Please, Young Master, Slay the Demon!
Chapter 374 - 58 Contest of the Great Dao! [Seeking Monthly Ticket!]_1

Chapter 374: Chapter 58 Contest of the Great Dao! [Seeking Monthly Ticket!]_1

Atop Biluo Peak.

Daoist Yan sat cross-legged atop an ancient tree, her expression as indifferent as ever. Empress Feng, on the other hand, carelessly lounged beside her, her legs swinging outside of the tree branches. The two were engaged in conversation.

"You’re preparing for a major retreat?" Empress Feng looked at Daoist Yan with a puzzled expression, tinged with surprise.

For cultivators at their level, going into seclusion was not an unusual occurrence. Whether it was to study a piece of Immortal Law or to gain a comprehension of some aspect of the Daoist Rite, it would require focused seclusion for a period.

But this period might be as short as ten or eight days, or as long as a year and a half at most.

The kind of major retreat that had no time limit and lasted for several years, or even over a decade, was very rare. Unless one was aiming for a major breakthrough, it was unnecessary.

But if Daoist Yan, with her level of cultivation, were to make another major breakthrough...

"Yes." She gave a slight nod, "If there are matters concerning Biluo Peak, I need you to help me look after them."

Everyone knew that Empress Feng considered Daoist Yan her only friend among the Thirty-Six Peaks of Shu Mountain, but few people realized that Daoist Yan, in turn, only considered Empress Feng as her friend.

It happened that Empress Feng was detested by most, which led to her rough relationship with others. Daoist Yan, on the other hand, kept to herself and spent her days cultivating atop the ancient trees of Biluo Peak, unwilling to socialize.

Perhaps the difference was merely one was passively friendless, while the other actively chose to be friendless.

But the outcomes were essentially the same.

Thus, when Daoist Yan decided to go into a major retreat, she could only turn to Empress Feng to take care of her domain. The situation was tinged with a touch of melancholy.

"Rest assured, leave it to me." Empress Feng patted her chest confidently. However, when she looked at Daoist Yan, her eyes were filled with subtle worry: "But Yan Zi, could it be... that you’re aiming for the ultimate step?"

"Yes." Daoist Yan simply nodded.

"Still going down the path of Daoist Master Jue Yun?" Empress Feng exclaimed, eyes wide open.

"Yes." Daoist Yan nodded again.

"No changed paths?" Empress Feng asked again.

"No change." Daoist Yan answered calmly.

After a long pause, Empress Feng finally muttered, "Fine, it seems that the Sword Emperor from the Western Sea has come to the Yu Dynasty again. Although I hold a grudge against Eight Elder Li, this time, I hope he can kill that jerk from the Western Sea."

Daoist Yan had a slight twitch at the corner of her lips, as if she wanted to smile but also seemed to suppress it. In the end, she gently curved her mouth into a smile.

"What would be the point?" Daoist Yan said languidly, "The path of a sword cultivator is to keep moving forward, personally bringing down enemies."

A seemingly light and airy comment, yet beneath it lay an inescapable sense of somber determination.

"You definitely can do it!" Empress Feng suddenly declared, then after a pause, she sighed, "Alas, I thought I would be the second one to reach the Tianyuan Realm in Shu Mountain, but it seems you’ve beaten me to it."

"If you were to concentrate on cultivation..." Daoist Yan looked at Empress Feng, her words trailing off without continuing.

But in her gaze towards Empress Feng, there was a glimpse of regret.

...

The Eighth Realm in the world is known as Tianyuan.

Tianyuan is also referred to as "Controlling Tianyuan".

The term "controlling" applies because when a cultivator reaches Seventh Realm, they can comprehend all kinds of Dao. As long as they can utilize it, they can exercise it. Essentially, none of the Dao truly belongs to them, they merely draw upon the power of the heavens and the earth.

For example, Daoist Yan predominantly cultivates the "Jue Yun" Dao, but she can also utilize other Dao and Divine Skills.

However, to ascend to the Eighth Realm, one must assert control over one of the three thousand Dao in the world and thus, become the "Daoist Master" of that Dao.

Being a Daoist Master implies that no one else would be able to use that Dao in your presence. It belongs to you! Otherwise, not only would it fail to take effect against you, any power exerted from this Dao must obey your command and risks backlash.

Controlling Tianyuan is the mark of a Daoist Master!

Each Dao can only be controlled by one individual.

Although it’s said the world contains three thousand Dao, the actual number discovered and comprehended by people thus far is far fewer. Of the countless cultivators in the world, it’s inevitable that overlaps would occur and many Divine Skills and Cultivation Techniques map back to the same Dao.

If there’s a predecessor who is already a Daoist Master on this Dao, then your choices for advancement are limited to two, either wait for their demise or seize control of the Dao!

A battle over the Dao! This is a battle beyond life and death!

