Chapter 387 278: One More Round

[Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven].

Jiang Yi stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes flashing as if he had just grasped a thread of Spiritual Light from the unseen world.

He murmured,

'So it was a conflict of Dao paths.'

Why was Ji Fuyao, supported by the Immortal Dao and manifest in the world for five thousand years, so singularly obsessed with Yu Shenxiu?

So much so that it alarmed the three supreme Daoist Monarchs, who conspired to drag [Shao Yang] into their scheme and force him to an appointment in White Jade City.

The answer had come to light.

'If Ji Fuyao can't attain mastery over the sun, he cannot advance further.'

Jiang Yi looked again at the ten massive characters hanging like stars in the sky, and felt a growing sense of admiration.

That True Monarch Yu had essentially used his own life to block the [Tai Yang] Dao path.

'So, the three Daoist Monarchs couldn't sit still. They had to suppress [Shao Yang] and let Ji Fuyao fight and defeat him.

'Only then could he possibly perfect his [Mastery of the Sun].'

Jiang Yi clapped his hands and laughed. The more he understood the intricate details of this thousand-year-old game, the more he marveled at Yu Shenxiu's world-shaking talent.

'Three Daoist Monarchs making a move, just to kill a single True Monarch.

'No wonder [Shao Yang] has refused to look away ever since. Such an achievement is truly rare in all of history.'

Jiang Yi raised a hand and playfully stroked True Master Xuanmiao's whiskers. The events of that year were now clear.

Standing upstream in the long river of time and looking back at the past, even a mere Foundation Establishment Lower Cultivator could see things clearly.

Yu Shenxiu threw himself into the game. He went to White Jade City and fought Ji Fuyao with all his might.

To suppress the [Shao Yang] Golden Position, the three supreme Daoist Monarchs were forced to reveal their Divine Techniques.

This very act, however, perfectly matched the radiant imagery of [Shao Yang], causing its brilliance to grow so intense it approached that of [Tai Yang].

'Even though Yu Shenxiu's body died and his Dao vanished, his achievements were so rare in this world that [Shao Yang], like a loyal subject, still thinks of its old master and refuses to acknowledge anyone else.

'In this way, Ji Fuyao's path to [Mastery of the Sun] is still blocked, and he cannot achieve Perfection.'

Jiang Yi was startled by the realization that he had long been standing in the middle of a boundless, sprawling scheme.

Looking up, he saw True Monarchs who occupied the Golden Positions; they were the hands that moved the pieces.

And behind these hands sat the Lord Upper Cultivators, figures who towered over the heavens themselves.

True Master Xuanmiao was perched on Jiang Yi's shoulder. As they entered [Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven], the white-robed figure became clearer.

"Xiao Jiang, the [Shao Yang] Golden Position will not acknowledge anyone besides its former master.

"Unless... it's the successor who has taken over [Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven]."

Hearing the Cat Master's words, Jiang Yi smiled and said:

"I have never regretted forming a bond with [Shao Yang]."

True Master Xuanmiao lay low, his whiskers twitching. Ever since their meeting in Sanhe District, he had always been by Jiang Yi's side and understood Xiao Jiang's situation better than anyone.

From being targeted by Tao Ran of the Taifu Sect and dragged into the [Fengdu] scheme, to Daoist Monarch Xianyou Mingxuan of the Innate Sect making his move and betting the position of Daoist on him.

It was all because [Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven] had fallen into Xiao Jiang's hands, giving him a high probability of ascending to the [Shao Yang] Golden Position.

In other words, if not for the fateful master-disciple bond forged in Sanhe District, Xiao Jiang could have cultivated steadily and lived a peaceful life.

Jiang Yi knew this was a source of guilt for True Master Xuanmiao, so he tried to comfort him:

"The so-called pursuit of cultivation is nothing more than longevity and eternal sight; the so-called hope of cultivation is simply to wield vast Divine Techniques.

"Cat Master, even if I die at the Foundation Establishment stage, I am still Jiang Yi, the Daoist of the Innate Sect. If I can die upon a Golden Position, that would be even more incredible. At least when future generations speak of me, they would have to respectfully call me 'True Monarch Jiang of the Demon Dao.'"

Jiang Yi paused, then solemnly uttered six words:

"My life will not be in vain."

True Master Xuanmiao gently rubbed against Jiang Yi and chuckled, "Heh heh."

