novelapdf Chapter 203 Holding Up the Sky with One Hand
Chapter 203 Holding Up the Sky with One Hand
Chapter 204 Holding Up the Sky with One Hand
Cultivators are always accustomed to complicating problems, thinking them over and over again, and pondering them as much as possible.
It may seem like a thankless task, but the real purpose is to be able to see a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos and simplify complex problems when faced with a truly chaotic situation one day.
Faced with such a blunt question, this noble young lady naturally did not answer immediately.
She didn't try to hide anything; she just stood there quietly, without saying a word.
However, this silence itself is the clearest answer.
I don't want to talk about it, I'm unwilling to talk about it.
Just as Zi Ling was about to speak again, Ling Yuling interrupted her, saying, "What you want, the Star Palace can give you. Asking any further is pointless."
Upon hearing this, Zi Ling narrowed her bright eyes slightly, showing no sign of backing down, but instead becoming even more aloof.
"What Xinggong gives is Xinggong's affection, and what Mr. Lu gives is Mr. Lu's sentiment. I can clearly distinguish between the two, and I can decide which comes first."
"If it were due to the Star Palace's assistance, the entire Miaoyin Sect would be eternally grateful and remember it in our hearts, but because of him—"
Zi Ling looked directly at Ling Yu Ling with her own light, "Then there's no need to say that. I, Zi Ling, owe the Star Palace nothing, and I'm unwilling to confuse his feelings with the Star Palace's protection."
Ling Yuling was momentarily speechless, taken aback by her frank and clearly defined words; her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to refute or explain something.
Because what the other party said made sense, this matter was originally a transaction.
Given this explanation, the other party's response was understandable, and she couldn't refute it.
If I were to say something against my conscience, my own moral compass would not allow it.
However, besides this, a different emotion quietly grew in Ling Yuling's heart.
If what my parents say is true, then these two people in front of me are the juniors that Mr. Lu refers to, and we will inevitably have to deal with them in the future.
As for who came first and who came last, from birth to the present, in terms of temperament, status, and talent, has she ever been inferior to others?
She is now at the late stage of Core Formation, and given time, forming a Nascent Soul will be a natural progression.
As for the sect leader of the Miaoyin Sect, because of Mr. Lu, she will still grant any request the other party may make.
After all, they are very likely to become "sisters" in the future, but there should always be a distinction between close and distant, and a clear hierarchy.
Seeing this, Zhuang Huayi, who was standing to the side, did not want the atmosphere to become too tense, so she spoke up to smooth things over.
"Miss Ling, please sit down first. Some things can be discussed slowly; there's no need to rush. What you need to know, you'll find out in time."
Ling Yuling nodded slightly after hearing this, walked forward, and sat down on the stone bench as instructed. The three of them sat facing each other, and the atmosphere remained subtle.
As the young master of the Star Palace, she naturally possesses this insight.
In any case, Zhuang Huayi is a Nascent Soul senior after all, and she couldn't possibly refuse to give her this much face to ease the atmosphere.
Zi Ling couldn't really say it was a veiled criticism; it was just that her thoughts drifted and she blurted it out unconsciously.
"If one's understanding is not profound, one's words carry little weight."
Zhuang Huayi turned her head slightly to the side.
She wasn't dissatisfied with the statement itself; given her mindset and status, she simply felt that it made her seem too weak to say such a thing.
In Zhuang Huayi's eyes, the weak do not refer to ordinary people who are physically weak and powerless, nor to those junior cultivators with low levels of Qi cultivation.
True "weakness" is a weakness of mind, a habit of finding excuses for oneself in the face of difficulties, and blaming external things or others for misfortunes.
Zi Ling gently raised her hands, a playful look on her face, "Just kidding, don't take it seriously."
Ling Yuling sat to the side, taking in the whole scene.
She naturally wouldn't take it to heart.
In fact, they had already thoroughly investigated the master of the Miaoyin Sect, both openly and secretly.
When it comes to the character of women in the world, it is truly impossible to find anyone more resilient than her.
Put yourself in their shoes.
Burdened with a blood feud, orphaned, with his sect's foundation crumbling, and possessing only low cultivation, he was left with no other option.
If it were Ling Yuling, she would ask herself honestly if she could have the same perseverance and skillful maneuvering amidst the various forces at play.
That ability to carve out a way out of adversity still evoked a sense of genuine admiration in her heart.
Zhuang Huayi's gaze was calm and composed, and she deliberately slowed her speech, "Regarding Mr. Lu, does Miss Ling know any inside information that we are unaware of?"
