Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 266 - 180 Battle of the Bureau

Chapter 266: Chapter 180 Battle of the Bureau

Grotto Heaven was silent, and the creatures trembled with fear.

Gu Wen scanned his surroundings, and no one met his gaze.

No matter their level of cultivation, strong creatures such as the Ba Snake Demon Saint and Tushan fox woman had lost their previous aggressiveness and even seemed to dodge his presence. They were capable of killing Gu Wen, yet they were still suppressed by his aura.

They couldn’t reach the heights where Gu Wen stood, and Gu Wen had shown them a grace they had never heard of.

Who in the world could claim to have stood on top of a once-peerless prodigy from a past era and made them admit their invincibility?

The struggle between prodigies had victories and defeats, but being invincible was different. Everyone pursued invincibility, excelling in their own way. You might win over me with swordsmanship this time, but next time I might still have a chance to win.

Fifty-fifty, sixty-forty, ninety-ten—all could result in victory.

Being invincible meant having one’s Taoist heart completely shattered.

When narrow paths meet, the brave win. The term "momentum" isn’t physical yet encompasses everything under heaven. The survival of the fittest is the rule of the Cultivation World, creating an inviolable gulf between the strong and the weak.

Destiny inherently creates a hierarchy, whether it’s through Qi Fortune, innate talent, or aspiration.

The invincible carry great momentum and stir the heavens and the earth with their actions.

Where they step, the stars gather; where they gaze, no one can rival.

So similar!

Having survived that great calamity, the Ba Snake Demon Saint and Tushan Yun’s deeply buried heart demons resurfaced—an image of someone else.

There was once an individual who, through personal strength, shifted the paradigm between humans and demons, and also caused The Three Pure Ones, those immense entities, to merge and continue until today.

This meant that Qingcang the Great Demon didn’t use force when he merged The Three Pure Ones.

Such beings are exceptionally rare across the ages, but once they appear, they stir up storms. The Devil Clan had had one as well, the most recent one appearing a hundred thousand years ago—back when there was no distinction between humans and demons, and the Human Race still lived within Jianmu.

At that time, Jianmu contained 108 Grotto Heavens, and an Innate Divine Beast achieved Immortal Ascension, overpowering all with invincibility and founding the first recorded dynasty after conquering the four directions.

Named Xuanyong, the Innate Divine Beast was revered posthumously as the Ancestor Dragon. From then on, the Dragon Clan came into existence, followed by the Four Symbols.

It was said that the Ancestor Dragon hadn’t died, and the True Dragon that killed Qingcang was him.

The moment was critical, they had to interrupt it!

The Ba Snake Demon Saint and Tushan Yun exchanged glances, their thoughts aligning.

"This child could bring great disaster. Today, you and I will establish karma, and if he grows, we will likely not escape from it."

"He must be killed, we cannot let him live."

The intent to kill was hard to hide in their hearts, and even knowing how much the Sanqing Taoist Sect had invested in Gu Wen, they still wanted to try. At least for now, to suppress his aura because at this moment, Gu Wen was not arrogant.

Instead, he was genuinely gathering strength, seeking the path to invincibility.

If they didn’t strike now to break his momentum, later they could only flee upon sight of him.

Their eyes dark with murderous intent, suddenly applause came from the Heavenly Altar, and everyone looked to see the Glazed Golden Man, who had been silent all this time, clapping slowly.

The Ba Snake Demon Saint and Tushan Yun stopped their movements, not daring to act rashly.

Chi Ling praised, "You are much stronger than I expected, Sanqing Taoist Sect is about to have another Immortal."

Immortal!?

People were stunned, not expecting Chi Ling to have such a high regard for Gu Wen.

If it were someone else, they might disregard the comment, but Chi Ling was a Nine Revolutions Golden Pill Saint, an absolute powerhouse even among Demi Immortals.

Reportedly, she was only half a step away from becoming an Immortal, and in this era of Immortal Ascension, it was almost certain for Golden Pill Saints to ascend.

A Quasi-Immortal believed Gu Wen had the demeanor to become an Immortal.

"It’s a pity you are one step away from Nine Revolutions Golden Core Perfection. If you want to rectify it, it might take some effort. I could help you connect the Nine Meridians, in exchange for just one favor."

