Chapter 506: Water Does Not Contend for the Lead

All around, one could hear the sound of vast water crashing, the sound like the clanging of bells and chimes, rumbling into the eardrums, shaking the soul and leaving one in a daze—

From the moment Zhang Shou stepped onto Yunchu Island, where Master Shan Jian resided, rolling mist and fog suddenly arose from nowhere, darkening the sky and obscuring the red sun.

Everything seemed hazy and unclear. Even when Zhang Shou activated his divine eyes, he could only see the territory within three feet of him.

Beyond three feet, it was far beyond his vision; even the figure of the feather-clothed boy was shrouded in chaos and could no longer be seen.

However, this was not Zhang Shou's first time visiting Yunchu Island. He just stood quietly in place, not moving.

After a short wait, just a few breaths, the feather-clothed boy's voice sounded from ahead:

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong Zhang, follow me. The Master has created a new formation this time. This formation is not to be trifled with; even when Daoist Lord Weiling was invited to test it, he had to draw his divine sword. Xiao Xiao Shixiong Zhang, you must follow the guidance closely and must not take a single wrong step!"

Zhang Shou was not surprised by these words, merely signaling his understanding.

Yunchu Island beneath his feet could be called a famous forbidden area in the Xiaoming Great Marsh. Master Shan Jian was a grandmaster of formations and loved to study new methods, often exchanging letters with the three ruling Daoist Lords of the Jiuzhen Sect.

Whenever Zhang Shou came to visit this field in the past, he needed the boy's guidance to enter. Other Yuchen cultivators might feel terrified by this, but to him, it was already a common occurrence.

However, the vast sound of water all around today inexplicably gave Zhang Shou a strange feeling...

Under some kind of invisible pressure, he almost wanted to release his own Primordial Spirit Dharma Image to resist the sound of water that seemed to penetrate every pore and enter his mind.

Zhang Shou secretly pinched a calming mantra in his sleeve and asked:

"I wonder what the name of the new formation the Master has created is?"

"It has no name yet. According to the Master, this formation still lacks some refinement."

As the feather-clothed boy's voice sounded, he also cast the small flag in his hand. A clear cry rang out in the air, and a mass of bright light rose, illuminating a radius of about a mile.

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong Zhang, please."

The boy pointed to a flying boat in front, signaling Zhang Shou to go first.

The boat rose into the sky in the blink of an eye, though it still couldn't see through the layers of smoke and clouds.

But the vermilion eaves and green tiles, painted railings and carved pillars, and even the high trees above the clouds and the red lotuses in the green pond along the way were all familiar sights to Zhang Shou.

But after only half an incense stick of time, amidst the crashing sound of water, Zhang Shou's eyes suddenly blurred for a moment.

He suddenly saw peaks collapsing and cities falling, a sea of blood and a mountain of corpses, with ghosts wailing and gods howling everywhere, deafening.

Black winds and fiery rain rose from the west, sweeping across the land, destroying the sea and land, turning all living beings into withered corpses and charred charcoal, leaving heaven and earth without life!

With Zhang Shou's knowledge, he naturally knew this was just an illusion and would not act rashly.

He merely kept his spiritual sense inward, his will unfocused, protecting the clarity of his spirit.

Seeing that the black wind and fiery rain could do nothing to Zhang Shou, the illusion scene changed again, suddenly turning into the shaking of mountains and rivers, the misalignment of the sun and moon.

Stars fell like chaotic rain, shattering the sky. Zhang Shou could even clearly feel the falling giant stars smashing his body into blood mud, and even his primordial spirit could not escape.

The great terror between life and death was clearly real, and even the pain was restored one by one, but Zhang Shou's expression remained unmoved, his hand still holding the mantra in his sleeve.

But as the sound of water in his ears grew urgent, the illusion became faster and harder to resist.

Sometimes a hundred suns rose together, terrifying; sometimes it was a golden palace and holy realm, making one feel like they were ascending to an immortal palace.

Sometimes he heard drums and music, with all the True Persons of the Nine Continents coming to pay homage; sometimes he saw the yellow path open and the purple palace sun bright, as if he were as old as heaven and earth, immeasurable...

However, at the last moment, as Zhang Shou saw the barrier clouds split with a rumble and a golden thunderbolt fall toward his head.

He finally blinked subconsciously, and his state of mind was disturbed for a moment.

A colossal Dharma Image rose from behind him, stirring up winds and clouds for a hundred miles, incomparably powerful, heading straight to meet the thunderbolt!

