Techniques and Dao

Chapter 125 Unexpected
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Hua Sheng immediately perked up and hurriedly said, "Dao Ling Xing Jun!"

There's no mistake, this is Dao Ling Xing Jun!

"Don't go any further. A mortal's body can't withstand the cold here," said Dao Ling Xing Jun.

Hua Sheng said, "I...I can use fire manipulation. Hurry, hurry..."

"No, it's no use. There's no space here to contain the flames, and even if there were, it wouldn't change anything," Dao Ling Xingjun stopped him. "This cold is what people call absolute zero."

"Absolute zero...is minus 273 degrees?" Hua Sheng remembered seeing it in a book.

"If you get any closer, you will be broken down into atoms by this cold. Your body, and even your soul, will cease to exist."

Hua Sheng was amazed by the power of the magic array, but at the same time, she thought that Dao Ling Xing Jun must be suffering unimaginable pain trapped in this cold space.

Dao Ling Xingjun asked, "Why are you here? How could Yang Jian allow you to enter this Heavenly Prison?"

Hua Sheng then told Xing Jun about how Tai Shang Xiao Jun had brought him to see Yang Jian and how he had Mie Ying transform into himself.

Dao Ling Xingjun immediately replied, “You bunch of children! The Blazing Wrath Heavenly Prison is not a place for you to play. The Shadow Extinction Technique is like a bubble in front of Yang Jian. You need to return quickly to avoid causing trouble for yourselves.”

Hua Sheng was originally worried about Mie Ying, but after Dao Ling Xing Jun said that, he hurriedly said, "To tell you the truth, we risked coming here to ask Xing Jun to investigate a purple-gold thread."

Hua Sheng informed Dao Ling Xing Jun that the purple-gold thread had fallen into the treasure vault of the Klin Demon School.

Dao Ling Xingjun pondered, "Was that loose thread left behind by a thief? Can I verify it with that purple-gold thread?"

"Yes, disciple." Hua Sheng immediately took out a small handkerchief from his bosom.

To prevent the thread from getting lost, he carefully wrapped this small piece of purple-gold thread in a handkerchief: "But, Star Lord, can you see it?"

"Open it now," said Dao Ling Xingjun.

Hua Sheng carefully unfolded the handkerchief, just about to bring the thread closer to Dao Ling Xing Jun, when she heard Dao Ling Xing Jun say, "That's enough. This immortal knows."

"Lord Star Lord, have you figured out which disciple it is?"

"good."

"Star Lord, who do you think is the suspicious person who stole this Star Silk? We can go back and report to the Immortal Master of the Academy."

Dao Ling Xingjun did not answer immediately.

Hua Sheng was worried that Tai Shang Xiao Jun and Mie Ying wouldn't be able to hold out for long, so he pressed on, "Star Lord, you..."

"Hana-sei, are you sure this is the right thing?"

"Confirmed. This is the original item that the people from Klin Magic Academy brought back."

Dao Ling Xingjun remained silent for a moment before saying, "I believe this disciple will not steal this treasure."

Hua Sheng was somewhat anxious and said, "We can verify this in person when we get back. Right now, the Xi Academy is finding this clue like searching for a needle in a haystack. Lord Xingjun, who exactly is it...?"

Dao Ling Xingjun suddenly gave an unexpected answer.

"It's yours, Hanamori."

Dao Ling Xingjun said, "This thread comes from your Daoist robe."

Hua Sheng suddenly felt a chill run through his body, a chill that penetrated to his very bones, even more intense than the coldness around him.

"How could that be? This disciple has never been to Klin Magic Academy! That place is thousands of miles away."

“I am absolutely certain that this thread is from your Taoist robe,” said Dao Ling Xingjun.

"There must be a mistake. It was probably in my arms just now, so it accidentally mixed up with the loose thread of my taekwondo uniform."

As he spoke, Hua Sheng immediately reached into his robes to check if he had left the real purple-gold thread somewhere.

Dao Lingxingjun slowly said, "This piece of purple-gold thread is the one you wore when you came to the Daoist Academy. It is not the one you are wearing now. So where is that original Daoist robe?"

Hua Sheng immediately recalled that he had only ever owned one martial arts uniform.

Since arriving at the Academy of Arts and Sciences, I have been taught to properly manage my academy uniform. So even when I don't wear it occasionally, I will use magic to transform the clothes and place them close to my body.

He wore the same Taoist robe from the very beginning of his training at the Taoist Academy, through his initial cultivation, the Heavenly Eye Trial, and finally the Battle of Qiankun. He even wore it while imprisoned at the Daqian Zen Temple.

The martial arts uniform is never out of one's sight for a moment, let alone for someone to wear their own academy uniform thousands of miles away. That's simply impossible!
To be honest, I've only worn this new academy uniform for less than half a day. This is because after returning to the academy this morning, my old uniform was damaged in the many battles, so I changed into a spare new uniform in my dormitory before leaving.

Hua Sheng said, "I was wearing my old martial arts uniform this morning, but I changed into it just before coming here!"

Dao Ling Xingjun asked, "So you mean that when you confronted Klin the Demon School, you were still wearing your original school uniform?"

"This disciple never takes off his/her Taoist robe, how could he/she have gone to such a far place?"

"I am aware of this," said Dao Ling Xingjun. "If it wasn't you, you can inform Immortal Master Jueguang. If necessary, you can go to Panxian Cave. He will find a way to verify your innocence." "Isn't Panxian Cave a forbidden area?"

Dao Ling Xingjun chuckled softly, “Although it is a forbidden area, Hua Sheng, you have been there. Now that I am a prisoner, I have no such concerns. This matter concerns the reputation of the Shudao Academy. If Immortal Master Jueguang feels it is necessary to go to Panxian Cave, he will find a way.”

