

Now their cultivation levels were nearly identical, clearly the result of Xu Yi’s intelligence and Pu Mei’s diligence pushing against each other.

Lin Jue turned to the other two disciples.

“I’m still catching up to my senior brothers and sister,” Xian Zhu said. Her natural talent was the best, and her quest for the Dao the strongest, yet in the illusion she practiced Yin-Yang Spirit Law, so her progress was average. But in reality, she cultivated the Five Elements Spirit Law, most suited to her, so her advancement was far faster—she had nearly caught up to her two senior siblings. Yet her “bottleneck” had come later, so she hadn’t yet felt her cultivation slow. “I still train diligently every day, striving to catch up to my senior brothers and sister soon.”

“I’m dull—I’ve only just learned Yin-Yang Spirit Law from my second senior sister, and only just learned the ‘Call Wind’ technique from my third senior sister.”

"Disciple is dull-witted; I’ve just begun learning Yin-Yang Spirit Art from Second Sister, and just now learned the 'Call Wind' technique from Third Sister."

Lin Jue nodded repeatedly in approval.

A tipsy fox stumbled past him again, lurching and swaying.

“Slowing cultivation is a sign of hitting a bottleneck,” Lin Jue explained after a moment. “It’s like an ordinary person training their body—progress is swift at first, then gradually stabilizes, until finally, strength ceases to grow.”

"Cultivation is slowing down—that’s a sign of hitting a bottleneck. It’s like an ordinary person training their body: at first progress comes quickly, then it gradually stabilizes, until finally, strength can no longer grow." Lin Jue thought for a moment and explained to his two disciples.

Xu Yi and Pu Mei stared at him intently.

Xian Zhu, though not yet experiencing this phase, and Wang Ran, who was utterly confused and felt nothing, listened just as seriously.

“Calm your mind. Don’t rush.”

Lin Jue’s talent was exceptional—the kind that, if granted the Great Yin-Yang Law, faced no obstruction, suffered no mishaps, and could attain True Immortality even without Spirit-Essence Pills or forging a Golden Core. The Spirit-Essence Pills merely hastened his attainment; the Golden Core broke through the Saintly Guardian’s interference and made him stronger after attaining True Immortality. He had never personally experienced this bottleneck.

But now that he had attained True Immortality, he saw the matter clearly from above.

“All cultivators in this world generally use three methods.

“First, cultivate earnestly, stabilize your heart, and slowly wear down the barrier with time. On this point, you’ve all eaten Yuanqiu fruit planted by the Old Heavenly Weng himself—

"First, cultivate earnestly, stabilize your mind, and slowly wear away at it with time. On this point, you’ve both eaten the Yuanqiu fruit grown by Old Heaven Weng himself,"

“Second, borrow external aids—like original fruit, or Spirit-Essence Pills. You’ve never lacked them.

“Third, travel elsewhere. Walk the world, seek opportunities, visit different famous mountains and sacred waters, absorb more spiritual resonance, and deepen your comprehension of Heaven and Earth. This brings new cultivation and insight, yielding fresh results.”

"Third, change your location, travel outside, seek opportunities, and experience different famous mountains and sacred waters, absorbing more spiritual resonance, deeply perceiving Heaven and Earth—this will bring new cultivation and insight, leading to fresh results."

The advantage of having a good master became immediately clear.

The tipsy fox had become two, and they were fighting each other.

Yet none of them paid attention.

“Master, when you speak of traveling, do you mean like Master Wan and the others—going out to seek opportunities?”

“Precisely,” Lin Jue said. “But they’re much older than you, so I sent them out. You’re still far from your limits, and your cultivation is still lacking. No need to rush. Instead, you may first wander around Qinzhou and its surroundings, hone your combat skills, and when the time comes, I’ll let you go.”

He paused, then asked: “By the way, how are your skills coming along?”

“Master, my ‘Flower Blooms Instantly’—well, I believe I’ve now reached a fairly advanced level. I’m also practicing and contemplating all other spells you’ve taught us.”

“Master, my object-control technique is now flawless—I wield flying blades as if they were extensions of my own limbs.”

“I’ve devoted myself to studying the Five Elements spells. When I have time, I visit Uncle Hongye at Red Leaf Pavilion and exchange insights with my cousin senior sister, so I’ve made progress,” Xian Zhu said. “Oh, I’ve also learned swordplay from my cousin senior sister—and made progress there too.”

