No Grief for the Aging Years at World's End, How Many White-Haired Old Men in the Human World
You may plant flowers with care, but they may not bloom; you may plant willows without care, and they may thrive. If you cannot understand the mystery between intention and unintentionality, you will never be able to approach the 'Human Heart Hall'.
Chen Dengming used his Martial Immortal Clone to repeatedly unleash the Seven Martial Arts Absolute Realms. In the end, all of his clones perished when their Mental Strength was exhausted in the State of Mind.
No clone could reconnect with the Human Heart Hall the Realm of No Heart.
He had even considered that the key to this might lie in the ultimate Dao Intent Divine Ability of the Human Immortal Orthodox Lineage: [Man Conquers Heaven].
However, even if the Martial Immortal Clone simultaneously used [Man Conquers Heaven], they could not change the fact that the clones perished in the Realm of No Heart and could not reach the 'Human Heart Hall'.
Therefore, Chen Dengming also confirmed that the Martial Immortal Clone must have achieved some results in studying [Man Conquers Heaven] and [Seven Absolute Realms fortuitous opportunity, which allowed it to advance to that extraordinary 'heartless' state by chance and enter the ethereal Human Heart Hall.
These later clones had not yet reached that level of mastery, so naturally they found it difficult to enter the Human Heart Hall.
Even if the clone that entered the Human Heart Hall was merely fortuitous opportunity coincidence that resonated with a particular state of State of Mind, something that cannot be sought after, then no matter how much later generations continue to study, their hopes will be slim.
"It's a pity that the state and experience that the clone gained through research and understanding also disappeared along with the clone. Otherwise, I wouldn't be so clueless now."
Chen Dengming felt quite regretful, secretly thinking that he should frequently ask his clones who were comprehending the [Seven Absolute Realms] to submit their homework in the future, so that he could 'save' his progress often and avoid losing his precious cultivation results.
The other clones, since they didn't cultivate the [Seven Absolute Realms], wouldn't suddenly disappear into thin air.
Chen Dengming usually harvests the results of his clone's cultivation only once in a long period of time, so there is not much risk involved.
At this point, it was confirmed once again that contact with the Human Heart Hall was impossible.
Chen Dengming didn't insist.
He reconstituted a Martial Immortal Clone and ordered it to slowly explore the possibility of combining the Seven Absolute Realms and the principle of "Man Conquers Heaven".
He then created another Martial Immortal Clone to continue researching and optimizing the combination of the Human Immortal Physique and the Giant Spirit Body.
The Dongfang supernatural Divine Ability he possesses, which he has gained through the insightful guidance of Dongfang Huayuan, are now nearing completion.
Chen Dengming had a feeling that once the optimization plan for the <Human Immortal Physique> was successful, his <Chen Family Martial Arts General Outline> would definitely enter a new realm.
With the already powerful Golden Body wielding the optimized Human Immortal Physique, the strength of the physical body would likely surpass that of the Nascent Soul True Body.
The Physical Body is one of the most powerful Law Treasure in the Human Immortal Way.
The strongest human immortal in the past created the world with his Physical Body and resisted the crushing power of the Heavenly Immortal Way Heaven's Will with his own strength.
After taking a Heart Mending Pill, Chen Dengming focused his mind on the depths of his soul, began to condense the Human Immortal Way Power, and entered a state of unity Unity of Heaven and Man and man in martial arts, establishing a Dongfang Huayuan.
Having experienced the opportunity presented by the Human Heart Hall, Chen Dengming possessed even more abundant Human Immortal Way Power.
Compared to before he inherited the fourth Dao scripture, his Dao power was nearly twice as strong.
This means that when he uses the martial Martial Dao Divine Ability the Immortal Humans, his power will greatly increase, and even the time that the Immortal Human Immortal Physique can maintain will be extended.
At this moment, as the power of Dao within his Sea of Consciousness gradually outlined the magnificent silhouette of the Human God Hall, Dongfang Huayuan's familiar, loud voice rang out, his tone filled with strong dissatisfaction.
"Kid, you finally know to contact me. What's wrong? What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time that I need to solve for you?"
Chen Dengming smiled upon hearing this and said calmly.
"Senior, you've misunderstood. There's no trouble this time."
