The middle-aged man laughed proudly for a while, as if he remembered something. He looked painfully at the young man on the ancient tree, opened his mouth, revealing it full of bright red blood. If it weren't for the faint sound resembling a smile, one would really think a vampire had appeared from somewhere. “Little brother, come down, I have something to say to you.” His voice was trembling, showing the signs of exhaustion and waning energy.
The young man hesitated for a moment but still obediently descended from the ancient tree, walking somewhat fearfully toward where the two men were lying. When he passed the young monk, all he saw was a blackened body emitting a foul stench. He stared blankly at him, and in his eyes, there was a look of pleading, as if asking for help.
Seeing the pitiful appearance of the young monk, the young man couldn't help but slowly move his steps, approaching him.
The young monk, seeing the young man coming toward him, showed a trace of surprise in his eyes. He moved his lips and, with a nearly inaudible voice, called out, “Save… me…”
By now, the young man had reached his side, forcibly holding back the stench, and slowly bent down, intending to help the blackened monk to his feet.
“Don't… little brother, whatever you do, don't touch his body. Otherwise, you'll be poisoned and die too,” the middle-aged man shouted urgently.
The young man was startled, jumping backward instinctively. He looked at the young monk reaching out with his thick, blackened right hand, feeling extremely heavy-hearted.
“Little brother, don't pay attention to him. He's already done for. Come here, I have something to tell you,” the middle-aged man said softly.
The young man had no choice but to abandon the greedy, ambitious monk and walk toward the middle-aged man.
Similarly, seeing the middle-aged man's struggling state, the young man also wanted to help him, but the middle-aged man stopped him: “Little brother, thank you for your kindness, but the poison in me is even worse. You absolutely must not touch me.”
“Then… what should I do?” the young man asked in confusion.
The middle-aged man shook his head: “Now, you don't need to worry about anything.” After saying this, he slowly reached into his bosom and took out a small milky white bottle, identical to the one he had just discarded, and very laboriously tossed it to the young man: “Catch it.”The young man didn't hesitate even a bit and directly reached out to take the milky-white small bottle into his hand: 'Inside this small bottle is a Wàn Líng Pill, capable of warding off all poisons. I obtained it after enduring countless hardships and gathering one hundred and twenty-eight kinds of precious medicinal ingredients. You should take it!' Seeing how precious it was, the young man hurriedly shook his head: 'No, such a precious item, how could I possibly take it.' After saying this, he was about to throw the small bottle back. The middle-aged man quickly waved his hand, coughing: 'Young brother, please take it. I have something to tell you. If you don't take this medicine, I won't be able to accomplish even a single thing I entrusted you with.' 'Oh… oh…' Suddenly, an extremely urgent cry of pain came from the young monk. The young man turned to look and saw the young monk stretching out his swollen, blackened right hand, continuously slightly waving it at him. Judging by his gesture, he was clearly asking for the Wàn Líng Pill that could prevent all poisons. The young man was not foolish and naturally understood his intent. He hesitated, glanced at the middle-aged man, then looked at the young monk writhing in pain, and somehow, his footsteps, against his will, slowly moved toward him. 'It's useless, young brother. Although the Wàn Líng Pill can prevent all poisons, once poisoned, it cannot cure it. There's no need to waste such a miraculous medicine; it's better for you to take it yourself!' the middle-aged man said gently. The young man glanced at the young monk and had no choice but to stop his steps and turn to look at the middle-aged man. 'Quick, take the Wàn Líng Pill… I… I can't hold on… cough… cough…' The middle-aged man coughed several times, and a little blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Seeing that the situation was critical, the young man dared not go against the middle-aged man, quickly opened the bottle, poured out a green pill, put it into his mouth, and swallowed it. Instantly, an incredibly refreshing sensation surged through his entire body, feeling extremely comfortable. Seeing the young man swallow the Wàn Líng Pill he had given him, the middle-aged man smiled knowingly and then took a dark-yellowish scroll from his bosom and handed it to the young man: 'Young brother, this is the "Rogue Cultivation Technique" that the evil thief Tu wanted to obtain. I am giving it to you now, but you must remember, this cultivation method has been contaminated with the poison from my body during the previous events. It will take fifty years to dissipate, and anyone who comes into contact with it is bound to be poisoned. You must keep it safe.'The young man hurriedly shook his head: 'No, I cannot take your cultivation manual.' The middle-aged man looked at the young man in surprise and asked in astonishment: 'Why?' 'This is something from your evil path, while I am a disciple of the Heavenly Sect, a righteous person. How could I take this evil cultivation manual from you?' Hearing the young man's answer, the middle-aged man was even more delighted and said happily: 'Young brother, what is your name?' 