Chapter 1411: Unrestrained and Uninhibited
Xu Shenghua returned the Grand Primordial Source Liquid. When the two Grand Primordial Ancient Gods saw him, they were also very pleased, feeling that interacting with someone like him was as refreshing as a spring breeze. They didn't have to constantly rack their brains to guard against schemes as they did around Yan Tianfei, nor did they have to be on tenterhooks as they were around Qin Mu.
People are different from one another.
"Young friend, your bearing is extraordinary, your mind is as open as a valley. You will surely achieve remarkable things in the future."
The female Ancient God said apologetically, "We should have given you a gift for our first meeting, but we have just emerged into the world and possess nothing of value."
Xu Shenghua said, "Since we are fellow Daoists, why should gifts be necessary?"
The two Grand Primordial Ancient Gods praised in unison, saying, "Well spoken!"
Xu Shenghua sought their guidance, asking, "Since you two elder brothers have emerged into the world as Grand Primordial Ancient Gods, yet are separate individuals, how should I address you?"
"Names are neither existent nor non-existent."
The male Ancient God said, "If we must have titles, I am the Grand Sun, and she is the Grand Moon. However, I am not purely the Grand Sun, for within my yang there is yin. She is not purely the Grand Moon, for within her yin there is yang. Our path of cultivation is to embrace the unhewn simplicity of yin and yang, uniting them as one—this is the Grand Primordial."
Among the Ancient Gods, there were similar titles, such as the Great Sun Star Lord, also known as the Sun Star Lord, who controlled the sacred fire of the sun, and the Moon Ancient God, called the Moon Star Lord, who controlled the divine water of the moon.
However, the feeling Xu Shenghua got from the Grand Primordial Ancient Gods was indeed vastly different from those two Ancient Gods.
Within the yang there was yin, and within the yin there was yang, containing extremely profound principles. The embrace of unhewn simplicity, uniting yin and yang as one, was also unfathomably deep.
Xu Shenghua gained some insights and sought their teachings. The Grand Moon and Grand Sun Ancient Gods answered every question without reservation, allowing him to reap great benefits. In turn, Xu Shenghua often asked thought-provoking questions—principles they had never grasped while in the mine—which also greatly benefited the two Ancient Gods.
Over ten days later, Wei Suifeng, on orders from Mu Tianzun, came to find Xu Shenghua and sought an audience with Yan Tianfei. Yan Tianfei avoided meeting him and instructed Xiu Hongsu to entertain him, saying, "Wei Suifeng has shown me kindness, so he must not be slighted. But he cannot be indulged either; after all, he is a rebel."
Xiu Hongsu met with Wei Suifeng. When Wei Suifeng saw her, he was reminded of being thrown into the river by the East Heaven Azure Emperor, and he felt quite displeased.
Xiu Hongsu smiled and said, "My husband spoke highly of the Cloud Emperor."
"That's not what he said when he threw me into the river."
Wei Suifeng snorted coldly and said flatly, "Where is Xu Shenghua? Mu Tianzun is worried about his safety since he hasn't returned for so long and ordered me to bring him back."
Xiu Hongsu's skills were not inferior to his, and seeing him so arrogant, she also felt displeased: "What does the Empress owe him, to indulge him like this?"
She was unaware that during the Dragon Han era, the case of the Empress's assassination was investigated by Wei Suifeng. At that time, he was the commander of the Feather Forest Army of the Dragon Han Heavenly Court. He led a massive army to the Guixu, and it was because of him that the rebellion of the Dragon Bo Kingdom was suppressed. It was also because of him that Lady Yuanmu's plot to assassinate the Empress failed to kill her completely.
The Empress took the opportunity to shed her primordial spirit, which later led to the existence of Yan Tianfei. Wei Suifeng had the merit of helping her achieve this, allowing her to break free from the constraints of being an Ancient God.
Later, it was also Wei Suifeng who preserved the Empress's physical body, giving him the merit of preserving Yan Tianfei's true form.
However, when Wei Suifeng was the Cloud Emperor, his identity was exposed, and he was imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison. Yan Tianfei did not rescue him. Therefore, she felt she owed no one anything, except that she owed him a great deal. That was why she was unwilling to see him.
Xiu Hongsu came to find Xu Shenghua. The Grand Primordial Ancient Gods said to him, "We will be stationed here permanently. You are welcome to visit often."
Xu Shenghua agreed, took his leave, and said, "Having listened to your teachings, I have also gained some insights. I feel that your Grand Primordial Dao can give birth to the ten thousand Daos of heaven and earth. However, because your Dao hearts could not achieve perfection, you had to emerge early and undergo worldly trials. The path you walk is the same as that of post-natal beings—it is the path of reverse cultivation to achieve the Dao."
