Chapter 313: Calamity Arises from Within

Chapter 313: Calamity Arises from Within

"When the heavens unleash their murderous intent, stars shift and constellations change; when the earth unleashes its murderous intent, dragons and snakes rise from the land..."

Tianji Daoren gazed up at the starry sky above, speaking slowly, with Ji Anquan and his disciples by his side.

Ji Anquan inquired further, "Senior, what did you see?"

It took a while for Tianji Daoren to snap out of his thoughts. "Why haven't you broken through to the Tian Ren realm yet? You and Ji Jingqiu are both like this. If you break through, there's no need to borrow my cultivation."

Ji Anquan spoke frankly, "I'm waiting for him to break through first. I don't know what he's waiting for, perhaps he feels the need to further adjust his foundation."

"You're waiting for him?" Tianji Daoren asked in confusion. "Why is that? Is there some kind of influence? In recent times, there have been quite a few Tian Ren cultivators who have broken through within the Federation."

The number of Tian Ren cultivators within the Federation had been rapidly increasing.

Among them, the cultivators from the Three Thousand Yanfutuo weren't the majority; the bulk of them came from the Nine Continents.

The Federation had signed mutual aid agreements with the Jiugong and several other allies in the Oasis.

Ji Anquan gave a vague answer, "Maybe there is, maybe there isn't, but I don't mind waiting a little longer. What exactly did you see just now, Senior?"

"What else could it be? It's just the shifting of constellations, heralding a year of calamity," Tianji Daoren frowned. "It's a pity that the Tianji Jie is disrupting the heavenly secrets, otherwise, I could have seen more clearly."

Ji Anquan sighed. The old man was of no use.

Suddenly, his wrist terminal rang, and the sender's name was "Xue Daoren."

Tianji Daoren glanced at it and said, "I heard that an old ancestor has recently arrived in the Federation?"

Ji Anquan immediately showed a pained expression.

Ever since the Federation's special characteristics became known, it instantly became the target of various forces from different realms.

Especially the grudges and affections formed by the old ancestors tens of thousands of years ago.

Not long ago, the matter of "colliding with divine powers" had caused a huge stir, and it was still at a stalemate, with someone behind the scenes stirring up trouble.

If it was just about seeking revenge, it would be easier to handle; the Federation would simply suppress it.

What they feared was the entanglement of emotions and grudges that couldn't be easily resolved.

For example, the person who contacted him at this moment—

"Isn't it said that those above the Tian Ren realm can't enter the Grand Universe?" Tianji Daoren asked curiously.

Ji Anquan helplessly replied, "Those above the Tian Ren realm can't enter, but the people who had grudges with the ancestors tens of thousands of years ago can easily create a Xiangxuan Fenshen and enter the Grand Universe. It's as easy as snapping one's fingers."

Tianji Daoren's expression turned peculiar as he asked, "Is this person the one?"

Ji Anquan nodded.

The original body of the person who was calling him through the terminal and asking him to "serve" had a past with their Ji family ancestor.

Most importantly, this person was a female Heavenly Venerable.

Her strength and possible seniority made her worthy of the Federation's respectful hospitality.

"Sigh, I've only seen records in some wild histories mentioning that the ancestor was a flirt, I never thought it would turn out to be true," Ji Anquan lamented.

Tianji Daoren frowned, "Are you sure she had that kind of relationship with Ji Shuai? Don't be deceived by her using his name."

Ji Anquan shook his head, "Strictly speaking, the ancestor and her didn't have that kind of relationship. They were just companions for a period of time, but this senior still holds a deep affection for her. All her recent requests haven't involved the interests of the forces, and she has even made concessions. It's us in the Federation who have benefited."

Tianji Daoren tugged at the corners of his mouth. All love, no sowing?

Tsk, if there was sowing, then the legitimacy of the Ji family would be questionable.

Suddenly, he became curious and asked, "Is it only Ji Shuai who has an old flame seeking him out? What about He Shuai and Mu Shuai? Don't the other Shenzhu have any 'rekindled love'?"

