Chapter 516: My Desires, My Pursuits, Three Saints of the Hidden Sect

That year, Han Tuo was already thirteen years old.

Inside the main hall, Han Jue, Han Tuo, and Qing Luaner were having a meal to celebrate Han Tuo's birthday.

Han Tuo was very happy, and whether it was because of his birthday or something else, his little face was flushed red with excitement.

Qing Luaner picked food for Han Jue, while Han Jue held his wine cup and asked about Han Tuo's recent studies.

The current Human Race already had an educational structure: reading the books of sages and striving for official titles.

Han Tuo answered truthfully, and Han Jue could clearly see that his mind was not on this.

"Father, which day is your birthday?" Han Tuo suddenly changed the topic and asked.

Han Jue said, "I've long forgotten."

"How could you forget? What about your parents? My grandpa and grandma."

"I've had no parents since I was young."

"Ah?"

Han Tuo was stunned, suddenly realizing that he didn't seem to care much about his father since childhood and only thought about cultivating immortality.

Qing Luaner chuckled softly, "Look at how hard your father's childhood was; you must show him proper filial piety when you grow up."

Han Tuo nodded and said proudly, "In the future, I will become an Immortal cultivator, achieve longevity, and then let both of you live forever!"

"Tuo'er truly has ambition."

Qing Luaner stroked Tuo'er's head with a loving expression on her face.

Han Jue took a light sip of wine and watched the mother and son with a smile.

Truth be told, after bitter cultivation for thirty thousand years, experiencing such a Mortal world was still quite nice, carrying a unique flavor in his heart.

It was just that a Mortal's life was full of uncertainties, unlike practitioners who could control their own lives.

Three years later, Han Tuo was sixteen years old.

East Guard City welcomed another crisis as an unprecedented Vicious Beast tide struck. Neighboring cities had already fallen, and rumors spread into East Guard City, causing panic among the people.

The city lord of East Guard City began forced conscription. Boys over fifteen years old all had to enlist, and Han Tuo went as well.

Snow began to fall again, blocking out the sun and sky, draping the entire city in white.

Han Jue came to the inn. This was the very first inn he visited when he arrived at East Guard City, and he always liked coming here during ordinary times.

It was still the old spot by the second-floor window, where he could overlook the bustling crowd in the city.

Compared to the past, there were far fewer pedestrians on the streets of the city, and most of them hurried along.

"Little friend, it has been many years. You too have white hair appearing on your head; time truly spares no one."

A laugh came over, and the Old Daoist Priest that Han Jue had met when he first came to East Guard City walked over, sitting opposite Han Jue of his own accord.

As so many years passed, Han Jue had deliberately let a few strands of white hair grow on his head. Although he was still handsome, he was no longer young.

Han Jue smiled and said, "It is Senior who remains white-haired, looking no different from back then."

The Old Daoist Priest smiled and said, "The old rules?"

Han Jue nodded slightly.

The Old Daoist Priest poured wine for himself and then smiled, "Little friend shouldn't be an ordinary person. Your bearing doesn't look like a Mortal's. Even though East Guard City is about to be destroyed, you remain completely calm and composed. Could it be that you came here to transcend mortality?"

Han Jue countered, "What about you?"

"I am also experiencing Mortal life, walking the human world to refine my state of mind."

"What Realm are you crossing?"

"Crossing the Divine Realm. Little friend should be crossing the Immortal Realm. You and I are fated; another day, you can come to my Qing Tian Gate to pursue the Dao."

The Old Daoist Priest stroked his beard and smiled, looking quite proud.

Han Jue thanked him, his attitude lukewarm.

The two began to chat idly.

Amidst their laughter and chatter, the roar of a Vicious Beast came from outside the city, deafening.

The commoners on the street downstairs fled in panic, while Han Jue and the Old Daoist Priest were still drinking and chatting, discussing their respective experiences traveling the ends of the earth.

[Chen Yazi has generated Favorability towards you. The current Favorability is 3 stars.]

Han Jue didn't pay much attention to this prompt.

After a long while.

Chen Yazi got up and left, leaving behind a sentence: "Humans are born full of shackles. To break free from the shackles, one must have no desires and no demands."

