Chapter 368: Twenty Years of New Winds and Clouds

Chapter 368: Twenty Years of New Winds and Clouds

"Life is fleeting, the mortal world is like a tide, and the countless beings rush about in the world, suffering from the moment they have thoughts, and are disturbed by every movement... Even a Celestial King is no exception. If one doesn't know how to withdraw from the world, they cannot escape the river of fate and will eventually face calamity."

In a teahouse, an elderly man calmly instructed the young person in front of him.

On the stone-paved road, Luo Yan from Xinzhai Palace couldn't help but stop and look with surprise.

The first part of his words seemed to echo what her Master had said years ago.

She came from Xinzhai Palace, and her Master was a High Cultivator who had founded the Xinzhai Daochang Ten Thousand Years Ago. Twenty years ago, he was one of the Federation Celestial Lords who sacrificed himself to suppress the Death Demon.

She came today with one purpose—to welcome her Master back to the palace!

Yun Jinghe, who accompanied her from the Xinzhai Daochang, also stopped when he saw the highly respected senior of their sect.

"Hmph, what a big mouth, old man. According to you, even a Celestial Lord has to endure the trials of the Flow of Time. When will it all end?"

A man drinking across the street sneered.

The old man in the teahouse smiled, not at all annoyed, and said:

"The key to truly withdrawing from the world lies not in distancing oneself from the mortal world or in one's cultivation level, but in the heart being unaffected by external forces."

When he said this, those around who understood the value of his words pondered deeply.

At that moment.

The old man in the teahouse seemed to sense something and glanced at Luo Yan and her companion, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.

Luo Yan sighed softly, "In just twenty years, the Federation has developed to this extent, with hidden Masters and experts everywhere. If my Master knew, he would be greatly comforted."

She looked at Yun Jinghe and said with a sharp gaze, "I heard that you once competed with him?"

Yun Jinghe recalled the past and nodded with a smile, "That was over twenty years ago, when Brother Ji had just started practicing martial arts."

In the span of twenty years, Yun Jinghe had also reached the Heavenly Person stage.

Among their generation, those who had survived the Heavenly Ancient Path mostly reached the Heavenly Person stage within ten years.

A few outstanding individuals were now aiming for Heavenly Man Perfection.

The two continued walking, and almost everywhere they looked, they saw martial artists. This was the former Donghuang-3, now known as Donghuang Heaven.

After the Ascension Platform was fully activated and expanded, it evolved into a realm under the influence of a certain person, forming a complete supercontinent in the Great Universe.

It also became the new center of the Yanhuang Federation, following the Sìshǒu Xīng.

Since the agreed time with the other side had not yet arrived,

Luo Yan, accompanied by Yun Jinghe, took a walk around.

Suddenly, a commotion arose ahead.

Both being Heavenly Persons, Luo Yan, who had reached Heavenly Man Perfection, swept her mind out and took in the situation ahead.

A "rather ordinary" conflict between martial artists.

Both were at the Shackles Realm, and if they truly fought, the impact would be considerable.

To Luo Yan's surprise, even though they were arguing heatedly, no one attempted to fight in public, but instead dragged each other in a certain direction.

Yun Jinghe explained, "In Donghuang Heaven, residents are not allowed to engage in combat in residential areas. The punishment is severe, and many people died in the early years before this rule was firmly established."

Luo Yan pondered.

In these twenty years, that person had rarely shown himself.

But in the few times he did, he revealed the divine means of the Cause and Effect Path.

Invisible and lethal, even a newly ascended Celestial King couldn't stop or evade it.

With such means as a deterrent, it was no wonder Donghuang Heaven remained stable and orderly even without a Celestial King as a guardian.

The two continued forward, witnessing the prosperity of the current Federation.

Time had passed, and in twenty years, much had changed, not just in Donghuang-3, but in the entire Yanhuang Federation.

The current Yanhuang Federation, with the support of more than ten Ten Directions Sects and True Saint Daochang, was no longer what it used to be.

Anyone causing trouble here would have to consider the strength of their backing.

Although the strongest from these sects were stationed at the frontlines of the Bitter Sea, no one could predict when they would return.

With such a formidable background—

The Yanhuang Federation had earned the name of the "Sixth Divine System", second only to the five major pillars.

The more she witnessed the current glory, the more Luo Yan felt a surge of emotion and excitement.

She wasn't from the Yanhuang Federation, but the thought of her Master's sacrifice leading to the improvement of his homeland filled her with sincere joy and gratitude. Her Master's sacrifice was not in vain.

At the same time, she felt some concern.

Twenty years had passed, and the underlying rules of the Great Universe would soon undergo a second change.

The entry of various realms' Celestial Kings might disrupt the current balance.

Thinking of this,

Luo Yan asked Yun Jinghe, "Hasn't that person emerged from seclusion yet?"

