Chapter 233: The First of All Eternity

Chapter 233: The First of All Eternity

In the Spirit Realm, someone murmured, "He's already in the top three..." as they looked at Gutan Tian and Qi Yunfei.

Earlier, Gutan Tian had boldly claimed he would be in the top three, causing the crowd to secretly mock him, but no one expected him to actually make it.

And to defeat Ming Miao Yin, a Divine Roaming Realm cultivator, so decisively!

With He Donghuang in second place, who else could stand before him now?

If he wins against Ning Mingsheng, this young man will become the first on the Ten Thousand Year Monument, overlooking all the young talents of the Nine Provinces throughout eternity!

Someone whispered, "In the past, it was said that Ming Miao Yin had the potential to surpass the Divine-Human Boundary. Now, Ji Jingqiu can match her. Does this mean that another Divine Prohibitor will emerge in the future?"

The Divine-Human Boundary was also known as the Divine-Human Realm.

"Elder Brother Ning, please enlighten me."

In a book, on page 619, there was a mistake in the translation...!

Ning Mingsheng remained silent for a moment before asking again, "Do you believe in yourself? Like that person, do you only worship your own self?"

This scene, even the Ancient Path Will, had never witnessed it before! It was the first case after the establishment of the Ancient Path! And these three stone tablets were the ones that fell from Unfathomable Mountain, suppressing the depths of the Ancient Path after its construction.

In a daze, Ji Jingqiu saw behind his opponent a dazzling Divine Embryo floating in the void.

"Is this... a deity?" For the first time, a hint of doubt flashed through Ning Mingsheng's untainted eyes. He spoke softly, "I'm sorry, Junior Brother Ji. I can't understand the deity in your heart."

"From ancient times to the present, the desire of most low-level spirits has been consistent and pure. They want something simple—just to survive!"

The difference was that he didn't understand the other's meaning, but he seemed to have grasped the path beneath Ji Jingqiu's feet.

Ah He said that to defeat this person in the Divine Roaming Realm, there was only one possibility—to witness one's own divine transformation.

[Hehe, just a remnant of the strong, can it compare to the legacy of the Heavenly Emperor and the myriad spirits?]



Someone stepped forward.

An immortal-like, inviolable figure stood before them.

"Could this young man truly have the hope to top the Ten Thousand Year Monument?" After witnessing Ji Jingqiu's dominant victory over Ming Miao Yin, some couldn't help but think so.

This scene startled a warrior who had never seen Ning Mingsheng's prowess before. With a casual glance, the void seemed to leave a trace, almost reaching the level of a Heaven-Man. Every move and gesture could influence the operation of heaven and earth.

The information revealed in this single sentence was enough to make one's heart tremble.

[I have an interesting story to share with you. Ten thousand years ago, the people of the Nine Provinces said that Ning Mingsheng had betrayed the myriad races of the Nine Provinces. But this person was born to carry the legacy of the Heavenly Emperor and become the Sovereign of the Heavenly Realm.]



This person seemed to possess two sides.

Someone stood rooted to the spot.

The spirits were best at finding a small bit of luck in misfortune, guarding their own narrow little world.

On the water curtain, a familiar figure appeared, causing most of the crowd to fall silent. Their gazes towards the water curtain became complex, mostly filled with disgust and hatred, but there was also admiration.

Earlier, when Yao Heshan witnessed Ji Jingqiu directly confronting Ji Shuai, he almost couldn't catch his breath.

[But when divine nature reaches its purest state, and when it becomes rich enough, will you truly understand the essence of divinity?]



...

At this moment, Ning Mingsheng stood in the Divine Temple, gazing calmly at Ah He. Behind the gentle eyes, there was the indifference of a deity.

Only by surviving can one have the qualification to pursue all that is beautiful.

A line called life and death.

At this moment, Ji Jingqiu reached for his sword sheath. His movements were slow yet swift, and under the gaze of the crowd, his slender jade-like fingers grasped the hilt of the Green Lord's sword.

