章 17: The Flowers Bloom on the Distant Shore
編集者: Nyoi-Bo Studio
For the next 30 days, the little fox remained very cautious. However, despite Li Qingshan's efforts, she did not grow fond of him.
Every morning, once Li Qingshan would wake, she would hide far away, staring at him with a cautious gaze, without lowering her guard one bit.
The little fox would wait after Li Qingshan placed the dew of the flowers as well as some food in front of her wooden hut and had moved far away before she would return to feed.
Li Qingshan also tried to get closer to her. But whether it was because of the torture she witnessed in the Monster Refining Tower or perhaps for other reasons, the little fox refused to come into contact with him.
Eventually, he gave up as well.
At least she was fine like this. The little fox had food and shelter from the elements, and she could grow up in peace. Li Qingshan felt he had done right by Senior Brother Shaobai and his wife.
Once he came to peace with this issue, Li Qingshan no longer lingered on when or how he would gain the little fox's trust. Instead, he focused all his attention on cultivating.
Over the next month, his cultivation continuously improved daily. He had long reached the peak of the Ascension Plane and was on the verge of breaking through the threshold.
The Ascension Plane was where cultivators transcended the level of mortals and comprehended the Great World Path.
It was like a carp leaping past the Dragon's Gate before becoming a dragon. It would be an astounding achievement.
After the Ascension Plane was the Distant Shore Plane.
Only by comprehending the Great Path, and like a carp leaping past the Dragon's Gate to finally reaching the Distant Shore, could one surpass mortals.
Only by breaking through to the Distant Shore Plane could one be considered a sage.
The power of a sect was determined by how many Distant Shore Plane sages they had.
When two sects had the same number of top experts, the one with the most Distant Shore Plane sages had greater potential.
Why couldn't the Yuhua Sect match up to the Heavenly Path Sect?
That was because, in terms of either top experts or Distant Shore plane sages, their numbers were no match for the latter.
Other sects had Distant Shore Plane sages as their core strength. However, it was different for the Heavenly Path Sect. They possessed Great Venerable Plane sages, who were already on a plane beyond the Distant Shore Plane, as their core strength.
Therefore, in an era without Saints, the Heavenly Path Sect could suppress all other sects and become the undisputed top sect.
Li Qingshan's cultivation and his accumulated Qi had long reached the point of being able to break through to the next plane.
The techniques he comprehended each day were also becoming more and more powerful.
Hence, Li Qingshan was now ready to break through to the next plane.
...
On this day, a crash of thunder shook the sky above the Yuhua Sect.
"Rumble."
The rumbling sounds of thunder could be heard continuously as lightning flashed among the clouds. The scene was frightening to behold.
It was as though the gods were angered, and they roared at the world.
The sound of thunder reverberated in the heavens and on earth.
"Drip."
"Drip."
"Drip."
Rain fell and hit the roof of the bamboo hut, emitting crisp sounds.
The sound of rain hitting the roof disturbed the stagnant air that had built up over the past few days.
Li Qingshan was dressed in white robes as he stood beneath his porch, staring at the churning clouds, the faraway mountains, and the fresh raindrops.
Finally, the first few drops of rain broke the silence. The next moment, a torrential downpour fell from the sky.
Thunder and lightning accompanied the storm. Then, a heavy downpour flushed the world anew.
Li Qingshan raised his head and observed how the porch, corridor, and bridge were almost instantly covered in the rain.
The gale howled as the rain poured. Li Qingshan cast a worried look in the direction where Senior Brother Shaobai's stele stood.
The little fox was still in her wooden hut. She wrapped herself in a blanket and stared back at him too.
The little fox had grown much larger over the past month. Her gaze still glistened with wariness, but she did not tremble in fear as she used to when Li Qingshan first met her.
The little fox was aware that Li Qingshan meant her no harm. However, she was still cautious, and she hated humans, so she had no intention of becoming closer to him.
After confirming that the little fox was safe, Li Qingshan eased his worries.
He made a spontaneous decision and murmured, "Since it is raining heavily, I will not clean the steles today. Let me sit down and listen to the falling rain instead while sipping tea. That will cultivate my mind."
The idea of enjoying hot tea amidst the sound of falling rain sounded very relaxing.
He put his thoughts into action right away. He prepared a tea set and boiled some water. For tea leaves, he used the ones harvested from the compound of the Yuhua Sect. His movements were smooth as he skillfully made tea.
