Chapter 191 - 190: Earth Deity

Chapter 191: Chapter 190: Earth Deity

A high platform rose at the end of the road.

Countless steps descended from its four sides, making it resemble a small hillock a full thousand feet high.

Banners were arrayed all around, each inscribed with wild, mystical talismans. Some were drawn in cinnabar red, others in deep black or moon-white, each with its own unique and ferocious design.

The high platform was surrounded by the crumbling ruins of what looked like tall pagodas and jade pavilions. Chen Qingyang saw murals depicting the Thirty-Three Heavens, with golden carp swimming alongside.

It was almost identical to what he had seen from outside this space the day before.

Then, mist began to rise, and golden light suffused the sky in a breathtaking display. It truly looked like a grand ascension ceremony where countless immortals had gathered!

Atop the high platform sat Qing Yao True Monarch, his expression solemn. Holding a bamboo staff, he sat perfectly still. Below the platform, three hundred Foundation Establishment Masters were arranged in order, each followed by their respective disciples.

Ji Rang led Chen Qingyang through the crowd the entire time, and they eventually took their place behind Master Jing Yuan. A quick glance around confirmed it; he was the last to arrive.

The Master next to them, whoever he was, had brought quite a few disciples. Looking around, Chen Qingyang saw that every other Foundation Establishment Master had more disciples than his own Master. However, their cultivation levels were all over the place, unlike Master Jing Yuan’s retinue, which consisted entirely of Inner Sect Disciples. More importantly, they were also accompanied by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Ji Rang glanced up. "Junior Brother, it’s not quite time. We still have a little while before it begins."

Chen Qingyang asked, "Fourth Senior Brother, this is my first time attending. Could you explain the procedure for this Tai Xu Splitting Essence to me?"

’After all this time, I still have no idea what’s actually going on.’

"Heh heh, I knew you’d ask. That’s exactly why First Senior Brother had me stick with you. The Tai Xu Elemental Separation Conference is officially starting now. The first thing we’re about to see is the ’Greeting Ceremony’."

Everyone on the field was silent, afraid of causing a disturbance, so Ji Rang kept his voice down. "...Like the name suggests, it’s for meeting and paying respects. First, between the Golden Core True Monarch and his disciples. Second, among the disciples of the various Masters, who can discuss Daoist techniques and get acquainted... If you don’t know anyone, just stand still and you’ll be fine."

He lowered his voice even further. "Once you’ve been an Inner Sect Disciple for a while, you’ll understand. Since we cultivate on Cyan Bamboo Peak, we’re disciples under Qing Yao True Monarch. No matter what happens, we’re on his side. But Inner Sect Disciples have low cultivation, so we’re not really involved yet. You’ll understand once you become a Foundation Establishment Master."

’Thinking of the Earth Deities and Purple Sun True Monarch, Chen Qingyang understood that things weren’t exactly harmonious among the Golden Core True Monarchs. Otherwise, Purple Sun True Monarch would never have ended up in his current predicament.’

’It was a strange situation. Why would a dignified True Monarch choose his mortal enemy to be his Guardian? From Chen Qingyang’s perspective, it was utter madness.’

He responded to his fourth senior brother, "I understand. Please continue!"

Ji Rang continued, "After the Greeting Ceremony comes ’Observing the Method.’ The ’method’ in question involves the Earth Deities. We’ll get to see exactly how a True Monarch uses the Circulation Demon Suppression Star Array to extract Earth Deities from the world. We’ll also get a crystal-clear look at what those things actually are."

Chen Qingyang was genuinely curious about this. He nodded. "It’s extracted from the world, but I wonder how. Is it of any use to Inner Sect Disciples like us?"

This made Ji Rang burst out laughing. Realizing his breach of etiquette, he quickly lowered his voice. "Junior Brother, don’t tell me you have your eyes on those things? That ability is only held by the Golden Core True Monarchs. As for whether it’s useful to us... heh heh, I’d say it’s *very* useful!"

’The only reason I’m restricted now is that the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Masters and the Golden Core True Monarch is beyond my imagination. Otherwise, if I could just release my Conscious Fish to take a closer look, I’d surely learn something.’

’Stealing Master Water Moon’s Jade Peach Profound Wood yielded quite a few of her Immortal Seedlings. If I stole the Sect’s Earth Deities, would the entire Cyan Bamboo Peak have to contribute Immortal Seedlings to me?’

’Probably,’ he thought.

Chen Qingyang nodded lightly. "You’re absolutely right, Senior Brother. What comes next?"

Ji Rang went on, "The third step is called ’Allocation.’ The specifics of how things are allocated are decided entirely by the True Monarch. In previous years, however, it’s been based on the cultivation progress of the Foundation Establishment Masters and how well they’ve taught their disciples... In short, we’re just here for the experience. There are no benefits for us at this stage."

’Fourth Senior Brother was right. Aside from the experience, my biggest gain was the Great Soul Scripture. As for what would happen after this, it was anyone’s guess.’

"Senior Brother, surely it doesn’t just end there?"

"Heh heh!" Ji Rang chuckled again. "There’s a fourth part, called ’Fortunate Opportunity.’ Now, *this* is the part that actually concerns us."

’The Sect commands such a vast Secret Realm,’ Chen Qingyang thought, ’so it must have considerable resources. And for a grand event that happens so infrequently, surely they’d give *some* kind of benefit to the disciples. Even the Separation Dragon Pill Institute knew enough to offer prizes for first, second, and third place.’

"What kind of opportunity?"

