Breaking through the illusion of the mortal world

Chapter 114 Li Tian Cliff

The flying boat pierced through the clouds and mist, its light streaking across the sky. The vast landscape outside the portholes became blurry phantoms as it sped towards the far west of China.

The Litian Temple is located at Litian Cliff, which is far in the westernmost part of the Divine Continent. Flying boats travel through the air day and night.

Lu Ming and the others had already been led to the ship's cabin.

The cabins inside the boat were divided into two sections. One side was simple and austere, and was where the accompanying disciples stayed.

One side is luxurious and tranquil, reserved for the young master Ning Qingxue to rest.

Lu Ming sat alone on a blue stone cushion in the simple cabin. Although there were no restrictions or shackles around him, Li Tiansheng's vast pressure always enveloped him, locking his aura tightly within a small space.

The golden core in his dantian was rotating steadily, the five elements in his chest were abundant, and the blood and qi of his Xuanwu True Body were surging. However, no matter how he urged the Xuan Yuan True Qi, he could not break through the confinement formed by the crushing force of that realm.

The difference between the Golden Core Realm and Li Tiansheng's Demon God Realm was like the difference between heaven and earth; the mere suppression of his aura rendered him unable to move.

He could only let the flying boat carry him step by step into the heart of the demonic powerhouse, the Heavenly Palace.

Just as the flying boat reached the western part of China, two streaks of light suddenly broke through the sky.

A vast expanse of demonic energy, as deep and unfathomable as the sea, emanated from a body imbued with Daoist principles, yet it caused the entire cloud layer to freeze in place.

A figure appeared, her face veiled in light gauze, her figure slender and graceful.

It was Ning Wuyai, the Palace Master of Litian Palace, and Zi Li, the Palace Protector.

The two had clearly calculated the airship's route in advance and came specifically to meet it.

Li Tiansheng immediately sensed the aura in the sky and urged the flying boat to slow down. He stood respectfully at the bow of the boat.

Ning Qingxue also got up and walked out of the cabin, standing beside Li Tiansheng. Looking at the two figures getting closer and closer, a complex look flashed in her eyes.

In a short while, Ning Wuyai and Zili landed on the flying boat.

Ning Wuyai was dressed in a dark gold robe, with a handsome face, looking like a middle-aged man, with a cold and dignified air between his brows.

The aura of someone who has long held a high position is one of quiet authority.

Although he did not deliberately release his aura, it caused the air on the entire airship to stagnate slightly, surpassing even Li Tiansheng's oppressive aura.

Zi Li followed closely behind, her face covered by a purple veil, her eyes calm and serene, yet revealing a hint of coldness.

"Lord of the Palace." Li Tiansheng bowed slightly in greeting.

"Father," Ning Qingxue said softly, but her tone was distant and devoid of any warmth of kinship.

Ning Wuyai nodded slightly, his gaze not first looking at his daughter, but sweeping across the cabin of the flying boat and landing on Lu Ming, who was sitting quietly inside.

In just a moment, he could see Lu Ming's cultivation foundation and martial arts realm clearly.

"At such a young age, he has reached the peak of the Martial Arts Body Tempering Realm and has even entered the Five Qi Realm. His Xuanwu True Body is flawless, he has opened the Xuanhuang Divine Treasury, and his Golden Core has just been formed, yet his Dao Foundation is exceptionally gifted..." Ning Wuyai murmured to himself, his tone calm.

"Indeed, he is a rare gem. No wonder he was able to survive in the Immortal Relics and the Celestial Pivot Ruins."

Zi Li followed Ning Wuyai's gaze to look at Lu Ming and nodded slightly.

Ning Qingxue then reported to Ning Wuyai, together with Li Tiansheng, the whole story of the changes in the Tian Shu Ruins, the destruction of the Void Venerable, and the seizure of the Divine Continent Cauldron.

Upon hearing this, a flicker of fervor crossed Ning Wuyai's eyes, which quickly faded. He waved his hand gently and said, "I understand. The successful return of the Divine Cauldron is a great achievement."