The Ba Snake Demon Saint felt like ashes, knowing that it was now impossible to kill Gu Wen.

Because even if he managed to succeed with all his might, this Golden Pill Saint would intervene, and saving a life would be a great favor.

When the timing is right, both heaven and earth align. Gu Wen’s display of talent might attract murderous intentions, but it also brings the goodwill of others.

Gu Wen said with a smile, "Instead of this, could you grant my friend a little more strength, senior?"

Connecting the Nine Meridians to complete the Golden Core is indeed beneficial, as the Golden Light Spell and Nine Revolutions Golden Core Perfection are the most important. One more transition doubles the Mana, where Nine Revolutions Perfection involves a unique 81-fold characteristic.

Nine Revolutions Perfection means eighty-one times the Mana of an ordinary person.

The difference between perfection and imperfection is vast, as Eighth Level Perfection is the standard for a Demi Immortal, and Ninth Level Perfection is the realm of an Immortal.

The difference in their perfection, probably even more significant than the eighty-one-fold of the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill.

Without hesitation, Chi Ling shook her head, "If Yun Li wants to keep living, she must rely on herself; this half-strength is what she must strive for wholeheartedly. It’s a pity she’s still as timid and weak as before."

During the conversation, she walked over to the fallen Chi Yu Zi, grabbed his head, and lifted it.

And the once temperamental girl didn’t retort, nor could she muster any will to fight, even as she glared fiercely at Chi Ling. But what existed was only hatred, not a desire to overcome herself.

Chi Ling deemed it weakness; her sister had always been too frail.

Gu Wen also realized, a sister who couldn’t teach properly, a younger sister always oppressed by harsh upbringing.

Chi Yu Zi was not weak or timid; achieving an Indestructible Taoist Body through self-mutilating cultivation showed her resolve was beyond ordinary people’s reach. But the oppressive feeling Chi Ling imposed was too ingrained, making it difficult for Chi Yu Zi to even raise her spirits.

This also led to Chi Yu Zi’s extremely indecisive nature, having been overshadowed by death and an invincible sister from childhood. She could hardly find any way out, only able to flounder in the dark.

A Demi Immortal sister, even without the threat of death, might not be a good thing.

The slightest expectations from the most potent could crush.

"If Chi Yu Zi wins, will the senior genuinely keep her promise?" Gu Wen asked, "With the current Life Span Tribulation affecting heaven and earth, aren’t you afraid, senior?"

Chi Ling could delay her Immortal Ascension by a thousand years, but previously she faced no Life Span Tribulation. The transformation of Xuan Yue was clear for all to see—the once dignified elder turned into an old man in an instant.

It seemed as though with physical aging, his moral integrity also deteriorated, completely changing his usual manner into extreme madness.

Who could guarantee Chi Ling would not end up the same?

"Life and death are natural laws, I’ve seen too much of it along my path."

Chi Ling’s voice carried a hint of pride.

"I’m not lingering on like Xuan Yue. If my end comes and I cannot become an Immortal, I will gladly accept it. Moreover, the Life Span Tribulation is not yet upon me. There are three paths to Immortal Ascension: manifesting the Dao, inquiring about the Dao, and becoming the Dao."

"Merely inquiring about the Dao does not truly transcend the Life Span. Only by becoming the Dao can one truly transcend. This place is where I will become the Dao and naturally possess the ability to avoid all tribulations."

Can a Demi Immortal with a Daoist Field be unaffected by the Life Span Tribulation?

Gu Wen understood and looked towards Chi Yu Zi, though he wasn’t sure she could still hear.

Chi Yu Zi still had her vision to sacrifice, thus she was one level above her sister. But with the loss of all senses, her body became a prison, lifeless as if devoid of any Divine Thought.

Not everyone needs to have their own opinions, obedience is predominant in a group, just like most people and demons present here. How many could genuinely act on their own, and how many could be sure their opinions were right?

He spoke, and Chi Yu Zi listened, but as the one wielding power, he had to be accountable for the source of that power.

Because of causality.

Without Gu Wen speaking, there would be no causality.

"Chi Yu Zi, take the risk."

His voice, wrapped in Divine Thought, reached the Heavenly Altar.

Chi Yu Zi’s feeble Divine Thought transmitted, "Xuan Pin could not bring my Eighth Level of Dao Foundation to perfection, that is the realm of Demi Immortals, beyond what Divine Skills can strive for."

