Chapter 106: To Open the Heavenly Eye, One Must Extinguish Worldly Attachments

From the moment the fierce Yin Sheng Demon broke free from the Dragon-Tiger chains, to her conversation with the Master of Huaiwu Cave, the sudden appearance of Sima Lingzhen of the Zisu Eight Directions Palace shattered the sealed world technique jointly set by the two.

In the end, both the Master of Huaiwu Cave and the Yin Sheng Demon were swiftly dispatched as if chopping through melons and cutting vegetables...

At this point, the power of the Ten-Thousand-Mile Illumination Talisman was thoroughly exhausted, and all the voices in everyone’s minds abruptly ceased, falling into silence.

“Very well, the demons have been eliminated. This also repays the favor from the Ai family for allowing me to observe their Qi refinement technique! Next, I shall return to the sect to refine the Three Treasures and prepare for forming the Golden Core...”

Wei Lingjiang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Her eyelids quietly lowered, gently resting, and her slender, pale fingers slowly slipped from her sleeves.

After the Ten-Thousand-Mile Illumination Talisman had been activated, whether it would attract demon hunters, and whether those hunters could capture the Master of Huaiwu Cave and the Yin Sheng Demon, she had never been entirely confident.

Though the Jade Chen Sect’s triennial Dao lineage examination was imminent, and nearby was the sect’s mountain gate where the Dao lineage was preserved, logically speaking, there should be no danger...

But in this world, who can claim to foresee everything perfectly?

The fear was that in urgent moments, unexpected events could arise.

Although guarded by the Golden Light Divine Talisman, and even if attacked by a True Immortal of the Primordial Spirit Realm, Chen Heng had been able to withstand the assault unharmed, so Wei Lingjiang did not worry about his safety.

Yet in her heart, she had prepared for the worst: that those coming to exorcise the demons might lack sufficient divine power, allowing either the Master of Huaiwu or the Yin Sheng Demon to escape and survive.

Tai Wenmiao, the Dao Lord who had given the prophetic document, had explicitly stated that capturing the demon was necessary to repay the favor and secure the opportunity to survive the Three Calamities.

Now that the demon was indeed captured by Sima Lingzhen of the Jade Chen Sect, all matters were settled, and Wei Lingjiang could finally relax.

...

“But that visitor, surprisingly, is Sima Lingzhen of the Sima clan from the main courtyard?

When I stayed with the Ai family in Shangyu, I met this person once. Proud, arrogant, reckless—after so many years, he still hasn’t changed...”

Wei Lingjiang shook her head lightly.

She had only heard that Sima Lingzhen entered the Jade Chen Sect’s lower court through his family background, but she wasn’t sure if he became one of the top ten disciples or accumulated enough Dao merit.

Later, he was accepted into the upper sect, studying under a returning void senior master.

Now, after a long absence, he had already progressed a step ahead of her, forming the Golden Core and becoming a True Immortal in orthodox cultivation.

Though his power was formidable, it wasn’t extraordinary—only a fourth-grade Golden Core at best, with an ordinary foundation.

The Primordial Spirit Dao Fruit might still hold some possibility, but the returning void realm required a desperate struggle and great fortune to barely succeed.

Regardless, Sima Lingzhen had indeed achieved Golden Core, clearly outpacing her own third level of Dongxuan Realm...

“Even if I forcefully form the Core now, I would only reach second-grade... The thirteen precious pills for core formation have been fully prepared by the elders, even the most difficult Divine Talisman Fire is perfected, yet I still fall just short...”

Thinking this, Wei Lingjiang felt a headache and frowned slightly.

Turning her gaze, she saw Qingzhi squinting her eyes into slits, glancing sideways at her with a mischievous smile curling the right corner of her mouth.

“Going crazy again?”

Wei Lingjiang was unfazed.

“Didn’t you see? Didn’t you see?!”

“What?”

“That female demon actually pinched his chin! Hahaha! Hahahaha!”

Seeing Wei Lingjiang finally acknowledge her, Qingzhi placed her hands on her hips, bursting into wild laughter:

“Even you haven’t touched Chen Heng, never pinched his chin, yet that fierce Yin Sheng Demon actually did! Miss! Woo—”

Wei Lingjiang quickly raised her hand, pinching her cheeks to puff them out, silencing her.

“Qingzhi, you really talk too much.”

Expressionless, Wei Lingjiang used her other hand to vigorously rub Qingzhi’s pudgy face:

“Was that wrong? Do you admit your mistake?”

“Ugh... poke... I was wrong...”

Her face was kneaded and squashed like dough. After struggling in vain, Qingzhi’s eyes welled with tears, and she muttered some bubbles.

“Good.”

Wei Lingjiang nodded.

“...Wrong? Hahaha! Qingzhi is wrong?! Qingzhi is always right!”

No sooner had Wei Lingjiang released her, Qingzhi’s expression changed. She scrambled away to the corner of the side room.

Only after putting distance between herself and Wei Lingjiang, did she smugly put her hands on her hips and laugh wildly toward the sky:

“Qingzhi is always right! Qingzhi never errs!”

