Chapter 78: Insight Through the Wall

“Old Daoist?”
Within the icy cavern, as he heard Venerable Lingxu’s address, Lu Sheng—who had completed Lu Wanshan’s task and was now observing the situation outside—frowned and pondered:

“In this world, I’ve never heard of Daoism or Buddhism—”
“Why would someone refer to himself as an ‘old Daoist’?”
“What is his origin?”

This world reveres martial arts above all; everyone cultivates the way of the warrior. Whether Daoist or Buddhist, whether monks or priests, Lu Sheng had never heard of them here. Now, Venerable Lingxu’s use of “old Daoist” aroused Lu Sheng’s suspicion:

“Could it be that this person has also reincarnated from another world, and comes from a Daoist background?”

Having experienced his own soul transmigration and witnessed King Snow Eagle’s metamorphosis—from a grade-six snow lotus to a human—Lu Sheng believed in the theory of soul reincarnation. His encounter in this world might not be unique.

But before Lu Sheng could delve deeper, a sudden message surfaced in his mind:

“Lu family boy, I’ve left you a little something. Remember to treat me well in the future—”
“Otherwise, when I awaken, I will not spare you!”

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When life is conceived, the brain and other organs are undeveloped, incapable of thought. Even for powerful beings reincarnating, to avoid the strain of overwhelming spirit on the body and to fully integrate the soul into the new flesh, their previous abilities are entirely sealed unless danger arises—

This is what people call the “mystery of the womb.”

The mystery of the womb is a major crisis that all reincarnated souls must face—
Many who reincarnate fail to awaken memories of their past lives, and thus become completely new people.

Possessing the Lotus Reincarnation technique, King Snow Eagle had no fear of whether his memories would awaken. Yet, he was not entirely confident about the timing—

After all, the devouring attack by Night Moon Sparrow had damaged part of his soul. Though the core remained unharmed, the injury would surely affect the future awakening of his memories.

Moreover, King Snow Eagle was certain: since Lu Wanshan had forced his reincarnation into the Lu clan, he must have other means—
To make his new incarnation willingly serve the Lu clan!

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“Perhaps my reincarnated self will entirely consider himself a member of the Lu clan—”
“And my experiences as a Snow Eagle beast and grade-six snow lotus will be regarded as mere memories!”

Somewhat melancholy, King Snow Eagle mused.

Though soul reincarnation is rare, this world has other similar phenomena.

For example, after a grandmaster passes away and their soul returns to nature, it disperses into the surroundings.
If a child is born nearby and their soul happens to attract the grandmaster’s scattered fragments, they may absorb part of the grandmaster’s memories—

What people call “innate wisdom” mostly arises from this.

It was this understanding that made King Snow Eagle worry: would Lu Wanshan use some method on his reincarnated body—
Turning him into one with “innate wisdom”?

“If the Lu clan of Great Jing truly possesses such means and turns my reincarnated self into one with innate wisdom—”
“Then, will my reincarnated self still be me?”

This was the question that King Snow Eagle had always pondered.

Though his soul remained and his memories would awaken, once he was reborn as a human and developed new personality and emotions—
Would he still remain himself?

This doubt was the main reason for King Snow Eagle’s resistance to Lu Wanshan!

But there was little time for hesitation. With Night Moon Sparrow’s appearance and Venerable Lingxu’s arrival, King Snow Eagle knew he had to make a choice immediately:

“With these three top human grandmasters present, even if I abandon the essence that has merged with Murong Yu’s body, there’s absolutely no way to escape.”
“Even after they resolve their rivalry, they might not give me another chance, even if I am willing to reincarnate—”
“My soul will either be devoured by Night Moon Sparrow, or seized by Lu Wanshan or Lingxu!”

Seizing souls and reading memories was more convenient for Lu Wanshan and Lingxu, and could avoid disputes over distribution.

Thus, realizing this, King Snow Eagle had no time to care who among the three above would win or lose, but had to initiate reincarnation as soon as possible.

That was why he left Lu Sheng that message!

Without waiting for a response, King Snow Eagle gathered his spiritual power, and, together with the snow lotus essence, entered Murong Yu’s body—

There, Lu Sheng’s pair of children were already beginning to be conceived!

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“A little something?”
“Left for me?”
“I don’t have the ability to claim it!”

Shaking his head as he read King Snow Eagle’s message, Lu Sheng mused.

As a powerful beast nearly two thousand years old, King Snow Eagle’s treasures were naturally vast. Though he had told Lu Sheng about only a small portion, their value far exceeded Lu Sheng’s imagination.

Yet Lu Sheng knew well:

“These things are meant for Lu Wanshan—”
“I’m simply the intermediary, gaining a bit of benefit in the process!”

So, though he knew where they were hidden, Lu Sheng felt no temptation toward them.

Casting his gaze around, observing the now fully sealed icy cavern, and glancing at Murong Yu’s still slumbering form, he took out a robe and draped it over her.

Then, he did not attempt to break out, but sat cross-legged and began to cultivate:

“The second level of the Ninefold Profound Art contains a spell of ‘seeing through walls’—”
“If I master it, I’ll surely see through the ice and find my way out!”

The spell, as the name suggests, allows one to see objects behind walls. At higher levels, it can even perceive the essence and core of things.

Naturally, Lu Sheng did not expect to grasp the essence of all things, but if he could see through, it would greatly aid his escape from the icy cavern.

Thus he yearned for this ability.

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“I’ve already opened my eye acupoint and cultivated pupil arts—”
“This ‘seeing through walls’ technique, once fused with my pupil arts, should be easy to master!”

The second level of the Ninefold Profound Art was the cultivation of energy into spirit. For Lu Sheng, who had perfected the first level and could freely control his essence, energy, and spirit, it was no difficulty.

Before long, he smoothly broke through to the second level, beginning to practice the spell.

“Fortunately, my pupil arts are still low-level; fusing them into the seeing-through-walls spell won’t require much merit.”

Looking at his merit points, Lu Sheng felt relief. After many expenditures, the merit he gained from slaying the fourth-tier Jade Elephant, Quartz, and Shi Yinjian was now less than ten thousand.

And after this, it would soon be depleted.

“As you wish—consume all merit, fuse pupil arts into the seeing-through-walls spell, and enhance it as much as possible!”

Examining his merit numbers, Lu Sheng gave instructions.

Instantly, his vision shifted; a refreshing sensation flashed through his eyes, and he could see through the ice to the outside world—

In the sky, a massive, jet-black bird was beating its wings, fleeing rapidly under the oppression of a circular seal, which was surrounded by a dragon-shaped shadow.

In the blink of an eye, it vanished into the horizon!