Chapter 64: Sect Master Wang
Surrounding him, steep mountains rose and fell, resembling a multitude of massive swords embedded into the ground. Every mountain seemed to emit beams of sword light, rushing towards the heavens.
Accompanied by the ethereal glow of ascension, the female sword immortal in the air swung her blade. The ancient grounds of her former sect and the many mountains resonated with her, threatening to tear apart the Inner Landscape.
Whoosh!
Wang Xuan made a run for it. There was not much to say. He did not want to be the scapegoat. He had suffered enough for the sake of Old Chen, enduring hardship after hardship. It was about time for the blame to find its rightful owner.
With a swoosh, Wang Xuan burst forth, carrying with him a thick aura of mystic energy.
It was then that he noticed that Qing Mu was not performing his ritualistic dance anymore. Has he grown lazy because no one else is coming in?
Qing Mu had moved a chair closer and was sitting right in front, staring intently at Wang Xuan, seeming a bit anxious. He was startled. Even though they were close by, he could not sense or see the sword energy rising to the sky in the Inner Landscape. All he observed was that Wang Xuan seemed to be possessed by some entity.
Within a few minutes, Wang Xuan's body started to tremble gently, slowly swaying. Then, he grabbed the black sword and slowly raised it. Is he trying to save someone? It felt more like he was about to strike down Old Chen!
Qing Mu, alarmed, rushed over immediately. If things went south, he would have to intervene. However, he held back because he had heard that in such situations, one should not act recklessly. Thankfully, Wang managed to get a hold of himself and slowly lowered the sword. No harm was done to his master.
Wang Xuan paid no attention to him, entirely consumed by his own world. Behind him, the mist from the Inner Landscape expanded, trying to roll over and envelop him once more. Was it attempting to pull him back in? Indeed, this experience was unlike any other he'd had before, extremely unusual.
"Old Chen, have you come back to life?" Wang Xuan shouted. He surmised that after being immersed in the mystery substance for so many years, Old Chen must be more alive than dead. Despite his calls, Old Chen showed no sign of life as he laid motionless, oblivious to his surroundings. Wang Xuan was in a peculiar state, his back covered with a thick layer of the mystery factor. Even though he had left the Inner Landscape, he had not returned to his physical body.
He feared that if he left the Inner Landscape fully, he would never be able to enter again.
He was in a dilemma. How do I guide Old Chen into the Inner Landscape? He realized that it would probably be quite difficult. No wonder the scriptures of various sects emphasized that even if a disciple has an extraordinary talent and can trigger a heightened sensory state, they still require the sect founder to guide them.
This made sense. Wang Xuan was not a sect founder, so he did not know how to lead Old Chen into the Inner Landscape. When I first entered the Inner Landscape, no one guided me. I did it on my own, which was a bit special. I suspect it's recorded in the esoteric scriptures of Taoism and Buddhism, but there's no time to check now.
Wang Xuan speculated that he wasn't the only one. Who was the first to discover the Inner Landscape? Perhaps they accidentally ventured into it, bringing the practice of the Old Arts to a new pinnacle!
"Strictly speaking, apart from my realm not being as advanced as theirs, looking from an early stage, the fact that I entered on my own means there should be some recognition of this in the glorious ancient times. In the long run, would I now be considered a minor sect founder? Maybe I could try bringing someone in."
Inside the Inner Landscape, the Female Sword Immortal stood in mid-air, the light of ascension sprinkling down. It almost looked like something sacred. The mist surged yet again and expended outwards. Wang Xuan took a deep breath. A decision was made then. With the dense mystery factor surrounding him, he rushed towards Old Chen, who was lying down.
There is still hope!
He was not drawn back into his physical body, indicating that being close to the Inner Landscape and carrying a large amount of the mystery factor allowed him to temporarily stay outside.
"Old Chen, wake up! Sect Master Wang is here to lead you to immortality!" Having reached the side of Old Chen, Wang Xuan felt a wave of fatigue. He quickly utilized the core techniques of Early Qin practitioners to absorb the mystery factor that he brought along.
Upon closer inspection, he saw Old Chen's condition. The cracks in his internal organs had decreased slightly in size, but they were still densely packed, intertwined with flashing lightning. A mere touch could possibly set off an explosion.
