Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 252 - 173: From the Daoist Sect Arises Ten Thousand Sects in the World_2

Chapter 252: Chapter 173: From the Daoist Sect Arises Ten Thousand Sects in the World_2

Admitting someone is stronger than oneself is difficult, especially for those with prideful hearts.

Yun Miao was the first to break the silence, saying, "As a Daoist who practices swordsmanship, I will not take advantage of your Broken Sword Mountain; let’s just forget about the gambling agreement."

The favor from Broken Sword Mountain coupled with a Sword Fruit to bet against a talented Immortal was already a loss. Now with Gu Wen’s surprising act of defeating a prodigy from a higher level, it was a disastrous loss.

Favors could be slowly repaid, and Sword Fruits could be grown over time, but an Immortal might not emerge once in ten thousand years.

"A gentleman’s word cannot be chased after by a team of horses! Is your Daoist Sect intending to renege on its debt?"

Xuan Wufeng suddenly snapped out of his daze, almost knocking over the chessboard in his excitement.

He knew of Yun Miao’s shamelessness; this fellow had tricked him countless times in the past and was surely capable of going back on his word.

"Don’t force me to draw my sword and strike you! If it comes to that, my Broken Sword Mountain will join the forces besieging your Sanqing Taoist Sect! Huayang, you tell us what’s fair here, how can one go back on their word?"

Huayang, who was dragged into this, also wore a pained expression, wishing he could slap his own face from minutes before.

He didn’t know if it was a matter of bad luck, but his decisions over the past year felt like the crimes of a sect traitor.

Suppressing the little composure he had left, he said, "We can continue with the gambling agreement, but we must add a wager; we want another Sword Fruit."

Raising the price on the spot was taboo in dealings, but at this moment Xuan Wufeng showed no irritation, nodding his head eagerly as if afraid the other two would back out.

"Add one more, and you can’t go back on your word again."

"I assure you."

"Go away, go away, go away! I want Huayang’s promise. You’re a fake Daoist, full of pretty lies; no wonder you could mingle with the Demon Sect’s Saint Daughter back in the day."

Huayang reluctantly nodded in agreement. Usually, he would have turned hostile, but without Broken Sword Mountain’s protection, he couldn’t guarantee that the Devil Clan would not have more Devil Saints breaking in.

Moreover, those who had hidden themselves during the previous siege of Three Pure Mountain had yet to show themselves.

"It’s also uncertain whether the Demi Immortals of the Void will join the fray."

Huayang was extremely worried; the most unfathomable entity between heaven and earth was the Void.

Existing outside of heaven and earth, since the creation of the world, at least eighty percent of Demi Immortals had entered the Void, with the majority’s fate unknown.

Xuan Wufeng said, "Aside from having a grudge against Qingcang Immortal, Demi Immortals seldom target the Immortality Pill. After all, with transcendental longevity, there’s no need to take risks."

"Harmonization or solemn vows, both paths lead to the same destination. Once the path is found, one has the strength; walking it doesn’t mean death, and reaching the end means finding a home. With a home, one need not fear lightning strikes."

Yun Miao leisurely muttered to himself, his brief words illuminating the path to becoming an Immortal.

Manifesting the great Dao, transcending lifespans, realm of the Dao.

Completing these three aspects leads to Immortalhood, though most people remain in the first stage.

They were currently in the first stage, as was the master of the Devil Clan’s Grotto Heaven. Reaching the second step made one what people commonly referred to as a Demi Immortal. These beings didn’t worry about their lifespans being consumed and were hidden in the Void and Immortal Land seeking their chance for Immortality.

In comparison, the former were more numerous because Immortal Land was a place where one could easily perish.

Everyone had a foundation comparable to the ninety-eight stages of cultivation. Outside, Yun Miao might agree to a sixty-thirty split with an old monster, but inside, it may well become fifty-fifty or even with him having the upper hand.

The foundation built over ten thousand years was the greatest reliance of the Demi Immortals.

Without a great calamity occurring once every ten thousand years, these beings could also be called Immortals.

Huayang said, "It’s hard to say. That blind old man of the Divine Machine Pavilion once said that the next great calamity would be the time when heaven and earth overturn."

