Chapter 1422 - 863: Law Chain Showdown, Rising to the Fifth Level

"If the Taoist Inheritance is to expand and elevate from a single sect’s doctrine to a cross-sect creed, and ultimately extend throughout Kunxu to become the heavenly principle and objective law, then allies must be sought, and cooperation with symbiotic Taoist Inheritances is necessary."

Wild Bull said, "Or in other words... in this world, there actually exists no doctrine capable of standing alone, solely unique. From the moment of their birth, all Taoist Inheritances are bound to develop relationships of mutual growth or opposition with other doctrines or the pre-existing objective laws of this world."

"For example, the Law Realm Taoist Inheritance and the Magic Medicine Daoist School of the Wanfa Sect— the growth of the Law Realm Inheritance inevitably spurs more people to use magic medicines, promoting the growth of the Magic Medicine Daoist School, and the growth of the Magic Medicine Daoist School will likewise result in more people relying on the Law Realm, fostering its growth."

"These two doctrines mutually give rise to each other, dependent on one another, and from the moment of their inception, are such that one’s prosperity means the other’s prosperity, and one’s damage means the other’s damage..."

"Yet this relationship is not permanent. When the Law Realm Taoist Inheritance fully elevates to heavenly principle, becoming the Taoist Inheritance of the Immortal Emperor, or the Supreme Daoist Lineage, the Magic Medicine Daoist School holds no further benefit."

"And if, at that time, the Magic Medicine Daoist School seeks to challenge the Daoist Lineage of the Immortal Emperor, it will enter a competitive relationship with the Law Realm Inheritance."

"At that point, the Law Realm Taoist Inheritance and the Magic Medicine Daoist School may transition from mutual growth to mutual opposition."

"But if these two doctrines can be grasped by a single person, they can continue maintaining a symbiotic relationship..."

Zhang Yu, while examining news reports and various data changes within the Spirit Realm, found himself understanding Wild Bull’s words more than ever before.

"An Inheritance is the embryo of heavenly principle, or objective law. Objective laws cannot exist alone and must inherently influence each other."

"But as Taoist Inheritances evolved from nature-oriented to human-oriented, the relationships of mutual growth or opposition have grown increasingly complex, shifting alongside the evolution of human societies, the changes in human production relations, and the levels of immortal cultivation of the Tao Master—leading to a dynamic change in the relationships among Taoist Inheritances."

Zhang Yu mused to himself, "And because sects differ in circumstances and the Taoist Inheritances they promote, the historical processes driving changes in these relationships will affect relationships among the sects."

"Thus... even the once-opposing great sects of Heavenly Demon and Wanfa might transition from rivals to allies due to changes in these relationships, or vice versa."

With this thought, a sudden understanding flashed across Zhang Yu’s mind: "Could the fierce rivalries between the Wanfa Sect and the Sky Demon Sect years ago during the Great War of Righteous and Demonic have stemmed from shifts in these relationships?"

Zhang Yu shook his head, temporarily setting aside his thoughts on this historical battle to focus his calculations on the present.

"The relationships among Taoist Inheritances are not permanent but change continuously with time. Currently, Kunxu hasn’t been shattered by the Ten Great Immortal Emperors because, thus far, a dynamic balance has been maintained in the struggle for the Tao."

As this idea crossed Zhang Yu’s mind, Zhan Xian added, "Indeed, war and peace always alternate; no social structure is eternally unchanging."

"And right now, the order, prosperity, and peace in Kunxu are built upon the restraint of the Ten Great Immortal Emperors and a series of dynamically balanced Taoist Inheritances."

"But this is not a permanent state. Perhaps tomorrow, next year, or a decade from now, Kunxu may bring this peaceful historical period to a close, transforming once again into the world’s most fierce battleground."

Wild Bull agreed, "Whether chaos reigns or peace and prosperity prevail, even twisted prosperity is merely a state of a particular historical period or region—it’s a juncture of historical change, not the perpetual background of human society."

Wild Bull continued, "Even if there remained only one Immortal Emperor in this world, as long as the Immortal Emperor continues to reflect and transform, the entire world will still keep shifting with his changes."

"This world... the only constant is change; the same applies to Taoist Inheritances, sects, and even Immortal Emperors."

Elsewhere, Fu Ji’s mind echoed with alarm, "What is this guy rambling on about now?! Dammit... it’s like a cult member always trying to brainwash our Zhang Yu and lead him astray!"

Fu Ji couldn’t help but say, "Enough! Stop talking about all this nonsense. Is this something we should be worrying about? What we need to consider now is what Zhang Yu should do next in the Old Graveyard’s Small Realm after the increase in the intensity of the Taoist contention."

Xiangzi: "Fu Ji, you’re right."

Zhang Yu said, "Fu Ji, thinking about these matters... is indeed useful, at least it led me to understand one thing."

"I always thought it was the transformation of the Soul Cultivator industry in the Old Graveyard that triggered a new round of Taoist contention, but I was wrong..."

"The Taoist contention has unfolded across all of Kunxu."

"The Old Graveyard is not the origin of a new wave of Taoist contention but was naturally swept into it as the intensity of contradictions escalated."

Wild Bull praised, "Conflicts of interest are occurring constantly throughout Kunxu, and the Taoist contention is the expression of the highest level of interest conflict. Any conflict of interest within Kunxu, if continuously escalated, will eventually be drawn into Taoist contention."

Zhang Yu pondered internally, "So, what decision should I make next?"

Fu Ji: "Zhang Yu, we’re now on the joint sanctions list of the top five sects, which means we’ve shown our hand in the grand arena of Taoist contention. At this point, it’s best not to act rashly."