Chapter 56 - Seeking Mercy and Getting It, Free at Last

When Liu Yuan walked into the cave, Gu Chang happened to be there as well. Although he had acknowledged Liu Yuan as his master in front of Ding Luan, he would still often come over to bring some food for Ding Luan or simply chat with him.

It was no wonder that Ding Luan had decided to pass on the inheritance to Gu Chang in the beginning. He had a good eye for people. Among his peers, Gu Chang was considered obedient, sensible, and kind. Moreover, he was more independent because he had lived in poverty since he was young.

However, it was a pity that a person’s personality would change according to the environment and experience.

In the end, Gu Chang still became the big villain in the game plot.

“Master!” Gu Chang stood up and greeted Liu Yuan respectfully when he saw him walking over.

Liu Yuan walked over and nodded. He saluted Ding Luan, who was still meditating, and said, “Senior Ding.”

Ding Luan looked even older than he had been a few days ago. His entire body was like a piece of dead wood. The swollen and squirming black mist behind his back had calmed down at this time. It was sealed by the golden light and seemed to have no vitality at all. Only his eyes were still bright and clear.

“You’re just in time,” Ding Luan said hoarsely. “I’ve been recuperating for the past few days, and I’ve recovered some of my power. There’s no time to waste. I’ll teach you the rest of the chapters.”

Although Liu Yuan had a favor to ask of Ding Luan, he was too embarrassed to ask when he saw Ding Luan’s expression. He obediently nodded and sat down cross-legged, learning the cultivation technique first.

With Liu Yuan’s heaven-defying perception, he could basically learn it as soon as he saw it. There was no such thing as forgetting or not being able to learn it.

Ding Luan was also surprised at first, but then he seemed to understand something. The more he looked at Liu Yuan, the more the old man liked him. His attitude changed from that of a random disciple he had to find on the roadside to that of a precious treasure. He told Liu Yuan everything in the cultivation method, no matter how big or small.

Even though there was a lot of content, the speed was extremely fast without any pauses. If an ordinary person were to be placed here, they would be able to experience the feeling of waking up from an advanced mathematics class and looking at the blackboard.

However, Liu Yuan learned it with great interest.

He finally understood the reason why learning was so painful. It was because he could not understand it. However, when knowledge could be absorbed smoothly like a sponge absorbing water, learning was really a happy thing.

After 12 hours, Liu Yuan had the entire Jade Mirage Daoist Scripture in his head.

“I feel like I have hundreds of Oxford Dictionaries in my head. It’s a little weird.”

Liu Yuan shook his head. He felt that if he were to learn so much, he would either become mentally retarded or become a forbidden book in the cultivation world.

“This is what I’ve learned in my life. I hope you can treat the ten thousand years of inheritance of the Jade Mirage Sect well. If you have any gains and achievements one day, I have a presumptuous request.”

Ding Luan’s gaze fell on Liu Yuan, and he cupped his hands with a sincere expression.

Liu Yuan quickly helped him up and nodded, “Senior, please speak. To put it bluntly, I took this cultivation technique for free, but I also understand how precious it is, so I will naturally study it well.”

Ding Luan said, “I hope that you can re-insert the cultivation technique you’ve developed into the impartation monument of the Jade Mirage Sect. The Jade Mirage Sect has been able to survive for 10,000 years because of this impartation monument. However, only the disciples of the sect have left their own creations in it. No outsiders have ever left anything behind.”

“If that’s the case, this impartation monument can’t really be considered an impartation monument,” he sighed.

Liu Yuan nodded without hesitation.

Ding Luan looked at Liu Yuan as if he had seen the future, the kind that would shine.

He cupped his hands again. “The impartation tablet is a secret of the Jade Mirage Sect. If you record the cultivation methods and spells you’ve created in it, you’re qualified to read everything other people have put in the impartation monument. Forgive me for deliberately hiding it just now. I wanted to see if you’re worthy of my trust one last time. I didn’t expect you to be a truly Righteous person.”

“I admit my inferiority,” Ding Huan said with an ashamed expression.

Liu Yuan’s expression was subtle, and he could only return the greeting. “Senior is too kind. I just feel that I shouldn’t accept this gift in vain.”

Of course, he did not know that Liu Yuan only knew about the special mechanism of the Jade Mirage Sect in the game.

Many players chose to enter the Jade Mirage Sect. After all, the Daoist sect uniform had wide sleeves, a heroic bearing, and a handsome appearance.

