Chapter 386 277: Si Yang is Incomplete

The Dao reveres Yin and Yang,

Thus, the Sun and Moon alternate.

Endless, iridescent colors reflected in Jiang Yi's eyes. These ten grand words hung like stars in the sky, illuminating the entire Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven.

In his profound senses, they even felt like the unbreakable central axis of this world.

'Legend has it that True Monarch Yu contemplated the transformations of Yin and Yang and comprehended the principles of Tai Chi, forcibly elevating the Shao Yang from its position below the Tai Yang.'

Jiang Yi mused, a glint in his eyes.

'These ten grand words must be the culmination of that Shao Yang Huiyuan True Monarch's lifelong cultivation.'

He didn't linger for long. For a "mere" Foundation Establishment True Master like himself, the time was not yet right for such profound and abstruse principles. He couldn't be too hasty, or he would risk leading his own Dao path astray.

This was also the fundamental reason why Ancestral Master Mingxuan had appointed True Monarch Lu of Kan Peak as his master instead of personally offering guidance.

Daoist Monarchs were sovereigns who ruled the cosmos, paramount leaders whose fame shook countless heavens.

Never mind them imparting their teachings; the mere manifestation of their true forms could cause Yanfu to tremble and the Vast Land to sink.

Within the Five Domains and Two Heavens, only the reclusive and sealed "Zhonghuang Continent" could bear the presence of multiple Daoist Monarchs walking about freely.

'It's said that in the primordial era, the Yanfu Vast Land was still whole and could accommodate as many as ten Daoist Level beings at once. But then, some unknown catastrophe occurred...'

Jiang Yi passed through the ten grand words, which stood like a towering Celestial Gate, and slowly walked into the depths of the Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven.

Layers of palaces spread out before him like overlapping mountain ranges. A brilliant radiance, like a morning mist, gradually dispersed at the arrival of its new master.

"Xiao Jiang, you're finally here! This cat was about to die of boredom!"

The increasingly plump True Master Xuanmiao landed on all fours, leaped over the threshold, and scurried to Jiang Yi's feet. With practiced ease, he climbed up and perched on Jiang Yi's shoulder.

"It's been hard on you, Cat Master."

Jiang Yi brushed the back of his hand against True Master Xuanmiao's upturned whiskers. After deciding to descend to the Juku Continent to seek an Opportunity for his Foundation Establishment, he had settled on his traveling companions.

Xiaoqiao was one, and his Guardian Daoist, the True Monarch of Hidden Return and Aiding Fate, was the other.

But he couldn't leave behind True Master Xuanmiao, who had long since recovered his Foundation Establishment Cultivation. After all, now that the Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven was open, there were many secrets he needed to ask the Cat Master about.

Thus, Jiang Yi had come up with the plan to send True Master Xuanmiao into the Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven ahead of him.

"Xiao Jiang, you've finally reached Foundation Establishment! Let me see what your Dao Foundation is like..."

True Master Xuanmiao's amber eyes widened, then grew perfectly round.

"What a vast and solid Dao Foundation! The Fire Element is already supported by three profundities. Such rapid progress... even a Daoist Level genius would be hard-pressed to match it."

Jiang Yi said slowly,

"I had to condense my True Qi, brave countless dangers, venture into the Juku Continent, and spend a vast amount of time just to pass the Meridian Fire Burning Shell Passage."

"If, after all that, my cultivation still progressed as slowly as anyone else's, the Shao Yang Golden Position itself would likely deem me incompetent and look away."

True Master Xuanmiao scratched his whiskers, the plump flesh of his cheeks quivering.

"That makes sense. The Shao Yang attracts many disasters, especially after its previous master altered its core concept. He merged the Five Virtues and other principles into it. That's how the Shao Yang was elevated, but ever since, it has become extremely prone to attracting calamities."

Jiang Yi considered this. 'It does seem to be the case,' he thought.

'Ever since I met True Master Xuanmiao and inherited the Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven, my cultivation path has been fraught with hardship. If not for the guidance of the Celestial Book, I'd already be dead.'

"The Tai Yang is the most preeminent, favored by the Great Dao and beloved by fortune. That is its advantage. But a solitary Yang that only waxes and never wanes also has its drawbacks."

As a veteran Foundation Establishment master who had once followed Yu Shenxiu, the number one Demon Dao True Monarch of the Nanzhan Continent, True Master Xuanmiao's understanding of Daoist theory was incredibly deep.

"As the saying goes: when a Golden Position has a master, it is subject to their changes; when a Golden Position is masterless, it reveres their legacy."

Jiang Yi stood with his hands behind his back, looking back at the ten grand words hanging like stars in the sky. A new wave of understanding washed over him.

Lost in thought, he mulled over the words again and again. His Myriad Chariots Imperial Law Dao Foundation began to thrum, showing signs of forming yet another profundity.

'When a True Monarch ascends to a Golden Position, they are inevitably influenced by its core concept. They must either adapt to its nature or reenact its past great deeds. Only then can they ensure the Golden Position's favor does not stray, allowing it to elevate them to the realm of a Daoist Monarch.'

