Chapter 376: Locking the Future, Cause and Effect Strikes

Chapter 376: Locking the Future, Cause and Effect Strikes

Upon hearing that Ji Jingqiu was willing to travel with him, Kuhe's smile revealed a touch of sincerity.

Ever since the rumors began, few were willing to accompany him.

Even his fellow disciples treated him like a plague.

Ji Jingqiu didn't rush to leave. Instead, he returned to the center of the remaining twelve and continued his teachings.

He needed these twelve to help him open the path to the world, so he was fully committed to teaching them the true essence of "Guard Void and Stillness."

"The Dao is profound, and its use is inexhaustible, deep and unfathomable, like the origin of all things..."

"Blend with the light, mingle with the dust, reach the utmost of emptiness, and steadfastly maintain tranquility. Only the Dao can gather the void, for the void is the heart in meditation..."

"Speaking of non-abiding means not clinging to active form; speaking of generating the mind means generating the mind of the six perfections and myriad practices..."

"I do not know from where the myriad Dao originates, but I know that my Dao is prior."

The twelve people Ji Jingqiu was guiding felt a complex mix of emotions.

The Great Dao of solitude not only meant that the path often ended with one relying solely on oneself.

It also meant that at the level of Celestial King and beyond, the Dao and its cultivation were the foundation of their existence. Even between father and son or master and disciple, there would be secrets kept, let alone sharing the Dao with outsiders.

But this man was truly trying to teach them profound truths.

With their discerning eyes, they could see that the Dao he shared was far from ordinary.

They couldn't help but think of the "companion" Ji Jingqiu had easily incapacitated earlier, and sighed inwardly.

This man was generous in his teachings and followed through on his words, wielding both kindness and authority...

Thus, they had nothing to worry about and could focus on understanding the Dao, or they might end up like the thirteenth person.

Kuhe's gaze swept over the twelve, and he was inwardly amazed. This man was truly teaching the Dao!

A Heavenly Person teaching the Dao?!

He had never heard of such a thing.

And the true essence of the Great Dao he expounded even moved Kuhe himself.

Especially the last sentence—

"I do not know from where the myriad Dao originates, but I know that my Dao is prior."

The grandeur of this statement could rival that of the leaders of the major Dao.

After completing his teachings, Ji Jingqiu did not bring the twelve into his Inner World, as it would hinder their resonance with the Grand Cosmos Great Dao.

He marked them and left a restriction in the area to ensure he could return at any time, then set out with Kuhe.

On the journey, Kuhe probed Ji Jingqiu and learned much that he had been missing. He felt a new understanding and knew that once he returned to seclusion, he would benefit greatly.

He thought to himself, this Daoist of the myriad methods is truly open-minded. Such a broad and generous spirit might belong to an old senior who awakened during the Five Pillars era.

He had heard that in that age, all beings pursued the Dao together, and there were no distinctions between schools.

Well, since this man is so open, I cannot let him look down on us, the beings of later generations...

As Kuhe's thoughts churned, he discarded some of his original plans and spoke up:

"Daoist friend, we need to hurry and search. Earlier, I saw a Dao Source fall from the Dharma Realm and was caught by a towering divine tree. This should be our main target."

"A towering divine tree?" Ji Jingqiu asked in surprise. "Could you be talking about the Azure Lineage?"

Kuhe quickly waved his hand. "I couldn't possibly mistake the World Tree of the Azure Lineage. This divine tree must be one of its branches."

"Oh?" Ji Jingqiu quickly thought of a possibility. Could it be the "Forest of Stars" where the elves reside?

Ji Jingqiu immediately thought of an old friend.

After the return of the Five Pillars, the Azure Lineage returned, and Qin Qingjue and Ke Pingluan went deep into the Bosa demi-plane, formally joining the core of the Azure Lineage.

Accompanying them was the elf girl Mu Rouzhi, who lived far away in the Forest of Stars.

It had been over twenty years since they last met. The elf girl, once a young maiden, was still...

a young maiden.

