Chapter 775: with translation of chapter title

After seeing off Bai Shulan, Xiao Jiu went to wash up and change clothes, while Li Qingying returned to her own room and called Hui Moqiong.

Translation: "After seeing off Bái Sōnglán, Xiao Jiu went to wash up and change clothes, while Li Qingying returned to her own room and called Hui Moqiong."

After seeing off Bai Shulan, Xiao Jiu went to wash up and change clothes, while Li Qingying returned to her own room and called Hui Moqiong.

We need to keep "Āyàn"? Not here.

Ok.

After chatting with Hui Moqiong for a while, Li Qingying finally understood why Bai Shulan had repeatedly wanted to speak but held back.

Translation: "After chatting with Hui Moqiong for a while, Li Qingying finally understood why Bái Sōnglán had repeatedly wanted to speak but stopped."

Li Qingying also felt a heavy weight in her heart.

Translation: "Li Qingying also felt heavy-hearted."

Seventh Master's practice of the Turtle Breath Technique was passive.

Translation: "Seventh Lord entered the Turtle Breath Technique cultivation passively."

Note: "Turtle Breath Technique" = Turtle Breath Technique, "cultivation" = cultivation, "it was passive" = it was passive.

It was the old turtle's inner core actively merging into Seventh Master's body.

Translation: "It was the old turtle's inner core actively merging into Seventh Lord's body."

If Seventh Master awakens midway and resists, or fails to break through the final bottleneck, he will suffer a backlash; but if he successfully completes the fusion of the inner core, when he awakens again, he is likely to ascend.

Translation: "If Seventh Lord woke up midway and resisted, or failed to break through the final bottleneck, he would suffer a backlash; but if Seventh Lord successfully completed the fusion of the inner core, when he awoke again, he would likely ascend."

Li Qingying knew that Seventh Master had had more than one chance to ascend, but he had given them up for various reasons.

Translation: "Li Qingying knew that Seventh Lord had had more than one chance to ascend, but he had given them up for various reasons."

But this time the situation is somewhat different.

Translation: "But this time the situation is somewhat different."

Li Qingying was a little afraid to think about the final outcome; she didn't want Seventh Master to suffer a backlash, nor did she want Xiao Jiu to be upset.

Translation: "Li Qingying was a little afraid to think about the final outcome; she didn't want Seventh Lord to suffer a backlash, nor did she want Xiao Jiu to be sad."

People are always greedy, always wanting both this and that.

Translation: "People, ah, are always greedy, always wanting both."

But in this world, eight or nine out of ten things cannot be perfect, right?

Translation: "But in this world, eight or nine out of ten things cannot be perfect, right?"

In the following days, Xiao Jiu spent every spare moment accompanying Liu Junyan.

Translation: "In the following days, whenever Xiao Jiu had time, she accompanied Liu Junyan."

Every day she helped Liu Junyan wash his body, applied medicine to his external wounds, held his hand, and whispered to him.

Translation: "Every day she helped Liu Junyan wash his body, applied medicine to his external injuries, held his hand and whispered to him."

Xiao Jiu believed that Liu Junyan could surely hear her voice and feel her presence.

Translation: "Xiao Jiu believed that Liu Junyan could surely hear her voice and feel her presence."

She repeatedly told Liu Junyan that she was now capable of standing on her own, and she hoped he would seize this opportunity to successfully ascend.

Translation: "She repeatedly told Liu Junyan that she was now capable of standing on her own, and she hoped he would seize this opportunity to successfully ascend."

"Ah Yan, don't disappoint the old turtle's sincere intentions, and don't lightly give up this opportunity; this is your great fortune."

Translation: "\"Āyàn, don't betray the old turtle's sincere intention, and don't lightly give up this chance; this is your great opportunity. \""

"Actually, you should have noticed too: the pawnbrokers we face in the Yin Dang trade are quietly changing their identities. Before, we dealt only with humans, ghosts, and demons—things within our control—but now we are gradually having to wrestle with the Heavenly Way, right?"

Translation: "\"Actually, you should have noticed too: the pawnbrokers we face in Yin Dang Hang are quietly changing in identity; before, we dealt with people, ghosts, and demons, all within our control, but now we are gradually having to wrestle with the Heavenly Dao, right? \""

"This time almost cost us half our lives; if we encounter even more troublesome situations later, how will we cope with our current status?"

Translation: "\"This time it almost took half our lives; if we encounter even more troublesome things later, how can we withstand them with our current status? \""

"So our status also needs to advance further; if you manage to obtain a minor official position in the upper realm, that would be beneficial for our Yin Dang trade, wouldn't it?"

