Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 717 - 712 Layout Part 2

Chapter 717: Chapter 712 Layout Part 2

Generally, those in the midst of Qi Cultivation place great importance on the Spirit Gathering Physique, for such a constitution can autonomously gather Spiritual Energy and fortify oneself.

Spirit Veins are indeed such; based on Gathering Spirit, they are continuously strengthened, then, influenced by many other factors, evolve into various kinds.

And the Innate Taoist Body is among them the most precious of Fifth Rank Spirit Veins.

It not only possesses the terrifying cultivation speed akin to other Spirit Veins but also an extremely powerful intuition and comprehension regarding Taoist Arts!

People with such a constitution, anything related to Taoist Arts, is understood swiftly as if reading ten lines at a glance, inferring other things from one fact.

Given a spark, they can cultivate to a remarkably high realm - a freak of nature!

"No wonder... No wonder!!" Lin Xin instantly thought of Princess Huai Yang; she too had this kind of terrible ability to comprehend Taoist Arts.

So, the origin comes from here!

"I have come here to request the Taoist Lord as my teacher!"

The Emperor stepped forward, intending to kneel down and prostrate himself with the greatest of reverence.

"Wait! First, come here, let this Divine Monarch take a good look at you."

Lin Xin interrupted him, suppressing the excitement in his heart, thinking that if he could confirm that this was the Innate Taoist Body, then almost ninety percent of the bottlenecks could be overcome, and the path of cultivation would be smooth-sailing except for a few thresholds!

As long as there is no untimely death, this is almost certainly a future Fifth Rank Human Immortal - far more freakish than any Pureblood Divine Child.

The elderly Emperor was startled, stopped in his tracks, and walked a few steps forward.

Led by the Taoist, he carefully ascended the steps and arrived before Lin Xin.

Lin Xin reached out his hand and gently touched the back of his head, then touched his heart on the left chest, a thread of Spiritual Energy circulating within his body and returning.

Indeed!!

His heart surged with joy.

It truly was the Innate Taoist Body!!

This was the constitution among the Fifth Rank Spirit Veins that was the easiest to break through, without equal!

"Child... you have a fate with me, truly born of our Taoism scattered beyond."

Lin Xin’s face revealed a trace of tender compassion, and he quietly unfolded the Art of Soul Touch.

Having lived for several hundred years, his presence was sufficiently weathered. Emitting just a hint immediately caused the Emperor to shudder, and feelings of admiration welled up within him.

The old man then thought of his days since his accession to the throne, living the life he most resisted and reluctantly, day after day, year after year, yet still he could not find the chance to return to the great Tao, and he could only watch helplessly as he grew old and feeble, stepping towards death.

Now, stirred by these emotions, he could no longer hold back, tears streaming down his face as he wept on the spot.

"Divine... Divine Monarch..."

"If you are willing, you may indeed take me as your teacher, and I shall personally instruct you!" Lin Xin spoke solemnly yet softly.

The Emperor’s eyes widened, tears barely contained.

"Master!!!"

With a loud cry, he prostrated before Lin Xin’s feet, sobbing heavily.

"Good child!"

Lin Xin helped him up with both hands.

In the great hall, a touching scene of deep master-disciple affection unfolded.

However, what baffled others was how quickly these two went from meeting to a moment of emotion in just a few short exchanges.

The Taoists each wore an odd expression, uncertain of what face to wear at this time.

Lin Xin, observing the color of his Soul Power, knew that if he set aside the identity of Emperor, the man before him was innately kind and gentle, single-mindedly devoted to the Tao without any distracting thoughts or duplicity.

Additionally, with the Innate Taoist Body, he was the perfect choice of disciple.

Perhaps, conversely, only someone without any distracting thoughts could be born with the Innate Taoist Body.

Unfortunately, he was too advanced in years.

However, Lin Xin thought, it doesn’t matter, as long as he can leave descendants! Extending his life by a few decades was no problem for him.

With this thought, he felt even better.

Looking again at the old Emperor, clearly, a genius of cultivation, yet fate had played a trick on him, making him the Emperor, who had the least time for cultivation.

"Child, tell me, what is your name?"

"Zhou Songyun, my family name is Zhou, given name Songyun," the old man, feeling embarrassed, quickly stood and wiped the tears from his face.

"Take this with you." Facing such a genius in cultivation, what more needed to be said? Lin Xin handed over a simplified version of the Green Yuan Decision.

Although it was a simplified version, to cultivate it to a very high level also required determination, willpower, aptitude, and a bit of luck.

Just like when he was in the Underworld, having the Decree did not guarantee fruition; to cultivate to the Golden Core or even Yuan Jing Realm required experiences and sacrifices, too numerous to count.

Climbing step by step in such a small world, the difficulty far surpassed those of the so-called Yuan Jing or Golden Core in the Mortal Realm.

The efforts required were vast.

"Divine Monarch, Zhao Wumian requests an audience with you."

At this moment, a Taoist entered from outside to report.

"Zhao Wumian?"

"Yes, he also brought someone named Wang Tong and a note with your handwriting," the Taoist hurriedly added respectfully.

"Besides, Daoist Master Sun Luyue of the Righteous Path seeks an audience as well."

Another Taoist entered and relayed the message.

"Righteous Path?"

Lin Xin’s mind did recall hearing this name before.

The Righteous Path was the world’s most renowned orthodox tradition of Taoism, which he had also heard about from many Taoists with whom he had interacted before.

It was a recognized sect of the Mystery Sect that had been blessed by the Emperor for its good deeds.

Daoist Master Sun Luyue, in this sect, the only one who could refer to as Daoist Master, was Sect Master Sun Luyue.

