Chapter 854: The heart of seeking the Way |
At this moment, the space around them generated a strong sense of repulsion, pushing everyone outwards.
Xu Hei's eyes flickered slightly as he vaguely noticed something amiss with the state of the puppet.
Xu Hei, being someone with rich combat experience, realized that the three Spirit-Descending Blades just now had consumed a significant amount of this person's strength. From the urgency in his words, it was clear he didn't want to entangle with Xu Hei any further.
Surviving a hit from the Spirit-Descending Blade and still standing was enough to prove Xu Hei's strength, definitely reaching the level of Void Shattering!
In the world of cultivation, strength is paramount. When two individuals have comparable strength, they have the right to speak on equal terms.
"Senior, I dare to come here not to seek conflict. I don't know what happened between you, the White Emperor, and the Heavenly Demon Scattered Person in the past. Let's consider what just happened a misunderstanding! Now, my sect is facing a great calamity. Without external aid, the Divine Puppet Sect might be doomed forever."
Xu Hei's tone was solemn and resonant, his attitude equally sincere.
Upon hearing this, the metallic puppet turned its gaze towards Daoist Sparrow, saying nothing.
Daoist Sparrow quickly recounted the events happening outside.
The metallic puppet stared at him and said, "From what you're saying, you want me to return to the Thousand Mechanisms Grand Formation and complete the final main formation eye?"
"..." Daoist Sparrow looked at him in silence.
"Do you think this is my lifelong wish?" the metallic puppet asked again.
Daoist Sparrow remained silent.
Isn't it? The ancient texts about the Thousand Mechanisms Grand Formation all recorded it this way!
Gongshu Zi created the Thousand Mechanisms Grand Formation, considering it his life's work, but it lacked one main formation eye, rendering it imperfect! After trying various methods, all ended in failure.
To truly perfect the formation, he had to join it himself, which was his wish.
"As a cultivator, isn't one's lifelong wish to ascend to the Spirit Realm and pursue the eternal Dao? Must one fall and remain in the Thousand Mechanisms Grand Formation as a puppet? Is it you who has a problem, or is it me?" the metallic puppet retorted.
This time, not only Daoist Sparrow was silent, but everyone present was left speechless.
"But... Senior has already..."
Daoist Sparrow was about to say something when the metallic puppet interrupted again, "You think I've fallen? No, you're gravely mistaken! I've merely lost my original physical body, but my puppet body remains, and I still have a chance to cultivate and ascend! I advise you to abandon the thought of having me return to the Thousand Mechanisms Grand Formation."
"As for the fate of the sect... After endless years, no matter what sect it is, it will eventually meet its end. Even without this calamity from the Spirit Realm cultivators, in a million years, ten million years, there will be other disasters! In ancient times, primordial times, and prehistoric times... countless catastrophes have swept through the mortal realm."
"Everything and everyone is destined to die. Years later, who will remember your achievements? Only the pursuit of the Dao is eternal."
The metallic puppet's lengthy discourse left all three present speechless.
What silenced them wasn't the metallic puppet's refusal to return, but rather... they couldn't find a reason to refute him.
According to his logic, what is the point of resisting at this time? It would be better to flee, find a place to hide, and live to pursue the Dao.
But is this the Dao that Xu Hei desires?
"Paths differ, and thus we part ways! Farewell!"
Xu Hei said no more, cupped his hands, and turned to leave.
"Grandmaster..."
"Do not call me Grandmaster anymore, you may leave," the metallic puppet said.
Daoist Sparrow remained silent for a long time, tightly gripping the sect master token, his arm trembling.
Is this the path the first generation sect master pursued?
It's understandable when you think about it. After all, with the primordial spirit still intact, who wouldn't want to ascend? Who wouldn't want to seize that slim chance of destiny? Why return to die?
Night Owl said nothing, simply turned around, and left.
At this moment, Xu Hei reached the exit of the space and stopped.
Suddenly, Xu Hei's eyes flashed, and he abruptly turned back, taking out an object and aiming it at the metallic puppet.
The object in his hand was a purple-black mirror, the Heavenly Demon Mirror used to restrain extraterrestrial demons! Once illuminated by this mirror, the demons would be exposed with nowhere to hide!
However, when the mirror appeared, nothing happened.
"Heavenly Demon Mirror?" The metallic puppet's voice carried a hint of cold laughter, "You think I'm an extraterrestrial demon replica? Ridiculous, the path pursued by cultivators has always been like this. Every Superior Immortal of the past was like this. It sounds cruel, but it's an undeniable fact."
At this moment, Xu Hei's heart was in turmoil, and he put the Heavenly Demon Mirror away.
Just now, he indeed suspected that this metallic puppet was an extraterrestrial demon replica of Gongshu Zi, as such drastic changes in personality were highly likely not to be the original person.
But he was wrong.
"Lastly, let me tell you a truth."
The metallic puppet looked at everyone, eyes slightly narrowed, and slowly said, "Back then, I died under a single punch from the White Emperor. In the inner hall of Guanghan Palace, there should still be that fist imprint. And that sole Ascension Token was taken by the White Emperor."
"......"
The entire space fell into a deathly silence.
Xu Hei's pupils contracted, and his heart surged with a massive wave. He had long suspected such a thing, but he was unwilling to think in that direction.
Now, it was spoken directly by the metallic puppet.
"Spirit Realm cultivators descending to the mortal realm, even if I joined the Thousand Mechanisms Grand Formation, it would be a dead end. You can't even imagine the means of the Spirit Realm cultivators!"
"Let me point you to a clear path. Like me, find a crevice in space to hide in. Spirit Realm cultivators can't stay in the mortal realm for long, and in this way, there might still be a slim chance of survival."
"Although this slim chance is equally bleak."
After the metallic puppet finished speaking, it said no more, retreating into the darkness.
Before long.
A strong repulsive force appeared, pushing everyone out of the space crevice, returning them to the outside world.
They looked at the spherical space ahead, saying nothing.
They had found the first generation sect master, but things were far from as simple as they had imagined. The first generation sect master actually refused to take action.
Is this what a truly ascended cultivator is like?
Apart from cultivation, apart from pursuing the Dao, all attachments can be abandoned!
No sect loyalty, no master-disciple bond, no familial love, no friendship, not even between the five Superior Immortals. To seize the Ascension Token, they could fight without hesitation.
Is this the Dao all cultivators pursue?
In his past as a wild snake, Xu Hei could abandon any emotion for survival, and he once fell into demonic ways. But now, for the sake of ascension, should he tread that old path again?
This is a very contradictory point, and it's a dilemma that has troubled Xu Hei for countless years.
Which path is the right one? No one has the answer.
Xu Hei thought of the stone tablet he left for himself, and his eyes once again became resolute.
