Aspiring to the Immortal Path
chapter-465

Turning his head, Tang Jie saw an old man in purple robes standing on the last step to the terrace.

He smiled at Tang Jie and said, "The man commands the heart, but the man's nature provides the direction. Perhaps you feel that you've already done everything you can and have held nothing back, but your heart knows that this is not actually the case. The ultimate saber intent is a saber intent that sacrifices everything. By 'sacrifice', I don't mean just your life, but also your arts. You have learned far too much. How can a jumbled mess with no order be considered the ultimate? If you want to unleash a saber like that, you must first clean up all your arts."

Tang Jie was left dumbfounded.

Countless thoughts surged through his mind. The old man's words had allowed him to understand many things that had previously puzzled him.

He had not been able to unleash a saber that he wanted despite all his efforts because his methods were too much of a mess.

It was precisely through all these various methods that he had managed to beat countless foes. But it was precisely his habit of dividing his moves into stages that restrained his progress and prevented him from reaching the level of the ultimate.

To reach the ultimate naturally meant to compress everything so that there was no retreat, and then unleash it all at once!

Realizing this, he deeply bowed to the elder. "Senior, thank you for the instruction. This Tang Jie is filled with utmost gratitude!"

The old man smiled.

He looked down at the step beneath him and then shook his head and sighed. "I can't make this final step. Pull me up."

Tang Jie was startled, and then he realized that the old man was asking him to pull him up to the terrace.

The Water Moon Paradise's rules said that a person had to get up the mountain through their own power. No one could borrow an outside power, so pulling up a person was definitely against the rules.

But Tang Jie only hesitated a little before extending his hand and pulling the old man up.

The two of them together managed to get the old man onto the terrace.

Standing on the terrace, the old man looked around and began to giggle. "The Terrace of Heroes… haha, this old man finally got onto the Terrace of Heroes."

His words were packed with sorrow and melancholy.

Tang Jie looked at the man and finally couldn't help but ask, "Senior, might I ask…"

The old man seemed to wake from a dream, saying with a smile, "I forgot to introduce myself. This old man is Luo Hanzhen of the Blood War Hall."

Tang Jie was startled when he heard the name. "So it is the Blood River True Person!"

Blood River True Person Luo Hanzhen was a rather famous individual within the Basking Moon Sect, and what he was most famous for was the number of people he had killed.

It was said that the number of cultivators who had been killed by the Blood River True Person exceeded one thousand.

Having a kill count of more than a thousand sounded normal, but such a cultivator was actually one-in-a-thousand. The rest of them were all dead.

Thus, at least when it came to killing, the Blood River True Person even beat out True Lords.

But this wasn't because he was cruel and bloodthirsty. Rather, it was because of his status as the deputy hall master of the Blood War Hall.

Luo Hanzhen was actually extremely strong, and it was said that he had once competed for a seat among the 19 Celestial Chiefs, but in the end, he had lost to the Blood War Hall Master, Xiao Kebo. He took on the role of deputy instead, serving as Xiao Kebo's first deputy hall master.

As was the Basking Moon Sect's custom, the first deputy hall master was in charge of day-to-day operations. From then on, the Blood War Hall's First Deputy Hall Master led the hall's disciples in battles across the land.

In this era of peace, he was one of the few people in the sect who spent most of his time on campaign. The Blood War Hall was the hall of the War Department's three halls concerned with battle, and he had been campaigning for several hundred years, so this sort of achievement wasn't strange. It was especially impressive considering that he disdained to strike ordinary disciples for fear of lowering his dignity.

This was why Tang Jie had caused such a sensation when he killed more than a hundred Beast Refining Gate disciples. This would be a glorious achievement no matter which sect it had occurred in.

Tang Jie turned solemn and said, "Secret Hall Disciple Tang Jie pays respects to Hall Master Luo!"

Luo Hanzhen waved his hand. "I know who you are. In terms of reputation, yours has surpassed mine in the last few years. It seems that we'll have to add you to the ranks of Wei Gaochen, Shen Zhengbo, Hua Ziyi, Xiao Shuqiu, and Bei Canghan when it comes to future supporting pillars of the sect."

Tang Jie hastily said, "Tang Jie does not dare to accept Hall Master's heavy praise!"

The people Luo Hanzhen had mentioned were all the most famous disciples of the Basking Moon Sect in recent years, and among them, Bei Canghan was at the very bottom. The likes of Peng Yaolong and Qi Shaoming didn't even have the right to enter the list. Even Tang Jie was rather panicked to hear Luo Hanzhen putting his name with them.

