: The Path

Sun Lingtong said unwillingly, "Is there really no way for me to obtain a divination method?"

Zeng Jide looked at him deeply and said, "Under normal circumstances, you can ask someone to perform divination for you. Just like how the Forgotten River Mansion Lord commissioned Old Man Grey Bone to act this time."

"But if you can actually obtain a divination method yourself, that would mean..."

Sun Lingtong asked, "Mean what?"

"It means you play a rather important role in the heavens' script. The heavens are assigning you a great task. The world itself fears you are not strong enough and is willing to risk future troubles to strengthen you as much as possible, so you can complete a specific mission!"

Sun Lingtong's heart tightened, and he was speechless for a moment.

After a long while, he frowned and said, "Even if obtaining a divination method isn't part of my destined arrangement, I still want to try every possible means and strive with all my might!"

"I really want to steal others' fortunes; it must be fascinating!"

Zeng Jide laughed heartily again and patted Sun Lingtong's shoulder: "Kid, good ambition!"

"Since you want to do this, then go ahead."

"Perhaps this is your Path. The heavens need innovation in the art of stealing fortunes and have entrusted this important task to you."

Sun Lingtong's heart stirred as he picked up a key term: "The Path?"

Zeng Jide stroked his beard: "This involves the Divine Transformation stage and cultivation beyond."

"Divine Transformation comes after the Nascent Soul stage. The Nascent Soul grows into a Divine Soul and must naturally choose a direction for cultivation."

"Take the Forgotten River Mansion Lord, for example. He is at the Divine Transformation stage. His main body primarily cultivates the Water Element, but his split soul cultivates the Earth Element. Water and Earth are two different Paths."

"You can temporarily understand the Path as a direction of cultivation. Of course, this is to help you understand, but it's not comprehensive."

Sun Lingtong, however, thought of the Path conflict between Old Man Grey Bone and the Forgotten River Mansion Lord, and his mind was stirred: "Does that mean the Path isn't just about what we cultivate, but also differences in life philosophies? Some follow the heavens and accept fate, while others want to defy the heavens and change their destiny?"

Zeng Jide made a sound of surprise: "I didn't expect you to comprehend this level."

He laughed: "Talented people like you and me simply can't be measured by common sense."

"Sword cultivators are often unyielding, martial artists tend to be brave and progressive, demonic path practitioners can be passionate or cruel and indifferent. The Daoist school has those who advocate inaction, self-transformation, tranquility, and self-correction, as well as those who promote grand unity, simplifying customs and rites, and lenient governance. The Buddhist school has Mahayana and Hinayana divisions, focusing on saving others or oneself."

"Although the Confucian school is relatively younger, it has many factions. There are those who advocate virtue-based governance and benevolent rule, those who believe the people are more important than the ruler, and those who debate whether human nature is inherently good or evil, etc."

"All these can be Paths."

Sun Lingtong listened as if hearing wonderful music! Such overarching guidance was something he had never been exposed to.

If his master hadn't passed away, perhaps he could have taught him like this.

Every word of such guidance was worth its weight in gold!

Sun Lingtong pondered carefully, forgetting that he was in the Forgotten River Immortal City, in the middle of stealing, and asked on his own: "Then, senior, how should I determine my Path?"

Zeng Jide didn't hide anything and directly instructed: "First, look at your cultivation talent."

"If you have talent, that's the heavens' expectation of you. Starting from your talent will inevitably be smoother than other directions."

"Second, look at your cultivation resources. Do you know the four words: Dharma, Land, Companions, Wealth?"

Sun Lingtong nodded.

Dharma refers to techniques, spells, etc. Land refers to blessed cultivation spots. Companions are like-minded cultivation partners. Wealth refers to spirit stones and other resources.

Seeing that Sun Lingtong understood, Zeng Jide didn't elaborate on the second point but continued: "Finally, it's about personal temperament and aspirations."

"The feeling of walking a path you want to take versus one you don't want to take is different. Those who act according to their nature often have clear minds. At the very least, they won't suffer much internal conflict or even inner demons during cultivation."

Sun Lingtong finally understood: "So, senior, you encouraged me to persistently seek fortunes and divination methods simply because this is my aspiration?"

Zeng Jide: "I am your senior from the same sect, proficient in the art of stealing, so I'm naturally good at reading people."

"When you spoke about stealing others' fortunes just now, your eyes shining told me that this is what your heart yearns for."

"This is actually quite important for you. Grasp it well; don't give up easily!"

"Just like the Forgotten River Mansion Lord this time. For his own Path, he planned for a hundred years. He knew full well how many obstacles he would face but remained firm and unwavering."

