Chapter 127 Dao Yi Seeks

He didn't disturb the ecstatic reunion of Daoist Chang Lin and his disciple.

An Qisheng leisurely left Golden Bell Mountain. The thunder in the sky was only a fleeting moment. Others might have thought it was just a bolt of lightning on a sunny day, but he could sense the arrival of an enormous threat.

"Xie Qi..."

An Qisheng murmured to himself.

His Dream Entering Method originated from the Dao Yi Diagram, but it was limited by his own nascent soul, unable to reach the ability of the Dao Yi Diagram to enter the dreams of the vast world, let alone the yet-to-be-mastered omniscience and omnipotence.

Therefore, he was not surprised that he could not capture Xie Qi's spiritual imprint.

After all, he didn't want to test whether he, in his current state, was a match for Bai Qi, the Lord of the End of Life.

However, just because he couldn't do it himself at this moment didn't mean he had no means to know all of this.

If he didn't use the Dao Yi Diagram now, when would he use it?

Buzz~

The Dao Yi Diagram in the depths of his soul immediately shone brightly.

In the ripples like water waves, dots of writing appeared:

[Diagram Master has no coordinates to provide, forcibly searching will consume 15,009 units of Dao Power (tenfold consumption)]

[Search?]

The Dao Yi Diagram glowed, giving its response.

Fifteen thousand and nine!

Although he had some expectations in his heart, An Qisheng was still taken aback. Even without the tenfold consumption, it still required 1,509 units.

This was the second most Dao Power he had needed since coming to the human realm of the Imperial Heaven Realm.

Even Tianyi Zhenren, who had dominated the Great Qing for a hundred years and even killed a nascent soul, faintly known as the number one nascent soul true person of the Great Qing, was only at 989.

He had been activating the Dao Yi Diagram for decades, and he wasn't completely ignorant of its mechanics.

Taking Dao Power consumption as an example, surpassing five and not surpassing five were different levels, and surpassing ten was a different world altogether.

Don't let the fact that Tianyi Zhenren was only two points away from 1,000 Dao Power fool you, those two points probably required all ten of his incarnations to achieve nascent soul, and for the ten incarnations to merge into one, before it was possible to reach!

And this Lord Xie Qi, had surpassed 1,500.

Compared to Tianyi Zhenren at this time, he was fully two levels higher.

The gap between them was probably no smaller than the gap between mortals and nascent souls.

No wonder, just one glance 'differentiated the nascent soul.'

They were both nascent souls, yet the difference was so great. If the Dao Yi Diagram wasn't wrong, then there must be other secrets hidden within…

Thoughts swirling in his mind, An Qisheng nodded slightly:

"Search!"

Buzz~

In the depths of his soul, the Dao Yi Diagram erupted with light, as if layers of light and shadow flashed by.

In an instant, more text transformed and appeared:

[Target is located near a fragment of the Dao Yi Diagram, forcibly searching will consume a hundredfold Dao Power, and there is a chance of alarming the target]

Dao Yi Diagram fragment…

An Qisheng slowly opened his eyes, his brow furrowed.

He had long known that the Dao Yi Diagram was in the Netherworld, and he had thought that this Dao Yi Diagram fragment was likely related to the Netherworld Ruler and others, but he had not expected that, being fragments of the same Dao Yi Diagram, the two would actually influence each other.

"Dao Yi Diagram fragment, has it been claimed by a master?"

An Qisheng asked in his heart.

The Dao Yi Diagram gave its answer:

[The Diagram Master is not unique, there are fifty Dao Diagrams, each of which can be claimed by a master]

Hearing the Dao Yi Diagram's response, An Qisheng's heart stirred slightly, but it was only a slight ripple.

In the world, everyone is unique.

But they are also not indispensable. Demanding that oneself be unique and irreplaceable is the most ignorant delusion.

An Qisheng naturally understood this principle.

"Dao Yi Diagram fragment… Xie Qi… Netherworld Ruler…"

An Qisheng murmured to himself.

His figure had already dissipated into the void, going far away.

.......

Having obtained Xie Qi's consent, An Qisheng naturally had no more concerns.

In the following days, the original group of City Gods in Taiji Mountain ushered in their busiest years.

Under An Qisheng's request, they traveled the world, inviting many City Gods to Liang Province to accept Qi Seeds, replacing their incense offerings.

Although the Yin Si City God system, which had existed for countless years, had been shaken by the joint impact of the Tianyi Sect and the Great Qing Dynasty, there were still channels of connection between the City Gods.

That was the incense faith domain.

Relying on the incense faith domain, many City Gods shuttled between the various prefectures of the Great Qing, inviting many City Gods whose temples had been destroyed to come to Liang Province.

Initially, everything went smoothly, but later, they encountered obstacles.

The obstacles came from the Tathagata Monastery.

"You're saying, the Tathagata Monastery is also gathering City Gods?"

In Taiji Mountain, An Qisheng frowned slightly.

Gongliang Shen nodded with a solemn expression:

"Many City Gods have already accepted the invitation of the Tathagata Monastery, and have become Dharma-protecting deities of the Tathagata Monastery, changing their titles to plunder the incense of the Tianyi Sect's abandoned territories..."

"The Tathagata Monastery's move is clever. Although the high monks sent to the various prefectures earlier didn't win against the Tianyi Sect, they didn't retreat either. This time, seizing the opportunity, dozens of prefectures have fallen into the hands of Buddhist believers!"

