Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 1206: Chapter 725: Great Dao

Within the Guiding Hall, the Immortals spoke not, and the Gods remained silent.

As Earth Immortals, and outstanding ones among them, when had they ever been subjected to such coercion? Especially since now, they represented various Divine Systems.

Yet, one has to admit, the opposing side indeed had the means.

The Human Sect established the Dao, and the Scholar’s Palace governed the world for a hundred thousand years, laying an incomparably solid foundation. Not only had their laws and decrees taken root in people’s hearts, but they also controlled the power over life and death and nurtured a large number of late bloomers.

To say nothing of others, but this Li Junqing, originally just a True Immortal, although practicing the Three Teaching Sect, their talent was only above average. It was the Covenant Heaven’s Dao Skills that allowed her to fulfill her World-saving Vow, with almost no hope of stepping into the Earth Immortal Realm.

But after joining the Wandao School, with the support of intense Qi Fortune, she forcefully stepped into the Earth Immortal Realm, leaving behind Ren Baimei and other True Immortals who once surpassed her in talent.

From catching a glimpse of a leopard through a tube, one can imagine how profound the accumulations of the Wandao School over a hundred thousand years are.

Without the support of Heavenly Immortals, none of the present Divine Systems might be a match for them, and even combined together, they might not contend against it.

Though this assumption no longer holds today, as they have the pinnacle combat power of Heavenly Immortals, but… are Heavenly Immortals truly a guarantee of complete safety?

By exerting such pressure on the Divine Systems, could they be making their move without any backing?

In an instant, the Immortals and Gods found themselves in a quandary.

To comply or not to comply?

If they don’t, they shall tear appearances apart; with the righteousness on the opposing side, they might be turned into the second Brahman Sect, despised by people, loathed by Heaven and Earth, crushed from all sides. Even if they are Heavenly Immortals, they could not withstand such pressure.

If they do comply, they must surrender their faith and incense, creating an all-powerful being to act on behalf of Heaven, which also invites endless trouble.

Such worries do not reflect short-sightedness or ignorance of the gravity of the matter; it’s just that in their position, they must consider their responsibilities.

Yes, that Golden Immortal Demonic Fruit is indeed a colossal disaster, and the Three-Phased Demon Transformation undoubtedly threatens all beings and might even bring about the fall of Heaven and Earth, so much so that even the Immortals and Gods could not escape its calamity, and it must be eradicated.

Yet, it cannot be eradicated in such a manner!

If the leaders of various Dao returned, then there would naturally be no issue with proceeding in this manner. Even if the Human Sect continued to take the lead, the Divine Systems would reluctantly accept it.

But now that the leaders have not returned, doing so would only lead to two results: failure or success.

The former needs no elaboration; his death would be of no consequence, but the worry is about empowering the enemy, depleting the power of the Heavenly Dao, allowing the Golden Immortal Demonic Fruit and the Three Aspects Demon God to grow stronger, making the situation even harder to manage.

If he succeeds, he would become the Heavenly Emperor, purging demons with absolute power. If, after eradicating the demons, he then uses the pretext to target the Divine Systems that once divided the Golden Immortal Demonic Fruit, saying the extermination of demons must be thorough, what should be done then?

Although this seems like judging a gentleman with a petty mind, some things require one to make the worst assumptions.

Progress is impossible, and retreat is untenable, a dilemma indeed!

In this moment…

“Boom!!!”

An explosion as if thunder resounded, the Divine Sense of all present instantly elevated, reaching an extraordinary and mysterious realm.

Everyone, indeed everyone, not just the Immortals and Gods within the Guiding Hall, but all beings on the Azure Star Realm with nine orifices and enlightened intellects, had their consciousness elevated at this moment, stepping into that mysterious place.

Where was that place?

No one knew!

One could only see, myriad phenomena, talismans, ancient scripts, array patterns, Dharma Seals, stone tablets, principles of Heaven and Earth, laws of the world, taking tangible form.

Amidst myriad phenomena, a person’s figure appeared, performing Dao and Refining Method within, the five-colored radiance of Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth mingling, forming Yin Yang Two Extremes, black and white Tai Chi, integrating Martial Path and Immortal Path, resonating Human Dao and Heavenly Dao.

