Checking In for Sixty Years, From Puppet Emperor to Heavenly Emperor – Chapter 50

Ch 50: Cultivating the Dao is Cultivating the Heart

After three rounds of wine, Drunken Taoist asked about the circumstances of leaving Hundred Flowers Valley back then. Zhou An only said that he and Hua Wuyue entered the Ten Thousand Demons Forest together, obtained some fortuitous encounters, and the Divine Wood Sword was destroyed, but because of this, he obtained the Zhu Fruit, and his cultivation greatly increased.

“Your luck is really too good, you encountered all these good things. If it weren’t for the immortal herbs left by our predecessors, no one would have encountered these good things for a hundred years.” Drunken Taoist sighed.

“That’s also thanks to Senior for taking me there, otherwise I wouldn’t have had this opportunity.” Zhou An laughed loudly, raised his cup, and toasted Drunken Taoist.

After the two drank, Zhou An asked, “Senior, how is the Righteous-Demonic War preparing? Why hasn’t there been any movement for so long?”

“Among the Eight Oddities, they all call me Old Drunkard, so you don’t need to call me Senior so formally in the future.” Drunken Taoist waved his hand, quite casual about the address. After taking a sip of wine and exhaling the alcohol fumes, he said, “Who said there’s no movement? Both sides have already fought many times, and they are all testing each other.”

“Then what’s the result?” Zhou An asked.

“Alas, when Hundred Flowers Lady was undergoing her tribulation, she was induced by the Purple River Demon Lord to develop a Heart Devil, causing her to enter the Demonic Path. I didn’t expect that she would also join the Demonic Path this time. In addition, there are several reclusive Demon Heads who have appeared, so the situation is very unfavorable to us. That’s why the Sect Leader asked me to invite the Eight Oddities to come out of the mountain.”

“Although we are the Eight Oddities, we basically manage our own affairs, and we don’t have much friendship. It’s too difficult to invite them, so I’m counting on you to help, Little Friend.” Drunken Taoist said helplessly.

Zhou An smiled confidently. Although most of the Righteous Path cultivators think highly of themselves and look down on mortals, they cannot deny the efforts they have made to protect ordinary people.

If it weren’t for the Righteous Path resisting the Demonic Path, humans might have died out long ago.

As an Emperor, he must be able to rationally view the people of the world, so this time, killing five hundred middle and low-level cultivators was to deter the cultivators of the world, letting them know that the Emperor is not someone they can easily manipulate.

And the cultivators who hijacked the execution ground were let go because their achievements were recognized, and the world needs them. Now, Zhou An has no way to deter the demons of the world with his own strength, so this time, both publicly and privately, he must help the Righteous Path.

After the two had their fill of food and drink, Drunken Taoist flew him towards Ethereal Mountain.

This Ethereal Mountain is a snow mountain in a remote mountain range. In the middle of the snow peak is a super-large ice lake. The Eight Oddities built pavilions and lived in the mountain walls, caves, and snowfields around this ice lake.

A flowing light flew down to a bamboo house courtyard leaning against the mountain wall, revealing Drunken Taoist and Zhou An.

As soon as he arrived here, the system prompted him to check in at Gambling Devil’s house, rewarding him with the Three Yuan Ghost Dice, which can freely control the dice and is a high-grade Spiritual Treasure of the attack type.

Apart from the house, it can be said that there is nothing else.

“Old Gambling Devil, come out quickly.” Drunken Taoist shouted at the house.

However, no one answered in the room, as if there was no one inside. Drunken Taoist coughed and said loudly, “Little Friend Zhou Nan, do you think we should build a better building here with this million Silver?”

“Here, the snow mountains fly and the clouds entwine, and the ten thousand Ren glaciers soar straight into the sky. The green snow and strange peaks are draped with colorful ribbons, and the blue lake reflects the mountain peaks. The sunny rosy clouds compete for brilliance, and the night moon dyes the midday sleep with double brilliance.

Being able to sit in the buildings and admire the beautiful scenery and taste fine wine in such a beautiful scenery, isn’t it a great pleasure in life? It should be spent.” Zhou An said with a hearty laugh.

“Okay, then I’ll contact someone now.” Drunken Taoist shouted loudly.

“Wait, wait, wait, Old Drunkard! Do you really have a million Silver?” Suddenly, a figure flashed, and a slovenly man appeared in front of them, his eyes shining as he stared at Drunken Taoist’s hand.

Drunken Taoist pointed at Zhou An and said, “Let me introduce you, this Little Friend Zhou An is an old friend of mine, and he is very rich. A million Silver is just a small matter.”

Gambling Devil looked at Zhou An, snorted and smiled, and said, “Old Drunkard, where did you find this sucker? You actually tricked him out of a million Silver?”

Zhou An smiled and said, “Senior Gambling Devil, I have something to ask you for help, and one million taels of Silver is the reward.”

“Oh, okay, bring the money, and tell me what’s the matter.” Gambling Devil didn’t decline. He was really too short of money. His gambling addiction was acting up, so he could only huddle in the room, feeling uncomfortable.

