Chapter 1176: Ruyi Sacred Heart, Devi’s Plot

“Hah…”

Ye Qing made a noncommittal hum before saying, “As you say, it takes time to master the Mara Sect. By the time you’re done with your business, I might have become a Sage already; the kind that could beat up ten Sages singlehandedly. Why would I need the Mara Sect then?”

“I know you’re extraordinary, scion. If you think that the Mara Sect is beneath you, I can dual cultivate with you instead,” Devi Ruyi replied indifferently.

“Cough! Cough! Excuse you?”

Ye Qing’s eyes widened like saucers. Devi Ruyi’s response was so unexpected that his mind nearly went blank for a second there. It was understandable. Just a moment ago, they were negotiating and talking about business. The next, she brought up dual cultivation like it was the most natural subject ever.

This is quite the big leap in topic, dontcha think?

“You do not know this, scion, but my ‘Ruyi Sacred Art’ boasts an unparalleled dual-cultivation method. Once you’ve become a Half-Sage, you simply need to dual-cultivate with me to break out of the cage and become a Sage,” Devi Ruyi replied calmly.

“Just like that?” Ye Qing exclaimed in surprise. “Are there no walls? No tribulations?”

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

“Correct. There are no walls, no tribulations, and no consequences.”

Devi Ruyi smiled. “Not only that, your foundation would grow healthier, your true qi would become more refined, your mind would grow clearer, and your qi, essence and spirit would be as one after the dual cultivation.”

“That’s incredible.” Ye Qing sounded impressed, and he was. A Sage was someone who had transcended mortality and become immortal. They were existences closer to that of a celestial than a human. It was every warrior and cultivator’s wish to become a Sage.

However, it was exceedingly difficult to become a Sage. If becoming a Trueman or a Grandmaster was like scaling a mountain or leaping over a river—a goal only one in ten thousand people could realistically achieve—then becoming a Sage was like crossing the sea or scaling the heavens. There might not even be one in ten million.

Some Half-Sages spent between sixty years to an entire century just searching for that glimpse of an opportunity to become a Sage. To that end, they tried everything. Crushing the heavens’ gate, meditating in the mountains, weathering the storm, exploring the red dust, experiencing happiness, anger, sorrow and joy, bathing in blood, going through life and death, studying the scriptures, writing the scriptures, killing their humanity, massacring the living, concocting a conspiracy…

There was nothing a warrior aiming to become a Sage wouldn’t do, and yet some, if not most of them never managed to glimpse even a ray of opportunity. They were never ever able to break free of the cage and cradle of mortality and soar to the skies above.

That was why Devi Ruyi’s dual-cultivation method was so enticing. Assuming she wasn’t lying through her teeth, any Half-Sage could dual-cultivate with her and become a Sage just like that. They would not encounter the wall and bottleneck that had kept so many others reaching the heavens. Just stick it in, and pop! You are now a Sage.

This was amazing enough, but apparently the ascension was consequence-free and exceedingly beneficial as well. Those searching for the Great Way and were willing to pay any price to achieve it would go bonkers if they found out about this.

“Is that a yes, scion?” Devi Ruyi asked.

“Ahem, why don’t I come back to you at a later—I mean no! I don’t need it!” Ye Qing snapped out of his daze halfway through his reply and hurriedly amended himself.

If he said he wasn’t tempted in the slightest, that would be a lie. How could he, when it was a method to become immortal without encountering any walls or experiencing any consequences whatsoever? However, he also discarded the thought as soon as it entered his mind, and the reason was simple. He did not need the shortcut. He was confident he could overcome what had kept so many others at bay in the future. The near future, even.

Besides, martial cultivation cultivated not just strength, but also the will and the mind. One might argue that the later two aspects were far more important than the former.

The process to become immortal and crush the heavens’ gate wasn’t difficult for the sake of being difficult. It was the process of cultivating one’s personality, honing one’s martial will, and perfecting one’s heart.

