Chapter 380 The Path of the Dao is Difficult

Lin Xun stepped forward and said in surprise, “Sir, there seems to be something on your mind?”

Spirit Vulture’s expression was calm as he gazed at the starry sky and answered, “I wouldn’t say so. I am just thinking about some problems. Some things should be prepared in advance.”

Lin Xun sat down on the ground with his hands on his knees and also gazed up at the starry sky. “Sir, can you talk to me about it?”

“Speaking of which, these things are all related to you.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

Spirit Vulture retracted his gaze and looked at the sharp face of the youngster beside him. “Mind Cleansing Peak seems to be thriving now, but there are some hidden problems.”

Lin Xun narrowed his eyes and said, “Please tell me everything.”

“Mind Cleansing Peak lacks the power to truly take command.”

Spirit Vulture continued after a while, “You should also know that Old Third Zhu will leave one day. Although White Casanova Shen Jinglun has the fighting spirit, he only considers himself a servant and likely wouldn’t take on huge responsibilities.”

“Although the other three collateral branches of the Lin Family can’t do anything to you, for the time being, many of their clansmen are Heaven Ascension cultivators. They even have a true Cyclic Derivation cultivator. As long as they seize the opportunity, they can deliver a fatal attack at Mind Cleansing Peak.”

Lin Xun’s expression turned solemn.

“If this hidden problem isn’t resolved, everything on Mind Cleansing Peak will sooner or later only benefit others.”

Spirit Vulture’s eyes shone with wisdom. “Even if we have the North Light Lin Clan’s support, they won’t be able to help much in such a situation.”

Lin Xun fell silent for a moment, and then said, “Sir, do you have a solution?”

Spirit Vulture pondered for a long moment and said, “It’s difficult—unless you can get the owner of the Ancient Plum Blossom Sword to help you.”

“Impossible,” Lin Xun said bluntly. The mysterious person supported him, but it was impossible to expect them to help him solve his problems.

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

As for the Black Glory Sacred Hall, Lin Xun knew he couldn’t depend on them. They had helped him too much. The old man of Sacred Hall had already made it clear that he wouldn’t interfere in his affairs again.

Lin Xun knew he had to solve everything by himself.

Spirit Vulture said after a thought, “If—you can make Old Third Zhu stay and also recruit a true Heaven Ascension cultivator to serve you, you may be able to resolve this hidden problem.”

Convince Old Third Zhu to stay!

Lin Xun’s eyes lit up. He had also thought about the problem, but he had never come up with a good solution.

“Sir, do you have a way?” asked Lin Xun.

Spirit Vulture smiled. “I’ve been thinking about this, but I haven’t figured out a specific way. But if you can adapt to him and speak and act with a definite goal, perhaps you can make Old Third Zhu willingly follow you.”

Lin Xun suddenly fell into contemplation. It won’t be easy to impress a powerful upper Heaven Ascension cultivator.

However, what can I give Old Third Zhu to make him willingly stay behind?

Lin Xun couldn’t figure it out.

Women, money, power...such worldly things had no attractive power to a powerful cultivator like Old Third Zhu.

“You don’t need to rack your brains to think of a way.”

Suddenly, a dull voice sounded. Old Third Zhu’s mighty figure was standing in the darkness in the distance.

Lin Xun was taken aback.

Spirit Vulture smiled slightly as if he had predicted that Old Third Zhu would appear.

“The Spirit Sea Stage gives a life span of three hundred and the Heaven Ascension Stage gives a lifespan of six hundred. I only have two years left. Even if you make me stay behind, I can’t solve your problems,” said Old Third Zhu nonchalantly.

Lin Xun’s eyes widened and his gaze turned complicated. He had never thought that Old Third Zhu would have less than two years of life left!

But it was the truth!

All cultivators sought the path of the Dao. They cast aside all superficial things such as fame, money and power. Their most fundamental goal was to prolong their life and seek immortality!

The cultivation path was destined to be brutal. Since ancient times, it was unknown how many remarkable talents were lost to time because they had failed to break through. They ended up exhausting their lifespan, losing their cultivation base, and dying with regret.

There had been too many examples of that.

In particular, the higher one’s cultivation stage, the more difficult it was to break through. If one couldn’t break through, their cultivation path would end regardless of how powerful they were, and they would have to suffer the fate of death.

Old Third Zhu was currently facing the problem of life and death as he was on the verge of exhausting his lifespan!

He might be mighty, but he was still insignificant in the face of time.

This was the path of cultivation. It was full of obstructions and difficulties. Cultivators had to compete with heaven and earth and compete with time. If they failed, their path would end!

Lin Xun was still very young and had endless potential. Moreover, his cultivation was rapidly improving so he couldn’t understand that.

