shén me shì xiū wèi ？
什么是修为？
What is cultivation?
zhè shì yī zhǒng yǒu xiē chōu xiàng 、 dàn què zhēn shí cún zài de dōng xī 。
这是一种有些抽象、但却真实存在的东西。
This was something abstract yet real. Each cultivator, practicing different techniques, ultimately achieved the same goal—though each left behind a unique mark from their specific technique.
měi wèi xiū shì xiū xíng bù tóng de gōng fǎ ， zuì zhōng dé dào de què shì shū tú tóng guī 。 bù guò zhān rǎn le gè zì gōng fǎ de tè shū yìn jì 。
每位修士修行不同的功法，最终得到的却是殊途同归。不过沾染了各自功法的特殊印记。
Before him were three golden figures, roughly human-sized, just like the glowing cubic objects he had encountered earlier. They were all physical manifestations of one's cultivation, condensed to an unimaginable degree.
lǐ fán yǎn qián zhè sān zūn jīn rén ， xún cháng rén lèi yì bān dà xiǎo 。 gēn xiān qián yù dào de fā guāng zhèng fāng tǐ yī yàng ， dōu shì chún cuì de shí tǐ huà xiū wèi zào wù 。
李凡眼前这三尊金人，寻常人类一般大小。跟先前遇到的发光正方体一样，都是纯粹的实体化修为造物。
Moreover, Li Fan keenly sensed that these golden figures contained distinct yet identifiable energies.
ér qiě shì yǐ rán níng suō zhì jí diǎn de nán yǐ gū liáng de xiū wèi zǒng hé 。
而且是已然凝缩至极点的难以估量的修为总和。
Each was unique but shared a common feature—like intricate mechanical constructs, forming a specific structure.
bù jǐn rú cǐ ， lǐ fán hái mǐn ruì de chá jué dào zài zhè sān jù jīn rén shēn shàng ， hái fēn bié yùn hán zhe bié yàng de qì xī 。
不仅如此，李凡还敏锐的察觉到在这三具金人身上，还分别蕴含着别样的气息。
Li Fan was certain that if he accidentally triggered any mechanism on them, they would execute their pre-programmed tasks.
gè zì bù tóng 、 dàn dōu yǒu gè xiǎn zhù de tè diǎn ， nà jiù rú tóng jīng mì de jī xiè zào wù 、 xíng chéng mǒu zhǒng dú tè de gòu zào 。
各自不同、但都有个显著的特点，那就如同精密的机械造物、形成某种独特的构造。
"None of this shows signs of spirit energy. It's all about stacking one’s own cultivation."
lǐ fán què xìn ， rú guǒ shāo yǒu bù shèn 、 chù dòng jīn rén shēn shàng de jī guān ， kǒng pà tā men jiù huì àn zhào jì dìng hǎo de fāng shì qù zhí xíng mǒu zhǒng rèn wù 。
李凡确信，如果稍有不慎、触动金人身上的机关，恐怕它们就会按照既定好的方式去执行某种任务。
"Is it to hide completely?"
“ zhè qí zhōng ， méi yǒu sī háo líng lì yùn zhuàn de jì xiàng 。 quán kào shì xiū wèi zì shēn de duī dié xíng chéng de 。”
“这其中，没有丝毫灵力运转的迹象。全靠是修为自身的堆叠形成的。”
"The application is so exquisite; it's hard to imagine."
“ shì wèi le zuò dào chè chè dǐ dǐ de yǐn cáng me ？”
“是为了做到彻彻底底的隐藏么？”
After a moment of contemplation, Li Fan extended a thread of spirit energy and retreated to a safe distance.