If he embarked on this shortcut, his constitution, mind and more might not be negatively impacted by it, but his heart and will certainly would. He might not experience any consequences in the short term, but he was sure they would rear their ugly heads eventually.

One who desired to command a tiger but possessed not the strength to command it would surely be injured by the tiger one day.

In fact, the will and heart were more important to a Sage than constitution and talent.

Ye Qing wished that every step of his martial journey was perfect and solid. Only then did he possess the qualifications to dream of a limitless future.

Besides, he did possess the qualifications and confidence to make such an attempt. With that in mind, why on earth would he settle for less?

“Well, these are the only bargaining chips I have. If you don’t accept them, then so be it.” Devi Ruyi sighed a little with regret, though there was no fear on her face.

She probably wouldn’t bat an eyelid even if Ye Qing were to kill her this instant.

“I have a question. Why are you doing all this?” Ye Qing asked.

“Because I want revenge. Because I wish to live,” Devi Ruyi replied simply and succinctly.

Ye Qing nodded. By revenge, she was probably referring to the fact that Mara Sacrament Heavenly King had killed her parents.

“Fine. I can accept such a reason.”

“You’re… going to let me live, scion?” Devi Ruyi sounded a little surprised.

“What, do you want to die?” Ye Qing smirked.

“Of course not.” Devi Ruyi shook her head and thanked him. “Thank you for not killing me, scion.”

Despite having escaped the jaws of death by the skin of her teeth, Devi Ruyi remained as unflappable as ever.

“Don’t thank me yet. Just because I agreed not to kill you does not mean that I’m going to let you go scot free.” Ye Qing shook his head. “I expect you to fulfill your end of the deal.”

“Are you referring to the Mara Sect, the dual cultivation, or both?” Devi Ruyi asked for clarification.

“I’m talking about you controlling the Mara Sect for me, of course.”

Ye Qing declared, “It is beneath me to crush the heavens’ gate via shortcuts.”

“Your will is as strong as iron, scion. You have Ruyi’s respect.”

Devi Ruyi was speaking the truth. How many people in this world could reject such a tempting offer without hesitation?

This was why she respected Ye Qing. For some reason, she also felt conflicted, relieved, and disappointed all at once.

There was one thing about the dual-cultivation method she hadn’t told Ye Qing. It was true that the dual-cultivation method itself did not have any sequelae whatsoever. It was also true that it benefited the practitioner in many ways. However, the moment the practitioner chose to dual-cultivate—to achieve immortality via a shortcut instead of the proper way—their will would become shaken, and their heart would grow imperfect. Because of this, the stronger they became, the further they advanced along their cultivation, the harder it became for the practitioner to pilot their own power. In the end, they would lose sight of themselves and become a slave to power.

If that happened to Ye Qing, then Devi Ruyi could devour him and make his power hers.

Of course, if Ye Qing managed to maintain a flawless heart and will despite all that, then there was nothing she could do to him.

The reason she hadn’t told Ye Qing about this was because she harbored ulterior motives, of course. Who in their right mind would want to be a servant if they had a choice? Assuming that everything went according to plan, she could have one day turned the tables against Ye Qing and broken free from his control.

However, Ye Qing had turned her down. The plan was dead before it could even begin. That was why she was surprised, impressed, and disappointed all at once.

“Ruyi shall swear a Mara Buddha Oath right now, scion.”

The thoughts only appeared in Devi Ruyi’s mind for a flash. It took her no time to regain her cool and focus on the present.

“There’s no need. I’ll do it myself. Do not resist.”

Before Devi Ruyi could react, Ye Qing lifted a finger and pointed at her. The next moment, a formless black lotus appeared in Devi Ruyi’s headspace for an instant before disappearing into nothing.

The demonic lotus wasn’t gone, however. Devi Ruyi could clearly sense it existing in her mind, though she could not feel it when she actually tried to concentrate on it. Somehow, it both existed and did not exist. It was quite mysterious and strange.

The next moment, what felt like a gust of wind blew across her mind and memories. However, it only lasted for a moment before disappearing completely. If she didn’t know better, she would think that it had never happened.