Volume 1 Volume 6 Chapter 127

Volume 6 Chapter 127: Gathering at Black Emperor Cliff (Part 8)

Fate is a mysterious pair of words.

It takes a hundred years of fate to share a boat, a hundred years of fate to share a pillow, a fleeting glance on a bustling street is also fate, and the lifelong entanglement of resentment stained with blood is still fate.

This is the fate between people, but fate is not only between humans. For example, Jin Qinghan is exceptionally gifted; while others take a hundred years to reach a certain level, Jin Qinghan can do it in just a few years. This is fate with the Heavenly Way. Later, when he unknowingly obtained a millennia-old inheritance from the "Pure Land Sect," that was also fate with the "Pure Land Sect."

Fate is destiny, and destiny is fate. Fate is the result of past lives’ cultivation. Talking about fate is destined to be part of one’s destiny, but fate is like clouds, and destiny is like the wind, unpredictable. The clouds dispersing is fate, and the clouds gathering is also fate.

Forty thousand years ago, Master Hanmo founded Zen Buddhism and created a lineage of Buddhist cultivation. At that time, cultivators said Master Hanmo had a connection with the Buddha, but Master Hanmo only smiled faintly, pointed to a cup of tea beside him, and calmly said, "Fate is like this cup of tea. You seem to lift it casually, drink it down, and you might say, without this cup of tea, my destiny wouldn’t change. But by the time you speak, the tea has already gone down; its taste is mild yet unforgettable, becoming part of your life, just like my connection with the Buddha—a true fate."

Buddhist practitioners are skilled at discussing doctrines, and the cleverness in their words is endless. Over the millennia, few have truly understood Master Hanmo’s words, yet many have pondered them for a long time.

I remember one time Xu Qingfan showed some books to Ting’er that contained Master Hanmo’s words. Ting’er did not understand, but she felt a youthful emotion; despite her cold nature, the words "fate" stirred something inexplicable within her, prompting her to ask Xu Qingfan.

At that time, Xu Qingfan answered with a smile, "Master Hanmo’s words are full of Buddhist meaning. How could I ever understand? But to me, fate is part of destiny. Facing it is like facing destiny itself. If you truly believe that fate is predetermined, then your life will only go by fate’s arrangement. An alternative choice is to regard fate as your own plan. For example, if you meet someone you like, that is your fate. By working hard to achieve what you desire, you gain this fate. Thus, fate is fifty percent in the hands of heaven and fifty percent in your own hands."

Every word Xu Qingfan said was deeply engraved in Ting’er’s heart, and this particular sentence remained etched in her mind forever.

The moment Ting’er stepped into the endless mist of magic, she firmly believed that she and Xu Qingfan were indeed fated. This fate was not limited to being teacher and student or by blood; it held even deeper meanings. Through her efforts, her destiny with Xu Qingfan would be intricately linked together, never to be separated.

For Xu Qingfan, Ting’er’s selfishness is profound. She cannot stand Xu Qingfan’s attention towards others being more than towards her because all her focus is on Xu Qingfan.

This time entering the magic mist, Ting’er has a clear plan with only two possibilities. One possibility is that she and Xu Qingfan, under the attack of demonic energy, become completely enchanted. From then on, she will be Xu Qingfan’s only trusted person and the only one who can understand him, as they will have both become enchanted together, and thus be together forever. The other possibility is that with her help, she becomes enchanted, but Xu Qingfan finds freedom. In this case, even though she will be surrounded and isolated by countless cultivators, and even though Xu Qingfan might not be able to save her, Xu Qingfan not only gains freedom but will also feel deep guilt and gratitude towards her, raising her status in his heart.

These two possibilities would be disastrous for an ordinary person, but Ting’er likes them because of Xu Qingfan.

In Xu Qingfan’s case, Ting’er is so hard to understand and extreme.

But in fact, what Ting’er does not know is that while she and Xu Qingfan may have a special bond, her connection to the demonic path is also strong, perhaps even stronger.

Years ago, the "Ming" organization threw this "Demon Pearl" into the Barbarian tribe where Ting’er and her father Xu Lin were. This "Demon Pearl" chose no one but picked the less than three-year-old Ting’er as its master because it keenly sensed that Ting’er’s physique was more suitable for demonic cultivation than anyone else’s, even more so than the Demon Ancestor of that time.

The "Demon Pearl" took less than a day to fully merge with Ting’er, and she could control the power of the "Demon Pearl" easily. But because Ting’er was so young and innocent, even with the enhancement of the "Demon Pearl," she could not bring up even a trace of evil thought. In despair, the "Demon Pearl" left Ting’er and entered the body of the strongest person in the Barbarian tribe, Xu Lin, who spent five years trying to merge with the "Demon Pearl" but did not merge even half of it.