“ rú cǐ jīng miào jué lún de yìng yòng ， dàng zhēn yǒu xiē nán yǐ xiǎng xiàng 。”
“如此精妙绝伦的应用，当真有些难以想象。”
Then, he manipulated the spirit energy as a guide, piercing one of the golden figures with force.
lǐ fán chén yín piàn kè ， líng kōng dù chū yī sī líng lì ， ér hòu yuǎn dùn zhì ān quán wèi zhì 。
李凡沉吟片刻，凌空渡出一丝灵力，而后远遁至安全位置。
It was like setting off an explosion of gunpowder. A powerful yet unstable aura burst forth.
suí hòu cāo zòng zhe nà sī líng lì zuò wéi yǐn xiàn ， hěn hěn dì zhā rù jìn qí zhōng yī jù jīn rén shēn shàng 。
随后操纵着那丝灵力作为引线，狠狠地扎入进其中一具金人身上。
The golden light quickly condensed, but only his eyes revealed uncontrollable radiance.
jiù xiàng shì yī duī zhà yào tǒng bèi zhòu rán yǐn bào ， yī gǔ jí qí měng liè qiě bù wěn dìng de qì xī hōng rán bào fā 。
就像是一堆炸药桶被骤然引爆，一股极其猛烈且不稳定的气息轰然爆发。
From this, Li Fan could clearly see the appearance of the golden figure.
ér hòu jīn guāng xùn sù nèi liǎn ， zhǐ yǒu yǎn jīng chù yī jiù yǒu kòng zhì bú zhù de guāng máng wài yì 。
而后金光迅速内敛，只有眼睛处依旧有控制不住的光芒外溢。
To his surprise, this purely cultivation-formed golden figure resembled the Propagation Supreme Sage almost identically!
lǐ fán yīn ér néng kàn qīng chǔ le jīn rén de yàng mào 。
李凡因而能看清楚了金人的样貌。
Or perhaps it was built according to the widespread statues of sages in various regions!
ràng tā yǒu xiē chī jīng de shì ， zhè jù wán quán yóu chún cuì xiū wèi gòu zào ér chéng de jīn rén ， qí mú yàng jìng rán gēn chuán fǎ tiān zūn jī hū wán quán yī yàng ！
让他有些吃惊的是，这具完全由纯粹修为构造而成的金人，其模样竟然跟传法天尊几乎完全一样！
The awakened golden figure showed no sign of confusion. It scanned its surroundings as if following a preset sequence, then pointed its hands in mid-air.
yòu huò zhě shuō ， jiù shì àn zhào wàn xiān méng biàn bù gè dì de tiān zūn xiàng jiàn zào de ！
又或者说，就是按照万仙盟遍布各地的天尊像建造的！
Streams of golden light separated from its body and flew towards different objects. After being touched by the cultivation-infused light, the previously lifeless items seemed to gain sentience.
jīn rén sū xǐng hòu ， méi yǒu piàn kè de mí máng 。 sì hū shì àn zhào shè dìng hǎo de bù zhòu ， shì xiàn sǎo guò cǐ chù kōng jiān nèi cún chǔ de wù zī 。
金人苏醒后，没有片刻的迷茫。似乎是按照设定好的步骤，视线扫过此处空间内存储的物资。
They quickly rearranged themselves into a rough human form.
shuāng shǒu zài kōng zhōng xū diǎn ， yī dào dào jīn guāng zì tā shēn shàng bèi fēn chū ， fēi dào bù tóng de wù jiàn zhī shàng 。 zhān rǎn le xiū wèi jīn guāng zhī hòu ， yuán běn nà xiē sǐ wù fǎng fú hū rán zhī jiān yǒu le líng xìng yì bān 。
双手在空中虚点，一道道金光自它身上被分出，飞到不同的物件之上。沾染了修为金光之后，原本那些死物仿佛忽然之间有了灵性一般。
After completing this, the first golden figure looked at the other two still sleeping figures, firing beams from both eyes onto them in turn.
xùn sù zì fā zǔ hé chéng yí gè dà zhì de rén xíng 。
迅速自发组合成一个大致的人形。
The second and third golden figures were activated sequentially.
zuò wán zhè yī qiè zhī hòu ， yī hào jīn rén kàn xiàng hái zài chén shuì zhōng de qí tā liǎng jù tóng bàn ， zuǒ yòu yǎn fēn bié shè chū yī dào guāng shù ， zhào zài tā men shēn shàng 。
做完这一切之后，一号金人看向还在沉睡中的其他两具同伴，左右眼分别射出一道光束，照在它们身上。
The second golden figure shattered into viscous golden liquid, which flew into the vaguely formed human figure created by the first one.
