Chapter 15: The Withering of the Destiny Golden Lotus, A Question of Responsibility
"Ah, Mingzhu, you're finally awake. Thank the heavens!"
In the Jingshui Cave Mansion, Li Mingzhu slowly opened her eyes, feeling as light as a white cloud, relaxed and unencumbered, as if countless restraints had been lifted from her.
"Little Zhu Xiong? We're not dead?"
Li Mingzhu asked Zhu Xiong in a daze, her memory still lingering on Duobao's final sword strike.
"No, we're not dead! Not dead!"
Zhu Xiong spoke, and then choked up, tears threatening to flow. Even though a month had passed, the memory of that day remained vivid and searing in its intensity.
Though it was merely a staged trial, to Zhu Xiong, it had been a brush with death itself. The green-clad Witch and that black-faced demon overlord were terrifying just to recall.
"What exactly happened?" Li Mingzhu got up and asked Zhu Xiong.
Zhu Xiong naturally recounted everything that had happened since, leaving no detail unspoken. After listening, Li Mingzhu's expression grew dark and unreadable, her thoughts an enigma.
Seeing Mingzhu lost in thought, Zhu Xiong chose not to disturb her.
"Little Zhu Xiong, do you think I should accept a master?" Li Mingzhu suddenly asked.
"How would I know? That's your decision. But... it might not be a bad idea. Although their method of testing you was underhanded, they are undeniably powerful."
Zhu Xiong thought it over before speaking. Despite his lingering fear and dislike of Duobao and the others, he still tried to consider what was best for Li Mingzhu.
"True, they are indeed strong. Such blatant confidence—do they really believe I will bow to them as my masters?"
Li Mingzhu smiled suddenly, as though she had reached some understanding. Without further delay, she left the cave mansion and walked toward the ancient forest of ten thousand locust trees.
"Li Mingzhu seeks an audience with the senior uncles and masters!"
Standing approximately one hundred feet away from the locust trees, Li Mingzhu raised her voice, her tone lacking the reverence of previous encounters.
"Come forward. No need for excessive formality."
Beneath the locust tree, Duobao sat in meditation. Beside him stood the Wudang Saint Mother, her gaze upon Li Mingzhu exceptionally gentle.
"Greetings to Master Uncle Duobao and Master Aunt Wudang." Li Mingzhu took a deep breath and performed a salutation appropriate for a junior.
He had not come to fight but merely to seek clarity on certain matters.
"I know you harbor resentment in your heart. Follow me, and all will become clear."
Duobao wasted no time, speaking plainly as always. With his words, a portal materialized on the trunk of the locust tree behind him.
Li Mingzhu stared at Duobao, puzzled, uncertain of his intentions.
"Go on, child. If Senior Brother Duobao intended to harm you, do you think you'd still be alive?" Wudang Saint Mother glanced at Li Mingzhu and laughed mockingly, as though seeing him as her disciple was already a settled matter.
Though Li Mingzhu disliked her tone and attitude, he said nothing. After all, her words held truth.
And deep down, he wasn't opposed to joining the Jie Sect. It was only two thorns in his heart that held him back.
The first was their earlier unprovoked testing of him. That lofty attitude made him deeply uncomfortable. Although their style differed from that of Taiyi, their essence was the same.
The second was the historical account of the Jie Sect's ultimate downfall. While Wudang survived in the end, could she truly protect him?
Following Duobao and the Wudang Saint Mother, Li Mingzhu stepped through the portal, which sealed behind them once they entered.
Beyond the portal lay a vast grotto heaven of twisting, interwoven paths. Its destination was unclear.
Li Mingzhu stayed close behind Duobao and Wudang, all the while observing this tree-dwelling grotto heaven. Its golden glow was warm and soothing, emanating an aura of peace and focus.
Nothing else needed to be said—this tree grotto alone was a supreme cultivation treasure trove.
At the end of the tree grotto, a lotus pond appeared before them.
Within the pond grew no Green Lotuses, no White Lotuses, no Red Lotuses—only Golden Lotuses.
Seeing the pond of golden lotuses, Li Mingzhu was puzzled. I came here to demand an explanation from you, Duobao. Why bring me here?
"This is the Destiny Golden Lotus of the Jie Sect." Duobao's gaze remained fixed on the lotuses as he spoke deeply, his voice tinged with a heavy sigh.
"What does this have to do with me?" Li Mingzhu asked.
"Look closely at these Golden Lotuses. What do you notice?" Duobao did not answer but instead pointed toward the pond.
Following Duobao's gesture, Li Mingzhu looked into the pond. At first glance, the lotuses appeared lush and vibrant, but upon closer inspection, their roots were entirely rotten. The sight shocked him.
"Do you see? Yes, the roots are decayed. The calamity of the Jie Sect is inevitable. Our teacher has calculated it countless times, and the Destiny Golden Lotus confirms this fate."
As though anticipating Li Mingzhu's protests, Duobao spoke first.
