Chapter 626: Fate Has Life and Death

Bang~

Bang~~

Above the scorched earth, fierce winds churned, and the sounds of true Qi exploding rang on without end.

In the distance, the human-headed strange bird perched on an old tree watching the battle. Gazing at the two men locked in fierce combat, a look of surprise flickered through its eyes from time to time.

Because of Li Yuan, it still had some impression of Han Han Chuijun, but he was nothing more than an old fellow of no small age who had yet to enter the Dao, with mediocre aptitude.

Even clearing the twelfth floor of the tower had only piqued its interest slightly.

No other reason — his innate talent was too poor, and his realm too low.

But Li Yuan was different!

He was a temple-opener who had fought his way up to the thirty-sixth floor of the Dao Soldier Tower, possessing both combat prowess and innate talent.

At this moment, in its perception, that Han Han Chuijun was admittedly inferior to Li Yuan of the same realm, but apart from the enormous gap in innate talent, the two men's talent on the path of combat seemed to be not much different?

"What a pity his talent is too poor…"

The human-headed strange bird felt a touch of regret. It had rarely come across a good seedling for Dao Soldiers, but with such poor innate talent, even though he had gathered a hundred forms and cultivated a peculiar Gong Fa, his aptitude was still only at the level of 'a dragon among men.'

The gap between him and Li Yuan, who was at the god-and-demon level, was greater than the gap between a grasshopper and a true dragon.

"Roar!"

Lightning blazed dazzlingly, sparks weaving together into the roar of a thunder dragon. Han Han Chuijun gripped his pestle and struck sideways, like a thunder dragon peering out from the clouds, about to spew world-destroying thunder to obliterate every foe.

"Old Han has improved a lot!"

Li Yuan's eyes were very bright — he had actually sensed a trace of pressure?

Compared to a few years ago, Han Han Chuijun at this moment, whether in true Qi or in martial arts, had made what could be called enormous progress. Although Li Yuan had suppressed his realm, concealed his edge, and not employed any Zhang Yu,

yet for a same-realm clash to give him even a trace of pressure was rare in the present age!

"Bang!"

With admiration in his heart, Li Yuan's movements did not stop. His Zhang Zhong Zhong rose sideways, and cyan-blue true Qi churned behind him, faintly forming the shadow of a dragon-whale.

Boom!

Thunder exploded suddenly, waves of air churning.

Li Yuan stood his ground motionless, but Han Han Chuijun staggered back dozens of zhang as if struck by lightning. The scorched earth was plowed with deep furrows by him, soil and stone churning, dust rolling.

"Enough!"

Han Han Chuijun walked out of the dust, hair disheveled and looking rather wretched.

"You haven't lost yet, come on again?"

Li Yuan was reluctant to stop — the feeling of pointing out Old Han's mistakes in return was truly wonderful.

"……"

Han Han Chuijun shook out his arm, put away his Jiang Mo Chu, his gaze complex, his tone full of lament: "You're short of letting this old man have both hands — what's the point of fighting?"

Looking at Li Yuan standing tall and straight, seemingly not having even shifted his feet, Han Han Chuijun's emotions churned.

He still remembered that when he first met this lad, the boy was so frail he could have flipped a whole group of them with one hand. In less than a dozen or so years, the situation had completely reversed — now this lad could beat a whole group of him with one hand.

"What are you saying, Elder? In this battle, this disciple has also nearly exhausted his full strength."

Li Yuan was very modest — mainly because he still wanted to coach Old Han.

"Is that so?"

Han Han Chuijun keenly sensed the lad's 'ill intent' and snorted coldly: "How much of your strength did you use?"

"Ninety-nine percent!"

"You're full of crap!"

Looking at the deadpan Li Yuan, Han Han Chuijun was so angry his beard flew up: "You didn't even shift your feet, and you say ninety-nine percent?"

"What? Think this old man can't afford to lose?"

"Uh…"

Seeing Old Han fly into a rage, Li Yuan could only answer truthfully:

"About half."

"That's more like it."

Han Han Chuijun's tone calmed. Although he still felt the lad's words had some water in them, he had no intention of pressing further.