Ji Anquan turned up his nose:

"Li Shuai joined the Changsheng Guan faction and eventually became the Dao Master. Not long ago, a disciple from Changsheng Guan visited the Li family, hoping to use the Federation's path to enter the Grand Universe."

"The Jiugong is related to He Shuai, right? Recently, several cultivators from Nanhong Zhou have contacted us, hoping to borrow our path."

"Do you think they're all good things? Most of them are trouble, they're debts of gratitude!"

Tianji Daoren was speechless, "What did the Shenzhu say?"

"They said to discuss it next year," Ji Anquan suddenly changed his expression and spoke softly.

Tianji Daoren's expression turned solemn.

Why did they say next year?

The Shenzhu wouldn't give that time frame without a reason.

"Didn't you calculate it?"

"I did, and I even used the family's secret method, suffering a significant backlash. Otherwise, why would I come to ask for your help, Senior?" Ji Anquan said calmly. "But there were no results, and the heavenly secrets are in chaos."

He raised his head, gazing at the bright stars in the deep sky, and muttered, completing Tianji Daoren's earlier words, "When humans unleash their murderous intent, the heavens and earth will turn upside down..."

Tianji Daoren sighed.

The Federation was currently bustling with activity, with forces from various realms settling in, especially the influx of cultivators from the Nine Continents.

However, beneath this seemingly prosperous and vibrant surface, a storm was brewing, threatening to topple the entire edifice.

"Where do you think the crisis will come from first?" Tianji Daoren asked. "The Three Thousand Yanfutuo, the Nine Continents, or the Four Demons?"

Ji Anquan spoke softly, "I fear the calamity will arise from within."

Tianji Daoren's eyebrows furrowed.

Suddenly, Ji Anquan turned and looked towards a certain direction in the starry sky, where the Xuanji Bei was located.

After obtaining the authority to divide the Xuanji Tian, he had casually refined it into one of his lifebond objects.

At this moment, the Xuanji Bei responded to the will of the heavens, resetting its sequence.

Ji Anquan muttered to himself:

"It's a pity that breaking through to the Tian Ren realm is so grand and noticeable. There are too many 'eyes' on Dong 3 Huang Xing, and it's impossible to hide it. Otherwise, I really wish to let Ji Jingqiu conceal his cultivation."

"Never mind, it's time for me to break through to the Tian Ren realm as well."

...

Northern District 1, Federal Capital.

This place is close to the Divine Path and is heavily guarded by the Federation's forces. It is also the first landing point for cultivators who travel through the Divine Path.

Considering these reasons, Ji Anquan placed the Xuanji Bei in the capital, showcasing the Federation's power.

Currently, there are 537 Tian Ren cultivators on the Xuanji Bei, including seven from the six major families, one from the official faction, and two from the Four Great Masters' Dao.

During the recent Hundred Vein Assembly, Yin Tianping, who broke through to the third tier of the Pure Yang Dao during his battle with Ji Jingqiu, is one of them.

Although these ten cultivators recently broke through to the Great Heavenly Rank, their strength is enough to deter the cultivators of the Three Thousand Yanfutuo from causing trouble in the current Grand Universe environment.

In the Eastern 3rd Blazing Star, the news of Ji Jingqiu's breakthrough into the Tianren realm spread like wildfire, causing a stir among the martial practitioners from various realms. They gathered around the stele standing tall in the central square of the federal capital, witnessing the fluctuating rankings on the Tianren List, attempting to quantify Ji Jingqiu's newfound strength.

"Is it true that he hasn't broken through yet? I lost another bet," an onlooker lamented.

"Not long ago, news came from the Feisheng Altars that several Shenjin had all advanced to the Tianren realm, with some even reaching the Zhongtianwei rank. It's surprising that this person hasn't broken through yet," another practitioner remarked.

"The aura of this person deepens and strengthens with each passing day. It's almost as if they're more terrifying without breaking through than those who have," someone observed.

"Hey, why did my ranking drop by one?" a practitioner exclaimed.

"Wait, it seems like everyone's ranking on the Xiangxuan List has moved up a spot. What's going on here?"

"Ah! Ji Jingqiu from the Eastern 3rd Blazing Star has broken through to the Tianren realm!"

