Chapter 539: Chapter 511: Hard to Change the Marrow Deep Within
In less than a day, the power of “The Ode to the Conjunction of Heaven and Earth” seemed to have become as intrinsic as if born with it, deeply ingrained into the bone marrow.
Completely blended with his own cultivation power, it was now difficult to distinguish between the two.
Just like his original cultivation method, if forcibly discarded, a lengthy drop in the cultivation realm would be the least of the issues. There was a great chance that it would hurt the Tao Foundation, clearing the future path for cultivation.
“This…” Li Fan sat cross-legged on the ground after numerous attempts, eventually giving up with a dispirited look on his face.
Sister Zhao also frowned slightly, “Mystic Sky Sect is indeed strange. It seems we cannot easily get rid of it at the moment.”
It is said that the Supreme Sect’s “Supreme Primordial Scripture” allows cultivators to freely change their cultivation methods. If they have the chance to observe it, they might be able to discard “The Ode to the Conjunction of Heaven and Earth”.
“The Supreme Primordial Scripture?” Li Fan frowned slightly. Although he had never heard of this method, for some reason he had a vague sense of familiarity with it.
Sister Zhao spoke to herself and then shook her head to give up this unrealistic illusion. “It’s a pity, just like our Great Tao Sudra, they are all secret teachings of the sect and are not spread out.”
“Only the headmaster and his direct lineage in our sect can practice it, let alone outsiders like us.”
Seeing sister Zhao at a loss, Li Fan drew her into his arms and gently comforted her, “Things have come to this point, we can only go with the flow.”
“Mystic Sky Sect has long been extinct, ‘The Ode to the Conjunction of Heaven and Earth’ is just a method of dual cultivation. I think seniors in the sect might not necessarily notice it.”
Although sister Zhao nodded in agreement, the worry in her eyes was hard to dispel.
The two of them took a half-month rest in the secret chamber of the ruins. During this period, they consolidated their realm completely with the help of the power of dual cultivation.
Then they set out to return to the Great Taoist Sect.
Before leaving, sister Zhao used her sword light to completely destroy the ruins here.
When they returned to the mountain gate, the shattered life lamp of Qin Shou had already caused a great stir.
After discussing in private, sister Zhao and Li Fan felt that this matter could not be concealed.
They simply went to see their master together and explained the matter of Qin Shou quietly following them and plotting against them, and finally being killed by them.
But they kept some details hidden and did not mention the matter of the Mystic Sky Sect.
The only explanation was that they had made a breakthrough on the brink of life and death, and this was what had allowed them to successfully counter-kill.
Zhang Wangshuang seemed to have known it all along, and there was not much surprise.
She sentenced both of them to ten years of confinement and kept them in protective custody in the back mountain.
Time flowed like water and ten years passed in the blink of an eye.
The ups and downs of the Great Taoist Sect had nothing to do with the two people confined indoors now.
At first, they were a bit apprehensive about cultivating the Dual Cultivation Method within the sect.
But by the third year, they were both stuck at a bottleneck. So they plucked up their courage and began to practice “The Ode to the Conjunction of Heaven and Earth” again.
Maybe it was because of the effect after a long drought, or perhaps it was because their cultivation had improved, the effect of this dual cultivation was even better than three years ago.
Sister Zhao had broken through to the Nascent Soul Mid Stage, and Li Fan’s realm had also reached the Mid Stage Golden Core.
The speed of cultivation was so fast that it made them secretly amazed.
The worry in their hearts also inevitably emerged.
They knew that occasional breakthroughs could be explained by chance. But if they kept improving at this rapid pace, which was beyond what their talents could explain, it would definitely arouse suspicion.
If it was discovered that they were carrying the Mystic Sky Sect’s forbidden methods, the outcome would be extremely miserable. Being abandoned by the sect would probably be the lightest punishment.
After a difficult discussion, they decided not to engage in dual cultivation unless necessary.
Although the plan was good, reality…
Five years passed, and the peculiar bottleneck appeared in their bodies again.
No matter how they cultivated, they could not make any progress.
The two of them persisted in their attempts for an entire year.
For a whole year, they were restless, with all their energy focused on cultivation.
They tried to break through the bottleneck with their own efforts.
But all their efforts were in vain.
The frustration of not progressing no matter how hard they tried was tormenting both of them.
But both Li Fan and sister Zhao had set their hearts on the path of cultivation and would never allow themselves to be stuck at their current level forever.
So, in their ninth year of being confined, they couldn’t stand it any longer and engaged in their third season of dual cultivation.
With passion burning like dry wood in the fire, the ecstasy they tasted was more intense than before.
As expected, the bottleneck disappeared after dual cultivation, and both of them made some progress in their cultivation.
Although they didn’t break through right away, it wasn’t far off.
After the passion subsided and they both calmed down, they were struck by fear.
First, they were afraid of being discovered practicing the Mystic Sky Sect’s techniques.
Secondly, they were worried about being controlled by “The Ode to the Conjunction of Heaven and Earth” for the rest of their lives.
Both of them were proud and could not bear such a thing happening to them.
During this last period, they didn’t cultivate. They spent their entire days together in simple mortal-lifestyle, discussing the methods of breaking free from the Mystic Sky Sect.
“Heaven gives birth to all things, and hence there is the saying “Heaven Father, Earth Mother”. Every living being, from the day it is born, bears the mark of heaven and earth.”
“Rumor has it that the Mystic Sky Sect, while seizing the Tiandao Authority, also possessed the power to change this imprint that was given by heaven and earth.”
“Even a commoner without any weapons would be no different from cultivators like us after being canonized by the Mystic Sky Sect.”
“Moreover, according to legend, the Heavenly Kings of the Mystic Sky Sect also possessed the so-called ‘Fruit of Eternal Life’. Whoever gets it can attain longevity, living as long as heaven and earth.”
Sister Zhao told Li Fan about the secret knowledge she had heard from various places.
“To attain longevity…” A strange look flashed in Li Fan’s eyes.
“Are you saying that the Mystic Sky Sect’s techniques also have the ability to bear the imprint, sister?”
Sister Zhao sighed softly, “It’s only my guess. Nowadays, what remains of the Mystic Sky Sect is only scraps of information. But between the lines, one can imagine how terrifying the Mystic Sky Sect was back then. The rules were as strict as the laws of heaven. No one dared defy them.”
“Despite being reduced to a reviving ghost, getting rid of it won’t be an easy task.”
Li Fan took Sister Zhao’s hand, his eyes determined, “Don’t worry, we definitely can do it.”
Time flew by, and before they knew it, their ten-year confinement was over.
The closed door boomed open, and the two of them walked out of the confinement room with a nervous look on their faces.
They were a bit worried that their rapid progress over the past ten years would arouse suspicion.
However, upon their return to the mountain gate, they were shocked to discover that their current level of cultivation was already quite normal.
Just in the second year of their confinement, there was a so-called “new law” quietly spreading.
Absorb the spirit of heaven and earth, borrow the oddity of heaven and earth, peep the law of heaven and earth…
All the way to going against the logic of heaven and earth.
This was a complete reversal from today’s cultivation, which aims at sensing the Dao of Heaven and following the Dao. This new cultivation law seeks to seize the heavens and the earth and stops at nothing to achieve its aims.
But the actual effect was far superior to the current method of cultivation.
