40: Chapter 40 Life and Death

'His name is Lin Lei, and he actually practices both magic and martial arts. This poor Daoist really wants to see how far he can go after injecting him with Dragon blood?'

Ye Qingxuan murmured to himself while his gaze never left the figure walking away with Ximo—Lin Lei.

Meanwhile, the Second Elder, standing to the side, walked up with a suspicious look on his face and couldn't help pressing Ye Qingxuan, "Daoist Ye, what on earth are you riddling about?"

Not only the Second Elder, but the other four Senior Brothers were also completely baffled and at a loss at this moment, faced with everyone's puzzled expressions.

"Rather than calling what I gave him two choices, it is better to call them two paths: one is a smooth road that might lead to a dead end, and the other is a diverging path that he might forge into a glorious avenue reaching the heavens."

"Lin Lei was able to figure out and Cultivate martial arts on his own, which shows that his martial arts talent is no less than this poor Daoist's talent for Cultivating immortality. He was also able to teach himself magic, achieving Dual Cultivation of magic and martial arts. Although something went wrong, he has stepped onto a new path."

"Now, once his shortcomings are made up, it won't take long before even this poor Daoist will have to address him as a 'Fellow Daoist'!"

"! ! ! ? ? ? " Hearing this, the Second Elder was instantly shocked beyond measure, pondering inwardly, "Could it be that my own grandson is truly this formidable? Can his talent actually compare to that of Daoist Ye Qingxuan?"

For a moment, he was both excited and thrilled, while also finding it somewhat hard to believe.

Master Yuanxin and the four Senior Brothers were also deeply shocked; could martial arts talent reach the level of Ye Qingxuan?

Master Yuanxin's heart stirred once more, 'Should I take another closed-door Disciple? Forget it, forget it, this poor Daoist cannot teach martial arts anyway, I better not mislead a promising youth.'

"I wonder if the Second Elder still remembers that otherworldly birdman and the world will?" Ye Qingxuan asked in return.

"Of course I remember, why is Daoist Ye asking about this?" The Second Elder was somewhat baffled.

"Does Layman Lin still remember Qingxuan's evaluation of them?" Master Yuanxin's leisurely words made Qingming, Qingling, and Qingmo's eyes light up, as they understood what it meant.

"They only know how to use brute force, and their comprehension of the Dao is superficial?" The Second Elder tentatively said.

"Correct! If Qingxuan only compared magic power and strength, he wasn't much stronger than them, and might even be inferior. The reason he was able to easily slay them was simply because Qingxuan's understanding of the 'Dao' far exceeded theirs." Master Yuanxin explained.

Senior Brother Qingyun still had a blank look on his face.

Ye Qingxuan: "If one only Cultivates magic or only Cultivates battle qi, reaching that birdman's level is the limit."

The Second Elder came to a sudden realization: "So that's how it is. It seems this 'Dao' is the crucial part. But what does this have to do with it?"

Master Yuanxin glared at Qingyun and chanted a ballad verse,

"Cultivating only nature without life is the primary ailment of Cultivation.

Cultivating only ancestral nature without the elixir makes it hard for the myriad kalpas of yin spirits to enter sagehood.

Reaching the school of life while losing ancestral nature is just like reflecting a face without a precious mirror.

Even with a lifespan matching heaven and earth, one is just a foolish man with no Master over power, objects, and family wealth.

The Dual Cultivation of Nature and Life is profound beyond measure, steering the Dharma boat amidst the raging waves at the bottom of the sea.

Capturing the head of the flood dragon alive, only then does one know the Master artisan's reputation is not unearned."

Listening to Master chant the familiar ballad verse,

Qingyun finally understood, "This is Patriarch Lü's *Song of Striking the Yao*, so Cultivating magic is equivalent to cultivating only nature, battle qi is cultivating only life, and the Dual Cultivation of magic and martial arts can be equated to the Dual Cultivation of Nature and Life?"

Ye Qingxuan nodded, "Cultivation methods vary, but the goal of Cultivation is the same."

