Chapter Six, One Hundred Thousand Thoughts, One Hundred Thousand People

As for being enslaved, Black Hawk not only felt no shame, but rather believed that this young master would undoubtedly become an important figure in the Lishan Sect in the future, with limitless prospects. Serving as a household servant to him was far more prestigious and beneficial than being assigned to serve the demon king sent by the Lishan Sword Sect

Two choices, at first glance the latter seems far inferior to the former, but this black eagle also possesses a certain degree of cleverness. It reflects that after cultivating for several hundred years, its progress has become increasingly slow, and in the last decade, it has simply stagnated. Even if Elder Lu is willing to intervene and forcibly elevate its realm, what then? There would be no further improvement, ultimately leading to a dead end in the pursuit of the Dao. Finding a mountain peak to become a demon king and enjoying a few hundred years of leisure would still end in dust returning to dust.

Lu Ya Jiu appeared relaxed, stretching lazily and smiling as he said: "We owe each other nothing; I do not owe this world, and the world does not owe me. It is good, I feel completely at ease"

That year, I had just acquired this sinister skill and was on my way back when I encountered your grandfather. Moved by him, I took action to save you; this is fate. Fate cannot be deliberately arranged; it can only unfold naturally. That night, I gave your grandfather that wooden bell, and he asked me when you would come to repay the favor. I told him it was entirely up to his wishes, whenever he deemed it appropriate... I ask you, why did you only crush that bell after growing up?

Su Jing learned that he was not a prodigy in cultivation. In his disappointment, he revisited an old question: "Then why did you choose me, benefactor?"

One hundred thousand thoughts of one hundred thousand people, how much essence transforms into a bustling city

Su Jing resigned, explaining: "It's not quite that way. Since childhood, many esteemed individuals have remarked on my exceptional talent, and there have been several practitioners who wished to take me as their disciple and guide me in cultivation."

Lu Ya Jiu seemed to want to say something more, but his expression slightly darkened as he sighed softly: "In another hour, it will be dawn; we should leave... I don't know if we will be able to return."

To put it plainly, those people are simply the ones that Old Ancestor Lu "imagined" into existence

The matter of sharpening the knife can be discussed later; there is no need to rush to ask questions now. As for that hetushu.com.com Illusion City... In the past decade, I have been in seclusion for intensive cultivation. Perhaps it is due to the impending end of my time, my mind has never been at peace. I did not feel much during my cultivation, but only after emerging from seclusion did I realize that a city had appeared beside me.

The major sects of cultivation each have their own spheres of influence. Occasionally, they appoint obedient or meritorious demons as mountain kings or river lords, under whose jurisdiction local minor demons fall, thus establishing a semblance of order

As for the martial arts experts who value Su Jing, the reasoning is even simpler. The child who has been treated by Lu Ya nine times, of course, has an exceptionally good physique. Although he lacks innate talent for cultivation, he is absolutely suitable for martial arts training.

Lu Ya Jiu still shook his head and said: "You are indeed somewhat perceptive, and it is not surprising that you have caught the attention of scholars; this has nothing to do with me. However, those who practice martial arts or cultivate the Dao believe that you possess good potential... Do not forget, when you were in grave danger as a child, I was the one who intervened to save you"

Speaking of brothers, Lu Ya Jiu squinted his eyes, his expression pleasant and serene: "That kid has astonishing talent. Among the nine sworn brothers, he progresses the fastest... He has never spoken to me about his path, but we are twin brothers, naturally connected by a spiritual bond, so I know that the Dao he comprehends is: fairness. Now you understand who that little fellow in the red robe you encountered in the Illusion City is, right?"

However, before Lu Ya Jiu could finish speaking, he continued to address the Black Hawk: "Alternatively, I can pass on a set of skills to you, but from now on, you must serve Su Qiangqiang as your master. Whether he asks you to guard the cave, fend off strong enemies, or even to be cooked for soup and meat, you must not disobey. Choose one of the two options and respond quickly."

After finishing his words, Lu Yajiu shifted the topic back to the beginning: "As I mentioned earlier, I had originally dismissed the idea of practicing that sinister skill. However, this series of coincidences clearly indicates that you are my 'opportunity,' which inevitably rekindles my confidence in that sinister skill."

The black-clad child that Su Jing encountered in the Illusion City was not Lu Yajiu, but rather his twin brother, Lu Jiao.

