Chapter 900: Dao State

The meaning of Ink Painting was not exhausted yet, and there was also a little disappointment.

"Only second grade, estimated to be just a divine remnant..."

His divine thought-turned-sword was now a small success. With the array-turned-sword, the array and sword were united, which was already quite profound.

He could not chop the evil fetus, but chopping the evil things under these evil fetuses was not difficult at all — even if they were "blood-related" to the Great Wilderness Evil God.

Although this was only a second-grade divine remnant, approaching the peak of the second grade, it still could not fully test the power of his divine thought sword technique.

"I don't know if I can chop off third-grade evil spirits..." Ink Painting muttered in his heart.

However, his main purpose for this trip was to save Uncle Gu; everything else was incidental.

As for this "divine remnant," he would swallow it first and refine it slowly after returning.

Ink Painting turned his head, glanced at the broken bones all over the ground, and said, "Stop pretending, get up."

The bones on the ground trembled unsteadily and reassembled into the appearance of Jian Gu, who smiled awkwardly.

Ink Painting threw a sheep horn to Jian Gu. "You did well, here's a supplement for you."

He had specially kept this, counting it as a "reward" for Jian Gu.

Jian Gu looked at the sheep horn, his body trembling. He thought, "Is this something I'm supposed to 'eat'?"

Then he looked at Ink Painting again.

He thought back to just now. He was easily held and mercilessly trampled by that powerful sheep horn evil thing, without any resistance.

And this powerful sheep horn evil thing was killed by this little ancestor with one sword, also without any resistance...

Jian Gu's heart chilled.

After not seeing him for a while, this little ancestor's strength was becoming more and more terrifying...

If he followed such a terrifying little ancestor, he should also have some courage and not act like he had never seen the world. There was nothing he couldn't eat.

Jian Gu said with gratitude, "Thank you, Young Master, for the reward!"

Ink Painting nodded and instructed, "Send me out."

Jian Gu dared not neglect and quickly said, "Yes, yes!"

Then a bloody mist filled the air, and when Ink Painting opened his eyes again, he had arrived in the Gu family's Dan Pavilion.

Gu Changhuai was lying right in front of him.

Ink Painting stood up, looked at Gu Changhuai's Yintang, flipped his eyelids, and nodded.

Fortunately, Uncle Gu had great fortune and could recognize him, otherwise, he might not have been able to overcome this hurdle so easily.

Ink Painting sighed in his heart, then looked around, confirmed there were no major problems, and then turned to leave, pushing the door open.

Ink Painting came and went quickly, striking decisive blows that were also fast. It didn't take long.

The crowd outside the door felt that Ink Painting had just gone in and came out after only the time it takes to drink several cups of tea. They couldn't help but look at each other.

Mei Xian Sheng hesitated and said, "Young Master Mo, maybe... do you still need anything for the exorcism?"

Ink Painting shook his head, "It's already exorcised."

"Exorcise... finished?"

Mei Xian Sheng's mouth fell open, his face changing color.

No, it's just finished?

He didn't use a sword, didn't burn incense, didn't wear a robe, didn't bring a heart-protecting mirror, nothing at all. He just went in empty-handed for a walk, and in this short time, it was just... finished?

Even... the hot realgar wine from not long ago was still warm.

Everyone else also had surprised expressions.

"Is little Young Master Mo not joking?"

"How could it be so fast..."

The other two cultivators from Xuanji Valley had strained expressions.

They absolutely did not believe that such a ferocious and terrifying evil could be exorcised by this young man in the time it takes to drink a few cups of tea.

This way, it made their previous attempts with setting up altars, copper coin swords, evil-averting robes, heart-protecting mirrors, burning incense, calming spirits... look like child's play.

How could they possibly believe this?

Mei Xian Sheng also didn't believe it, but facing so many "experts," this young man didn't need to lie.

He stood up and went into the room to check Gu Changhuai's injuries, and immediately his expression was one of shock:

"It's really good..."

The other Xuanji Valley cultivators also followed to check, all showing disbelief.

"Actually... actually exorcised the evil?"

They couldn't help but turn their heads to look at Ink Painting.

Ink Painting's face was still calm, the same as before, but at this moment, in the eyes of the crowd, this slender young man suddenly seemed profound and unfathomable...

Mei Xian Sheng hesitated for a long time, really wanting to ask Ink Painting how exactly he exorcised the evil, but finally endured and didn't ask.

Exorcising evil is a secret method of cultivation.