Luo Hanzhen indifferently said, "It is good for the young to be modest, but too much modesty is nothing more than a sham. How can someone who can enter the Water Moon Paradise be incompetent? If you've entered the Water Moon Paradise and still lack the confidence to brag a little, then you are a little too lacking in confidence."

Tang Jie grew alert, and he solemnly said, "Hall Master is right. Tang Jie will strive to work harder and reach even higher."

"That's the right way to do things." Luo Hanzhen nodded. "Right, how long have you been in the Water Moon Paradise?"

Tang Jie replied, "I've been here for 32 days."

"32 days… not too long. I heard that you've been out and about during the last ten years to gather contribution points, so you should be able to last for a while."

"This disciple accumulated 33,000 contribution points, enough to stay in the Water Moon Paradise for 110 days. I currently have 78 days left."

"78 days…" Luo Hanzhen put his hands behind his back and began to think. "It's neither long nor short. With your aptitude, you should be able to get to the next terrace, so why have you decided to stop and instead waste your time with the things on this wall? You only need to look a little at these things for reference. Focusing on them too much will distract from your own cultivation and is not the proper path."

Tang Jie bitterly smiled. "It is not that this disciple does not want to, but I have entered the Three Witherings."

'Entered the Three Witherings'?

Only now did Luo Hanzhen notice that strand of white hair on Tang Jie's head.

"I see…" Luo Hanzhen shook his head and laughed. "It seems that my eyes are going bad, to have not noticed such a thing. No wonder you've stopped here. It seems that you don't have the confidence to break through the Three Witherings in the time you have left."

Tang Jie replied, "I used the resources I had to break into Cognitive Creation, but I lack the strength to pass through the Three Withering Tribulations, so I chose to stop here and study the writings of my seniors. My plan is to gain some insights before continuing my climb in the hopes that they will be of some help. When the time comes, I will see how far I can climb."

Luo Hanzhen laughed. "Kid, you're rather openminded. Since you've already spent twenty-some days in front of this wall, I think you've already seen everything that you needed to see, so it would be better to continue up the mountain. While the view around the midway point is nice, it's still inferior to the view higher up. While some things are written nicely, they're not worth anything more than a passing glance… Let me ask you: are you interested in climbing Water Moon Peak with me?"

'Climbing Water Moon Peak with you'?

Tang Jie gave Luo Hanzhen a weird look.

If he recalled correctly, he had needed to give this old man a helping hand to get him up here.

Most importantly, he remembered that Luo Hanzhen was at the peak of Celestial Heart, a Soul Transformation Tier cultivator.

At his cultivation level, it was extremely difficult to make any more progress.

Although there was no rule of the Basking Moon Sect that placed a restriction on the cultivation level at which one could enter the Water Moon Paradise, the Water Moon Paradise's own arrangements essentially told everyone that it was best to enter when one was at a low level, for those at a high level would find little benefit from going inside.

Luo Hanzhen was just such a case. He was already in the Soul Transformation Period, and the next tier would be Violet Palace.

This meant that there was basically no chance that Luo Hanzhen could advance anymore, meaning that it was basically impossible for him to reach the summit.

For the vast majority of people, there was no point in entering the Water Moon Paradise after reaching this level of cultivation.

Of course, if one wasn't thinking about reaching the summit and only about breathing in the concentrated spiritual energy, then there was no problem. But for True Persons who calculated time units in decades and centuries, several dozen days here was really of little meaning.

Tang Jie didn't know how he had managed to make it all the way from the base of the mountain to the 500-meter Terrace of Heroes. Perhaps he really did have some kind of breakthrough, but with his strength, this level of breakthrough was undoubtedly limited. The Terrace of Heroes was probably his limit.

Luo Hanzhen saw that he was thinking, so he chuckled and said, "What? Do you think this old man doesn't have much hope of advancing? Do you really think I can't do it?"

Tang Jie fawningly said, "This disciple wouldn't dare…"

Before he could finish, Luo Hanzhen went toward the next step.

He easily placed his foot on the step, not at all appearing like he was lacking in strength.

Tang Jie was stunned as Luo Hanzhen turned to him and said, "What? Do you need me to pull you up?"

As if waking from a dream, Tang Jie hastily went onto the step, and then he suddenly stopped. "Senior, please wait a moment."

"Hm?" Luo Hanzhen looked at him.

He saw Tang Jie walk toward the wall and begin to write on it with his finger.

Rather than rushing him, Luo Hanzhen simply grinned and watched.

After a while, Tang Jie finished writing and walked back to Luo Hanzhen.