Winning against the last born of the Heavenly Emperor's universe...

With the Ancient Path Will's intervention.

Ji Jingqiu responded calmly.

That was the weight and breadth of life.

The strong and indifferent side he displayed made Hela feel annoyed. Even though her words were indeed mixed with personal motives, and she was deliberately guiding him, how dare he treat her with such an attitude?! But before Hela could retaliate, she was stunned by the scene before her.

Countless Divine Roaming warriors on the Ancient Path looked up at him, like a mayfly gazing upon the vast blue sky.

This was a possibility that even he had never imagined.

Ning Mingsheng's pupils constricted slightly.

Previously, the Federation's expectation for this generation of young warriors was to enter the top fifty of the Ten Thousand Year Monument.

It never promised anything, only silently accompanied, proving that hope was indeed right before their eyes, as long as they were willing to continue.

At this moment.

Ji Jingqiu shook his head, "I naturally believe in myself the most, but at the same time, I also believe that there is a certain 'divinity' in this world. It is cold and passionate, it won't give you promises of peace, but it will quietly accompany you, watching you through the ups and downs of life, giving you divine enlightenment when you need it most, telling you that hope lies ahead."

Just at this moment, the three stone tablets deep within the Ancient Path emitted a resounding roar! The three tablets resonated together, stirring up brilliant and surging divine radiance, blooming into flowers of the Path, their divine light as dazzling as the sun across the sky! The simultaneous resonance of the three tablets...

Even the previous two had the strength to suppress the late stages of the Shackles Realm and contend with ordinary Heart Form warriors.

Whether it was divine abilities or battlefields, they were all about communicating with the outer world, borrowing the power of heaven and earth for their own use. But Ning Mingsheng could ignore all Dharmic powers and even turn them into fuel! If he stepped into the Heaven-Man Realm, wouldn't he be able to instantly kill all Heaven-Man warriors?!

A powerful warrior added, "The path he later opened was named 'Burning Self,' claiming to use the myriad things of heaven and earth as fuel, igniting the true self-nature, and ultimately forging the unique Divine Throne."

His brain fell into a momentary blank, as if his rationality, thoughts, and even his soul had been forcibly taken away.

Someone sighed, "Is the Divine Prohibition Domain important to Ji Jingqiu? Ordinary people might struggle at the Divine Human Boundary for hundreds, or even thousands of years, but this young man has already mastered the Heaven and Earth Dharmakaya. For him, it won't be long before he enters the Heart Form and effortlessly steps into the Divine Realm."

In any world, they would be akin to immortal Buddhas dwelling in the mortal realm.

They overestimated themselves and underestimated He Shuai and the others.

At this moment, Ning Mingsheng quietly contemplated the realm of this blade, and it seemed as if something was slowly flowing through him.

That moment.

"The innocent heart, where dust ends and light begins..." someone whispered, their voice soft and ethereal.

After a long while, a powerful cultivator sighed, "He touches the Dao and the law, and in the Divine Sojourn Realm, he has already opened the path and walked upon it."

"What kind of method is this?! Why can't I understand it?!"

At this moment, as he reflected on the past, he wondered if there were times when he truly relied solely on himself. At this moment, Ji Jingqiu seemed to sense the gaze of certain unseen eyes in the mysterious realm.

The vast and boundless sea of suffering, hanging upside down above the sky, suddenly surged, creating layer upon layer of raging waves as if trying to break free from the constraints of the projection. The pouring blood rain became even heavier, and the Eight Sufferings filled the heavens and earth.

"That blade actually triggered the power of the Eight Sufferings... How terrifying!"

The last scene witnessed by countless onlookers was Ji Jingqiu and Ning Mingsheng passing by each other.

Especially for those who had seen how Ning Mingsheng had suppressed countless invincible warriors under his palm.

Ji Jingqiu shook his head and then nodded, pointing to his chest as he said seriously, "I believe in the divine, but not in the divine that controls the mortal world and manipulates all things."

