Chapter 331: The Burial Sea, Sage Temple Ancestor

Chapter 331: The Burial Sea, Sage Temple Ancestor

Beyond the Macroverse, there are three thousand Yan Fu Ti, but the "three thousand" is not a fixed number. Countless dimensional worlds are born and perish at every moment.

Let's not talk about the newly born worlds.

Those worlds that are decaying, crumbling, or being devoured by the Youhai Sea, except for those that are completely annihilated, almost all "sink" into the bottomless abyss known as the Burial Sea.

Even if a dimensional world is devoured by the Youhai Sea, some "remnants" will remain.

For example, the Houtu Universe, which was once on par with the Huangtian Universe, was completely destroyed when it was consumed by the Youhai Sea. Still, some of its remains sank to the bottom of the Burial Sea.

This place is known as the "No Man's Land," referring to the fact that neither the River of Time nor the River of Fate passes through here.

Anything that falls here will be trapped in eternal stasis.

Even the Youhai Sea abandons this place like a worn-out shoe.

Over the years, many powerful beings have attempted to salvage something from the Burial Sea, and the greatest recorded success was the discovery of the "Sage Temple."

Unlike other True Sage Daoist Grounds, the Sage Temple was not initially established by a True Sage. Instead, the ancestors of the Sage Temple unearthed an ancient deity of True Sage caliber from the ruins in the Burial Sea.

After that, the Sage Temple rebuilt the highest altar in their temple, among the altars of numerous gods, to enshrine this ancient deity.

This ancient being, who claimed to have gained a new life through the Sage Temple, did not hesitate to sit on the altar, enjoying the incense offerings, and proclaimed himself as the "God Master," even reversing a segment of the River of Time to become the Sage Temple's ancestor in various ways.

The appearance of this being also propelled the Sage Temple to become a force standing alongside the True Sage Daoist Grounds.

At the same time, it sparked an "Ancient Ruins Craze" among various factions.

After all, if even a True Sage could be unearthed, what couldn't be dug out?

...

Luofu Realm, Sage Temple.

In the sacred palace high above.

A pair of master and disciple sat facing each other.

"One good news and one bad news, which do you want to hear first, senior brother?" the junior disciple asked with a heavy expression.

Glancing at the junior disciple in charge of the Macroverse expansion matters, the current master of the Sage Temple, Lu Qianyuan, sighed and said, "Let's hear the bad news first."

"The bad news is that all our people sent to expand in the Macroverse have been captured. Currently, the Taiyin Shenggong refuses to negotiate with us and directly stated that if we send more people to the Seventh Ascension Platform, those disciples will be sacrificed to the gods of Mingxu." Bai Bushu's tone was heavy with concern.

Lu Qianyuan's eyebrows twitched, and he confirmed repeatedly, "All our disciples were captured by Taiyin Shenggong? Doesn't Taiyin Shenggong of this generation have a Divine Prohibition? Did the Tian Shu Dynasty deploy their foundation? Do they really believe Taiyin Shenggong can protect them in the future?"

"It's a Heavenly-Human," Bai Bushu corrected, "The remaining Heart Resonance and Shackle Warriors are not of interest to them."

Lu Qianyuan fell silent for a moment, then said, "You better give me some good news to balance this out."

Bai Bushu replied seriously, "The good news is that the Tian Di Xuan Gate has also been captured, and they were captured before us."

Lu Qianyuan fell silent again for a moment, then sighed, "Have we really sunk so low that we're comparing misfortunes?"

"We're all in the same boat, so there's no fear of someone escaping." Bai Bushu comforted his senior brother.

Lu Qianyuan scoffed, "All in the same boat? The Fourth and Sixth Ascension Platforms have already fallen into the hands of the Wude Palace and the Yin-Yang Tao Palace! Is that being in the same boat?"

Bai Bushu, losing his patience, said, "Senior brother, are you not aware of our situation? They have a Divine Prohibition, what do we have? A Divine Weapon Projection? Or a Return Array? If everyone has the same thing, it's as good as having nothing."

At this point, he stood up and slammed the table, anger flashing in his eyes. "My disciples and grand-disciples were on a good track. With just one divine herb, we could have exchanged it for the Divine Prohibition of the Yanhuang Federation to clear the obstacles at the Seventh Ascension Platform. But when they returned excitedly to report the good news, what did you say?"

