Chapter 337: Lighting the Lamp and Incense, Establishing the Teachings

Chapter 337: Lighting the Lamp and Incense, Establishing the Teachings

 After the Five Great Pillars, no one else attempted to transcend the limits of detachment...

 This news is strange enough.

 According to the information gathered by Ji Jingqiu over the past few days, true sages are rare, but in the vast Three Thousand Yan Fu Ti, there are currently more than a dozen confirmed to exist.

 Adding those who have perished for various reasons throughout history, there would be even more true sages.

 As the strongest beings in this realm, have they not attempted the final step?

Is there no way forward, or are there other reasons?

 Seeing that Hela could not obtain any definite intelligence, Ji Jingqiu turned to ask the will of the ancient road about whether there were true sages in the past in the land of the emperor and the earth.

 "Of course there are. In the history of the Emperor's Hundred Veins, there have been four true sages born, and this is the limit that the Emperor's universe can bear."

 "Have these four predecessors tried to break through the Nine Realms?"

 "Nine Realms?"

 Upon hearing this question, the will of the ancient road suddenly fell silent as well.

 Subsequently.

 Ji Jingqiu sensed the changes in time and space and was pulled by the will of the ancient road to a space deep in the ancient road.

 He stood up, and not far away were three steles, with his name prominently engraved at the top of the first stele.

 The Eternal Monument.

 Here, is also the closest place to the [Unwilling Mountain] in the Emperor's Heaven.

 A blurry figure cast its shadow in front of Ji Jingqiu.

 "Above the true sage... Who told you what?"

 The will of the ancient road asked in a deep voice.

 Ji Jingqiu pondered for a moment and did not reveal Hela, but only spoke of his encounter with the Tian Sheng Lake and happened to hear the rumors about that guardian true sage.

 "The guardian of Tian Sheng Lake..."

 The will of the ancient road was quite surprised.

 "This person can be traced back to the period of the Five Great Pillars. He is one of the few powerful beings outside the Five Great Divine Systems in that era. He chose you as the bearer of the Dao."

 After hesitating for a moment, the will of the ancient road gave him a brief introduction to an ancient history.

 "When the Five Great Pillars were born, the Great Universe was newly opened, and the Three Thousand Yan Fu Ti came into being. The Emperor and the Earth were still in gestation, and that was an era when the Shinto flourished and the gods prevailed. Various primordial gods and spirits came into being and roamed the heavens and the earth at will. However, the myriad spirits were still in their infancy and were struggling to survive."

 "Until the middle period of the rule of the Five Great Pillars, the myriad spirits co-evolved, and many leaders emerged. They observed the way of heaven, followed the path of heaven, and explored the path of cultivation. After a long time, they truly created a system for themselves."

 "These were the earliest seekers of the Dao in the world. They rode the clear wind, rode the clouds, and ascended to immortality. Some even tried to capture the primordial gods and imitate their paths..."

 "This 'wild growth' phase ended when the Five Great Pillars wielded their power over the Three Thousand Yan Fu Ti. The Five Great Pillars began to integrate the Three Thousand Yan Fu Ti."

 "During this period, the myriad spirits in all realms accepted their jurisdiction, and various chaotic and disorderly cultivation systems also came into view, attracting the interest of the higher-ups."

 "Finally, even some high-ranking beings stepped forward to support the cultivation of the myriad spirits, wanting to see how far the myriad spirits could go and whether they could help them broaden their own paths."

 "During this period of time, a group of outstanding beings emerged among the myriad spirits, reaching the Sixth and Seventh Realms, and even... breaking through the Eighth Realm, truly approaching those high-ranking beings."

 "Guardian, is one of this group and one of the few who lived the longest."

 The will of the ancient road spoke in a deep voice: "This person rarely takes action, so his presence is not strong, but when the Emperor's Heaven was at its peak in the past, there were two true sages who went to visit him. If there is anyone in this world who clearly understands the secrets of transcending detachment, Guardian is definitely one of them!"

 Ji Jingqiu's heart stirred, and he asked, "The secrets of transcending detachment?"

 The will of the ancient road fell silent for a while and slowly said:

 "After the Five Great Pillars broke through one by one and failed, other high-ranking beings used them as a reference and tried to find the correct path of detachment, but without exception, they all failed."

