novelsite 第2624章 第2723泽及24凶险？（2合1章章求月票）
第2624章 第2723泽及24凶险？（2合1章章求月票）
Chapter 2624, Chapter 2723, Ze Ji-24, Danger? (Two chapters combined, please vote with monthly tickets)
Chapter 2723 Ze Ji (Second Update)
Just as everyone was whispering amongst themselves, Qu Jianlei finally calmed down.
Then he released his vast divine sense, "I apologize for keeping you all waiting. The Nascent Soul level Daoist temple truly lives up to its reputation!"
"I could think of some high-end ideas, but I still didn't expect this. After adapting for so long, I want to apologize to everyone first."
"Is it a long time?" Elder Youjian couldn't help but mutter, "It's only about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, right?"
As the longest-living True Venerable in Lingyun, he knew a little about the Taiyuan Sea.
Even those who know nothing about this situation would almost immediately realize: Is that seat a place for an ordinary person?
Therefore, just for the chance to witness Taiyuan Sea and this opening scene, everyone can confidently say: it was definitely worth the trip!
Qu Jianlei didn't mind these things anymore. He offered a simple apology and began to explain.
Some people were still in shock when they tried to switch gears, afraid of missing something.
Because the transition was so rapid, the initial shock caused by Qu Zhenzun did not last long.
The topic shifted to the main subject, and everyone listened attentively, not daring to be distracted in the slightest.
As a result, many people present had slightly different memories of the opening scene.
This led to endless debates, and the rumors became increasingly outrageous, giving rise to countless versions.
Qu Jianlei was explaining the principles of astral projection in another world, which he originally planned to discuss for a very long time.
Even including the Q&A sessions and discussions afterward, half a month would be enough.
Because the main audience members present were either True Venerables or at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, and most of them were much older than him.
These people are undoubtedly intelligent, and having cultivated immortality since childhood, their knowledge and experience usually far surpass his. There's no need to go into too much detail.
Qu Jianlei felt that he only needed to touch on the topic briefly—going into too much detail would be an insult to the audience's intelligence.
However, since Ling Yun had made such a big show of things and even brought out a Nascent Soul level dojo, he thought he had to hold out for a month no matter what.
It was precisely because he was worried that he wouldn't be able to hold out for that long that he changed his mind and invited Qingning and her husband to support him.
Now things are different... Since we have the opportunity of good fortune, let's work hard and try to make it last longer.
However, as soon as he opened his mouth, Qu Jianlei could feel that inspiration was flowing in from him as he spoke.
All the worries about how long the conversation could last vanished in an instant.
He felt that if he followed this feeling and continued to speak, he could do it for three to five years without any problem.
Of course, this may be an illusion, but there is no doubt that this is the bonus effect brought to him by the Nascent Soul level dojo.
This shows that choosing Taiyuanhai was definitely the right choice. You can't understand the wonder of some things unless you experience them firsthand.
Moreover, his previous experience of being captured by the Great Khan also gave him considerable inspiration.
Even someone as skilled as him, lacking firsthand experience, might have some inaccuracies in certain subtle details due to the fact that his calculations were merely deductions.
But a slight difference can lead to a completely different outcome.
In cultivation, especially in crucial matters involving breakthroughs, a single thought can determine life or death.
Qu Jianlei talked for half a month, and many possible deviations were inspired by the same person he had already discussed the Dao with.
Even so, in the end, he only gave a general outline.
"Success or failure is always determined by the details. Every cultivator is an individual."
"The general idea has been explained, but as for the specific details... I'm sorry, I can't help you with that. Each of you will have to make the choice for yourselves!"
"What a sermon!" Baiqiao exclaimed first. "The first two sentences were concise and to the point, and they were truly profound truths!"
Only those cultivators with a broad perspective understand that cultivating the Tao is never about following the paths of those who came before.
Those rigorous training methods are actually just the beginning, ensuring that practitioners do not go astray at the start of their cultivation.
True cultivation is about finding your own path, and that path is different for everyone.
On a small scale, Wenxian said that the path of array formation has reached its limit; on a larger scale, after leaving the body, there is no way to divide one's spirit!
