The Post Sky Tipping Era
Chapter 595 - 424 Taiyi

Chapter 595: Chapter 424 Taiyi

"Is this the Heavenly Fragrance Building?"

Li Yi, surrounded by Tu Daoist, Wu the Taoist, and Nun Liu, found himself standing before a towering nine-story building. The structure was majestic and ornate, with carved beams and painted rafters. Wind chimes hung from the four corners, producing pleasant sounds as the breeze passed through. Despite being situated at the heart of the Tao Court, the area around it was tranquil and harmonious, devoid of noise or commotion. Surprisingly, few people crossed its threshold despite the busy crowds in the vicinity.

"The Heavenly Fragrance Building doesn’t seem to have much business—it’s quite deserted."

Tu Daoist remarked, "Of course there’s little business here. This place is run by the Heavenly Dao Sect, and it’s incredibly expensive. Common folk can’t afford to spend here, and some items can only be purchased with Spirit Stones. But nowadays, who has Spirit Stones? Even if someone does, they’d rather save them to stretch their life force. Naturally, business at Heavenly Fragrance Building gets worse and worse."

"But, my benefactor, you’ll find out once you step inside—it’s absolutely worth the price, even if it’s steep."

As he spoke, a sly, amused smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"By the way, I haven’t yet asked your Taoist title, benefactor." He suddenly inquired.

Taoist title?

Time to come up with another name.

But what should the title be?

Back in the Barbaric World, he could call himself Da Yi. Across the Four Seas and Eight Continents, people addressed him as Senior Brother Li Mengde. In the Sixth World, he went by Yi. His list of titles had grown longer and longer, and adding one more wouldn’t hurt.

Li Yi thought of the Taixian Weng back at the Golden Academy. Without hesitation, he declared, "Taiyi. My Taoist title is Taiyi."

Taiyi?

Tu Daoist’s expression shifted slightly, and his heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

Beside him, Wu the Taoist and Nun Liu froze upon hearing the title. Though they’d been reduced to mere mortals through spiritual decline, upon first hearing this name, they felt as though a Taoist Ancestor had descended upon the world. It was as if a supreme path had emerged, akin to the union of heaven and earth, nurturing infinite Tao and boundless meaning—a title far too grand for an ordinary person to bear.

Moreover, this man’s origins remained shrouded in mystery. He carried a new method of Cultivation, taught Martial Arts amidst the End of Dharma, and now claimed the prestigious title of Taiyi. Could this truly be Heaven’s will?

Without coordinating, the three raised their heads to gaze at the heavens.

"Why are you all just standing here? Aren’t we going inside the Heavenly Fragrance Building? Come on, I’m treating today. No need to worry about expenses."

Li Yi said cheerfully. He had inherited the entire wealth of a Golden Core Cultivator in one stroke, earning a significant fortune. With ample savings now, inviting these former Cultivation masters for a meal posed no problem at all. After all, money unspent is money wasted, and as someone new to the area, it was the perfect time to spread his wealth and forge connections.

Besides, he still had Daoist Skills to learn.

"Benefactor, lead the way," Tu Daoist responded sheepishly, then discreetly stepped back, gesturing for Li Yi to enter first.

"Alright then." Li Yi walked ahead, sensing that the Cultivators-turned-mortals were too cautious to spend extravagantly and somewhat nervous about entering.

Tu Daoist glanced at Wu the Taoist and Nun Liu.

The three exchanged looks before hurriedly following behind Li Yi. However, they meticulously kept one step behind him, careful not to walk alongside Taiyi and risk violating propriety.

As Li Yi stepped into the Heavenly Fragrance Building...

The previously quiet hall suddenly sprang to life as several young, beautiful Taoist Nuns clad in Daoist robes froze momentarily upon noticing his arrival. Soon, their bright eyes locked onto Li Yi, inspecting him repeatedly. Their gazes burned with intensity, like famished wolves who had just caught the scent of meat.

Li Yi wore the exquisite Jiao Long armor, which gave him the rugged appearance of a wild man from the mountains. Yet his towering frame, muscular build, and fair, radiant skin shimmered faintly with silvery light, lending him an aura of mysticism—a hallmark of Cultivation. In an era when spiritual decline had affected everyone, his presence stood out starkly, drawing inevitable attention.