The Grand Moon Ancient God asked, "What is meant by reverse cultivation to achieve the Dao?"
Xu Shenghua said, "The Grand Primordial gives birth to the ten thousand Daos. From the ten thousand Daos, one can also reverse-engineer the Grand Primordial Dao. Achieving the Dao through the Grand Primordial is difficult, so you enter the world to comprehend the great Daos of heaven and earth in the mundane realm, using this to deduce the Grand Primordial Dao in reverse—this is reverse cultivation to achieve the Dao. I have two fellow Daoists, one who walks the forward path and one who walks the reverse path. Seeing you two reminded me of them, and I believe this is the path to your Dao."
The two Ancient Gods each gained some understanding.
Xu Shenghua continued, "If you two seek the Daos of the Ancient Gods, you can go to Yankang. In Yankang, there is Lin Xuan Daozhu, who is proficient in macro-mathematics and micro-mathematics, analyzing the innate Daos of the world with unparalleled skill. If you wish to comprehend the post-natal Daos, you should also go to Yankang, as post-natal Daos have developed greatly there. If you wish to comprehend the Dao realm, you should see the Kai Emperor Qin Ye, whose Dao realm is unparalleled."
The Grand Primordial Ancient Gods thanked him and said, "In that case, we will first go to Yankang. If you return to Yankang, we can catch up."
As Xu Shenghua was about to leave, the Grand Sun Ancient God suddenly asked, "Daoist Xu, you mentioned earlier that you have two fellow Daoists, one walking the forward path and one walking the reverse path. May I ask who these two are?"
Xu Shenghua stopped and said, "One is Lan Yutian, a youth. The other you two are familiar with—it is Qin Mu, Mu Tianzun."
The two Ancient Gods looked at each other in astonishment.
Xu Shenghua left, but the two Ancient Gods caught up to him again and asked, "May I ask what Lan Yutian's abilities are like?"
Xu Shenghua stopped and said, "He is a body born to achieve the Dao, with unparalleled Dao nature. He takes the universe and cosmos as his mine, the great Daos of heaven and earth as his divine stones, his Dao heart as his rough gem, his footsteps as the mountain veins of the mine, and the great Daos as his steps. He measures the heavens and the earth, rising step by step, ascending to the foundation of the Dao."
The two Grand Primordial Ancient Gods were moved. Such an existence actually existed in this world!
"And what about Mu Tianzun? In your heart, how does he compare?"
Xu Shenghua thought for a moment and said, "Mu Tianzun walks the reverse path, doing what others cannot, thinking what others do not think. Lan Yutian acts through non-action, while he acts through all actions. He takes his inner universe as his divine treasury, opens his ancestral court, evolves his world, transforms it into a mine, and achieves the Dao through reverse cultivation. His achievements are no less than Lan Yutian's. So far, he is even much stronger than Lan Yutian. Compared to the two of them, I fall far short. Every time I face them, I feel a sense of looking up to a towering mountain."
The two Grand Primordial Ancient Gods fell into thought.
Xu Shenghua left, following Xiu Hongsu to find Wei Suifeng. On the way, a white cat followed him, walking by his feet with murderous intent. It looked up and said, "Xu Shenghua, stay away from the Empress, or I will not let this matter rest with you!"
Xu Shenghua bent down. The white cat hesitated for a moment, feeling an inexplicable warmth from him, and couldn't help but jump into his arms. It cried out, "Don't pat my head! I won't fall for that!"
Xu Shenghua patted its head, and the white cat found it quite enjoyable, saying, "Move your hand down a bit... Yes, right there!"
Xu Shenghua said gently, "I have a family, so there is no conflict between us. I have no improper thoughts toward the Empress. She and I are fellow Daoists who can confide in each other and chat. You can rest assured, Xiao Qi. You are loyal to the Empress and love her deeply. The Empress naturally knows this. As you share her worries, your position will remain unchanged and will only rise higher."
The white cat said gloomily, "I am merely a favorite. I dare not have any improper thoughts."
"Things are achieved through effort, aren't they?" Xu Shenghua looked at it with warm eyes.
The white cat suddenly snorted, jumped out of his arms, landed on the ground, and walked away with its tail held high and proud steps. It suddenly stopped, turned its head, and said, "You're not a bad person, not like that scoundrel Mu Tianzun... Go back and tell Mu Tianzun not to have any improper thoughts about the Empress!"
Xu Shenghua agreed.
Xiu Hongsu looked at him, and after a moment, she smiled and said, "Young Master Xu, how can there be such a perfect person in this world? Like the void, vast and open-minded, like the most perfect deity, making it impossible for people to feel hatred."
Xu Shenghua recited in a long voice, "The sun's flames and the flower in the void—how can they escape birth, aging, sickness, and death? Better to understand nothing, sit quietly, and be free from worry and trouble. Senior Sister, you envy me, but I am still envious of you."
