Chapter 353: The Golden Coin's Tale

Chapter 353: The Golden Coin's Tale

As Qinglian Lao Deng reminisced about the past, Ji Jingqiu's thoughts wandered. After unifying the Bai Mai, he had delved into numerous ancient texts, gathering insights from various aspects to understand that era and unravel the intricate web of grudges and affections among the Qi Shuai and the esteemed predecessors.

In the early days of the Federation, constant strife and a robust martial culture prevailed. Martial arts were not yet systematically organized.

Nowadays, with the simple and straightforward 'Gong Ti Zhi Jiu', one could achieve progress with money. But back then, it was the first Tian Zhang that the Federation's martial artists struggled to surpass.

Due to weak Xian Tian Ti Zhi, it was challenging for martial artists to establish their Wu Dao foundation.

Thus, in that era, martial artists relied on some 'luck' and the gifts from the Ocean of the Soul to advance to the next level.

The various Gong Ti we see today were developed step by step by the martial artists of that time, based on ancient texts and practical experience.

Many even stumbled upon their success without understanding how, and only afterward could they deduce the principles of their Gong Ti.

It was a prosperous and free era, but also a chaotic one.

Unstable times, conflicts over interests, and territorial disputes entangled the relationships among the Bai Mai, leading to deep-rooted grudges spanning decades or even centuries.

This was the most challenging issue for the Qi Shuai when reestablishing the Federation's order.

How could they resolve such life-and-death grudges?

According to various family biographies, this matter eventually fell upon Mu Shi.

The methods Mu Shi employed were unknown to the world, only to those involved. However, in the biographies left by the founders of various Wu Mai, someone sighed, saying that only someone like Mu Shitian, who had upheld non-killing for a lifetime, was qualified to handle such matters.

In the end, the various factions of the Federation put aside their deep-rooted grudges and moved towards peace and tranquility.

Recalling the era documented in the classics, Ji Jingqiu sometimes found himself lost in thought.

The brief words recorded in those books were fragments of history that should have faded away, but with the return of certain individuals, they have come back to life, vividly presenting themselves before the world once more.

"When I study the Federation's history, I realize how terrifying time can be," Ji Jingqiu said suddenly. "Just a few hundred years of chaos can lead to such confusion and complexity. How terrifying would those who have endured millions or even tens of millions of years be?"

Qinglian Dao Ren spoke calmly, "For a Zhen Sheng, a single seclusion can span a million years, for a great catastrophe occurs once every million years."

"Many cultivate for a lifetime, a thousand years, ten thousand years, or even a million years. Their lives may not be as colorful as a tenth of those guys. The journey of the soul may not be a thousandth or a hundredth of their lifespan."

"So, Ji Jingqiu, you must cultivate your heart."

"Also..."

"You should understand that not everyone is as lucky as you, encountering so many worthy 'opponents' to compete with and chase after for a lifetime."

"A good opponent sometimes determines the height of your future."

...

...

In the vast void, a sea of nothingness.

Lightning shattered the void, and a golden figure stepped into the Xu Huan, standing tall in the vast realm, shrouded by chaotic mists. With a divine crown on his head, his eyes opening and closing, the small world before him exploded like an ocean!

The heavens and earth collapsed, and this facet of the world rapidly approached annihilation within a short time, eventually reducing to a single point.

The figure raised his hand, freezing the collapse of this world at that single point, and then stepped into it.

After him, one by one, majestic figures resembling supreme deities, with boundless ancient intentions, entered the realm.

At the origin, there was a lake, and every drop of water contained enough power to drown and tear apart heavenly beings, similar to the mysterious land beneath Tian Sheng Lake, but far less grand and majestic.

On the lakeside, the first man to enter, wearing a divine crown, stood with his hands behind his back and spoke calmly.

"This origin can support us for three days, enough for our negotiations. Even if Mu Shitian is still alive and has some truth to his words, it's impossible for him to trace our discussions today through the Yin Gua line."

"Where's Dao Yi?"

"He's said to owe too many Yin Gua Zhai to Qinglian, which he needs to repay before the first great catastrophe."

A figure, blurred but seemingly seated high above the nine heavens, appeared on the lakeside. His voice thundered like divine thunder, shaking the entire lake:

"Can we confirm that the Dao Guo is on Qinglian?"

"No."

"Can't Tianji Realm calculate it?"

"You're joking, my friend. A Dao Guo involving the highest Yin Gua field of this realm is beyond the capabilities of even the Tianji Realm's founder, should they return and break through to Zhen Sheng."

A man with sleeves fluttering, as if filled with the world's pure wind, spoke.

Realizing his mistake, the man shrouded in chaotic mists fell silent for a moment, frowning.

"Does that mean we can only watch this person come and go as he pleases, but we can't take action?"

"What if I let him have his way once or twice? How small-minded are you?" came a cold voice from the side.

