Chapter 692 - 241 Thread of Love
Shen Lian had never felt so cold before. But this coldness should not be described as such. It should be called numbness instead. In his heart, there were some budding emotions. However, they did not emerge.
Though the Primeval Demon did not manage to annihilate Shen Lian"s consciousness, he had eradicated his emotions. He transformed his consciousness into a perfected diamond. It was strong, pure and uncontaminated by other impurities.
This seemed beneficial for it appeared like he could reach the profound state of Dao- Taishang w.a.n.gqing.
In actual fact, this was not the case. He was rid of emotions and had become absolutely rational. Therefore, he would only reach one conclusion after careful deliberation and a.n.a.lysis in his mind - the will of Primeval Demon could not be destroyed by his own conscious.
He was definitely in a clear state of mind and extremely rational. Hence, the prediction of this conclusion was naturally the absolute truth. The cruelest thing in the world was not embarking on a path that leads towards desolation, it was the understanding that one had already embarked on a journey towards desolation.
Of course, the claim that Shen Lian had embarked on a path of desolation was exaggerated. After all, the Primeval Demon could not do anything with Shen Lian for the latter had lost his seven affections and six desires. Thus, Shen Lian"s raw form was closely similar to Primeval Demon"s will of unborn and indestructibility.
In fact, Shen Lian"s will was flexible and could grow continuously.
Therefore, the Primeval Demon transformed into a chilling storm. He wanted to dispatch Shen Lian"s will. However, he did not succeed. From Shen Lian"s point of view, if the battle remained stalemate, it meant that he had failed.
Moreover, as someone who had lost seven affections and six desires, he was left with a bare conscious. This meant that he had lost protection given that the desire to love was not merely the dust that blindfolds one"s conscious, it was also a s.h.i.+eld for protection.
"You proclaim that you are someone with emotions. Do you still think of yourself that way?" Primeval Demon"s voice was like chills from the depths of Nine Underworlds that could dispatch all spirits.
Shen Lian replied, "It would be a fresh new experience to live without emotions. Without you, I may not be able to experience it."
The Primeval Demon said, "You think that this is a good thing?"
"This is an unanswerable question for I no longer feel happy nor sad. I am only left with absolute rationality," Shen Lian told him straightforwardly.
The Primeval Demon asked casually, "Can we cooperate now?"
Shen Lian replied, "No."
The Primeval Demon let out a "Yi" sound out of surprise. Based on his understanding, this lad had lost the desire to love. Thus, only the notion of pros and cons would be left in his heart. There was no reason for him to decline his offer.
Suddenly, Shen Lian "laughed". From the Primeval Demon"s perspective, Shen Lian"s "laughter" was more terrifying than any other techniques. This was because it was impossible for Shen Lian to laugh for he had lost all emotions.
Although Shen Lian"s "laughter" did not seem genuine, it was a sincere gesture. This clearly indicated that his laughter was filled with emotions.
At this point in time, a thread appeared on the incarnation of Shen Lian"s pure conscious. It was extremely abstruse.
The Primeval Demon mentioned gravely, "The thread of love."
The hardest entanglement to escape from in the world was not the Inescapable Net nor the pervasive existence of fate. It was the net of love. Even someone as mighty as Da Yi could not escape from it.
The reason why this net was so difficult to resolve was that the thread of love was a creation of living creatures" subtlest emotion. Given that it was untraceable, even the best cultivator might not be able to realize its presence.
Shen Lian was able to reproduce emotions owing to this thread of love.
He laid out his fingertips while the thread of love entangled them. Suddenly, a net of love appeared. The howling wind transformed by the Primeval Demon was subsequently entangled by the net.
Although the Primeval Demon had seen countless supreme techniques, he had never once seen a person utilizing the thread of romance as a supernatural power. It was never heard of nor witnessed before.
He was originally the Primeval Demon who had a free state of mind and was unrestrained like flowing streams. Nevertheless, he had been entangled by this net and could not resolve it.
