Chapter 645: Master, I Have Enlightened

Chapter 645: Master, I Have Achieved Enlightenment

Hearing Bai Zhenzhen's question, the God of Seven Emotions replied dismissively, "Zhang Yu might not even be able to defeat Tian Shenggong, let alone Kuang Tianqing."

"Kuang Tianqing has secured the backing of eight veteran Nascent Soul elders from the Four Demonic Schools; when it comes to investing in this year's competitors, it would be exceedingly difficult for other schools to surpass her in this regard."

"After all, it is impossible to find another eight Nascent Soul cultivators willing to support the same contestant and the same immortal sect technique."

"Moreover, for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to reach Kuang Tianqing's current level, or even close the gap by a fraction, requires a colossal investment of resources. For other students to catch up with her, it is absolutely not something that can be achieved by simply throwing in some money."

"Furthermore, the three Nascent Soul elders of Wanfa University are likely not of one mind, to say nothing of uniting the Nascent Soul elders from other schools to support Zhang Yu."

The God of Seven Emotions sighed, "So now, every Nascent Soul elder is pondering what to do after Kuang Tianqing wins the championship. How to use her as a chessboard for their power struggles? By then, all manner of coercion, bribery, force, and manipulation... who knows how many schemes will be deployed."

Bai Zhenzhen gave a slight nod at his words, yet she could not help but say, "But if I can take first place, I would have the chance to choose that immortal sect sword art, which could make up for the current shortcomings of the Extreme Emotion Sword Path, wouldn't it?"

Bai Zhenzhen still remembered the God of Seven Emotions once mentioning the founder of the Extreme Emotion Sword Path, the Extreme Emotion Sword Immortal. Besides the Extreme Emotion Sword Path, this senior of the Heavenly Sword Sect had created another technique that could remedy the current state of the Extreme Emotion Sword Path, which had fallen from immortal sect grade to military grade.

The God of Seven Emotions was slightly taken aback and said, "I didn't expect you to still be dwelling on this matter."

"I have just said so much."

"Even though the chance of defeating Kuang Tianqing is so infinitesimally low."

"Even though the pressure to face after taking first place would be so overwhelmingly great."

"You still wish to defeat her?"

Bai Zhenzhen nodded, her voice resolute, "Master, I have climbed the path of immortality for so long, and having painstakingly reached this step today, I finally have the opportunity to cross swords with a pinnacle figure like Kuang Tianqing."

"How could I not try to defeat her?"

"Having finally found a chance to complete the Extreme Emotion Sword Path, how could I not try to seize this opportunity?"

Bai Zhenzhen took a deep breath and said, "This might be the only chance in my entire life to acquire that immortal sect sword art, isn't it?"

After all, Bai Zhenzhen knew that the reward of freely choosing an immortal sect technique from the Daoist Canon catalog was highly likely a one-time offer for this tournament alone; in the future, even without a formidable rival like Kuang Tianqing, winning first place would no longer grant the privilege of selecting an immortal sect technique.

As she finished speaking, Bai Zhenzhen smiled again, "Besides, if I win the championship, Master, you would surely protect me, wouldn't you?"

Though he did not believe his disciple could defeat Kuang Tianqing, the God of Seven Emotions still said indifferently, "If you can truly take first place and secure the opportunity to choose an immortal sect technique, I will naturally protect you with all my might."

"After all, pushing the Extreme Emotion Sword Path back to the immortal sect grade someday is the greatest wish of my life."

Pausing slightly, the God of Seven Emotions continued, "Since you wish to contend with Kuang Tianqing, the next seven days are all the more crucial."

"Within these seven days, the possibility of elevating your strength once more is minuscule, but it is not impossible to continue enhancing your combat power."

"Just as swordsmen of old, before going to battle, would undergo a series of rituals such as fasting, burning incense, and bathing to adjust their physical and mental state, allowing them to unleash one hundred and twenty percent of their power the moment they draw their swords."

"Over the next seven days, you too can accumulate your sword momentum through a series of preparations, pushing the power of your impending strike beyond its absolute limit."

Bai Zhenzhen's eyes flickered at his words, and she asked, "Can I do that too?"

The God of Seven Emotions replied, "The Extreme Emotion Sword Path, and indeed the techniques of the Extreme Emotion Sword Immortal's lineage, operate precisely this way; the state of one's spirit can influence the interference with matter."

"And having cultivated the Extreme Emotion Sword Path to your current realm, you should understand even more clearly... only one with deep emotions can strike a sword devoid of emotion."

"Your desire to rely on memories and illusions to stimulate your potential cannot be called wrong."

"But the reason you can achieve this stems from your own emotional bond with Zhang Yu."

"You must seek strength from emotion, from being moved, using emotion to drive the emotionless."

Bai Zhenzhen nodded at his words and said, "I get it, Master. You mean that eating shit stimulates the taste buds because one usually eats enough sugar. If you eat shit every day, there's no stimulating effect, so you need to eat more sugar to make the effect of eating shit stronger."

The God of Seven Emotions fell silent for a moment before saying, "If that is how you choose to understand it, I have nothing more to say."

Meanwhile, Bai Zhenzhen had already begun to ponder, "Seeking strength from emotion, from being moved..."

She could not help but recall many memories of herself and Zhang Yu, thinking of all the little things they had experienced together from their first year of high school until now.

And for some unknown reason, the scene that ultimately lingered in her heart was the day Zhang Yu took her to the dark tutoring base for the very first time.

