Chapter 898 - 834: Contradictory Power

Qionghua Hall, the old Daoist was suppressed in the hall, unable to move even a hair.

When Di Liuxin brought Jiang Xinyuan in, his face turned even darker, wanting to open his mouth but unable to do so.

This was naturally due to Di Liuxin’s special attention to the old Daoist.

Isn’t your tongue usually quite sharp?

Then let’s make it so you can’t say a word and see how uncomfortable you get.

It was indeed quite uncomfortable, the old Daoist was holding back a stomach full of words, his face turning red.

Jiang Xinyuan glanced at Di Liuxin, indicating, "Let him speak."

Di Liuxin’s face twitched, he’d been holding back for so long, still want to let him speak?

He knew that nothing good would come out of the old Daoist’s mouth — as soon as he opened it, neither of them would have a good time.

"I want to have a chat with Fifth Brother before going into seclusion,"

Jiang Xinyuan said.

Di Liuxin sighed and waved his hand, instantly not only allowing the old Daoist to speak, but also reducing the pressure exerted on him in the main hall.

At least the old Daoist could walk normally.

Realizing he could move, the old Daoist shook his hands and feet a little, ready to start a verbal tirade.

However, Jiang Xinyuan was not truly here to provoke discomfort, and before the old Daoist could speak, Jiang Xinyuan preemptively stated coolly,

"If you’re going to say nonsense, then I’ll ask Di Liuxin to suppress you again!"

This trick truly intimidated the old Daoist, didn’t it? He immediately went silent.

He wasn’t afraid of Di Liuxin beating him, only of being rendered speechless and immobile by Di Liuxin, which was sheer torture.

The old Daoist’s face showed considerable discomfort before he forcibly curbed the impulse to pour curses on the two of them.

"I have nothing to say to idiots."

Even so, the old Daoist’s attitude towards the two wasn’t much better.

"You pride yourself on being clever, yet you’ve fallen to this state."

Di Liuxin sneered, looking at the old Daoist trapped in the cage, a sense of disdain in his heart.

"No matter what, I’m still smarter than the lot of you."

The old Daoist looked towards the biggest fool in his mind, and laughed coldly.

Today, Jiang Xinyuan appeared more patient than the old Daoist remembered, so he went along with the flow and asked,

"Then share how exactly are you smart?"

Without hesitation, the old Daoist started to laugh coldly, "With the four of you only knowing to use people when needed and tossing them aside otherwise, clearly you’ve suffered a big loss to come seeking me out."

Even though the old Daoist didn’t know what had happened outside, he was fully aware of the antics of Di Liuxin and the others.

Jiang Xinyuan nodded honestly, though the old Daoist’s words were unpleasant, they were indeed the truth.

If everything had gone smoothly, the four of them wouldn’t have cared to bother with this old monster.

But he wasn’t here to reminisce, let alone discuss his own failures with the old Daoist.

Rather, he wanted to inquire about something in cultivation, even though he knew full well that the old Daoist wouldn’t tell them.

"Thousands of years ago, you should have been above us four, but in a moment of hot-headedness, you went to walk the path of ’Words As Law’, do you regret it?"

He pondered for a moment and then asked.

The old Daoist was taken aback at first, then his expression turned peculiar as he reassessed the other party, before laughing.

He hadn’t noticed before, but now a closer look revealed that the other party’s aura was incredibly erratic, even depressingly weak.

This amused him, revealing not just a setback but something that almost cost him half his life.

As for the reason, the old Daoist didn’t care, all that mattered was seeing the other party’s distress was enough for him.

Jiang Xinyuan’s complexion turned pale; it truly had almost cost him half his life.

Never expecting the backlash from the forbidden technique would be so severe.

Clearly, even reaching their level, the power of the rules demanded such a steep price even to borrow them.

Indeed, the thunderbolts were not just a method, but akin to a product of certain codified rules.

While representing destruction, they also encompassed devastation, and were at the same time the closest power to the origin of the path of thunder.

But it could never fully reach it, because above this power lies a name called Tribulation Thunder.

But even with just this elementary rule power, he struggled immensely to borrow it.

This couldn’t help but make him doubt his own cultivation.

At the same time, it reminded him why the old Daoist looked down upon them.

But he dared not ask too directly, the old Daoist can question that one figure, but it didn’t mean they could.

Perhaps it’s just as the old Daoist had mocked them that day.

Among the five, only he called the figure ’Master’, while the four of them always called him ’Teacher’.

He dared not take the risk, so he could only probe indirectly.

Regret?

The old Daoist laughed, "Would you believe me if I said I never regretted it?"

Both were stunned. Does he really not regret it?

To fall from the golden child of heaven to such a decrepit state.

If he had followed the same path as they did, perhaps his achievements might not be high, but at least he wouldn’t be so easily manipulated by Di Liuxin.

The old Daoist looked at the two sympathetically, shaking his head.

This indeed was what he looked down upon them the most — stupidity.

Even till today, they couldn’t see the path beyond the Divine Dao Realm, if not stupidity, then what?

There are two types of stupid cultivators, one is gifted yet dull; this kind isn’t too fearful, lacking innate talent but making it up with diligence.

The second type doesn’t even know what path they want to take, possessing talent but ultimately walking into a dead end.

Had the old Daoist’s cultivation surpassed everyone else, perhaps his words would be more convincing, but speaking in such a pathetic state, Di Liuxin couldn’t help but mock him first.

"You persist in thinking you’re right? Getting yourself into this state is right?"

"Don’t rush, let him speak, today I’m willing to listen carefully until he’s done,"

Jiang Xinyuan gestured to Di Liuxin to hold off, today he was willing to exhibit enough patience.

In the past, the four of them and the old Daoist had been at fierce odds, let alone getting along amicably, even sitting down for a decent conversation was impossible.

"Why should I tell you?"

The old Daoist’s demeanor towards the four was completely different from elsewhere, possibly a habit left over from thousands of years, notoriously liking to antagonize them.

Now, when Jiang Xinyuan wanted to hear, he no longer felt like telling.

This was particularly infuriating; Di Liuxin even thought of teaching him a lesson.

"Wait!"

Jiang Xinyuan stopped him, then performed an action that left both Di Liuxin and the old Daoist startled.

He cupped his hands in a gesture of inquiry, performing the rite of seeking the way, and his words echoed the same sentiment.

"Haven’t you always believed we were wrong? Why not give me an answer that’s convincing enough?"

"Or rather, let’s consider this a continuation of that conversation unfinished thousands of years ago!"

"Or even for the sake of shattering my Dao heart!"

"Feel free to speak, I’ll listen today."

The old Daoist glanced at him with a complex expression, blurting out involuntarily.

"Did something happen to you?"

Humans! Sometimes you don’t know pain until you hit a wall.

And if a fool suddenly comes calling, putting on an act of crying out in pain, then he likely did hit a wall.

Jiang Xinyuan sighed silently, nodding.

"Borrowing the power of the rules repeatedly, I nearly got myself destroyed in the process."

Understandably there was a backlash from the forbidden technique, but repeated usage revealed that this power was drastically opposed to him.

This was a feeling lingering in the void, and the more he used it, the more he sensed it.

For instance, Di Liuxin, being on the outside, found it hard to understand or notice the issues Jiang Xinyuan faced.

Perhaps there indeed is truth to the saying, only when you hit a wall do you feel the pain.

The old Daoist pondered, then summed it all up with a comment that was half smile half scorn.

"Do you feel that the power is not quite in harmony with yourself?"