"Old Chen, you've actually hidden inside the internal organs. No wonder I couldn't find you!" Wang Xuan peered closely. With the power of the Inner Landscape, in this unique state, he could clearly see what was going on within Old Chen's body.
Old Chen's condition was very peculiar. His spiritual domain was locked within his internal organs rather than inside his head.
At the moment, Old Chen dared not move. He feared that the lightning would annihilate his spiritual domain. The lightning trapped within his organs was incredibly unique, carrying with it a mystical hue. For a fleeting moment, it seemed as though he heard Wang Xuan's shouts, but they sounded distant and unclear.
"Is this an illusion? Young people are so unreliable. If he doesn't show up soon, I'm going to die." Old Chen sighed.
Wang Xuan remained silent. As expected, Old Chen had long guessed his secret. Reflecting on his recent experiences, Wang Xuan realized he had been careless. Even Sun Chengkun, right before his death on the Great Black Mountain, could reference ancient texts and guess that he might have entered the Inner Landscape.
Old Chen was a Grandmaster in the realm of the Old Arts. His insights, experiences, and the ancient texts he's come across surely surpassed those of scholars and Sun Chengkun. As colleagues, Wang Xuan was always around Old Chen. The latter probably deduced something by observing the rapid progression in Wang Xuan's skills over a short period. The main issue was that Wang Xuan had no idea back then that Old Chen was such a powerful Grandmaster. If he had known earlier, he would have run away and never taken the job in the first place. Wang Xuan's expressions changed rapidly, moving between anger and surprise. Was I being manipulated by his old colleague? Did Old Chen actually use his own life as bait to "fish" for something?
"Forget it, my conscience is clear. I faced them down alone, armed only with my sword. In that battle, I shattered the claims that the New Arts surpassed the Old Arts with a single strike. This turned the tide for the Old Arts. More resources would now be directed our way..." Old Chen murmured.
Wang Xuan could now grasp his mindset.
Old Chen, his old colleague, was truly a magnificent character. From a broader perspective, he indeed held his head high with honor. When he went to the Pamir Plateau, facing all the experts in the New Arts domain on his own, his performance was nothing short of spectacular. With his sword, he took down three Grandmasters and showcased the might of the Old Arts. He demonstrated to everyone the renaissance of the Old Arts. Once rejuvenated, its brilliance was dazzling. Old Chen paved a way for the Old Arts, heralding a significant turning point.
On a more personal level, Old Chen was also ruthless. Without leaving any way out for himself, after breaking through the domain of New Arts, he detonated the issues within his body, baiting Wang Xuan to the rescue.
In such circumstances, even though Wang Xuan felt the urge to thrash him, he could still not bear to watch him die. Old Chen might be a cunning strategist, but he had an undeniable sense of commitment. Few could match his level of dedication. Whatever Old Chen did for himself, he never strayed from the primary objective of showcasing the brilliance of the Old Arts.
He was genuine. No individual is painted in a single shade; everyone is complex.
"Old man..." Wang Xuan sighed softly.
He then approached Old Chen, closely observing his spiritual domain. It was truly majestic, reminiscent of clouds and mist, revolving around him.
"Old Chen!" Wang Xuan exclaimed. In this unique state, it seemed like the material world couldn't obstruct him.
"Little Wang, is that you?" Old Chen sounded thrilled. His spiritual domain pulsed with emotion. "You finally came. I knew I hadn't misjudged you."
Hearing this, Wang Xuan felt a surge of annoyance. "Old Chen, it seems I was the one who misjudged you!"
Old Chen sighed, "Little Wang, you must understand. For an old man who cherishes the Old Arts more than his own life, the obsession runs deep. If I don't witness the revival and resplendence of the Old Arts in this lifetime, I won't rest in peace. Waiting here for you was merely to witness, and to ensure, that you truly found the right path."
Wang Xuan was deeply moved.
However, he quickly became cautious once more. Old Chen had always been a seasoned player, and even if he was genuinely emotional now, who could tell if he wasn't merely reverting to his old habits or setting another trap?
"Having heard the Dao in the morning, one can die in the evening!" Old Chen's voice was firm and resonant, echoing with conviction. His entire spiritual domain vibrated, radiating a dazzling brilliance.
Wang Xuan lamented, "Do you have any idea the price I've paid? To save you, to activate the Inner Landscape, I've burned through my own life potential."