However, when he learned that Old Third Zhu was approaching the end of his life, he lost control of his emotions.

Unexpectedly, Spirit Vulture suddenly said aloud, “If you can break through, then this problem can be solved.”

Lin Xun’s spirits were immediately lifted. Then, he shook his head. If Old Third Zhu could breakthrough, why would he wait until now?

As he had thought. Old Third Zhu indifferently explained, “Impossible, my potential has been exhausted, and I have tried thirty-seven times over the years, all of which have ended in failure. I am already very lucky to survive until now.”

“Who said it's impossible?”

An unfathomable smile curved Spirit Vulture’s lips. “I heard that there is a mysterious place called the Cyclic Derivation Tower in the depths of the imperial palace. It can perhaps help you breakthrough.”

In the depths of the imperial palace! The Cyclic Derivation Tower!

Lin Xun narrowed his eyes as he vaguely realized that Spirit Vulture was actively trying to help him make Old Third Zhu stay. Additionally, he had pointed out a clear path for him.

“That’s the imperial palace, a forbidden place, and the Cyclic Derivation Tower is a forbidden place in the forbidden land. Even most members of the imperial family are not allowed to enter there. It’s wishful thinking to go there,” Old Third Zhu said indifferently.

He seemed to have given up on breaking through.

“You can’t, but that doesn’t mean Lin Xun can’t,” Spirit Vulture said leisurely.

“There might be a turning point before you exhaust your lifespan. Please don’t refuse when that happens.”

Old Third Zhu kept silent for a long moment and finally turned away without saying a word.

No one knew what he was thinking, but at least he didn’t decline the offer.

“What do you think? Do you feel that it is more difficult to achieve this step than it is to ascend to the sky?” Spirit Vulture shifted his gaze to Lin Xun.

“It is indeed going to be tricky but I will do my best.”

Lin Xun took a deep breath. He thought of the influential figure from the imperial palace. Perhaps…I can ask that person for help.

“Don’t worry, there is still more than a year. You can decide whether to do this or not when you’re prepared,” reassured Spirit Vulture.

Lin Xun nodded and then he suddenly remembered something. He stared at Spirit Vulture and said, “Sir, I heard that you are afflicted with the Demon Tribulation Poison. Is this poison incurable?”

Spirit Vulture immediately guessed what Lin Xun wanted to do. He waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t waste your time. The poison is hard to treat even in the Darkness Kingdom. I don’t expect to be cured ever in my life.”

“I just think you can give it a try.”

“If it wasn’t for your reminder, I almost would have forgotten. Mind Cleansing Peak will have another Heaven Ascension cultivator if you’re treated!”

“You seem to be full of confidence.”

“I just suddenly thought of a way to kill multiple birds with one stone.”

“What is it?” asked Spirit Vulture.

Lin Xun lightly spat out two words, “A reward! I can gather the wisdom of all people in the world to find a solution to cure the Demon Tribulation Poison in your body!”

Spirit Vulture sighed, “What are you planning to offer as a reward? There are very few rewards that can capture the attention of the entire world.”

He didn’t believe him.

Lin Xun grinned. “When I was cultivating in Haze City, a Heaven Ascension cultivator saved me several times and helped me a lot. When I wanted to repay him for his kindness, he just said that I can create a rune armament for him when I have the ability.”

“It made me realize that rune armaments are treasures that can make even Heaven Ascension cultivators go crazy!”

After a pause, he continued, “If I tell everyone in the world that I will reward whoever treats the Demon Tribulation Poison with a rune armament…who wouldn’t be tempted?”

Rune armament!

Even though Spirit Vulture had cultivated an extremely calm state of mind, he couldn’t help inhaling sharply. A strange look flickered across his eyes, including shock and disbelief.

He had never thought that Lin Xun, a teenager, could create a rune armament! It was too unbelievable!

What was a rune armament?

It could be considered the most valuable treasure even among the aristocratic clans. Some top clans didn’t even own one rune armament!

The reason was that rune armaments were incredibly difficult to create. Even in the hands of a rune master, the rate of success was still extremely low.

The Divine Workshop was made up of the most outstanding rune masters and even rune grandmasters in the empire. But even so, it would take them at least three months to successfully create one rune armament!

Most importantly, the imperial family, the military and the seven high clans would fight over any rune armaments created so they would never be seen in the outside world!

When a thing is rare, it becomes precious.

Let alone an earth-shakingly rare treasure such as a rune armament?

Cyclic Derivation cultivators would go crazy if someone said that they could customize a rune armament for them!

This was the value of a rune armament.

How could Spirit Vulture not feel ruffled when he heard Lin Xun say he could make a rune armament?