Chapter 1480: Preaching Beneath the Tree
When he said this, both Yan Tianfei and Emperor Langxuan were filled with a complex mix of emotions, momentarily unable to speak.
Only Shi Qiluo was elated, clapping his hands in applause, his eyes seemingly glistening with tears as he said, "That's right, we are all one family! A family should stand together, united against the hardships!"
Yuanmu Furen was originally the Destruction Ancient God, so it did not surprise Xiao Tianzun that Shi Qiluo, as her reincarnation, would say such things.
"Brother Dao, weren't you exiled by Yue Tianzun?"
Taiyin Niangniang asked, "You vanished for six years. In those six years, you missed many major events."
Xiao Tianzun couldn't help but sigh with emotion. In just six years, he had missed several events that reshaped the world's landscape. The world was changing too fast. In the past, a single seclusion session for him would have easily exceeded six years, and upon awakening, the world would still be the same as before.
But now, in this short span of six years, there had been the confrontation of the Yuan Realm Tianzuns, the complete opening of the Ancestral Court, the Tianmeng Conference, the opening of the Ancestral Court's reverse side, the establishment of the Beast Realm, Long Xiao becoming the Beast Realm's master, the emergence of the Taiji Ancient God, the death of Tian Gong, the dissolution of Hong Tianzun, the division of Xuan Du among the major powers, and the emergence of the Ancestral Court's Yujing City!
In previous eras, even one such event might not occur in ten thousand years, yet now all had happened in just six years, overwhelming to behold.
The pace of this era was so fast that a few years in seclusion would likely leave one far behind the times!
"In the chaotic space, I encountered many unimaginable things and had my own extraordinary experiences, which greatly advanced my cultivation and greatly improved my Dao-heart cultivation."
Xiao Tianzun recalled his experiences over the past few years and couldn't help but sigh, "If someone were to write a biography of my experiences these past few years, I fear it could become a monumental work! The marvels and wonders of my journey are so bizarre that even I find them unbelievable when I think back on them now."
Protected by the Primordial Wood, he was able to preserve himself in the chaotic space and explore its secrets.
There, he saw the remnants of past universes—one ruin after another, fragments of the Great Luo Heaven, magnificent and majestic Dao Trees, and different Dao principles.
More crucially, he encountered wondrous phenomena there. In that chaotic space, countless tiny universes were born, grew, expanded, and then withered and perished.
This cycle of birth and destruction occurred at a speed unimaginable to those outside.
When Xiao Tianzun witnessed this, the shock in his heart was beyond compare.
He saw that within those tiny universes, there were even lives, Ancient Gods, and beings like himself, with their own grudges, loves, and hatreds. But their lifespans were far too brief.
In the blink of an eye for Xiao Tianzun, they lived out their short lives.
Even more terrifying, Xiao Tianzun saw that within these tiny universes, there were even those who had attained the Dao. Yet when their universes collapsed, even those who had achieved the Dao were powerless, dying in the destruction of those tiny universes.
Everything was like a dream, a bubble, vanishing without a trace upon bursting.
At that moment, a terrifying thought suddenly struck him.
When Xiao Tianzun looked around and saw the countless universes, large and small, emerging like bubbles from this chaotic space, growing, and then perishing, that terrifying thought in his heart grew stronger and unstoppable.
"This is the testing ground of a terrifying existence! Using these tiny universes, they are trying to find a way to survive even when the universe itself is destroyed!"
He searched everywhere, trying to find this terrifying existence, but after six years of travel, he still couldn't reach the end of the chaotic space.
He only saw bizarre and indescribable sights along the way, sights that no language could capture, further convincing him that this was indeed the testing ground of an immensely terrifying existence!
He faced many dangers, narrowly escaping death countless times, unsure if that existence had already perished. But his thirst for the unknown drove him to continue exploring.
It wasn't until the death of Tian Gong, when the sorrow of the Heavenly Dao spread into that chaotic space, that he suddenly snapped awake and found a path to leave.
After he left, he realized that six years had passed. At that time, the Ancestral Court's Yujing City had just broken free from its seal, its dazzling light piercing through the barriers of the Ancestral Court.
In his mind, the Ancestral Court's Yujing City was a place comparable to the chaotic space—one of the two great mysteries of this universe—drawing him here.
Having gone through all this, Xiao Tianzun's Dao-heart had been elevated immeasurably, and the benefits he gained were far from limited to this.
Yan Tianfei, Emperor Langxuan, Shi Qiluo, and the Taiji Ancient God looked at him, all sensing that his demeanor had changed from before, though they couldn't pinpoint exactly what was different.
