https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1034-The-Legacy-of-the-Three-Mountains/13466420/
Chapter 1033: Asura
Chapter 1033: Asura
The Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument ceased its rotation.
A dark, corrupted karma power, oozing from the Evil Fetus's palm, began to seep into the instrument, altering its internal karma laws.
The evil power spread.
But in the next instant, an ancient force surged from within the instrument.
A pure, jade-white Heavenly Insight Sword Qi began to strangle the dark, corrupted karma of the Evil Fetus.
The Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument started to slowly rotate again.
Within the Poppy Chains, the Evil Fetus's face was grotesque, cold, and cruel.
Its bloodstained hands desperately clung to the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument, trying to prevent it from continuing its rotation.
The instrument's rotation soon slowed down again.
However, the ancient core of the Lundao Mountain, with its formidable Heavenly Insight power, remained resolute in following the predetermined karma laws, continuing its calculations.
The Evil Fetus extended its other hand and pressed it against the instrument.
Even stronger corrupted karma power coiled around the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument.
The instrument seemed to be mired in a swamp of evil, rotating even more slowly. But in the next instant, the internal karma patterns, like intricate array seals, trembled suddenly, and a vast, pure Heavenly Insight power spread out, continuing to strangle the Evil Deity's corrupted power.
This ancient Heavenly Insight Treasure resisted all external forces.
Not even the Evil Fetus was an exception.
The Evil Fetus's hands, resembling those of a corrupted infant, were worn down to bloody, mangled flesh by the karma power of the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument.
The Evil Fetus's face twisted in a mix of fury and anguish.
It was the closest to the essence of the Evil Deity.
But the Evil Fetus was still just a fetus, a rudimentary form of the Evil Deity at the beginning of its descent, lacking the full power of the Evil Deity in its prime.
To coalesce into a physical form and be reborn, it needed to harness slaughter, bloodshed, fear, despair, and the myriad ugly desires of human nature.
Before that, it couldn't break through the Heavenly Insight Lockdown set by powerful cultivators.
All it could do was slow down the rotation of the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument, but it couldn't change the predetermined outcome.
The Evil Fetus's expression turned indifferent, and it slowly closed its eyes.
It was calling upon its "believers."
Humans are greedy.
Human nature is corrupt.
The lockdown set by humans could only be broken by humans.
Soon, its summoning received a devout response. The Evil Fetus opened its eyes, its cold gaze tinged with a hint of mockery.
The surrounding void quietly split open once again.
A golden karma power, tainted with evil, spread out once more, coiling around the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument.
The golden karma was a highly advanced Heavenly Insight technique, entwining around the instrument.
But that wasn't all.
Soon, another rift in the void opened.
A deep, blue karma power also spread out.
This karma power was entwined with extremely complex energies—human, demonic, and a trace of the blood-red "corpse" energy.
It was impossible to tell if it was human or ghost.
The golden and blue karma powers were the strongest.
In addition, several weaker, more mixed karma calculation powers, like vines, spread through the void opened by the Evil Fetus, reaching toward the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument.
The instrument was tightly bound by these dense, corrupted karma powers.
Its rotation visibly slowed, then became even slower.
Finally, it came to a complete stop.
The Evil Fetus, using its own and its minions' corrupted karma power, had halted the operation of the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument, a treasure of Lundao Mountain.
Next, the Evil Fetus's dark, purple-black hands began to turn the instrument backward.
It wanted to reverse the karma, rewrite the laws.
The golden karma, tainted by evil, and the polluted blue karma, resembled roots.
The other various karma powers were like branches and leaves.
All these forces, densely intertwined, pressed down on the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument, creating an opportunity for the Evil Fetus.
The Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument was indeed suppressed.
But it was an ancient treasure of the founding ancestor of Lundao Mountain, with its internal karma patterns fixed. It could be restrained but not reversed or altered.
No matter how strong the Evil Deity's karma power was, it couldn't reverse the instrument.
The situation reached a stalemate.
The mixed and intertwined Evil Deity powers and the pure, jade-white Heavenly Insight power of the instrument were locked in a struggle, each unable to overcome the other.
The Evil Fetus was enraged, its dark, bloodstained hands continuously pounding and tearing at the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument, but to no avail.
The instrument remained unmoved.
In this delicate balance,
On the side of the Heaven-Suspended Peak of Lundao Mountain,
a subtle aura emerged from the Sword Viewing Tower, which soared into the starry night sky.