 "Finally, the heavens and the universe fell into great chaos, the most direct of which was that the Great Universe entered its first 'recession period'."

 "The silence of the underlying rules made it impossible for the remaining high-ranking beings to stay in the Great Universe. They either retreated into the Three Thousand Yan Fu Ti or sealed themselves in slumber, waiting for the next rising tide cycle."

 "In the history of the Emperor's Heaven, several true sages have tried to break through the realm after the true sage, especially when the invasion of the Youhai became a certainty and could not be reversed. The strongest being in the Emperor's Heaven, the Nine Pure Heavenly Venerable - Nine Pure is the name of the Venerable, not the realm."

 "The Nine Pure Heavenly Venerable and the Demon-Subduing Heavenly Venerable once joined forces to deduce the realm after the true sage, believing that in order to transcend detachment, one must go against the flow of the River of Time and occupy all time, transcending fate."

 "When the invasion of the Youhai became a certainty and could not be reversed, the two Venerables joined forces, went against the flow of the River of Time, and ascended further. However, in the end..."

 When he spoke to this point, the voice of the will of the ancient road was obviously filled with pain.

 "When they returned, the Demon-Subduing Heavenly Venerable disappeared, and the Nine Pure Heavenly Venerable was injured at the source of the Dao, and his life was not long. After returning, he joined forces with the Emperor's Hundred Veins to create this ancient road..."

 Ji Jingqiu asked, "What happened?

"Two True Sages working together, yet one still died and the other was left half-dead?"

The projection of the Ancient Road's will sighed, "No one knows the details, not even I, who have merged with the will of many powerful beings."

Ji Jingqiu fell silent for a moment before speaking, "Could it be that at the end of the River of Time, a great calamity lies hidden, preventing all future beings from breaking through the Ninth Realm?"

"Not necessarily," the Ancient Road's will shook its head, "Reversing the flow of time inherently involves numerous variables. A slight misstep could result in being devoured by the River of Time, and even a True Sage might not withstand it."

Suddenly, Ji Jingqiu remembered something and spoke in a low voice, "That's right. It was after the return of the Nine Pure Heavenly Venerable, who led the Hundred Veins of the Imperial Road to create this Ancient Road, that the projection of Mount Unwilling was summoned."

Ji Jingqiu glanced at the three stone tablets, wondering if this was also related to Mount Unwilling.

"In any case, the path of a True Sage is still far from you," the Ancient Road's will paused, "If you truly want to know, it's better to ask the elders of your Federation. Mushi Tian and Her Donghuang should have some knowledge about it."

Ji Jingqiu nodded.

Suddenly, he heard Hela's muttering within his inner spiritual realm.

"That dog, Her Donghuang, always had nothing better to do than come looking for his divine weapon. He would ramble on and on with a bunch of nonsense. My original body should have heard something about it..."

Ji Jingqiu realized that Hela had once again fallen into self-doubt, questioning why she lacked this portion of her memory.

He shook his head.

Apparently, this historical event was indeed hiding many secrets, so much so that even Hela had to erase her own memories.

Mount Unwilling, the Sea of Mystery, the River of Time... Perhaps they were also related to the Five Great Pillars.

Ji Jingqiu had a good habit.

He would clarify what he could, but for the things he couldn't understand, he wouldn't force himself to find answers immediately.

He organized his doubts and temporarily archived them, planning to investigate them in the future.

"Senior, what is your opinion of the True Guardian Sage?" Ji Jingqiu asked for guidance.

To be honest, he wasn't sure how to approach this person now.

Not mentioning Walking Without Restraint, even Unfettered by Rules would be considered as having received the Dao and its teachings.

But in Hela's words, this person had become someone who might be secretly plotting something unseemly behind the scenes.

"This person has always adhered strictly to rules, especially the ones he sets for himself. Even if it's someone close to him, if they break the rules, he will turn against them on the spot. In the past, some said that he was almost like a demon."

The Ancient Road's will hesitated for a moment before continuing, "However, the Nine Pure Heavenly Venerable had a good impression of him. He said that this person walked the path of righteousness and sat with integrity, never shaming the heavens and the earth."

Ji Jingqiu nodded. This evaluation coming from another Sage was already high praise.

...

...

To formally establish a teaching in the Macroverse, the first thing the Tiansheng Lake needed to do was to create a grand spectacle.