“The Righteous-Demonic War outside Qian Capital…”

Gambling Devil immediately interrupted and shouted, “Stop, I knew you, Old Drunkard, had no good intentions. If you want money, you have to have a life to spend it. I can’t afford to provoke those Old Demon Heads.”

Zhou An took out a stack of Silver notes, a total of one million taels, and placed them on the stone table in the courtyard.

Gambling Devil swallowed his saliva when he saw it and turned his head away, waving his hand impatiently and shouting, “Get out of here, get out of here!”

Zhou An took out another stack of Silver notes and threw them on the stone table, saying, “Add another 1 million taels.”

Gambling Devil’s cheeks twitched, and his fists clenched, trying hard to restrain his impulse.

“Three million taels.” Zhou An took out another million taels and put it on the table.

Drunken Taoist secretly snickered beside him, leisurely drinking his wine.

Gambling Devil’s breathing was rapid, and his fingers were stiffly rubbing against each other, obviously he was restraining himself very hard.

“Five million taels.” Zhou An’s words made Gambling Devil’s body tremble, as if he had been critically hit.

Seeing that Gambling Devil was still restraining himself, Zhou An took back the large stack of Silver notes and said, “Senior Gambling Devil, I’m very sorry. Senior Gambling Devil has a firm mind, so it seems that money is useless. I’ll just build a building for you here. This five million taels should be able to build a good one.”

“Okay, it can still leave a lot for me to buy wine. Let’s go. My broken bamboo house is leaking badly. It’s time to rebuild it.” Drunken Taoist laughed and walked out with his wine gourd.

“Wait.”

Gambling Devil roared, turned around and glared at Drunken Taoist, then walked to Zhou An and grabbed the five million taels of Silver notes in his hand, saying, “What are you building a house for? You prodigal thing! Isn’t it just a place to sleep? The world is so big, where can’t you sleep? What are you building a building for?

“Alright, alright, I’ll help you once. Let’s make it clear in advance, don’t call me for one-on-one fights. Those Old Demon Heads are very fierce, and I can’t beat them. It’s best to trick those old guys over here.”

“Haha, okay, I don’t know how capable you are, old boy. I won’t let you get into danger.” Drunken Taoist shouted.

“Hmph, that’s what you said. Contact me when the time comes, I’m leaving.” After Gambling Devil finished speaking, he turned into a stream of light and disappeared into the sea of clouds in the blink of an eye. It could be seen that he couldn’t wait to gamble now that he had a huge sum of money in hand.

“This Old Gambling Devil ruined his family because of gambling. Later, he was guided by an expert and entered the Daoist sect. He is righteous and generous, but he just can’t control his gambling. He will definitely not break his promise for what he promised.” Drunken Taoist said.

“Well, who’s next?” Zhou An asked.

“Divine Beggar, he likes to eat. In fact, he was originally a disciple of the Heavenly Path Sect. Because of eating, he delayed important matters, which led to the death of the previous Sect Leader of the Heavenly Path Sect being killed by Qishan Old Ancestor. That battle also led to the decline of the Heavenly Path Sect. Out of guilt, he cut off one of his arms and will never return to the Heavenly Path Sect.”

“Later, I became friends with him and traveled together. I look for wine, and he looks for food. Although it is carefree, the Heavenly Path Sect is his eternal pain and a Heart Devil that he can never overcome.” Drunken Taoist sighed. Among the Eight Oddities, Divine Beggar and he are the most compatible.

“Now he is also at the Innate Sixth Level, and his strength is three points stronger than mine. It’s a pity that if he can’t resolve his knot before the Sixth Heavenly Tribulation comes, I’m afraid he can only disassemble and reincarnate in advance, otherwise he will definitely enter the Demonic Path.” Drunken Taoist sighed.

“Then did Qishan Old Ancestor come this time? If he did, wouldn’t it be just right to avenge his master?” Zhou An asked.

“I’m not sure. We only know that eight Demon Heads will appear, and three of them have been identified, but the other five are uncertain.” After taking a big gulp of wine, Drunken Taoist said with a wry smile, “Even if Qishan Old Ancestor is beheaded, this Heart Devil may not be resolved. How can the deaths of his master and fellow disciples be recovered by revenge?

Little Friend Zhou Nan, you must remember that for cultivators, cultivation methods are the foundation of cultivation. No matter magic treasures or spirit pills, they are all external objects. What’s more important is cultivating the heart, otherwise the road to cultivation will be difficult and obstructed, and it will be difficult to overcome.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Senior. I will keep it in mind.” Zhou An nodded. After these days of contact, he deeply knew that the real cultivation of immortality is very different from the novels he read on Earth in his previous life.

The path of cultivating immortality is to find a path to find one’s true self.

At first, Zhou An even thought about learning from the protagonists of novels and counterattacking all the way, but now he has slowly changed. Various elemental Heavenly Tribulations are all Heavenly Path helping cultivators break through their own limits.

The real tribulation is the Heart Devil. After he merged with the Heart Devil, he truly understood this.

“Let’s go, Old Beggar is in the cave over there.” Drunken Taoist led him to fly over the cave on the cliff.