Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 305 - 199: Qingcang’s Resurrection

Chapter 305: Chapter 199: Qingcang’s Resurrection

"Young friend, with your extraordinary talent, you are now a step closer to becoming an immortal. Although you have yet to step into the nine levels of Daoji, I am considering whether I should raise the standards on the Heavenly List."

Wu Kong’s hands somehow acquired a writing brush and ink, and a scroll of white gold silk unfurled, revealing a list of names.

[Heavenly List Rank Seven, Red Dust]

[Heavenly List Rank Eight, Tortoise Transformation]

[Heavenly List Rank Nine, Red Dust]

"The old tortoise of the eighth rank hasn’t appeared in many years; it’s shunned by both the Devil Clan and the Human Race as the master of Jianmu Cave Heaven. The seventh’s Red Dust is a Primordial Spirit, just like the Divine Beast in your Jade Pendant."

He had decided these rankings himself, and being an Immortal, he certainly had the qualifications to rank Demi Immortals, but everything has a reason. Why did he bother creating these lists?

Gu Wen’s thoughts began to disperse, and then he forcibly reined them in.

"Do you want to improve your ranking, to ascend the Heavenly List once again with your meager seventy-seven Daoji?"

City Lord Wu Kong asked, tempting him like a common person hardly could resist fame and fortune.

Gu Wen shook his head and said, "The list was set by seniors; naturally, it is for the seniors to decide."

"It’s not for me to decide. Fame and fortune are determined by the masses; being the first under heaven isn’t something you can just talk into existence."

City Lord Wu Kong’s pen pointed upwards as if hinting at something, and with a smile in his eyes, he said, "The lists I establish are the will of heaven, and the words I write are granted by heaven."

Gu Wen carefully pondered these words, and with an outwardly calm demeanor, asked, "I am dull-witted as a junior."

"You sly one... Heh, never mind, a genius favored by heaven deserves some privileges."

City Lord Wu Kong chuckled. He could see through Gu Wen’s clever ploy. According to convention, what was said by seniors had to be comprehended by juniors, and failing to comprehend meant lack of fate with the teachings.

Gu Wen’s behavior was tantamount to saying, "I’m too dumb to learn," – usually, that would be scolded.

He bluntly said, "Everyone knows that the lists set by Two Realms City offer rewards, and everyone pursues these rewards. But that’s just something I do in my spare time; the real benefit lies in the rankings on the list."

"Human List denotes spirit, Earth List denotes prestige, and Heavenly List embodies Qi Fortune; each rank is a step up. In the past, Sword Master was second on the Heavenly List, followed by the Golden Core Saint in third, and then the Ancestor Tree Spirit. Now, it’s the second name."

The list involves becoming an immortal, but where do spirit and prestige come from? Could they actually provide a substantive boost to one’s power?

Gu Wen asked, "How are spirit and prestige different?"

City Lord Wu Kong replied, "Spirit enhances one’s perceptiveness. Prestige allows one to wield more of the heaven and earth’s power; these are bestowed by heaven and earth."

Hiss... Gu Wen couldn’t help but reflect deeply.

City Lord Wu Kong wouldn’t deceive him; thus, the list was more formidable than anticipated. Perceptiveness, the power of heaven and earth, and Qi Fortune – these were things that couldn’t be augmented by ordinary means.

"So what do you think, do you want to climb the ranks?" asked City Lord Wu Kong with a smile brimming in his eyes. "Although I can’t influence the list, I can urge heaven and earth to carefully weigh talent, but this would take a great deal of effort on my part."

"Thank you for your kind offer."

Gu Wen shook his head slightly, which somewhat surprised Wu Kong; he hadn’t expect Gu Wen to refuse.

"Why?"

"How could I possibly ascend the list? If it isn’t meant to be, then even employing all my efforts would be in vain."

"Do you mean that you don’t need my help to rise through the ranks again?"

What seemed to be a humble and polite refusal from Gu Wen, when heard by City Lord Wu Kong, appeared almost like a challenge. The latter did not misinterpret it; he looked at the unremarkable young man and slowly, undeniably nodded.

His voice steady, he asked, "By heaven’s will, may I ascend to the eighth rank on the Heavenly List?"

As he spoke, Gu Wen no longer concealed his Yuqing Daoji, and the auspicious light of the moon showered down upon him.

In the depths of the cosmos, strands of Qi were stirred, and the heavenly stele and the golden scroll trembled; Gu Wen’s rank began to rise.

Wu Kong, looking at the scroll in his hand, was somewhat taken aback.

[Heavenly List Rank Seven, Red Dust]

After a lost moment, Wu Kong returned to his senses, smile growing thicker as he said, "It seems I’ve underestimated you; you truly don’t need my help."

Gu Wen sought to grasp the profound and mysterious concept of Qi Fortune, feeling only a lighter heart and mind. But clearly, this wasn’t the benefit that Qi Fortune brought; it was merely the release of pressure from before.

He inquired, "Senior, are there any rewards for reaching the seventh rank on the Heavenly List?"

"Do you still need me to reward you?"

Wu Kong found it amusing, then flicked five strands of Spiritual Medicine towards him and said, "But since you’ve asked me for it, I can’t not give it to you, after all, there might come a time when I want to give it but can no longer."

Gu Wen’s ascension to immortality was all but guaranteed, but to what extent he could walk this path was yet to be seen.

There are no defined realms among Immortals, but the disparity in strength is even greater than that between mortals and Cultivators. At least both types can die, yet among the undying Immortals, very few can invalidate the concept of death.

Perhaps he really is the next Qingcang.

"On this trip, I have another matter to attend to; would you take me to see the Heavenly Girl?"

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

The inn room.

In a room less than ten square meters, with the door wide open, Jun Yan and others craned their necks curiously observing the true form of Wu Kong.

Yu Hua and Gu Wen sat opposite Wu Kong, with all three on an equal footing, their implicit equality surprising to onlookers.

City Lord Wu Kong got straight to the point and said, "On this visit, I’ve brought news of the Immortality Pill, but before that, I need to confirm something."

The first part of his statement caused a jolt of alertness in both Gu Wen and Yu Hua; they only had a guess about the location of the Immortality Pill and feared a wrong guess the most.

"Right now, Heavenly Girl, why have you not gone directly to kill Lord Emperor? Is it that your power is insufficient to kill him, or are you afraid that by killing him, you won’t be able to manage other matters?"

After pondering for a long while, Yu Hua said, "First, I need to know the exact location of the Immortality Pill."