There were also various arts and innumerable creations of Heavenly Craftsmen, first manifesting a majestic Immortal City, then a vast Immortal Palace, a Holy Sword soaring through the sky, connecting to Heaven above and answering to hearts below, the Sun, Moon, Stars, plants and mountains, rivers, and seas…

Phenomena upon phenomena, various phenomena, scenes of the Great Dao!

“Is this…”

“The manifestation of the Great Dao?”

“Heavenly phenomena?”

“Is a Saint emerging?”

“Did he… succeed!?”

Miao Le Immortal Venerable’s eyes narrowed, and others were even more astonished, watching the figure within the ten thousand manifestations, unsure of what to do for a moment.

Manifestation of the Great Dao, Heavenly phenomena!

Legend has it, when a Saint emerges, there are bound to be phenomena between Heaven and Earth.

This legend is not false, but the so-called Saint is not what common people understand but a Divine being as the master of a Dao.

Simply put, it is a Heavenly Immortal, a Heavenly Immortal who has realized the Great Dao; the emergence of such an existence would naturally lead to the manifestation of the Great Dao, generating phenomena between Heaven and Earth, and inviting all beings and spirits between Heaven and Earth to jointly witness the birth of the Master of the Dao.

To put it plainly, it is a Heavenly Dao broadcast, a Heavenly Dao broadcast led by the Heavenly Dao for all beings and spirits to witness the birth of a Heavenly Immortal.

So at this moment, is it the Human Sect Master achieving the Heavenly Dao of a Heavenly Immortal?

There could only be this possibility!

After a hundred thousand years, he finally reached this step.

Though surpassing common sense, as not one has achieved such speed through the ages, becoming a Taoist Heavenly Immortal in merely a hundred thousand years, yet this person has never been bound by convention, and now setting a precedent is only natural; everyone was already mentally prepared.

Yet, despite the preparation, the grandeur of this Great Dao phenomenon still left them deeply shocked.

All Daos and all methods, returning to the origin!

In what seemed but a finger flick, or perhaps thousands or tens of thousands of years, who knows how long, all phenomena vanished, leaving only a bit of Chaos, namely Preheaven Qi, which quickly erupted, revealing a figure and a Green Lotus within.

That figure, remarkably grand and powerful, though within Chaos, with no Heaven and Earth to compare to, still appeared immensely vast, with muscles knotted, containing great strength, as if born to embody power.

That Green Lotus, born with him, containing the essence of Creation and Life, seemed the embodiment of supreme truth, swaying within Chaos, exuding boundless Taoist Rhyme, like the seed of a world, the root of Heaven and Earth, possessing infinite great power.

Thus, the person suddenly acted, grasped the Green Lotus, transforming it into a giant axe, wielding supreme power to cleave Chaos, ultimately causing Chaos to shatter, Yin and Yang to manifest, Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water gradually forming Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, Yellow…

Everything seemed real yet unreal, like a dream illusion or an annal of time.

All beings and spirits observed, a temporary daze, unknowingly immersed within.

Ultimately, between Heaven and Earth, only one figure remained, seemingly human yet not human, seemingly immortal yet not immortal, indescribable and beyond form.

All beings felt something in their hearts, abruptly receiving chapters in their minds.

“There is something undifferentiated and yet complete, which existed before Heaven and Earth.”

“Silent and boundless, standing alone and unchanging, pervading all without fail, it could be the mother of the world.”

“I do not know its name, call it Tao, forced to give it a name, call it Great.”

“Great is called passing; passing is called distant; distant is called returning.”

“Thus Tao is great, Heaven is great, Earth is great, Human is also great.”

“Within the universe, there are four greatnesses, and humans occupy one of them…”

“Humans follow Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows Tao, Tao follows nature!”

Upon appearing, the rationale was expounded.

Great Dao phenomenon, this was his Great Dao phenomenon.

What Great Dao is it?

Heavenly Dao, Human Dao, Supreme Dao!

Subsequently, flowers fell from the sky, golden lotuses gushed from the earth, purple qi coming from the east, filling the vast skies.

