Chapter 1 Heaven is Tilting

There are five paths of cultivation under Heaven: Daoism, Buddhism, Demons, Ghosts, and the Heretical.

The five paths are distinct yet intertwined. Among them, Daoism, Buddhism, and the Heretical mostly consist of humans, while Demons and Ghosts are truly distinct.

In the eyes of cultivators, the Yin-Yang Underworld City Gods are anomalies.

And in their view, the Human Path is a disgrace for associating with these anomalies!

They used to be restrained by the You Ming Fǔ Jūn (Underworld Monarch) and the Yin-Yang Underworld City Gods, but now that contact with the You Ming has been lost, their true feelings are revealed.

Seeing Lian Sheng Daoren's current state, they didn't feel sorry for their own kind, but rather a sense of unspeakable joy.

The world of mortals is full of changes, and people's hearts are fickle.

Lian Sheng Daoren couldn't fully understand the minds of these cultivation experts, but he could guess and see through them.

In fact, the decline of the Human Path was due, in part, to the actions of some of those present.

Clap, clap.

He brushed the dust off his Daoist robe and stood up, facing the many malicious and sarcastic gazes.

As if oblivious, he cupped his hands towards the surroundings:

"Lian Sheng of the Human Path greets you all, True… Humans!"

Unsurprisingly, there was no response.

The hall was full of guests, yet it felt empty.

Lian Sheng Daoren wasn't surprised. He didn't lower his cupped hands, but sighed softly:

"True they may be, but human they are not."

Xiao Feng's smile disappeared, replaced by a hint of coldness:

"Your mouth is harder than your bones."

"Haha!"

Tian Hu Zhenren (Heavenly Tiger Perfected Being), a burly middle-aged man who looked more like a demon beast than a Daoist, laughed heartily:

"To fall to such a state and still dare to mock us, if nothing else, you have a bit of the You Ming Fǔ Jūn's courage! Just for that, you're qualified to attend this Wanfa Dahui (Ten Thousand Dharma Assembly)!

At that time, this Perfected Being will have to try out the Human Path's methods!"

Lian Sheng Daoren's expression didn't change:

"I will naturally be waiting."

"Daoist Brother Tian Hu is going too far. Although Daoist Lian Sheng has cultivated for many more years than us, today is different from the past. Such behavior will give people reason to say we're bullying the weak with our strength."

Another Daoist in the hall spoke with a light laugh:

"My Five Elements Pavilion has a promising disciple in recent years. Why not let him ask Daoist Lian Sheng for guidance and settle the matter?"

"Is that so?"

Lian Sheng Laodao (Old Daoist) looked at the Daoist who spoke, neither pleased nor angry:

"Then I only hope that Wǔ Yùn Zhenren's (Five Elements Perfected Being) disciples are numerous enough so as not to lose their lineage."

"Hehe."

Wǔ Yùn Zhenren sneered repeatedly, saying no more.

"Fellow Daoists, there will be plenty of time to reminisce in the future. Today, just drink and enjoy yourselves. There's no need to say anything else."

Xiao Feng raised his wine cup, completely ignoring Lian Sheng standing in the hall, and toasted the many Perfected Beings:

"Please!"

All the Perfected Beings raised their cups and toasted in return.

Lian Sheng had neither seat nor wine, but his face showed no expression. He simply sat cross-legged on the floor.

He slapped the ground, creating a 'bang, bang' sound to accompany his song:

"Heaven is tilting, the earth is collapsing, the Milky Way floods the human world, a great disaster. In the torrential rain, a hundred ghosts walk in daylight, and some people mix among them, happier than ghosts...

Hey!

Happier than ghosts!"

The sound of his long song filled the hall, and even spread far away.

The sounds of clinking cups in the hall were temporarily drowned out, and many Perfected Beings looked at the old Daoist in the hall who was slapping the ground and singing, all somewhat stunned.

Had he gone mad?

.......

