Please help me, fellow Daoist.

Chapter 224 Please help me, fellow Daoist.

"Fellow Daoist Li Zhu, please."

Ningrong Mansion, Dihuo Courtyard.

Li Jieqing led Li Zhu of Dongtian Sect in and they sat down at the stone table in the courtyard.

Palace maids from the palace followed, holding fruit cups, candlesticks, towels, wine vessels, and other items to serve them.

Li Zhu, a disciple of the sect who practiced asceticism, had never seen such a scene before. Feeling somewhat uneasy, he turned his head away to examine the setting of the Earth Fire Courtyard.

Li Jieqing wasn't afraid of him seeing. In order to entertain him, he had already put the Ruyi Green Lotus he had planted back into the spiritual artifact space. Apart from that, his Earth Fire Courtyard had no other secrets.

"Fellow Daoist Ning Rong's residence is quite simple—" After a long while, Li Zhu uttered these words.

Upon hearing this, Li Jieqing smiled and waved for the palace maids to put down their things and leave.

"This is where I hibernated during my cultivation, so I have preserved it all this time, and it is still my residence today."

"oh----"

Li Zhu nodded.

Then there was no more conversation. After a while, he went to get a fruit plate from the side.

Despite being a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and only in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, his eyes shone with clarity, devoid of any ambition.

Li Jieqing wasn't exactly a smooth talker, but by changing his mindset, he became more composed.

"Fellow Daoist Li Zhu."

"Hmm?" Li Zhu looked up while eating fruit.

"Please, fellow Daoist, come to my rescue."

"what?"

Li Zhu put down the fruit she had only eaten halfway through.

Li Jieqing covered his face with one hand and sighed, "Is Blood Heart Cave truly beyond saving? If so, please show me a way to cross to the Outer Heavens, so that I may protect the people of my Eastern Land."

Li Zhu thought to himself, "I thought it was something else entirely."

Seeing that Li Jieqing had gotten straight to the point, he considered for a moment and said, "He can be saved!"

"Oh?" Li Jieqing's expression shifted.

Li Zhu said, "The grotto-heavens of this world are not things created out of nothing; they all have a history and origin. Grotto-heavens are hidden in the void, whether to the left or right, or within or outside the universe. They must be connected to the four seas and the land of China, absorbing the energy of heaven and earth into themselves. Otherwise, if they were merely grotto-heavens..."

"If it operates in a self-sustaining cycle without external assistance, it will inevitably decline over time, marking the end of its lifespan."

"For example, the Blood Heart Grotto Heaven was created entirely by the Blood Heart Sect's cultivation over generations, drawing in the energy of heaven and earth to create a first-class grotto heaven in the East Sea."

"—However, from what I have seen and heard since entering, this grotto-heaven has already fallen into great ruin. Even without the event of destroying the Demon King of Meng, I am afraid that in another three to five thousand years it will be the end of the grotto-heaven."

Li Zhu, who came from the Dongtian Sect, witnessed the decline and demise of a top-tier Dongtian, and felt quite bitter.

Moreover, it cannot be repaired.

Each grotto-heaven is different. The Blood Heart Sect has been destroyed, and the methods for repairing the Blood Heart Grotto-heaven no longer exist in the world.

This was the first time Li Jieqing had ever heard of the idea that grotto-heavens also had a lifespan.

However, considering that the cave heaven is the manifestation of the Nascent Soul after its demise, it is not surprising that it has an end to its lifespan.

Even with such a large crack as the Tongtian River right there, it's already remarkable that it could survive for three to five thousand years without the so-called extermination of the Meng Birds.

"Fellow Daoist Li Zhu, you said that the grotto-heaven must be connected to the four seas of the Divine Land. What do you mean by that?" Li Jieqing asked.

"That is the location of the entrance and exit of the cave."

Li Zhu said, "The grotto-heaven is not a dead loop; there must be a point that connects to the outside world, which can be called the central hub of the grotto-heaven. The Crimson Kun also connects through..."

Only that place can be used to cast spells and allow them to ascend.

"What Chi Kun can do, our Golden Core True Monarchs may not be unable to do as well."

"Now that Blood Heart Cave Heaven has been deliberately closed off, isolating it from the outside world, we in the early stages can only sneak in through the cracks in the cave heaven."

