Chapter 154 The Road to Sanctification
Human emotions are sometimes subtle.
When they fail, they feel sad, lost, and in pain.
But if they are not the only losers, they will feel a little more psychologically balanced.
Just like this moment——
"Zhulong" Chen Yanping sat paralyzed on the ground next to the mountain path, looking at Shangguan Jin in front of him, thinking silently: "It turns out that Lord Shangguan, who is deeply trusted by Chief Luo, failed to obtain the inheritance of the immortal! It seems that it is not me. It's too useless, but the test set by Kongxuan Sanren is too difficult..."
Shangguan Jin also looked down at Chen Yanping and thought to himself: "It turns out that this deep-thinking boy from Xiangyang Chen has also fallen into the trap. We’re halfway there! It seems that this mountaineering journey is much more difficult than I thought. Even the geniuses who attract national attention from the Da Qi Dynasty may not be able to successfully reach the top..."
They looked at each other. , the lonely mood on his face gradually eased and turned into a self-deprecating smile.
After a brief silence, Shangguan Jin asked curiously: "Mr. Chen, have you completed the task of chopping wood for the white-bearded old Taoist?"
Chen Yanping shook his head, He replied: "No. Sir Shangguan should have seen two woodcutters singing folk songs, right? I tried to use money to invite them to help me chop wood, but they refused without saying a word, saying, 'Don't use money for this. Plant something dirty to insult us'
Hearing this, Shangguan Jin couldn't help laughing even though he was feeling depressed at the moment.
Although this boy from the Chen family looks average, he once opposed her and tried to steal someone from her.
But it’s quite interesting to see how deflated he is.
"Then why were you so seriously injured? Were you beaten up by the two woodcutters?" She then asked.
Chen Yanping sighed longly and replied: "No, it's not them. I was injured by the murderous moonlight when I was passing by the mountain road next to the sea."
"That moonlight is really scary." Shangguan Jin nodded in agreement.
What Chen Yanping said is undoubtedly the "sky, sea and moon" mentioned by the children on the mountaintop trail.
Shangguan Jin undoubtedly witnessed the spectacular scenery of the rising moon on the seaside mountain road - but when she was admiring the scenery, the silvery white moonlight suddenly turned into an invisible sharp blade and shot towards her. Stab hard.
With the magical power of "Heavenly Calculation", she clearly sensed: the more she resisted, the more lethal the moonlight would be; only by using softness to overcome hardness could she successfully pass through the seaside.
So, she suppressed her true energy and dealt with it purely with magic weapons, and was naturally able to pass through that dangerous path unscathed.
But Chen Yanping is different. He does not have the ability to see through the essence of things at a glance like "Tiansuan".
It may take him a lot of time to be able to see clearly the strangeness - so it is not surprising that he was bruised and bruised by the moonlight.
"Alas, I wonder where that handsome young man has gone now..."
Unknowingly, Shangguan Jin remembered that more than two months ago, she was in "Discussing Taoism" The scene of the duel with Gu Xu in "The Realm".
At that time, although Gu Xu did not have the magical power of "divine calculation", he could rely on some unknown ability to accurately predict her location and use a unique method to crack her "Meteor Walking on the Moon" "The movement technique left a very deep impression on her.
Because of this, even though Gu Xu was only a second-level monk, two levels lower than her, she had inexplicable confidence in Gu Xu, feeling that today Gu Xu might be able to go further than she imagined.
"Sir Shangguan, since the test set by Kongxuan Sanren is so difficult, do you think anyone in our group can really reach the top of the mountain?" At this time, Chen Yanping said again.
"What do you think, Mr. Chen?" Shangguan Jin asked.
Chen Yanping thought for a moment and replied: "I think only people like 'White Tiger' Su Xiao can possibly obtain the inheritance of Kongxuan Sanren! He has a rare third-grade qualification and is also a saint. A direct disciple who taught him step by step... and his diligent study was well known.
"If even Su Xiao cannot pass the test, then I am afraid that no one in the entire Da Qi Dynasty will be able to successfully pass these tests. ”
Shangguan Jin smiled slightly: "Mr. Chen may have underestimated the geniuses of our Daqi."
"What do you mean, Master Shangguan?" Chen Yanping frowned, feeling a little puzzled by her words.
Shangguan Jin pondered for a few seconds and replied: "In my opinion, although Su Xiao is indeed very powerful, he is only obsessed with swords, and may not be the most suitable inheritor of the Kongxuan Sanren Cause and Effect Path.< br>
“If I were a Kongxuan Sanren, I would definitely choose someone who could learn from the strengths of others and be able to accommodate all the ways in the world. "
"Is there really such a person in this world? "Chen Yanping thought she was joking.
Shangguan Jin chuckled lightly and did not answer his question directly, but said lightly: "Let's go down the mountain first!"
After a brief chat with Chen Yanping, her mood was not as depressed as before. .
