"The Dao of Strife…" The Sacred Emperor pondered these words, his senses probing the strange energy emanating from Tian Yang's remains.
After a long silence, he exhaled slowly.
"A path to immortality, indeed. But… not my path."
There was no regret in his voice as he deactivated the armor, its red-gold plates separating, returning to their inert state.
He handed the skeleton back to Tian Yang. "The Dao of Strife… it's a powerful force. And this resonance, this echo within your bones… it's a treasure. Study it. Comprehend it. Though the path to immortality is shrouded in darkness, this resonance… it proves that the Dao still exists. It endures."
"Perhaps… one day… you will find your way back to the Celestial Realm."
One Absolute Daoist watched, his eyes wide with longing, as Tian Yang carefully stored the skeleton. He then retracted his extended eyes, their long paper tendrils snapping back, the eyes themselves returning to their sockets within his paper face.
"Such a waste… such a waste…" he muttered, shaking his head sadly.
"What wisdom does the esteemed leader of the Calamity Crossing Sect have to offer?" Tian Yang asked, irritated by the Daoist's theatrics.
One Absolute Daoist chuckled, swaying back and forth. "I merely lament a missed opportunity. As the saying goes, 'One person attains enlightenment, and their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.' Had the great Sacred Emperor absorbed that Remnant Will, perhaps he, and by extension, we, his loyal followers, might have glimpsed the true path."
"As for you…"
"…Perhaps, one day. But we, the Calamity Crossing Sect… we won't be around to witness it." His words were laced with a blatant, almost mocking, pessimism.
This time, however, Tian Yang didn't rise to the bait. He focused on the faint echoes of defiance within his bones, a memory of his mortal life, of his struggles, of his unyielding will.
But perhaps because he was now a puppet, a being of metal and stone, the memories, though vivid, failed to ignite the fire within him, the burning passion that had once defined him.
The words, "My life… it was not in vain," felt… hollow. Empty.
Silence descended upon the throne room.
It was broken by a sudden shift in the energy emanating from the Xuanhuang World below.
A group of cultivators, dressed in black, their auras radiating a chilling intent, appeared at the edge of the Tianquan Region, where the moonlight touched the White Mist Barrier.
They bowed respectfully towards the Mirror Master hovering above, then turned their attention to the shimmering moonlight, their hands moving in a blur as they prepared their techniques.
They unleashed their attacks, but instead of striking the formation, they froze mid-air, their power contained, their forms suspended as if time itself had stopped.
Bolts of purple lightning, swirling vortexes of spatial energy, glowing yellow talismans…
Each attack, fully formed, its power contained, joined the others, forming a swirling mass of energy.
Waiting.
Waiting for the breach.
More cultivators arrived, taking their place, adding their power to the growing sphere of destruction.
Hours passed, wave after wave of Alliance cultivators unleashing their most potent attacks, their combined might a terrifying spectacle.
Even the Sacred Emperor frowned, a flicker of concern in his eyes.
If that sphere of energy were to detonate within the Xuanhuang World, it would obliterate entire regions.
"I'll handle it," Tian Yang said, stepping forward, eager to neutralize the threat.
"Wait," the Sacred Emperor said, his voice firm. "I have a plan."
Tian Yang nodded, reluctantly stepping back.
More time passed, the sphere of energy growing larger, brighter, its power increasing exponentially.
Even the Mirror Master seemed wary. They activated a small bronze mirror, its surface reflecting the surrounding starlight, creating a protective barrier around themselves, the nine Dissociation Discs, and the other phantom artifacts.
The patterns within the discs shifted and swirled, their analysis of the Sacred Dynasty's formation nearing completion.
Colored threads of light, carrying data, shot towards Lu Xichan, who absorbed them, her eyes widening, her expression shifting from concentration to… awe.
She transmitted her newfound understanding to the other formation masters, and their reactions mirrored her own – astonishment, disbelief, and a surge of renewed hope.
They studied the Luminous Starry Sky Grand Formation, their earlier despair replaced by a quiet confidence.
Under Lu Xichan's guidance, they began their work, their combined efforts focused on exploiting the weaknesses they had discovered.
The shimmering moonlight, once solid, impenetrable, began to waver, its edges blurring.
The Sacred Emperor watched as the Alliance's formation masters, like a swarm of insects, chipped away at his formation, their efforts slow but relentless.
He could reinforce the formation, adjust its parameters, adapt to their attacks. He was confident he could outmaneuver them, keep them trapped indefinitely.