Upon hearing this, Ling Yuling's clear eyes flickered slightly, but she did not directly deny it.
She nodded slightly, a subtle yet firm gesture, but her lips remained tightly closed, clearly indicating she had no intention of offering further explanation.
Her parents' last words echoed in her mind.
There is no problem in the world that a marriage alliance cannot solve.
Zhuang Huayi took in Ling Yuling's reaction, and the vague guess in her mind instantly became clear.
Sure enough, it coincided with my previous prediction.
There must have been some deeper agreement between Lu Jianghe and the two Saints of Xinggong.
The significance of this agreement is what prompted Ling Yuling to come over and make such a solemn guarantee.
I thought that Ling Yuling would reveal some inside information under questioning, and even if she couldn't tell everything, she would at least reveal some of the truth.
Unexpectedly, she remained tight-lipped and kept quiet about it.
Zhuang Huayi's vague guess instantly became clear. The agreement reached between Lu Jianghe and the Star Palace Saints was probably far more complex than she had imagined.
Otherwise, given Ling Yuling's status and current situation, she would never be so tight-lipped, refusing to reveal even a single word.
Having been asked about the core issue twice in a row, Ling Yuling knew that she should respond no matter what, whether it was to maintain the prestige of the Star Palace or to ease the slightly tense atmosphere at the moment.
"It's not that I deliberately concealed it, but Mr. Lu did give me instructions before he left, and he told me that I didn't need to say more about the details."
Her words were half true and half false, an attempt to gloss over the matter with a seemingly reasonable excuse.
However, before she could finish speaking, Zi Ling chuckled.
"Why must Fellow Daoist Ling do this?"
Zi Ling's eyes flickered as she stared directly at the other person.
"He's not even here right now. Even if he let something slip, can he really come back from thousands of miles away to question me? Besides—"
She abruptly changed the subject, her tone firm and confident: "Based on my understanding of Mr. Lu, the first half of his statement might be true, but as for the second half—well—I don't think he said it himself. He's always been gentle and persuasive in his dealings with people, rarely uttering such a harsh, almost useless prohibition. Such words are unlike his style; they seem more like—exaggerated interpretations from others?"
Ling Yuling hadn't expected Ziling to be so perceptive and insightful, as she had seen through the truth behind her words in one sentence.
A hint of unease flashed across her face.
What ignited her anger even more was the hidden meaning in Zi Ling's words.
That phrase, "Based on my understanding of him," was just a few light words.
The feeling was like having your most treasured possession, which you keep secret, casually touched by someone, with the subtle threat of being taken away.
Meanwhile, Zhuang Huayi sat upright to one side.
If Zi Ling hadn't pointed it out in time, even she would have almost believed it to be true.
Ling Yuling changed the subject, saying, "Mr. Lu is indeed very easygoing. After all, he's not the kind of person who pretends to be unpretentious; he genuinely is."
Upon hearing this, Zi Ling's lips curved slightly, revealing a hint of surprise.
She thought that now that things had come to this point, the other party would surely reveal some information, but to her surprise, Ling Yuling remained tight-lipped and refused to utter a single word.
That's quite a calm and composed mindset.
If it were an ordinary person, being questioned like this repeatedly, even if they didn't tell the whole story, they would at least offer some explanation to ease the tension.
Zi Ling suppressed her smile, her tone becoming serious, with a hint of sincerity: "Fellow Daoist Ling, although I don't know what the hidden story is, and I don't mean to be aggressive, there are some things I still want to say frankly."
Her gaze swept over Zhuang Huayi before returning to Ling Yuling: "I, including Senior Zhuang, and everyone else in the cave, all have a close relationship with Mr. Lu. We can be considered his juniors. Our questioning now is simply out of concern for his safety and whereabouts. I think Fellow Daoist Ling can understand this sentiment."
"We are not trying to uncover the secrets of the Star Palace, nor are we forcing you to break your promise."
Zi Ling slowed her speech, her words earnest, "But as fellow cultivators, we both know that once a knot in the heart is planted, it's difficult to untie, and over time it can easily become a flaw in the heart, even breeding inner demons. Whether it's breaking through a bottleneck or daily cultivation, it will add more danger and obstacles. What I just said was not empty threats, but my heartfelt words. Fellow Daoist Ling, do you understand the implications?"
Her words were purely a demonstration of negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
True communication begins with calmly and sincerely acknowledging the other person.