"I’ve devoted myself to studying the Five Elements spells; in my spare time, I visit Red Leaf Pavilion to ask Uncle for guidance, and I exchange insights with Cousin Sister, so I’ve made some progress," Xian Zhu said. "By the way, I’ve also learned swordplay from Cousin Sister, and made progress there too."

Wang Ran scratched his head: “Besides ‘Call Wind,’ I’m learning spear techniques and martial arts from Master Luo.”

“As long as you’re progressing, you know your own state,” Lin Jue said. “Remember: the Dao is the path to immortality; the arts are the means to protect the Dao. When opportunity arises, chaos follows. When you descend the mountain, you’ll face demons, ghosts, evil spirits, and heretical Daoists—none easy to deal with.”

"Progress is good—you must know your own state. Remember, the Dao is the path to immortality, while techniques are the methods to protect the Dao. When opportunity arises, chaos follows. When you descend the mountain, what demons, ghosts, evil spirits, and heretical Daoists will you face? They won’t be easy to deal with."

“You three…”

Lin Jue pointed at Xu Yi, Pu Mei, and Xian Zhu: “I still have several powerful divine arts: Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell, Severed Yet Reconnected, Scattered Yet Reassembled, Stealing Life to Grant Longevity. Just as my own master once did, I’ll let each of you choose one. The last one I’ll save for my junior brother.”

Lin Jue pointed to Xu Yi, Pu Mei, and Xian Zhu: "I have a few more powerful spiritual arts: Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell, Severing and Reconnecting, Dispersing and Reassembling, Stealing Life to Grant Longevity. Just as my own Master once did, I’ll let each of you choose one. The last one will be reserved for Younger Brother."

Only Wang Ran looked bewildered—even hearing the names meant nothing to him.

“I’m not stealing your choices,” Xu Yi chuckled. “But I’ve heard ‘Stealing Life to Grant Longevity’ resembles ‘Flower Blooms Instantly.’ Since these Yin-Yang mysteries are likely not your choice, I’ll take ‘Stealing Life to Grant Longevity’ first and learn it under Master. When I’ve mastered it, if you still have time and energy, we can swap.”

“Excellent choice,” Lin Jue praised. “This art helps extend lifespan. If you master it deeply and avoid evil, even without forcing it, attaining True Immortality will come naturally.”

“Then I’ll choose Scattered Yet Reassembled. I’ve heard it nurtures the soul—stronger soul means better object control. If I encounter danger on a journey and perish, Master’s skill might still save my soul.”

"Then I’ll choose Dispersing and Reassembling. I’ve heard it nurtures the soul; a stronger soul aids spirit manipulation. If I ever face danger outside, and my soul survives, Father’s skill should be enough to save me."

“I’ve already learned Severed Yet Reconnected from Fuyao Senior Sister. I’ll choose Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell,” Xian Zhu said after thinking. “A clever rabbit has three burrows; the golden cicada sheds its shell—it sounds fitting.”

"I’ve already learned Severing and Reconnecting from Fuyao Sister. Now I’ll choose Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell," Xian Zhu considered. "A cunning rabbit has three burrows; the golden cicada sheds its shell—it sounds perfect."

Lin Jue nodded in agreement.

In the Old Heavenly Weng ’s projections, she, as a demon, had once been harassed by the Nine Heavens’ spirits. Though reality had long since diverged from those projections, Lin Jue still feared such a fate.

Instead of worrying, as he had in the illusion, that her mastery of combat arts might cause chaos outside, he taught her the Five Elements Spirit Law and Five Elements spells, making her a Five Elements cultivator skilled in combat—able to defend herself. With Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell, if danger arose again, even if she couldn’t win, she could escape.

Instead of worrying, as in the illusion, that she might cause chaos after learning combat-oriented arts, he taught her the Five Elements Spirit Art, trained her in Five Elements techniques, and made her a Five Elements cultivator skilled in combat, granting her self-defense. With Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell, if danger struck again, even if she couldn’t win, she could escape.

He learned spear techniques and martial arts from Master Luo; if he could heal wounds without bleeding, rapidly regrow limbs, he’d become far stronger.

Lin Jue had taught his disciples far more than he ever had in the illusion—nothing held back.

And his disciples had not wasted his efforts—they had advanced greatly.

Even if none attained True Immortality, they would still be his support.

If even one attained True Immortality, they would be a great asset.

“As Xu Yi said, once you’ve learned your chosen arts, if you still have spare time and energy, you may learn each other’s,” Lin Jue said. “For example, Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell and Scattered Yet Reassembled—practiced together, they complement each other, making survival and escape easier. Stealing Life to Grant Longevity and Severed Yet Reconnected—practiced together, life force becomes endless; even after a hundred or a thousand beheadings, you still revive. Severed Yet Reconnected and Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell—practiced together, you reshape your body faster and more easily. Scattered Yet Reassembled and Severed Yet Reconnected—practiced together, neither body nor soul easily dies.”