èr 、 sān hào jīn rén yú shì xiān hòu bèi jī huó 。
二、三号金人于是先后被激活。
Meanwhile, the third golden figure transformed into a beam of light that emerged from the ground and vanished somewhere.
èr hào jīn rén shēn xíng pò suì ， huà zuò nián chóu de jīn sè nián yè ， fēi rù yī hào jīn rén zǔ zhuāng ér chéng de mó hú rén xíng zhī zhōng 。
二号金人身形破碎，化作粘稠的金色粘液，飞入一号金人组装而成的模糊人形之中。
Absorbing the golden liquid, the form became more lifelike.
ér sān hào jīn rén zé shì huà zuò yī dào guāng huá ， zì dì dǐ zuān chū ， bù zhī fēi xiàng hé chù 。
而三号金人则是化作一道光华，自地底钻出，不知飞向何处。
However, it did not seem to have its own consciousness.
xī shōu le jīn sè nián yè ， rén xíng biàn dé shēng dòng le xǔ duō 。
吸收了金色粘液，人形变得生动了许多。
Soon after, the third golden figure returned with an unknown black object pulsating inside it.
zhǐ bù guò sì hū méi yǒu méi yǒu dàn shēng zì jǐ de shén zhì 。
只不过似乎没有没有诞生自己的神智。
Life's presence suddenly descended.
zhí dào bù jiǔ zhī hòu ， sān hào jīn rén fù guī ， jiāng yí gè hēi sè de 、 bù duàn yuè dòng zhe de wèi zhī wù pǐn sāi rù qí zhōng 。
直到不久之后，三号金人复归，将一个黑色的、不断跃动着的未知物品塞入其中。
"This must be the backup plan for the Revival of Spirit Master?" Li Fan thought as he observed from a safe distance.
shēng mìng de qì xī zhòu rán jiàng lín 。
生命的气息骤然降临。
It seemed to confirm his hypothesis. As the golden liquid coiled and condensed into a实体, a strange, raspy voice emerged from underground: "I… am I dead?"
“ zhè shì ， líng yuán jiào zhǔ fù huó de hòu shǒu ？” duǒ zài jī yuǎn chù kuī shì de lǐ fán bù yóu xīn zhōng àn dào 。
“这是，灵元教主复活的后手？”躲在机远处窥视的李凡不由心中暗道。
The tone was filled with confusion and reluctance.
ér sì hū shì wèi le yàn zhèng lǐ fán de cāi xiǎng 。
而似乎是为了验证李凡的猜想。
The Spirit Master looked at the two golden figures guarding him, showing surprise: "Creation Golden Figures? Did I really develop this? Dammit…"
suí zhe jīn sè nián yè zài guǐ yì de rú dòng zhī hòu ， zhú jiàn níng jié chéng shí tǐ 。
随着金色粘液在诡异的蠕动之后，逐渐凝结成实体。
Despite being resurrected, the Spirit Master did not feel joy but rather anxiety and unease.
yī dào yǒu xiē guài yì 、 rú tóng jīn shǔ mó cā de sī yǎ sǎng yīn chū xiàn zài dì dǐ ：“ wǒ …… zhè shì sǐ le ？”
一道有些怪异、如同金属摩擦的嘶哑嗓音出现在地底：“我……这是死了？”
"Based on my memory, it should take another century for a breakthrough."
yǔ qì zhōng yǒu xiē mí máng ， yòu yǒu xiē bù gān 。
语气中有些迷茫，又有些不甘。
"Oh right, there must be a time track here."