Luo Hanzhen asked, "What did you write?"

Tang Jie replied, "This disciple is untalented and only wrote some insights I had regarding the Dao."

"You've already comprehended a Dao?" Luo Hanzhen nodded. "Not bad, not bad."

He turned and began to make his way up the mountain, and Tang Jie hastily followed.

From 500 meters onward, the obstructive force of the Water Moon Paradise grew even stronger, and the pressure was now everpresent. This pressure made it so that cultivators would have to circulate spiritual energy throughout their bodies in order to resist, making recovery more difficult and also making it so that they were cultivating at every moment.

This was also why Tang Jie had not already started his ascent, for once he started going up, whether he was willing or not, he would once more enter the cultivation state, and there would be no stopping it. As he was in the middle of the Three Withering Tribulations, the more he cultivated, the more his strength would fall. The more time he spent above 500 meters, the more disadvantageous it was for him. This was why he had chosen to stay on the Terrace of Heroes, only planning to make a charge at the final moment.

Of course, there were advantages to setting off early. More time spent cultivating meant breaking through the Three Withering Tribulations earlier. Even if he couldn't break through in the Water Moon Paradise, once he went back, he wouldn't have to go through as many twists and turns.

Perhaps this was the reason that led Tang Jie to agree to follow Luo Hanzhen up the mountain.

Tang Jie walked behind Luo Hanzhen, step by step.

He saw Luo Hanzhen holding his hands behind his back, his expression relaxed. It seemed like he wasn't experiencing any of the challenges presented by the mountain.

At an easy pace, the two of them soon arrived at the 550-meter terrace.

Luo Hanzhen turned to Tang Jie and saw that while Tang Jie was breathing hard, he could still go on. Smiling and nodding, he said, "You're pretty good. As expected, you still have some strength left."

Tang Jie shook his head and bitterly smiled. "Senior praises me too much. It seems like 600 meters will be my limit."

"Oh?" Luo Hanzhen glanced at him and said, "Why do you say that?"

Tang Jie replied, "While climbing up the mountain looked easy, I actually used all my strength. In this charge up to 600 meters, I will probably need more than a day. And this isn't the worst part. The worst part is that when I started climbing up the steps, my energy began to circulate on its own because of the surrounding pressure, and the Three Withering Tribulations are intensifying. The more one goes up, the harder it is to advance, but my strength will only fall. Thus, getting above 600 meters is basically impossible."

"Is that how it is…" Luo Hanzhen nodded. "A pity. I was originally planning to walk with you to the Basking Moon Chasm at 750 meters so that you could observe the handiwork of the Cloud Ancestor, but it seems that you won't have this fortune. Ah, forget it. The road of life is long, and we can only try and get as far as we can. Since you can only make it up to 600 meters, then we will take in the sights at 600 meters."

He sat down and closed his eyes to rest.

Seeing this, Tang Jie didn't dare to say any more and also began to rest.

After resting for enough time, he stood up and said, "Hall Master, I'm done resting."

"Oh," Luo Hanzhen said. He opened his eyes and began making his way up the mountain without another word.

These 50 meters took particularly long to walk.

Clenching his teeth, Tang Jie climbed up, step by step.

Alas, as the climb grew more difficult, his strength only fell.

In these short 50 meters, Tang Jie grew so many white hairs that his temples had gone completely white.

After one day and half a night, Tang Jie finally reached the end of those 50 meters.

By the time he arrived, Luo Hanzhen had been waiting for some time.

Upon seeing Tang Jie arrive, Luo Hanzhen said, "Since you don't have the strength to put it off any longer, you should just focus on pushing through the Three Witherings."

"This disciple understands," Tang Jie respectfully said.

After getting his 600-meter reward from the Agriculture Hall disciples, Tang Jie immediately consumed all the spirit plants he had and began to cultivate on the terrace.

The three spirit plants caused Tang Jie's cultivation level to rise, but after only one night with this increased cultivation, Tang Jie's hair had all turned white and his face was covered in wrinkles like a withered old man.

This was proof that he was well into the Three Withering Tribulations now, his mortal body nearing death while his spiritual body had yet to be born. At this moment, Tang Jie was even weaker than a Nine Revolutions cultivator.

No path up ahead and waiting for the day of return.

This was probably the best description of Tang Jie's current situation.

Starting from this day, Tang Jie spent every day cultivating at the 600-meter terrace.

The days went by.

As he cultivated, his energy and blood withered and his body grew weaker and weaker. These were signs that the Three Withering Tribulations were intensifying. At this time, Tang Jie's strength had fallen below Hundred Refinement.

