NFBE Chapter 135 Temptations come and go, but one must remain steadfast in one's principles and not
Chapter 135 Temptations come and go, but one must remain steadfast in one's principles and not
The Gu family head gently shook his head: "Special Envoy Zhou, the path of life is like a long, winding flower field; every step forward requires personal experience, which no one can take for you, nor can any method be substituted. However..."
Zhou Qingfeng remained calm and asked unhurriedly, "But what is a good plan?"
After a moment of contemplation, the Gu family head continued, "Although it cannot be replaced, we can purify our minds and resist the various temptations in the field of life by taking pills and using magical artifacts, thereby gaining precious time to explore that hidden and safe path."
He added somewhat apologetically, "This method may seem speculative, but it can effectively reduce the probability of death."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingfeng simply nodded silently without immediately expressing his opinion.
He still harbored doubts.
Even if everything the Gu family head said is true, he will still choose to verify it from multiple sources to ensure that the information is accurate.
Because in Zhou Qingfeng's eyes, the head of the Gu family was ultimately an outsider, not a partner who would share the same boat.
The head of the Gu family sensed his intentions and said earnestly, "Special Envoy Zhou, the time is of the essence. Please make a decision as soon as possible to avoid missing this opportunity due to changes in the situation."
Afterwards, the head of the Gu family rejoined his own group to rest, as did the rest of the family members. They took advantage of the temporary respite from the blizzard to quickly recover their strength and be in the best condition to face the unknown dangers that were about to come.
Zhou Qingfeng turned around and stared at Jin Wei, Ye Tingxiu, Xiao Hongyun, Chen Fuzi and others, and finally his gaze fell on the old cripple. He asked, "Mr. Liao, I remember that you once participated in the Despair Slope Skiing Competition. You must have crossed this field of life flowers. Could you share the hardships of it?"
The old cripple nodded slightly and recalled in a vigorous voice, "That's right, I did indeed dabble in the flower field of life, it was seven years ago."
He mentioned a proverb from Winterhold: "To become strong, one must first challenge the limits and conquer Despair Hill!"
"Back then, a total of 641 talented people participated in the Despair Slope Skiing Competition, but only six of them successfully reached the finish line."
"The rest either perished or dropped out halfway."
When the old man reminisced about the past, he became deeply engrossed in his memories and his words flowed endlessly.
"The difficulty of the Despair Slope Skiing Competition is mainly reflected in two aspects."
"First, participants must climb Despair Slope independently, facing raging winds, blizzards, hail, and lightning alone, overcoming numerous dangers, and remaining vigilant against hidden evil spirits and monsters."
"Moreover, once you accept help from others or talk to others, you are considered to have automatically forfeited. Such a challenge undoubtedly plunges every participant into loneliness, helplessness, despair and pain. Over time, most people become exhausted and depressed, and choose to drop out halfway. Very few people can actually reach the top of Despair Slope."
"Secondly, there is skiing down the steep slope from the 6,749-foot-high peak of Despair Slope. This requires not only the determination to forge ahead, but also extraordinary skills. Once you start skiing, it will trigger a massive avalanche. The participants will have to fight alone, battling against nature. The slightest mistake could cost them their lives."
Everyone listened quietly, and no one interrupted the old cripple's story.
This is the most basic respect for the strong.
The old cripple realized the topic had veered off course, so he steered it back on track: "The field of life is indeed full of dangers, preying on the weaknesses of the human heart. To cross it, one must have a firm will and be single-minded."
“In the past, the competition strictly prohibited the use of magical artifacts and elixirs to cheat, and violators were disqualified. Therefore, participants could only rely on their own strength to overcome the temptation. The situation is different now. We are here to find treasure, not to compete.”
"If you feel that your will is not strong enough, or that your mind is full of distracting thoughts, you can take a Mind-Cleansing Pill that matches your cultivation level in advance. With the help of the pill, you can protect your mind and thus greatly increase your chances of successfully crossing over."
