Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 280 - 187 Qingcang’s True Intentions

Chapter 280: Chapter 187 Qingcang’s True Intentions

Nanshui, atop the mountain peaks.

Gu Wen gazed at the silent sky, even the faint unusual hues that used to be visible beyond the heavens had disappeared.

He felt somewhat disappointed. Yu Hua, seemingly discerning his thoughts, said with a smile brimming with laughter, "What, you still want fireworks bursting in the sky and the sound of gongs and drums filling the air?"

With his words and actions both advocating for keeping a low profile, but actually beginning to display his power, he couldn’t help but raise his head proudly, wanting to see how others performed.

It’s only human nature, but on someone like Gu Wen who had always restrained himself, it appeared rather ’adorable.’

"At least make some noise. The three rankings have been hyped up so much, they ought to make a bit of sound, right?"

Gu Wen scratched his cheek to cover his awkwardness.

After all, he was the first to reach the top, it shouldn’t be just like having his name listed. At least the Divine Father had tried so hard, some response would have been nice.

"Of course, there is something."

Yu Hua’s smiling expression changed as her gaze turned to the horizon, a spirit light flickering in her eyes.

With a jade hand reaching towards the vault of heaven, Gu Wen’s gaze also followed upward, only to see the clouds being parted by a pair of invisible giant hands.

On both sides, the clouds, illuminated by the moonlight, looked like mighty walls, with a grand path opening up before them, leading to the end where the words ’Gu Wen’ emerged upon the bright moon.

"How’s that?"

Yu Hua tilted her head slightly, triumphantly pointing at the bright moon above.

She could seemingly pluck the moon and snatch the stars, like an exiled immortal.

Under the moonlight, Gu Wen could see clearly, her cheeks slender, her eyebrows curved, her nose upright, behind the light veil were pale, thin lips smiling. Unlike Chi Yu Zi’s liveliness, Chan Xi’s aloof coldness, or Jade Sword Buddha’s purity.

She gave Gu Wen a feeling of softness and gentleness, with a hint of mischief from time to time. Not too cold, not too gentle, making their companionship far from dull or boring.

Under an immortal’s mighty power, Yu Hua seemed much more ordinary, not as transcendent, more like a person than a cultivator.

Life with her would probably not be boring.

This was what Gu Wen thought, not with much desire, just the highest acclaim for a woman.

It was not her looks, nor her virtue, nor her talent, but the desire to spend life with her.

To hold her hand and grow old together was the greatest romance of the ancients.

"Why are you looking at me? Look at the sky."

Gu Wen’s gaze shifted back to the silver disk, unable to hold back a laugh, he said, "What’s the use of just writing a name up there?"

Yu Hua lifted her chin slightly and explained, "Those who know will understand the significance, those who don’t will fear it. You can’t expect ants to differentiate whether a giant is a hundred feet, a thousand feet, or even ten thousand feet tall, they’re all giants to them."

If one didn’t recognize the significance of the name ’Gu Wen,’ it only implied their lack of status. Unable to grasp the meaning of being top of the Earth Ranking, they naturally couldn’t comprehend the value in reaching the top within nine months.

Those unworthy of understanding should only feel reverence.

Suddenly, a warm and genial voice came from the sky.

"The Heavenly Girl has quite the skill, indeed, even I am not her equal."

Everyone looked up and saw a figure stretched from the silver disk where ’Gu Wen’ was written, approaching from afar as if teleporting in thin air, arriving in front of them in the blink of an eye.

Garbed in an ornate vermilion robe, eyes all black save for a speck of white light, barefoot standing in mid-air, an anklet with a jade ring on it.

He gently descended to the ground, standing three zhang away, and introduced himself, "City Lord of Two Realms City, Wu Kong."

Speaking of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrived.

Gu Wen’s gaze became slightly sharp as he bowed and offered a courteous gesture, with everyone besides Yu Hua also bowing in respect.

The successful lead, and even more so was a true, genuine immortal.

This also meant that the intensity of their power struggle was escalating, from the initial probing to the encirclement on Heavenly Spring Mountain, and now to demi immortals and true immortals entering the fray.

Yu Hua’s smile faded, her voice cold as she replied, "May I know what brings the Elder here?"

