Chapter 371: Tasting Bitter Water

Ning Zhuo shook his head, "That's not appropriate. Many people know I need these now. If these cultivated treasures were stolen, they'd suspect me first."

Sun Lingtong shrugged, "Then I'll just clean out their stashes directly, won't I?"

Ning Zhuo sighed deeply, "Stealing right under the nose of Nascent Soul cultivators carries a very high risk."

"But if there's truly no other way, that's all we can do."

"Never mind that for now. Big Brother, please protect me."

Sun Lingtong nodded repeatedly, "Little Zhuo, go ahead and cultivate. I'm watching over you."

Ning Zhuo then took a few steps forward, arriving beneath the Spirit Concealing Willow.

The Spirit Concealing Willow seemed to sense Ning Zhuo, and its branches lightly brushed his face a few times again.

Ning Zhuo smiled slightly, feeling the willow's welcome, "Willow, oh willow, you missed me after just a few days?"

"This time, I'll need your strength again to help me taste the bitter water."

"Only by becoming stronger can I provide you with a better environment."

Sun Lingtong chuckled, "My little brother, you're quite amusing. What are you talking about with a willow tree? Hurry up and drink the water."

Ning Zhuo turned back to look at Sun Lingtong, "Big Brother, the first time I saw this willow, I felt a strong sense of familiarity. I just naturally communicate with it."

"Perhaps it's because I cultivate the Sutra of Emancipation of Souls through Fire Cremation, which makes me feel that all things have spirits. Something like the Spirit Concealing Willow, which can enlighten our wisdom, must have even greater spirituality."

"It's just that it has no mouth or nose, so it can't speak or gesticulate."

"To be honest, every time I talk to it like this, my mind involuntarily calms down."

Sun Lingtong shrugged, "Well, that's not bad. Consider it your personal method for adjusting your cultivation state, Little Zhuo."

Ning Zhuo said no more, took out a futon, and sat down cross-legged.

He then took out a small jade bottle containing a small amount of bitter water.

Ning Zhuo adjusted his breath for a moment, bringing his state to complete calm. His heart lake was placid, like an ancient well, and his thoughts were clear.

Ning Zhuo removed the stopper and slowly poured the bitter water into his mouth.

The moment the bitter water entered his mouth, Ning Zhuo found the bitterness indescribable!

This bitterness was not limited to taste; it struck directly at the depths of his soul. His throat burned, and his soul let out an unbearable wail.

As the bitter water slid down his throat, it seemed to transform into a cold current, rapidly spreading throughout his body. Ning Zhuo felt a chill quickly spreading from his stomach to his limbs, bringing with it a sense of coldness and trembling he had never experienced before.

His heartbeat quickened fiercely, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his body involuntarily trembled slightly.

Various sins began to surface in his mind, images of people he had hurt or owed, images of the mistakes he had made.

The three ghosts of the Huang family, Ning Zhanji, Ning Ji, Ning Ze, Ning Xiaohui, Zhu Xuanji, Meng Chong, the Black Wind Tiger Demon, the Deputy Mountain Fox God, Lin Shanshan…

The memories were so clear, every detail vivid, making it impossible for him to avoid or escape.

He began to hear whispers and cries in his ears, voices he had once ignored, the regrets and guilt from the depths of his heart speaking out.

An invisible pressure enveloped his entire body, as if countless hands were pulling at his soul, trying to drag him into the abyss of endless sin.

Sun Lingtong saw Ning Zhuo's face twisted in extreme pain after drinking the bitter water, and tears quickly streamed from the corners of his tightly shut eyes.

Sun Lingtong gritted his teeth, only daring to call out in his heart, "Little Zhuo!"

He was extremely worried, his fists clenched, but he could only fret helplessly, unable to offer any assistance.

But the next moment, he heard Ning Zhuo let out a cold snort.

Under the Spirit Concealing Willow, the white-robed youth's expression was as cold as ice. The previous pain and distortion seemed to have been frozen and killed.

Ning Zhuo slowly opened his eyes, his gaze incredibly firm.

He scoffed inwardly, "All things in heaven and earth naturally compete. The path of cultivation, seemingly vast with its many arts, is in reality just one path."

"That is the path of victory!"

"Whether it's the orthodox path, the demonic path, or the devil path, strength comes first. Only with sufficient strength will people be kind to me and speak to me with pleasant expressions, discussing rules and reason."

"If I were strong enough, I would have woken my mother on Fiery Persimmon Mountain long ago. Why would I need to rush around like this now?"

"Only by strengthening my power is the prerequisite and foundation. How can mere bitter water shake my resolve!"

"Only by moving forward, not caring about minor details, and constantly striving for victory, is my path to success, Ning Zhuo's path!"

People are different.

Facing hardship and poverty, everyone's feelings, choices, and expressions are different.

There is a part of people who draw strength from hardship and difficulty, constantly strengthening their own power. They never waver in their resolve, believing that everything is just temporary difficulty. As long as they are determined, even the biggest problems are just a test in life.

Although Ning Zhuo is only sixteen years old, his growth experience has been incredibly suppressed. He was harshly treated, he had to constantly disguise himself, he had to endure his mother's distance, he had to undergo trials under Sun Lingtong's guidance, and he had to rack his brains to figure out how to deal with opponents at the Golden Core and Nascent Soul levels.

And he himself was merely at the Qi Refinement stage!

Bitter Cold Sutra...

Han Zhou clearly stated that this is a scripture that draws strength from bitter cold to strengthen oneself and ultimately achieve self-salvation.

Hasn't Ning Zhuo been constantly saving himself throughout his sixteen years?

