Chapter 287: The Greatest Dao Shrine in History

Chapter 287: The Greatest Dao Shrine in History

East 3 Huang Star, the Spaceport.

Jianquan stopped in his tracks and spotted a woman in the distance, wearing a True Phoenix Mask that covered half of her face. Her hair was like dark clouds, and her eyebrows were like painted mountains, shrouded in a mist emanating from a treasure, making her appear hazy and mysterious.

Jianquan silently calculated in his mind, and as expected, he sensed nothingness.

He shook his head and sighed, realizing that she was protected by a divine artifact.

These people from the 3,000 Yan Fu Ti's Dao lineage indeed had deep roots, having accumulated numerous treasures.

As if sensing something, the woman in the True Phoenix Mask turned around, and their gazes met. Jianquan smiled at her.

The woman's eyes curved slightly as if she had chuckled softly, but instead of approaching, she turned and left.

...

...

Ji Jingqiu gripped the hilt of his sword, feeling its heat as if it were burning. But soon, he sensed the awakening of a familiar presence.

Not long ago, the Sky Mechanic Hall had delivered the recast Qingzhu to him.

At this moment, as Ji Jingqiu's heart and mind merged with the sword, its divine nature slowly awakened, recognizing Ji Jingqiu, and a joyous cry reverberated within. Soon, a resonance formed, creating a connection as if their flesh and blood were linked.

Ji Jingqiu gently caressed the sword, and through his spiritual perception, he discovered a small world within the blade, with a mighty river flowing across it, covering the heavens with water.

Ji Jingqiu understood that Qingzhu had now reached the semi-divine weapon level, possessing an inner world.

To continue his advancement, he must absorb the true essence of the great rivers of the world to fill the void in his inner world and thus progress further.

Leaving the future aside, just focusing on the present, he already had the power to cut through Tian Ren's body, and all he needed was a suitable target.

Ji Jingqiu gently stroked the blade, using the ancient art of the Ten Thousand Ancient Swords to cleanse and purify it, while also tempering its divine nature.

"Brother Ji!"

A familiar voice called out from outside.

Jianquan strode into the room.

Ji Jingqiu suppressed the urge to draw his sword and strike, instead leaving it unsheathed and resting it across his knees.

As Jianquan approached, a ray of sunlight fell, as if splashing onto the sword's edge, causing a sudden burst of cold light and scattered sword energy. Jianquan's eyebrows twitched, and his heart stirred for no apparent reason.

He was puzzled, but seeing Ji Jingqiu's calm demeanor, he invited him to sit down.

"Brother Jian, please sit."

Jianquan's heart calmed as he took a seat.

After a brief exchange about their recent situations, they turned to the main topic.

Hearing Ji Jingqiu's request, Jianquan was not surprised and nodded, "I'll go and negotiate with the people from the Nine Palaces right away and try to get a schedule for today. It's a good thing you're about to hold the Hundred Veins Assembly. A single Dragon Tiger Dojo won't be enough to impress everyone."

Ji Jingqiu was taken aback; he hadn't thought of that.

Jianquan had clearly made his plans and assured Ji Jingqiu that he would make the necessary arrangements.

"For the Hundred Veins Assembly, Brother Ji, you should display your strength even more boldly," Jianquan suddenly suggested. "I suspect that some people will come to stir up trouble at the assembly. When the time comes, you shouldn't hold back; strike and kill as necessary."

Ji Jingqiu's eyes flickered, and he nodded in agreement.

"Recently, East 3 Huang Star has been attracting many visitors," Jianquan remarked.

"Yes, we've had quite a few visitors from other places," Ji Jingqiu replied calmly.

With his current cultivation, East 3 Huang Star had become his personal Dao shrine.

The entire star was within his perception, and he could appear anywhere at will in the blink of an eye.

The arrival of certain individuals could not escape his notice.

Earlier that morning, someone had even delivered a visiting card to his door.

These visitors had not acted out of line; instead, they had been well-behaved, so he had not paid them much attention.

If they were to cause trouble, it would only take a single punch to deal with them on East 3 Huang Star.

Even a sword would be excessive.

"Are you interested in the Beicang Shangmeng?" Jianquan asked.

"What do you mean?"

Ji Jingqiu had not forgotten that name.

A couple of years ago, the Beicang Shangmeng had attempted to ally with outsiders to ambush and kill him in the Po Suo Half-Realm.

The consequences of their actions were severe, and they had to pay a hefty price, including the expenses for the expansion, relocation, and resettlement of the urban area, all of which were covered by the Beicang Shangmeng.

At that time, it had been a significant financial blow.

However, by now, even if the Beicang Shangmeng wanted to make amends, they would not have the opportunity.