If this lad had said something like 'let's call it twenty percent,' he would have vomited blood on the spot.

"This old man, however, has already exhausted his full strength."

Even though he had long known he was far from being a match, losing so thoroughly in a same-realm battle still left Han Han Chuijun with a few parts of lament:

"Worthy of god-and-demon level innate talent."

'This isn't god-and-demon level innate talent at all…'

Li Yuan muttered this in his heart, but did not say it out loud to discourage Old Han.

But in fact, even though he had suppressed his realm, without the augmentation of his Weapon Registry, his own innate talent was only 'World-Shocking (Upper).' If it were truly god-and-demon level innate talent…

……

At the foot of Eight Directions Mountain, Li Yuan lit a bonfire.

By the bonfire, master and disciple exchanged insights on Wu Gong. Unlike many years ago, now most of the time it was Li Yuan who spoke and Han Han Chuijun who listened.

Old Han did not mind being taught Wu Gong by his disciple. His heart for martial arts was sincere — when he encountered something he did not understand, he would ask on his own initiative, and he accepted all the Duo Wu Gong Li Yuan imparted.

"Your Hundred Beasts Thunder Dragon derives from the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture, yet is not quite the same. This disciple believes you may cultivate both, with the priority between them decided by yourself, Elder."

Li Yuan expounded his insights from cultivating the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture.

All of Han Han Chuijun's cultivation came from the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture, so he took to this divine skill very quickly — after all, he had over seventy years of foundation. But compared to Li Yuan, he naturally fell short by a good margin.

This had nothing to do with hard work — it was purely a gap in innate talent.

Today's Li Yuan, even without the Soldier's Command enhancement, cultivates various martial arts at a speed sufficient to make anyone in the world stare in astonishment.

"Mm."

Han Han Chuijun's words were concise and to the point; aside from asking questions, he rarely interrupted Li Yuan.

Li Yuan had nothing to hide from Old Han either. Faced with questions, as long as he knew the answer, he would give it all freely, just as Old Han had once passed Wu Gong down to him.

Finally, he took a silk-bound book from his bosom:

"These are this disciple's insights from cultivating martial arts over the years. When you, Elder, have leisure, you may take a look—perhaps it will be of some benefit."

These past days, or rather these past three years, he had written many similar silk-bound books tailored to the innate talents of his various old friends. This one was naturally written specifically for Han Han Chuijun.

But unlike the silk-bound books given to Second Brother, the Lady Hero Fang, and Ba Ba Wanli, this booklet was closer to himself, because his path had been derived from Han Han Chuijun's, and the two of them shared an extremely high degree of similarity.

"How thoughtful."

Han Han Chuijun felt something strange in his heart, a sense that their roles were reversed, an illusion that he himself was the disciple. But he had always been a man who did not stand on ceremony, so he naturally took the booklet and flipped through it. "This of yours…"

This silk-bound book was not thick, perhaps only several dozen pages, and naturally was not some martial arts secret manual. But Han Han Chuijun's eyelid twitched as he read it, and Yu Yu Xuanji he had already reacted:

"Preparing to leave?"

"Should be?"

Li Yuan was not entirely sure either. Pang Pang Wenlong's meaning was that after exterminating Cloud Demon, Thousand Eyes, and Wan Wan Zhuliu, he would take the imperial court's incense merit to forge two Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing for him, and once everything was ready, he would set out on the road.

"Tian Wai Tian, ah."

Han Han Chuijun felt some longing. The intelligence Li Yuan had gathered on Tian Shi Yuan naturally included a share for him. Regarding that great realm said to gather countless prodigies and outstanding talents, he too was genuinely very interested.

"Tian Shi Yuan is not lacking in great medicines that can alter one's innate endowment. When this disciple returns, I'll bring you a share."

Li Yuan was very optimistic about Han Han Chuijun, not only because of their master-disciple relationship. Among all the martial artists Old Han had encountered over the years, his temperament and will were also top-tier choices. If he could make up for the deficiency in his innate talent, it was not impossible that he could cultivate the Divine Palace.

"That would naturally be for the best."

Han Han Chuijun smiled. He never refused his own disciple's good intentions.

!

