Chapter 3035: Discussing the Dao
Feng Yunba looked at Qingkong Sword King and Xuanyuan Qing, saying, "What are your opinions, you two?"
Qingkong Sword King's gaze was sharp, saying, "No matter what choice the Wind Clan makes, I am determined to stay in the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain and fight the Darkness Temple, even if it costs me my life. Going back like this now would be utterly shameful!"
Xuanyuan Qing stood within a mass of light mist, her figure blurry, her voice clear and crisp: "If the Sword Realm truly exists and the Darkness Temple finds it, the strength of the Hell Realm will inevitably surge as a result. This will have a tremendous impact on a war that is already unfavorable to the Heavenly Court. In short, the Radiant Divine Temple will absolutely not be scared off by the Darkness Temple!"
"Since you two say so, I have a clear picture now!"
Feng Yunba's gaze had been unwavering from start to finish, saying, "The divine ship will continue along the route scouted by the Rakshasa Clan."
As a deity and a guest of the Wind Clan, Zhang Ruochen's residence on the divine ship was located on the third level, spacious and elegantly appointed, with a Yuanhui Sacred Tree of Blood-Red Kirin Fruit planted there.
Consuming this fruit could quickly replenish a cultivator's blood qi.
Qingkong Sword King's courtyard was next to Zhang Ruochen's, separated by formation restrictions.
But these restrictions could not block Zhang Ruochen's perception.
For seven consecutive days, Zhang Ruochen had been observing Qingkong Sword King's every move, discovering that this sword deity, who had lived for two eons, rarely went into seclusion to cultivate. He had a great deal of refined leisure, tending to flowers and plants every day.
"Perhaps I am truly overthinking things."
Aboard the Xufeng Divine Ship, Zhang Ruochen was extremely wary of Feng Yunba. Even after setting up a concealing formation in his courtyard, he dared not activate the Sundial. Without the Sundial's assistance, it was simply impossible to raise his spiritual power to the seventy-seventh rank in a short time.
These days, quite a few deities had come to visit.
On the second day, Feng Xu came to apologize.
Shang Hong and Jia Linan had come to spar in swordsmanship, not as a provocation, but more as a test.
Clearly, the Paradise Realm faction was somewhat wary of the deities from the Kunlun Realm.
Of course, the cultivator who visited most often was Feng Xi. She frequently came over to discuss the Dao with Zhang Ruochen. Coincidentally, Zhang Ruochen was very interested in the Wind Clan's Daoist classics, and the two of them talked very congenially.
They often talked through the night, discussing the Dao by candlelight.
All of this fell into Feng Yan's eyes.
Finally, Feng Yan came to visit in person. Walking into the courtyard, he looked at the massive Yuanhui Sacred Tree of Blood-Red Kirin Fruit, stroking the trunk with his hand, and said, "Does the Daoist know that this Blood-Red Kirin Fruit Sacred Tree can only survive one Eon Calamity at most? When the second Eon Calamity descends, it will be struck by lightning and turned into charred wood?"
Zhang Ruochen sighed, "Is that so? Then this Blood-Red Kirin Fruit Sacred Tree doesn't have much longer to live?"
Feng Yan nodded, saying, "The Daoist is over two hundred thousand years old, right?"
"More than that," Zhang Ruochen said.
Feng Yan pretended to recall something, saying, "Ah, right! The Kunlun Realm once activated the Sundial. The Daoist must have cultivated for tens of thousands of years under it, right?"
"Something like that."
Zhang Ruochen already knew his intention.
Feng Yan said, "Doesn't that mean the Daoist will soon have to face the second Eon Calamity?"
"Soon," Zhang Ruochen said.
Feng Yan showed a regretful expression, saying, "It is said that only when a cultivator's cultivation reaches the Taizhen Realm can they survive the second Eon Calamity. Does the Daoist have confidence in stepping into Taizhen before the Eon Calamity arrives?"
