Chapter 285: The Traits of a Grandmaster, Becoming One's Own Destiny

Chapter 285: The Traits of a Grandmaster, Becoming One's Own Destiny

Accompanied by the Great Red Heaven Palace, Ji Jingqiu arrived at the old territory of the Canglang Jin Clan.

This place had been transformed into a stronghold by the joint efforts of the Federation and the Great Red Heaven Palace.

Ji Jingqiu first greeted Mu Qing, and upon seeing the courtyard's stone tablet, he couldn't help but be curious. Was the former General He a devoted lover to one person, or did he have multiple beauties in his life?

He managed to suppress the gossip in his heart and chatted with Mu Qing about the events of recent years.

Mu Qing had already learned about Ji Jingqiu's affairs from others, feeling both relieved and surprised. She couldn't believe how quickly Ji Jingqiu had advanced, and unlike the former General He, he hadn't experienced multiple changes of heart.

However, after hearing about Ji Jingqiu's recent encounter, Mu Qing fell silent. After a moment, she spoke, "Jitianxing often does such things. Ah He had broken ties with him several times, and I thought you might encounter such a setup in the hands of others. But I never expected it to be Jitianxing himself who set the trap."

Broken ties multiple times...

Ji Jingqiu was a bit distracted. Could these two phrases be used together? "What was the relationship between the two of them back then?" Mu Qing thought for a moment but couldn't find a more precise term to describe the connection between Jitianxing and Ah He.

"Ah He once dominated the south of Jiuzhou, forcing other states to unite against his invasion, and Jitianxing played a significant role in that."

"This guy possesses a seven-aperture clever heart, and he is equally adept in martial arts, strategy, and warfare... He is an all-rounder."

Mu Qing gave some examples of the past, briefly explaining.

Ji Jingqiu noticed that Mu Qing's tone, besides admiration, was more of a sense of apprehension.

"How did General He deal with Jitianxing's schemes?" Ji Jingqiu asked.

"He fought back," Mu Qing replied calmly.

Ji Jingqiu nodded seriously, learning from the experiences of the past.

"Are you going to plant those heavenly medicines you brought back on East 3 Huang Star?" Mu Qing asked.

Ji Jingqiu nodded, as he was planning to bring them back to the Grand Universe.

After bidding farewell to Mu Qing, Ji Jingqiu carried a "Peach Tree" and held two "Strange Flowers," preparing to take his leave.

Before leaving, Ji Jingqiu thought for a moment and asked Mu Qing, "Mu Qing, do you know who assisted General He when he broke through back then in the Three Thousand Floating Worlds?"

"I'm not sure, but perhaps Gutatian knows something. He has been investigating the main reason for Ah He's breakthrough failure for the past ten thousand years."

Ji Jingqiu nodded and bid farewell once more, returning to the Grand Universe.

After exiting the passage from East 3 Huang Star, the guardian, White Deer Daoist, was slightly startled. He instinctively glanced in a certain direction and then looked at Ji Jingqiu with a peculiar gaze.

Two Ji Jingqiu?

Ji Jingqiu chuckled and greeted the White Deer Daoist before quickly heading towards his original body.

Upon returning to the Grand Universe, this physical body of his showed signs of uncontrollable self-destruction, as two "original bodies" could not coexist in one lifetime.

He immediately returned to his original body, and the spiritual sacred embryo, carrying the divine embryo, merged back into the original body. This physical body transformed into the purest primordial energy and blood, integrating into the original body.

In an instant, his aura rose steadily, reaching a peak before gradually subsiding.

As his physical body underwent transformation, the turbulence in his inner world gradually subsided, and the fusion between his mind and body began to improve.

This left Ji Jingqiu speechless.

For a Heartform Warrior, once they reach the stage of Mind-Body Integration, the strength of the physical body is essentially set, making it difficult to achieve significant growth.

But in Ji Jingqiu's case, it seemed there was no limit.

It was like a wooden bucket; filling this bucket with water would complete the Mind-Body Integration. However, Ji Jingqiu was both filling the bucket and deepening its capacity at the same time.

He closed his eyes and began to review his gains from this trip. The greatest insight was the path of observing Hela, which allowed him to understand his true nature and reconnect with the Dharma Realm.

Slowly, Ji Jingqiu's aura disappeared from this planet.

This phenomenon immediately caught the attention of White Deer and the others.

