Chapter 1088
Keeping the Promise
Shi Ji pondered for a moment, then said, "How can I trust you? The talismans and magic arrays in this palace are clearly set up to seal you. If I release you, how can you guarantee that you won't wreak havoc on the world?"
The figure's eyes flashed red, and it said in a low voice, "I swear to you that once I am free, I will never harm innocent lives. You know, I was not born evil; it is only the years of imprisonment that have filled my heart with resentment. If you can give me a chance, I will surely repent."
Shi Ji raised an eyebrow. He didn't entirely believe the figure's oath, but he also wanted to know the story behind it. So, he slowly said, "If you want me to release you, you must first tell me why you violated the divine rules and were imprisoned here."
The figure sighed deeply and began to recount his past. He had once been a guardian deity of Heaven, but a mistake allowed demons to escape, bringing disaster to the mortal realm. As punishment, Heaven imprisoned him in this palace, sealing his powers with talismans and magic arrays.
After listening to the figure's story, Shi Ji was deeply moved. Although he still had reservations about the figure's oath, he also understood that the long imprisonment might have made this guardian realize his mistakes.
"If I release you, will you truly keep your promise and cease causing harm to the world?" Shi Ji asked again to confirm.
The figure nodded solemnly: "I swear, once I regain my freedom, I will turn over a new leaf and become a new person."
Shi Ji remained silent for a moment before finally making a decision. He walked to the center of the palace and began to decipher the talismans and magic arrays. As he moved, the palace began to shimmer with dazzling light.
A moment later, the talismans and magic arrays were broken one by one, and the chains on the figure disappeared. He stretched his stiff body and then bowed deeply to Shi Ji: "Thank you for saving my life, I will remember it forever."
Shi Ji nodded and instructed, "I hope you remember your vow today and don't go astray again."
The figure solemnly agreed, then transformed into a ray of light and disappeared into the horizon.
Shi Ji gazed in the direction he had left, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She didn't know if her decision was right, but she was willing to give the guardian spirit a chance to repent.
Shi Ji stood silently in the valley for a moment, then turned to leave the empty palace. However, just as he was about to step out the door, a faint voice rang in his ears: "Hero, you have released that guardian deity, but do you know that everything in this world has two sides? Good and evil are often separated by only a single thought."
Shi Ji stopped and looked around, but couldn't see the person who had spoken. He was startled; the voice seemed to come from all directions at the same time, making it impossible to pinpoint its source.
"Who are you? Why are you saying these things to me?" Shi Ji asked loudly.
The ethereal voice rang out again: "I am merely a passerby. I saw your resolute actions, but I feared you might go astray, so I spoke up to warn you. You released that guardian deity, and although he swore to repent, whether the resentment in his heart can truly be resolved remains to be seen."
After hearing this, Shi Ji fell into deep thought. He understood that the voice's warning was not unfounded. Although he had given the guardian spirit a chance, the road ahead was long, and no one knew what would happen.
"Thank you for the reminder, senior. I will keep a close eye on his movements to ensure he does not wreak havoc on the world again," Shi Ji said respectfully.
The voice chuckled softly: "Brave warrior, you are kind-hearted, but you must also understand that sometimes kindness is not enough to solve all problems. If you encounter difficulties in the future, you might as well seek more help and work together to overcome them."
Shi Ji nodded in agreement, grateful for the guidance of this unfamiliar senior. Just then, he suddenly felt a powerful force surging from all directions, pushing him out of the palace gate.
When he regained his footing, he found himself back at the entrance to the valley. He looked back, but the palace had vanished, as if it had never existed.
Shi Ji took a deep breath, gazing at the winding mountain road ahead, realizing that this strange experience was no accident. He felt as if he had been drawn into a grander story, one that had only just begun.
He gathered his thoughts and turned to leave the mysterious valley.
Shi Ji had only taken a few steps when suddenly, a slight noise came from the valley. He immediately turned around alertly and saw a faint mist rising from the depths of the valley, forming the outline of a human figure.
"Hero, why are you leaving in such a hurry? Is there something urgent?" The figure in the mist spoke slowly, the voice ethereal and mysterious.
Shi Ji was startled, but quickly regained his composure. He clasped his hands in greeting and said, "This junior is Shi Ji, currently traveling far and wide to broaden my horizons. May I ask who you are, senior?"