Translation: "\"So our status also needs to advance further; if you can obtain a minor official position in the upper realms, that would also be good for our Yin Dang Hang, right? \""

"As for the immortals above having to renounce the seven emotions and six desires, that's trivial; we're an old married couple with children, having experienced what we should have, and it's only natural to let go of worldly affairs and pursue a higher realm. If I ever get a chance to ascend, I will firmly seize it—really, I'm not lying to you."

Translation: "\"As for the immortals above having to renounce the Seven Emotions and Six Desires, that's trivial; we are an old married couple with children, having experienced what we should have, it is only natural to renounce the mortal world and pursue a higher realm; if I ever get a chance to ascend, I will firmly seize it, truly, I'm not lying to you…\""

Xiao Jiu chattered on.

Translation: "Xiao Jiu chattered on."

These words were ninety percent true, with one percent of guilt.

Translation: "These words are ninety percent true, ten percent guilty conscience."

That one percent of guilt stemmed from reluctance to let go.

Translation: "And that ten percent of guilt is reluctance to let go."

Liu Junyan is so wonderful; how could Xiao Jiu possibly bear to part from him?

Translation: "Liu Junyan is so good; how could Xiao Jiu possibly bear to part from him?"

But her wish for him to seize the opportunity is also genuine.

Translation: "But she truly wants him to seize the opportunity."

Their identities are indeed different now.

Translation: "Their identities are indeed different now."

Before, Xiao Jiu believed that a husband and wife should share weal and woe, advance and retreat together.

Translation: "Before, Xiao Jiu felt that a husband and wife should share weal and woe, advance and retreat together."

Xiao Jiu did that.

Translation: "Xiao Jiu did that."

Now she feels their relationship should undergo a further elevation.

Translation: "But now she feels their relationship should undergo a further elevation."

They have passed the stage of lingering affection that is hard to part from; now, their thoughts should be more focused on the future of the Yin Dang trade and the Jiuyan district.

Translation: "They have already passed the stage of lingering love hard to part; now, their hearts should be more focused on the future of Yin Dang Hang and Jiǔyàn qū."

Liu Junyan realized that, the moment he began swiftly merging with the old turtle's inner core via the Turtle Breath Technique, he wanted to struggle to awaken from that void-like state.

Translation: "Liu Junyan realized that he was swiftly merging with the old turtle's inner core via the Turtle Breath Technique, and at once wanted to struggle to awaken from that void state."

But at first, when the fusion level was low, in that cultivation environment the inner core dominated, and he could not break through the void barrier to awaken.

Translation: "But at first, when the fusion level was low, in that cultivation environment the inner core actually dominated, and he could not possibly break through that void barrier to awaken."

Each time he mobilized his inner energy to strike the inner core, his back felt as if thousands of fine needles were piercing his flesh, blood, and bones.

Translation: "Each time he mobilized his inner energy to strike the inner core, his back felt as if tens of thousands of fine needles were piercing into his flesh and bones."

The pain was secondary; mainly, the points where those needles pierced seemed to connect into a net that tightly bound him, leaving no chance to retaliate.

Translation: "The pain was secondary; mainly, the points where those fine needles pierced seemed to connect into a net that tightly trapped him, giving him no chance to retaliate."

This was the effect of the turtle-shell mark left by the old turtle on Liu Junyan's back.

Translation: "That was the effect of the turtle-shell mark left by the old turtle on Liu Junyan's back."

That turtle-shell mark was like a forbidden spell, trapping the inwardly injured Liu Junyan.

Translation: "This turtle-shell mark was like a forbidden spell, binding the injured Liu Junyan."

This was also a precaution the old turtle took at his last moment, fearing Liu Junyan might not accept his inner core.

Translation: "This should also be the old turtle's last‑minute precaution, fearing that Liu Junyan would not accept his inner core."

After all, the old turtle knew better than anyone what accepting his inner core entailed.

Translation: "After all, the old turtle knew better than anyone what accepting his inner core entailed."

I don't know how long passed, but as the inner core's fusion deepened, Liu Junyan tried again to break through the turtle-shell mark.

Translation: "After an unknown amount of time, as the fusion of the inner core progressed, Liu Junyan again tried to break through that turtle-shell mark."

This time, the stabbing pain and sense of restraint were much reduced.

Translation: "This time, the stabbing pain and sense of restraint were much reduced."