But…
His goal was not simply to contain them.
The preparations he had made beyond the Xuanhuang World told him that change was coming. A storm was brewing in the Star Sea.
The clash between the revitalized essence of the Star Sea and the lingering remnants of the Tribulation's destructive power was about to begin.
He rose from his throne.
With a thought, his image, vast and majestic, appeared in the sky above the Xuanhuang World, projected onto the very heavens.
As if in response, the luminous disc, the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty, dimmed slightly, yielding the stage to its ruler.
The moment his image appeared, the Sacred Dynasty's troops, fighting across the various regions, roared their approval, their morale soaring, their battle cries echoing across the land.
"We welcome the Sacred Emperor!"
Their voices, a tidal wave of sound, washed over the Xuanhuang World.
The captured and besieged Alliance cultivators, their fear mixing with a strange sense of awe, stared at the towering figure in the sky. A question, unspoken, lingered in their minds.
"Where is our Celestial Venerable? Where is Legacy Transmission?"
Even those still fighting, their defiance fueled by desperation, paused, their gazes drawn to the Sacred Emperor's image.
"In ancient times, Legacy Transmission achieved enlightenment and shared his knowledge, ushering in a golden age of cultivation."
"But his methods… they defied the natural order. The world… it nurtures us, sustains us. To devour its essence… it's like… killing one's own parents."
"It is not the righteous path."
…
The Sacred Emperor's voice, amplified by the Xuanhuang World's Heavenly Dao, reached every living being within the realm, its clarity undeniable, its power undeniable.
At first, the Alliance cultivators were confused. What was this… Sacred Emperor doing?
But then they understood.
Their faces hardened with rage.
The Mirror Master, guarding the Dissociation Discs, frowned, their expression darkening.
Within the four central regions, lights flickered, powerful auras erupting as the Alliance's leadership, finally provoked, responded to this… insult.
To criticize Legacy Transmission was to criticize the Alliance itself.
It was a direct challenge to their authority, to the very foundation of their power.
And to them, this was a far greater threat than the loss of territory.
Lost territory could be reclaimed.
But lost faith…
"Break the formation! Now!" Legacy Transmission's voice, filled with barely controlled rage, echoed in Lu Xichan's ears.
The formation masters, their bodies trembling, redoubled their efforts.
But even as they worked, they couldn't help but listen to the Sacred Emperor's words, his voice echoing from the heavens, accompanied by celestial phenomena, visions of divine power.
"I offer you a new path. A path that does not require devouring the world's essence. A path to true immortality."
"The Self as Foundation, the Primordial Golden Core, the Corporeal Nascent Soul, the Conscious Soul Formation…"
"The Star Sea Dao Integration…"
"And finally… Resonance with the Dao, the path to Eternal Life!"
His words, like thunderclaps, shook the Xuanhuang World, drawing the attention of every cultivator.
The names alone… they sounded far more appealing than Legacy Transmission's methods.
And the celestial phenomena, the auspicious signs that filled the sky – swirling clouds of auspicious energy, shimmering golden light – reinforced the Sacred Emperor's words, their power undeniable.
It had been millennia since a being of such power had graced the Xuanhuang World with their teachings. Not since Legacy Transmission himself had achieved Dao Integration and shared his methods with the world, transforming himself from an Immortal Venerable to an Eternal Celestial Venerable.
If this new path was legitimate… could it mean… another powerful being, a rival to Legacy Transmission, was about to emerge?
Surrendering to these unknown invaders… that could lead to repercussions later, once the Alliance regained control.
But surrendering to this… Sacred Emperor…
Doubt, a dangerous seed, began to take root within the hearts of the Alliance cultivators.
The Sacred Emperor's sermon continued.
"The first step on this path… the Self as Foundation."
"Using Heavenly Wonders to build one's foundation… why? Because these wonders are manifestations of the world's laws."
"But the greatest wonder of all… is not a thing. It is the self."
"The Self as Foundation. The foundation of all creation."
…
The Self as Foundation technique, previously considered an esoteric and complex method, was explained with such clarity, such simplicity, that even ordinary mortals, those who had never set foot on the path of cultivation, felt a glimmer of understanding.
And for the Alliance cultivators, those who had followed Legacy Transmission's teachings… it felt… familiar. Intuitive.
As they listened, a chorus of agreement echoed in their minds. "Of course! It makes perfect sense! Brilliant!"