"This is grasping one's aspiration, wholeheartedly walking in the direction one wants to go."

Sun Lingtong was immediately drawn in: "From your words, senior, it seems you know the Forgotten River Mansion Lord's purpose very well?"

Zeng Jide: "To steal the Forgotten River Whirlpool Eye, I naturally did thorough preparation beforehand. The cost paid for intelligence alone exceeds more than half of the treasury before you."

"Therefore, I have a good understanding of the Forgotten River Mansion Lord's movements and situation."

"He possesses the innate talent 'Lost in the Flow,' allowing him to immerse in the Forgotten River's waters,阅览各种各样的记忆，领略无穷无尽的情绪。"

"However, this talent is only upper-grade, not immortal-grade. Thus, it has a major drawback—forgetting to return."

"Once he indulges in these memories and emotions and forgets to return in time, he will drown in the Forgotten River and die from overindulgence."

"That's why he went to great lengths, painstakingly planning for a hundred years, to obtain a talent from the Skull of the Heavenly Ghost to compensate for his own flaw."

"Innate talents are granted by the heavens."

"Almost all talents acquired artificially later go against the heavens' will. Therefore, the Forgotten River Mansion Lord faces enormous difficulties. He had to accumulate for a hundred years and prepare meticulously to have the strength to make this attempt today."

Sun Lingtong listened, his mouth dry and his heart racing.

For a moment, he wanted to follow the current topic and directly tell Zeng Jide his purpose for coming—to cause damage in the Forgotten River Immortal City, cooperating with his brothers on another front to stop the Forgotten River Mansion Lord!

But Sun Lingtong ultimately restrained himself.

Because, through his exchange with Zeng Jide, he had come to understand: the latter seemed flamboyant but was actually very cautious. He chose his timing well and had done much reconnaissance beforehand. He used Buddhist methods to enhance his stealing art. Although risky, his cultivation and resources would greatly increase—a highly profitable endeavor!

Zeng Jide's goal was only for his own cultivation.

If he were to help Sun Lingtong deal with the Forgotten River Mansion Lord, that would mean obstructing the Mansion Lord's Path—a completely different matter.

Even if Zeng Jide stole some items like the Forgotten River Whirlpool Eye, it would at most be like pulling teeth from a tiger. With so many teeth, losing one or two wouldn't matter much.

But if Zeng Jide helped Sun Lingtong, that would mean forming a deadly enmity with the Forgotten River Mansion Lord. The severity wouldn't just be pulling teeth; it would be killing the tiger!

Would Zeng Jide help?

Sun Lingtong believed the hope was extremely slim.

Would you risk your life to help someone you just met, making an enemy of a Mansion Lord and a cultivation nation in the underworld for them?

Zeng Jide's advice to Sun Lingtong was based on the latter being a junior from the same sect and some appreciation. Actually asking Zeng Jide for such help would displease this senior of the stealing art and ruin this opportunity—too reckless and unaware of boundaries.

"Go with the flow, go with the flow." Sun Lingtong firmly remembered Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoxin's advice. In the end, he didn't mention this request at all.

After Zeng Jide took the three treasure materials from the secret room, his expression suddenly changed.

"Be careful!" The next moment, his aura erupted. Disregarding exposure, he summoned his life-bound treasure.

It was a monkey-faced Buddha statue. The golden monkey made faces, wearing a black kasaya.

From the chest opening of the kasaya, a furry monkey hand reached out. But clearly, the statue's left and right hands extended from the sides of the kasaya, meeting at the lower dantian.

This was a Three-Handed Buddha Monkey statue!

Once released, the statue immediately pierced through the roof, rising high into the air, transforming from dead to alive, from solid to illusory. In an instant, it became a several-zhang-tall illusory Buddha monkey.

The illusion clasped its hands together, while the third hand on its chest stretched upward forcefully.

It stretched longer and longer, its palm growing larger and larger, like a dark cloud covering the sky, casting a large shadow over the mansion lord's residence.

Boom!

A loud noise exploded like thunder.

Following it was a hurricane-like wave of air that swept around, causing countless buildings to light up with defensive formations.

A black light shot back and was reabsorbed by Zeng Jide into his dantian.

He spat out a mouthful of blood, then swept his hand, collecting all the blood. His face pale, he pulled Sun Lingtong and left.

Stealing Art—Shadow Escape!

The two turned into a shadow again, crossed the threshold, and quickly transferred along the door crack.

Soon after, countless patrolling cultivators swarmed in.

"Over here!"

"I didn't expect the Painted Skin Rakshasa to have accomplices!!"

"The丙字号 treasury is empty; there are no treasure materials inside!"

