Chapter 394: Past Events

"Cultivation?" Li Huowang pondered this familiar yet unfamiliar term in his mind, as if struck by a sudden realization.

He knew about so-called cultivation novels, but he was certain that this was absolutely not the same thing!

The Forget-Me-Not Dao cultivates falsehood, and Xinsu cultivates truth? Are they mortal enemies? Is that why they hate Xinsu so much? Suddenly, Li Huowang seemed to understand a lot, yet also understood nothing at all.

"No, wait, Brother Zhuge, let me get this straight first," Li Huowang said, closing his eyes and clutching his aching head as he tried hard to think.

Seeing his reaction, Zhuge Yuan was not in a hurry. He moved the chessboard aside, set out various tea utensils again, and began to brew tea unhurriedly.

As soon as his new cup of tea was brewed, Li Huowang spoke again.

"Brother Zhuge, I still don't think this is right. Look, the Forget-Me-Not Dao cultivates falsehood, so they want to turn everything else into falsehood. If we Xinsu can cultivate truth, wouldn't that mean we Xinsu have the ability to create something from nothing? But I clearly don't have that ability!"

"Are you sure you don't?"

"Absolutely not! All I've gained from this Xinsu identity, apart from the inescapable hallucinations around me, are powers of displacement!" Li Huowang answered emphatically, confident in his understanding of his own body.

Li Huowang had been in this strange world for over a year, experiencing many things and acquiring numerous peculiar abilities.

However, he had never gained any cultivation abilities. If he truly possessed such immense power, why would he have endured so much hardship and suffering?

This was a major matter concerning his life, so he couldn't just believe whatever others said; he had to ask for clarification.

"Brother Zhuge, is the origin of this so-called Xinsu cultivation method reliable? Does such a method truly exist?"

Hearing the question, Zhuge Yuan thought carefully before speaking slowly again. "Actually, I only saw it once in a miscellaneous book. I don't know if it's true or false."

"But based on the actions of the Forget-Me-Not Dao members, I believe there's at least an eighty percent chance that this cultivation method is real."

"Furthermore, have you truly never experienced 'cultivating truth through falsehood'? That shouldn't be the case. As far as I know, nothing is unusual when it comes to Xinsu. Perhaps you've done it, but just didn't notice?"

"Those involved are often confused, while bystanders see clearly. Why don't you tell me about your experiences, and I'll help you sort through them."

Li Huowang looked at Zhuge Yuan, thought for a moment, and finally nodded.

Since Zhuge Yuan already knew he was Xinsu, there was no need to hide other private matters.

"Alright then, Brother Zhuge, I'll start from Qingfeng Temple. Back then, there was an evil cultivator named Danyuanzi, an illiterate madman who somehow got his hands on some nonsensical heavenly scripture and was practically obsessed with becoming an immortal..."

In the quiet bamboo pavilion, accompanied by gentle breezes, Li Huowang recounted his story from over a year ago.

Li Huowang had been through a lot. He initially thought his account would be long, even preparing to talk all night, but he was stopped by Zhuge Yuan when he only reached Anchi Temple.

"Brother Li, take a look. Was this the elixir formula you gave your master, Danyuanzi, back then?" A sheet of rice paper covered in densely written characters was pushed toward Li Huowang.

Although Li Huowang wasn't knowledgeable about calligraphy, he could see that Zhuge Yuan's handwriting was beautiful. The immortal elixir formula he had given Danyuanzi was neatly copied on it, with the steps for circulating the internal and external great cycles detailed at the bottom.

Li Huowang glanced at it. "Yes, that's it. What about it?"

Hearing Li Huowang's question, Zhuge Yuan, who usually spoke in a gentle tone, uncharacteristically raised his voice. "What about it? This elixir formula is just like your chess skills! Do you really think this could help your master achieve semi-immortality?"

"Right, I was also curious earlier about how Danyuanzi could possibly become—" Li Huowang stopped mid-sentence, his eyes wide open. He suddenly understood what the other person was trying to convey.

"You mean I used my Xinsu ability to make Danyuanzi an immortal? No, no, I utterly despise Danyuanzi! I would let anyone become an immortal, but absolutely not him!" Li Huowang said with conviction.

"But Danyuanzi did become one, Brother Li. Think carefully again, what did you have in your stomach at that time?"

"In my stomach at the time? I had half of Danyuanzi's face in my stomach then, how could that—" The moment he said this, Li Huowang instantly understood.

Zhuge Yuan nodded, voicing Li Huowang's unspoken thought. "Exactly! Although he only had half a face, he was still alive! His flesh and blood were inside your abdomen! It was his obsession with becoming an immortal that borrowed your Xinsu ability to make himself an immortal."

These words exploded like thunder in Li Huowang's mind. Some previously unclear points were instantly resolved. He genuinely hadn't expected that the reason for Danyuanzi's accidental success in becoming an immortal was actually due to him.

Zhuge Yuan nodded in agreement. "See? That's why they say those involved are often confused, while bystanders see clearly. Although your master borrowed Xinsu too crudely, turning into that inhuman, ghost-like appearance, he still became a semi-immortal."

"Even if you didn't understand anything, if someone else could use your body to turn a mere mortal into an immortal, do you still believe Xinsu lacks the ability to 'cultivate truth through falsehood'?"

With the facts laid bare before him, Li Huowang could no longer argue. As Xinsu, he indeed possessed a certain special ability; he simply hadn't realized it when he used it in the past.

"Wait! Since I possess this ability, did I use it anywhere else besides making Danyuanzi an immortal?"

Li Huowang tried hard to recall. He had been through many things along the way, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't distinguish between what was real and what was reality he had created using his abilities.

"What exactly is real?"

As Li Huowang was still pondering this question, he saw Zhuge Yuan extend his folding fan and wave it in front of him.

"So, Brother Li, you must understand now that besides finding a solution from Beifeng, you have other paths to take, right?"

Li Huowang quickly refocused, nodding solemnly. "Thank you, Brother Zhuge, for illuminating me! Indeed, I now have another path to choose. May I ask how this so-called cultivation method is practiced? And how does it utilize the Primal Qi within my body?"

"Ah," a hint of difficulty appeared on Zhuge Yuan's fair face. "This is where I am unable to help. I really can't offer much assistance on this matter. I only stumbled upon this method mentioned once in a miscellaneous book, so I made a note of it. As for where to find it, I truly haven't paid attention."