Your qualifications? In terms of cultivation aptitude, they are utterly insignificant. Even disciples from the unorthodox sects are stronger than you. Lu Yajiu spoke without reservation, pouring cold water over you.

The Black Hawk merely assisted in delivering a person, and it only flew for a little over twenty days. Yet, Old Ancestor Lu is willing to help it advance a level and even bestow upon it the title of Demon King, which is undoubtedly a significant gain.

Previously, the ancestor used the token to subdue Liu Liang, and it observed the entire process clearly from the heavens. Now, it is simply waiting for Su Jing to take out the token, so that it can complete the recognition of its master.

The joy on Lu Ya Jiu's face grew even more pronounced: "I have a deep-seated fear of the evil techniques in my hands. If I do not practice them, the worst that can happen is that my lifespan will not be extended, and I will die and be reborn in the cycle of reincarnation. This is certainly better than forcibly practicing them and provoking disastrous consequences, so I have long ceased to take them seriously. For the past ten years, I have been in seclusion, striving for self-cultivation, hoping to break through the Great Dao and extend my life through righteous means. I have not heard the sound of your bell at all. However, a month ago, a significant event occurred at the Li Shan Sword Sect, and my disciples urged me to come out of seclusion to respond to it. Coincidentally, during the days I emerged from seclusion, you shattered the bell. Is this not a fortuitous encounter?"

Do you know what I value most in my lifelong practice? Although it is a question, Lu Ya Jiu did not require Su Jing to answer, as he provided the answer himself: It is opportunity

Upon hearing these words, Black Hawk was quite moved. Lu Ya Jiu smiled slightly and did not say much more, but there was an added depth in his gaze towards Su Jing.

He fears that Lu Ya Jiu will leave him to comprehend that martial art on his own. Whether he practices it well or poorly is secondary; the key is that this martial art is related to the benefactor's fate. He is afraid that without guidance, his blind practice will hinder the benefactor.

Waving away the flying eagle, Lu Ya Jiu did not bring up the matter of training, but instead asked Su Jing: "If there are any other questions you have, feel free to ask."

Lu Ya Jiu said to the Black Eagle: "If you help me deliver someone, I will reward you accordingly. First, I will assist you in connecting your Qi Sea, helping you advance to the level of Demon Eye. Then, I will write a letter for you, and you can take it along with the map to the Lishan Sword Sect. Upon receiving the letter, the sect leader will issue a decree for you. You may then seek a mountain range within my jurisdiction at Lishan and become the King of the Mountains from that point onward"

Years ago, Lu Ya Jiu used his true essence cultivation to help Xiao Su Jing heal the injuries on his body. Naturally, some of his true essence aura was left on the child, which led those mediocre practitioners in the cultivation path to mistakenly believe that the child was gathering innate spiritual energy, resulting in a significant misunderstanding.

Su Jing has roughly figured out that Lu Ya Jiu is so composed because there must have been careful arrangements made in advance. The methods and schemes of the immortal family truly do not require a mere mortal youth to worry about. Therefore, Su Jing refrained from pressing further and instead asked about matters of interest: "There are two things; one is why the benefactor instructed my grandfather to ensure that I keep sharpening my knife without pause; the other is that strange city we just saw."

Lu Yajiu refers to the Illusion City... In that city, every person is someone Lu Yajiu has encountered. Originally, they were merely shadows in his mind, but due to his inability to concentrate during cultivation, his vital energy leaked out, causing these projections from his sea of consciousness to condense vital energy and manifest as entities outside of him.

Su Jing was taken aback, without a moment's hesitation, he anxiously exclaimed: "As soon as dawn breaks, you will... Why waste any more words? Hurry up and practice your skills!"

Lu Ya nodded and said: "Not bad, once dawn arrives, you will no longer see me, for my lifespan reaches its end tonight!"

The beings in the Illusion City originate from a thought of Lu Ya Jiu, and do not possess true intelligence. Their actions and words are merely fleeting moments of Lu Ya Jiu's memories, which explains why the vast majority can only utter a single phrase

They are not human; they are merely the essence refined by great cultivators, formed from the vital energy of their physical bodies. Therefore, they appear and feel indistinguishable from real people

However, this is not absolute. If there is someone who can leave a particularly deep impression on Lu Yajiu, the deeper the shadows in the sea of consciousness, the more "complex" the entity projected in the Illusion City will be... For example, that red-robed doll resembling Lu Yajiu as a child...