"This is..."

At this moment, they couldn't sense Ji Jingqiu's aura or any signs of life. This situation was entirely different from merging with heaven and earth; it was a deeper form of disappearance.

Or, to put it another way, merging with the Dao.

For Ji Jingqiu, he felt himself deeply immersed in a realm of nothingness, standing at the boundary between existence and disappearance.

Yet, he perceived his inherent will more clearly than ever before, an almost indestructible nature! It was as if he had come from the primordial void and was returning to it.

"The void is natural, the original true one..."

Various insights flowed through Ji Jingqiu's heart like a gentle stream.

Although doubts and confusion remained, there was a sense of enlightenment within him, as if he had broken through the void and attained true understanding.

A verse appeared in Ji Jingqiu's mind:

"From the void, wondrous existence arises."

This referred to how within a seemingly empty realm, there was an endless capacity for creation and possibility.

And the latter was the "Dao."

Ji Jingqiu slowly opened his eyes.

As he did, his aura filled every corner of the planet, omnipresent and all-encompassing.

With a thought, he could now appear in any corner of East 3 Huang Star.

Because his mind had expanded to encompass the entire East 3 Huang Star.

"You've acquired some traits of a grandmaster," Hela said, not surprised by Ji Jingqiu's progress. After all, he had already understood the true nature before, and now it was simply a matter of everything falling into place.

At the same time, Ji Jingqiu felt his Mind-Body Integration process gradually improving.

Just as water gradually fills a bucket, the water level rises higher and higher.

Three-tenths... Four-tenths... Five-tenths... Seven-tenths... Nine-tenths!

It wasn't until it reached nine-tenths that the speed of Mind-Body Integration slowed down, almost reaching the brink of ten-tenths.

As Mind-Body Integration intensified, Ji Jingqiu could distinctly feel his spirit extending endlessly as it merged with his physical body.

This extension was not outward, merging with the external world, but inward, reaching into the inner realm!

He was becoming his own "Heavenly Will."

Ji Jingqiu had a sudden realization in his heart—this was the true meaning of Mind-Body Integration. His spirit became the master of his physical body, becoming the Heavenly Will of his inner realm, and from then on, there was no distinction between the two.

Only by reaching this step could one forge a Heavenly Man's body and cultivate the characteristic of "Projection of All Realms."

Additionally...

"When I realized the True Nature, I sensed an ocean, and even before stepping into it, I almost got lost."

If his perception was correct, that was the location of the Dharma Realm, but it was completely different from when he was in Yanfu.

In Yanfu, he could barely communicate with the Dharma Realm, but upon returning to the Grand Universe, even touching it was a distant hope.

So, Ji Jingqiu sought guidance from Hela.

Hela replied without surprise, "You have realized the True Nature, and naturally, you have touched upon the location of the Dharma Realm. But the current you are still far from qualified to enter the Dharma Realm; this is the realm of the Heavenly King Grandmaster."

"The Dharma Realm is where the Dao resides. To comprehend the Great Dao, you must deepen your position in the world. You need to leave a mark in this world that is exclusively yours, and these marks must have 'witnesses'."

"In simpler terms, just like your previous Divine Journeys to various realms, you lack an anchor. This anchor must be established through the observation of all living beings, deeply engraving the traces you leave in this world within the river of time."

Ji Jingqiu asked, "When I ranked first in the Eternal Tablet in Jiuzhou, was that not enough to anchor myself?"

"Are you planning to enter and master the Dharma Realm in Jiuzhou?" Hela asked in return. "The rules of the Great Dao in the Grand Universe are the most complete among all realms."

Ji Jingqiu immediately understood.

No wonder Aunt Mu had asked him to return to the Grand Universe and unify the Federation.

He must leave a profound mark in the history of the Federation, using it as an anchor to delve deeper into the Dharma Realm.

"Wasn't the journey to the West enough?"

Ji Jingqiu fell into deep thought, realizing why the various Grandmasters in history, regardless of their personalities, had been active for extended periods.

"I thought that with Heart Image, I could condense the One True Dharma Realm," Ji Jingqiu sighed.

In the inner realm, Hela's lips curled slightly.

This guy truly didn't know his own limits.

After adapting to his current physical body and comprehending Mind-Body Integration, Ji Jingqiu stood up, preparing to plant the three Tianyao.

