Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 113 - 97: Gu’s Flattery Skills: Luo Shenfu

Chapter 113: Chapter 97: Gu’s Flattery Skills: Luo Shenfu

In the Qi Sea, the Demon Sword slowly transitioned from obscurity to clarity, the Buddha Sword radiated vast golden light, and the Jade Sword remained serene and moderate.

Gu Wen observed the three entirely distinct sword techniques. The Buddha and Demon were inherently incompatible, while the Jade Sword maintained its independence from both.

Magic skills inherently reject each other. Logically, practicing both Buddha and Demon sword techniques together could lead to deviating into madness, and even slightly carelessness could be life-threatening. Although the Jade Sword did not clash with the other two, it couldn’t embrace them either, resulting in a relationship akin to the Flame Spear and Heart Sword.

Not interfering with each other, the sum was not greater than its parts in terms of power and it might even lead to distraction.

One approach to attack was enough. Different types could be seen as diverse, but identical ones were truly dull and regrettable to discard. However, when combined, the Jade Sword mitigated the incompatibility of the Buddha and Demon, thereby connecting with both.

The three stood as equals—the Three Religions uniquely converging.

"What would happen if I practiced all three of Buddha, Tao, and Demon Swords?"

Gu Wen couldn’t help but entertain this thought. He faced a vast gap from the inheritors of the Three Religions, one that couldn’t be bridged overnight.

He didn’t arrogantly believe he could surpass them shortly. Taking Jade Sword Buddha, the little nun, as an example—she nearly reached the sixth level of Daoist foundation and fulfillment. This implied that there indeed existed individuals who could fulfill their Daoist foundation purely based on innate talent without relying on external enhancements.

The inheritor of the Demon Sect had reached the seventh level of Daoist foundation, fulfilling six levels.

Comparing the two, Gu Wen felt that Jade Sword Buddha was slightly stronger. This was not only because he heard that the Demon Sect’s inheritor had his incarnations killed but also because he had closely felt the nearly integrated Daoist foundations, dharma forms, and various magic skills.

Jade Sword Buddha had not a trace of unnecessary alternate skills, much like a weakened version of Yu Hua.

"Even if my Daoist foundation matched theirs, I probably couldn’t compete with them."

Seeing the inheritors of both Buddha and Demon today, Gu Wen felt like a frog at the bottom of a well glimpsing the sky.

Given this, they were merely among the top three of the earthly and human lists, so how lax must he be to not aim for first with nine monsters above him on the Heavenly List?

Gu Wen opened his eyes and in the dead of night, he went next door to Yu Hua’s room, pushed open the door, and found her as usual, sitting by the window looking towards Heavenly Spring Mountain, the moonlight casting a cold clarity upon her.

Ordinarily in her room without her hat, the moonlit visage slowed one’s breath.

She turned around, her smile thawing snow into water, her voice clear and elegant, "You’ve acquired both the Demon and Buddha Swords, and Yuqing Sword Skill has another name, Taoist Sword. Buddha, Tao, and Demon Swords together form Broken Sword Mountain’s founding technique."

"Since ancient times, the first sword, True Sword Dao with no predecessor and no successor."

Gu Wen hadn’t even spoken, but Yu Hua seemed to know everything.

He asked, "Did Fellow Daoist arrange all this?"

Yuqing Sword Skill was given by Yu Hua, and Jade Sword Buddha had a close relationship with her. The only uncertainty was the inheritors of the Demon Sect. The first two were related to her, so it would make sense if she arranged it.

"Not really," Yu Hua shook her head. "I passed on the Yuqing Sword Skill to you because it is the finest of the Sanqing Taoist Sect, and Jade Sword Buddha gave you the Buddha Sword simply because she wanted to, while the inheritor of the Demon Sect just wanted to fool you."

She hasn’t become powerful enough to directly interfere with cause and effect, allowing the strongest sword techniques of the Three Religions to converge here. Seeing that Gu Wen seemed able to obtain some item naturally prompted her to give a push.

If it wasn’t his, Yu Hua necessarily wouldn’t be able to help him get it, but if it was his, no one else could take it away. She had missed such an opportunity regarding celestial fate once and would not miss it a second time.

"If it weren’t for the Fellow Daoist, I would hardly be able to even address the grandmaster Jade Sword Buddha..."

Gu Wen shook his head, suddenly sensing Yu Hua’s gaze turn slightly cold, and interrupted, "All this master and senior, you really know how to close the gap."

"Uh... When you need someone, naturally you should speak more respectfully."

"A respect of treating each other as guests? I’ve heard that nuns often enamor, and men particularly favor such bald-headed figures, just as demonesses like to seduce monks—the forbidden is always enticing."

Yu Hua’s voice remained indifferent, typical of her usual attitude towards others, but usually, her tone was softer when speaking to Gu Wen.

And yet, her words were strikingly aggressive.

Gu Wen felt embarrassed; he sensed something afoot—Yu Hua seemed a bit possessive.

Perhaps because it’s common for the Three Religions to recruit from each other fervently?