"Tell me, what did you mean by 'It doesn't matter if it's just one'?"

Seeing his junior disciple daring to slam the table and bring up old matters, Lu Qianyuan became furious, "If you're so bold, go and shout at our ancestor in the temple!"

"I'll go!" Bai Bushu flung his sleeves and stormed out of the palace.

As soon as his left foot stepped out of the palace gates, the anger on his face vanished, and he tiptoed away, fleeing the scene.

He wasn't foolish; he could handle being scolded by his senior brother, but going to the temple to provoke their ancestor, who was known for his temper, would be asking for trouble.

Especially since that ancestor was a real hothead.

As for the Seventh Ascension Platform and such, as long as it wasn't blamed on him, they could bring up old matters, and no one would have a good time!

Bai Bushu made up his mind to find the descendant of his family who had connected with the Yanhuang Federation, a relative of Bai Yuan, and immediately left the Luofu Realm.

After him,

Lu Qianyuan exited the palace, watching the direction where Bai Bushu had disappeared, and coldly humphed, impressed by his quick escape.

He adjusted his clothes and entered the ancestral temple alone.

In the grand hall, the incense smoke filled the air, creating a hazy atmosphere. Even Lu Qianyuan could only vaguely make out a majestic golden figure seated on the altar.

As the ancestor would say, this was a sense of distance.

Without a sense of distance between people, it would be a disaster.

And without a sense of distance between humans and gods, there would be no such thing as a "god."

"Ancestor, our expansion in the Macroverse has encountered a calamity, just as you predicted. It's not going smoothly," Lu Qianyuan offered three sticks of incense and bowed respectfully.

Amidst the hazy incense smoke, a voice responded indifferently, high and distant, "Qianyuan, what's the problem?"

It was only then that Lu Qianyuan frowned slightly, realizing that he had been interrupted by that good-for-nothing junior earlier, and by the end, he still hadn't figured out the root of the matter.

"Tai Yin Shengo has captured both Tian Di Xuan Men and all our Tian Ren disciples."

"Tai Yin Shengo?" The figure on the altar suddenly let out a cold harrumph, "That big-mouthed brat didn't get enough beatings back then. How dare he go against me, the True Sage Ancestor of Tai Yin Shengo! If it weren't for the face of the Ancestor of the Underworld, I would have beaten him to death myself!"

At this moment, the otherworldly and ethereal aura that had enveloped the figure was swept away, replaced by an overbearing and worldly demeanor.

One could say that he was very down-to-earth.

Lu Qianyuan's heart trembled.

The True Sage Ancestor of Tai Yin was the True Sage Ancestor of Tai Yin Shengo and the third person of the Mingxu lineage, and even this person had almost been "beaten to death" by their Ancestral Patriarch...

What exactly was the identity of their Ancestral Patriarch?

Of course, it was also possible that the Ancestral Patriarch was just boasting...

According to the secret history of past Dao Ancestors, this situation wasn't unprecedented. The last recorded incident was forty-seven million years ago, when the Ancestral Patriarch claimed to have defeated the Saint King, beaten the Void Emperor, and even mentored the Ten Thousand Phenomena Sage.

The former was the leader of the Saint King lineage, the latter was the overlord of the Void lineage, and the last one was naturally the Ten Thousand Phenomena Sage.

Lu Qianyuan's heart was set, and he tentatively asked, "Why don't you, Ancestral Patriarch, go there yourself and put pressure on Tai Yin Shengo to release our disciples?"

"Go where?" The Ancestral Patriarch was displeased, "Haven't I already told you that I won't set foot in the realm of the Royal Heaven. That gloomy place, let whoever wants to go there go. If Tai Yin wants to find me, we'll see if I'll beat him with my big mouth!"

Lu Qianyuan fell silent, his heart sighing. It was indeed necessary to maintain a sense of distance. If this continued, even if he knew that their Ancestral Patriarch was a True Sage, he would soon lose his reverence for him.

"Then, why don't we change to another realm?" Lu Qianyuan asked, "Even if we don't occupy the Ascension Platform, we must first establish a foothold and then consider entering the Macroverse through the Celestial Road."

After a brief silence, the Ancestral Patriarch on the altar sighed, "If Yingqiu were still here, I wouldn't have to worry."

