Li Qiang followed Mo Huaiyuan with a restless mind, still thinking about Yun Yu. Mo Huaiyuan had told him everything that had happened, and he couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive.
He had always deliberately avoided romantic love between men and women because he had been badly hurt in this area when he was in his hometown.
After he began cultivating immortality, whether it was Mei Jingjing whom he met when he first arrived in the Heavenly Court, or Qiao Yuhong in the Black Prison, he would avoid them if he could, and pretend to be stupid if he couldn't avoid them. But this time, it seemed like he couldn't avoid them anymore.
That unforgettable feeling stirred up waves in his heart, making it difficult for him to find peace.
Mo Huaiyuan walked ahead leisurely, chatting casually with Li Qiang, while Li Qiang absentmindedly talked about what had happened after the breakup.
Upon hearing the astonishing news that the Buddha Sect had already departed this realm, Mo Huaiyuan remained silent for a long while. He seemed to understand something and said, "I am very familiar with the nine elders of the Buddha Sect. I never expected that they would transcend this realm with the power of their divine artifacts. It is truly amazing and awe-inspiring."
Li Qiang asked, "I've never understood the point of going beyond this realm?"
Mo Huaiyuan laughed and said, "Hehe, you can't comprehend it until you reach that level of cultivation. Just like where you are now, you can only see a narrow passage. You won't know how vast or magnificent the outside world is. Only by going out can you see it with your own eyes. That divine artifact is like a key, a key to unlock the door to the outside world."
Li Qiang nodded as if he understood, then shook his head and asked, "I still don't quite understand, brother. Can even Loose Immortal go there?"
Mo Huaiyuan nodded and said, "Cultivators who reach the Mahayana Realm after passing the Tribulation Transcendence Realm generally cultivate for several hundred more years and can soon break free from the constraints here. It's like they've obtained a key that allows them to leave through that door. Loose Immortal are the same, but..."
Li Qiang pressed on curiously, "But what?"
"The potential of Loose Immortal immortal cannot compare to that of a cultivator. According to legend, the path to that realm is too perilous. Therefore, most Loose Immortal are unwilling to take this step, preferring instead to undergo Heavenly Tribulation every thousand years. If they succeed, they continue cultivating; if they fail, their soul dissipates and they vanish into nothingness. So, unless absolutely necessary, no cultivator is willing to become Loose Immortal."
Li Qiang asked, "How do you know so much detail, brother?"
Mo Huaiyuan laughed and said, "All disciples who enter a formal sect should have received systematic training, except for you, brother... hehe, it seems you don't know anything. You should find a major sect to study at properly when you have the chance; it will greatly help your future cultivation."
Li Qiang scratched his head and chuckled, "That's not my fault, I didn't even have a chance to get in touch with them."
The two quickly arrived at the edge of the Cosmic Azure Field Grand Formation. Li Qiang said, "Brother, I'll go into the formation with you, haha, but have you figured out the secrets of this formation? If not... haha, then let's not go in." He was truly terrified by those powerful and strangely shaped formations.
Looking at the swirling clouds and mist surrounding the array, with the cloud table appearing and disappearing within, Mo Huaiyuan said confidently, "I've long since mastered this array. I couldn't break it before because my skill wasn't enough, but now it shouldn't be a problem. I don't need your help; it'll be done in a minute."
"I never said I'd help, haha. I just wanted to go in with you and see for myself. With a powerful Loose Immortal like you around, I'll just watch the show," he said glibly.
Mo Huaiyuan laughed loudly, "Good! Well said! Haha, brother, your skill in praising people is top-notch, haha."
Li Qiang smiled smugly; he never thought that flattery was a bad thing.
Mo Huaiyuan pulled his hands together as if pulling, and a white, ethereal rope appeared. He casually draped the rope over Li Qiang, and with a gentle twist of his fingers, the white rope vanished without a trace.
Li Qiang asked curiously, "What are you doing, brother?"
Mo Huaiyuan said, "That way you won't get lost." He suddenly disappeared, but Li Qiang could clearly sense where he had moved. A moment later, he returned, smiling, "Got it?"