But halfway there, Zhang Shou suddenly pressed the Dharma Image in the air, a trace of sadness appearing on his face.

He sighed softly, letting the thunderbolt, which had no obstruction, fall on his head. Afterward, there was no tragic sight; it was just like a breeze brushing his face, and the thunderbolt disappeared without a trace.

Almost at the same time the thunderbolt vanished, the rumbling sound of water in Zhang Shou's ears stopped.

"..."

He sat quietly for a long time before standing up silently.

At this moment, the flying boat had landed in a large lake, and the boy who had led the way for him had disappeared without a trace.

After Zhang Shou walked out of the flying boat, he only saw a scene of floating mist and clear light, the weather was excellent.

The smoke and clouds that had covered the sky were all gone, and heaven and earth were transparent and bright, with a clear breeze blowing, making one feel refreshed.

Having reached this point, Zhang Shou was familiar with the path.

He smiled bitterly in his heart. After leaving the large lake and bypassing the tall pine trees that stretched for dozens of miles, he finally saw a cluster of halls and pavilions in the forest.

An old Daoist with a star crown and crane cloak, his hair and beard like silver, sat on a meditation cushion in the main hall, with a group of attendants dressed as scholars serving respectfully on the side. The atmosphere was solemn and dignified, like an academy.

"Disciple pays respects to the Master."

As Zhang Shou bowed to the old Daoist Master Shan Jian, his gaze also fell on the half-unfolded formation map beside him.

The formation map seemed to contain nothing else, only a vast expanse of water.

But looking closely, the water patterns, originally outlined with ink, seemed to ripple, and the sound of water could be clearly heard.

"This is a new formation I have laid out recently. Although I haven't had time to think of a name for it, I believe you have already witnessed its function," Master Shan Jian said, noticing Zhang Shou's gaze.

"What a profound formation for refining the heart and cultivating the truth. In my humble opinion, this formation not only has the ability to cultivate the heart, but also the use of killing enemies and winning victories."

Zhang Shou pondered for a moment and said.

"When I tested you just now, I only limited this formation to the Primordial Spirit level, and you still failed at the last moment. Your heart barrier is lacking. What is it you seek?"

Master Shan Jian said indifferently:

"If you can't even pass this barrier, you still want to ask me for that half of the Immortal Uncle Jade Fruit? Aren't you afraid of dying in that illusion, your five internal organs turning to ash, your flesh and blood turning to mud?"

Zhang Shou, whose thoughts had been exposed, looked up in astonishment. There was a trace of disbelief in his eyes, as if he wanted to say something, but finally, he lowered his head and smiled bitterly:

"The Master is truly wise. Yes, that is indeed what I was thinking."

Master Shan Jian shook his head:

"In recent years, your mind has been unsettled, even when listening to lectures. How could I not see it?

And you have been hesitating to speak—is it because you feel that the Immortal Uncle Jade Fruit in my hand is too precious, and you are only a registered disciple, not my personal disciple, so you fear taking it rashly would be self-humiliating?"

These words were extremely blunt, without any concealment.

Although Zhang Shou had organized his words in his mind, he was still slightly stunned when faced with such language.

Just then, Master Shan Jian suddenly threw something out.

Zhang Shou caught it subconsciously. Looking closely, he saw that what he held was exactly the half of the Immortal Uncle Jade Fruit he had dreamed of for a long time.

This elixir treasure looked like a round fruit, green and translucent, delicate as congealed fat to the touch, with spots of smoke and strange light lingering on it, showing the wonders of creation.

However, because it was only half, this Immortal Uncle Jade Fruit was also just a vertical half, with a neat break, as if it had been cut in half by some sharp weapon.

The moment he held the Immortal Uncle Jade Fruit, an indescribable fragrance filled the hall, making one's mind clear and comfortable, and even the operation of one's thoughts became secretly faster.

"Master, why is this?"

Zhang Shou did not put it away, but asked in confusion.

Immortal Uncle Jade Fruit—

In the pre-ancient era, Master Jutuo, the head of the Danyuan Department, had created five types of elixir treasures that could change life and death and reach the depths of creation.

Like the Cave-Clear King Treasure Spirit Elixir that Fu Lao had taken, and like the half of the Immortal Uncle Jade Fruit in Zhang Shou's hand.

The former could help artifact spirits break through the limits of their innate nature.

As for the function of the latter, it was to help cultivators grow their talent, making their wisdom transparent and their endowments superb!

It would be no exaggeration to say that such a mysterious divine elixir could help people achieve the Dao!

