Chapter 410: Chapter 352: Finally Breaking Through the Tribulation, A Cultivator Martyrs_2
That is also the reason why the disciples support them.
Because of the comparison with outsiders, their loyalty to the sect grows even stronger.
"I feel it isn’t detailed enough. Let’s reward each division according to A, B, C ranks, thereby creating a gap between the diligent and the lazy. This will give the lazy motivation to cultivate as well."
Qingyu voiced her proposal.
"Brilliant!"
Song Lin’s voice carried from outside the door.
Everyone turned their heads, seeing Song Lin standing with his hands behind his back at the center of the great hall’s doorway.
His aura was now restrained, lacking the sharpness of before. He looked like an ordinary scholar, and an unfamiliar Taoist disciple might have mistaken him for some random mortal wandering into the room.
"Greetings, Taoist Master!"
"Has the Taoist Master achieved a breakthrough?" Shi Yinhua couldn’t help but feel an invisible pressure through the calm atmosphere.
"Indeed." Song Lin nodded with a smile.
"That’s wonderful!" Everyone rejoiced.
The Taoist Master’s breakthrough to the Transcendence Tribulation Stage demonstrated that Donghua Forest had distanced itself from the other forest master factions.
The Transcendence Tribulation Stage, being the realm below the Heavenly Master, represents one of the pinnacle strengths of the Taoist school. How could this not excite everyone?
"I will notify all members of the forest and arrange a proper celebration." Shi Yinhua prepared to retrieve the imprint and use talismans for the proclamation.
"No rush. Where are Guu Yuchan and the others?"
"They went to retrieve the Spirit Talisman brothers. Yan Jiuge is escorting Wu Yi back to the temple."
Song Lin pondered for a moment and decided he should head out to meet them.
To avoid any potential danger—this wasn’t mere overthinking, but rather an undeniable forewarning stemming from a sudden intuition.
Whenever such premonitions struck a higher cultivator, it was never baseless but often contained threads of truth.
...
In the Yunzhou region, a convoy of Dragon Blood Carriages sped through with flame-like tails blazing.
Scaling mountains, traversing rivers, crossing forests.
Everywhere they passed, demons and ghosts scattered from their path.
Leading the convoy was a carriage marked with a fierce, ghastly face—signifying the Holy Might Family emblem.
Inside the carriage, its spacious interior resembled a hall three zhang in length and width.
Two brothers, bearing a resemblance in their features, sat with Guu Yuchan, drinking tea together.
Elder brother Spirit Talisman appeared somewhat anxious, unsure if Donghua Forest could truly protect them.
After all, their actions amounted to severing ties with a Heavenly Master.
Their very own ancestor had become their father’s murderer—a preposterous drama that hadn’t surfaced in millennia.
Facing such circumstances, they chose to side with their father, opposing their own ancestor in betrayal.
Seeing the unease on the faces of the brothers, Guu Yuchan reassured them, saying, "Please rest assured, the forest will protect you. I would sacrifice my life before letting fellow Taoists who come seeking asylum despair in faith."
"Thank you, Taoist friend."
Even then, the brothers felt uncertain deep in their hearts.
Though Song Lin was formidable, much of his strength relied on Yin Spring Palace and Zhengxin’s contributions.
After all, he was merely in the Purple Mansion realm, and what he could achieve was greatly limited.
The Shadow Heavenly Master, no matter how skilled, was ultimately a shadow. Once appearing publicly, he couldn’t ensure their absolute safety.
Guu Yuchan noticed their lingering doubts but chose to remain silent.
Others questioning their circumstances was understandable; after all, the Heavenly Master was a master of Primordial Spirit-level prowess, wielding the Heavenly Master’s Great Dao.
Such concerns could only be dispelled with time and proof.
Meanwhile, amidst the convoy sat another carriage.
Wu Yi and others occupied it. On their journey, they received news and thus joined the convoy to travel together.
Opposite Wu Yi sat a man with sharp brows and bright eyes, carefully polishing his treasure sword.
Inches by inches, his focused effort reflected his meticulous care, his concentrated expression immune to any external distractions.
The sword occasionally emitted a crisp hum.
Wu Yi couldn’t help but gaze enviously.
He too possessed talent, cultivating for five years to enter the Divine Establishment Period, dabbling in Taoist Soldiers, Thunder Skills, and Alchemy. Yet, when it came to the Swordman Dao—a method that excludes external techniques—he had wanted to learn but found himself incapable.
"No need to envy. Your duty is to guard your lands, protect the people, and ensure their safety. This is far harder than mere cultivation."
Yan Jiuge spoke without lifting his gaze from his work.
An image formed in Wu Yi’s mind.
Along the way, desolate homes stood empty, with silence spanning miles and no rooster crowing.
Droughts, plagues, locusts—people starving and resorting to cannibalism.
Upon leaving Donghua Forest’s territory, Wu Yi couldn’t fathom that the mortal world had become such a sight.
This dynasty was sick. Gravely sick.
Beyond nature’s calamities existed corrupt officials, mountain bandits, wandering thieves, and monsters—all sources of manmade and supernatural suffering.
