strokinit Chapter 135 Dad!! This is so rude!!!
Chapter 135 Dad!! This is so rude!!!
Shen Jizhou was completely stunned and stood there.
Those eyes were fixed on the sword box in front of them, the pupils contracting violently.
Shen Jizhou was neither foolish nor stupid.
Shen Jizhou understood perfectly well why Lu Yuan had given him the Xuan Yuan Demon-Slaying Decree.
Isn't it all for his own daughter?!
To be honest, this Xuan Yuan Evil-Slaying Decree...
Shen Jizhou... I want it so badly!!
I want it so badly, so badly, so badly, so badly, so badly!
but……
Even if you want it, you can't have it!!!
Lu Yuan wanted something else today, even if it was the secret manual of Wuqing Temple, Shen Jizhou could grit his teeth and get it!
But that's my own daughter!!!
This really won't work!!!
Shen Jizhou abruptly closed his eyes, frantically chanting the Heart-Cleansing Mantra in his mind, trying to suppress the beast called greed.
But it's not very useful.
That longing, like vines, entwined his Dao heart, tightening its grip ever more.
He could only force himself to keep going, his voice dry as if it had been sanded.
"...One should not accept rewards without merit."
"Take this sword back."
After saying that, Shen Jizhou seemed to have used all his strength to push the magic sword that he had been dreaming of to Lu Yuan.
His hands were trembling slightly, uncontrollably.
Lu Yuan looked at him quietly, a barely perceptible smile curving his lips.
That old man is really tough.
If it were anyone else, they would have already grabbed the sword case and wouldn't let go.
Shen Jizhou, on the other hand, was trembling with fear and his hands were shaking, yet he still gritted his teeth and pushed it out.
Ok……
This sword is definitely not to be taken back!
Lu Yuan's eyes lit up, and a plan came to mind.
Lu Yuan didn't accept it; instead, he took a step back, his face full of youthful sincerity and openness.
"Senior Uncle, you're being too polite."
Shen Jizhou frowned slightly and opened his eyes to look at him.
Lu Yuan continued:
"When did I ever say this was a gift for you?"
Shen Jizhou was taken aback:
"...What do you mean?"
Lu Yuan's face showed a hint of helplessness at the right moment, as if he was really troubled by some problem.
"Master Uncle, as you just saw, this sword... it's different."
"It requires a specific imperial edict to activate, and I have searched everywhere for the second half of that edict, but to this day I have not heard of it."
"Tell me, what use is this sword in my hands?"
Lu Yuan pointed to himself, his face full of sincerity:
"I am young, inexperienced, and lack experience."
"This sword is just a useless decoration in my hands."
"I take it out during holidays to wipe off the dust, brag to people that I have a top-notch ritual object, and then it just sits there collecting dust again."
"Isn't this just wasting things?"
These words struck Shen Jizhou's heart like a small hammer.
His brows furrowed unconsciously.
Lu Yuan noticed this detail, chuckled inwardly, but his expression became even more sincere.
"So my visit today is less about 'giving a gift' and more about... 'entrusting' something to someone."
Entrust.
These two words made Shen Jizhou's eyelids twitch violently.
Lu Yuan's voice became serious:
"Master Uncle, think about it, in this world, besides you, who else is worthy of it?"
"Take it and study it while searching for clues in the vast library. Perhaps one day, you can bring the second half of the edict back to light."
"Only then will the sword's divine power be fully revealed, and the legend of 'warding off all evil and bringing all laws back to their source' will not have been in vain!"
"What's this called?"
Lu Yuan thought for a moment and managed to come up with a single word:
"This is called a treasured sword finding its rightful owner, a masterpiece returning to its rightful home!"
Shen Jizhou: ..."
Oh my god!
Shen Jizhou wanted to roar to the heavens!
With things said to this extent, who the hell can withstand that?!
I can't take it anymore!!
It's truly unbearable!!
How can I support this?
You can't handle this!!
