Free Web NovelChapter 1873: Chapter 1858: Staying True to Oneself
"May there be no more fanatics in this world!"
Lud Li stood with his hands behind his back before Ye Zhen, softly reciting this line. Though these words came from Lud Li’s mouth, they carried a completely different sense of insight.
"I don’t know how much time has passed, but finally someone has comprehended this phrase and awakened the remnant soul of this old man."
"Since you’ve obtained the Mirage Dragon Pearl, little friend, you should not be unfamiliar with this old man." Lud Li looked at Ye Zhen.
"Senior Lud, can you be awakened just by reciting ’May there be no more fanatics in this world’?" Ye Zhen replied with a question instead.
Lud Li slowly shook his head, "It’s not that simple. The host must not only recite this phrase, but their state of mind and tone must resonate with the same frequency as this old man’s to trigger the secret technique within the Mirage Dragon Pearl and awaken this old man’s remnant soul."
"In other words, only the host of the Mirage Dragon Pearl, who thoroughly comprehends this phrase and possesses a similar mindset to this old man, can awaken the remnant soul.
If they haven’t comprehended it, even reciting it a thousand times is of no use."
Lud Li explained very clearly, and Ye Zhen understood, but from Lud Li’s explanation, Ye Zhen heard another key term—host.
Lud Li said Ye Zhen is merely the host of the Mirage Dragon Pearl.
A host is merely the keeper of the Mirage Dragon Pearl, and in truth, in Lud Li’s words, Ye Zhen is not the master of the Mirage Dragon Pearl.
The sage-like Lud Li’s eyes seemed to see through everything, and the moment the question of the host arose in Ye Zhen’s mind, Lud Li immediately addressed it.
"That’s right, as of now, little friend is only the host of the Mirage Dragon Pearl, not its true master! But soon, you will be."
"Senior Lud, what do you mean?" Ye Zhen seemed to understand.
"Since you have comprehended this old man’s grand aspiration and awakened his remnant soul, as long as you’re willing, this old man can accept you as a closed-door disciple and make you the true master of the Mirage Dragon Pearl." Lud Li said.
Ye Zhen was no longer the naive young man he once was.
If he’d heard this ten years ago, Ye Zhen might have immediately bowed down, but now, Ye Zhen was thinking about other matters.
"Senior Lud, if I become your disciple, then I must complete this unfinished aspiration of yours, correct?"
"May there be no more fanatics in this world," it’s a noble aspiration, Ye Zhen has comprehended and understood Lud Li’s compassionate heart.
But comprehending and understanding doesn’t mean Ye Zhen has to carry it out.
Only by comprehending and understanding the aspiration ’May there be no more fanatics in this world,’ does Ye Zhen realize how difficult it is.
This means Ye Zhen might have to oppose the world’s most powerful Divine Kings and God Monarchs, and many of the Creation Gods.
For it is those who view mortals as ants, the Creation Gods, who are the instigators of many of this world’s sufferings.
Ye Zhen does not wish to become a saint.
As for the Sha Clan people, Ye Zhen doesn’t mind displaying divine miracles and using his methods to improve their living conditions, but only within his capabilities.
In short, Ye Zhen neither wants nor is willing to be a saint!
In Ye Zhen’s view, Lud Li, who could set forth such a grand aspiration, has a bit of a saint-like mindset.
"How could that be?"
"The matter that even this old man couldn’t accomplish, resulting in his demise, how can I force you to accomplish?" Lud Li laughed bitterly.
"Those able to comprehend this phrase and achieve this old man’s state of mind are surely not evildoers. This old man neither wishes nor demands you to be a saint, this old man only hopes that as you walk among All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds, you will remain true to your heart." Lud Li said slowly.
"True to my heart?"
Slowly savoring and pondering these four words, Ye Zhen nodded slowly, "This, I can do."
Then, Ye Zhen’s tone changed, "When I initially acquired the Mirage Dragon Pearl, I witnessed the scene of your demise, those people targeted you because of the Mirage Dragon Pearl.
However, you just mentioned that your demise was because of this grand aspiration?" This was another piece of information Ye Zhen received from Lud Li’s earlier words.
"Do you think a mere dead object like the Mirage Dragon Pearl could cause those beings to be beyond redemption?"
A trace of sarcasm appeared on Lud Li’s face, "Those people always need a grand excuse for their actions, wanting to be both the prostitute and the moral beacon!"
This latter half of the sentence left Ye Zhen dumbfounded, Ye Zhen did not expect that a sage-like being like Lud Li would resort to cursing?
"This old man once pursued this grand aspiration, but it touched their sore spots, leading them to act so crazily!"
"Crazy actions?" Now, Ye Zhen was full of curiosity and perplexity.
But Lud Li only smiled bitterly, "Honestly, this old man is quite fond of inquisitive and exploring disciples like this.
However, this old man’s remnant soul doesn’t have much time left.
