[Wuxia] The Substitute Duan Yu of Tianlong (Complete) - 20

With a whooshing sound, Duan
Yu flew swiftly, feeling a strong sense of oppression. He continued flying into the distance, finally stopping at a dilapidated temple. It was a run-down temple dedicated to the goddess Nuwa. The drafty layout gave it an air of utter desolation.
The worn-out doors creaked and swayed in the breeze. Upon entering, he was greeted by a large spiderweb, on which a spider the size of a thumb was devouring a captured mosquito.
Looking at the Nuwa statue, now covered in dust, Duan Yu felt a pang of unease.
He slowly walked inside and stood before the Nuwa statue. "I wonder who is watching me. Whoever it is, I will find you."
Since entering the temple, Duan Yu had noticed the glimmer of light from the sky had vanished.
It seemed his suspicions were correct; it really was someone from Heaven.
After surveying his surroundings, Duan Yu sat cross-legged on a worn-out prayer mat before the Nuwa statue.
Even now, he could still deeply feel the surging True Dragon Qi within his body.
Having absorbed so much dragon Qi at once, Duan Yu's body was completely saturated. Had he not already possessed dragon Qi, this reckless absorption would have surely led to his death.
True Dragon Qi was absolutely taboo for cultivators; few dared to presume to possess it.
It was like the rules of heaven and earth; throughout history, few emperors had achieved immortality. This destined emperors to be forbidden from cultivating the Dao.
Looking at Chinese history, only the Yellow Emperor and the Human King Fuxi achieved immortality; they were the ancestors of humankind, possessing great merit and blessings.
The True Dragon Qi, absorbed by Duan Yu using the Northern Darkness Divine Art, was initially dormant, but now it surged and churned within him.
The immense dragon Qi occupied every part of Duan Yu's body. Even the golden core within his dantian was suppressed by this dragon Qi. Seeing the dragon Qi circulating much slower than before, Duan Yu frowned. My current situation is truly not ideal.
"There is something undifferentiated and complete, existing before heaven and earth. Silent and still, it stands alone and unchanging, ever-present and inexhaustible. It can be regarded as the mother of all things under heaven. I do not know its name, so I call it the Way. I forcibly name it Great. Great means flowing, flowing means far-reaching, far-reaching means returning." All things in heaven and earth are born from the Way. Previously, Duan Yu absolutely did not believe this
. As a person from a technologically advanced society, Duan Yu understood the principles of evolution of all things. However, when he merged with the dragon's energy and secretly deduced the Heavenly Court, Duan Yu's heart had come to believe in the Way! The Way absolutely exists.
"The Way gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three, Three gives birth to all things." After the Way generates all things, it is also contained within heaven and earth themselves as the basis for their existence. The Way is universally present, all-pervasive, and all-encompassing. Although the Way exists within heaven and earth, it is different from tangible things; it is invisible, inaudible, and intangible, constituting the common essence of all things. Therefore, the "Way" exists beyond human language and imagery; the mind can perceive it but cannot express it or illustrate it. —It cannot be perceived through the senses, nor can it be expressed with ordinary words; its existence can only be explained through metaphors and descriptions.
According to Taoism, at the beginning of heaven and earth, in a place unknown to anyone, a primordial energy arose, which then differentiated into Yin and Yang. In this context, Tao is nothingness!
Then, can dragon energy be understood as originally being a part of nothingness? Exploring the primordial energy, transforming dragon energy into one's own.
Various Taoist doctrines churned in my mind: "Tao is the beginning of all things…the source of all things," it is "the reason why all things are," "the reason why all things are formed," regarding Tao as the universal law of the material world, the general basis for the existence and development of heaven and earth and all things. "Tao" is the ultimate category, the universal law of all things, while the special essence of all things is "virtue" (德), "virtue is the function of Tao"; the special law of all things is "principle" (理), Tao is "the basis of all things" (物物各异理而道尽稽物理), regarding the relationship between Tao, virtue, and principle as the universality and particularity, the infiniteness and finiteness of the material world.
Those with virtue gain the world; then, can it be said that dragon energy is actually virtue and fortune? Does the fact that the Yellow Emperor could obtain it mean he was a representative of dragon energy? The more Duan Yu
thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. The dragon energy of heaven and earth should inherently be the energy of Taoism. It's just that cultivators in the world cannot grasp dragon energy, nor can they consume or utilize it.
So, could he do the opposite? Since he couldn't consume it, why not imagine himself as a volume, like a deep-water blanket, using all his meridians to merge with the dragon energy? Like a boat sailing on the ocean, completely spreading the dragon energy into the sea within his body.
"When the world is governed by Tao, even warhorses are used for fodder; when the world is without Tao, warhorses breed in the suburbs." One thought after another arose in Duan Yu's mind, and suddenly a realization arose—a realization of Tao. At this moment, Duan Yu's mind merged with heaven and earth.
One after another, the cycle of life and death, from the beginning of Pangu creating heaven and earth to the origin of all things. "Tao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, three gives birth to all things." Everything developed in an orderly manner. But just then, a loud dragon roar resounded, and a five-clawed golden dragon appeared in the turbid void of all things. The five-clawed golden dragon exuded an aura of disdain for the world. A voice carrying the power of primordial chaos resounded, "When the world attains the Dao, the dragon's aura reigns supreme!"
With this resounding boom, stars began to scatter, and the sun and moon began to evolve. Everything in heaven and earth changed.
And with this voice, Duan Yu's body also underwent a cataclysmic transformation. At this moment, he seemed to have transformed into the five-clawed golden dragon. He roamed the world, experiencing the domineering aura of an emperor. Heaven and earth were supreme, and he comprehended the essence of the Dao.
The Dao is unrestrained, without laws or thoughts; the true Dao is carefree and at ease, roaming freely between heaven and earth.
"Simplicity is the root of the Dao. Ease is the foundation of the classics. The Dao is the path of things. The classics are the steps of things. Without the Dao of simplicity, things are crooked; without the classics of ease, things are desolate. Simplicity gives rise to the Dao, and the Dao follows nature. Without the Dao, there is no constancy; following the Dao leads to growth."
The righteous Dao originates from simplicity, that is, simplicity gives rise to the Dao. The Dao's actions depend on nature, and taking nature as the guide is the true Dao. If things do not have this Dao, they will not survive forever. If one follows this path, not only will one achieve long-term development, but one will also continuously grow stronger.
The Dao is formless, imageless, soundless, odorless, infinitely vast, infinitely small, yet it is the source of all things in heaven and earth, the ultimate energy that governs all things.
At this moment, Duan Yu understood; he comprehended what the Dao was. All the events of the past flashed before his eyes like a fleeting glimpse—his understanding of human nature, his perception of circumstances.
Everything was, in fact, the pursuit of the Dao. "Joyful Zen! Joyful Buddha. No wonder Buddhism has the Dharma of Joyful Zen. It turns out everything is the pursuit of one's true nature! Feeling the essence of oneself, feeling the simplest yin-yang attraction at the beginning of life, understanding the fusion of yin and yang, comprehending the transformation
of the Dao of Heaven!" "Boom!" At this moment, the golden core within Duan Yu's body suddenly emitted a dazzling light, his mind and body soaring to new heights. The golden core grew larger and larger, finally becoming a fist-sized form within his body. A primordial aura faintly emanated from his body. At this moment, Duan Yu discovered that his soul had transcended, surpassing the Three Realms. At this moment, he had finally truly transcended life and death.
But that wasn't all. Then, an even more astonishing change occurred: all the true dragon energy suddenly transformed into a torrent flowing towards Duan Yu's Niwan Palace (the area between the upper and lower dantian). Within the Niwan Palace of his consciousness, the true dragon energy actually transformed into a miniature, shimmering golden dragon!
Duan Yu was dumbfounded! This golden dragon's form emanated an incredible Buddhist aura, a very strong ancient Buddhist intent.
"Could it be a relic! A relic that only Buddhists can cultivate? But how can this be? Relics can take the form of a golden dragon,"
Duan Yu muttered to himself. He felt utterly bewildered. This was completely beyond his imagination.
Even with all his knowledge, he couldn't understand what was happening!
As Duan Yu tried to move the golden dragon, he discovered that with his heart's desire, a power instantly flowed from the dragon, and a halo of Buddhist light rose behind his head—a seven-colored radiance!
With the growth of this light, Duan Yu suddenly experienced a profound understanding of the universe. Rays of light emanated from him, and his mind became increasingly clear. His body suddenly moved without wind, slowly suspending itself. Various hand seals appeared in his hands. At this moment, he resembled a transcendent and awe-inspiring Buddha.
"Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, practicing the profound Prajnaparamita, illuminates the emptiness of the five aggregates, thus transcending all suffering and distress. Shariputra, form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form; form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Sensation, perception, volition, and consciousness are also like this. Shariputra, all dharmas are empty in nature, neither arising nor ceasing, neither defiled nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing. Therefore, in emptiness there is no form, no sensation, perception, volition, or consciousness; no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no form, sound, smell, taste, touch, or dharma; no eye-consciousness, and so forth, up to no mind-consciousness; no ignorance, and also no end of ignorance, and so forth, up to no old age and death, and also no end of old age and death. There is no suffering, no origination, no cessation, no path; no wisdom, and also no attainment. Because there is nothing to be attained, Bodhisattvas, relying on Prajnaparamita, have no hindrance in their minds. Because there is no hindrance, they have no fear, are far removed from distorted views and dreams, and ultimately attain Nirvana. All Buddhas of the three times..." "By relying on Prajnaparamita, one attains Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Therefore, know that Prajnaparamita is the great divine mantra, the great bright mantra, the supreme mantra, the unequaled mantra, capable of removing all suffering, truly and without falsehood. Therefore, the Prajnaparamita mantra is spoken, namely: Gate Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha…"
At this moment, heaven and earth trembled, and a bolt of lightning suddenly appeared in the sky. In the unseen underworld, in the eighteen levels of hell, all the celestial demons howled and wailed. Their mournful cries were so terrifying. The entire underworld was in chaos.
Only a bewildered voice was heard: "Heaven and earth have changed, demons are howling and wailing. Transcending the three realms, the soul leaps! Another earth-shattering change has occurred!"
At this moment, the entire underworld was in turmoil, and in the unseen clouds high above, the celestial court, shrouded in immortal energy, was also in chaos.
The underworld and the celestial court were the first to feel the changes in heaven and earth. The Lingxiao Mirror atop the Lingxiao Palace was emitting a dazzling light, a light that shook the entire Heavenly Court.
At this moment, everyone in Heaven knew that another being who had transcended the Three Realms had appeared.
"Investigate! Investigate! Investigate who this person is who has transcended the Three Realms! Why is there no record of this person before!"
A fair-skinned middle-aged man in a dragon robe and feathered crown sat on a golden dragon throne, angrily addressing his subordinates. Beside him sat a beautiful woman, smiling gently. Her deep affection exuded a solemnity that seemed to defy the heavens and earth.
These two were the absolute representatives of the Eastern Heavenly Court: the Queen Mother and the Jade Emperor!
Below them, the Twenty-Eight Mansions, the various constellations, the Nine Luminaries, and other stars of the Milky Way, along with Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King clad in armor and holding a magnificent pagoda, and Nezha, dressed as a child and wielding a fire-tipped spear… and a series of other celestial officials, all curiously gazed at the Lingxiao Mirror.

139
How many years has it been since the Lingxiao Mirror underwent such a change? Looking at its dazzling light, the celestial soldiers and generals couldn't help but recall the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, from back then! They secretly wondered if another Sun Wukong had been born.
Thinking of Sun Wukong's rampage in the Heavenly Palace, some celestial soldiers and generals couldn't help but shudder.
"Investigate! We must investigate!"
these generals thought to themselves. How could such a person not be investigated?
"Reporting to the Jade Emperor, according to reports from various land deities in the lower realms, we haven't been able to find out who this person is. He seems to be in a Nuwa Temple, a place we can't easily investigate. Furthermore, not long ago, a dragon energy dispute suddenly occurred in the lower Song Dynasty, and the Song Dynasty's dragon energy was stolen by a cultivator."
Taibai Jinxing suddenly stepped forward and spoke up.
"Eh, it's you again, Taibai Jinxing. How come you're always the first to get the news?"
The Jade Emperor was surprised to see Taibai Jinxing speak up.
The various deities beside him also fixed their gazes on Venus, their expressions strange.
The Heavenly Court was never as harmonious as it appeared. Besides the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, who had wreaked havoc in Heaven, other deities had also caused chaos, though Sun Wukong was the most notorious among them.
In addition to the Jade Emperor, the Heavenly Court also had six other emperors: the Central Heaven Purple Star Emperor (also known as the Purple Star Emperor, the North Star Emperor, or the North Star Lord), the Southern Pole Longevity Emperor (also known as the Supreme Divine Firmament Jade Pure True King Longevity Emperor, the Heavenly Venerable Supreme Primordial Saint), the Gouchen Upper Palace Heavenly Emperor (also known as the Gouchen Emperor, the Heavenly Emperor), and the Empress Earth Goddess (also known as Houtu, the Empress Houtu). As the saying goes, where there are people, there is conflict, and the Heavenly Court is no exception. Now, with various forces gathered, even the Jade Emperor could not completely control them.
Take the Western Taiji Heavenly Emperor for example; he has eight marshals and five war gods: the Sky War God, the Earth War God, the Human War God, the North Pole War God, and the South Pole War God. Each of these gods is arguably the most powerful in the Heavenly Court.
"This… this humble immortal doesn't know the reason either,"
said Taibai Jinxing. He secretly cursed his own loose tongue; why did he have to tell everyone? He was truly unlucky; he only went to chat with Rainbow Girl for a while and unintentionally learned about this!
The Jade Emperor glanced at Taibai Jinxing and said wistfully, "Since it's in the temple of Goddess Nuwa, then, which immortal is willing to go to Goddess Nuwa?"
Upon hearing this, chaos erupted below, with one saying, "You go," and another saying, "You go."
Seeing the chaotic scene before him, the Jade Emperor frowned. "Is it possible that you're all making excuses for such a small matter? Do you even respect me, the Jade Emperor?"
"Jade Emperor, it's not that we're making excuses, but it's because of the rules of Nuwa Palace. Have you forgotten Nuwa's rules for Nuwa Palace? Men are not allowed to enter freely there,"
said Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King.
"Look at my memory, it's indeed true! I've put you all in a difficult position. So, who do you think is suitable to go?"
the Jade Emperor asked.
"In my opinion, sending Xuan Nu would be feasible!"
Zhang Tianshi said.
"Let Xuan Nu go? This…" The Jade
Emperor hesitated .
"We all agree that Xuan Nu should go to Nuwa Palace,"
the immortals below said in unison.
"In that case, summon Xuan Nu to see me,"
the Jade Emperor sighed.
A short while later, a stunningly beautiful woman dressed in a nine-colored emerald robe slowly walked out of the Lingxiao Palace. The stunningly beautiful woman bowed slightly to the Jade Emperor and said, "Xuan Nu greets the Jade Emperor and the Empress!"
"No need for formalities!"
the Jade Emperor said with a smile.
"I wonder what brings the Jade Emperor here today?"
Xuan Nu asked softly. Xuan Nu's gentle expression stunned the surrounding immortals. In the entire celestial realm, Xuan Nu's beauty was unparalleled.
"Judging from the state of the Lingxiao Mirror, Xuan Nu, you should know what has happened!"
the Jade Emperor said.
"Yes. It must be that someone in the mortal realm has achieved immortality and truly transcended the Three Realms,"
Xuan Nu nodded.
"That's right, someone has indeed broken free from the Five Elements,"
the Jade Emperor said.
"But even so, I still don't understand why the Jade Emperor summoned me here. Do you want me to capture this person?" Xuan Nu asked, speechless.
"Of course not. This person is hiding inside the temple of the Goddess Nuwa. Even you gods can't easily investigate the Nuwa Temple, so you can only ask the Goddess Nuwa herself. You know the rules of the Nuwa Palace, so I'd like to ask Xuan Nu to inquire,"
the Jade Emperor said.
"Is that so... but..."
Xuan Nu hesitated, her expression full of doubt.
"I know this is putting you in a difficult position. Nowadays, not only men but also women cannot enter the Nuwa Palace. However, as an ancient goddess, Xuan Nu, it shouldn't be a problem for you to inquire with the Goddess Nuwa,"
the Jade Emperor said.
Xuan Nu's face still showed difficulty: "Jade Emperor, it's not that I don't want to inquire, but the Nuwa Palace is now very strictly controlled. Have you forgotten what happened to that Star Lord a hundred years ago? He was completely destroyed, body and soul. I don't know what's going on with the Nuwa Palace now."
"How about this, Xuan Nu, I see you haven't been down to the mortal realm for a long time. If you inquire with the Goddess Nuwa this time, I'll allow you to go down to the mortal realm for a few days, how about that?"
the Jade Emperor said.
“That wouldn’t be good. Heaven is under martial law now. What will the immortals think if I go down to the mortal realm alone?”
Xuan Nu said.
“What’s wrong with that? Anyway, after asking Goddess Nuwa, I’ll send people down to find out who this person is. Xuan Nu, you going down will be a good lookout.” The
Jade Emperor said.
“In that case, I’ll go to Nuwa’s Palace and give it a try.”
Xuan Nu said.
“Then I’ll have to trouble you, Xuan Nu.”
The Jade Emperor said kindly.
“Then Xuan Nu will take her leave!”
