Noncontention

Little Dragon Mountain is not far from the mouth of the White Dragon River.

The ancients referred to serpents as small dragons.

As descendants of the High Antiquity Dragon-Rearing Clan, the Dong Household's choice to name this place Little Dragon Mountain carries a certain profound meaning.

It's unclear whether they've resigned themselves to their fate and are using it as a form of self-deprecation, or whether they've learned from their shame and are now using it as motivation.

A distinguished guest arrived at Little Dragon Mountain.

He is Liu Zhijian, the current senior disciple and a direct disciple of the head of Supreme Mystery Mountain.

Dong Linyuan personally came down the mountain to greet him and led him up the mountain, making Liu Zhijian feel flattered.

To be honest, Liu Zhijian and Dong Linyuan didn't have a very deep relationship; their only connection was when they surrounded and killed Deng Gang.

Dong Linyuan's role in this matter was rather disgraceful.

Unfortunately, Liu Zhijian and Deng Gang had a complicated and difficult-to-explain relationship.

Seeing that Liu Zhijian was taciturn, Dong Linyuan could only start the conversation by mentioning their shared past experience. After thinking for a while, he finally found a safe angle and brought up Qiao Yunbai of the Azure Cloud Sect, who had also participated in the incident. "Fellow Daoist Liu, do you remember that back then, you, me, Deacon Xue all gained something, but Qiao Yunbai of the Azure Cloud Sect suffered heavy losses and was in a sorry state. I heard that he was even ostracized and punished after returning."

The Azure Cloud Sect is not far from Supreme Mystery Mountain, and it is also subtly involved in the conflict between the New Method Old Method.

Although Liu Zhijian was focused on fishing and basically ignored worldly affairs, he still cared about the Azure Cloud Sect. So he nodded and said, "This matter is indeed strange. The Azure Cloud Sect is a New Method sect. Why would they rashly get involved in such a secretive matter? I really don't know what they're after."

Seeing that Liu Zhijian was indeed interested, Dong Linyuan laughed and said, "What are you after?! Of course, it's a promise from Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain."

Having heard his master mention Xue Yang's attitude towards the New Method, Liu Zhijian asked, "What promise?! A promise to survive peacefully in the Southern Edge Continent?"

"Of course not." Dong Linyuan shook his head and sighed, "The relocation of the Azure Cloud Sect to the south must have been orchestrated by powerful figures behind the scenes. Therefore, there is no need for any promises; Azure Cloud Sect can survive peacefully in the Southern Edge Continent. Otherwise, no matter how much the Old Method declines, destroying Azure Cloud Sect would be an easy task."

Liu Zhijian listened and nodded silently.

Such a complex game of chess is a headache just to think about.

Fishing is better; it's easy and doesn't require much brainpower.

Seeing Liu Zhijian's silence, Dong Linyuan sensed trouble.

I'm the senior and the host, and I've already taken the initiative to start the conversation, but this fisherman doesn't know how to respond, and has actually killed the conversation.

The sect leader of Supreme Mystery Mountain is the same. How can he only look at the Manifestation Fate when selecting his eldest disciple, without examining his shrewdness, political acumen, and quick wit? This person is so taciturn, lacks social skills, and has a bad habit of fishing. How can he possibly lead Supreme Mystery Mountain in the future?!

Helpless, Dong Linyuan could only continue, "Actually, the reason Azure Cloud Sect offered its assistance was only because Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain promised that it would not allow any of the existing wood-type [Foundation Establishment] spiritual materials on the mountain that could heal injuries and prolong life to leave the area within ten years."

Liu Zhijian was quite surprised and puzzled, saying, "This doesn't make sense. Shouldn't the Azure Cloud Sect, who cultivates wood magic, be seeking a wood-attribute [Foundation Establishment] spiritual object?"

"Hehe, that's true in theory." Dong Linyuan was much more satisfied with Liu Zhijian and patiently explained, "However, a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Azure Cloud Sect is seriously injured and doesn't have a wood-attribute Foundation Establishment spiritual item. He probably won't live past ten years."

Liu Zhijian doubted that he had misheard.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Azure Cloud Sect is critically injured and on the verge of death. The Azure Cloud Sect has suffered heavy losses, and all they can do is try to control the flow of the wood-attribute Foundation Establishment spiritual energy from Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain, which is believed to heal and prolong life.

Liu Zhijian wasn't stupid, but he really didn't want to waste his energy on these things. He sighed and said, "That seriously injured Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Azure Cloud Sect probably isn't surnamed Qiao."

