Chapter 223: Chapter 222 The Realm of Dreams – Part 1

Translator: 549690339

Li Cheng secretly guessed that Billion had perhaps only recently gained spiritual wisdom, which is why his cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Yet, being so close, Li Cheng still couldn’t see through Billion’s true body, which was very strange; after all, with his own strength, he shouldn’t be unable to see through the true body of a Foundation Establishment Stage spirit beast. “Senior Tianyuan, would you mind taking a look at this youngster?” Li Cheng transmitted privately.

Immortal Emperor Tianyuan did not make an appearance, but his Immortal Sense was already probing.

A moment later, Immortal Emperor Tianyuan said in surprise, “How odd, I can clearly feel his true body inside that cloud and mist, yet, I can’t see through it! ” “Could it be that a powerful Immortal Emperor hid his true body?” Li Cheng asked.

Immortal Emperor Tianyuan pondered for a bit before replying, “It’s possible, I can’t say for sure. Why, could it be that he’s a disciple you took a fancy to?”

I indeed wanted to take him as a disciple, but he belongs to the Wordless Sect, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to snatch him away,” said Li Cheng, feeling helpless.

Immortal Emperor Tianyuan fell silent, and after a long while, he said, “Anyone that catches your eye is bound to be an individual with extraordinary talent, but I fail to see anything exceptional about this youngster, only that he seems to have mediocre aptitude. Could I have been mistaken?”

Ever since meeting Li Cheng, Immortal Emperor Tianyuan had often doubted himself, for Li Cheng always seemed to break the mold of his understandings.

Li Cheng said somewhat awkwardly, “I just feel that this youngster is extraordinary, but, in fact, I also can’t see through him, that’s why I’m curious and why I want to take him on as a disciple.”

Immortal Emperor Tianyuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he had been mistaken. So it was just Li Cheng’s intuition after all.

“If the higher-ups of the Wordless Sect are willing to let him go, you should take him,” said Immortal Emperor Tianyuan.

Li Cheng silently nodded and looked toward Billion, “Seeing you are so focused on bamboo artistry, do you not like cultivating?”

Billion shrugged with a smile, “The so-called cultivation is nothing but the pursuit of the true self. I devote myself to bamboo artistry, seeking the true self all the same.”

Li Cheng narrowed his eyes slightly, well played! This youth seemed very insightful!

These words seemed as though they should come from an old creature that had lived countless years, rather than from a teenager of sixteen or seventeen.

“Do you also like bamboo artistry, senior?” Billion asked.

Li Cheng nodded slightly, “You could say I like it.”

Billion immediately perked up, set down his teacup, and took a piece of purple bamboo, “That’s wonderful, senior! I have some insights into bamboo artistry, could I ask you to give me some pointers?”

Give pointers on what? Li Cheng felt bewildered internally; his comment had just been a casual remark.

He liked bamboo, or rather, the artifacts made from bamboo, not the process of making them.

Could it be that to take a disciple, he would need to have an enlightenment in bamboo artistry?

Forget about it!

But then he had a thought; he might not understand bamboo artistry, but he was proficient in Artifact Refining. The process Billion used to create those artifacts could be viewed as similar to the process of Artifact Refining!

If that was the case, then it would be similar to Artifact Refining but by another approach.

Then why not share the techniques of soul refining recorded in the Qi Jingshen legacy with him?

With this thought, Li Cheng said, “I have observed the bamboo wares you’ve crafted, the forms are quite exquisite, but they lack the essential soul.”

‘A piece without a soul cannot fully display its uniqueness. You might want to ponder over that.”

Billion meditated upon this, “Someone has told me similar things before, but I failed to grasp the essence of it, unsure of how to endow these creations with the so-called ‘soul’.”

Li Cheng smiled, “With heart, using your heart is the key to bring the finishing touch to the dragon.”

“With heart…” Billion mused, and before he knew it, he entered a state of enlightenment.

Li Cheng subtly raised his eyebrow; such profound enlightenment, a casual hint and yet he achieved enlightenment.

