Chapter 898 - 625: [He and I]

Chen Sheng sat upright atop the Cloud Platform.

Around him, the Dao Rhyme of Taiyin slowly flowed, with a faint glow of pure white light flashing intermittently.

The surrounding void was fully saturated with cool moonlight, gently undulating, and rippling out circles of pale waves.

Suddenly.

A glimmer at the center of his brows suddenly brightened.

A thread of pure and flawless brilliant white Divine Mark slowly emerged.

In the next moment, a phantom of a moon laurel the size of an inch quietly took shape.

Countless intricate Taiyin Divine Marks entwined the branches, circulating an indestructible Dao Rhyme, marking it as his meticulously refined Innate Taiyin Dharma Seed.

The Dharma Seed hung at the center of his brows, gently rotating; strands of majestic and rich Taiyin Power dripped down, permeating throughout his body, nourishing his foundation.

This Dao Power was enduring and stable, massive as a mountain, rich and profound, no less impressive than in his previous life.

Daoist Monarch San Shuai!

Moonlight gently shimmered in Chen Sheng’s eyes, and a faint arc lifted at the corner of his lips as his Heart Spirit pondered in silence:

"This is the benefit of re-Cultivation; in merely ten Primordial Assemblies, I’ve nearly covered a path that ordinary Daoist Monarchs would struggle to cross in a lifetime."

After the joy faded, his brow furrowed slightly, his tone tinged with helplessness:

"The path of Cultivation has been smooth, yet the Power of Dimension remains an enigma, without the slightest hint of progress."

He slowly gathered the Taiyin Dao Rhyme emanating around him, his Heart Spirit sinking, reaching for the latent Talent within himself.

In an instant.

A thread of mysterious and inexplicable power quietly awakened.

Invisible, formless, traceless.

Yet it truly bridged beyond dimensions, moving freely, elusive and unpredictable.

This was not a forbidden power meant for his current Realm.

Chen Sheng understood, this was not a power he should be encountering at his current Realm.

Were it not for carrying the Talent, even if this power were brazenly displayed before him, he wouldn’t perceive it, let alone explore its mysteries.

Now, with this Talent’s aid, he managed to barely perceive the existence of this power, but it was perception alone.

"But fortunately, as my Cultivation grows, my Perception of this power becomes increasingly clear."

"Just let it be. The Great Dao is long; there’s no need to rush. For now, focusing on enhancing Cultivation and crossing the decline trials is of utmost importance."

"The fourth decline, Wisdom Decline."

"In my last life, I halted at the third decline, unable to take that step, yet I deduced the threads of the trials."

"Just the right time to use this closed-door training to perfect the Taiyin Cultivation system, combating the bewilderment of wisdom and solidifying the Dao Heart."

With this determination.

Chen Sheng closed his eyes and focused his spirit.

Countless Taiyin Divine Marks slowly circled around him, the moon laurel Dharma Seed gently spinning at his brow, internal light receding, delving into prolonged calculations and arduous Cultivation.

...

Fifteen Primordial Assemblies, quietly passed.

The Cloud Sea of Zhang Clan Ancestral Land remained shrouding and unending, with the Dao Rhyme between mountains enduring through the ages.

Atop the Cloud Platform, Chen Sheng slowly opened his eyes, the moonlight in his gaze flickered and vanished, he looked up into the distance, murmuring in his heart:

"Since I attained Dao and became a Daoist Monarch, it has been twenty-five Primordial Assemblies; it’s time to reveal some strength."

In an instant, a lucid number quietly surfaced in his Sea of Consciousness—twenty-eight Primordial Assemblies.

This wasn’t a number that emerged casually; rather, it was the time the exceptional prodigy of the Immortal Spirit Clan, who ultimately achieved Mahayana, revealed their second-decline Daoist Monarch Cultivation to the public.

Chen Sheng already devised a plan in his heart:

"If I reveal my strength at this pace, I might seize more opportunities and Cultivation resources, saving much trouble on the path of Cultivation."

Speaking of this prodigy from the Immortal Spirit Clan, a slight movement stirred within Chen Sheng’s heart; this person could be considered an acquaintance of sorts.

"Gu Xunzhen..."

This name slowly surfaced in his heart, past memories gradually becoming clear.

He closed his eyes in contemplation, softly speaking in his heart:

"When the Immortal Spirit Clan entered Celestial Brilliance Immortal Mountain, of the twelve Named Disciples, only Gu Xunzhen and Gu Qiwu held Dharma Master Realm Cultivation."

"These two, who were of my generation, but in my last life, I was trapped in the Daoist Monarch San Shuai Realm, unable to progress further, ultimately perishing prematurely."

"Yet Gu Xunzhen ascended to Mahayana Realm in just three hundred Primordial Assemblies, becoming a revered powerhouse among the heavens."

"As for Gu Qiwu..."

A slight stir occurred within, and his gaze involuntarily turned towards Celestial Brilliance Immortal Mountain, a hint of contemplation flashing in his eyes.

...

Atop Celestial Brilliance Immortal Mountain, the Celestial Rankings hung high, with names on the list rising and falling unsettled.

One of Chen Sheng’s Dao Transformations quietly stood beneath the Celestial Rankings, his gaze falling on a particular spot:

"Seventh on the Crossing Tribulation Main Rankings, Five Declines Daoist Monarch, Fifty-fourth Peak, Immortal Spirit Realm, Gu Qiwu!"

He stood with hands behind his back, gazing at the illustrious name, pondering inwardly:

"Having successfully passed the fifth decline, ventured to the fifty-fourth peak, almost reaching the limits of the Daoist Monarch Realm, I wonder if he can successfully break through into the Mahayana Realm."

Living long enough, one sees much!

In his last life, Chen Sheng personally witnessed many Five Declines Daoist Monarchs’ demises.

"That earliest elite batch of Daoist Monarchs, alongside the first Mahayana powerhouse of Immortal Mountain, Gu Suchen, were known as the ’Three Absolutes of the Celestial Rankings’:’ Desolate Ascendant and Yellow Cypress Emperor, what illustrious glory they had in those days!"

"Yet ultimately failed to transcend the shackles of the Daoist Monarch, long since annihilated in endless years."

"Later, although many Cultivators from various Grand Thousand Worlds became Loose Immortals, more Daoist Monarchs fell on the path to Immortality."

He gently shook his head, a sense of emotion in his heart, yet his expression remained utterly indifferent:

"Several hundred Primordial Assemblies have passed, time washes away everything, hardly anyone might remember their past splendor and grace."