Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 323 - 208: The Fall of Daqian, Ascension to the Throne_2

Chapter 323: Chapter 208: The Fall of Daqian, Ascension to the Throne_2

"With your temperament, you’d have temples built at the doorstep of the Buddhist Sect in a few thousand years," Ao Tang joked.

The great powers always feared karmic consequences—not necessarily owning many temples equals good deeds, but surely meddlesomeness abounds. Especially for someone with a lawless character like Gu Wen, bestow upon him the identity of Yuqing Heavenly Venerate, and truly no one within the Human Race could handle him.

"I’ve always handed down the verdict without handling the aftermath; no one worships a god that doesn’t answer prayers," Gu Wen looked up at the sky, increasingly longing for an even vaster heaven and earth.

A few thousand years might turn even a pig into a Kong Laoer, but is this what immortal cultivation is all about?

Spans of thousands of years are trivial, reverence from others is easily obtained, enjoying offerings is taken for granted, and becoming a respected ancestor is the norm.

"Let’s talk serious business. Although it might be rubbish, I still have to inform you," Ao Tang’s expression turned solemn, "If anything unusual happens later on, I will take you with me. You might be able to deal with an incarnation of a Devil Ancestor, but you’re no match for Jianmu; given the chance, it will certainly kill you."

Gu Wen nodded and said, "I understand, and if I’m not up to it at this point, I will accept it."

"It’s good that you understand, you are much more sensible than Yu Hua," Ao Tang let out a sigh of relief from the bottom of his heart, "Back in Bianjing, the little ancestress almost killed me for your sake. If I had said ’no’ at that time, my head might have been twisted right off."

"Although it seems now that she was right, we can’t just act recklessly in our affairs. For example, right now, as long as one of us, either Qingcang or you, survives, our Human Race still has a chance at a turnaround."

Ao Tang tirelessly elaborated on the future of the Human Race, speaking at length about the heroes of all parties with an air that reminded Gu Wen of his previous life’s elder generation’s conversations about state affairs at the dining table.

And he has become accustomed to a donkey, regarding the Human Race as more important than the Lord Emperor himself.

Innate Divine Beasts have no clan, but once they acknowledge one, they are loyal for life.

Gu Wen fumbled the Jade Pendant in his pocket, and although it seemed of no use at present, he still looked forward to having a Divine Beast in the Cultivation World one day.

Ding!

A light chime reverberated, Gu Wen and the others looked up, as did the hundreds of thousands of citizens in the city.

Countless eyes converged on the firmament, a dazzling point of white light appeared, overwhelming all residual waves of Daoist Skills and Divine Skills, and then, with the light spot as the center, the Devil Cloud was pushed sideways by an incomparable force.

The aftermath hit the ground, the earth began to swell, rising above the walls of Bianjing in a few breaths, countless newly-grown giant trees were uprooted whole, as if the earth had been peeled off a layer.

All was silent between heaven and earth, leaving only two figures.

The Divine that Jianmu had transformed into had its left arm completely severed, Qingcang was holding the limb, glancing at it before her fingers closed and annihilated it, leaving not even fragments.

She spoke lightly, "It seems the Immortality Pill is in the other arm."

"That little fellow is very smart, knowing that you can’t do without the Immortality Pill. It gave one of its arms to me, along with a part of its core."

Jianmu placed the White Jade Vajra Ring on its wrist and said, "I am very curious about what the Heavenly forces intended by giving you the Immortality Pill. This was something, back when the Immortal Court still existed, that only celestial officials of the rank of Four Imperial or higher could consume to extend their lives."

The Three Pure Ones, Four Imperial, Five Elders, Six Ministers, Seven Origins, Eight Extremes, Nine Luminaries.

These were the ranks of the celestial officials of the Immortal Court, where The Three Pure Ones were once teachers of the Human Race, esteemed as Semi-Saints. Later the Four Imperial were among the finest of Immortals. If compared to Jianmu’s Great Cave Heaven, it would be equivalent to today’s Four Symbols Devil Ancestors.

With the heritage of the Immortal Court, their strength is likely even greater.

But ever since the Heavenly forces withdrew, the Immortality Pill has never appeared again. Perhaps it is related to the Earth Realm’s authority, or perhaps celestial officials no longer needed to take it; thousands of years have passed without the appearance of the Immortality Pill.

In contrast, one of the "Three Calamities" of limited lifespan has become more prevalent.

Jianmu couldn’t help but suspect this was a trick by the Heavenly forces, especially since The Three Pure Ones had once descended to teach the Human Race.

Qingcang said, "Hand over your right arm, and I will tell you."

Jianmu shook its head, "A Saint does not descend to the earthy realm, even if He has intentions, He can’t directly intervene; on the other hand, I also can’t alter His will, and you are the biggest obstacle on my path to becoming a Saint."

"Whether it’s Three Pure Mountain crashing into Jianmu or you forcing your way out of the Immortal Land, I will guard this piece of the Immortality Pill until your death."

Qingcang asked with a smile, "Are you that afraid of me?"

If Jianmu was determined to lose a few more Grotto Heavens, she might truly have no chance of a comeback, but doing so would buy the Human Race more time to breathe.

Perhaps it would be a few thousand years, perhaps tens of thousands, or maybe Jianmu would also falter as a result.

"It’s just a decision based on reality; I’m not out of options, and there’s no need for desperation."

Having said that, the Divine took a step, crossing thousands of miles, and entered deep into the Devil Clan’s territory to sit cross-legged under an ancient tree.

It had no intention of consuming the Immortality Pill—for one, to prevent becoming part of Jianmu and allowing Qingcang to fuel the fight with the fight, and secondly, out of consideration for the Heavenly forces.

The various changes have delayed Jianmu’s moment of becoming a Saint for tens of thousands of years, but even after a hundred thousand years, it would still wait. Any matter that can be eroded by time, Jianmu would not risk the slightest chance.

From the beginning of Qingcang’s rise, it had taken notice of her and dispatched beings three ranks higher than her. Gossip abounded between the Devil Ancestors and the masters of Grotto Heavens—if Jianmu had personally taken action at the beginning, then Qingcang would never have grown to her current strength.

Yet even if it could do it over again, Jianmu would still not personally intervene but would up the ante even more.

Personal action in any affair increases the risk, making it exceedingly easy for others to plot. As karmic consequences accumulate, eventually, even it would fall.

But many Transcenders do not understand this principle, believing that with great power they can determine the universe. Yet those who truly wish to live a long life must consider the universe as their boundary, and all beings as their children.