Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 583 - 106: Chi Ling’s Tracks_2

Chapter 583: Chapter 106: Chi Ling’s Tracks_2

The so-called Tian Ji is not the Heavenly Dao telling the diviner, but rather the diviner observing the faint traces of the Law in operation to glimpse the heavenly omens.

Yet, this can’t become a solution to Gu Wen’s primary problem, because his enemy is the world itself.

The path of divination follows the celestial order.

Gu Wen once heard Ghost Strategy mention an interesting theory that the reason Returning to Void is the limit for cultivators of divination is not because of talent. It’s because the heavens deem the limit of all beings to be in Returning to Void, and further beyond would harm the heavens.

"Venerable is wise."

Old Man Tian Ji breathed a sigh of relief, yet with a hint of disappointment, as it was the first time someone did not seek the heavenly secrets he divined.

"Let’s talk business."

Gu Wen never idles in conversation, directly delving into the main topic, asking him about various issues of divination, and thus beginning the Dao debate.

Old Man Tian Ji discovered that this Yuqing Heavenly Venerate was not ignorant of the path of divination; on the contrary, he seemed like a scholarly sage, having a wealth of knowledge in many areas, even more than himself.

This might have been taught by others during this period, but to fully integrate and be able to debate with him was no easy feat.

Perhaps this is the Saint, every action resonates with heaven and earth, secretly aligning with the Great Tao.

All beings cultivate the Great Tao, while the Saint is inherently the Tao.

Old Man Tian Ji was observing Gu Wen, and Gu Wen was observing him.

This person, with extreme profundity in the path of divination and a Daoist cultivation surpassing others.

Most people only manage to grasp the basics; Ghost Strategy is perfecting the skills, and the Old Man Tian Ji has reached the pinnacle.

He was very good at hiding his strengths, yet he was still seen through by Gu Wen. Because in Dao debate, there’s no way to lie; many questions he asked were ones that others could not answer.

Yet Old Man Tian Ji could answer immediately.

The effort to send Xie Yunnan for appeasement was not wasted; empty promises are always effective.

The sun set, the moon rose, the moon set, and the sun rose, and half a month passed in a flash.

They were not always debating; many times, inspiration would strike after a single word, prompting them to close their eyes, comprehend and study in depth until enlightenment was achieved to continue.

Gu Wen experienced the concept of "observing chess until rotten go pieces," recognizing that cultivation is extremely time-consuming; in the blink of an eye, time slipped away.

And cultivators pursue immortality, also to comprehend the Great Tao.

Only with eternal life spans can one ponder the ancient Great Tao.

Gu Wen was brought back to reality because the Jade Sword Buddha returned with injuries, with a stain of blood on the Platinum Zen Robe.

"You’re hurt?"

"I accidentally fell."

The Jade Sword Buddha avoided eye contact unnaturally; she could ignore others, but not Gu Wen.

Perhaps it was because of life-saving grace, their gradually close relationship always prevented one’s mind from being vacuous.

Gu Wen slightly frowned, then relaxed, gently saying, "Be careful next time. If there’s anything, call Chi Yu Zi. As long as you know what you’re doing, the things we can help with, we won’t hesitate to help you."

The Jade Sword Buddha blinked, her ethereal voice carrying confusion, "You’re not angry?"

"You’re merely suppressing demons, why should I be angry?"

"Oh."

The Jade Sword Buddha walked straight into the room, sat down, and began meditating to heal.

Old Man Tian Ji suddenly spoke, "The Jade Buddha Heavenly Venerate bears great Qi Fortune and will undoubtedly become an Immortal in the future."

Gu Wen asked, "Can you see who else can become an Immortal?"

"Previously, I couldn’t, but now it’s an unprecedented change in billions of years, the Dao Fruit is the most significant heavenly secret,"

Old Man Tian Ji observed Gu Wen, noting no change in his expression, and further revealed, "Venerable need not worry about Dao Fruit being harmful, for the Great Tao is formless, and Dao Fruit has no intent. The Tao cannot control humans, only humans can become possessed."

"I understand, Dao Fruit has always been harmless; the contest of great powers leaves no room for scheming,"

Gu Wen affirmed indifferently.

The two continued to debate on the Dao, and a year passed in the blink of an eye.

This debate lasted even longer than before; Gu Wen no longer restricted himself to divination but started from causality, great trends, and heaven and earth, directly aiming at the Saints.

In the courtyard, besides the sound of Dao debate, there was only a nun in a Platinum Zen Robe coming and going; each time, the white attire bore an additional bloodstain.

The path of divination, five feet long, already its limit.

Gu Wen opened his eyes and softly asked, "What does the old gentleman desire?"

After the Dao debate, Old Man Tian Ji visibly aged, his eyelids half-drooping, appearing like a tree ready to fall.

