The Hour of the Pig, when night had fully fallen.
The Hall of ritorious Records was utterly silent, with not even the slightest sound escaping from within.
The busybodies who had gathered to watch the excitent found it dull and gradually dispersed.
Only a few flying chariots remained floating high above, dripping with auspicious qi and radiating a treasured light.
One look was enough to tell they were descendants of the Eight Monarchs, accustod to extravagant and ostentatious displays.
"He’s just picking a scripture. Does it really need to take this long?"
"The three great scriptures aren’t even kept in the Hall of ritorious Records. Don’t tell he’s comprehending one on the spot?"
"Who knows what’s happening. It’s the Ancestral Master’s supre scripture. Even if he gets to look at it, what could he possibly glean from it?"
"True enough. He’s just a re Qi Cultivation practitioner..."
At first, there were still such scattered discussions. But by dawn, the Hall of ritorious Records—protected by the "Great Teleportation Formation of the True and Illusory Realms"—remained deathly quiet.
After waiting fruitlessly for a whole day, the occupants of the few remaining flying chariots finally lost their patience. They streaked across the sky, returning to their Cave Mansions and private courtyards.
"Are the three great scriptures really that profound? To think it would take him this long to choose one."
Inside Fuyin Manor, Shao Guansu frowned slightly. Two full days had passed, and that Daoist still hadn’t erged from the Hall of ritorious Records.
Seated below him was a middle-aged Daoist. Though he appeared a dozen years older than Shao Guansu, he spoke with the utmost respect:
"Perhaps he is finding it a difficult choice and doesn’t know which one to select."
It was extrely difficult for an ordinary Shao clan Disciple to gain entry into this Fuyin Manor.
The middle-aged Daoist had to call in a favor from their shared lineage just to be granted this audience with Shao Guansu.
Naturally, he wanted to make a good impression:
"Clan Uncle, I’m afraid you overestimate that Daoist. From what I’ve gathered, he has no particularly impressive background. He is definitely not from so ’Ancestral Court of a Daoist Lineage’ or a ’True Monarch Reincarnation’."
"With his narrow perspective, how could he possibly make a quick decision when suddenly faced with the Ancestral Master’s Daoist Scripture, which points directly to the ultimate path?"
Shao Guansu narrowed his eyes and asked with a flicker of interest:
"The Daoist’s life lamp burns eternally in the Yuan-Candle Hall, cleansing his past and confounding his karma. Even a Daoist Monarch cannot divine his background, yet you speak with such certainty."
A hint of smugness appeared on the middle-aged Daoist’s face, though he quickly tried to suppress it.
"You may not know this, Clan Uncle, but when Lord Drum descended the mountain, the Lower Courtyard imdiately began an investigation to see if he was heading toward Beimang Ridge."
Shao Guansu drawled, asking with a smile, "And why were you so certain the Daoist was in Beimang Ridge?"
The middle-aged Daoist, as if presenting a treasure, rushed to answer:
"The ergence of [Fengdu] attracted attention from both the northern and southern realms. Factoring in Lord Drum’s projected route, we were about Eighty Percent certain."
"Beimang Ridge is a barren land with only two Branch Sects. This shows the Daoist must co from a humble background."
Shao Guansu asked again, "And what else did you investigate?"
The middle-aged Daoist suddenly felt a sense of unease. His clan uncle was not usually this inclined to chat.
He forced himself to say, "It was just the Lower Courtyard, idle and bored. They made a wager on the Daoist’s high or low birth. There was no intention of divining his karma."
Shao Guansu let out a long laugh. "I’ve been away from the clan for sixty years, and it’s a relief to see it’s still filled with morons like you."
The middle-aged Daoist was terrified. He scrambled to his knees, his voice trembling, "What have we done wrong? Please, Clan Uncle, enlighten !"