"There’s no need to be so vigilant. I have no need for immortal ascent, nor do I worry about lifespan," Wu Kong elucidated a bit, then cut straight to the point, "I’ve come today for three things, the first is to deliver the reward for being first on the Earth Ranking to the young friend from the Red Dust beside you."

Yu Hua asked in confusion, "The opportunity in the Immortal Land has not ended yet, where does the reward come from?"

Once in a hundred years, and it’s just started less than ten years ago, many heavenly prodigies haven’t yet made an appearance.

Opportunities are always present, but each sect’s Grotto Heaven opens at different times, generally in about thirty years when everyone gradually arrives on stage. For now, the rankings after the first five aren’t very stable and will shift with the arrival of more prodigies.

Even the first five might not hold steady, especially on the Human Ranking, unless it’s someone like Xiao Yunyi who specializes in swordsmanship. Others in terms of combat are hard-pressed to claim invincibility, and it’s very likely that they could be defeated by a dark horse arising abruptly.

Wu Kong counter-questioned, "In the future, will anyone else cultivate the three great Immortal Skills within nine months?"

Yu Hua shook her head, her view of Wu Kong becoming slightly more appreciative; this person had keen insight.

"Since no one will, the first can be awarded in advance. As for the reward, I have prepared a few items."

With a sweep of his sleeve, a shimmering light filled the space, a vermillion fruit, a red sword, and a wisp of azure spirit energy.

Just by observation, one could tell they were not ordinary items, Gu Wen weighed his options, meticulously evaluating each.

Wu Kong introduced them, "The fruit of millennia, the undefeated Taoist Sword, the Taiyin energy, which does the young friend prefer?"

Gu Wen, who was still contemplating, immediately focused on the azure spirit energy and inquired, "May I ask Elder, what is the use of this Taiyin energy?"

"That depends on how you use it. It can be a deadly poison, demi immortals inhale it and die, immortals breathe it carelessly and it might harm their foundation, possibly causing them to fall from their transcendent state."

Wu Kong spoke casually, as if referring to a somewhat ordinary poison, yet the comparison he made was between demi immortals and immortals.

Compared to the myriad-year-old red fruits and Taoist Soldiers, this Taiyin energy is clearly not on the same level.

Then, his tone shifted as he alluded to something, "However, I believe that in the hands of young friend, you should be able to fathom its current usage."

He knew that I had the Taiyin Order in my possession.

Gu Wen was so certain and asked without changing his expression, "Junior is dull-witted, please enlighten me, senior."

Right after he spoke, a thread of telepathic message entered his ears.

"This order originates from the Earth Realm, from that Supreme Being in charge of life and death, and it is also an opportunity that all Immortals covet. It involves the intricate workings of fate; once you unlock the Taiyin Order, you will know, and the energy of Taiyin can help you do just that."

Wu Kong blinked, not saying much more openly.

Many things were known to these Immortals, yet due to issues of cause and effect, they could not directly intervene. For example, that old fox always knew where the Taiyin Order was, yet still needed to spend countless years slowly grinding away to obtain it.

If one were to act forcibly, it would be easy to suffer a fate like Qingcang’s, shortening one’s lifespan or even causing a fall from one’s Immortal stature.

That was the special thing about Qingcang; he truly did not cherish the body of an Immortal, nor the lifespan of tens of thousands of years.

Gu Wen took the opportunity to telepathically ask, "Junior is still unclear about what realm lies above that of an Immortal?"

"There is no realm above that of an Immortal. Those who are stronger merely are because they themselves are stronger, not because they are bound by some specific Law."

Wu Kong answered with a sentence, and then said, "The second matter concerns the Heavenly Girl; I would like to ask fellow Daoist Qingcang about some things, what he brought back from behind that door years ago, and what exactly the Immortality Pill is."

"I need a favor from you, and I also cannot guarantee that my mentor will definitely answer you."

Yu Hua proposed a very strict condition, Wu Kong pondered for a moment, then nodded, "I can only ensure that the favor is within my power to grant."

"Agreed." Yu Hua turned to look at Gu Wen, extended her hand and said, "I need you to communicate with my mentor."