Outsiders should not rashly inquire.

It's just...

No matter how Mei Xian Sheng thought about it, he still found it hard to understand.

How could a little cultivator at the Foundation Building mid-stage exorcise a powerful evil that made him feel terrifying and helpless?

This was fundamentally unreasonable...

Perhaps it was... using some supreme treasure of the Taixu Gate?

Mei Xian Sheng frowned.

Elder Gu Hong, who had been waiting on the side, couldn't help but confirm, "Mei Xian Sheng, Changhuai...?"

Mei Xian Sheng came back to his senses, sighed, and said solemnly:

"Little Young Master Mo's divine power is truly vast. Young Master Gu should be fine..."

As soon as these words came out, the Gu family crowd seemed to be relieved of a burden, but at the same time, they had a deep sense of unreality and all turned to look at Ink Painting.

This child was becoming more and more unbelievable, making people unable to understand...

Ink Painting, however, said humbly:

"I was just lucky. This evil was actually strong on the outside and weak on the inside, not as strong as it looked. It had already been injured by Mei Xian Sheng before, so it was effortless for me to handle it. It's not that my ability is really that great."

"Oh..."

The crowd nodded vaguely, half believing and half doubting.

Mei Xian Sheng's old face turned red.

He knew that Ink Painting was giving him face.

Whether this evil was "strong on the outside and weak on the inside," how could he not be clear in his heart?

But having walked in the cultivation world, he always wanted to maintain face. Ink Painting giving him this step made him very grateful.

Mei Xian Sheng cupped his hands and said, "Where, Young Master Mo is too polite. It's still the little young master's outstanding ability..."

The two complimented each other.

Ink Painting then thought of something and said to Wenren Wan:

"Aunt Wan, the evil is gone. Uncle Gu's divine thought injury is not a big problem, but his blood energy and spirit power are still lost, especially his meridians. His spirit power is blocked. He needs to grasp the time to recuperate."

Wenren Wan nodded, "I know." Then she sighed with relief and said, "Thank you for being here..."

Ink Painting smiled.

After that, it was no longer his business. Several Dan Master Elders of the Gu family would heal Uncle Gu and help him recuperate.

Ink Painting glanced at Yu Er again, confirmed that Yu Er was sleeping soundly, then left the room and went to the courtyard to find a stone table to sit and drink tea.

Several Elders of the Gu family specially sent over several boxes of exquisite and delicious snacks for Ink Painting to have with his tea.

Ink Painting was not polite either. After thanking them, he accepted.

After drinking tea for a while, Mei Xian Sheng and several others came over together, bowed solemnly to Ink Painting, and then each sat down.

They had been busy for a long time and were just resting for a while.

Naturally, they started chatting about matters related to the divine thought path.

Because he had "friends" who were gods, Ink Painting's knowledge of the divine path was much more profound than that of general cultivators.

And Mei Xian Sheng and several others, although they had a cognitive barrier regarding the existence of "gods," had considerable research on the schools, secret inheritances, and related taboos of divine thought among cultivators.

Several people drank tea and chatted.

Mei Xian Sheng and the others marveled at Ink Painting's vision and knowledge.

Ink Painting also learned many "fancy" things, such as copper coin swords, Eight Trigrams plates, heart-protecting mirrors, spirit-calming incense, evil-averting robes, etc...

For general cultivators, these things were indeed useful.

To a certain extent, they could borrow these external things to help cultivators exorcise evil and protect themselves.

It was just that Ink Painting's situation was quite special, so they were not of much use to him.

However...

Even if he didn't use them, if in the future, the Taixu Gate faced powerful evil demons and needed to create some inheritances that could "exorcise evil and chop evil," these things could be referenced.

Ink Painting silently recorded this matter in his heart.

Indeed, one should live and learn, and in a group of three, there must be a teacher.

Ink Painting felt like he had learned new things again.

Mei Xian Sheng and the others saw that Ink Painting's talent was extraordinary and that he was kind to people, so they were also very happy.

They chatted very happily. About an hour later, Mei Xian Sheng stood up to leave, "This matter is over. We will not disturb your quiet, little friend. Another day, when we have time, we can discuss knowledge on the divine path again."

Ink Painting also said gladly, "Certainly."

After Mei Xian Sheng left, Ink Painting drank tea for a while longer, thinking he would wait and see if Uncle Gu would wake up.

But after waiting for a while, a woman in a Dao Court Si Dao robe walked in.