líng yuán jiào zhǔ kàn xiàng hù wèi zài zì jǐ shēn biān de liǎng zūn jīn rén ， jìng rán biǎo xiàn de yǒu xiē chī jīng ：“ zào huà jīn rén ？ wǒ zhēn de yán zhì chū zhè wán yì lái le ？ gāi sǐ ……”
灵元教主看向护卫在自己身边的两尊金人，竟然表现的有些吃惊：“造化金人？我真的研制出这玩意来了？该死……”
After rummaging around, the Spirit Master indeed found what he was looking for in a corner. But after reading it, his face changed dramatically: "Three hundred and twenty-eight years later? After so much time has passed, how could this memory backup still exist?"
sǐ ér fù shēng ， líng yuán jiào zhǔ bù jǐn méi yǒu xīn xǐ ， fǎn ér yǒu xiē jiāo zào gēn bù ān 。
死而复生，灵元教主不仅没有欣喜，反而有些焦躁跟不安。
After a brief panic, the young Spirit Master quickly calmed down.
“ àn zhào wǒ jì yì zhōng de jìn dù ， zuì qǐ mǎ hái yào shàng bǎi nián yán jiū cái huì yǒu zhì dì tū pò 。”
“按照我记忆中的进度，最起码还要上百年研究才会有质的突破。”
"Considering my cautious nature, I couldn't have gone without backups for over three centuries. But resurrection can only rely on me..."
“ duì le ， zhè lǐ yīng gāi yǒu shí jiān miǎn guǐ cái duì 。”
“对了，这里应该有时间冕轨才对。”
"The only logical explanation is that an unforeseen disaster destroyed all subsequent backups."
yī dùn fān zhǎo ， líng yuán jiào zhǔ guǒ rán hái shì zài jiǎo luò lǐ zhǎo dào le zì jǐ xiǎng yào de dōng xī 。
一顿翻找，灵元教主果然还是在角落里找到了自己想要的东西。
"Shit…"
jié guǒ kàn wán zhī hòu ， liǎn sè jù biàn ：“ sān bǎi èr shí bā nián zhī hòu ？ dōu guò qù le zhè me zhǎng shí jiān ， zěn me kě néng huì hái huì huán yuán wǒ zhè fèn jì yì bèi fèn ？”
结果看完之后，脸色剧变：“三百二十八年之后？都过去了这么长时间，怎么可能会还会还原我这份记忆备份？”
The Spirit Master sucked in a cold breath.
duǎn zàn de jīng huāng zhī hòu ， nián qīng de líng yuán jiào zhǔ hěn kuài lěng jìng le xià lái 。
短暂的惊慌之后，年轻的灵元教主很快冷静了下来。
"It seems the Revival of Spirit Sect must also have perished with me. Truly, relying on a ragtag group to achieve great things is too difficult."
“ àn zhào wǒ zuò shì de jǐn shèn chéng dù ， bù kě néng sān bǎi duō nián yì zhí dōu méi yǒu bèi fèn jì yì 。 dàn fù huó què yī jiù zhǐ néng kào wǒ ……”
“按照我做事的谨慎程度，不可能三百多年一直都没有备份记忆。但复活却依旧只能靠我……”
As he spoke, the Spirit Master seemed to verify his conclusion by attempting to activate the Life Source of All Living Beings technique.
“ wéi yī shuō de tōng de jiě shì shì ， fā shēng le yì liào zhī wài de zāi huò 。 dǎo zhì zhè zhī hòu de bèi fèn jì yì quán dōu bèi huǐ le 。”
“唯一说的通的解释是，发生了意料之外的灾祸。导致这之后的备份记忆全都被毁了。”
To his surprise, it flowed smoothly without any hindrance. He vaguely sensed that over one million people were simultaneously practicing this technique!
“ sī ……”
“嘶……”
"What's going on?" The Spirit Master was suddenly agitated.
líng yuán jiào zhǔ dào xī yī kǒu liáng qì 。
灵元教主倒吸一口凉气。
He frowned and paced back and forth, eventually concluding that a traitor had emerged in the sect, not only killing him but also erasing all his memory backups.
