RPAGF Chapter 152 The Dharma is Clear
Chapter 152 The Dharma is Clear
Ye Shuli held the old parchment scroll in her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly as if she were being electrocuted.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, just like a two-dimensional girl who had just unpacked a limited-edition figurine.
"This thing is definitely a hidden gem!" A slight smile played on her lips; she couldn't wait to get her hands on it.
Jiang Ye rolled his eyes at Ye Shuli's excited expression, but said honestly, "Alright, I know you've struck gold. Stop being so smug and let's get going!" He knew that once Ye Shuli got into something, her drive was absolutely top-notch.
The two left their residence one after the other.
A faint scent of grass filled the air, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground, like a guide to the unknown.
Ye Shuli's steps were light and quick, like a young leopard about to hunt, each step full of power.
"Old hermit, you'd better withstand my curiosity!" she thought to herself, and unconsciously quickened her pace.
After passing through a quiet bamboo forest, a simple thatched cottage comes into view.
An elderly man with white hair and beard was sitting in the courtyard, resting with his eyes closed.
The old tree beside him was lush and leafy, like a giant parasol, filtering the sunlight into a soft and warm shade.
The old hermit slowly opened his eyes, his sharp gaze like two bolts of lightning, shooting straight at Ye Shuli.
“Young man, it seems you have made a discovery.” The old hermit’s voice was deep and magnetic, like a fine vintage wine, full of the sedimentation of time.
Ye Shuli didn't beat around the bush and directly handed the parchment to the old hermit, "Senior, please take a look at this. I think it might be related to some special cultivation method."
The old hermit took the parchment scroll, examined it carefully, and his brows furrowed.
The air seemed to freeze, and the surrounding temperature dropped several degrees.
He slowly raised his head, his gaze as deep as a bottomless black hole. "This method is indeed extraordinary, but if you want to reveal its truth, the price... is probably not something you can easily bear."
Ye Shuli felt a jolt, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her from head to toe.
She felt her heart begin to race, as if fate had seized her by the throat.
She had clearly sensed the truth, but fate once again set an obstacle for her.
This feeling is like when you finally beat a level in a game, only to find that there's an even more powerful boss waiting for you.
Jiang Ye sensed that something was wrong and silently walked to Ye Shuli's side, offering her unspoken support.
After a long silence, Ye Shuli took a deep breath, suppressing her inner unease. She slowly raised her head and said, "Just tell me what to do. I'll brave any danger!"
"This isn't Ye Shuli bragging. She's an independent woman from the 21st century. What storms haven't she weathered?"
If she can handle a fantasy setting like time travel, what else could scare her?
The old hermit stroked his beard.
The first challenge was a complex array diagram that appeared out of thin air with a wave of the old hermit's hand. "You have one incense stick's time to break this array." The array was so intricate that it resembled a circuit board, dazzling to behold.
But who is Ye Shuli?
Those are elites who have received modern education!
Her eyes darted around, and various mathematical formulas and logical reasoning flashed through her mind. In no time at all, she deciphered the formation in the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn!
The old hermit nodded slightly, his eyes showing even greater approval.
For the second question, the old hermit took out a strangely shaped box. "This box is called 'Exquisite Lock.' You must open it without damaging it, and the time limit is still one incense stick's time." Jiang Ye complained from the side, "This old man is serious!" Ye Shuli calmly took the box and carefully examined it from all angles. The box was full of mechanisms and hidden secrets.
Ye Shuli closed her eyes, imagining the internal structure of the box, and deftly manipulated it with her fingers. With a "click," the box opened!
Jiang Ye was completely dumbfounded. This operation was even more amazing than opening a blind box!
For the final question, the old hermit pointed to an ancient tree in the courtyard. "This tree is called the 'Enlightenment Tree.' You must comprehend its essence to pass the test." This Enlightenment Tree looked ordinary, yet it exuded a mysterious aura.
Ye Shuli sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and concentrated, trying to communicate with the ancient tree.
However, just as she was about to gain some insight, a powerful force suddenly appeared, blasting Ye Shuli and Jiang Ye away!
"What happened?!" Jiang Ye got up, covered in dust and dirt. The surrounding scenery had changed dramatically. The once peaceful courtyard was now a mess, and the ancient tree was shrouded in a powerful energy that seemed ready to explode at any moment.
"Guardian..." the old hermit's voice was low and solemn, "It seems that this method is not easily obtained..."
Ye Shuli wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, but there was no fear in her eyes. Instead, her eyes burned with fierce fighting spirit.
She slowly stood up, drew her sword from her waist, and pointed the blade directly at the mysterious power. "Jiang Ye, are you ready?"
