Chapter 267: The Madman, the New God, and Li Yinghai

Chapter 267: The Madman, the New God, and Li Yinghai

Ever since he deciphered the Divine Seed on the Ancient Road and saw through Ji Lin Yuan's true identity, Ji Jingqiu couldn't help but feel excited, despite breaking out in a cold sweat.

Unfortunately, he couldn't return to the seventh floor of the White Jade Capital.

However, he was more eager to meet his grandfather, the Celestial Being.

As far as he knew, his grandfather hadn't reached the pinnacle of the True Seed Realm and had an innate deficiency in his physical body.

But once he broke through the Celestial Being Rank, he would undoubtedly reverse his innate body and prepare for the subsequent Celestial Being Body.

This was a rare opportunity to make up for the foundation in the subsequent realms.

The elder at the forefront took the initiative to stroll over, his composure unwavering. He extended his fist, and as he did so, his movements seamlessly followed the principles of the universe, unifying the heavens, earth, and his mind. The fist contained divine power, and his strength pierced through the void!

Ji Jingqiu's eyes widened in awe; what a magnificent punch! It was far more exquisite than anything he had seen in the White Jade Capital.

His inner heaven and earth merged, and his fist surged with unified power as he punched without holding back.

As the two fists clashed, Ji Jingqiu was stunned. The seemingly formidable punch of his opponent was soft and feeble, easily pierced by his own, causing the entire Dao mark to crumble instantly.

This was it?

So weak?

Soon, Ji Jingqiu realized that it wasn't the imprint that was weak, but the Planetary Will that recorded this mark was too feeble.

These imprints were Dao marks "excerpted" by the heavens and earth when warriors achieved unity with their Heavenly Heart. With a weak Planetary Will, these imprints were merely an empty shell.

Just like the imprints above the White Jade Capital, the support ultimately came from Hela's original body. Even a Celestial Being, let alone a True Seed, could perfectly "replicate" it if they wished.

However, Dong 3 Huang Star was different. Its Planetary Will was too feeble, and even with the indestructible Dao marks left by their predecessors, it was difficult for Dong 3 Huang Star's Planetary Will to provide equivalent rank power.

Upon realizing this, Ji Jingqiu felt a sense of disappointment.

How boring.

Ji Jingqiu wondered if his grandfather was still on the Celestial Path.

After the Federation's Grand Masters left the Federation, they headed straight for the Celestial Path. If his grandfather had also reached the third stage of the Celestial Being, he was most likely forced to embark on the journey...

Ji Jingqiu suddenly asked, "Do you know where the Grand Masters went? Did they borrow the Celestial Path to travel to the Many Worlds?"

"It's the 'Near Dao Region,'" Hela replied indifferently. "The rules of the Grand Universe are about to change. On the eve of this transformation, the Dao will be in turmoil, presenting both opportunities and the constant threat of death for warriors who have comprehended the essence of the Dao."

"The so-called opportunity lies in the 'Near Dao Region,' the core of the Grand Universe, where the Primordial Five Pillars perished years ago."

Ji Jingqiu's eyes narrowed. The place where the Five Pillars perished?!

He asked, "What exactly did those five die from?"

"Which one are you referring to?" Within the Inner Scene Realm, Hela turned her head, her smile radiant. "Five deaths, five different causes. Do you want to emulate them?"

Ji Jingqiu blinked and asked, "What about the Holy King Lineage?"

"That one," Hela explained casually, "had a heart that soared above the heavens. In his final step, he raised the Divine Kingdom, and together with the entire kingdom, they solidified at the boundary between this shore and the other shore. In the strictest sense, he hasn't died yet; he's between life and death."

Hela spoke with a light touch.

"The boundary between this shore and the other shore?"

"That's not something you should be concerned with now," Hela warned. "There are some things you should inquire about in moderation. Some 'secrets' are better left heard and known, as they can entangle you in cause and effect. When the right time comes, I will tell you."

