The Demon Locking Tower is no ordinary object. Legend has it that it was bestowed upon Mount Shushan by a deity from the divine realm itself. Blessed by countless eminent monks and cultivators throughout the ages and imbued with the immense power of the Five Elements, it has become a sacred object for Mount Shushan to suppress demons.
No demon or monster imprisoned within can escape.
Li Xiaoyao armed with a vast collection of treasures gifted by the Drunken Swordsman entered the Tower. Though the Tower presented numerous challenges Li Xiaoyao possessed exceptional talent. With the Drunken Swordsman's nearly exhausting financial support his journey through the Demon Locking Tower left him wounded. However his journey fueled by battle and nurtured by battle steadily increased his cultivation and strength.
In the Sect Leader's Hall the Sword Saint stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His expression was as calm as still water. He exuded a natural aura as if he had completely merged with the laws of nature.
However the Sword Saint's mind kept flashing back to Alex's earlier discussion of the path of compassion and the path of ruthlessness.
Could compassion truly lead to enlightenment? If so why had his master never told him this? Instead his master constantly urged him to abandon emotions and abandon obsessions?
As if merging with the universe the Sword Saint felt no sense of awkwardness even standing alone. It was as if he was meant to be there like a towering ancient tree naturally standing tall.
After a long profound silence the Sword Saint suddenly spoke "Junior Brother wine can dispel sorrow but it can also cause reckless behavior. Without a clear mind how can one pursue the Great Dao?"
"Hehehe Senior Brother this wine is truly excellent! I even had to work hard to get it from that young Alex..." The Drunken Sword Immortal then emerged from the shadows clearly already half drunk. He shook a glass bottle and said with a satisfied smile.
At this point the Drunken Sword Immortal paused before continuing "The Great Dao. What is the purpose of pursuing the Great Dao? I have practiced swordsmanship my whole life to eliminate evil and promote good. To protect those I want to protect and to use my sword to eliminate all threats and prevent bullying!"
At this point the Drunken Sword Immortal picked up his bottle again and gulped down a generous sip. A sneer crossed his face. "If I truly entered the Dao I would watch my loved ones suffer in dire straits without intervening. Then what would be the point of entering the Dao? Where would it benefit me?"
"Are you still haunted by what happened back then?"
Hearing the Drunken Sword Immortal's words about watching loved ones suffer in dire straits without doing anything, Sword Saint Yin Ruozhuo knew exactly what he was referring to.
"Indeed I have never understood it. If you had intervened the Moon Worshiping Sect Leader might not have been your match. You have every ability to change this yet you remain indifferent while watching it unfold. If this is the price of entering the Dao I would rather never enter the Dao."
Perhaps because he was already seven-tenths drunk the Drunken Sword Immortal blurted out all the words he had been holding back for years.
Watching the Drunken Sword Immortal continue yelling drunkenly the Sword Saint shook his head and said "There is a providence in the universe and some things are beyond human control."
"As the ancients said 'a single leaf can block one's view.' It is because of your own obsession that you have not been able to realize the truth nor understand the significance of what I am doing. If you could let go of your obsession you would find the world is much wider..."
"No matter how wide the world is I only have seven feet of space to sleep. Obsession? If I let go of it I would have to watch the person I love marry someone else and die without a care in the world. I would rather remain stubbornly obsessed for the rest of my life" the Drunken Sword Immortal said while shaking his head. His expression was incredibly determined.
Having said this the Drunken Sword Immortal paused slightly. Then he showed a relieved smile and said "I have failed in this life because I am a coward. Fortunately Li Xiaoyao is much better than me. He can do whatever he wants to do. No matter success or failure at least he has tried his best and will have no regrets in the future."
"Li Xiaoyao..."
After hearing the Drunken Sword Immortal's words the Sword Saint was silent for a long moment. He shook his head and said "The way of heaven is running and reincarnation continues. Today Li Xiaoyao entered the Demon Locking Tower to save someone. In my opinion the ending will not change. First he will fail to save anyone and his efforts will be useless. Second even if he could save someone, one person must sacrifice themselves. One person goes out and one person stays. This is the will of heaven."
"What did you say?!" The words of Sword Saint Yin Ruozhe made the Drunken Sword Immortal's face change drastically.
Of course he understood what the Sword Saint meant. In simple terms if Zhao Ling'er was to be rescued one person had to sacrifice themselves in the Demon Locking Tower. One life for another just like a fair trade.
"If that is the case why did you agree to let Li Xiaoyao enter the Demon Locking Tower to rescue them?" Thinking of Li Xiaoyao's near certain death in the Demon Locking Tower the Drunken Sword Immortal's face grew even more anxious as he asked the Sword Saint.
"These are his own choices. What is destined by Heaven cannot be changed" Sword Saint Yin Ruozhe said while shaking his head slightly at the Drunken Sword Immortal's words.
Yes he had long ago told them that these things were predetermined by Heaven and that they should not waste their time. But they were stubborn and did not understand his words. They insisted on going ahead. Now they blamed him for not stopping them?
The Sword Saint's words left the Drunken Sword Immortal speechless though he knew the Sword Saint had a point.
But the thought that Li Xiaoyao would inevitably die even if he entered the Demon Locking Tower made the Drunken Sword Immortal anxious like an ant on a hot pan. He had no time to think. With a flash of movement he rushed out of the Sect Leader's Hall.
"Junior Brother!" Watching the Drunken Sword Immortal leave how could the Sword Saint not know what he was planning to do?
His expression which had been previously calm shifted slightly. The Sword Saint called out urgently. Seeing the Drunken Sword Immortal showed no sign of stopping he quickly followed.
The Drunken Sword Immortal was incredibly fast. Many Mount Shushan disciples watched him and the Sword Saint fly by one after the other. They looked at each other in confusion.
Drunk and dizzy his mind racing he knew only that Li Xiaoyao was in danger within the Demon Locking Tower. Therefore his only concern was Li Xiaoyao's safety.
Perhaps when sober he would have had many concerns. But now intoxicated he simply did not have the energy to consider so many things.
"Junior Brother!" Following behind the Drunken Sword Immortal and watching him march forward how could the Sword Saint not understand why he was going? With a worried look on his face he called out desperately.
The Drunken Sword Immortal completely ignored the Sword Saint's shouts and immediately rushed straight into the Demon Locking Tower without hesitation.
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