After Xuan Nu finished speaking, she turned and left the Lingxiao Palace. After Xuan Nu left the Lingxiao Palace, a seductive smile appeared on her lips.
“I didn’t expect things to go so smoothly. Hmph… Duan Yu, you just wait. See how I deal with you. You’ve caused me so much trouble in such a short time. I didn’t expect you to have transcended the Three Realms and cultivated great supernatural powers, becoming a being like an Earth Immortal.”
A charming smile appeared on Xuan Nu’s face. That smile was chilling no matter how you looked at it. It was a bewitching smile.
That's right, she was the one who had been watching Duan Yu with the Mystic Mirror. She was also the one who brought Duan Yu to this time and space. From the moment Duan Yu absorbed the dragon's energy, Xuan Nu knew she was in trouble. How could such a huge incident go unnoticed by the Heavenly Court?
However, Duan Yu truly surprised her; she hadn't expected him to dare absorb the dragon's energy.
Watching Duan Yu absorb the dragon's energy, Xuan Nu felt a surge of anxiety; she was quite flustered. Even Xuan Nu herself didn't understand why. Anyway, at that moment, she knew one thing: she had to deal with this scoundrel.
And what followed seemed like divine intervention; unexpectedly, the Jade Emperor sent her to Nuwa's Palace.
Xuan Nu's smile deepened. She was an ancient goddess, and she had often seen Nuwa before. Not only had she often seen her, but she was also one of Nuwa's few close friends.
So this time, she was merely going to Nuwa's Palace as a formality; few of the gods in heaven could guess this connection.
Not far from the Lingxiao Palace, Xuan Nu beckoned, and a fire phoenix appeared beside her. She swiftly mounted the phoenix, and it flew towards Nuwa Palace under her guidance.
Passing through countless clouds, it soared upwards until it finally arrived.
As soon as she arrived, before Xuan Nu could even admire the unique clouds surrounding Nuwa Palace, a little girl in white with pigtails approached.
"Sister Xuan Nu, you really came! I thought the Empress was just teasing me!"
the little girl said, winking cutely at Xuan Nu.
"You little imp, daring to speak ill of Sister Nuwa, be careful she punishes you,"
Xuan Nu said, a doting smile appearing on her face as she pinched the little girl's nose.
"No way! The Empress wouldn't bear to punish me. Hehe, Sister Xuan Nu, did you bring me anything delicious this time?"
the little girl asked.
"Qing'er, all you know is food. But I did forget to bring anything this time. I'll make it up to you next time,"
Xuan Nu said with a smile, spreading her hands.
"No, never mind then..."
Qing'er said, her face still showing a hint of dejection.
"Little thing... here, this is for you."
Xuan Nu suddenly produced a strange fruit in her hand.
"Sister Xuan Nu is the best. Even the Empress won't let me eat anything casually."
Qing'er said with a smile.
"Sister Nuwa is only doing this for your own good. With your current cultivation level, how can you just eat anything from Nuwa Palace? Every single one of those fruits is of the highest quality. If you eat them, not only will you not get any help, but it will also be very dangerous."
Xuan Nu said.
"I know, but I really want to grow up quickly! I want to grow up to be like Sister Xuan Nu."
Qing'er looked at Xuan Nu's figure and said with a grin.
"Then just focus on your cultivation!"
Xuan Nu said.
"Hmm... cultivation isn't as fast as eating fruit."
Qing'er winked mischievously. "Oh dear, I can't say anymore. Her Majesty sent me to fetch you. If we delay any longer, Her Majesty will really spank me."
"Now you know fear, you little rascal. Let's go..."
After saying this, Xuan Nu had the fire phoenix stop outside, and she and Qing'er flew into Nuwa Palace on a cloud.
Passing through the huge palace gate, what appeared inside was not the enclosed courtyard of the past, but another world.
Everywhere was peaceful. Many rare birds and beasts were chasing and playing inside. When they saw Xuan Nu, they all ran over. From among these birds and beasts came
cheers : "Sister Xuan Nu!"
"Don't come over, Her Majesty has been waiting for a long time. Wait until Sister Xuan Nu goes in before you talk to her."
Qing'er blocked Xuan Nu's way and said to the birds.
"You guys are really naughty, none of you will transform into human form, you insist on playing in your original form."
Xuan Nu said to the phoenixes.
"Hehe, transforming into human form is not as fun."
A leading blue phoenix spoke up.
"Hehehe, Sister Xuan Nu, don't pay them any mind. They're not what I think anyway. Human form is still the best."
Qing'er made a face at the birds and pulled Xuan Nu inside.
"Qing'er, you're so naughty..."
came the chirping voices from behind.
"Qing'er isn't naughty at all."
Qing'er turned back and made another face.
They walked through a garden and several corridors. Qing'er led Xuan Nu to a courtyard with the sound of flowing water.
The courtyard was bathed in the glow of seven-colored clouds, and in the center stood a pavilion. To the left of the pavilion was a towering waterfall. Below the waterfall, mist and clouds swirled.
Inside the pavilion sat a graceful and dignified woman, dressed in celestial robes and draped in colorful ribbons. The long ribbons danced gently in the breeze, serene and natural, conveying a sense of contentment.

140
After Duan Yu transcended life and death, he still found himself being watched. This time, however, the watcher had changed; it was none other than the Nuwa statue before him.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your protection!"
Duan Yu suddenly bowed to the statue. As he spoke, the Nuwa statue seemed to be protected by something, radiating brilliant light. The statue suddenly came to life.
"How will you thank me?"
a faint voice echoed.
"Are you the Goddess Nuwa?"
Duan Yu asked tentatively, his heart pounding. Although he now knew that mythology was no longer just mythology, seeing the statue of the Goddess Nuwa speaking to the progenitor of humankind, Duan Yu still couldn't suppress his excitement.
"Do you think anyone else would dare to bow down in my Nuwa Temple?"
The ethereal voice echoed again.
Duan Yu shook his head and said, "It seems you really are the Goddess. I wonder why the Goddess has appeared at this time!"
"Why... Didn't you consider being investigated by me when you chose to seek refuge in my temple?"
Nuwa said.
"It's not that I didn't think about it, but I simply didn't dare to. I knew one thing at the time: if there really is a Heavenly Court, then no one would dare to disrespect the Goddess Nuwa!"
Duan Yu said honestly.
"With your courage, you wouldn't dare to think about it?"
Nuwa said.
"Does the Goddess know me very well? Otherwise, how would you know I'm so bold?"
After the initial excitement subsided, Duan Yu returned to his usual roguish manner. "Although I know I'm handsome, I haven't reached the point where the Goddess would investigate me."
"You're the first person to dare to speak to me like this... Aren't you afraid I'll deal with you?"
Nuwa said.
"Although I don't know why the Goddess has appeared, I know that the Goddess would never do such a thing! You must have some purpose!"
Duan Yu said with a smile.
"Is that so?"
Nuwa suddenly unleashed a powerful aura.
Duan Yu, however, looked at Nuwa with a serious expression. While he appeared calm, his heart was pounding with anxiety. He inwardly berated himself for his sharp tongue. This wasn't just anyone; it was the ancient goddess Nuwa!
"You can actually absorb dragon energy, which truly surprises me. This dragon energy is like primordial chaos energy. Although not as powerful as primordial chaos energy, the difference isn't significant. Your future is limitless."
Nuwa's aura suddenly subsided, uttering words that astonished Duan Yu.
"Primordial chaos energy? What's that?"
Duan Yu asked. "Primordial chaos energy?
You don't even know that? I truly don't understand how you cultivated to become an Earth Immortal."
Nuwa said. "Primordial chaos energy is the origin of the universe. At the beginning of heaven and earth, it was originally a state of chaos."
Hearing Nuwa's words, Duan Yu suddenly recalled his own experiences at the Fifth Rank, from the beginning of heaven and earth to the birth of the divine dragon. Could all of this be real? Then why was he able to witness such scenes? Duan Yu frowned.
"Was the first thing born at the beginning of time a divine dragon?"
Duan Yu asked, raising his head.
"No wonder you can absorb dragon energy. It seems you grasped the profound mysteries of dragon energy during your enlightenment. You've fully gained the dragon energy's approval! Several eras have passed, and the dragon energy inheritance has reappeared. The conflict has begun again. You'd better watch yourself!"
After Nuwa finished speaking, a flash of light appeared, and the Nuwa Temple was once again reduced to a stone statue.
"Wait!...Wait..."
Duan Yu's pleading voice abruptly stopped. "You just leave like that, without even explaining anything. At least teach me a couple of moves!"
Duan Yu pouted.
However, from Nuwa's simple words, Duan Yu understood that his absorption of dragon energy really would trigger unusual conflict.
**In the Heavenly Pavilion, Nuwa smiled. She shook her head and turned to look to the side, just in time to see Qing'er leading Xuan Nu towards them.
"Sister Nuwa!"
Xuan Nu said with a smile as she approached.