At that very moment, he was not thinking about his cultivation or breaking through at all. His only wish was to quietly enjoy the tea amidst the rain.
Outside the hut, thunder roared, and lightning flashed. The gale howled as the storm washed over the world.
Li Qingshan quietly sipped on his tea inside the bamboo hut while listening to the rain.
He raised his teacup and took more sips. Again, the feelings of comfort and warmth surrounded him.
He was enjoying this world amidst the thunderstorm.
"Rumble."
Thunder continued to bellow. As Li Qingshan observed the rain, he gradually entered into a state of meditation.
All the sounds of the world faded away.
True Qi circulated within his body rapidly. As a result, his energy level rose drastically, but he still appeared calm on the outside.
Li Qingshan began cultivating subconsciously.
He was fully engrossed in the scenery before him. He extended his palm intuitively.
"Patter!"
A drop of rain slid down from the roof and fell on his palm. The raindrop splattered into the shape of a flower. Then, it split into countless tiny drops and smashed onto the ground.
A splash of water, in the shape of a flower, blossomed on his palm.
This flower made of water was fleeting. Ordinary people would typically not pay attention to it since, most of the time, countless more drops of rain followed right after.
If that drop of rain were on its own, the moment he experienced just now would be exceptionally precious.
However, countless raindrops poured down. Ordinary people could not see through the mystery behind it.
As Li Qingshan watched this, he had a sudden epiphany. He said, "This rain was born of the heavens and ended up on earth. The process in between is its life."
That instant was the life of rain.
At that moment, Li Qingshan finally understood. He had always been racking his brain over how to comprehend and breakthrough to the Distant Shore Plane. Right then, he had found his answer.
A crack appeared on the threshold of the Distant Shore Plane.
"Kacha!"
The threshold, which had always been a bother to him, had finally been broken by a bout of rain.
However, Li Qingshan, once again, was not in a hurry to break through. Instead, he turned his gaze to the flowerbed in the distance.
The flowers were gradually withering since winter was nearing. They had already bloomed for some time. Only a few flowers that only blossomed in the winter were left rejuvenated.
Heavy rain poured down and washed away the remaining resilience of the flowers. The flowerbed would have to wait until the following year before the flowers bloomed again.
Li Qingshan retracted his palm. In his palm was a scoop of water.
He suddenly got up. He had a feeling that if he comprehended this water, it could awaken the flowers.
In the distance, the little fox saw Li Qingshan get up. Her initially lazy, drowsy expression suddenly froze. She looked at him nervously. Her first thought was to run away.
However, torrential rain was pouring down outside.
If she ran out, it would dirty her pristine body.
The little fox hated getting dirty. She was a maiden that loved cleanliness.
Hence, she stared intently at Li Qingshan. Once he showed any signs of approaching her, she would escape immediately, even if it meant getting dirty.
Humans were despicable. She did not want to get in contact with them.
Fortunately, Li Qingshan did not approach her. Instead, he walked out of the bamboo hut and into the rain. As the rain poured down, each drop avoided him and landed around him, splashing up water.
When he reached the flowerbed, he poured the water in his palm onto a flower that had already withered.
Miraculously, the flower bloomed once again. In that instant, it was rejuvenated and blossomed radiantly.
As Li Qingshan saw this, a saying came into his mind -
Flowers bloom on the distant shores!
The rain and the flowers existed to assist Li Qingshan in breaking through the threshold of the Distant Shore Plane.
As Li Qingshan continued to comprehend and cultivate, he simply needed an opportunity for his breakthrough.
Finally, the opportunity had arrived!
"Rumble."
In his body, the massive power that he had accumulated for months inside him instantly became a huge wave that forced open the shackles of the Distant Shore Plane. He immediately achieved a breakthrough.
Li Qingshan had entered the Distant Shore Plane from the peak of the Ascension Plane.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Behind him, the illusory figures of three Buddhas appeared. Under the torrential rain, the aura of the past, present, and future emanated.
As for the entire flowerbed, it was instantly rejuvenated at that moment.
Li Qingshan successfully completed the metamorphosis from the Ascension Plane to the Distant Shore Plane.
When fish leap out of the ocean, flowers bloom on the distant shore!
The garden of flowers blossomed to congratulate Li Qingshan on his feat.
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