Shangyang Horn, Tiandu Bright River

Shangyang Horn.

The Shangyang was a single-legged divine bird born with the power to command wind and rain. Upon reaching adulthood, it possessed strength that many cultivators envied. According to ancient texts in the world, the Shangyang's single leg could cure all ailments, revive the dead, and regrow flesh from bone. The Shangyang Horn was that single leg. But like many ancient sects that had once left brilliant marks on the cultivation world, the Shangyang had long since vanished. So even an old man like Old Zhao Nan, who could still smile without a word when faced with Luo Bei's question, "Old Zhao Nan, you must be over a hundred years old, right?" had only seen scant records of this divine beast in a few texts.

Standing over a foot tall, entirely emerald green, and truly resembling a small jade ox horn, Old Zhao Nan couldn't help but ask Yuan Tianyi, who sat across from him, "Is this the legendary Shangyang Horn that can cure all ailments, revive the dead, and regrow flesh from bone?"

"Curing all ailments is as illusory as the countless gods and buddhas." Yuan Tianyi shook his head. "But a single speck of its powder can neutralize a hundred poisons, regenerate blood and flesh. It can even cure the Hundred Poisons Sect's gu toxins."

Old Zhao Nan sighed softly as he gazed at the Shangyang Horn shimmering with emerald light. Looking at it, he couldn't imagine how the Shangyang, born to command wind and rain, soared through the sky or stood on the ground with just one leg.

Yuan Tianyi watched Old Zhao Nan sighing as he stared at the Shangyang Horn, his all-seeing gaze seeming to pierce through the old man's thoughts. "Perhaps the Shangyang, a divine beast born beyond the mortal world, was never meant to be tolerated by humanity and never set foot on the ground."

"Is it like the Shangyang—anything transcendent and extraordinary cannot be tolerated by the mortal world?" Old Zhao Nan's usually murky eyes flashed with a different light. In that moment, he shed his usual humility and asked the question that had long weighed on him. "Master, you know so many powerful techniques. Why did you choose the Mahākāla Secret Method for Luo Bei?"

Old Zhao Nan looked at Yuan Tianyi but noticed something in his eyes that hadn't been there before—though it was only for an instant. In that blink, Yuan Tianyi's gaze returned to its usual calm clarity, and he answered quietly, "Because only by cultivating the Mahākāla Secret Method would the experience be somewhat similar to the onslaught of demons from cultivating the Eternal Life Sutra of Delusion."

"Eternal Life Sutra of Delusion!" Old Zhao Nan jolted, his eyes blazing with light, as if a lightning bolt had flashed through the wooden hut. "Master..."

"Cause and effect, fate and chance, past and future—no matter how high one's cultivation, it's like looking at a leopard through a tube; no one can see clearly." Yuan Tianyi said calmly. "When I first brought him down the mountain, who would have thought he could climb back up so quickly and reach the Golden Liquid Condensing Pill stage so fast? Old Zhao Nan, you're right. Though his talent is ordinary, perhaps he truly is special."

"Moreover," Yuan Tianyi's tone suddenly turned cold and proud as he looked at the Shangyang Horn, "In the eyes of the world, my Luofu Sect is heretical and deviant. What does lacking innate talent matter!"

"Old Zhao Nan," Yuan Tianyi's tone softened again, "Do you remember what I asked Luo Bei that day—what he sought?"

Old Zhao Nan nodded.

"He didn't answer, but I could see it in his eyes. It was to control his own destiny!"

Luo Bei's answer back then wasn't anything else—it was to not be controlled by others, to control his own destiny?!

"My great calamity is approaching, and I may not survive it. But if he chooses the Eternal Life Sutra of Delusion, perhaps one day he can truly control his own destiny!"

The Eternal Life Sutra of Delusion—what kind of technique was this? From Yuan Tianyi's tone, could it be even more profound and powerful than his Empty Life Extinguishing Sea Glazed Art, which made the world look up to him?

Or could it be that even Yuan Tianyi couldn't fully control his own destiny?

Yuan Tianyi reached out his hand toward Old Zhao Nan. As his hand extended, a short ruler appeared in his palm, about two feet long and even greener than the Shangyang Horn.

Suddenly, the flames in the brazier before Old Zhao Nan surged forward with a roar, as if drawn by the radiant short ruler, or as if bowing to it...

As if even the lifeless flames sensed that the Li Fire Qi within this broken ruler was the king of all fire!

"Tiandu Minghe Sword!" Old Zhao Nan exclaimed.

This object was clearly a blunt short ruler, yet Old Zhao Nan called it a sword?

But Yuan Tianyi nodded. "Indeed. This is the flying sword forged by Qingcheng's Li Futu at the Crescent Island volcano crater, drawing the Earth Core Li Fire Qi—the Tiandu Minghe."

Watching the Tiandu Minghe Sword, its radiance flickering restlessly in Yuan Tianyi's hand, Old Zhao Nan's face showed an indescribable expression. "How did it end up in your hands?"