"This poor Daoist learned through soul-searching that on the Soro Continent, most people who practice magic and martial arts Dual Cultivation achieve nothing because the foundation of the Small World is insufficient, lacking an understanding of the Dual Cultivation of Nature and Life."

"And Lin Lei has that talent. He got injured precisely because he lacked an understanding of the 'Dao' and attempted to blend magic and martial arts, resulting in a backlash. I had him serve as a Daoist priest at Mount Mao for three months just to make up for his shortcomings."

Saying this, Ye Qingxuan took a stone slab out of his ring and handed it to the Second Elder. It contained the primordial concepts of that world's Cultivation method, to which Ye Qingxuan had added his own understanding of the Dual Cultivation of Nature and Life during the gaps in his Alchemy.

"When Lin Lei descends the mountain, give this to him."

The Second Elder accepted the stone slab without asking much, deciding to simply follow instructions.

"Daoist Ye, Sect Head Yuanxin, since Lin Lei's matter is resolved, I should take my leave."

Master Yuanxin nodded. "Would this poor Daoist need to escort you a ways?"

"There is no need to trouble the Daoist; my guards are still waiting for me down the mountain." The Second Elder waved his hand and left.

Seeing that the matter had been smoothly resolved, Ye Qingxuan turned his head to look at Qingling beside him. With a smile, he asked, "Third Senior Brother, where did you settle Xiao Jiu?"

Hearing Ye Qingxuan's inquiry, Qingling's eyes instantly lit up, and she gloated inwardly, 'Haha, what a heaven-sent opportunity!' Thus, she hurriedly replied, "She is right in my room, Junior Brother, come along with me!" As she spoke, Qingling did not forget to cast a charming and captivating glance at Ye Qingxuan.

Meanwhile, the three standing aside—Qingming, Qingyun, and Qingmo—unanimously said in unison, "Master, since there is nothing left to handle here, your Disciples will take our leave first and go back to seclusion to Cultivate!" Before their voices faded, the three of them hurriedly turned and left, as if fearing they would delay something important.

Master Yuanxin, who had been silent all along, merely waved his hand, signaling them to leave quickly and not stay here getting in the way and annoying others.

Watching his three Senior Brothers acting so strangely, Ye Qingxuan was somewhat baffled.

Master Yuanxin looked at his young Disciple's clear gaze with a look of disdain. "Go on quickly, this Master still has to wait for those two old fellows."

Qingling took Ye Qingxuan's hand and walked toward her room. Looking at their intertwined fingers, a wave of fragrance drifted into his nose, causing Ye Qingxuan's heartbeat to involuntarily accelerate a little.

Qingling wore a light cyan cloud-patterned Daoist robe, her figure tall and slender, her dark hair gently gathered by a single jade hairpin, her gentle eyebrows carrying the smile of someone whose scheme had succeeded.

The Senior and Junior Brothers along the way cast surprised glances, while Ye Qingxuan followed along like a puppet on strings.

"This... Did Qingling capture that blockhead Qingxuan?"

"Their fingers are already intertwined, so she must have captured him."

"Sister Qingling is truly awesome!"

"Sigh, Junior Brother Qingxuan ultimately failed to escape Qingling's clutches!"

"Shh, keep your voice down. Aren't you afraid she'll beat you up?"

"Hmph, what is there to be afraid of? If I can't afford to offend her, I can at least hide. This poor Daoist is heading down the mountain to teach right now."

"Senior Brother, and here I thought you were so tough?"

"Can you beat her? Now that there's an extra Junior Brother Qingxuan, am I supposed to not run and just wait for a beating?"

"That's true. Then I'm going to mine at the Spiritual Vein."

"Senior Brother, let's go together!"

Although the murmurs of the Senior and Junior Brothers behind them were soft, Ye Qingxuan was at the Late Stage Nascent Soul, and Qingling was at the Early Stage Golden Core; it was no different from them whispering right in their ears.

Qingling's ears turned red from hearing this, and she gripped his hand even tighter. Although Ye Qingxuan found it strange, he did not feel any aversion.