Shen Jizhou shook his head, shouting inwardly.
That's awesome!!!
We have to hold on, even if we can't!!!
That's my own daughter!!!
For a moment, Shen Jizhou didn't want to hear Lu Yuan's incessant chatter anymore, and quickly interrupted:
"Alright, alright, you don't need to say anything more."
"This sword...you...you take it...you take it back..."
That's the end of the matter.
But Shen Jizhou, looking at the magic sword about to leave him, couldn't bear to see the divine artifact tarnished, and managed to squeeze out a sentence: "When I have time... I will... help you find the salvation for the lower half of Yan..."
Lu Yuan blinked as he looked at Shen Jizhou, who was refusing the sword and could barely speak.
Ok……
Awesome!
That's really awesome!
As expected of the abbot of Wuqing Temple, the number one Taoist temple outside the Great Wall!
The person in charge of the Daoist sect outside the pass!
The recipient of the "Celestial Venerable" title five times in a row!
The father of Shen Shulan, formerly the number one genius outside the Great Wall!
They managed to withstand that!
but……
I just don't know...
Whether we can hold on or not is another question.
At this moment, Lu Yuan looked at Shen Jizhou with nothing but admiration.
Then, like a defeated man, Lu Yuan slumped his head listlessly, his voice filled with utter dejection as he said:
"Senior, it was my intentions that were impure..."
These words startled Shen Jizhou, who secretly wondered what trick the kid was up to this time!
Lu Yuan continued in that extremely self-reproachful tone:
"I actually dared to try to shake your resolve with such external things. Now that I think about it, how ridiculous I was."
"Who are you? The Abbot of Wuqing Temple, a five-time 'Celestial Venerable,' the foremost figure outside the Great Wall!"
"How could such a trivial thing possibly catch your eye?"
Lu Yuan stopped calling him "Uncle-Master" and stopped trying to get closer to him; instead, he started calling him "Senior."
This series of compliments and sincere apologies put Shen Jizhou on a pedestal, leaving him with nowhere to put his coldness and hardness.
The saying goes, "You can't hit someone who's smiling."
Shen Jizhou's expression softened, and he was about to speak when Lu Yuan spoke first, bowing slightly.
"Senior, are you refusing to accept this sword because you're worried about me and Senior Sister Shulan?"
The matter has been made clear.
Shen Jizhou nodded slightly; this was indeed his only concern.
Lu Yuan's voice became increasingly sincere:
"Senior, I must say something in my defense regarding this matter."
"I, Lu Yuan, have absolutely no ill intentions towards Senior Sister Shulan."
"That's right, I'm married and have two wives, but I've never hidden this from Senior Sister Shulan in the slightest!"
"I told her the truth the day she came to pay her New Year's visit."
"I am by no means the kind of treacherous person who hides things and tries to play games."
Shen Jizhou acknowledged this point.
Lu Yuan's frankness is the fundamental reason why he is willing to see Lu Yuan today.
Otherwise, Shen Jizhou wouldn't have personally come forward, and he wouldn't have let Lu Yuan through this door today.
Even if Lu Yuan is wielding a top-tier magical artifact!
No top-tier magical artifact in the world can compare to one's own daughter!
Shen Jizhou absolutely cannot let his daughter marry such a treacherous and wicked person!
To be honest, Shen Jizhou really respected Lu Yuan.
Putting aside the marriage, the nineteen-year-old orthodox Celestial Master is a prodigy with an upright and honorable character!
Shen Jizhou was actually extremely satisfied with Lu Yuan.
Unfortunately, Lu Yuan got married.
Shen Jizhou could not allow his daughter to become Lu Yuan's concubine.
In particular, it would be fine if my daughter didn't have that kind of interest.
It would be nice to just make a friend.
But the problem now is...
Unfortunately, his own daughter already had the same idea!
Even after knowing that Lu Yuan was already married, she still had those thoughts!
Will this work?!