Old Chen looked incredibly grateful, "If you ever open the Inner Landscape again, call on me. I am willing to burn all my potential to light the way for you."
"Old Chen, enough with the drama," Wang Xuan gave him a sidelong glance. Old man, are you trying to pull some weird stuff off even now?
"Do you know the root technique of the Early Qin practitioners?" Wang Xuan inquired.
"I've practiced it for decades!" Old Chen responded simply.
Wang Xuan was not surprised. Given where Old Chen had reached, his experiences were likely anything but ordinary.
"Enough talk. Start channeling the core techniques now!" Wang Xuan ordered. In reality, their communication through spiritual perception took mere moments.
"Where? How do I enter?" Old Chen looked puzzled.
"You can't see the Inner Landscape right next to you?" Wang Xuan asked suspiciously.
"I really can't!" Old Chen replied anxiously and then quickly explained, "Even after establishing my spiritual domain, when I triggered my heightened senses, I only got a vague glimpse of it once. It remained elusive and distant, never letting me approach."
Wang Xuan was taken aback, realizing that he truly was unique in this respect.
“Forget it, I'll guide you in!”
Hearing this, Old Chen immediately cooperated. He remained still and relaxed.
Wang Xuan tried to lead him, but it was so taxing that he felt almost drained halfway.
"Old Chen, can't you move by yourself? Just follow me!"
"Alright!" Old Chen hurriedly responded, but within moments, the distance between them had grown. The Inner Landscape was right under Wang Xuan's feet, but Old Chen became increasingly blurred and seemed unable to get any closer.
"Stop!" Wang Xuan quickly shouted.
This was beyond bizarre. For Wang Xuan, the Inner Landscape was within easy reach, but for Old Chen, it seemed as vast as a chasm, completely out of reach.
"Just stay still; I’ll pull you over!" Wang Xuan decided, not daring to let him flounder anymore. Otherwise, they’d both be exhausted without achieving anything.
Soon, Wang Xuan himself felt on the verge of collapse, gasping for breath. He had never felt so exhausted before. After what seemed like an eternity, he was tempted to give up on Old Chen entirely. It felt like an insurmountable task. He felt as if his spiritual energy was about to implode, but he finally managed to get Old Chen near the edge of the Inner Landscape.
“Old Chen, from now on, you should call me Sect Master Wang!” Wang Xuan panted heavily. If it wasn't for the fact that Old Chen was on the brink of death, he wouldn’t have subjected himself to such torment.
He finally realized how difficult it was to bring someone into the Inner Landscape. The challenge was staggering, and it was no wonder that ancient records stated only those of the patriarchal level could achieve it.
"Little Wang, the Sect Master!" Old Chen, thick-skinned as ever, exclaimed without hesitation. Then he added, "I've backed you up so many times, but today is finally different."
On the brink of entering the Inner Landscape, Old Chen was overflowing with excitement. He looked forward with the pure anticipation of a child, as his long-held wish was about to be fulfilled.
"Old Chen, once inside, don’t say a word. Use the core techniques of the Early Qin practitioners to heal and revive the ailing body," Wang Xuan instructed. He felt on the verge of collapse from exhaustion. It was time for Old Chen to step in, allowing him to rest and enhance his golden body technique.
Moreover, he contemplated that, although the Female Sword Immortal was powerful, she ultimately couldn't interfere with the real world. Even if millions of sword lights fell upon Old Chen, they probably wouldn't kill him but would only cause immense pain. Furthermore, Old Chen had previous battle experience, having endured the "baptism" of the Ghost Monk. There shouldn't be much of an issue this time.
With a sincere tone, Wang Xuan said, "During the battle at the Pamir Plateau, your swordsmanship was extraordinary. You could even slice through mechs. Not pursuing the path of the Sword Immortal is a waste. You must thank me this time. I've gone through a lot to find you a Sword Immortal master. Later, be humble, show respect as a disciple, and learn diligently."
Hearing this, Old Chen became solemn and reverent. Using the last of his strength, Wang Xuan ushered him into the Inner Landscape. Once inside, Old Chen finally saw the realm clearly. It was no longer distant and elusive, like before. He was so exhilarated that his blood boiled.
"I've finally made it in! From now on, I can soar as high as a bird and swim as freely as a fish in the sea. Old Chen is here!”
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