But Tang Jie continued to cultivate, stubbornly pushing through each day. Even if he couldn't break through, he didn't allow himself to waste any time within the Water Moon Paradise.

In comparison, Luo Hanzhen was much more relaxed.

Tang Jie had stopped at 600 meters, but Luo Hanzhen only accompanied him for a day before heading up the mountain.

Tang Jie didn't know how far he managed to get, only that he returned after a day.

Carrying a jar of wine, he sat down on the terrace and began to guzzle away.

The scent of alcohol assailed the nostrils.

What followed was a rather bizarre scene.

A Soul Transformation True Person spent every day going up the mountain to see the sights before coming back with wine to drink. Meanwhile, a young man who looked even older than he was spent every day seated on the ground in cultivation, turning older and older. The more he cultivated, the worse things seemed to get.

They chatted with each other, but they mostly talked about cultivation rather than themselves.

Forty-some days passed.

Today, Tang Jie was still cultivating. By now, he was like a guttering candle of an old man.

Luo Hanzhen suddenly walked over, and with a wave of his sleeve, a small table appeared between the two of them.

With another wave of his hand, several dishes of food appeared.

Luo Hanzhen placed his wine jar on the table. "Come, drink."

Tang Jie was startled, but he still walked over. He was just about to get out a wine cup when Luo Hanzhen said, "Just drink it like this."

The wine jar flew over to Tang Jie and slightly tilted, the alcohol pouring right into Tang Jie's mouth.

Tang Jie felt a warm current traveling through his entire body, and then large amounts of spiritual energy arose, surging through his body like a mighty river.

"Good wine!" Tang Jie couldn't help but shout.

Luo Hanzhen waved his hand, calling back the jar and refusing to let him have more. "Eat the food."

The wine was good wine, but the food consisted of ordinary appetizers.

After drinking such ambrosia, anyone would find such mortal foods tasteless.

But Tang Jie said nothing, not asking for more wine. He simply accompanied Luo Hanzhen in eating the food.

The two of them silently ate for a while before Luo Hanzhen suddenly said, "Do you not want to ask why I invited you to drink wine?"

After some thought, Tang Jie replied, "It should be because Hall Master doesn't have much time left."

Luo Hanzhen shivered. "So you already guessed it."

Tang Jie softly sighed. "Perhaps I didn't understand at the start, but after so many days, how could I not understand? Besides Agriculture Hall disciples, there is one other kind of person that is allowed to freely enter and exit the Water Moon Paradise. But I just didn't expect that I would see a senior Returning his Remnants on my first visit to the Water Moon Paradise."

Returning Remnants!

This was the fundamental reason for the Water Moon Paradise's existence.

So long as the conditions permitted them, the countless seniors of the six major sects would always choose to return to their sects' paradises, seeking to leave their lifetime of cultivation in those places.

This was the root of the Water Moon Paradise, its source of power.

When Tang Jie saw Luo Hanzhen, a Soul Transformation True Person, freely going up and down Water Moon Peak, he understood that Luo Hanzhen was reaching the end of his life.

This was why he had come here, to wait out the rest of his lifespan.

But Luo Hanzhen hadn't imagined that he would run into a junior within the Water Moon Paradise just when he was about to Return his Remnants.

Sitting on the ground, Luo Hanzhen looked into the horizon and said, "I have spent one thousand, two hundred years within the Basking Moon Sect. I should have been in the prime of my life, but alas, many injuries built up over my numerous battles, and my lifespan was reduced. Originally, I thought I would be like the other seniors, dying alone within this place, with no one to be my companion except the Agriculture Hall disciples. But it seems that the heavens have treated me kindly, for there to be a junior disciple of my sect cultivating within this paradise, accompanying me in this last part of my life. This Luo Hanzhen is truly blessed!"

He turned to Tang Jie and said, "I believe in destiny. For the two of us to meet here must be destined. Tang Jie, I have no sons. I ask you: when I die, are you willing to perform the duties of a filial son and send me off?"

Tang Jie was taken aback, and then he nodded. "This disciple is willing!"

"Will you kowtow to me?"

Tang Jie hesitated, and then he nodded. "This disciple is willing!"

"Very good! I did not think that I would be able to get a son in the moments before my death! Wonderful, wonderful!" Luo Hanzhen suddenly threw his head back and let out three loud laughs. He then emptied the jar of wine and sat down on a corner of the terrace.

As he slowly sat down, he muttered, "A thousand years of demands returned in a single day. My life belongs to me, but my death belongs to the heavens…"

A spiritual light flashed within his body.