MTLNOVEL Chapter 56: Returning from the cave
Having absorbed all the teachings recorded within the Voice Spirit Stone, receiving the full breadth of the Daoist arts and legacy left by Elder Guo Lanfeng, the time had come for Lang Tian and Yue Ling to depart this sacred place.
Lang Tian clasped his hands, knelt, and kowtowed three times before the venerable remains of the elder, his heart brimming with gratitude and awe.
As he rose, his eyes gleamed with resolute determination, his voice echoing through the cavern with unwavering conviction:
"This humble junior, Lang Tian, bows in gratitude to Elder Guo for illuminating the path forward. This grace is etched into my bones and heart. I vow to dedicate myself to cultivation, to grow strong swiftly, and to escape the Myriad Demons Shadow Valley. When that day comes, I swear to carry your remains back to the Crimson Lotus Sect, so you may find eternal rest within the ancestral sect."
Beside him, Yue Ling also quietly knelt, offering three reverent kowtows of her own.
"This humble junior, Yue Ling, offers heartfelt thanks to Elder Guo for his protection and guidance over the past ten years. From the yellow springs below, may you watch over us, granting my junior brother and me safe passage to leave this valley and fulfill our Dao."
As her words faded, the cavern fell into a profound stillness.
The radiant spiritual light emanating from Elder Guo's remains continued to softly illuminate the dim space, casting a serene yet profound aura of the Dao, as if his lingering will still guarded this sacred ground.
After a moment, the two rose, exchanging a glance of steadfast resolve.
"Let us go," Yue Ling said softly. "There is much to do today. But should you wish to cultivate the Lotus Heart Sutra of Tranquil Dao, return to this place. Meditate beside Elder Guo, holding the Radiant Lotus Heart, and let its light guide your enlightenment."
"Yes, I will remember," Lang Tian replied quietly.
The two gathered additional spiritual herbs growing along the cavern's edges for alchemy, then departed in solemn silence.
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That evening, after their meal, Yue Ling led Lang Tian to a secluded clearing deep within the Myriad Demons Shadow Valley, where the spiritual qi flowed steadily and demonic beasts seldom stirred.
Before them loomed a towering stone cliff, its surface etched with countless scars—palm imprints and blade marks, each a testament to Yue Ling's decade of arduous cultivation.
This was her hidden training ground, where the unyielding stone and tranquil terrain had long served as her secret sanctuary for honing her skills.
She called this place by a simple yet resolute name:
Blade-Testing Cliff.
Yue Ling took a few steps forward, then turned to Lang Tian and asked:
"Lang Tian, how is your condition? Is your body and mind holding up?"
"Yes, Senior Sister, I'm fine," he replied.
That day, Lang Tian had consumed a portion of a third-grade demonic beast's flesh. Its rich flavor was imbued with abundant spiritual and demonic qi.
But thanks to the Lotus Heart Sutra of Tranquil Dao and the protection of the Radiant Lotus Heart, he no longer suffered from the invasive demonic nature that once tried to take over him and drive him mad. Though his mind occasionally wavered, and felt restless sometimes, he could largely maintain clarity.
So, just a bit of movement, perhaps throwing a few punches, was enough to restore his stability.
"Good," Yue Ling nodded, her eyes gleaming with approval. "Then listen closely. Today, on behalf of Elder Guo, I will impart to you one of the supreme techniques of the Crimson Lotus Sect—the Ten Thousand Brilliant Lotus Palm!"
"Yes! I humbly seek your guidance!"
Lang Tian clasped his hands in respect, his eyes alight with fervor. His heart pulsed with exhilaration.
At last… he was about to take his first true step onto the path of inheriting the Crimson Lotus Sect's sacred martial legacy!
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The winds within the valley fell silent.
Yue Ling stood before the towering stone cliff, her robes gently swaying as the surging spiritual qi wrapped around her form. She closed her eyes, and her right hand rose slowly, fingertips tracing the outline of a lotus flower in the air.
"Watch closely," she said, her voice as soft as a flowing spring. "This is the first move of the Ten Thousand Brilliant Lotus Palm—a seamless blend of offense and defense, using softness to guide strength, countering substance with illusion. This is... Lotus Shadow Blooming Beneath the Moon!"
As her words faded, her hand swept forward with elegant precision. The air before her rippled, torn into cascading waves. From her palm, ethereal lotuses bloomed in an instant—petal upon petal, layer upon layer—like a hundred flowers competing to shine beneath the winter sky.
Yet, astonishingly, these petals were no mere illusions.
As the palm shadows brushed against the scattered stones at the base of the cliff, bursts of force erupted. The stones shattered, dust rose, and debris scattered.
Lang Tian stood at her side, his eyes wide with awe.
'One move… capable of unfolding into hundreds of transformations? Not only can it ward off attacks, but it also returns them with the fluidity of flowing water—utterly unbelievable!'
Yue Ling did not pause. With a subtle twist of her wrist, she fluidly changed her stance.
"The second move. Shatter the mind before the body—Heart-Chaos Lotus Blossom!"
In an instant, the space around them seemed to warp.
Translucent lotus petals scattered in all directions, light as clouds, drifting like mist. Yet as they drew near, Lang Tian felt a sudden dizziness, his spiritual qi faltering, his channeled true qi stumbling as if an unseen hand had tangled the silken threads of his meridians.
"Have you felt it?" Yue Ling asked, a faint smile gracing her lips as she withdrew her hand, the myriad lotuses dissolving like a fleeting dream.
"This palm technique does not rely on destruction. But once it strikes the mind, even an opponent a realm above… will struggle to resist!"
Lang Tian swallowed hard.
In that moment, he understood immediately why this technique was revered as a sect-guarding art.
And why Elder Guo had once proclaimed:
"A sublime palm technique triumphs not through force… but through the heart."