Chapter 437: Southern Wastes Dao Conference

The Southern Sea Abyss.

Between sea and sky, dark currents swept across this stretch of water forgotten by the world.

A thousand fathoms beneath the surface, a giant whale over a hundred yards in length patrolled slowly, its deep gray back blending into the abyssal depths. Occasionally, when it surfaced to breathe, the spout of water shot dozens of yards high into the mist, raining saltwater across the surrounding miles.

It was the oldest creature in these waters, the guardian at the end of the Abyss. The sea fiends here called him Old Whale.

And now, he was the most loyal protector, standing guard over the closed-door cultivation of Chen Yu.

Ever since the other end of the Abyss had been explored by the Dragon Sovereign, the Old Whale Man had been dispatched on a mission. He traveled to the Eighteen Islands of Zhan County, giving the various Dao Masters a detailed account of the truth behind the Great Tremor between heaven and earth.

Had anyone else said those words, the Dao Masters—who had occupied the islands for years and weathered countless storms—probably wouldn't have even batted an eyelid.

The warning of a Fiend King didn't carry much weight in the cultivation world's credit rating.

But Guanshan Dao Master was different. He had participated in that battle against the Fiend King. He had personally witnessed cultivator Ning Jiao's astonishing feats—methods that defied logic and surpassed anything ordinary Golden Core cultivators could comprehend.

He believed that this fellow Daoist Ning Jiao's talk of a great catastrophe was no idle rumor.

So, under his initiative, several Dao Masters discussed and decided to return to the mainland, seeking aid from the great sects and schools that occupied sacred mountains and blessed lands.

Now, several months had passed. Guanshan Dao Master had returned, back in these waters.

The Old Whale Man transformed back into human form and received him in a hidden cultivation grotto beneath the sea.

The entrance to the grotto was concealed within a cluster of dark reefs, accessible only to those familiar with the rhythms of the tides. Passing through a naturally formed water curtain, one entered a small palace built of coral and shells.

Embedded in the palace's dome was a fist-sized night pearl, its soft radiance bathing the entire hall in a warm, pearlescent glow.

There were no chairs or tables in the hall, only several white coral rocks polished smooth as mirrors by the sea, scattered artfully across the fine sand floor.

The two sat facing each other in this serene light.

The Old Whale Man was still dressed in his ink-black robe, his face gaunt, his eyes slightly sunken, carrying the exhaustion of too many sleepless nights. But his deep gray eyes remained clear and sharp.

He personally poured a cup of wine he had brewed himself for Guanshan Dao Master. The liquid was a light amber color, exuding a faint herbal fragrance. Then he asked, "How did things go these past months?"

Guanshan Dao Master picked up the cup but didn't drink immediately. He looked down at the wine's surface, then shook his head after a moment and sighed.

"Difficult."

"The righteous sects are currently demon-hunting in the Heavenly Mountains. Demon traces have all but vanished lately. Naturally, the Three Sects and Six Schools don't believe the word of our Eighteen Islands of Zhan County alone."

"They think the so-called 'Great Calamity' is just an excuse fabricated by rogue cultivators from overseas to fight for resources."

He drained the cup in one gulp and set it down. "But they didn't slam the door entirely. An elder from the Three Origins Sect told me there would be a Dao conference in the Southern Wastes at year's end. The Hundred Mountains of the Southern Wastes will serve as the venue, and Dao Masters from all paths will gather to debate the Dao."

"They said they wanted to meet that fellow Daoist Ning Jiao in person, to see his cultivation and character with their own eyes before deciding whether to believe in the Great Calamity."

"Among them, only the Three Origins Sect was the most proactive. I suspect it may have something to do with the Great Dao that fellow Daoist Ning Jiao cultivates."

He raised his gaze to the Old Whale Man. "What of the Abyss lately? Has fellow Daoist Ning Jiao emerged from seclusion yet?"

The Old Whale Man shook his head. "Ever since the Dragon Sovereign entered seclusion, there's been no further movement from the Abyss's depths. Luckily, the Golden Core has suppressed the Abyssal Tide. It can't stir up any big waves now."

He took a sip from his own cup, his tone low. "But this old man knows it's only temporary. A Golden Core can suppress it for a while, but not forever."

Upon hearing this, Guanshan Dao Master's brows knit tightly. "If fellow Daoist Ning Jiao doesn't come out of seclusion, even if all our Eighteen Islands of Zhan County attend the year-end Dao conference, it'll be hard to reach any substantive conclusions."

"The Abyssal Tide is common knowledge. Countless cultivators from ancient times to the present have trained here. That's nothing unusual."

"But the claim that there's something beyond the Abyss—that's solely fellow Daoist Ning Jiao's assertion. Those elders from the great sects won't take our word for it just because a few of us speak up."

Just as he was refilling his cup for a second drink, a Divine Sense suddenly landed in both their minds.

"What troubles you two?"

As the voice fell, a figure formed of golden light materialized within their spiritual perceptions.

"Fellow Daoist Ning Jiao, you've finally emerged." Guanshan Dao Master shot to his feet, the worry on his face instantly replaced by joy.

