Chapter 441 The Tree Loses its Leaves, the Meaning of Life Ends (2/2)
Shen Lian could guess Yanxu's motives. It was not to see whether Chen Jinchan was qualified. Yanxu was afraid of the lonely future and deliberately nurtured a worthy opponent. This winning confidence, he also did not omit from showing Shen Lian. It was considered a response towards that night when Zhao Xiaoyu wounded Yanxu.
The decisive battle would take place on the third of March, but clashes were everywhere.
Shen Lian sat quietly in the main hall of Qing Xuan, and meditated on all this. He increasingly looked forward to having the 'Bier Discourse of Dao' with Yanxu. To be battling a person of such terror and intelligence, it was even more possible that his potential powers could be stimulated, and that a higher level of state can be pursued.
After a while, Yu Zhongjie, led by Chen Jinchan, reached the main hall of Qing Xuan. When he reached within thirty-three steps of Shen Lian, he stopped. He greeted Shen Lian by raising one hand to his chest then bowed to the hand. After that, he got to his knees and ceremoniously bowed four times. Each nod was accompanied with carefulness, precise as though it was measured with a ruler.
Chen Jinchan saw such respectable greetings and could not help but be solemnly silent in his heart.
After four rounds of kowtow, he intended to get up, but found that he had no way of moving. Shen Lian was looking intensely at him from the top of the stone couch, ”One more bow.”
Yu Zhengjie lifted his head and looked at the Qing Xuan headmaster. But it was as if he saw a mighty mountain, a clear sky, an endless sea. His heart profoundly admired this attainment that could not be measured, and said, ”Zhenren Shen, why do you say so?”
Shen Lian plainly said, ”You inherited the teachings of Confucianism, you should know solemn worship is only feudatory manners, it is not respectable manners. In times of now, he and I are all respected. Ordinarily when you meet him, do you only give him the solemn worship?”
Yu Zhengjie replied, ”When I meet Demon Master, of course I give him the solemn worship. When Zhenren and Demon Master engage in the 'Bier Discourse of Dao', demonstrably it would be on equal footing, and indeed your humble servant will kowtow one time less.”
He abruptly kowtowed, striking the floor of the hall. Sparks flew. The flesh and blood of his head were indistinct. But he simply did not pay any attention to it, and slowly got up, calm and unruffled.
Shen Lian told him plainly, ”This sort of loss of dignity and integrity, even if you acquired Noble Qi, it could be that you cannot train to the highest.”
Yu Zhongjie replied, ”Your humble servant learned Confucianism for practical use, not to be a loyal and filial son. Moreover, what Zhenren said is the plain truth, and your humble servant is naturally obedient.”
”There is a bit of meaning. Take out the Yanxu's gift. I would like to see what big present he has for me.” Shen Lian slowly said.
Yu Zhongjie heard these words and opened his flocket, and in the hall there appeared a withered poplar, with leaves and branches that were already falling.
Shen Lian saw this and sighed, ”The tree loses its leaves, the meaning of life ends.”
Yu Zhongjie said, ”Demon Master let me tell this to Zhenren, that when this tree is planted in front of Taiwei Pavilion and is watered daily with Water from the River of Spirits, then vitality would be high.”
Shen Lian softly said, ”Tell him that I will do so. Go back and report the completion of your mission to him.”
With a wave of his flocket, Yu Zhongjie immediately and autonomously flew up, and when his feet touched the ground, he was already out of Mount Qing Xuan. He was actually shocked and amazed. Eventually, his Noble Qi became a cloud, and he went back to report the completion of his mission to Demon Master.
Inside the Qing Xuan main hall, Chen Jinchan asked, ”Master, Demon Master is crafty. The gift he sent, why should it be kept?”
Shen Lian smiled, ”On suspicion that scourge may occur, the Sky Demon Technique is used to combat this. My heart bears no doubt that no matter how mighty his Demon Technique is, it cannot endure me. Jinchan, you must remember, an honest heart is not insight, insight is not undisturbed, and having reached this step, any being can enter celestial state. The heart must not have terror, and whatever trials may come, all of them can be faced much more leisurely.”