'This is practically the only path for a True Monarch's ascension. Only a rare few with astonishing talent can defy this convention.'

'Yu Shenxiu was one such individual. He ascended to the great position and then reshaped it, using his own Merit to establish the Shao Yang... No wonder Ji Fuyao is so wary of him.'

A look of sudden realization crossed Jiang Yi's face. Before Yu Shenxiu, the Shao Yang's might wasn't particularly great when compared to Supreme Golden Positions like the Tai Yang and the Thunder Core.

But now, thanks to Yu Shenxiu, there is no one in the Yanfu Vast Land who doesn't know the great name of the Shao Yang.

'So, he is the first Shao Yang in the truest sense. Any successor who ascends to the position can only carry Yu Shenxiu's mantle, imitate his very essence, and reenact his past deeds. Only then can they gain the Shao Yang's acknowledgment.'

Jiang Yi finally understood why True Monarch Tao Ran of the Taifu Sect had tried every means possible to lure him into the Mingcang Marsh, and why Ancestral Master Xianyou Mingxuan of the Innate Sect had linked the Daoist with the Shao Yang.

'As long as anyone ascends to the Shao Yang Golden Position, they won't just become another True Monarch of the Yanfu Vast Land. They'll also have a chance to stir the traces of Yu Shenxiu's past that are engraved upon the Golden Position itself.'

'For the Taifu Sect, this would be like gaining the number one Demon Dao True Monarch for free. For the Innate Sect, they might be able to create a second Shao Yang.'

'As for who actually ascends to the Shao Yang, that person is an insignificant, interchangeable piece in the calculations of these great powers.'

The corners of Jiang Yi's lips curled up slightly into a cold smile.

'The way Upper Cultivators operate is really always the same.'

'Even at the True Monarch realm, one is still just fish in a pot, ready to be feasted upon.'

Then, another question arose in Jiang Yi's mind.

Ji Fuyao had sensed the disturbance from the Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven and, at the risk of infuriating the Daoist Monarchs and Great Powers of the Nanzhan Continent, crossed an immeasurable distance, riding the sun to patrol the sky.

'But why?'

'Was he worried about the appearance of a second Yu Shenxiu?'

"Because Ji... Emperor Ji wants to walk my former master's path."

True Master Xuanmiao couldn't help but pause when he said the name of that Tai Yang, his voice filled with reverence.

As one of the few beings in this age who had personally witnessed the battle of the Shao Yang against the Tai Yang, the Cat Master knew better than anyone just how blindingly brilliant Emperor Ji of White Jade City truly was.

'Ji Fuyao wants to change the core concept of the Tai Yang, too? He wants to become the first Tai Yang? But how is that possible?!'

Jiang Yi's mind raced, and a chill of horror went through him as he guessed the answer.

Even before Ji Fuyao became the most preeminent figure of the current age, the Tai Yang was already a supreme Dao, in no way inferior to Golden Positions like the Thunder Core and the Five Virtues.

From the primordial era to the present day, every True Monarch who ascended to the Tai Yang possessed the profound potential to rule over Yanfu and manifest their Dao across the cosmos.

Such a supreme Golden Position... even with the backing of the Immortal Dao, Ji Fuyao shouldn't be able to alter it in the slightest.

'The masters of the Tai Yang position have included 'Dong Jun' in the primordial era and 'Wu Xian' in the middle ages. Even when the Human Dao flourished, the 'Sheji Twin Emperors' had to pay it homage. Where does Ji Fuyao get his confidence?'

Filled with confusion, Jiang Yi looked to True Master Xuanmiao.

The cat curled his plump body on Jiang Yi's shoulder and said in a low voice,

"Emperor Ji once discussed the Dao with my former master, and from that discussion, he comprehended a 'supreme method.'"

"The core concept of the Tai Yang was previously 'Manifestation.' Emperor Ji believes 'Manifestation' is unsustainable and should be changed to 'Dominion,' allowing him to ascend and reign as the supreme sovereign."

Jiang Yi was taken aback.

"'Dominion'?"

True Master Xuanmiao slowly nodded.

"Dominion over Yin, Dominion over Yang, Dominion over the Dao, Dominion over Law, and Dominion over the Celestial Order! These are Emperor Ji's 'Five Divine Techniques' for his breakthrough to the Daoist Monarch realm."

"He has sat enthroned in White Jade City, undefeated for five thousand years, and has already completed the great works of 'Dominion over the Dao' and 'Dominion over Law.'"

"As for 'Dominion over Yin,' after the Eight Sceneries Palace destroyed Fengdu, they established a 'Palace of Rebirth.' That task is more or less complete."

"Only 'Dominion over Yang' is missing. Without it, he cannot take the final step to assume full command of the Celestial Order."

Jiang Yi froze.

'Dominion over Yang?'

He gazed at the Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven, and his mind cleared in a flash of understanding.

'So that's how it is!'