Just as Liu Junyan was about to attempt a second try, a faint, illusory figure of an old man suddenly appeared before him.

Translation: "Just as Liu Junyan was about to try a second time, a faint, illusory old man's figure suddenly appeared before him."

It was the old turtle.

Translation: "It was the old turtle."

No, the old turtle had already turned to ashes.

Translation: "No, the old turtle has already turned to ashes."

What now appeared before Liu Junyan was the last wisp of the old turtle's spirit, sealed within the turtle-shell mark, manifesting as an elderly figure with white hair.

Translation: "What now appears before Liu Junyan is the last wisp of the old turtle's spirit sealed within the turtle-shell mark, manifesting as an elderly figure with white hair."

The old man leaned on a cane, stooped, and bowed deeply to Liu Junyan.

Translation: "The old man leaned on a cane, stooped, and bowed deeply to Liu Junyan."

Liu Junyan instinctively reached out to support him, but his hands passed straight through the old man's body.

Translation: "Liu Junyan instinctively reached out to support him, but his hands passed through the old man's body."

The old man spoke earnestly: "Seventh Master Liu, thank you for aiding me and the beings of Sui lands at the critical moment. I fully understand that implanting my inner core into your body could bring uncontrollable consequences for you and your family, yet I still chose to do so."

Translation: "The old man spoke earnestly: \"Liu Qiye, thank you for aiding me and the beings of Suedi at the critical moment; I fully understand that implanting my inner core into your body could bring uncontrollable consequences for you and your family, yet I ultimately did so. \""

"You are a person of great compassion, karmically linked with the Buddha, a protector of all beings in the world. Even if it weren't me, you would surely encounter another great opportunity and walk this path of ascent."

Translation: "\"You are a person of great compassion, karmically linked with the Buddha, a protector of all beings in this world; even if it weren't me, you would surely encounter another great opportunity and walk this path of ascent. \""

"Or perhaps you have already experienced such a great opportunity before, but simply gave it up, right?"

Translation: "\"Or perhaps you have already experienced such a great opportunity before, only to give it up, right? \""

The old man said this and then paused.

Translation: "The old man said that, then paused."

Liu Junyan, however, stared at the old man in shock; his gaze clearly showed that the old man had hit the mark.

Translation: "Liu Junyan, however, stared at the old man in shock; his gaze clearly showed the old man had hit the mark."

Yes, Liu Junyan had indeed once had such a great opportunity.

Translation: "Yes, Liu Junyan had indeed once had such a great opportunity."

He actually knew deep down why Star Chen always gave him a cold, indifferent attitude, while being much more affectionate toward Xiao Jiu.

Translation: "He actually knows best in his heart why Xingchen always gives him an indifferent attitude, while being much more affectionate toward Xiao Jiu."

Because Star Chen had long ago perceived what the old turtle now sees.

Translation: "Because Xingchen had long perceived what the old turtle now sees."

Star Chen had also advised Liu Junyan more than once to go out and explore.

Translation: "Xingchen had also advised Liu Junyan more than once to go out more."

He indeed, while helping Star Chen eliminate the remnants of the egret, ran around for a period of time.

Translation: "He indeed, while helping Xingchen eliminate the remnants of the egret, ran around for a period."

But in the end he could not let go of Xiao Jiu, nor the pawnshop and the Jiuyan district, and thus never took the crucial step of wandering the world.

Translation: "But he ultimately could not let go of Xiao Jiu, could not let go of the pawnshop and Jiǔyàn qū, and never managed to take that crucial step—wandering the world."

That was his first great opportunity.

Translation: "That was his first great opportunity."

If he could persist in wandering the world, perhaps in less than ten years he would be able to ascend to become an immortal of the upper realm.

Translation: "If he could persist in wandering the world, perhaps in less than ten years he could ascend to become an immortal of the upper realms."

He gave up.

He thought that as long as he gave up, he would not encounter such a great opportunity again, and could stay there.

But… a new great opportunity arrived just like that, silently.

This is fate.

The old man continued to say: "Fate cannot be defied; it is willing to give you one chance, two chances, but not necessarily willing to give you a third chance. Know when to stop, plan slowly, and only then can you achieve longevity."

After the old man finished speaking, this wisp of spiritual sense completely vanished.

Liu Junyan sat cross-legged in the void, repeatedly pondering the old man's last words.

He knew the weight of these four words, "know when to stop".

When fate turned into heavenly wrath, not only he would be punished.

The people in this world most deeply entangled with him in karma will be the most deeply implicated by him……