manynovel Chapter 73 A Tumultuous Time
Chapter 73 A Tumultuous Time
Chapter 73 A Tumultuous Time
Si Chong's expression changed drastically. He wanted to say something more, but his throat felt like it was blocked by something. He could only watch helplessly as Zuo Ruotong's unquestionable back seemed to carry some kind of heavy destiny, unable to utter a single word.
Chengzhen, Shuiyun, Changqing, Lu Jin, and the others exchanged bewildered glances, their hearts shrouded in an unprecedented gloom.
The sect leader's words and expression conveyed a solemnity and gravity concerning the very foundation of the sect, and perhaps even its very fate, leaving them feeling both bewildered and instinctively uneasy.
The suspended sword case transformed into a streak of light and silently returned to Zhou Yi's waist.
He silently followed half a step behind Zuo Ruotong, his face calm and expressionless, as if he had already foreseen and accepted everything that was about to happen.
The master and his apprentice, one after the other, stepped onto the bluestone steps leading to the depths of the solemn hall.
The sunlight was cut off by the tall eaves of the palace, casting long shadows that stretched the figures behind them.
The members of the Sanyi Sect, filled with indescribable heaviness and trepidation, followed silently in turn. Their footsteps echoed in the empty hall, sounding particularly clear and oppressive.
One step, two steps—the stone steps stretch out beneath your feet.
Finally, Zuo Ruotong stepped onto the last step, about to fully enter the interplay of light and shadow inside the main hall.
In that instant, a sudden change occurred!
That figure, once as upright as a pine tree, handsome and dashing, seemingly forever frozen in his prime, suddenly vanished without warning—
—I'm getting old!
It was as if decades of time had been instantly extracted and imposed upon him alone.
His once straight back suddenly hunched over, as if it could not bear the weight; his once black hair turned gray and sparse at a visible speed; his once smooth and firm skin was instantly covered with deep wrinkles and age spots; even his well-fitting Taoist robe seemed to look empty due to the rapid shrinkage of his body.
What's even more worrying is that this sudden aging caused him to lose his balance, stumble, and fall forward!
"Gatekeeper!"
"Senior brother!"
The crowd gasped and instinctively reached out to help him up.
However, just as she was about to fall, Zuo Ruotong managed to brace herself against a nearby pillar with her arm and regain her balance.
He was panting, his breathing sounded old and heavy, a stark contrast to his appearance just moments before.
Everyone stood frozen in place, staring at this unbelievable scene, their throats feeling like they had cotton stuffed in them, unable to utter a single word, and even less daring to step forward rashly.
Is this frail, elderly man before us truly their sage-like sect leader?
"Senior Brother!!" Only Si Chong, still reeling from the shock and heartache, reacted first. He rushed forward, supporting Zuo Ruotong's trembling arm, then looked up, glaring angrily at Zhou Yi, who was right behind him. His eyes practically spitting fire. "Zhou Yi! It was you! You injured the sect leader?! What kind of evil magic did you use?!"
"Get out of the way—" Zuo Ruotong struggled to raise her other withered hand and gently pushed Si Chong. Her voice was hoarse and tired, yet carried an undeniable authority. "It has nothing to do with the Book of Changes."
He took a breath, his gaze slowly sweeping over the faces filled with shock, grief, and confusion, and said with a bitter yet calm tone, "But—I think, perhaps—it's more convincing in this state."
After saying that, he no longer relied on the pillars, but instead leaned on Si Chong's arm, or as if relying on some inner, almost exhausted will, and slowly and laboriously bypassed Si Chong who was blocking his way.
He staggered toward the simple prayer mat at the far end of the main hall, which belonged to the gatekeeper.
Every step seemed to require the utmost effort.
Finally, he slowly sat down on the futon, his body trembling.
The moment he sat down, he seemed to completely release the strength he had been putting on, and his figure became even more hunched and aged. Only his eyes, though deeply sunken in wrinkles, still maintained clarity and a kind of—almost compassionate—composure.
He raised his head and looked at the disciples gathered in the hall: Chengzhen, Shuiyun, Changqing, Lu Jin, and Si Chong, who was standing to the side, suppressing his grief and indignation as he helped him sit down.
Tears welled up in the eyes of Chengzhen and the others. Seeing their revered sect leader suddenly transformed into such a state, the shock they felt was beyond measure.