Shao Guansu looked down on him as if he were so strange curio and remarked with a sigh, "The Celestial Lord is truly rciful, to allow a creature like you to exist under the heavens. No wonder you’ve cultivated for over fifty years and are still just a Qi Cultivation Ten Layers Junior Cultivator. Born into a True Monarch’s Dao Race, and you only managed to condense a sixth-grade True Qi."
Despite this torrent of humiliation, the middle-aged Daoist didn’t dare show an ounce of anger. He just pressed his forehead to the floor, curling up like a frightened quail.
"What do you take the Daoist of the Ancestral Sect for? Shao Heyian’s worthless clan leader seat?"
Shao Guansu roared with laughter. Having spent so long in the Innate Sect, he was used to the cautious and calculating types; it was a rare treat to encounter such a genuine fool.
"As a subject, to treat the Crown Prince as a joke? That is already a grave offense."
"And you lot dared to investigate him further? You pieces of worthless filth! Daring to gossip about our sect’s Crown Prince?!"
"What do you think is the purpose of all these rituals for the Daoist’s return to the sect—the lighting of his life lamp, the selection of his foundational scripture, the appointnt of his three masters?"
"The life lamp cleanses his past, the scripture determines his Dao path, and the three masters protect his ascension to the throne."
"The mont the life lamp was lit, True Monarch Yuan of Lifeng Grotto-Heaven sent his first Disciple, Feng Yuan, down the mountain..."
The middle-aged Daoist was horrified. Lifeng Grotto-Heaven had always been in charge of "punishnt," and its Disciples often served in the Hall of Central Justice.
Any of the reckless descendants of the Eight Monarchs who were captured by them were thrown into the hell of fire, where every last one of them suffered imnsely.
"Let guess. This was undoubtedly instigated by the Master-Disciple faction. They used you—a group of worthless drones who have abandoned your cultivation and have no future on the Dao path—as bait to knock the descendants of the Eight Monarchs down a peg. They might even have hoped you’d leave a bad impression on the Daoist."
Shao Guansu sighed softly. "The Master-Disciple faction has grown so powerful, and clearly not just through the Sect Leader’s favor. To think my fellow descendants of the Eight Monarchs have been raised to be such gluttonous, useless fools. We have so few heroes among us."
The middle-aged Daoist tried to beg for rcy, but with a wave of his sleeve, Shao Guansu, from his high seat, flung him out of Fuyin Manor.
Shao Guansu’s cold voice followed him out: "Go ho and wait for death. Don’t cause any more trouble for the clan."
...
...
The Artifact Spirit of the Great Kui Mystic Drum was bored out of its mind. ’This Miss Qiao sure is patient,’ it thought, ’waiting outside the Hall of ritorious Records for two whole days.’
It sat atop the eight-foot-tall bronze drum, watching from a distance as dozens of bright flas streaked across the sky, heading toward the Lower Courtyard.
’Hm? Why are the Disciples from Lifeng Grotto-Heaven making such a scene? Who’s gotten themselves into serious trouble this ti?’
The Great Kui Mystic Drum’s Artifact Spirit was intrigued and wanted to watch the show, but it turned its head to glance at the Hall of ritorious Records. There was still no sign of Jiang Yi.
It sighed in resignation. ’The three great scriptures... one pursues the "Completeness" of the Dao, one pursues the "Change" of the Dao, and one pursues the "Origin" of the Dao. None of them can be cultivated easily.’
Qiao Yu was busy teasing the calico cat in her arms. For so reason, she couldn’t help but feel that this True Master Xuanmiao wasn’t very warm toward her, and was instead much closer to her sister.
"Little old man, what’s the difference between the three? If you tell the truth, I’ll tell you what I know."
The Great Kui Mystic Drum’s Artifact Spirit’s interest was piqued. As the most senior existence in the Innate Sect, it naturally knew the mysteries of the three great foundational scriptures.
However, it couldn’t reveal these details to Jiang Yi, lest it ruin the plans of the Ancestral Master and Sect Leader Qin.
