Chapter 5, Persuasion

Haoran pondered for a long time and asked, "What should one do when faced with unfairness, given that rules are not always entirely reasonable?"

Haoran was greatly moved, yet found it difficult to articulate; each word was particularly challenging: "Please speak!"

The Immortal Lingxu instinctively took a step back, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes

Do not speak of brotherhood, you are unworthy

"Reflect carefully, what mistakes have you made?" The Lingxu Master suddenly shouted sternly

The Elder Lingxu's face flushed slightly as he murmured, "This is not a matter of cowardice, but of reality. One learns from experience; one must plan carefully before taking action. Otherwise, one may repeat past mistakes and create a tragedy. Be more rational and do not be self-righteous."

In life, eight or nine out of ten things do not go as one wishes, and difficulties and setbacks are a common occurrence. Master Lingxu's tone softened, his gaze kind, and he spoke earnestly: "You have grown up; you are no longer the young Haoran of yesteryear, but a man standing tall and firm, with your own opinions and ideals. However, I have two heartfelt words that I hope you will take to heart."

In his childhood, Ling Xu often visited Ye Ling, showing great affection for Hao Ran, always smiling and never exhibiting any airs of a senior expert. He was like a kind and approachable grandfather, even lowering himself to play together. As Hao Ran reminisced about his childhood, a sense of warmth surged within him

Without hesitation, Ling Xu Shang Ren spoke eloquently: "It may seem unfair to you, but in reality, it is very fair. This is an unwritten rule of Zi Hua. Reality is this cruel, reasonable yet lacking in sentiment. You are a part of the Lingmen, and you must accept the rules of the Lingmen. As the leader of the Lanmu District, I too cannot change this. If one day Ling Qingling declines, it will still have to yield Ling Mountain."

Child, please do not misunderstand; the situation is not as you imagine, and we harbor no ill intentions. Please believe me. The voice of Master Lingxu trembled slightly, carrying a hint of pleading.

"Fei Ling? If you are afraid, just say so; do not make excuses for yourself." Hao Ran said with a face full of disdain

You are too impulsive

The Ascended Master Lingxu slowly inquired, "Do you believe me?"

This mountain is located at the edge of Lingqing Ridge, with the blazing heavenly fire above and columns of fire surrounding it, fiercely burning and illuminating the brilliant starry sky

Haoran let out a sigh, unable to deny that every word he spoke was true. The Hundred Bindings Elder could not possibly be compared to the Spirit Master; it was not merely a matter of differing levels of power, but rather two entirely different realms. In the presence of the Spirit Master, he felt utterly weak, and Ye Ling was even more destitute, with no benefits to speak of.

Haoran's gaze was like a blazing fire, his throat felt fiery, and every word was a shout: "What happened to them? What enemy did they encounter? How did they die?"

After a moment of silence, the Master Lingxu said: "Everyone lives within rules; birds and beasts have their own codes of conduct, plants and flowers follow their own growth patterns, and the sun, moon, and stars also adhere to certain principles. This includes us humans, from which no one can escape. Those who do not abide by the rules, like the *illustration* and *book*, will inevitably face the consequences of these rules, and the outcome is predictable."

As he spoke, his expression subtly changed, and he involuntarily shivered, as if recalling some terrifying past event

Haoran was momentarily bewildered; should he simply let go? Having given up on Yeling, where would he go from here?

Haoran revealed a hint of sarcasm, pressing closer: "Are you afraid of death?"

The Immortal Lingxu floated before Haoran, retracted the auspicious clouds, let out a gentle sigh, and wore an expression full of guilt and sympathy

"Abandon Yeling and go to Wanling City." Lingxu Shangren's eyes widened, his imposing presence growing stronger. Haoran felt a chill in his heart and surprisingly did not dare to interject. He then heard Lingxu's cold laughter: "Want to pose as a hero? Fine, but first consider your own strength. A mere Baijie Zunzhe, even if your cultivation is on par with Kulings, can you contend with the Eight Sects?"

Haoran is perplexed and unable to comprehend; the eight-character mantra is not difficult to understand, but what is its connection to the rules

With a surge of warmth in his heart, Haoran sat down on the ground

"Let’s go, we’ll talk up there!" Ling Xu, the Celestial Being, grabbed Hao Ran and soared through the clouds, moving at an incredible speed, covering a thousand miles in just one hour. They landed on a peak that stood ten thousand meters high, brushing away the accumulated ice on the rocks: "Have a seat, it’s been a long time since the two of us were together, today is just right for a chat"

The Master Lingxu spoke with a serious expression, saying: "If one's skills are inferior to others, one can only wait. If the timing is not ripe and the preparations are insufficient, not only will we be unable to take revenge, but we may also find it difficult to escape misfortune."

"Rules?" Haoran murmured several times, as if deep in thought: "Am I to yield Ye Ling as well, is that what the rules dictate?"

