NOVEL WEB Chapter 3: Chapter 3: The Cycle of Life
A single autumn rain brings a chill. Outside the Sutra Repository, a light drizzle pattered down. Autumn weather was unpredictable; the sky had been clear just moments ago, yet now, rain was falling. The cold droplets formed a curtain between heaven and earth, cleansing the world. The mountains and forests appeared even more vibrant, their greens deepened, and reds and yellows interwoven. Moss became more slippery, and the streams flowed more briskly.
Inside the Sutra Repository, Lin Jiufeng silently brewed tea. Across from him sat a young man, resting his cheek on his hand, looking utterly bored. At first glance, they seemed like a grandfather and grandson, but in truth, their ages were not too far apart.
"With this breakthrough, Senior Brother has gained more than a decade of extra lifespan. Perhaps you will live to see the downfall of Yuhua Sect." Bai Yunfei sighed.
Lin Jiufeng frowned, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Bai Yunfei. "Why do you say that?" he asked.
"You already know the reason, don't you?" Bai Yunfei took a sip of tea and said, "It's Taishang Dao."
"Yes, ever since the incident involving Senior Zhou more than a hundred years ago, Taishang Dao has been relentlessly targeting Yuhua Sect, imposing sanctions, blocking our resources, and exerting immense pressure on us. We've been struggling ever since."
"Three hundred years ago, Yuhua Sect suffered devastating losses in battle, including the loss of the Yuhua Ascension Sutra. Then came the incident with Senior Zhou, and Taishang Dao has been suppressing us for over a century. Now, Yuhua Sect can barely hold on."
"This year, there were a few promising disciples in our recruitment drive, but Taishang Dao lured them away with high offers. Not just that, we've lost several elders and talented disciples over the years. Right now, including myself as the Sect Master, we only have about ten disciples left. Apart from you, Senior Brother, this is all that remains of Yuhua Sect."
Bai Yunfei smiled helplessly, his expression filled with desolation. When he took over as Sect Master, Yuhua Sect was already in shambles. Over the years, he had struggled to patch things up, but against Taishang Dao—a force a hundred, even a thousand times stronger—its relentless suppression was an unbearable weight.
Lin Jiufeng furrowed his brows. He had always known that Taishang Dao had been suppressing Yuhua Sect, but he had not realized the extent of its cruelty. They not only poached disciples with high offers but also lured away elders and imposed various restrictions. No wonder fewer and fewer disciples had been coming to the Sutra Repository recently.
Bai Yunfei finished his tea, then picked up a powerful cultivation technique and bid farewell to Lin Jiufeng. His departing figure looked determined, as though he had made up his mind.
Watching Bai Yunfei disappear into the rain, Lin Jiufeng felt a deep sense of helplessness. If Yuhua Sect fell, what would happen to him?
He could never find another place as peaceful as the Sutra Repository, where he could quietly read and cultivate in solitude.
As he brewed tea and gazed at the rain, he fell into a meditative state. His mind emptied, his senses expanded infinitely, as if his soul had left his body, overlooking the world from above.
He saw the boundless rain pouring down from the sky, falling onto the grass, the rooftops, and the streams. The mountains and rivers were being cleansed, the world refreshed. The autumn rain was cold, but for all living things, it was nourishment.
Lin Jiufeng saw green shoots breaking through the soil, thriving under the rain's nourishment. Flowers bloomed vividly, drinking in the water. His vision then shifted, revealing the spiritual energy hidden behind the rain—a vast, omnipresent force. Each raindrop carried a breath of life, permeating the land.
To Lin Jiufeng's eyes, everything became alive. His gaze grew brighter. His thoughts surged.
[Through observing the rain, you have awakened supreme enlightenment and comprehended the Cycle of Life.]
A line of text appeared before Lin Jiufeng's eyes.
His consciousness returned to his body, and he gently raised a finger, pointing at the curtain of rain outside the window.
Boom!
For a brief moment, all the rain in the world seemed to pause before crashing down once more—onto the grass, the soil, and the flowing streams. At that instant, an immense surge of life energy erupted from the earth, plants, and water, rushing into Lin Jiufeng's body.
Boom!!!
The influx of life energy instantly shattered the barrier to the Second Prohibition.
Through observing the rain, Lin Jiufeng not only comprehended the Cycle of Life but also broke through to the Second Prohibition.
The Cycle of Life was a unique cultivation technique. In battle, even if Lin Jiufeng were to exhaust his energy, he could use this technique to draw power from the world around him, instantly restoring himself to peak condition. Just now, he had absorbed energy from the earth, plants, and streams, allowing him to break through.
This was the true power of the Cycle of Life.
Lin Jiufeng marveled, "With this, even if I can't defeat my opponent, I can simply outlast them. Not bad, not bad."
With his breakthrough, his body underwent another transformation. His once white hair had turned a mix of gray and black, his complexion became rosy, and his wrinkles faded. He now looked like a fifty-year-old Daoist.
"My lifespan has increased again… but it seems Yuhua Sect is on the brink of collapse." Lin Jiufeng chuckled bitterly.
Having lived in Yuhua Sect for a hundred years, he had deep attachments to the place. More importantly, the Sutra Repository was quiet, serene, and housed countless rare texts. If Yuhua Sect fell, these books would be lost.
"Junior Brother, come to the Sutra Repository."
After careful thought, Lin Jiufeng summoned Bai Yunfei.
He had decided to pass down the Yuhua Ascension Sutra to Bai Yunfei, ensuring the survival of Yuhua Sect. Only by doing so could the sect endure, allowing him to remain in the Sutra Repository and continue his peaceful cultivation.
After his enlightenment from the rain, Lin Jiufeng realized that his future held limitless possibilities. The Yuhua Ascension Sutra was but a minor thing to him now.
Soon, Bai Yunfei arrived at the Sutra Repository, looking puzzled. "Senior Brother, why did you summon me?"
Lin Jiufeng didn't hesitate. He began to recite the Yuhua Ascension Sutra, conveying it in its entirety to Bai Yunfei.
As Bai Yunfei listened, his shock grew. He stared at Lin Jiufeng in disbelief. Was this really the same Senior Brother he had known for eighty years?
When Lin Jiufeng finished, Bai Yunfei swallowed hard and stammered, "S-Senior Brother… where did you obtain the Yuhua Ascension Sutra?"
Lin Jiufeng smiled and said, "I comprehended it myself."
Only then did Bai Yunfei notice that Lin Jiufeng had already broken through to the Second Prohibition. Just earlier, when they were drinking tea, he had not reached this level.
"Senior Brother, you've achieved sudden enlightenment and soared to the heavens in one step." Bai Yunfei sighed in amazement.
"I'm entrusting the Yuhua Ascension Sutra to you. To the outside world, just say that you comprehended it yourself. I don't want to draw attention—I just want to remain in the Sutra Repository and cultivate in peace," Lin Jiufeng instructed.
"Understood. With the Yuhua Ascension Sutra, I am confident that I can break through to the Eighth Prohibition and safeguard Yuhua Sect. I will not disturb Senior Brother's cultivation." Bai Yunfei nodded firmly.