Li Qiang exclaimed in surprise, "That's a great move! Teach me!"
"This is a minor Law Technique, very easy, but it can only be used at close range; it won't work at a distance." He told Li Qiang the trick, then added, "Brother, I've noticed there's something wrong with the direction you're taking in your training."
Knowing that his cultivation level was extremely high, Li Qiang seized the opportunity to ask for guidance, "Brother, I've learned a lot of things, but is it a bit mixed and impure?"
Mo Huaiyuan shook his head and said, "It's nothing. Daoist arts and Law Technique in the Cultivation Realm are different. You are now pursuing the path of mastering magic Law Technique, but Daoist arts are what cultivators truly pursue. That is the origin, while Law Technique are just an aid to Daoist arts."
"Your Law Technique and Law Treasure crafting are far superior to your Daoist arts. If this continues... although you will become very powerful, it will be detrimental to your cultivation."
As expected of a veteran cultivator, he had a clear understanding of Li Qiang's situation and pointed out Li Qiang's shortcomings in one sentence.
Li Qiang remained silent for a moment, thinking carefully, and realized that Mo Huaiyuan's words made a lot of sense. He did indeed focus too much on Law Technique and crafting, while neglecting his own cultivation. He asked, "What should I do?"
"This can't be rushed. Actually, you've already done a remarkable job, brother. Reaching such a level in such a short time is rare even in the Cultivation Realm. I'm just worried you might take the wrong path, so I'm giving you this reminder."
This reminder greatly benefited Li Qiang, as it pointed him in the right direction for his future cultivation. Li Qiang thanked it repeatedly.
Mo Huaiyuan raised his white eyebrows slightly. "No need for thanks, we're brothers. Let's go into the formation. Hehe, if we're lucky, the Jade Pupil Slip on the cloud table might be the cultivation manual left behind by its original owner."
The Cosmic Azure Field Grand Formation is the most powerful formation in the Star Palace. The entire Star Palace is controlled by this formation. Mo Huaiyuan has spent countless years in the Star Palace. With his rich experience, he has already deduced every change of this grand formation clearly. However, because he is Nascent Soul cultivator, he has never been able to break it.
Mo Huaiyuan led Li Qiang into the great formation.
The grand formation was immediately activated; amidst the swirling smoke and clouds, the formation began to operate.
Li Qiang felt a flash of blue light before his eyes, and in the blink of an eye, everything in the scenery began to spin rapidly. Suddenly, his vision cleared, and he saw a vast universe filled with twinkling stars. Looking down, he saw that he was standing in the void, with Mo Huaiyuan standing right beside him.
He couldn't help but ask, "Brother, why do all these formations appear as illusions?"
"An illusion? Brother, this is not an illusion. In the eyes of us cultivators, there is no clear boundary between reality and illusion; the difference between reality and illusion lies entirely in one's mind."
Li Qiang seemed to understand, but not quite. He used to solve any formations by intuition, relying on Law Treasure and strength to brute force them. He had never solved a formation like Mo Huaiyuan, who relied entirely on his superior knowledge.
Li Qiang suddenly exclaimed, "That's a shooting star! It's so beautiful! Wow! It's coming this way!"
Based on his past practices, he would definitely have used Law Treasure to fight back. Now that Mo Huaiyuan is by his side, although he shouts loudly, he doesn't make any moves, just waiting to see what his older brother will do.
Mo Huaiyuan said, "We have the best explanation for the difference between reality and illusion now. If you don't believe me, try it. Don't be afraid, your brother will protect you." He intended to teach Li Qiang and point out some of the secrets of cultivation.
Li Qiang, seeing a large number of meteors hurtling towards him in the distance, exclaimed in shock, "Wow! I... I'll... try it? This is practically asking for my life..."
Humans are inherently dependent. If someone can solve all problems, even the most diligent person might slack off. Li Qiang is like that; with Mo Huaiyuan, this master of martial Loose Immortal, by his side, he is incredibly relaxed.
He knew very well the strength of the Loose Immortal; he was abnormally powerful. With such an expert around, he never even considered taking action himself. When he heard Mo Huaiyuan ask him to give it a try, he immediately panicked.