That thread of love had the force to obfuscate and revert order. Even his will of unborn and indestructibility started to drift apart.
Shen Lian kept his net. Finally, his divine Qi was at peace.
In Biyou Palace, Shen Lian"s Primordial Spirit appeared and turned into the Yin and Yang Taichi. It turned slowly and transformed into a human form. Ultimately, a Daoist was created from the Daoist robe of a Yin and Yang Taichi cultivator.
At the same time, the whole of Zhou nation produced an unexplained quake. This quake was alike to the budding of a young plant from the soil.
Jing Shu sensed the change originating from Biyou Palace. As she walked towards Biyou Palace, she saw Shen Lian coming out from it.
Apart from his garments, Jing Shu did not realize other forms of changes. Though she still felt some changes in him, she was not able to describe it.
Kui Li arrived too. She looked towards Shen Lian and asked, "What breakthrough have you accomplished?"
Shen Lian smiled and said, "It is hard to say but I would like to tell a story."
Jing Shu asked, "What story?"
Shen Lian said, "What do you want to hear?"
Jing Shu rolled her eyes and said, "No more nonsense."
Shen Lian placed his hands behind his back, smiled and said, "There was a fish in Bei Ming. Its name was Kun. It was so huge such that the size of a pot could not contain it. It transformed into a bird and was named Peng. Peng was so big such that two barbecue stands were needed…."
Before he could finish, Jing Shu had already attacked with the Heavy waters of Xuan Ming. A huge ocean appeared and stormed towards Shen Lian. Nonetheless, Shen Lian simply laid a Taichi and the ocean was subsequently absorbed like how whales devoured water. He performed it with ease.
Shen Lian arrived at Jing Shu"s side and grasped onto her hand that wanted to cast another attack. An enormous yet mild force of Dao was channeled. Jing Shu could no longer initiate an attack easily.
Instead of awaiting her scoldings, Shen Lian spoke calmly, "Do not joke anymore."
His tone was not alarming nor stern. However, it sounded magnanimous like it could reach the opposite island with ease. It was rather calming. Jing Shu held back her reprimands and heard Shen Lian said, "When waters were dried, the fishes had nowhere to escape to. They breathed out moisten air bubbles for each other and smeared foam from their mouths on the gills of other fishes. Instead of living in such torment, why not the each other and live freely in other rivers and lakes?"
Jing Shu said, "These are the words of Zhuangzi. What is the significance in reciting it?"
Shen Lian spoke softly, "Are not both of us the fishes?"
Stunned, Jing Shu said, "You are chasing me away?"
Shen Lian replied formally, "No, we are forgetting each other to live a better life."
Kui Li held onto Jing Shu. She glanced towards Shen Lian in a queer manner and said, "Sister, let us leave."
Though Jing Shu was unwilling, she still adhered to Kui Li"s suggestion. Both of them vanished amidst the shadows of the clouds.
Shen Lian watched them leave and started to gather the people of Zhou nation and Fahai. He wanted to defeat Yinshang within a short period of time so as to unite the Netherworld.
…
Amongst the clouds, Jing Shu spoke angrily, "He did not even leave a word when we left."
Kui Li said, "Sister Jing Shu, are you and Shen Lian lying to me about something?"
Jing Shu replied, "No."
Kui Li said, "I understand that you may not want to mention it. However, this issue might be related to the reason why Shen Lian asked us to leave."
Before Jing Shu could answer, five colored divine lights appeared at the skyline. She furrowed and said, "Your people of the Palace of the Undead are here."
That five colored divine lights came swiftly and transformed into a young lad. He told Kui Li, "I am here to request for young master"s return on behalf of the Hall master."
Kui Li said plainly, "Why did he ask me to return? We are intolerable of each other anyway."
The young lad replied, "I am not sure about this."
Jing Shu said, "Since we have nothing to do, why not bring me along to the Palace of the Undead?"