That definitely won't do!
How could the eldest daughter of Wuqing Temple be allowed to become someone's concubine?!
If this gets out, it'll be a complete joke!!
Therefore, no matter what, Shen Jizhou must not let his daughter meet Lu Yuan again.
We must act swiftly and decisively to cut off any possibility of further contact between the two.
At this moment, Lu Yuan cupped his hands and said with utmost seriousness:
"I brought this today because I really want to repay Sister Shulan."
"It's not just because Sister Shulan helped me with this trip to the Nurturing Earth, but also because she took a lot of magical artifacts from Wuqing Temple."
"There's more to it than that; Sister Shulan saved my wife's life that day!"
"That's why I'm giving you such a valuable gift in return; there's absolutely no other intention!"
Having said all that, Shen Jizhou couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Ultimately, this matter is not really Lu Yuan's fault.
It was his own daughter who got involved.
"Young friend, you don't owe Wuqing Temple anything."
Shen Jizhou's voice also softened.
"The root of all this is the lack of ambition of the people in my view."
"What Shulan did was to atone for the sins of her sect; you don't need to worry about it."
"With the matter of nurturing the evil spirits concluded, the score between you and my Wuqing Temple is now even. There's no need to discuss any debts!"
Lu Yuan didn't explain further or say anything more. Instead, he opened the sword box, lowered his head, and sighed:
"In that case, I'll take the sword back."
At this moment, Shen Jizhou nodded, and then looked at the Xuan Yuan Demon-Slaying Decree he was still holding tightly in his hand with great reluctance.
I am extremely reluctant to part with it.
He slowly, inch by inch, prepared to place the divine object in his hand back into the sword box that was about to be closed forever.
Just then.
Lu Yuan suddenly pulled out a roll of yellowed silk from a hidden compartment in the sword case.
He raised his head, and his face regained that pure enthusiasm for academic exploration.
"Master Uncle".
Lu Yuan's voice rang out again, serious and earnest.
"This is the first half of the imperial edict."
"I see that you seem quite interested in these ancient magical artifacts that require an imperial edict to activate."
"How about... you try activating it now with the imperial edict?"
Shen Jizhou: "Huh??"
no………
You little brat!
At this moment, Lu Yuan was incredibly sincere, looking at Shen Jizhou earnestly and saying:
"It's nothing, is it?"
"Since you're interested in this, why don't you try using an imperial edict to activate it?"
"I have nothing to do anyway, so it won't take up much of my time."
"Or is it that you, Uncle-Master, have something to attend to?"
"If you have something to do next, then forget it."
At this moment, Shen Jizhou stared at Lu Yuan, then at the Xuan Yuan Demon-Slaying Decree in his hand...
Uh……
Yes...yes...
Just try it yourself, it's nothing!
What could possibly be wrong with that?!
It's only for two or three minutes, just to let yourself experience that feeling!
I won't break it for Lu Yuan, and it's not that I'm not going to return it to Lu Yuan!
Yes, yes, yes, yes!!
This has nothing to do with accepting gifts or Lu Yuan's schemes; it is simply a seeker's pure exploration of the unknown Great Dao!
Correct!
That's it!
Once the thought arose, it spread like wildfire and could no longer be contained.
Shen Jizhou's hand, which was about to put the magic sword back into the sword box, suddenly froze in mid-air, and then withdrew in a flash!
A barely perceptible smile appeared on Lu Yuan's lips before disappearing.
He calmly unfurled the yellowed silk scroll in front of Shen Jizhou.
Shen Jizhou's gaze was instantly captured by the rolled-up silk.
The top is covered with dense ancient seal script, the strokes are vigorous and powerful, each stroke seems to contain an indescribable meaning.
Shen Jizhou leaned forward and stared intently at the words.
His lips moved slightly, as if he were reciting something silently, or perhaps trembling.
"...The Xuan Yuan Decree...Use the heart as the guide...Unite the spirit with the true sword..."