The Old Whale Man also stood, not as excited as Guanshan Dao Master, but with a long-missed light flickering in his eyes.

The three met on the sea surface.

The real daylight was dimmer than its reflection in their spiritual senses. The Abyss's mist shrouded the sun overhead into a blurry silver-gray disc.

But when Chen Yu's figure walked out from the waves, the golden radiance around him painted the surrounding sea with halos of light.

He was still dressed in the same white robes and plain clothes, with an unremarkable long sword hanging at his waist. He looked much the same as he had months ago when he entered seclusion.

Yet when Guanshan Dao Master's gaze fell on him, a shock ran through his heart for no reason.

He felt that some indescribable quality flowing around fellow Daoist Ning Jiao was utterly different from months ago.

Golden Core middle stage?

No, it didn't seem like a simple breakthrough in cultivation. It was more like a fundamental Sublimation of his Great Dao.

He could sense something in Chen Yu's presence that hadn't been there before, like a freshly sprouted branch—not yet fully unfurled, but with an irrepressible vitality.

He couldn't help but ask, "Fellow Daoist Ning Jiao, your aura... have you broken through to Golden Core middle stage, or gained new insights into your Great Dao?"

Chen Yu stood with his hands behind his back on the sea, the waves parting automatically beneath his feet to form a small, calm circle of water.

He nodded slightly. "Recently gained some small insights. Comprehended a new Great Dao. Nothing major."

The corner of Guanshan Dao Master's mouth twitched.

In the cultivation world, which cultivator didn't exhaust their life's effort just to scrape a bit of skin off the edge of one Great Dao?

A small number of cultivators went their entire lives without even touching the threshold of the Great Dao. Even among those called prodigies, few could comprehend two Great Daos simultaneously during the Golden Core stage.

Yet this man before him first had the Three Origin Great Dao, and now had added another new one.

A sudden, intense absurdity washed over him, as if his hundred years of cultivation had been wasted on a dog.

But he quickly recovered from this brief lapse, his heart filled more with resolve.

Great calamities produce true dragons—this was no coincidence, but the brewing of the Great Dao's fortune in the unseen.

When the calamity struck a thousand years ago, the Dragon Palace held up the sky. Nine dragons coiled around the pillars, and a thousand acres of crystal-clear glass served as tiles, protecting the entire Southern Sea.

Now the Dragon Palace had become crushed sand on the seafloor, and the Bloodline of true dragons had scattered to the four winds. Perhaps they could only rely on themselves to weather this coming disaster.

Chen Yu asked, "Fellow Daoist, how goes the matter of informing the land sects about the Great Calamity?"

Guanshan Dao Master hemmed and hawed, only shaking his head and sighing.

Seeing this, Chen Yu knew things hadn't gone smoothly.

But that was normal. He had no reputation in Xu Xuan Heaven. Even the Dao Masters who had seen him were few and far between.

The righteous great sects, who had occupied sacred mountains for centuries with orderly traditions, wouldn't easily believe the one-sided words of a rogue cultivator from overseas.

"There's a Dao conference in the Southern Wastes at year's end," Guanshan Dao Master said, choosing his words carefully. "The Hundred Mountains of the Southern Wastes will serve as the venue. Dao Masters from all paths will gather to debate the Dao. Perhaps we can use this opportunity to announce the Great Calamity to the world."

Chen Yu shook his head. "No need to wait for the Dao conference. That's too slow."

Guanshan Dao Master and the Old Whale Man exchanged glances, then bowed together with cupped fists. "Then what does the Venerable mean?"

Golden light radiated from Chen Yu's body, and he split in two.

"My incarnation will remain here holding the Dragon Pearl to guard the Abyss. As for you two..."

He looked at Guanshan Dao Master. "Come back to the mainland with me. I'm returning to the Three Origins Sect. I will convene a Dao conference ahead of schedule in my capacity as a Dao Heir of the Three Origins."

Guanshan Dao Master hesitated slightly. "But, fellow Daoist, if you act so conspicuously, it may displease some reclusive old monsters."

Although fellow Daoist Chen Yu possessed multiple Great Daos, when it came to accumulated cultivation and insight, he might not match those Golden Core old monsters who had lived for centuries within the sects.

Even if he returned to the Three Origins Sect as a Dao Heir, he might not be able to sway the elders.

He put it tactfully, but the meaning was clear: their fists weren't big enough.

At the level of a Dao Master, everything had returned to simplicity. Others would only sit down to listen for two reasons.

Either your reasoning was profound enough to astonish the entire assembly with your Dao debate. Or your fists were strong enough to overwhelm others with your mana.

And in his view, although fellow Daoist Chen Yu had extraordinary talent—the makings of a true dragon—when it came to matching the foundations of those Golden Core old monsters who had accumulated experience for centuries, he might still fall short.

Chen Yu just smiled calmly. "I gained some insights during seclusion. Maybe I can try reasoning with people."

"Of course, if I encounter an old monster who won't listen to reason, I'll beat them first and talk later."

After all, this was the End of Dharma era. Where could there be so many heaven-defying old monsters?

