Chapter 497: Chapter 225: Sword Opening Celestial Gate, Underworld Reappears

When Shen Wen’an comprehended these things, he finally understood how difficult it was for cultivators at the Fetal Breathing Perfection Realm to break through to the Golden Core.

The first step is setting foot on the Golden Core Dao.

“Pure and immaculate thoughts”

The mortal world is full of complexities, which is why some cultivators prefer to live secluded in the deep mountains and forests, spending their lives with trees and plants, rather than setting foot in the mortal world.

However, small concealment is hiding in the forest, great concealment is hiding in the city.

For Immortal Dao cultivators, the most important aspect is one’s mentality.

Those with insufficient mentality are easily deceived by external objects and troubled by heart demons.

To avoid these, refining the heart in the red dust is the best method.

Yet once you set foot in the mortal world, grievances, love and hate, the karma of killing, fame, and wealth—all gradually erode the cultivator’s mentality.

Once surpassed, the mentality is honed.

If not surpassed, one is gradually affected.

Thus, over time, the initial aspiration for cultivation becomes tarnished, and eventually, one slowly loses their true heart.

Generating “impurity” on the Dao Heart.

The worldly “impurity” may not be visible before the Golden Core.

When trying to break through from Fetal Breathing to Golden Core, various “impurities” and thoughts come forth, either turning into heart demons or into grievances and karmic retribution, lingering over the Dao Heart.

With these heart demons and karmic retributions obstructing, one cannot achieve “pure and immaculate thoughts,” making it difficult to generate “nature light” within.

Without the illumination of “nature light,” it’s impossible to find a way to condense the “Divine Three Flowers.”

This situation is like a worldly mortal who goes through countless hardships to find a treasure, only to discover it separated by an unfathomable abyss when found.

The treasure is close at hand, yet visible but unattainable.

At that moment, Shen Wen’an suddenly understood what was going on with the Fake Pill Realm of the Old Ape from Hundred Beasts Mountain back then.

The Divine Three Flowers are the root of core formation, also known as the Elixir Base.

Only by condensing one’s “essence, qi, and spirit” into “Divine Three Flowers” and subsequently forming the inner core, forging the Golden Wheel, can one connect with Heaven and receive the Golden Nature reward.

Then, by merging with the Golden Nature, one achieves the Immortal Golden Core.

Yet, the Old Ape of Hundred Beasts Mountain evidently couldn’t find a way to condense the “Divine Three Flowers,” and forcibly formed a “No Base” Void Pill inside with an unknown method.

This kind of inner core naturally cannot receive the Golden Nature bestowed by Heaven. Without defying destiny, one is likely to be trapped forever in the awkward position between Fetal Breathing Perfection and the true Golden Core Dao.

Cultivators who achieve Fetal Breathing Perfection were mostly extraordinarily talented individuals.

If not absolutely necessary, it’s probable that no one would willingly walk the path of Fake Pill.

The Supreme Mysterious Sword Scripture, as a righteous technique for sword cultivators, naturally contains the technique to condense the “Divine Three Flowers.”

But this technique can only be understood when truly comprehending the “Divine Three Flowers.”

Just now, Shen Wen’an found his method to the Golden Core Dao from the Supreme Mysterious Sword Scripture.

However, the road ahead is equally long and requires time to refine.

…

Outside Yunshui City.

At the entrance of a hidden cave, many cultivators of the Shen Family wearing Clan Court attire stood vigilantly guarding the cave entrance.

Shen Li, dressed in white, walked slowly from the bottom of the mountain, followed by the Golden Toad and the Silver Thread Centipede.

“Miss.”

As Shen Li approached, a cultivator of the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer respectfully cupped his hands.

“How is it, are these common people still unwilling to compromise?”

Shen Li glanced at the tightly closed stone door of the cave and spoke softly.

The cultivator shook his head with a troubled expression and said, “Not only that, but several dozen fervent common people committed suicide the day before yesterday, and the others simply won’t listen to reason.”

As soon as he finished speaking, rhythmic chanting sounds came from within the cave.

Shen Li frowned upon hearing it.

The cultivator sighed and cupped his hands, saying, “It’s starting again.”

“These common people do this every day, chanting strange things together.”

As he spoke, he turned and gestured to a few other Clan Court disciples to go and stop it.

“Wait a moment.”

Shen Li stopped them and listened carefully to the content of the chanting from the cave, which was roughly about things like “cultivating good karma,” “enjoying supreme bliss,” and “for afterlife.”

“Did anyone from the academy come?”

After pondering briefly, she asked again.

After all common people from the four towns east of Xingyang City were brought back, they were all held here.

Although the Golden Toad said before that these people were affected by Jianan Temple’s Seed of Destiny Transformation Scripture and couldn’t be saved.

Yet she still wanted to try again.

She used every possible means, but the common people from the four towns seemed to have become enchanted, with no sign of improvement at all.

“Young Master Chongxuan and a young lady came here, trying the Vast Righteous Qi of the Literary Dao and various methods, but to no effect.”

“Moreover… those dozens of common people who committed suicide were exactly the ones Young Master Chongxuan had chosen at the time.”

The Clan Court disciple in front of her expressed his helplessness.

“Miss, I have something to say, but I’m not sure if I should.”

After hesitating for a moment, the Clan Court disciple slightly cupped his hands and whispered.

“Speak.”

Shen Li glanced at him and said calmly.

The black-clothed Clan Court disciple clenched his fist, a difficult decision flashed in his eyes, and he cupped his hands, saying: “It’s been half a year, miss, perhaps you should give them a quick end.”

“I believe… they can’t be saved.”

As a Clan Court disciple, he himself grew from the bottom layer of common people to become a cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer.

Unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn’t say something so ruthless.

Ordering to kill nearly two hundred thousand common people requires great determination and courage.

However, if not killed… these common people can only continue like this, waiting to die.

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