It's not that there's no way out, but that you have to walk the remaining path yourself; no one can help you.
Baiqiao is not the only one who feels this way, even though many Nascent Soul True Venerables have already passed that hurdle.
Therefore, the true masters spoke one after another, discussing only one or a few details.
However, these True Venerables reside on branch islands, where the bonus is much smaller, significantly less than that of the main island, and the questions they ask are mostly quite obscure.
This is the correct way to discuss the Tao; enlightenment requires a teacher who can teach you even with just one word, without needing many words.
However, the most frightening thing in the world is comparison. Compared to these obscure exchanges, Qu Zhenzun's previous sermons were straightforward and clear.
If we're talking about "enlightenment" in isolation, perhaps something a little more obscure would be better.
That can generate a resonance or synergy from the depths of the soul, or some kind of profound and inexplicable insight.
However, at this moment, Qu Zhenzun was preaching to too many people!
He pursues popularization and precision. He talks a lot, but his strength lies in being easy to understand and getting straight to the point.
In short, neither of these methods should be judged as good or bad.
But there is no doubt that obscure communication is relatively inefficient and usually quite costly.
Therefore, answering these questions took Qu Zhenzun a considerable amount of time, and it wasn't just an increase in time costs.
In particular, many true masters raise questions not only with the intention of seeking advice, but also with the intention of arguing.
This may not necessarily be due to ulterior motives; that's how discussions are—the truth becomes clear through debate—if we're not talking nonsense.
This one event alone took a little over two months, and the number of Venerable Ones who participated in the discussion reached double digits.
In the end, it was the spirit of the dojo that stepped forward.
After one question was answered, the calm voice announced, "We are now moving on to the third segment: a sermon by a practitioner of the new approach."
This was a bit sudden. The spirit of the artifact took the initiative to invite Qinglong to the stage to preach, and the protector Qingning was stunned for a moment before following him up to the main island.
These two, however, are not entitled to sit.
Fortunately, it's just a specific example, and it's fine to stand while recounting it—in fact, these two wouldn't have dared to sit down after seeing what happened before.
No one wants to embarrass themselves in public, and if it affects Qu Zhenzun's discourse, then it is an even greater sin.
However, as soon as the Azure Dragon spoke, spiritual energy and rules still surged around her.
Fortunately, Qu Jianlei had also considered this possibility and directly used the aura of creation to protect True Venerable Qing'er.
But he hadn't had enough of discussing the Dao, and couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Can't I even speak freely now?"
"You can speak freely, but they can't," a woman's voice echoed in his mind, "They're all always trying to take advantage of others?"
Those who are on the islands below will also receive certain bonuses, which is actually a kind of opportunity for cultivators below the level of a Great Lord.
Perhaps that's why everyone keeps asking questions, but the spirit has waited so long and can't stand it anymore.
Although Qing'er was a little timid, she got through the initial adjustment period and then proceeded quite smoothly. Her descriptions were just right.
Her arguments were relatively complete and detailed, yet they did not involve any personal secrets, which clearly indicated that she had made ample preparations beforehand.
After she finished speaking, as is customary, many people asked questions, but this time the questions were relatively more direct.
This brings us to the practical level, where the questioner wants to truly solve a specific problem.
Several Nascent Soul Peak cultivators even issued requests to ask questions.
However, hierarchy is everywhere. This place is where True Lords discuss the Dao. It's fine for True Venerables to chat for a bit, but why should True Immortals care?
The spirit of the temple made it clear: True Immortals can ask questions, but they have to pay—the starting point is a single Elemental Source of the Five Elements!
The woman even whispered to Qu Jianlei, "This little bit of stuff doesn't even cover the corresponding costs, but we can't not charge for it."
“I understand,” Qu Jianlei nodded slightly. To outsiders, it appeared as if a true immortal had asked a question, but in reality… the Daoist temple was being activated.
As the biggest mastermind behind the "wool party" (a term referring to groups that exploit promotional offers), he understands this all too well.
But believe it or not, there are actually people who are willing to spend their own resources to ask for advice, and they don't seem to mind if others listen in.
