Proofreader: Papatonks
“Self returning to origin.”
With a kind smile, Elder Yuan pointed at himself, “Zhuo Fan, do you see how my cultivation is in the Bone Tempering Stage? This is not me trying to feign weakness, but my true cultivation. It’s all due to cultivating the True Self Art.”
Zhuo Fan and Chu Qingcheng shared a look of shock.
[Elder Yuan can kill an Ethereal Stage expert with a snap of his fingers, but he’s just a Bone Tempering cultivator. Did the True Self Art sap his cultivation?]
Elder Yuan could see their doubts and explained, “True Self Art is a heart cultivation method. Its effect is shown by regressing your cultivation, or rather returning you to your true self. While you drop cultivation stages, power rises as cultivation is returned to origin, just like the pure and innocent child you once were. While the power would reach unfathomable heights as if a reawakening occurred. This level is something I can’t fathom, to the point I won’t dare even imagine what would happen next. Would power and cultivation combine, returning to origin, or would it bring about a new level. With my meager cultivation, I am unable to see it. I only hope that someone will be able to reach that far and prove I am right.”
[Another incomparable path that no one had proved yet.]
Tightening the jade slip in his grip, Zhuo Fan’s eyes shook.
Power grew while cultivation dropped. It not once crossed his mind something like this was possible. Just like Elder Yuan said, once cultivation reaches the origin and power rises to the Emperor Stage, what would come after?
[What will happen once you cross the point where cultivation can’t regress any more, when power can’t grow? Will it be a whole new path of cultivation, or turn to dust, becoming a part of the primal chaos?]
He did not know, but for some reason, his heart throbbed in excitement. Despite the deadly risks, this was a challenge worthy of him trying.
“Zhuo Fan, you’re a man that focuses on Dao and does not pursue strength as the end goal. I give True Self Art to you in hopes that you can help me find the answer.”
Looking Zhuo Fan in the eye, Elder Yuan spoke with a far gone gaze, “I planned on imparting this art I came to realize to my disciple, but he just strays further and further from Dao, unable to commit to the True Self Art. Without insight into Dao, regressing cultivation and increasing power to reach origin will be hard. It would only be wasted on him…”
“Master!”
Elder Yuan did not finish as a familiar voice echoed.
Shaking all over, he turned to Zhuo Fan to find him kneeling and tapping his head on the ground three times as he shouted, “Thank you, master, for your heritage. I will live up to your expectations!”
Startled, Elder Yuan was unable to react, letting Chu Qingcheng to giggle, “El- uhm, master, Zhuo Fan has never owed anyone favors. When he receives something from someone, he has to pay it back. Since he pays respects to you as his master, it shows just how important this art is to him. So much so he didn’t know how to repay you other than bow to you and take you as master.”
“Master, didn’t you ask me if I saw the Demon Scheming Sect as my home? Now I can say with clear conscience that as long as master is at the Demon Scheming Sect, this sect is my home. I promise!” Raising his head, Zhuo Fan’s forehead had blood on it.
Elder Yuan gave Zhuo Fan a dumbfounded look, needing much time to come back to his senses. He nodded, “Very good, giving you this art is like passing on to my disciple. I now have no regrets. Zhuo Fan, you’re pursuing Dao, no matter how sharp your senses are compared to mine, you have to ponder this art to a minute detail. I shall await the day you unravel it.”
“You’re too kind, master.”
Zhuo Fan smiled, “But with such a great gift from master, I just don’t know what I could give in return. I am so ashamed.”
“Ha-ha-ha, you’re just like your lady said. You don’t want to owe anyone anything.”
Elder Yuan laughed, “You’ve already given me my gift, the 10th grade Heaven Reaching Pill.”
“How can a measly 10th grade pill match master’s art?”
“It’s enough. There are many a talent about, but rare are those to see them. Just how you know the value of this art, others will see it as junk. I’m content knowing you will cherish it.”
Elder Yuan chuckled and waved his hand, “You may go and wait outside.”
Bowing once more, Zhuo Fan gave Elder Yuan a deep look then pulled Chu Qingcheng outside the room.
Seeing the two leave, Elder Yuan smiled with tears welling in his eyes.
He finally got to pass on his knowledge…
Creak~
In the Main Hall, Zhuo Fan and Chu Qingcheng coming out were met with Xie Wuyue’s burning gaze.
[Why did they come out alive? High Venerable did not use this chance to kill them?]
“Wuyue, come in!”
Elder Yuan’s voice resounded and Xie Wuyue stood up. He brushed past them, sending a glare at them before huffing as he went in.