At this moment, Bai Zhenzhen still remembered the joy of her first successful trial class and receiving a high salary. She remembered the frustration of discussing apartment rentals while on Zhang Yu's back. She remembered the feeling of facing the morning sun together with Zhang Yu, filled with longing for the future.

She remembered even more vividly her panic when her spiritual root entered Zhang Yu's body for the first time that day, and the naive innocence of their first spiritual root exchange...

Thinking of this, Bai Zhenzhen subconsciously touched her abdomen, feeling the Yu spiritual root pulsing in her dantian at this very moment.

The Yu spiritual root and the Zhen spiritual root were the proof of the friendship between her and Zhang Yu. "I gave my most important thing to Yuzi, and Yuzi gave his most important thing to me without reservation."

"If this matter were ever made public, it would absolutely be a headline news story that moves the entire Kunxu."

Thinking of this, a trace of pride appeared on Bai Zhenzhen's face as she thought to herself, "Let alone the whole Kunxu, among all the past practitioners of the Extreme Emotion Sword Path, how many could ever receive such profound emotion? Obtain such a bond?"

Seeming to sense the emotional shift within Bai Zhenzhen, the God of Seven Emotions continued, "It seems you have found the right method."

"But the human spirit and emotions are constantly changing at every moment."

"Therefore, predecessors invented and created many methods to stabilize their state, allowing their bodies to remember this state and this feeling for a longer time."

Bai Zhenzhen said, "I understand. The burning of incense, bathing, and fasting you just mentioned are such methods."

"Through a series of actions, to fortify one's spirit and harmonize one's physical and mental state."

"Then what is the method suitable for me?"

The God of Seven Emotions sighed and said, "A long time ago, making vows was quite effective. But nowadays, according to current research, the method currently suitable for practitioners of the Extreme Emotion Sword Path... is making a bank transfer, and noting 'voluntary gift' in the remarks while doing so."

Although a hint of distaste leaked into his tone, the God of Seven Emotions continued, "In this era, gifting spirit coins represents an emotion that is entirely unreserved and seeks nothing in return. And the more you transfer, the deeper the emotion invested. It can effectively fortify emotions and harmonize the physical and mental state of Extreme Emotion Sword Path practitioners."

Bai Zhenzhen's eyes shifted as she murmured, "That makes sense. The more you transfer, the more moved you become, and the better you remember the emotions in your heart."

"Master... was this the reason you limited my daily transfer quota?"

"Then now, can you lift my transfer restrictions?"

Thus, a moment later, Bai Zhenzhen transferred the remaining fifty-plus spirit coins in her account to Zhang Yu, leaving a remark.

But having done all this, Bai Zhenzhen shook her head and said, "To participate in the Top Ten League, I exchanged for a military-grade magic skeleton and a military-grade flying sword, plus all sorts of other miscellaneous expenses, so I hardly have any money left."

"Merely transferring these fifty-plus spirit coins has too weak an effect on fortifying my emotions."

"Compared to my account balance, the vast majority of my assets are on my person."

"But if I were to sell off the things on me for spirit coins and transfer them over, it would greatly weaken my own strength. How could I then fight Kuang Tianqing?"

Thinking of this, a sudden flash of resolve appeared in Bai Zhenzhen's eyes, and she pulled up a document in her eye socket—it was a will.

Bai Zhenzhen was heard murmuring, "In this battle against Kuang Tianqing, without the resolve to risk my life and wager most of my assets... success is impossible."

In Bai Zhenzhen's mind emerged the scene from the first team battle, where Zhang Yu risked his life to fiercely engage Kuang Tianqing.

"In this battle against Kuang Tianqing, if I die in combat, I'm afraid I won't have the money to resurrect myself."

"So, my upper body, according to the investment shares, will be left to you to handle, Master."

"But my lower body, I want to leave to Zhang Yu."

Watching this scene, the God of Seven Emotions said, "Good disciple, I can feel your all-or-nothing conviction."

"Both the emotions in your heart and your resolve for this battle have been gradually adjusted to an increasingly optimal state."

"For your upcoming battle against Kuang Tianqing, your chance of victory is no longer zero."

Bai Zhenzhen laughed heartily and said, "What is my chance of victory now?"

The God of Seven Emotions said, "Ten percent."

...

Within the somber stillness of the mourning hall.

A sudden notification chimed, alerting Zhang Yu to a transfer of funds from Bai Zhenzhen.

Gazing at the sum of fifty-odd spirit coins now in his account, Zhang Yu could not help but pause in mild bewilderment. "What has come over Zhen?" he murmured.

He messaged her to ask what this was all about, only to receive a cryptic reply: it was for the cultivation method of the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao...

After listening to Bai Zhenzhen's brief explanation, Zhang Yu had to concede that the transfer did, in fact, make a certain amount of sense.

The conversation then shifted, as Bai Zhenzhen brought up the matter of her last will and testament.

Bai Zhenzhen: Yu, this iteration of the Top Ten League is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Bai Zhenzhen: And Kuang Tianqing is the one adversary I have yearned to defeat above all others in my life thus far.

Bai Zhenzhen: For the battle that lies ahead, I shall pour every last ounce of my strength into the fray.

Bai Zhenzhen: Yet should I fall in battle and transform into a soul cultivator, I leave the lower half of my mortal remains for you to dispose of; remember to claim them the very moment it is done.

(End of Chapter)