Chapter 1214: Men's Friendship

"Where has Lan Yutian gone?" Qin Mu asked.

He hadn't seen Lan Yutian when he last went to Yankang to bring the mute, the blind, and others to the Ancestral Court, nor had he encountered him the time before that when forging the broken sword. This left him feeling puzzled.

"Lan Yutian is truly like a dragon that appears without showing its head or tail these days. Or, more likely, he's simply gotten lost and has no idea where he's wandered off to."

Xu Shenghua said, "When I last met him, he was lost and happened to pass by my Heavenly Academy. That's how I had the opportunity to sit and discuss the Great Dao with him, which was incredibly beneficial. He mentioned then that Old Cripple and Celestial Venerable You could no longer teach him, and he intended to forge his own path to break through the Hall of Fragrant Heavens."

As Qin Mu walked beside him, Xu Shenghua continued, "He's been wandering aimlessly through various heavens. He's a bit clumsy, so getting lost is a minor issue; the bigger problem is that people are pursuing him. However, when I last saw him, I noticed Celestial Venerable You was secretly protecting him, so he should be fine."

Qin Mu breathed a sigh of relief. Celestial Venerable You was the most concerned about Lan Yutian, and with him around, nothing major would go wrong.

Of course, that was assuming Lan Yutian didn't cause any massive trouble himself.

Qin Mu felt a headache coming on. Lan Yutian's soul was currently incomplete, making him prone to acting impulsively and erratically, constantly causing worry.

"Even if he somehow blundered his way into the Heavenly Court, I wouldn't be surprised at all," Xu Shenghua said. "His path shares remarkable similarities with yours. But unlike you, who strive in the mundane world, he is single-minded, seemingly guided by his own Dao heart as he walks the world, seeking to comprehend the mysteries of the Great Dao. I can still understand your realm, but I can no longer grasp his."

A hint of disappointment clouded Xu Shenghua's heart. Even if he could understand Qin Mu's realm, he couldn't replicate it.

Qin Mu had forged a unique path, one that no one could walk alongside him.

Lan Yutian's path, on the other hand, represented the direction cultivators would take tens of thousands, even millions of years into the future. While this path was profound and understood by few, it still had fellow travelers.

As for Xu Shenghua's own path, it was like a summation and advancement of the cultivation journey spanning the past million years, from the Dragon Han era to the present.

He connected the past with the future, and his future achievements were bound to be extraordinary.

Qin Mu stayed at the Heavenly God Sect, exchanging insights with Xu Shenghua.

Conversing with Xu Shenghua was a most delightful experience. Both were rare geniuses of their time, possessing profound foundations and extraordinary insights.

One was lively and had divergent thinking, while the other was stable and meticulous in his planning; they perfectly complemented each other.

During the time Qin Mu spent with Xu Shenghua, Xu Shenghua even neglected his wife and child. When Jing Yan and Xu Mengqing came looking for him, he sent them away.

Jing Yan even suspected that if she and their daughter were on one side, and Qin Mu on the other, and Xu Shenghua had to choose between them, he would likely pick Qin Mu without hesitation, abandoning them.

"With a Daoist friend, what need is there for a wife?" she thought, feeling quite indignant.

In a short period, Qin Mu and Xu Shenghua developed many new divine arts and researched numerous new Daoist techniques.

When they were together, both of their talents were fully expressed, and their research and comprehension progressed immeasurably faster than if they had worked alone.

During this time, Xu Shenghua even achieved enlightenment once, advancing his divine arts further into the Dao. Qin Mu was incredibly envious.

Qin Mu learned Xu Shenghua's Great Divine Art Domain, deepening his understanding of divine arts. He even began to draw parallels and insights into the divine arts of the Primordial Five Tais.

However, Xu Shenghua learned even more from him.

Although Xu Shenghua possessed peerless intellect and grace, he was not fond of taking risks, unlike Qin Mu.

Qin Mu believed that danger was also opportunity. He seemed to have many opportunities, but each one was seized by risking his life in perilous situations.