And after taking the Immortal Uncle Jade Fruit, although a cultivator had to experience the torment of illusions—if they couldn't pass, everything would turn to ash—and the Immortal Uncle Jade Fruit was only suitable for juniors and useless to great cultivators.

But cultivators in this world were still flocking to it, and such divine elixirs were always priceless!

However, Zhang Shou knew that Master Shan Jian happened to have half of an Immortal Uncle Jade Fruit.

Now...

"I am not a stingy person, it's just that half an elixir is useless to me. You underestimate me too much."

Master Shan Jian said indifferently:

"And what is called making the best use of things—among the six true disciples in the sect, Ji Fakai formed a First-Grade Core, his Dharma Image is of the highest rank, and his root nature has been refined to the extreme. This elixir is of little use to him.

As for Chen Hang, I see that he has a seventy percent chance of achieving a highest-rank Dharma Image.

The others are not much different from you in talent. Since that's the case, why not give it to you?"

Zhang Shou still felt unsettled after hearing this, feeling as if he were in a dream.

However, just as he was about to thank him, Master Shan Jian repeated: "What is it you seek?"

Zhang Shou hesitated for a moment, not saying it out loud.

In that instant, Master Shan Jian's expression changed drastically, and he pointed and scolded:

"Fool! With such an attitude, you still want longevity?"

Among the three ruling ancestors of Yuchen, Tongxuan was steady, Weiling was simple and silent, and Master Shan Jian was solemn.

Everyone thought that among these three, Weiling must be the one with the most explosive temper, after all, he was a great sword cultivator who had achieved the Tenth Realm, and most sword cultivators in the world were cut from the same cloth.

However, for disciples like Zhang Shou who knew the inside story.

Among the three ruling ancestors, the one with the fiercest temper was not Weiling, but Master Shan Jian!

This person truly possessed the endowment of thunder; he wouldn't move unless necessary, but once he did, he would be completely unconcerned, enough to make the universe change color!

Because of old grudges, he had repeatedly broken into the Changwen Heaven to fight to the death with those human Daoist Sages. If it weren't for a Great Sage residing in the Changwen Heaven, Master Shan Jian would have spared no cost to have people attack and take it down, and the forces in the heavens would have been bloodily purged.

Now seeing Master Shan Jian angry, Zhang Shou hurriedly made a respectful gesture. At this time, Master Shan Jian asked:

"You seek the Immortal Uncle Jade Fruit, what for?"

"For the cultivation of the Dao and longevity."

"Nonsense!"

Master Shan Jian shouted coldly:

"This thing is already in your hands, yet you still refuse to tell me the truth?"

Zhang Shou sighed, was silent for a moment, and said truthfully:

"I heard that Ji Fakai is conquering the Yuqi Heaven. I worry that after defeating Mu Changzhi of the Xuanfeng Cave, he will return with the momentum of a great victory. At that time, no one among our true disciples will be able to stop him, and he will completely enter the Xiyi Mountain.

In the Primordial Spirit realm, I am destined to be unable to fight Ji Fakai... Disciple wants to use the power of the Immortal Uncle Jade Fruit to gain an advantage when returning to emptiness, and fight him again!"

"Not willing to be inferior to others, that is indeed the truth."

Master Shan Jian's face softened, but he still shook his head: "But you still haven't said everything."

"..."

This time, Zhang Shou had a rare struggle in his heart, but finally, he pushed his hands to the ground and bowed silently: "Also because of Chen Hang."

"Chen Hang?"

"Chen Hang formed a First-Grade Core and is the personal disciple of Senior Uncle Tongxuan. I worry that after he achieves a high position at the Danyuan Assembly and cultivates a highest-rank Dharma Image in the future, Senior Uncle Tongxuan will push him to the top."

"Finally, you've told the truth."

Master Shan Jian said this and ignored him.

After a long silence, just as Zhang Shou raised his head, he saw Master Shan Jian suddenly grab the formation map and throw it at him. He didn't dare to dodge, just letting it hit his shoulder.

"Fool, idiot! If you don't become a Daoist Son, you can't have longevity?"

Master Shan Jian was suddenly angry:

"You are uneasy about your current status, feeling that you need more power to feel at ease? How absurd!

You can't become a Daoist Son, but was I a Daoist Son back then? And your situation is a hundred times better than mine was."

Master Shan Jian was expressionless:

"You have always wondered why I am at odds with the Changwen Heaven. Today I will tell you: my roots in my early years were not as an Immortal Dao cultivator, but as a human Daoist in the Changwen Heaven.