Even reaching Golden Core late stage was no easy feat, let alone achieving ascension with a rainbow of clouds.

He felt he had this much confidence.

At this point, Guanshan Dao Master could only agree.

He understood in his heart that this fellow Daoist Ning Jiao was always steady in his actions and never shot without a target.

Since he chose to emerge from seclusion at this time and proactively proposed returning to the Three Origins Sect to convene a Dao conference as a Dao Heir, he must have sufficient confidence.

But the Three Origins Sect was a major sect in the Southern Wastes. It had several Golden Core Dao Masters within its gates alone. The strength of a single sect was enough to rival their entire Eighteen Islands of Zhan County.

The coming plan probably wouldn't go smoothly. After all, the Dao Masters of the Three Origins Sect wouldn't casually agree to an early Dao conference unless they were willing to risk a thousand years of the sect's reputation.

He only hoped fellow Daoist Ning Jiao's method would really work.

He cast one last look at the Abyss's mist and the incarnation standing in place, then turned and sat down with Chen Yu on the broad back of the whale.

The whale's tail gently swayed, pushing a circle of currents, carrying the two through wind and waves toward the northern land.

Three Origins Sect.

The morning mist hadn't fully dissipated. The green-gray cliffs loomed faintly in the thin fog. Old pines jutted out sideways from the cliff walls, their branches covered in a thin layer of white frost.

A stream cascaded from the high cliff, sending up fine splashes into the deep pool at the base. The sound of water was cold and crisp, carried by the morning breeze into the woods.

At the foot of the cliff stood a hexagonal stone pavilion paved with blue brick, with patches of short moss growing in the crevices.

Several disciples sat cross-legged in the pavilion, unsheathed swords resting across their laps, discussing the Dao.

Shao Qingsong walked down the blue stone path from the courtyard halfway up the mountain. He had just watered the herb fields at the back mountain, and the cuffs of his pants were still stained with mud.

When the disciples saw him, they opened their eyes from meditation and greeted him respectfully in unison: "Senior Brother."

He nodded in return but didn't stop.

Ever since Elder Guo formally accepted him as a disciple, he had been cultivating alongside his junior brother Chen Yu on this cliffside.

Day by day passed, and his cultivation had unknowingly broken through to Qi Training late stage. Though still not outstanding in this talent-packed Three Origins Sect, at least he was no longer a minor cultivator who had to rely on trading spiritual water to make a living.

It was just a pity that his junior brother Chen Yu remained mysterious, going into seclusion every few days and only occasionally emerging for a brief appearance before retreating back into the green-tiled house.

Sometimes when he passed by that house and saw the doors and windows tightly shut, he knew his junior brother had entered another round of closed-door cultivation.

He didn't even have anyone to talk to, which made him miss the days when he and his junior brother had traded spiritual water.

Although they had been poor back then, at least they were poor with clarity. There was someone to discuss strategies with, someone to curse those rogue cultivators who squatted by the roadside ambushing people.

He wandered along the mountain path like this, enjoying the rare peace and leisure of the morning.

Halfway along, a young menial disciple ran over in a hurry, stopping before him. Panting, he said, "Senior... Senior Brother, Elder Guo wants to see you, and it's urgent. He says to follow the other elders to greet an important figure who's about to return to the sect."

"An important figure?" Shao Qingsong stopped walking, one eyebrow raised slightly.

Coming back to the sect at this time—could it be to attend the year-end Southern Wastes Dao Conference?

But as far as he knew, all the important figures were already within the sect. Who else could warrant all the elders going out to welcome them?

The menial disciple shook his head, saying he didn't know, only that Elder Guo had urged him to hurry and set out immediately.

Shao Qingsong asked no more and strode quickly toward Green Cliff Hall.

Passing by his junior brother Chen Yu's green-tiled house, he instinctively slowed his pace and glanced sideways.

The doors and windows were still tightly shut, and cobwebs had formed under the eaves.

He sighed inwardly, feeling it was a shame.

If only his junior brother would emerge from seclusion right now, he could catch this grand event.

With that clever wit of his, he might even make a showing before the elders, catch the eye of some important figure, and be accepted as a disciple. That would be a rocket-like ascent.

He had always felt that his junior brother should go out and see the world, not hide in his house all day.

If he didn't see his master for a long time, his master's feelings toward him would probably fade.

In this cultivation, as long as you were within the sect, that counted as engaging with the world. You couldn't avoid social niceties.

At least if you kept your master happy, he'd teach you a few more hidden Dao arts.

But he quickly shook his head.

Right now, he himself was just a disciple who had just entered Qi Training late stage. He couldn't even qualify to pour tea for the elders without relying on his master's reputation. How could he have time to worry about someone else's future?

That said, Shao Qingsong had always believed that whether dealing with people or matters, one should be open-hearted, upright, and forthright.

His junior brother Chen Yu had treated him well. How could he let his junior brother down?

He still shouted a few times at the door, hoping his junior brother would hear.

Seeing no one come out, he shook his head regretfully, quickened his pace, rounded the dense bamboo grove along the mountain path, and hurried toward the gathering crowd at Green Cliff Hall.

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