Many years later, some people used the excuse of expressing their feelings to flaunt their wealth in various ways.
"That raid on the other world was incredibly profitable. They got so cocky that they even dared to pay to ask questions in the Taiyuan Sea."
Then someone will likely chime in, "Come on, even though others listened for free, they benefited from you, so the karma has been formed, right?"
Therefore, there are many factors to consider in this matter, and it is not to say that the payer is a sucker.
However, the example of Qing'er Zhenzun is too personal, and as a member of the demon race, she is not representative enough.
She answered seven or eight questions, and in less than three days, the responsibility of answering questions returned to Qu Jianlei once again.
However, even including Qu Zhenzun, the entire Q&A session only took less than eight days.
After this fourth stage, the final stage finally arrived, and by then, the discussion had lasted for more than four months.
The final segment was a Q&A session with Qu Zhenzun.
In light of Taiyuan Hai's feelings, he first announced to everyone that the six-month period would be considered complete, and this discussion would be over.
It's not that he's in bad shape; if he continued to discuss philosophy without any restrictions, he could easily live for another ten or eight years.
This process is not just about talking; even if two true masters were to debate, it could take a hundred or two hundred years.
Because in many situations, no one can convince anyone else, which involves the issue of "practice".
That's getting a bit off-topic. Anyway, Qu Jianlei has set a timeframe for the six-month-long discussion, and the time is almost up.
However, many True Venerables disagreed with this decision, expressing one after another that the time was too short.
The reason is simple: Houde rarely hosts such a large-scale forum, and ending it so hastily is really a bit rushed.
The grand gathering of nearly a hundred True Venerables and thousands of peak Nascent Soul cultivators has lasted for so long; in the past ten thousand years, no other event in Houde has been able to match it.
Upon hearing this, Qu Jianlei even had a moment of doubt: Are you all addicted to taking advantage of loopholes, just like me?
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Chapter 2724 Danger? (Third update, please vote)
Just as Qu Jianlei was wondering, Xiao Youzhen stepped forward and said that not everyone was there to take advantage of the situation.
Since the beginning of the discussion, she has not uttered a word. However, True Venerable Han Wei did ask a question related to the rules of spacetime.
Those True Venerables who knew the inside story understood that the question was likely raised on behalf of Xiaoyou.
Qu Jianlei also provided an answer and debated with Han Wei for more than two hours.
However, at this moment, Xiaoyou personally stepped forward and expressed his willingness to fund the dojo's expenses.
She hoped to extend the discussion to three years, "...I'll only contribute half, so that my virtuous fellow Daoists won't think I'm arrogant."
As soon as Xiaoyou Zhenzun uttered his words, the entire venue fell silent. He was truly extravagant beyond belief!
However, several Venerable Masters of Great Virtue could no longer tolerate this.
Xuan Yi reacted the fastest, saying, "Thank you for your support, Fellow Daoist Wanwu. Houde can afford this expense."
"I, Xuan Yi, am of meager means, but I am willing to cover 20% of the expenses. For the remainder, I ask the other virtuous fellow Daoists to contribute."
His attitude was very measured; he didn't take on half of the expenses, which showed respect for the guests, but he was also absolutely clear about what was going on.
To be fair, even a 20% fee is exorbitant.
He was among the first wave of True Venerables to enter the other world, and his gains were indeed substantial.
But if Ling Yun really wanted to calculate the expenses in detail, his faction in this other world over the past few decades would have basically been working for nothing.
However, it is clear that the other True Venerables cannot afford to lose face, and they do not want to offend Ling Yun and True Venerable Qu because of this!
So everyone voiced their opinions, one after another, and the promised fees were nearly ten times the cost of the temple.
Qu Jianlei was pondering how to politely decline a request when three years seemed a bit too long.
Unexpectedly, such a sudden change occurred, leaving me somewhat dumbfounded.
The key point is that the True Venerables of Great Virtue have all expressed their opinions, which involves the dignity of the realm. If he forcibly stops them... it wouldn't be appropriate.
After pondering for about half a minute, he decided to end the dispute—it was enough for this community to have a stance.