As winter approached, a night of howling north winds brought a sudden snowstorm. Goose feather snowflakes fell and covered the world.

For a time, everything within sight was a vast expanse of white snow.

The world was clean.

At the break of dawn, before the sky was fully light, the city of Qing Du was already bustling with people.

These people, covered in snow, began to clear the snow along the streets, moving forward as more snow continued to fall.

After a night of heavy snow, there wasn't much accumulation on the streets of Qing Du.

It was clear that these people hadn't just woken up early, but hadn't slept at all.

Beneath the prosperity, there were always unsightly scars. Qing Du was like that, and so was the world.

Dong~

Dong~

Dong~

Before long, the loud sounds of bells rose along with the sun, and scattered golden light broke through the clouds, spreading from the east across Qing Du.

Wisps of incense smoke drifted out from the Rulai (Tathagata) Monastery, and could be smelled for miles, thicker and denser than cooking smoke.

Ruzhen, the old monk, slowly opened his eyes. Without even moving, he had already arrived at the thirty-three-story Sharira Pagoda in the backyard.

The Sharira Pagoda was solemn and grand, with dozens of Vajra statues standing like mountains in front of it.

Snowflakes fell in the sky, but not a single one landed on the Sharira Pagoda or even within the entire Rulai Monastery. It was as if an invisible barrier had blocked everything, and the snowflakes would slide off hundreds of feet above the ground.

"Abbot."

Upon reaching the thirty-third floor of the Sharira Pagoda, Ruzhen bowed slightly:

"This disciple sat quietly through the long night, and my mind was filled with distracting thoughts. The last time this happened was two Jiazi (120 years) ago. I believe it is because the Wanfa Dahui (Ten Thousand Dharma Assembly) is approaching, and my heart is giving me a warning. This assembly may bring misfortune..."

He was only half a step away from achieving the Golden Body, and his mental cultivation was extremely deep. It had been many years since he had experienced such a situation.

This was a premonition.

An ominous premonition!

"What if it's auspicious, and what if it's inauspicious?"

A majestic and mountain-like Buddhist voice came from inside the room, carrying the mystical power to cleanse people's hearts:

"Prajna has been achieved, and Tathagata is also complete. My limit has been reached, and it is difficult to advance further. That Tianyi (Will of Heaven) has deep Gong Xing (Meritorious Conduct) and even deeper schemes. If his Shi Jing Wen Tian Dao (Ten Scriptures Questioning Heaven Dao) is successful, there will be no place for us in this world.

We have no choice, we have no choice."

Crack, crack.

As the voice echoed, the tightly closed door emitted a slight groan.

Then, it opened wide.

Vaguely, one could see a monk sitting cross-legged on a white lotus platform within.

"This matter concerns the ten-thousand-year legacy of my Rulai Monastery, so we must be cautious, even more cautious."

Ruzhen put his hands together and responded in a low voice:

"Tianyi (Will of Heaven) is entrenched in the dragon qi of the nation, making him nearly invincible in this Da Qing. We should plan carefully."

He wasn't afraid, but this matter was too important.

With his temperament, he couldn't help but feel apprehensive.

If this matter failed, the Rulai Monastery's thousands of monks and countless believers would be nothing more than a fleeting dream.

"For Jiazi (60 years), you have participated in politics, supported successive crown princes, and planned several assassinations of the emperor, but all have failed. Have you ever wondered why?"

Inside the room, the majestic voice sounded again.

Ruzhen paused slightly, then replied:

"The hearts of billions of people are with him, cultivators are inevitably restricted, and with the protection of dragon qi, the old emperor's Mandate of Heaven has not yet been broken, making it difficult to succeed..."

"That's not it. That old emperor is a crucial part of Tianyi's (Will of Heaven) plan. Do you think he is only protected by those superficial juniors?"

The voice of the Ruyi Monk (Wish-Fulfilling Monk) came out, devoid of any emotion:

"Weaknesses that are exposed are often not the real weaknesses..."

"Hmm?!"