It is precisely because of Ting’er’s incredibly suitable physique and talent for demonic cultivation that even though the "Demon Pearl" has left her body, the demonic energy remains deeply rooted in her, growing stronger as she becomes more powerful. For others, merging demonic energy with fire techniques seems difficult and unimaginable, but for Ting’er, it feels as natural as breathing. When she first used her magical powers, she already achieved the perfect blend of magical and demonic energy.

One can only imagine how astonishing Ting’er’s talent for demonic cultivation is.

Destiny, the difference between having a connection and not, is only the choice of the people involved.

The moment Ting’er entered the vast demonic energy surrounding Xu Qingfan, it was as if her fate was forever linked to the demon path.

At that moment, Ting’er was prepared in her heart, but she was still shocked by the sudden change of the demonic energy around her.

As Ting’er stepped into the demon mist, it seemed to freeze and calm for a brief moment, then it surged wildly into Ting’er’s body, as if her body was its final resting place.

Yet Ting’er felt so natural and at ease surrounded by the terrifying demonic energy that many cultivators feared, as if she was born to belong here.

But this feeling of comfort vanished in an instant.

The demonic energy rushed into Ting’er’s body, and although there was a natural affinity between Ting’er and the demonic energy, as it built up inside her, Ting’er felt as if she might burst with unbearable pain. The demonic energy was constantly transforming her body, strengthening her meridians and dantian, but the speed at which it filled her far exceeded her body’s ability to endure.

In pain, Ting’er’s delicate face twisted with anguish, cold sweat pouring down as her body trembled uncontrollably, yet she continued to walk step by step towards Xu Qingfan, her steps slow but determined.

Finally, Ting’er reached Xu Qingfan’s side. Because of the pain, cold sweat had soaked her clothes, but she did not care. With trembling hands and a satisfied smile as if coming home, she embraced Xu Qingfan, whose legs were crossed on the ground, resting her head gently on his shoulder. Without considering her own limits, she began to fully absorb the vast demonic energy from Xu Qingfan’s body.

The black patterns on Ting’er’s face, which had gradually faded, suddenly became clear again at this moment, shining brightly like Xu Qingfan in her arms.

Just as Ting’er wished, at this moment, her fate and Xu Qingfan’s were indeed deeply connected.

…

At this time, Xu Qingfan was focused on resisting the demonic energy attacking and controlling him, unaware of everything Ting’er was doing.

Just before Ting’er held Xu Qingfan in her arms, he felt a deep sense of despair because, at that moment, the "Demonic Pearl" had almost completely merged with his body, while the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" had only merged with about two-thirds of him, leaving him at a disadvantage.

Although his life and death energies were constantly absorbing and merging with the righteous and demonic energies within him, they had almost doubled in strength at this time. Under the abundant Spirit Qi, the Nascent Soul in his dantian had completely grown, looking just like a smaller version of Xu Qingfan, with clear features and ten distinct fingers. Surrounding the Nascent Soul was a mist of black and white, and behind it was a black-and-white Tai Chi pattern, looking extremely mysterious, marking Xu Qingfan’s official entry into the peak of Nascent Soul cultivation.

However, no matter what, Xu Qingfan’s strength combined with the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" still could not compare to the "Demonic Pearl."

Seeing that he was about to become a legendary demon and his mind was about to be engulfed by endless Demon Thoughts, Xu Qingfan thought of self-destruction but found that all his strength was focused on protecting his dantian and Original Soul, leaving him with no strength to even consider suicide.

Just when Xu Qingfan was about to give up, an unexpected change occurred.

The endless demonic energy that was completely released from the "Magic Pearl" suddenly began to flow out continuously, while the "Magic Pearl" seemed to hesitate, unsure whether to continue invading and controlling Xu Qingfan.

According to the "Item Spirit" inside the "Magic Pearl," Ting’er’s ability to practice dark magic greatly surpasses Xu Qingfan, and she has a natural affinity with the demonic energy. If it merges with Ting’er, although she will be weaker than Xu Qingfan in the short term due to her lower strength, her future potential is far greater.

However, at this moment, the "Magic Pearl" had just managed to suppress Xu Qingfan and the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic," and was about to fully transform and control Xu Qingfan. Under the fusion and refinement with Xu Qingfan’s "Withered qi," it had almost lost a quarter of its power, and it was unwilling to simply give up on Xu Qingfan.

After all, the "Item Spirit" is just an "Item Spirit," possessing simple judgment and intelligence created by the magical item. It does not understand the consequences of delay. As Ting’er’s talent for dark magic became more amazing, it aimed to transfer its control to Ting’er’s body, but at that moment, the demonic energy Xu Qingfan refined grew even stronger, prompting it to continue controlling Xu Qingfan.

First calculating, then judging, is the instinct of the "Item Spirit," but after its calculations, Ting’er and Xu Qingfan felt like two ends of a scale. As both sides continued to grow heavier, the "Item Spirit" wavered uncertainly.

