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Chapter 167: A Dispute of the Grand Dao
Chapter 167: A Dispute of the Grand Dao (Seeking Subscription)
To the Dao De Xian Zong, the Dao De Xian Jing was of paramount importance; it encompassed the sect's myriad secret techniques and methods, including crucial insights into the Unity of the Dao phase.
Thus, within Dao De Xian Zong, only the sect leader was allowed to cultivate the Dao De Xian Jing. Even Mo Meng Ting, despite having reached the Lian Xu realm, could not access it before becoming the sect leader. This had been the unbreakable rule and tradition of Dao De Xian Zong for hundreds of thousands of years.
However, Mo Qing Liu was well aware that rules were made to be broken. His grandson, Lin Yuan, possessed terrifying talent and formidable strength. Even if he were given the Dao De Xian Jing, Mo Qing Liu believed it would not affect the balance of power significantly. After all, whether or not he gave it to Lin Yuan, Mo Qing Liu held no confidence in defeating him.
"But this matter must be kept secret," Mo Qing Liu said. "And you must never teach the contents of the Dao De Xian Jing to anyone else."
Mo Qing Liu could only tolerate the fact that Jun Wuji knew about the Dao De Xian Jing.
"Agreed," Lin Yuan nodded.
"Second condition," Lin Yuan continued. "I want to know everything about the Ascension Platform."
The Ascension Platform was of great significance. It was the reason why the Blood Devil Sea, You Ming Palace, and Yao Sheng Nest had continuously stirred up wars in the Central Plains Divine State. It was also the reason why Dao De Xian Zong had been able to dominate the Central Plains Divine State tens of thousands of years ago.
Rumor has it that the Ascension Platform was connected to the 'Spirit Realm'.
"Even if you don't tell me, those three old fellows from You Ming Palace, Blood Devil Sea, and Yao Sheng Nest will be more than eager to inform Yuan Yang Island Lord," Mo Qing Liu said.
"Third," Lin Yuan paused after speaking.
The third condition was the most crucial of all, and the first two conditions paled in comparison.
"I want to spread the Martial Way throughout the Central Plains Divine State," Lin Yuan said.
In other words, Dao De Xian Zong was not allowed to suppress the spread of the Martial Way.
"Martial Way?" Mo Qing Liu's expression changed slightly.
He knew that many disciples of the White Jade Pavilion in the East Sea were cultivating a cultivation system called the Martial Way. He had even observed some of the Martial Way's techniques.
The Martial Way was a cultivation system entirely different from the Immortal Way, and the potential it exhibited was not much weaker than the Immortal Way.
This time, Dao De Xian Zong had cultivated a second Ancient Sage, and Mo Qing Liu had brought the Taihao Immortal Mirror, intending to wipe out White Jade Island. Besides considering White Jade Island a 'soft persimmon', one of the reasons was the sense of threat the Martial Way brought to Mo Qing Liu.
The East Sea Archipelago had eight hundred side doors and three thousand left-handed paths, each with its own cultivation system, but they all had obvious defects, making it almost impossible to give birth to an Ancient Sage of the Lian Xu level.
This was also the reason why the East Sea had been in constant chaos; without a cultivator strong enough to unite them, they could only continue to split.
But the Martial Way... Mo Qing Liu was almost certain that cultivating according to the Martial Way system would eventually give birth to an Ancient Sage—a sixth-stage Martial Master—it was only a matter of time.
"Change this condition," Mo Qing Liu said.
"That's impossible," Lin Yuan shook his head.
Everything else was negotiable, but allowing the spread of the Martial Way? That was out of the question.
In Mo Qing Liu's eyes, the biggest concession he could make was to let Jun Wuji become the next sect leader of Dao De Xian Zong.
After all, Jun Wuji was also a disciple of Dao De Xian Zong. With his strength and talent, he far surpassed Mo Meng Ting, whom Mo Qing Liu had cultivated.
Letting Jun Wuji become the next sect leader was not a problem; instead, it would help to win him over completely.
As for Mo Meng Ting? He would just have to settle for being the protector of the Dao De Xian Zong.
