After returning to the sect, he also planned to personally visit Yuzhu Peak and hand the soul over to his master's uncle, to see if a method could be found to grant this senior sister a chance at rebirth.

Although decades of painstaking cultivation were lost, at least she could start anew, which was better than falling into the hands of the Xuanyin Sect.

The conversation between the two women continued, as Liu Tangxi withdrew her weapon and silently gazed at the battlefield littered with debris. A hundred-meter-long trench appeared before them, bottomless, seeming to pierce through the heavens and earth.

And the residual charm on the eight-sided Han sword would likely attract countless cultivators' attention in the coming decades.

"Could you surpass him after removing these two items? Or surpass any direct disciple of the Central Plains Eight Sects?"

One word awakened a dreamer.

Liu Tangxi's character was such that she never hesitated to offer her guidance, but there was a major prerequisite: your talent and aptitude must allow you to learn, making her guidance worthwhile.

If not, wouldn't it be a waste of breath?

Clearly, Ying Ling was the former in her eyes, a promising seed; however, the path this young girl took was something she truly disliked. Ying Ling had helped Jiang Feng a lot this time, and she didn't mind pointing out the other's shortcomings.

"Joyful Sect disciples hide in the shadows, no doubt, but you this generation of disciples are rather putting the cart before the horse."

"The trio known as Jin Yintong from Hehuan, known since ancient times as masterful world-class experts, yet in your generation they've become too rash, learning some useless tricks."

"At the early Core Formation stage holding two Earth Rank magic treasures and even able to exert two to three levels of efficacy, this is indeed enough to make you invincible among your peers, excelling amongst the masses."

"Regardless of the many mysteries within the Grotto Heaven, even among Jiuzhou land there are numerous arrays capable of completely severing the connection between a magic treasure and the finger."

"When that time comes, what will you do?"

Silence.

If someone else had said such words to her, she would have scoffed. Power is something that demands a comprehensive approach; as long as one can win, why care how the victory is achieved?

But when she lent her magic treasure to Jiang Feng according to her elder sister's instructions, she noticed something—something very terrifying.

It was that her power had nearly plummeted drastically; forget about joining the battle with Nascent Soul stage experts, she couldn't even confidently handle ordinary disciples of the same realm.

Her might was over half invested in these two magic treasures. Yes, she indeed could eternally possess these treasures and complement them with Cultivation Techniques, maximizing her strength.

The problem is...

"You've cultivated for years; are you cultivating yourself, or the tools? The current you, after removing the treasures, what difference exists between you and your past self?"

"In a hard-fought battle, who ultimately wins: you or the magic treasures in your hand?"

"To wield a sword as a soldier, it is the person who uses it."

"Having a sword like a person, its use lies within the heart."

Cold sweat slid down her forehead.

A mere sixteen characters sent chills down her back, her eyes erratic, her Dao heart nearly fracturing!

Suddenly, she realized that her original hard power had been almost stagnant for six years, and aside from cultivation level, there had been no progress!

It was right after she had just formed her core when her master officially bestowed upon her the "Yin" title along with the predecessor's relics.

Liu Tangxi would only use a sword for comparison, but she understood this was merely the other's reminder, whether she was driving the magic treasure or defying Heavenly Gang, or being driven and bound by the treasure?

"Stick to your true self!"

A sudden shout.

The originally chaotic mind immediately returned to its source beneath the outcry, allowing her eyes to gradually regain clarity, a flash of dread passed through her heart; if not for this, she might have truly gotten stuck on a dead-end street.

Still, she couldn't possibly abandon them due to this or stop using them because these two magic treasures were in the truest sense her lifeline.

Without them, her current strength couldn't even perform at half.

"Liu, Liu Xianzi, but this is the legacy of the previous Yin title predecessor, I..."

Raised her hand.

Directly interrupted the woman's words.

Did not immediately respond to the other, but directly looked at the junior brother beside, who was happily overly accepting the magic treasures, wishing to hold them and kiss them a few times.

"If it were you, how would you respond?"

"Me?"

Jiang Feng had clearly heard the conversation between the two women, and in fact, he also noticed Ying Ling's issues in cultivation; he realized it during their initial encounter.

At that time, the girl had directly thrown two Earth Rank magic treasures in his face, making him quite embarrassed, but all trump cards were revealed, techniques were also quite crude, all relying on the Pearl of the Celestial Lake to hide her form and the illusion created by the Joyful Ring.

Put it this way, if everyone got naked... uh, no, it should be everyone rid themselves of magic treasures, Jiang Feng could stand there all night as she jabbed him with the Emei Piercer; not to mention reaching him, it counted as her winning if she scratched his clothes.

"Start anew."

The answer was as effortless as eating or drinking water.

"What does it mean to start anew?"

"Find the essence of cultivation, play with what comes naturally without magic treasures, why give up the path most suited to oneself, that is the essence of cultivation. If cultivation is blocked, abandon fringe paths for the essentials, start again from the basics; isn't this something every master would mention as a required lesson before anyone begins cultivating?"

Throughout the process, Ying Ling merely listened dumbfounded. She found that the words from this man, two years younger than herself, bore a striking resemblance to her master.

"Magic treasures are external items; aren't they meant to add strength and backup options for us?"

"One should use magic treasures based on one's style, it's about picking the magic treasure, not the treasure picking me. Anyway, I couldn't possibly train in some 'Mountain River Painting Scroll' just for this fan."

"Occasionally take it out for use, use it for emergencies when life is on the line should be enough."

"You haven't seen me carrying a shotgun around all day, have you?"

Swoosh!

While talking, his hands didn't stop acting; he pretentiously opened the folding fan and flicked it a few times, the cold wind made people shiver, but in reality, the person and the fan were large, looking somewhat like a scion from a noble family.

It was precisely during such times that Jiang Feng showed his juvenile side; the saying "Men remain boys till death" couldn't be more accurate.

Though she didn't understand what Jiang Feng's last remark referred to, this bright girl already comprehended his intention. Indeed, betting all resources and abilities on two magic treasures was not a wise choice.

With her talent, she should instead expand her tactical reserves and varied methods as much as possible.

"But this item is the legacy from sect predecessors..."

"Then isn't it just a souvenir."

Rolled his eyes.

Their personalities differed greatly.

Jiang Feng definitely had seen many people like Ying Ling; not just this little girl, even Yan Yurou hadn't entirely shed these thoughts after years of his influence, only about halfway through.

Put it bluntly, the moral burdens are too heavy.

Perhaps they themselves don't clearly understand their purpose in cultivation; largely it's the ideologies instilled by elders since young, heritage, ensuring the sect's legacy, becoming the spark, regardless of keeping some warmth till the end.

If not following rules, not adhering to the guidance of ancestors, they would be labeled traitors, indecent rebellious against mentors.

Despite this being a world of cultivation, where physical restraints could be broken, mental restraints would never be.

Thus, their agility of thinking was worlds apart; Jiang Feng's initial goal for cultivating was self-preservation, afterward curiosity, it's the curiosity of unknown matters constantly driving him forward, driving him to innovate, explore.

For him, cultivation was akin to solving a math problem that already had answers; he would use various means, processes to continuously simulate, restore, attempting to uncover the Principle.

But these sect disciples who inherit them always use the formulae taught by their teachers thousands of years ago up to now.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.