ATPnovel Chapter 84 Demon's Lair
Chapter 84 Demon's Lair
Five days later, Situ Wentian and Zhou Li rode together in a carved wooden sedan chair, slowly making their way into the depths of the valley.
The deep valley was cold and secluded, and breath turned to frost. The mountain path was flanked by natural rock walls that looked as if they had been cleaved by a knife and axe, and the dense yin energy in the air was almost tangible.
The trip was not accompanied by many ceremonial entourages. Apart from the head of the Situ family, Situ Qian, and Yang Yang, there were only a dozen or so young talents from the Situ family.
Knowing his own identity, Liu Zhaohan stayed at his residence and did not accompany them.
Although Situ Wentian was blind, his cultivation had reached the Nascent Soul stage, allowing him to perceive his surroundings with his divine sense, hence his calm demeanor.
"Young friend Zhou," the old man's voice was gentle, "is the valley cold and dewy? Are you getting used to your stay?"
"The small courtyard arranged by the head of the family is secluded and elegant, offering a tranquil and carefree atmosphere, but..."
Zhou Li cupped his hands in greeting and said, "The patriarch's favoritism is overwhelming. This junior simply does not know how to repay the patriarch's kindness."
After much deliberation, Zhou Li finally asked the question that had been on his mind.
He and Yangyang were kindred spirits, and he was naturally willing to believe in the good intentions of the Situ family. However, if the price was too high, it would be better not to look at the Yin-Yang Scroll, lest he find himself in a difficult situation and further estrangement between them.
Situ Wentian smiled slightly, a smile tinged with melancholy. He didn't directly respond to Zhou Li, but instead drifted into a memory, his voice becoming somewhat distant: "Young friend Zhou, do you know that some things in this world, if viewed too intently, can lead to losing sight of them?"
Zhou Li didn't know what these words meant, but he understood that they had gotten to the point, so he said seriously, "This junior does not know, please enlighten me, Master."
"In the past, when I was young and had just completed my foundation building, I was confident in my exceptional comprehension and even tried to comprehend this Yin-Yang Scroll. The inscription on that tablet was profound and mysterious, embodying the principles of Yin and Yang. I studied it day and night, and felt that the Great Dao was right before my eyes, within reach."
Although Situ Wentian's tone was calm, it still allowed the listener to feel the spiritedness of those days.
"However, the longer one looks, the deeper one becomes. Yin and Yang flow ceaselessly, yet they are also in chaos and inversion, and the stone tablet becomes a prison. I am sinking into it, unable to extricate myself, and I cannot hear anyone's advice. It seems that I am about to be trapped by the inscription on the tablet and my Dao heart will be shattered."
He raised a hand and gently brushed his closed eyelids, saying with a touch of melancholy:
"After countless struggles, I suddenly realized that the most complex things return to the simplest, and the most beautiful things ultimately become the most empty. Since my eyes have been deceived by appearances, I will personally destroy these eyes that are trapped by outward appearances."
As the words fell, an invisible chill swept through the hearts of everyone present. To blind oneself—what a resolute act!
Situ Wentian's face showed a hint of relief: "With my eyes blinded, all the disturbances of the outside world disappeared, and my heart was at peace. Only then was I able to break free from the vortex of the inscriptions. It is precisely because of this that I was fortunate enough to glimpse a trace of the true meaning of Yin and Yang, and thus achieved some success today."
After listening, Zhou Li felt a deep respect for the old man.
To be able to make a choice in such a dire situation and decisively blind himself to save himself, Situ Wentian must have been an exceptionally talented person with great perseverance and wisdom.
"Though I am blind, I still hold hope for the Yin-Yang Scroll. I am determined to help you with the Dao Tea, young friend, because of this intention. You are extremely talented and now possess the Dao Seed. You should be able to gain some enlightenment from the Yin-Yang Scroll. I only have one wishful thought: if you can truly gain supernatural powers from it, I hope you will not hesitate to share them and help my Situ family make up for this regret that has been passed down for thousands of years."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Li asked in confusion, "I have heard that the Situ family's 'Midnight Eclipse Heavenly Technique' is quite profound, and it was comprehended from the Yin-Yang Manual. But I wonder what regret the patriarch mentioned?"