"However, I suggest that you take this opportunity to strengthen your will and character, so that you can go higher and further and greatly stimulate your inner potential."
"After all, we cultivate in this turbid world, facing the endless risk of our minds being corrupted by impurities. Only by constantly tempering our will and character can we keep our minds pure and unpolluted."
After listening, Zhou Qingfeng looked around at everyone again: "You all understand that to navigate the flower field of life, you must rely on yourselves; no one else can do it for you. The choice is up to you."
Ye Tingxiu, Xiao Hongyun, Jin Wei, and Master Chen all nodded in agreement.
Zhou Qingfeng bowed deeply to the old cripple: "Thank you for your careful guidance, Mr. Liao."
The old cripple waved his hand and replied with a smile, "It's just some advice based on experience, no need to thank me."
Since walking through the flower field of life is inevitable, there is no need to hesitate any longer.
Zhou Qingfeng made a decisive move and immediately announced to everyone that they would be crossing over into the Flower Field of Life.
Upon hearing this, everyone remained somewhat nervous.
Although most of them were elite monks.
But what we are facing now is not real demons and monsters, but the flower of life that attacks people's hearts. No one can guarantee that they can resist temptation and find a safe way out of the flower field of life.
However, everyone is now in a bind; having come this far, there's no turning back.
Even if you expect someone to die in the midst of life's beauty, you still have to grit your teeth and keep going.
Seeing this, Zhou Qingfeng turned to the crowd and said calmly, "You are all welcome to linger here. I will not wait for anyone who is holding me back. If you fall behind, please catch up on your own."
After saying that, Zhou Qingfeng patted his storage bag, took out a bottle of Disaster-level Cleansing Heart Pills, poured one out and put it in his mouth.
You can hone your willpower anytime; there's no need to risk your life to do so at such a crucial moment.
Therefore, Zhou Qingfeng decisively led Ye Tingxiu, Xiao Hongyun, the old cripple, Jin Wei and others into the flower field of life.
Within the Flower Field of Life, each flower was as tall as a person, layer upon layer, densely packed, instantly engulfing Zhou Qingfeng and his group, leaving behind a group of astonished and bewildered people.
First Duanmu was also a decisive person: "What's there to hesitate about? We can't get around it, and there's no other way. If you're afraid, just back out now. Yujing, Jinse, let's go!"
First Jinse and First Yujing exchanged a glance, then immediately led thirty Food Fiend Realm followers and strode into the Flower Field of Life, quickly disappearing from sight.
Upon seeing this, Sima Yan, disguised as Ma Ruyi, smiled and said to the others, "Everyone, I'll take my leave first."
As soon as he finished speaking, Sima Yan, accompanied by ten elite followers, strode in.
After a brief discussion, Mao Yuling, Song Ye, Tang Yijun, and Zhu Jianxin each led ten elite followers and rushed into the Flower Field of Life, afraid of falling behind.
Upon seeing this, the Wei family head, the Gu family head, and Steward An each led ten elite followers to begin their operation.
There's nothing we can do; Zhou Qingfeng has already said he won't wait for those who fall behind.
This means that whoever falls behind should forget about the treasure. After all, being one step behind means falling behind at every step. If someone who fell behind doesn't show up and doesn't get a share of the treasure by the time others have already divided it up, who can they blame?
In a dream world built from the Flower of Life.
Zhou Qingfeng stood like a solitary traveler in a corner surrounded by a sea of flowers, his companions gradually disappearing into the depths of the blossoms.
Looking around, the magnificent flowers, each as tall as a person, seemed like a microcosm of the wicked world. Their strange fragrance was like a silent elegy, quietly awakening the various desires hidden deep in Zhou Qingfeng's heart.
The alluring aroma, like an invisible force, instantly conjured up a series of images in his mind.
The ambition to wield power and command the nation.
A beautiful woman, gentle and serene, adds fragrance to the scene.