Every step he took emanated an overwhelming aura of blazing Yang and hardened vitality, like a scorching sun radiating robust life force.

Young and enigmatic, against the tide of the End of Dharma, he surged upward in defiance of fate. What did this signify? No explanation was needed.

Taoist destiny?

Opportunity?

The chance to change one’s fate was right here.

The beautiful Taoist Nuns couldn’t help but feel their hearts race wildly. As for the bald-headed Tu Daoist and leathery-skinned Wu the Taoist... they merely served as backdrop scenery, irrelevant and easily dismissed—their strange appearances only emphasized the extraordinary nature of the man before them.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, a curvaceous, mature, and striking Taoist Nun hurried toward him. As she neared, she deliberately let out a charming exclamation and fell toward Li Yi, her delicate hands reaching out to catch hold of him in an attempt to get close and feel the mysterious energy radiating from him.

"Miss, are you alright?"

Li Yi, being both a Martial Artist and an Evolver, immediately sensed the movements in his surroundings. As the beautiful Taoist Nun collapsed toward him, he simply extended a hand to steady her without direct contact, his silvery Gang Qi forming a gentle support.

"My humble thanks to the young master for your assistance. I was in sudden distress and nearly fell, disturbing your peace—I beg for your forgiveness." The mature Taoist Nun blushed slightly and spoke coquettishly.

Tu Daoist’s eyes widened. "Xiang Xiangzi, fellow Taoist, it’s been a while. Why has your tone changed so much? Are you alright? Did your Cultivation realm fall again recently?"

He vividly remembered that every encounter with Xiang Xiangzi involved her cold demeanor and sharp tongue—her first reaction always seemed to be scolding others.

Luckily, Tu Daoist considered himself dashing and charming; had it been someone mundane, they likely wouldn’t have squeezed a single word out of her. Xiang Xiangzi was famously frosty, so why was she acting so warmly, even flirtatiously, toward Taiyi today?

At these words, Xiang Xiangzi immediately shot him a frost-cold glare that could kill. Her lips moved subtly as she silently mouthed a string of words: "Die! Hurry up and die, you bald-headed fool."

"..."

Tu Daoist suddenly felt a sharp pang in his heart.

He thought that becoming youthful again should render him irresistible to the Heavenly Fragrance Building’s Immortal beauties. How did it end up like this?

Li Yi then spoke, "Having newly arrived in the Tao Court, I was fortunate to be rescued by Tu Daoist. Today, I wish to host a banquet for everyone as gratitude for saving my life. Miss, can you arrange a large private room and prepare some fine food and drinks? Of course, payment won’t be an issue—here’s the deposit. If it’s not enough, let me know."

He retrieved a Spirit Stone from his Storage Magical Artifact and handed it over.

"A Spirit Stone?" The other young and beautiful Taoist Nuns exclaimed in unison.

The Spiritual Energy was incredibly abundant.

In this End of Dharma era, where Spiritual Energy had long diminished, someone possessing such a richly infused Spirit Stone was unheard of. It was no wonder that this man could rise against the currents and thrive.

"It’s no trouble, young master. How could I not comply with your request?"

Xiang Xiangzi’s beautiful eyes lit up as she hastily tucked the Spirit Stone away in her sleeve while subtly stroking Li Yi’s hand, refusing to let go.

This aura...

Xiang Xiangzi’s heart trembled, overwhelmed by the powerful energy emanating from Li Yi’s body. Even the lightest touch allowed her to perceive the immense Spiritual Energy flowing within him. Despite the End of Dharma era, his mortal shell showed no signs of deterioration; instead, it seemed to be undergoing a Transformation.

"How could this be?" She was inwardly stunned.

From what her senses told her, the young man before her bore no resemblance to other Cultivators surviving the End of Dharma. He seemed more like someone who had lived his entire life amidst pure Spiritual Energy—even a surviving Grotto Heaven couldn’t match this abundance.

"Miss, why are you holding my hand? Is the deposit insufficient?" Li Yi asked her bluntly.

Xiang Xiangzi snapped out of her daze, then smiled coyly and said, "The deposit is sufficient. My Taoist title is Xiang Xiangzi—I haven’t yet asked for the young master’s name. A man of your caliber must be a Divine Son of some grand sect."