Unexpectedly, when he tried to send out his divine sense, he experienced a slight resistance.
How astute was he? He couldn't help but secretly send out his divine sense, "Ancestor, what are you doing...?"
"Someone is offering me money," the woman's voice echoed in his mind again, "How can I refuse?"
Qu Jianlei was speechless. How could a dignified Divine Lord be so petty?
“The cost of the dojo isn’t that high,” the woman replied casually. “There are rewards for discussing the Dao.”
Qu Jianlei thought this explanation was reasonable, but unexpectedly the other party added, "The days I spent waiting for you were the real waste."
My Lord, can we talk properly instead of being so ambiguous?
So he simply ignored it, "Ancestor, three years is a bit long, isn't it?"
“Someone’s in a hurry,” the woman’s voice replied calmly. “Just watch and don’t ruin your own reputation!”
It has to be said that the Great King truly lives up to his title; he has a firm grasp on all aspects of human nature.
Sure enough, the next moment someone spoke up, it was Elder Youjian, "Everyone, isn't three years a bit long?"
He had an urgent need to leave his body, and since his days were numbered, he wanted to organize his thoughts and leave them to future generations as soon as possible after the discussion.
As an elder of Lingyun, since he had said so, and two other True Venerables had expressed their support.
It could be due to cost considerations, or it could be because they have specific needs and want to secure one-on-one individual communication.
With so many True Venerables around, it's not surprising that all sorts of possibilities could arise.
Qu Zhenzun, whom everyone was paying attention to, sat cross-legged on the main island, motionless.
The dispute lasted for almost a day before everyone finally agreed that the discussion would last for a year and a half.
This is the result of everyone's discussion, but it is clear that whether it will succeed or not is ultimately up to Lingyun Sect to make the final decision.
After all, the dojo belongs to the sect, and others only have the right to make suggestions.
After a moment of silence, Baiqiao announced to everyone: "Then let's agree on a one-and-a-half-year term. Qu Zhenzun has already agreed."
Lingyun will charge the True Venerables a portion of the related fees; otherwise, it would be a great disrespect to the Daoist temple.
As for cultivators below the True Venerable level... just listen in. The sect doesn't need your little bit.
Moreover, the previously agreed-upon fees were a bit too much and not very reasonable. Lingyun will subsidize the majority of the costs, and the True Venerables will only need to contribute a small portion.
The specific details of how the fees will be charged will be announced later; some people may receive more, while others may receive less.
Lingyun dominates a world, possessing all the relevant rules and regulations. This unprecedented Daoist conference has been held, so there shouldn't be any problems.
Upon hearing this, the True Venerable present immediately understood—in fact, Qu Jianlei's attitude was not important; the key was Taiyuan Hai's own will.
As for how much knowledge Qu Zhenzun possessed, and whether he could guarantee the effectiveness of the discussion, no one was worried.
In the blink of an eye, more than a year has passed in the blink of an eye.
When Qu Jianlei announced the end of the discussion, most of the people present were caught off guard!
There was an awkward silence for several minutes.
The woman's voice rang in his mind again, "You're so accurate! Are you trying to get someone pregnant?"
"Ennn... I'll just listen," Qu Jianlei said expressionlessly. Over the past year, he had become immune to similar harassment.
I wonder which great lord left behind so many lewd jokes during his discourse at the Taoist temple.
What a mess this once-prosperous spirit has become!
Immediately afterwards, a cacophony of noise erupted in the dojo, all expressing the feeling that time had passed too quickly.
Even Elder Youjian's face showed a hint of melancholy, and he couldn't help but mutter, "Indeed, time flies..."
If he felt this way, one can only imagine how others must have felt.
However, when the time comes, the time comes, and that cannot be changed by anyone's will.
Some people turned to Qingning and her husband, saying, "Why don't you two continue your discussion for a while longer?"
Qing'er remained silent out of timidity, while Qing Ning waved her hand and smiled bitterly, "How could the two of us possibly match Qu Zhenzun's level?"
"Moreover, this is the Taiyuan Sea, so we should have some respect for it."
