Chapter 238: The Chosen One, What is Morality? (8k7) (Part 1)

Chapter 238: The Chosen One, What is Morality? (8k7) (Part 1)





Ji Jingqiu had heard a legend from Gu Shixiong about certain universes where sentient beings were herded like livestock.

After death, their physical bodies returned to dust, and their souls, or spirits, merged with the universe, strengthening its will.

Some speculated that the invasion of the Dark Sea was also to plunder the spiritual origins of all beings, strengthening themselves...

The path of the Nine Palaces was different but similar. It was built upon the inner worlds of fallen powerful beings, creating this universe.

At this moment, as the imprint fell onto the Sacred Embryo, Ji Jingqiu felt even closer to the existence of this ancient, eternal thought, as well as the presence of another universe.

It was within arm's reach.

It seemed like he could touch it, or even step into it, but there was a prerequisite.

The Heavenly Will of the Nine Palaces, at this moment, through the Sacred Embryo, gave Ji Jingqiu an opportunity—a chance to stay in the Nine Palaces and directly enter this universe to cultivate.

At that time, concepts like the Unity of Heaven and Man would be mere trifles!

He would ascend to the heavens, directly receiving the blessings of the "fortune" accumulated by the Nine Palaces, becoming the chosen one of the Nine Palaces. From then on, his cultivation would progress by leaps and bounds, and countless resources would be provided, with past powerful beings guiding him...

However, the price was also to bear the fortune of the Nine Palaces.

Ji Jingqiu wondered in his heart why it was him.

The answer from the Heavenly Will of the Nine Palaces was straightforward; they hoped to give birth to a Ning Mingsheng affiliated with the Nine Palaces.

In the end, Ji Jingqiu politely declined, stating that he still needed to return to the Great Universe.

The proposal from the Heavenly Will of the Nine Palaces was tempting, but the prerequisite was that he must stay in the Nine Palaces to cultivate.

Bearing the fortune might not be as wonderful as they described, as the Heavenly Will of the Nine Palaces also mentioned bearing fortune as the cost.

In response to Ji Jingqiu's polite refusal, the Heavenly Will of the Nine Palaces revealed a hint of regret but said no more, quietly retreating.

The imprint on Ji Jingqiu's Sacred Embryo remained, but it dimmed, and the strong connection to the Nine Palaces' universe also weakened.

Ji Jingqiu was not disappointed; instead, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He guessed that bearing the fortune meant deeply binding himself to the Nine Palaces.

This was indeed a great opportunity to ascend, but the "timing" was not right, belonging to the 4th Universe.

Moreover, his roots were in the Great Universe, in the Federation, and he would eventually return.

Sensing that the ancestral will on the divine altar was about to depart, the warriors in the rows behind, who had not yet offered incense, suddenly quickened their steps without any prior agreement.

Some moved slightly slower and spoke a few more words of prayer, only to be glared at by the others, who were just short of gritting their teeth and shouting, "How dare you block my path to greatness, you little thief!"

Some, desperate and confused, looked eagerly at Ji Jingqiu, hoping he could make the ancestral master stay a while longer...

Ji Jingqiu closed his eyes to rest, standing aside, quietly sensing the imprint on the Sacred Embryo.

This imprint was like a key to the Nine Palaces' universe; once he entered the Unity of Heaven and Man, he could step into it at any time.

The complexity of the Nine Palaces' ancestral worship ceremony exceeded Ji Jingqiu's expectations, lasting a full three days, making it awkward for him to leave early.

After it all ended, Ji Jingqiu left with Gu Chensha.

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt that Gu Shixiong had undergone some transformation compared to three days ago, especially in terms of his more heavenly demeanor.

Ji Jingqiu mentioned what had happened during the ancestral worship ceremony to Gu Chensha.

Gu Chensha's face turned pale, and he eventually nodded, saying, "Make your own decision. Bearing the fortune... that means sharing the glory and downfall of the Nine Palaces. For others, it's a great blessing, but for you, it might not be."

At this point, Gu Chensha also transmitted a secret to Ji Jingqiu.

A top-tier force like the Nine Palaces, among the three divisions of the Floating Earth, was among the first in line, second only to the True Sage Arenas.

The fortune they had accumulated might be enough to produce a Sky King, or even touch the Eighth Realm, within a short time.

Success or failure lies in this.

"The rules of the Great Universe's universe are more complete compared to other universes. Although they are strict, following the rules also makes things more convenient. For instance, breaking through the Divine Human Boundary is said to be much easier."

"In the Nine Provinces, a few hundred-year-old Divine Human is already a rare genius..." Gu Chensha shook his head.

After visiting Gu Shishu again, the two finally set off on their return journey.

Ji Jingqiu originally thought that the return trip would be like before, taking about a week.

Unexpectedly, Gu Shishu led the team, and with just one step, they teleported from the Nine Palaces to the Jin Clan's ancestral land.

"Upon reaching the Sky King Realm, one can traverse the world in an instant."

"Where the mind leads, the body follows."

Gu Tantian reminded him.

