Can a Scholar Be Called a Villain - Book 1: Chapter 134: Attaining the Cognizance realm

Murong Lin experienced an unusual and marvellous sensation, particularly when using his divine senses. The wide-ranging reach of his divine senses, combined with his newly forged primordial spirit, created the feeling of inhabiting two distinct worlds within his own body.

It was as if he possessed two points of view simultaneously, and this dual perception didn’t cause any distraction or confusion.

To explore this newfound capability, Murong Lin experimented with controlling his primordial spirit. While it was still freshly forged, he could summon it to exit his body and explore his surroundings.

However, he had one more card left to utilize—the strength-enhancing card.

“Anti, use the strength-enhancing card,” Murong Lin instructed.

He returned his primordial spirit to his spiritual sea, and both he and his primordial spirit assumed a cross-legged position on the ground as they diligently cultivated, circulating 《Lifelessness Law》.

“Ding! The strength-enhancing card has been used.”

With Anti’s announcement, the aura surrounding Murong Lin’s body instantly stabilized at the Cognizance realm and began to surge forward, progressing towards the next layers.

In that moment, Murong Lin’s aura became unpredictable.

As the 《Lifelessness Law》 continued to circulate relentlessly, Murong Lin embarked on a swift journey of breakthrough.

The first layer of the Cognizance realm……

The second layer of the Cognizance realm……

The third layer of the Cognizance realm……

The fourth layer of the Cognizance realm……

The fifth layer of the Cognizance realm……

The sixth layer of the Cognizance realm……

Murong Lin’s cultivation continued to advance steadily, only halting once he reached the sixth layer of the Cognizance realm. Subsequently, his aura concentrated on stabilizing.

The progression of a Cognizance realm cultivator differed from that of a Sky Reaching realm cultivator. Sky Reaching realm cultivators relied on strengthening their spiritual power to forge their Pprimordial spirit, while those in the Cognizance realm relied on their insights into various powers to deepen their understanding of the world, ultimately breaking through to the next realm—the Abhijñā realm.

In simpler terms, they needed to awaken the Intent realm through their insights or create their own Abhijñā to reach the next realm.

This advancement was far from straightforward; it relied on both innate talent and luck. Some Buddhist Dao cultivators could awaken their Intent realm overnight by focusing on their chosen path, effectively skipping the Cognizance realm entirely. Others might consume specific items, like the ‘Nine Heaven Sword Heart Fruit’, to awaken their own Intent realm, the Sword Dao, within the Cognizance realm.

The more Intent realms one awakened within the Cognizance realm, the better their prospects for the future. However, those lacking the necessary talent refrained from attempting it.

Having awakened the ‘Blade Dao’, Murong Lin could now explore further into his Blade Dao, ‘Emotionless’, or seek elsewhere to gain deeper insights.

‘Emotionless’ was his Blade Intent, a rare and unique manifestation of his understanding of the Blade Dao. Each cultivator’s Blade Intent was distinct, even within the broader category of Blade Intents.

That’s why Murong Lin had chosen to name his Blade Intent ‘Emotionless’.

Currently, Murong Lin’s Blade Intent was not only concealed within his body but could also be controlled and infused into his primordial spirit at will.

He slowly stood up and exited the house, gazing at the darkening sky as he sighed, “The world is truly ever-changing!”

By his side, a figure gradually materialized—it was Floor Master Qing Miao Lou.

Kneeling on the ground, Qing Miao Lou respectfully addressed Murong Lin, “Master, as of now, the remaining members of the Qing Yi Tower have successfully infiltrated and replaced individuals scattered throughout the country of Yan.”

Indeed, after the Qing Yi Tower had accomplished its mission of disseminating information in Chu and undermining the public’s favour toward Chu Ze, fewer than a thousand of its members remained.

Currently, the survivors couldn’t even fill ten floors out of the one hundred and eight floors of the Qing Yi Tower.

Under Murong Lin’s orders, they had once again infiltrated Yan’s inner circles.

No one would have anticipated that Murong Lin would employ this strategy once more to infiltrate Yan.

Murong Lin looked at Qing Miao Lou and nodded, “Ensure that no one discovers your true identities even after I’ve entered the ‘Great Nanyue Wan Guo Tournament’. Continue to conceal yourselves. If anything of great importance occurs, leave me the information and then take your own life. Remember, Murong Lin is dead, and the Qing Yi Tower is no more.”

“Yes.” Qing Miao Lou replied respectfully before vanishing from behind Murong Lin.

