Chapter 8: Embarking on the Path of Immortality
That period of being neglected can be considered the most carefree time of my life. Although many people feel regret over my loss of the inheritance, I have never thought about inheriting the Xu family... I am not suited for it. Xu Mu Yang said leisurely: "Managing a large family is not easy. Sometimes, you will need to pay a great price. I do not want to lose those things... To avoid losing, I would rather not gain them." Sometimes, you will need to pay a great price. I do not want to lose those things... To avoid losing, I would rather not gain them.
Great! Tang Jie was so excited that he wanted to leap up, but as soon as he moved, the talisman paper on his body suddenly flashed with light, and Tang Jie immediately found himself unable to move, lying back down again.
Therefore, for cultivators with strong auxiliary logistical capabilities, practitioners will be courteous when it is appropriate and will show respect when it is due, but these attributes will never transform into tangible authoritative power
In the end, the head of the family was completely disappointed in him and no longer cared for him, simply allowing him to focus on his studies in array formation. After being treated coldly by the Xu family, Xu Mu Yang did not lose heart; instead, he continued to delve into his array formation studies, and his expertise in this field grew day by day, with his reputation even spreading throughout the entire Qixia Realm
A team cannot succeed in a dungeon without a priest, but how many priests can take the lead
The Five Turns of Yumen refers to the five layers of the Yumen Pass that were opened during the Tang Dynasty.
Upon hearing this from Xu Mu Yang, Tang Jie realized that it was no longer possible for him to take Xu Mu Yang as his master. He could only nod in response and say: "Thank you, Brother Xu!"
At this point, Xu Mu Yang set down the wolf hair brush, sat beside Tang Jie, and looked at him with a slight smile, saying: "The five turns of the Jade Gate, a medium-level achievement, is quite commendable. What is most remarkable is that you have faced the challenges alone; to reach this stage is indeed a testament to your extraordinary perseverance"
Xu Mu Yang said: "Although our meeting is but a fleeting encounter, it is indeed fated. While I cannot take you as my disciple, I can still teach you some things. After some time, when my injuries have healed, I will take you to Wanquan City, and strive to help you gain entry into the Xiyue Academy under the jurisdiction of the Xiyue Sect, thus fulfilling this karmic connection."
At this moment, he realized that his perception of the world had changed significantly. Everything around him suddenly became clear, the colors were so vibrant, the air felt so pleasant, and he felt an almost inexhaustible energy within his body
Abandoning one's principles may lead to rapid success, but it fails to win people's hearts. Although the world of cultivation is harsh, it also possesses order and cannot tolerate such calamities
"Everyone told you to stay still." Xu Mu Yang turned around, and with the wolf hair brush in his hand, he lightly pointed at Tang Jie a few times. Suddenly, strands of brilliance appeared in the air, wrapping around Tang Jie like silk and threads.
Indeed, even villains must mingle among good people to have a future. If the whole world were filled with villains, then villains would have no future either said Tang Jie with a smile
Xu Mu Yang smiled and said: "If your determination is insufficient, then no one in the world can succeed. Breaking through the gate cannot be accomplished solely through willpower; the Heavenly Lock of the Jade Gate exists, yet the degree of confinement varies among individuals. Some people are born with their gates tightly shut, and even if they were to unleash their spiritual energy to the point of explosion, they may still be unable to open a single gate, as the amount of spiritual energy that a mortal can contain is ultimately limited."
Sitting up, one could see Xu Mu Yang standing not far away at a desk, writing with a brush.
Without looking back, Xu Mu Yang has already said: "Lie back down, your Jade Gate has just opened, your spiritual platform is not yet stable, and you still need to consolidate it."
This allowed his charge to the goal to nearly utilize one hundred percent of his strength
However, Xu Mu Yang shook his head in dissatisfaction: "If it were someone else achieving the Five Transformations of Yumen, I might think it is commendable, but you are different. The technique you used to break through the gate was specially created by the Nine Li's military leader for his own reincarnation. To say that you can only reach this level is truly hard to accept"
"In order not to lose, one is willing not to gain..." Tang Jie pondered over these words, deep in thought: "Does this mean that in order to gain, one must first lose?"
Xu Mu Yang, seeing his humility and willingness to learn, felt satisfied in his heart: "Well, this is not entirely your fault. After all, you are new to the world of immortals and there are many things you do not yet understand. Over the next few days, I will take the time to teach you some important matters to be aware of in the realm of cultivation."
The four assistants of the immortal family, the alchemical talismans and formations, although each is extremely important, there absolutely does not exist a situation where a top-tier alchemist can command upper-level cultivators at will
"If that's the case, doesn't it mean that the worse one's character is, the easier it is to overcome this trial of the heart? The lower the moral standards, the less likely one is to feel guilty, and thus it becomes easier to pass this trial of the heart?" Tang Jie was greatly astonished
Who is the leader of the Jiuli army? Is he an impressive person?" asked Tu Shu Tang Jie with curiosity
"It is!" Xu Mu Yang replied: "You and I are different. You are someone who can lose in order to gain. This was confirmed for me when I learned that you are from Xiaohe Village. One hundred thirty-eight people from Xiaohe Village tragically lost their lives, yet you were still able to deceive me at that time. If it is not a natural disposition of ruthlessness and indifference, then it is an absolute self-control. Do you know that both of these temperaments can pose a great threat to you?"