"To act against the heavens is to invite divine retribution; the heavens are the rules!" The Celestial Being Lingxu relaxed his brows and gestured towards the vast sky: "Your current realm is too low, lacking the resonance with the celestial beings. However, the Spirit Masters are different; there exists a predetermined order in the unseen world. The deeper the cultivation, the stronger the ability to sense it."

Tonight is the birthday of Master Lingxu. He should have been seated at the banquet, receiving congratulations from esteemed guests, but upon seeing Sikong Qing leave the table midway, he sensed something was amiss and hurried over to offer assistance

Ling Qing said slowly: "Child, calm down, do not be agitated. We are sworn brothers with Sword Brother, how could we possibly deceive..."

With a deep sigh, he sincerely said: "Of course, we are also at fault. Over all these years, we have not communicated even once, only secretly observing you a few times. Although there are other objective reasons, as elders, we bear an undeniable responsibility."

First and foremost are the rules; this world may appear chaotic and disordered, with each being pursuing its own path, yet this is not the case

Hao Ran remained completely still, and three words emerged from between his teeth: "Why?"

Moreover, regardless of whether there is such intent, even if there is, how many years would it take from Yu Ling to Fei Ling? At least over 10,000 years; can he achieve that? In the history of Lanmu District, there has only been one Fei Ling, and that is the founding ancestor of Ling Qing Sect.

Hao Ran's entire body trembled, and Ling Xu Shang Ren's gaze was piercing, his tone unusually serious: "With both parents deceased, your own meridians about to be severed, and Ye Ling facing imminent disaster, if I were you, what do you think I should do?"

He cleared his throat and continued: "Our actions back then were too reckless, resulting in a great disaster. Although Xuehan is somewhat better off, I suffered severe injuries, with my spiritual core nearly shattered. Each time, I narrowly escaped disaster thanks to the Blood Lotus Pill, eventually returning to Lingqing Ridge. It was only this year that I fully recovered. Alas, over the years, I have constantly thought about avenging my grievances, but it requires time, and my feather spirit is far from sufficient. My flying celestial realm is also barely adequate"

Haoran pondered for a moment and shook his head

Tianzhu is located in Wanling City, connecting the void above and the earth below. It bears the eight characters: "There are heavens beyond the heavens, and there are people beyond the people." It is said to be the handwriting of the founding master.

To be honest, my temper was more explosive than yours back in the day. Having lived for a full thousand years and experienced countless events, I have encountered a wide variety of people, and my edges have long been smoothed out

Haoran looked down upon him even more and coldly snorted, "Coward!"

This sentence has been buried for thirty years. Haoran feels deeply conflicted within; he knows that his parents are no longer alive, yet he dares not confront reality, always harboring a sense of hope against hope. As he grows older, he matures increasingly, and his only hope is to uncover the truth

Haoran bit his lip, his complexion growing increasingly grim

Perhaps he truly has unspoken difficulties. Haoran felt somewhat shaken.

Haoran lowered his head, remaining silent.

The Ascendant Lingxu gave a bitter smile, glancing sideways, and said softly: "We understand your feelings; this is a common human sentiment. Everyone wishes to inquire further, but the Western Demon Continent is shrouded in mystery and terror, and the enemies possess extraordinary powers and high cultivation levels. Not to mention someone like me, even many of the esteemed elders in Wanjing City are filled with dread at the mere mention of it"

Disregarding Haoran's flushed face, the words became even sharper: "It is not that I underestimate you; what capabilities do you truly possess? If I genuinely wanted to deal with you, hmph, it would be too easy. If it weren't for the sake of our past relationship, would I need to waste my breath like this? Unconvinced? We can certainly give it a try. You may choose any spirit master from the Lingqing Sect; with just one move, I can bring you to your demise"

In ancient times, Zihua was a wild and desolate land, where the sun and moon moved erratically, earthquakes were frequent, and natural disasters were relentless. Fierce beasts roamed the land, and a toxic mist filled the air. A nameless immortal descended from the heavens and established a celestial pillar. From that point on, the Zihua region began to generate spiritual energy, the four suns and four moons rose and set in a timely manner, and gradually, humanity emerged. The Spiritual Gate also appeared, honoring the immortal as the founding master of spiritual awakening

Haoran hesitated for a moment, but ultimately nodded. In comparison, Lingxu Shangren was the only elder worthy of trust

The Master Lingxu did not become angry, but instead smiled generously: "You are young and impetuous, worried about your parents, which is why you view issues so one-sidedly. However, I understand and will not hold it against you. You have spent thirty lonely years in the mountains, suffering greatly in your heart, with no one to confide in. Today, having endured grievances, you momentarily lost control and vented everything out."

There are heavens beyond the heavens, and there are people beyond the people! Hao Ran exclaimed.

Spiritual energy is the foundation of cultivation. Theoretically, spiritual energy is omnipresent, yet it is exceedingly sparse in the external environment. Prolonged deprivation of the nourishment from spiritual veins leads to a slow progression in cultivation, and those with depleted veins age more rapidly. The best solution is to leave the area and seek out another place.

Consider the eight-character mantra of the Enlightened Ancestor. The Master Lingxu smiled faintly