Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 128 - 108: Acquiring the Life-Protecting Magic Treasure

Chapter 128: Chapter 108: Acquiring the Life-Protecting Magic Treasure

Jiu Zhenjun managed a wry smile on his face. He certainly wanted to offer wine to Chi Yu Zi, but all of it had been bought by Gu Wen and was temporarily stored in his keeping.

Moreover, a voice from Hai Kun reached his ear, "Please, Fellow Daoist, don’t give wine to Chi Yu Zi. She needs to exercise some restraint."

Restraint? The sword was already at her forehead.

He wasn’t clear on the reasons behind this, nor was he particularly eager to pry into others’ secrets. As a mixed-category True Monarch and one who earned a living with his crafts, his principle for survival was similar to that of a Pill Master.

Just focus on alchemy; everything else was none of their business. That was the way to prosperity.

If one day someone more powerful than him held a sword to his head, Jiu Zhenjun would also fulfill all of the other’s requests without dignity. They were mere mortals in the Cultivation World, concerning themselves with nothing but daily life aside from their cultivation.

However, Jiu Zhenjun knew from the start that Chi Yu Zi was not fond of alcohol. Gu Wen drank with taste preferences in mind, whereas Chi Yu Zi just guzzled it down.

At this moment, Gu Wen emerged from the crowd because he noticed that Chi Yu Zi’s emotions were gradually stabilizing.

Feeling relieved, Jiu Zhenjun watched as Chi Yu Zi quickly approached in large strides and grabbed Gu Wen’s shoulder with such force that his clothes were torn.

Chi Yu Zi’s voice carried a trace of pleading, "Give me the Spiritual Wine. I’ll die without that stuff."

She was the very image of someone suffering from alcohol cravings, but could a prodigy with a Six-Five Dao Foundation, third on the Earth Ranking, really not control her craving for alcohol?

A strange, unfamiliar transmission reached his ear.

"I am the protector of the Sword Control Sect; please, young friend, do not give her wine. The reasons cannot be explained conveniently, but this is all for her own good."

Hai Kun?

Gu Wen still remembered the voice; after all, only one day had passed. But why was Hai Kun asking him not to give Chi Yu Zi wine when it was she who was asking him for it?

Without hesitation, he said, "Senior Jiu, please give me ten jars of Meridian Wine, the top-grade ones."

Chi Yu Zi’s furrowed brows relaxed slightly, showing a somewhat strained smile, "Thank you."

One was his ’dearest good friend’ who taught him swordsmanship, the other a True Monarch he barely knew. Whatever the reasons were, if Chi Yu Zi would die from drinking the wine, then Hai Kun would surely intervene.

If he was only advising from the sidelines, it was clear he didn’t want to take the blame. But what did that have to do with me? I’m just a good friend of these prodigies.

Gu Wen had become shrewd in interpersonal relationships; he never aspired to please everyone, only to manage relationships beneficial to himself well.

The ten jars of wine were quickly delivered to the table, and Gu Wen watched as Chi Yu Zi chugged, truly chugged the alcohol. With her throat moving, she downed jugs larger than a human head in one gulp.

After consuming five jars, her stomach became slightly distended, then mist surrounded her body, and her stomach gradually flattened again.

"Ha!"

Chi Yu Zi let out a long breath, "I’ve come back to life; I’m finally alive again."

Gu Wen tentatively asked, "Fellow Daoist, what’s wrong?"

"It’s nothing, just a craving for alcohol."

Chi Yu Zi waved her hand. When she said it was nothing, it often meant something significant, but Gu Wen didn’t probe further and turned to ask about swordsmanship.

Her Sword Technique could affect the Buddha Sword, and as Gu Wen’s Buddha Sword had just reached the Second Level and was at the beginning stage, he was keen to glean new insights.

Sword Techniques, unlike Dao Foundations, had significant aspects that could be swiftly mastered, such as accumulating Sword Qi, Sword Intent, and Sword Spirit. With Sword Intent, one could attempt to condense Sword Intent, and with Sword Intent, one could try to morph into Sword Spirit.

This process of attempting was cultivation, and normalizing the next step was a breakthrough.

Attempts were akin to solving problems with formulas; consulting was the most cost-effective. Normalization required polishing, perhaps with time or by hoping for an enlightenment in a stroke.

Chi Yu Zi was never stingy. With strange golden light flickering in her eyes, she laughed, "You’ve treated me with wine; naturally, I will repay you with sword techniques."