Since it is no longer possible to climb to the top of the mountain in person, isn’t it an interesting thing to quietly watch a good show at the bottom of the mountain?
…………
Gu Xu was still focused on chopping firewood.
He knew nothing about the situation of his companions in the "Shenji Camp" and didn't care.
“Click”!
“Click”!
The ax flashed with a cold light, accompanying his breathing and heartbeat, and fell on the wood in front of him again and again.
His movements are very regular, like a precise metronome.
There is the fragrance of earth in the air, and there are crisscrossing tree roots and dark green moss under your feet. The sound of wind and waves can be heard in the distance. The silver moonlight passes through the canopy of the trees and falls on the young man, forming a deep and elegant painting.
Chopping firewood is just like practicing spiritual practice, it is a boring thing.
Repetitive and boring.
Repeat the same process and the same gesture thousands or tens of thousands of times.
But he has long been accustomed to it.
Because his time is limited.
Others may be able to enjoy the scenery, drink a few bottles of wine, and leave a few poems while hiking.
But he could only run up to the top of the mountain with his head down, so that he could have time to overlook the infinite scenery between heaven and earth.
He once complained about his fate deep in his heart.
But when he walked through the "Juxian Terrace" in Laoshan, he suddenly figured it out.
There is no such thing as happiness or misfortune in this world, there is only the comparison of one situation with another.
He saw Du Jingjing, who cut off her meridians and died due to the tricks of cause and effect, and also saw the fourth prince Xiao Shangzhen, whose cultivation was abolished after swallowing the "Shengsheng Dan".
He thought about Pan Xiaopeng, a junior official in the exorcism department who died suddenly due to the erosion of Yin Qi, and also thought about the group of monks and monks who died in the "Nine Infants' Disaster" buried in the cemetery in the suburbs of Yishui County. Common people.
So he thanked fate for keeping a slim hope for him.
It was as if in the endless dark night, when he raised his head, he could still see the faint starlight, illuminating his way forward.
His arms began to ache.
His palms began to feel numb.
However, his expression did not change at all - calm, determined, and consistent.
"Continue." He said to himself in his mind.
“Crack!”
The ax fell heavily again, splitting the firewood in front of him into two even pieces.
Time passes quietly.
Unconsciously, there were two tall piles of firewood beside him, like two small hills.
The young man smiled, put the ax at his feet, and wiped the sweat from his face with the back of his hand.
Then he cut down a few vines nearby, quickly cut off the branches and leaves, and twisted the two ends of the vines together to form a "firewood bundle" for binding firewood.
Immediately afterwards, he put the newly cut firewood on the "firewood hugger", and while pulling hard with his hands and stepping on it with his feet, he tied the firewood tightly in an instant.
This is also the skill that the woodcutter taught him.
Two woodcutters emphasized that if the firewood is bundled without rules, it will be loose and not bundled firmly, and it will be scattered on the ground when picked up.
Gu Xu undoubtedly kept their words in mind.
Then, he carried the firewood on his back and walked towards the location of the white-bearded old Taoist, stepping on the raised roots and dead branches.
The old Taoist still sat under the pine tree with his eyes closed.
The moonlight shines on his beard, making it sparkle; behind him, there are long shadows.
Although he is dressed simply, his temperament is graceful and dignified. When Gu Xu approached, the old man opened his eyes and nodded slightly to him: "You did a good job."
Gu Xu put the firewood on the ground and saluted him. .
The old Taoist was silent for a moment, then continued: "You are the first monk to pass through the 'pine forest'. As long as you walk through the last section of the mountain road, you can reach the top."
The first one?
Hearing the news, Gu Xu was actually a little surprised.
Although Luo Sishou once said that his cultivation talent was unparalleled in the world, he was never proud of it in the "Shenji Camp".
After all, talent is not everything.
Most of the people in the "Shenji Camp" have a deeper background than him, are older than him, have higher cultivation levels than him, and have more experience than him.
I didn’t expect that he could be the first to complete the task of chopping firewood.
"Go ahead." The old man waved to him.
Then the old Tao disappeared, the firewood disappeared, the ax disappeared, and the entire pine forest disappeared.
Gu Xu returned to the rugged mountain road.
His true essence seal was also lifted.
He looked forward and saw that the top of the mountain was not far away.
The mountain view hides pavilions from a distance, and the floating clouds cover the mountainside up close.
The mountain road under his feet was steeper than all the roads he had walked before, and there were dense thorns on both sides.
He took a deep breath and stepped forward.
Now that he has embarked on this path, nothing should prevent him from continuing along this path.
…………
“White Tiger” Su Xiao was still chopping firewood attentively.
At his feet, there was a tall pile of uneven firewood.
His washed white clothes were soaked with sweat and stained with dust and mud.
At first glance, he seemed to be no different from an ordinary mountain man.
But if a swordsman expert passes by him, he will find that his blunt and rusty ax is actually wrapped with sharp sword intent!
