Chapter 399 - 288: Illuminating the 5 Domains, Wielding Yin and Traversing Yang

Jiang Yi stood before the main hall. A round halo slowly manifested behind his head, within which auspicious clouds gathered and dispersed. Tens of thousands of radiant layers guarded various celestial phenomena. If one looked closely, they could glimpse mountains, rivers, heaven and earth, and the arrangement of stars, all exuding a sense of boundless immensity.

Ordinary Foundation Establishment Grand True Masters who had reached Perfection in the Five Techniques often revealed their Fifth Layer Chongqing Clouds to display the depth of their Magical Power and the strength of their Merit. However, All Cultivators of the Nanzhan Continent knew that the path taken by Daoist Jiang of the Innate Sect was Gathering the Five Elements and verifying the Five Virtues, using this to elevate himself to the Golden Position. He had already obtained Celestial Fire, Sword Edge Gold, Great Forest Wood, and Great Sea Water. He only lacked City Wall Earth.

The four major Dao Fruits had evidently pushed Jiang Yi’s Merit and Dao Power to an unfathomably astonishing level. Take this moment, for example. Jiang Yi was clearly just standing quietly with his hands behind his back, yet in the eyes of the True Masters, his figure seemed to rise endlessly. He appeared hundreds, if not thousands of feet tall, connecting with the Celestial Universes and scattering the floating clouds, forcing people to look up at him in awe.

Gu Changling stepped out of Ganlu Hall and thought in silence, "To think his Cultivation is so profound. Compared to forty-three years ago, he is more than just a notch stronger. Such progress is truly terrifying."

Forty-three years was but a fleeting moment for a Foundation Establishment True Master, barely enough to completely master a Technique through Cultivation. Yet, it had allowed Daoist Jiang to take another step forward. With such innate talent, even the top True Inheritances of the Ancestral Sects couldn’t help but feel a sense of dejection, realizing they could never catch up.

"No wonder he could suppress the Defender Daoist of the Juechen Sect," Gu Changling remarked.

"Ever since the North and South Dipper Sword, the Daoist has been swallowing the grand destiny of the Nanzhan Continent like a whale," Qu Liu’er replied. Qu Liu’er had once accompanied the Daoist’s dharma palanquin to oversee the North and South Dipper Sword. She had truly witnessed Jiang Yi’s attainments in Magic and his various methods.

Back then, Xuan Chanzi of the Zhongyi Sect was born with a Metal Life and was originally the Dao Material selected by the Taifu Sect to attempt a breakthrough to Shao Yang. Through a stroke of fate, however, Daoist Jiang inherited that overwhelming karmic burden, leading to the various twists and turns that followed. It even forged an almost irreconcilable feud between the Innate Sect and the Taifu Sect.

By the time of the North and South Dipper Sword, Xuan Chanzi, having received the secret support of True Monarch Tao from the Taifu Sect, had reached a Cultivation close to the Fifth Layer. As a result, he was actually able to suppress his "formidable rival," Lou Zhenxiao.

Tao Xian, known as True Monarch Fengqi Heji, had always been renowned for her Celestial Calculation. She had deeply grasped the four transformative essences of the Qintian Star Number, capable of entangling someone’s karma imperceptibly. To cultivate Xuan Chanzi, this True Monarch Tao deliberately set up the North and South Dipper Sword and the situation of Zhongyi’s resurgence.

Even though Jiang Yi had jumped out of the chessboard and landed in the Innate Sect, the steps Lou Zhenxiao was supposed to take could not be invalidated just like that. Therefore, when the North and South Dipper Sword began, apart from the successive generations of True Inheritances from the Taifu Sect and the Innate Sect, the other six Ancestral Sects also sent their Disciples to attend the assembly. In the end, they were all defeated by Xuan Chanzi.