Xiao Tianzun becoming their leader was tacitly accepted by them.
At this moment, the World Tree sapling grew ever more robust, trembling once a day and growing once. Some in the sacred land observed the Dao patterns on the World Tree, others studied the vein patterns of its leaves, while Xu Shenghua and Lan Yutian sat beneath the tree, meditating on the Dao, trying to comprehend the great principles contained within the World Tree.
The revival of this World Tree kept everyone busy and fulfilled, though occasionally someone would recall and say, "Wei Suifeng and Shu Jun haven't returned yet."
But then they would forget about it and continue with their own tasks.
Xu Shenghua and Lan Yutian would occasionally wake from their meditation to exchange insights. Lan Yutian said, "The Dao contained within this World Tree is truly profound and deep, hard to grasp and understand in a short time. If we could fully uncover it, I fear we might attain the Dao!"
Xu Shenghua said, "I sense that some of these Daos don't seem to belong to our era. Such Dao principles don't exist in our time. Could they be the Daos from a previous cosmic epoch?"
Both had many questions that were difficult to answer.
Why did the World Tree bear the imprints of Daos from past universes? What was the connection between the World Tree and the Dao Trees of those who had attained the Dao?
Were there further realms beyond attaining the Dao?
Was the path to attaining the Dao only through the Dao Realm?
Even these two, who were considered the most gifted in a million years, were at a loss.
"Where has Sect Leader Qin gone?"
Xu Shenghua suddenly remembered Qin Mu and quickly asked, "If he helps, we might make faster progress."
Lan Yutian pursed his lips and said, "My brother is over there."
Xu Shenghua hurriedly looked and saw Qin Mu on the other side of the World Tree sapling, unfolding his Divine Treasury Domain and spreading it out.
Within his domain, the Ancestral Court was now spread beneath the roots of the World Tree sapling. Heavenly Palaces surrounded the sapling, and Primordial Spirits sat within those palaces, standing on the Nine Hell Platforms, channeling Dao techniques and divine powers, trying to imprint them onto the World Tree sapling.
Xu Shenghua was stunned and stammered, "What is he doing?"
"Probably trying to refine the World Tree into his own treasure."
Lan Yutian was also uncertain and said, "Now that the World Tree is still a sapling, it's the best time to refine it. If it grows a bit taller, his domain won't be able to encompass it. So refining it now is the most efficient and most likely to succeed."
Xu Shenghua looked and saw that although Qin Mu's Embryonic Divine Treasure Domain had expanded to its maximum extent, the World Tree's canopy had already reached the dome of his domain. It seemed that with just one more growth, it would break through the dome!
Even so, Qin Mu stubbornly persisted in trying to refine the sapling.
Besides attempting to imprint his own Dao onto the World Tree, he was also trying to offer his Embryonic Divine Treasure into the tree's body. Even though he failed repeatedly, being rejected by the World Tree each time, he never gave up.
Xu Shenghua was dumbfounded.
Just then, the woman carrying a small bucket passed by. Taiyi was very sharp-tongued and sneered, shaking her head, "Silly moose, an ant trying to shake a tree, overestimating yourself." With that, she shook her head and left.
Xu Shenghua and Lan Yutian watched her walk away before turning back.
Xu Shenghua asked, "Do you think the Sect Leader can succeed?"
Lan Yutian shook his head, "How would I know? But the World Tree probably hasn't been cut down before, right? Maybe it can be refined while it's still a sapling. But refining this tree might indeed be like an ant hugging a tree root and shaking it, as Taiyi said..."
Both shook their heads, neither very optimistic.
Xu Shenghua asked, "Has the Sect Leader returned the Dao Tree leaf he borrowed from Taiyi?"
Lan Yutian shook his head, "No. My brother never mentioned it, as if he forgot, and Taiyi never brought it up either, as if she also forgot."
Xu Shenghua thought for a moment and said, "This suggests that Taiyi still hopes the Sect Leader can refine the World Tree, even if she doesn't say it and even mocks him."
"Mu Tianzun's stubbornness really does make him look like a silly moose." Ming Huang's voice came.
Ming Huang's appearance was now somewhat different from before. Previously, he was a soul, but now he had a physical body, though it was peculiar, with wooden textures on it.
This was Qin Mu's effort, asking Taiyi to cut a small piece of bark from a branch of the World Tree, using it to create a new body for him, with dew from the leaves as his blood.
Now this body was stiff and hard to move, and Ming Huang was constantly worried about whether he would take root and sprout, as he always felt signs of germination.