"These past few years, I've been in seclusion, cultivating and focusing on improving my strength. It's not that I'm deliberately avoiding you, senior; after all, returning to the Four Domains to find you requires strength."
This malevolent Sha Star did attempt to contact him at one point, but he avoided it by dispersing his Human Immortal Way Power.
He is now well-versed in the Human Immortal Way Power, so naturally, the Sha Star cannot enter his Sea of Consciousness whenever it wants.
However, this naturally displeased the usually domineering and uncompromising leader.
"Oh? Looks like you really have broken through?"
At this moment, Dongfang Huayuan also judged Chen Dengming's condition from the strength of his Divine Sense, and his tone softened slightly as he asked in surprise.
"Your cultivation speed is comparable to mine back then. It seems you'll break through to the Nascent Soul Nascent Soul in less than ten years."
However, if you cannot find your own Inheritance Immortal Palace, cultivating from the Nascent Soul to the Spirit Transformation will not be easy."
Chen Dengming's heart stirred. Combining the situation when he found the Human Heart Hall with the words of the Sha Star Dongfang Huayuan.
He immediately deduced that the other party had achieved a leap in strength back then because he found the Human Strength Hall. Not only did he use the Human Strength Hall to kill the Nascent Soul Ancestor the Wonderful Sound Sect, but he also absorbed the inherited power within the Human Strength Hall.
Only in this way could he cultivate to the Nascent Soul Perfection in just over a hundred years, and after the battle with Xuan Chenxiao, the Heavenly Dao Second Ancestor, he was promoted to the Spirit Transformation, completing a leap in strength.
"I only received a tiny fraction of the inherited power from the clone, which saved me decades of arduous cultivation."
If I were to break through to the Nascent Soul in the future and obtain the complete inheritance within the Human Heart Hall, I'm afraid I could also accumulate my foundation as quickly as Senior Dongfang."
After pondering for a while, Chen Dengming still decided not to reveal his experience of having been in contact with the Human Heart Hall.
They simply followed the topic and subtly inquired about information regarding the Human Heart Hall.
The Cultivation World is treacherous, full of deceit and treachery. Even one's own master may not be able to fully trust them and might even plot against them.
Although Dongfang Huayuan appears to be a man of great ambition and is now in cooperation with Chen Dengming, Chen Dengming still chooses to preserve him because it concerns the inheritance of the Human Immortal Orthodox Lineage.
After all, the other party now not only controls the Human Strength Hall, but also the Human God Hall.
As an inheritor of the Human Immortal Orthodox Lineage, he hasn't even truly entered his own Human Heart Hall yet. We must be wary of him.
Faced with Chen Dengming's indirect questioning, Dongfang Huayuan was unable to provide much useful information.
"I told you before, the human heart is unfathomable, and the Human Heart Hall is even more unfathomable; it is the most difficult to find among the three palaces of humans and immortals."
If even you, a spiritual inheritor, can't find a clue, then I know even less about this Human Heart Hall. Perhaps you need to be devout, unfeeling, or mindful—it's up to you to decide which kind of mind to use in your search."
"Thank you for your guidance, senior!"
Chen Dengming nodded slightly, thanking Dongfang Huayuan for his instructions.
He already knew that by combining a state of State of Mind free from attachment with the Man Conquers Heaven, one could enter the Human Heart Hall, but naturally, he could not tell them this.
He couldn't be sure for the time being whether Dongfang Huayuan intended to use him, the inheritor of the soul, to search for the Human Heart Hall.
Since the other party couldn't offer any useful information, he wisely ended the conversation and shifted the topic to the issue of how to help them out of their predicament.
It feels like the Dongfang Huayuan is now like Sun Wukong trapped under the Five Elements Mountain.
Despite possessing Divine Abilities, he is constantly constrained and needs someone to come to his rescue.
He was clearly not as strong as many others, yet he became a key figure, much like Tang Xuanzang who rescued the mischievous monkey.
When the topic of getting out of trouble came up, Dongfang Huayuan perked up. "That's exactly what I wanted to ask you. Now that the Four Seas Cultivation Alliance has launched its counterattack, have you decided when to come to my aid?"
Chen Dengming, "I am also waiting for the seniors in the Four Seas Cultivation Alliance to contact me about this matter. Although no one has contacted me yet, it should be soon."