This time it wasn’t a transmission of sword techniques. Chi Yu Zi pinched a Sword Technique between her fingers with her index and middle finger together, and a thread of condensed gold light suddenly appeared, casting the entire hall in golden hue.

"Go."

Chi Yu Zi flicked her fingertips lightly, and the golden light shot out, piercing the evening sky and exploding into a huge hole a hundred yards wide.

The crowd was shocked and couldn’t understand what had just occurred.

Gu Wen, who was closest, saw it most clearly but was also the most bewildered.

What he witnessed was a strand of mana condensed into Sword Qi. The Sword Qi was simple on its own, but the mana seemed to be concentrated to an extreme, almost solidifying in form.

There were tales of mana transforming into gas, into liquid, but never of mana solidifying.

It was crystallized.

Chi Yu Zi looked at Gu Wen and burped, possibly feigning drunkenness, and transmitted her voice, "Nine Revolutions Golden Pill, Divine Skills transforming into a sword, have you seen it?"

"Hiss! Please teach me, Fellow Daoist!"

Gu Wen, no matter what it was, could tell it was extremely powerful by its name alone. Just learn it, and that’s that.

He searched his mind for the Yuqing Heart Method. The Fifth level Dao Foundation was to complement the Golden Core, and the Perfect Method was to reach a Six Transitions Golden Core, but there was no mention of nine.

With each transition of the Golden Core, it doubled in strength; nine revolutions would be nine times as strong. According to theories like True Sword Dao, the actual lethality was enormous, enough to overpower and kill one’s seniors.

Furthermore, Divine Skills were above dharma form; Yuqing Sword Skill had Divine Skills at its ninth level! His Flame Spear Divine Ability was only at three percent, and it used to be calculated by the thousandth.

Chi Yu Zi shook her head this time, "This is a secret not passed outside the Sword Control Sect. I cannot teach you."

"Is it an Immortal Skill?"

"Mm."

Seeing her nod, Gu Wen refrained from asking further, but his mind was already pondering how to acquire it.

If the Yuqing Heart Method encompassed only up to Six Revolutions Golden Pill, then Chi Yu Zi’s Nine Revolutions Golden Pill must be induced by an Immortal Skill. Each Immortal Skill was the pinnacle of a particular Dao; was the Sword Control Sect the epitome of the Golden Core?

If he cultivated with Yuqing Daoji and employed the True Sword Dao for combat, coupled with Nine Revolutions Golden Pill for mana, how could he not be invincible?

Chi Yu Zi then held a small class on Flying Sword Swordsmanship for Gu Wen and bestowed upon him a gold-colored miniature sword condensed with mana. Absorbing even a wisp of the Sword Qi from it could enhance Gu Wen’s swordsmanship by a fraction.

Consider it akin to an exclusive experience pack for Buddha Sword, roughly equivalent to thirty years of Heavenly Marrow.

-----------------

On the second floor, Gu Wen had just walked up when Yu Hua called him into a room.

By then, the old donkey had returned, lying on the ground and panting heavily, its nostrils exhaling hot air without pause.

Once Gu Wen sat down, the donkey caught its breath and said, "Young ancestors, the situation may be worse than imagined. I reached the peak of Heavenly Pillar Mountain to send out our message, and then I received a reply from the Daoist Sect."

Recently, because of Gu Wen’s displayed talent, Ao Tang felt that he shouldn’t merely be a guardian. If Gu Wen were to die, it would be a great loss to the Daoist Sect.

Moreover, since conventional methods at the Immortal Land were ineffective for real-time communication, unconventional means could be used to send messages, but Ao Tang felt they might be intercepted. After all, the Sanqing Taoist Sect was now virtually an enemy of the whole world, with everyone keeping their eyes on them.

Hence, he ascended to the entrance of Immortal Land, the closest place to the Cultivation World, Heavenly Pillar Mountain.

Gu Wen was keen to know where Heavenly Pillar Mountain was and whether treasures had been brought back, but from Ao Tang’s grave expression, it was clear without guessing that the news was bad.

"Several Mahayana Realm masters from both Buddha and Demon sects, along with eight old monsters of the Dao Realm, have joined forces to besiege the Daoist Sect—almost half the great powers of the Cultivation World have arrived."

Yu Hua shook her head, "Just with these people, they won’t be able to break the Daoist Sect’s Mountain Protection Array."

"But Yun Miao and the others can’t come out now, and there’s something else. Yun Miao told me through a transmitted voice."