"Now that we have already smuggled ourselves here, as long as I open the central location of the Blood Heart Cave Heaven, and allow the power of the Golden Core True Monarchs outside to enter and compete for control of the Blood Heart Cave Heaven, this calamity can be averted. We can save the Blood Heart Cave Heaven and also save the lives of the Eastern Human Race."

"I am not a member of the Blood Heart Sect, and I am completely unfamiliar with this Blood Heart Cave Heaven. Finding the central location from within is not something that can be accomplished overnight."

At this point, Li Zhu looked over with bright eyes.

He needs the help of the locals in Dongtian.

Li Zhu wasn't the only one from the Dongtian Sect to enter the Blood Heart Cave this time, but searching directly was still too slow. If the locals were willing to lend a hand, the progress would be greatly accelerated.

This is what it means to achieve mutual benefit through cooperation.

Upon hearing this, Li Jieqing's expression suddenly changed. He didn't say anything, but simply clapped his hands and summoned a female steward who was serving outside. He then took out his own seal of the Duke of Ningrong and presented it to her.

"Go to the Imperial Observatory and make copies of all the files left behind by that rebellious director. Don't miss a single one."

"Yes."

The female steward's surname was Hao. She was sent by the Duke of Baoling's mansion to work under Li Jieqing and cultivate herself, hoping to make a future for herself.

After respectfully accepting the seal of the Duke of Ningrong, the female steward withdrew.

"This is—" Li Zhu asked, looking at the scene with suspicion.

"Fellow Daoist Li Zhu, you've come at the perfect time."

Li Jieqing then burst into laughter and recounted the story of what happened between Bao Wu and Bao Zhang.

To find the exit location of Blood Heart Cave, Bao Zhang used the power of the Eastern Land court to calculate for over thirty years, and the results were naturally also collected by the Eastern Land.

Now that Li Zhu needs it, it's naturally a stroke of good timing.

Even Li Jieqing himself knew where the exit was located.

However, to avoid arousing suspicion, this matter will be put on hold for now, and we will handle it officially for the time being.

"Fellow Daoist Li Zhu, there must still be some records in the national treasury and imperial treasury of my Eastern Court. I will personally retrieve them later and present them to you with both hands!"

Li Jieqing felt much more relaxed at this moment.

No wonder that demonic dragon turtle stubbornly blocked the source of the Tongtian River, guarding the exit location and refusing to leave. It turned out that it was afraid someone would go over and open the sealed exit.

Now that we know the cause and effect, it's worth going all out to fight!

With the help of the Eastern Court and foreign cultivators like Li Zhu, I don't believe we can't defeat a dragon turtle that has just hatched!

"Fellow Daoist Ning Rong, you are being far too generous—"

Li Zhu felt a little uncomfortable with Li Jieqing's overly accommodating attitude and whispered, "Aren't you afraid I'm lying to you?"

"It's alright, I trust you, fellow Daoist."

"this----"

Li Zhu looked around for a moment, then said apologetically, "Is there anything I can help you with, fellow Daoist?"

"No—but I should ask, among the outside cultivators, what percentage are as willing as you, fellow Daoist, to help Blood Heart Cave Heaven?"

"Yes, it's probably just people from my Dongtian Sect."

'

In fact, the Dongtian Sect's desire to preserve the Blood Heart Cave Heaven was also intended to bring it back to the sect for research.

Rather than be used by the Mithril, it's better to be used by them.

Li Jieqing, who was just excited, suddenly fell silent, his heart sinking. So all the outside cultivators really came to rob him?

That's outrageous! I was here first, and I haven't even taken the initiative to look for any opportunities or treasures since I came in.

Perhaps we could throw the Ruyi Green Lotus to the end of the Tongtian River to lure outsiders into fighting the Demon Emperor Dragon Turtle. If that's not enough, we could throw the Immaculate Jade Peach Tree over there too; it's about to bloom and ripen, and as a longevity-extending treasure, it's a priceless gem.

Li Jieqing subconsciously thought of using the foreign cultivators.

He was familiar with this kind of work; back in Taipingfang City, he used this method to trick rogue cultivators into going through dangerous situations.

The same applies now. As long as the benefits are great enough, I don't believe those foreign cultivators who are eagerly seeking opportunities won't be tempted.

"—Fellow Daoist Ning Rong, why are you suddenly laughing so strangely?"

Li Zhu called out from the side.

"Is that so?" Li Jieqing reached out and touched his chin, not taking it seriously. He was following the law and plotting openly, so how could he use the word "strange"?

The female supervisor who went to the Imperial Observatory has not yet returned.