Even though the true energy all over his body has been blocked, he still clearly displayed the meaning of the "Pingtian Sword Art" of the Sichuan sword pavilion.
The task of chopping wood given to him by the white-bearded old man has been regarded by him as a means of practicing swordsmanship.
It can be seen that his talent is outstanding.
It is not unreasonable that the entire Jiange, old and young, regard him as their ancestor.
Time flies.
The moonlight flows slowly through the gaps between the branches and leaves of the trees.
When Su Xiao cut down the last piece of firewood, he discovered that he had now grasped the key to the fifth form of the "Pingtian Sword Art" that he had been unable to master before.
That style is called "mountain stone".
It's not about exquisite skills, nor is it about majestic momentum.
It lies in returning to nature and being as skillful as foolishness.
Just like this blunt and heavy axe.
The corners of Su Xiao's mouth raised slightly, revealing a faint smile. He looked a bit simple and honest, like a child who was rewarded by his parents.
Then he tied up the firewood and came to the old white-bearded Taoist.
The old Taoist frowned slightly, as if he was a little dissatisfied with his dog-gnawing firewood, but he still nodded and agreed: "It's not bad. You are the second monk to pass through the 'Pine Forest', you can continue up the mountain."< br>
The second one?
Hearing this, Su Xiao was stunned for a moment.
He has always been a leader among his peers, a dazzling new star, and is regarded as the future of Jiange and even the future of the Daqi Dynasty.
Even in the "Shenji Camp", he can still be far ahead on the list and never lose.
He has always felt deeply lonely because of his invincibility.
The "three-foot sword" in his scabbard has never been able to be taken out of its sheath because he could not find a suitable opponent.
I didn’t expect that someone would walk out of this pine forest before him today.
Who is that person?
Is it that unfathomable woman Shangguan Jin?
Or is it the Chen Yanping who likes to make friends?
Su Xiao suddenly became interested in that person - perhaps, that person is qualified to be his opponent in the future?
After a brief trance, Su Xiao bowed slightly towards the old Taoist and said something unexpected.
If this sentence falls into the ears of other people in the "Shenji Camp", they will definitely think that his brain is broken.
His words were: "Thank you so much, Master Immortal. However, the disciple does not intend to continue moving forward."
"Why?" The old Taoist narrowed his eyes slightly and raised his tone slightly. It seemed that he did not expect that a young monk would take the initiative to give up the inheritance of the immortal.
Su Xiao replied seriously: "The way of the immortal is unpredictable, but it is not suitable for me. I still want to follow my own path without any distractions."
The old Taoist was silent for a long time and then spoke. Said: "Becoming a saint is not as easy as you think. All I can say is, I wish you good luck."
Su Xiao sincerely thanked you.
After the pine forest and the old road disappeared, he turned and walked down the mountain.
He walked briskly and looked straight ahead.
The sound of the wind in his ears, the weeds on the roadside, the mud under his feet, and the clouds and mists in the distance could not attract his attention.
Now that he has embarked on this path, nothing should prevent him from continuing along this path.
…………
At the foot of Laoshan Mountain.
Shi Lei from Qianhu in Laizhou Prefecture has been waiting here silently.
At this time, many losers have gathered next to him, including Xiao Shangzhen, Shangguan Jin, Chen Yanping, Chu Wei and so on.
In the recent period, Shi Lei had already heard that "Qingluan" Du Jingjing attempted to assassinate the fourth prince on the mountain, and then died by cutting off his meridians. He also knew that the fourth prince Xiao Shangzhen had lost his ability to cultivate. In order to become a complete mortal.
This gave Shi Lei a very headache.
Although Luo Chuan, the head of the Exorcism Department, had long told him that everything that happened in the ruins had nothing to do with him - even if the monks of the "Shenji Camp" were destroyed inside, he did not need to be responsible. .
But Shi Lei is no longer a young man who is ignorant of the world.
He knew very well that the struggle for imperial power was a muddy water, and if he got even a little bit involved, he would be unable to control himself.
To be honest, since the death of his wife, Shi Lei has lost interest in fighting for power and gain.
His only wish at the moment is to silently watch his daughter Shi Xiaohan grow up day by day, marry a good man, and live a plain, warm and beautiful life.
As for forming cliques and taking sides... Whoever wants to go can go, but he won't go anyway.
Perhaps it was the assassination of the fourth prince that made the atmosphere very solemn, and the young monks around Shi Lei remained silent.
Only "Linghu" Shangguan Jin occasionally spoke a few words, casually mentioning things on the mountain, trying to ease the stagnant atmosphere.
It must be said that Shangguan Jin can be regarded as a person who is "savvy in human relations" - she is proficient in the art of speaking and knows how to make people feel happy.
Anyone who is not wary of her will easily develop a liking for her.
Just when Shi Lei was deep in thought, the figure of "White Tiger" Su Xiao suddenly appeared on the way down the mountain.
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(End of this chapter)