After saying that, he turned and walked into the cabin where Ning Qingxue was.

Li Tiansheng stood guard at the bow, protecting the entire flying boat in the center, and continued speeding towards the Cliff of Heaven.

Inside Lu Ming's cabin, Zi Li slowly walked in, breaking the deathly silence.

Her gaze calmly fell on Lu Ming, scrutinizing him from head to toe as if appraising a rare treasure:

"Young friend, there's no need to waste your energy. Protector Li and I are guarding you together, and the Palace Master's aura is also enveloping you. Even if you have achieved the Golden Core and perfected the Xuanwu True Body, you still cannot break free from this realm's suppression."

Lu Ming opened his eyes, his gaze calm and composed as he stared directly at Zi Li without saying a word or showing any sign of panic.

Zi Li ignored his silence and continued speaking, her tone seductive:

"At such a young age, you have cultivated martial arts to the perfection of the Body Tempering Realm, and have been tempered by the immortal divine blood. Your foundation is so solid that it is rare throughout the ages."

"The Taoist temple adheres to upholding righteousness and following the Way, emphasizing acting in accordance with Heaven, which has completely buried your potential."

"The Palace of Separation and Hatred also possesses an ancient secret method for tempering the demonic body, which is a perfect match for your Xuanwu True Body."

"If you are willing to abandon darkness and embrace the light, and join my Heavenly Palace, the Palace Master will cherish your talent and will not only not make things difficult for you, but will also bestow upon you supreme demonic arts to help you break through your realm and achieve supreme demonic power."

Lu Ming's tone was firm and unwavering: "Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. I am a disciple of the Dao Academy, nurtured and cultivated by my master, and I will never betray the Dao Academy in this lifetime."

Zi Li seemed to have anticipated his answer, showing neither anger nor annoyance, but simply shaking her head gently: "Stubborn to the end. Fine, your Xuanwu True Body is full of powerful blood and energy, truly a treasure in human form."

"Furthermore, you also possess a mysterious Dao foundation that resists the void. These are not matters for you to decide. Once we reach the Cliff of Departure, the Palace Master will make his own decision."

After saying this, she said no more, turned and left the cabin, the door closed softly, and silence returned.

Lu Ming sat still, his heart filled with dread.

He knew that what the Heavenly Palace valued was not his surrender, but his Xuanwu True Body, which was like a human-shaped elixir, and that mysterious fragment of the immortal sword.

As a powerful figure in the demonic path, Ning Wuyai, the Lord of the Heavenly Palace, would stop at nothing for the sake of the demonic cause. Even if it meant turning him into a pill, he would show no mercy whatsoever.

On the other side, the atmosphere in the luxurious cabin was unusually oppressive.

Ning Qingxue knelt on the futon, with the Divine Cauldron hanging in front of her, its surface shimmering with a faint light and exuding a profound Daoist aura.

A look of worry hung between her brows, and her heart was filled with struggle.

Ning Wuyai sat upright in the main seat, his gaze fixed intently on the Divine Continent Cauldron.

His tone was flat, devoid of any warmth:

"You did a good job obtaining the Divine Cauldron during this trip to the Tian Shu Relics."

The praise was given so casually, as if it were all something she was supposed to do.

Ning Qingxue lowered her eyes, her voice filled with earnestness, and carefully said, "Father, I was able to bring the Divine Cauldron back safely thanks to Lu Ming's help."

"He saved my life several times in the ruins, shielding me from the invasion of the void power. If it weren't for him, my daughter would have perished long ago, and she would never have been able to touch the Divine Cauldron. Please... spare him."

Ning Wuyai raised his eyes, his tone calm: "I know he saved your life, Qingxue. You grew up in the Demon Palace, you can't be naive."

"He is a disciple of the Dao Academy, has achieved the Xuanwu True Body, and his Dao Foundation can even resist the power of nothingness. These things are indispensable to my Li Tian Palace's hegemony and to my opportunity to break through realms."

