239: Chapter 238 Colluding with Each Other 239: Chapter 238 Colluding with Each Other Rao Zongzhi raised his cup and drained it in one gulp, “This third aspect, then, is the Bridge Connection.
Currently, in the Bridge Connection Realm, our Dantians are full, and the essence compressed successfully; in the Purple Mansion, there looms a presence; what it is, I won’t say, as each of us understands in our own hearts.
The beginning of stepping into the Tongxuan was to build a substantial bridge between the Dantian and the Purple Mansion, allowing the Dantian Spirit and the inner secrets of the Purple Mansion to merge, thereby gaining an opportunity to transform Spiritual Power into Magic Power.
Only then do the problems of whether the Spirit is sufficient and how to dissolve the internal heat arise.
The Dantian is void, the Purple Mansion is void, being utterly void does not lead to attainment; reality combined with void is the way of the Immortal; hence, the Bridge must transform from the current void into a real bridge.
Timing is all in the thoughts of the cultivator, you think it’s possible and it is, there’s no fixed standard, after all, cultivators in the Bridge Connection Realm are already prepared in terms of the Dantian and the Purple Mansion.”
Rao Zongzhi sighed, “I have been waiting for two years, prepared for two years, everything external has long been ready, but still, I cannot initiate the process, it always feels like something is missing, the longer this obsession drags on, the more deeply ingrained it becomes, without uncovering it I cannot be at peace.
If the heart is not at peace, the resolve will not be firm, and advancing to the Upper Realm is undoubtedly doomed to fail.
This is cultivation, perhaps just two years ago, it was merely a slight lack of confidence, a Heart Demon; had I broken through it then, I would have done so, but now it genuinely entangles and conflicts, without truly finding something, the doubts cannot be dispelled.
It is the state of mind that creates the realm, a doubtful heart breeds dark spirits.”
Luo Linwang felt a deep resonance, “I have prepared for a year and still cannot make a move, there’s just this one chance, I always hope to be more thorough, more cautious, yet the longer I wait, the more it seems that success might actually be less likely than before?”
What the two discussed is the most difficult to deal with in the Cultivation World—the barrier of knowledge and perception, everyone knows it exists, understands its harms, wishes to avoid it, yet no one can.
Just as when you do something with a fifty percent certainty; you can choose to wait, then prepare more external factors during the wait to increase the success rate; but your mindset might also become restless during the wait, always hoping for the right opportunity, but when you eagerly anticipate it, the opportunity seems to disappear, never to be seen again.
When cultivators feel such waiting is meaningless, yet they cannot make a firm decision: having waited so long, should they continue waiting, or stop abruptly?
This alternating advance and retreat results in continual agony, agonizing till one doesn’t even know what exactly they are waiting for.
All cultivators facing this Bridge Connection must confront this issue, regardless of their sect—Daoist, Buddhist, Demon, or any other.
Should they rush through?
This is a dilemma that has persisted for a thousand years.
Hou Niao, carefree and light-hearted, “I actually want to start the Breakthrough now, but I haven’t prepared anything yet.”
Luo Linwang gave his advice, “If I remember correctly, junior brother’s basic cultivation technique is from the Anhe Daoist Sect, right?
Then this occasion could be the perfect opportunity to visit the various technique shops in the market, look around, rummage about; don’t focus on the techniques, the most important part are insights from Upper Realm Cultivators on how they overcame their challenges, as well as their preparations at the time.
It’s not necessary to follow their steps, but you can broaden your horizons and open up your mind, and it’s also a good method.”
The process of advising Hou Niao was also a process of self-affirmation and mutual encouragement for the two of them, of course, Hou Niao benefited the most; without the guidance of these two friends, he would also start making such preparations after returning to Jin City.
In the following days, just as Luo Linwang had said, he started to pay extra attention to the Jade Scrolls related to the insights of reaching the Upper Realm, and he managed to obtain a few.
These Jade Scrolls were always in high demand, essential references for cultivators before they ascended to the next level.
One day, while reading in a bookstore, a gentle voice arose next to him, “Oh, Brother Hou is working so hard.
Are you preparing to ascend to the next realm?”
Hou Niao did not turn his head, “Please, haven’t we already settled our accounts?”
Dong Fangfei spoke mysteriously, glancing around to ensure no one was listening, “Brother Hou, you’ve got some nerve!
In broad daylight, under the bright sky and the wide earth, you dare to kill someone in a foreign country!
Aren’t you afraid of Anhe Daoist’s people coming after you, making you take the blame?”
Hou Niao played dumb, “What are you talking about?
Dong Fangfei wrinkled her dainty nose and pouted, “Brother Hou, we’ve already been completely honest with each other, why are we still so estranged?
I had barely hinted at it, and the next moment, the person was killed.
If I pretended to know nothing, that would truly be suspicious.
Seeing as we are, at least, accomplices, could you not be a bit more open with me?”
Hou Niao sighed internally, knowing he couldn’t keep the truth from this shrewd woman.
The coincidence was indeed too great, it was no wonder she was suspicious.
“Fairy suddenly asking about this, what is your intention?
Within Anhe territory, some matters are best not flouted too openly, right?”
Dong Fangfei humphed, her expression somewhat dissatisfied, “You commit the murder, and I can’t ask about it?
Well, I’d like to propose a deal with you, brother.
Hou Niao was at a loss for words, “Still on this?
Divine City is crowded and watched, getting caught by someone intentional doesn’t bother me, but I fear it might tarnish your reputation, Fairy.”
Dong Fangfei laughed, “Brother, do you think I am some shameless woman, capricious in my ways?
The last act was merely a ritual to demonstrate our willingness to cooperate.
Can rituals be conducted casually?
Even if you desired it, I couldn’t comply.
The deal I’m speaking of is a pure trade.
I heard that the Daoist’s Treasure Gourd was taken; I knew then it was brother’s trick to mislead the Anhe Daoists from the real trail.
In that case, you probably can’t deal with the Daoist’s treasures for now.
Many spiritual artifacts contain personally identifiable secrets.
Not to mention in Divine City, even if you returned to Shan Country, as soon as you start selling them, it wouldn’t be long before you’d be traced and confronted.
So, I suggest you trade them to me.
I’ll take them back to the Southeast region, where I have contacts who specialize in buying such goods, guaranteeing a flawless transaction and also earning some hard-earned money.”
Hou Niao was impressed, but had to admit, this woman had a good point.
The most troublesome part about his windfall was indeed how to sell those peculiar artifacts, just as Dong Fangfei had pointed out.
It certainly wasn’t feasible in Divine City, nor likely in Shan Country—an area under the close watch of the Wu Sect.
Moreover, the real value of these items was in selling them swiftly, spending the Spirit Stones on something essential like his ascension.
If he delayed, waiting until after his ascension to sell them, those Spirit Stones probably wouldn’t even catch his eye.
“Then, how would you price it, Fairy?”
Dong Fangfei smiled enchantingly, “Since we’re partners, we should call it splitting the spoils.
I won’t lie to you, brother—Quanzhen Sword Cultivators probably don’t have much experience in evaluating the value of Daoist artifacts?
My offer is to genuinely give you a fair price, and then you sell them to me at half that!”