Ning Mingsheng spoke softly, "So this is the path that Junior Brother Ji has chosen. I once met someone, and compared to that person, Junior Brother Ji's path is similar yet opposite."

Instead, he allowed this blade to fall into his divine fire.

"How can he possibly win?" someone asked in a low voice, their gaze shifting towards Gutan Tian, "Even Gutan Tian himself probably doesn't believe his nephew can win, does he?"

At this moment, even the Ancient Path Will was stunned, for the divine radiance emanating from the monument was too intense, as if it was about to open a passageway.

They despised his actions but had to remain silent about the achievements he had made.

Ning Mingsheng, standing behind Ji Jingqiu, witnessed a scene similar to the Divine Embryo of the Gods.

Ning Mingsheng raised his eyes, and electricity seemed to spark in the void, as if his gaze left traces in the air.

This was not just invincibility, it was an unsolvable mystery!

This ranking wasn't based on mere speculation but on the calculations of the Seven Marshals. According to their calculations, the top few of this generation in the Federation were not far off from the Seven Marshals when they were in the True Seed Realm.

[What you are facing now is the final anomaly born from the fading glow of the Imperial Heaven.]



The person standing at the end of the hall had a face that could be described as youthful, a handsome young man with delicate brows that exuded shyness. Who would have thought that this seemingly fragile youth had stood atop the Ten Thousand Year Monument for over a million years without being replaced?

[Is it still you?]



A glimmer of blade light shone, as if painting a scroll of the mortal world. Despite being based on the Eight Sufferings, the world was still bustling and vibrant.

Hela seemed to see a blue lamp.

At this stage, even losing was difficult.

"The future me has lost." Ning Mingsheng looked deeply at him and said, "Junior Brother Ji, I hope you can defeat the current me."

After crossing this realm, the heart is boundless, the law is immeasurable, and the heavens are infinite.

"He actually... really won...?"

The Eight Sufferings are inherent in all of life, and the Eight Sufferings are the mortal world, but the mortal world is not limited to the Eight Sufferings; there are also the Eight Joys to balance them.

[This person's divinity is so concentrated, it's unbelievable. It's not an exaggeration to say that he shines through the ages. If not for his weak physical body and humble spirit, calling him a demigod would be perfectly reasonable.]



"You're wrong."

The first in the Nine Provinces for ten thousand years.

And this was also the first "Great Freedom" obtained by the sentient beings of the heavens and earth.

...

After the blade.

That was someone's past, filled with countless moments of exaltation, struggle, and yearning...

But the facts proved that sometimes their heads were no different from their butts.

The void around him was filled with rootless Bodhimanda flowers, and behind him, a Bodhi tree took root and grew rapidly in the heart lamp, which was like the sun. It shed a clear, translucent light.

For the vast majority of people in the Nine Provinces, even witnessing this hall, let alone the top ten platforms, was like witnessing history.

His body suddenly expanded, as if reaching the height of the heavens. This was his Dharmic Form, faceless and formless, like a blank sheet of paper inviting onlookers to paint their own Heart Form upon it.

Suddenly.

"When sentient beings see me, they see the Tathagata!"

The divine powers of the Heaven People are vast, but they are also based on absolute control over the heavenly dharma principles.

But no one dared to truly think that.

This was also a blade of divinity.

"You're wrong."

But today.

Not only was he shocked, but most of the Heaven People had not understood Ning Mingsheng's methods.

The Worldly Appearance.

The gap between the Heart Form and the Heaven People in this realm was even greater than that between the Body Refinement and the Heart Form.

[When one's spirituality is refined and burns with the most brilliant light, divinity is born. Typically, the denser one's divinity, the closer they are to divine beings and the heavenly earthly principle.]



"Gutan Tian, what do you think are Ji Jingqiu's chances of winning against Ning Mingsheng?"

Yao Heshan and the others frowned slightly.

[To defeat him... Ji Jingqiu has already done an excellent job!]



