Chapter 79: The Way of Profound Heaven

Shen Lian's thoughts flickered like lightning as he analyzed the situation. He smiled naturally and said, "Qingyi, you are truly blessed to become a disciple of True Person Xiangshan."

Song Qingyi had expected that revealing his identity would change Shen Lian's attitude—either making him deliberately ingratiate himself or keeping a distant, lofty air. To his surprise, Shen Lian showed no change whatsoever, offering only a symbolic word of praise.

Having never met anyone quite like this in his life, he found it exceptionally interesting.

Song Qingyi laughed and said, "Haha, I don't even know what my master saw in me. When we head back this time, Shen Lian, why don't you come along to our mountain gate? Who knows, maybe my master will take a fancy to you as well." These words came straight from his heart, though whether it would work out depended entirely on Lu Jiuyuan's attitude, something beyond Song Qingyi's control.

While his remark seemed rash, it was actually deeply rooted in the cultivation technique he practiced. The foundational chapter of the *True Scripture of Achieving Dao and Accomplishing the Body* placed supreme emphasis on the mind, viewing it as the origin of all techniques.

Both the *True Scripture of Achieving Dao and Accomplishing the Body* and the *Supreme Void Divine Strategy* were cultivation methods approaching the Dao, possessing a natural affinity for one another. Consequently, without realizing it, Song Qingyi felt a growing fondness for Shen Lian. The fact that Shen Lian remained completely unfazed by his background made Song Qingyi hold him in even higher regard. As the ancients put it, "A friendship formed in white-haired twilight feels like meeting an old acquaintance at first glance." At that moment, Song Qingyi felt much the same way.

Shen Lian said, "You jest, Qingyi. Actually, I already have a master."

"Oh? So you aren't heading to the Abrupt Killing Temple to seek apprenticeship? I wonder from which sect or lineage you hail. Since the various branches of our Xuantian Sect are vast and numerous, perhaps we share some lingering ties of incense and fire," Song Qingyi said with some surprise, asking directly. His words made sense; because of his sincere state of mind combined with the magical power of the *True Scripture of Achieving Dao and Accomplishing the Body*, he was extremely sensitive to external auras. Thus, he had sensed Shen Lian's internal magical power—though restrained and hidden, it was exceptionally pure. Because he did not feel any overwhelmingly powerful magical aura from Shen Lian, he assumed Shen Lian's cultivation realm was not very high.

In truth, this was related to the fact that Shen Lian's Supreme Void Divine Qi swirled in a helical state within his body. As a result, his magical power remained internal, leaking almost no aura whatsoever. Unless one were an exceptionally accomplished figure, even if they detected fluctuations of magical power from him, they would still deem his cultivation level ordinary.

Shen Lian replied, "My master has already passed away; there is no need to dwell on it. What brings you to this desolate desert, Qingyi?" He had no intention of deliberately concealing anything, but upon hearing about Chen Jianmei and Monk Baoguang, an idea had formed in his mind to assist Chen Jianmei.

He was not someone rigidly bound by convention. With Chen Jianmei in the open and himself in the shadows, should any unexpected mishap befall Chen Jianmei on the day of the "Dao-Discussion to Annihilate the Gods," his sudden appearance could work wonders.

Chen Jianmei was admittedly proud and high-spirited, but if their positions were reversed, Shen Lian believed Chen Jianmei would do the exact same thing. Disciples of the same Qingxuan lineage might look down upon one another, but they would never turn on their own. This was both a rule and a consequence of their shared roots.

Seekers of the Dao fought against the heavens, fought against the earth, and fought against humanity, but they would never harm those who shared their ideals and aspirations. It was precisely because of this philosophy that Qingxuan had endured for tens of thousands of years, though anomalies occasionally appeared, for the world was full of variables, and nothing was impossible.

Song Qingyi said with a trace of remorse, "I am sorry for unintentionally dredging up your painful memories, Shen Lian."

Shen Lian replied, "Think nothing of it, Qingyi. You still haven't told me what you are doing in the desert. If it is inconvenient to speak of, you needn't say."

