Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 160 - 126: Sword Rings Through the Nine Heavens

Chapter 160: Chapter 126: Sword Rings Through the Nine Heavens

Sword sounds transmitted to the Jade Emperor Hall on Three Pure Mountain.

Yun Miao and Huayang Venerable were deep in discussion about the matter of Immortal Land, when their conversation abruptly halted. Some of the True Monarchs within the hall, who were daydreaming, were suddenly jolted back to reality, looking around, as the unexpected silence made the idlers tense.

Immediately following, two divine thoughts, resembling dragons soaring through the sky, flew out of the hall, crossing thousands of miles over the Three Pure Mountain and shooting beyond the Nine Heavens to descend near Immortal Land.

At this moment, the great powers surrounding this area did not interfere; they too were probing the anomaly in Immortal Land.

Yun Miao and Huayang had already transcended the Dao Realm, one had achieved Harmonization, the other Enlightenment, their divine thoughts vast and unmatched, arriving instantly and withdrawing just as quickly.

"How interesting, indeed very interesting."

Yun Miao suddenly let out a light laugh, causing many puzzled True Monarchs below to ponder, as their own divine thoughts couldn’t span the entire Cultivation World.

This was a power above the foundation of the Dao, unreachable by ordinary Venerables, for the Cultivation World extended tens of millions of miles from north to south and a million miles from top to bottom, not to mention the numerous Grotto Heavens and stars. Extending divine thoughts over thousands of miles was futile without leveraging the power of heaven and earth.

Dao Realm Venerable was the starting point, Harmonization and Enlightenment were small accomplishments, and becoming an Immortal was the end goal.

"Huayang, it looks like you will be fortunate in the future."

Yun Miao said with interest, looking at Huayang, hoping to see some emotional fluctuation on the latter’s impassive face.

For the past five hundred years, he had been in seclusion. Moreover, because Yuqing Heavenly Venerate was injured and feigned death, what should have been a triumvirate at Sanqing Daoist Sect turned into a monologue by the Upper Pure Sect. Then came the shift in Immortal Land, the changing of protectors, and Lord Emperor using the Immortality Pill to coerce the Daoist Sect.

Huayang handled all these events well, not that they were his fault; he was merely mending the issues with the three-thousand-year plan.

Yun Miao couldn’t guarantee that he would have done a better job than Huayang; rather, if it were him, he would have led the Three Pure Mountain to crush Lord Emperor from the beginning.

Such an act would naturally leak the information about Immortality Pill, prematurely leading to the current situation.

But now with Huayang overseeing the plan, it had still led to this situation: first, the Heavenly Girl beating the protector, then the guardian post returning to its original holder, and now the Heavenly Girl finding a treasure.

The only practitioner of True Sword Dao besides the former Sword Master, who also possessed Human Immortal Skill, was truly growing to be a headache for Huayang.

Thus, Yun Miao naturally enjoyed mocking the other.

Huayang showed no sign of change, simply nodding slightly and saying, "It’s the fortune of the Daoist Sect."

Yun Miao retorted, "Aren’t you afraid that the True Sword Dao will behead you?"

Huayang coldly replied, "Only one who transcends Immortality could kill me. If he can, it’s further good fortune for our sect."

"Tsk, boring, truly boring." Yun Miao suddenly lost interest, as he had never gotten along well with this stoic man.

This remark caused a stir among the confused True Monarchs below, and murmurs immediately filled the air.

True Sword Dao was undoubtedly a millennium hot topic in the Cultivation World. Because the first three levels of Buddha, Tao, and Demon Sword were widely practiced and easy to obtain, many people fantasized about the legendary origin of the Sword Dao.

Periodically, Sword Cultivators became obsessed due to this, maintaining its popularity. Enthusiasts even made bets on when the sword powerhouses would fall into madness, and there were no shortage of gamblers.

Those not skilled in the Sword Dao couldn’t understand the feeling of stepping into the abyss even when knowing what it was.

And now someone had mastered it?!

How could someone possibly achieve that?

It’s impossible for someone to achieve it!