If a cultivator in the Eighth Realm is deposed from the position of Daoist Master, their cultivation would fall back into the embarrassing position between the Seventh and Eighth Realm, a stage the world calls "Half-Seventh Realm". It would be stronger than the average cultivator in the Seventh Realm, but weaker than those in the Eighth Realm.

Ever since ancient times, almost none of the challengers had been successful in the struggle for the Dao. After all, the predecessors who have held the Tianyuan for many years are far superior to the challengers in terms of cultivation, mindset and experience.

How difficult is it to vie for the Dao?

If a talent with ambition appears among the cultivators, they would notice unclaimed Daos in the world as early as in the Sixth Realm. Daos such as "Yin Yang", "Qiankun", and "Five Elements", however, you basically wouldn’t need to consider.

The eminent of each generation must inevitably taste defeat.

If one chooses a litigious, unpopular Dao, it would be easier to advance to the Eighth Realm. For example, the Dao of Music followed by Nanyin Square has several sub-Daos under it. The number of these Daos even exceeds the current number of Seventh Realm musicians. Providing one each would even leave a surplus.

It’s just that musicians who can reach the threshold of the Eighth Realm are not often seen...

Compared to the unpopular "musicians", the competition among "sword cultivators" is described as fierce.

There are three known Sword Cultivation Paths in the world, namely "Jue Yun", "Void Slashing", and "Cosmic".

The Daoist Master of the "Jue Yun" Dao is the Sword Emperor of the Western Sea; the Daoist Master of the "Void Slashing" Dao is Sword Saint Eight Elder Li; the Daoist Master of the "Cosmic" Dao is the Regent Leader of Yu Capital City!

These three individuals are all personalities worth mentioning.

Among them, Eight Elder Li was the first to reach the Tianyuan Realm, he has stood guard at the Endless Sword Sect for a lifetime, rightfully earning the title of Sword Saint; The Regent Leader was second, his rule over the Regent Residence is the anchor of the Nine States of the Yu Dynasty, he rarely takes action and is a figure shrouded in mystery, but there has never been news of his defeat. The Sword Emperor of the Western Sea emerged from the Suspended Sword Country just a few decades ago, before encountering Eight Elder Li, he once swept all the sword cultivators in the world and committed countless murders, thereby seizing the last Sword Cultivation Path.

Each one is more formidable than the other!

Therefore, there has been frequent talk over the past several decades that the path of sword cultivation has come to an end!

But fortunately, not every sword cultivator can cultivate to the Eighth Realm, so most sword cultivators don’t need to worry about the trouble of vying for the Dao with these three people.

But Daoist Yan has to consider this.

Among them, the Sword Emperor of the Western Sea is the least experienced one. Moreover, Daoist Yan is mainly cultivating the Jue Yun Dao, which means she has a higher cultivation in this Dao.

Competing with him for the Dao in the future is indeed the choice with the greatest chance of success.

However...

There are always unclaimed Daos in the world, which have yet to see the emergence of a Daoist Master. If Daoist Yan stops focusing exclusively on sword cultivation and switches to something else, she might well hold the Tianyuan given her talent.

But Empress Feng will not persuade her to switch.

Because she knows her friend wouldn’t do such a thing—an indomitable spirit is Daoist Yan’s Taoist Heart.

Thus, Empress Feng’s face, in a rare show of seriousness, said, "You can put your mind at ease and focus on cultivating these days. With me here, you don’t need to worry about your disciples on Biluo Peak."

Before her words could fade, a five-colored glow rose against the distant sky dome.

Daoist Yan looked in the direction of Pagoda Peak, where the phenomenon of Five Qi Initiation was taking place, and smiled, "It’s Yue Bai."

Empress Feng turned her gaze and, a moment later, saw another phenomenon of the Qi Sea Xuan Core rising.

She also smiled, "It’s Chu Liang."

In stark contrast, Daoist Yan’s face turned gloomy.

That’s because she saw that these two Zhou Tian Phenomena were intertwined!

"Look at that. It’s my disciple and your disciple hehe, it can’t be that they’re dual..." Before Empress Feng could finish her excited words, she suddenly stopped as she saw Daoist Yan’s gloomy expression, and quickly changed her words: "Dual breakthroughs right? See this... isn’t it a coincidence?"

Daoist Yan’s gaze flickered uncertainly.

Empress Feng’s smile was irrepressible.

After a while, Daoist Yan finally said, "Maybe."

Though Empress Feng had just assured Daoist Yan that "you don’t have to worry about your disciples on Biluo Peak", she has already started to worry. And the one she’s worried about is Empress Feng’s disciple!

Daoist Yan even began to ponder in her heart. Apparently, her relationship with Old Man Sikong and Dan Taijing seems to be okay, it wouldn’t hurt to ask them to take care of her disciples on her peak.

She could ignore everything else, but there is one point that she must entrust them to be strictly in charge of, and that is...

No Dual Cultivation!