Free Web NovelChapter 52: Chapter 52: An Immortal King’s Sermon Is Nothing More Than This (Part 2)
Chapter 52: Even an Immortal King Lecturing on the Sutras Would Be Nothing More Than This (Part 2)
The Great Elder’s words were powerful and resonant, his presence overwhelming. This was no longer a tone of inquiry; once these words were spoken, there was no room for negotiation. The elders had no choice but to agree.
The Great Elder’s aggressive and domineering aura instantly sent a tremor through the hearts of Elder Wu and the others. Even Cao Xiong’s expression couldn’t help but change!
Over the past two or three years, the four elders’ support for the Great Elder had begun to waver. However, his sudden, overwhelming presence today sent another shock through their hearts. It was as if the Chief Disciple of old had returned. In those days, the Great Elder had been the one to preside over the Xiyan Ancient Sect’s affairs, and back then, he had always carried this same intimidating aura.
Cao Xiong’s expression soured. For years, his ambition for the Sect Leader position had never waned. The Great Elder’s despondency, decline, and senility had led Cao Xiong to stop taking him seriously. After all, he didn’t believe he was any weaker than the Great Elder! If they were to contend for the Sect Leader’s seat again, the Great Elder would be no match for him.
But now, the Great Elder’s sudden outburst made Cao Xiong realize once more that the Great Elder was still a pillar of the Xiyan Ancient Sect!
"If Senior Brother believes Li Qiye is worth cultivating, then I support Senior Brother’s decision." In the end, the first to state his position was Elder Sun, Guardian Mo’s master.
The Third Elder pondered for a moment before also stating his position, "If Senior Brother is truly determined to cultivate Li Qiye, I can only hope he does not disappoint Senior Brother’s painstaking efforts." His words were undoubtedly an agreement with the Great Elder’s decision.
The Fifth Elder was silent for a moment as well, then said, "This time, I agree with Senior Brother’s decision."
Just like that, the four elders all agreed and passed the resolution. This decision wasn’t passed on Li Qiye’s merit, but because of the Great Elder. The four elders vaguely felt that the Great Elder’s ambition had not yet died! They hoped he could once again shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Xiyan Ancient Sect.
Just moments ago, Cao Xiong had been running numerous little schemes in his mind, plotting how to prevent Li Qiye from obtaining the Emperor’s Body Ointment. However, this sudden reversal meant none of his carefully laid plans could be put into action, leaving him stunned and utterly unwilling to accept the outcome.
In the Washing Stone Valley, Li Qiye had ruthlessly beaten the three hundred disciples for more than ten days, significantly correcting the flaws in their cultivation techniques.
By now, the three hundred disciples of the Washing Stone Valley were completely convinced of Li Qiye’s abilities. Even the proud and arrogant Luo Fenghua was utterly won over.
The timid, wide-eyed Xu Pei had become the "senior sister" to these three hundred disciples. Xu Pei was clearly much older than Li Qiye, but she was timid and lacked her own opinions. During these ten-plus days of hellish, intensive training, Li Qiye had intentionally honed Xu Pei, not just by correcting the flaws in her techniques, but also by tempering her Dao Heart to build her confidence.
In the blink of an eye, half a month flew by. On this day, Li Qiye ascended the high platform. In fact, he did not come alone. The one accompanying him was no longer Nan Huairun, but Li Shuangyan.
This wasn’t the first time Li Shuangyan had accompanied Li Qiye to the Washing Stone Valley. When she first appeared, it had caused quite a stir among the three hundred disciples. After all, for these disciples who had yet to be formally initiated, a Divine Maiden like Li Shuangyan was an existence they could only look up to from afar.
Successor of the Nine Saints Demon Gate, Princess of the Ancient Ox Territory, a Heavenly Pride Girl, a cultivation genius—any one of these titles was enough to stun these disciples. To them, Li Shuangyan was an existence far, far above them.
However, under Li Qiye’s "polishing," Li Shuangyan had recently started accompanying him to the Washing Stone Valley more often, allowing the three hundred disciples to gradually grow accustomed to her presence.
Li Shuangyan was also extremely curious about Li Qiye’s crude and brutal method of teaching. But over the past few days, seeing him point out the flaws and deficiencies in the disciples’ techniques with pinpoint accuracy had left her inwardly shaken!
She could tell that the Snake-Beating Staff was a magical treasure, but that alone wasn’t enough for Li Qiye to so accurately identify the flaws in their techniques. Without a doubt, Li Qiye had already grasped the true profound mysteries of these cultivation techniques and their moves.
Although the cultivation techniques the Washing Stone Valley disciples practiced were not profound, supreme techniques, how could it be easy to grasp the profound mysteries of more than a dozen of them and master their true mystical meaning? What’s more, many of the Xiyan Ancient Sect’s basic cultivation techniques and treasure techniques came from the hands of the Mingren Immortal Emperor. The simpler a technique appeared, the more grand and vast it truly was, making it even harder to grasp its true mystical meaning.
There was no doubt about it. It was now clear that Li Qiye, who had never even practiced these techniques, had nevertheless grasped their true mystical meaning! For something like this to happen to a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy with a Mortal Body, Mortal Wheel, and Mortal Fate was simply unbelievable!
Li Qiye ascended the high platform, looked at the disciples, and announced, "Today’s lesson will be an explanation of the basic mystical meaning of the ’Biluo Heart Method.’ This is one of the most fundamental heart techniques of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, and about a third of you have practiced it. Any disciples who have not practiced this technique are free to not listen."