The first reaction of the True Monarchs of Sanqing Daoist Sect was extremely consistent; the higher the Sword Dao cultivation, the more they felt it was impossible, while those not practicing Sword Dao began to speculate, with the clever ones guessing based on Yun Miao’s words.

What was the biggest controversy in the Daoist Sect now?

The rivalry between Huayang Venerable and the Heavenly Girl stemming from the Upper Pure Sect, both holding completely opposite views, with the Heavenly Girl often acting against Huayang Venerable. Recently, she didn’t enlist Lord Emperor’s help but instead killed his offspring.

That brought out a prodigy named Gu Wen.

With that, everyone accepted, because Gu Wen was indeed a genius, reaching the top ten of three lists within half a year, his training speed astounding.

But ultimately, he was a wild lad who had never entered a sect’s gates. When Yu Hua gave Gu Wen the Immortality Pill to consume, even the members of the Yuqing Sect felt it was too much.

Finally unable to hold back, one of the Upper Pure Sect’s Sword Cultivator great powers, Cang Jian Venerable, stepped forward, bowing and saying, "May I ask if someone has truly mastered the True Sword Dao?"

In the Sanqing Daoist Sect, Venerable was the starting point, but leadership Venerables needed to have achieved either Enlightenment or Harmonization.

"Who do you think has mastered it?" Yun Miao turned to ask the assembly below, but Huayang ungraciously answered, "The protector of the Heavenly Girl, Daoist Sect’s uninitiated Yuqing Sect’s true lineage Gu Wen, has clinched third place on Earth’s list with True Sword Dao."

Yuqing Sect’s true lineage, that was Gu Wen’s status within the Daoist Sect.

Although he had never entered the sect gates, his status and talent were enough to warrant inclusion before initiation. Yu Hua never mentioned it, but the True Monarchs of the Yuqing Sect weren’t fools. Why wouldn’t they immediately secure his position in their lineage? Could they allow other sects to snatch him away?

So, without Gu Wen knowing, he had already ’married into’ the sect.

"He succeeded in mastering the True Sword Dao..."

Cang Jian Venerable murmured to himself, while the surroundings began to grow noisy, countless divine thoughts intermingling and exchanging, exclamations echoing everywhere.

Shock was rampant.

It wasn’t their lack of experience, but Gu Wen had been cultivating for less than a year!

Knowing that the Three Pure Daoist once reached the Nascent Soul stage in just one year was shocking enough, entering Immortal Land and achieving the eighth level of Dao foundation in a year. But compared to True Sword Dao, it somewhat fell short.

Perhaps the Three Pure Daoist had the potential to become an Immortal, but there had been no shortage of such potentially transcendent beings throughout history.

Today’s two leading Venerables were once praised like this, but now they only remained unmatched among immortals.

This was very disrespectful, but if one aimed to become an Immortal, it was enough.

The True Sword Dao was an Immortal Skill; however, an Immortal Skill that no one had mastered carried even more mystery.

"He has been cultivating for less than a year, barely a year, truly a blessing for the Daoist Sect and a boon for our Yuqing Sect!"

A True Monarch of the Yuqing Sect shouted, as they were currently in an indescribable state of both flourishing and declining.

The flourishing was because a Taoist Heavenly Girl had emerged, the only one openly wielding the power of an Immortal. Then, there was Qingcang Master, soon to be revived, and although at the stage of Immortal one transcended sect affiliations, he was still from their Yuqing Sect after all.

However, in reality, amongst the Daoist Sects, only they lacked a sect leader; they had great powers at the Dao Realm, but no successors beyond that.

Suddenly, Cang Jian Venerable said, "I recall Gu Wen never entered the sect gates; how can you assume he has joined the Yuqing Sect?"

"That’s right; his temperament should suit our Taiqing Sect. Yun Miao, the sect leader, even gave him a Life-saving Pearl."

"Old fool, how dare you belittle my Yuqing Sect as defenseless!"

A boot flew from nowhere, which those of great power with a beginning as True Monarchs in the Three Pure Daoist Sect could avoid, but it was highly insulting.

