Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 369 - 7 Becoming Her Aspiration

Chapter 369: Chapter 7 Becoming Her Aspiration

The inner city was divided into upper, middle, and lower sections, the top and bottom mainly consisting of residences and shops, while the middle hosted the City Lord Mansion and numerous small compartments dedicated to cultivation and seclusion, known as cave dwellings.

Rather than a City Lord Mansion, it resembled a unique kind of sect, where the mansion itself served as the sect’s gate.

Yet, Gu Wen felt it was more akin to a company because the Taiyi City Imperial Guards could freely join or leave, receiving treatment based solely on their cultivation levels, in an employer-employee relationship.

Walking along the wall of the City Lord Mansion, Gu Wen could see across the street were densely packed cave dwellings, their doorplates divided into categories: alpha, beta, gamma, delta.

Delta was a small, mound-like structure with just a door and a cushion, barely enough space for one person. One couldn’t stretch their arms, usually occupied by Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators sitting in meditation.

Gamma was slightly larger, taking the form of a house. However, only about three to four square meters in size, it resembled a small roadside temple mostly occupied by Foundation Establishment and sensing cultivators sitting in meditation.

Beta was the size of an ordinary civilian’s home, furnished with beds and chairs. A little investigation would reveal it belonged to Golden Core or Nascent Soul cultivators.

Alpha came with a small courtyard, inhabited by cultivators in the Divine Separation Stage.

The hierarchy was strict, from vestment robes to dwelling places, everything was determined by cultivation levels, with higher cultivation receiving all-around preferential treatment.

Lower-level cultivators could only sit in cramped mounds, and perhaps for them, these small mounds were not a permanent residence, while Foundation Establishment cultivators might struggle their entire lives for a mere three or four square meters to call home.

Golden Cores were like common folk entering a decent societal level, while Nascent Souls were merely wealthy peasants.

The real powers were the True Monarchs, starting from Returning to Void and peaking in the Mahayana Realm.

Above the True Monarchs were even higher peaks, such as those controlling the Immortal Sect and living outside the world—the Venerables. In the face of the Dao Realm beyond Mahayana, and even those stepping into the path to becoming Immortals, demi immortals, they were like ants.

Gu Wen reached the end of the City Lord Mansion. Originally, the towering city wall on one side abruptly opened up, with a bamboo grove on the right-hand side starkly contrasting the cramped and crowded cave dwellings.

The lush grove brimmed with spirit bamboos radiating a jade-like luster, swaying uncertainly in the breeze.

Array formations continuously emitted streams of light resembling fireflies, deterring outsiders from nearing even half a step.

Gu Wen entered, using the Flying Rainbow Token to manipulate the array, seeing along the path pavilions, lakes, gardens, and towers.

More luxurious than Two Realms City.

At the entrance, a middle-aged man stood wearing golden silk cloud-patterned vestments, a cultivator in the Body Integration Realm.

Hearing footsteps, he turned around, a dignified gaze reflecting off his ordinary face and freezing instantly.

Gu Wen observed him, asking, "You look familiar, have we met somewhere before?"

He seemed to have seen this middle-aged man somewhere, but couldn’t place him. With Gu Wen’s current Daoist memory, the only possibility was a brief encounter.

The other’s appearance had changed over eight hundred years.

"Ranked twenty-fifth on the Human List, Kuang Zhili, who once shared the Luodu tavern with you, expelling the True Monarch great power from within."

Kuang Zhili stepped forward three paces, bowing deeply with a voice trembling, barely able to suppress his excitement.

"Now the Taiyi City Lord, I congratulate you on your arrival."

Gu Wen stepped forward to help him up, unaccustomed to such reverence, and said, "Although cultivators honor cultivation level, since we’re contemporaries, there’s no need for such formalities."

"No, it must be, it must be. The survival of my clan might rely on you."

Kuang Zhili stubbornly bowed again, saying, "In the great battle between humans and demons, Qingcang Immortal was injured, and the Devil Ancestor regained the Twelve Ancestors. The Venerables of the world are exhausted, and there are few Immortals, even the Sword Master controlling the Immortal Sword can at most face two alone."

"Without your past might of stepping on the Twelve Demon Ancestors alone, I thought you had perished in Immortal Land..."

At this point, the middle-aged man was somewhat choked up.

Now the Human Race was like eggs piled up, gradually declining, and the great battle between humans and demons had only ended in a draw. Some discerning people could see that Qingcang Immortal was not as mighty as in his first life.

Then, the Human Race could have advanced into Jianmu, no longer possessing the strength to resist as before.

Now, most City Lords had some connections to the Daoist Sect, they were also supporters of Qingcang Immortal, implementing the decrees of immortals. On the other hand, those branded as Evil Cultivators or reclusive sects remained neutral.

Whenever heroic figures were discussed, some mentioned the Sword Immortal of Broken Sword Mountain, Chi Venerable who struck across eight thousand miles, or the three immortals of Daoist Sect. But to those of that era, they could never forget one person.