He still had some Wanwutu from Wumang Mountain.

"Plant these three Tianyao in your inner realm," Hela suddenly said.

Ji Jingqiu was taken aback, "I haven't experienced the Three Disasters yet, and my inner realm can't sustain life."

"You already have the True Spirit Pool, which is enough to provide nourishment for these three Tianyao. The so-called Tianyao are plants that inherently carry a portion of the Great Dao's patterns. Planting them in your inner realm will also benefit the expansion of your inner realm."

"For a martial artist, the inner realm is the foundation of transcendence and the source of future power. You should put more thought into it."

Hearing Hela's instructions, Ji Jingqiu nodded and began sensing the True Spirit Pool in his inner realm.

This True Spirit Pool, along with the previous integration of his physical body, had also been transferred to his inner realm.

Suddenly, Ji Jingqiu felt his vision blur, and beneath the misty fog, he saw a creature resembling both a dragon and a snake swimming in the pool, bright red and glowing like burning embers.

Instinctively, Ji Jingqiu reached for his wrist, only to find nothing there! He was shocked; had this little fellow finally awakened? The World Devouring Serpent, which had fallen into a deep slumber on the Ancient Road, had awakened at this very moment and somehow entered Ji Jingqiu's inner realm without him even sensing it! At this moment, the little fellow swam happily in the True Spirit Pool. When it got tired of swimming, it soaked in the pool, resting its head on the edge of the pool, humming contentedly.

Ji Jingqiu couldn't help but laugh and tease, "You were born too late; what happened to your promise to push through the Ancient Road with me?"

At the same time, Ji Jingqiu reflected with some uncertainty and doubt. Was it that he had let down his guard, or was he so unguarded towards this little fellow that it had slipped into his inner realm without him noticing?

Such a method was indeed beyond the comprehension of gods and ghosts, befitting the title of "Kongxiu Jushou."

The little fellow hummed and grunted, finally opening its lively eyes with difficulty. With confidence, it said in a youthful voice, "Wait for me for two more years. I will then transcend my infancy and enter the next stage. At that time, I'll go and knock down that deadbeat big brother first, and then I'll take you to dominate the current world!"

Deadbeat big brother... Was it referring to Xuezu? If he could do it all over again, Ji Jingqiu vowed that he would record this moment and send it to the Pingchuan Star, allowing the little fellow to have a complete childhood.

"What level are you equivalent to now?"

Ji Jingqiu was curious.

For the Kongxiu Jushou, infancy spanned from Divine Journey to Heart Image.

The little fellow flicked its snake tail, leaving a pitch-black crack behind. Ji Jingqiu's expression turned slightly solemn; the power of just this tail alone was probably enough to meet the lowest standard of a Heavenly Man's body.

This fellow was now likely at the peak of Heart Image, and with its racial advantage, it could even challenge a Heavenly Man.

Ji Jingqiu sighed; he had come a long way, facing numerous twists and turns, to reach this stage.

And after this little guy was born, he slept for a while and was able to match the very best Heartform Warriors, almost reaching the level of Heaven People.

So, he struck the little guy with a chestnut and sternly said, "This is my inner world, stop causing trouble."

The little guy grumbled, clearly thinking it was Ji Jingqiu who wanted to see...

But soon, it stopped caring about these trivial matters and curled up comfortably in the True Spirit Pool.

It felt that the best decision its dead-beat older brother ever made was to entrust himself to Ah Qiu!

The sudden awakening of the Tunjiezhishe was indeed a pleasant surprise for Ji Jingqiu.

In the future, when he ventures into various realms during his Divine Journey, he will have a companion.

Ji Jingqiu was a bit hesitant about how to handle this little guy and sought advice from Hela.

"For the Grand Universe, the Kongxiu Jushou Qi is like a beloved child, born of the Great Dao and nurtured by heaven and earth. Having this little guy nurtured in your inner world will help your inner world be imbued with a trace of the Great Dao's aura."

"Moreover, this little guy is a Tunjiezhishe, the most skilled in the art of the void. With it roaming and organizing your inner world, it can help expand your inner world, just like deepening and widening a river channel."

As Hela explained, she couldn't help but admire the kid's fortune.

Ji Jingqiu couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed and withdrew his hand.

He glanced at the nearest terminal and sent a message to Ji Anquan, inviting him to come to East 3 Huang Star for a chat as soon as possible.