Li Qiang didn't wear armor when he entered the formation, but now he hurriedly put on the newly trained Billowing Essence Battle Armor, put on the Radiant Sun Ring, unleashed the Star-Absorbing Sword, and threw out the Golden Lotus Jade Throne.
Mo Huaiyuan laughed and said, "What are you doing? Making such a fuss."
Li Qiang gritted his teeth and said, "Wouldn't it be enough to just break through and create a path?"
Mo Huaiyuan laughed loudly, "Haha! Brother, you're really full of bravado. This is a shooting star! Do you think you're some kind of god who dares to hit anything?"
Li Qiang blushed deeply after his brother's sarcastic remark, and stammered, "Then... then... let's run away..."
"Escape? Brother, where are you running to? Tell me, bro." Mo Huaiyuan asked with great interest. He found Li Qiang's embarrassed expression quite amusing.
As Li Qiang watched the meteors hurtling through the sky draw ever closer, he suddenly had a desperate idea and shouted, "Then let's be meteors too!" He flew off along the meteors' paths.
A hint of surprise flashed in Mo Huaiyuan's eyes. This brother was really something else. He followed closely behind Li Qiang and chuckled, "This method can't solve all the problems; it can only buy time."
Amidst the deafening roar, a meteor hurtled close by; it was unclear what it was made of.
Mo Huaiyuan warned, "This kind of meteor is very special. Brother, please don't touch it; it's very dangerous."
Li Qiang thought to himself that these so-called meteors must be illusions created by some kind of Law Treasure, and relying on the power of the formation, they were probably even more terrifying than real meteors. He suddenly remembered what Mo Huaiyuan had said about the transformation between reality and illusion, and seemed to have an understanding, but he couldn't find a solution in his haste.
As these meteors drew closer, Li Qiang realized they weren't the meteorites he'd imagined. Instead, they shone with a brilliant blue light, interspersed with silver specks, resembling something icy and watery. Gradually, these meteors filled his surroundings, and he felt a strong sense of threat. The Golden Lotus Jade Throne beneath his feet also emitted golden light, forcefully repelling the approaching fragments.
Mo Huaiyuan said, "Hurry up! These Marsh Rain Heavenly Sand are powerful. If we can't think of a solution soon, they'll retaliate." Although he said this, he smiled and wasn't worried at all.
Li Qiang, however, was completely bewildered. No wonder, he had never intended to act; his mind was preoccupied with Yu'er, and his senses were clouded. However, he was always quick-witted, and he calmly smiled, "Easy!"
Mo Huaiyuan asked in doubt, "What?"
Li Qiang grabbed Mo Huaiyuan's waist and laughed, "That's one solution too—borrowing light from him."
Mo Huaiyuan laughed loudly, "Haha, I didn't expect that..." He suddenly stopped and said with a smile, "Let go."
All was quiet, and there was no sign of the shooting star. Li Qiang scratched his head and asked, "Huh, what's going on? I didn't see you doing anything."
Mo Huaiyuan countered, "Is it absolutely necessary to do something?"
Li Qiang said dumbly, "Then... if we just stand still, won't the meteor kill us?"
Mo Huaiyuan laughed and asked, "Are you dead?"
Mo Huaiyuan painstakingly tried to enlighten Li Qiang within the great formation, but unfortunately, Li Qiang's mind was filled with distractions, and what he said was both laughable and pathetic, "Hehe, not dead, isn't it because your brother is here... Wow, I get it..."
A thought flashed through his mind, and he suddenly understood, but he couldn't express it in words. The Star-Absorbing Sword Mist surged out from his body, and in an instant, the sky was filled with starlight.
He finally comprehended the second level of the True Illusion Sword Qi technique.
Mo Huaiyuan laughed loudly, "Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"
Li Qiang was so excited he could hardly contain himself, and he whispered, "Chirp!"
The Stars Filling the Sky suddenly vanished, and a flower shimmering with silver light appeared before his eyes, followed by two, three... In an instant, countless silver flowers bloomed across the world. His hand also resembled a blooming flower; with a slight movement of his fingers, the petals unfolded.
