"Fifth Junior Brother, the seven elders of our Seventh Peak, aside from the Senior Brother, are all from the other six peaks. These six are Gu Haoqiang, Zhuo Lexin, Hu Yulong, Mu Gaochi, Pang Deyuan, and Xu Zhicheng."
"Among them, Elder Pang Deyuan from the Fifth Peak is quite close to us on the Seventh Peak. The other elders, except for Hu Yulong from the Third Peak, are all relatively well-behaved."
Inside the council pavilion, Su Yueze spoke to Li Xuan.
"Hu Yulong? Senior Brother, what is the strength of these elders?" Li Xuan frowned slightly and then asked Su Yueze.
Su Yueze pondered for a moment and then said, "Among these six, aside from Hu Yulong, all are at the initial stage of the Other Shore realm. Hu Yulong is at the middle stage of the Other Shore realm. However, this information is from five years ago, and their strength should only have increased since then."
"If that's the case, with their strength, it seems they can't pose a threat to you, Senior Brother, right? Besides, Senior Brother has that token from Master." Li Xuan asked Su Yueze and the others with confusion.
Su Yueze's expression became somewhat complicated. After exchanging glances with Chai Jingyuan and the others, he seemed to make a difficult decision and said, "Fifth Junior Brother, now that you have exited seclusion, it's time for you to go and see Master."
"Actually, during the disciple sparring matches, Master said he would begin teaching you after it concluded. However, due to the subsequent events, Master didn't get around to it. Now, go and spend some time with Master."
"What happened to Master?" Li Xuan felt a bad premonition surge in his heart.
As Li Xuan inquired, Su Yueze and the others' expressions grew increasingly somber. Even Song Wuwen, who had been very lively before, was now silent.
"Fifth Junior Brother, don't make it difficult for Senior Brother. I think it's best if you go and ask Master yourself," He Xidong said after a moment, looking up at Li Xuan.
Li Xuan's expression also became uneasy. Judging by the expressions of Su Yueze and the others, Master Luo Kang was certainly not well. With this thought, Li Xuan's heart sank. He willed his mind and shot towards the palace where Luo Kang resided.
"Old Five is out of seclusion?" As Li Xuan entered, Luo Kang put down a booklet and smiled, asking Li Xuan.
Li Xuan stepped forward, bowed to Luo Kang, and called out, "Disciple greets Master."
"Hmm, good. In a month's time, you've broken through to the middle stage of the Void Self realm. I've calculated, in the year since you arrived at the Azure Hall, you've crossed two major thresholds." Luo Kang nodded slightly, a smile on his face.
"If it weren't for Master bringing me to this Azure Hall, I probably wouldn't have made such great progress. All of this is thanks to Master's guidance." Li Xuan nodded in agreement.
Luo Kang smiled and said, "Since you came to the Seventh Peak, I haven't taught you a single move or technique until now. Everything you've achieved is through your own efforts. I can say I am quite satisfied."
Li Xuan chuckled sheepishly. Receiving praise from Master Luo Kang was a form of recognition for Li Xuan.
"By the way, Master, there is something I do not understand. I hope Master can enlighten me." As if remembering the purpose of his visit, Li Xuan looked at Luo Kang.
"Speak, what is it?" Luo Kang seemed slightly surprised, then nodded.
Li Xuan pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands towards Luo Kang and said, "Please tell me, Master, what has happened to you?"
"Looking at this, your Senior Brother and the others must have let it slip, haven't they?" Luo Kang understood immediately.
Li Xuan shook his head and said, "It's not that my Senior Brothers let it slip. It's just that I feel, since Master has the strength of the Yuan Transformation realm, there shouldn't be any major problems that cannot be resolved, right?"
Luo Kang nodded with a hint of relief, sighed slightly with a trace of unwillingness and helplessness on his face, and then said, "My strength has begun to decline."
"Strength decline? Master, what exactly happened?" Li Xuan frowned. Li Xuan had never heard of the Heavenly Human Five Declines before.
"The Heavenly Human Five Declines is a realm that one must pass through when breaking through from the Transcendent Body realm to the Yuan Transformation realm. These five declines are: Dust Falling, Crown Baldness, Skin Decadence, Body Filth, and Weary Peace. With each stage, the decline in strength becomes more severe. I am currently in the second decline of the Heavenly Human Five Declines."
Luo Kang began to explain.
"Master, is there no solution?" Li Xuan immediately asked.
Luo Kang shook his head and said, "The Heavenly Human Five Declines is a hurdle that every spiritual master must experience. Only by overcoming this tribulation can one truly enter the Yuan Transformation realm."
"If that's the case, how can the Heavenly Human Five Declines be overcome?" Li Xuan asked with a frown.
