"The one who escaped..." The Drunken Sword Immortal's words caused the Sword Saint to tremble slightly.
The Sword Saint naturally understood his profound meaning.
Originally Heaven had destined Zhao Ling'er to be imprisoned in the Demon Locking Tower. If anyone truly rescued her someone would have to sacrifice themselves. One life for another.
But what was the outcome now?
His junior brother had rescued both Li Xiaoyao and Zhao Ling'er and neither of them had died. He who should have sacrificed himself had successfully attained enlightenment at a crucial moment. Thus he broke this supposed fate.
"The course of Heaven's will is certainly difficult to defy but nothing in the world is absolute. The purpose of our existence as cultivators is to defy Heaven's will. Otherwise what would be the point of cultivation?"
"Accompanying Heaven's will is right but seizing a glimmer of hope to achieve one's own goals is equally right..." The Drunken Sword Immortal spoke with a resolute expression while stating his choice clearly.
The Dao in everyone's heart is different. The Sword Saint's conformity to Heaven's will is Dao while the Drunken Sword Immortal's resistance to fate and striving for a glimmer of hope is also Dao.
"Young man let us go. After so many years it is time to put an end to the affairs of Nanzhao Kingdom..." After expressing his Dao the Drunken Sword Immortal's gaze fell on Li Xiaoyao and Zhao Ling'er.
"Alright!" Hearing this Li Xiaoyao smiled and nodded firmly.
Whether it was Dao or not Li Xiaoyao did not care. He did not understand such things. But all he needed to know was that his master had not stopped him and Ling'er from going to Nanzhao Kingdom.
Whoosh!
The Flying Gourd returned to the Drunken Sword Immortal's hands. After a spell the gourd soared into the sky carrying the Drunken Sword Immortal and the other three toward Nanzhao Kingdom.
As for Sword Saint Yin Ruozhuo his heart was deeply moved. He stood there like a statue speechless for a long time.
The Drunken Sword Immortal's ascension to the Dao was undoubtedly a cause for great joy. But his words deeply resonated within him.
Following Heaven's will is the Dao and defying Heaven's will is also the Dao. This was a theory the Sword Saint had never considered before but he had to admit that his junior brother's words made perfect sense.
The events of the Demon Locking Tower were predestined by Heaven and accidents were unlikely. However after the Drunken Sword Immortal's ascension to the Dao something unexpected actually happened. So was the Dao the only hope for this matter?
This incident was the perfect example to prove the truth of the Drunken Sword Immortal's words.
"Let go of obsessions and enter the Dao without ruthlessness. But if you do not let go of obsessions you can also enter the Dao with affection. If that is the case Master why did you insist on letting me enter the Dao without ruthlessness? Did you not know? Or did you do it on purpose?" The Sword Saint could not help but reflect on the truth behind his Master's decision to guide him toward entering the Dao without ruthlessness.
Alex's metaphor of a beggar living a comfortable life made the Sword Saint realize that it was easier to enter the Dao with a heartless detached heart. While it was considerably more difficult to do so with a compassionate heart.
After a moment's deep contemplation a sudden thought struck the Sword Saint.
"Back then because of Senior Brother Jiang Ming's incident Mount Shushan lost its talent and nearly became extinct. Could it be that Master because it was easier to enter the Dao with a heartless heart had allowed me to do this so that I could take on the responsibility of leading Mount Shushan?"
This sudden thought made the Sword Saint think it was highly plausible. It was not impossible for Master to have done such a thing.
...
Putting aside the question of what thoughts the Drunken Sword Immortal's compassionate entrance into the Dao had stirred in the Sword Saint's mind, the Drunken Sword Immortal and his companions riding their flying gourds were rapidly soaring toward the Nanzhao Kingdom.
Compared to his usual uninhibited demeanor the Drunken Sword Immortal now looked much more serious.
"Hey I see you seem troubled" Li Xiaoyao who was standing nearby clearly sensed the Drunken Sword Immortal's change in mood and asked.
"Well it is nothing. I am just getting old and I always reminisce about the past..." He waved his hand. The Drunken Sword Immortal did not want to dwell on the past events between him, the Witch Queen and the Saint Lady.
Moreover after entering the Dao the Drunken Sword Immortal understood that defeating the Moon Worshiper during this trip to Nanzhao Kingdom would not be easy.
While he believed that nothing was absolute and that finding the elusive ray of hope would offer a chance, reversing the destiny of fate was never so easy.
If he was not careful this trip to Nanzhao Kingdom might end in disaster with the separation of life and death.
Meanwhile at the Nanzhao Kingdom's Moon Worshiper's headquarters under the Moon Worshiper's tireless supervision and through the hard work of numerous Moon Worshiper followers, they had finally successfully forged a massive five-meter-long steel ship.
Gently stroking the cold hull the Moon Worshiper's face was filled with joy. He must be the only one to have forged such a steel ship right?
"Mister Alex the boat is ready. How about we launch it?"
Nodding with satisfaction the Moon Worshiper knew that the boat should theoretically float. But the actual launching process still left him feeling somewhat nervous and anticipating.
"This boat is made of steel. It must weigh tens of thousands of pounds. How do we launch it?" Alex asked while responding to the Moon Worshiper's words.
In modern times using the power of machinery to launch a sixteen or seventeen-meter iron ship would not be a difficult task. But in the realm of The Legend of Sword and Fairy it was far more challenging.
"I have my own way" the Moon Worshiper replied with a faint smile.
He raised his hand. His powerful cultivation surged with his movements. Then while carrying the five-meter-long steel vessel he headed toward the nearby river.
"Amazing!" Alex sighed inwardly at the Moon Worshiper's actions.
The Moon Worshiper was able to lift up tens of thousands of pounds of weight. His cultivation was truly astonishing.
"Master! Master!" Seeing the Moon Worshiper show off this incredible skill the Moon Worshiper followers around him immediately turned into fanatical believers and shouted loudly.
"The cultivation of this evil creature is already unfathomable!"
On the other side Elder Shi and others who had been secretly watching the movements of the Moon Worshiper looked at the Moon Worshiper lifting a huge steel ship weighing tens of thousands of pounds. With solemn looks on their faces they said in low voices.
"But what is he going to do with such a big steel ship? This steel should sink to the bottom of the water right?"
Following Elder Shi, Tang Yu's face was full of confusion and he said in a low voice.
Tang Yu's words could be regarded as asking the doubts in everyone's hearts.
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