Chapter 58: Even the Heart Is Tainted

Page 1/3 Chapter 58: Hearts of Schemes

The expressions of the assembled leaders were, at first, rather like this:

(-*)

After receiving the clear affirmation of the Supreme Elder of the Upper Purity Sect, the expressions of the various sect leaders, family heads, and masters transformed dramatically.

Σ(っ°Д°;)っ

We’re practitioners of Qi, not the immortal cultivators from the tales of wandering storytellers!

Eternal youth and undying vitality, coupled with all the recent rumors… Have you perhaps wandered onto the wrong stage? The neighboring mythic legends and ancient immortal stories are the proper place for you, not here.

Their thoughts whirled endlessly. Throughout history, what have practitioners of Qi ever truly sought? Nothing more than transcendence and immortality.

The recent uproar over the Thirty-Six Rogues, at its core, was also about the curse—or blessing—of immortality.

But now, here stands a living example before their eyes…

An elderly, white-haired sect master could not resist asking, “Alliance Master Luo, I have a friend whose lifespan is nearly spent. I would like to ask on his behalf—how might one extend one’s life?”

With that one question, every gaze in the gathering converged.

Extend one’s life?

Luo Feng suddenly recalled the artifact he possessed, the gift from Amon.

He was about to respond, when a voice thundered from above, like a clear sky rent by lightning.

“Ahem, fellow Daoists, perhaps we should first discuss the matter of the Japanese practitioners,” the Celestial Master of Dragon-Tiger Mountain coughed lightly, his voice rolling like thunder.

It reverberated through the camp, jolting those who had been lost in their own schemes.

There are distinctions even among the strongest practitioners. There are those who stand at the summit, and then those who stand above all, at the very peak.

The Celestial Master of Dragon-Tiger Mountain had always been among the mightiest. Many present belonged to lineages that traced back as branches of his own sect.

If the world of practitioners were likened to a great mountain, these leaders stood at the summit—but the Celestial Master stood at the mountain’s crown.

The further one travels on the Great Dao, the greater the disparity becomes; even the slightest difference is as vast as the heavens and the earth.

With the Celestial Master’s words, a number of top practitioners snapped to attention.

The elderly sect master who had spoken earlier paled and quietly withdrew.

He might not know how powerful Luo Feng truly was, but the Celestial Master—his reputation was unquestionable.

All his life, he had lived under the shadow of the Celestial Master.

“Celestial Master, there’s no need to rush. Since our fellow Daoists are interested, why not have a discussion on the Dao?” Luo Feng suggested with a gentle smile.

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Luo Feng smiled slightly.

A person must have self-awareness, to know both their strengths and weaknesses.

He could lay out plans because he was powerful, his spiritual sense vast, and his perspective nearly omniscient.

But he had little confidence in reading the hearts of men.

He couldn’t just retreat to a monastery for a few days chanting sutras and suddenly awaken to telepathy, able to see through all hearts.

Even cheating at life ought to observe some basic rules!

Thus, when it came to dealing with old foxes, Luo Feng disliked and was not adept at playing mind games.

To play intrigue with a group of seasoned leaders who had been at the top for decades—he’d more likely be outplayed himself.

It was like a time traveler in history who, instead of farming and advancing technology, got involved in court politics—bound to meet a bitter end!

One should use one’s strengths against others’ weaknesses; that was the correct approach.

Overwhelming force trumps all schemes—the true path.

“Heaven has three treasures: sun, moon, and stars. Earth has three treasures: water, fire, and wind. Man has three treasures: essence, energy, and spirit.”

“The longevity I practice is nothing more than these three: essence, energy, and spirit.”

Luo Feng smiled and said, “Please, observe.”

With a slight motion, three lotus flowers appeared, white mist rising to cradle them—pure as jade, vibrant with life, and suffused with purple Qi.

“This is Essence!”

He pinched a tenth-grade Essence lotus between his fingers and tossed it outward. The lotus grew in the breeze, radiating vitality; a lively white lotus swayed high in the air.