"Among the countless deities in the world, Great Gods are few and far between, each one a hegemon of their realm," Zhang Ruochen said.
Feng Yan bowed to Zhang Ruochen, saying, "Please forgive me, Daoist. There is something I have held in my heart for a long time. Since the Daoist's lifespan is limited, and my sister has only just become a deity with boundless future prospects, you two are truly not suited for each other."
Zhang Ruochen smiled, saying, "Young friend Yan, you are overthinking. I, the Daoist, and friend Xi only exchange ideas on the Dao. There is absolutely no other relationship involved."
Feng Yan showed a delighted expression, saying, "With the Daoist's words, I am relieved! Please do not blame me for my impertinence."
"How could I, the Daoist? Go on!"
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand.
Just as Feng Yan walked out the gate, he looked up and saw Feng Xi, his smile freezing on his face.
"Come with me!"
Feng Xi's expression was calm, but Feng Yan sensed a dangerous aura.
Far from Zhang Ruochen's courtyard, they arrived at a strange rock garden emitting starlight. Feng Xi stopped, saying, "Since when did you have the guts to meddle in my affairs?"
Feng Yan said, "Sis! Qing Pingzi has cultivated for nearly two eons and is still only an Upper-Level God. His potential has reached its peak; he has no talent for becoming a Great God. Soon, he will fall in the Eon Calamity, turning into a divine skeleton, or perhaps not even leaving a skeleton behind. What will you do then? Reality is this cruel; even deities can fall."
"I oppose you two, not because of the age gap, but because I don't want you to live in regret forever. All these years, you said you wouldn't talk about feelings, because feelings below the divine realm are like candle flames—too brief to last until dawn. Now that you have stepped into the divine realm, why choose someone who is destined not to be with you for long?"
Feng Yan knew that once Feng Xi made a decision, no one could change it. His words were utterly useless and might even anger her.
But the expected storm did not come.
Feng Xi fell into a peculiar emotional state, silent for a long time, then said, "You may go. I want to meditate here alone for a while."
...
Zhang Ruochen naturally dismissed Feng Yan's words with a laugh, but his desire to break through to the next realm became even more urgent.
This trip to the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain had too many variables, with experts everywhere.
In the shadows were Wu Yue, Shuangcheng Mo, Yu Shi, Qianheng Yishu, and a host of other strong figures. In the open, there were opponents like Shang Hong, who viewed the deities of the Kunlun Realm as enemies.
Even the deities of the Wind Clan, now his friends, would turn against him once his identity was exposed.
Too dangerous!
Although Zhang Ruochen still had hidden cards, when true danger came, his own cultivation was undoubtedly the most important.
Zhang Ruochen went to visit Feng Xuan to seek more advice on Daoist difficulties.
Feng Xuan was a deity of the Wind Clan who specialized in Daoist cultivation, somewhat different from Feng Yunba, who mainly cultivated the Sword Dao and the Way of Truth.
Hearing Zhang Ruochen's intention, Feng Xuan smiled and said, "Is it because of Yan'er's words that you are so eager to break through to the Taizhen Realm?"
Zhang Ruochen was taken aback. How did Feng Xuan know about this?
Could it be that the formations he set up in his courtyard couldn't even block Feng Xuan's divine thoughts?
Feng Xuan said, "Just now, Fourth Brother called me over and personally discussed this matter with me."
Zhang Ruochen suddenly understood. So it was Feng Yunba.
So Feng Yunba was also secretly paying attention to this matter. Not surprising, since Feng Xi was his daughter.
How frustrating! It was a completely baseless matter, yet it had become known to everyone!
Feng Xuan always had a smile on his face, saying, "I am not opposed to it at all. We Daoists value mutual affection and willingness. We never force things, nor do we settle. Everything follows the heart!"
Zhang Ruochen quickly said, "It's all a misunderstanding. There's nothing of the sort. I truly want to discuss the Dao with friend Xuan and seek a method to break through to Taizhen."