Over ten thousand disciples of Tiansheng Lake, regardless of whether they were in seclusion or not, were all called out. Personal cultivation was secondary to the affairs of the sect.

Each and every disciple was assigned a task, whether it was selecting a location, establishing a Dao Palace, or moving mountains and filling the sea.

When there was a shortage of manpower, even the disciples of Huangxue Palace, who hadn't had the chance to be 'transferred', were forcefully brought over to help.

To establish a teaching, one must first build a Daoist temple, and then the Ancestral Hall.

In a short time, tens of thousands of martial artists above the Restraint Realm worked day and night, traveling through mountains and vast lands to demarcate the locations for each vein's mountain peaks.

During this time, after the initial construction of the Tiansheng Lake's Daoist temple, which spanned hundreds of thousands of miles, was completed, Tianyingzi invited the Lawless Youngster.

After the Lawless Youngster personally burned incense and paid respects to the heavens and the earth, the disciples began to carefully build the Ancestral Hall.

The Ancestral Hall wasn't just a single Daoist temple in the middle; Tianyingzi and the others had already chosen the highest mountain on Gusu Star, or rather, the highest mountain on the Gusu Continent.

Tianyingzi and the others still felt it wasn't high enough, so they had their disciples move and reshape the mountain, finally creating a mountain that barely met their standards.

Starting from the arch at the foot of the mountain, there were over a hundred buildings of various sizes leading up the mountain, half of which were the bases for each vein under the Ancestral Hall.

This was the face of each vein and even Tiansheng Lake itself, so they couldn't afford to be negligent in the slightest.

Fortunately, they didn't need to think about the characteristics of the palaces or the plaques and names of the halls; they could simply copy the Daoist temple.

In a hurried month, the highest Ancestral Hall was finally completed just in time for the appointed date.

Next came the formal ceremony of hanging and offering incense.

This was one of the few chances for the disciples of all veins to see the true appearances of the two Ancestors, even if only through paintings.

The first time was when they formally joined the sect.

After that, if they wanted to see them again, they would have to wait until the day they could open the Dao and walk its path, reach the Heavenly King Realm, and have the opportunity to be received by the Ancestors.

The appointed date arrived.

In addition to all the disciples of Tiansheng Lake and the representatives from Huangxue Palace, who were first drafted as laborers and then as representatives, the surrounding large and small forces also sent representatives, including Yaochi Heavenly Realm and the two Beast Seas.

Among them, after the restraint of the Beast Seas was lifted, the Magic Eye Empire and the Canghai Empire each sent a Heavenly King who had attained Heavenly Perfection, both to showcase their own foundation and because the threat from Tiansheng Lake was too direct.

As they entered, several individuals wore grim expressions, including those from the Beast Sea.

It wasn't due to the Tiansheng Lake, but rather the unexpected presence of representatives from the Four Deities Temple.

"Tsk, I wondered why I smelled a stench as soon as I arrived. Turns out it's the rats from the sewers."

The representative from the Beast Sea was an elderly man, a projection of Xuan Ming, whose original body was too massive to appear in such a setting.

The old man from the Four Deities Temple smiled faintly, unbothered by the hostile glares around him. He had the invitation from Tiansheng Lake and wasn't afraid of what this group might do; otherwise, it would be a slap in the face to Tiansheng Lake.

"So, it's Senior Xuan Ming from the Beast Sea," he said with a smile. "How is Senior Di Ying doing these days?"

Xuan Ming's projection immediately turned sour, his smile not reaching his eyes. "Kid, you'd better be careful on your way back."

The Di Ying he mentioned was a senior from Xuan Ming's turtle lineage. Years ago, a Heavenly King from the Four Deities Temple had injured his origin, and he had been in a deep slumber ever since.

The old man from the Four Deities Temple smiled and nodded, showing no fear.

However, as he turned around, his gaze unintentionally lingered on a young man standing behind him.

Seeing no unusual reaction from the young man, the old man breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the ceremony is about to begin, so please keep the noise down."

At this moment, a disciple from Tiansheng Lake stepped forward to stop their argument.

The old man from the Four Deities Temple smiled faintly and ignored Xuan Ming, continuing his ascent until he reached the Ancestral Hall.