Ink Painting was startled, "Sister Xia?"

Xia Dian Si was also a little surprised to see Ink Painting, but her expression was still anxious, and she asked, "Ink Painting, Gu Changhuai..."

Ink Painting said, "Sister Xia, rest assured, there is no longer any danger to his life. The Gu family Elders are helping Uncle Gu recuperate."

Xia Dian Si then relaxed her breath, and her eyes flickered.

Ink Painting observed her words and expressions and secretly asked, "Sister Xia, are you so nervous about Uncle Gu?"

Xia Dian Si's body stiffened, and she said with a tight face, "We are all Dian Si, performing tasks together. He was severely injured, so I should naturally come to see him to fulfill the friendship of colleagues."

"Oh, colleagues..." Ink Painting said meaningfully.

Xia Dian Si didn't know why, but she felt very uncomfortable being looked at by Ink Painting. Then she threw down a bottle of pills, "This is the Xia family's Great Pei Yuan Dan. You can give it to Gu Changhuai for me. I still have official business and need to go back first."

Xia Dian Si turned to leave.

Ink Painting quickly shouted, "Sister Xia, wait, I still have something."

Xia Dian Si turned back and glanced at Ink Painting, "Do you really have something?"

Ink Painting nodded, "I really have something."

Xia Dian Si hesitated a little.

Ink Painting then said, "It's unrelated to Uncle Gu, it's a proper matter."

Xia Dian Si then relaxed, sat beside Ink Painting, and said, "Tell me, what is it?"

Ink Painting looked left and right, then asked in a low voice, "Sister Xia, was my hometown not sealed by the Dao Court Si's permission?"

Xia Dian Si was a little surprised, "How did you know?"

"I heard about it," Ink Painting said.

"Did you hear it from Gu Changhuai?" Xia Dian Si raised an eyebrow.

Ink Painting smiled and didn't speak.

Xia Dian Si thought for a moment, nodded, "My uncle ordered the seal."

Ink Painting was startled, "Xia Jian Cha?"

Xia Dian Si nodded.

"Why?"

"I'm not clear either... Perhaps he listened to someone's instructions, or maybe he just wanted to show favor to you, the chief of the array path?"

Ink Painting didn't understand, "Do I have such a big face?"

Xia Dian Si sighed and said, "The chief of the array path, and only at the Foundation Building mid-stage. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it either."

"Of course, my uncle doing this is also likely just following convention. Throughout the Nine Provinces, whenever a genius with astonishing talent emerges, according to the rules of the Dao Court, their hometown must be immediately sealed."

"One reason is to protect these genius disciples, for fear that they will be targeted by some evil demon outsiders..."

"There have been many cases before where evil demon outsiders threatened the parents and relatives of genius cultivators, thus forcing these genius disciples to fall and join demon sects."

"Another reason is that the Dao Court also wants to compete with the world's families for talent. In this way, the hometown must definitely be sealed, and the fewer people know, the better."

"And for someone like you, a genius array master with outstanding talent, the Dao Court must have already secretly paid attention."

Ink Painting slowly nodded.

Xia Dian Si pondered for a moment and continued:

"Your array skills are good. If I'm not mistaken, there should be a high-ranking person in the Tianji Pavilion who thinks highly of you."

"Tianji Pavilion?"

"Mm," Xia Dian Si said, "Your cultivation is still low now, so it's early for now. When your cultivation is high in the future and your realm reaches above Gold Core, and you still maintain this talent and can achieve something in array law, then the Tianji Pavilion inside should directly recruit you. The specific position will depend on your own ability..."

"So," Xia Dian Si looked at Ink Painting, her eyes full of anticipation, "You must work hard. As long as you cultivate diligently and don't go down the wrong path, your future is sure to be boundless..."

"It's even possible to reach the sky in one step, be directly recruited by the Dao Court, serve in the Tianji Pavilion, settle in Dao State, and from then on, cultivate and propagate in the center of the cultivation world."

"This is an opportunity that billions of cultivators in the Nine Provinces seek but cannot get in a lifetime."

Xia Dian Si sighed.

Ink Painting suddenly nodded, and in his heart, he couldn't help but feel a little longing.

"Dao State..."

The place occupied by the Dao Court, in the center of the Nine Provinces, where the cultivation world has prospered for twenty thousand years like a beautiful brocade.

It is also the place in the Nine Provinces of this world with the most abundant spirit stones, the deepest foundation, the most extensive collection of Dao, the longest lineage, and the heaviest authority.