It wouldn't be appropriate for the two of them to just sit there, so Li Jieqing got up and took a gourd from the side to make tea.

"Fellow Daoist Li Zhu, I am confined to my grotto-heaven, and I have some questions about cultivation that I would like to ask you for guidance."

Li Jieqing reached out and handed over the brewed tea.

Li Zhu looked down and exclaimed, "Good heavens! I've never even been this extravagant as soaking the Star Grass in Twin Water!"

Carefully pick up the teacup, take a small sip, and suppress the effects of the medicine.

"He who eats another's food is bound to him, he who takes another's gift is bound to him," Li Zhu raised his head and stammered, "I wonder what Fellow Daoist Ning Rong wishes to ask?"

"Hmm—may I ask you the secret to breaking through to the Golden Core stage?"

"Cough cough cough Li Zhu put down his teacup, thinking that he hadn't picked up the files from the Imperial Observatory yet, so it was really not appropriate to just leave."

"Is there something you're having trouble saying, fellow Daoist?" Li Jieqing asked considerately.

"It's not entirely inappropriate—" Li Zhu hesitated for a moment, then said dryly, "Once the foundation is established, there is naturally hope of forming the core."

What is the foundation of the Way?

You don't even know this?

Li Zhu asked in surprise, "The Foundation Establishment realm is the establishment of the Dao foundation, which is ready to form the core. The Dao foundation is the evil energy and supernatural power of cultivation. When the supernatural power is perfected, the Dao foundation is achieved. The more stable the Dao foundation is, the easier it is to break through."

"What does 'perfected supernatural powers' mean? Does it mean mastering all four evil aura supernatural powers in the late Foundation Establishment stage?"

"No!"

Li Zhu's voice grew louder: "To achieve perfect supernatural powers, one must naturally receive the recognition of Heaven and Earth to be considered truly complete! One must traverse Heaven and Earth, without relying on the inner realm of the Golden Core, independently comprehending Heaven and Earth to refine supernatural powers for their birth—only then can one's foundation for the Dao be considered established. Otherwise, relying on others will sever one's path to immortality, making breakthrough impossible!"

"Furthermore, the Foundation Establishment realm doesn't only have four supernatural abilities; generally speaking, there are six in total!"

"—Does Fellow Daoist Li Zhu mean that the four evil energies can be combined to refine the six supernatural powers?"

"Exactly! You cultivators of the Cave Heaven have probably overlooked the Pure Yang and Pure Yin divine abilities."

The four evil energies, combined and refined by yin and yang, constitute the four supernatural powers.

If two more Yin and two Yang evils are combined, then it becomes the Pure Yang Divine Power and the Pure Yin Divine Power.

Li Jieqing was already quite impressed and pressed on, "If that's the case, then the more supernatural powers you cultivate, the better? Generally speaking, it's the Six Paths of Divine Power, meaning there are exceptions?"

"The cultivation of supernatural powers should be done according to one's ability," Li Zhu said. "Different sects have vastly different philosophies. Some sects only cultivate one supernatural power, focusing on refining its power and prioritizing the attainment of the Golden Core stage. Other sects cultivate six supernatural powers to establish a foundation for their Dao and gain an advantage in the Golden Core realm. Still others use special supernatural powers to alter their physique, accommodating more malevolent energies within their bodies to cultivate more diverse supernatural powers. Some even obtain the pseudo-spiritual malevolent energy of a Golden Core True Monarch, which can be either yin or yang, and depending on the Golden Core True Monarch they ally with, their supernatural powers become even more complex. There are also methods of combining multiple sources, taking one yin and two yang, one yang and two yin, or even two yang and two yin—four malevolent energies—to cultivate together into a supernatural power. The Nanshan Furnace Sect is an example of this—"

There are countless sects across the land, each with its own cultivation philosophy.

As long as one can ascend the path to immortality, and as long as the path to immortality has not been cultivated to its limit, who dares to say that other people's cultivation concepts are entirely wrong?

The so-called division between sects is precisely because of different philosophies of cultivation.

Upon hearing this, Li Jieqing felt as if a whole new world had opened up before him; the dazzling light of the immortal path almost blinded him.

Is this the vision of a disciple of a celestial sect? Unaffiliated cultivators practice haphazardly, borrowing ideas from all sides, unaware that they may one day stumble into a dead end. In the end, when their lifespan is exhausted, it is too late for regrets.

Thank goodness—thank goodness, I am immortal!