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, he was immediately seized by a cough, which lasted several breaths before his voice emerged hoarse, "I, an old man, wish to become an Immortal. I beg the Saint to show the path to immortality and seek a Dao Fruit."

"Did you divinate that?"

Gu Wen was surprised, had this old man’s power reached the level to divine his connection with the Heavenly Saint?

Old Man Tianji forced a difficult smile and said, "I can’t calculate you, but I can peek into the heavens."

"I can help you obtain a Dao Fruit."

Gu Wen’s mind shifted, his thoughts reached the Nine Heavens, and the world halted at that moment, everything lost its color.

After a moment of silence, a black leaf-shaped Dao Fruit condensed out of thin air, falling into his palm.

Old Man Tianji almost couldn’t tell when it appeared, as if it had existed from the beginning.

Gu Wen held it in his hand and examined it, saying, "Do you really want it? Once you take this, you can’t refuse it afterward."

As a Heavenly Official of the Dao Fruit, it’s official, thus it can’t be easily declined.

This is not a treasure to be used or discarded at will. The Dao Fruit is more about bearing the responsibilities of maintaining the heavens and earth.

This is also why Gu Wen doesn’t want the Jade Sword Buddha to delve too deeply into the Dao Fruit.

Because he plans to escape with the Jade Sword Buddha later on.

"I would die a thousand deaths without regret!"

Old Man Tianji knelt on both knees, trembling hands accepted the black leaf-shaped Dao Fruit, and the moment his palm touched it, the Dao Fruit vanished, replaced by countless Daos.

Rumble!

Thunder rolled across the bright sky of the Nine Heavens.

The Five Spirits Mystic Elder and Wujiu Heavenly Lord of the Northern Black Emperor.

The Three Pure Ones have not returned, two of the Four Imperial, and the Five Elders united as one.

He came to his senses, and his white hair had turned into a black mane, the old man became a burly middle-aged man.

The middle-aged Tianji looked at Gu Wen, his eyes reflecting a newfound reverence.

He only calculated that the opportunity of the Dao Fruit was here but never predicted Gu Wen would directly give it to him, and with such ease.

As if done with a casual gesture, effortlessly.

Such ability, likely only from the highest position among the Heavenly Officials.

And indeed it is, considering that it was generosity at someone else’s expense, as Old Man Tianji wasn’t on his escapee list.

"How can I repay the enlightenment of the Venerable?"

Gu Wen casually said, "If you truly wish to repay, help me find the other demon leaders of the Ten Thousand Demon Body, or locate Chi Ling."

Old Man Tianji calculated with his fingers, and immediately beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

This inevitably involves major karma with the Immortals. He has only obtained a Dao Fruit now, yet hasn’t become an Immortal.

The Dao Fruit is like a bottle, whether one can fill it up depends on personal ability.

But having received such great kindness, Old Man Tianji could not refuse.

"I will do my utmost."

Gu Wen waved his hand, and Old Man Tianji bid farewell and left.

Just then, Xiao Yunyi walked in, seemingly having calculated the exact end time of Gu Wen’s discussions.

"Brother Gu, your power has grown exceedingly deep."

Gu Wen pulled the corners of his mouth and said, "Can you discern the depth of my power?"

"I can’t see it, but if we duel with swords, I could find out."

Xiao Yunyi flipped his hand and produced two Magic Swords, handing one to Gu Wen and keeping the other for himself.

Gu Wen, long accustomed to this sword maniac, accepted the Magic Sword, and the two began a sword duel in the Sword Pond.

"Brother Xiao, if one day I were to flee to the Void, would you go with me?"

"No."

Xiao Yunyi answered without hesitation, the three-foot sword in his hand becoming increasingly fierce.

"If I were to abandon the world’s people, I might as well die."

Gu Wen had long expected this and laughed, "It’s precisely this trait that’s the most troublesome about you people, once like this, always like this."

In the blink of an eye, another year passed.

Gu Wen practiced swordsmanship daily, his Sword Dao cultivation steadily growing, already reaching nine feet.

Beyond that lay becoming an Immortal in Sword Dao, requiring the most time and effort, so he decided to bid farewell and leave.

As Gu Wen packed his bags and urged the bed-laden Chi Yu Zi to get up, Xie Yunnan hurriedly came.

She whispered in Gu Wen’s ear for a while, and the words caused the once-drowsy Chi Yu Zi to suddenly leap up, eyes showing a fierce light.

Because with just a casual word from Gu Wen, Old Man Tianji and Ghost Strategy gathered a group of cultivators skilled in divination, calculating day and night, now having results.

Old Man Tianji had calculated the trigram of Chi Ling, and Ghost Strategy had calculated the whereabouts of the other demon leaders of the Ten Thousand Demon Body.