Then wouldn't this realm of cultivation become a world ruled by wolves, tigers, and leopards
Unexpectedly, Xu Mu Yang waved his hand and said: "Do not call me master, I will not accept you as my disciple"
The priest is at least a support role, while the alchemist can only be considered logistics.
Tang Jie did not expect that there were so many rules and restrictions for the immortals when it came to accepting disciples, which made him understand why Xu Mu Yang had been unwilling to take him in before
However, Xu Mu Yang soon disappointed his father
Therefore, I say you have deceived me, and I ask whether you have gone against your true intentions. If you act without principles in the future, you will surely incur the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people. Although the matter is not significant, over time, the accumulation will be considerable. So ask yourself, regarding this deception towards me, if I were to remain unaware, would you feel any guilt in the future? If so, to what extent?
Tang Jie’s innate talent was not particularly outstanding, but his willpower was exceptionally strong, far surpassing that of ordinary individuals
Xu Mu Yang was astonished
Tang Jie was overjoyed. Hearing Xu Mu Yang's tone, it seemed that he was about to formally accept him as a disciple. He quickly replied, "Yes, Master"
Threat? Tang Jie was puzzled
The Xu family in Mo Qiu can be considered a pinnacle existence, with numerous array masters, alchemists, talisman masters, and artifact refiners under their command, eliminating the need for the future family head to personally master these skills
The pain brought about by the冲门 was immense. Even though he possessed the will of an adult and remarkable perseverance, he could only reach the fifth level. When he attempted to break through to the fifth level, he unexpectedly fainted, ultimately halting his progress at the stage of the fifth level of the玉门.
With a flick of the hand, a talisman had already flown out from the pen, sticking directly onto Tang Jie.
Xu Mu Yang laughed heartily: "Since you acknowledge me as your elder brother, I naturally cannot let you remain unaware of who I am. Very well, let me start by telling you about the matters of the cultivation world."
During their cultivation, practitioners of immortality gradually develop their true consciousness. From the moment the true consciousness emerges, all past actions that have contradicted this true self will be imprinted upon it one by one. When the calamity of the heart demon arrives, a single thought transforms into a demon, which is known as the tribulation of the heart demon
Yes, it is the Heart Demon Tribulation! Xu Mu Yang then informed Tang Jie about the matter concerning the Heart Demon Tribulation
Despite Xu Mu Yang's increasingly strong abilities in formations, his status within the family has been declining.
Therefore, Xu Huai Li was quite angry with Xu Mu Yang for his "lack of diligence in his proper duties," yet Xu Mu Yang stubbornly refused to change his ways
For the majority of cultivators in this world, the Heavenly Heart Realm may be the greatest pursuit of their lives, but for Xu Mu Yang... it is merely a secondary consideration
He can also be considered a prodigy. As he continued his cultivation journey, he truly shone in the realm of formations, quickly becoming the foremost formation master, Mo Qiu. As for his state of mind cultivation, it was merely elevated under the pressure of the old man and the necessity of refining advanced formations.
After hearing Xu Mu Yang's explanation, Tang Jie finally understood, and many of the original regrets were alleviated
That is not the case. Chaos gives rise to order, and one should act for oneself and for others. Those who are heartless and ungrateful may possess great power, yet no one will like them. It is not only the orthodox cultivators who dislike them; even those of the same kind will not be fond of one another. Such individuals are like lions and tigers, difficult to gather together easily, for they do not trust one another.
However, it is precisely for this reason that his true combat power among the Celestial Heart Realm practitioners is not outstanding
Then when you kill, it does not go against your true nature, but when you do not kill, it does.
Which logistics officer can command on the battlefield
Tang Jie, with a solemn expression after being reprimanded, respectfully replied: "Yes, I acknowledge my mistake"
The world of cultivation is one where strength reigns supreme; even if you possess a unique and unparalleled elixir of the world, should you provoke my displeasure, I will still strike you down with a single blow
"Brother Xu, are you saying that I can cultivate immortality now?" Tang Jie asked in surprise
Hearing Xu Mu Yang say this at this moment, Tang Jie finally recalled that last night, in a daze, under Xu Mu Yang's guidance, he had indeed managed to break through the five-layered gate by channeling energy.
Many cultivators may possess the aptitude to reach the upper grade, yet often during the process of striving for it, they succumb to unbearable pain, crying out in fear and retreating, thus wasting their spiritual energy and resulting in a decline in their rank
The Minor Binding Spirit Technique can temporarily restrain the movement of the spiritual energy within you. Your spiritual energy went out of control last night, causing significant damage to your meridians. You need to nourish and recuperate before you can formally practice. Just take a good rest for the next couple of days. I have already informed the Anyang Prefecture on your behalf.
