Chapter 181: That Was His Nature

　　Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

　　With his intellectual capacity, he had guessed that Zhang Ruoxu did not have much time left. Zhang Ruoxu was merely waiting for him to return so that he could say his last words.

　　No wonder Zhang Ruoxu only allowed for him to return after he had attained the state of Huandan, as he did not want Shen Lian to be affected by it and hindered his Huandan progress.

　　An icy gust of air rushed out as Shen Lian pushed open the door to the hall. He shivered from the cold.

　　He still felt cold, with his state of cultivation. It showed how cold the icy gust of air was.

　　As he walked into the hall, he saw that a thick layer of ice had formed on the stone couch Zhang Ruoxu used to sit on. Zhang Ruoxu was on it and resting with his eyes closed.

　　Shen Lian approached the stone couch and knelt down. He kowtowed to Zhang Ruoxu solemnly.

　　At that moment, Zhang Ruoxu opened his eyes. The thick layer of ice melted immediately. Zhang Ruoxu looked as though he was in his thirties. His hair and facial hair were black, and he seemed to be in good health.

　　The purplish gold Daoist robe looked oversized on him, though. Actually, it was because that he had lost weight.

　　“Silly child,” Zhang Ruoxu sighed.

　　“Sorry for being so useless and made you worry,” said Shen Lian.

　　Zhang Ruoxu shook his head. “You are one of the best of your generation, and I didn’t do much for you too. I have merely been doing what I’m supposed to do as a chief,” Zhang Ruoxu said with a smile.

　　Zhang Ruoxu meant what he said. He had never given Shen Lian special treatment. Moreover, when the way of Dao was concerned, there was no way that one could attain success by leeching off others. Shen Lian was where he was due to his own fate, heart, and determination. Zhang Ruoxu merely gave him a push, and could not be considered as having done much.

　　“Actually, I’m not only waiting for you. I’m waiting for Jianmei too. Since he is not back, it seems that he is not interested in the position of the chief. Shen Lian, would you take my position? It’s not a great deal, though,” Zhang Ruoxu spoke as he looked out of the hall.

　　Shen Lian was shaken inside. He should have known something seeing how Chen Jianmei did not return. Chen Jianmei would gladly go against Yanxu for Zhang Ruoxu, but he did not want to be the chief. Even though he was the most qualified candidate to take over Zhang Ruoxu’s position as the chief, it was not what he wanted to do.

　　Even though Chen Jianmei was the most rightful successor, but it was clear that he had given up his right.

　　“Shen Lian is willing to do it,” Shen Lian replied after a brief moment of hesitation. At this point, there was no way that he could say no to Zhang Ruoxu.

　　There were many reasons that he could have used to refuse the position. Moreover, it was not as though he was the best fit for the position.

　　In spite of those, Shen Lian could not bring himself to say no and took up the position as the chief. At this point, he could not say no. No matter how difficult it was, he would have to give it his best.

　　There were ripples in Zhang Ruoxu’s eyes. “You are so different from them,” Zhang Ruoxu sighed.

　　In the beginning, he found Shen Lian to be similar to Yanxu. Both of them were talented, and they were not very determined when it comes to the pursuance of Dao. Immortality was more of a need than a final goal for both of them.

　　Shen Lian had the tenacity, but he was not dead set on pursuing Dao. On this point, he was different from Chen Jianmei, which was what Zhang Ruoxu had been worrying about.

　　Because he did not have a pure heart of Dao, it would be extremely difficult for him to ascend to the pinnacle. Yanxu was the same as Shen Lian. However, both of them were fundamentally different, as Shen Lian was passionate about life, while Yanxu saw it as a game.

　　“Actually, everyone is different. I know that I could not let go of a lot of things, but I never wanted to let anything go. It’s nice to just be myself anyway,” Shen Lian replied.

　　It was a reply directed to both Zhang Ruoxu and himself. If he could not have a steel heart of Dao, he should just go with the flow.

　　“Qing Xuan has always emphasized on the cultivation of mind before body. How could I change you by force? I don’t think I need to explain to you what a chief should do. You will learn eventually. I shall pass on the Seal of the Chief to you now,” Zhang Ruoxu replied in a nonchalant tone.

　　He had asked all that he had to; of course, he would not be draggy and pretentious like the mortals did.

　　Just as what he did for Chen Jianmei, Zhang Ruoxu swept Shen Lian’s hair aside and pointed his finger on the middle of his brows.

　　The Tiandi Jian rose up and Shen Lian was shrouded in pale silver ray. There were a lot of abstruse information and secrets of the world that flowed into Shen Lian’s heart. In fact, he even found out who brought Ruoxi away. They were the disciples of Tai Su Sect.

　　The Tiandi Jian lived up to its name and was indeed privy to a lot of things unknown to most. However, the information was too huge, and Shen Lian had to filter out irrelevant information.

　　This was the process of amalgamation with the Tiandi Jian. Moreover, to cultivate this treasured instrument, one would need to be imprinted by the Chief.

　　‘There is the Baiyu Jing in Heavens;

　　the five cities and twelve residences in Kunlun Mountain;

　　The Celestial touched my head,

　　and I was passed on the secret to immortality.’

　　Even though Zhang Ruoxu was not a deity, but he had passed on the Dharma of Immortality to Shen Lian. Shen Lian was ashamed at how he could not do anything for him in return. Even though he took on the role as the chief, but it was not much.

　　Moreover, the position as the chief, though not something great, but it was not something bad either. It was just him trying to do Zhang Ruoxu one last favor as he was a slightly suitable candidate.

　　A red dot appeared on his pretty face, between his brows. It signified Shen Lian’s succession as the chief.

　　Shen Lian did not erase it and let the mark stayed between his brows.

　　The Tiandi Jian fell into his arms. Zhang Ruoxu looked pale and weak, though, he seemed satisfied.

　　Shen Lian’s Yin spirit was strong, and going through Huandan was a piece of cake for him. Hence, the succession process did not take a toll on him.

　　Now that Shen Lian could travel between heaven and earth, being in controlled of Qing Xuan was actually a restraint to him. However, Zhang Ruoxu did not have much choice. Moreover, Shen Lian felt that he needed to do something to repay Qing Xuan.

　　Jing Qing and Gu Caiwei were at the hall. “Caiwei, go ring the bell,” Zhang Ruoxu spoke to Caiwei.

　　“How many times?” Gu Caiwei asked.

　　“Nine,” Zhang Ruoxu said with certainty even though he was very weak.

　　Gu Caiwei seemed hesitant, but she went ahead still.

　　The bell rang, and it was just as Chen Jianmei’s code of Dao.

　　However, the bell would be rung seven times for those who managed to attain Huandan with their own strength, and eight for the succession of the chief. The bell would only be rung nine times when someone had become an immortal Zhenren. When the Grandmaster in the sect had transcended the mortal world, only then there would be the bell be rung forty-nine times, which was a sign of utmost honor.

　　Shen Lian was aware of these ceremonies, but he did not know why the chief rang the bell nine times for him.

　　“I would not be able to wait till you break through the Absurd State and attain immortality. I’m ringing the bell nine times for you to congratulate you in advance. After being the chief for so many years, I’m going to be rebellious just this once,” Zhang Ruoxu laughed.

　　Shen Lian was relieved, but he was speechless at the same time. When the bell was rung nine times, there were rays coming to the Taiyi Peak from all the other peaks.