He muttered to himself, his voice growing softer and softer.
Finally, all sound fell silent; they had completely sunk in...
At this moment, Lu Yuan took several steps back, a slight smile on his face:
"Senior, please try your sword!"
Shen Jizhou did not respond.
His entire being was absorbed into the rolled-up silk.
The room was deathly silent.
Only occasionally did a spark from the charcoal fire crackle, producing a faint "pop" sound.
a long time.
Shen Jizhou slowly raised his head.
His eyes were completely different from before.
It was no longer an obsession, no longer a longing, but a kind of...
A state of immersion and focus where one devotes all one's mind and spirit to an ultimate experience.
"Imperial decree..."
He murmured:
"I see... I see..."
He looked down at the Xuan Yuan Demon-Slaying Decree in his hand, then at the rolled-up silk scroll, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two.
"Using the heart as a guide, the spirit unites with the true form of the sword; this means first sensing the true form within the sword with one's mind and spirit, and resonating with it!"
"Only then can one control the sword with one's mind, rather than with one's strength."
His voice was deep and solemn, as if he were talking to himself, or as if he were explaining to Lu Yuan.
He took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.
Make a hand seal with your left hand and place it on your lower abdomen (Dantian).
He holds the sword in his right hand, with the tip hanging down naturally and pointing diagonally at the ground.
His breathing became long and deep, blending with the overall energy of the quiet room.
Take a breath.
Two breaths.
Three breaths.
In the quiet room, you could hear a pin drop.
Suddenly
Shen Jizhou frowned slightly.
Then, his lips moved slightly, uttering a few indistinct syllables.
That was the first sentence of the edict.
Lu Yuan stood at a distance, holding his breath and staring intently.
He could sense that the energy within the quiet room was undergoing a subtle change.
It wasn't a genuine surge, nor a fluctuation of spiritual energy, but something much deeper.
It is the flow of "meaning".
The imperial edict gradually became clearer from Shen Jizhou's mouth.
It was an extremely ancient and rustic melody, with each syllable drawn out for a very long time.
It carries an indescribable rhythm, like a chant or a sigh.
"The Profound Origin Edict, the Nine Chapters of Laws!"
"Dharma Lord Dutian, command the sword to suppress the situation!"
The four imperial edicts were slowly uttered.
With each word spoken, the energy within the quiet room trembled once more.
The moment the last character "方" fell...
Buzz
A very faint, almost imperceptible hum emanated from deep within the sword.
It wasn't the vibration of metal, but rather the ancient and distant resonance emitted by wood fibers activated by some force.
Immediately afterwards, the dark chestnut color on the sword began to slowly change.
The gold threads hidden in the wood grain gradually lit up under the infusion of unseen "intention".
It is not the dazzling golden light that comes with the true steam, but a more restrained and gentle radiance.
Like an ancient artifact that has been asleep for thousands of years awakening in a dream, slowly opening a sliver of its eyes.
The golden threads flowed slowly along the texture, and with each flow, they caused the energy around the sword to tremble slightly.
Shen Jizhou's breathing suddenly quickened for a moment.
But he quickly regained his composure and continued reciting the imperial edict.
Second time.
The third time.
With each pass, the gold threads on the sword become brighter and flow faster.
By the fifth time
call
A faint bluish-gray aura, like a living thing, quietly emanated from the tip of the sword.
It circled once on the tip of the sword, then, like ink entering water, slowly spread and merged into the air.
Wherever he passed, the energy in the quiet room seemed to be gently stirred by an invisible hand, rippling outwards in circles invisible to the naked eye. Shen Jizhou regulated his breathing, and seemingly casually turned his wrist.
call
The sword traced an arc in the air.
There was no sharp sound of wind breaking, no dazzling sword light.
Only a very faint, bluish-gray trail of energy flashed and disappeared along the path the sword had traversed.
Wherever the energy trace passed, the air in the quiet room seemed to be torn open, only to quickly close again.
