Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path
Chapter 390 - 350: The Fish May Not Die, But the Net Must Break

Chapter 390: Chapter 350: The Fish May Not Die, But the Net Must Break

Zhou Ping’an discovered something quite strange.

That was, starting with the Five Desires Evil Art, the Prison Suppressing Demon Subjugation Scripture seemed to require no sudden enlightenment, nor face any bottlenecks.

All along, it had involved using a large amount of resources to pile up, as long as the method was correct and the resources were sufficient, one could strengthen indefinitely.

Just like forging iron...

If the path of Qi Refinement is said to face one barrier after another, involve sudden enlightenment, bottlenecks, etc., like combining different material ratios, mastering various synthesis formulas, and undergoing reactions to obtain the most durable alloy,

then the Prison Suppressing Demon Subjugation Sect’s cultivation method was to melt all sorts of disordered metals, continuously hammer them, from hundred-times forging to thousand-times to ten-thousand times, thus obtaining the most solid Divine Iron...

In the path of Qi Refinement, one ultimately comprehends the rules of heaven and earth, leading Qi with intent, activating the energy of heaven and earth until the rules are mastered.

Using the human body’s tiny frame to leverage the entire universe.

On the other hand, body refinement took another route from the beginning.

That was, continuously digging inward, treating the tiny human body as the universe to be transformed, until one’s body becomes the universe itself.

One seeks outward.

The other digs inward.

This must be the different transcendent paths of destiny and nature, form and spirit.

’Given that the spiritual mechanism has not yet reached its peak, and that cultivation is rather difficult currently, being able to obtain the [Starlight Body Refining Technique] a step ahead must be thanks to the Nine Sons Subdue Demon Order’s credit.’

That is precisely why the Subduing Demon Order is so precious, that even the legitimate disciples from the Penglai Immortal Sect are secretly cultivating and covertly entering trials.’

’Now that my territory is quite small, just a hundred miles around, influenced by the major forces, my cultivation speed increases crazily. Once I reach the Great Completion Cycle, it will probably slow down.

To continue cultivating at a rocket-like speed, I would still need to occupy more territory, gathering more public heart...’

About this phenomenon, how exactly did it form?

Zhou Ping’an actually didn’t know clearly.

Every world has its own rules.

He just needed to accept them and then make use of them.

Since the ancients had confirmed that gaining momentum, seizing fate, and altering one’s destiny were the most effective shortcuts to cultivation, he didn’t need to question everything to the end, fearing there might be hidden dangers.

That would be too finicky.

As long as it is useful, it’s good.

As for body refinement,

Zhou Ping’an’s currently found shortcut involved, on one hand, breaking through the trial stages of the Nine Sons Subdue Demon Order and obtaining the inheritance seed, gaining the qualifications for cultivation.

On the other hand, of course, it involved utilizing the infinite Incense Prayer Power, that is, everyone’s admiring and trusting heart thoughts to boost cultivation, speeding up the integration of starlight from outside the world.

How fast one can train,

the key still depends on how much Power of Wishes one can obtain.

Thinking it through,

Zhou Ping’an suddenly realized that the "Karmic Fire Red Lotus Visualization Method," a technique that could generate Karmic Fire and meld the power of life’s wishes even when one’s own power was extremely weak, seemed not so simple after all.

It couldn’t even be considered a part of martial arts.

What’s most mysterious is,

this Visualization Method fits extremely well with the cultivation methods of the Prison Subduing Demon Sect.

It’s almost as if it was tailor-made.

With the "Karmic Fire Red Lotus Visualization Method" as a supplement, coupled with the body refining technique of the Prison Suppressing Demon Subjugation Scripture as the main practice, the speed of strength enhancement is like rolling forward, without pause.

"Could it be, I have come across another incredible secret?"

Many things can’t be fully understood unless one reaches a certain level.

Zhou Ping’an simply did not bother to delve deeper.

He would focus on cultivating for now, and when one day his strength reached a significant height, he would naturally come into contact with some realities of this world.

At this time, there was no need to rush.

...

The moonlight outside the window was soft and lustrous.