Specifically, this means first identifying several commendable aspects of the other party's viewpoint or position, and then calmly bringing out one or two points that need to be discussed or refuted.
Of course, all these expressions must come from the heart; sincerity is the cornerstone of communication and cannot tolerate any falsehood.
This is crucial.
After listening to Zi Ling's words, which contained both acknowledgment and pointed directly to the key to cultivation, Ling Yuling fell silent, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, clearly pondering the weight of her words.
Zhuang Huayi watched quietly from the side, her eyes deep, without saying a word.
After a moment, Ling Yuling seemed to have made up her mind. She looked up at Ziling, then quickly glanced at Zhuang Huayi, her voice very low.
"Mr. Lu did indeed make a deal with the Star Palace Twin Saints, which is what I promised before that the Star Palace would protect everyone, and what he had to do was—"
She took a deep breath. "I will personally go to the outer sea to kill the Six Paths Supreme Saint, that demonic giant who wreaked havoc on the star sea."
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Huayi felt not shock, but rather a complex mix of relief and certainty.
Zi Ling's face showed a look of sudden realization. The corners of her lips lifted slightly, carrying a knowing and somewhat helpless smile. She gently shook her head and said, "I see. Heh, just like something he would do."
Ling Yuling looked at the changes in the expressions on the two people's faces, but she was not shocked or horrified as she had expected. In fact, she was not even surprised.
Their reaction was as if they had heard something they had already expected, and they were calm and almost taken for granted.
"Aren't you all surprised?"
Ling Yuling couldn't help but ask, her tone tinged with confusion.
This news was enough to shake the entire Chaotic Star Sea in her eyes, so why were they so calm?
Upon hearing this, Zi Ling chuckled, "What's so surprising? A Nascent Soul cultivator facing off against a so-called demonic powerhouse—is there any suspense? Isn't this a matter of course, a sure thing?"
Ling Yuling lowered her eyes, and after a moment smiled with relief: "That's true—I misunderstood. The Nascent Soul stage versus the late-stage Core Formation stage is a foregone conclusion."
Zhuang Huayi then spoke slowly, her voice calm and composed, her gaze deep as she looked at Ling Yuling: "Mr. Lu—have you ever mentioned when you will return after slaying the Six Paths? And what are your plans afterward?"
Ling Yuling frowned slightly after hearing this. The question seemed to have a hidden meaning.
"Mr. Lu did not say this explicitly."
Zi Ling and Zhuang Huayi exchanged a glance, a knowing look flashing in each other's eyes, and then shook their heads slightly.
The silent exchange confirmed a shared suspicion in their minds.
Seeing this, Ling Yuling's doubts deepened. "Is there some hidden reason behind this? Is there something else Mr. Lu wants to do with this trip—"
This time, Zi Ling didn't hide anything. She looked at Ling Yuling and said calmly, "The hidden story may not be true. However, once he leaves and resolves the Six Paths, perhaps he will never return to Tianxing City. Or rather, his return may be much longer than we imagine."
She paused, then added, "Long enough—perhaps a century, perhaps longer, long enough for things to change beyond recognition."
Upon hearing these words, Ling Yuling was slightly taken aback at first, but then seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, her tense shoulders relaxed, and a relaxed smile even appeared on her face.
"A long time? How long? Fifty years? A hundred years? For us cultivators, especially those of us at the Core Formation or Nascent Soul stages, a single long seclusion can take up most of our lives. Haha, Mr. Lu can't possibly stay away forever, can he?"
Zi Ling chuckled, her expression complex and hard to decipher, seemingly both sorrowful and melancholic.
"Who knows? Maybe it will be forever."
Ling Yuling chuckled a few times upon hearing this, initially with a hint of relaxation. However, seeing the other party's serious expression, which did not seem like a joke, her smile abruptly vanished, and she regained her composure.
"What does that mean?"
Zi Ling looked at her and sighed softly for no reason. "If only I could understand and think like this, instead of believing that just because a man does many things for us women, we women are obligated to like him? How wonderful that would be."
As soon as he finished saying that sentence...
She murmured to herself.
Come on, let me see.
What exactly do you mean by the end of your relationship?
Wen Tianren looked up into the distance and rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
In the field of vision, a majestic Dharma image is slowly stretching its body, its form continuing to solidify and expand.
The outline of just one of its hands was so large that it seemed enough to hold the entire Holy Demon Island in the palm of one's hand!
The woman carrying the sword was dizzy and disoriented, her eyes glazed over. She subconsciously rubbed her face with both hands.