Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 361 - 4: A Strand of Gold Threads Gathered from the Sea

Chapter 361: Chapter 4: A Strand of Gold Threads Gathered from the Sea

Taiyi City,

Nestled within the waist of a mountain range three thousand zhang high, it seemed embedded into the mountains themselves, with peaks encircling it like a green screen stretched for a thousand miles.

Looking around, a dense mass of Immortal Boats hovered in the sky, while Cultivators from the City Lord Mansion of Taiyi City flew on swords to maintain order. Their role was not much different from that of policemen, and in the Cultivation World, they were known as Imperial Guards.

Over a thousand Imperial Guards bounded all the Immortal Boats within a fifty-mile radius of Taiyi City, arranging them into four ’Yangtze Rivers’, as if the vast ocean were flowing upstream into the river, the expanse contracting into river streams.

At first, Gu Wen had found this sight quite novel, but gradually, he began to yawn, reduced to watching the boats crawl forward at a snail’s pace.

Initially, he could rely on the huge hull of his boat to push aside others, but once entering the controlled area, more and more Cultivators flew past on their swords. It was said that forcibly ramming through could be considered an attack by an Evil Cultivator, with serious offenders being shot down directly by Taiyi City’s defensive Array.

At the very least, they’d end up sitting out their days in prison, or else handing over a hefty fine.

The Cultivation World wasn’t so uncivilized; it looked quite prosperous and peaceful. That burgeoning vitality, where all things strive to flourish....

Just as the thought arose, suddenly a dazzling firelight lit up in the distance, transforming a thousand-zhang Immortal Boat into a miniature sun.

Huge debris crashed towards the nearby Immortal Boats, massive vessels of the same thousand-zhang class were instantly engulfed in flames, also starting to topple over, affecting another ship like falling dominoes.

And yet it wasn’t over; the hurricane caused by the first Immortal Boat’s explosion blew over, as another flash of firelight blossomed in a different direction.

A second, third, and fourth miniature sun rose consecutively, illuminating hundreds of miles around in a crimson hue.

Everyone was dumbfounded for a few moments, and the first to react were the Imperial Guards of Taiyi City. One swooped over Gu Wen’s head, shouting, "All Immortal Boats, strict orders to halt in flight, stay suspended! I repeat, stay suspended!"

His voice was soon submerged by the sound of explosions; another Immortal Boat had exploded, fear enveloping everyone like a sudden, fierce downpour.

Initially hopeful of escape, the small flying shuttles began to flee amidst the chaos, some colliding with large Immortal Boats in the confusion. These Immortal Boats had significant offensive and defensive capabilities and were giant Magic Treasures in themselves, activating their defensive Arrays immediately upon sensing an attack.

Elliptical barriers unfolded, pressuring surrounding ships, prompting others to activate their defenses in response.

Tens of thousands of Immortal Boats that had been restrained broke apart, scattering across the entire airspace of Taiyi City.

Thousand-zhang Immortal Boats attempting to escape the chaos crushed numerous smaller vessels and flying shuttles along the way.

Everything fell into disarray within just a minute.

Gu Wen felt he should take back the word "peaceful." Suddenly, he had a premonition, prompting him to look downwards instinctively.

His Divine Thought reached down, finding the insulating Array attached to the Immortal Boat to be negligible, as every detail occurring on the three thousand meter long behemoth was revealed before his eyes.

A disciple dressed from the Yiwei Sect, also a ’water worker’ on the ship, was affixing black talismans towards what seemed to be the core area.

Their eyes were a faint purple, their Divine Souls bewitched, emanating a somewhat familiar aura.

Gu Wen rifled through his memory, recalling when several Demi Immortals had attacked him at Heavenly Spring Mountain.

Angri Demon Saint, Purple Light Demon Hand, one covered in a golden light.

The latter two should be Demi Immortals of the Human Race, and Gu Wen recognized this person’s aura as that of Purple Light Demon Hand.

"Should I encounter them, just to squeeze them to death."

Thinking so, Gu Wen turned and walked into the ship’s cabin, accompanied by the female disciple from Broken Sword Mountain and a young man in yellow clothes.

Xie Yunnan paused slightly upon seeing Gu Wen, then nodded slightly and said, "This accident must be the work of Evil Cultivators; trouble with a thousand-zhang large ship is at hand, and who knows if there are Evil Cultivators among us too. Both of you should be careful. How might I address this fellow Daoist of the Sanqing Taoist Sect?"

"I am known as Red Dust."

Gu Wen’s voice was even, and upon hearing this, the two fluctuated in expression. Choosing a dao name that set overambitious standards could easily attract misfortune and shorten one’s life.

Xie Yunnan expressed admiration, "Fellow Daoist has lofty aspirations. I am Xie Yunnan, a true disciple of Broken Sword Mountain and apprentice to the current Sword Master."

The youth in yellow carried himself with some pride but also cupped his hands and said, "A true disciple of the Liuyun Sect, Chunxuan, apprentice to Venerable Wen from the heavenly lineage."

Those from Broken Sword Mountain typically use their real names, while Daoists from Liuyun Sect do the opposite.

’Sword Master and Venerable Wen, could it be Brother Lan and Brother Xiao?’

Gu Wen remembered the letters they had written to him, in which many at the time were considered the next generation of Venerables.

Eight hundred years had passed since then, and with their capabilities, provided they hadn’t died, they should rightfully be imposing Venerables by now.

"Nice to meet you."

He nodded in greeting, unfazed by their lack of recognition of him.

The impartiality of time is that it makes everyone forgettable, all traces of their existence diluted, leaving even the greatest talents to fade into mere memory for a few.

Whereas civilization is like the stones in the river of time, it carries memory but always remembers those with virtue.

Throughout history, whether transcendent or mundane, great figures have always had the longest-lasting legacies.

What merit did he, Gu Wen, have? Was it for saving numerous lives or providing food and warmth to many?

He was far from comparing to his Master, nor could he match the stability brought by the likes of Xiao Yunyi and others.

Xie Yunnan and Chunxuan quickened their pace, walking ahead of Gu Wen.

In the chaos of the ship’s corridors, passengers were gathering their belongings while Cultivators ran about; black talismans appeared sporadically in their exchanges.