Gu Wen reached out and held her hand, asking curiously, "Can’t you communicate with the mentor yourself?"

"I cannot. The initial request for you to communicate with the mentor was not my intention, but rather the mentor himself wanted to meet you."

Yu Hua’s words inevitably carried a tinge of bitterness; she hadn’t actually had a real conversation with the mentor before and didn’t even know that the mentor could still speak.

Even when the subject was Gu Wen, she could not hide her bitterness.

Eyes revealing spirit charm, Yu Hua held Gu Wen’s hand and raised her other hand towards the emptiness before Wu Kong.

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

In an instant, perhaps the span of a breath, or maybe even less.

Gu Wen found himself once again in the vast expanse of heaven and earth. A profound sound came from all around, like a gentle breeze caressing his face, soft and light.

"A gentleman may face difficulties but must not fall into peril. One can be deceived by reason but must not be deluded by false words."

The voice carried a hint of reproach, like a mother wiping away her fallen child’s injuries, tirelessly imparting wisdom.

Gu Wen clasped his hands together and said, "Disciple, will be more cautious in the future."

"First protect oneself, then protect others, remember, remember."

The profound sound murmured, and then another voice came, Wu Kong materialized out of nowhere, his form now transformed into a crimson three-eyed divine bird.

He asked, "Fellow Daoist Qingcang, I am puzzled about something."

There was no need to repeat, the profound sound replied, "Ten thousand years ago, Jianmu sought to become a Saint, severing the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth to nourish itself, causing countless spirits to fall into chaos."

The Immortal Wu Kong was slightly startled, then his face showed realization as he muttered, "So that’s why Jianmu was so frantic, It sought to become a Saint!"

There was no realm above that of an Immortal, but typically these Immortals refer to beings who have mastered a certain Law of heaven and earth as Saints.

"Thirty thousand years ago, the Human Race left, which was a move that severed the very foundation of It. Fellow Daoist, you have broken most of its roots, which is indeed a power that penetrates the heavens and the earth."

In the past, Jianmu bore all life. The proliferation and existence of all beings were also one of its Laws. Later, the Human Race left, unknowingly disrupting Jianmu’s path to Sainthood, followed by Qingcang who nearly uprooted Jianmu entirely.

The struggle between humans and demons is the struggle between Saints of heaven and earth.

The battle for who would dominate the Three Realms, whether they would become a realm of heaven, earth, and man, was the struggle between Qingcang and Jianmu.

And the result was Qingcang’s loss; he only had eight hundred years of Immortal Ascension and had to contend with Jianmu. No matter how talented, he could only perish.

"The last question, fellow Daoist managed to ascend to Immortality in just eight hundred years, a feat unmatched for ages. Why did you confront Jianmu three thousand years ago? Why not hide for ten thousand years until your wings were fully grown?"

He had a million opportunities to flee, a million reasons to temporarily avoid the spotlight, but he chose to confront the Semi-Saint Jianmu in the most fierce manner, alone in battle against the many Devil Ancestors.

"Was it because Jianmu was about to become a Saint?"

If Jianmu became a Saint, then It would be the very essence of heaven and earth itself.

Only this reason could prompt Qingcang to fight to the death.

Wu Kong’s gaze passed through the vastness, glimpsing the pierced and battered body beyond, half-lying, with partially destroyed long hair, facial features revealing jade bones, flesh showing veins and blood vessels, eyes half-closed, weakly and softly watching his hands.

Where the hands joined together, in the center of the palms was where the vastness lay.

"Whether Jianmu can become a Saint is not certain, but my clan is in dire straits like a precarious pile of eggs. Without waiting a thousand years, a hundred years from now there may be no more of the Human Race; I, as Qingcang, must stand and carve a path of life for my clan."

"If Jianmu refuses our clan’s agrarian ways, if all the clans of heaven and earth refuse our survival, then the entire world will be ours."

Wu Kong fell silent, unable to comprehend what the Human Race’s legacy meant, but he could feel the nobility of an Immortal willingly sacrificing his life.

Jade bones pulled at the few remaining muscles, the profound sound light and airy, like a breeze blowing through vast plains and rice fields.

Finally, it gently touched Gu Wen.

"And the future of this world will be yours, and it will ultimately be yours."