Qin Mu had created two bodies—one for Ming Huang, and the other's purpose was not yet disclosed.
He had already sent someone to the place where Ming Huang fell to retrieve his flesh and blood. Once found, the powerful transformative power of Ming Huang's flesh could turn this wooden body into a flesh-and-blood one.
Once fully revived, Ming Huang's physical body would be far stronger than before!
Ming Huang moved his steps with difficulty, walking over to the two and bowing, "Yu Tianzun, you mentioned earlier that you sensed a realm at the Heavenly Sea. Have you established this Heavenly Sea realm? I have been resurrected from death and need to start cultivation from scratch, otherwise I cannot control this body."
Lan Yutian said, "The Heavenly Sea realm is both a Dao-heart realm and a Dharmic power realm. I also call it the Heavenly Heart realm. I only established this realm not long ago. However, my path differs from the current Divine Treasury and Heavenly Palace cultivation system. I have incorporated the Four Heavenly Gates, the Jasper Lake and Jasper Terrace, the Execution Platform, the Nine Hell Platform, and the Heavenly Sea into the Ancestral Court realm. There is no Heavenly Palace realm."
Ming Huang humbly asked, "May I ask, Tianzun, if one were to incorporate it into the Heavenly Palace realm, how should one cultivate?"
Lan Yutian thought for a moment and said, "In that case, I will try to integrate these realms into the Heavenly Palace realm and explain it to you. Daoist Hua, Granny Si, Daoist Wenyuan, Youming Taizi, and Daoist Xu are all experts in the Heavenly Palace realm, and I will need their help. As for the deepest insights into the Jasper Terrace, Execution Platform, and Nine Hell Platform, those belong to my brother. If I make any mistakes in my explanation, I will need them to correct me."
He sent out his divine consciousness, summoning everyone.
Ming Huang stammered, "Hua Xuanxiu and Wenyuan are also experts?"
He looked at the two little ones, Hua Xuanxiu and Wenyuan, somewhat incredulous.
Hua Xuanxiu looked at him with an air of old wisdom, quite pleased with herself.
Everyone gathered, and Qin Mu also sent down a Primordial Spirit avatar. Each person expounded on the mysteries of the various Heavenly Palace realms. Everyone in the sacred land gathered around, listening intently.
By the second day, the World Tree trembled again and grew once more, finally piercing a large hole through Qin Mu's Divine Treasury Domain.
Qin Mu was helpless but continued persistently trying to refine the divine tree.
Beneath the World Tree, it was lively. The various Heavenly Palace realms were explained by everyone, benefiting all who listened, broadening their horizons.
After listening to everyone's explanations, Lan Yutian tried to integrate the Four Heavenly Gates, Jasper Lake and Jasper Terrace, Execution Platform, and other realms with the Heavenly Palace realm, explaining them one by one and connecting them all.
Beneath the World Tree, Dao resonance filled the air, and Dao sounds echoed around the tree. Dao flowers even fell from the tree, intoxicating everyone.
These Dao flowers dissolved upon touching the ground, vanishing without a trace, but everyone took this opportunity to comprehend many things.
This preaching beneath the World Tree was merely a grand exchange for those present, but its significance for future generations was no less than the Jasper Lake Gathering a million years ago!
Among those preaching beneath the World Tree, aside from Qin Mu and Lan Yutian, the others were not yet famous. But in the future, they would be revered as Tianzuns!
The realms they pioneered would also influence future generations!
Yet at this moment, for those beneath the tree, it was just an ordinary session of preaching and teaching, without thought for its deeper meaning or significance.
Just then, Qin Mu's aura suddenly surged, and his Divine Treasury Domain expanded once more, once again encompassing the World Tree sapling within his domain.
He had clearly gained a new realm—the Heavenly Sea realm. This realm was positioned between the Jasper Lake and the Execution Platform, greatly increasing his cultivation. A Heavenly Sea appeared in each of his Heavenly Palaces, and another appeared in his Ancestral Court, connecting with the Heavenly River!
The Ancestral Court, Heavenly Sea, Xuan Du, You Du, Yuan Du, the myriad realms, and even each Heavenly Palace were all linked together through the Heavenly River, giving his cultivation and strength a leap forward!
Seeing this, Blind, Mute, Granny Si, and others were greatly gratified and praised in unison, "Mu'er is truly remarkable. After gnawing on us, he's finally started gnawing on his own younger brother!"
— Woke up early today, so I'm updating ahead of schedule. Zhai Zhu has household chores to attend to and isn't sure when he'll be back in the afternoon. The evening update might be late.