Chapter 1395: The Opportunity to Enter the Dao
The Heavenly Demon Du Tian channeled his divine power, first migrating the cultivators and deities residing within the Gourd Bottle Realm out. The cultivators and deities of Yankang brought with them many seeds of medicinal herbs and grains, and immediately began flying among the pitch-black mountains, scattering the seeds.
The cultivators activated their creation abilities, causing the seeds to grow rapidly.
Even if the one hundred thousand black mountains were fully planted with crops, they could not support a population of several hundred million. This vast expanse of Dark Wood could at most sustain ten million people.
Moreover, aside from food, there was also the need to raise livestock.
In the Ancestral Court, one could tame ancient giant beasts or hunt powerful ones, but this also required strong cultivators and deities to pioneer the land.
On the front side of the Ancestral Court, the ancient giant beasts summoned by Mother Earth Yuanjun continued to breed and grow stronger. On the back side, Dragon Xiao had also left behind many giant beasts that had not migrated with them to the Beast Realm.
Ancient giant beasts were extremely dangerous and terrifying. Even the naturally weak human race, let alone gods and demons, appeared utterly insignificant in both strength and physique when facing such beasts.
"We also need to expand our territory and build larger divine cities."
Heavenly Demon Du Tian directed the cultivators and deities of Yankang, migrating more people out of the Gourd Bottle Realm. He said to Yan'er, "The current territory cannot accommodate so many people. Moreover, the hundreds of divine cities in Yankang are all too small in scale. They might withstand one giant beast, but two or three could destroy a city."
Yan'er was busy building a bird's nest. Hearing this, she smiled and said, "Lan Yutian has many giant beast disciples under his command. They can help."
"Giant beast disciples?"
Heavenly Demon Du Tian was stunned, finding it hard to imagine giant beasts listening to Lan Yutian's lectures. "Can giant beasts even understand Saint Lan's teachings?"
Yan'er moved several Vermilion Bird eggs into the nest. These eggs looked strange, with patterns on their shells that were not entirely those of a Vermilion Bird but also included Qilin patterns.
The shell surface was rough, resembling Qilin eggs from the outside. Qilin eggs were coarse, while Vermilion Bird eggs had very fine textures.
Yan'er wove a garland and placed it on top, then drew a few smiling faces. She said, "My lord says that although giant beasts have large heads, they are not very intelligent. However, if they can follow Lan Yutian's cultivation and awaken their wisdom, they might one day establish a giant beast civilization. Some giant beasts have already learned to use divine abilities! My husband followed Dragon Xiao, the leader of the Beast Realm, to the Beast Realm to prepare for the establishment of a giant beast civilization. The Sect Leader said Dragon Xiao lacks foresight and cannot build such a civilization, so he tasked my husband with the preparations."
Heavenly Demon Du Tian examined the Vermilion Bird eggs, then saw Yan'er move a huge Void Beast egg to the center, transforming into a large Vermilion Bird and sitting on it.
"That fatty Long has actually gotten married before the Sect Leader."
Du Tian thought to himself, "When did he get married? He didn't even inform his old friends. Ah, they must have conceived before marriage, doing the deed before tying the knot. What kind of creature will hatch from the union of a Vermilion Bird and a Dragon Qilin? And why is there such a large fleshy egg here?"
The Void Beast egg was a fleshy egg, with a shell made of meat, unlike ordinary bird eggs. He had never seen one before, so naturally, he didn't recognize it.
Among Lang Xuan's fleet, the number of ships was decreasing. One by one, the ships landed, choosing fertile areas to settle.
On the main ship, Divine Emperor Lang Xuan humbly sought advice from Qin Mu, laying out the difficulties he had encountered while studying in Yankang as a reincarnated being.
Qin Mu answered everything he knew, but he also encountered many things he didn't understand. Whenever this happened, Lang Xuan suspected that Qin Mu was deliberately holding back.
He was wrong about Qin Mu. Although Qin Mu often returned to Yankang to learn the results of the reforms, Yankang was changing day by day. Various divine abilities and techniques were being developed, branching out into new directions, creating a situation of a hundred schools of thought contending.