“ kàn lái ， líng yuán jiào yě bì rán gēn wǒ yì qǐ fù miè le 。 guǒ rán kào yī qún wū hé zhī zhòng ， xiǎng zuò dà shì hái shì tài nán le 。”
“看来，灵元教也必然跟我一起覆灭了。果然靠一群乌合之众，想做大事还是太难了。”
Only the most primitive backup remained, perhaps due to its ancient age, which managed to survive.
zhè me shuō zhe ， líng yuán jiào zhǔ sì hū shì wèi le yàn zhèng zì jǐ de jié lùn ， kāi shǐ shì tú yùn zhuàn qǐ cāng shēng líng yuán gōng lái 。
这么说着，灵元教主似乎是为了验证自己的结论，开始试图运转起苍生灵元功来。
This conclusion left the Spirit Master even more puzzled: "What exactly did I experience that made me so trusting of outsiders?"
jié guǒ ràng tā dà chī yī jīng de shì ， xiū xíng qǐ lái háo wú zǔ sāi 、 yì cháng shùn lì 。
结果让他大吃一惊的是，修行起来毫无阻塞、异常顺利。
"Even my deepest secrets were revealed. And I was betrayed by someone who directly led to my death..."
tóng shí mó mó hú hú gǎn yìng dào le duō dá shàng bǎi wàn rén zài tóng shí xiū xíng cāng shēng líng yuán gōng ！
同时模模糊糊感应到了多达上百万人在同时修行苍生灵元功！
The Spirit Master racked his brains but could not find a coherent explanation.
“ zhè shì zěn me huí shì ？” líng yuán jiào zhǔ dùn shí bù dàn dìng le 。
“这是怎么回事？”灵元教主顿时不淡定了。
Finally, he sighed deeply: "Until I figure out what happened, I can only hide."
tā méi tóu jǐn suǒ ， lái huí duó bù 。
他眉头紧锁，来回踱步。
"But since I've always done this and got used to it, it's fine."
zuì zhōng tuī cè chū yí gè kě néng ： jiào zhōng chū xiàn le pàn tú 、 bù jǐn bǎ tā gěi zhū shā le ， bìng qiě hái bǎ tā suǒ yǒu de jì yì bèi fèn quán dōu qīng chú le 。
最终推测出一个可能：教中出现了叛徒、不仅把他给诛杀了，并且还把他所有的记忆备份全都清除了。
"Having narrowly escaped to the cultivation world, yet ending up in this state. Dammit..."
zhǐ yǒu zuì yuán shǐ de yī fèn 、 huò xǔ shì yīn wèi nián dài tài guò jiǔ yuǎn de yuán gù ， cái dé yǐ ān quán bǎo cún 。
只有最原始的一份、或许是因为年代太过久远的缘故，才得以安全保存。
The Spirit Master complained as his body, composed of parts and physical cultivation, began to change.
dàn zhè ge tuī cè què ràng líng yuán jiào zhǔ gèng jiā yǒu xiē bù jiě 。
但这个推测却让灵元教主更加有些不解。
His arm transformed into a long pipe, which pierced through the cubic wall beneath him.
“ wǒ jiū jìng jīng lì le xiē shén me ， jū rán huì duì wài rén rú cǐ xìn rèn ？”
“我究竟经历了些什么，居然会对外人如此信任？”
The flickering golden light from the pipe indicated that he was absorbing the cultivation stored within it.
“ lián yǐn cáng zuì shēn de mì mì dōu néng xiè lòu 。 jié guǒ hái xìn cuò le rén ， bèi rén zhí jiē hài sǐ ……”
“连隐藏最深的秘密都能泄露。结果还信错了人，被人直接害死……”
His realm aura soared from the initial stage of Qi Condensation upon revival.
líng yuán jiào zhǔ xiǎng pò le nǎo dài ， yě xiǎng bù chū gè suǒ yǐ rán lái 。
灵元教主想破了脑袋，也想不出个所以然来。
"Fortunately, I've accumulated quite some cultivation over these years."
zuì zhōng cháng tàn yì kǒu qì ：“ méi yǒu gǎo qīng chǔ jiū jìng fā shēng le shén me shì qíng zhī qián ， zhǐ néng suō zhe nǎo dài zuò rén le 。”
最终长叹一口气：“没有搞清楚究竟发生了什么事情之前，只能缩着脑袋做人了。”
"I should recover my original strength soon," the Spirit Master said.