Lu Qianyuan was helpless. Xi Yingqiu was once their Sage Temple's Divine Prohibition, but he was led astray by the Heavenly Demon and had to be eliminated by the sect. To the outside world, it was claimed that he had gone astray in his cultivation and gone mad.

"Even if Yingqiu were still here, he would have already transcended the Heavenly-Human realm and wouldn't be able to enter the Macroverse," Lu Qianyuan interjected to divert the conversation from its heavy tone.

"Hmph, I'm not interested in this broken place. It's even gloomier than the Royal Heaven," the Ancestral Patriarch said without ceremony.

"I've never held grudges in this life or the last. I settle my grudges on the spot. The only account I haven't settled yet is with your senior brother Yingqiu," the Ancestral Patriarch on the altar said.

"I'm thinking that the most likely place for that scoundrel Wu Zhou to descend next is the gloomy place of the Yanhuang Federation."

"Since you young ones aren't up to the task of seizing the Ascension Platform, go and set up an altar for me. I'll have a use for it when the time comes."

Lu Qianyuan calmed his mind and said solemnly, "Ancestral Patriarch, do you really think the Four Demons will descend upon the Yanhuang Federation?"

"Hey, those four guys have been quiet for a million years. What do you think they've been watching all this time?" The Ancestral Patriarch laughed coldly.

"Both the Xuanji and Tianji lineages have calculated that when they descend, they'll all be in their true forms, not just their avatars. Why would they make a pact and unanimously target the Yanhuang Federation?"

Lu Qianyuan's expression turned pale.

Not just avatars, but their true forms?!

If the Heavenly Demon Wu Zhou's true form were to enter this realm and merge with the Dao-aligned Youhai, wouldn't he ascend to the heavens in one step?!

No wonder the True Sages were so inexplicably targeting the Yanhuang Federation!

Lu Qianyuan's thoughts surged like raging waves.

"Qianyuan, you're not a child anymore. Why can't you keep your thoughts in check?" The Ancestral Patriarch criticized through the incense smoke.

Lu Qianyuan forced a bitter smile, "Hearing that the true forms of the Four Demons will descend, I can hardly keep my thoughts in check. If I'm not careful, it could bring about the greatest calamity in history!"

"The greatest calamity in history?" The Ancestral Patriarch neither confirmed nor denied, speaking indifferently, "When the enemy comes, we'll fight. When the waters rise, we'll build dams. What's there to be afraid of? If they really come, I'll beat them with my big mouth!"

Hearing the Ancestral Patriarch speak in the most otherworldly and detached tone, yet saying the most down-to-earth words, Lu Qianyuan's face twitched slightly.

"Alright, you may leave now. Don't disturb me while I enjoy the incense offerings of the masses."

Hearing the Ancestral Patriarch's impatient urging, Lu Qianyuan fell silent and bowed before leaving the ancestral temple.

(End of Chapter)

He descended the steps outside the temple, his gaze piercing through the layers of void worlds, as if witnessing the great calamity that was soon to come.

"A time of trouble is upon us..."

He quickly established a mental connection with Bai Bushu, conveying a single message:

"Hurry up and get back here, you rascal!"

The grandson had done his part; now it was time for the grandpa to take action.

...

...

Jiuzhou, Tai Yin Empire, Tai Yin Shen Gong.

As one of the three pinnacle powers in Jiuzhou, Tai Yin Shen Gong not only had a True Sage in residence but also carried on the lineage of Mingxu Yimai.

With the good news from the Macroverse front lines coming in one after another, especially the news about the appearance of the main branch of Mingxu, Tai Yin Shen Gong urgently convened several council meetings.

The topics and atmosphere of the council meetings kept changing, reflecting the shifting attitudes within Tai Yin Shen Gong.

From the initial—

"Hmph, even if he's a disciple of He Donghuang, he'll still have to work for us, won't he?"

"A mere junior with a Divine Ban, he's only useful for now. When we enter the Macroverse, we can grant some favors to the Yanhuang Federation."

"Hmm, the disciples of other families are indeed useful. Perhaps we can send Ji Jingqiu to investigate the burial grounds and find out the situation of the main branch."

"No—I think we can let him compete for the eighth Feisheng Platform. That place is also our Mingxu Yimai's territory!"

