Free Web NovelChapter 79: Chapter 52: Chen Zongyu, Zhong Shenxiu
"Chen Zongyu," Xuzhuang said calmly. "This is the first time we’ve met, isn’t it?"
Seeing the two begin to converse, Dongguo Yi tactfully took two steps back and disappeared around a bend in the cave.
"That’s right." Chen Zongyu let out a raspy chuckle. Though his voice was hoarse, his tone held no trace of pain. He replied faintly, "I didn’t expect you to come see me. What is it? Have you come to laugh at my misfortune?"
Xuzhuang didn’t answer. He sized up Chen Zongyu and said, "You’re in a much more wretched state than I imagined."
Chen Zongyu had long since lost his human form. His flesh and blood had melted like mud, clinging precariously to his body. White bone was visible everywhere, and an occasional glimmer of spiritual light flashed, struggling to slow the ebbing of his life force.
Yet his tone remained unruffled. He said faintly, "I grew accustomed to being wretched long ago. What does a mere physical shell matter?"
"Oh?" Xuzhuang said. "Then why not guide that Outer Celestial Demon Lord into this realm? After all, it’s no great loss to cast aside your physical shell."
"Hahahaha." Chen Zongyu laughed aloud. "The very reason I, Chen Zongyu, have fallen to this state is because of those demonic fiends. If I must die, I will die. Why would I give up my body to aid my demonic enemies?"
"Besides, what would happen even if I did guide that Demon Lord here? This is the Tai Su Orthodox Sect. What kind of trouble could it possibly stir up? To do something so pointless would only make me, Chen Zongyu, look pathetic."
"It seems that hearing is one thing, but seeing is another," Xuzhuang said faintly. "From what I see, Senior Brother, you are not as contemptible as the rumors claim."
"Oh..." Hearing Xuzhuang address him as Senior Brother, Chen Zongyu chuckled again, a hoarse sound. He looked up, studying Xuzhuang closely, and said in surprise, "Xuzhuang, I can see that your spiritual consciousness is pure... It seems that Outer Celestial Demon Lord didn’t cause you any trouble at all."
Xuzhuang said, "What’s the matter? Does being called ’Senior Brother’ make you feel your actions were pointless?"
"My life has been meaningless for a long time. My actions were merely a way to repay my small debt of affection to Chen Lian before I die." Chen Zongyu said dismissively, "Alright, Xuzhuang. You didn’t come here today just to look at my miserable state, did you?"
Xuzhuang said faintly, "I originally had many questions, but now it seems there’s not much point."
He had assumed Chen Zongyu must have been implanted with a demon seed, or that the Outer Celestial Demon Lord had even seized his body, but it now seemed that wasn’t the case.
Chen Zongyu rasped, "Feel free to ask whatever you want. Whether I answer or not, however, will depend on my mood."
Xuzhuang snorted lightly and asked, "What is the origin of the Great Freedom Profound Monarch Six Marvelous Jade Muddy Heavenly Son?"
Chen Zongyu was not surprised. He answered, "I knew you would ask that. But what I know may not be much more than what you do. The Great Freedom Profound Monarch Six Marvelous Jade Muddy Heavenly Son should be a Demon Lord from outside the Profound Yellow Realm, a Formless Celestial Demon who achieved the Dao. It has been coveting the Profound Yellow Realm for a very long time."
Xuzhuang frowned. "For an Outer Celestial Demon Lord like that to be spying on our realm, why hasn’t a Primordial Spirit True Man taken action to eliminate it?"
Chen Zongyu laughed. "How would I know the thoughts of a Primordial Spirit True Man? Why don’t you just go and ask Master Yuanhua directly?"
Xuzhuang didn’t get angry, saying faintly, "I will give your suggestion, Senior Brother, some serious consideration. I have one last question, and then I will trouble you no longer."
Chen Zongyu said indifferently, "Go on and ask."
Xuzhuang asked, "I heard that your Golden Core was shattered by Zhong Shenxiu while he was still a Refining Cultivator. Is that Zhong Shenxiu truly so formidable?"
Hearing this question, Chen Zongyu was suddenly stunned. Then he burst into uncontrollable laughter. It was a long while before he stopped, almost too weak to speak. He forced out the words, "Xuzhuang, do you want to cross swords with Zhong Shenxiu too?"
"Fine, I’ll tell you the truth," Chen Zongyu said in a low voice. "I lost to Zhong Shenxiu. Whether I blame it on the demonic interference, on carelessness, or on arrogance, the fact remains that Zhong Shenxiu possesses supreme talent to be able to cause such trouble for a Top-grade Golden Core as a mere Refining Cultivator."
Xuzhuang’s expression hardened as he listened intently. Chen Zongyu continued, "I’m telling you, when Zhong Shenxiu was a Refining Cultivator, his Taoist skills had already reached the Fourth Realm, and some had even reached the Fifth Realm! Do you understand how formidable he is now?"
