Novel Full Chapter 2035: 1980–1981: Struggle Among Taoist Monarchs (Part 2)
Chapter 2035: Chapter 1980–1981: Struggle Among Taoist Monarchs (Part 2)
The Taoist Monarch is different from the True Immortal; a True Immortal can yield, but once the Great Tao of a Taoist Monarch is cast, retreat is not possible.
To achieve victory in the struggle for the Great Tao, one must forge ahead courageously, wielding a blade against all opponents, building success upon their fallen bodies.
Cultivation never speaks of gentleness and humility; it is always about competing with heaven and earth, with others.
In the battles between Taoist Monarchs, mere retreat does not earn gratitude from enemies; instead, it reveals weakness, prompting foes to devour everything relentlessly.
Zhao Baiyang understands that though he attained success as a Taoist Monarch, he was defeated by the Daoist Bodhisattva of the Buddhism School, implying that in the eyes of many Taoist Monarchs, he was at the lowest level.
Faced with this probe from Xuantian Sect, if they continue to yield and compromise, even if Xuantian Sect temporarily halts, other Taoist Monarchs will see them as prey, aiming to hunt him and the Heterodox Alliance.
Only by confronting true powerhouses and establishing one’s reputation can they intimidate ambitious rivals, thus saving many troubles; this is the best solution to problems.
The newly promoted Heterodox Alliance also requires this challenge to reveal its fangs, making all sides cautious and wary.
“We need to wait for my exit from seclusion before discussing this further.” Zhao Baiyang waved his hand, pausing the topic temporarily.
Having made a decision, he would no longer debate this matter with them.
Some things cannot be felt at certain levels.
Right now, these few have not truly interacted with a Taoist Monarch, so they cannot understand; they will only comprehend after becoming a Taoist Monarch or dealing with top immortal sects.
“How were the matters between the Heavenly Court and the Witch Deity Teaching resolved? After cutting off external communication during seclusion, upon investigation, I found everything had calmed down.” Zhao Baiyang asked about another matter of great concern to him: the struggle in the Chaos Void between the Heavenly Court and the Witch Deity Teaching.
Even in seclusion, Zhao Baiyang noticed the battle outside in the Chaos Void between the Fire Virtue Star Lord and the Great Emperor Ziwei, dividing some attention to investigate closely.
Especially as Ju Mang Ancestor Witch began refining the Divine Position of the Wood Virtue Star Lord, leading to the Jade Emperor and the Witch God Sect Leader crossing blades, revealing Daoist Monarch-level strength against Bai Qicang.
The successive attainment of Taoist Monarch status by the Da Xue Country Lord, and the True Martial Emperor, raised a sense of urgency in Zhao Baiyang.
Originally, he and his two fellow Demon Monarchs preemptively reached Taoist Monarch, yet suffered injuries, and now Bai Qicang, the Da Xue Country Lord, and the True Martial Emperor were successively achieving it, negating his slight advantage.
Moreover, the true battle prowess upon attaining Taoist Monarch is not determined merely by timing, but also by the foundation before attainment and choice of path.
Bai Qicang’s Talisman Sword Skill, the Chaos Demon God Body of the Da Xue Country Lord, the Holy Spirit Divine Body—all are exceptional. Although the True Martial Emperor appears ordinary, as someone who has dealt for years with the Qingxu Taoist, Zhao Baiyang does not believe he is simple.
At that time, Zhao Baiyang was very curious, though the True Martial Emperor and the Da Xue Country Lord achieved Taoist Monarch seemingly without hindrance from the Fire Virtue Star Lord, but the matter of Ju Mang Ancestor Witch refining the Divine Position was unresolved.
The great war between these sides would not end easily and might even attract more powerful entities, potentially leading to chaos.
Thus, even though Zhao Baiyang was very curious, during the crucial moment of his seclusion, he understood the importance of strengthening his own power and reluctantly severed contact with the outside.
