Chapter 303: Plucking the Dao Fruit, Glimpsing the Future

Chapter 303: Plucking the Dao Fruit, Glimpsing the Future

At Tiansheng Lake, two Daoists walked side by side, riding the wind as they traveled, one in a green robe and the other in white.

"I wonder what Elder Pingyue has summoned us for this time?" The man in the green robe mused.

"It's for the Grand Universe, of course," the man in white replied nonchalantly. "What else could it be?"

The man in the green robe narrowed his eyes, "The Grand Universe... Haven't the calculations in Tianji Realm already shown that it will take at least two more years for Tianren to enter the Grand Universe, and even longer for us Tianren Three Heavens?"

"Is a few years too long? It's just the time for a single seclusion," the man in white said. "Even if you and I can't enter, your Tianluo Shidi and my Shimei have a chance. It's better to enter early and seize the opportunity."

"Don't just talk about us. All the old ancestors are fighting for their disciples and students to secure a spot."

The 'old ancestors' he referred to were Tianwang-level powerhouses who had been arguing over the spots in the Grand Universe recently.

"I really don't understand why they're limiting the number of people entering the Grand Universe," the man in the green robe frowned.

The man in white shook his head, "You're wrong about that. The restrictions are on the number of people the sect will support. If you want to go to the Grand Universe, you can go on your own. But if you want the sect's resources and a position there, then you have to compete. After all, this is the sect's 'foundation' in the Grand Universe."

The man in the green robe's eyes deepened, and he sighed lightly, "You're right. It's not easy to divide the future's teachings, and these spots..."

On their way to the gathering, the two men happened to meet someone in a hurry.

"Elder Han Hai, what brings you out today?"

The man in the green robe stopped in mid-air and greeted with a smile.

Han Hai laughed heartily, "It's you two Shidi. It's been a while, how have you been? I'm on my way to deliver something to Wutian Shishu Zu."

The two men were surprised, and the man in the green robe asked cautiously, "Is it for the Shen Jin in the sect?"

"Of course! Other than Wutian Shishu Zu, who else in the sect is a Shen Jin?"

Suddenly, the man in white asked, "Elder Han Hai, I heard that not long ago, a spirit object of Xiantian Wuxing was offered from the lower realm. Is it still in the treasury?"

Han Hai quickly shook his head, "It's not there anymore. You two shouldn't think about it. Such a divine object naturally belongs to Wutian Shishu Zu."

The man in the green robe's face changed, and he was about to say something, but the man in white stopped him.

The latter politely said, "We won't disturb Elder Han Hai any further. Let's take our leave."

As the two groups gradually moved apart, the man in the green robe questioned, "Why did you stop me? The Xiantian Wuxing object was clearly designated by Elder Pingyue."

The man in white was surprised, "I didn't know that. When did you, Ping Zhenzi, become a loyal supporter of Elder Pingyue?"

The man in the green robe was speechless for a moment, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

The man in white said calmly, "I'm afraid that in the next ten years, it will be Tian Qiuzi's era. Why bother going out of your way for Elder Pingyue?"

The two men walked side by side until they reached a Daoist temple located on the slope of a sacred mountain.

To be able to sit at the waist of a sacred mountain at the Tianren rank was no small status within the sect.

As soon as they entered the temple, a cold laugh echoed from within:

"I never thought that our final competitor wouldn't be the late Tianyang Shidi or either of us, but this Tian Qiuzi who suddenly appeared out of nowhere."

A man wearing a wide-brimmed hat smiled bitterly.

"Competitor?" Another man replied indifferently, "That's an overstatement. As expected, he's already comprehending the Supreme Law. What can you compete with him for?"

"Hmph!"

Amidst the cold humph, a white-haired Daoist's expression darkened, "He's just an outsider. We'll use him for a while, but when we no longer need him, do you really think he can hold that position? Once he's gone, the Supreme Law will still leave a vacant spot!"

The other disciples may not know Tian Qiuzi's true background, but those present were all core members of their respective lineages. They had already secured their positions in the Tianwang rank and were waiting for their cultivation to reach Tianren Yuwan before joining the sequence.

They were well aware that Tian Qiuzi was merely an outsider.

In previous years, although Shen Jin was cherished, it hadn't reached the point where they would use the Supreme Law to lure someone who had just joined the sect!

"Ping Qing Shidi, be careful with your words!"

One person frowned and spoke sternly, "If such words that harm unity spread, the elders and ancestors will surely punish you severely. Even your teacher can't protect you!"

Ping Qing Daoist was unconcerned, "Those summoned by Elder Pingyue today are all our own people. If these words spread, hmph..."

He didn't say anything more but looked around with a cold smile.

The others nodded slightly in agreement.