Otherwise, if he wanted to choose combat power, going to the most powerful Righteous sect, Kongtong Temple, to learn fierce and powerful spirit techniques like the Great Strength Vajra Palm, would be a good choice.

However… whether he was strong or not was a matter of a moment, but whether he was handsome or not was a matter of a lifetime.

Therefore, there were many players who would rather give up their combat power to go to the Jade Mirage Sect just for looks. However, a large portion of them, like Liu Yuan, chose not to enter a sect and instead gathered the strengths of various schools to establish their own forces.

In the future, he would definitely have to look for the spirit stone mine that he had occupied, but he put it aside for now.

In the cave, Liu Yuan had completed his task. He taught Gu Chang a few parts of the basic pithy formula for him to memorize.

Gu Chang’s face was bitter. Like a primary school student who had been assigned the task of memorizing, he reluctantly agreed and ran to the side to bury his head in his studies. This allowed Liu Yuan to feel a teacher’s satisfaction, and he was secretly pleased.

Liu Yuan turned his gaze back and said, “Senior Ding.”

Ding Luan’s eyes were tired after a few days of cultivation, but he still smiled kindly when he saw that Liu Yuan was busy. “Little Friend, if there’s anything you need, just tell me. As long as I can help, I’ll do my best.”

Anyway, he was already nearing the end of his life, and it was a good thing to have more kindness. Moreover, in his eyes, Liu Yuan’s future was limitless.

Although Ding Luan had taught Liu Yuan everything he had learned in his life, the two still addressed each other as Fellow Daoist. This was Ding Luan’s request. When Liu Yuan wanted to change the way he addressed him, Ding Luan shook his head and said, “With your talent, you will surpass me sooner or later. I am not qualified to be your Master, so I will take advantage of you and be your Senior.”

Liu Yuan cleared his throat and explained what happened at the Water Moon Dock. Of course, he added some artistic embellishments and emphasized that he was trying to eliminate the spies from the Demonic sect.

“I see.” Ding Luan thought for a while and said, “But the forbidden technique of reincarnation is not something a Nascent Soul cultivator like him can touch. Soul Summoning is even more absurd. The entrance to Fengdu Realm has long been closed. I only know a little rumor from the seniors at that time that the master of the world of spirits and souls has returned to the path of reincarnation. The entire world of spirits and souls has disappeared a long time ago. Once souls enter, they can not leave. They can only return to heaven and earth and reincarnate.”

“Soul Summoning?” Liu Yuan narrowed his eyes. “In other words, it’s impossible to summon a soul through a Blood Sacrifice Incantation? ”

Ding Luan nodded. “That’s right. As for what he wants to do, I don’t know. I could’ve predicted it, but now I’m like a lamp running out of oil. Alas, my Young Friend, you’re so young, but you already have the heart to fight against evil and protect the Dao. I’m afraid for you.”

“Senior, you’ve already done me a great favor,” Liu Yuan quickly said.

Even so, Ding Luan still felt guilty. He had given more than half of his remaining spiritual power to Liu Yuan, which shortened his lifespan again. He only had one day left.

In the blink of an eye, he was on the verge of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage. Liu Yuan did not bid Ding Luan farewell. He first checked Gu Chang’s homework and confirmed that he had successfully drawn Qi. Then, he asked Gu Chang to come up more often to chat with Ding Luan.

This Senior, who had been single for who knows how many years, seemed to be particularly fond of children. At the end of his life, he had an inheritance, which could be considered a wish of his.

Liu Yuan sat silently in the cave, facing the old man who was at the end of his life. He listened to Ding Luan slowly tell him his life’s wish. He had used his body as a cage to lock up a dangerous Heavenly Demon for hundreds of years. Although he was trapped in the cave for the rest of his life, he felt very free.

A day later, Ding Luan, who was still chatting with Liu Yuan, sensed his fate and suddenly laughed out loud. “I beg for mercy, and I get it. Hahahaha… I’m free at last!”

The golden light spread all over his body, and cracks appeared on it. The Heavenly Demon behind him made a final struggle, but it could no longer resist. In an instant, it shattered along with Ding Luan’s rotten body and turned into dust.

The Eight-armed Heavenly Demon, who was one of the vanguards of the demonic world’s invasion and one of the strongest experts, died here silently and heroically.

Because of Liu Yuan’s arrow, the entire plot of the game was turned upside down from this moment on.