In such a manner, who knows how long, all phenomena vanished, and everyone’s minds returned, their previous experiences seeming like dream illusions, both real and unreal, both false and true.

Within the Guiding Hall, the Immortals and Gods also awakened.

Yet upon waking, all was silence again, the Immortals spoke not, the Gods remained silent.

At this moment, between Heaven and Earth, a mighty voice echoed once more.

“My Dao is complete. For three thousand years, I shall preach the Way. After three thousand years, I shall conform to Heaven and comply with humans, to exterminate demons and eliminate calamities!”

The mighty voice set the tone; all schemes and calculations, all interest and balance, appeared pale here, suppressed outright, vanished like smoke.

“Taoist Master…”

Jun Qing murmured softly, then returned her gaze to the Immortals and Gods: “I’ve said all I need to say, everyone, make your own decisions!”

With that, regardless of everyone’s reactions, she turned and stepped out of the Guiding Hall.

“…”

“…”

“…”

In response, everyone remained silent, with only a long sigh heard after a while.

“Enough is enough!”

Miao Le Immortal Venerable sighed and then strode out.

The remaining Immortals and Gods, seeing this, also said no more words, silently moving outside.

But although they said nothing, their Divine Sense was ever active, exchanging rapidly.

“That person, in the end, succeeded!”

“A hundred thousand years, and they’ve become a Heavenly Immortal, achieving the fruit of the Great Dao. Even with the help of Qi Fortune, it’s unimaginable, no Immortal, Buddha, or Divine Being throughout history has ever achieved such a feat.”

“Their origin must be extraordinary, likely a reincarnation of the Great Dao, hence such rapid progress!”

“An external Heavenly Immortal, arrived in response to a calamity, reincarnated Great Dao, intending to exterminate demons, can there truly be such a coincidence?”

“Coincidence or conspiracy, now it has all become settled.”

“Heavenly Immortal achieved, Great Dao attained, yet no tribulation test from Heaven and Earth, clearly showing the Heavenly Destiny has completely leaned in his favor, not to mention a merit descending to help him achieve the Dao!”

“Heavenly Destiny, Heavenly Destiny…”

“His previous Great Dao phenomenon was very similar to that of the Taiqing Taoist Master of the Mysterious Sect Immortal Court!”

“It was long said, this person also practices the Tai Chi, Wuji gives birth to Tai Chi, Tai Chi gives birth to Two Extremes, Two Extremes give birth to Three Talents, Human follows Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows Tao, Tao follows Nature. He and that Taiqing Taoist Master walk the same path.”

“Miao Le leaves in this manner, does it mean to truly succumb to him?”

“Circumstances are stronger than people; if not to yield, then what?”

“This person’s means have always been unfathomable, coupled with the favor of Heavenly Destiny, able to suppress the entire situation even as an Earth Immortal. Even several Taoist Masters who entered the world earlier did not wish to confront him directly; now that he has achieved the Dao and become a Heavenly Immortal, perhaps only each Supreme Master of various paths could contend with him, common Heavenly Immortals might not be opponents.”

“The Taiqing Taoist Master has yet to return, and that Celestial Emperor of the Mysterious Sect Immortal Court is nowhere to be found. If not temporarily enduring, yielding to him, then certainly facing his vicious hand, ending up like the Brahman Sect.”

“Hmph, no matter what, he is still just one person; a single tree doesn’t make a forest. Though now taking advantage of the Demon Catastrophe to gain the favor of Heavenly Destiny, this Destiny won’t always be with him. Once the Demon Catastrophe is resolved and Qi Fortune dissipates, should he not restrain himself, each Supreme Master will make him face reality!”

“One step at a time, let’s see as we go!”

“…”

Various Divine Systems, various Tao Lineages, a host of Immortals and Gods hurried away, stirring hidden undercurrents further.

But mere undercurrents, how could they stop the grand force?

Soon, the long-paused broadcast resumed again, with countless True Immortals from all corners of the Heavens and Myriads of Worlds flocking to the Palace, to listen to the teachings of the Tao.

And at the same time, in the Chaotic Void across the All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds, three rays of golden light burst forth, carrying myriad phenomena, traversing the Chaotic Void, heading straight towards One Realm.