Chapter 323 253: The Grand Trend

Li Zhenyuan.

This was the true name of the Holy Beast Divine General.

But the name stirred a sense of deep familiarity in Zhao Xuanqi.

He searched his memory and finally recalled where that feeling came from.

On the list of successors of the Blue Star Hundred Beasts Sect, there was an identical name.

Li Zhenyuan was the fifth-generation successor of the Hundred Beasts Fist. He was active on Blue Star from the end of the Warring States period to the early Qin Dynasty. He once single-handedly defeated three thousand elite, battle-hardened soldiers of the Qin Army, his fame spreading throughout the world. After the Great Qin was established, the First Emperor summoned him, but he refused the audience, vanishing like a dragon into the world without a trace. He was a master of the highest caliber in the history of the Hundred Beasts Sect.

However, the records of the Hundred Beasts Sect did not mention his whereabouts after that. Zhao Xuanqi hadn't paid it much mind before, as it was normal for gaps to appear in the lineage records over many years. Furthermore, due to the nature of the sect's Secret Transmission, it wasn't unusual for its members to do as they pleased, making their actions unpredictable and their disappearances rather common.

But now, it seemed there was more to the story behind his sudden disappearance into seclusion.

'That's right,' Zhao Xuanqi thought. 'According to the records, among the Four Forms of the Hundred Beasts Fist, Li Zhenyuan was an expert in the Soaring Form, earning him the nickname "Bai Feng."'

And according to this world's records, the Holy Beast Divine General of that era was also said to be most proficient in the Soaring Form.

'Is it possible that the Holy Beast Divine General of this world is "Bai Feng" Li Zhenyuan from my past life on Blue Star?'

A theory formed in Zhao Xuanqi's mind. This man had likely reincarnated into this world, just like him. However, it seemed his reincarnation was not sudden and unwitting like his own. Li Zhenyuan must have been prepared; otherwise, he wouldn't have suddenly gone into seclusion and vanished without a trace.

'He must know some secrets. If I can learn them, I might be able to solve many of the mysteries that plague me.'

"Since this is the place where the Holy Beast Divine General achieved his apotheosis, are there any of his belongings left behind?"

Zhao Xuanqi asked Wang Sea, who was standing beside him.

"There are, but they're all insignificant items. It is rumored that in the secret chamber where the Holy Beast Divine General practiced in seclusion, there might be some clues he left behind. The Cyan Dragon Sect has had Divine General-level masters who entered that chamber, but they found nothing. Since you are a successor of the Holy Beast Fist, you might find something different if you were to enter."

Wang Sea said.

"Where is the secret chamber?"

Zhao Xuanqi asked.

"It's within the Thirty-Six Celestial Caves, at the very end of the Nine Dragon Cave. Since the last of the Divine Generals vanished, no one has been able to step into that chamber for nearly a thousand years. Do you want to go take a look now?"

Wang Sea said.

'The Thirty-Six Celestial Caves?'

Zhao Xuanqi's expression shifted. This Secret Land was the key to how the Cyan Dragon Sect's successors could partially open their Thirty-Six Celestial Spirit Acupoints. He would definitely go take a look, but he wasn't in a hurry right now.

"Later. I want to look through some records first. Since the Cyan Dragon Sect has produced Divine General-level masters, you must have some records of their breakthrough processes or experiences, right? I'd like to see them."

Zhao Xuanqi asked.

"No problem, but I'm afraid you won't find much of use."

Wang Sea shook his head and brought Zhao Xuanqi some Ancient Texts. They contained information left behind by all the masters from the Cyan Dragon Sect who had reached the Divine General level.

According to these Ancient Texts, the Cyan Dragon Sect had produced a total of five Divine Generals. Four of them lived before the Qin and Han Dynasties, with only one living during the era of the Late Qin and Early Han.

Yi Guang, who lived during the time of the Holy Beast Divine General, was the first Sect Leader of the Cyan Dragon Sect. He was a follower of the Holy Beast Divine General and one of the ancestors of the Four Saints Sect.

The Ancient Texts described his ascension to Divine General as follows:

"He suddenly entered a deep trance, as if in both life and death. An innate light was born from within, like the fierce sun at dawn. Auspicious energies gathered from the east, and the Illusion Barrier dissipated on its own. Thereafter, his mind could sense heaven and earth, his Spirit roamed freely, Gathering Qi and Controlling Wind, as if he were reborn..."

There were two others, named Huo Ling and Du Feng, who were the second and third generation successors of the Cyan Dragon Sect. They were contemporaries of Yi Guang and had also followed the Holy Beast Divine General.

