Chapter 236 : I Won’t Be a Burden to You
Chapter 236: I Won’t Be a Burden to You
Chen Ming was indeed quite intrigued by the legendary dual cultivation technique. As he approached the stone wall, he examined it closely. The surface had been polished smooth, and the carved characters looked aged.
After watching for a while, he became fully absorbed in its contents.
No one knew how much time had passed before he finally finished reading the entire wall of carvings.
“This Way of All Beings is truly vast and profound!”
Chen Ming couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
The content encompassed all manner of things. The creator had named it Way of All Beings, which included several martial arts techniques, along with numerous secret arts.
The core of the text focused on a method of dual cultivation of life and essence—it wasn’t the narrow definition of "dual cultivation" people often imagined.
The first step of this method was cultivating life and essence within oneself. Next was cultivating together with a Dao companion. At an even higher level, one would cultivate with all living beings, reaching a state where the strength of all beings became one’s own. So long as all beings did not perish, one would not perish either.
Of course, this was the ultimate goal.
Chen Ming doubted the founder of this method had actually reached such a realm. The notion of cultivating with all beings was likely theoretical at best. Whether it could be achieved was a big question mark.
Even so, just the first two stages were already immensely profound.
Among the recorded secret techniques were several rather sinister ones—such as the technique of harvesting yin energy to rapidly increase one’s cultivation. There were also some particularly vicious methods, like Heart-Piercing Thorn and Great Art of Mind Suppression.
And then there was the Breath-Concealing Art, which Chen Ming had been longing for.
The stone wall contained far too much information. He could only memorize it for now.
Fortunately, after his initial grasp of Sword Intent, his spiritual awareness had grown significantly. He now possessed a photographic memory and wouldn't forget what he had read anytime soon.
Nie Hongyi had already buried the corpses. Seeing him like this, she asked, “Brother Gu, have you finished reading?”
Chen Ming bowed deeply to her and offered his thanks sincerely. “Many thanks, Miss Nie, for allowing me to study your sect’s cultivation art. Your generosity is truly admirable.”
Having read what was on the wall, he knew just how great a fortune he had stumbled upon.
A peculiar expression flickered in Nie Hongyi’s eyes as she said, “No need to thank me just yet. In truth, I hope that once you’ve mastered this art, you’ll do me a favor.”
“Please, go ahead. As long as it’s within my abilities, I, Gu Xianyu, will not refuse.”
“There’s no rush,” she replied. “Wait until you’ve reached the second realm of the Way of All Beings. This divine art is vast and profound. Even my master, who cultivated it for half a lifetime, never stepped into the second realm. He had to resort to learning that fringe technique, Heaven-Mending Art.”
Chen Ming understood. The Heaven-Mending Art was that harvesting yin energy method. Compared to the Way of All Beings, it was indeed a mere side path.
Nie Hongyi continued, “All I want is your promise—if you reach the second realm, I want you to help me deal with someone.”
“Very well. As long as the person is within the range of my strength, I’ll do it without hesitation.”
“It’s a deal then.”
Nie Hongyi raised her hand.
“It’s a deal.”
Chen Ming responded by clapping her palm. He had no intention of going back on his word—though he wasn’t sure when they would meet again.
Then, Nie Hongyi raised her hand, and several sword lights flew out, obliterating the secret carvings on the stone wall. Her strike revealed the cultivation level of a Second Grade martial artist.
Chen Ming wasn’t too surprised. Since Xie Jianqiu, a First Grade expert, hadn’t dared to forcibly harvest her energy, it was clear her cultivation wasn’t weak.
It seemed her age wasn't as young as she looked.
Normally, reaching the Second Grade required at least twenty-plus years, even for a prodigy—possibly even thirty.
There were several techniques in the Way of All Beings specifically tailored for female cultivation, many with anti-aging effects.
Those three female corpses earlier had all appeared to be in their twenties.
After finishing her business, Nie Hongyi said, “Let’s go.”
Chen Ming called over Jiang Yingxue. She was a sensible girl, standing far away with her back turned, not daring to glance at the secret carvings on the stone wall.
Such secret techniques were considered sacred to a sect—peeking was a grave taboo in the martial world.
Nie Hongyi led the way, jumping into the water.
Chen Ming handed the rope to Jiang Yingxue so she could fasten it herself.
“Chen—” She had just opened her mouth when she saw Chen Ming’s stern gaze. She quickly corrected herself, “Brother Gu, you need to be careful of that woman. She barely speaks a word of truth.”
“What makes you say that?”
“She said those corpses were her master and mistress, but there wasn’t a trace of sadness on her face—just cold indifference. She seemed like a stranger. I suspect even her name, Nie Hongyi, is fake.”
“Hm.”
Chen Ming nodded, saying no more.
He could more or less guess the reason, but since it involved Nie Hongyi’s privacy, it wasn’t appropriate to explain.
Those techniques in the Way of All Beings specifically for women were all highly effective in dual cultivation. According to the manual, if one could find a girl with a special constitution, one could even break through a bottleneck and advance an entire realm.
If her master had cultivated the Heaven-Mending Art, then he likely sought out highly talented girls, taught them these arts, and once they succeeded, used them for dual cultivation to advance himself.