However, when he reopened channels to investigate the world, the anticipated scene of a grand war, numerous Taoist Monarchs entering the fray, did not occur; instead, the world returned to calm.
This left Zhao Baiyang particularly puzzled about what happened to resolve the situation.
Tie Qianshan and others exchanged glances, ultimately having Tie Qianshan explain to Zhao Baiyang.
After all, even among them, though some possessed quasi-Taoist Monarch combat strength and could see the grand battle in the Chaos Void, they were still a step behind and could not truly participate or know the real situation.
Only Tie Qianshan, who happened to visit Lord Divine Skill Miaoji at that time, learned about the developments from this Taoist Monarch and understood the peril involved.
“With the Da Xue Country Lord and the True Martial Emperor attaining Taoist Monarch, the Fire Virtue Star Lord’s plot failed. The True Martial Emperor was indifferent, knowing the Fire Virtue Star Lord was not after him; thus, he watched the situation unfold. In contrast, the Da Xue Country Lord bore deep enmity with the Fire Virtue Star Lord, being oppressed for years. Now, new grievances added to old ones, so he and the Great Emperor Ziwei unhesitatingly teamed up against the Fire Virtue Star Lord.”
“Other Taoist Monarchs might have observed certain protocols, but the Great Emperor Ziwei’s longstanding struggle with the Fire Virtue Star Lord, and the Da Xue Country Lord’s old vendettas combined with new, led them to mercilessly fight two against one against the Fire Virtue Star Lord. Even with the Honghu Dharma Body’s support, facing two such adversaries left the Fire Virtue Star Lord retreating step by step, barely maintaining the situation, which, according to Lord Divine Skill Miaoji, would soon be untenable.”
“However, at this moment, the Fate Controller Star Lord in the Heavenly Court began certifying Taoist status, also joined by Bai Xiaosheng and Wu Xiang True Monarch, drawing much attention.”
“The Fire Virtue Star Lord is an adversary, as is the Fate Controller Star Lord; in an inevitable state of undeath for the Taoist Monarch, the Fate Controller Star Lord’s Tao certification was no small trouble for the Great Emperor Ziwei, causing him to want to stop it.”
“At the moment the Great Emperor Ziwei moved, star light erupted on the Southern Pole Eternal Life Emperor Palace, a dazzling spectacle indicating the incarnation of Longevity Taoist Monarch, aka Emperor of the South Pole Eternal Life, was in action.”
“With this Imperial Honor’s intervention, everyone was both shocked and expected it, for the Fate Controller Star Lord was his subordinate. Although the Great Emperor Ziwei was displeased, he dared not rashly act against the Longevity Emperor now.”
“According to Lord Divine Skill Miaoji, although the Longevity Emperor intervened, it was not inconsiderate; he promised the Great Emperor Ziwei that some Southern Dipper Six Stars privileges would be ceded and his Star Array wouldn’t be disrupted, even if they were to clash in the Future.”
“Circumstances forcing hands, the Great Emperor Ziwei, who had already given up stopping Fate Controller, naturally accepted the terms, trusting the Longevity Emperor’s promise, knowing despite achieving perfection in the Star Array, he could not contend with this Taoist Monarch.”
“At that time, the Great Emperor Ziwei refocused on the Fire Virtue Star Lord, yet Ju Mang Ancestor Witch had completed refining the divine position, triggering the Taoist Monarch tribulation, with the Jade Emperor, though reluctant, unable to block it.”
“A stalemate formed among various parties: Imperial Honors Houtu, Lady Pingxin, Great Emperor Qinghua, Emperor Gouchen, Witch God Sect Leader, Zhu Jiuyin, Fire Virtue Star Lord, Da Xue Country Lord, Ju Mang Ancestor Witch, Emperor Jade, Great Emperor Ziwei, Lord Bai Qicang, along with those observing without action like True Martial Emperor, Emperor Wenchang, Ancestor Celestial Master, Sword Emperor—an assembly of almost twenty new and old Taoist Monarchs, with the situation intense, a grand battle on the brink of eruption.”