Wei Lingjiang’s lips curved slightly. She beckoned, and Qingzhi’s laughter turned to panic as she floated back toward Wei Lingjiang, eyes wide, baring her teeth and claws.

“Full of rebellious spirit, uncomfortable if not beaten daily?”

After a while, amid Qingzhi’s cries and pleas, Wei Lingjiang finally released her face, smiling:

“You came to me because you feared you’d be beaten to death someday for that mouth of yours, so you wanted to find someone to bury you early, didn’t you?”

Qingzhi covered her cheeks and ran away grumpily.

Standing at the door, just about to resume her antics, she noticed Wei Lingjiang smiling with narrowed eyes, as if hiding some ill intent.

She shivered and quickly cleared her throat, forcing a smile:

“My lady has the bearing of an emperor! Among three thousand maidens, she ranks among the immortals! We’ll all become immortals together in time!”

“Non sequitur, going crazy again?”

Wei Lingjiang chuckled and shook her head, ignoring her further.

“But, Miss...”

Qingzhi hesitated at the door, then scratched her head, probing:

“Are you really willing to give up your Dao merit and the Heavenly Outer Residence left by Master Yan Xi to obtain an entry certificate, and bring Chen Heng back to the mountain gate with you?”

“Why? Isn’t it enough?”

Wei Lingjiang’s smile faded, her expression quiet:

“I have accumulated sixty-four great Dao merits. Even the sect’s ‘True Explanation of the Food God Qi by Dao Lord Chongxu Zhide’ allows just one viewing, not to mention the Outer Residence from Master Yan Xi... No matter how difficult entry into the sect may be, securing a lower court position should be more than sufficient.”

“But giving up those two residences—what about the Dan Yuan Conference?”

“The Dan Yuan Conference is a grand assembly of all the prodigies from the Eight Sects and Six Clans of the entire Xu Du Tian, competing fiercely. Such a venue cannot be swayed or determined by just one or two elder residences.”

Wei Lingjiang shook her head. “Even if there are some complications, it doesn’t matter. Don’t overthink it.”

“Alright, even if everything you say is true, I’ll just take it as truth.”

Qingzhi sighed with pretended maturity, stepping before Wei Lingjiang and locking eyes with her:

“But have you thought about whether he’s willing?”

“What?”

“Chen Heng probably doesn’t want to return to Chi Ming Sect with you. Although you intend to bring him into the Dao and bestow him with the Immortal Longevity Talisman, he was once abducted and made a favorite...”

Qingzhi shrugged:

“You’ve gotten to know him these days. Chen Heng is stubborn to the point of being impervious... I don’t think he’d want to return to the sect or owe you that favor.”

Wei Lingjiang fell silent for a moment.

After a long while, she lowered her gaze lightly:

“You don’t understand him.”

Qingzhi scratched her head in confusion.

“What you said isn’t wrong. He hates owing others favors, especially mine...”

Wei Lingjiang paused several breaths before continuing calmly:

“But the proposal to go to Chi Ming Sect might not be rejected by Chen Heng... He desires longevity and always uses it as an excuse. To attain immortality and realize the longevity he speaks of, within the entire Xu Du Tian Universe, the only way is through the Eight Sects and Six Clans.”

“What if he stubbornly refuses to go to Chi Ming Sect?”

Qingzhi persisted.

Wei Lingjiang glanced at her, forming a palm into a blade, gazing into empty air, and smiled mysteriously:

“He won’t be stubborn. He’s waiting to come back. After I speak, he won’t have a choice.”

Qingzhi felt a chill at her neck and quickly shrank her head, silently cursing:

“Knock him out and take him away? Looks like you did use my plan after all! But you’re only a Qi refinement spirit now; you might not be able to overpower Chen Heng...”

Though thinking this, Qingzhi asked further:

“Even if all that’s settled, the old witch Zhuo Jing won’t allow you to do it, right?”

Wei Lingjiang glared at Qingzhi.

“Zhuo Jing old... never mind! She is an old witch!”

Qingzhi braced herself and glared back:

“Old witch Zhuo Jing has never had a Dao partner! You are her disciple, and I think she can’t bear to see you find one.

Even if you bring Chen Heng back, Zhuo Jing won’t let him live comfortably in Chi Ming Sect!”

This time, Wei Lingjiang truly fell silent.

But before she could speak, outside the door, an unusually calm and cold voice suddenly sounded:

“Romantic love between men and women is human nature. Even Dao Lord Tai Wenmiao once indulged in it and could not extricate himself. How could ordinary people like you and me be different?

Yet this poor Dao’s heart is not so narrow as to fixate on a mere Qi refiner and seek to find fault with him.”

Qingzhi stared blankly at Wei Lingjiang for a long moment, puzzled by the sudden change in tone.

Only after a while did she realize someone outside had spoken.

Startled to the core, she took three hurried steps back, almost leaping out the window if not for Wei Lingjiang’s grasp.

“Zhuo Jing... Great True Lord Zhuo Jing...”

Qingzhi was tearful and helpless.