"That's right." Dong Linyuan breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, "The Azure Cloud Sect Leader is New Method Foundation Establishment, and shares the same surname as Fellow Daoist Qiao. As for that severely injured Foundation Establishment cultivator, his surname is Lin."

"I see." Liu Zhijian sighed even more upon hearing this, "Azure Cloud Sect has clearly been used as a pawn. If something truly goes wrong, they'll probably be the first to perish. When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. Even at this critical juncture, they still can't forget about internal strife?!"

"What are these people thinking? It's truly baffling."

Dong Linyuan listened and looked at Liu Zhijian carefully. Sensing that his words were sincere and not insincere, he remained silent for a moment before saying, "Cultivating immortality is like standing on a precipice, where thousands vie for a path."

"Win or die."

"It has always been this way."

"The New Method plunders heaven and earth, using all things in the world as its resources; naturally, we must fight for it even more!"

Even knowing that death is imminent, it doesn't stop us from fighting today.

"Not only cultivators, but all things must contend."

"The New Method won the struggle, and that's why it became the true Dharma for cultivation in the Central Continent."

"The Old Method lost the battle, so they can only cower on the Southern Reach, barely clinging to life."

"You must cultivate yourself, but you will also have to contend with others; ultimately, there's no escaping it."

After listening attentively for a moment, Liu Zhijian smiled and shook his head firmly, "No! I won't compete with them!"

"I cultivate immortality for two reasons: first, to fulfill a childhood dream, and second, to make fishing easier; I never intended to attain immortality."

"If that's the case, why should I compete with others?"

Dong Linyuan hadn't expected the topic to veer off to this point, but a surge of anger stirred within him, and he couldn't help but argue, "Young friend, you've underestimated the wickedness of human nature and the complexities of the world."

"Many times, it's not that you can choose not to compete just because you don't want to."

"Just tell them you are the eldest disciple of Supreme Mystery Mountain, and that you will be in charge of the sect in the future."

"But I heard that you have a junior sister who comes from the Hua Household Rejuvenation Valley [Yi Wood], and is favored by the Xue Household patriarch of Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain."

"I know that your cultivation levels are currently low, but you still have some camaraderie among your fellow disciples."

"But what if she wants to compete for the position of sect leader in the future?!"

"If she wants to be the sect leader, and Master is willing, I naturally have no objection." Liu Zhijian said somewhat bewilderedly, "I never intended to be the sect leader in the first place."

Dong Linyuan paused, speechless for a moment, and couldn't help but scrutinize Liu Zhijian, trying to find any trace of insincerity in his words.

Liu Zhijian felt a little uncomfortable under their gaze and quickly added, "That being said, I also have my bottom line: you can't take my life, harm my loved ones, or interfere with my fishing."

"Besides these, power, fame, wealth, Law Treasure, and spiritual objects are all merely external possessions."

"If someone else wants it, they can take it."

Dong Linyuan remained silent for a long time, unable to discern the truth from falsehood, and then asked directly, "You really think so?!"

"Haha, please excuse my rudeness, senior." Liu Zhijian was a little embarrassed and awkwardly explained, "It's just that I've never been good at competing with others since I was a child, and I really can't win against them."

"Later I figured it out, and I simply stopped arguing with others."

"Take fishing for example, I never go to popular fishing spots and compete with others for fishing positions, nor do I participate in competitions and compete with others for rankings."

"I only fish in secluded places where I don't have to compete with others. Even if I'm alone and catch nothing for half a month, I can still enjoy myself."

Dong Linyuan believed it now, and felt a strange tremor in his heart.

As the Tao Te Ching says, water benefits all things without striving.

He who does not contend, none in the world can contend with him.

Although this person's cultivation level is not high and he doesn't seem to have much Dao wisdom, he has already grasped some of the True Intention [Water Virtue].

That sect leader of Supreme Mystery Mountain indeed has some insight and magnanimity.

Faced with such a temperament, all the scheming, power struggles, and quick wit, even the position of sect leader and the continuation of the lineage, are truly insignificant.

It's just a pity that they had to build the [Kan Water] water feature!

That is something that belongs to the dragon, and it is something that no one else is allowed to covet.

"Fellow Daoist's temperament is truly admirable; I am ashamed to admit my inferiority," Dong Linyuan sincerely praised, then rose and invited, "Since you are so enthusiastic about fishing, why not take a look at the spirit fish I keep? They are all ferocious creatures rarely seen elsewhere!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhijian nodded repeatedly, overjoyed, and blurted out, "I dare not ask, it is indeed my wish!"