Chapter 246: Isn't This Too Amazing?!

"This..." He stretched his limbs, his face full of surprise, "This is too amazing! I feel like my whole body is relaxed! So, meridians can actually be adjusted like this!"

Just then, Feng Shayan strolled over. She had intended to find Lin Xuan to ask for advice on some cultivation issues, but happened to see this scene. Suddenly, she became interested as well.

"Lin Daozhang," she said, her eyes shining with anticipation, "could you help me take a look too? After practicing martial arts for many years, my limbs and bones really do have some problems."

Lin Xuan did not refuse and gestured for Feng Shayan to sit down. When his palm gently pressed against her waist, Feng Shayan clearly felt a gentle force circulating through her meridians.

Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai stood not far away, watching this scene, their complexions turning slightly green. Xiao Qing, in particular, pouted and muttered in a low voice: "These people are really pushing their luck. Benefactor is too easygoing..."

The surrounding disciples of Baiyun Guan watched with envy. If they could learn even a little of such profound methods, how good that would be. Some bold disciples were even itching to step forward and ask for guidance.

Just as Lin Xuan was adjusting Feng Shayan's meridians, a young Daoist ran over in a hurry, looking anxious: "Senior Brother Lin, someone is here to see you. They say it is very urgent, and..." He lowered his voice, "they look to be in bad shape."

A moment later, Zhuge Qing and Fu Rong were led into the courtyard by the young Daoist. When they saw Zhuge Qing's appearance, everyone present could not help but gasp.

Zhuge Qing's complexion was as pale as paper, his eye sockets were dark, and he was so thin he was nothing but skin and bones. The most terrifying thing was his gaze, which was clear one moment and confused the next, as if he might lose his sanity at any moment.

"Brother Zhuge?" Wang Ye recognized his old friend and couldn't help but exclaim, "What happened? How did you end up like this?"

Lin Xuan only had to take one look to see through the problem: "Possessed by a heart demon. And it has reached an extremely dangerous point. If it is not dealt with, I fear he will soon fall into a demonic frenzy."

Fu Rong was shocked upon hearing this: "Lin Zhenren is truly miraculous! Qing is indeed troubled by a heart demon, and it has been getting worse lately. He has nightmares every night, and sometimes even..." As she spoke, her knees suddenly went weak and she knelt on the ground, "I beg Lin Zhenren to save Qing'er!"

"Get up," Lin Xuan said calmly, "I will help him. However, this is not the place to talk. Let's go to the Quiet Room."

Under Lin Xuan's guidance, the group arrived at a quiet meditation room. Sandalwood incense curled in the air, and the atmosphere was solemn. Lin Xuan gestured for Zhuge Qing to lie on a meditation cushion, then began to carefully examine his body and inner landscape.

"Damaged meridians are secondary," Lin Xuan said after a moment, "the most serious thing is that your inner landscape has been eroded. This heart demon has already taken root in your inner landscape; I need to enter your inner landscape to completely solve the problem."

Zhuge Qing nodded weakly: "I will trouble you, Lin Zhenren. During this time, I really felt like I couldn't hold on anymore..."

Lin Xuan closed his eyes, and a wisp of his divine sense slowly probed into Zhuge Qing's inner landscape. In an instant, the scene before him underwent a world-shaking change. He arrived in a space filled with distorted auras, with ominous black mist everywhere.

In this space, a Zhuge Qing who had mastered the Wind Hou Strange Skill was wantonly displaying his Art of Techniques. Seeing Lin Xuan appear, he immediately revealed a vigilant and fanatical expression.

"Another intruder?" the Zhuge Qing in the inner landscape revealed a ferocious smile, "Let me show you the power of the Eight Extraordinary Techniques! See what a true powerhouse is!"

Before the words had even faded, he activated the Wind Hou Strange Skill. The surrounding space shifted instantly, and countless profound Arrays emerged, each containing unimaginable power. Such methods were top-tier even in the world of Outsiders.

However, Lin Xuan merely raised his hand slightly, and a flash of lightning streaked across; all the Arrays collapsed in an instant. Such divine abilities were like a child's plaything, not worth mentioning in front of a true expert.

"Impossible!" Zhuge Qing looked at this scene in disbelief, "I have mastered one of the Eight Extraordinary Techniques! Why... why am I still so weak? Why can I never catch up to others!"

His emotions became extremely unstable, with pain and anger intertwined. And these negative emotions were the best nourishment for a heart demon.

A figure identical to Zhuge Qing emerged from the darkness with a sinister smile: "See? You are never strong enough. But it doesn't matter, accept me, let us become one, and you will gain true power..."

Lin Xuan watched this scene and said: "Power is never the goal, but a means. Those who blindly pursue power often lose themselves in the end. Just like you now, you have forgotten why you started practicing in the first place."

"But..." Zhuge Qing held his head in pain, struggling internally, "I don't want to be weak anymore! I don't want to be looked down upon by others! I have sacrificed so much, why am I still not as good as others?"

"True strength does not lie in how many Arts of Techniques one has mastered, but in the firmness of one's heart." Lin Xuan's voice carried a special power that pointed directly to the original heart, "Your current state is precisely because you have lost yourself. No matter how strong the Art of Techniques is, if you lose your original heart, you will eventually walk down an evil path."

Zhuge Qing was stunned. He recalled his experiences over these years; he had indeed gradually forgotten his original intention in the process of blindly pursuing power. Those desires for power had, unknowingly, become shackles.

"I..." Tears flowed from his eyes, his voice filled with remorse, "I was wrong..."

Just then, the heart demon suddenly lashed out, wanting to take the opportunity to devour Zhuge Qing. That face, identical to Zhuge Qing's, revealed a ferocious smile: "It's too late! You are already mine!"

However, a flash of golden light streaked by, and the heart demon vanished into thin air instantly. Lin Xuan's power was not something such an evil spirit could resist.

"Many thanks to Lin Zhenren for the enlightenment." Zhuge Qing bowed deeply to Lin Xuan, his eyes regaining their clarity.

Lin Xuan smiled slightly: "Rest well, and do not be obsessed with power anymore. The path of cultivation values Nature above all."

When Lin Xuan's divine sense returned to the real world, Zhuge Qing also woke up. His complexion was much better, and his eyes had become clear and firm, no longer possessing the gloom and madness from before.

"Lin Zhenren," Fu Rong said gratefully, "thank you so much! I didn't expect Lin Zhenren to so easily..."

Seeing Zhuge Qing recover, Wang Ye and Feng Shayan also breathed a sigh of relief.

After the heart demon was eliminated, Zhuge Qing only felt his whole body was light, and the gloom that had weighed on his heart for years was swept away. He looked at the relaxed-looking Wang Ye beside him and couldn't help but ask curiously: "Old Wang, how did I run into you here?"

Wang Ye smiled with a bit of gratitude: "I hit a bottleneck in my cultivation, and my meridians had problems, so I specifically came to ask Lin Daozhang for advice." He stretched his limbs, "Thanks to Lin Daozhang's guidance, otherwise I would still be practicing blindly there, and who knows when I might have crippled myself."