“Master?! Why have you come?”

Wei Lingjiang was both surprised and delighted.

Hurrying to open the door, she saw on the corridor a middle-aged Daoist nun with phoenix-shaped eyebrows reaching her temples and eyes like cold lightning.

In her hands, she held a Three Treasures Jade Ruyi scepter, the handle embedded with tourmaline, water sand, yellow jasper, and star essence, carved into the forms of three dragons and two tigers, brilliantly radiant and dazzling.

Seeing Wei Lingjiang greet her joyfully, True Lord Zhuo Jing smiled faintly and nodded with satisfaction:

“Lingjiang.”

“Disciple pays respects to Master.”

Wei Lingjiang released Qingzhi and bowed deeply, only to be gently lifted by a force so she did not touch the ground.

“And the Ruyi Child, long time no see.”

After being lifted, Wei Lingjiang greeted the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, which shimmered and emitted a youthful, clear laughter in return.

“Lingjiang’s strategy of using force against force was well executed. Now that the fierce Yin Sheng Demon is gone, your long-browed senior uncle has sent the child to the Ai family to clarify matters, settling relationships. Even if trouble arises with the Ai family in the future, it won’t affect your merits.”

True Lord Zhuo Jing nodded:

“From now on, you can focus on refining the Three Treasures within the cave realm, preparing to form your Golden Core. No more worries about external affairs.”

“This success is all thanks to Master’s great blessing.”

Wei Lingjiang invited True Lord Zhuo Jing inside and personally served tea, smiling:

“However, Master, the opportunity to survive the Three Calamities that you mentioned—I’m sorry, but this disciple has yet to see any sign of it.”

True Lord Zhuo Jing’s hand paused mid-lift of her cup, and her eyes showed a trace of helplessness.

The Three Calamities opportunity—

Calculated from the Two Poles Fate Plate, whether it is truly reliable remains to be proven.

Not only she, but even the Dao Lord himself might not be able to calculate it with perfect accuracy.

“The Dao has fifty stages, Heaven’s evolution is forty-nine, and humans escape one... But escaping even one is not so easily seized. Even the Dao Lord cannot calculate it down to the last fraction.”

True Lord Zhuo Jing shook her head lightly:

“Since all human affairs are done, it’s best to quietly accept fate. Overthinking the Three Calamities opportunity is useless; better to set it aside for now.”

She gestured toward Qingzhi to leave the room.

Qingzhi, sweating coldly for some time, felt as if she had been granted amnesty and scurried out like a flustered fat rabbit.

Before leaving, she slammed the door behind her.

“Master?”

“Interested? Chen Heng?”

“I...”

Wei Lingjiang faltered, about to speak, but True Lord Zhuo Jing interrupted.

“Senior Brother Long Brow has already persuaded Senior Sister Shang to join our side. With her endorsement, many elders within the Five Palaces and Three Sects will support you as the candidate for Dao Son.”

True Lord Zhuo Jing spoke calmly:

“Senior Sister Shang has a big appetite. For her, Senior Brother Long Brow and several senior uncles have paid dearly. You must not forget this favor when you ascend.”

“Senior Sister Shang, once the head of Zhuoguang Palace?!”

Wei Lingjiang’s expression brightened, then grew solemn:

“Master, I shall always remember the elders’ kindness and never forget!”

“The elders’ support is but a small matter in the contest for Dao Son. More valuable is Senior Sister Shang’s close friendship with True Lord Zhou, current head of Chisong Palace.

True Lord Zhou once owed a great favor to the previous sect leader.”

True Lord Zhuo Jing’s expression remained unchanged:

“If she agrees to step forward and help you, all the others like Sima Fang and Xie Tan will fall behind you...

However, this True Lord studies the Supreme Heartless Dao...”

True Lord Zhuo Jing looked ahead:

“Disciple, do you understand what I mean?”

Wei Lingjiang’s face instantly stiffened.

“Teacher—”

After a long pause, she spoke hoarsely:

“To secure your position as Dao Son, the elders have run everywhere, owing many favors and spending great wealth. At this moment, you cannot retreat! How could you possibly back down?”

“Moreover...”

True Lord Zhuo Jing looked at Wei Lingjiang’s dazed face and sighed heavily:

“Recently, I received news—news that is not good for you.”

“Please speak, Master.”

Wei Lingjiang’s fingertips whitened from clenching, but she only replied instinctively.

“The Wei family head, Wei Shao, has returned from the Void Emperor Heaven and reached a deal with the Red Spirit Taoist King of Ten Thousand Blessings, Tao Rong.”

True Lord Zhuo Jing averted her gaze, unwilling to watch the complex emotions flicker across Wei Lingjiang’s small face.

“Wei Shao has now obtained the Wind-Fire Meditation Mat...”

With a rumble, the sky seemed to roll with thunder!

Wei Lingjiang suddenly lifted her head, her face turning pale as death!

...

...

Under a clear blue sky, with warm winds gently fluttering garments, Chen Heng slowly withdrew his gaze from the deep, splendid Zisu Eight Directions Palace, his expression contemplative.