Stronger by Killing

"Please speak, Marquis."

Saint Monk Hui Chan was not in a hurry to make a move and nodded in agreement.

"Forming the Returning Void Pill, what does it mean for us?" Gu Zhan asked.

Saint Monk Hui Chan explained, "Forming the Returning Void Pill is a concept with two interpretations: ’Returning Void’ comes from the Daoist Sect, while ’Pill’ is a Buddhist term. However, there are three thousand Great Daos, all leading to the same destination, with only slight differences in ideology.

In the Daoist Sect, human cultivation is divided into four stages: first is Refining Essence and Qi, second is Refining Qi and Transforming into God, third is Refining God and Returning to Void, and fourth is Refining Void and Merging with the Dao. The term ’Returning Void’ refers to the Refining God and Returning to Void stage, a profound and mystical realm.

Meanwhile, in the Buddhist Sect, based on the spiritual changes in this realm, it is defined as ’Pill’ because after the Grotto Heaven, the Spirit Root transforms, forming a pill, which is what the Buddhist Sect refers to as ’Relic.’ Hence, the Buddhist Sect calls this realm the ’Relic Realm.’

In ancient times, countless cultivators and endless cultivation methods existed, and a widely spread saying was, ’Swallowing a single Golden Core, my fate is mine, not heaven’s.’ This realm can extend one’s life by five hundred years, seizing the creations of heaven and earth, thus it is also referred to as the ’Golden Core Realm.’

Gu Zhan squinted slightly and said, "After the Golden Core, is it Nascent Soul?"

Saint Monk Hui Chan smiled slightly and said, "The Marquis has spiritual wisdom. Indeed, after the Golden Core, there is the notion of Nascent Soul."

Gu Zhan suddenly understood,

This cultivation system he was familiar with,

A very traditional system of cultivation, whether in the past life or this life, many literature and scriptures have mentions of the Golden Core and Nascent Soul.

Gu Zhan nodded slightly, "I roughly understand. However, as far as I know, the inheritance of cultivation in this world has long been lost. How does your temple know it so clearly, is it because of the Immortal Sect behind you?"

Saint Monk Hui Chan nodded, "In fact, the cultivation methods were never lost, they were merely hidden away, rarely appearing in the world."

Gu Zhan said deeply, "So, through the evolution of humanity over millennia, though the seas have turned into mulberry fields, in reality, it hasn’t escaped the control of the Immortal Sect. Even the Grotto Heaven Cultivators who appeared after Martial Arts are all due to the Immortal Sect?"

Saint Monk Hui Chan thought for a moment and said, "The Northern Wilderness’ first Grotto Heaven Cultivator, Emperor Yu Yang, indeed gained the Grotto Heaven Technique through the Immortal Sect’s guidance."

Gu Zhan pondered and said, "Because the Martial Saint created Martial Arts, causing humanity to somewhat escape the Immortal Sect’s control, they thus revealed the Grotto Heaven Technique to continue controlling humanity."

Saint Monk Hui Chan was silent for a while and said, "The Immortal Sect never sought to control humanity, only to enlighten the world."

Gu Zhan chuckled lightly, not fully agreeing, then said, "How large is this world, truly?"

"I do not know," Saint Monk Hui Chan shook his head, "I only know that what we refer to as the world is called the Northern Wilderness. What lies beyond the Northern Wilderness, I have no way of knowing."

"The Immortal Sect does not say?" Gu Zhan asked.

"The Immortal Sect seeks to enlighten the ignorant world, but cannot rush growth; when the time is right, they shall bless and enlighten the world," Saint Monk Hui Chan said.

Gu Zhan spoke solemnly, "Your temple, do you desire the Immortal Supreme Skill or the Method of Divine Sight?"

Saint Monk Hui Chan said, "The Immortal Supreme Skill was left by a Great Demon from the Qingqiu Fox Race who mistakenly entered the Northern Wilderness in ancient times, with intentions to disturb the human world. It should not appear in the world. It has been hidden and undiscovered until three hundred years ago, it was accidentally found by Yuehou, since then, the Immortal Sect has wanted to reclaim it to prevent it from harming the world."

Gu Zhan shook his head slightly, "It seems this Immortal Supreme Skill is quite profound, even coveted by the Immortal Sect, otherwise they would have destroyed it outright."

Saint Monk Hui Chan didn’t argue, and continued, "As for the Method of Divine Sight created by the Marquis, it is a blessing for the Martial Artists of the world. Our temple does not wish for this method to be obscured, hoping the Marquis will hand it over for the benefit of humanity."

"How grandiose."

Gu Zhan chuckled slightly, stepping toward Saint Monk Hui Chan, "One last question, have you ever considered that you might not be able to defeat me?"

"I am willing to try!" declared Saint Monk Hui Chan.

At that moment,

A cold snort came from outside the cave’s entrance, "Gu Zhan, I advise you to know your place and bind yourself willingly to spare yourself the suffering, and settle this the easy way!"

Gu Zhan slowly raised his head and looked over, seeing an extraordinary middle-aged man. He squinted slightly and said, "You must be Crown Prince Ji Yunyang?"

"Since you know who I am, why haven’t you paid your respects?" Ji Yunyang reprimanded.

Gu Zhan sneered coldly, "It seems it’s time for the Great Xia to change the Crown Prince!" Looking at the people behind Ji Yunyang, Gu Zhan said flatly, "The heavens of the Great Xia also need to change!"