"I obtained it from a Luofu cultivator practicing the Twelve Capital Heavenly Fiend Formation." Yuan Tianyi said calmly. "Tell me, how could a Luofu cultivator suddenly appear practicing the Twelve Capital Heavenly Fiend Formation? And how could he possess such a powerful artifact?"

Old Zhao Nan's eyes dimmed rapidly, and he fell silent, but his back seemed even more hunched than before. "You haven't left Luofu in decades. It's time you went out and saw the world." Yuan Tianyi placed the Tiandu Minghe Sword—which even in his hand seemed to resist, its light flickering defiantly—into Old Zhao Nan's hand. "You've been lacking a suitable flying sword. I should thank them for sending me the Tiandu Minghe."

In an instant, the Tiandu Minghe blazed with dazzling light in Old Zhao Nan's hand. Was it because Old Zhao Nan's cultivation was also deeply hidden, or because the Tiandu Minghe itself resented its fate of losing its master and drifting endlessly?

Only artifacts of the Tiandu Minghe's level possessed such pride and soul!

But the Tiandu Minghe's light suddenly contracted, because in Yuan Tianyi's hand, another sword had appeared—nearly transparent.

This sword was pale and rosy, like a thin shard of ice, with no sharp edge.

Yet before this sword, even the unruly Tiandu Minghe seemed to feel an uncontrollable awe!

And on Yuan Tianyi's face was a faint smile, as if he had seen through something. "This sword... is named Cangyue. If I survive this great calamity, so be it. But if I don't, then one day, when Luo Bei returns to Luofu, you will give it to him for me."

"Master." Old Zhao Nan instinctively bowed, but couldn't stop trembling.

"Old Zhao Nan, you've followed me so long. Can you not see through mere life and death?" Yuan Tianyi looked at him calmly, a faint smile appearing on his unforgettable face. "Bringing Luo Bei to Luofu—did I help him, or did he help Luofu? Or was it all fated long ago." Yuan Tianyi's clear gaze swept across all of Luofu. After a pause, he said to Old Zhao Nan, "Moreover, whoever dares to invade my Luofu will pay a price beyond imagination!"

***

"Cultivation techniques in this world can be divided into three types. The most common is the Golden Core Dao Method, using the body as a furnace, absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy to nurture a golden core. Once the golden core reaches Great Accomplishment, it can nurture a Nascent Soul. When the Nascent Soul is fully formed, it can drive artifacts. If the physical body dies, the Nascent Soul can survive and seize another body to be reborn. If the Nascent Soul is destroyed but the body lives, one can re-cultivate the Nascent Soul. For those on the Golden Core path, once the Nascent Soul is formed, they are close to the legendary immortality. In battle, the Nascent Soul is light and fast, easy to escape, like having an extra life."

"The second type focuses on cultivating the Primordial Spirit and nature, not the physical body. The body is seen as a mere vessel. The Primordial Spirit merges with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, solidifying into form. At the highest level, the Primordial Spirit manifests, leaves the body, and becomes condensed, immortal, and indestructible. At its peak, the Primordial Spirit's strength and spell power far surpass what any ordinary body can match. The legendary hundred-zhang buddhas of great power are mostly great sages who have reached this level. Many within the Buddhist path cultivate this method. The Mahākāla Secret Method I gave you belongs to this category."

Night fell, its darkness spreading without gap across all of Luofu. Thin mist drifted among countless peaks. Before a window in the wooden hut, Luo Bei—unsure why his master had suddenly told him so much—asked earnestly, "Master, which type do you cultivate?"

"Luofu's techniques are the third type: absorbing the primordial energy of Heaven and Earth to temper the body. The body, Primordial Spirit, and Dao spiritual energy become one. At the peak, one achieves Body Attainment of Sainthood. Every hair and pore becomes a spell, no less powerful than a formidable artifact." Yuan Tianyi looked at Luo Bei and picked up a bowl of clear water from the table. "Both people and artifacts are like this bowl—the water they can hold is limited. So any technique that merely draws on Heaven and Earth's might without cultivating the self is beneath consideration."

"I understand, Master." Luo Bei thought for a moment and nodded. "We're cultivating to make this bowl bigger, right?"

Though Luo Bei's analogy was crude, it was vivid. Yuan Tianyi smiled and gazed at the starry night sky. "No matter how big the bowl, it's still a bowl. The final realm should be nothingness."

"Nothingness?"

"Unity of Heaven and Man, no distinction between self and world. Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy follows the heart's command." Yuan Tianyi looked at Luo Bei. "Have you ever wondered why I didn't have you cultivate my Empty Life Extinguishing Sea Glazed Art, but instead made you cultivate the Mahākāla Secret Method?"

Luo Bei paused, then broke into a simple smile. "No. Because you said that cultivating the Luofu Technique is a matter of life and death. Since I made that choice, I placed my life and death entirely in your hands. So I cannot defy anything you ask of me, not even doubt it in my heart."

"It seems you still remember the promise you made when you chose to become a Luofu disciple." Yuan Tianyi looked at Luo Bei. "Then now, I will strip you of all your cultivation. And from today on, you must forget every single line of the Mahākāla Secret Method you've memorized!"