"Come sit down, Qing'er, you go down first. I have something to say to your sister Xuan Nu."
Nuwa said, looking at the two of them.
"Oh~!"
Qing'er reluctantly replied and went down.
Xuan Nu watched Qing'er leave, and the expression on her face also changed. "Sister Nuwa..."
"No need to say anything, I know everything. You... you've really gotten yourself into trouble this time."
Nuwa said, looking at Xuan Nu.
"Get into trouble? What do you mean?"
Xuan Nu asked, sitting down.
"Haven't you seen it yet? You went to the future and, by chance, brought Duan Yu to this time and space. Now he has become an Earth Immortal, and his achievements will be limitless. Many things will change because of him."
Nuwa said.
"I know he has become an Earth Immortal, but he's just a minor Earth Immortal. It's not as scary as you make it out to be, sister."
Xuan Nu pouted.
Nuwa shook her head and said, "Then let me ask you, how long did it take him to reach such a level of cultivation?"
Xuan Nu was taken aback and said, "In the human realm, it should be less than two years."
"Less than two years? In less than two years he transcended the Three Realms and the Five Elements. If he were just an ordinary immortal ascending to heaven, it wouldn't be a big deal; it's not uncommon for people to become immortals in two years. But he underwent a soul transformation and transcended the Three Realms. This is not something an ordinary person can do,"
Nuwa said solemnly. "And these are not the main points. The most important thing is that you don't understand the importance of dragon energy."
Xuan Nu nodded and said, "I know. It seems you've already contacted him, sister."
"That's right. Since he achieved the status of an Earth Immortal in my Nuwa Temple, how could I not investigate? This person didn't just absorb dragon energy; he comprehended the dragon energy inherited from ancient times,"
Nuwa said.
"You said he comprehended dragon energy? How is that possible? Even Xuanyuan didn't fully comprehend dragon energy back then. Is he even more powerful than Xuanyuan?"
Xuan Nu said in surprise.
"I don't know either, but from our conversation, I know he has indeed grasped the dragon's energy, or at least come into contact with it. You know what? He actually asked me if the first creature born at the beginning of time was a divine dragon?"
Nuwa said.
"Then what should I do? If he has truly grasped the dragon's energy, doesn't that mean a catastrophe is about to befall the Heavenly Court?" Xuan Nu
adopted a serious demeanor for the first time. As an ancient goddess of justice, Xuan Nu was extremely perceptive when she was serious.
Nuwa shook her head: "Everything is because of you. You can't escape the responsibility. Everything in heaven and earth follows the Dao. Since you were able to bring him to this time and space, perhaps it was ordained by Heaven. I can't see his destiny either."

141
"Sister, you can't see it either! How could that be!"
Xuan Nu said in shock.
"I really can't see it. After all, he is from the future, and his destiny is inherently elusive. Now that he has absorbed the dragon's energy and become an Earth Immortal, I can see him even less clearly,"
Nuwa said.
Xuan Nu fell silent. "Then, sister, what do you think I should do this time I descend to the mortal realm?"
Nuwa shook her head and said, "I don't know either. It all depends on you. With the Jade Emperor's personality, to maintain the majesty of the Heavenly Court, he will definitely deal with those who disobey him. Duan Yu will definitely be a thorn in the side of the Jade Emperor!"
"That's right. Right now, the Jade Emperor only said he would investigate, but based on my understanding of Duan Yu, he is not one to obey orders. From the moment he began to doubt the Heavenly Court, he was trying to increase his own strength. In such a short time, he has become an Earth Immortal. I must say that his comprehension and fortune are both very good."
Xuan Nu said.
"The world is in chaos, all things rise and fall. This heaven, this earth, everything is uncertain. A great calamity will befall the world, and how many lives will perish in vain? The calamity of heaven and earth is about to begin again. Xuan Nu, you should take care of yourself."
As Nuwa spoke, her body suddenly disappeared from the pavilion.
Watching Nuwa disappear, Xuan Nu frowned slightly: "Duan Yu, it seems I really underestimated you. Perhaps I should have killed you immediately. Since I didn't kill you then, you'd better live well from now on. I want to see what you'll do. A cataclysmic disaster? You'll be the master of it!"
After resting briefly in the pavilion, Xuan Nu headed towards the corridor. As soon as she stepped out of the corridor, Qing'er skipped and hopped up to her: "Sister Xuan Nu, why did you come out so quickly?"
"Little rascal, Sister Xuan Nu had things to do, of course I came out quickly."
Xuan Nu smiled.
"Have things to do? Uh... Sister Xuan Nu, you also have things to do? Weren't you always so free before?"
Qing'er said in surprise.
"Who said I didn't have things to do? When have you ever seen me free?"
Xuan Nu said.
"I always saw you so free before! Sister Xuan Nu, don't try to fool me."
Qing'er pouted.
"You little rascal, you didn't believe me!"
Xuan Nu pinched Qing'er's delicate nose. "Alright, I really have something to do. I'll play with you next time."
"Oh!"
Qing'er nodded reluctantly. "Then I'll see you off, sister."
"Okay, let's go!" Xuan Nu said, then walked ahead.
"Sister Xuan Nu, you're finally out!"
The phoenixes ran over when they saw Xuan Nu come out.
"Don't block Sister Xuan Nu, she has something to do."
Qing'er said loudly, hands on her hips.
"You... you're bad, Qing'er!"
the phoenixes said one after another.
"Qing'er isn't bad, I really do have something to do. If you don't believe me, ask her."
Qing'er said.
"Sister Xuan Nu, do you really have something to do?"
a phoenix asked.
"Yes, don't worry, I'll come see you again in a few days."
Xuan Nu smiled.
"Oh, is that so? Sister Xuan Nu, you must remember what you said today. You must play with us next time."
"I know."
Xuan Nu looked at the phoenixes affectionately.
"See? I told you so! You still didn't believe me."
Qing'er huffed.
"We were wrong, so we apologize,"
the phoenixes said in unison.
"Since you sincerely apologize, then I'll be magnanimous and reluctantly accept it,"
Qing'er said with a smile.
Watching Qing'er's antics, Xuan Nu shook her head helplessly. This little girl was always bullying the other phoenixes.
After leaving Nuwa Palace, Xuan Nu rode her fire phoenix directly towards the Lingxiao Palace. Xuan Nu was constantly thinking. "Now that I'm down in the mortal realm, what should I do? If it's really as Sister Nuwa said, and I absolutely can't touch Duan Yu, then I can only teach him a lesson. Yes! I must teach him a lesson. Let him know what real strength is, otherwise he'll think he's so powerful, always wanting to come to the Heavenly Court to flirt with fairies. Humph, I've never seen such a fickle person before,"
Xuan Nu said, her teeth clenched. Just thinking about Duan Yu's fickleness made her incredibly excited. She really didn't know what those women were thinking, knowing full well how fickle he was, yet still following him. "If it were me, I would definitely castrate him."
Xuan Nu's thoughts were extremely cruel, unaware that she had already subtly included herself among Duan Yu's group. Of course, even if she knew, she wouldn't admit it, since she had never had any contact with Duan Yu. Where did love come from?
Arriving at the Lingxiao Palace, Xuan Nu regained her holy and elegant fairy demeanor and slowly walked inside. The generals were surprised to see Xuan Nu return so quickly.
"Xuan Nu, you're back. Has everything been settled?"
The Jade Emperor was also slightly surprised.
"Reporting to the Jade Emperor, everything has been settled. According to the Goddess Nuwa, that person is an emperor of the Dali Kingdom named Duan Yu. This person absorbed dragon energy and attained enlightenment in the temple of the Goddess Nuwa, cultivating into an Earth Immortal!"
Xuan Nu said softly.
"What did you say? He absorbed the dragon energy of the Song Dynasty! He actually absorbed dragon energy and attained enlightenment! How is that possible! How is that possible?"
The Jade Emperor muttered to himself, his face filled with disbelief.
Not only the Jade Emperor was incredulous, but all the celestial generals who heard this news were also incredulous. They understood the concept of dragon energy very well. Even these Great Luo Golden Immortals dared not rashly absorb dragon energy; it was absolutely taboo for cultivators.
The Queen Mother was the first to react. Seeing the Jade Emperor's loss of composure, she coughed lightly and tugged at his robes. The Jade Emperor, feeling the Queen Mother's touch, glanced at his ministers, his expression becoming solemn, and looked at the Queen Mother with gratitude. For the Jade Emperor of Heaven, such a loss of composure was a great loss of face.
Fortunately, the immortals were all shocked at the time, and no one paid attention to the Jade Emperor's lapse in composure.
"Alright, all immortals, be quiet,"
the Jade Emperor said majestically.
Hearing the Jade Emperor's words, the hall instantly fell silent again.
"Immortals, what do you think we should do now? Absorbing dragon energy is a very important matter. I don't need to tell you, you immortals should all understand the importance of dragon energy,"
the Jade Emperor said solemnly.