"The *Essential Sutra of the Great Nothingness Daoist Monarch on World Salvation* explains that ’heaven, earth, and man share the sa origin.’ It allows one to rge the [Five Elents] and harmonize [Yin and Yang], hence it is the ’Completeness of the Dao’."
"The *Sutra of the Great Void Daoist Monarch on Spirit Fusion and Transformation* is based on the principle that ’the Dao is fundantally void, yet contains the wondrous One.’ It allows one to control ten thousand things by grasping the One, employing all techniques, hence it is the ’Change of the Dao’."
"Finally, the *Sutra of the Great Cosmos Daoist Monarch’s Interpretation of the Primordial* is about ’entering the seamless and filling the heavens and earth.’ It allows one to perceive the past and observe the present, hence it is the ’Origin of the Dao’."
Although the Great Kui Mystic Drum Artifact Spirit’s explanation was vague and its words were obscure,
Qiao Yu ca from a family with a profound scholarly heritage. Having been imrsed in such knowledge her whole life, her insight was far beyond the ordinary. She tilted her head, thought for a mont, and imdiately understood the focus of each of the three great scriptures.
"The *Great Nothingness Sutra* cultivates the ’Path of Qi.’ It stabilizes one’s nature and secures one’s destiny, perfecting both form and spirit. It’s unlikely to have any major weaknesses."
"The *Great Void Sutra* cultivates the ’Path of Techniques.’ A single mont of enlightennt grants universal understanding, and all techniques beco accessible. One can refine Divine Techniques from its various principles. It must be renowned for its combat prowess."
"The *Great Cosmos Sutra* cultivates the ’Path of Fate.’ It clarifies cause and effect, allowing one to return to the root and fulfill their destiny. Motionless and inactive, unseeing and unhearing, yet capable of grasping all changes in the universe."
"Little old man, am I right?"
The Great Kui Mystic Drum Artifact Spirit looked as if it had seen a ghost. It leaped three feet into the air and stared at Qiao Yu as if she were a monster. "Miss Qiao, are you sure you’re not the Daoist the Ancestral Master chose?"
She had grasped the fundantal nature of the scriptures just from a vague outline.
Such an innate gift for Dao Wisdom was simply outrageous!
’If I were Daoist Jiang...’
Qiao Yu thought to herself. As the new monarch succeeding [Shao Yang], and as the Daoist of the Innate Sect, the obvious choice was the *Essential Sutra of the Great Nothingness Daoist Monarch on World Salvation*.
Just as she was thinking this, the Hall of ritorious Records began to shake violently, like a small boat tossed on a stormy sea. A muffled, thunderous sound began to RUMBLE from within.
The Great Kui Mystic Drum Artifact Spirit stared intently. Inside the hall, countless streams of wondrous light seed to be surging and swirling.
A mont later, Jiang Yi strode out, his expression perfectly calm as he crossed the threshold of the Hall of ritorious Records.
The Great Kui Mystic Drum Artifact Spirit didn’t know the cause of the strange phenona, so it cut straight to the point: "Daoist, which foundational scripture did you choose?"
A smile touched Jiang Yi’s lips. "Naturally, the *Essential Sutra of the Great Nothingness Daoist Monarch on World Salvation*."
Qiao Yu pumped a delicate fist. "I knew it!"
’So he chose the *Great Nothingness Sutra*. Then what is all this?’
The Great Kui Mystic Drum Artifact Spirit was filled with confusion. The wondrous light inside the Hall of ritorious Records now shone brightly through its walls. If not for the restrictive formation, the sight would have been magnificent enough to blot out the sky.
The steward of the Hall of ritorious Records followed close behind Jiang Yi. He looked as if he had just witnessed an unprecedented miracle, and his voice trembled as he answered for him:
"The Daoist has reached the top of the Southern Dipper Rankings! He is now first in ’Dao Wisdom’!"
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