From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 116 Desperate Counterattack

Before I could finish speaking, Wen Chen suddenly gripped my hand tightly, a hint of worry in his eyes. I turned to look at him and gave him a reassuring smile. I took a deep breath and continued, "I believe that the fusion of immortal techniques and mental state is not as complicated as everyone thinks..."

I paused, my gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Palace Master Lengyue. “...It’s not a forced combination of the two, but rather...a harmonious blend.”

The entire room fell silent; you could hear a pin drop. Everyone was waiting for me to continue, including the previously aggressive Palace Master of Cold Moon Palace, who now narrowed her eyes slightly, scrutinizing me.

“I have no spiritual roots since childhood. In everyone’s eyes, I am a complete waste.” My voice was calm, but it carried an undeniable power. “That’s why I cherish every opportunity to cultivate more than anyone else. I started from the most basic breathing exercises and have taken one step at a time to get to where I am today.”

Master Huoyun scoffed, "Why bother with all this nonsense? Just answer the question directly. Are you trying to stall for time?" His face was full of impatience, as if he was about to jump up and kick me off the platform at any moment.

I ignored his provocation and continued, “Every step I took was incredibly difficult. Without spiritual roots, it means that I absorb spiritual energy a hundred or even a thousand times slower than others. I can only keep up with them by putting in more effort than others. It was through this daily arduous training that I gradually came to understand the true meaning of ‘fusion’.”

"Integration is not a simple addition, but a mutual penetration and mutual achievement. Just like water and milk blending together, you are in me and I am in you, eventually reaching a state of perfect unity." I stretched out my hand, palm facing up, and a ball of pale golden spiritual energy slowly rose. "This ball of spiritual energy is the manifestation of my state of mind. It does not exist independently, but is closely connected with my immortal techniques and my life."

I control the spiritual energy, causing it to constantly change shape, sometimes like a trickle, sometimes like surging waves, sometimes like a phoenix soaring through the sky, ever-changing yet always maintaining a harmonious rhythm.

"Immortal techniques are skills; state of mind is the Way. Only by using the Way to control skills can the true power of immortal techniques be unleashed." I slowly withdrew my spiritual energy, and my palm returned to calm. "My immortal techniques do not come from talent, but from my never-give-up heart. My state of mind is not inherently lofty, but comes from the tempering of challenging myself time and time again."

My gaze fell on Palace Master Lengyue once again. "What you just said about the difficulty in integrating immortal techniques and mental state is because the two are separated. But in my opinion, immortal techniques and mental state are one, like the body and soul of a person, neither can be missing."

Master Huoyun finally couldn't hold back any longer, "All you've said are empty platitudes, nothing of substance! If you can't answer, just admit defeat and stop wasting everyone's time!"

I took a deep breath, about to speak, when I heard a clear, cold voice ring out...

"Fellow Daoist Xiao Yao's words have been very enlightening," Palace Master Lengyue said slowly, a hint of appreciation in her eyes.

Master Huoyun was about to say something more, but was stopped by True Monarch Ziyang raising his hand. All eyes were on me, awaiting my response. Even the usually silent Xiaoyao Sanren raised an eyebrow with interest. Fairy Qinglian covered her mouth and chuckled, her tone tinged with disdain: "Fellow Daoist Xiao Yao, this talk of 'perfect harmony' is far too abstract. Can a useless person like you, without spiritual roots, truly understand such a profound topic?"

I took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions within me. I knew that if I didn't demonstrate my true abilities today, I would likely fail to convince the crowd. I calmly looked at Fairy Qinglian and said, "What you say is quite true, Fairy. 'Perfect harmony' is indeed somewhat abstract. Then I will start from the foundation of one's state of mind and slowly analyze its connection with immortal techniques."

I paused, gathered my thoughts, and continued, "State of mind is not something ethereal; it is rooted in our hearts and influenced by our experiences, emotions, and perceptions. Just like a seed, different seeds will grow into different fruits. And our state of mind is the soil for that seed."