Except for the disciples of Tiansheng Lake, none of the others were qualified to enter the Ancestral Hall. They could only stand outside, peering in.

At this moment, a young man dressed in a green robe stood with his back to the crowd, his sleeves covering his hands, alone in front of two portraits.

The two portraits, one slightly higher and the other slightly lower, depicted a middle-aged man with a gentle expression and unremarkable features, but his eyes were like the final touch to a dragon painting, captivating anyone who looked into them.

The lower portrait showed a young man with a cold and aloof expression, standing with his hands behind his back. The identity of the painter was unknown, but the young man in the portrait had a slight smirk, and his gaze towards the crowd below held contempt.

Behind these two portraits, over a dozen more were arranged in a row—these were the Heavenly Kings and Tao Ancestors that Tiansheng Lake had produced up to this point.

The atmosphere was solemn, and even those outside the hall had serious expressions, not daring to show any disrespect.

These over a dozen portraits in the Ancestral Hall, especially the two in the middle, symbolized the origins of Tiansheng Lake and represented its current foundation.

The young man standing below the portraits of the two True Sages represented Tiansheng Lake's current and future heights in the Macroverse.

At this moment, among the disciples of Tiansheng Lake, those who knew the truth from their elders couldn't help but look at the figure in front of them with complex emotions.

Envy, admiration, bitterness... all these feelings were present.

Regardless of whether this young man was truly a disciple of Tiansheng Lake,

From this day forward,

He would be the first person in Tiansheng Lake to come from the lineage of the two True Sages.

He would be the first Patriarch of Tiansheng Lake in the Macroverse, both in the present and the future.

Time passed, second by second.

As the auspicious time approached,

Among the representatives standing behind the Lawless Youngster, Tian Qingzi took a deep breath and stepped forward.

This single step drew complex gazes of admiration from everyone.

Even Tianyingzi, privately known as the 'Grand Steward,' couldn't hide his envy.

Tian Qingzi couldn't help but feel emotional.

Although it was destined that their lineage would have a place in the Ancestral Hall, the timing, location, and who would occupy it...

...were not up to them.

But now, at least in name, the Lawless Youngster was from their lineage, and their status naturally rose with his success.

Even his fellow disciple had successfully advanced to the Heavenly King realm through the central path of the sect.

Now, the responsibility of hosting the 'Lighting the Incense and Offering the Lamp' ceremony also fell upon their lineage.

Tian Qingzi closed his eyes, clearing his mind of all distractions.

When he opened his eyes again, he spoke solemnly, "The Dao of Heaven and Earth is profound and mysterious, yet it can be summed up in one sentence: 'It is the source of all things, and its creatures are limitless. It is vast, profound, lofty, bright, tranquil, and enduring.'"

Everyone bowed their heads slightly, listening to the words of the True Sage, Shouzhen.

Regardless of who was present, they all respectfully listened to the words of a True Sage.

Only the Lawless Youngster lifted his head slightly, gazing at the two portraits.

"This Dao of Heaven and Earth is contained within them."

Tian Qingzi paused briefly, then said in a deep voice, "Please, Uncle-Master Wutian, light the lamp!"

In the Ancestral Hall, a lamp was lit, a lamp of destiny.

The Lawless Youngster raised his eyes, and a wisp of heart-lamp glowed at the highest point of the lamp wick, illuminating the entire hall.

Then, one by one, the lamps were lit, representing the various Dao lineages of Tiansheng Lake.

"Please, offer incense to the Venerable Master of the Lawless Youngster!"

Beside him, Tianyingzi, who had long been prepared, stepped forward solemnly and presented three incense sticks.

The Lawless Youngster took the three incense sticks and inserted them into an incense burner filled with ash. Instantly, wisps of smoke rose, creating a path that seemed to reach the heavens.

Everyone watched intently, their expressions grave, as the smoke from the three incense sticks lingered.

Gradually, the smoke did not disperse but instead formed two ethereal and elusive figures in the Ancestral Hall.

As these figures became more substantial, not only the disciples of Tiansheng Lake but also the onlookers felt a sense of solemnity.

The Lawless Youngster slowly closed his eyes, and his spirit soared into the realm of the Dao, seeking out the two illusory Dao imprints. With another move, he caused the two illusory imprints to solidify slightly.