In fact, even if the dojo agreed to let Qing'er continue preaching, that position... wouldn't be so easy to obtain.
Xiao Youzhen's attention was rather unique. Although she was not without regret, she still smiled slightly at Qu Jianlei.
"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, the aura of creation... is becoming increasingly strong."
“I have also gained quite a bit,” Han Li said calmly, looking at her.
Since entering the temple, he has hardly uttered a sound, always standing silently beside Qu Zhenzun, a qualified protector of the path.
Qu Jianlei's surroundings have always maintained a rich aura of creation.
Spider enjoyed the most of this energy, but Han Li also benefited greatly; he even underwent some body tempering.
He had previously heard that Qu Jianlei had tempered his body, and he only felt envious, but he couldn't think of anything else, because that opportunity was not for him.
As Qu Zhenzun emphasized, every great master who pursues the division of the divine realm has their own path, which cannot be forced.
Moreover, he had other worries in his heart. If he also followed the path of destiny, resources would likely become scarce.
Although the Realm of Virtue is vast, the opportunities and aura surrounding its creation may not be enough to support two True Venerables in their advancement.
This is a real resource bottleneck; if the two of them were to possess all the abundant resources of good fortune, it might not be impossible.
However, have other cultivators stopped cultivating? This is not only a case of extreme strength leading to humiliation, but also a violation of the order and original intention of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.
However, over the past year and a half, the readily available aura of creation has been right in front of him, exceptionally rich, and Han Li couldn't resist giving it a try.
Even if he doesn't follow the path of destiny in the future, more experiences and attempts will still bring him more insights.
In short, this is a rare opportunity, and it should be noted that this auspicious opportunity is partly influenced by Qu Jianlei.
In this situation, it would be a waste for him not to seize the opportunity.
So although he maintained the vigilance of a protector, he would also be distracted by comprehending the workings of creation, and eventually he even tried to temper his body little by little.
As the saying goes, "Heaven helps those who help themselves." Although the process was gradual, it went remarkably smoothly!
In other words, besides Qu Jianlei and Spider, Han Li also obtained a great opportunity!
He noticed that the spirit of Taiyuan Sea seemed to whisper to Qu Zhenzun from time to time.
However, as beneficiaries who have enjoyed the enormous benefits brought by the temple, there are some things that cannot be taken too seriously.
He originally didn't want to argue with Xiaoyou, until the other party hinted that he advocated extending the discussion of Dao, which would greatly benefit fellow Daoists.
The key point is that they were able to say that, and they even covered part of the cost!
So he stepped forward: Hey, I also benefited, I can claim this share!
However, Xiao You glanced at him and said with a smile, "Then congratulations, fellow Daoist. I have also benefited greatly from this discussion."
Her words were quite interesting: I don't necessarily want to take advantage of your kindness; it's just that everyone has gained something, and we should keep things separate.
This little vixen... has a lot on her mind. Han Li nodded slightly, "We're even? Then it's settled."
"Cause and effect are not important," Xiaoyou said calmly. "The three of us are all outstanding individuals, and we should cherish this friendship."
"I'm sure you feel the same way. The path ahead is destined to be lonely. Finding a fellow Daoist to journey with for a while... is very difficult!"
"Want to find a Daoist partner?" Han Li nodded. "I do indeed have that intention, but unfortunately, we're not from the same realm."
His refusal was obvious, but Xiao You smiled dismissively, "How can a mere realm hinder the heart's pursuit of the Dao?"
One of the Nascent Soul stage cultivators beside Elder Xiaoyou couldn't help but mutter upon hearing this, "Ancestor, the three Great Venerables... are truly outstanding!"
What he was really thinking was: Of the nearly one hundred True Venerables present, only these three showed mutual respect. Were they underestimating the other Great Venerables?
Upon hearing this, Elder Youjian calmly sent a divine message, "Stop. In such a dangerous situation, how dare you say anything more?"
"Danger?" The high-level Nascent Soul cultivator blinked twice, his face expressionless, but inwardly he wondered: Where is the danger?
(Third update! This is a combined chapter; please vote with monthly tickets.)