Within the lotus stood a small golden figure, which leapt down with a thunderous shout, stamping the earth and causing it to cave in.

Before them, the ground trembled as though a dragon turned beneath it, and a vast pit appeared—five hundred meters long, twenty meters deep, like a sunken plaza.

“This is Spirit!”

He pinched an eighth-grade Spirit lotus, tossed it out, and it dissolved into powder, transforming into eight hundred thoughts that scattered through the void.

The spiritual thoughts acted like master craftsmen, carving out the pit below.

When the dust settled, the rough pit had become a precisely formed plaza—reminiscent of a Roman colosseum, austere and ancient, a clear testament to forceful excavation, now terraced and layered.

“This is Energy!”

He took up the tenth-grade Energy lotus—small, lovely, emerald green—and with a breath, it became ten dragons of pure Qi, sweeping toward the assembled leaders.

With one step, Luo Feng and the Qi dragons carried the leaders down to the plaza below.

Having finished, Luo Feng turned with a smiling face and said, “The path to immortality is not so difficult; one must simply cultivate diligently.”

“When essence, energy, and spirit are perfected, your body becomes light and full, free from calamity or disaster.”

“Do you all understand?”

The elderly sect master who had spoken earlier swallowed nervously and nodded like a pecking chick, “I understand, I do.”

The other sect leaders and family heads, as if waking from a dream, nodded furiously, “We understand, we understand.”

Luo Feng glanced at them and sighed—truly, the essence of humanity is to echo what they hear.

At that moment, the Celestial Master of Dragon-Tiger Mountain stepped forward, solemnly bowing in the Daoist manner. “May I ask, Uncle Master, what realm have you now attained?”

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Luo Feng replied with calm composure, “I am only an ordinary Hou Tian cultivator—a simple, unremarkable postnatal practitioner.”

The Celestial Master’s mouth twitched. Hou Tian?

You have a remarkably high opinion of Hou Tian cultivators!

Unwilling to accept this, the Celestial Master bowed again and asked sincerely, “Within the Hou Tian realm, what level might you be?”

Luo Feng pondered, then smiled, “The Great Dao is mysterious and lofty. I have barely taken a step forward—at most, I am close to the Xian Tian realm.”

The Celestial Master’s face spasmed. Xian Tian?

Of all the innate masters in the world, hadn’t he met them all?

I may not be well-read, but you’re really trying to fool me!

Seeing the Celestial Master’s expression, Luo Feng couldn’t help but sigh.

What had this world come to? Even when telling the truth, no one believes you.

He truly was just a Hou Tian cultivator, not even having touched the first vital aperture.

“Please, everyone, be seated.”

“Let us first discuss the matter of the Japanese practitioners,” Luo Feng said slowly.

“Yes, yes, let’s be seated,”

All the sect leaders, family heads, and masters, now resembled well-behaved children in a kindergarten.

With just a word from Luo Feng, they obediently took their seats.

After some discussion, the leaders began to plan for Ping’an County.

Suddenly, the head of a Quanzhen branch asked, “How did you know the array formations of Ping’an County?”

“My spiritual sense covered the entire city.”

“Oh, then that makes sense,” replied the old Daoist who had cultivated his soul for a lifetime.

…

One after another, the old foxes proposed plan after plan, building upon Luo Feng’s foundation.

For example, pouring black dog’s blood and boy’s urine onto the summoning array.

Or, twisting the array to transfer the sacrificial target onto the Japanese practitioners.

Or, having one’s own disciples disguise themselves as Japanese, and at the critical moment, deliver a righteous backstab.

…

Feasible and unfeasible plans were suggested one after another.

Luo Feng could not help but feel admiration.

Indeed, in terms of caution, he had some skill; but when it came to scheming, he was still just an outer disciple.

[Writer’s block—only one update today, will make up for it tomorrow.]

End of Chapter.