A position of extraordinary prestige and glory, attracting the attention of thousands.
The allure of mountains of wealth, a dazzling display of gold and silver.
And then there are those distant yet cherished memories of my hometown, the smiles of my loved ones, and the warm glow of lamplight…
However, Zhou Qingfeng knew that these were all illusions woven by the flowers of life. Only by adhering to his original aspirations and resisting temptations with his will could he find his true self and the safe passage to the other shore in this flower field.
Fortunately, the Mind-Cleansing Pill is protecting Zhou Qingfeng's mind, preventing him from being seduced by those desires.
He took a deep breath, calming the torrent of desires that had been aroused.
At the same time, three winding paths faintly appeared in the sea of flowers before them.
Zhou Qingfeng knew that one of these three paths must be a truly safe shortcut.
If you make the wrong choice, you won't die immediately, but you will inevitably be trapped in a field of temptations, constantly bewitched by the allure of life and tempted to make mistakes and pick flowers. So the longer it drags on, the more disadvantageous it will be for you.
It should be understood that even the strongest will can be broken by numerous temptations. If once is not enough, then try ten times; if ten times is not enough, then try a hundred times. No one can resist hundreds or thousands of temptations by their own willpower.
In this field of life, making a single mistake is tantamount to the death of both body and soul.
Furthermore, the purifying pill, magical power, and energy are all limited, so we must get out of here as soon as possible.
At the moment that would determine his fate, Zhou Qingfeng decisively summoned the mysterious divination box deep within his consciousness and silently recited a mantra.
Draw lots!
The scarlet divination stick swayed slowly and three divination slips flew out.
[Bad luck, left path, ominous]
[Bad omen, right path, ominous]
[Middle-class fortune, middle path, auspicious]
Seeing this, Zhou Qingfeng did not hesitate and strode towards the winding path in the middle. He climbed up the path for about six hundred steps and finally emerged from the flower field of life.
"Phew..." Zhou Qingfeng glanced back at the boundless sea of flowers and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
This sea of flowers is undoubtedly an extremely dangerous place for cultivators who live in the world of five turbidities and suffer the torment of eight kinds of suffering.
Whether mortal or cultivator, the desires in their hearts burn just as fiercely.
Whether it's the pursuit of power and authority, or the allure of beauty and wealth, various desires drive people to constantly struggle forward.
Fortunately, after experiencing the trials of the world, cultivators who eat turbid food generally possess a high degree of immunity to the temptations of desire.
Those with strong willpower can break free from the shackles of desire at crucial moments and avoid becoming its slaves.
This is similar to someone who wields great power and has been through countless battles; they gradually develop an immunity to the endless temptations and bribes, allowing them to remain calm and composed even when faced with high-level temptations. And those ancient monsters who have lived for a long time are even more adept at controlling their desires, preventing them from becoming shackles that bind them.
"I hope they can all get through this safely." Zhou Qingfeng waited for his companions to appear, especially concerned about Ye Tingxiu, Xiao Hongyun, and Jin Wei, as they were indispensable and capable assistants, and any mishap to any of them would bring huge losses.
Not long after, the old cripple, leaning on his cane, shuffled out of the flower field. When he saw Zhou Qingfeng already sitting and waiting, he couldn't help but show a hint of surprise, and then said admiringly, "Your talent and willpower are indeed extraordinary. You were able to cross the flower field of life so quickly, even faster than me."
Zhou Qingfeng stood up, respectfully cupped his hands, and said, "Mr. Liao, you flatter me. It was just a stroke of luck."
The old cripple smiled and nodded: "Humble without being frivolous, very good."
As the two were talking, Ye Tingxiu also emerged from the flower field, six knives at his waist. Seeing that Zhou Qingfeng and the old cripple were already waiting there, he scratched his head, looking slightly dejected: "Old Zhou, you're too fast."
