Chapter 29: Robbery on the Path (Part 1)
Early the next morning, mist and drizzle veiled the surroundings.
A paper crane flew through the air, wobbling like a drunkard, left and right.
"What's wrong with you? You said you were going back this morning, why are you so gloomy?" Tao Fengnian stared at the listless Jiang Yuebai and asked with concern.
Jiang Yuebai let out a deep sigh. Last night, Wan Niang smashed the phoenix coronet, smiled and took her last breath, while Hong Tao, a seven-foot-tall man, cried in anguish on the ground.
Wan Niang's words about not meeting again in the next life and Hong Tao's heart-rending wailing still echoed in her ears.
"Grandpa, do you think the Dao is compassionate or heartless? Why does Five flavors Mountain Hermit say the Dao is heartless, but Senior Brother Hong..."
Jiang Yuebai paused, as though she realized that Wan Niang's words about the next life were urging Hong Tao not to die and to continue on.
Tao Fengnian thought about what he had seen earlier in the morning. He had caught a glimpse of Hong Tao buying a coffin in the market from a distance and guessed what had happened.
After considering for a moment, Tao Fengnian said, "For cultivators, Qi refining is just the beginning. Foundation Establishment is when you truly enter the Dao. To build a Foundation, you must sever worldly ties. Only when you've severed them can you be free of distractions and forge ahead."
"Though I don't know what happened to Hong Tao, from my perspective, being overly attached to worldly ties can easily give rise to inner demons. I failed to build a Foundation in the past because of my inner demons."
Tao Fengnian recalled his two previous attempts at building a Foundation. Both times, he saw his wife at the critical moment, talking about their wedding vows and asking him to join her in the cycle of reincarnation in the underworld and to continue their connection in the next life.
He knew that this was because he couldn't let go, and he hadn't found a reason strong enough to make him persist against all odds.
But things were different now. Tao Fengnian looked at Jiang Yuebai, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. This third attempt, he was sure to succeed.
Jiang Yuebai furrowed her brow, "So, does that mean the Dao is heartless? But I feel like Senior Brother Hong, even though he's heartbroken, is more determined than before. He will definitely succeed in building his Foundation."
"You're still young. Some things you'll understand better as you grow up and gain more experiences."
Jiang Yuebai fell silent, and Tao Fengnian didn't disturb her thoughts. He took out the flying core boat that Jiang Yuebai had given him and began to practice his technique.
Seventh-grade magical tools were mainly used by Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even though he had completed Qi refining, it would still take him a few days to master this tool. Besides, he was only borrowing it for now. Once Jiang Yuebai reached the later stages of Qi refining, he would return it to her.
After contemplating for a while, Jiang Yuebai couldn't make sense of it and decided to put the matter aside. She then took out the glass bottle and continued to practice with the Ice Armor Beetle King. This time, it was a success.
However, with her current level of spiritual consciousness, controlling the ninth-grade exotic bug was quite taxing. She could only activate either the Ice Armor or the Freezing ability once.
The paper crane flew up and down, skimming the treetops for half a day.
The world grew dim as the mist thickened, and the howls of wild wolves echoed through the forest.
After practicing with the Ice Armor Beetle King, Jiang Yuebai suddenly felt a shiver running down her spine, followed by an intense coldness.
"Something's not right!"
Tao Fengnian's expression changed abruptly as he produced a golden bell charm and tossed it into the air.
Before the charm could even emit its radiance, several thorny green vines shot out from the forest below.
Bang!
The paper crane shattered into pieces amidst the vines. Tao Fengnian shielded Jiang Yuebai as they plummeted from the sky, crashing heavily onto the mossy ground.
The forest was dim and gloomy. Jiang Yuebai's body ached, and before she could fully grasp the situation, Tao Fengnian took out a smoking pipe and inhaled deeply, exhaling a large cloud of white smoke that instantly enveloped them.
"Grandpa?"
"Don't speak!"
He pressed a wooden box into Jiang Yuebai's hand, shielding her from behind as he retrieved a small flag from his storage pouch and sent it soaring into the air. It turned into a streak of golden light that vanished within the white smoke.
Following that, he pulled a sickle with a chain from his storage pouch, gripping it tightly while maintaining vigilance.
Jiang Yuebai swallowed nervously, clutching the wooden box, and gripping the glass bottle concealed in her sleeve. The white smoke surrounded them, obscuring her vision completely.
Suddenly, a mournful melody rang out, and a current of air swirled around them. With the rise and fall of the melody, ripples spread through the smoke, dispersing it.
Jiang Yuebai's mind buzzed, struggling to focus amidst the music. Everything spun, and the trees cast dancing shadows.
"These are auditory cultivation techniques. Use your technique to resist and don't slack off."
Tao Fengnian pointed at her forehead, and in an instant, Jiang Yuebai regained her clarity. She quickly circulated her spiritual energy to defend against the auditory attack.