"A person with a peaceful mind tends to have more gentle and enduring magical techniques; a person with a volatile mind tends to have more violent and uncontrollable magical techniques. The connection between mindset and magical techniques is not a simple cause-and-effect relationship, but rather a relationship of mutual influence and promotion."

As I spoke, I channeled my spiritual energy, causing it to flow slowly in my palm and take on various shapes. I transformed the spiritual energy into a seedling, and then into a towering tree, to demonstrate the process of mental growth.

"Just like this seedling, it needs sunshine, rain, and nutrients to grow strong. Similarly, our mindset needs constant refinement, understanding, and improvement to reach a higher level."

I continued, "Immortal techniques are skills; state of mind is the Way. Only by using the Way to control skills can the true power of immortal techniques be unleashed. And how to integrate the Way and skills is the key to our cultivation."

I transformed spiritual energy into a sharp sword, and then into a shield, to demonstrate the mutual transformation between magical techniques and mental states.

"Cultivation techniques and mental state are not opposites, but rather complementary. We can improve our mental state by cultivating cultivation techniques, and we can also enhance our cultivation techniques by improving our mental state. There is a delicate balance between the two."

My words, like a gentle stream, slowly flowed into the hearts of everyone present. The once noisy platform gradually quieted down. The crowd began to listen attentively to my explanation, their eyes filled with surprise and contemplation. They never imagined that someone considered a good-for-nothing like me could offer such profound insights.

Even Master Huoyun, who had previously mocked me, now restrained his contempt and began to seriously consider my words.

I withdrew my spiritual energy into my body, calmly surveyed everyone, and said, "The fusion of mindset and immortal techniques is not something that can be achieved overnight, but rather a long and arduous process. We need to constantly cultivate, comprehend, and improve before we can finally reach the state of 'perfect harmony'."

As soon as I finished speaking, a hint of emotion flickered across the usually aloof face of the Cold Moon Palace Master, and she slowly began to speak…

The Cold Moon Palace Master's usually aloof expression softened slightly. She spoke slowly, "Fellow Daoist Xiao Yao, your understanding of mental states and immortal techniques is quite unique. I misunderstood you before; please forgive me." Her voice was like melting ice and snow, carrying a rare gentleness. I hadn't expected her to admit her mistake so frankly, and I felt a little relieved. I nodded slightly and replied, "Palace Master, you flatter me. I was merely sharing some of my insights, hoping they might be enlightening for everyone."

Even the usually taciturn Xiaoyao Sanren abandoned his amusement. He stroked his beard and asked with great interest, "Fellow Daoist Xiao Yao, what exactly is this 'perfect harmony' you speak of? Could you describe it in detail?" His eyes gleamed with curiosity, clearly intrigued by my words.

I took a deep breath, organized my thoughts, and said, "The state of 'perfect harmony' is not simply about combining one's state of mind with one's magical abilities; it's a deeper level of integration. It requires us to thoroughly understand ourselves, our inner selves, and our magical abilities. Only when we have complete knowledge of ourselves can we perfectly blend our state of mind with our magical abilities and achieve the state of 'perfect harmony'."

I paused for a moment, then continued, “In this realm, the mind and the immortal techniques are no longer independent entities, but rather integrated into one, inseparable. Every thought and every action we take contains the power of the immortal techniques and reflects the state of our mind. It is a wondrous feeling that is difficult to describe, and only those who have experienced it firsthand can truly understand its mysteries.”

As I spoke, I once again mobilized my spiritual energy. This time, I did not transform the spiritual energy into any specific form, but let it flow freely in my palm, like flowing water, naturally and unrestrained.

“In this realm, we no longer need to deliberately control the immortal techniques, but rather let them change with our state of mind, flowing naturally and smoothly like clouds and water, without any stagnation.” I closed my eyes, feeling the trajectory of spiritual energy flowing through my body, and experiencing the perfect fusion of my state of mind and the immortal techniques.

"Perfect harmony..." the Azure Lotus Fairy murmured to herself, her eyes filled with confusion and longing. Although she was exceptionally talented, she lacked in the realm of mind and could never reach the state of "perfect harmony."

