FVN Chapter 353 Human Nature
Chapter 353 Human Nature
Soon, Shi Lin had passed through numerous formation arrays and arrived at the cultivation retreat of Penglai Dao Lord.
However, before she had a chance to stir her Divine Sense to ask for permission to enter, the Divine Sense of Penglai Dao Lord had already transmitted out ahead of hers.
"Lin'er? Is there something you need?"
As the clouds and mist that served to obscure and seal off spatial probing dispersed, a rather elegant courtyard appeared in front of Shi Lin.
Deep within the courtyard, amidst layers of formation arrays, a figure appeared intermittently, as if in another dimension, yet still seemingly within arm's reach.
But when she manifested at times, she was enveloped in a trembling aura of destruction.
It seemed that if her True Body were to descend, just the escape of inherent might from her body would be enough to reduce the entire Penglai Immortal Sect to dust.
"Sect Master, have you emerged from your retreat?"
Shi Lin asked joyfully.
"Just taking a temporary rest. What has happened? Is there a Demon Emperor sighting? Where?"
"It's not a Demon Emperor's appearance..."
Shi Lin hastily said, "Sect Master, have you recently accepted a new disciple?"
"I have not."
Penglai Dao Lord said, "Why do you ask such a question?"
Shi Lin quickly relayed the events that had occurred.
Her focus was on the rumors concerning Alkaid.
Upon hearing what Shi Lin said, even Penglai Dao Lord seemed somewhat astonished, "Alkaid has reached Void Refinement? How long has it been?"
Shi Lin's eyes widened sharply as she realized something, "Sect Master, you haven't been guiding him in secret?"
But then she felt a wave of disbelief, "That... how is that possible!? Without your guidance, how could he possibly ascend from the Hollow Void to Void Refinement in a mere ten years!? Could it be... the one nurturing him in the shadows is Jun Tian Dao Lord?"
Penglai Dao Lord chuckled lightly, "Do not assume that everyone is mediocre just because you have achieved little. The world of geniuses is beyond ordinary people's imagination."
She herself was the best example.
"Advancing to Void Refinement in ten years... indeed somewhat unexpected."
She remarked with a smile.
Interesting, it became unexpected.
Clearly, it was a tremendous progression.
"Then, Sect Master... our Penglai Immortal Sect and him..."
"I am currently in a critical phase of cultivation with the Wheel of World Annihilation. Once my Dao Technique reaches Perfection, I will personally see this genius... or perhaps... a future Dao companion?"
A trace of anticipation seemed to flicker in her heart.
Yet this trace of expectation lasted only a moment; she then shook her head.
Hollow Void, Refining Void, including Shattered Void, in her view, all belonged to the same realm.
Harmless as a blade of grass.
There was nothing perilous about them.
But the step from Shattered Void to integrating Dao was enough to drive countless cultivators of shattered void to despair.
The dangers of Dao Transformation, even now when she recalled them, were enough to send chills down her spine.
Even as strong as Shattered Void, what did it count for in the presence of the true Power of the Great Dao?
The force of an ant, daring to contend with heaven!?
Dao Lords could live for 129,600 years!
Put another way, even with a success rate of less than ten percent, the number of Dao Lords should be about the same as those of Shattered Void, but in reality...
True Dao Lords are less than one in a hundred of those in Shattered Void.
Don't look at the number of Dao Lords from the Northern Sea Star as if they are not few, but that was because the Gate of the Immortal Realm's allure attracted all the Dao Lords from the starry skies.
"My talent ranks among the top ten of all Hollow Void cultivators in the Northern Sea Star, but I've still wasted over forty years at this realm. To achieve Refining Void, I might need dozens or even a hundred more years. Even if Alkaid had the number one talent on the Northern Sea Star, double mine, it would still take him fifty years to progress from Hollow Void to Refining Void."
Shui Yunhan chimed in, his tone turning into a sneer towards the end, "Advance to Refining Void on his own in ten years? Ha, such a person doesn't exist in this world!"
"These are the master's words; are you questioning our master?"
Shi Lin said sternly, also casting a glance at Shui Yunhan, "The master said not to assume that because you are mediocre that everyone else is the same. The world of a genius is beyond the imagination of ordinary people. Just because you can't achieve something doesn't mean others can't."
Reprimanded, Shui Yunhan went pale, but he was still reluctant to admit his fault, "Impossible... it can't be..."
"And you two,"
Shi Lin turned to Leng Qingqiu and Zhan Xiao, "The master said if you guys don't change your attitudes and come to an understanding of yourselves, you will never cultivate to be a Dao Lord in this lifetime."
Leng Qingqiu and Zhan Xiao fell silent.
Especially Leng Qingqiu.
She knew well the character of their Senior Sister.
She wouldn't lie to them.
In other words...
Could Alkaid truly have cultivated to the Refining Void Realm by himself in such a short time?!
This...
What an astonishing level of talent!
If it were true, letting him continue to grow, wouldn't he be able to achieve Shattered Void in a few decades or a century?
And even...
Possibly anticipate becoming a Dao Lord in the future?!
She pursed her lips, truly unwilling to accept such an immense gap.
"Qingqiu, you and Alkaid, the True Monarch, have no insurmountable misunderstanding. Since he is going to the Southern Region to take up a position, why don't you go on behalf of our Penglai Immortal Sect? Offer him a generous gift to express congratulations, and transfer the Contribution Value from his campaign against the Heaven-Devouring Demon King to thank him..."
Shi Lin said.
Leng Qingqiu understood that her senior sister meant to use the excuse of celebrating for Alkaid to apologize to the True Monarch and even have the sect offer a formal gift of apolgy.
In this way, it wouldn't cost her any money and would somewhat save her face as the Vice Sect Leader.
But...
To bow her head as a direct disciple of the Dao Lord?
"I won't go!"
Leng Qingqiu said coldly, "In the end, is Alkaid completely without fault? Why should I apologize to him?"
Having said that, she glanced at Shi Lin, "If it comes down to it, we can just not associate with each other anymore. I don't need anything from him, and moreover, I don't believe that even if he does achieve Shattered Void in the future, he would dare to cause trouble in our Penglai Immortal Sect."
"Junior Sister..."
"Regardless, I'm not going."
After saying her piece, Leng Qingqiu didn't wait for Shi Lin's response; she activated her Escaping Light and left the Penglai Pavilion.
Shi Lin was left feeling helpess.
Zhan Xiao and Shui Yunhan immediately said, "Senior Sister, we'll be taking our leave then."
After speaking, they hurriedly left the scene.
Seeing this, Shi Lin sighed.
In that moment, her heart was filled with envy.
If only...
She could have the kind of talent Alkaid had; she would then be able to focus solely on her cultivation without having to deal with the extensive affairs of the Penglai Immortal Sect.
Even if her talent was just on the level of her junior brothers and sisters...
She probably wouldn't be assigned the tormenting role of Acting Sect Master by her master.
Shaking her head, Shi Lin eventually had no choice but to ask a Palace Master to make the trip to the Southern Region.