"In my humble opinion, it would be better to offer it amnesty,"
Taibai Jinxing said.
"Another amnesty?"
Several divine generals exclaimed in surprise at the same time.
"Venus, have you forgotten about Sun Wukong?"
Thor spoke up.
"Of course I haven't forgotten, that's why I suggested recruiting him. Have you all forgotten the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's fighting prowess? Besides, isn't he now obediently become the Victorious Fighting Buddha?"
Taibai Jinxing said.
"I say, Taibai! Are you playing dumb or just pretending? Victorious Fighting Buddha! That sounds nice, but let me ask you, is Sun Wukong still one of us?"
Thor said coldly.
"Ahem... Fellow immortals, let's not discuss the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's matter any further,"
the Jade Emperor coughed, subtly stopping the discussion.
Sun Wukong was definitely a sore spot for the Heavenly Court. They didn't know that Sun Wukong had actually become a sacrifice for the Heavenly Court. The Journey to the West was orchestrated to form an alliance with the Western Buddha, a script arranged by the Heavenly Court and Mount Ling. In this script, Sun Wukong was a complete tragedy. It was his sacrifice that allowed for the perfect alliance between Mount Ling and the Heavenly Court. The gods of the Heavenly Court had previously avoided mentioning this matter. Because the Buddha was so powerful, their conversation in the Lingxiao Palace couldn't escape his notice. That's why the Jade Emperor coughed to stop the immortals from continuing their discussion.
All the immortals fell silent, each looking down at their own thoughts.

142
"Jade Emperor, this humble immortal still thinks it's better to offer amnesty. If we choose to eliminate him, no one knows what will happen. Since he can absorb dragon energy, he must have some ability,"
said Taibai Jinxing.
"No, Jade Emperor, it's better to choose elimination. Our Heavenly Court hasn't made any major moves in recent years. Many demons and monsters are no longer so afraid of our Heavenly Court. So, eliminating Duan Yu is a way for our Heavenly Court to restore its prestige. This way, we can also show those winged birdmen the power of our Heavenly Court," said the Thunder
God proudly.
"Jade Emperor, we Five Stars all think it's better to offer amnesty,"
said another star lord among the Five Stars, along with Taibai.
"We Seven Luminaries Star Lords also think it's better to offer amnesty,"
said Tian Shu Star Lord.
"We also think surrender is the best course of action!"
the Twenty-Eight Constellations agreed.
"Hmph, we, the Four Departments of Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning, all believe elimination is the best course of action," the Thunder
God said, looking at Venus and the others.
"I agree with the Thunder God! Elimination is better; our Heavenly Court hasn't had a proper battle in a long time,"
the Fire God said.
The entire hall suddenly split into three factions: one advocating war, one advocating surrender, and one remaining neutral.
Zhang Tianshi and Li Jing remained silent.
"Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, tell me, should we surrender or eliminate him?" the Jade
Emperor suddenly asked, looking at Li Jing.
"This humble immortal doesn't know either! But I will follow Your Majesty's orders,"
Li Jing said, bowing and passing the buck back to the Jade Emperor.
"Oh… then, Nezha, tell me, should we send someone to eliminate Duan Yu, or should we send someone to offer surrender?"
the Jade Emperor smiled, looking at Nezha.
At this, the group of immortals who had initially advocated surrender understood the Jade Emperor's thoughts. It seemed the Jade Emperor also favored war.
Nezha and Li Jing were already at odds, and the Jade Emperor only asked Li Jing before asking Nezha, which clearly indicated something.
"Nezha doesn't know,"
Nezha replied.
"Oh? Don't you have your own ideas, Nezha?"
the Jade Emperor asked curiously.
"Do Nezha's ideas matter to the Jade Emperor?"
Nezha countered.
A glint flashed in the Jade Emperor's eyes, and he chuckled, "Hehe, how could I not listen to the Third Prince? In my Lingxiao Palace, Nezha, your combat power is absolutely top-tier in the entire Heavenly Court. I, the Jade Emperor, will absolutely listen to your words, Nezha."
"Is that so?"
Nezha simply smiled but didn't answer. Nezha was naturally righteous and loved making friends. He had the most friends in the Heavenly Court. The celestial generals were also willing to associate with Nezha.
Because of Nezha's loyal and trustworthy character, all the immortals in the Heavenly Court liked him.
"Yang Jian, what do you think we should do?"
the Jade Emperor asked Yang Jian, the God of Justice.
"Given the majesty of the Heavenly Court, eliminating this person is the best course of action. Since he has absorbed dragon energy, he is definitely a bad influence on the Heavenly Court,"
Yang Jian said calmly.
Nezha coldly stared at Yang Jian. Nezha felt his second brother was drifting further and further away. The carefree and generous second brother was gone, replaced by a cold-faced man who only obeyed the Heavenly Rules.
"Hmph!"
Nezha snorted coldly. He glanced at Erlang Shen and then turned his head away.
"Alright, then let's do as the God of Justice says and eliminate this person. Now, who is willing to descend to the mortal realm to capture him?"
the Jade Emperor said, surveying the crowd. "
The Thunder God is willing to descend to the mortal realm to capture this person,"
the Thunder God stepped forward and said proudly.
"Since you, Thunder God, are willing to accept the order first, then I, the Thunder God, will send you to the mortal realm to capture this person,"
the Jade Emperor said loudly.
"As you command,"
the Thunder God replied.
"Jade Emperor, now that everything has been settled, may I now fulfill the vacation you promised me?"
Xuan Nu asked softly.
"Of course, this time it's all thanks to your intelligence, Xuan Nu. From now on, you can descend to the mortal realm for a few days of travel,"
the Jade Emperor said with a smile.
"Then, Xuan Nu will take her leave,"
Xuan Nu said with a slight bow.
Watching Xuan Nu slowly depart, the immortals of Heaven were all envious.
Xuan Nu was an ancient goddess, even older than the Jade Emperor. Although Xuan Nu obeyed the Jade Emperor, she wasn't as subservient as other divine generals. Even the Jade Emperor didn't dare to ask Xuan Nu to do too
many things. Xuan Nu knew many reclusive ancient gods, and if she were truly made a subject, it would be no small matter. That's why the Jade Emperor took special care of Xuan Nu. As long as it wasn't too much, he would grant her requests.
**In the mortal realm, Duan Yu had already left the Nuwa Temple. At this time, his strength had greatly increased, and he had also acquired many new abilities. The Daoist teachings he retrieved from the Empress were not just for show.
According to Daoist texts, "There are three vehicles of Dharma, and five ranks of immortals," namely: Celestial Immortals, Divine Immortals, Earthly Immortals, Human Immortals, and Ghost Immortals. He was currently at most an Earthly Immortal. Above him were two higher ranks of immortals.
Duan Yu knew he had to increase his strength as quickly as possible. If things didn't go as planned, Duan Yu knew the Heavenly Court was probably already plotting against him.
Having watched countless episodes about the Heavenly Court, Duan Yu understood their methods perfectly: either offer amnesty or eliminate. Given his absorption of dragon energy, there was no possibility of amnesty; elimination was the obvious first choice.
With a bitter smile, Duan Yu flew towards Shaolin Temple. With a mere thought, he appeared outside the temple. This was an ability he had automatically grasped after his enlightenment: instantaneous teleportation. He could instantly reach any place his divine sense could scan.
However, this instantaneous teleportation consumed a great deal of immortal energy!
His purpose in coming to Shaolin was simple: first, there were countless Buddhist scriptures; second, there was a beautiful woman like Li Canghai.
Buddhist scriptures were exactly what Duan Yu needed. His Niwan Palace, having formed the Divine Dragon Relic, already possessed Buddhist aura, so naturally, Duan Yu wanted to further comprehend its profound mysteries.
After his enlightenment, Duan Yu found himself curious about both Taoist and Buddhist teachings. He now had a strong interest in these books that he had previously found abstract.
Upon entering Shaolin Temple, Duan Yu sensed a strong Buddhist aura. Furthermore, he discovered a considerable power—a power that had actually broken through to the Golden Core stage. This greatly surprised Duan Yu. With a sweep of his divine sense, Duan Yu smiled! His smile was extremely eerie, for he had suddenly discovered something very interesting. He hadn't expected the source of this power to be her!
Although the person was currently dressed as a bald old man, with Duan Yu's current divine sense, he clearly knew that the person was Li Canghai. He hadn't realized that the online evidence from his previous life was true. Li Canghai was actually in the Shaolin Temple.