"I know, it's that unscrupulous Zeng Jide!"

"He previously sent a notice saying he would come to steal the Forgotten River Whirlpool Eye. I didn't expect him to actually succeed."

"Quick, after them! They can't have gotten far."

For a time, all sorts of detection spells were activated one after another, various defensive formations were enabled, and the entire mansion lord's residence was like a awakened lion, revealing the true majesty of a nation's capital!

Zeng Jide scanned with his divine sense and was alarmed by the variety of spells and formations.

The fully activated mansion lord's residence saw its infiltration difficulty increase dozens of times. It was practically on a completely different level compared to before, with an enormous gap.

If Zeng Jide were alone, it might be easier, but with Sun Lingtong in tow, it became somewhat difficult.

He didn't abandon this junior from the same sect. With Sun Lingtong, he fully activated the Shadow Escape Technique while simultaneously using over ten different methods to counter various detection spells and defensive formations.

Many defensive formations were like fortresses, preventing him from advancing freely and forcing him to avoid their锋芒.

Zeng Jide, leading Sun Lingtong through twists and turns, found a flaw and slipped in.

This was a interlayer within a formation space.

Zeng Jide, no longer in shadow form, half-knelt on the ground, panting heavily. He was almost drenched in sweat.

Exhausted, he was completely different from when he was instructing his junior earlier.

Sun Lingtong also returned to human form. First, he showed concern for Zeng Jide, who waved him off twice before immediately sitting cross-legged and closing his eyes to meditate.

Sun Lingtong was in pretty good condition. He had been dragged along by Zeng Jide the whole way, not expending much effort, let alone magical power.

Sun Lingtong carefully observed their surroundings. Behind them was a green light membrane, with figures occasionally hurriedly passing by. In front of him was a mass of mist.

From within the mist came sounds of intense fighting and the shouts of female cultivators.

Suddenly, several voices came from behind.

"We can't find that unscrupulous Zeng anywhere!"

"Do you think he might be hiding here?"

"This is the Ripple Trapping Array restraining the Painted Skin Rakshasa. If those two were to meet, it would be a bit dangerous."

"Yeah, cultivators from the Empty Gate Sect are best at breaking formations and infiltrating. If unscrupulous Zeng helps the Painted Skin Rakshasa escape, it would be hard to trap this demonic cultivator again!"

Sun Lingtong looked back and saw a team of cultivators approaching through the green light membrane.

Ripples spread across the green membrane as the team came closer, their figures and appearances becoming clearer.

Sun Lingtong's hair stood on end, his heart in his throat.

Zeng Jide was meditating with closed eyes, seemingly unable to pay attention to the outside. This team of cultivators was about to discover them.

What should he do?

Sun Lingtong gritted his teeth and was about to use a stealing art to conceal himself when he received a divine sense message from Zeng Jide, telling him to stay calm and not act rashly.

"Kid, if you recklessly use these stealing arts, that's when they'll discover us!"

Sun Lingtong immediately stopped.

The team of cultivators passed by him shoulder to shoulder. Even this close, they were always separated by the green membrane.

The cultivators filed into the mist.

Soon, the sounds of fighting from within the mist grew louder. The Painted Skin Rakshasa laughed coquettishly: "Hehehe, so many people coming to care for little old me? Then come on, let me show you brothers some tender loving care!"

Screams followed one after another.

Clearly, the newly arrived cultivators had suffered greatly.

Someone roared angrily: "Demoness, full of tricks, you'll die a terrible death!"

The Painted Skin Rakshasa laughed: "Whether I die or not, I don't know, but some of you have already died first!"

One of the cultivators, suppressing anger, threatened: "You won't be得意 for long! Struggle in this Ripple Trapping Array until your stamina and magical power are exhausted! We'll capture you alive, flay you, and pull out your tendons to avenge our fallen comrades!"

Painted Skin Rakshasa: "That's hard to say. Perhaps your Mansion Lord is already dead outside. You should know, this time, it's not just me targeting him. Just Lady Yin Jiuzhu alone is enough for your Mansion Lord to handle. Not to mention the Soundless Ghost Monk and the Lady of Sorrowful Bones."

Cultivators: "Demoness, stop your bewitching talk! We'll see!"

They retreated in disgrace, passing by Sun Lingtong again, never discovering the old and young from the Empty Gate Sect.

"Go with the flow, go with the flow... Brother's mother is amazing!" Sun Lingtong looked at the mist before him, feeling infinite emotion.

Then, he sent a divine sense message to Zeng Jide: "Senior, I have a good idea!"

"Why don't we release the Painted Skin Rakshasa to attract attention for us, making it easier for us to escape?"

(End of )