That was the charm of immortals.

"It must be in this direction!"

Ji Jingqiu watched as Kuhe pointed randomly, then suddenly directed his finger with certainty.

This guy... is he just guessing?

In Ji Jingqiu's eyes, he could see Kuhe's Cause and Effect threads. After glimpsing some fragmented scenes, he did not object.

Both of them possessed the characteristic of Omnipresence, where their mental radiance extended to their physical presence.

Thus, even traveling through the vast expanse of the cosmos, their speed was not slow.

Before long, Kuhe showed signs of joy and pointed ahead.

"Brother Ji, it's there!"

In the starry expanse ahead, a towering divine tree stood at the center of the star domain. No planets, continents, or cities were built on it; instead, they were established on its branches and leaves.

A cluster of palaces rested on the crown of the tree.

At that moment, the divine tree emitted a radiant green light, forming a barrier to ward off external invasions.

Ji Jingqiu's gaze fell on the palace cluster.

A stunning golden-haired elf stood before the majestic palace cluster, her brow marked with a green ripple, indicating her connection to the divine tree.

Behind her, a shadow of another divine tree, a manifestation of the Great Dao, swayed in the breeze, with young leaves rustling and divine flowers blooming, adorning her green hair, making her appear ethereal and transcendent.

This was the old friend, Mu Rouzhi.

Compared to the past, the young maiden's appearance and figure had matured, and her demeanor had transformed. Her eyes were firm and calm, no longer the shy girl who used to hide behind others.

"Surprised, someone has beaten us to it."

Kuhe frowned, noticing two figures attacking the divine tree.

"Wait... This seems to be the territory of the Azure Lineage?"

Kuhe suddenly realized something was amiss.

The star domain was clearly infused with the aura of the Azure Pantheon.

This meant that this divine tree was not an accidental acquisition but belonged to the Azure Lineage from the start.

"Wealth tempts the heart", Kuhe muttered. "To obtain the Dao Source, they dare to attack a vassal civilization of the Five Pillars. These guys must be preparing for war."

Ji Jingqiu thought, you might be right.

According to the reports from Wu Tian, a battle was inevitable between the new generation of True Emperors from various realms and the old generation of the Five Pillars.

However, Ji Jingqiu was curious who among the saints could face the Five Pillars head-on.

These five had not made any progress for countless years, but they had the potential to achieve the Dao in their youth and were already at the peak of True Emperors. The only ones in the saints who could match them were the three pioneers of old.

But now, only the Old Ancestor of the Blue Sea in the Holy Temple remained.

Their Green Lotus Daoist was in a rare state of no realm, currently raising children—those who had sacrificed twenty years ago.

When they would regain their former status was still a mystery.

He wondered how the True Master of Tian Sheng Lake and other ancients compared to the Five Pillars.

"Brother Kuhe, do you recognize those who are attacking?"

Ji Jingqiu asked, preparing to take action.

Their relationship with the Azure Lineage was relatively harmonious, and it was a pity that the Azure Master had not yet returned. Otherwise, Ji Jingqiu could have sought his help.

Considering Mu Rouzhi's relationship, Ji Jingqiu was not willing to stand by and watch the Forest of Stars be completely overrun.

"Of course, before I left the mountain, my Master specifically instructed me to know the experts of various schools, at least to know who to provoke and who not to."

Kuhe nodded, then asked in surprise,

"Do you, Daoist of the myriad methods, plan to intervene?"

Ji Jingqiu nodded. "I have a connection with the Azure Lineage and will not stand idly by."

Kuhe advised, "Brother Daoist, be cautious. These two are from the Immortal Mountain, where the patriarch has a life-and-death feud with the Azure Lineage. If your relationship with the Azure Lineage is just superficial, it's best not to get involved."

Ji Jingqiu countered, "Then, Brother Kuhe, are you willing to give up the Dao Source here?"