"It is said that Mr. Jin Yong devoted half his life to writing a remarkable book called *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*. The plot is full of twists and turns, with vivid and compelling characters; the characters are deeply emotional and distinct; the structure is grand; it is a masterpiece of martial arts fiction. The admiration for this novel is like a surging river, endless; like the Lushan Waterfall cascading down three thousand feet, seemingly the Milky Way falling from the ninth heaven; like the Yellow River flowing from the sky, never to return; like the Yangtze River bursting its banks, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians fighting the flood… *Demi-Gods and Semi-
Devils* is indeed a remarkable book, but it leaves us with many questions and much to ponder, such as: who exactly was the nameless old monk of Shaolin? What was his connection with the Xiaoyao Sect? And what about Wuyazi?" Is Li Qiushui's beloved younger sister alive or dead? If alive, where is she? If dead, where will she be buried? Although Rodin said that imperfection is also a kind of beauty, these questions always attract me to think, to imagine, and to associate. After all, there's a saying that goes, what would the world be like if we lost our imagination? Ahem, I've digressed again.
So, is Li Qiushui's younger sister alive or dead? First, let's deduce the ages of Wu Yazi, Li Qiushui, Tong Lao, and Qiushui's younger sister. Wu Yazi is 93 years old when he appears, and Tong Lao is 96 years old. Tong Lao once said, "I am your master Wu Yazi's senior sister. If Wu Yazi hadn't died, he would be 93 years old this year. I am three years older than him, so wouldn't I be 96 years old?"
"That's right, I'm the one who scarred her face. I... I achieved success in my cultivation, and at the age of 26, I could have grown up and become no different from ordinary people, but she secretly framed me, causing me to go mad. Tell me, shouldn't this deep-seated hatred be avenged?" Regarding Li Qiushui
, the book states: Although Li Qiushui was younger than Tonglao and Wuyazi, she was still an old woman in her seventies or eighties.
Since Li Qiushui was competing with Tonglao, she should have been around 17 years old when Tonglao was 26. At that time, Wuyazi was 23, and Li Qiushui's younger sister was less than 11 years old, because the book says: "Moreover...moreover, when my senior sister and I were competing, my little sister was only eleven years old."
Thus, Li Qiushui should have been around 88 years old when she appeared in the story, and her younger sister, if alive, would have been around 82. So when did Wuyazi and Li Qiushui part ways? (Wang Mengluo) The description of her appearance is as follows: However, this woman was a middle-aged beauty, not yet forty years old, while the jade statue in the cave was a girl of eighteen or nineteen.
Thus, when Li Qiushui was 48 and Wu Yazi was 54, Lady Wang was born. That year, Li Qiushui's younger sister was about 41 years old. She made a major decision that year, which had an important impact on deducing the true identity of Qiushui's younger sister in Tianlong.
This has to do with the Wuliang Jade Wall. When the Song Dynasty Romeo and Juliet of the two sects of Jianhu Palace met, they said: Gan Guanghao said: "We are family now, how could I hide it from you? Master said that many years ago, when my great-grandfather was the head of the East Sect, he often saw figures dancing with swords on the wall on moonlit nights. Sometimes it was a man, sometimes a woman, and sometimes a man and a woman were fighting each other."
The woman said (Junior Sister Ge): "My master said that my great-grandfather also saw the sword shadows on the wall, but later he only saw a woman wielding a sword, and the male sword immortal disappeared." "
For the past thirty-five years, the East and West sects have had their share of victories and defeats. The East sect has won four times, and the West sect twice.
After my grandmaster passed away, all the disciples burned incense and prayed before the jade wall every night, hoping that the sword immortal's image would reappear, but they never did. My master only hoped to come and see again, but unfortunately, he lost to your East sect in two sword duels in the past ten years."
According to Gan Guanghao, the East sect's grandmaster saw Wuyazi and Li Qiushui dancing with swords on Sword Lake using the Lingbo Weibu technique. However, according to Ge Shimei, the West sect's grandmaster later saw only one woman dancing with a sword. The scenes seen by these two grandmasters were 40 to 45 years ago and 30 to 35 years ago, respectively. During the period from 35 to 40 years ago, the people of the North sect occupied Sword Lake Palace, which confirms our previous deduction. The time when Wuyazi left Wuliang Mountain can also be deduced. Let's look at Duan Yu's extraordinary encounter at the bottom of the valley:
First, the existence of such a strange underground palace at the bottom of the lake, combined with the previous deductions, proves that Wu Yazi and Li Qiushui lived here for at least 20 years. Furthermore, what Duan Yu saw:
turning around, he saw a stone table in the room, with a stool in front of it, and a bronze mirror on the table. Beside the mirror were some combs and hairpins, indicating it was a woman's quarters. The bronze mirror was covered in verdigris, and the table was covered in dust, suggesting that no one had been here for many years. This shows that after Li Qiushui and Wu Yazi left, no one had lived here for an extended period, but someone had visited, or perhaps stayed for a short time. Duan Yu saw the following about the martial arts manual of the Xiaoyao Sect: The silk package was about a foot long, with several lines of fine writing on the white silk: "Since you have kowtowed a thousand times, you shall serve me without regret for the rest of your life. This scroll contains the essence of the Xiaoyao Sect's martial arts. You must diligently practice it three times a day, at dawn, noon, and dusk. If you slacken even slightly, I will be heartbroken. Once you have mastered the divine skill, you may go to the Langhuan Blessed Land to read all kinds of classic texts. The martial arts techniques of all schools in the world are gathered here, and they will all be at your disposal. Strive hard! After you have mastered it, descend the mountain and kill all the disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect for me. If even one is missed, I will forever regret it, both in heaven and on earth."
This passage indicates that the manual was placed there by Wu Yazi after he was murdered by Ding Chunqiu, and that it was placed there by Li Qiushui's sister. Why? Don't forget that the Northern Sea Divine Skill and the Lingbo Steps were kept in a prayer mat. To retrieve them, one had to kowtow a thousand times to the jade statue
. Wu Yazi was around 63 years old when he was murdered, because he once told Xu Zhu: The old man sighed and said, "Back then, this traitorous disciple suddenly attacked, throwing me into a deep valley. I almost lost my life. Fortunately, my eldest disciple, Su Xinghe, pretended to be deaf and mute, deceiving the traitorous disciple, allowing me to survive for another thirty years."
When Wu Yazi was murdered, Madam Wang was 10 years old. Between Madam Wang's birth and Wu Yazi's death, over ten years, Wu Yazi's relationship with Wang Mengluo's mother gradually deteriorated. Li Qiushui once said: "
Back then, your master and I lived in a stone cave by the Sword Lake in Wuliang Mountain, Dali, carefree and happy, better than immortals. We collected martial arts manuals from all schools and sects, hoping to create a unique and all-encompassing skill." That day, he found a huge piece of beautiful jade in the mountains and carved a human figure in my likeness. After it was finished, he would stare at the jade figure in a daze all day long and then ignored me.
Normally, Li Qiushui would feel disgusted by the jade statue and want to smash it, because Wu Yazi's daily gazing at the jade statue was the trigger for their estrangement. Therefore, the secret manual in the prayer mat was placed there by Li Qiushui's younger sister. She naturally knew that the jade statue Wu Yazi carved wasn't her sister, but herself, hence the saying about bowing a thousand times. This passage also suggests that Wu Yazi may not have seen Li Qiushui's younger sister after Lady Wang's birth; otherwise, he wouldn't have been so distressed by the stone statue every day. Li Qiushui's younger sister did indeed hide after Lady Wang's birth. But why didn't Li Qiushui's younger sister avenge Wu Yazi herself? This question is also an important clue to inferring her identity. Furthermore, there is a "Precious Chess Game" at the bottom of the valley. The original text describes it as: "This game of chess was incredibly complex, resembling what chess players call a 'Precious Chess Game,' with ko within ko, with both shared life and immortality… I lit a candle to look at it again, and only felt dizzy and nauseous."
This indicates that Li Qiushui's younger sister may have lived in the cave for some time. Wu Yazi did indeed ask Xu Zhu to find Li Qiushui. Wu Yazi believed Li Qiushui lived in the Wuliang Mountain cave, but he didn't know that after being disfigured by Tong Lao, she had entered the Western Xia palace. That's why he instructed Xu Zhu: "She sees your unattractive appearance and will most likely refuse to teach you. You must beg her for my sake..."
After Li Qiushui left Wuliang Mountain, her sword-wielding figure was rarely seen at Wuliang Jade Wall anymore, because no one lived permanently in the valley anymore. Li Qiushui's sister occasionally returned for a few days, and her sword-wielding figure was occasionally seen by the people of Jianhu Palace, but this was very rare, as she wasn't a permanent resident.
