"Between life and death lies great terror!
"Between life and death also lies great opportunity!
"When ordinary mortals face the threat of death, they erupt with power far beyond their usual limits. How much more so for cultivators like us?"
Zhong Shentong's expression was earnest and serious.
"The greater the pressure, the greater the motivation. What pressure could possibly be more intense than death?
"By harnessing the pressure of one’s final days, one's cultivation speed and capacity for comprehension will be a thousand times greater than normal.
"This is my personal experience, and it’s absolutely true!
"If you can master this power, Fellow Daoist, reaching the Nascent Soul realm before your lifespan runs out would be no difficulty at all!"
Zhong Shentong vowed solemnly.
"If it's truly as you say, Fellow Daoist, then why are there cultivators in this world who remain trapped their entire lives, unable to make a breakthrough even unto death?" Li Fan asked, somewhat helplessly.
Zhong Shentong paused slightly, considered the question seriously, and quickly arrived at an answer.
"That must be because they are not sufficiently afraid of death!
"I understand now. Fellow Daoist, you are currently transcendent and open-minded, treating life and death as matters of no consequence. You're worried you cannot cultivate using the pressure of death, correct?" Zhong Shentong exclaimed as if suddenly enlightened.
"Do not worry. Within the Life-Death Profound Canon that I cultivate, there is a chapter titled Sensing Life and Death. After studying it, one can fully comprehend the preciousness of life and the terror of death."
Li Fan studied the old Daoist before him carefully.
He felt this man's train of thought was somewhat different from that of ordinary people.
Had cultivating this so-called Life-Death Profound Canon addled his brain? Who would ever share their cultivation technique with someone they’d just met?
He replied seriously, "Fellow Daoist, your technique is profound and marvelous. I admire it greatly.
"However, techniques cannot be shared. The technique you possess is not one I am fated to cultivate..."
Zhong Shentong interrupted Li Fan, completely unconcerned. "This is precisely the reason I sought you out, Fellow Daoist.
"Please, teach me. How does one treat life and death as matters of no consequence? How can one become unafraid of death like you, Fellow Daoist?
"If I can conquer my fear of death, then surely this old Daoist can find liberation!" Zhong Shentong spoke with some urgency.
Hearing this, Li Fan was utterly stunned. "Fellow Daoist Zhong, you..."
Zhong Shentong waved his hand. "I know you may not understand. But such are the facts. I truly do not wish to live any longer.
"I have lived in this world for 168 years, witnessing all its vicissitudes and coldness. This world holds no more joy for me.
"Fighting and squabbling over techniques, treasures, territory, lifespan... Heh, it’s all just noise to me.
"If possible, I would have ended myself long ago."
A trace of helplessness flashed in Zhong Shentong's eyes as he continued. "But the Life-Death Profound Canon I cultivate makes it fundamentally impossible for me to oppose the instinctive fear of death within my heart.
"Whenever the thought of suicide arises, whenever I make a move towards ending my life, instinct forces me to act against my will.
"To avoid cultivating, I have even considered giving the technique to other cultivators to practice.
"But invariably, not long after, feeling my own cultivation speed grow slower and slower, as if death draws ever nearer, I lose all reason, seek the other person out, and kill them.
"That is why, after hearing tales of your fearlessness in the face of death, I traveled all this way to seek your guidance, Fellow Daoist," Zhong Shentong said with utmost sincerity.
Li Fan remained silent.
If Li Fan was a seeker of eternal life, clinging stubbornly to existence, then this Zhong Shentong was one who had lived long enough and yearned for death.
Yet he was tragically bound by his own cultivation technique, unable to act upon his suicidal desires.
This had led to a painful, almost schizophrenic state of being.
"Can you not even disperse your own cultivation?" Li Fan asked.
Zhong Shentong shook his head with a bitter smile.
This Life-Death Profound Canon is truly bizarre. Li Fan thought to himself.
Regarding Zhong Shentong's predicament, Li Fan could only sympathize without being able to help.
Li Fan was not fearless of death; he simply wouldn’t die from this incident. If he ever encountered something that could truly threaten his life, he would undoubtedly be the first to flee.
After a moment's thought, Li Fan spoke with equal earnestness. "Unfortunately, my situation may not be very helpful to you, Fellow Daoist. I just naturally have a carefree disposition. There is nothing particularly special about me."
Zhong Shentong quickly replied, "I understand. I understand.
"But the fear of death is human nature. How exactly did you overcome it, Fellow Daoist?"
Seeing his stubborn refusal to give up, Li Fan had no choice but to improvise.
"It's not that I am unafraid. I simply wonder, is physical death truly the end? Perhaps, after death, one truly begins to live. Isn't that so?
"Have you ever heard the story of the Brain in the Cauldron? Or perhaps rumors of the Real Dreamscape?"
Li Fan just said whatever came to mind.
But Zhong Shentong's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
"A single conversation with a wise man is worth a hundred years of solitary cultivation.
"Yes, yes. Death is not the end, but the arrival of true rebirth." After listening to Li Fan, he seemed to fall into a trance, muttering to himself.
"There is fundamentally no need to fear..."
After an unknown length of time had passed, his expression suddenly cleared, as if he had undergone a profound epiphany.
At that moment, a dangerous burst of multicolored divine light suddenly erupted from the old Daoist's body.
Zhong Shentong himself, however, let out a cold laugh. "Still trying to frighten me. This old Daoist has already seen the truth.
"It's all an illusion. Death is life. Only when all is dead can there be life!"
The multicolored divine light churned faster and faster.
Li Fan, sensing something amiss, quietly retreated.
"See through everything, foresee the truth!" Zhong Shentong raised his right palm, his face resolute, preparing to bring it crashing down upon his own head.
"Fellow Daoist Zhong! The Sensing Life and Death Chapter!" Li Fan shouted.
Zhong Shentong's movements halted abruptly. With a light flick of his finger, a jade slip flew toward Li Fan.
"Haha, Fellow Daoist Li Fan, I shall go ahead first!" With that, Zhong Shentong continued his forceful downward strike.
At that moment, his left palm moved uncontrollably, blocking the path of his right palm.
Zhong Shentong abruptly turned furious.
"Dare to obstruct my Dao path? Die!"
A beam of multicolored divine light shot from his right palm, heading straight for his left.
Simultaneously, another light beam shot forth from his left palm just in time.
The two beams of light collided and canceled each other out.
Yet Zhong Shentong himself did not stop, cursing under his breath.
It was as if two mortal enemies existed within his body. Move for move, he fought a deadly battle against himself.
Multicolored divine light flew wildly, the impact activating the protective arrays within the outpost.
Hearing the commotion from outside, He Chen hurried in. Seeing the deranged Zhong Shentong, he shot a bewildered look at Li Fan.
Li Fan just shrugged, signaling him not to act rashly.
As time passed, the battle between the two personalities within Zhong Shentong grew more ferocious. The confines of the small Outpost 01-11 could no longer contain him.
Amidst the constant flashing of multicolored divine light, he vanished into the depths of the Lifespan-Devouring White Mist.
The onlookers in the outpost buzzed with discussion.
Meanwhile, Li Fan slipped quietly into the cultivation chamber and began to read the jade slip Zhong Shentong had handed over earlier.