Refining the Spirit

Ahead was the Demon-Gathering Mountain, a place forbidden to humans.

Behind her was Lu Yunling, walking slowly towards her with a sword in hand.

She couldn’t go forward, because the demons there couldn’t provide her with power.

She also couldn’t face the enemy, because the Dust-Sweeping Sword Immortal was too powerful.

Even escape was impossible.
Xi Yao would use cunning tricks to cloud her vision, making her unable to distinguish directions.

‘Should I accept my fate? Pay the price for my actions?’

Tao Lingling couldn’t remember.

When did her purpose become no longer pure?
Was it the moment she was stained with blood?
Or the moment she bore the name of Calamity’s Bane?

She wondered whether to walk into the mountains and seek that one chance in ten of survival, or to kneel and beg for mercy, atoning for her sins from then on.

But the moment her Master stood before her, urging her to turn back, she understood that there was no turning back.

She was well aware of the sins she had committed, and the karma she bore.

They often say that dropping the butcher’s knife and becoming a Buddha on the spot, but who will seek justice for the wronged souls on that knife?
Is a bad person turning back really so noble?

Sometimes, she even had to resent her Master.
If her Master hadn’t given her a conscience, why would she be troubled by these wronged souls?

Thus, Tao Lingling turned to face the Dust-Sweeping Sword Immortal, to face Lu Yunling, her Eldest Senior Sister, and challenged her to a duel.

Her death was quick.
A slight pain in her neck, and she could no longer feel her body.
The world spun in her eyes.

In a daze, she saw her Master running towards her in a panic.

She held her in her warm embrace, and glistening tears slid down her cheeks, dripping onto her face.
That face was the most beautiful sight Tao Lingling had ever seen.

‘So, there was still someone willing to cry for me.’

Tao Lingling opened her eyes.
She had had this dream more than once, but it was still hard to get used to.
After all, it was a death.

“You’re up. There’s porridge on the table.”

Seeing her disciple wake up, Gong Ning pointed to the table.
She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but she could always sense a faint, murderous aura from her disciple, and her eyes were icy cold.

Although it was said that one’s environment changes with one’s heart, and one’s appearance is born from the heart, where would such a young child get such a murderous aura?

Gong Ning began to worry about her ability to teach disciples.

After her disciple had eaten, she skillfully took the bowl to the kitchen to wash it.
Gong Ning was about to officially begin teaching.

Just like the first class at the beginning of a school year, the teacher always had to start with a lecture on great principles.
Cultivation first requires cultivating the mind.

Although it was highly likely that the teacher hadn’t finished preparing the lesson, giving such a lecture was always the right thing to do, especially since she was going to walk the demonic path.

“Lingling, your Master will be direct with you. You are not suited for cultivation.”

Gong Ning decided to get straight to the point.

This surprised Tao Lingling.
In her previous life, although her Master had always tried her best to help her, she had never said that she was not suited for cultivation.

In fact, Gong Ning was only explaining this to her because she saw that her disciple’s disposition was good.
In her past life, their Master-disciple relationship was already poor, and her disposition was also bad.
Saying something negative right at the beginning would have made her even more depressed.

“Your Master will first ask you, what kind of existence are your enemies?”

“Your disciple does not know. Your disciple only knows that the other party is a prominent righteous sect, and very powerful.”

This was a lie.
She didn’t want to involve her Master in her affairs.

Gong Ning sighed.

Usually, when someone encountered such a thing, they could only report it to the authorities.

If it was done by bandits, they would report it up through the imperial court until someone was willing to take charge.

If it was done by the demonic path, they would report it to the cultivation sects and let those disciples with cultivation handle it.

This brought her back to the disciples.

In this world, besides cultivating, disciples also had to accept commissions.
Upon completion, they would be credited with spiritual merits.

Only with spiritual merits could they exchange for extra cultivation resources and magical treasures.
Only upon reaching a certain amount of spiritual merits were they allowed to return to secular life.

To get back to the point.

