nucmednet Chapter 485 Carp in the Pond, Empty Pavilion
Chapter 485 Carp in the Pond, Empty Pavilion
Chu Lengyu lowered her eyes to look at the wooden box.
Tiny bookworms are crawling on the pages of the book.
Once it swallows the last character for "immortal," it will transform into the Dao through the book, and drinking it will allow it to ascend to the position of an immortal.
"Pulse of Hope, to become an immortal?"
She suddenly chuckled softly.
With a flick of her fingertips, she closed the wooden box for him, retorting, "If it were really that simple, why doesn't Master Tang use it himself?"
The copper buckle clicked shut, startling the wood-boring insects into curling up in the darkness.
Tang, the manager, protected the wooden box. Upon hearing this, he showed no anger but instead smiled slightly and said with a hint of helplessness, "Some things are actually more convenient for me now, given my current status."
He did indeed conceal something; using the shortcut of pulse diagnosis to become an immortal had significant drawbacks, but the position of an immortal was real.
What an irresistible temptation it is to possess the power of a "god" without needing to cultivate or undergo tribulations, and to become a ruler of the heavens in one's own world.
If he hadn't still harbored hatred in his heart, he would have long since transformed into a fairy in a book, retreating to seclusion with Danzhu to cultivate in seclusion. Why would he have changed his appearance, concealed his identity, and lived a mundane life in the Myriad Stars Alliance?
He knew that Chu Lengyu was hiding other secrets, but that didn't matter.
Tang pushed the wooden box forward and tentatively asked, "Fellow Daoist, are you really not tempted at all?"
Chu Lengyu smiled upon hearing this and said coldly, "There's a story in my hometown called 'Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors,' and there's also a proverb called 'Radish Hangs the Donkey.' I wonder how many people Master Tang has told this story of the Pulse of Hope?"
"..." Manager Tang was a little embarrassed.
He then smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist is indeed wise. I have given this advice to many people, but none of them have passed the test. However, I think you..."
"Stop! You've said that a hundred and eighty times already, haven't you?" she interrupted mercilessly.
"..."
"Since there are no outsiders here, let's be frank." Chu Lengyu's eyes reflected the figure opposite him as he asked, "The Star Palace rules over all realms, and you and I are merely carp in a pond. May I ask, Master, did you invite me here today to be bait to swallow the hook, or to be the fisherman holding the rod?"
What he just said did indeed seem to be genuine.
But when you get to the bottom of it, the underlying logic of the cultivation world has always been the survival of the fittest, and this is an irrefutable rule!
Even she has the blood of countless humans, demons, and monsters on her hands.
On a smaller scale, this is the natural law of big fish eating small fish, and small fish eating shrimp;
On a grander scale, it's a pyramid-like system of suppression, with the power of life and death. Before the Star Palace, all other worlds are merely resources, nourishment for its existence.
The immense power of individual cultivators makes this rule even more cruel and ruthless, to the point that it no longer cares whether it is reasonable or not, because destruction is only a thought away.
While grand narratives about nation, race, and the world are important, discussing them becomes a luxury without sufficient strength as a backing.
Last time, she tried to take on the task but failed because the difference in strength was too great.
The weak are born in silence and die in silence.
A life lived in a routine, unremarkable, and quiet manner.
Many people never shout for themselves until they are buried in the earth.
Since Master Tang harbors hatred in his heart, why doesn't he seek revenge? Is it because he doesn't want to?
Chu Lengyu looked at him coldly and clearly.
To put it bluntly, the other party wanted to win her over because they saw her value in a certain area and wanted to exploit her.
She, on the other hand, needs to assess whether the other person is worth getting to know.
Before this, she had never thought she needed allies, because stupidity is more terrible than weakness.
Chu Lengyu knew that her heart had changed. The warm side of her humanity, even though she tried her best to hold on, gradually faded away as her cultivation improved.
Moreover, she was originally a cold and slow-witted person.
Therefore, she longed to return to the Great Xia world and fulfill her original wish.
Otherwise, continuing this kind of practice would be utterly boring.
Silence spread between the two.
Tang, the head emissary, also looked at her and met her gaze, while she remained open and honest.
After a moment, he looked away, poured tea, and slowly said, "What I need is neither bait nor fisherman, but a true companion. Beneath the Star Palace, the myriad worlds are like a game of chess. If you and I can join forces, perhaps we can find a way out on this chessboard."
"As for me... I do not intend to rebel against the Star Palace for the time being. As you saw that day, the Star Palace has its own significance. Whether it is resisting the demons or dealing with other calamities, the Star Palace is indispensable."
"I have no intention of rebelling against the Holy Realm. I have been to half of the twelve Holy Realms. They are dazzling and each has its own unique charm. They are the essence of the myriad worlds in the starry sea. In front of them, I am nothing more than an insect that can only hide in the shadows and cannot be brought to the stage."
He spoke words of self-deprecation, yet his expression remained remarkably calm.
The disparities between worlds are an objective reality, and while he yearns for revenge, he is also unwilling to destroy things that are originally beautiful; otherwise, how would he be different from those executioners?
Chu Lengyu understood, but did not interrupt.
“The vastness of the starry sea and myriad worlds has kept me wandering for a long time, yet I have never been able to figure out where I should go. I can only bury myself in hard work.” A faint smile appeared on Tang Zhangshi’s lips, as if mocking himself. “It’s a pity that I am unlucky and can only stop at the seventh level of perfection.”
Chu Lengyu was slightly startled, not expecting that the person sitting in front of her was actually a Mahayana Perfection cultivator.
A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and though she didn't say anything, her expression betrayed her thoughts.
Tang noticed her surprise and confusion; this seemed to be the first time he had gained the upper hand in front of her.
It's not easy.
He tapped the wooden box with his finger and confessed, "In fact, taking the Pulse-Seeking Immortal Cultivation Elixir only grants a superficial immortal status. It doesn't contain any superfluous spiritual power; it's just a showy but empty shell."
"I've gone to great lengths to cultivate Danzhu, this mere shell of a person, and it's only now that I've managed to get her to her current level."
Chu Lengyu looked up at him with half-closed eyes, her gaze seemingly saying: Keep making things up, and see if I believe you or not.
If Danzhu wasn't actually a painting master, but rather a bookworm who became an immortal, then broadly speaking (emphasis added), her status was the same as that of the Ziwei Emperor, so how could she only have such limited strength?
Rather, it's more likely that she's working very hard every day to avoid revealing any flaws by using too many tricks.
Hmm, now that you mention it, no wonder she's always had that strange feeling about Danzhu. The difference in their social status is too great; it can't be completely hidden.
She thought to herself, every time she entered or left the Zhu Lou, she was handing her life over to the other party.
She picked up the teacup and gently swirled it, the tea rippling in the cup, reflecting her thoughtful expression.
"So, you're inviting me to help you build this castle in the air?"