Yuan Miao Da Sheng looked at this unknown world. The mountains were high and the seas were vast. The Ten Continents and Three Islands were merely fragments of the Inner Mountain and River, yet even so, they were already this immense. After all, this was an ancient immortal blessed land, and there were countless similar places.
As for the Outer Mountain and River, it was laughable and pathetic, barren and weak. However, it was the source of all myths, the birthplace of the Inner Mountain and River.
The Inner Mountain and River had to grudgingly acknowledge this ancestor. Without the existence of the Outer Mountain and River, the expansion of the Inner Mountain and River would cease, and the spiritual energy within would gradually dissipate.
Of course, the Outer Mountain and River would not be destroyed. That weak world, though barren and laughable, was "imperishable through all tribulations" and "the dwelling place of all Daos."
Therefore, many in the Inner Mountain and River had speculated that the secret of the true birth of the Great Dao and the essence of cultivation in the Three Upper Realms were actually hidden within the Outer Mountain and River. The imperial might of a dynasty was a grand Dao that could confer true gods.
The conferment of true gods, the condensation of wishes, and the transformation into red clouds – this was a realm that countless cultivators yearned to achieve! It was the highest fruition of Daoist cultivation! However, through normal cultivation, even in the Inner Mountain and River, no one could cultivate to the realm of transforming into red clouds on their own.
Except for one exceptionally powerful divine position, which could refine elixirs and transform into red clouds, but it was now stolen.
As for the Outer Mountain and River, no one knew where this Great Dao of conferring gods came from or why it appeared!
Of course, although this Great Dao was infinitely powerful, the operation of all its rules depended on the powerless mortal emperors. Moreover, this Great Dao always seemed rather unintelligent.
Ascending to the Void Refining stage, its peak is called Ascended Immortal; after Void Refining is Dao Harmonization, at which point the human heart transforms into the Heavenly Heart, completely ascending to immortal fruition, called True Immortal. This realm is known as [Heavenly Heart’s Return]; Xuan Yuan merges into one, transforming into the True Dao, at which point it is the Hunyuan realm, called Heavenly Venerable.
Ascending to the sixteenth realm, Heavenly Heart is the seventeenth realm, Hunyuan is the eighteenth realm, and after that are the Three Upper Realms.
Zhuangzi said, the sage has no name, the divine has no merit, the ultimate has no self. These three states correspond to the depth of understanding the Great Dao.
To truly reach the Three Upper Realms, the Great Dao and spiritual essence of both the Outer and Inner Mountain and River must complement each other.
This is why many people are very concerned about the dynastic changes in the Outer Mountain and River, and even personally intervene to manipulate them. This is because the Dao of the dynasty is the easiest Dao to complement with masters above the ascension realm!
Of course, among all the manipulated dynasties, the Song Dynasty was the most disappointing, holding the legitimate succession but lacking ambition.
"The passage of time in the Outer Mountain and River is too slow. Ten thousand years have passed in the Inner Mountain and River, yet the Outer Mountain and River has only barely seen eight hundred years."
"A dynasty every two to three hundred years, and ten thousand palaces have turned to dust!"
Ancient legends often spoke of seven days in the mountains, and a thousand years in the world.
The Inner Mountain and River is the true great world, while the Outer Mountain and River is like that mountain peak.
The powerful in the Inner Mountain and River have ample time to cultivate, but the cultivators in the Outer Mountain and River do not have such good luck. Ascension relies entirely on luck. The peak of Pure Yang is already an unparalleled master.
Those three strange divine positions were all transformed from the wishes of Song Dynasty emperors. Yuan Miao Da Sheng needed them to operate the Song Dynasty's Great Dao, and they also needed Yuan Miao Da Sheng to help them regain control of the mountains and rivers and return.
Most of the actions of the princes and generals of the Outer Mountain and River in their struggle for天下 (the world) were, in Yuan Miao Da Sheng's eyes, a joke. Most people were also unaware that they were merely puppets.
