Chapter 259: Resolve
“This…” The crowd of Grandmasters looked at each other in half-understanding confusion. They couldn’t even believe that the Innate Realm truly existed. Because before, no one had ever sensed that realm!
What they didn’t know was that Zhang Xuanyi had already seen this realm more than a decade ago and told Lu Xian about it. This was also the real reason why Lu Xian had gone into secluded cultivation for over ten years after coming down from Mount Taishi!
Today, Lu Xian had indeed seen the ‘Mysterious Female Gate’ that Zhang Xuanyi mentioned. Only then did he know that Zhang Xuanyi hadn’t deceived him…
.
But the other four Grandmasters couldn’t sense that profoundly mysterious realm at all. If Lu Xian wasn’t someone who never lied, they would have started cursing long ago.
“What should we do?” Faced with their lack of understanding, the several Grandmasters were at a loss for ideas.
“Today it’s life or death. What choice is there?” In the end, the old eunuch Zuo Yanqing made the final decision.
“Then let’s do it!” The three Grandmasters finally stopped hesitating.
The four then pushed their True Force to the limit, pouring it rolling into Lu Xian’s body. Lu Xian kept his eyes tightly shut, taming the four ferocious tigers rampaging through his meridians on one side while searching the depths of his memory for the imprints of Mutual Aid of Square and Circle and Unity of Heaven and Man.
After a long time, he finally slowly opened his eyes. His left hand transformed circle into square, his right hand drew square into circle! The crowd output their cultivation on one side while widening their eyes, watching Lu Xian use his left hand as a pen to draw circle after circle, while his right hand drew square after square. Lu Xian’s hands weren’t moving fast, but the crowd felt a sense of great skill appearing clumsy and pointing straight to the origin.
Gradually, an unbelievable scene appeared. The crowd of Grandmasters clearly saw that Lu Xian’s hands showed no change, still moving along their original paths, yet the circles from his left hand turned into squares, and the squares from his right hand turned into circles!
‘Left hand drawing circles, right hand drawing squares—he can actually multitask!’ The four Grandmasters didn’t dare disturb Lu Xian, but inwardly they were shocked: ‘Facing him is like fighting two Grandmasters? No wonder Lu Xian can fight Sun Yuanlang to a standstill. He’s indeed beyond our reach!’
However, they also knew that Lu Xian had been nearly invincible more than a decade ago. For him to be this strong now was only natural…
‘If he can pass this trial, he’ll probably make another huge leap. At that time, not to mention Sun Yuanlang—even Zhang Xuanyi he could fight!’ Zuo Yanqing’s gaze flickered as he watched Lu Xian, inwardly calculating: ‘Looks like we need to reposition our view of the Lu Clan…’
The crowd’s gazes toward Lu Xian all changed, finally rising with a thread of hope…
Lu Xian simultaneously used Transforming Circle into Square and Drawing Square into Circle, but his expression showed no relaxation—instead, it grew even more grave, because the most crucial step was yet to come!
His hands slowly drew near, and the square and circle that had become as substantial as reality also gradually approached. The moment his hands came together, the two originally non-interfering auras fused together. The originally independent circle and square suddenly vanished, replaced by a dazzling mass of white light.
The critical moment arrived. Lu Xian cleared away all stray thoughts, his spiritual platform utterly clear, his mind’s eye wide open gazing at the heavens, trying to glimpse once more that previously seen multicolored Innate Gate!
The crowd held their breath, staring unblinkingly at the countless squares and circles manifesting out from that mass of white light. Those squares and circles intertwined with each other, showing signs of fusion…
‘It’s working…’ The crowd’s surprised cheers hadn’t yet left their mouths when they heard a muffled bang—the white light suddenly dispersed, and those squares and circles also vanished…
Looking at Lu Xian again, his face alternated between pale and green, his body trembling uncontrollably—clearly suffering enormous backlash.
The crowd of Grandmasters, with their vast experience, hurriedly withdrew their power upon seeing this. Lu Xian let out a wow and spat a mouthful of black blood, finally controlling his rampaging qi and blood.
