Bai Qi propped his chin with both hands, looking up, and unexpectedly popped out a sentence—
The Azure Heaven is dead, should the Yellow Heaven rise?
"Without the Lord of Heaven. So, is that why in the present Red County Divine Land, one cannot become an immortal, right?"
Bai Qi asked.
"Ah Qi, you truly are wise, instantly grasping the point. Yes, the portal to the Longevity Secret Realm is tightly shut, the grand path severed, precisely because the Lord of Heaven is gone.
No matter how vast the Qi Blood or how profound the Magical Power, if not acknowledged by the Celestial Principles, ’ascending in broad daylight, being received as an immortal’ is impossible."
Chen Xing nodded.
"Regarding this, various speculations exist within the sect, among which one notion particularly resonates with me.
Every ’Lord of Heaven’ of a world is sanctioned by the Dao Court, much like the Court decrees those Mountain and River Spirits—land deities, City Gods, River Gods.
Their duty is to guide the Immortal Longevity beings beyond the heavens.
Due to the calamity of the Dao’s demise and the peril of the Turbid Tide, the Celestial Principles of the Red County Divine Land shattered, the established order crumbled, lifespan reduced, spiritual essence declined, and becoming immortal is distant!
It is all as if a nation is without a ruler, the sky without the sun!
If a nation is without a ruler, court factions vie for power, governance corrupts, people suffer; if the sky is without the sun, crops wither, plants droop, livestock perish..."
Bai Qi lowered his head to gaze at the clear azure sky reflected on the lake, contemplating:
"If the Red County Divine Land no longer has a Lord of Heaven in charge, then from where does the Dragon Court Supreme Emperor’s claim of Azure Heaven’s Seal originate?"
He pondered for a moment, then hesitantly asked:
"Master, is our Three Yang Sect intending to replace the old heaven and create a new one?"
From the acts of past Sect Leaders assassinating kings, it seems those who regard themselves as lone figures, grasping a temporary fortune, are mostly disapproved by the Three Yang Sect, all labeled as ’usurping scoundrels.’
"Alas, the sect is in endless dispute over this. Many elders feel we should seek the fragments to recreate the Celestial Principles, yet there are enterprising individuals who believe in creating a new heaven. No definitive statement exists.
The only consensus is to ignite the Nine Heavens Star Ring and establish contact with the Dao Court across the starry galaxy, beyond the universe.
But for so many years, the location of this item remains unproven, every effort ends in vain and dust."
Chen Xing felt a complex emotion; seeking the Nine Heavens Star Ring and recreating the Celestial Principle Mark has been the Three Yang Sect’s age-old grand plan, yet unfortunately, it has yielded no results.
Judging by the tone of the Master, he is surely one of the progressive radicals.
"As for why past Sect Leaders attempted to assassinate monarchs, it’s because these self-declared emperors, more or less, colluded with the Turbid Tide.
The Dragon Court is such an example. The Supreme Emperor placed the unidentified Five Emperors above the Four Saints, secretly destroying historical texts related to the Four Saints, erasing their names, not building temples, not erecting divine statues, intentionally weakening the populace’s understanding of the Four Saints in the Red County Divine Land.
In times before Dao’s demise, such actions would’ve been deemed extremely treasonous, resulting in the extermination of one’s entire family."
Chen Xing furrowed his brows and spoke sternly; Bai Qi found this speech strangely familiar.
This was exactly like what he read in the Inner Scenic Land of the Guardian Vault, from the "Grand Historian’s Family Sayings."
"Not to mention, the intention behind taking the name of the Dragon Court, desiring to establish itself independent of the Dao Court, is truly disrespectful.
To be honest with you, Ah Qi, the Master once ventured into the capital; besides the famous King of Support, and the Sect Leader of the Five Directions Emperor Palace who held a Dharma convention, the accomplishments of that Supreme Emperor are also unfathomably profound.
In terms of foundation, indeed, the Dragon Court far surpasses all the formidable heroes that rose within the millennium post-Dao’s demise, and those most likely to become immortals in the world are on the Court’s side."
Chen Xing did not blindly elevate the Three Yang Sect, as regardless of ancestral prestige, it couldn’t change the cold reality of the Dragon Court ruling, governing the Red County Divine Land.
Bai Qi folded his hands, thinking from another perspective: The Three Yang Sect, bearing such a title as the ’orthodox grand path,’ akin to former dynasty remnants wielding the Heirloom Seal of the Realm, not yet being eradicated by the Dragon Court, is also a kind of skill!
It is enough to prove that the ancestors left some legacy!
Quietly, he looked up at the Master:
"Our Three Yang Sect has no soldiers, no generals, nor any land... Even if the assassination succeeds and the head of the Supreme Emperor is taken, how can the Celestial Principles be re-established, and the past replaced with the new?"
After exchanging looks with Chen Yin for a moment, since the transparency was this open, there wasn’t a need for concealment, thus revealing it all:
"The Celestial Principle Mark enshrined within the sect is indeed mostly lost, devoured by the Turbid Tide.