Calling them disciples was just a facade—they were more like concubines or cultivation furnaces.
It was understandable that Nie Hongyi had no emotional attachment to such a master.
Xie Jianqiu likely targeted Jiang Yingxue for the same reason—to have her switch to one of those heart techniques, dual cultivate with him, and break through to the peak of First Grade.
Then, he could enter the secret realm, unlock the Divine Repository, and step into the Divine Repository Realm.
Jiang Yingxue probably possessed some sort of special constitution, which is why she caught his eye.
“Let’s go.”
Chen Ming shook off his wandering thoughts and pulled Jiang Yingxue into the underground river.
…
Chen Ming and Jiang Yingxue swam through the turbulent current for nearly a quarter of an hour. The water grew increasingly swift, allowing them to ride the flow without exerting any effort, until they were swept into a wide river.
The current surged violently. Chen Ming held Jiang Yingxue in his arms to keep her from being swept away.
Finally, with a loud splash, the two broke the surface.
“Brother Gu, we’ve escaped!”
Jiang Yingxue opened her eyes and, seeing the vast blue sky, felt an overwhelming sense of survival joy. She hugged his neck tightly, shouting with excitement.
Chen Ming wrapped his arm around her waist, leaped from the water, skimmed across its surface, and landed on the shore, setting her down and untying the rope.
He felt drenched and uncomfortable. With a twist of his internal energy, he evaporated the moisture. Looking around, he said, “No idea where we’ve ended up.”
As he turned, he noticed her soaked clothes clinging tightly to her body. She seemed cold, arms wrapped around herself and shivering slightly.
This little girl… was surprisingly well-endowed.
He took her hand and passed a stream of energy to help her detoxify, only to find that her poison had mostly been cleared and her cultivation restored significantly.
He paused, realizing she had been faking.
With her Fifth Grade cultivation, holding her breath for fifteen minutes was nothing, but she had pretended she couldn’t and made him pass her breath several times.
Exposed, Jiang Yingxue blushed despite her thick skin, lowering her head in embarrassment.
Chen Ming shot her a glare but didn’t press further. Instead, he looked around and asked, “Where’s Miss Nie?”
While circulating her energy to warm herself, Jiang Yingxue muttered, “Maybe she ran off on her own?”
Why would she run?
Chen Ming couldn’t find her and had no choice but to let it go. Turning to Jiang Yingxue, he decided to be honest. “Miss Jiang, there’s something I must tell you. I already have a wife—”
“That doesn’t count!”
Jiang Yingxue interrupted anxiously. “You and that little b— that woman surnamed Yu didn’t even have a wedding. And now she’s going around calling herself your wife? Shameless!”
What is she talking about?
A woman surnamed Yu?
Chen Ming was confused—could she mean Yu Haitang?
That did sound like something she would do. Most likely, it was her way of protecting his family.
So, he finally learned something about home and felt relieved. With Yu Haitang watching over them, no one would dare harm his family.
She really was loyal, considering all they’d been through together.
As he thought about it, Chen Ming’s face grew stern. “I don’t know any woman surnamed Yu. My wife is the daughter of the Qian Money Gang leader in Xiazhou. Everyone in Xiazhou knows it. So, you shouldn’t—”
Before he could say harbor such delusions, Jiang Yingxue clapped her hands and exclaimed, “I get it now! Someone as heroic as Brother Gu wouldn’t be bound by one woman. This way, you can marry me under a new identity, and everyone’s happy!”
Happy your head!
Chen Ming couldn’t take it anymore. He flicked her forehead and scolded, “What nonsense is going on in that head of yours?”
Jiang Yingxue clutched her forehead and pouted pitifully. “Ow!”
His expression serious, he said, “I, Gu, am devoted to the martial path and will not be shackled by love. Stop talking like this, or we’ll never meet again.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t be a burden to you. My family has access to three secret realms. Once you reach First Grade, I can get you a spot to unlock the Divine Repository. When I reach Third Grade, I can inherit our family’s divine technique—and teach it to you. And also…”
“…"
Chen Ming couldn’t listen anymore. If he did, he might actually be tempted.
He leapt onto the tallest tree nearby, scanning the surroundings for signs of Nie Hongyi.
Where had she gone?
Could something have happened to her?
Or perhaps—
Huh?
Suddenly, Chen Ming spotted a silhouette about a li away. He called back, “Wait here for me,” and dashed toward it.
“Senior Tao, is that you?”
Under a tall tree, Chen Ming recognized a familiar figure and cried out in surprise.
“R—run—!”
Tao Zhiquan looked at him with urgency in his weak voice.
At that moment, Chen Ming felt a chill down his spine. A cold aura locked onto him like a death grip.
Damn it—it was Xie Jianqiu!
His heart sank.
How had this old bastard ended up here?
Facing death, Chen Ming suddenly turned to the frail Tao Zhiquan and asked in a low voice, “Senior, do you have any last wishes?”
Tao Zhiquan had already been fatally wounded by Xie Jianqiu. He was on the verge of death, barely clinging to life. He looked at the young man before him and murmured weakly, “The only thing… this old man cannot let go of… is my granddaughter… Tao Fang—”
He didn’t even mention revenge. At the brink of death, his granddaughter mattered more than vengeance.