When Qin Mu returned to Yankang, his time for study was too short. He usually only picked the results most beneficial to him, having to abandon even the best of other achievements.
The most cutting-edge results of Yankang's reforms were concentrated in the academies and colleges, while the most advanced were in the Wen Dao Academy. Just studying the results from these places took a long time, especially since new results were constantly emerging.
Divine Emperor Lang Xuan said, "Emperor Yanxiu gathered all the deities proficient in the primordial spirit and creation arts from across the realm to study the art of heavenly palace creation, aiming to allow the heavenly palace to recover quickly even after being damaged. Emperor Yanxiu and the gods of Yankang created the Three Methods and Twelve Volumes, called the Heavenly Palace Creation Chapter. I have some questions about the Heavenly Gate Creation Chapter within it."
Qin Mu had never heard of the Heavenly Palace Creation Chapter. He said, "Show me the Heavenly Palace Creation Chapter."
Divine Emperor Lang Xuan hesitated, his two horns slightly reddening, and took out the Heavenly Palace Creation Chapter. It consisted of three methods and twelve volumes, with an astonishing thickness.
The Ten Celestial Venerables nominally suppressed Yankang's reforms, but they had long secretly infiltrated Yankang, stealing the results of the reforms, even copying the new techniques and abilities created by Yankang.
Although Lang Xuan had a thick skin, he still felt some shame when taking out Yankang's techniques in front of Qin Mu, one of the Three Heroes of the Reforms.
After all, he was one of the Celestial Venerables who had suppressed the reforms. During the Yankang Calamity, his forces invaded Yankang, causing great casualties.
Qin Mu carefully flipped through the Heavenly Gate Creation Chapter, pondering deeply. Lang Xuan grew suspicious, and his shame vanished completely. His horns returned to their normal color. "Is this guy really clueless, or is he pretending? It looks more like he's stealing Yankang's reforms from me..."
When he felt ashamed, his face didn't turn red, but his horns did.
Qin Mu tried to explain, but Lang Xuan quickly found several flaws. The two stared at each other, Qin Mu looking slightly embarrassed.
After a moment, Divine Emperor Lang Xuan sighed and said, "Celestial Venerable Mu, let's each share our insights and exchange ideas."
Qin Mu quickly nodded, his face slightly flushed, and defended himself, "My techniques and abilities can also allow the heavenly palace to recover quickly after being destroyed, but my methods are different from the Heavenly Palace Creation Chapter. However, by drawing analogies, we can still exchange ideas."
Lang Xuan said expressionlessly, "Exactly. The Celestial Venerable of Establishing the Dao through Divine Abilities is naturally extremely skilled."
The two each shared their insights and exchanged ideas. Qin Mu was quick-witted, and Lang Xuan, as a Celestial Venerable, was also one of the rarest intelligent beings in the world. To become one of the Ten Celestial Venerables, one had to endure the tempering and elimination of time, so his wisdom was naturally extraordinary.
Working together, they quickly solved the problems in the Heavenly Palace Creation Chapter.
The more they talked, the more excited they became. Drawing analogies, they even discovered flaws in the Heavenly Palace Creation Chapter, and their discussions grew even more heated.
The main ship had already arrived at the Jade Pool and landed.
The divine general guarding the ship came to report but saw Lang Xuan and Qin Mu discussing the Dao, both Celestial Venerables in high spirits, exchanging words and even demonstrating various runes with great intensity.
The divine general dared not disturb them and quickly withdrew, puzzled. "Master always calls Celestial Venerable Mu a 'calamity,' saying that when he came to the Heavenly Court, he destroyed his divine palace and killed countless disciples. He even forced his most valued disciple, Senior Brother Chang Xiting, to flee the Heavenly Court. Why are they now so in sync?"
Lang Xuan and Qin Mu discussed for two or three days, finally fully comprehending the Heavenly Palace Creation Chapter. Moreover, they developed hundreds of different divine abilities based on it, each with extraordinary power.
They also organized five different creation techniques. Although these techniques were slightly inferior to the Imperial Seat techniques in depth, if they continued to study them deeply and enhance their foundations, they might one day give rise to five Imperial Seat techniques!