Qin Mu fought with his life, while Xu Shenghua remained in the Western Earth, caring for his wife and teaching his daughter. Naturally, he couldn't compare.

This time, Qin Mu's visit to the Western Earth for their exchange resulted in Xu Shenghua's most abundant gains, making his entry into the realm of enlightenment a natural progression.

Qin Mu told Xu Shenghua about his plan to evolve the five great mineral veins and establish the Grand Ultimate, Grand Purity, Grand Beginning, Grand Initial, and Grand Change as the five future realms. He said, "I believe the Heavenly Court realm is not the pinnacle. There are realms beyond it, which should be the Primordial Five Tais, the five Grand Realms."

"The current cultivation system certainly needs an overhaul," Xu Shenghua agreed.

Inspired by Qin Mu, Xu Shenghua became excited, pacing back and forth as he mused, "The current cultivation system doesn't incorporate these concepts. It seems the Yankang Reform still has much potential!"

Qin Mu gently encouraged him, "The Ancestral Court is right there, and I now have a territory there. If you ever get bored staying in the Western Earth, you could go and explore it."

Xu Shenghua was greatly tempted, but his wife and child were in the Western Earth, and the Heavenly God Sect was also located there. He was genuinely reluctant to leave home so suddenly.

His family anchored him.

Qin Mu continued to entice him, saying, "There are the Grand Initial mineral veins, Grand Ultimate mineral veins, Grand Purity mineral veins, Grand Beginning mineral veins, and even the Chaos mineral veins. Of course, I accidentally destroyed the Chaos mineral veins, but the Chaos Qi there has transformed into a vast and captivating Sea of Chaos. I'm quite foolish, certainly not as smart as you. What I've managed to comprehend, you'll surely be able to understand, and perhaps even more."

Xu Shenghua was even more tempted.

Qin Mu stopped pressing the issue, saying, "If you wish to go there, simply head to Yankang. The Emperor and I have left a Spirit Energy Transference Bridge in Yankang that leads directly to the Ancestral Court's exterior. I've left my own seal at the Ancestral Court's fissure, which shouldn't be difficult for you to overcome."

Qin Mu stood up to leave, and Xu Shenghua saw him off with sincere deference.

Qin Mu walked away with his lantern. Suddenly, he looked back and saw Xu Shenghua still standing at the Heavenly God Sect's mountain gate, gazing into the distance.

Qin Mu paused, lost in thought. Recalling the days spent with Xu Shenghua, comprehending Daoist techniques and divine arts together, and remembering Xu Shenghua's Great Divine Art Domain, various insights into divine arts flooded his mind. It was as if a door had opened in his consciousness, and he involuntarily entered a state of enlightenment.

It was early morning, and the mist was thick and heavy. Qin Mu stood amidst the fog, appearing as indistinct as the mist itself when viewed from afar.

Jing Yan saw Xu Shenghua still standing at the mountain gate and approached him, softly saying, "Husband, Cult Master Qin has already left. Aren't you going to see him off properly?"

Xu Shenghua gazed at Qin Mu in the mist and shook his head. "He and I are friends of the Dao heart. Too much formality would only make it seem distant."

Jing Yan subtly pursed her lips and looked towards the mist in the distance. Qin Mu stood within it, immersed in a wondrous Dao realm.

Qin Mu remained standing there for six or seven days, and Xu Shenghua also stayed at the mountain gate, never leaving.

Jing Yan came to check on him several times, secretly shaking her head. "Such a strange male friendship..."

Finally, Qin Mu awoke from his state of enlightenment and recited loudly, "False forms guest the Grand Ultimate, Hand in hand, we walk the azure peaks. Thunderstorms accompany the deep abyss, While ghosts and gods writhe within! Daoist friend Xu, I'm off!"

At the foot of the mountain gate, Xu Shenghua clasped his hands and bowed to bid him farewell.

Qin Mu returned the bow from afar, then turned and departed.

By the time Xu Shenghua straightened up, Qin Mu had vanished without a trace.

Congratulations to Helang Kuan on the birth of his daughter last night! Congratulations!