78 - A Farewell to Mr. Luo

Chapter 78 "He Yiman," Bai Fan blurted out involuntarily, stepping forward to see that He Yiman, unlike her, seemed unscathed. She figured He Yiman had not ventured inside the main hall. He Yiman walked around a large tree and pointed at it. "This tree is quite strange. You should take a look." Hearing He Yiman mention the tree, Bai Fan observed it carefully. The golden leaves were dazzling, but as she reached the base of the tree, she sensed the difference of this place. It felt as though countless daoist chants floated to her ears, nearly causing her to sit in meditation then and there. Fortunately, she snapped out of it in time. The sensation mirrored the feeling from the moon outside, but He Yiman's calm voice broke through her reverie. "This must be an Enlightenment Tree." "Enlightenment Tree?" Bai Fan gazed up at the giant tree, its golden leaves gleaming. She could vaguely make out a few small fruits hanging from its branches, tinged with green but almost entirely golden. "I once heard from my master that there exists a kind of spiritual tree most in tune with the Dao. With each growth ring it forms, it comprehends another aspect of the world's laws. Given this tree's enormous size, it must be several thousand years old, having likely mastered myriad laws." For the first time, a sparkle ignited in He Yiman's eyes. She seemed truly interested in the tree. Suppressing her urge to meditate, Bai Fan listened carefully again. It was as if a veil lifted from her mind—though she couldn't clearly articulate the sensation, her mental state felt elevated. Previously, summoning large thunderclouds required chanting spells and forming seals, taking considerable time. But now, that obstructive feeling vanished. With a simple gesture, she summoned a mass of thunderclouds, staring in astonishment at them cradled in her hand. "Sitting in meditation under this Enlightenment Tree is enormously beneficial for anyone on the path of cultivation. However, some cannot resist the temptation to glean all knowledge, ultimately leading to their demise," He Yiman warned. Bai Fan shuddered at the mention of demise. "Then let's leave this place quickly." Just as she reached out to pull He Yiman away, Gui Deng, who had been silent for a while, suddenly screamed and dashed in front of Bai Fan. "Daoist, please take me away. I can't stand the voices from this tree anymore. I feel like I'm being purified." With that, the lantern-like spirit turned completely dark, collapsing to the ground with a thud. Startled by Gui Deng's condition, Bai Fan asked He Yiman, "What happened to it? It isn't a cultivator—why such a strong reaction?" "I once heard my master mention that the Enlightenment Tree is also known as the Bodhi Tree, which has a purification effect on ghostly beings. Best keep that lantern far from here." Realizing the situation, Bai Fan understood the lantern had encountered its nemesis. Unsure of where else to put him, she had no choice but to stash him in her storage pouch. Fortunately, she had emptied some space in the pouch before setting out; otherwise, she wouldn't know where to keep him. Inside the storage pouch, Gui Deng and a little puppet lay in confusion. Gradually regaining consciousness, Gui Deng felt relieved that the discomfort had vanished, realizing he was inside the storage pouch and quietly settled down. "I feel I have a deeper understanding of Dao principles," Bai Fan remarked, reminiscing the earlier sensation, then looking to He Yiman for insight. "Do you know what kind of Dao you comprehended?" He Yiman questioned. Bai Fan shook her head. He Yiman continued, "That means you've only begun your path to enlightenment—you have much further to go." "But I truly heard something just now," Bai Fan insisted, struggling to articulate her newfound understanding. Understanding Bai Fan's struggle, He Yiman gently touched her forehead with a fingertip. "This is the beginning of your path." He Yiman's voice carried an inexplicable softness, and as her cool fingertip made contact with Bai Fan's forehead, Bai Fan felt herself freeze. A mystical sound flooded her mind, akin to the rhythmic waves crashing against the shore, a siren's alluring song. The melody's lilt made Bai Fan instinctively reach out, only for the elusive feeling to slip away like a slippery eel. Coming to, Bai Fan regretfully asked, "What was that?" "That was my Dao gate." "Dao gate?" "Yes. With a Dao gate, one masters the laws of the universe. Without it, your cultivation, no matter how strong, is like a flower in a mirror or the moon in water—an illusion." As He Yiman spoke, she lifted a flute to her lips, seemingly lost in thought. Baffled, Bai Fan couldn't understand why profound cultivation was inadequate without a