This aura, like a speck of starlight, was infinitely profound.
But it was formless, traceless, and colorless.
It appeared suddenly and swiftly, merging with the karma laws during the struggle between the Evil Fetus and the instrument, seeping into the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument's interior.
No one noticed.
The balance was broken.
The Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument "surrendered."
The powerful aura of the Evil Fetus began to gain the upper hand.
The forces of the Evil Deity's minions grew rampant.
The karma structure of the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument began to reverse.
One by one, the laws began to be tainted by evil power, and the cycle of cause and effect was gradually being rewritten...
Within the Poppy Chains, the Evil Fetus revealed a hideous and cruel smile...
...
All of this was happening within the Karma Realm, shrouded in layers of concealment.
Apart from those directly involved, almost no one in Qianxue Province knew about it.
Only Mo Hua suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
He seemed to see a grotesque face smiling at him.
The face was so ugly, purple and black, like a stillborn fetus, exuding an evil aura, grotesque and terrifying, filled with resentment and greed for the mortal world.
This ugly face interrupted Mo Hua's focused thoughts.
Mo Hua frowned.
"Something has happened?"
But he couldn't figure out what it could be...
His understanding of karma was far from advanced enough to perceive the machinations at the level of the Void Realm.
All he had was a keen intuition about karma.
And a faint connection with the Evil Fetus, which shared the same origin.
Mo Hua thought for a moment and shook his head.
"Never mind, it’s none of my business. I just need to focus on the Heavenly Rank Sword Debate..."
There were so many things happening in Qianxue Province; he, a mere Zhu Cultivator, couldn't possibly worry about everything.
If the sky falls, let the tall ones hold it up.
He wasn't the tallest one.
In fact, he might very well be the shortest among them.
Mo Hua calmed his mind and continued to consider the arrangements for the Heavenly Rank Sword Debate.
Although the odds of winning seemed very low, he still needed to prepare thoroughly to seize that slim chance of victory.
After all, his master's life was at stake.
But Mo Hua couldn't concentrate.
There seemed to be a vague sense of foreboding.
The ugly and evil smile kept floating into Mo Hua's mind, interrupting his thoughts.
It seemed like the Evil Fetus had accomplished something and was extremely pleased.
Mo Hua was getting annoyed.
"Still smiling?"
Mo Hua muttered coldly, "If you keep smiling, I'll capture you..."
Whether it was Mo Hua's "threat" that worked, or the Evil Fetus sensed danger, it went back into hiding.
The ugly face no longer dared to smile in front of Mo Hua.
Mo Hua nodded and focused solely on the Sword Debate again...
...
The night passed, and the sunrise brought a bright and clear morning. The surface seemed calm and peaceful.
At Lundao Mountain.
Representative elders from the four sects and eight schools gathered before the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument to review the list it had deduced.
This list was for the final Earth Rank Sword Debate.
For some sects, like the Taixu Sect, the Earth Rank debates were already decided. The outcome of this final debate was inconsequential, and it didn't matter who they faced, so they weren't too concerned.
However, some sects were still quite nervous.
Their standings were very close, and the outcome of this final debate could determine their progress or decline.
These sects' elders couldn't help but feel anxious.
But such sects were few. Most of the elders in the room felt a strange sense of relief.
Once the final debate was over, the Earth Rank Division would be concluded.
It was like the final exam in a series of assessments; once it was over, they could take a break.
Although the Heavenly Rank Division would follow, there would be a break in between.
Moreover, for most sects, the Heavenly Rank Division was a "high-level" affair, far beyond their reach.
Many sects didn't even have a single team that could qualify for the Heavenly Rank Division.
The end of the Earth Rank Division meant the end of this year's Sword Debate for them.
The stage of the Heavenly Rank Division was reserved for the truly elite sects and their outstanding prodigies.
It had little to do with them.
So, in a sense, this was indeed the final debate.
Regardless of the outcome, once it was over, they could "take a break."
They wouldn't have to worry about the results, or strain their brains to outdo other sects.
With this mindset of "one way or another, it's all over", the representative elders of each sect opened the list deduced by the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument.
For a moment, everyone's faces changed.
A chill ran down their spines.
The bright sunlight above them suddenly felt cold and eerie.
Even the elders of Lundao Mountain were shaken, their eyes filled with disbelief.