Zhou Qingfeng looked Ye Tingxiu up and down, and teased him with a smile: "You're not bad either. You actually managed to keep up with Mr. Liao and me. Your willpower is truly impressive."
Upon hearing this, Ye Tingxiu grinned and said, "Absolutely!"
Ye Tingxiu's willpower has never been a weakness. He has experienced more severe hardships than ordinary people. In addition to his outstanding talent, his indestructible willpower is even more outstanding. It is common for him to quickly pass through the flower field of life.
Subsequently, Jin Wei, Chen Fuzi, Zhiqi, Xiao Hongyun, and others also walked out of the flower field one after another, until the last five Zhou family guards at the Food Demon Realm also escaped safely.
After confirming that all personnel at headquarters had assembled, Zhou Qingfeng decided not to linger and to set off immediately.
The group continued climbing up the steep, snow-covered mountainside.
Xiao Hongyun followed closely beside Zhou Qingfeng and couldn't help but ask, "Aren't we really going to wait for them?"
Zhou Qingfeng gritted his teeth and endured the oppressive force of gravity, feeling as if he were carrying a giant mountain on his shoulders, his breath heavy, but he still answered steadily: "No need, there is only one road up the mountain. There is neither blizzard nor hail at the moment, it is the best time to travel, there is no need to waste time waiting for others."
"We'll find a place to camp ahead. If they're in a hurry, they'll definitely give chase."
Xiao Hong gave Zhou Qingfeng a push, helping him climb over a steep slope, and the two continued climbing together.
Xiao Hongyun joked, "I thought you were going to leave them all behind."
Zhou Qingfeng pulled Xiao Hongyun back and said with a smile, "It's not impossible, as long as we're fast enough. Of course, I'd be happy if they could keep up."
Xiao Hongyun grinned mischievously and pointed at Zhou Qingfeng: "You're always full of tricks."
Zhou Qingfeng responded with a smile, "Likewise, let's save our energy and not talk too much now."
As the altitude continues to rise, the pressure from gravity becomes increasingly severe.
However, Zhou Qingfeng's team maintained maximum efficiency, because in this environment, taking the lead often means staying ahead, and it is by no means easy for those behind to catch up, unless they are willing to climb continuously day and night, which is undoubtedly risking their lives.
Despair Slope is steep and winding, requiring caution even during the day, and traveling at night is even more dangerous. If one loses their footing and falls off the cliff into a crevice in the ground, the consequences would be unimaginable.
With the help of the small map of Despair Slope and the on-site guidance of the old cripple, Zhou Qingfeng and his group skillfully avoided dangerous areas and monsters, and made steady progress.
When they reached the four thousand-foot peak, even Zhou Qingfeng could only jump three feet high with all his might, which undoubtedly made the climbing process more difficult and time-consuming.
After seven or eight days and nights of arduous climbing, Zhou Qingfeng's team finally reached an altitude of 5,500 zhang, but then encountered a problem that could not be easily avoided.
"Boom!" The area ahead was suddenly shrouded in a thunderstorm cloud that blotted out the sun, foreshadowing an unprecedented and severe test that was about to begin.
They were only a day or two away from the top of Despair Slope, but at that moment, the wind, snow and hail stopped abruptly. Thunder and lightning flashed across the sky ahead, with hundreds of thousands of blue lightning bolts flashing wildly, as if the end of the world had arrived, making people afraid to even look at it, let alone cross it.
The old cripple pointed to the thunderstorm cloud ahead and said solemnly, "This is a Fiend-level thunderstorm cloud. Trying to cross it will come at a terrible price. Perhaps one out of ten will be extremely lucky to get through safely."
"The only option is to wait for the thunderstorm cloud to dissipate on its own. If we force our way through, at our current climbing speed, I'm afraid all of you except for me will perish in the thunderstorm cloud."
Faced with this scene, Zhou Qingfeng had no choice but to give Jin Wei the order: "Jin Wei, you and Master Chen find a flat place to set up camp and deploy your troops for defense."