At that moment, the final sliver of the setting sun dipped below the horizon. Stars filled the sky like a handful of spilled dice, and a brilliant celestial river of the Milky Way stretched magnificently across the vault of heaven, captivating anyone who beheld it.

Song Qingyi first gazed at the celestial river, then felt the sudden drop in temperature all around them. The desert truly grew as cold as ice by nightfall. Casually, he explained, "My master told me that a spiritual treasure was manifesting in these parts and instructed me to try my luck here. If I can obtain that item, I can use it to forge my natal Dharma artifact. When I attain longevity in the future, it will ascend alongside me into a supreme magical treasure."

Although Qingxuan was also a top-tier celestial lineage, none of its disciples enjoyed the kind of pampering Song Qingyi received. Shen Lian longed to point out just how naturally Song Qingyi leaned against a great tree to enjoy the shade, but he kept the thought to himself and merely said, "True Person Xiangshan truly treats you remarkably well."

Song Qingyi smiled slightly and said, "You might think my master treats me exceptionally well, Ah Lian, and you wouldn't be wrong, though it doesn't just manifest in things like this. In truth, many of the cultivation materials used by my fellow disciples in the Xuantian Sect are either directly forged by our master or located through divination for us to fetch ourselves.

"Of course, sometimes when you arrive, someone else has already taken them, but that matters little. Anything that can be taken away is ultimately replaceable. As for those unique spiritual treasures that even my master cannot directly manufacture, he always leaves a mark of his Dao upon them. If anyone else takes them, he knows instantly, so they can never truly be taken away." Growing increasingly familiar, he dropped the surname and addressed him simply as "Ah Lian," making their relationship feel much closer.

Shen Lian had not expected the Xuantian Sect's method of cultivation to differ so drastically from Qingxuan's. Qingxuan emphasized self-reliance. Whether it was himself or Chen Jianmei, the sect master at most offered guidance and would never actively interfere; how far one went depended entirely on one's own fortune. This spirit of unyielding self-improvement was the very reason Qingxuan generation after generation produced astonishingly gifted individuals—just as when the past generation's sect master, Zhang Ruoxu, had sent him to hew stone bamboo in the bamboo sea for seven years to temper his indomitable willpower.

The Xuantian Sect, however, clearly followed an entirely different path. Because they possessed an absolute titan like Lu Jiuyuan, they could take whatever they pleased from heaven and earth to aid their cultivation, paying no heed to whether the disciples might develop a dependency. Reaching that high realm first was all that mattered.

Just as when facing a river, some people used a boat that could only carry a few, some swam across, and others simply built a bridge so that anyone who stepped onto it could cross directly.

Once safely on the opposite bank, what did it matter what method was used?

This profound principle of the Dao, once comprehended by Shen Lian, made him appreciate Lu Jiuyuan's extraordinary nature all the more. It was no wonder he was hailed as the foremost figure of the Xuan Sect, with a status that could not be shaken; this glimpse alone revealed why.

Seeing Shen Lian deep in thought, and knowing he might find the Xuantian Sect's style hard to accept for the moment, Song Qingyi continued, "My master once said that cultivators of our generation are inherently acting against the heavens, seizing the essence of heaven and earth for our own use. If one encounters a spiritual treasure yet dares not use it to elevate one's own cultivation, it is nothing more than hypocritical posturing. Furthermore, once the mind is cultivated, what need is there to fear external objects?" He recounted Lu Jiuyuan's original words with a hint of amusement.

Shen Lian realized that Song Qingyi was indeed extraordinary; not only could he utter such words, but he genuinely believed in them, perhaps truly achieving the unity of knowledge and action.

Shen Lian smiled calmly and said, "What True Person Xiangshan says naturally makes sense. However, I believe that while indulging the self in mind-cultivation reveals one's true nature, the ability to restrain oneself so as not to violate one's inner convictions is equally precious. There are three thousand paths to the Great Dao, and one need not argue over right and wrong; as long as the destination can be reached, that is enough."