Luo Kang pondered for a moment, then said very calmly, "To overcome the Heavenly Human Five Declines, one must constantly explore their own potential and accumulate experience. Only then can one undergo a transformation and seek that crucial spark of opportunity. In essence, only by facing certain death can there be a possibility of rebirth."
Li Xuan's expression became a little more solemn. Although Luo Kang's words seemed to be spoken lightly, the process must have been extremely dangerous.
"So, your strength is declining now because you must go through the Heavenly Human Five Declines before you can recover?" Li Xuan asked Luo Kang.
Luo Kang nodded slightly and said, "When the Heavenly Human Five Declines reach the final stage, there appears a final glimmer of life. Although there is a glimmer in each decline, the insights and understanding gained are relatively less. Therefore, many people, as long as their foundation is not weak, will choose to fight for survival in the final decline. All of this is to achieve the maximum possible expansion."
"The different stages of decline faced will yield different feedback. It is like the primordial world. Although it does not possess the glory of sunlight bathing the earth, it always carries a trace of imperceptible life force. This is the eternal spark of life."
"It is precisely because of this spark of life that the world as it is now exists. And what I need to face is finding this ethereal yet tangible spark of life."
Li Xuan nodded as if he had an epiphany. Seeing Luo Kang's demeanor, it was clear he intended to wait until the fifth decline of the Heavenly Human Five Declines. Li Xuan had immense confidence in Master Luo Kang.
Not to mention Luo Kang's own strength at the peak of the Transcendent Body realm, the foundation of the Azure Hall, coupled with his sole elder status on the Seventh Peak, was enough to show how extraordinary Master Luo Kang was.
Seeing Li Xuan breathe a sigh of relief, Luo Kang also smiled slightly and said, "Alright, whether I succeed in the future is a matter for later. Now that you're here, it's time for me to teach you some of our Seventh Peak's teachings. Otherwise, when my fifth decline suddenly arrives, I might not be able to guide you anymore."
"Master, you are currently experiencing the Heavenly Human Five Declines. At this time, perhaps you should focus your energy on that," Li Xuan said.
Luo Kang seemed to know what Li Xuan was worried about, a look of relief appearing in his eyes. He then said, "No need to worry, this won't take much of my energy. The cultivation techniques of our Seventh Peak require individual comprehension, leading to different paths. I believe you've seen the cultivation paths of your Senior Brothers, haven't you?"
Li Xuan nodded. He had indeed observed the cultivation of his four Senior Brothers. Each of their cultivation seemed to contain an unfathomable depth.
"Old Five, you probably don't know why the other six peaks are so eager to take over our Seventh Peak, do you? Even knowing that our Seventh Peak already has a Peak Master, they still send an elder and a hundred disciples to join us." Luo Kang continued.
A flicker of confusion crossed Li Xuan's eyes, and he looked at Luo Kang and said, "Please enlighten me, Master."
"The Great Dao has three thousand paths. When cultivated to the extreme, they can be equal. Among these three thousand paths, many are derived from the five elements. To put it bluntly, there are only a few true Great Daos. The five elements are Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Beyond the five elements, there are also Yin and Yang and Chaos."
"Of course, there are also some existences that even I cannot comprehend."
Luo Kang paused for a moment, then continued, "And our Seventh Peak possesses the Dao of Yin and Yang."
"Dao of Yin and Yang?" Li Xuan was immediately surprised.
Luo Kang's explanation this time brought Li Xuan sudden enlightenment. His understanding of cultivation had risen to a new level. However, the Dao of Yin and Yang left him somewhat perplexed.
"That's right," Luo Kang nodded and continued slowly.
"At one time, the successive Hall Masters of our Azure Hall had all comprehended the true meaning of the Dao of Yin and Yang, thus becoming the rulers of our continent. This Dao of Yin and Yang, although said to exist within our Seventh Peak, is not truly within our Seventh Peak."
Listening to Luo Kang's explanation, Li Xuan became confused. There was clearly a hint of bewilderment in his eyes.
"Don't overthink it, just listen as I explain it to you slowly," Luo Kang smiled and continued, "You should know that all the successive Hall Masters have originated from our Seventh Peak, right?"
"I do know that, Disciple," Li Xuan nodded.
Luo Kang also nodded and said, "In fact, the cultivation technique of our Seventh Peak is only one. Each person's comprehension differs, and therefore what they comprehend is also different. For example, your Senior Brother comprehends the Dao of Yi Wood. Or your Third Senior Brother comprehends the Dao of Kan Water."
"And this is also the reason why the Peak Masters of the other six peaks send an elder and a hundred disciples."
Li Xuan suddenly understood, "Their intention lies in this Dao of Yin and Yang?"
Luo Kang nodded slightly, "Indeed. Otherwise, with their personalities, how could they so easily allocate people to our Seventh Peak? However, even so, comprehending the existence of the Dao of Yin and Yang is an extremely difficult matter."
"If it were so easy to comprehend, they wouldn't have to try every possible method again and again."