'Tian Zongyu.' 'Oh, Brother Zongyu, this is a supreme cultivation manual passed down from ancient times. Countless cultivators desire it to achieve satisfaction. Although it was created by our evil ancestor, Aoxie Scholar, the cultivation methods recorded inside are not inherently evil. Compared to that, those methods that rely on harvesting human yin energy or sucking human blood are far more evil. Moreover, among your righteous sect, there are many who achieve cultivation by gathering malevolent energy. These are all extremely evil cultivation methods. So why are they still regarded as righteous? Therefore, the same cultivation method, when practiced by different people, naturally has different uses. If a righteous person practices an evil path cultivation method, it becomes a righteous technique. If an evil cultivator practices a righteous cultivation method, it naturally becomes an evil technique. Do you understand?' Tian Zongyu looked somewhat confused and shook his head: 'Not really.' The middle-aged man smiled and continued: 'The principle is very simple. If a very sharp knife is in the hands of a chef, it is a kitchen knife, used to cut vegetables and meat, very beneficial to people. But if it falls into the hands of a murderous demon, it becomes a weapon that kills innocents, an evil knife. Do you understand now?' Tian Zongyu nodded. 'Here, this "Rogue Cultivation Manual" is for you. It will surely help you achieve an extraordinary life.' The middle-aged man handed over the dark yellow scroll, and although Tian Zongyu still felt a bit heavy-hearted, he could not help but take it in his hands."Cough... cough..." The middle-aged man coughed again, a few strands of black blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, his whole face darkening. He reached into his chest once more, took out a small black bottle, and handed it to Tian Zongyu: 'This is corpse-dissolving powder... in a moment... pour some over... our bodies... so that our... corpses can... be dissolved...' the middle-aged man said, gasping.
Tian Zongyu was shocked and stepped forward to support the middle-aged man, choking back tears as he said, 'No, you... you'll be fine.'
The middle-aged man smiled faintly, his voice already very weak: 'Little brother... I know... my own situation... remember... you must... dissolve... our corpses... otherwise... the toxins in our bodies... will kill... many people...' At this, his head tilted forward, and he quietly passed away.
Tian Zongyu stared blankly at this evil practitioner before him, a thousand questions forming in his mind: Is this what it means to be an evil practitioner? Even at the moment of death, he reminded me to dissolve their bodies to prevent harming others. The body, for a cultivator, is extremely important—even in death, preserving an intact body allows the soul to remain complete. Yet this evil practitioner, for the sake of others, asked me to dissolve his body. What a magnificent decision!
Thinking of this, Tian Zongyu could not help but turn his gaze to the bloated, blackened corpse of the head disciple of the Prajna Temple: if this righteous person knew that his corpse would endanger others, would he ask someone to dissolve his body?
At this moment, deep in his heart, Tian Zongyu had serious doubts about the distinctions between righteousness and evil as taught by his sect.
Finally, with the utmost respect, Tian Zongyu dissolved the middle-aged man's corpse, and then poured all of the corpse-dissolving powder onto the young monk's body, which he found somewhat unpleasant.
Looking at the place where the middle-aged man turned into a puddle of black liquid, Tian Zongyu thought in his heart: 'Senior, although you are an evil practitioner, you have such a kind heart. Until now, I only knew you as Poison Scholar, but I do not know your real name. One day, when I find out your true name, I will definitely erect a monument for you here.'After this matter was resolved, Tian Zongyu couldn't help but feel troubled by the 'Rogue Cultivation Manual' in his hands. This cultivation manual obviously could not be taken back to Tiandi Sect, not only because it contained toxins, but also because if anyone in the sect found out, it would be a huge problem. It was best to find a place to hide it, which would avoid a lot of inconvenience. So, Tian Zongyu finally hid this evil cultivation sacred scroll, which had caused the death of a young monk and a middle-aged man, in a naturally rotten hollow of a big tree.
In the following days, Tian Zongyu originally planned to just leave this evil cultivation sacred scroll in the tree hollow and not think about it. However, on one hand, the words of the middle-aged man had already left a deep mark in his heart, and on the other hand, as a new disciple of Tiandi Sect, the daily task of chopping wood on the mountain was too dull. When he had nothing to do, he would take out the 'Rogue Cultivation Manual' and flip through it. It was through these casual flips that, unknowingly, it deeply touched the young boy's heart. Gradually, he began to read it carefully from start to finish. Over time, though he had never received any cultivation teaching in Tiandi Sect, Tian Zongyu unknowingly began to become physically stronger and healthier, and his own strength started to increase rapidly. Yet Tian Zongyu himself barely paid any attention to all this, believing it was simply the inevitable result of his gradual growth.