Chapter 257: Chapter 138: Breaking the Fetters, Deceit Transformation Pearl

The hundred-foot-tall Deceit roared, an icy, tyrannical aura surging from its body.

The Deceit tried to pounce on Shen Bai again, but just as it took a step, the figure on the meditation cushion stirred.

Atop the meditation cushion sat a one-armed, old Daoist with white hair and a youthful complexion, slowly turning the pages of the book before him.

As the old Daoist turned the pages, the sound of his chanting grew louder, as if Immortal Text from the heavens was descending upon the mortal realm.

The Deceit’s body was densely covered in Dao Text. As the old Daoist chanted softly, the creature let out a piercing shriek, and the Talisman Paper chains binding it began to glow with a faint white light.

The Deceit, which had been about to attack, was forced by the Dao Text and chains to tremble and cower in the corner.

A closer look would reveal that the Deceit was completely suppressed by the Dao Text and chains.

The icy aura gradually faded.

The old Daoist stopped chanting but didn’t move an inch. He turned to Shen Bai and sighed. "After so many years, someone has finally made it here."

Shen Bai, holding Cold Moon, raised an eyebrow. "And who might you be?"

A nostalgic look appeared on the old Daoist’s face. "Me? Who am I... I believe I am the Temple Master’s junior brother. I was ordered to stay here and suppress the resentment of the Dao Fruit."

"The resentment of the Dao Fruit? What’s that?" Shen Bai asked, stroking his chin.

The old Daoist pointed to the hundred-foot-tall Deceit cowering in the corner. "That," he said slowly, "is a Deceit formed from the condensed resentment of all the disciples of the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple."

"Long ago, the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple used the lives of its disciples to create the Supreme Dao Fruit. This was known throughout all of Fenglin State."

"The Temple Master did everything he could to dissipate the resentful energy, but ultimately failed. I stayed behind, hoping that time would eventually dissolve the Deceit."

"And if it could not be eliminated, it would be imprisoned here forever."

As the old Daoist finished speaking, the hundred-foot-tall Deceit seemed to stir, its frigid body twisting restlessly.

The old Daoist closed his eyes and once again began reciting the Daoist Scripture, gradually calming the Deceit’s agitation.

Shen Bai mused aloud, "I think I understand. But what does this have to with the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple’s ban on accepting new disciples?"

’If the Supreme Dao Fruit was really created from the lives of so many disciples, it’s certainly possible that it would generate resentful energy.’

’Resentful energy was an abstruse concept.’

’Even if the disciples of the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple had all gone to their deaths willingly, some amount of resentment was bound to coalesce, however small.’

’It might be negligible from one or two people, but once the numbers grew large, so too would the resentment. A Deceit would naturally emerge.’

’But what Shen Bai couldn’t understand was the connection to the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple taking on disciples.’

’There seemed to be no inevitable link between accepting disciples and generating resentful energy.’

’If some other activity were said to generate resentful energy, Shen Bai might have found it plausible. But accepting disciples? How could that possibly be the cause?’

The old Daoist glanced at Shen Bai and said slowly, "The Deceit is formed from the condensed resentment of the temple’s former disciples. The more prosperous the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple becomes and the more people who practice its Daoist Skills, the more powerful the resentful energy feeding the Deceit becomes."

"Imagine a man who starved to death. Then, after his passing, hundreds or thousands of people gather at the very spot where he died to hold a feast. How could his resentment not intensify?"

After a moment of thought, Shen Bai conceded, "I suppose that’s possible."

’The old Daoist’s analogy did have some basis, in fact.’

’If someone had been starving for days, they wouldn’t be able to stand watching others feast right in front of them.’

The old Daoist continued, "My senior brother once said that when someone comes who can fathom the mystery of the water, the shackles on the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple will be broken. Now that you are here, young friend, the time to break them should be at hand."

Shen Bai glanced around. "I’m not versed in these matters. I just followed a clue to the bottom of this lake. What am I supposed to do to solve this?"

’He had only followed the clue from the Copper Mirror to get here. As for the actual solution, Shen Bai had no idea.’

The old Daoist beckoned to Shen Bai. "Young friend, come and look at this Daoist Scripture. The final page may have something to do with you."

Shen Bai started to take a couple of steps forward, then suddenly stopped short.

The old Daoist blinked in surprise. "What’s the matter, young friend?"

A strange smile slowly spread across Shen Bai’s face. "Something doesn’t seem right."

The old Daoist frowned. "What do you mean?"

Shen Bai looked from the old Daoist to the hundred-foot-tall Deceit, then stroked his chin. "Daoist, why don’t you just turn to the page? I can see it perfectly well from here."

The old Daoist raised his eyebrows. "I cannot turn the page, young friend. The final page can only be opened by the one who is meant to break the curse."

"Oh," Shen Bai said. "Then I’ll just go get Daoist Chongling and the others to come in."

’Now that there was a clue, the lake water would be an obstacle for the people of the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple, but not an insurmountable one.’

The old Daoist sighed. "How did you figure it out?" 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The question was abrupt, but upon hearing it, the look of mockery in Shen Bai’s eyes only intensified.

Shen Bai glanced around the chamber. "This place... it’s a cage, isn’t it? One that imprisons the Deceit... and you. And that Daoist Scripture you were reciting just now—it seemed to affect you both equally."

The old Daoist’s expression hardened. "I recited it so subtly. How could you possibly have felt it? You’re wearing the uniform of the Observatory and carrying a Longsword. You can’t be from a Daoist Sect."

Shen Bai just smiled and slowly began to chant the Mystic Heart Spell.

Ethereal Dao Text materialized and swirled around Shen Bai, making him look like a Banished Immortal who had descended to the mortal realm.

"I also happen to know a few Daoist Cultivation Methods," Shen Bai said mildly.

The old Daoist’s eyes widened. "Such a profound Technique! It can stabilize one’s mind and even cast a blessing upon the user. Where did you learn such a thing?"