"A dynasty changes every two to three hundred years, and ten thousand palaces have turned to dust!"
Yuan Miao Da Sheng sighed.
Is the Yang world the Outer Mountain and River, and the Yin world not the Outer Mountain and River?
They are all the same. The Song Dynasty hid in the shadow of the Ming Dynasty, making arrangements since the time of Emperor Zhenzong of Song. They feared death and the loss of their ancestors' foundation, hence the idea of wishful resurrection.
In this way, even if the Song Dynasty perished, it could hide in the shadow of the new dynasty. When the dynasty changed, it would be a great opportunity. It was just that at that time, when the Ming Dynasty was newly established, the Song Dynasty's timing was not ripe, and they dared not act.
At that time, these three divine positions had not yet been nurtured.
At that time, there was a master in the Yang world who was only half a step away from ascension.
"Master, then in that case, is the Great Dao of the current Ming Dynasty incomplete?"
"A part of it was stolen and is now within the Song Dynasty. Our help to the Song Dynasty is also a form of observation, because the part of the Great Dao they stole and took away with their wishes has shown signs of gradually growing into a complete Great Dao."
Everything they were planning now was to gain more benefits when the great trend of the unification of the Outer and Inner Mountain and River arrived!
"The Great Dao is invisible. Master, how do you observe it?"
Yuan Miao Da Sheng explained:
"By observing the operation of their imperial might and whether it can affect each other. Now, the Song Dynasty's imperial might can actually affect the spirits of the Ming Dynasty, which is very different from the past."
"Although it is the Yin realm of the Outer Mountain and River, it has also been promised that if an ascended master emerges and unifies the Yang world, they can enter the Inner Mountain and River and become an immortal dynasty."
"But this time, the Song Dynasty's plan has failed again."
"Instead, the Ming Dynasty's performance has been more outstanding."
"I believe that soon, very soon, masters from the Inner Mountain and River will find ways to contact the Ming Emperor, persuade him, and bestow treasures."
The bestowed treasure is a drop of "Heavenly Marrow," which is the supreme essence. Many people in the Outer Mountain and River have already obtained Heavenly Marrow and are being utilized and driven by the great powers of the Inner Mountain and River.
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Of course, in the Inner Mountain and River, there is also a Ming Dynasty emperor, but that emperor who seized the position of "Laozi" is now being pursued and intercepted by other masters. It is feared that he cannot send dreams to his descendants...
Yuan Miao Da Sheng thought so.
He did not know about the arrival of Elder Lei Xuan in the current world.
Of course, Emperor Jiajing himself was an extremely selfish person. He did not care whether Emperor Wanli would be persuaded and become a lackey of some people in the Inner Mountain and River!
Because as long as he, Jiajing, was alive, no matter how the Great Ming went astray, it would always be his thing!
But.....
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The twenty-fifth year of Wanli, the twenty-third day of the sixth month, the fourth watch.
Emperor Wanli was drowsily asleep when he suddenly heard someone calling his name. He was muttering in his sleep, scolding the other person for being rebellious and arrogant. However, soon someone pushed him. This extremely offensive act immediately startled Emperor Wanli awake.
"Emperor Wanli, you may not recognize me..."
"What demon! Damn it, take my sword!"
Because his nerves had been taut these past few days, Emperor Wanli had seen too many demons. Having just obtained the Jingzhen Sword and heard Old Zhang's warning, he dared not let go of this precious sword. Now, upon being called by a master from the Inner Mountain and River in a dream, he was so frightened that he drew his sword and slashed!
I love killing gods in my dreams!
This sword was a tribute to Wei Zheng and also to Cao Cao!
The Jingzhen Divine Sword unleashed its sword energy, and a cold light slashed out, splitting the form and spirit of that master from the Inner Mountain and River into pieces, causing him to dissipate directly in the imperial palace of the Outer Mountain and River!
"Eh, hit? What did I cut?"