great-warnovel Chapter 762 The growth of inner demons hinders the path to enlightenment!
Chapter 762 The growth of inner demons hinders the path to enlightenment!
Tu Xiaonai sighed softly and slowly explained: "After the ancient war of myriad races, the world was shattered and the Great Dao was incomplete. Many top ancient races were either wiped out or hidden in the secret realms and chaotic corners of the heavens, never to reappear in the mortal world."
"The One Heart Realm is just an ordinary plane in the lower realm. Its fortune is shallow and its laws are incomplete. It cannot bear the Dao body and bloodline of the ancient races at all, so naturally there will be no trace of these two races."
"Only in top-tier worlds like the Auspicious Realm, the Ancient Celestial Realm, and the Chaotic Demon Realm can one occasionally glimpse their remaining bloodlines and figures." Tu Hua, standing to the side, trembled with rage, his spiritual energy fluctuating chaotically. He gritted his teeth and said, "Stubborn fool! You insist on revealing the secrets of the sect's scriptures. Today, I will definitely report to the elders, have your tower-climbing achievements revoked, and punish you with a hundred years of confinement!"
Tu Xiaonai remained calm and composed, saying neither humbly nor arrogantly, "My achievements were earned through my own strength in the tower, and they are in accordance with the rules and regulations. How can they be abolished?"
"What I have said is common knowledge among all races in ancient times, not a secret exclusive to the sect. Even if I did not say it, most cultivators in the Great World would know it, so it does not constitute a violation of the rules."
“I understand that Senior Brother Tu Hua is upset because he failed to break through the tower, but there is no need to vent all his resentment on his fellow disciples and outsiders.”
Tu Hua's true feelings were exposed, and his face turned pale and then black. He roared, "I'm not venting my anger! I'm just abiding by the sect's rules!"
"You have become arrogant and disregarded the sect's rules after you were lucky enough to pass the tower. If you are not punished today, other disciples will follow suit in the future. Where will the dignity of my Auspicious Auspicious Sect be!"
The surrounding Qilin disciples exchanged glances, all understanding the situation. They all knew that Tu Hua was simply jealous of Tu Xiaonai's talent and opportunities, and resentful of his own crushing defeat, so he took this opportunity to cause trouble.
An older Qilin senior brother slowly stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting to Tu Hua, and said, "Senior Brother Tu Hua, Junior Sister Xiao Nai is not wrong. These ancient race information are not sect secrets and are indeed not considered violations."
"Senior brother suffered a crushing defeat today, his primordial spirit is damaged, and his mind is unsettled. Please calm your mind for the time being and do not lose the composure of a fellow disciple."
Another Qilin disciple chimed in, "Yes, senior brother. The dragon guardians of the second level of the Secret Realm Tower are naturally able to suppress physical cultivators and those with blood-sucking abilities. Senior brother's defeat was due to the general trend, not a lack of strength. There's no need to worry about it so much."
"The wait of three hundred million years is indeed difficult, but with your talent, senior brother, if you lie low and cultivate, you will surely rise again in the future. There is no need to confront each other here."
To Tu Hua, everyone's advice sounded like mockery and ridicule. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at Jiang Wang and shouted, "It's all your fault! If you hadn't asked me out of the blue, this whole mess wouldn't have happened!"
"You lowly bumpkin from the lower realm, you trespassed into my Auspicious Auspicious Sect's secret realm and disrupted the harmony among my fellow disciples. Today, even though my primordial spirit is injured, I will teach you a lesson!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Tu Hua forcibly activated the remaining Qilin spiritual power within his body. A faint auspicious glow appeared around him. Although his physical body was intact, the cracks in his primordial spirit faintly glowed, revealing extreme pain. Yet, he still gritted his teeth and gathered his palm power.
Seeing this, Tu Xiaonai immediately stepped forward to stop him, saying in a soft but urgent voice, "Senior Brother Tu Hua, you mustn't! Your primordial spirit injury has not yet healed. Forcing yourself to attack will only worsen the damage, and it will be a loss!"