"Niang" (娘) is a term used to refer to a woman often in a respectful or affectionate way. In some Chinese dialects and regions, "niang" might also be used to refer to one's wife or spouse. In others, it can be used for addressing one's own mother or addressing an older woman in a friendly manner)
A paper crane flew through the air, wobbling like a drunkard, left and right.
"What's wrong with you? You said you were going back this morning, why are you so gloomy?" Tao Fengnian stared at the listless Jiang Yuebai and asked with concern.
Jiang Yuebai let out a deep sigh. Last night, Wan Niang smashed the phoenix coronet, smiled and took her last breath, while Hong Tao, a seven-foot-tall man, cried in anguish on the ground.
Wan Niang's words about not meeting again in the next life and Hong Tao's heart-rending wailing still echoed in her ears.
"Grandpa, do you think the Dao is compassionate or heartless? Why does Five flavors Mountain Hermit say the Dao is heartless, but Senior Brother Hong..."
Jiang Yuebai paused, as though she realized that Wan Niang's words about the next life were urging Hong Tao not to die and to continue on.
Tao Fengnian thought about what he had seen earlier in the morning. He had caught a glimpse of Hong Tao buying a coffin in the market from a distance and guessed what had happened.
After considering for a moment, Tao Fengnian said, "For cultivators, Qi refining is just the beginning. Foundation Establishment is when you truly enter the Dao. To build a Foundation, you must sever worldly ties. Only when you've severed them can you be free of distractions and forge ahead."
"Though I don't know what happened to Hong Tao, from my perspective, being overly attached to worldly ties can easily give rise to inner demons. I failed to build a Foundation in the past because of my inner demons."
Tao Fengnian recalled his two previous attempts at building a Foundation. Both times, he saw his wife at the critical moment, talking about their wedding vows and asking him to join her in the cycle of reincarnation in the underworld and to continue their connection in the next life.
He knew that this was because he couldn't let go, and he hadn't found a reason strong enough to make him persist against all odds.
But things were different now. Tao Fengnian looked at Jiang Yuebai, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. This third attempt, he was sure to succeed.
Jiang Yuebai furrowed her brow, "So, does that mean the Dao is heartless? But I feel like Senior Brother Hong, even though he's heartbroken, is more determined than before. He will definitely succeed in building his Foundation."
"You're still young. Some things you'll understand better as you grow up and gain more experiences."
Jiang Yuebai fell silent, and Tao Fengnian didn't disturb her thoughts. He took out the flying core boat that Jiang Yuebai had given him and began to practice his technique.
Seventh-grade magical tools were mainly used by Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even though he had completed Qi refining, it would still take him a few days to master this tool. Besides, he was only borrowing it for now. Once Jiang Yuebai reached the later stages of Qi refining, he would return it to her.
After contemplating for a while, Jiang Yuebai couldn't make sense of it and decided to put the matter aside. She then took out the glass bottle and continued to practice with the Ice Armor Beetle King. This time, it was a success.
However, with her current level of spiritual consciousness, controlling the ninth-grade exotic bug was quite taxing. She could only activate either the Ice Armor or the Freezing ability once.
The paper crane flew up and down, skimming the treetops for half a day.
The world grew dim as the mist thickened, and the howls of wild wolves echoed through the forest.
After practicing with the Ice Armor Beetle King, Jiang Yuebai suddenly felt a shiver running down her spine, followed by an intense coldness.
"Something's not right!"
Tao Fengnian's expression changed abruptly as he produced a golden bell charm and tossed it into the air.
Before the charm could even emit its radiance, several thorny green vines shot out from the forest below.
Bang!
The paper crane shattered into pieces amidst the vines. Tao Fengnian shielded Jiang Yuebai as they plummeted from the sky, crashing heavily onto the mossy ground.
The forest was dim and gloomy. Jiang Yuebai's body ached, and before she could fully grasp the situation, Tao Fengnian took out a smoking pipe and inhaled deeply, exhaling a large cloud of white smoke that instantly enveloped them.
"Grandpa?"
"Don't speak!"
He pressed a wooden box into Jiang Yuebai's hand, shielding her from behind as he retrieved a small flag from his storage pouch and sent it soaring into the air. It turned into a streak of golden light that vanished within the white smoke.
Following that, he pulled a sickle with a chain from his storage pouch, gripping it tightly while maintaining vigilance.
Jiang Yuebai swallowed nervously, clutching the wooden box, and gripping the glass bottle concealed in her sleeve. The white smoke surrounded them, obscuring her vision completely.
Suddenly, a mournful melody rang out, and a current of air swirled around them. With the rise and fall of the melody, ripples spread through the smoke, dispersing it.
Jiang Yuebai's mind buzzed, struggling to focus amidst the music. Everything spun, and the trees cast dancing shadows.
"These are auditory cultivation techniques. Use your technique to resist and don't slack off."
Tao Fengnian pointed at her forehead, and in an instant, Jiang Yuebai regained her clarity. She quickly circulated her spiritual energy to defend against the auditory attack.
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