Sun Qi's face was somewhat indignant:

"The methods of these monks are much more clever than those of the Tianyi Sect's Daoists. Every day, monks walk through the streets and alleys, teaching Buddhist teachings in various counties and villages, performing free supernaturals, conducting rituals, and subduing demons and monsters..."

At this time, he understood why those City Gods would say they were disheartened.

They had clearly found another patron.

The monks did the work, and they took the incense. With such good fortune, how could they be unwilling?

An Qisheng's brow relaxed: "If that's the case, then it can be considered a good thing."

Although he came from a Daoist background, he had no prejudice against Buddhism. The Imperial Awakening Monastery of the Everlasting Floating World had even formed a thousand-year alliance with the Wangquan Dao, advancing and retreating together.

If the Tathagata Monastery also had the intention of saving the world, he would be happy to see it happen.

The Buddhist Dharma is never wrong.

What is wrong are the false monks who distort the Buddhist Dharma.

"These monks are too strange."

Sun Qi frowned, summarizing his words:

"These monks, each and every one of them, is like an ascetic, traveling the world only to beg for some water and rice, but those temples are truly magnificent to the extreme…"

"Strangely, these monks are highly skilled. Some believers are already destitute, and still have to burn incense and worship Buddha, even borrowing money to offer incense money, saying they are seeking something in the afterlife…"

"The Lord is no longer here, the path of reincarnation is gone, who in the world can reincarnate? The deceptive faces of these monks are too ugly."

This was why Sun Qi loathed these monks.

Seeking an afterlife, if you can give believers an afterlife, then he has nothing to say, but even you yourself don't know if there is an afterlife, yet you promise believers an afterlife, it's a bit shameless.

This was different from how they City Gods did things.

Not only Sun Qi, but Pei Yuanhua, Gongliang Shen and other City Gods mostly held the same view.

Listening to everyone's discussion, An Qisheng remained noncommittal. After everyone had finished speaking, he slowly said:

"Do you think it's important to those believers whether or not there is reincarnation?"

"Ah?"

All the City Gods were stunned.

Deceiving believers was a forbidden zone for City Gods, something that the Netherworld absolutely prohibited.

Throughout history, those who used so-called means of delivering children, delivering food, and bestowing blessings and longevity to plunder incense were all called licentious shrines.

For City Gods, they were definitely at the bottom of the contempt chain.

In their view, without such strength, it was deception.

"The world hasn't reached the point where white ghosts walk in broad daylight. Many people may never see a ghost in their lives. They believe in ghosts and gods, believe in Buddha, seeking only peace of mind."

An Qisheng said calmly.

In the Xuanxing Spirit Severed Land, there was no place for reincarnation, yet there were still countless Buddhist believers. Did those believers really believe in the afterlife? Not necessarily!

Burning incense and worshipping Buddha, seeking only peace of mind.

Although it was different in a world with ghosts and gods, faith itself was not wrong.

In a world so lacking in spiritual sustenance, faith was probably the only solace for many people's souls.

He would not completely deny other people's paths just because their paths differed.

The ocean accepts all rivers, greatness lies in tolerance, the true Dao must encompass everything.

Taiji has yin and yang, so how could there be only one Dao?

"That being said, but…"

Gongliang Shen shook his head slightly.

Compared to the Daoists' attitude of 'believe if you want, or get lost,' the Buddhist methods were undoubtedly much more clever.

That fanatical fervor made his scalp tingle.

He had been a City God for hundreds of years, and had never had such crazy believers.

"City Gods who are willing to accept and have no evil deeds can still be taught the Qi Seed. If they are unwilling, then let them go."

An Qisheng said, slowly rising to his feet:

"As for the Tathagata Monastery, whether it's good or evil, we must ultimately go and see for ourselves."

"You, you're going down the mountain?"

Sun Qi nodded subconsciously, then was startled: "That Tianyi Zhenren…"

"Since he sent an invitation, why shouldn't I go?"

An Qisheng smiled faintly:

"Besides, I always have to fulfill the things I promised others."

He came to this world, firstly for the path of cultivation, absorbing the wisdom of a world to perfect his own Demonic Dao, and secondly, to find a way to kill monsters like the Imperial Heaven Ten Evils, who were nearly immortal and indestructible.

He didn't go down the mountain for cultivation, and he went down the mountain for the same reason.

"That old thief Tianyi doesn't know what his purpose is, why should you take such a risk?"

Gongliang Shen couldn't help but advise:

"According to your intention, the Qi Seed has spread to Jing, Liang, Dan and other nine prefectures. Given time, the Tianyi Sect will inevitably be driven out by us. Why are you in such a hurry to go down the mountain?"

"Yes, please reconsider."

The other City Gods also advised one after another.

In a little over a year, the original group of City Gods had all replaced their incense with Qi Seeds, rooted in the mountains, rivers, and earth veins.

They also knew some of An Qisheng's ambitions.

The City Gods were scattered among the mountains and prefectures. These mountains and prefectures were all An Qisheng's home ground, just like the Taiji Mountains more than a year ago. Now, spreading to the nine prefectures, the nine prefectures were all his home ground!

Given time, he might be able to cover the Great Qing, and even the world.

At that time, without saying a word, he would already be invincible.

In their view, going down the mountain at this time was too risky and unnecessary.

Sun Qi also couldn't help but advise:

"You are unmatched in talent, why not wait until you cultivate into a nascent soul before going down the mountain again?"

"Nascent soul, huh?"

An Qisheng shook his head lightly, and stepped forward, already going down the mountain:

"Going to Green Capital is forty-eight thousand miles away, who knows, when I arrive, the Dao will arrive too?"