Tu Hua shoved aside Tu Xiaonai's attempt to stop him and roared, "Don't stop me! Today I will make this outsider know that the disciples of the Auspicious Auspicious Sect are not to be bullied!"
Jiang Wang watched his agitated state quietly, the three scales floating in mid-air remaining as steady as a rock, her tone calm and even: "Are you sure you want to attack me?"
Tu Hua's face twisted into a ferocious grin as he coldly roared, "Why wouldn't you dare! You mere cultivator from the lower realm, you've managed to get away with this by a stroke of luck, yet you dare to act so recklessly before my Auspicious Sect! Today, I'll cripple your cultivation and show you that there are always higher realms to be conquered!"
Jiang Wang shook his head slightly, his tone tinged with helplessness: "I had no intention of competing with you. Your failure to conquer the tower was due to your lack of opportunity and insufficient strength, and has nothing to do with me."
“My inquiry about my racial origins was a personal question; I did not provoke you in the slightest. It is you who have repeatedly humiliated and provoked me, pressing me relentlessly.”
Tu Hua sneered, his face full of mockery: "Insufficient opportunity? Inadequate strength? That's utter nonsense!"
"If I had the same opportunity to challenge the tower as you, and hadn't encountered the dragon guardians whose defenses were invincible, I would have easily passed the third or fourth floor. How could I have ended up with such a crushing defeat!"
"In the end, you are just luckier than me. In terms of true cultivation and foundation, how can you compare with me, a top genius with the bloodline of the ancient Qilin!"
Jiang Wang's eyes turned slightly cold as he slowly spoke: "Luck is an integral part of strength. You've cultivated for so many years, and you don't even understand this simple principle?"
Tu Hua was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage and shouted, "Sophistry! Pure sophistry! A cultivator's progress depends on bloodline, perseverance, techniques, and foundation, not on mere luck!"
"You're just relying on luck and taking shortcuts, yet you dare to speak so arrogantly in front of me! Today I will shatter your illusions and make you realize your own shallowness!" Tu Xiaonai spoke softly from the side: "What you say is not wrong, fellow Daoist. In the cultivation of the Great Dao, opportunities and luck are also gifts from the Heavenly Dao, and are part of strength. Senior brother, there is no need to deny it."
"Moreover, Fellow Daoist's speed in clearing the tower far surpasses ours, which is by no means simply luck, but must be due to your own formidable strength. If Senior Brother forces his way in, he will only bring shame upon himself."
Tu Hua glared at Tu Xiaonai and shouted angrily, "You still want to speak up for him! Are you a disciple of my Xiangrui Sect or one of his comrades!"
Tu Xiaonai said calmly, "I am a disciple of the Xiangrui Sect, and I speak the truth. I do not want to see my senior brother ruin himself because of a moment of anger."
"Senior brother's primordial spirit is still seriously injured and his combat power is less than 30% of his peak. If he forces an attack, not only will he fail to harm you, but he will also completely worsen his own injuries, which would be a loss."
Tu Hua wouldn't listen to a word of advice. His spiritual energy grew increasingly agitated, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Thirty percent of my combat power is enough! Why do I need peak strength to deal with these lowly cultivators from the lower realms!"
"Today I will show everyone that his so-called rapid ascent of the tower is nothing but opportunism and utterly worthless!"
Jiang Wang looked at the stubborn Tu Hua and said calmly, "Since you insist on taking action, I will grant your wish. But let me make it clear beforehand that fists and feet have no eyes. If I injure your primordial spirit again, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Upon hearing this, Tu Hua burst into laughter as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world: "Heartless? You dare to talk to me about heartlessness!"
"I'd like to see what kind of ability you, a mere cultivator from the lower realm, have that dares to spout such nonsense in front of me!"
The surrounding Qilin disciples retreated, spontaneously clearing a space. They all looked tense and began to whisper among themselves.
A young Qilin disciple whispered, "Is Senior Brother Tu Hua really going to make a move? His primordial spirit injury hasn't healed yet; it's too risky."
