Chapter 364: Life and Death Have Profound Power

"Between life and death, there is great terror!"

"Between life and death, there is also great opportunity!"

"When ordinary mortals face the threat of death, they can unleash power far beyond their usual capabilities. How much more so for cultivators like us?"

Zhong Shentong's expression turned serious as he spoke solemnly.

"The greater the pressure, the greater the motivation. What pressure could be more intense than death itself?"

"By leveraging the deadline, one's cultivation speed and comprehension ability can increase a thousandfold compared to normal."

"This is my personal experience; it's absolutely true!"

"If you, fellow Daoist, can master this power, reaching the Nascent Soul stage before your lifespan ends will be no difficult task!" Zhong Shentong swore emphatically.

"If what you say is true, then why are there cultivators in the world who remain trapped their whole lives, unable to break through until they die?" Li Fan asked, a little helplessly.

Zhong Shentong paused for a moment, then, after a period of earnest thought, quickly arrived at an answer.

"It must be that they weren't afraid enough of death!"

"I understand now! You, fellow Daoist, are now transcendent and open-minded, having put life and death out of your mind. You're worried you can't cultivate by leveraging the pressure of the deadline, right?" Zhong Shentong said, suddenly enlightened.

"Don't worry. My 'Profound Life and Death Manual' includes a 'Life and Death Perception Chapter.' After studying it, one can fully comprehend the preciousness of life and the terror of death."

Li Fan carefully scrutinized the old Daoist in front of him. He felt that Zhong Shentong's thought process was somewhat unconventional. He wondered if cultivating this 'Profound Life and Death Manual' had perhaps affected his mind. Was he really just telling someone he'd just met about his personal cultivation method?

He replied earnestly, "Fellow Daoist, your cultivation method is truly profound; I admire it."

"However, cultivation methods cannot be shared, and I am not fortunate enough to benefit from yours..."

Zhong Shentong interrupted Li Fan nonchalantly, "That's precisely why I came to find you, fellow Daoist."

"Please teach me, fellow Daoist, how can I disregard life and death?"

"How can I become unafraid of death, like you?"

"If I can conquer my fear of death, then surely, I, this old Daoist, will be free!" Zhong Shentong spoke with some urgency.

Hearing this, Li Fan was suddenly stunned. "Fellow Daoist Zhong, you..."

Zhong Shentong waved his hand, "I know you might not understand, fellow Daoist. But the truth is, I genuinely don't wish to live anymore."

"I have lived in this world for one hundred and sixty-eight years, witnessing every aspect of human nature and its cruelties. Everything in the world holds no more joy for me. Constantly fighting over cultivation methods, treasures, territory, lifespan... Heh, I just find it all noisy."

"If it were possible, I would have ended my own life long ago." At this point, a hint of helplessness flickered in Zhong Shentong's eyes: "But the 'Profound Life and Death Manual' I cultivate makes it impossible for me to resist the instinctive fear of death within my heart."

"Every time I entertain the thought of suicide or attempt to end my life, my instincts force me to act against my will. To avoid cultivating, I even considered handing over the method to other cultivators. But often, shortly after, feeling my cultivation speed slow down, as if death were drawing nearer, I would lose my mind, find the person, and kill them."

"That's why, after hearing of your fearlessness towards death, I traveled thousands of miles to seek your guidance," Zhong Shentong said earnestly.

Li Fan was silent.

If Li Fan was a persistent seeker of immortality, then Zhong Shentong was someone who had lived long enough and wished to end his life. However, he was tragically bound by his own cultivation method, preventing him from taking his own life. This led to a painful, almost schizophrenic, condition.

"Can you not even disperse your cultivation yourself?" Li Fan asked.

Zhong Shentong smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"This 'Profound Life and Death Manual' is truly bizarre," Li Fan thought to himself upon hearing this.

Regarding Zhong Shentong's predicament, Li Fan felt helpless. Li Fan wasn't fearless of life and death; he simply couldn't die. If he ever encountered something that genuinely threatened his life, he would undoubtedly flee faster than anyone else.

After some thought, Li Fan also spoke with great sincerity: "My situation might not be helpful to you, fellow Daoist. I'm merely open-minded by nature; there's nothing else special about me."

Zhong Shentong hastily replied, "I understand. I understand. But the fear of death is human nature. How exactly did you overcome it, fellow Daoist?"

Seeing his resolute expression, as if he wouldn't give up until he found an answer, Li Fan, feeling helpless, casually fabricated a response: "It's not that I'm unafraid. I just wonder, is death truly the end for a person? Perhaps, after death, one truly begins to live, don't you think?"

"Have you ever heard the story of the brain in a vat, fellow Daoist? Or have you heard rumors of true dreams?" Li Fan spoke whatever came to mind.

Zhong Shentong's eyes, however, grew brighter and brighter.

"Your words are more enlightening than a hundred years of cultivation."

"Excellent, excellent. Death is not the end, but rather the beginning of true new life." After Li Fan finished speaking, he seemed to fall into a trance, muttering to himself, "There's no need to be afraid at all..."

After an unknown period, a look of profound relief washed over his face, as if he had achieved great enlightenment. Yet, dangerous multicolored light suddenly emanated from the old Daoist's body. Zhong Shentong himself, however, sneered, "Still trying to scare me. This old Daoist has already achieved enlightenment."

"It's all an illusion; death is life. Only when everything dies, can life truly begin!"

The multicolored divine light circulated faster and faster. Li Fan subtly felt something was amiss and quietly retreated.

"See through everything, foresee the truth!" Zhong Shentong raised his right palm, his face resolute, about to strike down upon his own head.

"Fellow Daoist Zhong! The 'Life and Death Perception Chapter'!" Li Fan shouted.

Zhong Shentong's movement instantly stopped. With a gentle flick of his finger, a jade slip flew towards Li Fan.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Li Fan, I'll go ahead!" With that, Zhong Shentong continued to strike down fiercely.

Just then, his left palm, seemingly against his will, suddenly extended and blocked his right palm. Zhong Shentong's expression suddenly turned fierce. "Dare to obstruct my path? Die!"

A beam of multicolored divine light shot from his right palm, heading straight for his left. Simultaneously, another ray of light also shot out from his left palm just in time. After the two rays of light collided, they canceled each other out.

However, Zhong Shentong himself didn't stop, muttering curses under his breath. At the same time, it was as if two mortal enemies resided within him, fighting to the death with every move. Multicolored divine light flew wildly, activating the defensive formations within the stronghold.

Outside, He Chen heard the commotion and rushed in. Seeing the crazed Zhong Shentong, he looked at Li Fan with some bewilderment. Li Fan shrugged, gesturing for him not to act rashly.

As time passed, the struggle between the two personalities within Zhong Shentong grew even more intense. The small Stronghold Jiasu could no longer contain him. Amidst the ceaseless flashing of multicolored light, he vanished into the depths of the Essence-Devouring White Mist.

The onlookers in the stronghold discussed animatedly. Meanwhile, Li Fan quietly went to the cultivation chamber and began reading the jade slip Zhong Shentong had given him earlier.