Elder Yuan, who was still sitting on his prayer mat, gestured, “Sit.”
“High Venerable, why didn’t you kill them? As long as Zhuo Fan dies, the others will become a headless rabble. And with the inner sect faction, we’ll crush them!”
Gnashing his teeth, Xie Wuyue’s eyes saw red, “Those damn geezers dared to stand with that lowly Zhuo Fan against me? They must have a death wish.”
Looking at his angry stance with a cold look, Elder Yuan’s eyelid shook, taking a deep breath, “Wuyue…”
“What? High Venerable, please tell me what we should do.”
“Stand down.” Elder Yuan spoke deeply, making Xie Wuyue shudder, “W-what did you say?”
I’m telling you to stand down as a Sect Leader.”
“Why?!” Xie Wuyue erupted, shooting to his feet, “I’m the great Sect Leader of the Demon Scheming Sect! I have worked for its betterment for centuries. Especially now, thanks to my thoughtful planning, the Demon Scheming Sect has become a middle-three sect, something never before achieved in thousands of years. Why the hell should I step down now? Zhuo Fan, he’s the one who broke the sect rules! He and his band of criminals have started an uprising!”
Elder Yuan eyed him coldly, “What do you want then?”
“To kill!”
Xie Wuyue roared, “These geezers wanted to overthrow me. They deserve death!”
“You need to think about the consequences.”
“What are you afraid of? With ten thousand sacred stones, in a hundred years, we’ll get all the elders and venerables we need.” Xie Wuyue showed a vicious smile.
Elder Yuan sighed, “Wuyue, do you know how much Demon Scheming Sect would lose because of this? We can regain elders and venerables, but we will lose our thousands of years old heritage. Every generation of elders and venerables were every sect’s generation of masters raised from disciples, loyal to the sect more than anything else. This is something no amount of sacred stones-raised elders can replace. Once tradition is broken, the sect itself will fall.”
“High Venerable, you’re being paranoid. All that matters is that we have iron rules. It doesn’t matter if they don’t listen, he-he-he…”
“Ha-ha, Wuyue, you’re still like this.”
Seeing Xie Wuyue’s crazed look, Elder Yuan shook his head, “Do you know why Zhuo Fan managed to stir so many people into rising against you? It’s because you are never sensible in your matters, you’re self-centered and out of control. They fear you, and you think it’s because of your status, but once you turn your back, they will come at you with a blade.”
“Before Zhuo Fan struck Mystical Heaven Sect, the reason he was so sure these people would be with him in the uprising even after he told them of impersonating you, was because their fear of you runs deep in their hearts. This fear, in turn, became resentment and they lashed out. Since they’d die whether they came back or rebelling, why not fight to the last and take you down with them? Zhuo Fan knew this very well, that’s why he faked your order to attack Mystical Heaven Sect. All that matters was that he tied everyone’s fate together.”
Clenching his fist, Xie Wuyue gnashed his teeth, “Curse that Zhuo Fan! He’s been scheming against me! I shouldn’t have let him leave!”
“Wuyue, the people had turned your back on you. The moment is lost. Just let it go.”
Elder Yuan sighed, “If I knew this day would come, you should have learned from Zhuo Fan’s way of leading people. You should’ve known he has no feeling for the sect, much less for anyone in it. Even so, he manages to get everyone who follows him to believe in him. I believe he is far more suited than you to be a Sect Leader!”
Xie Wuyue’s face twitched, having already lost himself to rage, having heard nothing and just cursed, “Curses, I’ve brought the wolf into my home! I let him undermine me…”
“Wuyue!”
Elder Yuan shouted and sighed, “You need to step down regardless. If you don’t want to do it, then you give me no choice. I’ll have to use my right as High Venerable and cripple you. That will only make it worse for you.”
Xie Wuyue shook, looking at Elder Yuan in disbelief, “N-no way, High Venerable. Are you going to cripple me over a brat?”
Elder Yuan closed his eyes, unable to hold back the tears. When he opened them again, he made up his mind as he stood, “Sect Leader Xie, come with me. I shall declare this to everyone and settle this now!”
“Wait, you can’t do this! You made me a Sect Leader!”
“That was before.” Elder Yuan halted.
“With Zhuo Fan’s uprising, then your declaration of crippling the Sect Leader will make you look afraid of Zhuo Fan. What will the sect think of their greatest expert?”
“Doesn’t matter. What does my name amount to when the future of the sect is at stake?” Elder Yuan’s face hardened as he walked.
Xie Wuyue stared at the old man and shouted, “Master!”
Ugh!
Faltering, Elder Yuan stopped again and closed his eyes…