Feng Xuan became serious. After all, he was also at the peak of the Upper-Level God realm, only one step away from Taizhen.
Although Zhang Ruochen was far behind Feng Xuan in age and experience, in Daoist methods, he had synthesized the strengths of both the "Innate Daoist Method" and the "Luo Shu." The gap in their standing was not large, allowing for a deeper discussion than with Feng Xi.
"So-called Taizhen means that a deity organizes and summarizes all the various paths they have cultivated, ultimately converging them into their main cultivated path. For example, in the Hundred Shackles Realm, the Sacred Intent cultivated is the Heavenly Fire Sword Dao Sacred Intent, which merges the Sword Dao Sacred Intent and the Fire Dao Sacred Intent."
"Then, after stepping into the divine realm, the deity should primarily cultivate the Heavenly Fire Sword Divine Dao. The Rule Divine Marks they cultivate are also the unique Heavenly Fire Sword Dao Divine Marks of heaven and earth."
"Only when enough Heavenly Fire Sword Dao Divine Marks have accumulated to an absolutely dominant level can a quantitative change lead to a qualitative change, allowing a breakthrough to Taizhen in one fell swoop."
"At the Infinite Realm, it becomes even purer. It is said that most deities of the Infinite Realm have only one type of Rule Divine Mark within them. But with a single thought, they can evolve tens of thousands of types of Rule Divine Marks and easily control the myriad paths of the world. One is ten thousand, and ten thousand is one."
Feng Xuan continued, "As pure Daoist cultivators, we are somewhat different. Daoism emphasizes the harmony of yin and yang, and the naturalness of the Dao."
"So-called naturalness of the Dao means being spontaneous and following the natural course. The more one forces it, the more elusive it often becomes."
"Harmonizing yin and yang is somewhat difficult. After all, as men, our inherent attribute is yang. To achieve a state of neither yin nor yang, impartial and balanced, in harmony with nature, is not a matter of short-term effort. However, the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain is a wonderful place for us to break through. It is one of the rare extreme yin places in the world, capable of suppressing the yang attribute within us."
Just as Zhang Ruochen and Feng Xuan were in a closed-door discussion, a pleasant voice came from outside, saying, "Xuanyuan Qing pays respects to Seventh Young Master!"
The two stopped.
Feng Xuan secretly transmitted a message to Zhang Ruochen, saying, "This woman is extraordinary. She is the daughter of the Heavenly Venerable. She must not be offended."
"The daughter of Hao Tian?"
Zhang Ruochen was astonished, saying, "What is her relationship with Xuanyuan Lian?"
"She is his younger sister."
Feng Xuan had already risen to open the door and welcome her.
Zhang Ruochen was even more surprised. He had not sensed any similar aura fluctuations between this Xuanyuan Qing and Xuanyuan Lian. They were actually siblings?
After all, she was the daughter of the Heavenly Venerable. As Qing Pingzi, an Upper-Level God, he naturally had to rise and go to welcome her.
Xuanyuan Qing's radiant power was immense, her white divine light dazzling. Only a breathtakingly beautiful silhouette could be seen—a slender, curvaceous figure that no divine brush could outline.
"Greetings, Great God."
Zhang Ruochen and Feng Xuan both bowed.
"You two need not be so formal."
Xuanyuan Qing walked straight in. Light rain fell from the sky, and Radiant Divine Flowers bloomed on the ground.
Zhang Ruochen did not look up at her, instead staring at the translucent Radiant Divine Flowers on the ground, unwilling to meet the gaze of someone of her level to avoid revealing any flaws. He said, "Since the Great God has come to visit friend Xuan, I, the Daoist, will take my leave!"
"Daoist Qing Pingzi, please don't leave in such a hurry. Actually, I mainly came to see you."
Xuanyuan Qing, stepping on the Radiant Divine Flowers, had already walked up to Zhang Ruochen. A fragrant scent assailed his nostrils. Her white veil trailed on the ground, and the white divine light around her gradually faded, revealing her true form.