In the hands of all the sects, all the elders, and all the lists of the Sword Debate, the same three words appeared:
Asura Battle!
...
“Impossible!”
“How can it be an Asura Battle?!”
In the council hall of Lundao Mountain.
The elders of Lundao Mountain, as well as the representative elders from the Four Sects and Eight Schools, were all agitated, discussing heatedly:
“Wasn’t this ancient and barbaric Lunjian format already abandoned long ago? Why would the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument still deduce it?”
“Has someone tampered with the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument?”
“Who could have such power?”
“The Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument is a legendary Heavenly Insight Treasure left by Lundao Mountain’s ancient ancestor. The number of people in the entire cultivation world capable of altering its karma and reversing its deductions is few and far between.”
“These great beings are so terrifying. Would they really go to such lengths to do this?”
“Besides, what do they stand to gain?”
“Changing the Dao Discourse format to an ‘Asura Battle’—what could they possibly want? To cause chaos on purpose?”
“Just to amuse themselves?”
“It’s impossible…”
Amidst the heated arguments, one elder said:
“The incident has already occurred. We can investigate the cause later. The issue at hand is what to do with the upcoming Lunjian.”
“Should we follow the results of the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument?”
“If we do, we must adhere to the ancient rules and hold the ‘Asura Battle.’”
“This will undoubtedly spark significant controversy.”
“If we don’t follow it, what should we do?”
“Abandon the results of the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument and make our own list? Or try to get the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument to deduce again?”
This statement was met with a moment of silence in the room.
Everyone frowned in deep thought.
After a moment, someone decisively said:
“The Asura Battle cannot be reinstated. It is an outdated ancient rule that was abandoned because it was too barbaric, too utilitarian, and too violent, promoting a stark ‘survival of the fittest’ mentality, which goes against the original intent of righteous cultivators to unite and eliminate evil.”
“The purpose of the Lunjian Conference is to ‘discuss,’ not to ‘kill.’”
"Reinstating it now would be tantamount to encouraging disciples to engage in violence. How would others perceive the atmosphere of our Qianxue Province?"
Some disagreed.
A rough-faced, stern-looking sword cultivator elder said:
“Eliminating demons and evil should be done with thunderous means. To defend the path of righteousness, one must have the heart of an Asura.”
“Demons and evil are treacherous and vicious.”
“To eliminate them, one must be even more treacherous and vicious.”
“Without a decisive and ruthless heart, one will surely fall victim to the demons.”
“This is the significance of the Asura Battle.”
“Without the decisiveness and iron will forged in the Asura Battle, we righteous cultivators would not have been able to overthrow the Demon Temple, establish the Dao Court, spread righteousness, and help the people…”
But more people opposed this view.
“This is outdated…”
“Times have changed. In the past, when demons wreaked havoc, decisive action was necessary. But now, in a peaceful world, there’s no need to constantly talk about ‘righteousness and evil’…”
“Exactly, this is the Lunjian Conference, where righteous families and Heavenly Prides gather. Where are the ‘demons’?”
“Talking about righteousness and evil all the time is a bit too alarmist…”
“I don’t think the Asura Battle is appropriate…”
“I agree, I’m against it too.”
“If you’re against the Asura Battle, then what’s next? Are you going to negate the results of the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument?”
“This….”
Everyone hesitated again.
The Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument is a treasured heritage of Lundao Mountain, existing for thousands of years. No one dared to truly negate its deductions.
“It’s not negation, but a temporary suspension,” a smooth-talking elder suggested.
“Yes, a suspension. We can arrange the list for the final Arena Rank Lunjian ourselves…”
“But who will make the list?”
“Who can ensure there’s no favoritism?”
“Who can ensure there’s no interference?”
Most importantly, “Who can ensure the list will be accepted by everyone?”
The deductions of the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument are not always entirely reasonable, often causing dissatisfaction among many sects and resentment among many disciples. But no one dared to truly oppose it.
Because it is a legacy of Lundao Mountain’s ancient ancestor.
It is a system that has been used since ancient times in the Lunjian Conference.
It is something that can “win the people’s trust.”
Once they deviate from the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument and make their own list, even if the Four Great Sects and Eight Major Schools collaborate, it would be impossible to truly gain everyone’s trust.
After all, human hearts are too complex.
In such a landscape of interests, any decision made by cultivators would not stand up to scrutiny.
No matter how the list is arranged, it will invite “doubts” from many.