"I am the spirit of this valley, guarding this place for a thousand years. It is fate that we meet today. Would you like to hear my story?" The spirit of the valley's voice drifted over.
Curious, Shi Ji nodded and replied, "This junior is all ears."
Shi Ji stood still, gazing at the gradually forming misty figure, secretly on guard, but still respectful on the surface.
"My name is Linggu, and I have guarded this valley for thousands of years," the figure said slowly. "In these long years, I have witnessed the rise and fall of countless cultivators, and I have also seen through the nature of good and evil."
Shi Ji nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.
“A thousand years ago, this place was a prosperous holy land for cultivation, where many cultivators practiced and sought immortality. However, due to a natural disaster, the spiritual veins in the valley were severed, and it became desolate. Everyone left, but I remained.” The voice of the Spirit Valley was tinged with sorrow.
Upon hearing this, Shi Ji felt a pang of emotion and asked, "Senior, don't you feel lonely guarding this place all by yourself?"
The spirit of Linggu smiled slightly, her voice carrying a hint of melancholy: "Loneliness is inevitable, but this valley carries too many memories and emotions. I am willing to protect it, even if no one knows."
Shi Ji nodded, her heart filled with even greater respect for the spirit of Linggu's steadfastness: "Senior's dedication to protection is truly admirable. May I ask what guidance you have for me today?"
The Spirit of Ling Valley slowly said, "It is truly a matter of fate that we meet today. I see that you have a righteous heart and act decisively, but you must be cautious in everything you do. Although that guardian deity has sworn to repent, his nature may not have completely changed, so you need to be more careful."
Shi Ji listened attentively, deeply appreciating the weight of these words. He clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Thank you for your reminder, senior. I will certainly act cautiously and live up to your teachings."
The spirit of Linggu nodded and then said, "In addition, I have something else to give you, which may be helpful to you in the future." As soon as he finished speaking, an ancient jade pendant appeared in the mist and slowly floated toward the rocky shore.
Shi Ji reached out and took the jade pendant, examining it closely. He noticed intricate runes engraved on it, and it emitted a faint spiritual aura. He couldn't help but ask, "Senior, what is the use of this jade pendant?"
The spirit of Linggu explained, "This is formed from the spiritual energy I have gathered over thousands of years. Wearing it can help protect you in times of crisis. Furthermore, if you encounter a difficult problem, infuse the jade pendant with spiritual energy, and it will guide you to find the answer."
Shi Ji was overjoyed and said gratefully, "Thank you for your generous gift, senior. I will remember it forever." The spirit of Ling Valley sighed softly, "No need for further words. May you act with caution and never forget your true self." As the words fell, the figure in the mist gradually disappeared, leaving only the lingering echo: "Though the valley is quiet, the world is ever-changing. May you achieve your goals on this path of cultivation."
Shi Ji watched the spirit of Linggu disappear into the mist, his heart filled with countless emotions. He looked down at the jade pendant in his hand and silently vowed: he would not let this opportunity go to waste and would proceed with caution.
After gathering her thoughts, Shiji continued on her path of cultivation.
Shi Ji continued walking through the valley, his mind filled with countless thoughts. The jade pendant in his hand emitted a faint light, bringing him a sense of warmth and peace. Suddenly, he heard a soft sound of footsteps.
"Who's there?" Shi Ji called out alertly, gripping her sword.
A young woman dressed in green emerged from behind a tree. She had delicate features and her eyes sparkled with wisdom. She smiled slightly and said, "Young master, there's no need to be nervous. I am a cultivator from this valley named Liu Yan."
Shi Ji breathed a sigh of relief and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "So you are a fellow traveler. Shi Ji greets Miss Liu Yan."
Liu Yan nodded slightly, her eyes filled with curiosity: "I don't think I've ever seen Young Master Shi before. Could it be that you've just arrived here?"
Shi Ji replied, “Indeed, I am traveling around to broaden my horizons. Today I came here by chance and encountered many strange things.”
A hint of approval flashed in Liu Yan's eyes: "Young Master Shi is indeed extraordinary. To encounter such a strange event in this mysterious valley, you must be a person of destiny. I wonder if Young Master Shi would be willing to explore the mysteries of this valley with me?"
After a moment's thought, Shi Ji nodded in agreement: "Since Miss Liu Yan has such an interest, Shi Ji is naturally willing to accompany you."