“ bù guò fǎn zhèng wǒ zhī qián dōu shì zhè me guò lái de ， yě dōu xí guàn le 。”
“不过反正我之前都是这么过来的，也都习惯了。”
Just then, he suddenly lost control of his body.
“ hǎo bù róng yì táo dào yí gè xìng miǎn yú nán de xiū xiān jiè ， què jū rán shì zhè fù guǐ yàng zi 。 zhēn shì gāi sǐ ……”
“好不容易逃到一个幸免于难的修仙界，却居然是这副鬼样子。真是该死……”
Realizing an attack, he immediately ordered the two golden figures to defend him. But before he could issue commands, a stone figure exuding divine compassion filled his mind.
líng yuán jiào zhǔ zuǐ lǐ bào yuàn zhe ， yóu líng jiàn gēn shí tǐ xiū wèi zǔ chéng de shēn qū suí zhī fā shēng biàn huà 。
灵元教主嘴里抱怨着，由零件跟实体修为组成的身躯随之发生变化。
"Red Dust Compassion..."
shǒu bì biàn huàn chéng yí gè cháng cháng de guǎn dào ， cì rù jiǎo xià de zhèng fāng tǐ qiáng bì 。
手臂变幻成一个长长的管道，刺入脚下的正方体墙壁。
His thoughts were interrupted as he regained consciousness, still unsure of where he was.
cóng guǎn dào zhōng bù duàn shǎn shuò de jīn guāng kě yǐ kàn chū ， líng yuán jiào zhǔ zhèng zài xī shōu zhèng fāng tǐ zhōng cún chǔ zhe de xiū wèi 。
从管道中不断闪烁的金光可以看出，灵元教主正在吸收正方体中存储着的修为。
Trying to contact the two guardian figures, he found that they were unreachable.
ér tā de jìng jiè qì xī ， yě yóu gāng fù shēng de liàn qì chū qī ， yī lù biāo shēng 。
而他的境界气息，也由刚复生的炼气初期，一路飙升。
The Spirit Master's heart sank.
“ hǎo zài zhè me duō nián guò qù ， wǒ yě jī zǎn le shù liàng bù shǎo de xiū wèi bèi yòng 。”
“好在这么多年过去，我也积攒了数量不少的修为备用。”
(End of Chapter)
What is cultivation?
This was something abstract yet real. Each cultivator, practicing different techniques, ultimately achieved the same goal—though each left behind a unique mark from their specific technique.
Before him were three golden figures, roughly human-sized, just like the glowing cubic objects he had encountered earlier. They were all physical manifestations of one's cultivation, condensed to an unimaginable degree.
Moreover, Li Fan keenly sensed that these golden figures contained distinct yet identifiable energies.
Each was unique but shared a common feature—like intricate mechanical constructs, forming a specific structure.
Li Fan was certain that if he accidentally triggered any mechanism on them, they would execute their pre-programmed tasks.
"None of this shows signs of spirit energy. It's all about stacking one’s own cultivation."
"Is it to hide completely?"
"The application is so exquisite; it's hard to imagine."
After a moment of contemplation, Li Fan extended a thread of spirit energy and retreated to a safe distance.
Then, he manipulated the spirit energy as a guide, piercing one of the golden figures with force.
It was like setting off an explosion of gunpowder. A powerful yet unstable aura burst forth.
The golden light quickly condensed, but only his eyes revealed uncontrollable radiance.
From this, Li Fan could clearly see the appearance of the golden figure.
To his surprise, this purely cultivation-formed golden figure resembled the Propagation Supreme Sage almost identically!