While waiting, Ji Jingqiu began to ponder.

The intrusion of forces from various realms, the Simo Xinsu secretly watching...

All of these signs indicated that the Union was about to face chaos and turmoil.

Before Mu Shuai left, he had specifically reminded Ji Jingqiu not to get involved in the upcoming turmoil of the Four Guardian Stars and to focus on defending East 3 Huang Star.

However...

Ji Jingqiu's spiritual awareness scanned the heavens and found a white-haired "youth" with flowing sleeves and ancient-style clothing standing on the street, watching two old men play chess.

The "youth" couldn't help but speak up and offer advice to the two terrible chess players, which earned him a glare from one of the old men, who said, "A true gentleman watches chess in silence!"

The "youth" turned around with a sullen expression but smiled warmly in the direction of Ji Jingqiu.

Ji Jingqiu thought to himself that with Lu Tong sitting in East 3 Huang Star, as long as it wasn't a period of chaos and turmoil in the rules of the Grand Universe, the defense of this planet would be as impenetrable as an iron bucket.

Perhaps...

He could use this opportunity to bait some fish?

He could see which individuals or forces had ulterior motives towards East 3 Huang Star and then catch them all in one go.

If that was the case, he could also temporarily transfer some powerful Heartform Warriors from the Nine Palaces to sit in East 3 Huang Star, with the main goal of luring in those who were willing.

At this critical moment, such an opportunity would be highly sought after by certain individuals in the Nine Palaces.

Additionally, there were the upcoming Heartform Warriors from the Nine Palaces.

Once these individuals break through to the Heaven People realm in the Grand Universe, they can leave the protection of the formation and freely travel through the Grand Universe, becoming a formidable force.

In the current situation, the more Heaven People the Union has, the better.

The environment of the Grand Universe and the Nine Continents is different, with a vast spatial gap between regions, which greatly lengthens the support lines. The same territory requires more Heaven People to defend.

However, Ji Jingqiu needed to intimidate and subdue these individuals in advance to eliminate any rebellious thoughts and prevent any future trouble.

With his mind made up, Ji Jingqiu planned to add this matter to his agenda and leave it all to Ji Anquan to strategize and execute.

Suddenly, Ji Jingqiu had a thought.

In a sense, Ji Anquan was quite useful? Hmm, when hitting someone, avoid the head to prevent any damage.

As his thoughts came to a close, Ji Jingqiu began his seclusion before the Hundred Pulse Assembly.

He aimed to achieve the final step of Mind-Body Integration before the assembly.

...

Over the past two months, numerous events, big and small, had occurred in the Union.

The most eye-catching was the conflict among the six major families.

For instance, the internal strife within the Yang family, with Qin Qingzhu holding the Heaven-Splitting Blade, had reached a stalemate. It was said that the Mu and Ji families had also gotten involved.

The Ji family quietly sealed themselves off, and just as quietly, they unsealed their borders, seemingly without any ripple. But those who were paying attention noticed that several of the family's usually active elders had disappeared without a trace.

In the Western Starry Sky, news spread that over a dozen Heavenly Pride Warriors from the same era as Ji Jingqiu had been ambushed. The attackers remained unknown, and half of the attacks were successful, causing a stir among various factions.

The rare collaboration between the Heavenly Beings and the various sects in the Western Starry Sky had briefly calmed the region, but as the Hundred Pulse Assembly approached, tensions rose again.

As the date of the Hundred Pulse Assembly, called by Ji Jingqiu, drew near, the spaceport of the East 3 Huang Star saw a sudden surge in foot traffic.

Many warriors who had gathered there noticed the presence of the Canglang Jin Clan. When they saw the clan's members, with their stunning figures and beast-eared girls exuding a distinct aura, they felt indignant. They began to criticize and protest the strict confidentiality of the East 3 Huang Star.

...

...

In the Grand Universe, a narrow rift meandered through the void.

From this rift, over a dozen figures emerged simultaneously, standing in the emptiness.

Among them was a young man with deathly pale skin, who smiled, revealing a mouthful of red teeth. This caught the attention of those around him, and they stared at him with obvious hostility.

Realizing he had somehow angered everyone, the young man didn't seem to mind. He smiled, then left on his own.

Jian Shiqi followed his senior sister, feeling that the young man who had just left was particularly eerie.