Jiang Ye also drew his weapon, a wicked smile playing on his lips. "Of course, my young lady, I'll keep you company to the end!"
The two stood side by side, and a powerful aura burst forth from them, as if they were about to fight against that mysterious power!
The battle was about to begin, and the shockwaves generated by the energy collision leveled the surrounding trees.
Ye Shuli's eyes were sharp as she stared intently at the flow of that power. Suddenly, she made a move that surprised everyone...
She actually put away her sword!
"Are you crazy?!" Jiang Ye exclaimed.
The battle was at a stalemate, with turbulent energy currents raging and the air filled with the smell of burning metal, making eardrums buzz.
As Jiang Ye brandished his spear, he couldn't help but complain, "What kind of guardian is this? It's so tough, like an iron turtle! My hands are numb from hitting it!" When he saw Ye Shuli sheathing her sword, he almost spat out a mouthful of blood. "My goodness, are you surrendering?!"
Ye Shuli had no time to pay attention to Jiang Ye's ghostly cries. She narrowed her eyes and carefully observed the flow of that energy.
She discovered that although this power was strong, it was not invincible. At its core, there seemed to be a weak energy node, much like a vulnerability in a computer program.
Ye Shuli's lips curled into a sly smile, as if she had found a secret passage to a hidden level.
She rushed forward, avoiding a direct attack, and struck the weak point of the energy node with a palm strike.
With a muffled "bang," the seemingly invincible energy instantly dissipated, turning into specks of starlight that vanished into the air.
Jiang Ye and the old hermit were both stunned by what they saw, their jaws nearly dropping to the ground.
Jiang Ye exclaimed, "Holy crap, you can do that?!"
A glint of shrewdness flashed in the old hermit's eyes, and he stroked his beard and laughed: "The younger generation is truly formidable! The younger generation is truly formidable! I never expected that the truth I have been searching for for so many years would be so easily deciphered by you today!"
The old hermit stopped keeping everyone in suspense and slowly revealed the truth about the special cultivation method.
It turns out that this method is not an ordinary spiritual power cultivation, but rather a way to comprehend the rules of heaven and earth and transform power into one's own. The protective power is the final test of a cultivator's aptitude.
Upon hearing this, Ye Shuli felt her blood boil. She couldn't wait to begin practicing the special method according to the old hermit's guidance.
A faint halo emanated from her body, and spiritual energy surged wildly within her like a rushing river.
She could clearly feel the changes in every inch of her body, and the feeling of being filled with power was simply exhilarating.
Jiang Ye watched Ye Shuli's transformation with pride and satisfaction in his eyes. This was the "young lady" he had personally mentored; she was practically a cheat code!
Ye Shuli's power rose steadily, from the early stage of Spirit Venerable to the middle stage of Spirit Venerable, and then to the late stage of Spirit Venerable. Her cultivation speed could only be described as "riding a rocket".
"This, this is the power of the Dharma? It's simply amazing!" Ye Shuli exclaimed as she felt the surging power within her body.
The old hermit smiled with satisfaction.
"It seems that this continent is about to be in turmoil again."
Ye Shuli slowly opened her eyes, a meaningful smile appearing on her lips.
Jiang Ye looked at the radiant aura surrounding Ye Shuli, his heart filled with joy and pride.
He couldn't help but grasp Ye Shuli's hand; her hand was warm and soft, and the touch made his heart tremble slightly.
His eyes were filled with love, as if everything around him had disappeared, leaving only the woman in front of him who had captured his heart.
Ye Shuli felt Jiang Ye's gaze, a gaze as intense as the summer sun, and she returned his gaze.
A gentle breeze swept by, bringing a touch of coolness, but it couldn't dispel the ambiguous and warm atmosphere between the two.
They stood there quietly, as if time itself had stopped for them.
However, just as Ye Shuli was immersed in the power boost brought about by the cultivation method, she suddenly felt a chill.
A feeling of unease welled up inside me, a feeling of being watched, cold and malevolent, like a venomous snake in the dark.
She could "see" a dark force stirring in a dark corner. Although she couldn't see its specific appearance, the malice it exuded assaulted her senses as if it were a tangible force.
She seemed to hear a faint hissing sound coming from the darkness, like the whisper of a demon, or a provocation to her.
Ye Shuli frowned. Jiang Ye noticed her unusual expression and was about to ask her something when Ye Shuli raised her hand to stop him. Her gaze was fixed firmly on the direction where the dark power might exist, and the spiritual energy fluctuations around her became even more intense, as if a new storm was about to break.