"I don't care about Qinglian, but I'm concerned about the young man by his side.

Since the decision has been made, it's best to act swiftly and eliminate the threat at its root. There's no reason to let the seeds take root and sprout."

A cold voice spoke, and around him, the space seemed to be surrounded by countless starry rivers.

The one who had spoken earlier glanced at him and said, "Instead of worrying about a junior Tian Ren, you should be more concerned about the ancient deity who is about to return."

"Enough," interrupted a divine-like woman with a celestial figure, standing amidst the hazy Shen Guo, "Our goals are the same, and we shouldn't have disagreements before reaching the end of the Great Dao."

After a brief silence, someone suddenly spoke up:

"The five great pillars of the past may not have failed; they just didn't find the right path."

Another person shook their head and said, "Regardless of whether the path was found or not, this road is too difficult and time-consuming."

"But I believe this path is the orthodox one. At this stage, where can we find shortcuts? The so-called time-consuming process is about taking one step at a time and leaving a mark."

"Orthodox? In the past, you also claimed that He Donghuang was the orthodox one, but until now, who has followed this path?"

The topic shifted to He Donghuang.

A man carrying a longbow spoke in a deep voice, "I still haven't figured out why this person failed to break through back then. Was it a simple failure, or was it related to the Four Devils?"

"This time, we must be cautious of any hidden moves he might have left behind. His Jie Qi is still suppressing the Federation's depths."

"It's just a weapon. No matter how powerful a weapon is, without a master to control it, why should we care?" A man carrying a black gold staff on his back disdainfully said, "Not to mention that Jie Qi is still suppressing the Dream Devil's body. How dare they move it? They'll be attacked from both sides!"

The man carrying the longbow suddenly spoke up, "I still feel uneasy about this. We should investigate further."

Without waiting for a response, he left the original point of destruction where the dimensional plane was converging.

Ignoring the departure of this person, the others present were all prominent figures in their respective realms, and even those of the same level couldn't interfere with each other's will.

They were gathered here because of their shared goal and temporary alliance.

"Since the topic has returned to the Yanhuang Federation, let's clarify this matter first."

"Although Qinglian has stepped forward, it doesn't mean he can rally many allies. At most, they won't help each other."

"You're wrong. Do you really think their target is us? It's those ancient deities!"

"The five great pillars are about to return, and those ancient deities are awakening, like the ones from the Sun Palace and the Moon Palace. These are the people the Yanhuang Federation truly wants to win over."

"Even the Tianji Realm can't predict the actions of these ancient beings."

"Times have changed. Even if all these ancient beings return, what can they do? We have already reached the True Sage Realm; what is there to fear?"

"Even if the Yanhuang Federation convinces those deities, it's just to counter the Four Devils. In this matter, we can stay out of it and let both sides fight it out before stepping in."

"I'm afraid the Four Devils have the same idea."

"The Four Devils are terrifying. Recently, the invasion of the Dark Sea has become more severe, and my Zhou is indeed doomed."

"We must prepare a way out. Otherwise, if we fail to break through, and this realm is further invaded by the Four Devils, we will have no room to maneuver."

"The breakthrough is a matter that should be pursued relentlessly! How can we..."

The ideals of the various saints clashed here, creating a huge splash.

The intense and riotous energy surged, but it was tightly confined within the lake, with no overflow.

"Enough, why are we arguing again?" The man wearing the imperial crown frowned and said, "Our disciples in the Yanhuang Federation have discovered that the Federation is trying to turn the Four Guardian Stars into a battlefield."

"Haha, it seems they have hidden many tricks up their sleeves and aren't planning to fully rely on the suppression of the Macroverse," someone coldly laughed.

In their eyes, no matter how much the Yanhuang Federation prepared, it was just a futile struggle.

After all, even during its heyday, the Yanhuang Federation only had two True Sages.

Today, more than seven people had gathered here, each with the intention of transcending.

Not to mention the other secretive beings with their own agendas.

When the Four Devils invade the Macroverse, it will be the first great crisis after the Macroverse's awakening, and all the hidden beings in the shadows will emerge one by one.

"Is the Yanhuang Federation preparing to hunt down the Four Devils, or..."

"Unless they collaborate with the Four Devils," someone chuckled.

"Since you're not planning to deal with Qinglian and that young man, you should be prepared to defeat that young man in the Macroverse. At least, the disciples of Tian Di Xuan Men have already failed."

Upon hearing this, the vague figure, seemingly residing in the Nine Heavens, let out a cold snort.

A figure shrouded in chaotic mist spoke softly, "It doesn't matter. When the time comes, someone will step forward to capture him."

"Who? The Shen Jin of the other families?" Someone shook their head, "I doubt it."

"This time, Tian Di Xuan Men and Wan Jie Shan have taken action to allow the Tianji Realm to more accurately calculate this young man's trump card. By then, each family will make their own arrangements."