He took the lead and arrived in front of Mu Qing, whispering to her. They had obviously met recently, and after a few words, Gu Tantian turned and left, nodding to Ji Jingqiu before departing.

"Our master has returned!"

Not far away, Jin Lie, the clan leader of the Canglang Jin Clan, was overjoyed when he saw Ji Jingqiu.

Ji Jingqiu was taken aback.

He remembered that when they parted ways a year ago, Jin Lie had called him "Young Master Ji," but now he was addressing him as "Our Master"?

Ji Jingqiu stepped forward and paid his respects to Mu Yi.

[I've seen your achievements, and they are excellent, surpassing Ah He's performance in the Divine Roaming Realm!]



Mu Qing's joy was evident in her voice; she was surprised and delighted.

Even she hadn't expected Ji Jingqiu to win, but he had ultimately slashed out the "Embryo Breath Realm" blade, surpassing Ning Mingsheng and ascending to the top of the Ten Thousand Year Monument!

In front of this He Shuai's confidant, Ji Jingqiu was unusually well-behaved, allowing Mu Yi to ruffle his hair.

[Jingqiu, are you preparing to return?]



Ji Jingqiu nodded, "With Gu Shixiong's help, I've formed a Sacred Embryo prototype and need to return to the Great Universe as soon as possible."

[I can sense it; your spiritual power is constantly spreading...]



After a moment of contemplation, Mu Qing spoke, "With your current strength and potential, it won't be long before you can challenge the Heart Phase Warriors and touch the barriers of the Heaven Person. So, there are a few things I must advise you on."

"According to Ji Tianxing's predictions, this life will be the final leap for the entire Great Universe and all derivative world planes, which is, in essence, the Ascension."

"Just like us, the universe is also trying to reach a higher level of Ascension, entering the next stage."

Hearing this, Ji Jingqiu's expression turned solemn. Did Ji Shuai also make such prophetic predictions in his time?"

"The Great Universe's rules are loosening, and in a sense, it can be understood that it needs more powerful individuals to help defend against external invasions. Everything follows a discernible pattern..."

"This life will be filled with both danger and splendor, brimming with crises and opportunities. The so-called 'Heaven's Chosen' in novels will become a reality. The enemies you encounter on your journey will be even stronger than those Ah He faced in his time."

Ji Jingqiu's gaze deepened. Heaven's Chosen? He felt that he might have already rejected such a title.

If Heaven's Chosen refers to the heir of Heavenly Will, the future lord of a realm, then it would indeed be an unprecedentedly formidable opponent. Such individuals possess fully stretched innate talents and rely on the backing of Heavenly Will to easily crush those of the same rank.

Among them, the most terrifying is not the Nine Palaces' creation of the universe's Heavenly Will, but some truly complete universe planes!"

"Ah He and his companions often lamented being born too early, missing the most magnificent era. I hope you can inherit his will."

Ji Jingqiu nodded and said, "Mu Yi, rest assured."

Although it was just a simple four-word response, it exuded a powerful confidence beneath its calmness.

Mu Qing was delighted. She sensed a similar 'aura' from Ji Jingqiu as she had from Ah He in the past.

It was the aura of an invincible being, a conviction that no one could rival them.

Ji Jingqiu had already imprinted this belief of invincibility deep within his bones through countless battles.

However, she still had some lingering concerns. Before Ji Jingqiu's departure, she whispered some past lessons to him:

"Once you cross this threshold, you'll officially enter the middle tier of the Federation. You'll be eligible to compete for certain important positions. Others won't simply yield because you're a peerless genius; the competition goes beyond the surface."

"Ah He and Ji Tianxing both said that power struggles are the dirtiest. They involve bloodshed and broken bones..."

"You'll encounter individuals whose actions will seem incomprehensible to you, or completely shameless and unashamed. Don't be surprised; don't let your emotions sway you. View them with detachment."

"Everything in this world is ultimately determined by the power dynamics. Even seemingly foolish words and actions have underlying reasons..."

Ji Jingqiu nodded solemnly.

He understood what Mu Yi and the previous Elder Gu, were trying to convey.

In this regard, Ji Jingqiu had a clear understanding.

Some matters were indeed not as straightforward and swift as martial arts. Victory might not always be a victory, and defeat might not be a true loss.

He had no intention of getting involved in such matters.

If possible, Ji Jingqiu didn't plan to engage in politics. He wouldn't follow in the footsteps of Ji Shuai, attempting to become the Federation's spiritual leader or...

a hero.

That wasn't the path he intended to take.

His goal was to compete for crucial resources and gradually ascend the path under his feet.

Even if he had countless flaws, once he achieved the Heaven Person and Master ranks—

Confucian scholars would debate on his behalf.

Before returning to the Great Universe, Ji Jingqiu temporarily entrusted the three Heavenly Herbs he obtained from the Ancient Path to the Canglang Jin Clan for cultivation, planting them not far from Mu Yi.

These three Heavenly Herbs, freshly obtained from the Ancient Path, appeared somewhat sickly and required a period of adjustment to acclimate to the external world's rules.

