Chapter 257: CH. 257 | Guidance Before the Storm

Qin Ya smiled as he pressed his palms together. He and Qin Yixing were delighted to have this chance to hear teachings directly from Lin Tian, the one who had boldly driven the Yuanmo Demonic Sect out of the Qin Kingdom.

"As for your question, I can address the doubts and worries you've been carrying," Lin Tian answered. "At its core, when the power of the heavens descends to bless every living being, each of them is already granted their own rightful path."

"Cultivators refine spiritual qi to strengthen the body, empower the soul and inner energy, and use it to extend their lifespan."

"They are granted the chance to use the power of heaven and earth for a higher purpose, to grasp the ultimate truth of the Dao and immortality."

"Mortals live in a simpler world, unaware of spiritual qi or the ability to cultivate it. They live out their lives following the course of heavenly fate already set for them."

"No mortal could ever wish to defy the heavens, for that would be no different from denying life itself."

Lin Tian conjured a golden qi orb and extended it forward, laying out the concept of the two different worlds and the course each life followed within them.

A golden thread represented the life of a cultivator, while a white thread represented the life of a mortal.

He explained it all in detail using a projection of his spiritual energy, so that everyone present could understand the essence of the two different paths of fate.

"Cultivators oversee the cultivation world, kings govern the affairs of the mortal world. Since ancient times, the two have walked side by side without interfering in one another."

"But there are times when cultivators involve themselves in mortal affairs for the sake of virtue and the people's welfare. That is not entirely wrong, in fact, it reflects the truth behind the union of two different worlds."

"Even so, cultivators of the past feared that such a concept would disturb the balance of the world and provoke a terrible heavenly calamity. To guard against that, an unwritten rule was established for all cultivators to follow."

Lin Tian turned to look at Qin Ya, who sat at the table nearest to him, and asked him what he understood by the balance of heaven and earth. The man fell silent for a moment, then lifted his head and looked toward Qin Yixing.

Compared to Qin Ya, Yixing had a deeper grasp of the philosophical meaning behind the life of heaven and earth. She rose to her feet, pressed her palms together, and answered Lin Tian's question on Qin Ya's behalf.

"This junior humbly asks permission to answer, Senior Lin Tian."

"Go ahead."

"The balance of heaven and earth is the principle of honoring nature and upholding the power of the heavens, keeping the order as it should be, and ensuring heaven's law is enforced fairly and equally across the world."

Lin Tian gave a small smile and looked at Qin Yixing once more. Her answer was not wrong, for a philosophical question was never about right or wrong, but about how one grasped its true core.

"The balance of heaven and earth is preserved when every being walks and acts according to their own path."

"A merchant works by trading. A painter keeps painting and selling their work. And a cultivator... focuses on cultivation, on grasping the truth of the heavenly Dao."

"By living according to that principle, the balance of heaven and earth is maintained, and no one feels superior to or troubled by another."

Qin Ya and Qin Yixing listened closely to everything Lin Tian said. Qin Ya turned and rose to his feet, then posed a final question that caught Lin Tian off guard, though he took care to keep his composure.

"The Yuntian Reform seeks to unite every sect into a single whole, forming one powerful sect rich in history and built upon the foundations of the past."

"The Yuntian Reform also reminds us all that the time has come for the cultivation world and the mortal world to walk together on the same path of fate."

"With the power of cultivation, we can help improve the welfare of the people. And with the mortal world's support, the sect's stability is secured."

"I, Qin Ya, would like to take this opportunity to ask, does Sect Master Lin Tian agree with the concept behind our Yuntian Reform?" Qin Ya asked.

Lin Tian fell silent for a moment. Unlike him, Qin Ya, Qin Yixing, and the other kingdom elders stared at him with grave intensity, clearly wanting a definite answer as to whether he supported their plan or not.

From everything Lin Tian had said so far, neither Qin Ya nor Qin Yixing had managed to grasp his true intentions or hopes. That was why Qin Ya had dared to ask the question outright.

"From the very beginning, the Lingxian Sect has been a righteous sect, one that stands by the will of the heavens. If the will of the heavens decrees it so, then we will follow," Lin Tian answered.