"That was Zhuli from the Ghostly Star Territory," Miaodie said coldly. "Now he should be called Senior Brother Fangyu."

Jian Shiqi's expression changed. So, the Heavenly Mandate Son of the Ghostly Star Territory, the one who had been body-snatched, was that man?

As Zhuli left first, the others in the group began to depart one by one, avoiding a direct confrontation at this place.

One of them put on a conical hat, concealing their face, which had sharp features and distinct lines. They scanned the crowd with indifferent eyes and left alone.

A beautiful woman wearing a golden crown picked up a silk fan, covering her red lips. She slightly raised her eyebrows, looking at Miaodie with a hint of provocation.

Miaodie ignored her and, after confirming their current location, led Jian Shiqi towards the direction of the Yanhuang Federation.

Jian Shiqi followed closely behind, his gaze sweeping across the area. These individuals were all renowned Heart Image Warriors, and even if they weren't Divine Prohibition Warriors, they were among the top Heart Image Warriors.

Thinking of this, Jian Shiqi couldn't help but ask, "Senior Sister, have you entered the Divine Prohibition Realm?"

Ever since entering the Grand Universe, Miaodie's eyes had been filled with countless strange runes, like a stream of data, connecting with a great will in the depths of the universe, forming an insignificant thread.

Jian Shiqi had heard that their lineage's fundamental law was to embody the Great Dao's Heavenly Heart, allowing them to read ancient secrets engraved in time.

Miaodie shook her head. "I've only barely stepped into the Divine Prohibition Realm. To survive a cross-realm battle, I would need the help of a Daobing projection."

"Did you come to the Grand Universe to truly break through the Divine Prohibition Realm?" Jian Shiqi asked tentatively.

Miaodie continued walking forward, her expression calm. "I seek the heights of the Great Dao. For me, the Divine Prohibition Realm is just a stepping stone on the path to the Great Dao, not my ultimate goal."

Jian Shiqi's expression turned solemn. It was said that those who understood the True Nature and the Dharma Realm while still below the Heavenly Beings had a much higher chance of opening their own path.

Only by opening their own path could they be qualified to touch the Eight Extremes.

Those who followed the path of their predecessors could progress smoothly within the Seven Realms, but the price was that they would never be able to break through the Eight Extremes.

To break through the Eight Extremes, they would first have to 'outlast' the leaders on this path.

It was like a game of musical chairs; as long as the predecessors didn't die, they would never have a chance to move forward.

Miaodie's eyes sparkled with the reflection of the stars and constellations. She gazed into the distance, as if seeing through the vast universe, and murmured, "The Grand Universe is boundless, and to avoid unnecessary conflicts, various powers initially stay away from each other, dividing territories. But there are exceptions, certain regions and coordinates that become contested grounds for all parties. For example, the location of the 'Ascension Platform' left behind by the Five Great Pillars."

"During the era when the Five Great Pillars stood tall, all realms and clans across the multiverse revered the Grand Universe. At that time, the ability to 'ascend' to the Grand Universe was considered the ultimate honor, and this is how the 'Ascension Platform' got its name."

"There are a total of twelve such places, and the region occupied by the Yanhuang Federation is one of them. A planet within this region was once the location of the 'Ascension Platform' of the Cangqing lineage."

Miaodie's eyes darkened as she spoke in a low voice, "Additionally, it's worth mentioning that some ancient powerful beings have set their sights on my master's uncle, seeking to possess his body for rebirth."

Jian Shiqi's expression turned grave. Those damnable ancient beings wanted to possess the body of this Divine Prohibition Warrior in the Grand Universe? But how did they plan to enter the Grand Universe?

"Moreover, the Yanhuang Federation itself is quite peculiar, almost like a past True Sage Bodhimanda."

Miaodie continued, "They have established connections within many powers in the Three Thousand Yanfu, and too many people have taken an interest in this place. So, as expected, it will become quite lively here."

As she spoke, Miaodie shook her head slightly. She didn't have high hopes for the Yanhuang Federation maintaining peace during the upcoming 'chaotic times.'

The current Yanhuang Federation was like a descendant who couldn't live up to their ancestors, unable to safeguard the legacy they had left behind.

Jian Shiqi's mind was filled with confusion.

Had he heard wrong?

What did she mean by 'a past True Sage Bodhimanda'?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end