"What?" Xuzhuang was slightly shaken.
The cultivation of Taoist techniques is divided into the Nine Realms. There’s no strict rule that a certain realm of technique can only be mastered by a cultivator of a corresponding cultivation stage. However, despite this, the higher one goes in cultivating a Taoist technique, the more difficult it becomes.
How could the comprehension and wisdom of a Refining Cultivator possibly be equal to that of a Golden Core Cultivator?
For an ordinary Taoist technique, a typical Refining Cultivator would need at least several decades of dedicated practice to reach the Fourth Realm. But for a Golden Core Cultivator, it might only take a few years, or even a few months.
Furthermore, there is the difference in lifespan between a Golden Core Cultivator and a Refining Cultivator. How could the same amount of time hold the same meaning for both?
All these factors combined create the ’normal situation’ where only cultivators who have reached the Golden Core Realm, and a very small number of Refining Cultivators who have given up hope of forming a Golden Core, would ever practice Fourth-rank Taoist Skills.
If that’s the case for Fourth-rank Taoist Skills, what about Fifth-rank Taoist Techniques? Could an ordinary Refining Cultivator even reach the Fifth Realm in a single technique in their entire lifetime? Xuzhuang, at least, had never heard of such a thing.
As far as Xuzhuang knew, only a few decades had passed between Zhong Shenxiu successfully completing his Refining stage and forming a Top-grade Golden Core. If, in addition to his cultivation, he had also raised his Taoist skills to the Fourth Realm and even possessed a Fifth-rank Taoist Technique, what terrifying talent and comprehension did that imply?
And now that he had achieved a Top-grade Golden Core, and perhaps even perfected it, what realm had his Divine Techniques reached?
Xuzhuang’s estimation of Zhong Shenxiu was already high enough, but the reality of Zhong Shenxiu’s formidability was likely even beyond his expectations.
Xuzhuang gathered his thoughts, let out a long breath, and clasped his hands. "I understand now. Thank you for telling me, Senior Brother."
Chen Zongyu gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Xuzhuang was silent for a moment, then said, "Senior Brother, in this Suffering Realm, you probably won’t last another two or three months."
"That’s right," Chen Zongyu said.
"There is great terror in the space between life and death," Xuzhuang sighed. "Today, Senior Brother, you can still face death as if it were nothing. But what about tomorrow? The day after?"
Chen Zongyu laughed loudly. "Xuzhuang, I caused you no small amount of harm. Your heart won’t be at peace until I’m dead. Go on, do it!"
Xuzhuang shook his head. "I won’t do that. However, I can lend you a hand, Senior Brother."
"What...?"
Xuzhuang reached into his sleeve and took out the Ming Venerable’s Image Pendant. With a slight shake, a ray of clear light shone upon Chen Zongyu, who immediately shuddered.
"This item can help you fend off demonic interference, Senior Brother. It should be effective for three months."
Of course, this also eliminated any possibility of Chen Zongyu being implanted with a demon seed by the Outer Celestial Demon Lord, or having his body seized.
Xuzhuang said faintly, "Please maintain today’s state of mind until the moment of your death, Senior Brother."
"HAHAHAHAHA! ...Haha... HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Chen Zongyu laughed manically, his voice raw. "So... so that’s how it is... Good! Xuzhuang, I owe you a debt..."
Chen Zongyu’s broken voice still echoed from the cave, but Xuzhuang couldn’t be bothered to listen anymore. He walked out of the cavern in just a few steps. Seeing him emerge, Dongguo Yi clasped his hands and said, "Senior Brother, have you finished your business?"
Xuzhuang nodded slightly and replied, "Junior Brother, we can leave this realm now."
"Excellent." Dongguo Yi said. He reached out his hand, produced the Clear Light Talisman Book, and with a slight shake, it transformed into a misty radiance that enveloped them both. It shot up into the sky, flew to a hidden spot, and they leaped outward.
Once again, they felt the sensation of breaking the surface of water. The two of them leaped out of a pool, having returned to Suffering Realm Mountain.
Xuzhuang looked up and saw a patch of clear, blue sky through the cave entrance. He sighed softly and clasped his hands toward Dongguo Yi. "Junior Brother, I must thank you for your great help on this trip. Is there anything else you need me to do?"
Dongguo Yi smiled. "Not at all, not at all. There’s no need to trouble you, Senior Brother. I will arrange everything for you."
Xuzhuang said, "I will not forget your kindness, Junior Brother. You should visit me on Chongyun Peak often when you have the time."
Dongguo Yi laughed heartily. "Just hearing you say that, Senior Brother, is enough for me!"
Xuzhuang clasped his hands in another salute and said, "Then I will take my leave."
Dongguo Yi extended a hand in a guiding gesture and said, "Please."
Xuzhuang nodded. In no mood to ride the wind, he shot up from the ground, transforming into a streak of light that shot out of the cave mouth in an instant, heading straight for the heavens.