"I shall see for myself what the highest echelons of this world’s Taoist Sect are like."

With this thought in mind, Lin Xin had them both invited in.

"Disciple, you go rest in the back, take your time to ponder the Decree on the Bamboo Slips. The Qi Cultivation Techniques contained within, as one well-versed in reading the Taoist Scriptures, you should be able to understand," Lin Xin instructed the Emperor.

The old man nodded repeatedly, eager as a pecking chicken.

"I will carefully abide by the master’s decree."

He quickly followed a Taoist next to him and went towards the back.

Lin Xin sat in his seat and waited for a while.

Soon, the old man Zhao Wumian, along with the inn’s waiter whom he had once taken notice of, came in together.

"Zhao Wumian pays his respects to the Divine Monarch."

"Wang Tong pays his respects to the Divine Monarch."

Both of them respectfully saluted. Although they didn’t kneel on the ground, the respect was certainly there in abundance.

"No need for formalities," Lin Xin said with a smile. "You two, why have you come here?"

He asked knowingly.

Zhao Wumian replied with a wry smile.

"We have come to join the Divine Monarch’s mountain gate."

Since his last visit, no matter how he thought about it, he was not willing to accept his increasing old age and weakening body.

He didn’t want to die. Below his knees were his children and grandchildren, filling his home with joy and harmony. He wanted to enjoy this bliss for a few more years.

Later, when he heard that Qing Lake Mountain had opened its mountain gate widely, and recalling the higher realm Lin Xin had demonstrated before his eyes the last time,

his heart, which had been devoted to martial arts since childhood, was suddenly moved.

"I... I feel the same!!"

Wang Tong quickly added from the side.

Lin Xin smiled. The teachings should not be easily passed on. It was because he could see the emperor’s character, and indeed he still needed his help, that he had quickly accepted him.

But these two now, what reason did he have to accept them?

Wang Tong was not so bad, with excellent aptitude and a fifth-rank spirit vein. It had been him who had taken the initiative to send Wang Tong to him before.

But Zhao Wumian was different, old and weakened, with insufficient potential.

"I ask you two, what do you seek by joining my mountain gate?"

He said in a calm, light voice, yet the sound did not diminish at all and reached both their ears.

"To pursue the stronger martial arts!"

Zhao Wumian answered decisively without delay.

"Zhao has been devoted to martial arts since childhood, living only to pursue greater strength!"

At the end, he awkwardly added another sentence. "Of course, living longer wouldn’t be bad either..."

Lin Xin couldn’t help but laugh, and those around him also stifled their laughter.

The old man was certainly candid.

"What about you?"

He then looked towards Wang Tong.

"I... I... I just want to sincerely follow the Divine Monarch in cultivation. This world is a sea of suffering. I do not seek longevity; I only hope to improve myself," Wang Tong said after some thought.

This statement, uttered spontaneously, caused both Lin Xin and Zhao Wumian to fall silent.

Such pure and simple willpower, merely to improve oneself, to be better than the self from the moment before, even if only by a little bit!

Lin Xin saw such a thing in his eyes.

"You two, go to the back courtyard, and find Huai Yang to start learning the introductory cultivation decision."

He fell silent for a moment before speaking directly.

"Joining my sect requires adherence to three major precepts."

"Yes!" the two men hastily knelt and formally kowtowed.

"The first rule, do not betray or dishonor your master."

"The second rule, do not harm your fellow disciples."

"The third rule, do not reveal the sect’s cultivation decisions at will."

"Can you both adhere to these rules?"

They respectfully affirmed they could.

Then they too were led by a Taoist to the place of cultivation, to let them get a feel of it first.

After dealing with the two of them, another person was soon brought in.

This time, it was a middle-aged man with flowing long hair and a face as handsome as jade.

The man had streaks of white in his hair, obviously no longer young, and wore an exquisite gold-embroidered phoenix white Taoist robe, followed by two boys holding swords.

"I am Sun Luyue, here on behalf of the Righteous Path.

The middle-aged man gave Lin Xin a fist-and-palm salute.

Lin Xin, however, remained seated without moving.

"What are your intentions for visiting from the Righteous Path?"

He could tell that this person before him also practiced a form of qi cultivation technique, which was completely different from the Green Yuan Decision.

Perhaps because the decree was incomplete, or perhaps because the Heaven and Earth’s elemental energy was too thin, he was, at most, at the level of an inner family expert.

In a real fight, he would be at the grandmaster level, like Zhao Wumian.

Seeing that Lin Xin did not even stand,

Sun Luyue did not get angry, but the two boys behind him showed an unhappy expression.

"I am here for two reasons: first, to congratulate the Lakeside Mountain Sect on establishing its mountain gate, and second... to borrow a piece of Cave Heaven Blessed Land from the Daoist friend to cultivate the Tao together."

He glanced around the inner hall.

"Daoist friend, your selection of the Lakeside Mountain Sect location is exquisite! The concentration of nature’s spiritual energy in the back is unprecedented in my lifetime.

Being cultivators, we all share in the abundance of spiritual energy, which cannot possibly be completely utilized, so why not forge a good relationship? Allow our Righteous Path a spot, and in return, we have prepared a Taoist Sect plaque of orthodox inscription for you..."

"Send the guest away," Lin Xin interrupted him firmly. The spiritual energy of the back mountain was hard-won; there was no way he would reveal it to other sects.

"Please leave," a nearby Taoist said, his expression displeased.

Even the emperor himself was politely respectful towards their Divine Monarch, and yet this fellow from the Righteous Path dared to insinuate threats in his words.

He was truly recklessly courting death.