However, the earliest ancestors, having been sanctioned by the Dao Court, once ruled a realm, naturally left some blessings for future generations.
But this item, Ah Qi, you won’t make use of it now.
It is a Secret Technique to pass through the Divine Passage Barrier."
Divine Power Giant?
Bai Qi’s eyes lit up, hastily wiping a fresh fruit, presenting it to the Master’s hand.
"You rascal, after hearing so much nonsense, the Master fears you may aspire too high, and refuse to practice diligently, grounding yourself."
Chen Xing laughed, meeting his disciple’s expectant eyes, softly said:
"It is said that the Twelve Immortal Heads under the Four Saints Sect, being disciples of the Four Saints, oversee infinite heavens and infinite worlds.
The Daoist Soldiers under my command are truly invincible, each capable of facing a hundred, rarely meeting an opponent in the same realm.
According to ancient records of the sect, the Dao Court possesses a sealed Secret Technique called "Original Body," also known as "Primary Body."
The Martial Artist Four Trainings can break the Divine Passage Barrier, extracting nineteen transformations from complex true skills and supreme techniques.
There are even those with extraordinary talents and deep foundations who can seize twenty-one transformations.
The Three Yang Sect is divided into Chi Yang, Bai Yang, and Qingyang, each inheritance contains seven mystical changes.
Practicing all three lineages results in mastering twenty-one transformations, unrivaled among peers, claiming invincibility.
Even if the King of Support of the Dragon Court or the Sect Leader of the Five Directions Emperor Palace surpasses my realm, they can only allow me to come and go freely in the Divine Capital."
Original Body?
Can it achieve twenty-one Divine Transformations?
Bai Qi took note secretly.
If I learn such skills, would I fear not defeating my master?
"Lay your foundations. Once you ascend to the Four Trainings, Master will convince the other two lineages to teach you the method of twenty-one transformations."
Chen Xing promised, eyes filled with immense expectation. The Three Yang Sect has long awaited a master of all three lineages, wielding the shared celestial principle.
If it weren’t for this, he, Chen Yin, and Chen Du wouldn’t have used the "Splitting Dao and Dividing Spirit" technique to divide into three, each cultivating separately.
The purpose is to complete their cultivation, refining the three spirit essences, ultimately uniting to achieve the profound realm of twenty-one transformations, fully mastering the sect’s incomplete Celestial Principle Mark.
But such schemes are now halfway destroyed.
Chen Du reentered reincarnation, Chen Yin’s physical body severed, even his own foundation has suffered damage.
This kind of severe setback cannot be repaired in a day.
"With such a piece of pure gold and jade as Ah Qi before us, no matter how much Yan Xin plays the millennial tortoise, he should show himself."
Chen Xing chewed on the juicy, seasonal fresh fruit, gazing at the mountain scene beyond the lake.
As if a giant stone fell into a deep ravine, waiting for the resounding echo.
...
...
Within the vast estate of Celestial Water Prefecture, a majestic man with a face like jade and shoulders like mountains returned from a long retreat and slowly opened his eyes.
Simultaneously, the fierce qi blood condensed within muscles and skin burst forth in an instant.
Whoosh!
Half the large city and sky turned crimson, like clouds and glow, emitting a magnificent color that lingered for a long time.
"Cultivation is not yet fulfilled; the heart is restless."
Zhao Pijiang murmured, rising, pushing the door, outside was a spacious courtyard enough for horse riding.
This Grand General never liked the serene scenery of small bridges and flowing water, thus the courtyard seldom had artificial mountains or flowing water, foliage or flowers.
In the center was a martial arts arena paved with long rectangular blue stones, surrounded by densely packed weapon racks.
Outside the retreat pavilion, Zhu Mingyu knelt radiantly and charming.
She lay prostrate at the steps, already a day and night.
Last night, a gentle rain fell, soaking the Female Wealth Deity, her hair disheveled, palace dress stained with dust, quite wretched.
Appearing pitiful and forlorn.
"That strand of divine intent was initially a reward for your hard work managing the Hidden Pavilion as a protective measure."
Zhao Pijiang, dressed in a dark robe with gold thread cloud patterns embroidered sleeves, waist belted with warm white jade, his expression serene:
"This trip to Yihai Prefecture, not only did you fail to obtain the Withered Revive Wood, but also lost a strand of my divine intent.
Furthermore... allowed a junior to damage the reputation of the General’s Mansion and Duke’s Mansion."
Zhu Mingyu’s delicate body trembled, fearing the impending wrath like thunder.
"By rights, you deserve to die ten thousand deaths, but this General cherishes old times, I will handle things with the foster father.
As for the one who severed my divine intent, wielding the Sword Sect’s divine soldiers, Yan Xin, having endured for so long, finally grew restless, secretly nurturing a good seedling."
Zhao Pijiang lowered his gaze, pondering silently for a while:
"Foster father said, no true transmission is allowed from the Meridian Sword Sect, either seize it or destroy it.
Mingyu, make another journey to Yihai Prefecture, if you can’t win them over, let Yuan Qing take action."