"At the sword-fighting Dharma Assembly, Xuan Chanzi’s Metal Life shone brilliantly. He had almost no rivals," Qu Liu’er sighed with emotion. "Of course, True Monarch Tao had a hand in it, allowing Xuan Chanzi to leverage the overarching momentum, refine profundities, and achieve Perfection so he could break through to the Golden Position."

Gu Changling sighed softly, seemingly thinking of himself. Xuan Chanzi’s circumstances were actually no different from his own. Both were merely pawns placed by True Monarchs.

"You only have a chance to attain the Dao if the higher-ups want you to..." Gu Changling smiled bitterly. If the Daoist hadn’t been willing to lend a helping hand, he probably wouldn’t have even gotten the chance to reincarnate and start his Cultivation all over again.

"Originally, Xuan Chanzi was supposed to inherit Zhongyi and break through to Shao Yang, but that Golden Position only caught the Daoist’s eye, so those plans fell through," Qu Liu’er said, looking up slightly at Daoist Jiang, who was enveloped in the auspicious light and clouds. He was indeed worthy of being the new lord of Shao Yang, and the one who influenced the destiny of the Nanzhan Continent. The various layouts and successive backup plans of the eight Ancestral Sects could all be traced back to the Daoist. The dense web of intertwining karma within all of this would make even a True Monarch’s scalp tingle, deterring them from lightly touching it.

"True Monarch Tao calculates ten steps for every one move. Even if the Daoist ruined her layout, she still has other methods. After all, once a pawn is played, it must serve its purpose." Having been personally present and witnessed the entire process, Qu Liu’er still remembered how Xuan Chanzi defeated several True Inheritances from the other six sects. His five clusters of auspicious clouds had spread out, covering a hundred miles.

"I’ve also heard about it. During the North and South Dipper Sword, Xuan Chanzi sought to verify his Golden Position. It seemed he was aiming for Ying Huo, one of the Five Weis," Gu Changling said with a smile. Looking back, before Daoist Zhang Yuansheng of the Taifu Sect ascended to the Golden Position, the Nanzhan Continent hadn’t produced a True Monarch seed in a century. Not to mention a Sword Cultivator daring to verify the Sword Dao.

The Five Weis borrowed the sharpness of the Metal Element, then absorbed the qi of celestial stars for refinement, transforming into five Golden Positions: Taibai, Sui, Chen, Ying Huo, and Zhen. It used to be the first choice for Sword Cultivators across the world when seeking the Dao.

"What a pity he fell short at the final hurdle," Qu Liu’er said with some regret. The killing power of a Sword Dao True Monarch was unparalleled among peers. If Xuan Chanzi had verified the Ying Huo Golden Position, the Nanzhan Continent would have gained another Grand Sect.

"True Monarch Tao only let Xuan Chanzi give it a try to test the true nature of the Golden Position; naturally, she wouldn’t allow him to actually succeed," Gu Changling stated. "If the Zhongyi Sect were to see a resurgence, given the temperaments of Sword Cultivators, Xuan Chanzi would immediately seek out True Monarch Tao for revenge. When that time came, who knows which Ancestral Sect he might align with just to disgust the Taifu Sect... I’ve heard that Lou Zhenxiao of the Taifu Sect also wants to achieve Gathering the Five Elements and seek the Sword Dao. Xuan Chanzi was probably just his stepping stone."

Qu Liu’er sighed endlessly. After Xuan Chanzi failed to obtain the Golden Position, his Cultivation dispersed and his Dao vanished. His killing intent had soared into the sky, stirring the winds and clouds, nearly causing a catastrophic disaster. In the end, it was the Daoist who took action, fighting a battle with the dying Xuan Chanzi.

"Since the North and South Dipper Sword, the Daoist first defeated Xuan Chanzi, withstanding the killing power of a Sword Cultivator who was almost a half-step True Monarch. Then, he single-handedly suppressed Lou Zhenxiao of the Taifu Sect, severing his connection with Ying Huo."