The two walked side by side, with Liu Yan explaining the various wonders of the valley to Shi Ji along the way. Pointing to a dense forest ahead, she said, "There is an ancient stone tablet hidden in this forest. It is said to have been left from ancient times, and the inscription records a long-lost magic."
Shi Ji's eyes lit up: "Lost magic? That's interesting. I wonder if Miss Liu Yan has ever deciphered the inscription?"
Liu Yan smiled slightly and nodded, saying, "I have indeed studied it, but the inscription is obscure and difficult to understand, and it is difficult for one person to fully decipher it. Perhaps if Young Master Shi and I explore it together, we can make a breakthrough."
Shi Ji readily agreed, and the two entered the dense forest together to search for the ancient stone tablet. The forest was dimly lit, but with their keen senses, they quickly discovered a huge stone tablet covered in moss.
Liu Yan gently brushed away the moss on the stone tablet, revealing the ancient runes. Pointing to one line of text, she said, "This line mentions a spell called 'Soul Resonance,' which seems to allow cultivators to resonate with the spiritual energy of nature, thereby enhancing their cultivation."
Shi Ji examined it carefully and nodded, saying, "That's true. If we can master this kind of magic, it will definitely help us make further progress on our path of cultivation."
A hint of anticipation flashed in Liu Yan's eyes: "Since Young Master Shi has this insight, why don't we study it together? Perhaps we can benefit from it."
The two sat side by side before the stone tablet, beginning to carefully study the inscriptions. Time slipped away quietly as they studied, the sun set, and night fell. Suddenly, Shi Ji had a flash of inspiration and pointed to one of the runes, saying, "Miss Liu Yan, does the 'Heart of Resonance' mentioned here refer to the purity of one's mind and harmony with nature?"
Liu Yan's eyes lit up, and she nodded, saying, "Young Master Shi is indeed wise. That's right. Cultivators need to achieve a pure state of mind in order to resonate with the spiritual energy of nature."
Shi Ji smiled slightly: "It seems we have found the key. The next step is to figure out how to put this spell into practice."
Liu Yan nodded in agreement: "Yes, we need to find a suitable place in this dense forest to try to cultivate 'soul resonance'."
The two stood up and continued searching for a suitable place to cultivate in the dense forest. Finally, they stopped on a clearing grassland. Liu Yan said, "The spiritual energy here is abundant; it's a perfect place for cultivation."
Shi Ji nodded: "Then let's begin."
The two sat cross-legged, closed their eyes, and began to calm their minds and regulate their breathing, attempting to resonate with the spiritual energy of nature. As time passed, Shi Ji felt her mind gradually becoming pure, as if she had merged with the surrounding spiritual energy.
Suddenly, he heard his junior sister's voice: "Shiji, I can feel the resonance of spiritual energy, what about you?"
Shi Ji opened her eyes and smiled slightly: "Me too. It seems our efforts haven't been in vain."
The junior sister exclaimed with delight, "That's great! We've finally mastered the 'Soul Resonance' spell!"
Shi Ji and her junior sister had made significant progress in their cultivation of soul resonance. They stood up, preparing to continue exploring this mysterious valley. Suddenly, they heard hurried footsteps in the distance.
Shi Ji looked warily toward the source of the sound and saw a ragged man stumbling towards her, his face filled with terror. Seeing Shi Ji and her junior sister, he seemed to see their saviors and cried out urgently, "Help! Help!"
Shi Ji stepped forward to support the man and asked, "What happened? Why are you so flustered?"
The man, panting heavily, said in terror, "Deep in the valley, a huge monster is rampaging. It has destroyed several villages and captured many people!"
The junior sister frowned and said, "Demon beasts? The demon beasts in this valley should have been sealed away long ago, how could they suddenly appear?"
The man said, trembling, "I don't know either. I'm just an ordinary hunter. I suddenly saw that monster appear and that's why I ran away. Please save my family!"
Shi Ji's heart stirred, and she turned to her junior sister, saying, "Junior sister, since we've encountered this situation, we can't just stand by and do nothing. Let's go take a look together."
The junior sister nodded and said, "Okay, let's go together."
The two women helped the hunter up and quickly ran deeper into the valley. On the way, Shi Ji asked, "Hunter, do you know the exact location of that monster?"
The hunter pointed to a dense forest ahead, panting, and said, "Deep within that forest lies an ancient ruin, where the monster hides." (End of Chapter)