"Look at this—" Zuo Ruotong's voice was old and calm, yet it cut into everyone's heart like a dull knife. "This is me—this physical body, where is there even a trace of—that makes me look like I'm about to become an immortal?"
"Senior brother! You—you haven't reached the third level of perfection yet! If you cultivate to the third level, you will definitely be able to—" Si Chong interrupted urgently, trying to grasp the last glimmer of hope and find a foothold for the sect's thousand-year-old faith.
However, Zuo Ruotong slowly shook her head, interrupting him, and said in a calm yet almost cruel tone the words that shattered everyone's illusions: "I am already—at the third level."
The moment the words left his mouth, a buzzing sound rang out!
Zuo Ruotong's frail and aged figure vanished without warning, like wisps of smoke scattered by the wind!
It doesn't disappear, but rather it completely decomposes and dissipates, merging into the surrounding air and light, as if it had never existed.
The main hall was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop.
The next moment—
The light and shadow twisted and recombine, and the old, hunched figure reappeared in the same spot, still sitting on the futon, just as before it disappeared, as if its disappearance was just an illusion.
Instantly transformed, instantly reunited!
This is the most direct manifestation of the highest realm of the third level of the Three Ones Sect's Reverse Life Technique—"Reversing the Innate, Gathering and Scattering at Will"! It is the ultimate sign before ascension described in the classics of past masters!
This scene, like the heaviest hammer, shattered Si Chong's last glimmer of hope and completely confirmed that what Zuo Ruotong said was true.
However, after a brief silence, what arose in the hearts of the San Yi Sect members was not ecstatic joy and congratulations for their sect leader reaching the highest realm.
A deeper, colder, and more despairing chill quickly crept up my spine and spread throughout my body.
yes----
The sect leader has already reached the legendary third level.
According to the classic text *On Reversing Life* left by the founder of this school, the fundamental principle of the Threefold Reversing Life Technique lies in this: Human birth is a natural process of conforming to the laws of nature, manifesting as limbs and bones—this is "conformity." While conforming to the natural order, one cannot escape the calamities of aging, illness, and death. Therefore, one must reverse the process of refining the flesh, bones, and muscles to return to the state of the original, natural state—this is "reversal." By defying the heavens and breaking free from the constraints, one seeks—to ascend to immortality!
The threefold perfection, where gathering and scattering are determined by the heart, is the sign that one is infinitely close to, or even should have already stepped into, the threshold of "ascension"!
But now—
The sect leader has indeed reached the triple level.
But he did not ascend to heaven.
There were no rays of light, no celestial music, and no ascension to immortality.
Yes, but it was a mortal body that was more aged and weak than that of an ordinary old person, as if it might burn out at any moment.
The implication behind this is simple, cruel, and deadly—
He was reborn in the third stage of the Reverse Rebirth, and could not ascend to immortality.
The classics left by the founding patriarch, the fundamental belief and glory that supported the San Yi Sect's thousand-year heritage, inspired countless disciples to follow in his footsteps, and enabled the sect to claim itself as the "Number One Mystic Sect in the World"—maybe from the very beginning, it was a lie.
Or rather, a beautiful idea that was never verified and was ultimately proven to be false?
What is the Xuanmen (玄门)?
Only sects that can understand the profound and mysterious, and have the potential to ascend to immortality and attain enlightenment, can be called Xuanmen!
What right does a sect have to call itself a "mystical sect" when its fundamental cultivation method has been proven incapable of leading to the ultimate goal of "ascension"? What face does it have to claim to be "number one in the world"?
The pillar of faith that had lasted for perhaps thousands of years was, at this moment, shattered by the sect leader himself, in a cruel and personal act.
Inside the main hall, you could hear a pin drop.
Chengzhen, Shuiyun, Changqing, Lu Jin—everyone's face turned deathly pale, their eyes vacant, their bodies trembling slightly, as if their souls had been instantly ripped away.
They looked at each other, and in each other's eyes they saw the immense shock of the unacceptable, unbelievable, yet unavoidable cold reality, and the endless bewilderment after the collapse of their faith.