"That makes sense," someone said. "We're all brothers of the same teacher, and during this gathering, we should speak freely. If we don't even have this trust, it's better to disperse early."

Sitting at the head, the current chief disciple of the Nanhua lineage, Ping Yuezi, said calmly, "Speaking freely doesn't mean speaking nonsense. Shidi, be careful and don't let your emotions get the better of you. Additionally, our gathering naturally requires internal confidentiality."

Ping Qingzi smiled apologetically, "You're right, Shixiong. I was a bit too extreme, and I'm speaking up for you."

The woman sitting next to Ping Qingzi pulled the corners of her mouth, her gaze sweeping over the crowd with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

Emotional and extreme?

Everyone present had already attained the Holy Fetus of the Heart. They were all disciples at Tiansheng Lake, but outside of here, they all held high positions and had numerous disciples.

It was truly absurd and laughable to talk about being emotional and extreme.

It was just a matter of speaking and listening.

"Please take your seats, Shidi," Ping Yuezi gestured for Ping Zhenzi and the man in the green robe to sit.

As soon as they sat down, the man in white continued the previous topic, talking about Elder Han Hai, whom they had met on their way.

Upon hearing that the Xiantian Wuxing object in the treasury had been "pre-designated," Ping Yue Daoist's expression turned solemn, and a faintly oppressive atmosphere filled the room.

The Supreme Law was the future, and it could still be "retrieved."

The Xiantian Wuxing Affiliation is the foundation of the inner world, and once established, it will only disappear with the original master's demise.

Ping Qingzi narrowed his eyes and said, "If he loses in the Grand Universe, I wonder how the situation will unfold with all the Ancestral Masters paying such close attention to him."

Hearing these words, the crowd fell into deep thought.

"It is said that Ji Jingqiu, who killed Tianyang Jun, defeated a Shen Jin from the Five De Palace with a single strike. Although this battle has caused quite a stir, it still demonstrates his strength. If we can arrange a fight between him and Tian Qiu Zi..." someone whispered.

"There's no chance for that at the moment," another person shook their head, "One is on the 9th Ascension Platform, while the other is about to embark on the third Ascension Platform. They are worlds apart, not even close to the Heavenly King level."

"There is a chance."

The man in white suddenly spoke up, "I've heard that among the Five Divine Sects, there are still some disciples left. For example, that so-called Holy King's heir, Chiji, not only possesses the Holy King's inheritance but has also reached the Second Heaven. In the current Grand Universe, she has no rivals."

"Most importantly, she is on her way back to the Holy King's lineage galaxy!"

The third Ascension Platform that Tiansheng Lake is targeting this time belongs to the former Holy King's lineage.

"Even if we don't talk about Chiji, in the future, when the five lineages merge, there will be opportunities for encounters on various Ascension Platforms. When he loses to..."

Ping Yuezi suddenly interrupted, "Everyone, as disciples of Tiansheng Lake, we should always prioritize the interests of our sect."

The crowd exchanged glances and agreed. Ping Qingzi was especially impressed and said, "Senior Brother Ping Yue is indeed worthy of being the leader of the Nan Hua lineage! He always puts the sect's interests first! I admire you, Senior Brother!"

At that moment, everyone felt a pull of spiritual energy.

The order of Fa Li in the world seemed to be boiling, and even the Great Dao that had merged with the Unchanging was, for once, clearly and vividly revealed.

"This... has Tian Qiu Zi cultivated the Supreme Law?!"

Someone looked up in surprise, unable to take their eyes off the scene. Even in someone else's Daoist mansion, there was a resonance with the Great Dao, shaking the entire Tiansheng Lake?

Excluding the possibility of another Heavenly Sovereign being born in the sect, there was only one other option.

But...

"It's only been a few days!"

"How could he possibly master the Supreme Law and gain the recognition of the Dao Fruit in such a short time?!"

...

...

How long does it take to comprehend a Supreme Law? Helra recalled her fragmented past.

She didn't have the good fortune of Ji Jingqiu, who, before the age of twenty, already had the potential to cultivate two Supreme Laws.

Even the fundamental law, 'The Great Dream of Several Autumns', which she mastered, was only elevated to the Supreme level after she had deduced it step by step, finally obtaining the Dao Fruit.

The only one with a similar fate to Ji Jingqiu was the Demon, who had the good fortune of obtaining the 'Formless Demon Supreme Law' that suited him early on.

However, it was said that even he spent several years to enter the door, as at that time, he had just begun his cultivation journey, and knew nothing about the Fa Jie, the Great Dao, or even the Fa Li.

Entering the door of a Supreme Law is extremely difficult, as it involves the Great Dao and the Dao Fruit hanging high. Only by obtaining the recognition of the Great Dao, represented by the Dao Fruit, can one enter.