If East 3 Huang Star were to announce a need for funds today, countless people would be willing to compete to transfer their assets there, and the Beicang Shangmeng would not even make it to the front of the line.

"Some of these visitors are not as well-behaved as they seem, Brother Ji. You might want to take action," Jianquan said softly. "This group likely comes from Wan Jie Mountain."

"What's their background?"

"They are not our allies," Jianquan thought for a moment and added, "When Mu Shuai traveled through various realms, he had a connection with Wan Jie Mountain. They were initially on good terms, but suddenly, for no apparent reason, they turned against each other. When He Shuai broke through, Wan Jie Mountain also interfered."

Ji Jingqiu nodded, his eyes clear and calm.

"The current situation is indeed worse than we anticipated," Jianquan sighed.

By 'anticipated,' he was referring to the message left by their ancestors.

"In what way?" Ji Jingqiu asked. "Is it the Tian Road, the Wan Wu Hui, or is the invasion from the 3,000 Yan Fu Ti more severe than we thought?"

"None of the above. It's the root cause—the uncontrollable Grand Universe itself."

Jianquan smiled bitterly, "It's awakening at an astonishing rate, perhaps because it senses a fatal threat from the Ocean of Consciousness."

"The Grand Universe's reaction is much more intense than our ancestors anticipated. It's not just refusing to sit idly by; it's also trying to take another step forward, embarking on the Path of Oneness."

"The Path of Oneness?" Ji Jingqiu raised his eyebrows.

"In simple terms, it's about devouring all realms," Jianquan explained. "There's an ancient saying that all realms are projections of the Grand Universe or its scattered 'shells.'"

At this point, Jianquan, who rarely hesitated, paused and said, "Let me tell you about a secret that our ancestors discovered while exploring the ruins..."

You should know about the five original pillars that first emerged in the Grand Universe."

"All five of them belonged to the rare 'Primordial Divine Spirits'. From the moment of their birth, they were infinitely close to the ultimate state of transcendence."

"On their path to transcendence, they attempted to occupy all 'space-time' between heaven and earth."

"Once they reach a certain realm, they need to leave an indestructible mark unique to themselves within a certain space. The higher the realm, the more crucial this becomes."

"Those five believed that the Grand Universe alone was not enough; the scattered realms were equally important. So, they joined forces and initiated a prolonged war. They raised their divine nations, formed armies, established Ascension Platforms, and opened passages to the various realms, beginning their conquest... Well, it would be more appropriate to say they aimed to unify all realms."

"Thanks to that era, countless seeds of cultivation were scattered across the 3,000 Yan Fu Ti, and the Grand Universe truly became the center of all realms, a 'Sacred Land'."

Ji Jingqiu frowned. He had already learned that the key to leaving a mark was to anchor oneself.

This anchoring not only affected the Dharma Realm but also included one's position in the River of Heaven's Mandate and the River of Time.

So, he could roughly understand the significance of the five original pillars wanting to occupy all space-time.

But...

"How did they ultimately fail?"

Jianquan shrugged and smiled, "The ancestors didn't say. Why don't you ask the ancestors another day?"

Ji Jingqiu looked at him deeply, leaving Jianquan perplexed. Wasn't this just a joke?

Within the inner landscape...

"It's because the Dark Sea appeared," Hela said calmly, "I told you, the Dark Sea is the graveyard of the gods."

Ji Jingqiu's heart trembled. Was there another interpretation?

Suddenly, Ji Jingqiu realized the true intention behind Jianquan's words.

If the key to breaking through transcendence was to "occupy all space-time," then the convergence of the Grand Universe would naturally create the most vast and boundless...

Dojo?!

So, the next step would be up to the forces of the 3,000 Yan Fu Ti, whether they wanted to enter or not.

"Is this a trap?" Ji Jingqiu suddenly asked, "Will the Four Guardian Stars face a... war?"

Jianquan didn't hide it and nodded, "The Union is located at one of the eleven Ascension Platforms from the past. If the forces from the various realms want to enter the Grand Universe and seize the initiative, this place will become a battleground."

"And those ancient sages left something for the Union, to ensure a period of peace."

Ji Jingqiu fell silent.

If he hadn't guessed wrong, this would be the last glimmer of the Union's Divine Path.

The two continued their conversation, and Jianquan stood up to leave, as he had many matters to attend to.

But Ji Jingqiu suddenly called out to him.

"Brother Jian, we've never had a chance to spar. I see that you've also broken into the Heart Image Realm. How about we have a friendly match?"

During this meeting, Ji Jingqiu discovered that Jianquan had also entered the Heart Image Realm, which wasn't surprising. After all, Jianquan had reached the peak of Divine Wandering in the ancient path long ago.