Or perhaps it was built according to the widespread statues of sages in various regions!
The awakened golden figure showed no sign of confusion. It scanned its surroundings as if following a preset sequence, then pointed its hands in mid-air.
Streams of golden light separated from its body and flew towards different objects. After being touched by the cultivation-infused light, the previously lifeless items seemed to gain sentience.
They quickly rearranged themselves into a rough human form.
After completing this, the first golden figure looked at the other two still sleeping figures, firing beams from both eyes onto them in turn.
The second and third golden figures were activated sequentially.
The second golden figure shattered into viscous golden liquid, which flew into the vaguely formed human figure created by the first one.
Meanwhile, the third golden figure transformed into a beam of light that emerged from the ground and vanished somewhere.
Absorbing the golden liquid, the form became more lifelike.
However, it did not seem to have its own consciousness.
Soon after, the third golden figure returned with an unknown black object pulsating inside it.
Life's presence suddenly descended.
"This must be the backup plan for the Revival of Spirit Master?" Li Fan thought as he observed from a safe distance.
It seemed to confirm his hypothesis. As the golden liquid coiled and condensed into a实体, a strange, raspy voice emerged from underground: "I… am I dead?"
The tone was filled with confusion and reluctance.
The Spirit Master looked at the two golden figures guarding him, showing surprise: "Creation Golden Figures? Did I really develop this? Dammit…"
Despite being resurrected, the Spirit Master did not feel joy but rather anxiety and unease.
"Based on my memory, it should take another century for a breakthrough."
"Oh right, there must be a time track here."
After rummaging around, the Spirit Master indeed found what he was looking for in a corner. But after reading it, his face changed dramatically: "Three hundred and twenty-eight years later? After so much time has passed, how could this memory backup still exist?"
After a brief panic, the young Spirit Master quickly calmed down.
"Considering my cautious nature, I couldn't have gone without backups for over three centuries. But resurrection can only rely on me..."
"The only logical explanation is that an unforeseen disaster destroyed all subsequent backups."
"Shit…"
The Spirit Master sucked in a cold breath.
"It seems the Revival of Spirit Sect must also have perished with me. Truly, relying on a ragtag group to achieve great things is too difficult."
As he spoke, the Spirit Master seemed to verify his conclusion by attempting to activate the Life Source of All Living Beings technique.
To his surprise, it flowed smoothly without any hindrance. He vaguely sensed that over one million people were simultaneously practicing this technique!
"What's going on?" The Spirit Master was suddenly agitated.
He frowned and paced back and forth, eventually concluding that a traitor had emerged in the sect, not only killing him but also erasing all his memory backups.
Only the most primitive backup remained, perhaps due to its ancient age, which managed to survive.
This conclusion left the Spirit Master even more puzzled: "What exactly did I experience that made me so trusting of outsiders?"
"Even my deepest secrets were revealed. And I was betrayed by someone who directly led to my death..."
The Spirit Master racked his brains but could not find a coherent explanation.
Finally, he sighed deeply: "Until I figure out what happened, I can only hide."
"But since I've always done this and got used to it, it's fine."
"Having narrowly escaped to the cultivation world, yet ending up in this state. Dammit..."
The Spirit Master complained as his body, composed of parts and physical cultivation, began to change.
His arm transformed into a long pipe, which pierced through the cubic wall beneath him.
The flickering golden light from the pipe indicated that he was absorbing the cultivation stored within it.
His realm aura soared from the initial stage of Qi Condensation upon revival.
"Fortunately, I've accumulated quite some cultivation over these years."
"I should recover my original strength soon," the Spirit Master said.
Just then, he suddenly lost control of his body.
Realizing an attack, he immediately ordered the two golden figures to defend him. But before he could issue commands, a stone figure exuding divine compassion filled his mind.
"Red Dust Compassion..."
His thoughts were interrupted as he regained consciousness, still unsure of where he was.
Trying to contact the two guardian figures, he found that they were unreachable.
The Spirit Master's heart sank.
(End of Chapter)