Immortal of the Nine Realms

Chapter 248: The Heart of Universal Salvation

Nestled quietly within a bamboo forest, the ambiance of the Concealed Moon Hermitage’s guest hall was serene and peaceful.

"Abbess Zhu Yue, is the Concealed Moon Hermitage in trouble?" asked Fang Chen with a light smile after taking his seat.

"It’s nothing important. A while ago, Qing He went down the mountain for training and encountered a demonic cultivator in Qingzhou. Like the Spirit Blood Sect, those demonic cultivators mostly consume the essence blood of mortals to increase their own cultivation. Qing He used a Purple Lightning Talisman to kill that cultivator."

Abbess Qing He pressed her lips together, self-blame in her eyes.

"Was the Purple Lightning Talisman the source of the trouble?" Fang Chen pondered.

Abbess Zhu Yue nodded. "This girl is too naive. There were a few disciples from the Qingzhou Sword Sect present at the time. When they asked about where she got the Purple Lightning Talisman from, she let it slip." Abbess Zhu Yue paused. "But it's not really her fault. With a heart as pure as hers, how could she guard against the deceitful?"

Glancing at Abbess Qing He, Fang Chen noticed that her cultivation had increased significantly. She had reached the sixth stage of Qi Refining Realm.

He recalled that Abbess Qing He was only at the second stage of the Qi Refining Realm when they first met. She had made such a rapid improvement in a short period. Even though she wasn’t comparable to Fang Chen, she was far beyond ordinary cultivators.

As if perceiving the surprise in Fang Chen's eyes, Abbess Zhu Yue lightly smiled. "The cultivation method of the Concealed Moon Hermitage focuses on the heart. The more flawless the state of mind, the more rapid the progress in cultivation. Therefore, when selecting disciples, the Concealed Moon Hermitage primarily looks at one's state of mind," she said. "Qing He has a heart akin to that of a child, which perfectly aligns with our cultivation method. Her progress in cultivation is several times, even dozens of times, faster than that of ordinary practitioners." Abbess Zhu Yue paused, then continued, "And it's not just her, the rest of the disciples in the Concealed Moon Hermitage are the same. However, once you become a cultivator, it’s inevitable that your state of mind will fluctuate. When that happens, the speed of cultivation will no longer be as it was before."

After saying that, Abbess Zhu Yue looked at Abbess Qing He. "You've been beating yourself up over what happened recently, to the point where it has affected your cultivation,” she said. “What if I tell you that when I, your master, first entered the Concealed Moon Hermitage, I made more mistakes than you did?"

"Were you as foolish as I am, Master?" blurted Abbess Qing He suddenly. She quickly noticed how inappropriate her words had been, however, and lowered her head nervously. 𝒻𝓻𝘦𝑒𝓌𝑒𝓫𝓷𝑜𝓋𝘦𝓵.𝓬𝘰𝓂

Abbess Zhu Yue looked at her emotionlessly for a moment, then said lightly, "Well, you could say that I was even a little more foolish than you."

Abbess Qing He was both surprised and delighted. "So can I become as wise as you are in the future, Master?" Her tone was yearning.

"If possible, I hope that you will remain as foolish as you are forever." Abbess Zhu Yue shook her head slightly, then turned to Fang Chen. "Young Master Fang, are you dropping by on a whim, or did you come here specifically to visit Qing He and Qingyao?"

"Both, actually." Fang Chen smiled. "I was originally headed to the Southern Heavenly Sect, and it just happened that I pass by the Concealed Moon Hermitage so I decided to pay you all a visit." After a pause, Fang Chen was a bit curious. "How is Qingyao doing? Is she settling in already?"

Abbess Qing He stuck out her tongue at the mention of Qingyao. "Junior sister is quite remarkable. Master has already designated her as the next Abbess." Her eyes seemed to sparkle a little with admiration.

Fang Chen was surprised. Fang Qingyao had a seven-chime aptitude, but the woman who took Fairy Yu away said that the Spiritual Measuring Bells they had access to in lower empires couldn’t truly gouge a cultivator’s real aptitude.