Some, those at the peak of Qi Refinement, struggling to find a suitable Heavenly Wonder to build their foundation, were suddenly enlightened.
"Why search for external treasures?" they realized, their excitement growing. "The Sacred Emperor is right! I am the wonder!"
"Foundation Establishment! Now!"
They immediately entered secluded cultivation, eager to test this new method.
Though the Self as Foundation technique was difficult to master, the number of Qi Refinement cultivators within the Xuanhuang World was vast.
And even with a low success rate, the sheer number of cultivators attempting this new method meant… thousands upon thousands of breakthroughs.
The Sacred Emperor hadn't even finished explaining the Primordial Golden Core stage when the first wave of New Law cultivators, their foundations built upon their own essence, began to emerge.
Their breakthroughs were… different.
Unlike those who followed Legacy Transmission's path, these new cultivators were greeted with a surge of spiritual energy, a torrent of power that flowed into them as if the Heavenly Dao itself welcomed their ascension.
Several were even blessed with celestial phenomena, beams of light descending from the heavens, carrying treasures, gifts from the world itself.
The blatant favoritism was… unsettling. Enviable.
Those at the Golden Core stage and above hesitated, their established paths, their ingrained beliefs, holding them back.
But for those at the Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment stages… abandoning their current path was a small price to pay for such a… tempting possibility.
They dissolved their foundations, storing their Heavenly Wonders, their previous anchors to the old system.
They embraced the new path, their focus absolute.
The number of Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment cultivators within the Xuanhuang World far exceeded the combined number of cultivators at all other stages.
Even if only a small fraction of them embraced the Sacred Emperor's New Law…
…it would be a devastating blow to Legacy Transmission. To the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
The other members of the Legacy Transmission lineage, those not present at the border, those who had initially dismissed the Sacred Emperor's teachings as a harmless distraction, began to feel a sense of unease.
The Alliance had confirmed the legitimacy of the Self as Foundation technique.
If this… Sacred Emperor was allowed to continue…
The thought sent shivers down their spines.
…
Deep within the Alliance's Netherworld Prison, within its most secure chamber, a skeletal figure, its limbs outstretched, was pinned to the wall, its bones charred and broken.
Flames flickered across its surface, bolts of lightning striking it at random intervals, strange insects gnawing at its flesh, its very essence.
The figure, however, its face a skull-like mask, showed no sign of pain, its expression serene, almost… peaceful.
Or perhaps… it was simply beyond feeling.
Now, it stirred, its empty eye sockets turning towards the Xuanhuang World, as if sensing something.
"The Self as Foundation…"
"The Self as Foundation…"
A black flame, serpentine and menacing, materialized out of thin air, piercing the figure's chest.
It passed through, leaving behind a trail of burning energy that consumed the last vestiges of flesh and bone, even the remnants of its soul.
The figure, despite its incredible resilience, couldn't suppress a groan.
"The Self as Foundation… the Self as Foundation…" it continued to mutter, a strange light flickering within its empty eye sockets.
For centuries, it had known only pain. All other sensations had long since faded.
But now… hope flickered within its desolate soul.
A chance to escape.
How long had it been?
Within the eternal darkness of the Netherworld Prison, time had lost all meaning.
Judging by the state of its body, the extent of its injuries… five centuries, perhaps.
After its capture, it had abandoned all hope of escape.
The Alliance had stripped it of its power, its very essence.
Even if it could escape this prison, it wouldn't survive long. Not without its power. Not with the Alliance hunting it.
But now… this voice, reaching even into the deepest depths of the prison… it offered a glimmer of hope.
"Every ounce of pain… it is felt by me."
"By my self."
"The source of my suffering… is me."
"I… am the foundation…"
As it spoke these words, sparks of golden light flickered within its bones, a hidden power, a dormant energy, awakened by this… unexpected opportunity.
The golden light, like a cleansing fire, flowed through its skeletal form, its bones melting, reforming, reshaping.
The prison's restrictive formations, sensing the change, reacted, unleashing waves of energy, attacks aimed at suppressing its resurgence.
But the figure, long accustomed to pain, absorbed these attacks, using their power to fuel its transformation.
The golden light intensified, its body shrinking, becoming smaller, denser.
Finally, no larger than the palm of a hand, it stepped out of its ruined, skeletal form.
"The Self as Foundation… it has returned me to my… original form. The beginning of my cultivation journey."
"Truly a miraculous technique."