His words gave Han Jue some thoughts.

No desires and no demands!

This was the Realm that ordinary Immortals wanted to achieve, distancing themselves from Karma.

Han Jue was only inspired, not moved.

His Dao was not about having no desires and no demands; on the contrary, it was about my desires and my pursuits!

If he wanted immortality, he would pursue immortality!

In order to pursue what he desired, he would have even stronger motivation to cultivate.

This was also how many Mortals acted throughout their lives.

This was not bad.

"Have I not secluded myself from the world for so long just to become the strongest, and after reaching the strongest, do whatever I want?"

Han Jue's gaze fell once again upon the flustered commoners downstairs, and his understanding of his own Dao deepened, gradually becoming firm.

Having been in the Mortal world for so many years, he had seen everything Mortals should experience: birth, old age, sickness, death, love, hatred, grievances, and parting of life and death.

Every Mortal was striving to control their own life.

Han Jue was already a Quasi-Saint, yet he was still pursuing this Dao Heart.

Once he became a Saint, he would act entirely as he pleased!

Han Jue's gaze became resolute.

My Saintly Dao, my desires and my pursuits!

Han Jue entered meditative concentration and began comprehending the Extreme Origin Great Dao.

He wasn't afraid of being disturbed. Let alone the surrounding Mortals, even if the Vicious Beasts outside the city attacked, they couldn't hurt him.

The calamity of East Guard City was longer than ever before; the war was cruel, and the slaughter was endless.

Two years later.

Han Jue stood in the courtyard, bathing in the all-encompassing flying snow.

His Dao Fruit began to transform.

Transforming toward the Saintly Dao Fruit!

Perhaps because his Dao Heart had become firm, Han Jue's long-stagnant magical power began to grow once again.

A Breakthrough was imminent!

Han Jue began to hesitate whether he should return.

He had a premonition that he could break through in at most a hundred years.

However, thinking of Qing Luaner and Han Tuo, Han Jue's heart softened, and he decided to accompany them a bit longer.

As for Han Tuo, Han Jue changed his mind.

Previously, he thought of suppressing Han Tuo's Bloodline because he was afraid Han Tuo would cause trouble for him and incur massive Karma.

Now Han Jue had figured it out.

Caring too much would instead become shackles and obstacles!

Han Jue smiled unburdened.

[Empress Houtu sends you a Dream Message. Do you accept?]

A line of text suddenly popped up before Han Jue's eyes, and he silently asked, "Is there any danger in accepting?"

[Requires deducting 3 billion years of lifespan. Do you wish to continue?]

Continue!

[None]

Han Jue immediately decided to accept.

My desires and my pursuits did not mean acting blindly and recklessly.

Being cautious was always good, especially when the other party might threaten his life.

Within the dream, beside the Yellow Springs.

Han Jue cupped his hands and bowed to Empress Houtu.

Empress Houtu said, "The Heavenly Demons are attacking. Slain Heavenly Demons can yield Karma. If the Hidden Sect wants to become one of the Fortune Sects, do not miss this."

Han Jue smiled and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Niangniang. Is the Underworld preparing to encircle and annihilate the Heavenly Demons?"

"Mn. We are capturing Heavenly Demons to serve as ghost messengers. Although these Heavenly Demons are cruel, their minds are simple. In a sense, they are not terrifying."

"Where do Heavenly Demons come from?"

"It is the work of料 the Demon Race Saints, and it can also be considered acting in concert with the Heavenly Dao. Through the Heavenly Demon Calamity, a large number of individuals with great Luck will emerge. After that, it is estimated to be the struggle for the saint position."

A look of worry appeared on Empress Houtu's face as she continued, "No one in the Underworld has the qualifications to contend for the saint position. I hope you can secure it. If you are afraid of trouble, at least let the Hidden Sect take it. Whether this saint position is obtained by the Dao Sect or other Saints, it will break the long-maintained balance."

Han Jue raised an eyebrow.

He held the great dao purple qi and Primordial Purple Qi in his hands, which were enough to nurture two Saints.

And then go contend for another.

Wouldn't the Hidden Sect gain three more Saints besides him?

I am not contending, yet you are delivering it to my doorstep?