"This True Master has found a new monarch for [Shao Yang], one whose will is firm and unshakeable."

Jiang Yi walked with composure deep into the layers of palaces. True Master Xuanmiao had told him that the mountains of rare treasures piled up outside were merely superficial splendors.

That True Monarch Yu, whose greatness surpassed all of ancient and modern times and who became the First Shao Yang, had hidden the truly good things very deep, leaving them for his successor to aid their cultivation.

'The First [Shao Yang], the First [Tai Yang]. Heh, the predecessors walked such a broad path, making the Golden Positions brilliantly dazzling. For a junior to advance further, they must accumulate achievements that surpass their predecessors.'

'In this way, the Dao paths will naturally become more and more prosperous, avoiding the pitfall of the present being inferior to the past, making it difficult to continue.'

'But it also makes things difficult for later generations. Great positions like [Tai Yang] and [Thunder Core] cannot be touched lightly.'

'Not to mention how difficult it is to ascend. Even if one has the perfect timing, location, and support to ascend gloriously, they still have to worry about falling into a 'subordinate' position and being driven by the imagery of the Golden Position instead.'

Jiang Yi's wide sleeves fluttered, as if draped in golden splendor, making him appear even more like an Immortal.

As he stepped into the central hub of [Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven], the speck of golden nature residing in his Primordial Gate, integrated with his Life Essence, grew ever brighter.

Jiang Yi knew where to go without even needing True Master Xuanmiao to point the way.

'The attention from [Shao Yang] over the past sixty years has had some effect after all.'

The corners of Jiang Yi's lips curved up slightly as he finally stepped into a strange "domain" sectioned off by a vast, brilliant light.

The boundless golden radiance, powerful enough to depose a True Monarch and shatter a Golden Position, dissipated completely before it could even touch his Magical Robe.

Jiang Yi walked in gently, as if parting a curtain of gauze.

But True Master Xuanmiao, who had been perched on his shoulder, was repelled. He rolled over a few times like a ball and was stopped outside the "threshold."

"This is..."

Jiang Yi focused his gaze to look closely. The "domain" that Yu Shenxiu had deliberately placed in the central hub of [Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven] had no grand atmosphere to speak of.

It was just an ordinary small courtyard.

It was very simple and crude. The earthen walls were mottled, with plaster peeling off, and showed not the slightest hint of profound Daoist rhythm.

After a moment's hesitation, Jiang Yi followed the guidance of the golden nature within him and pushed the door open to enter.

The courtyard was also simply furnished, with a stone table, stone benches, a water vat, and a pile of firewood.

It couldn't help but remind Jiang Yi of the Big Mixed Courtyard on Red Flame Peak in the Qianji Sect.

Inside, an ancestral tablet was enshrined. It read, "Spirit Tablet of my late husband, the honored Mister Yu." The incense burner before the tablet was filled with a thick layer of ash.

His gaze swept around the inner room. There was a wooden bed with a canopy that had been washed until it was faded white, patch layered upon patch.

At the head of the bed sat a cloth tiger. The stitching was crude, and one of its ears was even sewn on crooked.

'I wonder what the history of this place is, for True Monarch Yu to use a Great Divine Technique to recreate it.'

Jiang Yi did not linger. Before leaving, he observed the proper etiquette and bowed once to the spirit tablet.

Then he exited the small courtyard, pulling the door closed behind him.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the unremarkable wooden door closed, Jiang Yi felt as if he had missed a step and fallen into emptiness, a sudden sensation of weightlessness washing over him.

The next moment, he "fell" into a dim, boundless void.

Jiang Yi frowned slightly, seemingly puzzled, then immediately let out a laugh.

'If I had lingered in the courtyard and been slow to leave, would I not have been able to see the secret treasures of [Shao Yang]? Or if I had been discourteous and disrespectful to the spirit tablet, would I also have been unable to enter this place?

'True Monarch Yu really knows how to test a person's character.'

Gently brushing away his stray thoughts, Jiang Yi focused his gaze. In the dim, boundless void, a "Dharma Body" stood in each cardinal direction, connecting heaven and earth—what a magnificent sight.

After staring for a moment, this new monarch of [Shao Yang] awoke as if from a dream and drew in a sharp breath.

'Five Divine Techniques... to provide for his successors... It seems True Monarch Yu anticipated his own death, but refused to admit defeat. He still wants to use [Shao Yang] to fight [Tai Yang] one more time.'