"Impossible?" Lin Yuan's expression remained unchanged, but he sighed inwardly. He had anticipated this outcome. The Martial Way and the Immortal Way were fundamentally different at their core.
To put it simply, what was the foundation of the Dao De Xian Zong? Was it the lineage of its leaders, or the myriad of immortal techniques and secrets?
The answer was neither.
The foundation of the Dao De Xian Zong was the Immortal Way itself.
The Immortal Way was as essential to the Dao De Xian Zong as the royal bloodline in a vast empire. In such an empire, anyone could become emperor, as long as they possessed that royal bloodline.
Now, Lin Yuan wanted the Dao De Xian Zong to allow the spread of the Martial Way, which was akin to pulling the rug out from under the sect and overthrowing the dynasty. If Mo Qing Liu agreed to this, he would be forever branded as the villain of the Dao De Xian Zong.
The Martial Way and the Immortal Way were two entirely different paths, and this was the ultimate dispute between them.
As for why physical cultivation did not conflict with the Immortal Way, it was because physical cultivation was not a complete system in itself. Any cultivation system, when delved into deeply, would bring about all-around enhancement to the cultivator's physical body, soul, lifespan, and more.
However, physical cultivation could only enhance the physical body and did not even extend to increasing the cultivator's lifespan, which was fundamental to all cultivators.
This meant that physical cultivation was more like a secret technique. Not only could it be incorporated into the Immortal Way, but it could also be adopted by the Martial Way, demonic paths, and demonic beast paths.
"Then forget it," Lin Yuan said calmly. He had come to negotiate with Mo Qing Liu, merely to test the waters and gauge the Dao De Xian Zong's attitude towards the Martial Way.
Lin Yuan had prepared for failure from the start, and before he had even ascended Cloud Mist Mountain, he had already sent his Taiyin avatar to bring his parents, eldest brother, and second sister to the East Sea.
"Forget it," Mo Qing Liu said, his expression somber.
These two words signaled the failure of their collaboration.
"Wuji," Mo Qing Liu said, his eyes suddenly blazing with intensity. The Taihao Immortal Mirror above his head radiated strands of immortal light.
"That Yuan Yang Island Lord is probably one of your avatars, isn't it?" Mo Qing Liu mused.
The art of creating avatars was not uncommon, and the Dao De Xian Zong possessed secret techniques to forge them. However, creating an avatar required a tremendous price, ultimately necessitating the division of one's soul, with a portion infused into the avatar.
Losing a part of one's soul meant a decline in cultivation speed, comprehension, and other aspects. Thus, Mo Qing Liu himself had not cultivated the art of avatars. Instead, he wielded the Taihao Immortal Mirror, which allowed him to form an immortal mirror incarnation with a mere thought, no matter the distance—not much different from an avatar.
"Then today, I shall see just how strong you've become after all these years of biding your time, Wuji," Mo Qing Liu said as he abruptly stood up, the Taihao Immortal Mirror above him shining brightly.
At the foot of Cloud Mist Mountain, Chun Hua and Qiu Yue, the two Golden Core female cultivators, were conversing in hushed tones.
"It's been so long since the young master went up there. Why hasn't he come down yet?"
"Maybe he's chatting with the sect leader. After all, it has been a while since the young master last went out."
"True, but the fact that the sect leader is willing to chat with the young master shows that he does have some affection for him." Chun Hua and Qiu Yue chatted while occasionally glancing up at the peak of Cloud Mist Mountain.
Suddenly, a terrifying fluctuation emanated from the mountaintop.
Chun Hua and Qiu Yue instinctively looked up, their jaws dropping in shock.
They saw two figures soaring into the sky from the peak of Cloud Mist Mountain.
The figure on the left was none other than the sect leader of the Dao De Xian Zong, Mo Qing Liu, with the sect's treasure, the Taihao Immortal Mirror, above his head. Its boundless light and boundless tribulations exuded a formidable presence.
As for the figure on the right, it seemed to possess overwhelming might. Crimson waves of blood qi rolled out, inundating the area for tens of thousands of miles.
Under the onslaught of this endless blood qi, Mo Qing Liu, with the Taihao Immortal Mirror above his head, seemed like a ship that could capsize at any moment, swaying unsteadily.