This is not just about talent and martial wisdom but also...

Fate.

If fate does not favor you, it cannot be forced.

Based on past experiences, Helra acknowledged that Ji Jingqiu indeed possessed extraordinary martial wisdom, worthy of being called a genius.

However, with his exceptional wisdom, he had been contemplating for three days without any progress.

There was no sign of entering the door of comprehension or receiving a hint of recognition from the Great Dao, nor was there any sign of failure or frustration. It was just... silence.

As the one who had signed a contract with Ji Jingqiu, Helra could clearly sense his mental state.

At this moment, Ji Jingqiu's mind seemed to have fallen into a state of nirvana, with no movement or sound at all.

In theory, Ji Jingqiu had already understood the Fa Jie, and touching the corresponding Great Dao should not be difficult for him. So...

Was it a matter of fate?

Or were three days still too short?

It was indeed too short for ordinary people, but Helra remembered that this fellow had once mentioned that he had cultivated the 'Fozao Fuyu Guanxiang Tu' and, considering the special circumstances at that time, it had only taken him a few hours, even with the outbreak of his poison.

Helra thought to herself that it was indeed a matter of fate.

What a pity.

Ji Jingqiu had already received part of the 'Wu Fa Wu Tian'.

According to her knowledge, this law, passed down from Wu Fa, when combined with Shou Zhen's 'Wu Fa Wu Tian', was simply...

As Helra was pondering, a sound of the Great Dao rang out in the world, light and clear, yet it ignored all other laws and became the center of the world.

...

Ji Jingqiu's mind was in a state of deep meditation.

Within three days, relying on the light of supreme wisdom and his understanding of the Fa Jie, he gradually mastered the cultivation steps of this Supreme Law.

Not a single mistake, not a single word, not a single stroke, not a single inner truth, not a single...

'The Way of No Fear' is not a Guan Xiang Tu cultivation but leans towards physical cultivation. It can be said that this is a supreme body refining technique and also a Dao heart cultivation technique.

To truly cultivate this Supreme Law, Dao heart cultivation is of utmost importance. Only when the mind and the method resonate can one truly grasp its essence.

For example, at this moment, every part of his body, from flesh to orifices and acupoints, has condensed a Fu seal. Three thousand Fu seals gather, evolving into the form of 'Qianren Nanshangti'.

This is the first level of 'The Way of No Fear' - 'Qianren Nanshangti'.

As he deduces, a layer of golden light gradually envelops his body. The indestructible golden nature forms its own Fa domain, not only encompassing his body but also wrapping his mind and even his true self.

This is the second level of 'The Way of No Fear' - 'Zhufa Biyi', evolving the Xiantian body. Even in its initial stage, it can reduce the power of all laws and divine abilities by threefold, and it can also protect the mind and empower the true self.

When cultivated to the end, it can even achieve 'Wu Yin Wu Guo'.

At the final step, Ji Jingqiu sits in the boundless heights of the starry sky, with a strand of true spirit suspended outside the rivers of time and fate. No matter how it is washed away or tempered by myriad calamities, it cannot be destroyed.

This is the third and final level - 'Yongjie Zaiyi Xiang'.

At this stage—

Walking through the myriad worlds as if strolling through one's courtyard,

Breaking the chains of cause and effect like pulling away floating cotton.

All laws are disregarded, and the ultimate truth is proven through a thousand tribulations!

Of course, Ji Jingqiu hadn't truly cultivated this supreme law to its final stage; it was just a manifestation of the Great Dao's demonstration.

With the support of some mysterious power, he entered an extremely unique situation, as if retracing the path of his predecessors, and with his own supreme wisdom, he effortlessly reached the end.

At this point, he should have naturally become the new master of this supreme law.

However, at the last moment, Ji Jingqiu heard a faint sound of the Dao.

This sound of the Dao became his final obstacle, preventing him from moving forward.

The sound of the Dao asked him—

"What does it mean to act without restraint?"

Unscathed by a thousand blades, disregarding all laws?

Not enough.

Dominating the world, doing as one pleases?

Still not enough.

Defying the Dao, disregarding all laws?

Even that is not enough.

No matter what answer Ji Jingqiu thought of, the sound of the Dao from the mysterious realm was never satisfied.

It seemed that Ji Jingqiu's answer, over countless years, had already been heard numerous times from someone's mouth.

It wanted change, wanted a new "bestowal," wanted...

To move forward and improve.

After a long silence, Ji Jingqiu didn't answer but instead asked,

"Can one who acts without restraint ignore the weight of the eight sufferings?"

This time, the sound of the Dao remained silent.

He continued to ask,

"Can one who acts without restraint remain untouched by the sea of suffering, unaffected by tribulations?"