Compared to his siblings, Xu Mu Yang can be considered a prodigy, having entered the family at the age of 9, with the door opening seven times, and was once recognized by the family head as the next head of the family
This also means that you must continue to fight to the death, which is tantamount to seeking your own demise
Ling Tai Yu Men is divided into three grades: upper, middle, and lower. Below the third transformation is considered lower grade, while above the seventh transformation is regarded as upper grade
Xu Mu Yang was born into the Mo Qiu Xu family, one of the four major cultivation families of Mo Qiu, known as Kong Gu Ming Xu, where the Xu family ranks fourth. Xu Mu Yang is the third son of the family head, Xu Huai Li, having one elder brother and one elder sister, as well as one younger sister. Coming from a prestigious family, Xu Mu Yang can be considered to have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth
Moreover, decadence is a habit; once it is adopted, it is difficult to turn back.
This was the first time Tang Jie learned about the Heart Demon Tribulation, which made him understand why he had deceived Xu Mu Yang so easily back then
After thinking for a while, Tang Jie raised his head and replied: "In my future actions, I will certainly have a sense of propriety, but in this matter, although I deceived Brother Xu, I will not feel any guilt. This matter has not crossed the bottom line, and I have no guilty conscience!"
Xu Mu Yang did not specify what the matter was, but considering the context, Tang Jie could somewhat deduce certain aspects, fearing it was related to the Lord of the Jiu Li Army
Tang Jie was taken aback, and Xu Mu Yang continued: "There is no need for you to be disappointed. The reason I do not accept you as my disciple is for your own good. Firstly, I am currently being pursued by enemies. Although I am temporarily hiding, it is likely that they will catch up sooner or later. If I were to take you as my disciple, it would only drag you down. Secondly, you are from the Kingdom of Wenxin. The Kingdom of Wenxin is under the jurisdiction of the Xiyue Sect, and it is inappropriate for me to accept a disciple from Wenxin without the permission of the Xiyue Sect. Thirdly, I come from the Xu family, and all that I have learned is a family inheritance that should not be lightly passed on to anyone who is not a blood relative. If I were to pass it on to you, I would be violating family rules. Fourthly, the Xiyue Sect is one of the six major sects of Qixia, a prestigious and orthodox sect, with a heritage and foundation that far surpasses that of the Xu family. Rather than learning from me, it would be more appropriate for you to join the Xiyue Sect, which is the right path."
Therefore, the phenomenon of breaking through the door involves both innate qualities and the efforts made thereafter
It was at this moment that Xu Mu Yang received a very special invitation, and it was because of this invitation that he suffered severe injuries and wandered the world.
From a qualification standpoint ... ... yes
This is akin to deriving pleasure from murder
Upon waking, Tang Jie found himself lying on the bed in the inner room
Tang Jieyu's five transformations at Yumen can be considered as the middle of the middle grade. Although he is not an exceptionally talented individual, he is certainly not a useless person either
Tang Jie pondered seriously, repeatedly asking himself.
Strength is auxiliary, and status can only be auxiliary as well
He looked at Tang Jie and after a moment managed to squeeze out a sentence: "This bottom line... is indeed somewhat low"
Unfortunately, it ultimately comes down to my lack of perseverance, and I was unable to continue. Tang Jie felt a deep sense of regret
Brother Xu, this is ... ... " Tang Jie was puzzled
Therefore, being a bad person for a lifetime is actually more difficult than being a good person for a lifetime
Unexpectedly, upon hearing these words, Xu Mu Yang's expression darkened: "The Lord of the Nine Li Warriors is a being of immense power, transcending the Immortal Platform and roaming the myriad realms. Even during his lifetime, merely mentioning his name would evoke a response. The world fears his strength, referring to him only as the Lord of Warriors and daring not to speak his name. Even though he has fallen now, it is not for a mere mortal like you to question him"
Thus, the path of the Danfu Qi formation is not without merit, but at best it is merely a "good job". It is the pursuit of ordinary cultivators, yet it should not be the aspiration of heirs from prominent families
The force required to open a door necessitates spiritual energy, and the amount of spiritual energy that a mortal can contain is limited. Therefore, the degree to which the door can be opened depends not only on the willpower of the one attempting to open it but also on the extent to which the door is closed. Under the same impact force, the looser the door, the more it can be opened.
Thus, it can be said that calamities can last for a thousand years. Using any means necessary, seeking immediate results, and resorting to killing at the slightest provocation... the path of immortality is fraught with danger, as can be seen from this.
Due to various reasons such as aptitude and perseverance, it is ultimately rare for cultivators to possess high-quality jade gates, with the vast majority having only medium to low-quality ones. Therefore, while the five transformations of the jade gate may sound ordinary, in reality, it is already considered quite good among the majority of cultivators.
Xu Mu Yang has no interest in the strongest magical arts of the Xu family, such as the Mysterious Sky Seven Illusions and the Cave Void Scripture. Instead, he is inherently obsessed with formations and excels in the evolution of the principles of change.