But Ink Painting thought that Dao State should still be very far from him.

Thinking about it now was also useless.

There was a more important matter before his eyes.

Ink Painting asked, "Sister Xia, was Uncle Gu injured by the explosion of a Gold Core demon cultivator during the encirclement of the demon sect? What exactly happened at that time?"

"This is a matter of the Dao Court Si..." Xia Dian Si said.

Ink Painting sighed.

This Sister Xia, why was she the same as Uncle Gu, always wanting to shirk with the excuse of the Dao Court Si?

Ink Painting said, "The Dao Court Si still needs to fight against these demon sects. What if Uncle Gu falls into their trap again? This time he was saved, but next time may not be certain."

"Moreover, even if it's not Uncle Gu, the Dao Court Si still has other people. If they die at the hands of the demon sect, it's also a great loss..."

Xia Dian Si was stumped.

She hesitated for a moment, nodded, and sighed, "You are also right..."

Moreover, Gu Changhuai had told her that Ink Painting had an external bronze order from the Dao Court Si, so he was not considered an "outsider."

In addition, after the experience at the Dragon King Temple, Xia Dian Si still trusted Ink Painting very much.

She thought for a moment, then generally told Ink Painting about the demon sect:

"This demon sect is very secretive and has never revealed itself externally. We only know that they believe in a 'monster' and worship a mountain stone monster image."

"The monster feeds on flesh and blood. These demon sect cultivators also have the same bloodthirsty habits."

"Every day, they may be no different from ordinary cultivators, but behind the scenes, they raise 'blood slaves' and suck blood. Every seven days, or fourteen days, they will hold a 'blood banquet', gather people to slaughter, and greatly suck blood..."

"If they don't suck blood for a long time, they will become irritable and疯."

"There are about ten leading Gold Core demon cultivators, ranging from early Gold Core to late Gold Core. Each is ruthless and strange, with blood on their hands."

"But there should only be one late Gold Core demon cultivator, who is the 'leader' of this demon sect."

"A month ago, the Dao Court Si joined forces from all sides and had already killed one early Gold Core demon cultivator."

"This plan was to kill the second. Although there were some twists and turns and an ambush in the middle, it went smoothly. It's just that in the end, this Gold Core demon cultivator suddenly went into a violent rage, his eyes turned blood-red, and he pounced on Gu Changhuai like he had lost his mind, and also self-exploded his Gold Core..."

Xia Dian Si's expression was serious.

Ink Painting also frowned.

Worshiping a monster, feeding on blood, self-exploding a Gold Core, and still rushing towards Uncle Gu, wanting to perish with him...

Ink Painting asked again, "Sister Xia, were the bodies of those Gold Core demon cultivators somewhat strange?"

Xia Dian Si didn't understand, "Strange?"

Ink Painting thought and described, "Just like Xiao Zhenhai, they look a little evil and strange. Looking at them directly will cause pressure on your divine sense, and occasionally you will see indescribable blood color..."

Xia Dian Si frowned and recalled for a moment, then nodded, "Yes."

"Is that so..."

Ink Painting pondered.

He still wanted to ask something, when suddenly a sound came from inside the Dan Pavilion, and then a joyful voice came out. It seemed that Gu Changhuai had woken up.

Xia Dian Si suddenly felt a little uneasy and stood up, "I'll leave."

"Sister Xia," Ink Painting quickly called out to stop her, "Uncle Gu is awake, aren't you going to see him?"

"No, it's just Gu Changhuai, there's nothing good to see." Xia Dian Si turned to leave. After walking a few steps, she turned to Ink Painting and said, "In this matter of the Dao Court Si, if you have anything, you can find me for help."

Ink Painting smiled and said, "Thank you, Sister Xia."

Xia Dian Si also smiled faintly for a moment, then left.

Ink Painting stood up and went into the room.

Gu Changhuai had woken up, but he was still very weak and couldn't speak. He just looked at Ink Painting through the crowd, his gaze melancholy and complex.

Ink Painting nodded, indicating that he understood and there was no need to be polite.

Gu Changhuai then fell asleep again.

Elder Gu Hong's heart, which had been hanging, was completely relieved. She said to Ink Painting with even more gratitude:

"I don't know how to thank you... From now on, whenever you have anything, as long as I can help, I will definitely not shirk."

Ink Painting smiled and said, "I also receive a lot of care from Uncle Gu every day, this is what I should do. Elder Hong, please don't be polite."