"Because our Longevity Sect will also be joining the counterattack, some areas in the Eastern Region have already been captured."
Dongfang Huayuan sneered, "Slow, too slow. It seems those bastards from beyond the realm aren't putting much pressure on the Four Seas Cultivation Alliance."
Chen Dengming's heart stirred, and he said, "I am also quite eager to help you escape this predicament as soon as possible."
Dongfang Huayuan scoffed, "Alright, you brat, you always love to say nice things. I'm tired of hearing them. I haven't seen you being that eager."
Chen Dengming said, "Senior, you misunderstand. I am only speaking the truth. Do you still remember the Yin Spring Ghost Lord, whose demise you had thirty years ago?"
"Oh?"
Dongfang Huayuan surprised, "What? This thing has come back to life again, like a persistent ghost?"
Chen Dengming, "Several years ago, the Yin Spring Ghost Lord sent a Ghost King Qian Luo from Yinquan to the Human World, just to seek revenge on me."
I'm worried that if the Four Seas Cultivation Alliance doesn't make any new arrangements after I return to the Four Domains Battlefield, the Ghost King Qian Luo will come after me again.
Having said all that, Chen Dengming stopped there and said no more.
Saying more would be seen as blackmail, which would only make people feel disgusted.
If we don't say it, those who understand will naturally understand.
"You brat, how come you're even more troublesome than I was in my youth!"
Dongfang Huayuan felt a sudden toothache and almost laughed out of anger at Chen Dengming.
Is this kid really a member of the Longevity Sect? Why does he keep getting one trouble after another?
He had hoped to contact the other party and connect with the Four Seas Cultivation Alliance to help him escape his predicament.
Now, decades have passed, and he still hasn't been able to help. Instead, he's helped this kid a few times and even sent him some Dao Scriptures. And now this new trouble is happening.
"This kid seems to be my nemesis."
Dongfang Huayuan frustrated. He felt that he, a dignified Spirit Transformation Venerable Lord, was trapped in Nanxun and had now become the protector of the Longevity Sect. The more he thought about it, the more agitated he became.
If you want to say something harsh, go ahead and give them a good scolding.
This kid never asked for his help from beginning to end, not even a word about it, and even spoke sincerely about remembering how he helped him out of that predicament. There was absolutely no reason to scold him.
If he didn't scold him, he felt depressed and suffocated, and uncomfortable all over, as if he had fallen into a pit.
"Ugh, so annoying! Wait until that Ghost King Qian Luo finds you before you call me 'I,' absolutely do not call him 'I,' until you're almost beaten to death!"
After leaving behind a single sentence, Dongfang Huayuan severed all contact with Chen Dengming and disappeared along with the fading of the Human God Hall, simply choosing to avoid seeing or hearing about him.
Chen Dengming smiled inwardly, and his mind was satisfied as he withdrew from his Sea of Consciousness.
Everyone carries the bridal sedan chair.
Being a senior colleague isn't an easy job.
Especially for someone like Dongfang Huayuan, who has a domineering and strong personality, he is often also a proud and vain person.
A proud person will never do anything shameful.
Even though he knew the subtext of Chen Dengming's words, he held back because of his pride and arrogance, making himself irritable and reluctantly accepting it.
This verbal skill, though seemingly a trivial trick, is in fact a game of wits between people.
Chen Dengming didn't mention asking for help at all, yet he had already achieved his goal. This demonstrates his understanding and application of human nature.
As a spiritual inheritor of the Human Immortal Orthodox Lineage, he certainly possesses some unique skills.
Soon, two months later.
Before the Longevity Sect's Mountain Gate, two enormous Fourth-tier Spirit Boat, each as large as a mountain, were filled with the Longevity Sect disciples selected to travel to the four regions, totaling several thousand people.
Surrounding the Longevity Sect's spirit ship were more than a dozen spirit ships of various sizes belonging to smaller and medium-sized vassal forces, carrying many cultivators, who would also be heading there together.
On the two largest spirit ships, the Longevity Sect flags were flying, and cultivators were singing on the decks, seemingly encouraging each other.
Below, in the beach and harbor, blue waves crash against the rocks on the shore, creating a beautiful azure coastal scene.