The sudden happenings back then forced this old man to make some arrangements in a flash, leaving behind this remnant soul, unable to use other means, so even if this old man wants to explain, there’s no opportunity."
"Alright, give a few bows to this old man and become my disciple, so this lineage of mine can continue," Lud Li said.
Upon hearing about becoming a disciple, Ye Zhen was initially somewhat hesitant.
After all, becoming Lud Li’s disciple meant that Ye Zhen would be opposing those terrifying beings who had encircled Lud Li back in the day, which made Ye Zhen a bit uncertain.
But then Ye Zhen reconsidered. Could he do without the Mirage Dragon Pearl?
Even without the Mirage Dragon Pearl, Ye Zhen was already at odds with the Heavenly Temple.
From the earlier anomaly when the Mirage Dragon Pearl encountered the Sun and Moon Divine Monarch’s statue, Ye Zhen understood that at least one of those beings who besieged Lud Li had a connection with the Heavenly Temple.
Moreover, everything Ye Zhen had now was truly granted by the Mirage Dragon Pearl.
Even if it was to repay a debt of gratitude, Ye Zhen had to honor his teacher today.
Otherwise, Ye Zhen would be unable to reconcile with himself.
Within the Mirage Dragon Pearl, even though Ye Zhen was merely formed by a divine sense, he still adjusted his attire, tidied up, and then reverently bowed towards Lud Li, like a mountain crumbling or a column bending.
With great respect, he knocked three times, and Lud Li solemnly accepted Ye Zhen’s bow.
"Due to time constraints, the initiation ceremony will be simple. However, from this moment onward, you are my ninth direct disciple.
This old man had previously calculated that I could take on nine direct disciples in my lifetime, but even until I fell, I had only taken eight, and I thought I had miscalculated.
Unexpectedly, this ninth direct disciple was destined to be you."
At this point, Lud Li pondered for a moment, "You have eight senior brothers. Each one taken as my disciple is exceptional, a phoenix among men, gifted and brilliant.
But after my demise, those traitors will never spare them. I don’t know how many of those eight will survive, or if you will ever meet them in the future.
However, if you encounter them, you must not trust them blindly, be prudent and vigilant," Lud Li advised.
Ye Zhen was somewhat surprised upon hearing this, "Master, why is this?"
"Ah..."
Lud Li sighed deeply, a bitter expression appearing on his face, "When I was trapped back then, it was because my hideout was leaked, allowing them to set up numerous powerful traps ahead of time, leading to my demise.
Only my eight direct disciples knew where I was. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Master means that among the eight senior brothers, there’s a traitor?" Ye Zhen asked.
Lud Li nodded, "At least one, and not more than two! This is the most haunting thing for me.
In the past, I devoted myself to each direct disciple, never expecting their betrayal. If there are no surprises, that traitor should still be alive.
I’ve no other demands for you, just this.
If you gain strength in the future and discover the traitor, you can take their life to cleanse the school and honor me as well."
"As long as I discover and have the capability, I will surely do it," Ye Zhen readily agreed to Lud Li’s rather lenient request.
"Good, now that the trivial matters are dealt with, let’s move on to the matter of inheritance," Lud Li continued.
"In my life, I learned an immense range of things; saying I encompassed the cosmos is not an exaggeration. Truly imparting it all to you would take centuries.
Furthermore, before my fall, this Mirage Dragon Pearl carries the essence of my life’s work. Understanding the true usage of the Mirage Dragon Pearl will grant you more than my vast array of secret techniques.
You can forge your own unique path of strength."
At this point, Lud Li smiled bitterly, "The critical situation back then only allowed creating a fragile remnant soul to give brief instructions, leaving me unable to record or impart all my secret techniques through divine records or transmission."
As these words concluded, Lud Li’s figure suddenly fluctuated, becoming surreal.
"This wisp of remnant soul is nearing dispersion! Remember, from now on, you are the second-generation Sect Leader of the Mystical Mechanism Daoist School. If you have the opportunity and capability, rebuild the Mystical Mechanism Daoist School.
If not, so be it..."
The word ’be it’ had just left his lips when Lud Li’s remnant soul began violently fluctuating, and amidst these tremors, it started disintegrating.
Ye Zhen became anxious. Wasn’t he supposed to be given the true usage of the Mirage Dragon Pearl? How could it dissipate without saying anything?
In that instant, a finger shot out from Lud Li’s disintegrating remnant soul, striking Ye Zhen’s forehead before breaking apart.
A stream of information, tens of thousands of characters long, surged into Ye Zhen’s mind.
"This is the only thing this remnant soul of your master can give, including the real usage of the Mirage Dragon Pearl.
Ye Zhen, cherish it. Your master ... is gone!"
As the words faded, Lud Li’s remnant soul before Ye Zhen completely shattered, leaving no trace, and at that moment, the Mirage Dragon Pearl in Ye Zhen’s chest suddenly started to throb.