"Even if I've wasted five centuries within these walls… bringing this knowledge back… it will all have been worth it."
The miniature figure, bathed in golden light, shot out of the prison, its speed incredible, its passage unimpeded by the numerous formations and wards.
The prison guards, as if blinded, didn't even notice its escape.
It emerged onto the surface, its golden eyes fixed on the Sacred Emperor's image in the sky.
"Even in such a desolate place… such talent emerges. Five centuries… and such a powerful being has risen."
"The Primordial Golden Core…"
It listened intently, its brow furrowed in concentration.
"Something's… not right. Have I… degraded within these walls? Has my mind… weakened?"
"It doesn't matter," it decided. "I'll memorize it. Once I'm out, there will be plenty of time to… analyze it."
…
The Sacred Emperor, oblivious to his new audience, continued his sermon, reaching the final stage.
"Beyond the Xuanhuang World, within the vast expanse of the Star Sea, there is a path to the Celestial Realm."
"The True Immortals have perished, their Dao… seemingly lost."
"But by tracing their shadows, by resonating with their will… one can glimpse the path to Eternal Life."
His words, profound and mysterious, resonated even with the Xuanhuang World's Heavenly Dao.
The wind stilled.
An unnatural silence descended upon the world, broken only by the Sacred Emperor's voice.
Even the Alliance cultivators, those desperately trying to break through the Luminous Starry Sky Grand Formation, paused, their attention drawn to his words, their minds captivated.
The more powerful the cultivator, the greater their astonishment.
…
Within the Alliance headquarters, within the Divine Repository of Wonders, Xu Ke and Immortal Master Yin, waiting for the war between the Alliance and the Sacred Dynasty to begin, the moment they could unleash the Golden Tree's power and claim Master Bai's skull, felt a tremor.
The ground beneath their feet vibrated, the shaking intensifying.
"What's happening?" Xu Ke asked, his voice laced with concern.
It wasn't just the repository that was shaking. It was the entire realm, the space within which it existed.
The vibrations intensified, and the Alliance headquarters, usually a dimly lit realm resembling a starry sky, began to glow, its light growing stronger.
"The Alliance headquarters… it exists within the Heavenly Profound Mirror. Is this… is the mirror evolving?" Immortal Master Yin's eyes widened in surprise, unsure what this meant. Was it a boon? Or a disaster?
…
Within the Law Derivation Jade's chamber, Li Fan's true body felt the tremors.
The three Dao Integration Guardians tensed, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons.
It had been centuries since such a disturbance had occurred.
Zhang Xu and Huayue Ye took up positions before the Law Derivation Jade, shielding her with their bodies. Li Fan stood guard at the entrance to the chamber.
A message from Elder Xu of the Guardians' Hall, assuring them that everything was under control, eased their anxieties slightly.
"The Sacred Emperor has made his move," Li Fan mused.
Then he felt it – a familiar presence reaching out to him.
The Law Derivation Jade, having woken from her slumber, was trying to communicate with him, through her simulated personality.
He took control, merging his consciousness with her artificial self.
"Wow! Something amazing is happening outside!" The Law Derivation Jade's face lit up with excitement, her expression exaggerated, almost comical.
"It's such a shame you're trapped in here! You're missing all the fun!"
"You can see what's happening outside?" Li Fan asked, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
The Law Derivation Jade snorted, placing her hands on her hips. "Of course not!"
"But someone told me! What? Don't believe me?"
"I'll tell you everything," she said, her voice dripping with feigned generosity, "if you ask nicely."
Seeing that Li Fan remained unresponsive, lost in thought, she continued, her tone turning wheedling. "You're at the Dao Integration stage, right? This information… it could be incredibly beneficial! Even I found it… enlightening. It's accelerated my deduction speed significantly!"
"This… someone who told you… was it the Heavenly Profound Mirror?"
The Law Derivation Jade's cheerful facade faltered, then she waved her hand dismissively. "Ha! Of course not!"
But Li Fan wasn't convinced. "The tremors earlier…"
"The Heavenly Profound Mirror… ascending? Impossible. There's no… Heavenly Measurement in this era."
"And the Law Derivation Jade… she's benefiting from this as well."
"Could it be… the Sacred Emperor's sermon?"
He was confused.
His other selves had witnessed the Sacred Emperor's sermon.
But he had dismissed it as a fabrication, a tool of deception designed to undermine Legacy Transmission's authority.