"'The sun's flames and the flower in the void—how can they escape birth, aging, sickness, and death?' Is this the origin of the name Xu Shenghua?"
Xiu Hongsu savored the meaning of the words, and the desire in her eyes faded, leaving only admiration.
When Wei Suifeng saw that Xu Shenghua was safe and sound, he breathed a sigh of relief. He immediately took his leave from Xiu Hongsu and, without waiting for Xu Shenghua to bid farewell to Yan Tianfei, pulled him and walked outside, saying in a low voice, "I'm glad you're safe! This place is a dragon's pool and a tiger's den. Every extra moment you stay increases the danger. Let's hurry back to the Ten Thousand Sacred Mountains!"
Xu Shenghua asked in surprise, "What dragon's pool and tiger's den? The scenery here is magnificent and beautiful, just as pleasant as any other sacred land in the world."
Wei Suifeng was stunned and shook his head.
In the Ten Thousand Black Mountains, Qin Mu looked into the distance and saw the fourth pillar of light shooting up into the sky of the ancestral court, magnificent and extraordinary.
"The Heavenly Court will finish building the eleventh great spirit energy relocation bridge, and then they will begin moving the Heavenly Court to the ancestral court."
He pondered silently. When the Heavenly Court moved to the ancestral court, the Heavenly River would follow and change its course. At that time, the Heavenly River should flow into the Great Marsh of the ancestral court, reviving its vitality.
The Great Marsh of the ancestral court was the territory of Hong Tianzun. It reflected the Mystic Capital, and the starry sky of the Mystic Capital was mirrored in the Great Marsh, like another Mystic Capital hidden within it.
"After the Heavenly Court moves, the Heavenly River should return to its original position, reaching the zenith of the Mystic Capital. That will be the moment when the Heavenly Court makes its move against the Heavenly Lord of the Mystic Capital."
He looked up at the sky. In the distance beyond the heavens, the Mystic Capital was dim and unclear.
"Within three years, the Heavenly Court will definitely move to the ancestral court. That means the Heavenly Lord's lifespan has only three years left."
Qin Mu withdrew his gaze and saw the figures of Xu Shenghua and Wei Suifeng in the distance, finally relieved.
"I must, within three years, ascend the Jade Pool God-Beheading Platform! Only by undergoing the baptism of the Jade Pool God-Beheading Platform can I take another step forward!"
When the image of the Jade Pool God-Beheading Platform in Qiang Tianfei's territory appeared in his pupils, he couldn't help but shiver several times.
That God-Beheading Platform was extremely dangerous for him as well, and it could cost him his life!
But no matter what, he had to go!
Even though the Heavenly Lord often acted on his own, even though the Heavenly Lord had never asked for his opinion, and even though this time the Heavenly Lord was seeking death himself, he still had to do something for the Heavenly Lord!
Even at the risk of his life!
In these three years, his physical body, primordial spirit, and Dao heart had to become strong enough to step onto the God-Beheading Platform and understand all its mysteries!
He had to ascend this indestructible and dangerous place, grasp the principles within it, and possess the ability to find a glimmer of hope for the Heavenly Lord!
Xu Shenghua walked over. Qin Mu smiled and went to meet him. Everyone here talked freely, discussed the Dao, laughed and chatted, and exchanged Dao techniques and divine abilities.
Qin Mu also led many scholars from Yankang to personally go to the Heavenly Capital Demon King's place to build the divine city. He also went to the farmland, reclaimed wasteland, diverted water, and worked alongside the people.
When the Heavenly Court's fifth great spirit energy relocation bridge was completed, and people were looking up at the magnificent pillar of light in the sky, Qin Mu quietly left.
He returned to Yankang and went to see the Butcher.
The Butcher was enjoying himself with Yankang's famous scholars, drifting on a painted boat on the Jin River in Jiangling. He beat a drum, sang songs, drank fine wine, and was unrestrained and uninhibited.
On the painted boat, there were also women from the pleasure quarters, some heavily made up, some lightly powdered. They sang and danced, accompanied by zithers, pipas, and bamboo flutes, mixed with the sound of the big drum, creating a lively clamor.
"Butcher Grandpa, I want to face the most ferocious divine blade in history."
Qin Mu landed on the painted boat and said directly, "The place where the world's baleful energy converges, where the ancestral court's fiercest aura is strongest, has condensed into two baleful divine blades that can kill Emperor Seat-level experts."
The Butcher glanced at him, put down his drumstick, and a woman beside him brought a robe to drape over him.
The Butcher was bare-chested, and now he put on the robe, pulled it together, and glanced at him again: "The most ferocious divine blade in the world? The most ferocious thing in the world is not a divine blade formed by heaven and earth, but the human heart. How has your saber technique been over the years?"
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