Chapter 78 ·Whether Demon or Not, Whether Righteous or Not, Heaven and Earth Have Their Own Feng Jiuge!

In ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the courtyard, Zhou A’niu sensed the movement and quickly jumped down from the green stone, bowing respectfully.

“Master.”

Nether ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Soul nodded, his divine sense sweeping over him.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Primordial Unity One Qi Dao Scripture was circulating steadily, his aura solid, his foundation well established.

Two ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍years—from a mortal to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

At ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍such a speed, he would be considered a genius in any sect.

But this cultivation method itself did not discriminate based on spiritual root aptitude. As long as one had the heart to pursue the Dao, one could advance rapidly.

Zhou A’niu had nothing else, except sincerity.

When told to cultivate, he cultivated honestly, which instead aligned perfectly with the essence of this technique.

Nether Soul withdrew his divine sense and looked at him.

“A’niu.”

“This disciple is here.”

“I plan to give you a new name. What do you think?”

Zhou A’niu froze for a moment, then his eyes lit up.

“A new name? Really, Master?”

He scratched his head, smiling a little sheepishly.

“To be honest, I’ve long felt that the name A’niu doesn’t sound very good… Back in the village, everyone called me that, so it didn’t matter.”

“But now that I’ve entered the sect, it always feels a bit… a bit…”

He struggled for a long time but couldn’t find the right word.

Nether Soul supplied it for him: “Rustic?”

Zhou A’niu nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, yes, exactly rustic!”

Nether Soul’s expression did not change, but inwardly he thought: This boy at least has some self-awareness.

“Then do you wish to change your name?”

“Yes!” Zhou A’niu answered without hesitation. “If Master can give me a nice name, that would be wonderful!”

Nether Soul stood with his hands behind his back, gazing toward the distant horizon, pondering for a moment.

“In that case, from now on, you shall be called—Feng Jiuge.”

Zhou A’niu murmured, “Feng Jiuge… Feng Jiuge…”

His eyes grew brighter and brighter, and finally he grinned. “Master, this name sounds great! Then from now on, I’ll be called Feng Jiuge!”

Nether Soul looked at his foolishly delighted expression and slightly nodded.

Zhou A’niu—now Feng Jiuge—after a while, suddenly remembered something and asked:

“Master, does this name have any special meaning?”

Nether Soul spoke slowly, “The phoenix is an ancient divine bird. It does not perch unless it is on a parasol tree, does not eat unless it is refined fruit, and does not drink unless it is from a sweet spring.”

“What does that mean?” Feng Jiuge looked confused.

“It means it’s very picky,” Nether Soul said.

Feng Jiuge nodded as if understanding.

Nether Soul continued, “As for ‘Nine Songs,’ it is an ancient divine melody. Heaven, earth, humans, and gods all have their songs. Nine is the extreme of numbers, and song is the voice of the heart.”

“So that means…”

“So that means the name means you’re picky and can sing.”

Feng Jiuge: “……”

Was Master praising him?

Why did it sound a bit strange?

Nether Soul ignored his confusion.

“Today, I will gift you a poem.”

Feng Jiuge immediately perked up his ears.

Nether Soul slowly recited:

“Fate is decreed by heaven, yet I defy it.”

“With song I shatter destiny; freedom is mine alone.”

“Heaven and earth are but cages, all beings but straw dogs.”

“My heart is free, unique through all eternity.”

He paused, his gaze falling upon Feng Jiuge.

“Whether demon or not, whether righteous or not, heaven and earth have their own Feng Jiuge.”

Feng Jiuge stood frozen in place.

Most of the words, he did not quite understand.

Straw dogs, eternity, demon or not, righteous or not.

But for some reason, as he listened, a surge of heat suddenly rose in his chest.

As if something within him was stirring.

He murmured, “Whether demon or not, whether righteous or not, heaven and earth have their own Feng Jiuge…”

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

He repeated it countless times, until suddenly he lifted his head.

At this moment, the layer of honest dullness in his eyes seemed to fade somewhat.