Han Zhou was quite right about one thing - Ning Zhuo is very much in line with the true meaning of the Bitter Cold Sutra.

The protection of the Myriad Buddha Heart Devil Seal is only on the surface. Ning Zhuo's true nature is like this!

No matter how poor and humble I am, no matter how external enemies are like mountains and skies, they cannot suppress my will, cannot crush my intent.

I only see all this as a whetstone, a quagmire where a dormant dragon awaits its rise.

A treasured sword's edge comes from grinding, and plum blossoms' fragrance comes from bitter cold!

So-called bitter cold is nothing but a gift from life.

And this bitter water, if you taste it carefully, seems to have a bit of sweetness at the end.

Ning Zhuo not only stabilized his mind, but also further tempered his resolve through this experience.

The true meaning contained within the bitter water flowed like a mighty river in his heart.

Frostbite Fist, Old Cold Leg, Suffering Body, Selling Labor, Pouring Bitter Water... Ning Zhuo quickly learned the essence of various martial arts.

Once the essence was grasped, he applied it to himself, and it was natural and unimpeded!

After Ning Zhuo finished his cultivation and stood up, Sun Lingtong immediately stepped forward and inquired about his condition.

Ning Zhuo's eyes shone, his disposition had undergone a transformation, and he was completely refreshed and high-spirited, "Big Brother, I'm doing very well now."

He turned back to look at the Spirit Concealing Willow.

On the Spirit Concealing Willow, only half a branch showed signs of wilting.

The difficulty of the bitter water lay not in comprehension, but in how to endure the soul's questioning and impact, how to stabilize one's resolve, and smooth out all negative emotions.

Sun Lingtong examined Ning Zhuo and said with some surprise, "I feel like you've changed a bit too."

"How did the bitter water taste?"

Just as Ning Zhuo was about to answer, Sun Lingtong immediately reached out to stop him, "Don't tell me, I'll taste it myself. Hehehe!"

"I'm really looking forward to it," Sun Lingtong rubbed his hands, his eyes narrowed in a smile.

"Big Brother, I'll protect you." Ning Zhuo left the futon and gave his spot to Sun Lingtong.

Sun Lingtong drank the bitter water, and his expression also changed dramatically.

"Big Brother, hang in there!" Ning Zhuo silently cheered him on.

Sun Lingtong didn't disappoint him and quickly calmed his expression.

After a moment, he slowly opened his eyes, his face filled with disappointment, "Little brother, this Han Zhou is not honest, he calculated against you!"

"These martial arts themselves are built on the foundation of the Suffering Body."

"Frostbite Fist, Old Cold Leg, and so on, all require bitter cold energy to be emitted from within. You first inflict pain on yourself, and then deal with the enemy."

"The more the Suffering Body is struck, the stronger it becomes. But neither you nor I have bitter cold energy; unless we specialize in cultivating the Bitter Cold Sutra, we won't have such magic power and true energy."

Ning Zhuo nodded, "That's right."

"My Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art cultivates Five Elements magic power. It's impossible to let Five Elements magic power penetrate deep into the body and into every joint. This would greatly damage my physical body. Although it could increase the power of punches and kicks, it's not worth it."

"But Big Brother, you seem to have forgotten that I cultivate three arts simultaneously. Five Elements magic power is only in my Qi Sea, but in my Essence Sea is the essence and blood power of the Demonic Contamination Bloodline Art."

Sun Lingtong slapped his head, "Haha, I forgot about that. Who told you to always use Five Elements magic power against enemies recently?"

Ning Zhuo smiled.

He had already grasped the essence of the Bitter Cold Sutra's martial arts and conceived various martial arts suitable for the Demonic Contamination Bloodline Art, waiting only to secretly practice them and give others a surprise someday in the future.

Little Competition Peak, Training Ground.

Ning Zhuo arrived as scheduled and met with Han Zhou.

As soon as they met, Han Zhou asked if he had drunk the bitter water.

Ning Zhuo replied that he had drunk a sip and gained some insights, and requested guidance today.

Han Zhou, with a look of surprise, sparred with Ning Zhuo.

Although Ning Zhuo did not display any specific martial arts, he had better ways of dealing with Han Zhou's Frostbite Fist, Old Cold Leg, and even the Suffering Body. He was no longer as clumsy as before and appeared quite composed.

After the sparring ended, Han Zhou said in surprise, "Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo, you have already gained considerable understanding of my various martial arts and have thoroughly grasped them. It seems you have gained a lot from drinking the bitter water!"

Ning Zhuo smiled, "This is thanks to Brother Han Zhou's generosity in giving it to me."

Han Zhou carefully observed Ning Zhuo's expression and appearance, seeing his spirit shining brightly, and was even more amazed. On the surface, he waved his hand and said, "It is you who are qualified to use such a thing."

"Many cultivators, no matter how strong their combat power or how high their cultivation, are not worthy of using this bitter water."

"I am now certain that Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo is not only exceptionally intelligent, but also has astonishingly firm resolve."

Ning Zhuo humbly replied a few words and took out two Enlightenment Diagrams.

These were precisely the Frosty Figure and the Proud Snow Figure.

"Brother Han Zhou, you gave me bitter water before, and I should repay you."

"These two Enlightenment Diagrams come from my Ning family and contain two ice and snow spells. You can borrow them to study."

"I also have a good understanding of the Bitter Cold Sutra. Using bitter cold magic power to cast ice and snow spells is also quite effective."

Han Zhou was stunned for a moment before slowly reaching out and taking the two diagrams.

Please remember: m.badaoge.net