He had originally planned to plant them in his portable small world, the Hanging Ancient Pagoda, but unfortunately, the rules there were too damaged to accommodate such life forms as the Heavenly Herbs.

He intended to return to Dong 3 Huang Star to establish his own 'Dao Field' and then transplant them.

Ji Jingqiu also took out some soil from the Unfathomable Mountain and asked if it would be useful for Mu Yi.

He hadn't kept any of this soil in the Nine Palaces, planning to bring it back to the Great Universe to cultivate the world tree seeds he obtained from the Cangqing lineage.

He only regretted not having a portable world like the Hanging Ancient Pagoda. Otherwise, he would have dug deep to show future generations what true greatness was.

Even without knowing the significance of the soil beforehand, it didn't stop him from 'coming to see' and 'digging first, asking questions later.'

Mu Qing initially found it amusing, thinking that Ji Jingqiu was truly too 'extraordinary.'

But when she carefully sensed the soil Ji Jingqiu presented, she was shocked by this unprecedented soil.

Upon her spiritual contact with the soil, Mu Qing felt a 'longing' emanating from the depths of her divinity! Incomprehensible!

After learning the origin of this soil, Mu Qing understood.

"Have you been to that place? Did you see anything?" Mu Qing asked curiously.

That was the place Ah He regretted missing out on after achieving martial arts mastery.

Ji Jingqiu shared his experiences.

He had discussed this matter with the Ancient Path Will, and their conclusion was that aside from the interesting inscriptions left by past generations, the place was entirely an empty fortress.

Those who entered wanted to leave because there was nothing inside.

Those who hadn't entered were desperate to get in, each believing they would find something, but they ended up with nothing to show for it, even pointing fingers at certain powerful individuals from the Thirty-Three Thousand Floating Earth.

Mu Qing contemplated for a long time before speaking, "If I haven't guessed wrong, this is the legendary Omnipotent Soil. Do you remember the world tree in the Posha Plane?"

Ji Jingqiu naturally remembered; it was more than just a memory; it was as if it had happened yesterday!

Upon learning about the classification of planes and universes, he had been pondering, just like the Posha Plane...

In this world, what level of cultivation should it be classified as? It is said that the Master of Cangqing obtained a vast amount of Omnipotent Soil before his enlightenment, which he used to cultivate and nurture the World Tree, eventually transforming it into the foundation of his enlightenment.

Ji Jingqiu widened his eyes, curious to ask if the Master of Cangqing had, in the past, obtained a single blade of grass from somewhere.

In the end, Mu Qing only took a fingernail's worth, saying that this was sufficient, and Ji Jingqiu forcefully stuffed a fist-sized amount of Omnipotent Soil, leaving some for three Celestial Medicines.

Although he didn't bring back much, it was still a package wrapped in clothing.

For the remaining part, he carefully stored it in a container, not leaving a single trace behind, preparing to return and cultivate his own World Tree.

Before leaving, an elder of the Jin Clan found him and discussed the matter of migration.

Ji Jingqiu was actually a bit surprised. After more than a year, had the Dragon Tiger Arena not established a base in the Nine Provinces through this passage?

Although the Nine Provinces were about to fall, the resources here were too abundant, far surpassing the Federation. Moreover, the rules of this world were extremely suitable for high-level warriors of the Federation.

At the very least, those warriors whose lifespans were nearing their end, after coming to the Nine Provinces, could all achieve some level of improvement!

This advantage alone could attract a large number of warriors.

"Many warriors have come from the Federation before, but they didn't settle in this area. Instead, they went to a distant giant city, and it's said they've already established a foothold there," Elder Jin explained to Ji Jingqiu.

Ji Jingqiu finally understood.

Elder Jin sought out Ji Jingqiu to discuss the matter of "ethnic group migration"! For the beings of the Nine Provinces to freely move about in the Great Universe, they needed to create a "transit point" in the Great Universe and live there for more than ten years to regain the "imprint" of the Great Universe.

Ji Jingqiu learned from Elder Jin that the Dragon Tiger Arena had already negotiated with the Canglang Jin Clan, and they would use the eastern three-star region as the initial location, first accepting the Canglang Jin Clan, and also laying the groundwork for future cooperation with the Nine Palaces.

Thinking of the Nine Palaces, Ji Jingqiu actually felt a bit of a headache.

How vast is the Nine Palaces?

As one of the hegemons of the Floating Earth, the Nine Palaces ruled over hundreds of civilized ethnic groups, and among them, there were nine first-class civilizations.

Of course, the myriad of ethnic groups in the Nine Provinces, in terms of population growth, were far less "wildly growing" compared to the Great Universe. This was because the Nine Provinces, unlike the Great Universe, did not have an infinite expanse of territory.

Not to mention those special ethnic groups that had difficulties in reproduction due to the strength of their bloodlines, a small-sized first-class civilized ethnic group, if normal, might have a population in the millions.

But for those at the level of first-class civilizations, population size was also a standard of judgment! In the future, if they wanted to migrate the Nine Palaces to the Great Universe...

Ji Jingqiu sighed, not worrying about the future, but only focusing on the present. One should not be troubled by matters that might only happen in a few decades.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end