A Soul Contract with a Spirit Beast whose strength rivaled a Nether Gazing Realm cultivator was naturally tempting.
But Taiping was not the sort to lose his head over immediate gains. What truly began to sway him was Bai Yu's determination to abandon freedom just to see her mother.
He could not bear to trample on that determination.
"I'll think of a way."
At last, Xu Taiping nodded.
Late that night.
"Sister Lingyue, should I be more hard-hearted?"
In the bedroom, by a flickering candle, Xu Taiping asked Fairy Lingyue before him with a hint of self-mockery.
"Taiping, having compassion is not a bad thing. Otherwise, how would people differ from Yaomo? You need only remember that when showing compassion to others, you must never go against your true heart."
"If you feel that helping Bai Yu see her mother does not go against your true heart, then go ahead boldly, without worry."
"We cultivators seek to live amid the Great Dao, not merely cling to life. Cultivation is like sailing through a vast ocean at night. Your true heart is the bright moon and stars above. If you lose it, you will inevitably lose your way upon that boundless sea."
"To abandon your true heart while cultivating the Great Dao is to abandon everything."
Sitting beside Xu Taiping, Fairy Lingyue patiently guided him.
At these words, the lingering uncertainty in Xu Taiping's eyes instantly gave way to clarity.
"Seek to live, not merely cling to life. Abandon your true heart, and you abandon everything."
He murmured to himself, understanding dawning on his face.
"Taiping, in my lifetime, I've met many cultivators. Some were already powerful enough to glimpse heaven's secrets. Yet even when they glimpsed the dangers ahead, even when they saw their deaths looming before them, they