A faint, almost imperceptible hum, yet capable of stopping the heart, followed.
The bronze stove in the corner suddenly shot its flames upwards three inches!
The Taoist book on the table turned its pages rapidly without any wind!
Even the painting "Pine and Crane for Longevity" hanging on the wall seemed to have a glint of life in the eyes of the cranes on the pine branches! Shen Jizhou's eyes suddenly snapped open!
Those eyes no longer held their usual calm and stillness; instead, they were a blazing flame capable of burning the entire world!
"What a... divine decree!!!"
He blurted it out, his voice trembling slightly with extreme excitement.
He stared blankly at the sword in his hand, at the golden threads that flickered and flowed like breath.
Watching the trail of energy slowly dissipate into nothingness, I felt a slight tremor run through me.
"This...this is no longer a legal weapon..."
Shen Jizhou murmured, his voice filled with shock.
"This...this can already be considered a vessel for the 'Tao'..."
"Control the sword with your mind, command it with your will... without relying on the true essence, without depending on external forces..."
Shen Jizhou couldn't continue speaking.
He simply held the sword to his chest, staring intently at it, as if trying to imprint his very soul into it.
His fingers repeatedly caressed the smooth, warm blade, over and over again.
Breathing, rapid and disordered.
"Senior, you are truly a genius!"
"When I first tried to comprehend this edict, it took me three days and three nights, and it still doesn't compare to even a fraction of what you're doing now!"
"You only observed it once, yet you were able to unleash the true form within the sword and unleash such divine power!"
"Terrifying!"
"Truly terrifying!"
Lu Yuan was full of amazement and offered his praise at just the right moment.
There was an element of acting, but there was also an element of seriousness!
Lu Yuan tried this thing when he first got it, and it was nowhere near as good as Shen Jizhou's!
can only say……
The Grand Celestial Master truly lives up to his title!
The number one person outside the Great Wall, truly deserving of the title!!
It's no exaggeration!!
At this moment, Shen Jizhou was completely absorbed in the Xuan Yuan Demon-Slaying Decree in his hand.
He didn't react at all to Lu Yuan's flattery.
He looked completely obsessed, utterly captivated.
Lu Yuan blinked; the time was right.
He said loudly:
"Senior, you're truly amazing!"
"Since you are so fortunate to have encountered this item, and were able to comprehend it so well on your first encounter, this sword must be connected to your great destiny."
"This junior is unworthy; keeping this sword would be like a pearl gathering dust."
"How about... I borrow your time to comprehend it?"
"When you've fully grasped the meaning and had your fill of it, it's not too late to return it to the younger generation."
Huh??
Lu Yuan's words were like a thunderclap, abruptly pulling Shen Jizhou out of that profound state of mind.
He looked at Lu Yuan in disbelief, his voice stammering with excitement.
"Lend...lend me...to comprehend it?"
Lu Yuan nodded solemnly, his expression utterly sincere.
"Yes, my cultivation is still shallow, and I have no use for such a divine object for the time being. It would be a waste to leave it unused."
"I'll leave it with you for now. You can study it and play with it in your spare time."
"No rush to pay it back."
After saying that, Lu Yuan immediately cupped his hands in a respectful bow.
"Senior, then this junior will take his leave now. I still need to pay my respects to Master He Xun. I dare not disturb your comprehension of the Great Dao."
Before he finished speaking, he had already turned around and walked briskly toward the door of the quiet room.
Shen Jizhou panicked instantly, instinctively reaching out to grab Lu Yuan, and said urgently:
"Oh, young friend, this... how can this be done..."
"Absolutely not! Take it back. If I... if I wish to see this sword again, I will pay you a visit!"
Shen Jizhou spoke with great righteousness.
But the hand holding the Xuan Yuan Demon-Slaying Decree was clenched tightly, veins bulging, showing no sign of loosening its grip.
Lu Yuan chuckled inwardly, but outwardly waved his hand, continuing to walk out while responding loudly.
