Free Web NovelChapter 341: Chapter 244: Overwhelming the Changes of the Circulation, I Alone Reign Supreme
With that, he flicked his sleeve and left.
The kind-faced old woman, known as the Nine Spirits Brahmanic Daoist Monarch, smiled and thought to herself:
’Daoist Mingxuan is backing the "One," while Daoist Yuanzu is propping up a new ruler.’
’I wonder which Ancestral Sect will be the one to unleash the Ancient Demon Tribulation upon the Nanzhan Continent...’
...
...
Above Hong Shui, the Dharma Assembly would conclude as soon as True Monarch Guangzhao Jinghai made his announcement to the Nanzhan Continent.
The final Talisman Decree for [Juku Continent] would be contested by the Dharma Lineages under the two sects’ rule.
But the many True Inheritance Disciples had no heart to watch. The Taifu Sect took away Yu Changqing, who had shattered his own Dao Foundation, and left in a hurry.
The Innate Sect, however, was ecstatic, clapping and cheering.
"Hold your Talisman Decrees well. In ten days, [Juku Continent] will open. I wish all you True Inheritance Disciples good fortune in finding your Opportunities and ascending to your positions swiftly."
True Monarch Guangzhao Jinghai gave a faint smile and added,
"That Life-Extinguishing Mara Sutra Pillar is best nourished with the light of a Buddha. Only then can it be fully restored and display its true power."
With that, he produced a skull gleaming with golden light from his sleeve and said with a grin,
"This is a cranial bone śarīra of a Buddha. Legend has it that when a World Honored One entered nirvana, he left behind eighty-four pecks of śarīra, which were then divided among the eight great monastic traditions and their eight great temples."
Jiang Yi’s eyes narrowed. This gift was far too significant.
After all, a World Honored One was equivalent to a Daoist Monarch!
"I cannot accept a reward I have not earned."
Jiang Yi hesitated, not daring to accept it so casually.
Items from the Buddhist Dao are invariably entangled with karma.
Even though this True Monarch Guangzhao Jinghai had betrayed the Buddhist Dao, pledged himself to the Demon Dao, and obtained an intercalary seat...
But who knew if a World Honored One wasn’t pulling the strings from behind, employing the schemes of an Upper Cultivator.
’There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this godsforsaken place.’
Jiang Yi remained wary, determined not to accept such a favor for no reason.
"Daoist Jiang, please don’t overthink it. You are the esteemed future Crown Prince of the Innate Sect. With the great Daoist Monarch Xianyou Mingxuan watching over, how would I dare resort to any vile schemes?"
True Monarch Guangzhao Jinghai’s gentle smile was as refreshing as a spring breeze.
"Once you comprehend the Five Elements and enter the Foundation Establishment Realm, Daoist, your accumulated power will surely erupt. You are destined for greatness."
"This monarch simply wishes to form a positive connection with you, that is all."
He spoke these words openly, allowing the other True Inheritance Disciples of the Innate Sect to hear.
Feng Yuan narrowed his eyes. ’The Daoist really has some pull,’ he thought, ’to make a mighty True Monarch humble himself like this.’
"A cranial bone Buddha’s śarīra... it’s a supreme treasure! An item of the Buddhist Dao, it contains ’treasure light,’ and just like the Earth Virtue, it possesses the power of Nourishment."
Yuan Xiao took the hint, immediately taking out the Life-Extinguishing Mara Sutra Pillar and presenting it to Jiang Yi.
"Thanks to your guidance, Daoist, I was able to defeat Fu Lizi in our Magical Combat. It is only right that this Magical Treasure be given to you."
Jiang Yi did not refuse and accepted it frankly.
"I will convert its value into Dao Skill for you, so True Inheritance Yuan will not be at a loss."
The [Juku Continent], jointly controlled by the Eight Sects of the Nanzhan Continent, held remnants of the ancient Demon Dao, which had flourished within it.
This Life-Extinguishing Mara Sutra Pillar was also an ancient Magical Treasure, so it should prove useful there.
Yuan Xiao was also a straightforward person.
"That would be best. I, Yuan, lack for nothing else; I only wish to accumulate more Dao Skill, study True Skills, and master Daoist Techniques."
True Monarch Guangzhao Jinghai’s gaze shifted to the sutra pillar as he explained in a gentle tone,
"Daoist, you must not underestimate this treasure. If I am not mistaken, the Life-Extinguishing Mara Sutra Pillar has a remarkable origin, one that involves a secret treasure of the Buddhist faith."
"Fu Lizi possesses great fortune; that is the only reason he was able to obtain it."
"But upon meeting you, Daoist, it was like a submerged Jiao encountering a true dragon—all its might vanished in an instant."
Jiang Yi’s mouth twitched. ’These people from the Buddhist Dao sure know how to talk, and they have no sense of pride or integrity.’
’What kind of True Monarch flatters a Qi Cultivation cultivator?’
’Even the Demon Dao, famous for its lack of scruples, would never stoop so low.’
"You flatter me, True Monarch."
Jiang Yi replied with cupped hands.
"I wonder, is the positive connection you wish to form a large one, or a small one?"
True Monarch Guangzhao Jinghai smiled faintly and asked,
"May I ask, Daoist, what do you consider large, and what small?"
Jiang Yi answered with composure,
"Giving a treasure in hopes of a corresponding return—that is a small connection. Using today’s gift to angle for a future when I have achieved Foundation Establishment, ascended, and secured a Golden Position—that is a large connection."
True Monarch Guangzhao Jinghai brought his fingers together before his chest as if holding a flower and smiled.