At this point, the life experiences of several masters of the Xiaoyao Sect are basically revealed, and we can also deduce some basic characteristics of Li Qiushui's sister. First, she must have disguised herself and lived in a place unknown to others, or somewhere no one would expect her to be found; otherwise, it would have been very difficult to escape Wu Yazi's search. From the time Wu Yazi left Wuliang Mountain until his assassination by Ding Chunqiu, Wu Yazi likely never gave up searching for his younger sister, but this effort was clearly futile, as she remained deeply hidden. Secondly, Li Qiushui's sister, as she appears in *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*, should be around 80 years old. Thirdly, she experienced significant hardship and upheaval approximately 40 years prior, around the time of Lady Wang's birth. Finally, she possesses many secrets and employs special methods to protect them. As for her residence, it must be governed by strict rules she cannot disregard; otherwise, she could have easily left the mountain to confront Ding Chunqiu, instead of going to such lengths to leave the secret manual in the meditation cushion. Furthermore, her martial arts skills must be exceptional, possessing a foundation in the Xiaoyao Sect.
With these premises, we can sift through the many characters in *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*, making bold assumptions and carefully verifying them. The only one who fits all these criteria is—the nameless old monk of Shaolin.
Firstly, regarding the timeline, the nameless old monk himself admitted, "I don't know if it's forty-two years or forty-three years."
If we factor in the one to two-year discrepancy in our calculations, and the time it took for the three great heroes Qiao, Duan, and Xu to travel the martial world, the nameless old monk's entry into Shaolin coincides perfectly with the birth of Madam Wang and the time when Li Qiushui's younger sister went into seclusion to escape Wuyazi. If Qiushui's younger sister had become a nun, Wuyazi would likely have found her long ago. Therefore, disguising herself as a man and infiltrating Shaolin is something even someone as clever as Wuyazi would hardly have anticipated.
Secondly, regarding martial arts, many have noticed the nameless monk's familiarity with the Lesser Formless Skill. Furthermore, her explanation of Xiao Yuanshan and Murong Bo's internal energy injuries clearly bears the shadow of the Northern Sea Divine Skill. Her explanation of Buddhism and internal energy cultivation is precisely a method to counteract the inability to recover internal energy after the Northern Sea Divine Skill absorbs it. It's evident that she herself had practiced the Northern Sea Divine Skill before going to Shaolin to study Buddhism, thus mitigating the harm caused by the Northern Sea Divine Skill. Given her familiarity with the Xiaoyao Sect and the age discrepancy, the nameless Shaolin monk and Li Qiushui are a perfect match.
Two other points strongly suggest that the nameless monk was indeed a woman disguised as a man. First, her invincible qi barrier, which has undoubtedly left a deep impression, seems pointless given her martial arts and agility. What purpose would this qi barrier serve? With her skills, no one could harm her; using a qi barrier for self-defense would be redundant. Was she deliberately showing off? No, while her martial arts are undoubtedly invincible, even against a master, you can't guarantee you won't be defeated. Cultivating a qi barrier to conceal her true gender is perfectly normal. Secondly, with such high martial arts skills, why did the nameless monk end up as a mere sweeper? Why not become the abbot? Besides her own mental limitations, being a woman restricted her development within Shaolin. Sweeping remained unknown, preventing the possibility of her true gender being exposed. Furthermore, having studied martial arts classics extensively on Wuliang Mountain, being assigned to the Sutra Repository was indeed the best choice. As for her disguise skills, there should be no doubt about that!
Also, she occasionally goes to Wuliang Mountain to reminisce, so while she was away, the Shaolin Temple experienced the abbot having a son, and the heinous incident of the Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) being stolen. Fortunately, she wasn't originally from Shaolin, so she wouldn't be subject to the temple rules or her conscience for these mistakes. However, being a member of Shaolin, she still had to abide by the precept against killing, so she couldn't leave the mountain to personally kill Ding Chunqiu. Therefore, she left some secret manuals in the Wuliang Mountain cave, waiting for fools like Duan Yu to discover them! Duan Yu
had previously only smiled at such arguments, but now, truly sensing the aura of the bald old man, he was certain that Li Canghai was indeed the Sweeper Monk. Only the Sweeper Monk could possess such immense power as the old monk sweeping the floor in the Sutra Pavilion. However, things had changed somewhat. Duan Yu had previously assumed Wang Mengluo was Li Qiushui's daughter, but he never imagined they were actually three sisters! Wang Mengluo was indeed Wuyazi's daughter, born to his third sister.

143
With a swift movement, Duan Yu's figure vanished outside Shaolin Temple. When he reappeared, he was already inside the temple's most important area—the Sutra Repository.
Gazing at the endless scrolls of scriptures, Duan Yu moved slowly, casually picking up a book and glancing at it. He discovered that his memory was now even stronger than before; the Buddhist scriptures seemed to be scanned by a scanner, all the words and classic texts automatically merging into his mind. The Buddha is the Tao!
Buddhist teachings evolved from the Tao, and each short passage and allusion represented a Tao for Duan Yu.
While Duan Yu was briefly immersed in this Taoist understanding, a few bookshelves away, an old monk was lightly sweeping the floor. He didn't sense anything amiss, sweeping gently—for him, sweeping was... Sweeping the floor is a kind of enjoyment; if you look closely, you'll find that his sweeping method reflects an understanding of the Tao. This old monk is no ordinary person either. He is none other than the sweeping monk from *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*, and also our beautiful Li Canghai.
After sweeping several bookshelves, she froze, staring incredulously at a figure beside them. She couldn't believe anyone could evade her detection. Who was it? She was shocked; years of meditation suddenly stirred. Her heart couldn't maintain its composure. If it were just an ordinary person standing there, she wouldn't be surprised. What surprised her was that the person before her revealed the state of being she had always aspired to reach—the state of "supreme goodness is like water."
At this moment, Duan Yu had completely merged with all the scriptures present; he seemed as if he had always been there. He didn't seem out of place at all.
"The state of 'supreme goodness is like water'! Who are you?" "
Li Canghai's aged voice rang out.
Duan Yu seemed to have just woken from a dream. He stretched and turned to look at Li Canghai. She wore a loose monk's robe, had a white beard, even her eyebrows had streaks of white, and a completely bald head that shone brightly. Looking at this face, Duan Yu sighed slightly. If he didn't know that this person was originally a great beauty, anyone looking at this face would think that this person was a master who had achieved great success in Buddhist cultivation.
"The highest good is like water. You also know the highest good is like water. Your Golden Core cultivation is not bad!"
Duan Yu said with a smile.
Li Canghai's pupils shrank. She had never felt so oppressed. At this moment, her heart was in turmoil.
"Your heart is in turmoil. After cultivating Buddhism for so many years, can't you still maintain a calm mind? You are attached to appearances."
Duan Yu's gentle voice rang out.
"Amitabha, Buddha is merciful. This humble monk thanks you, benefactor."
Li Canghai chanted a Buddhist prayer, clasping his hands in a gesture
of respect. Seeing Li Canghai's actions, Duan Yu smiled inwardly. He laughed wildly, though his face remained expressionless, devoid of any genuine joy.
"We are both on the path of enlightenment, why speak of gratitude? It is my abrupt visit that has surprised you, Master,"
Duan Yu said.
"Your cultivation is far beyond my comprehension. May I ask your name?"
Li Canghai stammered.
"In this mortal world, a name is merely a label, it doesn't matter. You can call me Xiaoyao,"
Duan Yu continued, maintaining his charlatan persona. Xiaoyao was indeed Duan Yu's name, as he was originally known as Emperor Xiaoyao.
"Xiaoyao? Your realm seems far superior to mine,"
Li Canghai said.
"Is my realm superior? I don't think so. Your realm seems to have reached the critical point long ago, but do you know why you haven't broken through?"
Duan Yu said with a smile.
"This humble monk does not know? Could you please answer this for me, benefactor?"
A hint of surprise and expectation appeared on Li Canghai's face.
Duan Yu shook his head and said, "All of this originated from you. Your heart seems as still as water, but is it truly still? You haven't seen your true self."
"True self? The true self is without form, without illusion, without extinction. What is my true self? I've never understood what my true self is."
Li Canghai asked hesitantly.
"No, you know!"
Duan Yu said firmly.
"My heart is turned towards Buddha, Buddha is my home. In this vast and chaotic world, namelessness is my true self. In this mundane world, only by merging my heart with Buddha can I find true bliss."
Li Canghai said.
"Pfft!..."
Duan Yu suddenly burst into laughter. "I don't know what Buddha is, nor do I care for any concept of ultimate bliss. For me, true freedom is the only way! To achieve harmony with the nature of heaven and earth, to master the changes of the six energies, and to roam freely in the boundless realms, one must find one's true self, not place one's heart on the so-called Buddha.
Moreover, I don't believe you think that way. If you truly thought that way, how could you have reached the Golden Core realm?
You have no such absolute attachment.
Buddha... How laughable! Do you really believe in Buddha? You have never shown that sincere faith."
A glint flashed in Li Canghai's cloudy eyes. "What are you saying? This humble monk doesn't understand!"
"You really don't understand, Senior Sister Canghai!"
Duan Yu said with a smile.
"Senior Sister Canghai? Benefactor, what are you talking about? I don't understand at all."