Si Chong was struck dumb, staggering back half a step. His lips trembled, but he could no longer utter a word. He just stared intently at the aged figure on the prayer mat. The last glimmer of light in his eyes seemed to have been extinguished completely with the falling of the word "triple".
Zuo Ruotong's aged voice slowly echoed in the silent hall, carrying a weariness and resolve that came after the dust had settled: "The Sanyi Sect—from now on, shall be renamed the Reverse Life Sect. Or—the Triple Sect, whatever you prefer." These words, like a final verdict, instantly made everyone understand Zuo Ruotong's intention. He was not merely trying to expose the truth of the cultivation technique, but also to use his own life to put an end to this "lie" or "falsehood" that had lasted for thousands of years, completing a testament and conclusion through self-sacrifice.
"Senior brother! No!" Si Chong cried out hoarsely, tears streaming down his face.
"Master! No! We still want to serve you!" Chengzhen, Shuiyun, Changqing, Lu Jin and the others knelt down on the ground, their voices choked with sobs and tears streaming down their faces.
How could they bear to watch their beloved teacher, whom they regarded as a father, meet his end in such a cruel way?
Only Zhou Yi remained silent beside Zuo Ruotong, his face expressionless, as if he had already anticipated all of this and was prepared to deal with it.
Just as everyone was wailing and Zuo Ruotong looked dejected, as if he were about to close his eyes and await his death, Zhou Yidong moved.
He raised his hand and gently brushed the sword case at his waist.
One compartment in the box opened silently, and a glittering golden light slowly rose and fell into his palm.
It was not a talisman, but a perfectly round pill the size of a longan.
The elixir has a warm and restrained golden color, as if it were formed from the purest light. Its surface has subtle and mysterious patterns that flow and flicker like breathing. There is also a faint fragrance that seems to cleanse the soul. Just by its appearance and aura, one can tell that this is no ordinary item and contains unimaginable life essence and creative power.
"Zhou Yi, this is—?" Si Chong suddenly turned his head, staring intently at the golden pill, a faint glimmer of hope rekindled in his eyes, his voice trembling with urgency.
"Dan." Zhou Yi's answer was extremely brief.
He held the golden pill, his gaze calm as he looked at Zuo Ruotong, whose aura was waning on the futon, and said clearly, "Taking this pill can cure the old ailments and hidden injuries left by Master when he forcibly broke through to the second level of Reverse Life and reversed his heart meridian in his early years."
He paused, then added the most crucial sentence: "It might even extend one's lifespan by a small amount."
Why does Zuo Ruotong appear so old and frail at the same age as the Celestial Master, far more aged than his peers?
The root cause lies in the damage to the heart meridian left when he attempted to break through the second stage of the Reverse Life Realm.
Over the years, he has seemingly maintained the appearance of being in his prime, but in reality, he has been forcibly locking in his vitality using the profound realm of the Threefold Reversal of Life.
Repairing hidden injuries is a process that consumes a great deal of one's vital energy, akin to drinking poison to quench thirst.
A glamorous appearance comes at the cost of overworking oneself.
Zhou Yi did not hand the golden elixir directly to Zuo Ruotong, but gently lifted it up.
As if it possessed a spirit, the golden core floated up and slowly flew to Zuo Ruotong's front, hovering quietly and radiating a soft and vibrant golden halo, as if waiting for a decision.
Zhou Yi looked at his master, the old man who had seen through illusion and was determined to die for his cause, and asked the question that struck at the heart: "Master, if there were a chance to start over, to make up for the shortcomings, and to extend the path of cultivation—would you be willing to—walk that path again?"
Zuo Ruotong's cloudy yet still clear eyes gazed at the golden elixir before her, which seemed to embody the essence of heaven and earth and bring a glimmer of hope.
The golden light shone on his wrinkled face, illuminating the deep regret in his eyes for the unfinished path, the struggle between life and death, and the complex examination of this sudden "possibility".
Inside the main hall, there was a deathly silence.
All eyes were fixed on the golden elixir and Zuo Ruotong's silent face. The crying stopped, the breathing became softer, and even time seemed to stand still.
Zuo Ruotong just stared at it for a long, long time—
No one knows what turbulent emotions and inner turmoil this old man, who spent his life seeking answers, finally broke through his shackles but also fell into a desperate situation, experienced during that long silence.
final----
is the day.
