Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 121 - 102: Know that Young Ambition Grasps the Clouds

Chapter 121: Chapter 102: Know that Young Ambition Grasps the Clouds

For the likes of Chi Yu Zi, belonging to the elites of their generation, the strength hierarchy among their peers had generally been established.

Apart from Yu Hua, the strongest in the world was none other than the Three Pure Daoist, followed closely by the top three in each of the three rankings who all had their dissenters, then came the top six, top ten, top twenty.

The division of strength was presented in a tiered system, it wasn’t as if being higher by one rank guaranteed strength; everyone was exceptionally gifted, mastering top Magic Skills and possessing a dharma form, all with equal foundational depth.

Under these circumstances, what was compared more was the rate of cultivation, as well as the strength and weakness of cultivators from different schools at different stages. The former had a larger influence and had already become the specific division of the elites into tiers.

Today, as Chi Yu Zi achieved the Dao Foundation Perfection of the Sixth Level, she boldly claimed she could fight Xiao Yunyi and Jun Yan together, and it would pose no issue to tie with Jade Sword Buddha.

If no one currently could match her, it wasn’t impossible to challenge these ancient figures from previous generations. After all, they too were the elites of their or earlier generations, and defeating them could perhaps offer a greater sense of achievement?

Chi Yu Zi’s eyes shimmered with the thrill of challenge, her bare Sword Intent oppressively bearing down, such a provocative act deepened the True Monarchs’ fury.

"Whose junior is this?"

"It seems to be the contemporary elite of the Sword Control Sect, where is their guardian? I know the Sect Leader of the Sword Control Sect!"

"I am her protector."

At these words, the True Monarchs instantly turned their attention to the speaker, a middle-aged man dressed in a blue robe and carrying a Sword Box at his back.

Manifesting an eighty-four Dao Foundation, a very standard comprehensive advancement from the Body Integration Realm to the Mahayana Realm, such beings coming to Immortal Land were probably the arrangements of a Major Sect for their guardian.

Otherwise, it was rare for ordinary sects with a Body Integration or Mahayana Realm cultivator to venture into Immortal Land.

Only a millennium Major Sect would have such foundational depth.

A True Monarch complained, "Fellow Daoist Hai, could you please manage your disciple here, how can she bully us, the senior predecessors like this? We are all here in Immortal Land to perfect our Dao Foundation, after all, we meet head-on out there."

"Hai, do you remember me? I drank and admired flowers with your Sect Leader five hundred years ago."

"I am of the same generation as your master, today the Sword Control Sect must give an explanation!"

"Uh..."

Hai Kun felt a headache; he had just arrived at the Luo River, hearing about the Three Religions’ Talents Sword Meeting and decided to come.

Previously, his family’s head received a message from Broken Sword Mountain, she left directly controlling her sword only leaving a message about going to Luo River, while he lazily collected Spiritual Medicine on his way to Luo River.

With Chi Yu Zi’s strength, she wasn’t likely to face any danger.

"Do not worry, fellow Daoists, I will speak with her and certainly provide an explanation to you all."

Looking at the many unfamiliar yet somewhat recognizable faces, Hai Kun felt overwhelmed. Some of them did know the Sect Leader personally, while others had indirect dealings with the Sword Control Sect.

He stepped forward, looking up at Chi Yu Zi, who was drinking above, and shouted, "Junior Sister, what are you doing? Why trouble so many elders? These are all your senior uncles, come down and apologize quickly."

Due to Chi Yu Zi’s extremely high talent, the Sect Leader had directly taken her as a direct disciple, making them senior brother and sister.

"Huh?"

Chi Yu Zi, hearing the familiar voice, sobered up slightly. Initially willing to back down, she burst into rage on hearing the latter part of his plea:

"Hai, don’t think that just because you are my senior brother I won’t dare to fight you. You old folks had your turn before, and now you shamelessly come back for another chance."

"If we are all competing, why should I, in my prime, step aside for you? How can your face be so thick!"

Around her, more than a dozen top twenty elites from the three rankings showed clear displeasure.

Gu Wen stood aside, watching with interest this conflict between the new and old generations, knowing from when Lu Chan and others came to him for Spiritual Medicine that the relation between the elites and the sects wasn’t harmonious.

When it came to matters of Spiritual Medicine, conflicts were inevitable; the old guard naturally played their seniority card. In contrast, the elites were also fighting hard for their futures.

If the older generation took more, the younger got less, leading to an inferior Dao Foundation and hence affected future prospects.

What was deadly was that Immortal Land allocated high statuses, providing these elites with the opportunity to challenge authority. Hearing that this generation was the most prosperous in thousands of years, perhaps the discord was even greater.