Master Huoyun also fell into deep thought. His originally irritable temper seemed to have calmed down a lot, as if he was thinking about how to better integrate his state of mind with his immortal techniques.

I opened my eyes, looked at everyone, and said, "The state of 'perfect harmony' is not out of reach. As long as we keep striving and keep learning, we will be able to reach this state one day."

Just then, True Monarch Ziyang, who had been listening quietly, suddenly spoke up: "Fellow Daoist Xiao Yao, your understanding of 'water and milk blending' has surpassed that of most cultivators. Your talent and your comprehension are far beyond ordinary people."

His tone carried a hint of admiration, but also a hint of inquiry. A chill ran through me; I felt an invisible pressure bearing down on me. The gaze of the Purple Sun True Lord was like a sharp sword, piercing straight into the depths of my heart.

He slowly stood up and walked towards me step by step...

True Monarch Ziyang walked up to me, and the oppressive aura emanating from him made me feel slightly suffocated, but the admiration in his eyes was genuine. "Fellow Daoist Xiao Yao," his voice was deep and powerful, "your insights have benefited even me greatly. 'Perfect harmony' is not something that can be achieved overnight, and it is truly rare for someone so young to have such an understanding." He nodded slightly, which was a way of expressing his approval.

I tried my best to remain calm and replied, "You flatter me, True Lord. I am merely sharing some of my shallow understanding, and I hope that all the seniors will offer their guidance." I understood that this debate was far from over, and True Lord Ziyang's approval did not mean that I had achieved final victory.

Sure enough, True Lord Ziyang continued, "However, while 'perfect harmony' is important, it is not the entirety of cultivation. While one's state of mind and immortal techniques certainly need to be integrated, what is more important is how to transform this integrated power into actual combat strength." He then shifted his tone and raised an even more pointed question.

My heart tightened; I knew this was yet another test from him. I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm, and began to think about how to deal with the situation. I slowly said, "What the True Lord says is absolutely right. 'Perfect harmony' is only the foundation; our ultimate goal is to transform this power into combat effectiveness."

I paused for a moment, then continued, "In my opinion, the key to transforming the power of merging one's state of mind with immortal techniques into combat power lies in the word 'transformation realm.' 'Transformation realm' is not simply about releasing power, but about integrating oneself into the surrounding environment, merging one's state of mind with heaven and earth, thereby achieving the state of 'unity of heaven and man.'"

As I spoke, I slowly released my spiritual energy, no longer confining it to my palm, but allowing it to gradually spread out and merge into the surrounding air and the entire discussion arena.

“When we reach the state of ‘harmony between man and nature,’ our power will no longer be limited to ourselves, but will be able to borrow the power of heaven and earth, thereby unleashing even greater power.” I closed my eyes, feeling the fluctuations of spiritual energy around me, feeling the vast power between heaven and earth.

I opened my eyes again, my gaze firm and confident. "'Harmony' is the foundation, 'Transformation' is the key, and 'Unity of Heaven and Man' is the ultimate goal." My voice was clear and powerful, echoing throughout the entire discussion hall.

A brief silence fell over the room; everyone was deeply moved by my words. I had successfully elevated the concept of "perfect harmony" to a new level, vividly illustrating the relationship between one's state of mind, magical arts, and the universe.

True Monarch Ziyang nodded secretly, my answer gradually making him realize that this young cultivator was not to be underestimated. Fairy Qinglian, Daoist Huoyun, Palace Master Lengyue, and the Carefree Hermit also showed thoughtful expressions, clearly inspired by my words.

I smiled slightly, knowing that I had successfully turned the tide. I was initially at a disadvantage, but now I had won the approval of most people.

However, I know this is far from enough. This debate is not over yet, and my opponents will not give up easily.

Sure enough, at this moment, Palace Master Lengyue suddenly spoke up... "Fellow Daoist Xiao Yao, what exactly is this 'unity of heaven and man' you speak of? Could you describe it in more detail?" Although her tone carried a hint of inquiry, a barely perceptible cold glint flashed deep in her eyes.