In its place was something indescribable.

Nether Soul watched this scene without surprise.

Names, in the mortal world, were merely forms of address.

But on the path of cultivation, sometimes a name was a mark.

A mark that constantly reminded a cultivator who they were, and who they wanted to become.

In this world, many cultivators, as they cultivated, gradually forgot who they were.

They forgot why they set foot on this path, and what kind of person they wanted to become.

A name that constantly reminded oneself was sometimes more important than a cultivation technique.

Feng Jiuge came back to his senses and looked at Nether Soul, his gaze already somewhat different from before.

“Master, this disciple will remember.”

Nether Soul nodded.

“No matter what kind of person you wish to become in the future, you only need to follow your own heart and act.”

“The righteous path or the demonic path—those are merely definitions made by others.”

“You only need to ask yourself whether you wish to walk this path.”

Feng Jiuge took a deep breath and bowed solemnly.

“This disciple will remember Master’s teachings.”

Nether Soul waved his hand.

“That’s enough. Continue cultivating.”

“Yes!”

......

Ten years passed in a flash.

To mortals, it was already one-seventh of a lifetime, enough for a child to grow into a refined youth.

To cultivators, it was merely the time of a few seclusions and moments of enlightenment.

In these ten years, Nether Soul’s main body, Gu Yan, steadily advanced in cultivation, breaking through a minor realm every three years. Now, he had reached the Fifth Layer of the Fusion Realm.

As for this incarnation, eight years ago he adjusted his apparent cultivation to the mid-stage Golden Core, and five years ago to the late-stage Golden Core.

Three years ago, he went out traveling, found an uninhabited place, and pretended to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm.

Now that he had returned to the sect, the timing was just right.

Azure Wave Sect, Sect Master Hall.

Su Wanyue looked at the pile of jade slips before her, stacked like a small mountain, and rubbed her brow.

Sect affairs, disciple disputes, resource allocation, diplomatic exchanges…

Every single matter required her review.

She had not refined a single pill for three whole years.

For an alchemy fanatic, this was more unbearable than death.

But there was no choice. With no Nascent Soul cultivator overseeing the sect, she, a late-stage Golden Core Sect Master, had to shoulder everything.

Only after the two ancestors passed did she realize how easy life was when there was someone above her.

Now…

“Report, Sect Master, Elder Nether Soul requests an audience.”

Su Wanyue was stunned.

Nether Soul?

Hadn’t that boy gone out traveling?

She quickly said, “Let him in.”

Moments later, Nether Soul stepped in and saluted. “Disciple Nether Soul greets Sect Master.”

Su Wanyue’s gaze fell upon him. With a sweep of her divine sense, she immediately froze.

Nascent Soul!

That aura was solid and steady—clearly at the early-stage Nascent Soul!

She stood stunned for quite a while before recovering, a genuine smile appearing on her face.

“Good, good, good!”

Three consecutive praises expressed all her emotions.

Su Wanyue stood up and walked to Nether Soul, looking him up and down, her eyes filled with relief.

“When I accepted you as my disciple, you were only a mortal with some aptitude. In just how many years, you have already stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm.”

“This disciple was fortunate,” Nether Soul said.

Su Wanyue shook her head. “On the path of cultivation, there is no such thing as fortune. It is your own opportunity and ability.”

As she spoke, she let out a long breath, as if setting down a heavy burden.

“Now that you have returned, I can finally relax a bit.”

Her words were direct.

But she no longer cared.

Only she knew how she had endured these years.

Busy from the moment she opened her eyes until she closed them, without even time to meditate, let alone refine pills.

“I will convene a sect assembly at once,” Su Wanyue said.

Nether Soul was slightly startled. “Sect Master means?”

Su Wanyue looked at him, her gaze calm. “To pass the position to you.”

“……”

“Sect Master, please reconsider.”

Nether Soul still said the customary line.

Su Wanyue waved her hand. “No need to reconsider. Prepare yourself. Tomorrow, we meet at the deliberation hall.”

RelatedRelatedRelated