The key was that his so-called guidance had been vague, an indication of the general direction without specifics on how to proceed, but the youth genuinely grasped it.

“No wonder you want to take on a disciple, this kid’s insight is truly extraordinary, I’m afraid it’s hard for your other disciples to compare.”

“However, it’s such a pity, with such a strong insight, if he dedicated himself to cultivation, his future achievements would certainly be remarkable.”

Immortal Emperor Tianyuan said, his voice tinged with regret.

Li Cheng shook his head slightly, “He is skilled in bamboo art, which is likewise a form of cultivation. Confucianism Path cultivators enter the path through musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and bamboo art can do the same.”

“That’s true, but it’s a path rarely taken, and it will be quite difficult,” Immortal Emperor Tianyuan said.

Li Cheng nodded, indeed it was so. Take the Sword Dao, for example, which is probably the most trodden path. Not to mention the countless inheritances of sword techniques, but the most important aspect is that the Sword Path Rules realized by the sword cultivators ultimately nourished the Order of Heaven and Earth!

Take the Kunlun Realm for instance, at the beginning it was no different from other worlds, just that there were more cultivators, more powerful beings, so naturally, there were more types of Laws comprehended.

And the Laws seized in the hands of cultivators, when they died, these Laws naturally merged into Heaven and Earth.

As more and more Laws blended into Heaven and Earth, Nature itself also grew stronger.

Over time, the Kunlun Realm became a great world not inferior to the Immortal World.

This was a virtuous cycle, with many people in the Kunlun Realm practicing the Sword Dao over countless years, the Sword Path Rules between Heaven and Earth multiplied, making it easier for later generations to practice and comprehend.

In ordinary worlds, there was only the Order of Heaven and Earth composed of Laws, without a large number of various rules laid down by predecessors, which made the path of cultivation difficult for future generations.

According to Li Cheng’s understanding, this was what’s called harmonious development between humanity and nature.

Humans used Heaven and Earth to strengthen themselves, but wasn’t Heaven and Earth also using humans to strengthen itself?

If Billion were to enter the path through bamboo art, to advance swiftly, he would need to perceive the Dao left behind by the predecessors within the world, but no matter which world, very few have tread this path.

Therefore, Billion’s path would be much harder than others.

If he has decided to take this path, then let’s forget about taking him as a disciple; otherwise, it would be leading him astray,” Li Cheng murmured to himself.

Billion was Bai Xian’s younger brother, and with Bai Xian being an Immortal King, he must have considered the path for Billion, but since he didn’t interfere, it means he must have made some arrangements.

In that case, Li Cheng shouldn’t meddle.

With a decision made, Li Cheng felt relieved. He casually picked up a piece of bamboo, using Immortal Yuan as his knife and his spirit as a guide, and began trying to create a handicraft.

In the distance, Bai Xian quietly watched this scene, a smile gradually appearing on his face.

A month passed, and Li Cheng’s Storage Ring was now filled with over a dozen bamboo crafts, but none of these crafts satisfied him.

The reason for doing this wasn’t to pass the time; Li Cheng found that while creating various handicrafts, his mind became very serene, and his understanding of Heaven and Earth deepened.

On this day, Li Cheng prepared to make a tiger out of Purple Bamboo. After readying his materials, he entered an Enlightenment state.

In the state of Enlightenment, bamboo strips flew through Li Cheng’s hands, various Laws intertwined around him, occasionally sweeping over the tiger craft that was gradually taking shape.

Half a day passed, and there before Li Cheng appeared a bamboo tiger that seemed to be running wildly.

As Li Cheng’s movements halted, the Wooden Tiger actually let out a deafening roar, then took to the sky and started sprinting above the Wordless Sect, its unrestrained power and authority beyond words.

All members of the Wordless Sect were startled, looking up to the sky in unison.

Not far away, Billion stood dumbfounded, “The Wooden Tiger came to life?

Isn’t this the realm I’ve been dreaming of achieving?”

“Senior, please accept me as your disciple!” Billion quickly knelt down and kowtowed.