"Sigh." Ji Rang shook his head with a sigh. "When you look at the details, it seems like it has nothing to do with us after all. The ’Fortunate Opportunity’ is this: here in the Secret Realm, the ambient energy is pure and good for nurturing the Five Elements Essence. Over countless years, this has formed a Five Elements Cave Mansion. One disciple from each of the top ten Foundation Establishment Masters will be chosen to enter the Five Elements Cave Mansion for Enlightenment. How much you can gain from the experience is all up to your own skill."

’The mention of the Five Elements, and a Cave Mansion at that, immediately piqued Chen Qingyang’s interest. The future of his Inner Nourishing Five Elements Sword depended entirely on being nourished by the Five Elements Qi.’

"With our Master’s abilities, our lineage is sure to be included. The only question is who he’ll choose," Chen Qingyang asked.

Ji Rang nodded. "That’s right. Master usually picks the person himself. I originally thought you had a good chance, since you’re the youngest and your cultivation is progressing so quickly. But First Senior Brother just had his breakthrough. He has a core of Wood True Qi that desperately needs tempering in the Cave Mansion."

’Hearing that, Chen Qingyang knew his chances were gone. But it didn’t matter. As long as he could find out where the Five Elements Cave Mansion was, he could find a way to get there on his own later.’

’In the past, he’d had too little contact with the Sect’s upper echelons, so his only way to obtain Immortal Seedlings was by "profiting at others’ expense." But perhaps finding a way to leech off the Sect itself was another viable path.’

’The Sect could take the hit, and it would spit out a lot more at once.’

Chen Qingyang replied, "First Senior Brother’s cultivation is exceptional, and he’s very kind. He helped me with a lot of problems when I first came here. The opportunity should be his."

Ji Rang looked at his youngest junior brother. "How rare. You’re very magnanimous, Junior Brother. You’ll surely be a kind person in the future..."

The Greeting Ceremony, Observing the Method, Allocation, and Fortunate Opportunity.

These were the four parts of the conference.

After all, this wasn’t an elixir-making competition like the one at the Separation Dragon Pill Institute. A disciple’s cultivation could be seen at a glance, and it wasn’t in the nature of a Daoist Sect to focus on cultivating lethal techniques, unlike the Demon Sects.

Therefore, the Sect wouldn’t organize a competition for the disciples to show off their Magical Treasures and various techniques... There was little point in doing so.

Just as Ji Rang had said, Chen Qingyang stood quietly during the ceremony. He didn’t recognize a single soul besides the people from his own lineage.

The most he did was spot Xu Wuji in the crowd. No matter how much that man disliked him, he wouldn’t choose a time like this to stir up trouble.

He noticed that his master, Master Jing Yuan, seemed quite popular among the Foundation Establishment Masters; many came and went, paying their respects. His master’s expression, however, remained lukewarm, and he dealt with everyone in the exact same manner.

Chen Qingyang then realized that most of these Masters rarely interacted with one another. When they did meet, their politeness felt distant and unfamiliar.

’It made sense. Masters could live for a thousand years, and most were completely immersed in their cultivation. A single session of seclusion could last for decades, by which time even the most familiar faces would have become strange.’

’Furthermore, in the Tai Xu Sect, strength and cultivation were paramount. Competition for resources was frequent, so it was only natural for them to remain distant and guarded with one another.’

’If not for this small greeting ceremony hosted by the Golden Core True Monarch, a thousand years might pass without some of these three hundred Masters ever exchanging a single word. It might be dull, but it served a purpose.’

Finally, Qing Yao True Monarch rose to hover above the high platform. A brilliant golden Dragon and Tiger Aspect materialized behind him, seeming to fill the entire sky. The disciples faintly heard the roars of a tiger and the cries of a dragon, and the awe-inspiring sight immediately silenced the crowd.

The True Monarch surveyed the crowd. "A Dao Cultivator must learn to see the small within the great, the microscopic within the small, the slow within the microscopic, and stillness within the slow. Only then can you appreciate the Dao in every blade of grass, every piece of wood, every flower and stone, every single sip and peck."

"Today, I will use the Circulation Demon Suppression Star Array to draw forth the Earth Deities of the world. This requires combining the Dao of the Array, the Artifact, the Star Map, and the shifting Qi Mechanisms. You must all observe closely. The path to Enlightenment is a personal one..."

The True Monarch’s voice boomed like a great bell, and his presence was as immense as a mountain. It felt as if the entire world was connected to him, inspiring an irresistible urge to worship in all who saw and heard him.

For the first time, Chen Qingyang truly felt the might of a Golden Core True Monarch.

The True Monarch floated above, arms outstretched. One hand seemed to grasp the stars, the other a swath of apricot-yellow light. As his hands swayed, one representing Heaven and the other Earth, the entire world thrummed in response.

The disciples held their breath, their gazes fixed on the scene. It was a pity Chen Qingyang couldn’t release his Conscious Fish to get a clearer look.

RUMBLE!

A rumbling sound came from all directions, like a great wave cresting over the horizon. Countless streams of Qi shot into the sky, forming a curtain of light that converged overhead.

’So the True Monarch was stationed here for a reason. Presiding over the array was one purpose, and refining it was another. He had already merged as one with this entire space.’

As the True Monarch exerted his power once more, a rift tore open in the sky where the energy had gathered. A gust of fresh air billowed out, and Chen Qingyang instantly knew: it was a passage to the outside world.

He could clearly feel the entire Sumeru Secret Realm transforming into a single, massive Array Artifact. The cyan-gray energy that began pouring from the rift had to be the Earth Deities.