"I only hope that after you achieve Foundation Establishment, Daoist, you will permit me one small favor to resolve an old matter of my own."
Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow, his thoughts racing. He seemed to understand what this intercalary True Monarch, a traitor to the Buddhist Dao, was asking for.
The meaning of the two words "Foundation Establishment" was interpreted differently across the four great Daoist Lineages.
But from the perspective of Cultivation, the meaning was quite literal.
It meant building a high Dao Foundation!
Upon entering this realm, a Cultivator studied True Skills and practiced Daoist Techniques all to solidify their Dao Foundation and build it higher.
It was like piling earth to form a mountain, or gathering sand to build a pagoda.
This process was known as "Cultivating the Body and Nurturing the Pool."
"Are you so certain, True Monarch, that when I achieve the Flying Foundation Establishment Realm, I will emulate the first Shao Yang and use five techniques to refine five bodies, all to seek the Perfect Dao Fruit?"
Jiang Yi sent this message via Divine Sense. True Monarch Guangzhao Jinghai replied with a confident smile,
"Daoist, you hold the principles of the Five Elements in your grasp; their transformations and creations are all clear to you."
"To cultivate only a single technique would be a waste of your natural genius."
Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow. The True Monarch certainly had a lot of faith in him.
To cultivate the Five Virtues, achieve Perfection in five techniques, and ascend to a Golden Position, all within a sixty-year cycle...
Such a speed of Cultivation was unheard of in tens of thousands of years.
"In that case, I will accept this positive connection."
With a sweep of his wide sleeve, Jiang Yi put away both the Life-Extinguishing Mara Sutra Pillar and the cranial bone śarīra.
"I wish you an early Foundation Establishment and a soaring ascension, Daoist!"
Seeing Jiang Yi agree, True Monarch Guangzhao Jinghai was satisfied and offered a blessing.
HUM!
As the words were spoken, it was as if the law followed his speech.
A golden light enveloped Jiang Yi, making his body and mind feel clear and transparent, like flawless, polished jade.
’As expected of someone from the Buddhist Dao.’
Jiang Yi focused his senses. With just that one sentence from True Monarch Guangzhao Jinghai, had he gotten closer to the Foundation Establishment Realm?
Were it not for the accumulated mortal impurities forming a shell-like barrier, he might have been able to instantly form the prototype of his Dao Foundation!
’Is this a Divine Technique? No wonder they say Divine Techniques are vast and Magical Power is boundless. A True Monarch is truly worthy of the name.’
Jiang Yi cupped his hands in thanks once more, then took his leave.
He rode a beam of rainbow-hued Profound Light and flew into the Grand Wei Treasure Palace.
「Not long after.」
With a deafening RUMBLE, the Grand Wei Treasure Palace shuddered, sending out roiling waves of energy.
It suddenly shot into the void, teleporting a thousand li in an instant!
On the massive island, countless Qi Cultivation Cultivators watched in a daze, their hearts filled with yearning.
"A Qi Cultivation cultivator fighting one at Foundation Establishment, chatting casually with a True Monarch... This is what we who follow the path of Cultivation should aspire to be!"
"The Daoists of the Nanzhan Continent’s Eight Sects all have heaven-defying luck and extraordinary backgrounds. How many years has it been since one of them came from a rural backwater?"
"I heard this Daoist Jiang comes from Beimang Ridge. That’s a barren place."
"Deriving the Dao and manifesting the Five Elements while still in Qi Cultivation... No wonder he took the top spot on both the northern and southern rankings!"
The crowd of Qi Cultivation Cultivators whispered amongst themselves. The Disciples from the eight peaks’ residences seemed to share in the glory.
The moniker "Qi Cultivation Daoist," once a source of ridicule from the Ancestral Sects, no longer sounded so grating.
...
...
The crow flies and the rabbit runs; sun and moon trade places. In a flash, seven days passed.
Jiang Yi sat in silent meditation within the main hall. Beside him, a golden censer produced smoke that glowed like rosy clouds, a mist that was dense yet did not disperse, pure yet not muddied, nourishing the Cultivation Furnace.
After completing his customary Circulations, he slowly opened his eyes.
Wisps of brilliant light, like arcs of electricity, escaped in the form of dragons and snakes.
If a Cultivator with a slightly weaker Cultivation were to receive such a glance, their Primordial Divine Thought would be extinguished.
"Perfect timing."
Jiang Yi performed a quick divination with his fingers and knew that the opening of [Juku Continent] was imminent.
He lowered his eyelids. The Celestial Book manifested, and as he scanned the tadpole-like script, a pleased smile touched his lips.
’It was worth spending so many Spiritual Objects. I’ve finally deduced the Dao Foundation I should forge.’
’Ten Thousand Chariots Command the Law, Five Directions Face Yuan... Yes, it’s a perfect match for me.’
The moment he left the Hongshui Dharma Assembly, Jiang Yi had begged the Celestial Book, inquiring how he should forge his Dao Foundation.
He had used nine different Qi Cultivation First Grade Spiritual Objects, consuming more than half his entire stock. After seven days of waiting, he finally received his answer.
’Forge the Ten Thousand Chariots, command all laws, revere me as king, and naturally encompass all worldly transformations.’
’This Dao Foundation unifies supreme True Qi, One Element Magical Power, and all manner of Daoist Skills, evolving them all into the Five Elements and their five corresponding energies.’
As this thought crossed Jiang Yi’s mind, he felt a jolt from the crown of his head. True Qi and Magical Power surged forth, gradually expanding to encompass the entire palace hall.
