Zhao Jiyou laughed twice, shook his head slightly, and without beating around the bush with Lu Ren, said directly, "I, the old Taoist, have come this time to discuss some matters with you."

Seeing the seriousness in Zhao Jiyou's expression, Lu Ren was a bit surprised.

"I wonder what matters the Taoist has in mind."

"Let's change the place."

Lu Ren glanced at Li Qingling, sending her off to prepare for the competition before joining Zhao Jiyou in a suburban manor.

This manor had an ancient charm, modeled after ancient architecture, with a touch of elegance.

"I want to explore the Inner Realm with you!"

"Ha?!"

Lu Ren was genuinely shocked. They hadn't even talked much, and he was getting right to the point. Was this really okay?

The meaning of exploring the Inner Realm together was akin to exposing one's most secretive parts to another without reservation.

More importantly, it was like a stranger on the street, looking like an old man on the verge of dying, running up to you wanting to play poker.

No one would accept this, come on!

This old fellow has problems in his head.

Lu Ren decisively refused.

What a joke, even if Lu Ren agreed, once the Inner Realms were opened together, seeing Kong Qiu, Xu Fu, and others would pose a big problem.

After a while, Zhao Jiyou sighed but wasn't disappointed. He merely asked with a trial attitude, hoping perhaps someone with a lapse in judgment might agree.

Lu Ren couldn't help but ask, "Why is Taoist Zhao so persistent on this matter?"

"I have reached the sixth step of Bright Awakening, with my spiritual intent at its limit, and to progress further, I must explore the path of the Inner Realm."

As he spoke, he lightly flicked his fingers, and the teapot on the table automatically floated, pouring a cup of tea which then moved to Lu Ren.

"Try it, it's snow tea from Celestial Mountain, quite good."

Lu Ren raised the teacup, taking a sip.

"A bit bitter, though not as bitter as kuding tea, yes, it has a sweet aftertaste."

Zhao Jiyou was dumbfounded.

"I guess I took it for granted."

Commenting on tea ceremony with someone focused on body and fist martial arts was inherently mismatched.

After all, there was not even time to ponder martial arts exploration, where would they have the leisure to appreciate tea ceremony.

"Actually, everything in the world can reach the Realm of Awakened."

Zhao Jiyou chuckled.

Lu Ren nodded slightly, "I understand."

As long as you can reach the ultimate of any path, you can feel the wonders of Bright Awakening.

But without a doubt, only Qi Cultivation and fist practice are the best shortcuts to the Realm of Awakened.

After a pause, Lu Ren curiously asked, "I wonder why the Taoist suddenly brought up this idea?"

Zhao Jiyou sighed, "I can already see the path of the Inner Realm, but moving forward, I always feel like I'm suspended on a steel wire, with a slight misstep leading to falling into an abyss from which I can never return."

"Abyss?"

Zhao Jiyou's expression was solemn, "I have a premonition that if I were to carelessly fall, I might become a different person."

Lu Ren was astonished; he had never heard of such a statement before.

Leaving Zhao Jiyou's manor, Lu Ren's expression was somewhat peculiar, as he had heard a different perspective of the Inner Realm from Zhao Jiyou.

There's a great terror behind that path, capable of dragging people in abruptly.

Returning to the residence arranged by the Security Bureau, Lu Ren calmed his mind and entered the Inner Realm.

The Red Dragon wasn't mad, just breathing heavily, staring at Lu Ren without blinking.

"Human child, let me out!"

Lu Ren glanced at it; this beast needed a cooling period.

He directly blocked it and walked over to Subodhi to ask.

"Back then, when Shakyamuni walked down the Inner Realm path, reaching a strange place, did he really not mention it to you?"

Subodhi nodded slightly, "After he returned, he refrained from speaking about the Inner Realm."

His expression was a bit peculiar, "This was something he pursued in his later years, and upon returning, he became a completely different person, no longer passionate about traveling the world but rather meditating and pondering the Inner Realm, eventually disappearing in a rainbow transformation."

Beside them, Chen Xuzi heard and laughed coldly, "Shakyamuni, I've heard his name, once made a big name in Kunlun, seems like he failed to find his path and was possessed."

Everyone's expression shifted slightly, all looking towards Chen Xuzi.

Seeing this, Chen Xuzi let out a cold laugh, refusing to speak again, but upon seeing Lu Ren's cold gaze, he couldn't help but shiver, hesitated for a moment, and eventually spoke.

"You folks, you don't know how many lifetimes of fortune you've amassed to hear such secrets."

Only those who have surpassed the Determination Path Realm in a True Immortal Level sect can understand the reason within.

"The Shakyamuni might not have disappeared in a rainbow transformation, but might have gone, body and all, to the Infinite Land."

"Infinite Land?" Lu Ren asked with great interest.

Chen Xuzi wore a yearning expression, "That's the world of True Immortals in legends, where cultivation is ordinary, unlike us struggling with every step, overturning rivers and seas, grasping stars and capturing the moon, moving mountains and seas with a wave."

He sighed heavily, "Sadly, sadly, wanting to reach there is harder than ascending to the heavens."

Subodhi couldn't help but ask, "What if someone falls from the Inner Realm path?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you your brain is filled with tofu," Chen Xuzi said mockingly, "This path is for determining the path, not to infinite lands. To determine the path is inherently perilous; with the slightest mistake, you might not remain yourself."

"Not yourself? How so?"

Lu Ren inquired curiously.

After pondering for a while, Chen Xuzi eventually responded, "True body and fake body, they are all yourself, just many more of you below, only when you ascend can you understand what I'm saying."

Exiting from the Inner Realm, Lu Ren pondered, realizing the path seemed dangerous, akin to walking on a tightrope without strong foundations, a tiny mistake could lead to a fall into the abyss.

But there was a problem Lu Ren didn't voice out.

The Inner Realm he saw was a winding, twisting path, and not any kind of tightrope...

Three days later, the finals of the national Martial Arts Conference took place as scheduled in the Bird's Nest, with the audience seats already packed, noise and excitement filled the air.

Meanwhile, a live video had amassed nearly a billion hits on the internet, elevating the event to a peak with Lu Ren's appearance.

Lu Ren's expression was calm, yet internally he was quite delighted.

As a joke, hearing those pretty girls excitedly saying they wanted to give him a child would make anyone of normal disposition feel quite pleased.

He calmly walked to the panel marked with the Phoenix Falcon Fist sect and took a seat.

Officially, he was the only Bright Awakening there, along with a Bright Awakening Martial Taoist from the Northern Great Sect, Chen Hai.

Lu Ren took a quick glance, understanding the situation.

Indeed, having a Bright Awakening expert like him officially present at this national Martial Arts Conference finals was quite an honor.

As for Chen Hai, being close to the Imperial Capital, he was invited to serve as a judge.

However, in Lu Ren's view, that wasn't all there was to it.

When he locked eyes with the Northern Sect's Bright Awakening Martial Taoist, he could clearly sense the battling spirit laced within the other's gaze.

Interesting.

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