Li Canghai said.
"With your cultivation, Senior Sister, why are you holed up in Shaolin Temple? Don't you plan to return to the Free and Unfettered Sect?"
Duan Yu said.
“Amitabha, benefactor, you have mistaken me for someone else. This old monk is a man,”
Li Canghai said.
“A man?”
Duan Yu shook his head and said, “Although I cannot see the true face hidden beneath your appearance, I can be certain that you are a woman, and you are my Fourth Senior Sister of the Xiaoyao Sect!”
“Who exactly are you?”
Li Canghai frowned and suddenly said in a cold voice. After speaking, an extremely powerful aura erupted from her body. The entire Sutra Repository was suddenly covered by the aura.
The chanting of sutras that had never stopped in Shaolin Temple suddenly stopped, and the entire Shaolin Temple was suddenly alarmed.
“What is this? How can such a powerful aura appear in Shaolin Temple? The Sutra Repository! It’s actually in the Sutra Repository.”
Abbot Xuanci of Shaolin stopped the prayer beads in his hand and murmured. His expression was full of seriousness.
“Senior Brother…”
The head monks of the Arhat Hall and the Bodhidharma Hall stood up.
"Go! Hurry to the Sutra Repository and give the order that no Shaolin disciple is allowed to linger within 100 meters of it,"
Xuanci said.
"Yes, Senior Brother,"
the head of the Arhat Hall replied.
"Senior Brother, what do you think it could be? Could it be a senior practitioner from our Shaolin?"
the head of the Dharma Hall asked Xuanci as they moved quickly.
Xuanci shook his head and said, "I don't know. Such a powerful aura has completely overturned our understanding. Could it be a master who has broken through the martial arts barrier?"
"Breaked through the martial arts barrier? How is that possible? Does such a legendary figure really exist in the martial arts world today?"
the head of the Arhat Hall said.
"I don't know either. However, every generation of our Shaolin Temple's predecessors has chosen to cultivate diligently and meditate. Perhaps it really is one of our predecessors. After all, our Shaolin has always been a place where hidden talents reside. Although I am the head of Shaolin, I still have no idea exactly who our Shaolin predecessors are,"
Xuanci comforted them. At this moment, none of them wanted to think the worst, because this aura was truly terrifying.
Xuan Ci and the others sensed an irresistible aura emanating from this force, an aura containing absolute majesty. It was a realm they didn't understand.
"Let's hope so,"
Luo Hantang and the others comforted themselves. That power deeply terrified them.

144
"Senior Sister Canghai, why are you doing this?"
Duan Yu said, seemingly oblivious to the aura emanating from Li Canghai.
"Why are you disturbing my peace of mind? Why are you disrupting my life? Who are you?"
Li Canghai's voice suddenly changed, no longer the tone of an old man, but a delicate, girlish voice. Her voice was filled with anger.
"Who am I? I am Duan Yu, the current leader of the Xiaoyao Sect. As for disturbing your peace of mind, I don't think so. As a member of the Xiaoyao Sect, you've come to Shaolin to become a monk. Senior Sister, do you think I should interfere?"
Duan Yu said with a smile.
"The leader of the Free and Unfettered Sect? How is that possible? Isn't the leader Senior Brother Wuyazi? And how come I didn't know the Free and Unfettered Sect had a junior brother like you?"
Li Canghai was filled with astonishment, staring blankly at Duan Yu in disbelief.
"So, Senior Sister, you admit that you are Li Canghai?"
Duan Yu shrugged.
Li Canghai tacitly acknowledged Duan Yu's words, muttering, "Even if you are a member of the Free and Unfettered Sect, how could you possibly be the leader, Senior Brother Wuyazi?"
"Senior Brother has already achieved Corpse Dissolution!"
Duan Yu said calmly.
"Corpse Dissolution? How is that possible? With Senior Brother Wuyazi's abilities, how could he possibly achieve Corpse Dissolution!"
Li Canghai's eyes were full of disbelief.
"Senior Sister, why would I lie to you? Senior Brother Wuyazi has indeed achieved Corpse Dissolution. You are too lonely in Shaolin Temple. Don't you know that the Starry Constellation Old Monster injured Senior Brother?"
Duan Yu spread his hands and said.
"No! I know, but could Ding Chunqiu possibly kill my senior brother? Absolutely not! So I know my senior brother must still be alive."
Li Canghai's expression turned slightly melancholy as she spoke.
"Alive! Yes, my senior brother was alive then, but how could you know the extent of his injuries? He was completely crippled after that incident."
Duan Yu said.
"Crippled... Heh... He's actually crippled..."
Li Canghai's emotions changed drastically as she murmured to herself, "I was so stupid, how could I not have thought of that? Senior brother, do you blame me? I didn't avenge you."
"Do you think my senior brother would blame you? If he really wanted his junior sisters to avenge him, Ding Chunqiu should have died long ago."
Duan Yu said.
"Yes, I still have my sister. Why didn't my sister and the others avenge him?"
Li Canghai said.
"You know, two women who are hostile to each other are constantly fighting. Would they have time to know about my senior brother's situation?"
Duan Yu said.
"They're still the same? Fighting, haven't they fought for so long enough?"
Li Canghai murmured. "Go, I believe you now."
Li Canghai's imposing aura vanished as she finished speaking.
"Go! Yes, I will leave, but only if you come with me, Senior Sister,"
Duan Yu said with a smile.
"Leave with you?"
Li Canghai shook her head. "Although I don't know how you knew I was at Shaolin Temple, or how you joined the Xiaoyao Sect, it's impossible for me to leave. Now that my senior brother is dead, my heart can truly turn to Buddhism. My true self, I can finally pursue my true self."
Li Canghai smiled bitterly as she said this. She didn't know whether to be happy or sad. For so many years, she had hidden herself in Shaolin Temple, forcing herself to forget her senior brother and entrusting her heart to Buddhism. Today, when she learned that her senior brother was dead, her heart suddenly felt lost. Panic! Bitterness! Conflict! And a touch of relief…
"But you can't stay,"
Duan Yu said, then suddenly moved! Li Canghai only felt a sudden gust of wind rush towards her face, and then she was horrified to find herself being embraced. She froze. She looked at Duan Yu in disbelief. Her heart was filled with fear and panic, followed by boundless anger. She struck Duan Yu with her palm.
Duan Yu smiled slightly, and without any visible movement, his hand had already grasped Li Canghai's hand. When Duan Yu grasped Li Canghai's hand, a thought struck him. Li Canghai's hand was so soft; beneath that wide monk's robe were indeed delicate, jade-like hands. "Senior Sister, aren't you going to show your true colors?"
Duan Yu said with a wicked smile. After speaking, Duan Yu channeled his true energy, and a massive aura soared into the sky.
"Boom!"
The roof of the Scripture Pavilion was blasted open by this aura! "Bang bang bang!"
Countless bursts of energy exploded. The Scripture Pavilion suddenly seemed to be enveloped by a Category 12 hurricane. Countless scriptures tumbled into the air. One scripture after another danced in the strong wind. These scriptures linked together to form a book-shaped tornado, completely enveloping Duan Yu and Li Canghai.
"What is that now? How come another surge of energy is emanating from it? This energy is even stronger than the previous one,"
Xuan Ci said bitterly.
"Senior brother, what about us?"
the head of the Bodhidharma Hall asked hesitantly.
"Let's go, let's continue. It must be a senior from our Shaolin. If it's someone else, then our Shaolin might face an unprecedented calamity,"
Xuan Ci said.
"But, senior brother, this energy is clearly not our Shaolin's true energy,"
the head of the Arhat Hall said.
"Alas… let fate decide. May Buddha have mercy and protect us through this calamity,"
Xuan Ci murmured.
Meanwhile, in a spacious room in Shaolin Temple, a man in black stared menacingly in the direction of the Sutra Repository. "Who is it? Does Shaolin have such a powerful figure in the Sutra Repository? Should we go and see? Forget it, I'll go anyway. I refuse to believe there's anyone in Shaolin I don't know about."
The man in black finished speaking and flashed towards the Sutra Repository.
In a side room not far from the man in black, a man in gray was also shocked: "Another powerful aura! It seems a super strong person has appeared in the Sutra Repository. Who could it be? Could it be that person? Impossible! That person is at most about the same level as me. Forget it, let's go see. If things don't go well, we can leave."
The man in gray made up his mind and flashed towards the Sutra Repository.
At this moment, Li Canghai's expression was horrified, her expression constantly changing. Her body was enveloped by an extremely strong aura. Her true energy was stagnant under the suppression of the aura. Suddenly, her face began to change; her white beard and eyebrows disappeared, and her aged face began to distort. Suddenly, her bald head vanished, replaced by a profusion of black hair. Her entire face underwent an astonishing transformation; as the hair grew, her features contorted and corrected, until a breathtakingly beautiful face appeared before Duan Yu.

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