Since we are all competing for the same fortunes, why should I yield just because you are my elder?

"Impudence!"

Hai Kun also exploded in anger, as the elder he hadn’t expected Chi Yu Zi to be so disobedient.

"If you regard me as your senior brother at all, come down immediately!"

Members of the Sword Control Sect locked gazes; Hai Kun’s eyes brimmed with fury while Chi Yu Zi was a mix of icy disappointment.

She hadn’t lost her reasoning, knowing it wouldn’t do to truly start a fight with the sect’s protector. How could she face the sect if she antagonized her own Sect Brother, after all?

Indeed, a fraternal bond still existed between them.

But Hai Kun afforded Chi Yu Zi no concession; he only thought about the face he had lost in front of their peers, ignorant of the fact that stepping down now would similarly cost him in their eyes.

Gu Wen, cracking sunflower seeds, knew they were destined to clash. There were no special reasons, merely the overwhelming sense of paternity and the child who was no longer a child.

The difference between Hai Kun’s 84th Level Dao Foundation and Chi Yu Zi’s 65th was minimal—he still saw her as a child, but she had long since arrived at her prime.

Her sharp tone revealed that Chi Yu Zi hadn’t been much of a rebel before; she seemed outspoken, yet unexpectedly compliant before her elders.

But dignity is a vassal to power, inviolable to those who wield strength. If dignity is unfulfilled, power naturally seeks satisfaction through its most primal instincts.

"Ah!"

Chi Yu Zi ruffled her hair in agitation, her short tresses becoming a mess, then turned to Gu Wen, saying, "Your words are effective, help me say something."

All eyes turned to Gu Wen, who leisurely cracked nuts and asked, "What do you want me to say? What are you planning?"

They didn’t need an answer; they weren’t looking for a sermon. It was merely a mental inertia; having spent so long in their ivory towers, tasting the bloody reality beyond them meant there was no going back.

Those who had come to the Three Religions’ Sword Summit, informed to ostracize the old guards and yet remained, had clear intentions.

"Do you dare to fight him?"

"I... How could I not dare!"

Chi Yu Zi flared up like a bristling cat. Gu Wen approached the railing, overlooking the many True Monarchs below, poured a bowl of wine, and declared:

"One should seize the days of youth with ambition, having once vowed to be unmatched under heaven."

His calm voice, mingling with August’s drizzle, resonated across the skies, astonishing talents above in the tavern and those who once were below.

The words struck a chord, resonating with the youthful while reminding the elderly of their own past ambitions.

Subtly, the atmosphere eased; Hai Kun sobered up slightly and recognized his own missteps.

If he was once "unmatched under heaven," then now it was Chi Yu Zi’s turn.

He was about to offer peace when, unexpectedly, wine from above sprinkled on them; Gu Wen finished his bowl and flashed a grin:

"But what I’d really like to say is, the old guard should make room. What are you even, look at your Dao Foundations—still far from perfection."

On matters of Sword Dao, Gu Wen was never too proud to seek counsel, and in talent, those of the Three Religions and Chi Yu Zi, along with Wen Jian Lan Yongning, were not inferior. Each moved forward, only when they had perfected a level, refusing to advance without perfecting the current.

But those below, many of whom couldn’t match Gu Wen’s own achievements, were unworthy to be his teachers, compelling him to shift his stance.

"Above me, I find my teachers; beneath me, nothing but ants."

Silence!

Still absorbed in Gu Wen’s words, some recalling the past, others merely beginning their journey, were stunned.

The image Gu Wen had crafted as a diligent student shattered in an instant.

Yu Hua’s smile peeked beneath her veil of light silk; the distracted Jade Sword Buddha glanced up at him.

Xiao Yunyi, having experienced this before, wasn’t surprised but couldn’t hide a faint smirk. Seated beside, Demon Sect’s inheritor Jun Yan burst into laughter, both approving Gu Wen’s words and mocking the True Monarchs below.

Regardless, Gu Wen certainly won the favor of the Demon Sect’s cultivators the most.

Unconcerned about her Sect Brother below, Chi Yu Zi praised, "I thought you might recite a poem or a pairing; this is even better, truly brilliant!"

The other talents were stunned initially, then burst into laughter after mutual glances.

The greatest difference between this generation and the previous was their true pursuit of perfected Dao Foundations, with even the Fifth Level of perfection being considered elite among the True Monarchs below.

Perhaps only the top five had perfected each level; most of them hadn’t reached that mark, but this didn’t prevent them from enjoying shared glory. The truly proud would always prefer to be the tail of a phoenix, not the head of a chicken.

Old guards, how much of your foundation is truly perfected?

In an instant, all the True Monarchs below erupted.