Yun Jinghe shook his head, "I'm not sure. Matters concerning Brother Ji are always kept secret within the Federation."

Luo Yan sighed, "Twenty years is too short and too urgent. I hope Brother Ji doesn't rush things."

The current Great Universe wasn't without Celestial Kings, but almost all of them were long-time Heavenly Man Perfection cultivators.

Twenty years ago, the underlying rules loosened, and various Heavenly Persons began to emerge like mushrooms after rain, venturing into the Great Universe.

For a time, Heavenly Persons appeared everywhere, and some Heavenly Man Perfection martial artists took advantage of the loosened rules to take the final step and ascend to Celestial King.

This step was easier than before.

Even she felt that the path to Celestial King had fewer obstacles.

"Xuanji Stele rankings have changed! Another person has reached Celestial King!"

A sudden shout from ahead drew people from all directions, and Luo Yan and her companion couldn't help but look.

"Heh, ever since the ancestor of Xuanji Heaven used the Xuanji Stele to successfully spread the Dao in the Great Universe and ascended to True Saint, the Xuanji Stele has become even more mysterious."

"Many significant events have occurred in these twenty years, but the ascension of the Xuanji True Saint surpasses Tianji World and ranks among the top five."

"Of course, the Xuanji Stele is also linked to the Multiracial Spirit Realm, providing a wealth of information."

Listening to the somewhat noisy conversation ahead,

Luo Yan couldn't help but probe the direction of the Xuanji Stele, her mind colliding with over a thousand other minds of varying strengths.

The Multiracial Spirit Realm mentioned by the crowd was a Masterpiece created after the return of the five major pillars.

Since the return of the five divine systems twenty years ago.

The Void Divine System took the lead, taking advantage of the Misty Sea's current tranquility to open Void Gateways. They unified and organized the various heavenly paths, establishing fixed routes in the Great Universe's star space. This allowed the major civilizations to no longer be isolated islands in the sea.

Following this, the Cangqing Lineage built a virtual mental space over the Misty Sea, using the World Tree as its foundation.

Finally, in collaboration with the other four major divine systems and various realms' Daochang, they created the Multiracial Spirit Realm, also known as the Spirit Realm.

This Spirit Realm spans the entire Great Universe, forming a vast mental network, similar to the Nine Provinces Spirit Realm that Ji Jingqiu entered before stepping onto the Ancient Path.

Then, eleven Ascension Platforms were gradually completed, becoming eleven "Transcendent Centers" within the Great Universe.

These consecutive measures effectively resolved the biggest issue in the Great Universe—distance—making it no longer a problem.

Afterward, the various civilizations began to interact frequently. In the brief period of peace without Misty Sea invasions, they entered a relatively prosperous era.

All of this was made possible by the Yanhuang Federation's contributions.

To this day, countless people travel through the heavenly paths every year and month to reach the ninth Ascension Platform in Donghuang Heaven for Pilgrimage.

It is said that one of the Four Demons, the Death Demon, is suppressed beneath Donghuang Heaven.

The other two of the Four Demons, the Heavenly Demon and the Succubus, are also imprisoned on the Federation's Sìshǒu Xīng, along with the Bitter Sea.

"On my way here, I heard some rumors that someone is eyeing the Federation's suppression of the Four Demons' true forms..."

Luo Yan probed the Xuanji Stele while transmitting her voice to Yun Jinghe.

"Hehe, you don't know, Senior." Yun Jinghe said with a light smile. "Over the past twenty years, there have been numerous overt and covert attempts, but all have been thwarted without exception."

Luo Yan nodded inwardly. The current Yanhuang Federation may lack the protection of its elders, but the younger generation is filled with outstanding talents.

Without mentioning the one, there are several contemporaries who are now renowned across the realms.

First and foremost is the Ji Family's Ji Anquan.

The secret admirers Yun Jinghe mentioned earlier were all defeated by this person, some through the suppression of their greed, others through practical means.

In the absence of the one, this individual has single-handedly orchestrated alliances and maintained the vast Federation's prosperity and development.

It is also rumored that the ascension of the Xuanji True Saint is related to this person!

Of course, this news is so shocking that it is only considered an interesting anecdote.

"Who broke through to Celestial King?" someone asked loudly.

"Dedao Palace's Xuanyang He, I know him. He spent seventeen thousand years in the Heavenly Person realm and finally broke through in this lifetime."

"His surname is Xuan, so he must be from the main branch of the Xuangui Clan in Dedao Palace. No wonder he could break through to Celestial King at this age; it's a steady and solid progression for him." someone remarked with a sigh.

For a moment, people looked envious, not out of malice, but simply because of his long lifespan.

Even Yun Jinghe couldn't help but feel a bit nostalgic.

Seventeen thousand years... This number exceeds the Federation's existence.

Before the change in rules, the basic lifespan of a Heavenly Person in the Great Universe was only a thousand years.