The embodiment of the Ancient Path Will stood in the endless void, stunned, as he watched Ning Mingsheng and the back of Ji Jingqiu.

The existence of these three steles allowed the Ancient Path of the Imperial Heaven to connect with Unfathomable Mountain, borrowing some of its power to evolve into a battle arena within the vast river of time.

He let go, his gaze seemingly falling upon a figure that had been telling him since birth that he was destined to become the Sovereign of the Imperial Heaven...

In the boundless ocean filled with pain and despair, an ancient, time-worn blue-green lamp suddenly lit up.

The entire universe seemed to shrink, leaving only the other party's eyes.

This step stirred the hearts of countless spectators, causing the powerful beings in the spiritual realm to skip a beat. Was this child about to take the initiative to attack?!

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

His body trembled slightly, sensing the various implications of this strike.

His mind was clear, and at this moment, he gathered his Dharmakaya, inviting it to reside within his Inner World!

Stepping into this hall was like embarking on a pilgrimage.

My apologies.

This reminded him of certain ancient rumors.

[In his eyes, what's the difference between the people of the Nine Provinces and the sentient beings of the Three Thousand Yama Float?]



The lamp's light was clear and bright, illuminating the depths of the Sea of Suffering, as if guiding sentient beings to a path of liberation leading directly to the other shore.

His best expectation was for Ji Jingqiu and Ah He to compete, staging a "Master-Disciple Battle."

When Ji Jingqiu stepped into the hall and faced the last person, Yao Heshan and the others were shocked to find that they, as Heaven-Man, couldn't see through the person on the water screen.

On the Ancient Path, countless warriors held their breath and focused, witnessing through Ji Jingqiu's perspective a grand hall at the end.

Why was Ning Mingsheng, at this moment, already foreseeing his future defeat?! But the next moment, he didn't give others any time to think.

[Of course, this was just a beautiful dream.]



...

Only Lu Tong, a Grandmaster, shuddered at this obscure term, finally understanding why Elder Brother Ning always felt disgust or remained silent whenever Ning Mingsheng was mentioned.

Ji Jingqiu stood before Ning Mingsheng and spoke softly:

...

Even though Ji Jingqiu and Ming Miao Yin had only reached the Shackles and Mind Form, and even if they had no other breakthroughs, just following the script and reaching the Mind Form in an ordinary manner, they still had the qualifications to enter the "Divine Prohibition," breaking through the Heaven-Man boundary! In other words, they were challenging the Heaven-Man across realms! This nearly impossible challenge was the best reward for their achievements.

This is also why Heaven-Man warriors, regardless of their affiliations, can enter the upper echelons.

To live!

[In the distant, lost ages, all spirits had spirituality, and the pinnacle of spirituality was divinity.]



[All can be killed.]



This strike seemed to extend into a small world, his Inner World, and a manifestation of an ideal landscape.

The conjoined lotus in Ji Jingqiu's heart blossomed at this moment.

"No matter how high your talent, if you walk down a path of destruction, it's all in vain." A cold voice spoke, "Who would've thought that Ning Mingsheng, once praised for his innocent heart and near-immortal demeanor, would seek the Divine Throne, invite the death tribulation, fall into the demonic path, and slaughter billions of the Nine Provinces' people?"

He understood how difficult it was to stay alive.

Ji Jingqiu actually won.

Gutan Tian remained silent, staring at the youth in the water screen, his mind recalling the terror of the last person.

Ji Jingqiu continued to stride forward, his mind flashing with the scenes Xuan Kong had witnessed on his journey across the mortal realm. This solidified his beliefs and upheld the principles he had followed throughout his journey.

He apologized.

If one harbored the belief of swallowing the Six Heavens and Eight Extremities, dominating the past and present, then no matter the enemy, they could be looked down upon.

"Ji Shidi, good luck."

In their eyes, he was just a harmless, shy boy, even a bit bashful.

"They can only focus on their own small world, but they are the true sentient beings."