They couldn't stop and continued to sit and discuss the Dao. Lang Xuan decided to throw out all his doubts and study them with Qin Mu.
He hadn't been this excited in a long time. He felt a surge of potential being triggered, as if he had returned to the early days of the Long Han Era, full of unknowns to explore and develop.
Their discussions grew deeper. After dozens of days, they were still debating passionately, though mentally exhausted, they remained excited.
Their discussions were no longer limited to the content of Yankang's reforms but had extended to the Dao of Divine Consciousness and Primordial Qi.
Qin Mu's research on divine consciousness and Primordial Qi was extremely profound, while Divine Emperor Lang Xuan, as the son of Tai Chu and Gong Yun, had a natural deep understanding of these two great Daos. Having studied them for over a million years, his realm was naturally high.
This discussion lasted even longer, developing various principles, abilities, and applications of divine consciousness and Primordial Qi.
After an unknown amount of time, when they were at their most excited, each gained insights. A wondrous Dao rhythm emanated from both of them, a sign that they were about to enter the Dao!
Suddenly, both fell silent, warily watching each other, forcibly suppressing the trend of entering the Dao.
It was only at this moment that they suddenly remembered that they were not Dao companions but enemies!
Outside, the divine general quietly entered again, intending to see if they were still discussing the Dao. He saw the two standing there, watching each other's every move, the Dao rhythm around them growing stronger.
They were each wrapped in Primordial Qi, their divine consciousness bursting forth, on the verge of entering the Dao.
However, neither of them had enough accumulation to support this entry into the Dao. If they could incorporate each other's insights, they could enter the Dao state.
Strangely, although the Dao rhythms they emitted would allow them to enter the Dao state simultaneously with just a slight touch, they stopped.
"Han Feng, how long have Celestial Venerable Mu and I been here?" Lang Xuan suddenly asked.
The divine general quickly replied, "Master and Celestial Venerable Mu have been discussing here for three months."
"Three months?"
Divine Emperor Lang Xuan's eyes twitched. "That long? I rarely discuss the Dao with anyone for so long. This is the first time. Celestial Venerable Mu, you are truly worthy of being a Celestial Venerable. I have never delved so deeply in discussions with other Celestial Venerables. You are remarkable."
Qin Mu nodded. "You as well."
"But we are not friends, let alone Dao companions," Divine Emperor Lang Xuan said.
Qin Mu nodded. "Those with different paths cannot plan together."
Divine Emperor Lang Xuan nodded. "I will not plan with you, and you need not plan with me."
The Dao rhythms within them slowly dissipated, growing weaker until they completely disappeared.
They walked out together. Divine Emperor Lang Xuan said, "Since we have arrived at the Jade Pool, I will keep my promise and allow you to study here."
"Thank you," Qin Mu said stiffly, stepping off the ship.
Divine Emperor Lang Xuan stood on the ship, watching his back, filled with mixed emotions. Suddenly, he spoke, "Celestial Venerable Mu."
Qin Mu turned to look at him, smiling. "Divine Emperor, what is it?"
Divine Emperor Lang Xuan paused for a moment, then shook his head with a smile. "Nothing. I just had a fleeting fantasy, imagining that I could have a friend. But then I thought of reality, and the fantasy faded. Go and study."
Qin Mu nodded, smiling. "I once had a moment of fantasy too, imagining what heights we could reach in deducing techniques and abilities if we wholeheartedly studied together. Whether we could calculate the true Dao of Tai Chu and how many Tai Chu techniques we could deduce. But after careful thought, I still think it's impossible."
Divine Emperor Lang Xuan forced a fake smile. "Indeed, it's impossible. Face reality."
"Indeed, it's impossible."
Qin Mu turned and walked into the Jade Pool.
Divine Emperor Lang Xuan clasped his hands behind his back, watching his back, and said with a faint smile, "I don't need a Dao companion..."
He paused, as if to strengthen his conviction, and said proudly, "That's right! There is no one in this world worth trusting, so I don't need a Dao companion!"
—Happy birthday to Luo Yue Ye Wu Hen and Zhang Mou Mou, two alliance leaders!
It's the New Year, everyone is busy, but don't forget to vote for The Legend of the Shepherd!