I was no match for him
"Afraid?"
Qi Yun looked at the old True Person's withered profile with some surprise.
"Hmm." The old True Person's gaze remained fixed on the depths of the mountain cave where strange phenomena were surging, his voice flat and without a ripple, as if he were recounting a past event unrelated to himself.
"I'm afraid I won't succeed, afraid all my efforts will be in vain, afraid my master will perish because of this, afraid that I've made the wrong choice again this time—"
His expression was indifferent, yet every word he spoke carried a silent heaviness.
Perhaps, from the moment he realized he had gone astray and damaged his Dao Foundation, that deep-seated self-doubt and denial had already quietly taken root and sprouted.
Therefore, when truly facing the unpredictable path where a single wrong step could lead to death, the dissipation of one's Dao Foundation, or a change in one's spiritual path, one must...
He hesitated, he was afraid.
Ultimately, they chose to abandon the seemingly arduous path that led to the highest point, but was actually fraught with thorns and a perilous journey with a near-certain death.
"Qi Yun," the old True Person turned his body slightly, his cloudy eyes, which seemed to be able to see through people's hearts, fell on Qi Yun.
"Among the people I've met, you're not the most talented. There are many who are better than you." He paused, then asked, "But do you know why I brought you here?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Yun's face immediately broke into a somewhat lazy smile, and he grinned, "Could it be that... this disciple is just as handsome and dashing as the master was in his youth?"
"Glib talker." The old True Person scoffed lightly, but there was little anger on his gaunt face. The lingering aura of sorrow emanating from him was instead somewhat diluted by this lighthearted joke.
"I choose you," he said, turning his gaze back to the cave. His tone returned to its previous indifference, but now carried an unspoken deeper meaning.
"It's because deep down, you possess a rare [wickedness]."
"This [evil] quality makes you daring to fight and grab, daring to act and take responsibility, as if all the restrictions and rules in the world are nothing to you."
"Once you've made up your mind about something, you'll have no regrets and will forge ahead without hesitation." The old True Person spoke slowly, his voice echoing in this strange space.
"Perhaps only with such a mindset can one have the chance to control this domineering and unparalleled [Supreme Dao Foundation]."
He then changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of reminder.
"However, don't be too happy yet. This Land of Dao Attainment is not complete."
The old True Person pointed to the bizarre and fantastical depths of the mountain cave. "Back then, in order to help me find this last glimmer of hope, my master forcibly intervened, killing the previous cultivator who held the [Great Luo] position and forcing him to Liberation by Violence, thus vacating this position."
And it is precisely because of this that the traces remaining at this Land of Dao Attainment are mixed with the endless resentment and unwillingness of that former [Great Luo], adding layers of danger and difficulty out of thin air.
hiss----
Qi Yun clicked his tongue slightly in astonishment.
The teacher's master, that unseen grandmaster, was also a ruthless person!
In order to give his disciple a chance to continue his Dao Path, he actually killed a [Supreme Dao Foundation] holder!
The old True Person beside him seemed to see through his thoughts and added in a low voice, "It was precisely because of this forceful intervention in cause and effect that Master himself suffered a backlash from the Great Dao, a severe punishment of cause and effect, and has been in seclusion ever since, with no news of him."
A complex and unfathomable light flashed in his cloudy eyes, tinged with a heavy tone. "If it weren't for his forced seclusion, with him and the True Lord Holy Might jointly guarding the sect—those bastards like the Yellow Springs Netherworld, the Zombie Alliance, Hehuan Palace, even if they had ten times the courage, they would never dare to oppose my Holy Sect so repeatedly."
"Even True Lord can be punished by karma?" Qi Yun asked with curiosity.
His blood sacrifice method in "Blood-Guided Profound Mysteries" is, in a sense, a form of karmic punishment, with physical damage being a sign of erasing the impact.
He just didn't expect that even True Lord, who seemed to be able to change the very fabric of the universe, would suffer karmic punishment and be so badly injured that he had to go into seclusion.
"Cause and effect are the foundation of heaven and earth, formless and intangible, yet they weave together the workings of this vast universe." The old True Person's voice was deep.
Even True Lord who forcibly alters the course of cause and effect will suffer a backlash.
The greater the impact of the alteration, the deeper the entanglements, and the heavier and more dangerous the punishment.
His cloudy gaze seemed to pierce through the void, gazing upon that earth-shattering battle from a distant past.
Those who can attain the [Supreme Dao Foundation] naturally bear extraordinary karmic burdens.
When Master forcibly intervened back then, he killed more than just a mere Foundation Establishment True Person.
Instead, it is a defiance of the fundamental laws of nature!
The dangers and costs involved are far beyond what ordinary people can imagine.
The old True Person slowly withdrew his gaze and focused it back on Qi Yun. His gaze became extremely solemn and serious, as if he wanted to see through the very soul of the young disciple before him.