Wherever there are people, there are disputes; internal fights were not allowed under the rules, but arguments and physical confrontations were not forbidden, as long as no Mana was used, no one would get hurt, and nobody would intervene.

Regardless of whether it was shameful, my huge fist smashing his face wouldn’t bring shame to me.

Yun Miao and Huayang paid no attention to the chaos below; they were already used to it.

The quietude and inaction of the Daoist realm envisioned by outsiders, where everyone sits like stones, does exist but only in minimal numbers; most people are quite normal.

The disciples strive for a higher status in their respective positions, the elders struggle for breakthroughs and to cultivate more disciples yielding results, and the Venerables need to consider the macrocosm and defend against external enemies.

Each has their duties; without strife, there would truly be chaos.

*Drip drip.*

Suddenly, a subtle fluctuation spread throughout the heavens and earth, unheard by mortals, cultivators, True Monarchs, or even vaguely by the Venerables.

Huayang and Yun Miao suddenly stood up, each holding a Jade Ruyi and a Taiji Bagua Map in their hands.

They then disappeared from the spot, and the True Monarchs inside the Jade Emperor Hall only heard a thunderous explosion; stepping outside, they saw the sky ripped open, leaving a colossal gap spanning a hundred miles.

Outside the Mountain Protection Array of Three Pure Mountain, the arrays set by the surrounding forces shattered.

Those so-called hundreds of Mahayanas and dozens of Venerables were overrun by one clear and one red streak of light; within an instant, countless great powers perished, and their blockade proved futile.

The Nine Heavens trembled as the top fighters of the age intercepted from all directions. Even demi-immortals deep in heavenly tribulation revived just to intercept Huayang and Yun Miao.

For a moment, the sky spanning thousands of miles was saturated with Divine Skills, turning the high sky of the Sixth Level into a death zone where even True Monarchs could not survive.

Huayang and Yun Miao were stopped outside Three Pure Mountain, their gaze locked on a faint light that was neither within the Five Elements nor drifting through the Void, with Immortal Land as its destination.

Beyond the Void, only Immortals exist.

Had an Immortal made a move against Yu Hua?

They wanted to intercept it, or at least deplete its power.

Though they couldn’t match an Immortal, since an Immortal was bound by the laws of heaven and earth to exist only beyond the Void, that’s also why Qingcang Master was exceedingly peculiar.

Yet, as if prearranged, top forces from all over interfered simultaneously, causing them to miss their chance.

Yun Miao’s expression darkened, and he said, "Today, if we don’t kill a few, do they think we are made of mud?"

Huayang nodded, "Right."

Their gaze fell on the numerous great powers surrounding the Three Pure Daoist Sect, those capable of restraining them had hidden, leaving the rest as expendable pieces.

Great powers with lifespans of thousands of years, once part of this game, were merely ants.

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

In Immortal Land, on Heavenly Spring Mountain.

Yu Hua stood high in the air, crushing powers beneath her like ants. To avoid excessive loss of lifespan, she applied minimal force, so light that although able to obliterate them with a single slap, she sometimes struck thrice.

Thus, the loss of lifespans was minimal, and killing everyone might just deplete a mere few percent.

This also created an illusion among them that they could wear her down. In reality, only those above the Dao Realm could truly drain her power, but how many of such level would come to die?

WHIZ—

A peculiar subtle fluctuation appeared; Yu Hua turned suddenly, only to see a faint light flying towards her.

A power of an Immortal level!

Yu Hua was startled. As she prepared to defend, the light brushed past her, heading behind her to strike Heavenly Spring Mountain.

In less than a half beat, without any thought, a transcendent white light emanated.

With a flick of her finger, the light shattered.

If it weren’t for a True Immortal personally present, she would remain invincible with a mere long-range strike.

Yu Hua turned back to look below, sizing up Gu Wen wielding the Daoist Sword, and she exhaled in relief.

Was it a strike against Gu Wen, or against the Daoist grounds of Heavenly Spring Mountain?