Murong Lin then called out to the system, “Open my information window.”

Undefeatable Villan SystemMaster: Murong Lin

Villan score: 1050

Age: 19

Cultivation: Sixth layer of the Cognizance realm

Innate talent: Bloody Poisonous Insect Acupoint, Little villain halo, ‘Wrathful, selfish’

Cultivation method: 《Lifelessness Law》 (Mortal form: Evil of lifelessness, lawlessness and formlessness)

Skills: 《Heaven and Earth Blade Art》(Blade Intent: Emotionless), 《Heart-Hurting Arrow》, 《Flowing Cloud Fluttering Sleeve》……

Equipment: Nameless Paring Knife

Spirit familiar: Bloody Poisonous Insect, Blood Bat Locust (Swarm)

Servants: 108 levels of the Qing Yi Tower (Incomplete)

Inventory: Some resources within the storage ring, Fragment of ‘Great villain halo’*4, Blessed Enigma Cauldron, Mysterious map (Zhou Fan), Mysterious ring (Long Chen)

His villain value had now exceeded 1000 unknowingly.

Observing his substantial savings, he shifted his attention to the enticing items available in the system shop, swiftly making a few selections.

The higher Sky grade ‘Crystal Dao Fruit’ was priced at ten villain value points per piece. Upon consumption, it could increase the speed of awakening Intent realms by a hundredfold.

Murong Lin decided to purchase five of the higher Sky grade ‘Crystal Dao Fruits’ to try their effects. He also spent 100 villain value to acquire a ‘Blade Dao Stone Tablet’ to assist him in his Abhijñā enlightenment.

The ‘Blade Dao Stone Tablet’ was a valuable item at the higher Barren grade, capable of aiding the user in awakening their own Blade Dao Abhijñā.

Subsequently, Murong Lin retreated into seclusion to prepare for the ‘Great Nanyue Wan Guo Tournament’, as he had announced to the world.

During these days of seclusion, he consumed all of the ‘Crystal Dao Fruits’ and sought enlightenment from the Blade Dao Stone Tablet. However, despite his efforts, he could only stabilize his existing Blade Intent, ‘Emotionless’, and failed to awaken another Blade Intent or Abhijñā.

This was a significant blow to Murong Lin.

“Is my innate talent truly so lacking?” he muttered in disbelief as he emerged from his room.

At this moment, cries of joy had already erupted throughout Yan.

The excitement in the city was palpable as the enormous flying ship from the ten great sects, the organizers of the ‘Great Nanyue Wan Guo Tournament,’ arrived.

As the colossal flying ship slowly descended, it cast a large shadow on the ground below. The ship, as massive as half a palace, appeared opulent with dark wood panels contrasting beautifully with golden accents on its exterior, while its interior was concealed from view.

The flying ship came to a halt in midair, and a message echoed in the minds of all those present: “The cultivators of Yan who are participating in the tournament, please board the ship!”

…………

In response, faces throughout the capital lit up with joy, and discussions broke out. While most people didn’t intend to board the ship, the sight of it still filled them with excitement.

Murong Jiao levitated from the imperial palace, hovering above the capital as he surveyed the scene below.

The first to board the ship was the wandering swordsman, Li Yi and the Willow Sword Saint’s younger brother, who were both carried up to the ship by the Willow Sword Saint himself.

Liu Sheng looked at his younger brother with a helpless expression and asked, “I’ll ask you one last time, do you truly want to participate?”

He was well aware of the dangers that awaited in the tournament and was reluctant to let his brother take part.

Liu Wu maintained a resolute expression as he replied, “Yes, I do.”

“Is it because of Sheng Yi?” Liu Sheng inquired.

“No, it’s for myself,” Liu Wu answered. “I simply want to see what the prodigies of this world are like.”

With a firm grip on his sword, he locked eyes with Li Yi, exchanged a nod, and then turned his attention forward.

Both of them were carried by the Willow Sword Saint into the air. With a leap, they swiftly landed within the area under the flying ship’s control and were drawn toward the vessel.

At the same moment, two other figures approached the flying ship under Murong Jiao’s guidance.

They were the victors of Yan’s internal tournament: Feng Zhe, a wandering cultivator skilled in physical arts, and Chen Wen Hao, a member of the foreign Chen clan who practised psychic arts.

Murong Jiao ushered them into the flying ship’s influence area, and they entered the vessel.

Finally, under the admiring and anticipatory gazes of the onlookers, a lone figure soared into the sky and boarded the flying ship.

Translator’s note:

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