At the same time, feeling that the speed at which the "Magic Pearl" was assimilating his body had almost come to a standstill, and that the demonic energy within him was diminishing instead of increasing, Xu Qingfan, although unsure of the reason, was filled with surprise. He did not want to hesitate and immediately intensified the merging with the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic," accelerating the refinement of the immense vital energies within him.

…

On the other side, witnessing Ting’er being surrounded by the demonic energy, everyone gasped in despair.

Then, as Ting’er’s figure was completely submerged in the endless demonic mist, the once violent mist suddenly stopped moving. In the next moment, it began to writhe wildly; as it squirmed, the dense black mist gradually thinned out, disappearing without a trace in no time.

After the magical mist disappeared, the scene inside finally appeared before everyone’s eyes. Ting’er was hugging Xu Qingfan, who was sitting on the ground, surrounded by a faint black mist. Their eyes were closed tightly, and both of their faces had strange black patterns. One was kneeling, and the other was sitting, quietly staying there, like two statues connected and unable to separate—strange yet harmonious.

"Senior Brother Xu!"

After a moment of daze, joy and excitement flashed in Dongfang Qingling’s eyes. She was about to rush towards Xu Qingfan but was stopped by Zhang Ningmei.

"Don’t go near, be careful not to be infected by demonic energy. Ting’er, our elder martial sister, is only able to be like this because of special circumstances."

Zhang Ningmei said quietly. Although her eyes were full of worry, her expression remained calm.

"Indeed, just a bit of demonic energy made us all feel this way. Even though the magical mist has dissipated, the demonic energy inside Taoist Friend Xu is still strong. It’s better for us to observe the situation quietly. Ting’er’s involvement this time, while dangerous, might also bring some change."

Bai Qingfu looked at Xu Qingfan and Ting’er in the distance and said softly.

Wang Zegang did not speak, but he turned his head and looked around. Just now, he didn’t know if it was his imagination, but at the moment the black mist completely disappeared into Ting’er, he seemed to hear an incredibly old faint sound of surprise.

However, no matter how Wang Zegang searched, he found no signs of anyone else being present. Thinking about that faint sound, which was almost unnoticeable, he shook his head and ultimately attributed it to an illusion. After all, his Spirit Qi was greatly depleted, and he felt somewhat weak, so it was not impossible for an illusion to occur.

Listening to the advice from Bai Qingfu and Zhang Ningmei, Dongfang Qingling’s anxiety and panic slowly settled down. She took one more deep look at Xu Qingfan, who was being held by Ting’er, then turned around and returned to her usual elegant self.

When she couldn’t be sure whether Xu Qingfan was alive or dead, it felt like the sky had fallen. Her world seemed empty and on the verge of collapsing, making her feel dazed all along the way. But oddly, after seeing Xu Qingfan, her heart calmed down so easily, as if Xu Qingfan was the pillar of her heart. As long as Xu Qingfan was there, the sky would not fall, and there was nothing to panic about. While she worried about whether Xu Qingfan would be possessed, the fact that he was still in front of her was enough to soothe her anxiety.

She and Xu Qingfan had experienced so many dangers together. Xu Qingfan had taken care of her, and she had cared for him, but in the end, they had both come through it together, hadn’t they?

With these thoughts, Dongfang Qingling’s heart felt even calmer. She took a deep breath, nodded to the people around her, indicating they need not worry about her. Then she looked around and quietly said to Zhang Ningmei, Bai Qingfu, and Wang Zegang, "We still cannot see how Senior Brother Xu will turn out. Although this place is hidden, it isn’t safe. With Senior Brother Xu’s current condition, if other cultivators find him, it could cause a lot of trouble. So, we should set up some formations around here to conceal our presence and protect Senior Brother Xu."

Upon hearing Dongfang Qingling say this, Wang Zegang, Zhang Ningmei, and Bai Qingfu knew she had indeed regained her calmness. They all nodded and began to arrange things.

Meanwhile, Bai Yu, Tian Zhenxian, and Tian Zhenling were stunned by the sudden changes and didn’t know what to do. After hearing Dongfang Qingling’s words, they quickly joined Wang Zegang and the others in their busy work.

While Dongfang Qingling was setting up the protective formations with others, she glanced at Xu Qingfan not far away, unknowingly reflecting on the moments they had shared. The mutual help during missions over the years, and her attentive care for Xu Qingfan during the Southern Wasteland seemed like it had just happened yesterday, so vivid and clear.

Looking at Xu Qingfan’s somewhat messy hair and the dust on his right cheek, Dongfang Qingling sighed silently. She loved taking care of Xu Qingfan and adored how clean he looked under her care. After what happened in the Southern Wasteland, this had become an important part of her life, feeling so familiar and natural to do.

However, at that moment, she didn’t even dare to approach Xu Qingfan.

As he sighed, Dongfang Qingling secretly thought, "Senior Brother Xu, please don’t let anything happen to you…"

Meanwhile, several miles away from where Xu Qingfan was, an old man in purple robes quietly observed the changes in Xu Qingfan and Ting’er, his eyes sparkling with an unknown light.