Suddenly, he clenched his fist and shouted, "Dance!"
The sky was filled with flowers, which scattered like a silver rain of petals, falling gently and softly.
Mo Huaiyuan looked on calmly and smiled, "It seems your understanding of Law Technique is extraordinary, brother. To have mastered the art of shapeshifting and objectification with the Leaving the Body Realm Soul stage, you are only the fifth person I've ever seen. It's truly remarkable, but..."
Li Qiang smiled slightly, then suddenly flipped his hand, causing the fluttering silver flowers to rapidly gather and form a bowl-sized rose above his palm. However, he couldn't yet mimic color; the rose was silver, as if cast from gleaming metal, and slowly rotated above his palm. He sighed, "However, it still relied on the power of the Star-Absorbing Sword... Brother, I understand."
Mo Huaiyuan said, "It's good that you know. Your current ability to mimic objects still has many problems. Look." A rose appeared in his hand as well. It was a delicate yellow rose that had just bloomed, with dewdrops still on its petals. It looked so beautiful and moving.
Li Qiang looked at the silver rose in his hand again, and realized it was simply incomparable. He flicked his fingers, and the Star-Absorbing Sword returned to his body.
Li Qiang exclaimed, "It's unbelievable! How did you do that, brother?" He was utterly impressed. He had just exhausted all his strength to create such a metal rose, while the rose in Mo Huaiyuan's hand showed no flaws whatsoever, as if it were naturally formed.
Mo Huaiyuan shook his head and said, "This is not the path of cultivation; it is merely Law Technique."
Mo Huaiyuan gently shook the flower branch, and a rose petal fluttered down.
Li Qiang closed his eyes and pondered. He recalled the scene when he first saw Fu Shan and Hua Meiniang fighting, and a spark of inspiration seemed to appear in his mind.
Mo Huaiyuan didn't urge him, but quietly hovered beside him and waited.
Suddenly, a small bird flew out of Li Qiang's hand; it was a kingfisher, a very common bird on Earth.
The kingfisher was also silver, nimbly flitting around Li Qiang. Gradually, colors began to appear on the silver kingfisher, just faint colors that appeared and disappeared intermittently.
Mo Huaiyuan sighed inwardly. He realized that Li Qiang still preferred Law Technique. Although it made him more powerful in fights, it was very detrimental to his future cultivation.
Li Qiang seemed to have an extraordinary comprehension of crafting artifacts, refining treasures, and Law Technique. The kingfisher flew tirelessly, its colors growing more and more vibrant. Finally, the kingfisher landed on Li Qiang's hand, preening its feathers with its beak and chirping softly, its feathers shimmering with iridescent light.
Mo Huaiyuan said noncommittally, "What a beautiful little bird."
The kingfisher suddenly disappeared, and a rose reappeared in Li Qiang's hand, this time a beautiful red rose. He smiled happily and said, "I understand." His tone was full of joy.
Mo Huaiyuan said indifferently, "Let's go." He seemed somewhat dissatisfied.
After a moment's thought, Li Qiang immediately understood. He laughed and said, "Brother, don't worry, I will also strive to learn Daoist arts."
Mo Huaiyuan smiled wryly, "I'm afraid you'll go astray, brother. Your cultivation has been too smooth, your progress too fast, it's easy for you to develop inner demons." He genuinely cared about Li Qiang.
Li Qiang understood his meaning and smiled, "Thanks for the reminder, brother. I'll be careful."
Mo Huaiyuan grabbed Li Qiang's arm and said, "Be careful." The scenery before them changed rapidly; the starlight around them suddenly disappeared, and countless rays of colorful light surrounded the two of them.
Li Qiang was amazed again. The layers of colorful light that stretched from the sky to the ground were like luminous silk, dazzling and radiant.
Mo Huaiyuan chuckled and said, "As expected of an array set up by a master, to actually place the Great Nirvana Divine Light here, remarkable! Remarkable!"
Li Qiang asked curiously, "What is the Great Nirvana Divine Light? Is it Law Treasure?"
Mo Huaiyuan couldn't help but slap Li Qiang on the head, laughing and scolding, "Is there nothing else in your head besides Law Treasure?"