Several buildings apart, Third Miss had not yet rested and was dancing lightly with a long sword under the moonlight.

The full moon above her head and Mingyue in her hands reflected each other.

One real, one imaginary, Mingyue illuminating the sky.

It carried a flavor both real and illusory.

Compared to the move she directed at him during the day,

Third Miss’s Sword Technique had become more delicate and gentle...

The force of true qi, vital energy and blood force, as well as the edge of Divine Will, all converged in that moonlight sword light.

It did not stir a single breath of wind.

If not seen with his own eyes, indeed, no one would know she had been diligently practicing her Sword Technique in the courtyard all along.

Having just refined the second joint of his little finger bone, Zhou Ping’an experienced the infinite mighty power hidden within the bone, felt a slight fatigue in his spirit, and involuntarily stopped the action of drawing in starlight, releasing his spirit to observe all around.

He also watched Lin Huaiyu practicing with her sword.

This was his habit.

During his spare time, he would release his spirit, scanning the surrounding hundred meters—firstly for early warning, secondly for enjoying the scenery.

Entertaining and keeping watch at the same time.

"Eh..."

Zhou Ping’an first radiated his psychic waves aimlessly outward, then slowly extended them in four directions.

He had tried it; if scanning in all directions, his spirit could only observe up to a hundred meter radius.

But if only exploring in one direction, he could search up to about two hundred meters away.

At this moment, his spiritual power unintentionally explored towards the southeast and saw a small figure in the deep night, circled by moonlight, turning in circles.

The figure occasionally moved closer two steps, hesitating in her movements.

Sometimes moving further away as if to leave, then stopping again after a while.

She was clearly extremely indecisive.

"Xiao Ju?"

Zhou Ping’an recognized the figure at a glance.

Some days ago, this maid had been captured by the Scattered Flower Celestial Maiden and had suffered a great deal until he treated her wounds.

Of course, even if he hadn’t treated her wounds, he would have recognized her.

Every time he went to the Flower Washing Garden to discuss music and philosophy with Miss Qing, this girl would always be there to boil water for tea or serve food and wine.

Despite her young age, she worked precisely and considerately, with the manner of a matron from a big family’s household.

It was already late hours, around ten o’clock in the evening, and she was still wandering the streets; seeing her like this, she seemed to be troubled and hesitant to make a decision.

"What exactly was the matter?"

Zhou Ping’an’s heart stirred slightly.

His figure had already turned into a shadowy apparition as he leaped out of the window; within two movements, he was in front of Xiao Ju.

"Where is Miss Qing?"

The only reason she would still be pacing outside the County Yamen this late was that something had happened to Miss Qing.

Perhaps it was due to Miss Qing’s instructions that prevented her from disobeying orders, and thus, she dared not come knocking.

"Miss she... Ooh..."

Xiao Ju covered her mouth with her hand, her eyebrows knotted together, tears inevitably starting to fall.

She had not even cried when bitten and gnawed by ants and venomous snakes.

Zhou Ping’an’s heart skipped heavily.

"What happened to Miss Qing?"

A terribly fierce and icy aura suddenly emanated from him.

Although he instantly came to his senses and withdrew it quickly,

it still made Xiao Ju feel as though her breathing was about to stop, her entire body going cold.

It seemed as if for that moment, a gigantic beast had appeared before her, ready to devour her in one bite.

She stared blankly at Zhou Ping’an, her heart pounding furiously, gasping heavily, clearly terrified.

However, it wasn’t entirely without benefits, as it made her forget to cry any further, and coming back to her senses, she hastily pulled out a letter from her bosom.

"I can’t keep it a secret anymore, Miss told me not to tell the adults, but I still feel, this isn’t right."

For the first time in her life, she was going against her young mistress’s wishes.

Xiao Ju felt both nervous and hopeful.

Her face slightly distorted with conflict.

Zhou Ping’an took the letter, and upon unfolding it, he saw a beautifully elegant script.

"May my lifelong aspirations be fulfilled, as I lament the heavens are too low..."

Merely ten characters, yet laden with profound emotions, tender sentiments, and deep wishes and expectations.

Through the script.