The opponent's method wasn't a Dharmakaya, nor was it a Dharmakaya, and they hadn't reached the Unity of Heaven and Man, but they treated the Dharmic principles of heaven and earth like firewood, igniting it and using it for their purposes.

"It's okay, sometimes not understanding is a good thing." Ji Jingqiu consoled.

He had lost to another's "Sentient Beings, Minuscule Yet Not Humble" in the "future," and now he had fallen to Ji Jingqiu's "Striving to Live" blade in the "present."

Ji Jingqiu asked, feeling neither joy nor sorrow at this moment, his mind as firm as Vajra, capable of severing all worldly attachments.

The crowd fell silent.

Perhaps there truly existed a divinity hidden in the ethereal realm that had "helped" him in the past.

Ning Mingsheng's eyes lost focus, his gaze drifting to the Divine Embryo behind him, and at this moment, a sword scar gradually appeared, piercing through it.

He didn't even glance at Ning Mingsheng, taking a step forward.

Ji Jingqiu's expression was calm; at this point, his heart was as still as a tranquil pond, truly serene.

Those eyes were so bright, deep, and majestic, completely different from the boy's simple and pure nature. They were like a dragon rising from the depths, or a raging dragon emerging from the sea, majestic, cold, and supremely dominant.

When their gazes met, Ji Jingqiu felt as if the surrounding world had vanished.

The divine temple stood tall, like the battlefield of the gods.

"Ning Mingsheng... This person, in the Divine Sojourn Realm, is almost a Demigod." Gutan Tian sighed.

He looked up, as if hearing the sounds of sprouting grass, flowing streams, and birds chirping in the wind.

He drew his sword and shouted, "This strike is the Sword of Establishing the Dao! It's also the Sword of Striving to Live for all sentient beings!"

In the future, he would still rely on the Heaven and Earth Dharmakaya, effortlessly entering the Heaven-Man boundary that others yearned for.

In that instant.

A cluster of firelight illuminated Ning Mingsheng's forehead, like divine flames dancing, burning and merging the Dharmic principles of the surrounding heaven and earth into its flames.

Indeed, the truth is so.

In ancient times, Ah He rose to prominence, establishing his own path in the Divine Roaming Realm, laying the foundation for the future, yet he was still no match for this person...

Only this pure land remains sacred and inviolable.

A guardian deity sits outside the pure land, opening his eyes at this moment, his expression filled with sorrow, sensing the voice of Ji Qingqiu's heart.

【And in today's Nine Provinces... how many Heavenly Emperor's beings are there?】

Ning Mingsheng does not answer, instead asking, "Ji Shidi, you all say that all sentient beings possess the wisdom and virtue of the Buddha, but why do they still remain in the Sea of Suffering, unable to transcend and see the Buddha?"

It's like a declaration of the old and the new, without a sound.

"So, Ning Mingsheng, who can suppress Ming Miao Yin, is he already in control of the mystery of the Sacred Embryo, or is he physically overpowering Yi Tianpeng?"

He wants to pry into the other's roots, especially that fleeting Divine Embryo.

Seeing the Buddha in his heart, Yi Tianpeng sees the Great Path.

Ji Qingqiu instantly regains control of his own authority, his eyes flashing with Dharmic Principles at their peak.

Not everyone can have a peaceful and joyful fantasy, life is still fraught with danger, it doesn't give special favors to anyone's piety or faith, destiny is not bribed, it's fair and equal, and the future is right under your feet.

One innocent heart, untainted by dust;

Ning Mingsheng.

For the vast majority born in the past ten thousand years, those who have witnessed Ning Mingsheng's actions as a warrior, are now filled with more confusion and incomprehension.

At this moment, he finally reveals his invincible essence! Under the burning of this divine fire, not to mention others, even Ming Miao Yin's Unity of Heaven and Man is fundamentally useless.

"Senior Mu, how divine is this person?" Yao Heshan couldn't help but ask.

He ascends the steps and enters the vast divine temple.

