The master's encounter involves more than just simple physical strength.
Even the second-old, who has already wandered into demonism, still did not spare a thought.
I stared at the second elder, my eyes growing deeper, and once again a pitying look appeared in them.
This pity stemmed from within him. After all, he was a dignified representative of the spiritual realm, yet he had fallen to such a low position before me.
Equally, it also stems from one's heart and mind.
I had known all along that the more I displayed such looks and attitudes, the harder it would become for the second elder to bear, eventually reaching a breaking point.
"Put away your little tricks, this immortal will not be disturbed by you." The Second Elder coldly laughed and spoke.
"Is that true, Second Elder? Reflecting on your conscience, I used to respect you. In the midst of all the chaos at the mountain gate, you stood by Master Brother's side, originally supporting him. However, due to some of Master Brother's actions and behaviors, you have kept your distance from him." I calmly spoke.
"Master Brother will not say anything about the true essence. His guidance is not that profound. If he had given me all his knowledge, I would have crossed that great chasm long ago!" The second elder squinted his eyes slightly, with more sarcasm in them.
"So, what does he worry about? If he says that Zheng Ren has limited the development of Sigu Mountain, then doesn't he have his own limitations?" The second elder spoke in a low voice.
"Have you ever thought that the things directly pointed out by others are like moon in water and flowers in a mirror, they may look the same, but actually they are easily broken when touched?" I asked again.
In fact, this serves as a testament to a point: He You Tian does not allow the people of Sigu Mountain to use Tian Gong Spring or to use external forces to cross the chasm.
His guidance is not that profound because the best guidance comes from one's own understanding, and a partial roadmap is enough.
"What exactly do you want to convey? What are you trying to confuse? Luo Xianshen, no matter how much you say, he just has a private heart. Has he ever reserved anything for you? If he hasn't, how could your Dao be so profound and your progress so fast!" The second elder's anger was hidden again, but there was an element of injustice lingering in his eyes.
He indeed wants to contain himself, to remain calm, and to wear me down.
However, in reality, the human heart is there, and the limit of tolerance is also there.
Once he exceeds the limit again, it will be more difficult for him to control his emotions.
"Master Brother, he does have a private heart. He gave me many medicinal herbs. However, when it comes to Dao practices, he actually didn't guide me much. On the day I gained understanding of three types of thunder methods at the Thunder God Cliff, I knew that I could still gain the understanding of the fourth and fifth types. Master Brother, however, directly interrupted me."
"You know why, don't you?" I looked deeply into the Second Elder's eyes.
The Second Elder's eyes were filled with irony and mockery.
"To interrupt your understanding of thunder methods, Luo Xianshen, do you really have a clear mind? What do you want to say?"
"I'm telling you that Master Brother treats everyone equally, and even won't let anyone use Tian Gong Spring. What he learns on his own, with some guidance, is his own. Understanding too quickly can cause one to wander into demonism, and he will restrict it. Luo Xianshen," I spoke with conviction, "and Zheng Ren gave no guidance at all. Only when you needed them did they use such shoddy methods to lure you in. And you have no idea why Zheng Ren was struck by lightning and died."
"That was not because of Sun Zhuo's issue. The deeper reason is that the Fourth Rule Immortal died in Zheng Ren's hands!"
"This is a secret only I and Master Brother know!"
"Zheng Ren does not want to completely soil his reputation because he is from Sigu Mountain. He would rather die under the heavenly thunder than lose his name!"
"You are the Second Elder of Sigu Mountain, the Representative Immortal! Do you not care about your reputation? Let Sigu Mountain become a laughingstock?"
My words caused the Second Elder's face to turn pale abruptly, and his body was trembling.
He stared at me with a death grip, as if trying to discern whether my words were true or false.
"Ruo Xianshen, oh Ruo Xianshen, yes, even if I admit that what you said is true, do you think these words can make me die here? Make me commit suicide? No, it won't. No one knows how you died. He You Tian will come looking for you, and he will die here. I will take control of Sigu Mountain again! I have connections with the Yu Tai Temple, and I have a student from the White family in Wuling. The future Sigu Mountain will definitely return to the era of Teacher Ci Yi! With your assistance, the mountain gate will flourish again!" The Second Elder was very firm and resolute.
"I, wasn't asking for your suicide." I shook my head and continued, "I just want to tell you that you have the right and responsibility to maintain the dignity of Sigu Mountain. Moreover, I want to tell you that you have missed an opportunity."
"Hmm?" The Second Elder's emotions were fluctuating even more, which made it difficult for him to remain as calm as before.
"For many years, you have been treading on the threshold of a true person. When I returned to Sigu Mountain, I brought back a kind of medicinal herb called Yè Guāng Dòng Bí, one of the five wonders in Jiu Qu Shān. After taking it, one can become the Left Auditor of Tai Qing and directly achieve immortality, and even directly become a true person if taken by a true person."
"Originally, that medicinal herb was meant for choosing a senior elder. If you have no issues, you should be the one to take it. Sigu Mountain needs more immortals, and your strength will likely reach the pinnacle of immortality after taking it."
My words caused the Second Elder's breath to become incredibly heavy.
"So, He You Tian ate it?" he whispered with a death grip on his eyes.
"No, Master Brother doesn't want the power obtained through means other than his own efforts, which is why he chose a senior elder."
"Who did you choose! Or did you not choose at all!?" the Second Elder asked even more hoarsely.
"No, no one was chosen as a senior elder. Second Elder, because of your betrayal, Master Brother has always been hurt. Yè Guāng Dòng Bí was given to Si Yān, and she will become the second true person of Sigu Mountain besides Master Brother." I answered calmly.
Then he said deeply, "You missed an opportunity, the chance to become the strongest true person, simply because of Wu Ling's persuasion and misguidance. Who is the external evil you do not understand?"
The huffing and puffing of his breath caused the Second Elder's chest to rise and fall constantly, and a strong sense of dissatisfaction flashed in his eyes.
"Nonsense! Shut your mouth and do not disturb my Dao mind!" Suddenly taking a step forward, the Second Elder swung his sword violently in front of him. He was not attacking me, but rather venting his anger, leaving a long gully on the ground!
"Why disturb your Dao mind? We are all from Sigu Mountain. Sigu Mountain is our home, and I did not take the Yè Guāng Dòng Bí because Master Brother thought Si Yān was the most suitable candidate. In fact, if you had not acted so recklessly, if you had not doubted Master Brother that day and led to the monk's murder, then you would have been the one most worthy of being chosen."
"The cause of all this is not you? You can never break through the threshold of a true person, because you lack the qualifications and character. Until you die, you will only be a half-step true person, Second Elder!"
"You think my words disturb your Dao mind, but that is the truth, a fact that you can't accept."
"You weren't going to kill me, were you? When a person is about to die, their words are kind. I'm telling you everything for your own good. It can't be that you'll always be in the dark!"
"Using the words of a master who can emit ghosts, people teach others and cannot understand it. Things teach people, and to take a life to understand. You did not give your life, but you should consider that you have paid a price more important than life."
I spread my hands open, and there was more compassion in my eyes. I sighed, showing a smile, and shook my head.
Puh!
The Second Elder spat out another mouthful of blood, stretching more than two meters away!
He clutched his chest, trembling, and his cheeks turned pale.