Kuhe was speechless, his face showing a conflicted expression, muttering,

"I don't like fighting, but the Dao Source is too precious to give up. This is truly a difficult decision..."

...

In the home territory of the Forest of Stars.

"This 'shell' is really tough."

Gu Shouzhong, from the Immortal Mountain, gazed deeply.

His right fist glowed, illuminating the sky and earth, piercing through the Great Dao principles emitted by the divine tree. He then raised his hand as a blade, slicing through the air like a celestial sword, causing countless leaves to scatter and severing a branch.

The branch, larger than a planet, carried cities and countless beings, which Gu Shouzhong promptly absorbed into his Inner World.

"You should act now", Gu Shouzhong glanced at the massive trunk of the divine tree, frowned, and urged his companion.

Behind him, Kun Sha stood with his hands clasped, seemingly not acting but invading on a mental level.

He combined his inner landscape with visualization techniques, manifesting a wondrous scene. A towering divine court with a platform for slaying gods at the top, a divine sword hanging above, stained with the blood of unknown beings. Even from a distance, it was terrifying.

Mental attacks were the most dangerous.

So Kun Sha did not rush, patiently seeking a weakness, his gaze fixed on the golden-haired elf communicating with the divine tree.

Without this girl linking the inner landscape to the tree, he would have already broken through.

"Judging by the mark on your brow, you must be a direct descendant of the Azure Lineage. When I break through, I won't kill you but will keep you as a servant."

Kun Sha sent a mental message, trying to shake Mu Rouzhi's resolve.

Mu Rouzhi responded sternly, "We have already contacted the divine court. Soon, a powerful figure from our side will arrive. I advise you to run now."

"Is that so?" Kun Sha taunted. "You've been delaying, and they still haven't come. Do you really think they will?"

Mu Rouzhi clenched her teeth, her heart sinking.

The reinforcements were indeed taking too long, which was unusual.

"To let you die knowing the truth, we are just bait, luring the powerful figures of the Azure Lineage."

Kun Sha revealed part of their plan, shaking Mu Rouzhi's resolve and creating a gap in the tree's defenses.

Hearing this, Mu Rouzhi bit her lip.

Did they mean that their people had already blocked the gateway from Daluotian to this place, waiting for the Azure Lineage's powerful figures to fall into the trap?

Just as Kun Sha was about to take advantage of Mu Rouzhi's moment of doubt, he suddenly sensed something and looked back, detecting a hostile presence.

"Brother Gu, someone is coming", he frowned.

Gu Shouzhong turned, coldly stating, "This is a feud between the Immortal Mountain and the Azure Lineage. If others dare to interfere, it will be a matter of life and death."

His voice echoed through the void, openly warning Kuhe and Ji Jingqiu.

Kuhe's face showed displeasure. He hadn't even approached, and these two were already threatening him, treating him like a pushover?

Ji Jingqiu sent a mental message, "Please, Brother Daoist, tell me the names and details of these two, the more detailed, the better."

Kuhe assumed this man wanted to know his enemy, so he did not hide anything, revealing detailed information about the two, including their signature techniques.

"One is named Kun Sha, standing on the third step of Celestial King, the other is named Gu Shouzhong, standing on the fourth step..."

Ji Jingqiu was skeptical after hearing this.

This was too detailed.

Even their paths to the Celestial King level were included!

What kind of background did this man have?

But for Ji Jingqiu, the more detailed, the better.

His foundation for the Celestial King level was not yet established, but his Cause and Effect Great Dao was already somewhat accomplished. The more detailed the information, the easier it was for him to grasp their Cause and Effect.

This time, Ji Jingqiu did not plan to act personally but to use Kuhe's destiny to test his idea.

"Hmm?"

Kuhe suddenly looked around, rubbing the back of his neck.

Just now, he had a feeling of being watched.

In Ji Jingqiu's eyes, the world suddenly dimmed, leaving only a tangle of Cause and Effect threads.

The deeper he looked, the more profound it became, like the convergence of chaos, ultimately forming an indescribable "point."

