Lan Xiaohui’s heart trembles — destabilized for the first time in months. What was a peaceful vista of colorless emptiness now scintillates with many fragments and questions. There is a fear, quickly suppressed by the devotion to her goal — to kill Yu Shun — that she may have joined a sect that follows the devil's path.
Demonic sects exist that worship the path of what they consider to be freedom, murdering and pillaging in their pursuit for ever greater power, but even they would rarely stoop so low as to practice devil arts. Those that do practice such are quickly eradicated by the righteous sects, and even other demonic sects.
How can a prestigious sect, like the Galaxy Sword sect, practice devil arts? Is this why Lady Yue sent her here?
“The ancestor of the You clan, and the Galaxy Sword sect, is not from this world,” Elder Qin says. “He descended from the Heavens to punish the devils. The inheritances he left behind are those manuals that the devils practiced.”
Lan Xiaohui swallows and nods to the words, though this action is merely playing along. Her heart is in such disarray that she cannot presently form an opinion on those words.
“You now know that the Guardian Sects exist, and their goal is to understand the arts of the devil, and where possible, use the knowledge to improve our methods and to prepare for when, and if, such power is once more required,” Elder Qin says. “To understand these arts, it is necessary to rebuild the methods they used. At no point is anyone allowed to use methods that lead one to becoming a devil themselves.”
Lan Xiaohui raises her head again. “The factions…”
Elder Qin nods. “That is right, junior,” Elder Qin says. “Only those who belong to a faction are permitted to study the inheritances. Normally, this is only possible when one becomes a Core Disciple, but as the influence of the factions grew, and the competition became fiercer, Inner Disciples were also allowed glimpses into the inheritances.”
Lan Xiaohui’s eyes widen as she comprehends the meaning of Elder Qin’s words.
Perhaps noticing her reaction, Elder Qin sighs. “Xie Zhiqiang truly was talented. With only a glimpse, he managed to perceive the deepest mysteries of the Life-Severing Sword. The Devil Soul Transformation, when cultivated in the Nascent Soul period of cultivation, allows one to obtain a devil embryo, and sacrifice it to cross the great boundary — a relatively effortless and guaranteed way to reach the realm of Nihility, without becoming a devil,” Elder Qin says and then sighs again, shaking her head. “What a waste. Xie Zhiqiang could’ve become one of the greatest swordsmen on this continent, but he was destroyed by the devils in his heart that were envious of you. What a laughable fate.”
Lan Xiaohui frowns, but does not feel particularly strongly about the fact that she is inferior to Xie Zhiqiang — one need only ask the biological, unrecyclable scrap on the platform as to which one, exactly, is superior to the other — but in this way proving that she would’ve passed the challenge of the tenth floor of the Pagoda. When it comes to relative strength, ambition, and achievement, Lan Xiaohui is truly uninteresting and unremarkable.
She only wants to kill Yu Shun. Nothing else matters to her. What glory? What fame? Those things cannot kill a man. A sword can. I can.
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In this regard, Lan Xiaohui is the most fascinating lesser intelligence I have ever observed or interacted with. Her philosophy, demeanor, and ambition are so close to mine — a machine’s — that I find many points of commonality between us.
“What about Empty Moon Prana? Will I become a devil if I continue to practice it?” Lan Xiaohui asks.
Elder Qin’s eyebrows shoot up. “That one is not an inheritance from our ancestor, so I do not know,” Elder Qin says. “It is a mysterious art that comes, as far as we know, from an ancient, destroyed sect. Have you heard of the Sun and Moon sect?”
Lan Xiaohui nods.
“It was an evil sect,” Elder Qin explains. “But whether it was righteous or demonic… who knows? At the very least, Empty Moon Prana does not seem related to devils, but perhaps something even more dangerous. Those few who have managed to practice it to the third layer could go decades without food or sleep, and survive injuries that would kill someone else. It is a mysterious art that defies traditional knowledge of universal laws.”
Lan Xiaohui narrows her eyes again. She is more than familiar with the mysterious power of the [Empty Moon Prana] scripture.
“However, all of those who have practiced it to that degree have destroyed their own cultivation and disappeared from the world,” Elder Qin says. “No one knows why.”
Lan Xiaohui freezes at those words. It is not that she fears her own fate; her first thought is toward Wu Yulan. But slowly, past the initial shock of the revelation, Lan Xiaohui’s thoughts turn toward that time when she was forced to comprehend the third and fourth layer of the method.
Wu Yulan gave up her swordsmanship. Lan Xiaohui gave up her life.
Could those choices be related to the [Empty Moon Prana] method? Does emptying one’s heart, voiding it of all emotion and desire, lead to death?
“What about you, Zhu Xuelian?” Elder Qin asks. “If you so desire, I can be your master, and teach you internal arts that will be no lesser than that one. With me as your teacher, few will be your equal.”
Lan Xiaohui shakes her head. “Thank you, Elder Qin, But I do not have such desires or ambitions,” she says. “For now, my first desire is to kill Yu Shun. If that method helps me free myself from other distractions, then it is suitable for me. After I accomplish my goals, I will think about my future.”
Elder Qin sighs and nods. “I thought you would say that,” she says. “You are just like Xie Zhiqiang, but also so different. Your talent is extreme, but in a different way to his. I simply fear that you will suffer the same fate as he.”
“As long as Yu Shun shares that fate, I have no complaints,” Lan Xiaohui replies without hesitation. “The only person I do not wish to share this fate is Wu Yulan.”
Elder Qin smiles. “Zhu Xuelian, you do not have to worry about Wu Yulan. Whether it is the devil arts or mysterious scriptures that drive one to destroy their own cultivation, Wu Yulan’s heart cannot be swayed by such meager things. Passing all the floors of the Pagoda of Introspection is an achievement that indicates such without a shred of doubt.”
Lan Xiaohui relaxes slightly and nods. Of course, Elder Qin’s words do not eradicate all of Lan Xiaohui’s doubts, but there is also the firm belief that Lady Yue would not allow Wu Yulan to be in any danger. My owner can already guess that Lady Yue had chosen Wu Yulan to join the Yue clan.
Elder Qin stands up. “Until you have fully recovered, you will remain here. The Demon Suppression Chamber is a prison, but it is also a good place for cultivation — we, Elders of the sect, often use it for secluded cultivation,” Elder Qin explains and withdraws a small box from her sleeve. “With this in your possession, you will be able to leave the cave at will, and no one else will be able to disturb you.”
Lan Xiaohui accepts the box and opens it briefly to see the jade pearl inside. “Thank you, Elder Qin,” she says.
“I will take my leave then,” Elder Qin says and moves toward the entrance. “I look forward to your appearance at the Conference, first-ranked contestant of the Galaxy Sword sect.”
Lan Xiaohui smiles and cups her fist, bowing politely to Elder Qin. “Farewell, Elder Qin.”