"Why must you fixate on a Heavenly Being?"

"The Macroverse rules will suppress us, and even if we can act, our Dao power will be restricted. However, those four little guys who have transformed into deities from the bodies of Dao Ancestors won't be weakened. The most direct way to deal with them is to cut off their source of faith."

The female deity, who always stood in the misty divine nation, spoke.

"Cut off their source of faith?" Someone pondered, "Are you planning to slaughter the Federation's grassroots population? Who will bear the karma of such an act? The Macroverse will not turn a blind eye."

As the Great Calamity approaches, the Federation, being on the front line of resistance, will naturally receive the favor of the Macroverse.

In such a situation, slaughtering the citizens of the Yanhuang Federation and weakening the deity system would be relatively easier to "deceive" the Macroverse, even though it doesn't have an independent consciousness. But it's not a fool that can be easily fooled.

Upon realizing this, the being frowned.

Wouldn't the Federation's martial artists receive the favor of the Macroverse?

If JiJingQiu were to receive the favor of the Macroverse, or even merge with it...

The divine prohibitions of various families?

That's just a joke.

"I still suggest that this time, we shouldn't let JiJingQiu return to the Macroverse..."

"Sorry, I'll take a brief leave."

Suddenly, a True Sage frowned and said, "That person has come to our door, so I'll go back and receive them."

"Who?"

"Who else could it be? It's just right; I owed some favors back then, so I'll return them all at once to avoid any unexpected accidents in the near future."

"Is this person daring enough to come to our door?"

Upon hearing this, the crowd couldn't help but show their surprise.

Could it be that the Dao Guo is truly on Qinglian's body?

...

...

Just as the various families were having a brief "meeting," Qinglian not only didn't leave or hide, but instead, he boldly visited each family's Daoist monastery with JiJingQiu.

"Senior Brother Shan Hai, do you still remember that year when I saved half your life from the hands of Shou Zhen at the Tian Sheng Hu Lake?"

"Tian Jian Zi, it's been a long time. Why are you still a Dao Ancestor? I've told you before that you're on the wrong path. Never mind, if you don't want to listen, I won't say more. I don't want you to get angry and forget our old friendship, and then fight me to the death. After all, a great favor is like a great grudge."

"Senior Brother Xuan Chongyang, it's been a long time. How is Tian Di Xuan Men doing? I hope it's not the case of each generation being worse than the last."

"Hahaha, Senior Brother Tian Han! Back then, you and I traveled to Zanghai together. You saved me twice, and I saved you three times. It's truly a sigh-worthy memory of our glorious past..."

"Sigh, Jiu Huang, why are you getting balder and balder? Why don't you follow me instead of sticking with Emperor Luan?"

...

Facing this former senior and trailblazer who was visiting each "old friend" one by one, even though he was "firing on all cylinders" and had reached the point of indiscriminately killing everyone, the "old friends" could only temporarily endure it.

"But Senior Brother Qinglian!"

"Senior Brother Qinglian is just joking. I, Tian Jian Zi, dare not forget the great favor from the past."

"You don't need to worry about my Tian Di Xuan Men. Just speak frankly, what do you want me to do? The past favors are not worth me giving up my hope of becoming a True Sage."

A true phoenix snorted and glanced at Qinglian with a squint. The feathers on his head were indeed a bit sparse, and not far away, there was a lazy imperial-robed woman, who was squinting and sizing up the young man behind Qinglian. Suddenly, she coldly smiled and said,

"Why didn't you bring the descendant of the Ji family? Maybe then I would agree to your request."

Facing so many old friends, Qinglian smiled and suddenly sighed,

"Now that I'm in decline, I dare not call you brothers. But thinking of our old friendship and reminiscing about the past, I wanted to come and visit you all."

"How about this, I won't make it difficult for you all. I'll take on the karma of the past. See if you have any rare treasures or scarce medicines, and give them to this junior."

"To be honest, he will have a major battle soon. I originally wanted to help him strengthen his body in advance, but unfortunately, I'm short on funds, so I can only come and bother you old friends."

"Come on, everyone, won't you give me some face?"

The True Sages of various families looked at the young man behind Qinglian, remembering their recent conversation, and all of them fell into contemplation.

Are they being asked to hold their noses...

Aid the enemy?

Finally, Emperor Luan from Huangxie Palace smiled and said,

"Are you really not afraid that this kid will burst from overeating?"

Qinglian smiled and slowly said, "If he bursts, it's because he's not capable enough to shoulder the responsibility. You can't blame others."

Emperor Luan squinted and sized up JiJingQiu, then suddenly said, "I feel like there's a familiar aura on you."

JiJingQiu thought for a moment and hid the two Phoenix Blood Flowers in his Inner Heaven and Earth a little deeper. He calmly replied,

"I'm not familiar with the Ji family."

Emperor Luan immediately smiled and said, "Indeed, he's a good kid."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end