The faint sound of dripping water echoed, revealing endless coldness. The soul remained in the world because of the soul bead, but the body was completely out of control and he couldn't even open his eyes. He could only rely on consciousness to feel the surrounding environment. This seemed to be an empty place, and there should be a stone platform under him.
After a moment, I heard a familiar sound of footsteps. Maybe it was because the surroundings were too quiet, it sounded so lonely.
Someone stopped by the stone platform.
There was a long silence. Although his body could not move, Gu Pinglin felt his soul trembling.
finally--
"You are so disobedient." A breath approached, and a pair of hands helped him up.
The soft, wet silk scarf was rubbed on his face to wipe away the blood. The man held him in his arms, almost half-holding him in his arms, and his movements were very careful.
"Aren't you inventing new tricks? You can resolve this crisis." The voice was cold and inconsistent with the action. "You give up like this? You disappoint me so much."
Unexpectedly, after hearing his voice, Gu Pinglin's anger gradually subsided and he found it even more absurd and ridiculous.
"The inferior skills of the Lingxin Sect are not worthy of you at all. Only the god-level "Creation Art" can support your ideals and help you perfect the way of formation swordsmanship. Follow me to the end." The man stopped his movements, his breath moved closer, and he seemed to be looking down at him. His tone suddenly became gentle and sounded very sincere. "I am helping you, helping you get rid of these burdens, but you are stubborn and misunderstand me. Instead, you care about those idiots in the Lingxin Sect."
Gu Pinglin felt a little uncomfortable as he rubbed his face with his fingers. Perhaps it was because the dead body was too cold, and the hand was surprisingly warm.
"They are just a group of people who will die sooner or later. Are they worth giving up your path? Are they more important than the Great Dao and Ascension?"
"It's hopelessly stupid."
"People like you are not worthy of ascending."
Silence.
Although he couldn't see it, Gu Pinglin knew that the gaze must be mocking, cold and sharp.
The man stared at him for a long time, then suddenly chuckled.
"You want to give up, but I don't agree."
After saying this, the man regained his composure, calmly tidied him up, and helped him lie back on the stone platform.
…
The sound of footsteps had not yet disappeared from his ears when Gu Pinglin suddenly woke up and stared at the ceiling in a daze.
Strange dreams keep appearing, but there is no memory of them.
Gu Pinglin turned over and sat up, took out the "Creation Art" from his arms, read it for a long time, and sighed secretly.
This item exists as the sect's foundational technique. With it, Lingxin Sect will have a worry-free future. However, this can only be done slowly after I become the sect leader. The new technique I just had is already eye-catching enough.
But the master's life span is coming to an end. Do we really want to see him re-enter the cycle of reincarnation? As the head of a sect, his life span is no longer a secret. Moreover, there is the prediction of Ming Qingzi Tianji. Once he uses the "Creation Art" to break through and increase his life span, it will surely arouse suspicion and bring disaster to the Lingxin Sect.
The best way to deal with it is undoubtedly to let the master decide for himself.
Although he had an idea in mind, when the time came, Gu Pinglin could not help but feel melancholy, because he had already expected Yue Songting's choice - others would be ecstatic when they saw the "Creation Art" and would pay any price, but Yue Songting would not practice it even if he was forced to give him the technique. This is why different people have different choices, which coincided with Ming Qingzi's assertion in this life and also coincided with the will of heaven.
Master could not escape the fate, what about me? Ming Qingzi's words were different from those in my previous life. Does it mean that there is still hope for my path
Gu Pinglin had something in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face. He tried to distance himself from Duan Qingming, but Duan Qingming seemed to have noticed and didn't bother him again. The four of them stayed in Zhenshui Sword Sect for a few days. When their injuries were almost healed, Gu Pinglin said goodbye and left. Coincidentally, Yan Sen also came over, and the five of them met up and returned to Lingxin Sect together.
Yan Sen kicked Cheng Yi off the crane and said, "Just go back to the sect. What am I going to do? Be careful not to kill Old Man Yue if I get upset. Humph."
Cheng Yi had no choice but to squeeze in with Xin Ji and complained to Duan Qingming aggrievedly: "Let's not have him anymore, he stole my crane."