The big influential figures sitting in high positions within the court utterly disregarded the common folks, obsessed only with power struggles and exploiting the populace.
Growing up deep within the palace, Wu Yi had always thought he suffered greatly. Only now did he witness the true pain of humanity.
"Why is our place so different from the rest?" Wu Yi posed a question.
"Guess for yourself."
After brief contemplation, Wu Yi grasped the underlying reason.
"Six Heavenly Old Qi, Six Heavenly Old Qi... The Taoist Master has not deceived me. I must delve into enlightenment. One day, I shall change this world!"
Wu Yi resolved his ambition.
In these five years, he had learned far too broadly, dabbling in various realms and disciplines without mastering any single one.
"Scripture Master, in your opinion, which vein of cultivation suits me best?"
Wu Yi confessed his lack of knowledge and posed the question to Yan Jiuge.
"You?" Yan Jiuge sheathed his sword after deftly spinning a sword blossom. "None suit you. You must follow your own Dao."
With the sword back in its scabbard, its fierce intent diffused.
"My own Dao?"
"Yes. The Taoist Master once said that each man has his own Dao. First establish your aspirations, then pursue them. My discipline lies in the extremes of sword and Dao, hence my achievements."
"What is my Dao?"
This question seemed directed at Yan Jiuge, yet it was truly aimed inwardly at himself.
"You are a King’s Heir. The three strokes conjoined in ’King’ represent the heavens, earth, and humanity; those who harmonize them are kings. You must govern as the parent of the people, acting as the king of all under heaven."
"The path of cultivation is a narrow trail for you. You should embark on the King’s Way—vow grand aspirations, bear the burden of all living beings."
"The Taoist Master once said that kings exist ’Ten Steps Away, Within a Thousand Miles.’"
"Ten Steps Away, Within a Thousand Miles?"
Wu Yi had never heard such a saying before.
"Ten Steps Away implies an emperor doesn’t need unparalleled mastery of Taoist skills. Within ten steps, a peasant can kill the mightiest martial emperor. And imperial authority spanning thousands of miles is akin to paper. Only those who comprehend this principle will possess the potential to be the Human Emperor."
The Human Emperor is the sovereign of the Human Clan.
In ancient times, the strongest would assume this position. Nowadays, it’s reduced to a title for powerless monarchs.
"I am enlightened."
Wu Yi rose and bowed deeply.
"By the way, what is the Taoist Master’s Dao?"
"The Taoist Master’s Dao?"
Yan Jiuge paused briefly.
Magic Veins? Taoist Legacy? Heavenly Master?
Boom!
A thunderous explosion erupted from outside.
The carriages shook violently, with bottles smashing onto the floors everywhere.
"Enemy attack!"
Shrill alarm cries echoed far and wide.
Swish, swish!
Yan Jiuge transformed into sword light, while the knights disguised as Taoists began to command their swords in flight!
Among the hundred and eight cultivators gathered, some practiced Swordman Magic Veins while others honed Cultivation Methods.
When Yan Jiuge stepped outside, Guu Yuchan was already confronting a group of adversaries.
"I wondered who it was. Turns out it’s you traitorous scoundrels."
Looking at the familiar faces among the enemies, Guu Yuchan sneered coldly.
Some were former Mei Mountain Temple Masters and escaped Deacon Temple Masters, others represented factions from Qimen, Five Qi, and Qingshan Forest.
Leading them was the Capital Management officer of Tianling Forest, bringing ten thousand Taoist Soldiers who surrounded them from every direction.
"Hah! I’ve wanted to rebel for ages." The Tianling Capital Management officer sneered derisively. "Donghua Forest is worthless. Our Taoist Master is an idiotic fool!"
Kill!
Words turned to violence without hesitation.
Guu Yuchan surged with True Qi as tens of thousands of thunderbolts descended.
Yan Jiuge led the group in forming a Sword Array.
All Swords Return to the Sect!
One turned into ten, ten into a hundred, a hundred into a thousand, a thousand into ten thousand.
"Fellow Taoists, slaughter them! Glory and riches await us today!"
Ten Thousand Divine Thunders, Ten Thousand Divine Swords.
Within moments, the opposing forces were utterly annihilated, their cohesion shattered.
"Impossible!"
The Tianling officer plummeted from the sky and crashed onto the ground, his eyes fixating on the approaching Divine Sword—its image expanding in his pupils.
He knew this group was strong, but he hadn’t expected their strength to reach such heights.
Not even three exchanges!
He regretted deeply. Truthfully, the Donghua Alliance provided decent treatment. He simply couldn’t accept being managed by someone like Song Lin whom he saw as a despicable figure.
Just as he was moments away from death, dark energy enveloped him and whisked him away.
The Divine Sword struck nothing, its Sword Qi carving a giant pit of ten-zhang radius.
From the western sky, a cloud adorned with golden hues approached, carrying two figures upon it.
The instant their appearances came into view, Guu Yuchan couldn’t help but bitterly smile. "Yan Taoist friend, the enemies came prepared this time, it seems."
Yan Jiuge chuckled lightly, raising his Spirit Sword.
"Today, I serve my Dao fully. Haha! Old Tianhe, is my blade not sharp enough?"
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