Chapter 1166 - 794: Zhou Qiucheng Attains the Dao

Bai Cang was in a bit of a dilemma. He wanted to save the two Demon Gods, but he didn’t want to offend Zhang Chen.

For him, the Demon Gods were crucial to the grand plans of the Demon Race, influencing their destiny and affecting the future development of the Demon Race. But Zhang Chen’s strength was unfathomable, having suppressed even the two Demon Gods without being harmed himself. How could he not be wary?

Zhang Chen rose to power too quickly, like a meteor in the sky, so fast that even stealing the Dragon Qi from Prince Pingbian’s Mansion couldn’t match his speed.

"This kid has something!" Bai Cang muttered to himself, then picked up his tea cup and took a sip: "I need to think of a way to mediate, perhaps I can only ask Chen Sanliang to step in."

Meanwhile, as Zhang Chen made his way back to the escort agency caravan, he saw Zhou Qiucheng sitting inside the carriage reading a book. Upon seeing Zhang Chen return, Zhou Qiucheng looked at him curiously: "I heard that you have deep animosity with Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, but why did the Demon Concubine show no sign of hatred when she saw you? Instead, she invited you for a chat?"

The relationship between Zhang Chen and Prince Pingbian’s Mansion was no secret; anyone with interest could find out all the details with a little inquiry.

Upon hearing Zhou Qiucheng’s question, Zhang Chen smiled: "Does sir know the background of Zhang Xiaolan?"

"I’ve heard a little," Zhou Qiucheng replied.

Zhang Chen sat opposite Zhou Qiucheng: "Zhang Xiaolan is Zhang Xiaolan, and Prince Pingbian’s Mansion is Prince Pingbian’s Mansion. Now, with Prince Pingbian’s Mansion in decline, and I have the ability to help stabilize her position in Kyoto, it’s not surprising that she chose to abandon Prince Pingbian to win me over."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qiucheng gave Zhang Chen a deep look. He wouldn’t believe Zhang Chen’s nonsense; there were definitely intrigues between Zhang Chen and Zhang Xiaolan that he wasn’t aware of.

However, everyone in the world has their own secrets, and Zhou Qiucheng had his as well, so he didn’t plan to delve into Zhang Chen and Zhang Xiaolan’s secrets.

The carriage creaked forward, following the convoy from Prince Pingbian’s Mansion as they headed towards Kyoto.

Sometimes Zhang Chen would ponder the Laws of Heaven and Earth, occasionally discuss the Celestial Laws with Zhou Qiucheng, and sometimes whisper conspiratorially with the Fox Spirit.

Upon reaching the Human Race’s territory, the journey was quite peaceful without any issues arising. After a month had passed, after traveling thousands of miles, one night Zhang Chen and Zhou Qiucheng sat facing each other, discussing the great principles of the Celestial Laws and the operation of Heaven and Earth.

In front of the two, the bonfire flickered with light, with the mutton roasting to a golden crisp on top.

Chen Ping sat there, listlessly roasting a leg of lamb. Since the loss of the Tree of Life Coffin, Chen Ping had been sitting there gloomily, as if he had lost his Essence, Qi, and Spirit, like he’d been drained of his bones.

Zhang Chen knew the worries in Chen Ping’s heart. The loss of the Tree of Life Coffin meant more than just the loss of the coffin; it was about whether the Dragon Tiger Escort Agency could establish itself in Kyoto and concerned the lives of thousands within the agency.

He wanted to run, but didn’t dare. The world is vast, where could he escape to? If he was suspected of stealing, his death would be even more miserable. It was better to place his hopes on Zhang Chen, and wait for Zhang Chen to speak on his behalf in Kyoto to mediate.

Zhang Chen was currently discussing the principles of Heaven and Earth with Zhou Qiucheng. Zhou Qiucheng, watching the bonfire, had a hint of confusion in his eyes. He had been thinking for a month but still couldn’t conceive the embryonic form of the great Dao.

Zhang Chen spoke of the ’Celestial Laws’, but the Celestial Laws were too vague to serve as a firm practicing principle. Without practice, naturally there could be no Dao verification, merely castles in the air.

"It’s perplexing, how should the Celestial Laws manifest from an elusive concept?" Zhou Qiucheng asked Zhang Chen.

"The Celestial Laws are the Heavenly Dao, the natural order of Heaven and Earth. If sir cannot find a concrete concept of Celestial Laws, why not borrow from the Human Dao? Use the laws of the Human Dao to nurture the laws of the Heaven Dao?" Zhang Chen queried.

"What you say, I have thought of, but the laws of the Human Dao are mired in the private desires of the powerful, mixed with a lot of dross. How can one complete true cultivation with illusionary means?" Zhou Qiucheng rejected Zhang Chen’s suggestion.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen not only didn’t get angry but instead smiled: "Does sir think I haven’t considered this situation?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qiucheng’s eyes immediately brightened, earnestly asking for Zhang Chen’s guidance with great anticipation in his gaze: "Please, sir, enlighten me."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen smiled: "Those laws are false; the moral ethics of all beings are true."

At this point, Zhang Chen spoke word by word: "Law is the moral bottom line; thus, morality is the true law. The laws of a dynasty cannot be called laws, only criminal codes and doctrines."

"Law is the moral bottom line?" Hearing this, Zhou Qiucheng was taken aback, then fell into a state of deep thought, staring dazedly at the bonfire.

The mutton was roasted golden; Chen Ping cut the roasted mutton with a small knife, about to hand it to Zhou Qiucheng, but Zhang Chen directly stopped Chen Ping’s movements, putting a finger to his lips in a gesture of silence.