In an instant, the shocking news reverberated through the capital, causing an uproar.

A tall woman in a plain robe stood amidst the crowd, her hair neatly pinned up with a wooden hairpin, resembling a Taoist hermit. Her aura was peculiar, as if she hadn't reached the Tianren realm but was close to the Dao Union. Behind her stood several people who seemed familiar with Ji Jingqiu.

"Is he the heir of He Donghuang?" the robed woman asked, gazing at the name on the stele.

Senluo's eyes lit up with excitement, as if he was personally witnessing his older brother's power, capable of suppressing numerous Great Heavenly Rank practitioners upon entering the Tianren realm.

"Let's go to the Eastern 3rd Blazing Star," the robed woman suddenly turned and said, "I'm quite interested in his Xin Xiang."

...

...

In the Wushang Fuguo, agonizing screams echoed from within, as if emanating from the depths of one's soul. The once pristine white Fotu, who couldn't tolerate even the slightest impurity, now had his back adorned with pitch-black lines of faith.

"Teacher, the situation is just as you predicted. If this continues, the Zhenfo will backlash and completely consume its believers," Huang Fuxing said with a grim expression.

"I've contacted the Mu family, and they will send someone to investigate," Huang Fuxing added.

Mu Chengde looked at the Zhenfo and shook his head. "The Mu family doesn't necessarily understand the Zhenfo any better than we do. The Fuxiang came prepared."

Huang Fuxing's expression grew heavy.

In the past, the Dharma King Zuo Qianqiu had brought the Fuxiang into the teachings, initiating a collaboration. Although he was soon subdued and taken away by the Mu family's Zongshi, the Fuxiang had already obtained what it sought from Zuo Qianqiu—the protection of the Zhenfo.

The Wushang Zhenfo Zong's vast number of believers were not located within the federal realm but in a different dimension, which the Wushang Zhenfo Zong had established over the years through their divine wandering across various realms.

The more followers the Zhenfo had, the stronger it became.

Therefore, in the past, Zuo Qianqiu had not refused the Fuxiang's request, which was beneficial to the Wushang Zhenfo Zong.

However, when Huang Fuxing's teacher, Mu Chengde, took control of the Wushang Zhenfo Zong and merged the "authority" of the Wushang Zhenfo, he discovered an unknown force infiltrating the Zhenfo's core through the link of faith.

"There's a big problem with the Fuxiang and the Sakyamuni standing behind them," Mu Chengde said gravely. "I'll seek advice from the Shenzhu and see if they have a solution."

...

...

Ji Jingqiu clearly sensed that with his ascension to the Tianren realm, it was as if he had broken free from some sort of shackle, causing the energy field and power of the entire Eastern 3rd Blazing Star to undergo a transformation. Something within this star was gestating a change.

However, Ji Jingqiu had no time to pay attention to these external changes.

Through this breakthrough, his mind once again entered the Zuowan realm, merging with the Great Dao.

If "observing the Dao of Heaven and executing the actions of Heaven" was the ultimate mystery of Xiangxuan, then in the Tianren realm, the pursuit was to "establish the Dao of Heaven and govern the people."

The universe resides in the heart, and myriad transformations arise from the body.

At this moment, Ji Jingqiu felt as if he had entered a dream, where he transformed into the sun, moon, heaven, earth, mountains, rivers, and even grass and fish, observing the world from different perspectives and perceiving its transformations.

His mind wandered through the boundless void, as if drifting above the river of time, witnessing the ebb and flow of the ages and comprehending the mysteries of Fali.

"All Fali originates from the primordial fluctuations of life," Ji Jingqiu seemed to have realized, slowly opening his eyes, his gaze filled with the vicissitudes of life, as if he had experienced countless millennia in that instant.

Behind him, a figure that embodied the law as perceived by the observer's mind silently manifested, standing tall between heaven and earth. Its face underwent countless transformations, and at this moment, it slowly revealed its "true form," identical to Ji Jingqiu.

In heaven and on earth, I alone am supreme.

All-encompassing, reaching everywhere!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end