Under the night, the Eight Directions Temple was very quiet. The Grandmasters of several great Daoist sects quietly studied the Eight Directions Diagram. The master and disciple chatted for a long time. After Li Yuan felt he had spoken all his martial arts insights of these years, the sky was already bright.

"Alright, what should be said has been said."

Han Han Chuijun quietly committed Li Yuan's words to memory, then Yu Yu Xuanji began to shoo him away.

"……"

Li Yuan was somewhat speechless, then smiled and waved his hand, preparing to leave. His heart stirred, and he suddenly turned back to ask:

"Don't you have any instructions for me? This disciple is about to go on a long journey. I might just leave and never return."

"Oh? If you hadn't said so, this old man would have forgotten."

Han Han Chuijun patted his forehead, putting on a look of sudden realization, and instructed: "You carry the burden of breaking the tribulation. Be careful along the way. If you can dodge, dodge; if you can avoid, avoid. You must come back alive…"

As he spoke, he paused:

"Not to mention the others, this old man is only a hundred or so years old, I haven't lived enough yet. You must come back alive to save this old man!"

"Ah?"

Li Yuan was stunned, caught between laughter and tears: "Elder, you say it too bluntly!"

"Otherwise?"

Han Han Chuijun glanced at him.

"Then what if you were me?"

Li Yuan changed his way of asking.

"If this old man were?"

Han Han Chuijun grinned:

"Tian Shi Yuan is such a Hao Di Fa Jie, this old man would be so happy there I'd forget my home. As for the others, sigh, each person has their own fate, life and death are in heaven's hands. This old man isn't a god—when even surviving myself isn't easy, how could I care about so many others?"

"This…"

Master and disciple looked at each other, were silent for a moment, then Yu Yu Xuanji both laughed.

"This disciple has taken note!"

Li Yuan bowed deeply, waved his hand, and left.

Han Han Chuijun said nothing more. He took out a spiritual pill and consumed it, then once again entered the Dao Soldier Pagoda.

His disciple had surpassed him. In his heart, he felt joy, yet also unwillingness.

This Dao Soldier Pagoda has thirty-six floors. If Li Yuan could go, then he, Han Han Chuijun, could go too!

No!

"This old man will ascend to the eighty-first floor!"

Han Han Chuijun rubbed his fists and rolled up his sleeves, his fighting spirit blazing like fire.

As for that so-called Heavenly Sun Calamity…

Each person has their own fate, life and death are in heaven's hands. How could one care about so many others!

……

……

Before leaving the Eight Directions Temple, Li Yuan still met with Dong Dong Ershisan.

At the end of the long corridor entering the temple, Dong Dong Ershisan sat cross-legged. Seeing Li Yuan arrive, he was not surprised, merely Longhu Longhu Dandan looked at him.

"How can one open a path outside of You Jing?"

Li Yuan took a deep breath. He had asked similar questions several years ago, but before leaving he still wanted to ask once more.

"Become the master of the Eastern Temple."

Dong Dong Ershisan answered calmly.

"..."

Li Yuan had no words to reply.

The path to becoming the master of the Eastern Temple, Dong Dong Ershisan did not conceal.

Pass the Temple Entry Trial, defeat the other entrants, and one may become an Eastern Territory Walker; defeat the other Eastern Territory Walkers, and one may become the master of the Eastern Temple.

Direct and clear.

The problem was...

"I can't do it!"

Li Yuan gritted his teeth.

Over the past three years he had also attempted the Temple Entry Trial, but multiple attempts all stalled at the first trial; he could not defeat that 'himself' who, under the blessing of multiple Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, constantly lingered like a true god-demon-level talent.

After many fierce battles, at best it was a stalemate.

Now, with the addition of the Huo San Mei Yin, he did have the confidence to pass the first trial, but so what if he passed — that was only the first trial.

Silence fell in the long corridor.

After a moment, Li Yuan turned and left.

"Dong Ershisan-ye..."

The human-headed monster bird, who had appeared at some unknown time, felt some regret: "Just let him leave like that?"

"Leave?"

Dong Dong Ershisan slowly closed his eyes:

"Once he's entered the temple, whether to stay or go is no longer up to him."

(End of chapter)