Warriors of the Three Thousand World Realms, compared to those of the Great Universe, have a significantly longer lifespan at the same realm and stage.

But a Heavenly Person who is seventeen thousand years old has almost no hope of breaking through to Celestial King.

These clans with mythic creature bloodlines are the exception, possessing a clear advantage in terms of lifespan.

Some are even born with Rank.

Their pure and superior bloodlines, known as purebloods, start at the Shackles and Heart Phase stages. The best among them grow into Heavenly Persons.

However, such cultivation paths are highly restrictive.

Their innate bloodlines give them long lifespans and strong physiques but also lock them into a specific path, making it extremely difficult for them to switch cultivation methods. Advancing further is also arduous, especially after the emergence of the Misty Sea and the Spirit Realm.

This is the cosmic law, a balance of give and take.

But there are always exceptions, known as anomalies.

One such anomaly is the Void Leviathan.

"Look, the number of Celestial Kings on the Xuanji Stele in the Great Universe has already surpassed a hundred!"

"Over a hundred Celestial Kings in twenty years, this number isn't surprising. It will soon plateau as most potential breakthroughs have already been sent to the Great Universe."

"Plateau? Have you forgotten that the second rule change is imminent? When it happens, the entire Great Universe, including the eleven Transcendent Centers, will undergo a major reshuffle!"

"Not necessarily", someone countered. "Most of the Celestial Kings and Celestial Venerables from the various factions have already ascended to the Daluotians, opened by the Five Pillars. Even among the hundred who came to the Great Universe to achieve Celestial King status, many have already 'ascended through a bypass.'"

"That's true. The various Daochang have already reached a consensus. Who doesn't have a Celestial King? Even with the second rule change, it's unlikely to cause a complete upheaval."

"Unlikely? I don't think so. It's all about interests."

"I wonder when this person from the Federation will break through to Celestial King..." someone in the crowd murmured.

"This person from the Federation... twenty years is too short, isn't it?" someone else said uncertainly.

If it were anyone else, the immediate response would be denial and doubt.

But this person, who had only practiced martial arts for a few years, rapidly advanced to the pinnacle of Heavenly Person Perfection, sweeping through all the strong opponents of his realm with unprecedented prowess.

Now, after twenty years of refinement and tempering, will his spirit and will have been eroded, or will he rise like a hidden dragon, reaching the peak once more?

No one can easily make a judgment.

Someone pondered, "The barrier to Celestial King is different from the boundary to Heavenly Person. It is a barrier of the Great Dao. With this person's talent, he will inevitably take the path of forging his own way. Twenty years? A two-hundred-year silence would be more normal."

"Not necessarily! Don't forget, this person entered Seated Oblivion years ago! That's the proof of a Heavenly Venerable! With Seated Oblivion, the time needed to comprehend the Great Dao will be significantly reduced."

"It's said that twenty years ago, he could defeat a group of Celestial Kings and Celestial Venerables because he leveraged the Great Universe's favor to step into the Seated Oblivion realm, overseeing all the great paths!"

"Back then, it was the Great Universe's favor. Can that favor last for twenty years straight?"

Someone immediately questioned this, drawing agreement from others who believed it to be more reasonable. Where is there a favor that lasts for twenty years?

Luo Yan also thought twenty years was too short. Her senior brother, under the guidance of their Master, took a thousand years to advance to Celestial King.

For the Yanhuang Federation, twenty years could mean a generation.

“

This striking scene naturally drew the attention of the martial artists from various races lining the road.

After a brief moment of scrutiny, all of them sighed in self-deprecation.

“Who is that person?” someone whispered.

“

“

“Let me think… It’s been almost seven years since he last made a move. Not only has he not acted, he hasn’t even shown up!”

After that, this person dared not oppose the Federation and the numerous factions it represented, declaring that he was only an enemy of his elder brother.

At that moment,

“Hm?”

“

He turned and bowed. “Senior Brother Gu, I’ll leave it to you.”

A seemingly ordinary man stood behind them, nodding slightly.

“

“Exactly, he is Senior Brother Gu!”

Twenty years of wind and rain have seen many extraordinary talents emerge in the world.

Among these many strong figures, Gu Chensha of the Nine Palaces is undoubtedly one of the most notable.

Without lingering further,

“

However, the latter seemed somewhat dazed.

At some point,

She had an unusual feeling.

Suddenly,

Athunderclap echoed through the heavens.

In a moment, dark clouds gathered, and heavy rain began to pour, the raindrops as large as soybeans splashing onto the stone slabs.

The two quickened their pace and finally entered a courtyard deep within.

The first thing that caught their eye was a lotus pond, where raindrops fell like shattered jade, and several lotus flowers bloomed quietly, enduring the wind and rain.

"

Twenty years later, what kind of presence would this person have?

This dream, spanning twenty years of iron horses and icy rivers.

Yet, in her perception, something definitely existed…

Chapter end