In the depths of Ji Jingqiu's eyes, an image of a long river spanning the heavens appeared.

The river's surface reflected scenes from different times and possible futures.

The River of Fate.

At this moment.

Ji Jingqiu locked onto the future he wanted to see, using the Cause and Effect Great Dao to guide the future's direction.

...

Seeing the prolonged attack without success and other powerful figures from other forces watching from a distance, Gu Shouzhong coldly harrumphed. With a thought, he no longer held back, unleashing a pure and unadulterated destructive Great Dao.

His punch was like a force that could tear through anything, shattering the protective barriers of the Forest of Stars.

Mu Rouzhi gasped, blood trickling from her seven orifices, feeling the pain as if it were her own

Seeing this, the middle-aged man behind her did not hesitate. Even though he was no match, he still stepped forward to intercept the attack.

"Why not wait inside for death?"

Seeing a newly ascended Celestial King dare to block him, Gu Shouzhong sneered and punched again, piercing through the void with a massive destructive force, bringing the end of the world.

He was confident that this punch would leave the new Celestial King half-dead.

But in the next instant, Gu Shouzhong's expression changed drastically.

The destructive Great Dao he wielded suddenly showed a weakness!

This was a Dao wound he had sustained when he first reached the Celestial King level, long suppressed and stable, but now it erupted just as he was fully attacking!

He suffered a Great Dao backlash, roaring in pain. The elf Celestial King took advantage of the weakness and, with a powerful strike, broke through his destructive Great Dao, cutting into his Dao body.

The elf Celestial King looked at Gu Shouzhong in disbelief.

He then quickly regained his senses, seizing the opportunity, and struck several more times.

Gu Shouzhong, using his Celestial King Dao body to resist, was not fundamentally injured but glared at the elf Celestial King, focusing on suppressing the Dao wound.

However, the elf Celestial King's strike contained a Dao intent that hit a critical point, triggering a chain reaction.

This time, Gu Shouzhong's Dao wound worsened, and he let out a shocked and angry roar:

"Brother Kun!"

Kun Sha seized the moment when Mu Rouzhi's connection to the divine tree was weak, and his mental landscape invaded the tree's interior.

Suddenly, he heard Gu Shouzhong's roar and scanned the scene, his face showing surprise.

What happened?

Everything was fine just a moment ago, but now he was in a life-or-death situation?

Was this new elf Celestial King abnormally powerful?

He hesitated for a moment, then decided to withdraw his attack and provide support.

But at that moment.

The collective consciousness of the divine tree connected with the main root of the World Tree.

Kun Sha's expression changed. Had the barrier from Daluotian been broken?

He didn't have time to think further.

A will surpassing the Celestial King level descended, crushing his mental landscape, causing him to cough blood and retreat.

The situation on the battlefield shifted instantly.

Not only were Gu Shouzhong and Kun Sha in trouble, but even the elf side was confused, not understanding what had just happened.

Witnessing the unexpected events nearby, Kuhe's expression became interesting, recalling some past events, his face clearly uncomfortable.

But he quickly realized he hadn't even taken action yet!

So the misfortune of these two had nothing to do with him.

Kuhe's expression relaxed.

Indeed, it was their own fault.

It was clear that their Dao foundation, established when they broke through to the Heavenly Person level, had issues, leading to weaknesses in their Great Dao foundation, which had erupted at the right moment.

As the saying goes, a small flaw can bring down a great dam!

At that moment.

The formidable Gu Shouzhong suddenly exploded in the starry expanse!

Ji Jingqiu, the instigator, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

His gaze toward Kuhe immediately changed.

He had guided Kuhe's destiny to create an explosion, but he hadn't expected it to have such power, causing a Celestial King to explode in the starry expanse!

Although Cause and Effect attacks were typically invisible and unpredictable, this...

Ji Jingqiu suddenly asked, "Brother Daoist, did your senior not give you any tasks when you left the mountain?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end