Reluctantly, she released his hand, yet inwardly speculated that Li Yi must be a prodigy secretly cultivated by a top sect to restore Dao traditions—or perhaps bearing the burden of his sect’s rise and fall.

After all, the End of Dharma had persisted for many years, and it wasn’t uncommon for dormant sects to finally act out of desperation.

"My Taoist title is Taiyi, but I am not a Divine Son of any grand sect," Li Yi replied.

"Taiyi..."

Xiang Xiangzi was momentarily taken aback, her incredulous eyes fixed on Li Yi.

"Tai represents greatness, Yi represents change—could the transformation of the End of Dharma’s fate and the sliver of hope reside within this man?" Instantly, her mind surged with numerous thoughts.

As someone who had achieved Five Qi Chaoyuan and opened the Three Flowers at the Top during her peak, Xiang Xiangzi shared Tu Daoist’s keen sensitivity to changes in Daoist providence. Yet for countless years, she felt no stirrings—today, at first sight of Li Yi and upon hearing his title, she was certain Taiyi was her foundation for enlightenment.

"Indeed, Xiang Xiangzi has sensed it as well." Tu Daoist’s eyes gleamed, unsurprised.

Back in his prime, Tu Daoist had only managed to open one of the Three Flowers atop his head, whereas Xiang Xiangzi had opened two, nearing Great Perfection. Though her realm had since declined, the moment she saw Li Yi and heard the name "Taiyi," she would inevitably feel a resonance.

This kind of mystical perception transcends explanation.

To believers, it’s unwavering proof.

To skeptics, it’s meaningless sound.

Yet for someone once near Enlightenment, failing to detect Dao’s call would make them incompetent and unworthy of Cultivation—a failure deserving immediate demise.

"Taiyi, do you see what’s in my hand?"

Xiang Xiangzi suddenly extended her slender, delicate fingers with a radiant smile. Her ten fingers danced nimbly, forming intricate Dharma Seals. Then, in a mesmerizing transformation, her hands resembled blooming lotuses that slowly opened.

A transcendent, holy flower appeared—a projection—but it began withering almost immediately, fading away like a fleeting blossom.

Li Yi gazed at it out of instinct, and in that moment, his spirit lapsed into an ephemeral trance. Within this mystical reverie, he grasped fragments of universal truth. His comprehension of Cultivation accelerated rapidly, as if all the gaps in his prior understanding suddenly knitted together in perfect clarity.

"The Primordial Spirit Flower? Xiang Xiangzi, just what are you doing?" Tu Daoist’s eyes widened with disbelief.

Amid an era of spiritual decline, to manifest a Primordial Spirit Flower meant one of two things: staking everything or self-abolishing one’s Cultivation.

But what could prompt Xiang Xiangzi to gamble her life or willingly sever her roots for Taiyi? They’d only just met!

Were these two about to clash in a deadly struggle?

Or was she seriously contemplating abandonment of hard-earned accomplishments? The Primordial Spirit Flower was the cornerstone of a Cultivator’s foundation. To let it wither was to forsake any chance of achieving Three Flowers Gathering at the Top—a fate most Cultivators would resist even in death.

"Go!"

Xiang Xiangzi fixed her eyes on Li Yi, revealing a smile brimming with expectation. Seizing Li Yi’s fleeting distraction, she sent her Primordial Spirit Flower into his body.

"It’s the Heavenly Dao Sect’s Transplanting Flower and Wood technique."

Wu the Taoist, knowledgeable and wise, seemed to recognize the method. His face turned tense as he explained, "Xiang Xiangzi has transplanted her Primordial Spirit Flower into Taiyi, hoping it will bloom anew if Taiyi ever succeeds in opening Three Flowers Gathering at the Top."

"What? Why on earth would she risk her life so suddenly while conducting business?" Tu Daoist asked in astonishment.

"This madwoman—does she truly believe Taiyi will enable her to regenerate the Primordial Spirit Flower? What if it fails midway? She’d be finished. And if Taiyi absorbs the flower entirely for his own use, what then?" Nun Liu voiced her shock, staring in disbelief.