Another disciple chimed in: "Senior brother is too proud and arrogant. He suffered a crushing defeat in this tower challenge and was outshone by Junior Sister Xiao Nai. He must have deep-seated resentment and is bound to vent it."
Another disciple whispered with concern: "But this Fellow Daoist Jiang Wang's strength is unfathomable. He passed the first two levels of the Secret Realm Tower in half a quarter of an hour. He might really be stronger than Senior Brother. Senior Brother might suffer a loss."
The older Qilin senior brother sighed softly, "Fine, it's good to let our senior brother suffer a bit, so he won't always be arrogant and look down on everyone, unaware that there are always people more capable than him." As everyone whispered, Tu Hua had already gathered all his strength, and a dazzling Qilin auspicious light rose from his palm, ancient auspicious Daoist charm permeated all directions, carrying an extremely strong sense of oppression.
Tu Hua stared intently at Jiang Wang and shouted fiercely, "Take my Qilin Auspicious Beast Palm! I want to see what makes you so arrogant in front of my Auspicious Beast Sect!"
Jiang Wang stood still, his expression calm, and said softly, "Your supernatural power is superficial and lacks substance. It is based on a weak foundation and you are plagued by inner demons. It may seem powerful, but it is full of flaws."
Tu Hua's eyes flashed with anger, and he shouted, "Nonsense! My Qilin Auspicious Beast Palm is the sect's top-tier martial art, mastered to perfection. How dare you slander it so easily!"
Before he finished speaking, Tu Hua suddenly rushed out, enveloped in auspicious rosy light. His palm strike was fierce and aimed directly at Jiang Wang's face. His momentum was fierce and his power was terrifying.
Just as the palm strike was about to reach him, Jiang Wang said softly, "Since you show no remorse, I'll punish you a little."
As soon as the words fell, the three golden scales floating in mid-air instantly burst forth with dazzling golden light, carrying a profound and steady Daoist aura, and swept away in an instant, their speed so fast that no one could catch their trajectory.
Tu Hua felt a flash of golden light before his eyes, and was suddenly startled. He subconsciously raised his hand to block and shouted sharply, "What kind of supernatural power is this!"
The next second, the first scale struck his palm with precision, the sound of the collision ringing out and the powerful force exploding instantly, directly shattering the auspicious light of the Qilin in his palm.
Tu Hua's arm went numb, his blood surged, and he involuntarily took three steps back, his face filled with horror: "Such powerful strength! What kind of treasure are these scales?!"
Before he could regain his footing, the second scale arrived in an instant, landing on his shoulder with a gentle touch, yet carrying an irresistible suppressive force.
"puff--"
Tu Hua felt a tightness in his chest, and a mouthful of blood gushed out. His previously healed physical body and meridians were damaged again, and the cracks deep within his primordial spirit were completely torn apart, causing excruciating pain to sweep through his entire body.
His face turned deathly pale, his spiritual energy became chaotic and dissipated, and he could no longer maintain the auspicious light around him. He stared at Jiang Wang in disbelief: "You...your scales are no ordinary spiritual treasures! They contain the power of the Great Dao to suppress!"
Jiang Wang looked at him quietly, his tone indifferent: "It's just a personal scale armor, not a supreme treasure, but it just happens to counter your superficial auspicious Dao aura."
Despite the excruciating pain coursing through his body, Tu Hua gritted his teeth and roared, "Impossible! My Qilin bloodline is uniquely endowed, and its Daoist essence is pure. No one of my kind can restrain me! You must have used some unorthodox and evil magic!"
Jiang Wang shook his head slightly, too lazy to explain further. With a slight movement of his gaze, the third scale slowly floated out, hovering in front of Tu Hua's brow, trembling slightly, emitting a gentle yet extremely oppressive golden light.
"This last scale will suppress your hostility and arrogance, and help you recognize your true self."
Tu Hua felt the terrifying suppressive force emanating from between his brows, his body stiffened, and his primordial spirit suffered unbearable pain. A trace of fear finally arose in his heart, but he still remained defiant: "You dare! I am the core genius of the Auspicious Auspicious Sect! If you hurt me, the sect elders will never let you off!"