"Oh dear, that's too much trouble! You're a senior, Master Uncle, how could I possibly ask you to lower yourself like that!"
"Please keep it; I really don't need it for the time being!"
"I can't say any more, I really have to go see Senior Uncle He Xun now, this junior takes his leave!"
As Lu Yuan spoke, he arrived at the door of the quiet room.
Check it out!
If Shen Jizhou really didn't want it and really wanted to stop Lu Yuan, how could Lu Yuan have walked to the door of the quiet room?
Seeing Shen Jizhou's lips move as if he was about to utter the word of refusal again, Lu Yuan immediately interrupted his train of thought.
He blinked, his tone becoming more relaxed, as if he were talking about something trivial.
"However, senior, this sword wasn't lent to you for nothing."
Lu Yuan smiled slightly and finally offered the perfect offer that the other party couldn't refuse.
"In your spare time, surely you could help this junior by taking a look at the second half of that imperial edict?"
"It'll be more convenient for you to study this sword if it's with you, won't it?"
"If the second half can truly be found in the future, then this junior will truly have to thank the senior!"
Shen Jizhou was stunned after Lu Yuan finished speaking.
Yup!
I...I'm not after the magical artifact!
I... this isn't about selling my daughter!
I...I'm helping a junior find the second half of the imperial edict!
It's to bring this divine sword back to the light of day, and for the sake of the Daoist tradition!
In an instant, Shen Jizhou felt his mind clear and his whole body comfortable.
His tense old face flushed red instantly, not from shame, but from extreme excitement!
His hand gripping the sword hilt was trembling slightly, and his beard was shaking with excitement.
"rest assured!"
Shen Jizhou patted his chest, his voice rising eight octaves, his tone resolute.
"My senior master will certainly do everything in the power of Wuqing Temple to help my nephew find the second half of the imperial edict!"
Lu Yuan: ..…….…”
Lu Yuan: ..…….…”
I heard everything!!
He was the one who first changed his address to "Uncle-Master" and took the initiative to acknowledge "Nephew"!
Lu Yuan smiled inwardly and said no more. With his goal achieved and the goods delivered, Lu Yuan prepared to take his leave.
Just then, the curtain of the quiet room was gently lifted by a delicate hand.
A stunningly beautiful figure appeared at the doorway, accompanied by a faint fragrance of orchids.
"Father, Uncle Lu has arrived?"
Shen Shulan.
She wore a moon-white Taoist robe, which accentuated her tall figure and gave her a pure and aloof demeanor.
Her long, black hair was tied up high with a simple wooden hairpin, revealing her smooth forehead and delicate eyebrows and eyes.
Her gaze first fell on her father's unusually excited face, then turned to Lu Yuan.
When she saw Lu Yuan, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.
Before Shen Jizhou could speak, Shen Shulan had already looked at Lu Yuan, her clear voice carrying a hint of doubt.
"Uncle-Master, are you... leaving?"
Lu Yuan was also surprised to run into Shen Shulan here. He was slightly taken aback, then smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.
"Yes, I came to deliver some things to my senior master. I'm on my way to pay my respects to Senior Master Hexun."
Shen Shulan frowned slightly.
"Why are you leaving so soon after arriving?"
After saying that, she turned to look at her father, her eyes filled with a hint of reproach.
"father!"
"How can you let Uncle Lu leave so soon after putting down his things in this freezing weather?"
"That's incredibly rude!"
Shen Shulan's voice was clear and cold, yet it carried an undeniable insistence.
"At the very least, we should invite our martial uncle to stay for a cup of hot tea before he leaves!"
Shen Jizhou: ..."
He looked at the precious magic sword in his hand that stirred his heart, and then at his daughter who looked completely at ease.
The excitement on his old face hadn't faded when a hint of embarrassment crept in.
Shen Jizhou remained silent for a moment, then finally squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth.
"Thousands of..."