Zhou Ping’an seemed to see once again, the lady clad in light yellow, lightly smiling before him, plucking the strings of her lute with bowed head.

The sound of the lute was clear, hesitating to convey the unspoken words.

"Tell me everything, the full sequence of events, and when exactly did Miss Qing leave Qingyang City, not omitting a single detail..."

Zhou Ping’an fell silent for a moment, before gently folding up the letter and placing it in his chest, asking in a deep voice.

"Yes, after the young mistress received the dart items..."

Xiao Ju promptly provided a detailed account, fearing any delay, she quickly relayed the events of the evening.

Additionally, she revealed a piece of news that Miss Qing had never mentioned before.

Miss Qing’s real name was Gu Qingluo; as a child, her parents died of illness, leaving her and her older sister, Gu Hongyi, to rely on each other.

That year, Miss Qing was eight years old, her sister thirteen.

Two such young children, struggling to survive, had undoubtedly endured countless hardships, being willing but unable to find even the dirtiest of work.

Even begging for food exposed them to the risk of being abused.

Every day, they smeared their faces with dirt, like two mud monkeys, cutting grass, chopping wood, and washing clothes to earn a meager sum to fill their stomachs, and even these meager opportunities to earn a living were few and far between.

Although the wealthy households were "kind" to occasionally distribute porridge, it wasn’t guaranteed that they could grab a share each time.

Besides, they couldn’t outrun the ferocious dogs they encountered.

Eventually one day, older sister Hongyi found a way, selling herself into a brothel, and fortunately, she caught the attention of the manager.

As a result, Miss Qing, skinny as a bag of bones, also started to have better days, at least, she wouldn’t starve to death.

As her sister became popular day by day, Miss Qing finally got to wear new clothes and eat well...

As Xiao Ju recounted some secrets Miss Qing had revealed while intoxicated,

Zhou Ping’an roughly understood how Miss Qing was selected and stood out among a group of children to join the Red Lotus Sect.

Her sister, Hongyi, had also joined and became a physical instructor...

Latterly, Miss Qing became a Celestial Maiden within the sect.

It was a meteoric rise.

Her sister’s days improved as well.

Aside from not being allowed to leave and being closely watched, her life was calm and serene, which was somewhat bearable compared to the past.

As for what followed, Miss Qing went to the Three Counties of Liyou to covertly expand her influence,

her sister, Hongyi, was left in the sect as a hostage.

The two sisters had been separated for a long time.

This was yet another story.

"Recently, I overheard the young mistress talking to herself, saying she had sent out some people to inquire about Hongyi’s whereabouts, but received no news.

She also mentioned that once Qingyang City had gotten through its peril, she would set out to bring her sister over."

"And then, received her sister’s arm?"

Zhou Ping’an spoke evenly, shaking his head, "How could such a major incident be concealed?

She thought it was a personal matter and didn’t want to drag me into it, but she didn’t understand, it’s always been about striking first rather than being at the mercy of others.

Saintess Yunling has made her move, and now even if I don’t want to, I must respond. It’s no longer just Miss Qing’s issue."

Zhou Ping’an certainly knew that this matter was actually directed at him.

As one of the Trinity Saintesses of the Red Lotus Sect, surrounded by experts, holding such high power and esteem, why would she go to such lengths to antagonize a relative of a Celestial Maiden without substantial reason, thereby lowering her own stature?

However, if such untactful actions could easily seize Qingyang City, eliminate a major threat, and vent some spite,

then it was necessary.

Zhou Ping’an understood, if one scheme failed, there would certainly be another in the making.

You can hide on the first day but not the fifteenth.

Besides, he couldn’t just watch Miss Qing be sent to her death.

’Having just advanced to the Second Realm Clarity, having acquired the Starlight Body Refining Technique, developed the Crushing Army Blade Intent, my strength has greatly increased...

Even I am somewhat unsure about the current level of my strength, and I was looking for an enemy to test the sharpness of my blade.’

’Laying in wait, I only hope that your net is strong enough.’

Looking towards the east, Zhou Ping’an’s gaze was profound.

...

Asking for monthly pass.