The key to Chun Hua and Qiu Yue's bewildered state was the figure pressing down on the Dao De Xian Zong's sect leader. It seemed to be their young master, Jun Wuji?
Had the young master and the sect leader come to blows?
And it seemed like the sect leader was no match for the young master?
Chun Hua and Qiu Yue stood there with their mouths agape.
In the moment that Mo Qingliu and Lin Yuan clashed, a terrifying wave of energy rippled out in all directions.
To the west of the Divine State.
In the Yao Sheng Nest.
The Yao Sheng, or Beast Saint, was deep in thought, pondering the strength of the Yuan Yang Island Lord, who had managed to block a strike from Mo Qingliu, who wielded the mighty Taihao Immortal Mirror.
"What is that?"
The Yao Sheng's expression changed abruptly.
He clearly sensed two powerful auras clashing in the central region of the Divine State.
One of them emitted infinite light and infinite tribulations, illuminating every corner of the world, undoubtedly belonging to Mo Qingliu.
As for the other, it was shrouded in a vast expanse of bloody qi, shaking the entire Divine State. Even the boundlessly powerful Taihao Immortal Mirror, which surpassed the limits of the Lian Xu realm, seemed to wobble under the onslaught of this terrifying blood qi.
"Who is it?"
"Who dares to suppress Mo Qingliu in the central region of the Divine State?"
The Yao Sheng was truly shocked.
After all, this was Mo Qingliu, the wielder of the Taihao Immortal Mirror, whose might shook the world and knew no equal. How had he been suppressed like this, especially right at his doorstep?
"Show me."
The Yao Sheng took a deep breath and waved his hand in front of him.
He was activating a secret technique to project the scene of the great battle in the central region of the Divine State.
A series of illusory images appeared.
It was a battlefield located in the Ninth Heaven.
Rolls of crimson mist and scarlet blood qi engulfed everything in sight.
But amidst this sea of blood qi, the Yao Sheng faintly discerned a towering figure. He stood firmly amidst the raging currents, wielding a powerful set of fist techniques that suppressed both Mo Qingliu and the mighty Taihao Immortal Mirror, causing them untold misery.
Each time the towering figure threw a punch, a faint fist imprint appeared on the body of the Taihao Immortal Mirror, though it quickly vanished. Still, the fact that it had left a mark on such a powerful artifact was astonishing.
The Taihao Immortal Mirror should have been indestructible.
"Overwhelming Blood Qi? Is he a cultivator of the body refinement path? No, it's not just body refinement..."
The Yao Sheng swallowed hard. It had been a long, long time since he had felt such fear. But now, seeing this towering figure, his very soul trembled.
"Who is it?"
The Yao Sheng repeated the question, his voice filled with awe.
He continued to push his secret technique, and the image gradually became clearer, revealing the face of the towering figure.
"It's him!"
The Yao Sheng's eyes widened in disbelief.
As a Refinement Void Ancient Sage, his memory was incredibly powerful. Each time he awakened, he would review the appearances of notable cultivators from the Dao De Xian Zong.
And now, the face of this towering figure was unmistakably that of Jun Wuji, the third generation disciple of the Dao De Xian Zong, who was known for his lack of spiritual roots and talent.
"How is this possible?"
The Yao Sheng was stunned, his mouth agape.
"Is it Jun Wuji?"
"How did he become so strong?"
In the Blood Devil Sea, the Blood Devil Master experienced the same sense of awe.
He had once tried to woo Jun Wuji, hoping to use him to gain influence over Jun Dongjin.
Thus, he was quite familiar with Jun Wuji, having paid close attention to him in the past.
But now...
The Blood Devil Master's very soul trembled with fear.
The Blood Devil path feared nothing more than the overwhelming might of pure, righteous, and scorching blood qi.
Although the Blood Devil Master possessed exceptional means of self-preservation, claiming that as long as the Blood Devil Sea existed, he would never perish, he now felt that if he were in Mo Qingliu's position, even the vast Blood Devil Sea would be dried up by that endless blood qi.
"Jun Wuji, I never expected you to hide your strength so deeply!!"
The Blood Devil Master took a moment to calm himself.