"To be honest, young friend, my Situ family has studied this for generations, but we have only mastered one technique, the 'Midnight Eclipse Heavenly Technique,' which allows us to control the Xuan Yin Qi, but that is all we can do."
Situ Wentian paused, as if sighing, "We have the skill to cultivate, but lack the matching technique. We are guarding a treasure mountain but cannot find the entrance. Some disciples in our clan have even begun to switch to other cultivation methods. The 'Midnight Eclipse Heavenly Technique' has become a shackle for my Situ family."
Zhou Li knew that the more advanced a martial art was, the more it needed a compatible supernatural power to unleash its full potential.
For example, with the Five Elements Danqing Technique he cultivated, he was able to comprehend ancient demonic techniques such as the "Mysterious Turtle Shield Armor"; and with the Azure Lotus Heart Sutra cultivated by his Uncle Yang Liuqing, there was also the Azure Lotus Sword Technique to match it.
If one lacks a divine ability that aligns with the cultivation technique, one can only find substitutes, like a divine sword without an edge, possessing only its power but unable to fully unleash its might. Not only would its combat ability be slightly inferior, but it would also be a waste of the profound mystery of this top-tier cultivation technique.
"...I see. I will do my best, and if I gain any insights, I will certainly offer them to the Situ family."
Situ Wentian smiled slightly and then added, "Young friend, don't worry. If you haven't grasped the meaning, then consider it the fate of my Situ clan. I only hope that you can know when to stop and not be as stubborn as I was when I was young."
Zhou Li nodded and said, "I will follow my master's instructions."
The journey became increasingly secluded. The group passed through several checkpoints and arrived at a long passageway leading into the mountain, its depths unknown.
The passageway was shrouded in layers of mist. As soon as they stepped in, several ghostly spirits emerged from the mist, circling around them and emitting silent howls.
As the group ventured deeper, Zhou Li discovered that among the ghostly creatures were both hazy, twisted phantoms and solidified monsters.
Some blocked the way with their ghostly hands, while others stood guard with weapons. Hundreds of ghosts roamed about, each with a different form, intertwining with the mournful wailing, just like the hellish abyss.
However, after Situ Qian took out a black jade talisman, these ferocious ghosts all retreated and kept their distance from the group.
"This is the 'Hundred Ghosts Narrow Pass,' which stretches for seven miles and is filled with evil spirits nurtured by the Xuan Yin Qi," Situ Qian explained in a deep voice. "Without talismans to clear the way, even a Golden Core cultivator would have to go through a lot to get in."
After walking only a mile or so, the mist gradually dissipated, and a huge mural suddenly appeared before them. Although it was covered with dark moss, the painting was still clearly discernible, despite the unknown type of dye used.
Zhou Li was deeply versed in the art of painting and calligraphy, and couldn't help but look at it with curiosity.
At first glance, it is an overwhelming darkness. The sun is shining brightly, yet there is no light; clouds press down on the fields, and a dark mist hangs in the air.
Rivers dried up, vegetation withered, farmland turned into wasteland, and the hunched-over ancestors struggled to survive, a scene of utter devastation.
The eerie atmosphere depicted in the painting, combined with the ghostly ambiance of the Hall of One Hundred Demons, adds to the sense of desolation and heaviness.
This mural depicts the spiritual vein where the Changtian Sect is located, at the beginning of its formation, gathering spiritual energy from a radius of ten thousand miles.
Once the spiritual vein was formed, the yang energy of this place was gathered together, while the yin energy arose alongside it. The unrestrained yin energy spread throughout the land, causing widespread resentment and making life unbearable for the people.
Zhou Li looked at it with emotion. This spiritual vein was formed naturally. Although it was not created by human effort, those who cultivated received the blessings of this spiritual vein and naturally had to bear the evil consequences of the rampant Yin energy.
As long as one cultivates here, yin and yang will interact, and the karmic consequences will inevitably befall the cultivator. If one cannot handle this properly, evil energy will arise in one's heart, and inner demons will entangle one's body. Even if one makes progress, how can one glimpse the Great Dao?
This was perhaps the first major hurdle that stood in the way when the sages first sought the Dao.
In today's cultivation world, seven lineages coexist, but it is unknown what methods each cultivation ground used to break through the impasse in the past.