Back then, they might have been friends, enemies, or strangers. But once those youthful heroes became pillars of the Human Race, facing the overwhelming waves of the Jianmu demonic sea, one thought arose.

"If only you were here, you could lead our race to tread on Jianmu again."

Kuang Zhili bowed again, emotionally overwhelmed, showing none of the stature of a True Monarch powerhouse.

Gu Wen swallowed the modest words he was about to utter spontaneously and helped him up again, saying, "I will."

Others could not understand his loneliness over these eight hundred years and he, too, could not comprehend the fatigue of this True Monarch of the Human Race in front of him, exhausted from centuries of wars between humans and demons.

People’s sufferings are different, yet they share the same aspirations and pursue the same path.

After Kuang Zhili’s emotions had stabilized, he revealed the purpose of his visit, "I received a message from the Daoist Sect stating that a distinguished guest would be staying in this villa left behind by the Heavenly Girl. I had my suspicions then, but I still couldn’t control myself when I saw you, and I was a bit disrespectful, ha ha ha ha."

The Daoist Sect knows that I have left.

Gu Wen focused on the crucial point and asked, "Did the Daoist Sect mention anything else?"

"There is a letter."

Kuang Zhili handed a piece of yellow jade to Gu Wen, which turned into a piece of paper upon touching it, visible only to Gu Wen.

"Rebel, you have been expelled from the sect!"

The last word ’expelled’ was distorted, and Gu Wen could tell his master was very angry.

He thought he should delay his return; otherwise, he might get beaten.

Kuang Zhili asked, "Do you want to return to the Daoist Sect now? Taiyi City has a heavenly-grade flying shuttle that can fly a million miles in a single breath. However, I would like you to stay for a few days, as Taiyi City has encountered some trouble recently."

"Was it the attack by those evil cultivators?"

"Yes, due to the urgent situation, over three hundred immortal boats entered the city for refuge. The immortal boats were not thoroughly inspected, and now, coinciding with the Tianxuan Conference, I’m afraid those evil cultivators might have malicious intentions."

"Have you reported this to other sects?"

"Yes, several True Monarchs have temporarily come over, but if you are here, there will naturally be nothing to worry about."

"I will stay here until the Tianxuan Conference is over, but during that time, just pretend I am not here."

Gu Wen nodded in agreement, and Kuang Zhili was overjoyed, saying, "In that case, I will not disturb you further."

Following that, Kuang Zhili transformed into a stream of light and left. He actually wanted to spend more time with Gu Wen and to learn from him, which would be greatly beneficial.

But since they had only just met, being overly enthusiastic wouldn’t be suitable, and thinking about the possibility of many evil cultivators lurking in the city made his scalp tingle.

Now it was the time of the Tianxuan Conference, when talents from various sects gathered.

Inside the house, the decor was also not luxurious, but its location and size were a luxury in themselves.

There was also a letter on the table, seemingly prepared in advance, or perhaps she had anticipated this day.

"Tianxuan Conference, once every hundred years, a thousand years is not too late."

"A thousand years is not too late, but at this Tianxuan Conference a thousand years later, your names are not listed."

Gu Wen smiled softly and placed the letter into his chest.

Touching the Jade Pendant, a cat-like creature jumped out and sniffed, its round eyes filled with caution, saying, "Immortal, Immortal, there’s the scent of Yu Hua."

Besides the Immortal, the creature’s most profound impression was of Yu Hua. But unlike its attachment to Gu Wen, the heirloom was very wary of Yu Hua.

Because she divided the love of the Immortal for itself!

Gu Wen asked, "It’s been eight hundred years, can you still smell it?"

Standing tall with chest puffed out, the heirloom moved a few steps on the table.

"Eight hundred years is nothing, even after a thousand years, I can still smell it."

The next day, the City Lord Mansion set up four different Qiankun passages, each connected to a secret realm.

The Tianxuan Conference required no registration; those under one thousand two hundred years old would enter Yi Gate, those under eight hundred years into B Gate, those under four hundred years into C Gate, and those under one hundred years into D Gate.

Eventually, a hundred people from each gate would be selected to participate in the real Tianxuan Conference.

A new generation of talents gathered together, along with thousand-year-old cultivators and robust middle-aged ones. Some clung to the age limit to enter the Yi and C Gates, while others, undeterred by age, entered the A Gate.

As long as they had never participated in a Tianxuan Conference and were under twelve hundred years old, they could participate. Age difference did not matter, as often those who topped the charts were not over a thousand years old.

The Tianxuan Conference was intended ’for when you feel your strongest, to compete with all cultivators under heaven.’

Different cultivators, Daoist skills, and inheritances have different growth periods. It also teaches young people that reality is not fair, and some people are just more advantaged than you. If unsure, better lie low.

Gu Wen, in simple clothing, holding a bamboo sword, stepped into the A Gate.

This time, he was not doing it for the sake of being number one under heaven, not for the fame of being unmatched, not to test himself, not for fame, not for profit, not for himself.

A thousand years ago, she was among the top five hundred, admired on the list of outstanding figures.

A thousand years later, perhaps I might become someone she admires.