"If Qing He has the heart of a child, then Qingyao has the heart for universal salvation. She dislikes contention but harbors a desire to save all sentient beings," said Abbess Zhu Yue with a smile. "It only took her half a month to form her first immortal vein after she arrived here. Her cultivation has already reached the third stage of the Qi Refining Realm."

Abbess Qing He smiled. "Young Master Fang, Master has always said that it's thanks to you that the Concealed Moon Hermitage could find its next Abbess."

Abbess Zhu Yue glanced at her, shook her head gently, then turned to Fang Chen. "Qingyao is currently in the hermitage’s restricted area. The elders are all assisting her in her cultivation, so she won't be able to come out for a while, nor should she be disturbed."

"I'll see her next time then." Fang Chen nodded. "As for the matter with the Qingzhou Sword Sect, Abbess Zhu Yue, do you have a solution?"

Abbess Zhu Yue nodded. "I have invited several friendly sect leaders to negotiate with the Qingzhou Sword Sect."

After speaking, her gaze fell on Liu Mu. "I remember him. Wasn't he the one who left with Jin Nan?"

Fang Chen smiled. "I am here precisely because of this. Liu Mu was suppose to cultivate within the Southern Heavenly Sect, but for some reason he ended up with a demonic cultivator who nurtured poison within his body."

Abbess Zhu Yue was startled, then carefully scrutinized Liu Mu for a moment. "But there doesn't seem to be any trace of poison inside him."

"That's because he consumed the seeds of the hundred-year-old Green Jade Lotus. It took two seeds to neutralize the severe toxins in his body," explained Fang Chen.

"Ah, I see. So he actually managed to obtain a good antidote." Abbess Zhu Yue suddenly understood. She added, "There might be more than meets the eyes to this. There must have been a mistake somewhere. Elder Jin Nan wouldn't have done such a thing."

Fang Chen nodded. "That's why I need to go to the Southern Heavenly Sect to ask them what happened."

As soon as he finished speaking, a loud noise rang out, like thunder striking the ground, accompanied by a slight tremor. Outside, there were cries of surprise.

Abbess Zhu Yue's face darkened. She immediately transformed into a streak of light and rushed outside.

Fang Chen grabbed Liu Mu with one hand and Abbess Qing He with the other. They transformed into a streak of light and arrived at the gate right behind Abbess Zhu Yue.

Abbess Zhu Yue noticed Fang Chen's speed and shock flashed in her eyes. Even though she was surprised, the matter at hand was more important now.

Abbess Qing He was also shocked. Lord Fang’s speed is too fast! His cultivation must’ve improved once more!

Reaching the mountain gate, Fang Chen saw a large group of young nuns confronting dozens of cultivators dressed in various styles. The majestic mountain gate had already turned into scattered rubble, and the loud noise caused by the attack earoer must have caused it.

Abbess Zhu Yue's face darkened as she stared at the cultivator in the lead. "Wind and Lightning Yao Dan, are you planning to wage war on my Concealed Moon Hermitage?"

The one she addressed wore a green robe and appeared to be around forty years old. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, and the aura he was giving off was not weaker than Abbess Zhu Yue's. Moreover, he was also at the Foundation Building Realm. The people he had with him had a cultivation of the sixth stage of the Qi Refining Realm or higher. They were staring intently at the group of nuns.

"It’s not that we want to wage war on you, but you’re pretty ignorant of the situation. When we found the legacy of the Purple Lightning Talisman inside that demonic cultivator's belly, your Concealed Moon Hermitage wanted to monopolize it. That is a bit unreasonable, don’t you think?" Yao Dan said calmly.

After speaking, his gaze suddenly fell on Fang Chen, showing a hint of subtle mockery. "Why do we have a man in the Concealed Moon Hermitage today? Abbess, did you invite some helpers?" A smile tugged at his lips as he stared at Fang Chen. "How should I address you?” he asked. “I advise you not to meddle in the affairs between the Concealed Moon Hermitage and the Qingzhou Sword Sect. It's not worth the trouble."

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