Ning Qingxue felt a pang in her heart and her eyes reddened slightly, but she still refused to give up: "Father, he is just an ordinary disciple and poses no threat to the Li Tian Palace. Please spare him. I am willing to use my merits to save his life."

Ning Wuyai waved his hand gently, his tone still calm: "There's no need to mention this matter again. I will remember your merits, and I will reward you handsomely when we return to Litian Cliff. But Lu Ming must remain in Litian Palace."

He stood up, rolled up his sleeves, and put the Divine Cauldron into his bosom. Without looking at Ning Qingxue again, he turned to leave.

"Father!" Ning Qingxue stood up, her voice choked with emotion.

Ning Wuyai paused, but did not turn around. He simply said, "Focus on recovering. You are the young master of the Li Tian Palace. You must prioritize the sect. Personal feelings and favors are not important."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure disappeared outside the cabin door, leaving Ning Qingxue alone.

She knew from a young age that her father only cared about self-cultivation and imperial ambitions, and that his so-called fatherly love was always as thin as paper.

He only acknowledged her as the young master, not as a daughter.

The airship continued its rapid ascent through the sky, a sense of ancient desolation washing over us.

The earth gradually became desolate, with only the rolling mountains standing alone and lonely.

After an unknown amount of time, the flying boat finally arrived at the Litian Cliff, a place that has stood for millennia and is hailed as a sacred place of demonic cultivation.

The solitary cliff stands against the sky, its entire body resembling black jade. The cliff face is steep and sheer, covered with mottled marks from the erosion of time, exuding endless vicissitudes.

At the very center of the cliff face, an ancient character was carved with supreme demonic power. The strokes were desolate, penetrating deep into the stone, and the characters carried a heavy, bone-deep arrogance:

"Heaven itself harbors no resentment; it is those who are separated who do so."

These nine short characters encapsulate the loneliness and obsession of sentient beings.

Heaven itself is without emotion or hatred; it is only those who part that generate love, hatred, and obsession in their hearts.

The desolate and poignant atmosphere is unforgettable.

The palace complex below the cliff stretches out in a continuous arc, built on black jade, with upturned eaves and corners, majestic and solemn, yet exuding an indelible sense of loneliness and desolation.

The entire Litian Cliff was shrouded in endless mist, yet the ancient characters added a touch of poetry and melancholy to it.

The flying boat slowly landed on the plaza in front of the cliff. Lu Ming was led off the flying boat by Li Tiansheng. When he looked up and saw the ancient characters on the cliff wall, his heart was suddenly shaken.

He recalled discussing the demonic path with Ning Qingxue, and how she softly recounted how the Demon Lord attained enlightenment at Litian Cliff, carving the words "Heaven has no hatred, but those who part have hatred" into his desolate state of mind.

Seeing it with my own eyes now, I felt a chilling sense of vicissitude wash over me, and I instantly understood the true nature of this holy land of demonic cultivation: separation and loneliness.

This is Ning Qingxue's hometown, the foundation of the Li Tian Palace, and also the predicament he is currently trapped in.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, on the Gobi Desert, at the ruins of Tian Shu.

Li Jingyun, dressed in pristine white robes, stood amidst the ravaged battlefield, his jade robes and long sword exuding elegance.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his left fingertips making calculations, and then he looked to the west, as if there were stars flowing in his eyes.

"Li Tian Palace, Ning Wuyai..." His eyes were brimming with fighting spirit, carrying an indescribable air of nonchalance and confidence.

"Since leaving the mountain, I haven't been to the old lair of the Heavenly Palace. It's time to pay them a visit."

He pointed his fingers like a sword and made a light stroke in the air. An invisible sword intent soared into the sky, piercing through the clouds and sending a message to the other disciples of the Dao Academy in Shenzhou.

"Get ready, we're going to Litianya to bring Junior Brother Lu home."

Li Jingyun took a step and soared into the sky.