Moments later, a clear cry echoed through the air, accompanied by the sound of flapping wings. The large black eagle that had previously brought Su Jing here arrived as commanded, hovering at low altitude, its head and neck lowered with great effort, its gaze filled with respect

Su Jing did not take out the token, but looked up at Black Hawk and said, "That token is meant for those who are indecisive. You, my brother, are not among them. Since you have promised the ancestor, I will trust you.

In the marketplace, there is no shortage of circulating notes and novels about deities and ghosts, featuring both the alluring tales of encounters between humans and spirits and the thrilling legends of celestial beings battling each other. These stories are written in a bizarre and fantastical manner, captivating the imagination. Su Jing had read quite a few of them, but no matter how splendidly these novels were written, they ultimately remained mere figments of the scholars' imaginations, far inferior to the experiences he was currently witnessing.

Nine brothers reside at the foot of the mountain, but among them, only two are true biological brothers, and they are twins. Lu Ya Jiu then brought up a new topic: One of them is me, and the other is named Lu Jiao, who ranks second to last after the grand ceremony and has changed his name to Lu Jiao Ba

The various scenes in the city are those that people have "imagined," yet their powers are far from sufficient. Thus, in Su Jing's perception and experience, the city is merely an illusion, while the people are real.

There is no need to mention the matter of practice; I will do as you say, but Su Jing discerned another matter from the other party's words: "You just said... if I arrive a day late, I will no longer see you... Do you have urgent matters to attend to?"

At dawn, one will die, and before dying, one must take care of one matter... It turns out to be such a trivial little thing

Given the background and means of Old Ancestor Lu, finding someone to test the method is truly as easy as reaching out and grabbing a handful. Why then must he seek out that nearly lifeless infant from back in the day? In Su Jing's view, the only explanation is that he possesses extraordinary talent and exceptional roots, which caught the eye of his benefactor.

The latter choice allows one to obtain a martial arts manual. For creatures like He and Tushuying, who have cultivated themselves from the wilderness, lacking a school or a master, the greatest hardship in their practice is the absence of guidance; they must rely entirely on their own exploration. To acquire a high-quality martial arts manual is something they yearn for deeply. Given the stature of Ancestor Lu, the reward bestowed will naturally be of the highest quality among the best. Thereafter, they can follow the manual step by step in their cultivation, which is the true path to ascension.

Lu Ya Jiu smiled again, slowly shaking his head: "Perhaps this is my last night. What is the rush in practicing? There is one more thing that I must accomplish!" As he spoke, his right hand formed a sword gesture, and a brilliant light shot up from his fingertips, piercing through the roof and heading straight for the galaxy.

Moreover, when encountering the enemy halfway, Su Jing had once sacrificed himself to cover the escape of the Black Hawk, who felt grateful towards this young man. Without any further hesitation, he respectfully lowered his head and emitted two soft sounds towards Old Ancestor Lu, indicating that he chose the second option

At first, Su Jing did not quite understand Lu Yajiu's meaning, but after the latter explained a few more sentences, Su Jing understood, his drowsiness dissipated, and only astonishment remained in his eyes

In the city of illusions, among one hundred seventy-six thousand three hundred people, you wander aimlessly, yet by chance encounter your childhood friend, Old Eight, which is indeed a tremendous opportunity

Which elderly person does not wish for their grandchildren to see them off in their final moments? Old man Su is no exception. Since the immortal said that any time would be fine, he kept his grandson by his side until his passing. Afterward, Su Jing took it upon himself to observe a year of mourning for his grandfather at home. Su Jing answered Lu Yajiu's question truthfully.

Lu Ya Jiu Yang threw a jade pendant that recorded the martial arts techniques, which the great eagle gently grasped in its beak, yet it did not fly away, instead turning its gaze back towards Su Jing

I am facing a significant matter at the door. Although I have used my spiritual projection to reach out to you and provide guidance, I did not wish to waste my magical energy to bring you here. Therefore, I found a black eagle to carry you. However, due to the urgency of the summoning, I cannot be certain of the eagle's speed. Do you understand that if it arrives a day late with you, you will never see me again? If it can make it in time, is it not also a matter of fate?