In a lecture at the academy, several families were jealous that I was in the limelight, so they secretly used means to abolish my literary courage and stain my nature, causing me to be expelled from the academy. Later, by chance, I came to Xudu."

"Master?"

Zhang Shou was truly surprised; he had never heard this before.

"And I didn't enter the lower house back then; I was just taken as an attendant by an elder. Because I worked hard to kill demons for sixty years, with that elder's desperate efforts, the sect made an exception and granted me a simplified version of the Five Classics.

But because my age exceeded the limit, I was not qualified to go to Qiyun Mountain. I was just introduced by that elder to a Yuchen disciple and became a guest in his mansion."

At this time, Master Shan Jian ignored Zhang Shou and just walked with his hands behind his back, talking to himself:

"From attendant to guest, from guest to manager, and then sent to the land to work for the sect.

Later, because of my merits in fighting against the Wuxiang Heaven, I survived a narrow escape from death, and I finally entered Yuchen and had a proper status.

Am I a Daoist Son? No, I am not even a true disciple.

Zhang Shou, where are those Daoist Sons and true disciples from back then?

After achieving the Dao, I personally fought my way to the Changwen Heaven and killed all those who had secretly harmed me. And where are those human Daoist elites who once mocked me on the cloud altar and treated me like a dog with a broken spine?"

"..."

Zhang Shou couldn't speak at this time.

He had been under Master Shan Jian's tutelage for all these years, and this was the first time he had seen his mentor get angry at him and then reveal his inner thoughts, and he was suddenly lost.

"Water does not contend for the speed of a moment, but aims for the endless flow of the river, and the contention lies in the flow of eternity!"

At this time, Master Shan Jian got up from the meditation cushion, reached out and pressed Zhang Shou's shoulder, and shouted:

"You are a true disciple, my disciple. So what if you can't become a Daoist Son and can't compete with those two?

If I had lost my will because of a moment of frustration, I would have died in the Changwen Heaven long ago. How could I be here today?"

Zhang Shou stood silently in place for a long time, finally feeling a sense of trembling, making his scalp tingle, and then he was finally relieved.

"Master, it is I who thought wrong..."

He sighed and said frankly.

"You were too eager to cultivate the Void Great Luo Dharma. Not only did you fail to thoroughly understand the principle of 'great body without boundaries, many good features,' but you were also misled by this principle, disturbing your nature. I never pointed it out, just to use this to shovel away your restlessness."

Master Shan Jian said indifferently:

"Take a look, has your Void Great Luo Dharma made a breakthrough in realm now?"

Zhang Shou hurriedly looked inward, his face somewhat joyful.

He just shook his shoulders, and several layers of hazy halo covered his body like a net from heaven, making Zhang Shou's figure seem real yet illusory, hazy.

He was clearly standing in the hall, but inexplicably gave people a strange illusion that he had already drifted away from this world, true and false hard to distinguish, hard to find his form.

At this point, Zhang Shou was finally convinced and completely let go. He bowed his head and said:

"Great body without boundaries, many good features, able to appear and hide, naturally transformed... Thank you, Master, for teaching me the true meaning and solving my worries!"

"With your current state of mind, you are still a line short. It won't be too late for you to take the Immortal Uncle Jade Fruit in a few years." Master Shan Jian said calmly.

At this time, Zhang Shou felt all his worries gone and just nodded.

He followed Master Shan Jian's gaze toward the North Continent and smiled:

"Since I can't compete with those two for now, let's discuss it later! But in your opinion, Master, who will the position of Daoist Son fall to?"

"Ji Fakai sent a letter earlier saying he wants to take the Yu, Qi, and Jing states, and wants to use this achievement to exchange for an opportunity to ask the three Daoist Lords in the sect for advice."

"Taking three states, wouldn't he have to face Long Xiang Ao Yue? This person's methods are by no means inferior to Mu Changzhi, the Daoist Son of Xuanfeng Cave." Zhang Shou was surprised.

"One wants to take three states and defeat two heroes, the other wants to win the Danyuan championship and become famous in the world."

"Junyao, Ji Fakai, Chen Hang... they all say that the demons are growing and the Xuan Sect is fading, but looking at our Yuchen, it seems that heroes are emerging one after another."

Master Shan Jian's gaze pierced through the heavy mountains and rivers, falling on Chen Hang, pondered for a moment, and shook his head:

"Movement and stillness have their rules, following the response to rise and fall."

"In such a great contending world, let's see what happens later!" ===== CHAPTER 507 =====