【He was born to inherit the legacy of the Heavenly Emperor's beings, to ascend the immortal divine throne, and achieve the Supreme Sovereign, leading the entire Heavenly Emperor to transcendence.】

He finally smiles with relief.

This is the blade of survival.

Ji Qingqiu steps forward indifferently, "The Buddha is before my eyes."

...

The words fall.

This is the foremost Heavenly Pride of the past ten thousand years.

At this moment.

Behind him.

Ten thousand years ago, he had already overpowered He Shuai in the Divine Roaming Realm! Mu Qing has been silent for a long time, and the memories of the past flood into his heart.

Even if they are not of the same path, one can't help but admire his peerless spirit! Ji Qingqiu calmly responds to Hela, "From the words of the Ancient Path's will, one can deduce that the Heavenly Emperor and the Great Universe share the same roots, with a lineage of inheritance, but the Ancient Path's will does not agree with Ning Mingsheng's later actions."

This child today relies on the power of the Heavenly Cycle Battlefield to dominate the arena of the Ten Thousand Year Monument.

Qi Yunfei is currently transmitting a sound message to Gutan.

Ning Mingsheng ponders, "The Buddha is in the heart?"

Infinite Light! That is the first light born in this world, the spiritual origin of the universe's creation and the birth of all things, seeing all Dharmas, and also seeing the principles of heaven and earth.

A single pure thought, infinite blessings.

...

Even if one can briefly transform into heaven and earth, they are still no match for this person's divine fire that can burn the principles of heaven and earth!...

The assurance he can give to sentient beings is...

...

"How is this possible... to win over..."

"Good."

The will of the Ancient Path suddenly takes action, cutting off the projection channel between here and the outside world, blocking the gaze of powerful beings trying to spy on this place.

If one doesn't sever this divine fire's essential position, it's like a moth flying into the flame, inviting self-destruction, seeking a dead end.

Hela's voice sounds lightly, and she seems to not have expected Ji Qingqiu to reach this step.

"Legacy? What is the legacy of all beings? Is this truly the legacy of all beings?"

Ji Qingqiu gazes forward.

The figure standing in the divine temple also speaks softly, "Ji Shidi, do you have faith in deities?"

At this moment, he also sees the blossoming divine fire behind Ji Qingqiu.

Deep in the grand temple, stands a figure in a blue robe.

Within, a majestic divine being is nurtured, opening his eyes at this moment, staring at Ji Qingqiu through the void.

"Saying he is looking down on the deity is an understatement."

"Who is Elder Ning talking about?"

Or rather, whether to resist or not, there is no difference.

In the spiritual realm, a heavenly person's eyes widen in shock, feeling like their entire worldview is being overturned.

That is the foundation of everything.

Ning Mingsheng represents not just overpowering a generation, but all generations of "warriors" from ancient times to the present.

In the most ancient and savage era, the supreme deity drew a bottom line for the world.

Regardless of anything else, the conflict between the two is a battle for the Ten Thousand Year Monument, and even more so, a battle of paths! Ji Qingqiu does not answer but asks, "Elder Ning, do you know where the Buddha is?"

Someone sighs, "Ning Mingsheng, silent yet alive... this person, in his early years, not only surprised the world, but also stood at the peak, with an immortal aspiration, and until now, no one has broken his record."

Countless people murmur, and even at this moment, they still feel like it's a dream.

When Hela, inside the Inner World, slightly tilts her head, a smile forms on the corner of her mouth, a chilling and mocking smile.

Ning Mingsheng seems to not resist.

Ming Miao Yin's soft voice reaches Ji Qingqiu's ears, and he takes a step into the next battlefield.

Now seeing Ji Qingqiu about to top the Ancient Path, his heart is filled with burning eagerness.

Ji Qingqiu takes a step forward, leading the way.

The end of an era, also signifies the rise of a new one.

This scene, destined to be eternally remembered in history through the generations' retelling.

Today.

The one who ascends the Ten Thousand Year Monument of the Nine Provinces -

Ji Qingqiu!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end