Chen Ping looked at Zhang Chen with a puzzled expression. Zhang Chen, after taking the lamb leg, said: "Mr. Zhou has fallen into a state of Dao enlightenment. Drive everyone around away, so as not to make noise and disturb Mr. Zhou’s enlightenment."

Chen Ping nodded upon hearing this, and began to disperse the nearby workers; soon the area within a few hundred meters was emptied, with the guards of the escort agency forming a protective wall to keep all the refugees outside.

Zhang Chen looked at Zhou Qiucheng, seeing a peculiar fluctuation emanating from Zhou Qiucheng’s body, as if resonating with some rhythm of Heaven and Earth.

Zhang Chen had once seen Young Master realize the Yang God; now, Zhou Qiucheng’s Divine Soul fluctuations, in Zhang Chen’s eyes, were approaching that of Young Master.

"Interesting! Zhou Qiucheng has remarkable talent; it seems he’s already had some insight." Zhang Chen thought over the intricacies while munching on a leg of lamb.

He hadn’t finished the leg yet when suddenly he noticed the distant starry sky was somehow painted with a purple aurora, like a purple aurora, making it extremely captivating in the night sky.

"Look at the starry sky!"

"What’s that purple light?"

"My heavens, how beautiful!"

...

At this moment, countless people collectively looked up at the starry sky, exclaiming at the purple clouds appearing at the edge of the sky.

"Zhou Qiucheng has attained enlightenment!" Zhang Chen could tell at a glance that the purple clouds in the sky were the condensation of fate, resonating divinely with Zhou Qiucheng.

"The purple aurora is only a few miles wide now, but once it reaches a hundred miles, there will be hope to open the true path to step into the realm of the Yang God."

Yet, as soon as the purple aurora appeared, it began to rise rapidly, soaring high in the night sky.

"Zhou Qiucheng was originally a Great Scholar with profound accumulation. Now, having attained enlightenment, he’ll swiftly convert past accumulation into nourishment. His cultivation should progress rapidly; stepping into the realm of the Yang God shouldn’t be difficult for him, as he has accumulated sufficient depth." Zhang Chen muttered quietly.

"But as Zhou Qiucheng attains enlightenment, who knows how many people will be drawn to notice him? I need to leave early to avoid being noticed." With that thought, Zhang Chen used an Escape Technique to depart.

As for someone disturbing Zhou Qiucheng’s enlightenment?

That would be wishful thinking, unless it’s a mortal enemy; otherwise, do you really think the Academy is so defenseless?

Every saintly seed is exceedingly precious to the Academy; whoever dares to disrupt their enlightenment can expect to be hunted down by the Academy.

The Academy is the highest organizational body of the Great Victory Dynasty, with branches spread across the world, reaching every powerful figure. Who dare opposes the Academy besides that fool Chen Sanliang?

As Zhou Qiucheng attained enlightenment, his Qi Mechanism resonated with Heaven and Earth, sensed by various cultivators, who began flocking to the location.

At this time, Divine Spirits appeared continuously around, their eyes directed at the purple aurora, then at Zhou Qiucheng deep in enlightenment. Some wished to draw close to him, proactively clearing the citizens in the area, protecting Zhou Qiucheng.

Others used Divine Techniques to shield Zhou Qiucheng.

With his own insight, stepping into the Yang God realm, wherever he goes, he’ll be regarded highly, worth befriending by all.

"Who is this person, capable of attaining enlightenment? Looks like another seed has emerged from the Academy."

"I know this person; it’s Zhou Qiucheng from Chongzheng Academy. Unexpectedly, after being defeated by Chen Sanliang, he can break and establish anew. Chen Sanliang also broke and established, then swept through the world with Seven Spirits. This is another Chen Sanliang!"

"So this person is Zhou Qiucheng. Couldn’t imagine that after his original path was shattered, he could walk a new path."

...

Various Divine Beings around discussed among themselves, with eyes casting curious glances at Zhang Chen.

Standing distantly among the crowd, Zhang Chen watched as the Fox Immortal Nannan appeared beside him, staring with surprise at Zhou Qiucheng, sitting before the bonfire in enlightenment. "Unexpectedly, this old fellow can have a second spring."

"Stop talking nonsense, behave respectfully towards Mr. Zhou." Zhang Chen rebuked the Fox Immortal Nannan with an irritable tone.

The Fox Immortal Nannan pouted, then glanced at Zhang Chen beside her, flattering him, "But you are even more formidable! You guided Chen Sanliang and now Zhou Qiuheng. You are the true backbone."

Zhang Chen paid no heed to the flattery from the Fox Spirit; listening was one thing, truly believing her praise would lead to a big fall sooner or later.

Looking at the Fox Immortal Nannan, Zhang Chen instructed, "Go pick a roasted leg of lamb for me; I haven’t eaten enough yet."

The Fox Immortal Nannan scampered away, leaving Zhang Chen watching Zhou Qiucheng’s rising Qi Mechanism, with a hint of anticipation in his eyes. "If Zhou Qiucheng can attain enlightenment, I’ll have another ally when I get to Kyoto."

For him, the more allies, the better; who would complain about having too few allies?

As more and more Divine sanctity gathered at the sky’s edge, Zhou Qiucheng’s surrounding Qi Mechanism became increasingly fierce, and the purple cloud soon stretched to ten miles, like a waterfall hanging in the starry sky, extraordinarily beautiful.