Their breakthrough processes were similar to Yi Guang's. Essentially, once their strength reached the peak of their physical limits, they would one day suddenly enter a deep meditative state. Then, all their acupoints would open, their minds would clear, their Spirits would ascend, and the potential within the Six Yang Leader would be stimulated. Afterward, they were capable of Gathering Qi and Controlling Wind, subsisting on Qi to become Undying. The achievement felt natural, as if a matter of course.

The fourth Divine General of the Cyan Dragon Sect, named Ge Zhao, appeared at the end of the Ancient Era. His path to breaking through was much more difficult than the first three.

According to the records, after Ge Zhao reached his peak, he was unable to break through. He thus concealed his identity and roamed the Divine Land for thirty years, experiencing the ways of the world, exploring secret realms, and gathering vast quantities of precious materials. He even risked tampering with the Grand Array within the Secret Land to take some of the flesh and blood of a Three-legged Crow, which he used to concoct a Secret Medicine, finally allowing him to break through to the next realm.

The last Divine General of the Cyan Dragon Sect was named Yu Pavilion. He lived in the chaotic times of the Late Qin and Early Han. After reaching his peak, he sought a method to break through but found none. He then followed Ge Zhao's method, traveling the world, exploring the Secret Lands mentioned in records, and even risked taking some of the flesh and blood of a Three-legged Crow to concoct a Secret Medicine. However, he ultimately failed to break through.

Later, during his travels, he saw the world descend into chaos and could not bear to see the common people suffer, so he joined a rebel army. He later supported the Han Lord and, during the siege of Gaixia, directly confronted the Ancient Overlord. He took a blow from the Overlord's halberd and was grievously wounded, but was Undying. After the Han Army's great victory brought initial peace to the land, while still severely injured, he mysteriously sensed the connection between heaven and earth and broke through to the Divine General realm. He then retired from his worldly accomplishments and returned to the Secret Land. He never left again. When he passed away in meditation, auspicious signs filled the sky as his physical body transformed into rainbow light and vanished.

After him, the Cyan Dragon Sect never produced another Divine General. Even those who followed the paths of their predecessors could not succeed in breaking through. In fact, throughout the entire Divine Land, Divine General-level masters gradually dwindled until they were nearly impossible to find.

After reading these accounts, Zhao Xuanqi finally understood why Wang Sea had said that he wouldn't find much of use in them.

Based on the records, it was clear that breaking through to the Divine General realm was indeed becoming increasingly difficult.

He had felt the same way in his previous life—he had reached the pinnacle, yet could not see the path forward.

"Actually, we have analyzed the Ancient Texts in our possession. Ever since the end of the Ancient Era, the number of Divine Generals has been in continuous decline. According to legend, back then, under the Holy Beast Divine General, the Human Race of the Divine Land had over a hundred Divine General-level masters. That was how they were able to exterminate the Exotic Beasts and establish order in the world. But after the Ancient Era, an entire age would produce no more than ten. After the Qin and Han Dynasties, a Divine General might appear only once a century, or even once every few centuries."

Wang Sea said.

"Do you know the reason for this?"

Zhao Xuanqi asked.

"We don't. Perhaps the world itself has changed. It's said you need favorable timing, geographical advantage, and popular support. Human strength has its limits; one must rely on timing and advantage to succeed. However, based on these records, we speculate that to break through to the Divine General realm after the Qin and Han Dynasties, there is another extremely crucial factor besides exceptional talent."

Wang Sea said.

"What is it?"

Zhao Xuanqi asked.

"The Great Momentum!"

"Our Cyan Dragon Sect's final Divine General borrowed the great momentum from the Great Han's founding and the unification of the world. The Ancient Overlord was exceptionally talented, but he also rode the momentum of the Primordial Dragon Emperor's sudden death at the end of the Qin Dynasty and the ensuing chaos to break through his bottleneck. And in that era, the Overlord was not the only Divine General. In times of chaos, dragons and serpents rise from the land, and heroes emerge in droves."

"In later ages, if it was a time of peace and prosperity, those who became Divine Generals were always great heroes who left their mark on history and accomplished monumental deeds. But during times of chaos, the probability of multiple Divine Generals emerging at once was much higher."

"Favorable timing may be powerful, and geographical advantage may be potent, and the strength of one person has its limits, but the convergence of the will of millions can alter geography, defy timing, and reshape heaven and earth. This is the Great Momentum of the mortal world."

"However, we can no longer say for certain whether this method of using the Great Momentum is still effective. After all, from the Song Dynasty to the present day, the world has seen many shifts in its great momentum, yet no Divine Generals have appeared. Perhaps something has changed again."

Wang Sea said in a solemn voice.

'The Great Momentum?'

Zhao Xuanqi instantly understood why the successors of the Cyan Dragon Sect would emerge into the world whenever it was undergoing great change, when the momentum of the times was as tumultuous as fire and water. It seemed this was the reason.

To borrow the Great Momentum and defy the constraints of heaven and earth.