"As Xu Yi said, once you’ve learned them, if you still have spare time and energy, you may learn from each other," Lin Jue said. "For instance, Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell and Dispersing and Reassembling, practiced together, complement each other—easier to survive, easier to escape. Stealing Life to Grant Longevity and Severing and Reconnecting, practiced together, grant endless vitality—you can be beheaded a hundred or a thousand times and still revive. Severing and Reconnecting and Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell, practiced together, allow faster, easier body reconstruction. Dispersing and Reassembling and Severing and Reconnecting—"

The more imaginative ones began imagining: what if all three or four arts were practiced together?

At that moment, another tipsy fox head leaned in:

“Why are you talking and spinning in circles?”

“Shoo, shoo…”

Lin Jue waved his hand, shooing away the little fox thief who stole his wine: “Starting with Xu Yi, each of you comes here once a month. Come tomorrow.”

“Yes…”

“Master, what about me?” Wang Ran asked.

“You don’t need to. Your cultivation is too shallow. Stick with your senior brother and learn spells properly. We’ll talk later.”

“Huh? Senior brother?”

Wang Ran was startled—he’d always trained with his second senior sister and learned spells from his third.

“Senior brother?”

Pu Mei was also startled—she’d sensed something was off.

“Senior brother?”

Xian Zhu was teaching the junior brother a spell.

The fox, hanging upside down from the beam, shook its head, sensing the sudden silence, tilted its head curiously at them.

Lin Jue waved his hand:

The fox hung upside down from the rafters, swaying its head as it walked, sensing the sudden silence, and tilted its head curiously to stare at them.

“Yes??”

The disciples exchanged glances, their eyes communicating.

Xu Yi’s face turned solemn—he vanished in a flash of clear wind.

Pu Mei and Xian Zhu saw this, their gazes sharpened—one vanished into clear wind, the other transformed into a white egret, both flying out. Only Wang Ran trudged down the stairs.

The fox tilted its head again.

Seeing this, Pu Mei and Xian Zhu locked their gazes—one transformed into a breeze, the other into a white egret, both flying out, leaving Wang Ran to climb the stairs obediently.

Xu Yi’s figure emerged from beside a massive pillar, wiping sweat from his brow, then looked up at Fuyao Senior Sister, who hung upside down on the beam, staring right at him: “Good thing I mastered Wood Stealth—and good thing Fuyao Senior Sister was drunk and didn’t expose me…”

He muttered to himself, then turned to Lin Jue beside him:

Xu Yi’s figure emerged from beside the massive pillar, wiped sweat from his brow, and looked up at Fuyao Sister, who hung upside down from the rafters, meeting his gaze: "Thank goodness my Wood Concealment technique is solid—and thank goodness Fuyao Sister was drunk and didn’t expose me..."

“Sigh, old age, poor memory—can’t keep my mouth shut,” Lin Jue slapped his head, not even looking at him, instead turning to stare at the upside-down fox on the beam. “You little thief—how much wine have you stolen from me these past three days? That’s why Xian Zhu keeps refilling my cup!”

“Why are you talking and spinning?”

"Sigh, I’m old, my memory’s failing, and I can’t keep my mouth shut," Lin Jue slapped his head, not even looking at him, only turning to stare up at the upside-down fox on the rafters. "You little thing—how much wine have you stolen from me these past three days? I wondered why Xian Zhu kept refilling my cup."

“Maybe Xian Zhu was pouring wine for the fox! You stole wine from the fox!”

“Still lying? Drunk again?”

"Maybe Xian Zhu was pouring wine for the fox! You stole wine from the fox!"

The fox murmured, glanced down at the Daoist, feeling both trust and peace, then loosened its four paws and simply dropped from the beam.

Lin Jue caught it in one hand, patted its body with the other, saying:

“Bring me the Spirit Gold from Lady Bai Luan. When I have time, I’ll forge some talismanic weapons for you—all for defense.”

Ren You was perfectly at ease; he loosened his four paws and simply dropped from the rafters.

Lin Jue caught him with one hand and patted him a few times with the other, saying:

“Bring me the spirit gold that Master Bai Luan gave you; when I have time, I’ll make some talismanic weapons for you to defend yourselves.”

"Yes..."

Pan Yi scratched his head and slipped out quietly.