"Disciple understands. Disciple will proceed immediately."

Hua Sheng bowed respectfully, and was about to leave when he suddenly turned back and said, "Lord Star Lord, this disciple still has a question..."

"Go on, tell me."

"Regarding the Battle of Qiankun, this disciple believes it is not your responsibility, Star Lord. This disciple believes you are right, Star Lord, that you should not have..." As he spoke, Hua Sheng's nose suddenly stung with tears, "...that you should not have suffered such treatment in this Blazing Wrath Heavenly Prison."

Dao Lingxingjun replied calmly, "There's no need to worry about this. Although that battle came at a price, I don't believe I did anything wrong. I was just giving others some excuses. Besides, even if I didn't do what I was supposed to do, others would find those excuses sooner or later."

"This is unfair! Even if someone in this world has committed a crime against you, Star Lord, they can't just arrest you like that. There shouldn't be only one voice. At least the opinions of bystanders should be heard. This disciple doesn't believe there is no justice in this world!"

"To protect, perhaps we should listen to many voices. To destroy, one voice is enough."

Dao Lingxingjun spoke as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.

"There is no absolute black and white in this world. Just like the Tai Chi symbol, black and white have their boundaries, but there is also white hidden in black and black hidden in white. However, when they are shown to each other within the boundaries, they are both colors. There is no absolute black and white, right and wrong in this world. Right things always have a wrong side, and wrong things can always find a way to forgive and defend them. This is what the so-called 'Tao' tells us, the 'principle' for living in the world it created. So this is the rule for living in this world, also called: the principle."

Hua Sheng replied, "But I want to know, who framed you! Who put you in jail!"

"No one."

Dao Ling Xingjun smiled slightly and said, "Every place in the world has its own order and rules. You are born into this vast order, like being trapped in a celestial array. You will feel powerless but unable to change anything. These rules determine right and wrong, and determine the position and interests of those involved. Even if you resist or fight to the death, in the end you will either submit or destroy yourself."

The Star Lord paused for a moment, then said, "Hua Sheng, you've met the Victorious Fighting Buddha. Think about him, and you'll understand what I'm talking about."

Dao Lingxingjun's words pulled Hua Sheng's memory back to the rooftop of that skyscraper.

Hua Sheng recalled the Victorious Fighting Buddha, Sun Wukong, who once wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace. Now, he has become one of the gods and Buddhas.

Those faces made it clear that the legend of Sun Wukong would never exist again.

"Laws are originally unwritten, but once they are written down, they will have flaws. These imperfect rules and laws can sometimes lead all kind and intelligent people to do evil or foolish things together, and can also cause those who promote virtue to end up in a tragic situation. And in all of this, no one has done anything wrong, and that is the reality."

Dao Ling Xingjun said, “Although every corner of the world looks different, they are all like this prison. They seem to be completely open, and you might even mistake them for being transparent. Some places not only lack warmth, but are so oppressive and suffocating that even the air can hardly be contained.”

"But the world can't go on like this..." Hanamori gritted her teeth, "Something has to be done!"

Dao Ling Xingjun said, “There is no right or wrong. Absolute power will always be in someone’s hands. Even if it is you, can you make an absolutely fair judgment? I am here. You may not be satisfied, but there will always be those who are satisfied. You see, because the Holy Peace was preserved, this fairyland is prosperous. It also saved lovely people like you, so that countless lives can truly be grateful to be born into this world. That is the meaning of perseverance.”

Hua Sheng wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Dao Ling Xing Jun.

"I have settled down and made my life complete, and I have no regrets. You may leave now..." Dao Ling Xingjun said no more.

The blue cube gradually disappeared from sight.

Hua Sheng had no choice but to bow deeply in the direction of Dao Ling Xing Jun before turning back.

Using the Hun Tian Ling (a magical ribbon), he flew back to the edge of the immortal array he had entered, and carefully passed through the Li Liu Jing Lock Array.

Hua Sheng was worried that he would be discovered, and also worried that Yang Jian would see through Tai Shang Xiao Jun's scheme. But after taking only a few steps out of the immortal array, these worries were completely dispelled.

With a loud bang, his eardrums rang.

The roar came from above. Hanamori's worries were immediately answered.

He hurriedly looked up and saw that the wooden door of the main room in mid-air had been smashed to pieces.

A figure was thrown out of the main room; it was none other than Mie Ying!
Upon seeing this, Hua Sheng nearly suffered a heart attack and blurted out, "Oh no!"

Yang Jian must have seen through the true identity of Mieying Xiaoqi!
Seeing Mieying crash heavily onto the stone platform in mid-air, Huasheng quickly got up and flew up.

Approaching the main room from mid-air, one could see dust and mist swirling behind the dilapidated wooden door.

A dazzling golden light pierced through the swirling dust and struck the fallen Mie Ying directly. Mie Ying couldn't dodge in time, and her Taoist robe caught fire instantly when the golden light shone on it. She cried out in pain, quickly flipped to her feet, and dodged the flames, patting them off her body.

The golden light followed closely behind, chasing after the dodging Shadow of Annihilation.

Just then, Taishang Xiaojun hurriedly ran out of the smoke and dust in the main room.

Following closely behind was a gigantic figure clad in golden armor; that figure was none other than Erlang Shen Yang Jian. The golden light that shone upon him emanated from the third eye on his forehead.

Tai Shang Xiao Jun stood in front of Mie Ying, forcing a smile as he shouted, "Erlang Zhenjun, please calm down! General, please calm down! Don't stoop to the level of us juniors!"

"You bunch of brats! How dare you play tricks on this holy man!"

(End of this chapter)