"Yet under the Heavenly Dao, there is always a slim chance for survival. Over the years, the Jie Sect has made various preparations, but the Destiny Golden Lotus remains unchanged—until the Lady Nuwa approached our teacher. She mentioned that you should become my disciple, and on that day, a new lotus sprouted in the pond!"
Wudang took over from Duobao, speaking slowly.
Hearing the words of the Jie Sect's most prominent disciples, Li Mingzhu suddenly felt the historical accounts and tales of the Divine Enthronement were lies.
The Jie Sect was clearly playing a grand game. Of course, in the end, they lost. Otherwise, they wouldn't have remained dormant for two calamity periods.
"Because of me?" Li Mingzhu asked, both shocked and uncertain. Could he truly bring a glimmer of hope to the Jie Sect?
"Naturally. On your way to Golden Turtle Island, though that new lotus remained hidden at the pond's bottom, it grew increasingly vibrant," Wudang said with a smile.
"But I still don't understand. Even if that's the case, does it justify testing and scheming against me?" Li Mingzhu asked. That thorn of resentment still lingered.
"Testing and scheming against you was just a minor effort on our part. Of course, it was also to ascertain whether you were truly suited for the Jie Sect. Besides, shouldn't the little one be punished for its mistakes? And, Li Mingzhu, perhaps you've forgotten: in this Primordial World, strength reigns supreme. The methods may vary, but the essence is always the same!"
Duobao spoke nonchalantly. His tone began gently, but as he continued, it grew stern.
"Strength reigns supreme?"
"Exactly. Strength is everything. I, a Quasi-Sect Leader, testing a junior—do I need a reason? I assumed you had already realized this by now, but it seems…."
Indeed, I should have understood this long ago. In my past life, as a Transcendence Tribulation Stage great cultivator on Earth, wasn't it the same? I did whatever I wanted—who dared to oppose me?
Without Nuwa's backing, without the Jie Sect's need for me, would Duobao even talk to me like this?
He'd have slapped me to death in an instant. Didn't I also act without reason when slaying demon beasts?
In the Primordial World, only the strong dictate terms to the weak. When did the weak ever have a say?
"Thank you, Master Uncle, for your guidance. I will become stronger!"
Li Mingzhu bowed respectfully to Duobao. He had indeed awakened something within her.
"Now that you know the truth, will you accept a master or not?" Duobao asked.
"If I were to refuse, what would happen?" Li Mingzhu countered.
"Refuse if you wish. What else could happen? Do you think we would force you? Matters like this must be voluntary. Some things can be compelled by force, but not this."
Duobao smiled, showing no concern.
"I need time to think." Li Mingzhu was in no rush to answer.
"Take all the time you need. By tomorrow's conference, I will open the Jie Sect's doors to you. Whether you walk through them is entirely up to you."
Wudang smiled as she spoke, confident that Li Mingzhu would ultimately agree.
Wudang's statement also signified their stance. After all, if Li Mingzhu agreed tomorrow, all was well. But if he refused, the Jie Sect's reputation would suffer greatly.
Such leniency and magnanimity were rare in the Primordial World, a fact unique to the Jie Sect.
Returning to the Jingshui Cave Mansion, Li Mingzhu's mind remained cloudy, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of information.
The Jie Sect had long known their doom in this calamity was inevitable, yet they still chose to confront the Chan Sect head-on. Why?
What were the so-called preparations the Jie Sect had made?
And what, exactly, was Tongtian's ultimate plan?
A cascade of questions tumbled through Li Mingzhu's mind. Of course, none of them were as critical as his final decision.
Should he accept Wudang as his master and join the Jie Sect, or should he refuse?
Inwardly asking himself, could he truly dare to be that "slim chance" for the Jie Sect's survival?
Without a doubt, if he joined the Jie Sect, he would receive unparalleled cultivation resources, Daoist skills, and spiritual treasures in abundance. But could he shoulder the immense responsibility?
At times, occupying a given position means accepting a burden you cannot shy away from.
Li Mingzhu wavered. He sought only the Great Dao. He did not want to die, nor did he want to be mired in the Jie Sect's grand dilemma!
As for Duobao's earlier use of Zhu Xiong to test him, Li Mingzhu no longer minded. In truth, if he had stood in Duobao's position, he would have acted the same.
As Duobao had said: I am stronger than you, so I can act this way. Revealing so much to me about the Jie Sect's secrets was merely to help me better make my choice.
Sharing both the Jie Sect's inevitable decline and his own importance within it left the choice entirely in Mingzhu's hands.
Had this been the Chan Sect instead, they probably would have forcibly brought him to Kunlun Mountain.
Unbidden, Li Mingzhu recalled what had happened at Chentang Pass, when Shi Ji's calamity turned into an opportunity. His Dao heart was suddenly firmed.
A calamity or an opportunity—so what if I, Li Mingzhu, step willingly into this trial?