"You guys, do you really think that boy is an easy target?"

"Haha, we can't handle him for now, let alone the Jiu Palace?"

"We don't have time to start a war with Jiu Palace—"

"No harm done, he's just a junior. A little scare will do."

Then, the situation took a turn—

"Ahem, no wonder the main branch values him. Elder Ji is indeed exceptionally talented, crushing those of the same level! His future achievements will surely surpass us old folks."

"Although he's a successor, he's still a successor separated by tens of thousands of years. How can we generalize?"

"Indeed, Elder Ji being granted the highest-level Wai Xing Zhaolang treatment by the main branch speaks volumes. Your insight is indeed sharper than the main branch."

"Tsk tsk, I heard that Elder Ji went to Tian Di Xuan Men's territory and captured them all within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. He truly dominates this generation!"

"The situation at the Sage Temple is similar. For Elder Ji, it's just a matter of passing by."

Ruo Shui, seated in the main position, coldly observed these people's face-changing skills, feeling helpless in her heart.

The position of the highest-level Wai Xing Zhaolang, in terms of status, surpassed everyone present except for her, equivalent to the Supreme Elder.

Although it was a Wai Xing Zhaolang position, with distinctions based on closeness of kinship and no real authority, the crucial point was that they couldn't determine the specific relationship between Ji Jingqiu and the main branch, so they naturally wouldn't offend them rashly.

"Ahem, I heard that Elder Ji has a message for Master Yu? I wonder where Master Yu is now?"

Someone looked towards Ruo Shui in the first position, who was also the current Palace Master of Tai Yin Shen Gong.

Ruo Shui spoke indifferently, "The Master is currently in seclusion. One of his Divine Avatars is traveling the Macroverse."

Someone frowned, "A Divine Avatar traveling the Macroverse? Doesn't Master Yu fear the rules of the Macroverse?"

"The Master has his own ways," Ruo Shui didn't want to delve further into this topic.

On the other side, a female cultivator spoke slowly, "Elder Ji asked us to deliver a message to Elder Sister Yu as soon as possible, to avoid any disrespect from our Tai Yin lineage."

Ruo Shui's expression turned cold, "I understand. Also, don't forget that our lineage has no mortal feud with the South Emperor He Donghuang."

The crowd immediately fell silent, many of them secretly frowning, wondering how they could have forgotten this. They quickly extinguished any thoughts of using Ji Jingqiu to criticize the Palace Master's lineage.

Although they had successfully made these old fellows see reason, Ruo Shui didn't feel any joy; instead, she felt a sense of helplessness.

If the Master were here, she would never allow her to raise this flag today...

"According to Elder Ji's words, the main branch has returned and is active in the Macroverse. Should we try to make contact with them?"

"That's inappropriate. Elder Ji said that the main branch hasn't contacted us yet, which must have its deeper meaning. We should first completely occupy the seventh Feisheng Platform. With the Sage Temple and Tian Di Xuan Men gone, there's also the Tian Shu Dynasty next door."

"No harm done. With Elder Ji here, the Tian Shu Dynasty won't dare to have any other intentions."

"Hmm... Elder Ji is currently not on Huangting Star but is searching for the wonders of the heavens and earth to temper his martial arts."

"Another breakthrough?" Someone looked up in surprise, murmuring without any other factors for the first time, "It's only been a short while, and this person's breakthrough speed is quite shocking."

After the meeting concluded, Ruo Shui left alone. She didn't head towards the depths of the Dao Palace, not wanting to disturb the Master who was in seclusion.

Instead, she tried to contact the Divine Avatar of the Master, who was still traveling the Macroverse, and carefully explained the current situation.

Then, there was a long silence.

Just as Ruo Shui was about to smile bitterly and offer some words of comfort to the Master, she heard the teeth-grinding voice of the Master's Divine Avatar:

"Has the main branch gone blind?"

"Who gave him the identity token?"

"Where is Ji Jingqiu now, and when will he return to Jiuzhou?"

...

Currently, Ji Jingqiu was still on Huangting Star.

After dealing with the Sage Temple and Tian Di Xuan Men, he set business goals for all the Tian Ren disciples of Tai Yin Shen Gong and sent them out to search for resources on his behalf.

(Chapter End)

Chapter end