Gu Wen had heard much about the conflicts among the Three Religions, which boiled down to three aspects: differing philosophies, disparities in strength, and the adulteration among monks, Taoists, and demon leaders.

The movement of talents among the religions was extremely frequent, akin to the synthesis of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism from previous times. Observing the three swords of Buddha, Tao, and Demon further convinced him; the higher the level of the cultivation technique, the more they converged.

And Yu Hua’s protective behavior seemed normal; no one would want the talents under them swayed away.

"I’m not as familiar with her as I am with Fellow Daoist, and I can’t just directly speak out. Moreover, I’m resolutely aiming to become an immortal, have no interest in carnal desires, dislike women, and moreover, Jade Sword Buddha doesn’t even compare to you by half."

In just that small breath, Gu Wen displayed incredible emotional intelligence, clearly understanding the nuances of relationships and knowing precisely how to artfully express disparagement.

"I’m sorry, Nun!"

After all, he had just benefited from her kindness, and now criticizing her made Gu Wen’s conscience twinge.

Yu Hua’s brows relaxed as she said, "Even among cultivators, the visage of Jade Sword Buddha is considered mesmerizing, to say that it doesn’t match up to me by half is an exaggeration."

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

Gu Wen promptly went with the flow, his mind bustling with thoughts on how to please his benefactor.

It is only right to make someone happy after receiving their favor, but how could he cheer her up?

Suddenly, Gu Wen remembered that she always enjoyed poetry, and although he wasn’t like a scholar to recite a verse at the drop of a hat, he was always holding his poetry workbook.

Once again, he would channel the ancestors, copying a little more didn’t matter anyway.

"As I observe my fellow’s ways, they are as graceful as a startled swan and as smooth as a swimming dragon. Their glory outshines the autumn chrysanthemum and their bloom overshadows the spring pine. Like faint clouds covering the moon, they drift, like the returning snow borne by the wind..."

This came from Luo Shenfu, written by Cao Zhi of the Three Kingdoms, a peak in both his poetry and overall literary achievement.

With too many renowned commentaries to count, Gu Wen, not being a literary giant before his transmigration, chose not to appraise the tremendous achievements of his ancestors.

He knew that the depiction of the Goddess’s beauty therein could be sung for thousands of years. Suitably, this place was called Luo River, and Yu Hua, being a Taoist Heavenly Girl from the Luo River, fit the original context well.

He naturally refrained from mentioning places like "Mi Fei," "Capital City Luoyang," or "Juancheng" today; he simply used a segment to smooth over the distressed Yu Hua.

"Her arms wave like divine algae, plucking the profound Xuanzhi from the turbulent streams."

As he recited this, Gu Wen stopped, not continuing further as doing so would turn into a confession.

This clearly was not right for their relationship and would not be helpful for their current situation. Gu Wen wouldn’t venture into love talks when his cultivation time was insufficient.

Love was not a necessity and there would be plenty of time later.

Yu Hua remained silent for a long time, causing Gu Wen to gradually become uneasy, as truncating the piece had its risks of exposure.

As they remained silent for a while, Gu Wen felt it best to retreat, taking a step back and saying, "Forgive me, I will not disturb my fellow on this day..."

"Come here."

Yu Hua finally spoke, and Gu Wen obediently approached within three steps of her.

"Come a little closer."

Gu Wen moved two more steps, bringing them just a step apart.

Yu Hua, looking up at him with an ethereal glint in her eyes infused with endless spirit charm, gently caressed Gu Wen’s cheek.

Her voice was unprecedently gentle, "Have you ever said these words to anyone else?"

"Never."

Gu Wen shook his head, following an inexplicable survival instinct, feeling a slight chill down his spine.

"If you say these to others in the future, I will pull out your tongue."

Yu Hua’s voice suddenly turned ice cold, her suspicious gaze fixated on Gu Wen. Her heart was not filled with joy but a strange anxiety.

Being too talented was not necessarily a good thing.

Since he could effortlessly speak to pacify his own discontent today, he could equally charm countless female cultivators in the future. Even if he didn’t actively invite attention, people would seek him out like the nun with indecent intentions this morning.

A highly skilled individual was always viewed differently no matter where they went. If Gu Wen had been a paragon without affiliation, he would have already been snatched by the Buddhist Sect.

She began her earnest admonishment, "Our Yuqing Sect values purity and restraint. You must know that desire is a razor, and many talented young individuals have been dragged down by love. I don’t want you to waste your talent."

She didn’t appreciate the frivolous poetry?

Indeed, skill was illusory, only sincerity could touch the heart, and only true cultivation could win people over.

The strength of a cultivator lay in their cultivation.

Gu Wen felt as if he had tripped up, and quickly assured her, "I will heed your teachings, maintaining purity, restraint, and self-discipline, not coming close to romantic entanglements or female distractions even slightly."

"....."

Yu Hua was silent for a moment, then suddenly advised, "You don’t have to be so extreme, our Yuqing Sect does not advocate absolute detachment from emotions."