"Those blind folks are always predicting the overturning of heaven and earth every ten thousand years," Yun Miao scoffed. "Before Qingcang Master became an Immortal, they even said that the Human Race was facing a great disaster, to the point where the Jianmu was almost uprooted by us."

"If Qingcang Immortal had not appeared, it would have been a catastrophe, and the territories cultivated by the Human Race for tens of thousands of years would have become Devil Country."

"There are no ’what ifs,’ I never believe in fate."

Xuan Wufeng saw the two arguing and helplessly said, "You are still the same as before, each generation of disciples from The Three Pure Ones’ sects fighting internally year after year. How could you live together for thousands of years?"

Even an outsider like him knew about the deep-seated conflicts and disagreements within the Sanqing Taoist Sect. It was evident from the fact that at least two disciples emerged from each generation and fought each other, that there had never been a unified opinion within the sect.

Huayang did not answer. Yun Miao lightly pecked at his lips with a smile, casting his gaze upon the Jianmu, that divine tree, which hung between heaven and earth and was adorned with countless Grotto Heavens.

In ancient times, apart from the Jianmu, all other places were wastelands. It was only after the arrival of the human race that life began to flourish.

Three thousand years ago, when they had been disciples in the Daoist Sect, a Cloth Daoist told them the reason for merging The Three Pure Ones and why the Three Pure Mountain existed.

When the homeland painstakingly cultivated by the human race over tens of thousands of years and generations was invaded by the Devil Clan, the Three Pure Mountain, which sat high above the Nine Heavens of the human race, would crash down upon Jianmu.

"Our race is not fond of war. We fled the Jianmu to avoid conflict. However, if the myriad clans do not permit this, then we shall annihilate them all, and henceforth only humans and devils shall stand opposed."

The human race cultivated Spirit Fields, consumed grains, and planted herbs for Alchemy and cultivation but were by no means sheep awaiting slaughter.

Memories flowed like water; in the blink of an eye, three thousand years had passed.

Yun Miao snapped back to reality and revealed a carefree smile, "Every sect under heaven originates from the Daoist Sect. Parents may quarrel but should not separate lest the children suffer."

His gaze then turned toward the Immortal Land, reaching deep into its core, watching over eight hundred miles of territory that appeared like a sandbox, a miniature world of tiny countries.

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Baidi Xun slowly regained his senses, his hair gently rising and trembling as if currents of electricity were passing through them.

Enraged to the extreme, a towering hatred was born.

How dare he treat me like this?!

Suddenly, an Azure Dragon soared into the sky, with the might of a First Level foundation, turning the clouds above into a fiery red and whipping up a vortex with a diameter of over a thousand zhang.

Chi Yu Zi threw a punch from the sky. The punch, like a meteor, rushed towards the Azure Dragon.

As they collided, a huge burst of flame erupted, a fierce fire exploding into the canopy of the sky.

Boom!

Chi Yu Zi spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, already at a disadvantage after just the first exchange.

This was a normal confrontation between exceptional talents, both following a path of fulfilled extremes. In the end, the battle would still be determined by whoever had the higher realm.

She had only just completed her two souls and seven spirits, still half a step away from a First Level foundation. This small gap was an insurmountable chasm for her.

Gu Wen was one of a kind; not everyone could be like him.

Ao Heng’s eyes were cold as he thought of pursuing again, at least to take this woman hostage to prevent the human side from really killing Baidi Xun.

Then a bolt of lightning struck swiftly. Chan Xi repelled Ao Heng with a palm strike, her thunderous power causing the dragon’s might to retreat.

Ao Heng made a split-second decision and turned to continue his Flying Escape upwards, with Chan Xi and Chi Yu Zi in pursuit. With a fierce flick of his tail, he knocked them back.

At this moment, Gu Wen’s hand was already reaching behind him, causing Ao Heng’s heart to race.

He transmitted his voice, "You foolish cat, run now! He’s about to use his Immortal Sword!"

Ao Heng, who had truly crossed blades with Gu Wen, knew very well that his most formidable technique was his Immortal Sword, which couldn’t simply be conjured at any time but instead came from the scabbard on his back.

That Sword was absolutely not something that could be withstood directly.

Should Baidi Xun die due to carelessness, the Devil Clan’s encirclement this time would end up in total defeat.