Then, he suddenly recalled the blood-colored figure he had sent to woo Jun Wuji.
The blood-colored figure had died quickly back then, and the Blood Devil Master had thought it was just bad luck that he had been discovered by Mo Qingliu, who wielded the Taihao Immortal Mirror.
But now, it seemed likely that the blood-colored figure had died at the hands of Jun Wuji.
"Fortunately..."
The Blood Devil Master looked towards the battle, where Jun Wuji seemed to be pressing down on Mo Qingliu. For some reason, he felt relieved.
Although he didn't know why Jun Wuji was fighting his grandfather, Mo Qingliu, this was a good thing.
With the strength that Jun Wuji had just displayed, as long as he didn't join forces with Mo Qingliu... No, not even that. As long as Jun Wuji bore ill will towards them, he, the Blood Devil Master, wouldn't be able to escape even if he wanted to.
The other Refinement Void Ancient Sages might be able to hide in some corner and cling to life, but he, the master of the Blood Devil Sea, couldn't detach himself from his target, making him an obvious and easy target.
In the Palace of Yin Ghosts, the thin and gaunt man subconsciously broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead, even though he didn't have a physical body and was just a soul entity. When he sensed the battle between Lin Yuan and Mo Qingliu, he felt like his scalp was about to explode.
If that vast and overwhelming torrent of qi and blood were to come suppress him, the thin man dared not imagine what the consequences would be.
As the king of ghost cultivators, he possessed a certain 'undying' characteristic.
But even with that, there was a limit.
Being swept by that infinite qi and blood once would be unbearable, and he'd be left battered and bruised.
If it happened a few more times, he'd probably die for real.
"Retreat, retreat, retreat!"
The thin man immediately controlled the Palace of Yin Ghosts and began to retreat towards the extreme south.
He was truly afraid.
In the Ninth Heaven, Mo Qingliu struggled to hold his ground, with the Taihao Immortal Mirror above his head.
"How... How is Wuji so strong?"
Mo Qingliu's expression was grim. He had originally thought that most of Jun Wuji's strength came from the Yuan Yang Island Lord.
He had thought that by striking suddenly, he might not win, but he could at least salvage some face.
It wasn't a good thing for a grandfather to be inferior to his grandson.
But the reality was the opposite.
In just the moment they clashed, he was suppressed by Jun Wuji.
After that, he never regained the upper hand.
Not because he didn't want to fight back, but because he simply couldn't.
"This can't continue," Mo Qingliu thought to himself, making a decision.
Although he could hold on for now with the Taihao Immortal Mirror, it wouldn't be a good thing to let the battle drag on.
"Let's return to the Dao De Xian Zong," Mo Qingliu sighed.
For the first time in hundreds of thousands of years, the sect leader of the Dao De Xian Zong had been forced to retreat back to his sect after a battle at his own doorstep.
Whoosh! The Taihao Immortal Mirror suddenly emitted boundless light, piercing through the layers of qi and blood, and shooting towards the direction of the Dao De Xian Mountain.
"Hmm?"
Seeing this, Lin Yuan took large strides to follow.
At the Dao De Xian Mountain, the air was filled with immortal energy.
However, at this moment, the entire sect was on high alert, as if facing a formidable enemy.
The terrifying fluctuations from the battle between the sect leader and Jun Wuji on the Cloud Mist Mountain had naturally been sensed by the countless disciples of the Dao De Xian Zong.
The various elders and grand elders began to activate the sect's defensive formations.
Buzz! A mirror light descended from above.
As the hub of the Dao De Xian Zong's formations, the Taihao Immortal Mirror could ignore the sect's other arrays and enter directly.
"Quickly activate the Nine Heavens Defense Formation, the Ten Lands Thick Earth Formation, the Five Elements Rotation Formation, and the Yin-Yang Fusion Formation!" Mo Qingliu said urgently, manipulating the Taihao Immortal Mirror to activate all the defensive formations that the Dao De Xian Zong had accumulated over tens of thousands of years.
The next moment, a dazzling and boundless torrent of qi and blood, like a red cloud, inundated the Dao De Xian Mountain.
(End of Chapter)
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