Ji Jingqiu shook his head and refocused his attention on the present. He followed what seemed to be an Ancient Road, visiting the Dao marks of several predecessors along the way.

The next one was Ji Shuai, whose appearance hadn't changed much compared to his image on the Ancient Road. He was still young and handsome, but his aura was even deeper and more vast, like the starry sky.

He seemed to be standing there, yet also in the distant horizon, making it difficult to gauge his true location.

Ji Jingqiu pondered, "If Ji Shuai had foreseen the possible events in the Federation ten thousand years later, did he not predict the internal strife that might occur within the Ji Family?"

So far, the Ji Family remained in a self-imposed isolation, and Ji Jingqiu wondered if Ji Anquan could withstand the pressure.

Ji Jingqiu passed by Ji Shuai and faced He Donghuang He Shuai.

Although the scene wasn't as he had hoped, Ji Jingqiu had already met He Shuai twice before. The first time was during his adventure in the Heart Ocean.

In front of him now, He Shuai, imprinted with the Heavenly Heart, seemed more weathered than before. His gaze was deep and mysterious, like an abyss, and his aura was profound and obscure...

Ji Jingqiu wondered silently, "Do you know which period of He Shuai's life this is?"

"Am I his mother? Should I pay attention to him every moment?" La Jian scoffed, her tone sharp and accusatory.

Ji Jingqiu moved forward again, and before reaching the end, he saw the last figure who hadn't turned around.

He circled around to face the figure and suddenly froze.

Who was this person?

Was this a Celestial Being warrior from Dong 3 Huang Star's history?

Just as Ji Jingqiu was filled with doubt, Hela's voice sounded, carrying a hint of strangeness and playfulness.

"You don't know who he is?"

Ji Jingqiu remained silent, feeling that, judging by La Jian's tone, not recognizing this person was an unforgivable sin.

Following this logic, who in the Federation could make him...

Ji Jingqiu's pupils contracted sharply as he tried to find similarities between the person before him and the historical portraits.

"Is he Mu Shuai?!" Ji Jingqiu exclaimed in shock, "Why does he look so different?"

Whether it was the golden body enshrined in the Mu Family's ancestral temple or the images in the Federation's history books, there was a fundamental difference between them and this figure—a difference that facial recognition software would never be able to bridge!

Most importantly...

The Mu Shuai here, who left his mark, did not resemble the monk-like appearance passed down in later generations. For example, the most obvious difference—

He had hair!

"Why is he so different?" Hela said indifferently, "In the eyes of ten thousand people, he has ten thousand different appearances. Do you understand?"

Ji Jingqiu whispered, "The appearance of the masses?"

"No, he has taken that crucial half-step towards transcendence. The realm of transcendence cannot be spoken of, cannot be discussed, and any attempt to think about it or see it is in vain..."

Hela spoke softly, and Ji Jingqiu couldn't help but sense a hint of unconcealed envy in her words.

How could one not feel envious?

A warrior who had only cultivated for a few hundred years had caught a glimpse of the realm of transcendence, which they had yearned for countless eons, even if it was only a half-step. But he had seen the style of that realm.

However, if given the choice, she would never follow in this person's footsteps.

To attempt to shoulder the weight of the boundless Suffering Sea with one's own strength was the epitome of arrogance and self-conceit!

"Half-step transcendence..." Ji Jingqiu muttered, this was the first time in his life that he had seen Mu Shuai's true appearance up close.

Ji Jingqiu couldn't describe Mu Shuai's appearance and demeanor in his eyes; the only word that might come close was...

Tolerance?

Ji Jingqiu stared at Mu Shuai, who was meditating with his eyes closed, and couldn't detect any divine anomaly.

Without wearing a kasaya or establishing a temple, no one would associate him with the Venerable One.

He merely closed his eyes and listened intently, as if he was listening to the sounds of heaven and earth.

Ji Jingqiu bowed solemnly.

Without Mu Shuai's inheritance, there would be no Ji Jingqiu today.