Elder Gu Hong looked at Ink Painting and felt that the more she looked, the more pleasing he was. She thought that if there was an opportunity in the future, she would definitely find a good marriage for Ink Painting.

But as soon as this thought arose, she felt a palpitation in her heart.

That day, when she tried to arrange a marriage for Ink Painting, she suffered some terrible karmic influence, and the inch of red thread breaking and vaguely floating before her eyes appeared again.

Elder Gu Hong looked at Ink Painting deeply.

Ink Painting didn't notice anything, but took out a bottle of pills and handed them to Elder Gu Hong, "Sister Xia gave these. Give them to Uncle Gu to eat."

"Sister Xia..." Elder Gu Hong hesitated, "That girl from just now?"

"Did you see her?"

"Yes, I did."

Ink Painting thought for a moment and said in a lower voice, "Don't you think she and Uncle Gu are quite a match?"

Elder Gu Hong was startled, then her eyes lit up, but afterward, she sighed, "They are cast from the same mold, both with cold exteriors and warm interiors. One is handsome, the other is beautiful. They are quite a match, but... Changhuai is not worthy..."

Ink Painting disagreed, "How is Uncle Gu not worthy?"

Elder Gu Hong sighed and said, "That's the Xia family, a family above the fifth rank, and there is a vast chasm between them and ordinary fifth-rank families. What's more, based on our Gu family's strength, we are at most a quasi-fifth rank. If we calculate according to the formal rank, we are only a fourth rank."

Ink Painting was surprised, "Is the Xia family that powerful?"

Elder Gu Hong's eyes were serious, "This kind of ancient family doesn't know how many old monsters are hidden, their foundation is terrifyingly deep, and the water inside is deep and cannot be seen to the bottom. What you can see is at most only the tip of the iceberg."

Ink Painting clicked his tongue, but thought about it and still said, "If fate arrives, it's hard to say."

Elder Gu Hong sighed, "I hope so."

Ink Painting nodded, "Mm."

Elder Gu Hong silently looked at Ink Painting again. She thought that this child was still eagerly trying to set up others, but his own marriage was likely to be extraordinary.

In the future, who knows how many difficult obstacles and vast chasms there would be...

But she kept these words in her heart and didn't say them out.

Gu Changhuai woke up, and Ink Painting was also relieved.

The Gu family gave Ink Painting a lot of gifts as a reward.

Ink Painting originally didn't want to accept them.

This matter was just a simple favor, and he had already received the real "reward." Besides, he received a lot of care from the Gu family every day.

Wenren Wan persuaded him, "If you don't take them, the entire Gu family will feel uneasy."

Ink Painting had no choice but to reluctantly accept.

Sometimes, being too close to others also has its drawbacks. A group of people rushed to give him gifts, and he couldn't refuse.

After receiving a pile of gifts, Ink Painting returned to the Taixu Gate.

After returning to the sect, the first thing Ink Painting did was to go into seclusion in the disciple residence and sink his divine sense into his sea of consciousness.

Soon, it was Zi Shi, and the Dao Stele appeared.

Ink Painting then took out the divine remnant that he had drawn from Uncle Gu's sea of consciousness and refined after killing it.

Divine remnants were different from ordinary evils.

Even if they were chopped, they contained the origin of an evil god and could not be swallowed casually, otherwise, they would contaminate his own divine soul.

Ink Painting used the tribulation thunder on the Dao Stele to erase and "disinfect" this divine remnant.

Then, as expected, dazzling golden divine marrow was refined.

Ink Painting was overjoyed.

These days, his divine marrow had been used up quickly, and he hadn't seen any "income." Now he finally had a harvest.

Ink Painting no longer hesitated and swallowed the divine marrow into his belly.

Instantly, his divine thought incarnation permeated his limbs and bones, as if nourished by sweet dew. It gradually became stronger again, and the gold inside his divine thought body also became purer.

The tiny wounds on his divine thought healed a part.

The fusion with the origin of Taixu and his divine soul also became more thorough.

And his divine thought Daoization realm was also climbing step by step.

To the extent that Ink Painting couldn't help but think, if he could find a way to keep killing and eating divine remnants like this, like this...

Perhaps it wouldn't be long before he could break through the bottleneck of the Tianyan Jue and reach the late Foundation Building stage.

Even the origin of Taixu and his life soul would fuse quickly, and the progress of his Chop God Sword would also advance by leaps and bounds day by day...