Suddenly, all the spirits on Gusu Star seemed like birds before a storm, filled with an indescribable sense of heaviness that pressed down on them, causing their thoughts to freeze.

In the heavens and earth, two majestic Dao projections appeared, standing tall and proud.

One figure, clad in a Daoist robe, had a middle-aged face and stood amidst a dense network of rules that crisscrossed like veins, binding not only the heavens and earth but also himself.

He glanced at the crowd of disciples, nodded slightly, and in an instant, countless disciples of Tiansheng Lake revealed joy, as if they had received a mysterious gift from the heavens.

The other figure had a youthful face, with sleeves fluttering in the wind, and his gaze fixed on the Lawless Youngster. A faint smile played on his lips, but it was difficult to discern his true emotions.

And yet, the Lawless Youngster, with his three incense sticks, had done the opposite of the numerous disciples behind him, who dared not look directly at the true visage of the Saints.

He was almost fearless, his gaze resting on the two Saints with only a hint of courtesy, following the etiquette of passing on the Dao.

The True Guardian.

The Sage of Unfettered Dao.

The projections of the two Saints' Dao forms appeared in the sky.

The entire Gusu Star seemed to freeze, coming to a complete standstill.

In the midst of this stillness, everyone seemed to witness two rivers changing course on the planet...

This stagnation did not last long, but it felt like an eternity.

The Lawless Youngster furrowed his brows and spoke silently:

"That's enough."

Using his own Dao foundation, he summoned the two illusory figures, engraving them in his heart. Did he think this was an easy task?

The figure with the youthful appearance remained silent, and the figure with the middle-aged face glanced at the Lawless Youngster. His voice was deep as he transmitted his words to the latter's ear:

"You should also carry yourself with the dignity of a sect leader and not bring shame upon us."

As the projections of the two Dao forms dissipated, the heavy atmosphere that had weighed on everyone's hearts gradually lifted.

Everyone unconsciously exhaled in relief.

Recalling the scene that had just transpired, the representatives of Huangxue Palace and Yaochi Heavenly Realm could not help but feel a sense of solemnity.

Rumors had it that the Sage of Unfettered Dao had already been suppressed by the True Guardian Saint at the bottom of Tiansheng Lake.

But what they witnessed today seemed to contradict those rumors, as Tiansheng Lake still stood with two True Sages.

Even if the True Guardian had not survived the predetermined Saintly Tribulation within the past hundred years, Tiansheng Lake would remain unshaken.

After the ceremony concluded, the solemn and heavy atmosphere still lingered on everyone's faces, and their thoughts were in turmoil. Just then, the foremost figure, dressed in a blue robe, emerged from the Ancestral Hall.

Along the way, disciples stepped aside, clearing a path to the heavens.

Most of the guests were not meeting this figure for the first time.

But as he approached, the oppressive feeling remained overwhelming, causing many to break into a cold sweat.

What was he planning to do?

Surely he wouldn't try to sweep them all away again, would he?!

As the Lawless Youngster stepped out of the Ancestral Hall, his voice was calm, but it resonated in everyone's hearts, stirring up layer upon layer of ripples.

"In three days, Tiansheng Lake will send troops to flatten Chaotic Abyss Sea. Other families, do any of you wish to join us?"

Upon hearing these words, everyone's expressions became incredibly vivid. The avatar of Xuanming was stunned for a moment, his face showing a peculiar look.

This person wanted to flatten Chaotic Abyss Sea, so why did he invite the Four Deities Temple to witness the ceremony?

Was it specifically to humiliate the latter?

This was truly...

Too damn satisfying!

Among the crowd, an elder from the Four Deities Temple frowned deeply, his face changing rapidly. He scanned the surroundings, seemingly convinced that the Lawless Youngster would not act rashly, and stepped forward.

His face turned gloomy, and just as he was about to speak, his expression changed drastically. The Lawless Youngster casually extended his palm.

This palm move seemed slow and relaxed, but in an instant, it pressed down on the elder's head, as if a Buddha had subdued a Heavenly Demon with a single palm.

With a 'pfft' sound, the elder was instantly reduced to a cloud of blood mist from head to toe.

The Lawless Youngster, standing at the entrance of the Ancestral Hall, spoke indifferently:

"I didn't ask for the Four Deities Temple's opinion."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end