"However..."

"If the will of the heavens does not decree it, then we will fight back to restore the balance of heaven and earth."

Lin Tian opened his eyes and looked toward Qin Ya, offering a friendly smile in an attempt to ease their suspicion.

"I hope my answer satisfies you."

Qin Ya and Qin Yixing smiled. Both of them expressed how much valuable insight they had gained from everything Lin Tian shared that day, and promised to carry his teachings with them in their daily lives.

The meeting drew to a close quickly. The two of them took their leave, needing to return to the capital at once, and Lin Tian nodded to see them off.

After the farewells, the retinue of the Qin Prince and Princess took flight, leaving the Lingxian Sect behind. Lin Tian let out a long breath, easing the unease in his heart for a moment.

Wu Yue arrived at the sect's main hall and found Lin Tian still seated alone at his cultivation altar.

"What happened?" Wu Yue asked.

"They came seeking guidance from me, while at the same time quietly trying to confirm where my loyalties lie," Lin Tian answered.

The man rose to his feet and walked through the main hall until he stood fully outside, gazing out over the sect's front courtyard, where his disciples were training.

"They were quite persistent earlier. But my resolve did not waver."

"What the Yuntian Sect is doing is a grave taboo in the cultivation world. Still, provoking a war against them would not be wise given the current situation," Lin Tian answered.

Wu Yue stepped closer to Lin Tian and looked out in the same direction. "Is it possible they've visited other sects as well?"

"I don't know," Lin Tian answered. "But given the Lingxian Sect's current standing, it seems we were the only ones they came to see."

"If word gets out that we've sided with them, the other sects across the Northern Wasteland will follow suit."

Lin Tian glanced toward Wu Yue. The woman was well experienced in diplomacy with other sects and with the Qin Kingdom.

But this was a critical time for the Qin Kingdom, since the Lingxian Sect's influence carried real weight in shaping how other sects saw things, especially those close to the Northern Wasteland.

"This is a critical moment. We cannot let the Lingxian Sect appear to be involved in Yuntian's plans."

"Recall every disciple enrolled in the alliance of righteous sects. Make sure none of them show any allegiance to the Qin Kingdom."

Wu Yue listened carefully to what Lin Tian had said. She pressed her palms together in a bow, then left to send her core disciples to call the others back.

Lin Tian nodded and let her go. He watched Wu Yue return to her own elder's hall, while he remained standing in front of the sect's main hall.

Hard times are coming soon. I need to strengthen my disciples' cultivation foundation.

"Yun Yun, Luo Mei, Ji Xue, the three of you, come to the main hall."

Lin Tian's voice sank straight into their minds and hearts. All three understood at once and immediately left their peaks to answer his summons.

The three women arrived and stood before Lin Tian. Looking them over, he felt fortunate to see that all three had already reached Perfect Core Formation.

"Greetings, Master Lin."

"You've already reached Perfect Core Formation. Truly impressive. I'm proud of you all," Lin Tian answered.

"Thank you for your praise, Master Lin," they answered together.

"Why have you called us here?" Yun Yun asked.

"I foresee that hard times will return to the Qin Kingdom before long. To prepare for that, I need the three of you to break through to Nascent Soul," Lin Tian explained.

"Nascent Soul? Of course I want that. I'll cultivate as hard as I can!" Ji Xue said.

"Will you need pills from my hall?" Luo Mei asked.

Lin Tian raised his hand and released a golden qi orb, sending it shooting into their foreheads and into their bodies.

Their bodies immediately lit up with a bright golden glow, and the qi flowing through their meridians surged, fast and unobstructed.

"I already stirred up the qi in Ya Fei's body. I've just done the same for the three of you," Lin Tian said. "With my understanding of breaking through realms, that golden qi orb will be a great help to you."

"Your focus should be on one thing alone. Begin closed-door cultivation, and do not come out until you have truly broken through to Nascent Soul," Lin Tian said.

"Can you do that?"

Yun Yun and the others exchanged glances, then smiled and nodded together.

"Of course. We won't disappoint you, Master Lin."