Riven, hearing this, just smiled and asked, "Why do you say so?"
Shen Chu thought for a moment before replying, "The Buddhist sect teaches the way of benevolence, that showing generosity to others is the way to help oneself, and that keeping things like money are just blocking us."
"They believe worldly desires are distractions that prevent us from seeing the true path. According to them, one must gradually abandon reliance on such things."
He paused slightly, a trace of skepticism appearing in his eyes.
"But hearing such things from them often feels hypocritical. Their sect still uses money and resources like everyone else, and many of their disciples are no different from ordinary cultivators, still chasing status, wealth, and power."
Riven laughed and said, "Just because you teach something doesn't always mean you yourself are following it."
"And from what you are saying, the Buddhist sect seems not so different. They might be trying to show kindness because they are taught to do so, not because it truly comes from within."
He looked ahead calmly as he continued.
"If kindness is forced, then it loses its meaning. What value is there in kindness shown only because one is told to act that way?"
Shen Chu listened quietly.
"But as for your question... yes, benevolence itself can become a path of cultivation."
"However, it's not as simple as the way you described. It only works when the kindness is genuine."
"When your heart is clear from the burdens and expectations of rewards, it clears your mind and is one of the ideal states of mind for a cultivator."
He said with a faint smile, "And this clarity is one of the hardest things to achieve."
Shen Chu fell silent and began reflecting carefully. He had indeed helped many people throughout his life, but most of the time there was an expectation.
As for any genuine help, he doesn't remember any of it.
He had reached his current height through his own efforts, not through compassion or goodwill.
After thinking for a while, he shook his head lightly and said, "I understand, Immortal Master, and it looks like this path doesn't suit me."
"Still, a monk from the Buddhist sect reached the Supreme Spirit Realm around a hundred years ago, and it was claimed that he had attained that level through the accumulation of goodwill and virtue."
"How much of that is a truth is still unknown."
Riven didn't think much of it and instead looked ahead and said calmly, "There is a large city ahead. We will stay there for the night and continue tomorrow."
Shen Chu had no objections and simply nodded before closing his eyes to meditate.
After another hour of flight, the Skylance Roc let out a low cry.
Shen Chu opened his eyes and saw a massive city appearing on the horizon.
The two discussed briefly and decided not to bring the Roc directly into the city. A beast of such size would attract too much attention.
Some distance from the city, the roc flew down, and both of them got off. After that, the old man instructed the roc to hunt beasts if it wanted while they were in the city, telling it to return by morning.
The roc chirped in response and then flew away. Riven and old Shen then went to the city walking.
In five minutes they reached near the city gates.
A long line had formed outside, where many merchants and ordinary travelers waited patiently while guards inspected and registered everyone entering the city.
Riven glanced at the crowd, then both he and Shen Chu vanished from the gate and reappeared directly inside the city.
This time the old man was prepared, but even then, the teleportation startled him slightly.
He looked at Riven with an inquisitive gaze. "Immortal master, you should at least warn me before doing so. My old bones can't endure so many surprises."
Riven chuckled, "Old man, you will get used to it. Cultivation is all about accepting the unexpected."
They started walking through the city. The city was bustling with people, and the streets were lined with shops selling various goods.
But after walking around the city for some time, the old man Shen furrowed his brows as he looked around and then suddenly closed his eyes.
He then said, "Immortal master, there is a presence of demonic cultivators in the city." The people around didn't seem to hear his voice and continued to be busy with their work.
Riven nodded and said, "There is even a Buddhist sect in the city, but the demonic cultivators still aren't afraid."
The old man said, "The old monk from the Buddhist sect resides in the main branch, and the higher-ups of the Buddhist sect went out of the city."
"I think this was the aim of the demonic cultivators to attack a small city outside and lure the cultivators of the Buddhist sect and attack this big city."
Riven suddenly turned and started to walk in a certain direction, and the old man followed.
After walking for some time, they came across a huge building.
Beautiful women stood outside the entrance, waving playfully toward passing men. Laughter and flirtatious voices filled the area as wealthy guests entered freely.
And from the people around them, they heard the name of this place. 'Moon Lake Brothel.'
Looking at the building, the old man said, "This is the hideout of the demonic cultivator in this city."
Riven just took one look and shook his head and went to find a place where he could eat and rest for the night.
After searching for some time, they came across a well-established inn, where they could stay for the night.
They registered in the inn for the night and paid the money beforehand, and both went to their rooms.
After entering his room, Riven went to the bed and looked at his left hand, and a scale-like tattoo appeared.
A vial appeared in his hand, emitting an ethereal aura, and seeing this, Riven smiled and slowly opened it and took out his brush.
Slowly dipping the brush in the vial, Riven started to use the brush and draw on his left hand.
After five minutes, Riven finished his work and looked at his left hand, where he had drawn a person sitting in a lotus position with eyes closed.
Slowly the blood started to simmer and started to get absorbed by his hand.
Riven closed his eyes and slowly felt the changes. 'It will take around a week to fully merge with me.'
He then looked out of the window and noticed that the sun was almost setting, and a peculiar qi started to cover the city.
Seeing this, Riven just went out, and the old man, noticing this peculiar scene, also came out at the same time.
The old man was about to talk to Riven about this, but Riven just went to the dining area, where quite a few people were already sitting and eating their food.
After both of them sat down, they ordered some food for them.
The old man looked at Riven and said in a serious tone, "Immortal master, this city has already been confined in a formation. I don't know why the Buddhist sect hadn't found the formation and broken it, but now even their powerful cultivators aren't even in the city."
"From the looks of it, they are waiting for the demonic cultivators to attack first so they can get goodwill from the people after saving them."
Riven nodded as he continued to see the surroundings.
After some time their food arrived, and both of them slowly ate the food, and it didn't take long before various people from the city also noticed the change in the city, but it was too late for them to do anything, as the whole city was not covered in fog.
The fog not only blocked the vision, but after inhaling the fog, normal people started to fall asleep, and even cultivators felt their bodies weakening.
Only those in core formation and above were somewhat immune to the fog's effect, but there were only a limited number of such cultivators in the whole city.
After the whole city was covered in fog, the building 'Moon Lake Brothel' started to stir. Many cultivators in dark robes started to come out of the building with weapons in their hands.
But every cultivator in the city was already prepared, as they had already surrounded the building and were waiting for the demonic cultivators to come out.
From this, Riven and the old man already knew that the cultivators were already informed that there were demonic cultivators in the building, but the question was why they still allowed them to create a formation outside the city.
From the looks of it, there was still something going on which they didn't know.