In terms of cultivation and realm, he was the highest among the younger generation in the Union.

Moreover, their lineage's cultivation seemed different from ordinary people, emphasizing the cultivation of their divine nature.

Jianquan, who was halfway through standing up, suddenly froze and looked at Ji Jingqiu with suspicion.

Something was off.

It was more than just off!

As Ji Jingqiu slowly stood up, it was as if a shadow enveloped the room, swallowing Jianquan's shadow.

"I recently wandered through the realms and met with General Ji. He asked me to guide you, Brother Jian."

Jianquan's face paled.

Was this tribulation supposed to happen here and now?!

...

Half an hour later.

"What happened to Young Master Ji? Why is his nose swollen and bruised? It's too much! If you're going to hit someone, at least hit their face!"

Lu Tong seemed heartbroken, but he was actually enjoying the misfortune of others.

He had been raised by his senior brother since childhood and often heard about the glorious deeds of General He from him.

Among them was the 'glorious' story of Ji Tianxing. He was not a petty or opportunistic person; his actions and plans could be considered grand and upright, earning him the title of 'God of War'. However, this didn't prevent many in the Nine Palaces from still holding a grudge against him.

According to his senior brother, Ji Tianxing always had a legitimate reason for his actions, but he lacked empathy and human warmth.

Jianquan, with a bruised and swollen nose, pulled at the corners of his mouth, wincing in pain. With his physique and cultivation, he had to endure the appearance of a bruised and swollen face. One could imagine how ruthless the other party had been!

Jianquan sighed inexplicably.

He never expected to encounter this tribulation.

Was this the unpredictability of fate as the ancestors said?

But if we were to discuss it, could it be said that he was set up by his ancestors?

Jianquan mustered his spirits and spoke solemnly, "Senior Lu, let's talk about serious matters. Brother Ji is about to hold the Hundred Veins Assembly. The Union's hundred veins originated from the sages of ten thousand years ago. You may have heard of some of their names. Now that the hundred veins are gathered, don't you think the arrangements here are a bit hasty?"

Lu Tong's expression turned serious.

Although the sages of ten thousand years ago weren't as powerful as General He and others, they were still formidable in their own right. Many of them had established reputations in the 3,000 Yan Fu Ti.

In his opinion, the Union's martial lineages weren't necessarily inferior due to their descendants; the main reason was the scarcity of resources.

The current Grand Universe was in a 'low tide' period, unable to accommodate the eighth realm. Even breaking into the seventh realm was extremely challenging, and the most crucial factor was the limit of lifespan.

In the Grand Universe, the Heaven People only had a thousand years of lifespan, which was hard to imagine.

Those who could break through to the Zongshi Realm within a thousand years, especially those who opened the path, were considered future Heavenly Sovereigns in the Nine Palaces.

In the vast universe, the "tide" is rising, and opportunities are sprouting like bamboo shoots after rain.

If the Union's martial arts lineages can weather the recent period of turmoil, numerous individuals will undoubtedly advance along the path of their predecessors.

Moreover, the Union's current generation of young talents has shown remarkable potential on the ancient path.

After some thought, Lu Tong spoke, "I understand what you mean, and it makes sense. Ji Jingqiu aims to become the leader of the Hundred Veins Assembly, so we can't afford to lose face. Leave it to me."

"As for the connection with the Nine Palaces, you should still seek help from Chen Sha, my junior. I'm not skilled in that aspect."

...

...

At Tian Sheng Lake.

"Fang Shoubai of the Yin-Yang Palace has come to pay respects to fellow cultivators. I wish to seek guidance from Tian Sheng Lake. I hope your sect will not hold back!"

The calm voice resounded like thunder, reverberating and echoing in the vast sky for a long time.

The speaker was a jade-like, handsome youth, with an aura akin to cold ice. He stood tall, exuding a graceful demeanor, but also an undeniable sense of aloofness and arrogance.

At this moment, he was standing before the main gate of Tian Sheng Lake's main hall, issuing a challenge.

"Arrogant!"

Over a dozen people shouted in anger, rising into the air, their swords pointing at Fang Shoubai. The sword intent soared, reaching the heavens, and he was indeed a Tian Ren.

However, Fang Shoubai's eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and he hadn't made a move. Instead, he said indifferently, "I have already sent a challenge through my sect. This time, I've come solely for Tian Qiuzi. Does Tian Sheng Lake look down on me?"

A soft sigh escaped, and a Tian Wang stepped forward, raising his hand to stop the Tian Ren who was about to take action. He said calmly, "Tian Qiuzi had a sudden realization not long ago and is currently in seclusion, contemplating the mysteries of the Great Dao. It's not appropriate for him to come out of seclusion. If Fang Shoubai truly wants to seek guidance, there are many Tian Ren in Tian Sheng Lake."

