Chapter 226: The Inner Flame of Great Demon Cultivation

Without Moyuan noticing, Mr. Chen beside him had already walked away and soon left the Taoist temple.

He snapped back to reality and then headed toward the pavilion.

Chen Changsheng was discussing the Samadhi True Flame with Nezha. When Nezha saw someone else approaching, he turned to look.

“A True Dragon?”

Nezha looked at Moyuan, seeming rather surprised.

Chen Changsheng introduced him, “This is the Third Prince Nezha. Come sit with us.”

Moyuan stepped into the pavilion and sat down, yet he felt a bit uneasy. After all these years in Flowing Cloud Temple, he’d never once visited this rear courtyard pavilion. It was always Mr. Chen’s personal area, making Moyuan feel like an intruder.

Moyuan spoke humbly, “I am Moyuan. I experienced the Dragon Ascension only a few years ago. My cultivation… it’s still rather shallow.”

Nezha stared intently, then suddenly froze.

“You bear the marks of five Heavenly Tribulations!”

Moyuan said, “It took five tribulations to get my chance at Water Crossing.”

Nezha gaped at him. “Impressive!”

Moyuan himself was taken aback and glanced toward Mr. Chen.

Chen Changsheng explained, “The Third Prince achieved his own path only after dying and being reborn. Both of you faced immense challenges and surely share some understanding of hardship.”

Nezha shook his head. “If not for my master’s rescue long ago, there would be no Nezha today. Compared to Moyuan, my path was rather easy. Had it been me… I wouldn’t likely have endured until that fifth tribulation.”

Moyuan felt flattered, yet he began wondering about this person’s identity.

Even Mr. Chen called him Third Prince. Could his status be truly remarkable?

Yet no matter how hard Moyuan looked, he detected nothing unusual. How odd.

“Just luck,” Moyuan replied.

Nezha chuckled. “I rarely see people close to Mr. Chen. Before you, the only one I met was that fortune-telling fellow. Your resilience to endure five Heavenly Tribulations isn’t something just anyone possesses.”

“You honor me too much, Third Prince.”

Finding Nezha rather easygoing, Moyuan felt much less awkward.

But then Nezha’s next words left Moyuan speechless.

“I seldom get to visit. Meeting you feels like fate. I possess an art called the Samadhi True Flame. It’s the inner flame cultivated at the peak by demon practitioners. Today, I shall pass it on to you. This way, whenever Mr. Chen needs true flame for Alchemy or crafting, he needn’t expend Magical Power calling me here.”

Moyuan felt dizzy. Since his Dragon Ascension, he’d only ever taken things from others. Someone simply giving him something?

It was strangely unfamiliar.

His gaze sought out Chen Changsheng.

Mr. Chen simply smiled. “Take it if given.”

“Thank you, Third Prince! Thank you, sir!”

Moyuan spoke gratefully. Nezha then reached out, gently touching the spot between Moyuan’s eyebrows.

The essence of the Samadhi True Flame flooded Moyuan’s mind instantly.

“Such a method! Fire born within…”

Moyuan was astounded. This was completely different from the path of Cultivation he knew. The concept of an inner flame was entirely new.

Nezha cautioned, “Mastering the Samadhi True Flame is no easy task. You must dedicate serious effort.”

Overjoyed by this gift, Moyuan suddenly recalled the wave of intense heat he felt the previous night.

“Was… was that flame last night this?”

“Exactly.”

Light sparkled in Moyuan’s eyes as he thought silently: ‘A great Divine Ability!’

Mr. Chen’s friend was… ridiculously generous.

Seeing Moyuan’s eagerness, Chen Changsheng said, “Go try it somewhere farther off. I need to discuss something with the Third Prince.”

“Understood!”

Moyuan acknowledged, thanked Nezha once more, and then hurried out, eager to see just how powerful this Samadhi True Flame could be.

Quiet returned to the rear courtyard.

Chen Changsheng looked at Nezha before him and suddenly asked, “I’ve always been curious. Are you and the Third Prince from the Lotus Pond… truly not the same person?”

Nezha looked puzzled. “Could there possibly be another Nezha?”

Chen Changsheng searched Nezha’s eyes intently, trying to find any clue. But after a long while, Nezha gave no reaction.

Nezha asked, “Sir keeps looking at me. Is there something on your mind?”

Chen Changsheng withdrew his gaze. “Where do you come from?”

“I came because you called,” Nezha replied.

Chen Changsheng shook his head. “I mean fundamentally. Where would you be if I hadn’t summoned you?”

Nezha seemed confused. He thought for a long time, muttering to himself. “Where was I…”

“Where was I…”

He stood up, looking around. Somehow, everything felt unfamiliar.

Chen Changsheng hoped for an answer.

But then, the Nezha before him dissolved into strands of Golden Light, vanishing completely.

Chen Changsheng stared at the empty spot for a long time. He took a swig of Autumn Moon Brew from his Wine Gourd but still couldn’t uncover the mystery.

“This ‘Divine Edict of the Gods’… always without a single clue.”

Back at the Lotus Pond, ‘Nezha’ had told him he came from within the dream of the sir. But… where was that dream?

Chen Changsheng sighed and walked toward the temple gate.

Just as he stepped out, he saw the External Incarnation waiting for him.

The External Incarnation spoke, “Please send me on my way.”

“Couldn’t move those hundred hairs to Desolate Sea alone?” Chen Changsheng asked.

The External Incarnation sighed. “I possess only a fragment of your Divine Sense. Executing the Decree Art will be difficult. The Rain-Listening Sword is also with you. Carrying all that Magical Power… I fear I might not return.”

Chen Changsheng thought carefully. “A valid point.”

He raised his hand. With a beckoning motion, a sword materialized and flew toward the External Incarnation.

The Taiqing Sword landed in the hand, clearly reluctant.

Chen Changsheng said, “Please travel this journey.”

The Taiqing Sword settled immediately, its complaints silenced.

The External Incarnation glanced at the Taiqing Sword. Silent communication with the main body conveyed clear understanding.

“What if I don’t return? What about the Taiqing Sword?” the External Incarnation asked.

Chen Changsheng pondered. “Then I expect I’ll go see inside for myself.”

The External Incarnation sighed softly and nodded. “Fine. I’ll hide the Rain-Listening Sword in that realm. You can retrieve it yourself.”

Ultimately, being formed from Chen Changsheng’s Divine Sense, it shared his fate. If Chen Changsheng perished, so too would this External Incarnation, and the Mortal Body housing it would crumble. Departure meant no return.

“I appreciate it,” Chen Changsheng said.

But the External Incarnation stood still.

Chen Changsheng asked, “Something else?”

The External Incarnation pointed to Chen Changsheng’s waist. “The Wine Gourd.”

Chen Changsheng paused, then chuckled wryly.

Was he really that reluctant to part with his wine?

The External Incarnation accepted the gourd, took two satisfying gulps, then nodded in contentment.

It then summoned strands of Magical Power, mounted the Taiqing Sword, and sped directly toward the Great Wall within the Desolate Sea.

Chen Changsheng shook his head with another sigh and started his descent down the mountain.

With the External Incarnation handling things, he was finally free. It was time to visit a few old friends.