In Tao Lingling’s situation, the imperial court would not intervene, nor would anyone accept her commission.
It was all due to the same old issues of self-interest.

“Since you have chosen to seek revenge yourself, you must be aware of the difficulties involved. But your Master has to tell you that with your aptitude, continuing to cultivate will only waste your life. You may even live your whole life with no hope of revenge.”

‘Sigh, why is this life’s Master so fond of heart-piercing words… can’t you be soft and gentle like in my past life, and dote on me?’

“…If you want to seek revenge, rather than cultivating, it would be better to struggle in the mortal world. Although there are many cultivators in this world, it is ultimately run by people. If you strive for power and status, you may still not be able to get revenge, but the chances are greater than with cultivation.”

If it were anyone else, they might think Gong Ning was trying to drive her away, but Tao Lingling knew exactly what her Master was thinking.

She knew this was her Master testing her determination.

Although she didn’t know exactly what was being tested, Tao Lingling still nodded vigorously, knelt before her Master, and kowtowed to her.

“Your disciple’s revenge was originally hopeless. If it weren’t for Master’s favor, Lingling could only flee in panic and wander the ends of the earth. Now that I am fortunate enough to be accepted into your tutelage, how could I dare to abandon Master? If I can get revenge, even if I am cut into a thousand pieces or pierced by ten thousand arrows, Tao Lingling will never shrink back.”

‘Having a sweet-tongued disciple is truly irresistible.’

A smile unconsciously appeared on Gong Ning’s face.
She bent down and helped Tao Lingling up.

“Get up. Don’t be kneeling and bowing at every turn. Your Master doesn’t need these superficial things to prove your respect.”

It was just that this child held onto her hand for a long time before she was willing to let go.

“In that case, your Master will ask one last question. Do you know the difference between the righteous and demonic paths, and are you willing to walk the demonic path?”

Tao Lingling’s eyebrows shot up in an instant.

In her previous life, her Master had refused to let her enter the demonic path no matter what, yet she had allowed her Third Junior Sister to practice it.
This had made her jealous and confused for a long time.

But now she was willing?

“Disciple knows, and disciple is willing.”

“You answered too hastily.”

Seeing her so decisive, Gong Ning sighed in her heart, thinking she was still too impetuous.
It seemed she had to postpone this for now.

But Tao Lingling’s next words left her at a loss.

“Not at all hasty. Disciple is willing to endure any pain, and bear any consequences. Moreover, disciple must protect Master in a month’s time.”

“You still remember that.”

Gong Ning couldn’t resist her affection and ruffled the little girl’s head.
The little girl even made a particularly enjoyable expression, which made her even more overjoyed.

“Then choose one of these three cultivation techniques.”

Tao Lingling watched as her Master took out three cultivation techniques from somewhere and placed them in front of her.

“Golden Firmament Art,” “Burning Gold Technique,” “Origin Returning Technique.”

“Master, looking at these names, they don’t seem to be demonic paths…”

“You’re a clever one. These three techniques are indeed not demonic paths, but rather methods to consolidate one’s bone structure.”

“But, can disciple truly become talented by cultivating these?”

“See, you’re anxious again.”

Hearing this from her Third Junior Sister would have been the death of her, but when her Master said it, she could only lower her head.

“You’ve cultivated the ‘Gluttonous Devouring Calamity Record,’ right? With your temperament, you’ll definitely use it in the future. The advantage of the Gluttonous Devouring Calamity Record is that it doesn’t attract karma, but its disadvantages are even greater.”

Gong Ning said slowly, taking out the last cultivation technique.

“Your Master wants you to cultivate a righteous path technique so that you will have the ability to cultivate something more meaningful.”

Tao Lingling took the cultivation technique.
Three characters were written on it.

“Spirit Refining Art.”

She flipped through two pages.

“What is this?”

“Something to enslave souls. The souls of those whose lifespans have been absorbed by the Gluttonous Devouring Calamity Record will have nowhere to dissipate and cannot be reincarnated. You can use the Spirit Refining Art to control their souls.”