He didn't know what to say; he could only prove through his future actions that he would not disgrace the Flame Mansion Buddhist Hell Meditation Diagram or the title of the Venerable One's successor.

After the bow, Ji Jingqiu's mind took a step forward.

At the end of this path, he saw a vast and boundless chaos, lifeless and gloomy.

Ji Jingqiu mistakenly thought he had arrived before an infinitely high wall.

Hela reminded him that this was the Sea of Tai Xu, which could be considered the boundary of heaven and earth.

"Interesting, your Federation is indeed 'blessed by heaven.'" Hela whispered, "The Four Guardians Star suppresses the Abyss of the Suffering Sea, and this planet is actually connected to the Void Sea before the opening of the Grand Universe. As expected, this planet indeed possesses the Void attribute."

"What does it mean?"

"The rules of the Grand Universe suppress everything, so the connection with the Many Worlds is extremely weak. One can only pass through the Dark Sea, but what about when the Dark Sea disappears? In the past, the Holy King Lineage controlled several planets with the Void attribute, which they transformed into 'Gates to the Many Worlds.' Even if the Dark Sea disappears, they can use these planets as a springboard to connect to the Many Worlds and conquer the heavens."

"Unfortunately, this planet is still too weak. Forget about the Gates to the Many Worlds, but it can still provide you with some assistance, enough to make it easier for you to connect to the Many Worlds."

Hela paused for a moment before continuing,

"Normally, when one travels through the Many Worlds, they do so with their mind, so even a Celestial Being would face a life-and-death crisis. As for the Formless Heavenly Devil Technique, although it allows you to have a physical body, it is ultimately not your original body."

"If this planet has the Void attribute... perhaps we can try to allow your physical body to enter the Many Worlds as well."

After hearing Hela's explanation, Ji Jingqiu asked in surprise, "Were the warriors from the Many Worlds in the Ke Family not in their true bodies?"

"Didn't you notice the divine light surrounding them? That was the protection of at least a Heavenly Lord-level expert."

Finally, Ji Jingqiu retreated.

This was just an initial exploration, and it wasn't yet time to travel through the Many Worlds.

Additionally, there were less than two months left until the Hundred Tribes Conference, which he would personally convene.

This time, Ji Jingqiu had more than just suppressing the Hundred Lineages in mind; he had other objectives as well.

Please... support... and... collect... 6... 9... votes...!

After his mind returned to his body, Ji Jingqiu entered the inner world and spoke seriously:

"Alright, let's get to the point. First, transmit the Formless Heavenly Devil Technique to me, and then I'll allow you to research the Mind Moon in my forehead while I comprehend the heart method."

Hela casually asked, "What are you planning to do?"

"A little experiment. If possible, I plan to research my innate divine talent and find the key to suppressing the Fog.

Ji Jingqiu turned back to look at the shrine, his expression calm as he said, "If the day truly comes when all the Divine Sovereigns leave, and the Federation sinks into the mire of the Heart Ocean, we'll need some backup measures."

"Do you want to become a deity?" Hela asked with a strange look in her eyes. "Do you know who was the last person in the Federation who wanted to ascend to godhood?"

"It was Mu Shitian!"

Ji Jingqiu's curiosity piqued, "Why aren't you calling him a bastard anymore?"

"Do you think I'm joking with you? The last person who wanted to become a deity was Mu Shitian, and then he died."

Hela gave a cold laugh, "Before, we didn't know what was sealed beneath the Federation, but now? Haha, if that day truly comes, when these four useless fools meet their end, you can either pray that they have a backup plan or run faster and get as far away from the Federation as you can before that!"

Ji Jingqiu shook his head, "You still don't believe in my unparalleled talent and extraordinary wisdom. By the way, remind me to tell you about your Prayer Technique later."

"Oh? Have you finally realized the truth?" Hela was surprised by his sudden change of heart.