“I still underestimated the realm of Heaven and Man.” Lu Xian messily wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, smiling bitterly in exhaustion: “Even gathering the power of our five, that kind of realm is something you can encounter but not seek…”
The crowd of Grandmasters looked at Lu Xian with somber expressions. Cui Dingzhi sighed: “The path to Innate is harder than ascending to the heavens. Even gathering our five couldn’t produce even half a move…”
“Then gather the power of ten!” Zuo Yanqing’s face showed a ruthless color as he said: “A combined strike from ten Grandmasters—I refuse to believe it can’t turn chance into certainty!”
Hearing this, the crowd couldn’t help but feel their blood surging. A combined strike from ten Grandmasters would be unprecedented and unrepeatable. Even if they still couldn’t break through, even if they died in this cave, it would be without regrets!
“But,” Wei Yang, who was meticulous and somewhat pessimistic, couldn’t help pouring cold water: “I’m afraid even Zhang Xuanyi couldn’t withstand the True Force of ten Grandmasters?”
“…” The crowd’s expressions inevitably grew grave.
“Also, without those five blocking the water flow, the river water will surely pour in madly.” Wei Yang smiled bitterly: “In our current state, I’m afraid none of us have the strength to return.”
“…” The crowd’s expressions grew even graver. The two problems Wei Yang mentioned were indeed objective realities. Although Grandmasters were said to have inexhaustible True Force, that was during fights with others. Now they were using their flesh and blood bodies to resist the power of nature. Persisting for half a day was already nearing their limits.
As the saying goes, an arrow at the end of its flight cannot pierce silk. They weren’t yet at that point, but if they went all out once more like before, they might end up worse than that…
“Do it or not—you decide.” Zuo Yanqing looked at Lu Xian, and the crowd’s gazes also turned to him.
“My meridians can withstand ten breaths.” Lu Xian said in a deep voice: “I think if we give up halfway this time, we’ll only have the path to death.”
“Yes…” Zuo Yanqing nodded. As the saying goes, one push of momentum, then decline. If they went all out this time when their morale was at its peak and still couldn’t open the passage, they could forget about shattering that massive blocking ironstone in the future.
Moreover, for these Grandmasters pursuing the Heavenly Dao, mindset was supremely important. Going all out this time but giving up halfway would leave an indelible shadow, making further progress impossible in this lifetime.
“Old Lu isn’t afraid of his body exploding and dying—how could disciples of the Pei Clan shrink back?!” Pei Yuqiu grinned ferociously, rolling his neck: “I’m in!”
“Me too.” Cui Dingzhi smiled faintly: “I’ve also gained some insight this time. Better to die heroically than give up halfway.”
“Then I’m in too.” Wei Yang quickly followed, explaining his earlier shaking of morale: “It’s not that I cherish my own life.”
“We know. Isn’t it just that you haven’t yet savored Mei Yu’s charms?” Pei Yuqiu laughed strangely, embarrassing Wei Yang until his old face turned red. If not for being right in front of him, he might have killed to silence him.
“Since none of you fear death, this household’s dirt is already up to my neck—what’s there to fear?” Zuo Yanqing cackled, then turned toward the direction they came from, emitting bursts of eerie howls.
Those seemingly meaningless howls traveled along the winding waterway to the ears of the crowd bitterly holding at the cave entrance. Pei Bang frowned upon hearing: “What the hell is that noise?”
“Ask Du Gonggong about that.” Xie Ding knew some secrets.
Du Hui listened attentively. Once the howls stopped, he slowly said: “The people inside are asking us: fight to the death, or retreat and wait for death.”
“Damn it, of course fight to the death!” Pei Clan people were always unyielding, advancing without retreat. Pei Bang immediately gave the answer.
“This slow knife cutting flesh is worse than death—better a quick end.” Xie Ding smiled bitterly. They might seem safer outside, but every second they were resisting increasingly terrifying water pressure. Their minds and bodies had long reached the brink of collapse.