"But it’s worth a try, remember to say the words, ’With a Golden Pill swallowed, I realize my fate is not dictated by the heavens.’"

Gu Wen admitted honestly, removing the sheath from his Immortal Sword, completely enveloped by the Golden Light Spell and then hurling it towards the Heavenly Altar.

There was a binding presence at the Heavenly Altar, but since Xuan Yue had previously projected attacks through the Golden Light Spell, Gu Wen could do the same. However, he couldn’t threaten Chi Ling directly like Xuan Yue.

Only Gu Wen could gather the remnants of the Immortal Sword, but once formed, others could use it too.

The golden light flew like a meteor, and Chi Yu Zi grasped the sheath.

The previously weak Glazed Golden Man stirred, visible through cracks were Chi Yu Zi’s orange eyes spewing fire, every joint in her body making thunderous sounds as if her heart were a war drum pounding.

She was like a device forcefully activated, operating at full capacity.

Chi Yu Zi grabbed the wrist of the hand holding her head; the immense strength made the Glazed Golden Man let go, and she landed gracefully.

She looked back at the crowd below, where a black-haired man stood amidst the group of demons, gently resting his hand on the head of the White Tiger—none of the Devil Clan dared to move.

Suddenly, just two months ago in Luodu, he was still calling her his elder, and a month ago, he still needed her protection with the Golden Light Spell.

Her vision started to blur, darkness slowly engulfing everything.

Her last connection with her body dissolved.

Xuanyong reached Divine status, losing all senses, at the Eighth Level of Dao Foundation, a half-step from Perfection.

Eighth Level Perfection belonged to the realm of the Demi Immortal, involving the great Dao and not something a mere Divine Skill could bridge. Yet even so, Chi Yu Zi was now half a step higher than the half-powered Chi Ling.

This was why Chi Yu Zi didn’t believe she could defeat Chi Ling, because she fundamentally couldn’t touch the realm of Demi Immortal, no matter how much Gu Wen encouraged her after she took that step, it was still just a half-step.

Surprise flashed through Chi Ling’s eyes, then a slight frown.

Yun Li actually didn’t listen to her own sister, instead trusting an outsider.

The three zhang tall Glazed Golden Man transformed into nearly nine zhang, only half a head shorter than Chi Ling. Chi Yu Zi asked, "Sister, can this half-step beat you?"

"Just relying on the morale bestowed by an outsider is far from enough, even with the Immortal Sword in your hand,"

Chi Ling’s tone was full of disdain.

As their words fell, both threw their punches simultaneously, powerful enough to shake mountains, neither punch reaching the other but sparks flying between them.

Chi Ling landed a firm punch right on Chi Yu Zi’s face, the just-repaired golden mask shattered anew followed by the delicate features beneath distorting, the nasal bone breaking, and blood flying.

Yet Chi Yu Zi drew out the Immortal Sword and slashed it across Chi Ling’s forehead, leaving a slight crack.

The Immortal Sword shattered upon impact.

Chi Yu Zi’s figure was sent flying by the punch, hitting the barrier at the edge.

"That was a poor sword strike,"

Chi Ling commented.

"Enough,"

Chi Yu Zi threw the sword sheath out of the Heavenly Altar, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, "Three punches. I only need to throw three punches with the strength of a Demi Immortal, hitting your chest, to defeat you."

"I hope you can do it,"

Chi Ling said, cutting off as Chi Yu Zi rapidly closed the distance, throwing a punch from low to high, yet Chi Ling’s punch landed faster on Chi Yu Zi’s face.

This time, Chi Yu Zi didn’t dodge, just to ensure her fist would reach Chi Ling.

Boom!

A blast swept around them, Chi Ling’s form slightly swayed, her head beginning to tilt backward, the crack visible.

Both retreated a step from their mountain-shaking punches, then stepped forward again, their bodies leaning, left arms gathering to right, the heat produced by the contraction of Sacred Flesh igniting fierce flames.

Their figures moved like shifting mountains, and if not for the Heavenly Altar’s solidity, the entire ground would have cracked.

Chi Yu Zi was left-handed while Chi Ling was the opposite.

Fists crossed, they attacked each other’s faces again, unyielding and unflinching.