Li Qiang grinned and said, "Oh dear, brother, what else could that be but Law Treasure?"
Mo Huaiyuan was truly at a loss with him. What could he do? This brother was a disciple of the Chongxuan Sect, and naturally had a fondness for Law Treasure. He said, "This is the power of an array, not emitted by Law Treasure. Once trapped by this Great Nirvana Divine Light, escaping will be difficult. Tell me, what's your plan?"
Li Qiang had never seen such a grand formation before. Even in the Cultivation Realm, such formations were rare, containing the work of immortals, and were beyond the capabilities of ordinary experts. He scratched his head, looking utterly bewildered, and said, "Brother, this ' Great Nirvana Divine Light '... this is the first time I've ever seen it, hehe, I don't know how to solve it."
Mo Huaiyuan laughed loudly, "Haha, brother, just pretend I'm not here, what are you going to do?"
Li Qiang chuckled, "You're not here? I wouldn't have come here if you weren't here, that would be suicide! Hehehe."
Mo Huaiyuan gave him a strange smile, and then suddenly disappeared.
Li Qiang screamed in terror, "Oh no, brother... you can't do this to me... help me!" He yelled wildly, even though he knew exactly where Mo Huaiyuan was, but he was blocked by that damned Great Nirvana Divine Light and couldn't get through.
A clear voice rang in my ears. "Brother, figure out how to get here yourself. Don't be afraid, your brother's here for you."
Li Qiang yelled, "Of course I'm not afraid! Help! Help!"
Mo Huaiyuan transmitted his voice, "Brother, think of something quickly, your voice can't reach me, I'm waiting for you."
Li Qiang had no choice but to unleash the Star-Absorbing Sword, muttering, "Sigh! Curiosity can kill. Why didn't I just wait outside the formation? I had to come in. This thing sounds weird, some kind of Great Nirvana Divine Light... It's definitely not fun! Waaah, my brother runs faster than a rabbit. Damn it, even rabbits are his grandsons..." He grumbled as he carefully observed the surroundings.
He carefully avoided the colorful light, and at a glance, the boundless, Great Nirvana Divine Light shimmered with unpredictable brilliance, like the aurora borealis hanging down from the sky.
Li Qiang knew that he couldn't break through with the Law Treasure he possessed; he needed to find the key points.
The Great Nirvana Divine Light grew stronger and stronger. Li Qiang found the light extremely dazzling. Gradually, the space he could move in became smaller and smaller, and the paths around him became fewer and fewer.
Mo Huaiyuan transmitted his voice, saying, "It lies between the two of us."
Li Qiang exclaimed, "What do you mean by 'two aspects of self and others'? Damn it, I don't understand!" This was understandable, as he had advanced through the Purple Flame Heart cultivation method. He hadn't even grasped the most basic theoretical knowledge that a cultivator should have. Putting him in such a powerful formation was really asking too much of him.
Li Qiang gritted his teeth, and in an instant, the Golden Lotus emitted countless brilliant rays of light. The Star-Absorbing Sword enveloped his entire body, making him look like a giant silver egg. He began to act recklessly again, plunging headlong into the Great Nirvana Divine Light: "Damn it, I don't believe you'll just abandon me! I'm in a desperate situation... a life-or-death situation! A shameless situation!"
Mo Huaiyuan was angry, anxious, and a little amused; this brother of his was really shameless to the extreme.
Li Qiang suddenly found himself standing next to Mo Huaiyuan, and he said happily, "Hehe, this 'shameless face' still works."
Enraged, Mo Huaiyuan slapped him hard, laughing and scolding, "Are you out of your mind! If you rush into the divine light, I won't be able to pull you out."
Li Qiang chuckled and said, "Who told you to disregard your brothers' lives? This is a supreme Cultivation Method that puts you in a life-or-death situation."
Mo Huaiyuan had to admit that Li Qiang's method was the most reliable, even though it was a bit cheeky and lazy. Li Qiang was betting that Mo Huaiyuan would never let him fall into a dead end. This method was simple and direct, and until he had a better solution, it was the best option.
