Chapter 57: The Difficulty of Self-Nature

Faint clouds and mist drifted by, accompanied by the gentle murmur of flowing water and the subtle fragrance of summer blossoms.

Shen Lian remained in the mountains. Ruoxi was not by his side, but waiting for him at a distance.

A stream emerged from a fissure in the mountainside, cascading down to form a waterfall. The spray scattered like countless pearls across the sky, most of which gathered in the clear pool before Shen Lian, before flowing away gently from the edge. The contrast between the rushing water above and the stillness of the pool below seemed to capture the very essence of the beauty found in the interplay of motion and stillness.

The evening glow had begun to tint the horizon, and twilight descended.

Amidst the hazy, misty twilight, Chao Xiaoyu appeared, dressed as always in white.

Shen Lian had been standing there for a while; he was not at all surprised by her arrival. This Saintess of the Nine Lotuses Secret Sect was the Empress’s greatest rival in the grand game being played within the Imperial Capital.

Chao Xiaoyu gently plucked a pale yellow wildflower from the streamside and brought it to her flawless nose to inhale its scent. Her grace was such that it could leave any man spellbound, distracted from food and drink. Her features were impeccable; even the most skilled artisan would find it impossible to replicate her beauty, and even the most talented painter would struggle to capture the spirit of her smile as she held the flower.

She seemed to exist above all living things, and thus, she was flawless.

Of course, a perfect human does not exist, and Chao Xiaoyu was no exception. Yet, the fact that she could evoke such a feeling in an instant was already extraordinary. Every practitioner’s journey is far from smooth, but those who stand at the heights are often seen only for their radiant exterior, while the hardships they endure are forgotten.

"You are beautiful when you hold that flower," Shen Lian said softly. It was a sincere remark; since he was not blind, he had to acknowledge Chao Xiaoyu’s beauty.

"It seems you are in a good mood today, and that Her Majesty did not make things difficult for you." Chao Xiaoyu casually tossed aside the wildflower she had just been admiring. The ease with which she discarded something she had favored revealed a divine, indifferent detachment.

"Heaven and Earth are ruthless, treating all things as straw dogs." To the universe, all things are no different from those straw dogs. To Chao Xiaoyu, there seemed to be no distinction between things she liked and things she loathed.

This was what set her apart from ordinary people, and it was also what made her most terrifying.

"I suspect you want to know my opinion of you and the Empress. To be honest, in the entire Imperial Capital, I am the only one qualified to pass judgment on you both." Beneath Shen Lian’s relaxed and easygoing exterior lay a powerful, innate confidence.

"Every time I see you, Master Shen, I have a different impression. The detachment that night, the refined pride of today—both have left a deep mark on me. I truly dislike worldly men critiquing me, but you are certainly an exception. I am very curious to know your thoughts." Chao Xiaoyu stood amidst the dreamlike mist, her voice soft as clouds or willow catkins, echoing gently in Shen Lian’s ears.

"I once heard it said that one who creates an organization is a hero; one who creates a nation is a king; one who creates a religion is a sage. Which kind of person do you think you are, Xiaoyu?" Shen Lian did not answer directly, instead offering the observation as an opening gambit.

Chao Xiaoyu laughed lightly. "I did not create the Nine Lotuses Sect, nor will I create any other, so it seems I cannot be a sage. I will not build a nation, and organizing mere mortals to scramble for fame and profit is certainly not my interest. It appears I am none of these."

Shen Lian sighed deeply. "You do not wish to be any of them because you do not wish to be human at all. In the beginning, there was the Divine; the Divine exists alongside the Tao, eternal and indestructible, watching the rise and fall of civilizations. Your ambition is something I deeply admire."

In Chao Xiaoyu’s tranquil eyes, an undercurrent seemed to stir, only to be suppressed. Shen Lian was truly a unique person—a uniquely terrifying one. Such a person should have been a kindred spirit, yet she clearly understood that Shen Lian was not like her; he could not abandon his emotions to pursue the ethereal, rootless Tao.

This was why Shen Lian kept Ruoxi by his side. To outsiders, no matter how intelligent Ruoxi might be, she was merely a burden to him.

She could sense a terrifying power lurking within Shen Lian—a power that felt exactly like the Tao she had always pursued: cold, ancient, and indifferent. This was what attracted her to him most, and it was also why she felt he had a flaw. He could not tame that power, because he could not be as selfless and emotionless as the Tao itself.

The Tao of Heaven is constant; it exists for no one, and it is discarded for no one. She could not believe that Shen Lian did not understand this truth, so why did he insist on clinging to the ridiculous and useless emotions of humanity? Her senior sister was the same. She always had mixed feelings about such people.

As Chao Xiaoyu’s inner thoughts fluctuated, Shen Lian’s gaze pierced through the invisible aura shielding her, meeting her eyes directly. Chao Xiaoyu saw herself reflected in his gaze.

The reflection of the pool was tranquil, and the shadows of the two could be seen there as well.

Shen Lian continued, "However, you and the Empress are different."

Chao Xiaoyu uttered a perfectly timed "Oh," concealing her deep contemplation. Her fluctuating heart returned to the stillness of a stagnant pond. "How are we different?"

"The moment I first saw her, I knew she was not someone concerned with success or failure. Her practice lies in doing what others cannot; it is not to prove her own greatness, but simply because she wishes to do it." If the Empress heard these words, she would surely see him as a kindred spirit, though Shen Lian had not said as much to her before.

Chao Xiaoyu discards her "nature" to achieve the ultimate "vacuum" of the Luo Sect. Without nature, there is emptiness, and thus no need to see one's heart and manifest one's nature.

The Empress follows her "nature." From the moment she, as a woman, changed the dynasty and declared herself Empress, it was clear she was someone capable of breaking all conventions. Yet, this could not satisfy her. For her, the meaning of life required infinite exploration to keep her from becoming weary of existence.

Shen Lian could understand both of them precisely because he shared similarities with both. His nature was indifferent, so he did not place much value on many things and could easily discard them, yet he feared no hardship. His choice of the *Great Void Divine Strategy* proved that, deep in his bones, he possessed a spirit of adventure that could cut through any obstacle.

It was not that he had combined the virtues of Chao Xiaoyu’s and the Empress’s natures; rather, this was the very contradiction of his life.

Back then, when Zhang Ruoxu had Gu Caiwei deliver the message that "his difficulty lies in his own nature," it had truly been no lie. After a period of reflection and through his contact with both women, Shen Lian had finally realized this, confirming the words of his Sect Master.