True Monarch Lu looked up abruptly, her expression shifting.
Qin Baiyu shook his head and sighed softly.
"That Daoist has only sixty years, and the Innate Sect has only a sixty-year cycle as well.
A few days ago, Zhang Yuansheng of the Taifu Sect raised up his grotto-heaven and ascended into the great void, preparing to claim his title."
True Monarch Lu felt a stir in her Dao heart, clearly surprised.
"Attaining Divine Qi through the void?"
Qin Baiyu nodded.
"Precisely. The path of void-attainnt has always been the pinnacle of Cultivation. Zhang Yuansheng sat alone in Mingcang Marsh, revealing nothing of his true abilities. Now, with a single stroke, he intends to astonish the world."
True Monarch Lu fell silent. ’This so-called void-attainnt wasn’t about creating sothing from nothing.’
’Instead, it’s about repurposing concepts to fill the gaps in the Great Dao, creating a Golden Position that the Celestial Lord will acknowledge.’
"The Taifu Sect controls the financial power of the Nanzhan Continent. More than eight hundred years ago, they began establishing a ’terrestrial Daoist kingdom’ for Zhang Yuansheng, attempting to replicate White Jade City’s past feat of raising Tai Yang."
Qin Baiyu’s tone held a hint of admiration.
"Talismanic rituals and ceremonies, praying for blessings and averting disaster—held once every ten days, with a major one every hundred.
They absorbed the Guangyuan Cult and the Mingjing School, and even went to great lengths to seize the Lingbao Grotto-Heaven from the Dongsheng Continent, all to establish his ’Covenant Authority.’"
True Monarch Lu was also genuinely impressed. Daoist Monarch Yuanzuo of the Taifu Sect had always been ruthless and brilliant. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have forced Patriarch Mingxuan to swallow a bitter pill on several occasions.
"The Immortal Dao has already shown us: take one step ahead on the path, and you will lead every step of the way.
Among the Eight Sects, the Taifu Sect has done the best, choosing Zhang Yuansheng as the Crown Prince of Mingcang.
Once his Divine Qi manifests, the fortune of Mingcang Marsh will surge, and who knows how many more talents of the Dao will erge."
Qin Baiyu said softly,
"The Patriarch wanted Hechu to strive for the She position, to elevate the Earth Virtue and counterbalance the Thunder Core.
It was a brilliant move, but the other Daoist Lineages had sealed off the Earth Virtue too tightly. It couldn’t be shaken. In the end, we were outmaneuvered by a single move.
If Daoist Jiang can successfully ascend to the Shao Yang Golden Position and help the Innate Sect gain a firm foothold, then why shouldn’t we call him the ’Crown Prince of Changming’?"
True Monarch Lu understood. ’For the grand chess ga that is the Ancient Demon Tribulation, every one of the Eight Sects governing the Nanzhan Continent is mustering all its strength, vying for supremacy.’
’Patriarch Mingxuan’s appointnt of the new Daoist seed rash, but in truth, it was because Ning Hechu had failed to attain the She position, perishing in body and soul, which necessitated finding a replacent.’
’Nurturing their own talents would have been the best strategy, but the Innate Sect is out of ti. That’s why the Patriarch, almost in a fit of pique, forcefully bound the Sect to the Shao Yang position.’
"Telling the people of the Eight Peaks these inner workings would be of no use."
Qin Baiyu let out a low chuckle.
"The Upper Cultivators have their grand strategy, and the Lower Cultivators have their private interests. Demon Dao Dharma Lineages are often like this. Everyone claims to be acting for the good of the Sect, but in reality, they’re only after their own piece of the pie."
True Monarch Lu looked up at the Daoist on the Dharma Platform and said gently,
"Sect Leader, you exhaust your heart and mind with all these worries."
Qin Baiyu let out a long laugh.
"This is all your fault. If you hadn’t been in love with Yu Shenxiu back then, how would this thankless job have ever fallen to ?"
The mont he finished speaking, the main hall of Qian Peak shook violently again. Water and clouds churned against each other, and peals of rumbling thunder erupted.
...
...
After dismissing True Master Xuanmiao, Jiang Yi sat alone in the Main Hall of the Changming Celestial Pool.
The Great dicine, a fusion of lead and rcury, continuously nourished his Cultivation Furnace as vigorous life force flooded his entire being.
He lowered his eyes in contemplation. Focusing his mind, he saw that the third page of the golden paper had changed.
[Mortal Lifespan: 330 years]
’Last ti, I had 157 years. I sacrificed 57 of them to comprehend a move from the All-Severing Sword Intent: ’Withered Snow in the Mortal Realm, the World in White Mourning.’’
Jiang Yi thought to himself,
’To reach the entry-level for the All-Severing Sword Intent, I need to spend another 166 years of my life.’
He now felt like a man who’d suddenly struck it rich, spending a fortune without batting an eye. He imdiately invested over a hundred years of his lifespan into the derivation process.
True Monarch Lu had warned him beforehand that he could not carry his Sleeve Pouch into "Fulong Ravine." He had to enter alone, completely cut off from any outside help.
Even his Slaying Sword, the ’Inverted,’ had to be handed over to True Master Xuanmiao for safekeeping.
’The place where the Emperor slew the dragon...’
Jiang Yi let out a long breath, his hands slowly clenching into fists.
’Success or failure all cos down to this one attempt—whether I can navigate the dangers as if on flat ground and gather the Great dicine of the Six Harmonies!’
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