Fang Shoubai's expression remained unchanged as he said, "If it's not Tian Qiuzi, what benefit would there be in fighting?"

The Tian Wang frowned slightly, wanting to drive him away, but at this moment, he had to suppress his thoughts. After all, behind Fang Shoubai stood the ancient Yin-Yang Palace.

He had vaguely learned from above that this challenge involved more than just a young generation's dispute.

"Why don't you go back and rest, Fang Shoubai? If there's a chance in the future, you two will definitely have an opportunity to fight, and it won't necessarily be in the Xin Xiang Realm." He patiently explained, "Tian Qiuzi's seclusion this time is very likely to lead him straight to the Tian Ren realm."

"It doesn't matter. I'll wait here for Tian Qiuzi to come out of seclusion. If he becomes a Tian Ren upon exiting seclusion, then I, Fang, will also break through, and we can witness the splendor of the Tian Ren realm together."

After saying this, he stood in his original spot, eyes closed, silent and motionless, as if in meditation.

This scene made the various cultivators of Tian Sheng Lake feel annoyed.

Such stubborn persistence?

The Tian Wang cultivator of Tian Sheng Lake frowned deeply, feeling helpless. His gaze shifted to a distant place.

Hanyang Daoren received the gaze and, with a twitch of his lips, looked at his disciple beside him, sighing, "I used to praise you for your wide network of friends and excellent interpersonal skills. Now it seems that it's not necessarily a blessing."

Tian Qingzi let out a bitter laugh.

"You really can't remember who Tian Qiuzi is?" Hanyang Daoren couldn't help but ask again.

Even though he had asked countless times.

If it weren't for a Patriarch personally intervening not long ago, tracing Tian Qingzi's fate trajectory back to its roots, the result would still be fruitless.

Tian Qingzi was afraid that he would have been taken away by those people, who would have tried to persuade him with reason and emotion, determined to find Tian Qiuzi's true identity.

Tian Qingzi's smile was bitter.

He truly didn't know who Tian Qiuzi was.

However, he had a vague guess, and he also knew that Tian Qiuzi was related to Tian Yang Jun, and his name also had the character 'Qiu,' which was a Divine Prohibition...

How could such a coincidence exist in this world?

But could he speak of this?

The Patriarch couldn't calculate it, but in the end, he didn't say a word!

He didn't utter a single word and directly waved his hand, sending Tian Qingzi out of the Patriarch's hall.

It was precisely because of the Patriarch's actions that Tian Qingzi was spared from the "poisonous hands" of other lineages, such as being intercepted and taken away on the road.

Tian Qingzi was worried, and even the Patriarch hadn't expressed his stance, so he dared not speak.

Just then, Hanyang Daoren's expression changed, and he respectfully looked towards a distant place, listening attentively.

After a moment, he turned to look at his disciple, speaking with utmost seriousness, "The Patriarch has spoken. He orders you to bring Tian Qiuzi back, regardless of any promises you make on this journey. As long as it's a Divine Prohibition, they will recognize it!"

Tian Qingzi was shocked. Had it come to this?

It couldn't be, right? It was just a challenge from a junior, and at most, it would cost some face. In history, Tian Sheng Lake had also encountered similar situations and had accomplished great feats in return.

The various sects interacted, each showcasing their abilities.

But why were the Patriarchs so eager this time?

...

...

In the Yaochi Fairyland.

"You want to go to the area of the ninth Feisheng Platform?"

The elder looked at Han Qingxun and said after a moment of contemplation, "The competition there is fierce, and there's also a Divine Prohibition guarding the place. If you go, you may not gain any advantage. Why not choose another location?"

Han Qingxun clasped his hands and said, "I wish to give it a try."

The coordinates given by Tian Qiuzi previously were located at the ninth Feisheng Platform. If he hadn't guessed wrong, Tian Qiuzi wanted to test the Divine Prohibition of the vast universe!

Han Qingxun, though unexceptional, had a seven to eight-tenths chance of breaking through to the Tian Ren realm. He was willing to lend a helping hand to Tian Qiuzi.

...

...

In the inner realm of the mind.

Not long ago, the words of the Ji family youngster had reminded Hela of certain past events.

Hela's eyes were deep and mysterious, and her heart sank into the temporary divine realm she had created, where she found Bailan.

Looking at the girl before her, a pure-hearted cultivator, Hela remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "From today onwards, you must recite a name, treating him as if he were me, worthy of reverence and faith."

The girl raised her head in confusion, blinking, not fully understanding the meaning of the Mother Goddess's words.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end