Free Web NovelChapter 333: Chapter 241: Under the Guise of Foundation Establishment, Killing with a Borrowed Knife
The Hongde Blessed Land was Geng-rank, one of the ten Heavenly Stems—placing it in the lower-middle tier. Its Spiritual Energy and natural resources were hardly abundant, and the number of Cultivators at the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer it could support was quite limited.
It couldn’t compare to the top Four Class lands—Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding—which were suitable as domains for a Foundation Establishment True Master.
The Cultivators who had rushed to the Five Thunder Daoist Altar and managed to secure a spot were mostly local "High Merit" priests, responsible for governing millions of common people in the prefectural cities and Daoist offices.
The portly Daoist was named Qingfeng. He was the Master of Xuyun Temple, an expert in wind and thunder Daoist Skills with the ability to summon clouds, bring rain, and command ghosts and spirits.
He was considered one of the most powerful "Men of the Dao" in the Hongde Blessed Land.
The young Daoist below him was named Lingxia, also a high-ranking Daoist official governing an entire prefecture.
The female Daoist across from them was Hanqiang. She was originally a spirit flower who had been granted an Opportunity for Cultivation after being enlightened by a True Immortal.
Although she had never formally entered official service, this connection had allowed her to receive an Immortal Dao Talisman, giving her an origin far superior to that of a mere Mortal.
After eighty years of Cultivation, she had started as a mere "Talisman Initiate" and had finally been promoted to "High Merit."
Among everyone at the Five Thunder Daoist Altar, these three had the highest Cultivation and the best chance of reaching the threshold of a Bing-rank blessed land.
The Immortal officials and clerks in the various departments of the Divine Firmament Thunder Citadel were mostly selected from the top Four Class blessed lands—Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding. Vacancies very rarely trickled down to the lower tiers.
Even when a rare opening did appear, it was reserved for an "Immortal Seedling" with an extraordinary background.
In Grotto-Heavens like the Divine Firmament Thunder Citadel, Jade Void Palace, and Clear Profound Capital, Immortal officials were often demoted for various reasons and exiled to blessed lands to undergo tribulations.
These individuals were called "Immortal Seedlings." Once their tribulations were over and their Merit fulfilled, they would be reinstated.
"Brother Qingfeng, why bring this up? How could such a great Opportunity ever come to us?"
Lingxia said with a bitter smile,
"This Great Dao Thunder reverberating through the eighty-six hundred blessed lands is probably just paving the way for some ’Immortal Seedling’ sent down to face their tribulations. It’s all to create another legendary tale of a noble scion rising from humble beginnings to ascend to a Grotto-Heaven."
Qingfeng’s round, plump face twitched, and a look of displeasure crossed it.
"Hey! Do not say things that undermine the unity of our Daoist Lineage!
Our Immortal Dao values advancement. As long as you quietly cultivate your Merit and work diligently, you will ascend sooner or later.
Even if there are a few born with a special ’origin,’ it’s because they contributed to the Daoist Lineage in their past lives, which is how they accumulated such a profound foundation for their Cultivation.
Brother Lingxia, you must be more vigilant. Those words of yours just now had a hint of the Demon Dao to them!"
Startled by the rebuke, Lingxia broke out in a cold sweat and hastily corrected himself,
"Brother Qingfeng is right! It must be because my Cultivation has stagnated for so long that my temperament has grown impetuous, inviting external demons to invade my heart!
When I return, I will fast for half a year to purify my Dao heart!"
Hearing this, Qingfeng nodded slowly.
"As it should be. In our Cultivation, we must guard against external demons.
The Demon Dao is insidious; it easily corrupts the Dao heart and leaves us tainted by its influence.
The Immortal Dao has graced this world for five thousand years, serving as the eternal lamp of Yanfu! You must never think the Demon Dao is in any way better than us!
From what I know, on the Nanzhan Continent, the people are savages who eat raw meat and drink blood. They are cruel and bloodthirsty, and Nine Tens of their Cultivators are treated as mere consumables.
But we were born on the Dongsheng Continent. Here, we have an Emperor illuminating the world and a tribulation master to enforce punishment. We should be more mindful of the blessings from above."
The Daoist Hanqiang, wearing a yellow crown and possessing a graceful beauty, also chimed in,
"How can the Demon Dao possibly compare to the Immortal Dao? The True Monarchs of the Immortal Dao all possess hearts that pity the common folk and cherish life. Otherwise, why would they bestow such a heaven-sent blessing to help dullards like us with our Cultivation?
The Demon Dao only knows how to exploit and oppress. It is precisely because the Celestial Lord abhors their plundering that the Demons are in decline while the Immortals rise!"
Lingxia nodded in agreement again and again, though he was cursing inwardly. ’Have these two taken the wrong medicine? Why are they putting on this whole duet?
In their private conversations, they’re usually far more cynical!
Qingfeng is always cursing about how the Tai Yang Path is shamelessly arrogant, treating the other Paths like house slaves to be summoned and dismissed at will.
They monopolize seventy to eighty percent of the Dongsheng Continent’s abundant Spiritual Energy and resources, yet their greed is insatiable. They show no respect for the Thunder Core, Jade Void, or Clear Qi Paths at all.
The Daoist nun Hanqiang is even worse. She constantly complains that the Tai Yang Path’s laws are too strict, how they’re always calling for the hunting and killing of spirits who’ve gained enlightenment, labeling them "abominations" unworthy of Cultivation.
But everyone knows that among all the Dao Paths on the Dongsheng Continent, it’s the Tai Yang Dharma Lineage that raises the most exotic beasts and Demon soldiers.’
Lingxia sensed the strange atmosphere and immediately fell silent.
A heavy silence fell over Thunderclap Hall, and an undercurrent seemed to surge beneath the surface.
「Not long after.」
Dark clouds piled up high like ramparts. Wind and rain howled as serpentine lightning danced wildly. A vast, rumbling thunder descended from above.
Heaven and Earth seemed to become a great drum, beaten by a divine giant with a massive mallet. The mountains and rivers echoed in response, shaking the entire Hongde Blessed Land.
The living beings of this realm listened in silence. Some kowtowed in piety, while others closed their eyes in comprehension, all of them utterly entranced.
Thunder is the pivot of Yin and Yang, the crucible of life and death, the very foundation of all things.
This great thunderous sound, originating from the vast, dark void, was naturally imbued with law and principle.
This was especially true for the eighty-six hundred blessed lands governed by the Divine Firmament Thunder Citadel. Their people all belonged to the Thunder Core, and their Cultivators all practiced Thunder Techniques.
The thunder resounded in all directions, and to the living, it sounded like heavenly music!
A full half-hour passed.
In Thunderclap Hall, Qingfeng was the first to open his eyes. They shone with a brilliant, focused light.
"So that’s how it is... I’ve got it! To think the *Five Thunders Evil-Suppressing Demon-Slaying Art* had such a variation!"
A moment later, the Daoist nun Hanqiang also sighed in admiration:
"What incredible thunder! It has refined my Primordial Gate and Divine Sense, advancing my Merit. I can now forge my Dao Foundation!"
Inside Thunderclap Hall, the other Daoists awoke one by one from their meditative states, all of them offering praise to the Thunder Core and to True Monarch Yingyuan Sijie.