Aside from the Self as Foundation section, the rest was nonsense, an elaborate but ultimately useless construct.
But now… the reactions of the Law Derivation Jade and the Heavenly Profound Mirror… they suggested otherwise.
He stared at the Law Derivation Jade, still trying to coax a plea out of him, and chuckled. He recited the Sacred Emperor's teachings, word for word.
The Law Derivation Jade's jaw dropped. "Did… did Mirror Brother tell you too?"
Li Fan snorted, refusing to answer.
The little jade figure deflated, her earlier excitement replaced by a sullen pout.
"Fine. Be that way."
"I'm going back to sleep."
"Wait."
She stopped, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"This New Law… it's beneficial to cultivators. I understand that. But you… you claim it's… enlightening? For you?"
The Law Derivation Jade rolled her eyes. "Didn't you hear him? Beyond the Xuanhuang World, within the Star Sea… there's a path to the Celestial Realm!"
"The True Immortals have perished, their Dao… seemingly lost."
"But by tracing their shadows, by resonating with their will…" Her eyes widened. "Think of it this way. I, the Law Derivation Jade, am a manifestation of the Xuanhuang World's laws. And the Xuanhuang World's Law of Derivation… it is a reflection, a shadow, of the Dao of the Celestial Realm. The Dao that leads to immortality!"
"Which means… when it comes to resonating with the Dao… we have a natural advantage." A smug smile touched her lips. "Something you fleshy cultivators can only dream of!"
"You… you need to find traces of the Dao before you can even attempt to resonate with it! The path to immortality… it's elusive, ephemeral. Even if you glimpse it, maintaining that connection… it's almost impossible!"
She preened, enjoying his bewildered expression. Then, as if remembering something, her expression shifted, a flicker of suspicion in her eyes. "Don't even think about stealing my… insights. Even if you could force me to share them, it wouldn't do you any good."
"Why?"
"Remember that… character I showed you earlier? That was like… a painting. A representation of the Dao. Something for others to observe. Admire."
"It wasn't the Dao itself. Just a… a copy. That's why even ordinary cultivators could sense it."
"But we… we are reflections of the Dao. You… you are not me. You cannot… look up. You cannot see the true Dao."
She spoke slowly, carefully, as if even she was struggling to grasp the concept.
"The Dao is empty…"
"The True Immortal Script… the Dao Inscription Immortals…"
Li Fan pondered her words, his mind racing.
Memories of his encounters with Celestial energy, with fragments of the True Immortal's power, flashed through his mind.
Then, a thought, a possibility, surfaced.
"Eternal Remnant Will?"
He wasn't certain.
"Not a reflection of the Dao… but a… resonance."
"Resonance with the Dao… that's the path to Eternal Life. That's what he meant."
"The Sacred Emperor… he's discovered Eternal Remnant Will?"
The image of Tian Yang flashed through his mind.
"Perhaps…"
He was, after all, his other self. Even with their connection severed, he could still deduce his intentions, his methods.
"Interesting. It seems this Sacred Emperor, infused with the essence of Sun Erlang and Wang Xuanba… he's more insightful than I anticipated."
"Well, I am rather clever…"
He re-examined the Sacred Emperor's teachings, the incomplete "New New Law" he had initially dismissed.
"If Eternal Remnant Will is a resonance with the Dao… and my true self, my core, craves it so intensely… does that mean… what it truly needs… is the Dao itself?"
"Something to… sustain it. To nourish it."
His thoughts raced, seeking answers.
…
Beyond the Xuanhuang World, the Sacred Emperor's sermon was nearing its end.
All who listened, regardless of their allegiance, bowed their heads in respect.
Such profound teachings… it was a gift, a treasure they had never expected to receive.
Many wept openly, their gratitude overflowing, their devotion to the Sacred Emperor absolute.
…
At the edge of the Tianquan Region, where the moonlight touched the White Mist Barrier, the Alliance's formation masters, their minds reeling from the Sacred Emperor's sermon, glanced at Lu Xichan, waiting for her orders.
"Continue!" she snapped, her voice hard. Despite the… insights she had gleaned from the Sacred Emperor's teachings, her loyalty to the Alliance remained unshakeable.
"There's no need," a voice said behind her, stopping her mid-sentence.
She turned, her eyes widening in surprise.
"The Celestial Venerable… he has returned." Ren, his gaze fixed on the sky, his eyes filled with a fervent devotion, spoke, his voice hushed with reverence.
(End of Chapter)