Li Qiang pointed to the ground and asked, "What's that? Wow, such a big windmill!"
Beneath their feet was a gigantic wheel, somewhat like a windmill lying flat in the air. The giant wheel was supported by a silver frame, and at its center was a blazing fire, emitting a vermilion flame.
Countless points of light tightly surrounded the giant ship, emitting a rainbow of colors as it rotated, like countless tadpoles swimming around it, creating a magnificent and breathtaking spectacle.
Mo Huaiyuan exclaimed in surprise, " The Heavenly Mirror Treasure Aspect Wheel! How could it be this treasure? Haha, brother, this is a celestial artifact! Oh dear! This is the core of the formation, be careful!" He added, "Luckily, I held back from coming in. With the strength of a cultivator, there's absolutely no way to break this treasure. Thank goodness! Thank goodness!"
Li Qiang smiled and said, "Are you ready now?"
Mo Huaiyuan nodded and said, "There's no problem now, because this is an unclaimed immortal artifact, which is perfect for Loose Immortal immortal to use." He grabbed Li Qiang and said, "Let's go down!"
The two rushed toward the center of the giant ship like shooting stars. Mo Huaiyuan continuously shot out beams of white light along the way, which were his immortal spiritual energy. As the white light attached to the giant ship, huge thunderclaps resounded in the sky.
As the giant ship gradually shrank, Mo Huaiyuan was forcibly taking it away using the unique immortal spiritual energy of Loose Immortal.
Li Qiang had no doubt about the strength of the Loose Immortal; the previous Qi Junsha was just as abnormally powerful. He laughed and asked, "What is the Heavenly Mirror Treasure Aspect Wheel used for?"
Mo Huaiyuan laughed and said, "I also heard about this immortal artifact a long time ago. Back in our time, many immortal artifacts were lost to the outside world, but I never expected that the Star Palace would actually have two of them. One is the Supreme Radiance Shuttle, and the other is this Heavenly Mirror Treasure Aspect Wheel. It's truly unexpected."
Li Qiang asked curiously, "Back then? When was that?"
Mo Huaiyuan sighed, "It was probably more than three thousand years ago, or maybe even earlier. Back then, there was a Immortal Realm Divine Realm and an Cultivation Realm. There was a passage between the Immortal Realm and the Cultivation Realm, but the passage was intermittent. Occasionally, there were traces of immortals. By the time I started cultivating, the passage seemed to have been sealed off. Hehe, back then, many immortal artifacts were lost here, and even some divine artifacts were left behind. There were also many cultivation manuals from the Immortal Realm, which are probably very difficult to find now."
These things are probably only known to cultivators like Mo Huaiyuan. He has been cultivating for far too long. Even if cultivators today know about the Immortal Realm, it's only from legends they've read in ancient texts.
Li Qiang exclaimed in surprise, "So that's how it is! No wonder there's talk of the Cultivation Realm, the Immortal Realm, and the Divine Realm. I really can't imagine what the Immortal Realm is like."
He wasn't envious of the Immortal Realm, just curious. Embarking on the path of cultivation was already unbelievable to him, let alone cultivating immortality. His greatest wish was to reach the Body Integration Realm as soon as possible so he could go back to his hometown for a visit.
The Heavenly Mirror Treasure Aspect Wheel was forced to shrink rapidly by Mo Huaiyuan's immortal spiritual energy, and the surrounding scenery was constantly changing. Li Qiang knew that if he were to break it, he would have to face each of these illusions, and he would probably be completely doomed before he could even get close to the Heavenly Mirror Treasure Aspect Wheel. He felt a little afraid of this strange formation.
Mo Huaiyuan suddenly shouted, "Heavens! Brother, we've really stumbled upon a treasure! Haha... Hahaha! This is the real key to the formation... The Heaven -Heaven-Defying Treasure Mirror! Heavens! Heavens! It seems the master of the Star Palace is also Loose Immortal! Haha, he's reincarnated!" He wasn't this excited when he saw the Heavenly Mirror Treasure Aspect Wheel- Heaven-Defying Treasure Mirror.
Li Qiang didn't understand. "What do you mean?"