A message emerged from the ancient mountain gate, quickly shaking the entire world of supernatural beings:
The Sanyi Sect, with its long history and hailed as the "Number One Mystic Sect in the World," officially announces to the world that it will no longer refer to itself as a Mystic Sect from this day forward.
Renamed, Reverse Life Gate.
Longhu Mountain, Celestial Master's Mansion.
After receiving the message from the Sanyi Sect, the contemporary Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing sat quietly alone for a long time.
He set down his teacup, gazed towards the misty mountains to the north, and a look of sincere admiration and emotion appeared on his face. He sighed softly, "To see through illusion, to confront the root of things, and to be willing to sacrifice oneself to prove the Way—Master Zuo, you can truly be called a True Man!"
The title "True Person" holds extraordinary significance within the Taoist system, far exceeding ordinary honorifics. It represents the highest praise for a person's level of spiritual cultivation and profound understanding of their nature.
In 2008, the Three Truths Dharma Gate, the Cave Heaven in the Back Mountain.
This place is filled with spiritual energy, and time seems to flow exceptionally slowly.
Deep within the cave, before an ancient stone altar, a figure dressed in a plain white robe sat quietly, like an ancient jade sculpture, his aura blending seamlessly with the surrounding environment, having been in seclusion here for countless years.
On the stone wall behind the offering table hangs a scroll painting with simple and unadorned brushstrokes but profound artistic conception—"The Ascension of the Phoenix".
The painting depicts a cultivator with a pine-like posture, on the verge of ascension.
The figure is dressed in simple cloth, with a sword behind his back in his left hand and his right hand hanging naturally at his sides. His face is slightly blurred by the light and shadow, but his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes exude a kind of insightful and detached charm through the painting.
On the offering table, there were no other objects except a long sword lying across it.
The sword is simple and unsheathed, with a warm and restrained bronze color throughout. Mysterious patterns flow subtly on the guard. Although it is still, it exudes an indescribable majesty and spirituality, as if it were not an inanimate object, but a sleeping living spirit.
This sword is the most precious treasure of the Sanzhen School, the legacy left behind by the founding patriarch upon his ascension—the Sanzhen Myriad Laws Sword.
At this moment, all was quiet within the cave.
Sudden-
"Buzz—"
A faint, yet soul-shaking sword cry rang out from the lying Three Truths Myriad Laws Sword!
The sword trembled slightly, and its bronze luster rippled outwards like waves, illuminating the silent air within the cave and startling the white-clad figure who had been asleep for an unknown period of time.
The figure, sitting cross-legged, had an eyelash that trembled almost imperceptibly.
Suddenly, those eyes, which had been closed for countless years, opened wide!
There was no confusion of newly awakened in his eyes, only a deep, unfathomable calm and clarity that seemed to reflect the ancient starry sky.
His gaze first fell on the Myriad Laws Sword that trembled on its own, lingering for a moment, as if communicating with the sword, or as if reading some kind of information or call conveyed in the sword's sound.
Then, a clear, calm, yet undeniably authoritative voice emanated from the white-clad figure.
The voice wasn't loud, yet it strangely pierced through the barriers of the cave and the layers of spatial obstruction, like an invisible ripple, precisely heading towards the core hall of the Three Truths Sect: "Lu Jin, come see me."
The Three True Dharma Gates are located inside the main hall.
Lu Jin, the current sect leader, was talking with Zhang Zhiwei, the Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, who had come to visit. Both of them were towering figures in the world of supernatural beings.
Just then, the clear and calm summoning voice resounded directly in the depths of Lu Jin's mind without warning, as clear as a whisper.
Lu Jin paused, his expression suddenly changing.
Zhang Zhiwei, being a man of great stature, immediately noticed Lu Jin's unusual behavior and cast an inquiring glance his way.
Lu Jin took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and said apologetically to Zhang Zhiwei, "Master, please forgive me for leaving."
"Brother Lu, please go ahead." Zhang Zhiwei nodded slightly, his expression becoming more solemn.
Lu Jin said no more, stood up, and headed towards the back mountain cave. In a flash, he transformed into a streak of light and sped away, leaving Zhang Zhiwei, who was deep in thought in the hall, with a sigh.
"A time of great turmoil..."
Please vote with your monthly tickets and give me a reward!
There's nothing left at night.