Ruzhen's heart trembled, then he shook his head:

"The Tianyi Sect's two Dùjié (Tribulation Transcending) guest elders and six Zhenren (Perfected Being) elders are all under our surveillance. They have rarely returned to the city in the past Jiazi (60 years). Although Xiao Feng has obtained the true inheritance of Tianyi and is also the Vice Sect Leader, he has not yet passed the Four-Nine Lightning Tribulation. If there is any unusual movement, he cannot hide it from me..."

His actions might not be perfect, but he shouldn't be unaware of who was protecting him.

The Ruyi Monk sighed softly, his voice filled with emotion:

"You're still missing one person, he..."

What?!

Ruzhen's body trembled, as if struck by lightning:

"He, he..."

.......

Planting trees is a difficult task.

This is especially true for spiritual plants.

From the soil, water, seed selection, sunlight, spiritual energy, and even the earth's veins, Feng Shui, and starlight, there are various considerations.

Snow fell silently, but nine-nine percent of the Tianyi Sect was untouched by it.

Only the thatched hut surrounded by a fence in the backyard was covered in snow.

In front of the fence, a spiritual spring drawn from ten thousand miles away flowed slowly, and the snow water mixed within showed no signs of freezing.

Tianyi Zhenren (Heavenly Will Perfected Being) was not in seclusion.

Or rather, he no longer needed to be in seclusion. But he preferred planting trees, watering, and loosening the soil to hosting people from various sects.

Drip~~~

Drops of spiritual liquid formed from incense poured from the watering pot, patting the branches and leaves, and flowing on the humanoid fruit with complete facial features.

"All things in Heaven and Earth share the same origin, and there should be no difference, but we always have to go through various means, conversions, to get what we want..."

Tianyi Zhenren carried the watering pot, as if talking to himself:

"The wonder of creation, the mystery of Tianyi (Heavenly Will), are truly indescribable..."

Xiao Feng stood outside the fence, listening and watching quietly, without making a sound.

After Tianyi Zhenren finished speaking, he bowed slightly and reported:

"The Xishan (West Mountain) Wanfa (Ten Thousand Dharma) platform is almost complete, and the Wanfa Dahui (Ten Thousand Dharma Assembly) can be held in a little over a month. If the Sect Leader needs it, it can be completed even faster."

Tianyi Zhenren was proficient in Xiantian Number Calculation, and many things couldn't be hidden from him.

However, he knew what he knew, but he wouldn't omit what he should report.

Tianyi Daoren (Heavenly Will Daoist) had more than one disciple, and there was a reason why he could become the Vice Sect Leader.

"There's no need."

Tianyi Zhenren waved his hand: "It's cold, and too many people will die during construction. Although human lives are as cheap as grass, there's no need to fill unnecessary things with human lives. Grass also has its uses."

"The Sect Leader is merciful."

Xiao Feng nodded and added a compliment.

"Mercy is a Buddhist trick. We don't do that. Heretical is heretical, Dao is Dao, why pull a fig leaf, what's the point?"

Tianyi Zhenren smiled dumbly.

"After all, having it is better for harvesting incense. The Rulai Monastery's methods are even more clever, and they have already taken away the incense from many prefectures."

Xiao Feng said tentatively.

"People are not grass and trees, and even grass and trees pursue sunny places. There's nothing to it."

Tianyi Daoren put down the watering pot and began to prune the branches and leaves of the grass elixir:

"But if there is no choice, there will still be grass and trees in the desert, and seaweed under the deep sea. After this time, they will have no choice..."

"The Sect Leader is wise."

Xiao Feng said sincerely.

Seeing that Tianyi Zhenren was no longer speaking, he cupped his hands and was about to leave.

"I heard the results of the imperial examination have been announced?"

Xiao Feng stopped and looked at Tianyi Zhenren.

He saw that his eyes were deep and filled with an unfathomable smile as he asked:

"Then, tomorrow is the Palace Examination?"