Jiang Wang said calmly, "I was only punishing your arrogance and rudeness, not taking your life. You provoked me first, and I acted in self-defense. I have a valid reason and evidence. Your sect elders cannot blame me."
Seeing this, Tu Xiaonai quickly stepped forward and pleaded for mercy, her voice soft and sincere: "Fellow Daoist, please have mercy! Senior Brother Tu Hua is already seriously injured and knows he has made a mistake. Please withdraw your divine power and do not worsen his injury."
"My senior brother is just too arrogant, not a villain. Please forgive him this time."
Jiang Wang looked at Tu Xiaonai, pondered for a moment, and then gently raised his hand. The three golden scales instantly withdrew their golden light and slowly flew back into his clothes, disappearing without a trace.
"Since you pleaded for me, I'll let this matter drop for today."
Tu Hua managed to catch his breath, his body wracked with excruciating pain. He leaned against a nearby stone pillar to steady himself, his face deathly pale and his breath weak, yet he still stared intently at Jiang Wang, his eyes filled with resentment and hatred.
He gasped for breath and gritted his teeth, saying, "You...you just wait! I, Tu Hua, will remember this humiliation! Once my primordial spirit is healed, I will personally seek revenge on you!"
Jiang Wang's gaze remained calm as he replied indifferently, "I am always ready, but if you provoke me again, it will not be as simple as just punishing you." Seeing this, the older Qilin senior brother quickly stepped forward to support the swaying Tu Hua and said helplessly, "Senior Brother Tu Hua, why be so stubborn? The outcome is already decided. Continuing to argue will only make you a laughingstock."
Another disciple quickly advised, "Yes, senior brother, your injuries have worsened again. The most important thing now is to rest and repair your primordial spirit. Don't dwell on grudges and disputes anymore."
Tu Hua shoved away the crowd's support, straightened his body, and shouted sharply, "I don't need your fake kindness! I don't need your pity!"
"Today, I was only defeated because my primordial spirit was severely injured and my combat power was greatly reduced. It was not because I was weaker than him! Once I have recovered, I will definitely wash away today's humiliation!"
Tu Xiaonai sighed softly and said, "Senior brother, winning and losing are common occurrences. The path of cultivation is long, and temporary success or failure is nothing. If you are too attached to something, it will only breed inner demons and hinder your path."
Tu Hua glared at Tu Xiaonai: "Of course you can be so nonchalant! You successfully cleared the tower and have a bright future ahead of you, so it's easy for you to talk like that!"
"I'm trapped on the second level, missing out on this opportunity in the Great Dao Secret Realm, and I'll have to waste three hundred million years. How can you understand the resentment in my heart!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wang slowly said, "Missing the opportunity is due to your own lack of strength and opportunity, and has nothing to do with others."
"Three hundred million years is but a fleeting moment for immortal cultivators. If you dedicate yourself to cultivation, you may well break through the shackles and advance further."
“But you are now entangled in obsessions, filled with resentment, and harboring inner demons. Even if you were given endless time to cultivate, you would hardly make any progress.”
Tu Hua sneered, his face full of mockery: "A mere cultivator from the lower realm dares to point fingers at my path of cultivation? What do you know about the Great Dao of Cultivation!"
"My path to immortality is uniquely blessed. As long as the opportunity arises, I can advance a thousand miles in a day. How could a rogue cultivator like you possibly fathom it!"
Jiang Wang said calmly, "The Dao has no high or low, but the heart has a hierarchy. Your heart has long been trapped by arrogance and resentment, and your path to the Dao is already limited."
Tu Hua was momentarily speechless, a strange sense of panic rising within him, yet he forced himself to remain calm and retorted sharply, "Nonsense! Purely sophistry!" Just then, a distant crane's cry echoed from the horizon, auspicious clouds surged, and rosy light filled the sky. An ancient, deep voice slowly resounded, echoing throughout the entire secret realm's gate. (End of Chapter)