The sound of the Dao remained silent.

He calmly said, "I can. Follow me, and I will show you the scenery beyond the sea of suffering."

In the mysterious realm, a Dao fruit seemed to tremble slightly, and the sound of the Dao thundered, growing more majestic, like an ancient Zen chant or a prayer from a primordial deity. As the brilliance faded, the Great Dao simplified, flowing into Ji Jingqiu's heart.

With this sound of the Dao, a divine power propelled him to perform another Great Dao evolution.

In the vast and dark universe, a figure sat cross-legged in the void, and behind him, a brilliant light rose, illuminating the endless darkness.

A majestic ancient tree, verdant and lush, stood tall like a canopy. Liuli Qingguang broke through the sky, spanning hundreds of billions of tribulations, illuminating the three realms and ten directions! At that moment, he didn't create a Pure Land world because the three realms and ten directions had already become a Buddhist kingdom...

Just as this demonstration was about to progress further, all the scenes suddenly froze!

Then, like a crack appearing on glass, it spread rapidly until the entire glass shattered!

It was as if they had encountered an insurmountable chasm, hitting a wall with force!

Ji Jingqiu heard the sound of the Great Dao roaring in his ears, and in an instant, he fell from an infinite height, returning to his true self.

He slowly opened his eyes.

Heavenly phenomena descended, and sweet dew rose from the earth.

Along with him, a Dao fruit fell, shaking as it descended.

...

Tiansheng Lake.

As the resonance of the Great Dao between heaven and earth became more deafening, the lowest lake's surface, shrouded in mist for countless years, gradually dissipated, revealing a simple wooden house and a majestic figure sitting cross-legged on the water's surface, suppressing the strange scene in this place.

He slowly raised his head.

His gaze pierced through numerous obstacles, and at this moment, it met the gaze of someone looking down from the dome above.

It was as if one was in heaven and the other on earth.

Finally, both gazes landed on Ji Jingqiu.

...

"The sound of the Great Dao resonates with heaven and earth..."

Not only did the Hanqing Tianzun, who guarded the library, notice this, but also the Qingshan Tianzun, who managed the law enforcement agency at Tiansheng Lake...

Several Tianzun's gazes penetrated the void and landed on Ji Jingqiu's body. They remained calm, but they congratulated him,

"Congratulations, Wutian Shidi, for obtaining the Dao fruit and comprehending the supreme law."

...

Seeing Ji Jingqiu as the center of the Dao in this heaven and earth, Helra was not surprised.

This place was the Daoist's domain of lawlessness. Even if he stripped away his fundamental law, it would be difficult to completely erase the remaining traces of the Dao.

At this moment, Ji Jingqiu obtained the Dao fruit, and the Great Dao resonated, with the principles of the law responding and heaven and earth as witnesses.

Helra's gaze fixed on the Bodhi tree in the inner landscape.

Near the top of the tree, a Dao fruit hung, its shape indescribable, as if constantly changing every moment.

Her expression was slightly dazed. Did this Bodhi tree have such an effect?

...

...

Ji Jingqiu felt his entire body transparent. As he truly mastered the supreme law and obtained the Dao fruit, the once distant and vague Fa Jie became so "real" to him, no longer vague and blurry.

However, Ji Jingqiu didn't feel overly joyful because, at this moment, his original body sensed the call and cleansing of the sea of suffering.

He quietly experienced the profound enlightenment of the Fa Jie, and silently, tears streamed down his face, as if piercing through fate, allowing him to glimpse a fragment of the future.

Noticing this, Helra couldn't help but frown.

Was this guy crying out of joy? Was it worth it? Unexpectedly, the next moment, Ji Jingqiu lowered his head and murmured,

"When the sea of suffering manifests in the world, that will be the day of my supreme Guanxiangtu's perfection."

Helra was startled. "What are you saying?!"

Ji Jingqiu closed his eyes, his mind calm, returning to his original self.

At this very moment.

The illusory waters of the sea of suffering were cleansing his original body.

He opened his eyes in the inner landscape, and the Dao fruit on the Bodhi tree emitted a sound of the Dao. Ji Jingqiu looked up at the colorful seawater above, his gaze deep.

During the process of his Dao fruit's Great Dao demonstration, he caught a glimpse of an incomplete future.

When the sea of suffering truly descended upon the world, and all beings fell into the sea of suffering, that would be the moment of perfection for his supreme Guanxiangtu.

That scene was too tragic, causing him to shed silent tears, not of joy or sorrow but the lament of heaven and earth, the cries of all beings, borrowing his body to shed a tear, lowering his head and bowing.

At this moment.

Ji Jingqiu seemed to sense the will of the grand universe.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end