Many of the long-lived disciples had expressions filled with anticipation and nervousness, both looking forward to returning to their homeland in the Four Regions and fearful of the upcoming counterattack in the Four Regions.
Numerous beams of light occasionally flew in from the direction of the city on Longevity Island, transporting supplies for the expedition.
Some cultivators bid farewell to their disciples who were going on expeditions, reluctant to part, while others bid a heavy farewell to their dao companion, entrusting their wives and daughters to the care of their fellow cultivators.
Although the journey ahead leads to the beloved homeland, it also means facing ruthless Outer Domain Evil Cultivator. What the future holds after the counterattack, and whether one will be able to return and reunite with their dao companion in their lifetime, remains unknown.
But this is the cruel reality of the Cultivation World.
Although the Longevity Sect has an excellent reputation and emphasizes the principle of "reducing excess and supplementing deficiency" according to the way of Heaven, it does not employ idle people; they still have to perform their Duty Assignment.
Chen Dengming had gone through this process before, and now it's the turn of many disciples who need to fulfill their duties, carrying the burden for another group of disciples, so that the sect can continue.
"Sect Leader, how many of them will eventually return?"
On a tall tower in Evergreen City, a young man with a tall and imposing figure, a calm and refined demeanor, and a face that bore a six-point resemblance to Chen Dengming looked at Chen Dengming and asked respectfully.
He is Chen Feilin, the current Chen Family Head, the grandson of Chen Dengming, and the uncrowned king among all the forces in Evergreen City.
This uncrowned king was not self-proclaimed, but rather recognized privately by all the forces involved.
However, Chen Feilin disliked it and, to avoid suspicion, only met Chen Dengming twice in the past ten years, addressing him only as "Sect Leader".
It was only because more than a decade ago, the Longevity Sect had already promulgated laws and regulations concerning both public and private affairs; and it was only because on that very day, his mother Li Xue, abandoned her elderly father and left him.
It was only because of his father Chen Jing's earnest teachings that the naturally intelligent boy gradually learned to restrain his mischievousness, keep a low profile, and become more composed and self-disciplined in his dealings with others.
Faced with Chen Feilin's question, Chen Dengming stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the setting sun over the sea and sky, and sighed, "The sun rises and sets, in endless cycles, but not everyone can see the sunrise and then appreciate the beauty of the sunset. Life and death are the same."
He paused, turned to look at Chen Feilin, and seeing his grandson, who was only twenty-seven years old, now so composed and mature, he felt both gratified and sighed with emotion.
"Feilin, the Chen Family will ultimately continue in your hands, and you have done very well."
Chen Feilin calmly replied, "The reason I've done so well isn't mainly due to my own efforts, but rather because they were willing to take some risks."
Chen Dengming was surprised. "I remember I once gave you a choice: whether to come with me to the Four Regions for training and to stay in Evergreen City. You chose to stay in the city."
Chen Feilin smiled calmly, "That's right. Because my absence is the best way for the Longevity Sect and Evergreen City to fulfill their duties."
A glint flashed in Chen Dengming's eyes as he looked deeply into Chen Feilin's eyes and nodded slightly.
He was truly satisfied with his grandson's current behavior; it was hard to see the boy's mischievous nature from the past.
The Chen Family has a son named Fei Lin; even if they don't achieve great fame and fortune, their lineage will at least last a long time.
Now, Chen Jing and Chen Yiran's son and daughter are both very old.
Although he still has some lifespan left, he is, after all, just a mortal.
I fear that the next time he emerges from seclusion, it will be a case of the elderly burying the elderly.
However, birth, aging, sickness, and death are the life of an ordinary person, as insignificant as a speck of dust. While it is certainly worthy of lamentation, Chen Dengming had already come to terms with it when he sent Xu Wei to the underworld.
"It's getting dark, let's go! Feilin, now that you have a safe and peaceful environment for cultivation, cherish it."
Chen Dengming smiled faintly, stepped into the twilight, his sleeves fluttering as he flew toward the spirit boat, as if he were throwing himself into the vast ocean flowing eastward. Under the glow of the sunset, the waves looked like thousands of red snakes struggling and surging.
A swaying expedition, the sound of waves crashing; a single night's wind across the vast, celestial sea.
Do not grieve for the passing of the year, for how many old men have turned white-haired in this world?
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