Dao gate. "But isn't it better to become ever stronger?" "With a Dao gate, you control a universal law. Have you noticed any differences when I fight compared to others?" Recalling He Yiman's previous battles, Bai Fan suddenly remembered the creation of unique techniques. "Your techniques are all self-created." Seeing Bai Fan grasp the key point, He Yiman smiled slightly, a rare expression of approval. "You guessed correctly. With a Dao gate, creating techniques is no hard feat. My Dao gate is attuned to sound, thus I can use sound to wield the Dao. In battle, as long as no one breaks my Dao gate, I remain invincible." Envious, Bai Fan wished to learn how to obtain a Dao gate. "How can one acquire a Dao gate?" He Yiman looked into Bai Fan's earnest eyes, finding her sincere and obedient demeanor endearing. Smiling more, she tapped Bai Fan's chest. "Listen with your heart." "Listen with my heart?" Bai Fan glanced down at He Yiman's fair, slender finger upon her chest, feeling a cool touch. A breeze rustled the golden leaves above, enhancing the ethereal ambiance. Listening to the water-like sound of the daoist chants, Bai Fan felt her heartbeat quicken, her face flush with heat, and her ears tingle. "But I don't hear anything." Her mind blank, she could only hear her own powerful heartbeat, louder than thunder, drowning out all else. "You are too distracted now to hear anything," He Yiman responded. Bai Fan's expressive eyes blinked repeatedly, her transparent fair skin turning a deep red like embers under a flame. Even He Yiman, usually detached, realized the girl's feelings. The two stared at each other, Bai Fan's eyes shimmering with unspoken emotion, He Yiman's gaze gleaming with clarity. "Close your eyes and listen for the Dao," He Yiman instructed. Reluctantly, Bai Fan shut her eyes, not wanting to lose sight of He Yiman, who seemed more approachable now than ever, exuding warmth instead of her usual aloofness. When He Yiman withdrew her hand from Bai Fan's chest, Bai Fan's racing heart slowly calmed, her breathing steadying. Gradually, the previously elusive daoist chants returned. He Yiman's voice resonated, "Listen for the Dao sound that belongs to your heart." Bai Fan stilled her mind, murmuring a calming mantra to quell her feelings. She indeed had grown fond of He Yiman, though she knew her affection would go unreciprocated. Immersing herself in the Dao sounds, she intermittently heard a whisper, "Today as it was yesterday, through countless cycles, we shall meet again." The phrase incessantly echoed in her heart, causing Bai Fan to furrow her brows despite her closed eyes. This was not the sound she wanted to hear, and she couldn't figure out who was disturbing her. He Yiman noticed Bai Fan's troubled expression and asked, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" After a moment, Bai Fan, feeling a bit dizzy, opened her eyes and recounted the issue she was experiencing. "I was trying to listen to the Dao sounds, but a voice kept interrupting me, repeating a phrase like a chant." "What phrase?" "'Today as it was yesterday, through countless cycles, we shall meet again.'" "Where did you hear that?" "I saw it carved on the lid of a coffin in a stone hall once." "Did you touch anything there?" Bai Fan quickly shook her head. "No, the stone hall contained nothing but a stone coffin. Even the remains inside had turned to dust. After so many years, there shouldn't be anything left." Staring at Bai Fan's face, He Yiman noticed the dark circles under her eyes and how pale she had become compared to her earlier complexion, which was alarmingly white. "'Today as it was yesterday, through countless cycles, we shall meet again,'" He Yiman repeated the phrase, her expression growing serious. "Perhaps the key lies within these words. The notion of countless cycles suggests that the place you visited was laid with intricate arrangements, and by opening the stone coffin, you might have activated something tied to you." Bai Fan was confused. "Activated what?" Shaking her head, He Yiman finally lifted her flute and played a soothing melody. The calming music alleviated Bai Fan's discomfort, relaxing her furrowed brows. "It seems you might miss the opportunity to benefit from the Enlightenment Tree this time. Your condition is unprecedented, and resolving it will have to wait until we are out of here." While they conversed, the Enlightenment Fruits on the tree had fully ripened. The last hints of green turned into a radiant gold, and six golden fruits now hung on the tree, ready to fall at any moment. ※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※ In a race against time, urging out a draft. Previous Chapter Contents Next Chapter Home Computer Version Bookshelf Novel Collection Popular Novels