"He is still useful in times of danger," Duan Qingming glanced at Yan Sen and said with a smile, "If he didn't follow us, we would be in trouble."
Xin Ji opened his eyes immediately.
Yan Sen sat down on the crane's back, holding his sword across his knees, and sneered, "Stop your f*cking alarmist talk and trying to scare me. I think you're the ones in trouble. It's only been a few days and you've already made enemies. Hehe."
Duan Qingming said: "The Soul Stone is in my hand. My trouble is your trouble. You are welcome."
Yan Sen choked and sneered: "Do you think I'm afraid of death?"
That being said, he didn't want to die after all, so he sent the four people back to Qianyang Mountain before leaving, and agreed to meet at Penglai Island next year when Nanzhu got married. Xin Ji stayed, and he betrayed the Demon Realm after getting the "Nine Chapters of Refining the Spirit". The Demon Realm Master Wei Feng issued a hunting order, and it was safer for him to hide in the righteous sect than to walk outside.
Gu Pinglin had already passed the message to Ren Ping. The brothers of Lingxin Sect have always been close to each other. As soon as the four of them reached the mountain gate, many disciples came out to greet them and surrounded them. The scene in front of him was very familiar. Even though Gu Pinglin was used to being serious, his expression could not help but soften a little at this time. Duan Qingming was very popular. He was surrounded by a large group of brothers and sisters and walked up the mountain. They were chatting and laughing, attracting attention. Seeing this, Gu Pinglin couldn't help but think of the scene when this person was in Xuanming Sect in his previous life, which was more prosperous and grand.
He is ruthless, but also has feelings. It’s just that being too smart makes him confused.
pity.
After these days, the anger had gradually subsided. Gu Pinglin felt a little complicated. He withdrew his gaze, and while dealing with everyone, he secretly looked around and found that Bu Shuihan was not there. He knew that Yue Songting had listened to his advice and really punished him to go into seclusion.
Yue Songting and the two Dao Supervisors were waiting in the main hall. The Creation Cave was closed, and this training ended early. Chen Qian and Chang Jinxin had returned long ago and stood beside Ren Ping. Gu Pinglin and the others had met Yue Songting and the Dao Supervisor first. Yue Songting had not expected them to receive the inheritance, and he was overjoyed to see the two return safely. Duan Qingming introduced Xin Ji and Cheng Yi to everyone, saying that they were just friends he met on the road. Xin Ji was used to pretending to be a righteous person, and his etiquette was flawless. Yue Songting was always friendly to fellow Daoists, and immediately asked Ren Ping to take them to the guest room to settle down.
Gu Pinglin sensed something was wrong: "Master..."
"It's all fate, don't worry about it," Yue Songting explained casually, and then changed the subject, "You've been traveling all the way, you should go down and rest, and we can talk about the rest tomorrow."
It's fate, it can't be like this! Gu Pinglin suppressed his doubts and deliberately slowed down his pace to wait for everyone to leave, but he heard Yue Songting ordered: "Qingming, you stay."
Duan Qingming answered respectfully, "Yes."
Gu Pinglin had no choice but to come out with the crowd and waited outside the hall for a long time before he saw Duan Qingming coming out.
Their eyes met briefly, and Duan Qingming didn't say anything. He walked past him with his usual leisurely pace and left in a leisurely manner.
Gu Pinglin turned and entered the hall.
Yue Songting was sitting on a chair and coughing softly. He smiled when he saw him come in and called him over: "I heard that you have been helping to take care of the affairs of the outer sect Taoist temple all the way, and you have done a good job."
Gu Pinglin remained calm: "Master still has at least ten years to live, how could this happen?"
"I wanted to fight hard, but I didn't know it was God's will," Yue Songting said lightly, "but this time you..."
Gu Pinglin, contrary to his usual behavior, interrupted him rudely: "Did something go wrong during your training?"
Yue Songting was somewhat helpless in the face of the questioning. He thought for a moment and said, "Master, you have obtained a skill by chance. It is very profound, but unfortunately it is not yet perfected. Master, you are not smart enough to try it rashly. Not only did you fail to make up for it, but you also suffered the backlash." At this point, he restrained his smile and said, "Master, there is no hope of a breakthrough in this life. Sooner or later, this day will come. It is also a good thing that you can return to the path of Taoism in the next life. As a cultivator, you should not be obsessed with life and death. Do you understand this truth?"