"Senior Brother, is... isn’t today’s lesson supposed to be another beating?" As the one now in charge of the three hundred disciples, Xu Pei couldn’t help but blurt this out upon hearing Li Qiye’s announcement.
Li Qiye looked at Xu Pei with a wide grin and said, "What’s this? Has our Junior Sister become addicted to being beaten? Does it feel wrong if you don’t get hit for a day?"
"No, no, that’s not it..." Li Qiye’s words instantly made Xu Pei’s face flush red, and she hastily shook her head in denial.
In truth, Li Qiye’s sudden decision to lecture surprised all the other disciples as well. He had been ruthlessly beating them for over ten days, and they had almost grown numb to the feeling of pain.
However, when Li Qiye began to speak, not one of the three hundred disciples present left. Instead, they all listened with rapt attention. By now, these three hundred disciples were thoroughly convinced of his abilities. If Li Qiye could point out the flaws in their techniques, then the mystical meanings he was about to explain certainly wouldn’t be subpar.
The disciples of the Washing Stone Valley had all forgotten the fact that Li Qiye had entered the sect later than them, had worse aptitude than them, and was younger than them. Unconsciously, Li Qiye had already become their Senior Brother, the Chief Disciple of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, in their hearts.
However, the moment Li Qiye began his lecture, all the disciples were instantly engrossed, lost in his words for a long time.
Forget the three hundred disciples—even the renowned genius beside him, Li Shuangyan, was listening with great interest, finding it difficult to return to her senses for a long while.
The Biluo Heart Method was the most basic and ordinary heart technique of the Xiyan Ancient Sect. It could connect to Longevity Techniques and Life Techniques, belonging to the category of All-Purpose Techniques. This technique was practiced by many within the sect. In fact, it wasn’t considered any kind of secret; even an average disciple could take it out and pass it around. It was simply that common—a completely ordinary entry-level technique.
In the Great Middle Realm, techniques of this kind were as common as ox hair. Entry-level disciples of other cultivator sects wouldn’t even give them a second glance.
But today, as Li Qiye expounded upon this most rudimentary of entry-level techniques, it was as if heavenly flowers were raining down and golden springs were surging from the earth. He spoke eloquently, moving from simplicity to complexity, from the shallow to the profound. The mystical meanings that came from his mouth left his audience utterly mesmerized.
If anyone was still clear-headed enough, they couldn’t help but wonder, ’Is this really just a rudimentary entry-level technique?’ Under Li Qiye’s interpretation, the mystical meaning of the "Biluo Heart Method" had transformed into a master syllabus for the path of cultivation!
In reality, the "Biluo Heart Method" truly was a master syllabus for beginning cultivation. Though the technique was simple and unrefined, it contained the culmination of the Human Race’s painstaking explorations along the long road of the Great Dao.
This technique was passed down from the distant Wilderness Era. In that age, the Ten Thousand Races were all fumbling their way along the Great Dao. One could say that the "Biluo Heart Method" was one of the many prototype techniques with which the Elder Sages of the Human Race first began their cultivation. Although crude, it was an excellent entry-level technique. It was neutral and balanced, making it perfectly suited for laying a solid foundation.
Back in the day, when Li Qiye and the Mingren Immortal Emperor founded the Xiyan Ancient Sect, they had taught this heart technique to many disciples. However, after the Xiyan Ancient Sect came to possess Emperor Techniques and Emperor’s Secret Techniques, not many disciples were willing to learn such a basic technique.
Nowadays in the Xiyan Ancient Sect, only those disciples who had not yet formally joined the sect were willing to learn this technique! And in reality, that was only because they had no other choice.
When Li Qiye finished explaining this mystical meaning, many disciples remained lost in thought for a long time. Li Shuangyan was the first to snap back to reality, and when she did, she couldn’t help but shudder!
Li Shuangyan stared at Li Qiye in disbelief. The Biluo Heart Method, a heart technique so ordinary it couldn’t be more ordinary—she had glanced through it a few times herself. For a genius like her, she only needed to read such a basic, entry-level heart method once to fully comprehend its mystical meaning.
But now, after hearing Li Qiye’s explanation, she instantly felt how shallow her own understanding of this heart technique had been. Under his interpretation, this crude, entry-level technique had become a master syllabus for starting cultivation.
Such mystical meaning, such comprehension... it was simply inconceivable. Even her master, the Sun Demon Emperor, probably couldn’t explain such profound mysteries.
Moreover, the mystical meaning Li Qiye described wasn’t forced or contrived. The way he spoke of the heart technique’s meaning, it was as if he were already a Grandmaster of it.
How could Li Shuangyan know that after reading the "Biluo Heart Method," Li Qiye had simply recovered his memories of it? The mystical meaning of this heart technique was not just Li Qiye’s own comprehension from generations of insight, but also the crystallization of the painstaking efforts of countless Human Race ancestors from the Wilderness Era. Li Qiye had merely synthesized the mystical meanings of this technique.
In those days, this technique had been considered one of the most important entry-level techniques of the Xiyan Ancient Sect. Several of the most powerful Divine Generals under the Mingren Immortal Emperor had once practiced it.
It was only later, after the Mingren Immortal Emperor shouldered the Celestial Mandate and the Xiyan Ancient Sect came to possess Emperor Techniques, that future generations of disciples disdained to practice this heart technique any longer.