Ao Tang paused, then continued through voice transmission, "This time, the matter may involve the existence of an Immortal. Some Immortals don’t want to see Qingcang revived."

Yu Hua’s gaze deepened as she asked, "Are there still living Immortals in the world?"

If an Immortal descended, she couldn’t guarantee victory. She had the power of an Immortal, but she wasn’t a genuine Immortal. If that were the case, there would be no need to resurrect Qingcang Master, and the search for the Immortality Pill would face no obstacles.

It was the first time Gu Wen saw Yu Hua with such a serious expression, feeling even more the urgency of the situation.

But he remained silent. As a mere practitioner at the Fourth Level of the Yuqing Daoji, strategizing was pointless in matters of this level.

Ao Tang replied, "I don’t know, and Yun Miao and the others don’t know either. But since Qingcang died mysteriously back then, other Immortals must have been involved."

"....."

After pondering for a long while, Yu Hua finally turned her gaze to Gu Wen and asked, "What do you think?"

"My opinion may not be correct. I’m not even sure of the extent of an Immortal’s mighty power."

Gu Wen shook his head. He was remarkably calm, suggesting excellent composure, but that was the extent of his capacity.

Yu Hua said, "I just want to hear your opinion."

After mulling it over a bit, Gu Wen said, "Assuming there are other Immortals, and they want to obstruct us but don’t directly intervene themselves, then there must be some rule preventing their involvement. A tiger has no need to be cautious when pouncing on a lamb."

"Or maybe Qingcang Master still had room to resist. In truth, we might also be a tiger. However, these are all speculations, utterly meaningless. What difference does it make knowing this?"

In a world of transcendent beings, where might is vested in the individual, information becomes trivial.

Gu Wen thought his guesses weren’t entirely off the mark. If the higher beings didn’t directly crush them, it indicated reluctance or current inability – no overly complex reasons.

But what difference would knowing make?

Better to honestly continue searching for the Immortality Pill.

"You’re right," Yu Hua nodded. Ao Tang finally caught his breath and said, "Second Ancestor, your life-saving treasure is in my pocket, help yourself."

"You managed to send it out despite being besieged?"

Gu Wen expressed surprise, not expecting the treasure to be sent out under such circumstances.

Approaching the old donkey, he squatted and reached into its belly pocket, quickly pulling out an amber bead with some blood on it.

Without much thought, Gu Wen wiped it off, breathed on it, and wiped it again, cherishing it greatly.

This was indeed a Daoist’s life-saving treasure!

He had long envied the numerous life-saving measures Hee Huan and the others were equipped with. Unfortunately, Yu Hua was invincible and needed no such measures, so there was no treasure for him.

"The master of Huayang Venerable, a True Monarch of Mahayana Realm nearing life’s limit, broke through and sent this out."

Ao Tang suddenly spoke a name, and Gu Wen paused in his action, remembering the name.

Yu Hua had mentioned it to him before, stating it was he who commanded the transfer of her fate to Zhao Feng. Although at the time, her fate already lay with the Zhao family, it was indeed Huayang Venerable who had given Zhao Feng his status.

Yu Hua had informed him of this cause and effect, which he could still settle in the future, at least by expecting Huayang to admit his wrongdoing. There were no excuses, only reaping the sown seeds, even if they were bitter.

By accepting Gu Wen, the Daoist Sect indirectly recognized this adverse outcome.

Gu Wen looked at the bloodstain on his clothes and asked, "How is the senior doing?"

"He’s dead, spirit and soul annihilated."

Ao Tang’s words made the light bead suddenly feel as heavy as a mountain, its value equivalent to the life of a Mahayana period great power.

Gu Wen fell silent, a great power, unrelated and even at odds with him, had died for his sake.

Seeing this, Ao Tang tried to reassure him, "It was the Daoist Sect’s decision, and the elderly ancestor’s own. You’re more valuable than a Mahayana period. Since you’ve shown your talent, the Daoist Sect will reciprocate fittingly."

Yu Hua indifferently said, "If you can reach a perfected Ninth Transition of Foundation Establishment, sacrificing a Venerable would be worth it."

The truly number one sect under the heavens can afford to foster genius who has enmity with one of the Three Pure Ones. If not, when Gu Wen becomes the Yuqing Heavenly Venerate, they can settle it with a fight.

Even if Huayang is disposed of, then the Daoist Sect will gain an even more formidable Venerable.

Taking a deep breath, Gu Wen asked, "What is the name of that predecessor?"

"His Daoist name is Qingyang."