In his heart, he wondered if he had just scolded the boy into a sense of urgency. He remembered a saying of He Shuai from the past—'When I ascend to greatness, all beings will follow in my footsteps.'

Ji Jingqiu rose from the steps, brushing off the dust.

Hearing these words, Hela's lips curved slightly.

She suddenly understood why the Suffering Sea's Abyss was located in the Federation.

In this tiny, insignificant place—

One person must bear the burden of the Suffering Sea for all beings.

One person must calculate the destinies of countless lives.

And another must open the path for all beings, establish a doctrine for the world, and let all beings follow in his footsteps.

In the vast Chaos Sea, it's rare to find a rebellious "madman" in millions of years, yet in this tiny place, several have appeared. There must be something unusual about this place to justify such a "coincidence."

It's only fitting that the Suffering Sea's Abyss is here, drowning you all.

Ji Jingqiu spoke sincerely, "It's better to worship me than the gods. So, I'm thinking of combining your Prayer Technique with my Heart Flame Ten Thousand Phenomena Lamp."

Hela's face remained expressionless. This guy was getting more and more delusional, thinking that such a profound technique could be created at will. Unfortunately, the Federation's warriors had a wide range of abilities, and no one was there to give him a reality check, let alone make him tone down his arrogance.

She began to ponder which world to choose for his first divine journey, to show Ji Jingqiu that there were people greater than him and worlds beyond his imagination.

In the boundless starry sky, he might be the protagonist, but he was certainly not the only one!

Ji Jingqiu walked forward, sighing softly, "Is there a method in the world that can dispel all worries and calm infinite hearts?"

...

...

As Ji Jingqiu was expressing his filial piety, Li Yingtian arrived at the center of the Divine Kingdom to meet a figure shrouded in endless divine light.

He approached with a respectful expression, half-kneeling in reverence, his black hair falling over his face, concealing his emotions.

But the next moment, he suddenly lifted his head, stunned by the words of the figure.

"Yingtian, do you wish to become the new deity of the Yan Huang Federation?"

...

...

East 3 Huang Star.

Li Yinghai stood at the exit of the spaceport, taking deep breaths.

He repeated this action ten times.

The Celestial Being warrior, Mao Yanqing, who was standing behind him, shook his head with a smile, "Why the theatrics?"

Li Yinghai gritted his teeth, "Uncle Mao, don't you feel ashamed?"

Mao Yanqing smiled faintly, "What's there to be ashamed of? You accepted the bet and lost. You're outmatched, what can you do? Besides, what does this have to do with me? I wasn't even involved in your previous conversation."

Li Yinghai took another deep breath and strode forward.

Three hours later.

After facing countless dangers, Li Yinghai finally managed to meet with Ji Jingqiu.

He forced a smile, his face slightly stiff, and tried to sound sincere and admiring, "Brother Ji, it's been a long time. I've heard that you've been making waves in the West, battling Heaven People with your Heart Image. Your extraordinary talent truly stirs the emotions."

Ji Jingqiu glanced at him, his smile seemed forced and insincere.

"Yinghai, you sound reluctant today. Is someone giving you a hard time?" Ji Jingqiu asked with genuine concern in his voice.

But Li Yinghai's smile froze on his face.

Yinghai?

What kind of address was this? Not long ago, they were on equal terms, but now he was standing above him, acting like a senior, looking down on him?! Before Li Yinghai could gather his thoughts, Mao Yanqing's reminder echoed in his mind.

"As the successor of the Venerable One, the Mu Family treats you as a junior. You're lucky to be called Yinghai. Hurry up and respond."

Lucky...

Li Yinghai felt his head buzzing. As a direct descendant of the Li Family, he had never been treated this way.

But the remaining rationality in his mind told him that Mao Yanqing's reminder was correct.

"How... How could anyone threaten me? I'm still a member of the Li Family." He forced another smile, trying to make it bright and sincere, "This time, Yinghai has come on behalf of the family to deliver a congratulatory gift to Senior Ji."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end