Chapter 524: Master and Disciple Part Ways, Enlightenment in the Void

Xiao Yuan stored the light orb into her dantian and immediately felt her cultivation base receive a qualitative improvement. But she had no time to carefully experience this change, because the information transmitted by the Fate Compass was becoming increasingly urgent.

"Wind Travels a Thousand Miles!"

Xiao Yuan unleashed her strongest movement technique, transforming into a streak of cyan light as she rushed out of the Wangling Ta. Under the blessing of millions of years of spiritual inheritance, her speed reached an unprecedented height, almost comparable to Instant Teleportation.

The cyan streak of light tore through the sky, pointing directly toward the Hunyuan Valley in the northwest. Cultivators along the way could only see a blurry shadow flash past; they didn't even have time to let out a sound.

"Brother Lin Xuan, wait for me!" Xiao Yuan shouted in her heart, driving her Wind-Walking Art to the limit.

The cold wind of the Snowy Immortal Mountain whistled past the teleportation array, stirring up snow that filled the sky. At the edge of the Dharma Array composed of those massive ice crystals, a figure slowly walked out, each step causing subtle ripples to spread through the surrounding space.

When Muerxiu saw the newcomer's face clearly, his heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer. He was all too familiar with that face—the square jaw, the thick beard, the deep eyes. This was his master, Elder Mo Qianji of the Guixu Sect, the man who had raised him like a father.

However, the Mo Qianji of this moment was like a different person. His eyes were stained a strange purplish-black, and deep within his pupils, it seemed as if hellfire were burning. Even more unsettling was the dense Hun Dun Power surrounding him; that evil aura made Muerxiu feel waves of palpitations.

"Master..." Muerxiu's voice trembled slightly, and the Void Blade gripped tightly in his hand quivered.

Mo Qianji looked at Muerxiu, a complex expression flashing through his eyes before he returned to indifference: "Xiu'er, you have finally come. Your master has waited for you for a long time."

"Master, why are you..." Muerxiu wanted to ask the doubts in his heart, but the words reached his lips and he didn't know how to begin.

"Why has it become like this?" Mo Qianji seemed to see through Muerxiu's thoughts and smiled faintly, "Because your master has finally seen the truth. This so-called order of the Cultivation World is nothing but a shackle on the truly strong."

He walked slowly toward Muerxiu, each step causing the ice and snow beneath his feet to melt instantly: "Xiu'er, do you still remember what your master taught you back then? What should a cultivator pursue?"

"Pursue the Dao, help the world and save the people." Muerxiu answered subconsciously; this was the philosophy his master had instilled in him since he was a child.

"Correct, pursue the Dao!" Mo Qianji's voice suddenly became impassioned, "But the Dao of this world has been twisted by those so-called righteous sects! They establish rules to restrict us, set up social barriers to block geniuses, and use hypocritical morality to kidnap the truly strong!"

Muerxiu frowned: "Master, the problems you speak of do exist, but that does not mean we should use evil means to solve them."

"Evil?" Mo Qianji sneered, "What is evil? When the strong set the rules, it is order; when the weak resist, it is evil? Xiu'er, you are still too naive."

As he spoke, Mo Qianji raised his right hand, and a powerful surge of Hun Dun Power condensed into a purplish-black Long Sword: "The philosophy of the Guixu Sect is the true Dao—to break all false order and let the strong truly dominate the world! Come back with your master; with your talent, you will surely occupy an important position in the new order."

Muerxiu shook his head, his tone firm: "Master, no matter how lofty the philosophy, acts that harm innocent lives are unforgivable. Look at this teleportation array; it is absorbing the essence accumulated by the Snowy Immortal Mountain over thousands of years. Before long, this place will become a dead land. What will become of the living beings that rely on this mountain to survive?"

"What do the lives of those ants have to do with the Dao?" A trace of impatience flashed in Mo Qianji's eyes, "Xiu'er, your master will ask you one last time: are you willing to return to the sect?"

"Master, this disciple is willing to return with you, but on the condition that you stop this evil plan." Muerxiu's voice carried a plea, "You are still my beloved master; I do not wish to be your enemy."

Mo Qianji watched Muerxiu silently for a long time, finally sighing: "It seems your master has indeed failed in his teaching. Since that is the case, let your master correct your mistake personally."

As soon as the words fell, Mo Qianji's figure flashed, and the purplish-black Long Sword in his hand pierced toward Muerxiu's heart like a venomous snake. Hun Dun fire burned on the blade's edge, and wherever it passed, even space was scorched with cracks.

Muerxiu's heart felt as if it were being sliced by knives, but he still instinctively channeled his Void power to defend. A silver Void Barrier unfolded before him, barely blocking his master's attack.

"Master, please do not force me!" Muerxiu pleaded while fighting, still unwilling to take the initiative to attack.

However, Mo Qianji's offensive became increasingly fierce. The Hun Dun Power granted him strength far exceeding his past, and every move carried the power to destroy the heavens and the earth. Even more terrifying was that he knew Muerxiu's martial arts patterns like the back of his hand, and almost every attack could accurately hit Muerxiu's flaws.

"Void: Space Folding!"

Forced into a corner, Muerxiu had no choice but to unleash a Void mystery in an attempt to put distance between himself and his master. However, Mo Qianji was well-prepared; the Hun Dun Power was actually able to erode the stability of the Void, causing the effect of Muerxiu's spatial Art of Techniques to be greatly diminished.

"It's useless, Xiu'er." Mo Qianji said coldly, "Your master knows every one of your moves and is clear about every one of your weaknesses. And as for your master now, my strength has already far surpassed what it was back then."

Indeed, under the blessing of the Hun Dun Power, Mo Qianji's cultivation had reached the late stage of Integration, while Muerxiu was merely at the Great Perfection of Nascent Soul. Whether in cultivation or experience, he was at an absolute disadvantage.

However, just as Muerxiu fell into a desperate situation, he suddenly remembered the teachings of Lingjizi: "The essence of the Void Path does not lie in avoidance, but in understanding. Understand the nature of space, understand the connection of all things, and understand your own heart."

Muerxiu closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down amidst his master's violent attacks. He began to recall every little detail of his time with his master, recalling those warm years, and recalling every word his master had once taught him.

In this recollection, Muerxiu suddenly understood something. What his master was doing now was not entirely out of evil, but because he had seen the various injustices of the Cultivation World, and the anger and disappointment in his heart had been infinitely magnified by the Hun Dun Power.

"Master, this disciple understands." Muerxiu opened his eyes, and the Void power began to undergo a subtle change, "I can feel the anger and pain in your heart. But this is not the way to solve the problem."

As he spoke, Muerxiu no longer defended purely, but began to take the initiative to meet the attacks. But his method of attack was very special—every strike was filled with care and compassion, as if he were embracing a wounded child.