As for “drawing lots” to leave it to chance, that’s even more out of the question.
These people are core elders of major forces, major sects, and major families, with exceptional insight and vision. They naturally know that what is called “luck” cannot truly be luck.
Some exceptionally gifted cultivators truly have the ability to reverse cause and effect and alter their fate through the Heavenly Insight Art.
If they can change their fate, then luck in a simple lottery draw is even less of an issue.
"Should we have the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument rerun the calculations?"
"No", an elder from Lundao Mountain replied, "Once the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument is set, it cannot be altered."
"It's not that we don't want to change it; it's that we simply can't."
"Even if someone did tamper with the instrument, rerunning the calculations would yield the same result."
"If it could be changed once, it could be changed again and again..."
"This..."
The elders frowned deeply, truly at a loss for what to do.
No matter what, they were stuck in a difficult position, making it hard to reach a decision.
The conference hall buzzed with whispers as the elders from various sects frowned and discussed the matter in small groups.
After an indeterminate amount of time, a venerable, white-bearded elder of Lundao Mountain slowly opened his eyes and sighed hoarsely:
"Let it be. If it's a battle of Asuras, then so be it. The results of the Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument cannot be changed..."
Seeing that everyone still had objections, the elder continued:
"The Dao Discourse Celestial Instrument is a legacy from our ancestors."
"Its principles are complex, and the cause and effect it deals with are profound."
"The most profound aspect is that whatever it calculates is the best choice under the current circumstances."
"Even if the result seems strange or bizarre, without the capabilities of the elders of Lundao Mountain, one should not casually overturn it."
"If you follow its results, the situation might be bad."
"If you don't follow its results, the situation will only be worse..."
"That's how things are in this world. We are all just choosing between 'bad' and 'worse'..."
"Do not be overly proud. Show reverence for the legacy of our ancestors."
These words carried deep meaning, and everyone fell silent upon hearing them.
The conference hall was quiet for a while.
"Moreover, for the majority of your sects, this isn't really a bad outcome..."
The white-bearded elder of Lundao Mountain's eyes gleamed with a sharp insight:
"This is also an opportunity for you."
"The Asura Battle has significant weight and is sufficient to 'reshuffle the deck.'"
"After all, in the past, the Asura Battle had another name..." The elder's gaze was profound, and he spoke each word with a deep, resonant voice:
"The Heavenly Rank Advancement Battle!"
Those who had endured the trials of an Asura and emerged victorious would have the qualification to ascend the Heaven-Suspended Peak and, atop Lundao Mountain, engage in the final Heavenly Rank Sword Debate with their peers.
This was the Heavenly Rank Advancement Battle of old.
The weight of these words made the chests of all the elders in the room tighten.
At the same time, their eyes flickered with varied thoughts.
...
The discussions at Lundao Mountain came to a halt.
In the end, the matter was settled, and the decision was conveyed to all the sects by evening.
The final round of the Earth Rank Sword Debate would use the ancient competition format:
"The Asura Battle."
"All Earth Rank participants will engage in a free-for-all, fighting to the death to determine the winner."
This decision sent shockwaves through the various sects and prestigious families. Even the cultivators who had come to observe were in an uproar.
This was truly an unprecedented and unexpected turn of events.
What had seemed to be a settled matter, the Earth Rank Sword Debate, was now like a storm suddenly sweeping through, causing massive upheaval.
Now, no one could predict how the situation would develop...
...
At the same time, the high-ranking elders and even the sect leaders of the Four Great Sects, Eight Major Sects, Twelve Streams, and some of the Qianxue Province's hundred sects that could advance to the Earth Rank Sword Debate, were holding emergency meetings to discuss this sudden change.
From evening until late at night, the halls of the major sects were brightly lit.
Almost everyone was sleepless.
At the Tai Xu Sect, in the elders' quarters:
Since last night, Xun Laoshi had been uneasy. Now, looking at the compass before him, his expression was extremely grave.
Finally, the aged Xun Laoshi sighed deeply:
"The storm is finally here..."
This storm, which had been inevitable, had suddenly descended.
The skies of Qianxue Province were about to change.
Meanwhile, in the disciples' quarters:
Mo Hua stared at the words "Asura Battle" and was lost in thought.
A sudden surge of palpitations followed.
The faint thread of karma he had longed for had finally arrived.
Mo Hua's eyes blurred, and in a daze, he seemed to see his master smiling at him warmly...
(End of Chapter)
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