Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 414 - 30 Ascend to the Jade Emperor, Appoint the Venerable of Heaven_2

Chapter 414: Chapter 30 Ascend to the Jade Emperor, Appoint the Venerable of Heaven_2

Someone asked, "What if someone can’t go on anymore? Do we have to carry them up with us?"

"Exactly, if one person falls, everyone will find it difficult to take a single step."

The middle-aged Daoist’s comment caused a stir among the crowd, and complaints filled the air.

"The Daoist Sect’s requirements are a bit too harsh. Since childhood, I have focused on Body Cultivation, using various medicines to solidify my foundation. Alone, I can reach the summit, but if I have to carry a burden, getting to the five millionth step is questionable."

"Qi Cultivation is only about Dual Cultivation, where does this idea of ten cultivators cultivating as one come from? Moreover, since the Dao allows for solitary cultivation, why can’t I go alone!"

"I earnestly request the Daoist Sect to let me travel alone."

Countless people stepped forward to request, but the middle-aged Daoist just smiled without speaking, giving no response.

After a long standoff, people started to form alliances, as the wise ones knew that the rules of the Daoist Sect were absolute.

They understood it was impossible for them to change the Sect’s rules; they had to adapt to them instead.

As the first group of ten set off, slowly, more and more people began to form teams.

Gu Wen naturally paid no attention, for just as he took his first step, he found himself caught by an invisible force.

He exerted force, and the force countered, wrestling for a few minutes.

Gu Wen realized he seemed unable to overpower his master for the moment, even though he was half a realm higher than his master. This half-step could crush the vast majority of Immortals but was useless against his own master.

His master was only a step away from reaching the state of Little Saint.

"Come up here honestly, or don’t blame me for spanking you."

Without further ado, Gu Wen was soon picked up by a makeshift small group. With his unremarkable appearance and able limbs, it was natural for others to want to recruit him.

Gu Wen looked around at the nine others: there were young people in coarse linen, rich folks dressed in Vestment robes, noble practitioners from well-known families calling for friends, and impassive ascetics with no joy or sorrow on their faces.

Poor, rich, noble.

People fell into these three categories: the noble scorn the rich, the rich look down on the poor, the poor disdain those even poorer, and the very poor despise themselves.

There were three leaders in Gu Wen’s small group, whom he called "Benevolent Man," "Turtle Power Man," and "Hardship Woman."

Benevolent Man was refined and eloquent, the main organizer.

Hardship Woman had a cold expression, looking disdainfully at everyone with her spiritual sword in hand, which evidently had some backstory.

Turtle Power Man was attended by several servants with talent in cultivation, who served him all the way while he pursued Hardship Woman.

The journey was noisy and full of disputes.

Turtle Power Man became enraged when a poor boy accidentally held onto him, feeling his sleeve had been dirtied.

Several servants began to beat the boy.

In the end, it was Benevolent Man who resolved it.

Gu Wen walked quietly, and suddenly he missed Chi Yu Zi a bit. Although noisy, Chi Yu Zi could at least relieve his boredom.

He had experienced these trials on the mountain paths during his time in the Immortal Land; on Heavenly Spring Mountain, each step seemed to be dragging a whole mountain along.

To exert pressure with Dao’s charm was both the most advanced and the simplest test. The higher one’s talent, the easier the walk, and conversely, the lower the talent, the more difficult the journey.

A simple lesson: those high in talent naturally find the entrance easy, while those low in talent can also find entry if they possess great determination.

Besides, descending the mountain would allow one to enter a Daoist temple for cultivation.

On the second day, everything was as usual.

On the third day, Turtle Power Man was overwhelmed, leaving over half the people weakened.

On the fourth day, Turtle Power Man fell, becoming the first to collapse and thus a burden.

In an instant, everyone’s gaze towards him changed.

Then the three servants carried on with him on their backs.

On the fifth day, everything was as usual.

On the sixth day, the servants began to complain, with one refusing to carry him any longer.

On the seventh day, the other two servants also deserted; at this time, the poor boy walked ahead, conversing with Hardship Woman.

Turtle Power Man had no choice but to walk on his own, each step excruciating, but he never gave up.

On the eighth day, the poor boy took Turtle Power Man’s place, currying favor with Hardship Woman, becoming more confident.

On the ninth day, Benevolent Man also fell. This time someone else took his place, carrying him up the mountain and seizing all his right to speak.

On the tenth day, Hardship Woman collapsed, carried by the poor boy who, in return, no longer carried herself with pride, and even began to smile at him.

Gu Wen simply watched, observing their struggle for status and power.

The poor boy from ten days ago had become the leader, and the three originally revered by society due to worldly status had tumbled from the clouds.

Some learned confidence, others humility, and still others patience.

Only talent and strength prevailed; all worldly rules ceased to matter; this was the first lesson the Daoist Sect taught them.

On the fifteenth day, the people reached the five millionth step, where a huge stone tablet bearing three characters stood.

[Wangxian Platform]

The middle-aged Daoist appeared once more, saying with a smile, "From here on out, you all must travel alone, and can only see within one zhang around yourselves."

This time, there were no objections; all makeshift teams immediately disbanded.

As Gu Wen stepped in, he passed by the middle-aged Daoist and turned his head to curiously ask, "Is your surname Jiang?"

"Indeed, it is Jiang," the middle-aged Daoist replied, taken aback for a moment, then smiling, "How you came to know is not important, for I have severed ties with the Red Dust and have no connections with worldly families. Even if you, my young friend, are related to me by worldly ties, I won’t give you any shortcuts."