"Qi Yun," he called out, his voice low but carrying immense weight, "I'll ask you one last time."
The road ahead is unpredictable and fraught with danger far exceeding any trial you have ever faced. The bodies of twenty-three prodigies are still warm.
Are you truly determined to embark on this path to prove the [Great Luo Myriad Laws Dao Foundation]?
Inside the cave, even the wind seemed to have stopped.
Only the old True Person's heavy words echoed in the air.
Faced with the old True Person's almost final confirmation, Qi Yun showed no hesitation or struggle on his face.
He didn't even hesitate for a moment.
His lips curved slightly upward, forming a calm yet somewhat unruly smile.
There was not a trace of confusion in those clear and sharp eyes.
There is only one kind of all-knowing composure.
He looked at the old True Person, his tone relaxed, as if stating a simple fact. "Didn't the teacher already have the answer in his heart?"
There were no grand and impassioned vows, no questioning of the perils ahead, and not a trace of regret or retreat.
This simple, understated question reveals more than any resounding vow his unwavering commitment to the Dao, a commitment that once made up his mind, he will pursue it without hesitation or regret.
It was as if from the moment he became aware of the existence of the [Supreme Dao Foundation].
This choice was already made.
All that's left is to keep walking down the path you've chosen.
Success means transcending all paths; failure means death and the annihilation of one's path.
That's all, why say more?
The old True Person gazed into Qi Yun's calm, unwavering eyes, which concealed a deep-seated arrogance and determination.
After a long while, the taut lines of his face, which had been heavy with weariness, finally began to relax.
He nodded slightly, saying nothing more; everything was understood without words.
The dust has settled.
"He really agreed?"
Within the Holy Sect's Threefold Mirror Heaven, lies a serene and secluded apricot grove.
True Person Southern Dipper, leaning on his emerald green bamboo cane, frowned as he looked at the withered old True Person Deng Yin before him, his tone filled with undisguised surprise and a hint of anger.
"So stubborn! From top to bottom, your entire lineage is stubborn!"
True Person Southern Dipper's voice rose a few decibels, and he gently tapped his bamboo staff on the ground.
"Did he not know that the [Land of Dao Attainment] had undergone many changes and was now almost a wasteland?"
The resentment and bitterness of the fallen [Great Luo] still linger over the years, making the danger even greater!
Did he really believe he was stronger than the twenty-three who had been defeated before him?
The resounding rhetorical question echoed through the apricot grove, carrying the imposing aura of Foundation Establishment True Person, causing the surrounding heaven and earth to tremble slightly.
Faced with the implied reproach in True Person Southern Dipper's questioning, the old True Person Deng Yin's withered face remained calm, only smiling faintly, "Of course he knows."
Given his temperament—he wouldn't act until he saw a clear benefit, and he always had to calculate things thoroughly—he was bound to succeed.
How can one make a decision easily without thoroughly understanding the pros and cons, risks and fortuitous opportunity involved?
"Then he still dares?!" True Person Southern Dipper raised his eyebrows, his eyes full of incomprehension.
They knew it was a dead end with almost certain death.
Why take another step forward?
Upon hearing this, the old True Person remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Therefore—I am inferior to him."
These four simple words encapsulate both the past hesitation and regret, and also highlight the choices and expectations we have now.
"You—" True Person Southern Dipper was speechless for a moment, looking at his junior brother who had little life left and whose aura was faint, and at the resolute look hidden deep in the calm in his eyes.
In the end, all the words turned into a silent sigh.
He gave the old True Person a deep look, remained silent for a long time, and then spoke as if in resignation, "Fine. You can't reason with a damned devil. Since you've made your decision, I'll give you this chance."
His tone returned to its usual indifference, yet carried an undeniable authority. "Tomorrow, have him come to me."
I want to see for myself where this kid got such audacity!
Upon hearing this, the old True Person slowly rose, bowed respectfully to the True Person Southern Dipper, and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother."
Having said that, he didn't linger any longer and turned to leave.
His gaunt figure appeared even more desolate in the dappled light and shadow of the apricot grove.
Just as he was about to step out of the apricot grove, the voice of True Person Southern Dipper came from behind him, not loud, but clearly penetrating his ears. "The True Lord has something to say."
The old True Person stopped in his tracks upon hearing the sound.
The words of the True Person Southern Dipper continued, "The True Lord said that he only recognizes this [Great Luo Myriad Laws Dao Foundation]."
As for whose it is—he won't care.
Upon hearing this, the old True Person's hunched back paused slightly.
A strange light involuntarily flashed in those originally cloudy and dim eyes.
He didn't turn around, nor did he respond.
He paused for only a moment before lifting his foot again and stepping into the swirling ripples of space ahead, his figure disappearing completely.
Only True Person Southern Dipper remained standing alone in the apricot grove, gazing in the direction he had disappeared, his eyes deep and unfathomable, lost in thought.