"Disciple understands," Gu Pinglin said, "Master, don't worry."
Yue Songting nodded, looking at him with a hint of guilt, and after a while he said, "My master's death is not far away, and the only thing I am worried about now is the Lingxin Sect. That technique is very advanced. If it can be perfected, it will surely make the Lingxin Sect shine."
Gu Pinglin took over the conversation: "Anyone who can perfect it must be a genius in swordsmanship. Such a great achievement is enough to make him the next head."
Yue Songting did not deny it, but hesitated a little: "I intend to pass the position of the head to Qingming, you..."
Gu Pinglin smiled, "That's great. Senior Brother Duan is extremely talented, intelligent, and very popular in the sect. He is worthy of being the headmaster. Master, do you know that people outside are saying that I am the next headmaster? Are you afraid that I might be dissatisfied?"
Yue Songting was immediately relieved when he heard this. He stood up and held his shoulders, sighing: "Master knows that you are sensible and have a good character. How could I be dissatisfied? Master is afraid that you will have a knot in your heart and affect your path. It's good that you can think it through. As expected, you didn't let me down."
Gu Pinglin felt a little warm in his heart: "I am ashamed."
Yue Songting patted his shoulder, and finally couldn't help showing a happy expression: "Qingming is the one who is most likely to make up for the skills. I see that he has been acting more steadily in recent years. I am relieved to hand over Lingxin Sect to him. I only hope that you brothers will work together and Lingxin Sect will have successors. I will have no regrets in my life."
Gu Pinglin nodded: "He was the one who offered the technique to me, right?"
Yue Songting was surprised: "How do you know?"
His fingers were so tight that they almost spasmed. Gu Pinglin smiled and said, "I noticed before that he was creating his own technique to go along with his swordsmanship. Since Master said that only he could perfect it, I guess he must have contributed this technique."
Yue Songting shook his head: "I can't hide it from you. I was worried that he would find a new way to create his own swordsmanship, but there was no suitable technique to match it. I didn't expect that he could comprehend the "Heaven-Repairing Art" by himself. Since ancient times, those who can create techniques are all great masters in the world of cultivation. Who said that the swordsmanship of the Lingxin Sect only has one lineage? Our sect has always been tolerant and inclusive, so it's not a bad idea to open another lineage." He seemed to remember something and his expression became more serious: "My life span is not much, a few years earlier or later is the same. It is a blessing for the Lingxin Sect that Qing Ming can create the "Heaven-Repairing Art". It is a great achievement. He is an honest and simple child. He did not take the opportunity to regain control of the Duan family, but dedicated the technique to the Lingxin Sect. You must not blame him for my affairs."
Gu Pinglin immediately said, "Don't worry, Master."
Yue Songting breathed a sigh of relief, then lowered his head and coughed. Gu Pinglin reached out and gently rubbed his back. After a while, Yue Songting felt better and raised his hand to stop him: "That's enough, there's still some time left, you can go down now."
Gu Pinglin pinched the "Creation Secret" in his sleeve, bowed and left.
The "Heaven Repairing Art" is a detailed reference to the magic cultivation technique "Nine Chapters of Refining the Spirit". Yue Songting is well-informed and cannot hide it, so Duan Qingming did not offer the complete "Heaven Repairing Art". This technique is not gentle to begin with, and is completely different from the Lingxin Sect's techniques. It is not suitable for Yue Songting to practice it, let alone an incomplete technique. Now his foundation has been severely damaged, and he has not much time left. Even if he relies on the "Creation Art" to barely save himself, there is no hope for his path to the Tao from now on. It is better to re-enter the cycle of reincarnation.
Over the next two days, Gu Pinglin took the time to report his experience to Yue Songting in detail, explained Nanzhu's invitation, and discussed with Chen Qian several times. It was not until the third day that he went to find Duan Qingming.
There were few fallen leaves on the path, obviously someone had cleaned it up. The whole bamboo forest looked greener, but occasionally there were dead leaves swirling down, which made it seem bleak and cold. It had not changed much since I left.
Gu Pinglin brushed off the dead leaves on his shoulders, looked up, and saw a person standing by the bamboo fence in the distance.