Chapter 397 - 395: Confrontation Between Great Dao True Intents

Chapter 397: Chapter 395: Confrontation Between Great Dao True Intents

Wei Dao’s eyes were dazed. A gentle breeze stirred around him, forming a barrier against the large, golden characters.

The four enormous Gilded Characters for "Sixth Day, Sixth Month" shifted with infinite variations, pressing down with the magnificent aura of an insurmountable mountain.

It forced Wei Dao back four steps. The gentle breeze turned into a gale, managing only to momentarily support the golden light before his legs gave out and he collapsed back into his chair.

"The wind moves with the will, and it stops with the will. Impressive!"

Yuu Ziliang saw it clearly. Wei Dao had been overwhelmed by the True Intent contained within Great True Monarch Hongfa’s calligraphy and had fallen into its trap.

However, the True Intent on the invitation held no malice or killing intent. Being unable to resist it simply resulted in a fall and a momentary lapse of consciousness.

A Nascent Soul True Monarch could easily mobilize their own comprehended True Intent to resolve it, but that would be a crude response, a lesser approach.

The very purpose of this invitation was to intimidate the Northern Domain and let its Nascent Soul True Monarchs know the Moral Sect’s capabilities.

The control over the True Intent’s intensity was simply sublime, perfect down to the finest detail.

According to Great True Monarch Hongfa, to neutralize the True Intent on the invitation without making a scene, one’s progress on the path of the Great Dao must have reached the Late-Stage Nascent Soul Realm.

Only such a figure would be worthy of receiving a share of the spoils in the new order the Moral Sect was establishing in the Northern Domain.

Ordinary Core Formation Cultivators who had not truly touched upon the Great Dao’s True Intent would, in this situation, simply feel dizzy and faint, not enough to provoke a reaction from the invitation.

Wei Dao had just emerged from seclusion, having cultivated to the Mid-Stage Core Formation Realm. He had gained a new understanding of the Great Dao’s True Intent, taking another step forward in his Pill Discussion.

The large, golden characters had provoked his own Great Dao’s direction, causing the gilded invitation to target him more intensely.

That was why Yuu Ziliang had remarked that Wei Dao was impressive; he was practically up to the standard of a Moral Sect True Disciple.

’Why haven’t I heard a peep from Bai Zichen? Don’t tell me he only cultivates Swordsmanship and knows nothing of the Great Dao... Did the invitation’s power just knock him out cold?’

Yuu Ziliang turned his head to the other side, only to find that all the remaining large, golden characters had surrounded Bai Zichen, forming a long dragon.

The Gilded Characters looked as if they were formed from billions of grains of golden sand, displaying an evolutionary marvel countless times more complex than before.

At the same time, their aura soared ever higher, becoming so lofty that it stole one’s breath and captured their mind.

’Junior Martial Uncle Meng’s *Nine Chapters of Celestial Constitution* allows him to issue celestial edicts with his voice, imposing Law Decrees upon all living things... But Great True Monarch Hongfa has gone a step further. As expected of the cultivator from the Virtue Vein with the greatest hope of walking the path to Divinity Transformation.’

Yuu Ziliang recalled his master’s evaluation of the two, but he was even more astonished by Bai Zichen’s performance.

’There’s actually an invisible power holding them back, preventing the Gilded Characters from advancing even an inch!’

This invitation was meant to test one’s comprehension of the Great Dao’s True Intent; all other trivial matters were disregarded.

In the eyes of a cultivator at Great True Monarch Hongfa’s level, any progress in Divine Secret Techniques was not worth mentioning unless one had taken a step forward on the path of the Great Dao’s True Intent. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

But before Bai Zichen, there was what looked like an invisible river. As the golden light from the Gilded Characters approached, it all sank in and vanished.

Even the character for "Zeng" crossed into it, struggled for a moment, and likewise disappeared after rising and falling a few times.

’Elder Shibi of the No-Life Sect couldn’t help but attack when faced with twelve Gilded Characters, using his pure Evil Qi to shatter the golden light... Could it be that this Bai Zichen is even further along the path of the Great Dao than Elder Shibi?’

Yuu Ziliang’s mind froze, unable to process what he was seeing.

On the path of the Great Dao, the difference of a single step was as vast as the Celestial Abyss.

Elder Shibi had a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivation, his Demon Skills were monstrous, and he had been famous for several hundred years.

On the other hand, Bai Zichen was merely a Late-Stage Core Formation Cultivator. Even with his reputation as a "Fallen Sword Immortal" and the person with the greatest Sword Dao Talent since the Near Ancient era, that was only reflected in his combat strength.

To claim that the latter’s attainments and progress on the path of the Great Dao surpassed the former’s was something no one would ever believe.

But that was exactly what was happening before his eyes. Yuu Ziliang blinked several times to make sure it wasn’t a hallucination.

’This move serves two purposes: first, to display our might, and second, to select cultivators with the potential to reach Late-Stage Nascent Soul, to whom we can delegate some benefits... Our Sect is not like those shabby sects, desperate to expand outward and seize Spirit Veins. The Nine Luminaries Grotto Heaven that the Ancestor drew over alone has countless places to explore. Even if we threw in tens of thousands of disciples, it wouldn’t even make a splash.’

In terms of cultivation, Yuu Ziliang was not highly ranked within the Moral Sect.

Across the five main peaks and twelve branch peaks, the true number of Nascent Soul True Monarchs far exceeded outside speculation.

At least thirty percent of the Moral Sect’s Nascent Soul True Monarchs resided year-round in Grotto Heaven Secret Realms and never set foot in the mortal world.

But he was one of the Daoist Disciples who cultivated the *Cave Profound Hundred Generations True Scripture*. His status was special, which was how he knew many secrets unknown to outsiders.

’But we originally planned to select Nascent Soul True Monarchs at the very least. Instead, we’ve ended up with a Core Formation True Man. How am I going to explain this to my two junior martial uncles when I get back... If we choose to cooperate with him, the Sect will have to wait for him to mature, and who knows if that will take several hundred years.’

According to the discussions within Celestial Punishment Peak before the expedition, after killing Du Heng and exterminating the Zengguang Du Family, the Moral Sect’s army would be recalled to the Great Zhou and would not remain for long.

In the future, the Moral Sect would only leave one Nascent Soul True Monarch and his lineage of disciples to garrison Zengguang Immortal City; it was impossible to commit too much strength.

That was why they needed to share the benefits and join forces with the few most promising Nascent Soul True Monarchs in the Northern Domain to govern the four countries together.

Otherwise, relying on the Moral Sect’s name alone, without commensurate strength on the ground, it would be difficult for Zengguang Immortal City to regain the prosperity it enjoyed under the Du Family’s rule, even if they occupied it.

’The tree that stands tallest in the forest is the one the wind will surely fell... Who would have thought that no one in the Northern Domain had walked the path of the Great Dao to the Late-Stage Nascent Soul? Only your Qingfeng Sect stands out, which is so conspicuous it might actually be a misfortune.’

Yuu Ziliang tilted the golden invitation in his hand with difficulty, and the four characters for "Sixth Day, Sixth Month" also flew together.

’If this were the Central Domain, the phenomena displayed by every Nascent Soul True Monarch after their Tribulation Crossing could not be hidden; they would all be registered... One glance at a Nascent Soul Phenomenon is all it takes to get a pretty good idea of their future potential. Very few cultivators can break out of that framework!’

’It looks like the majestic might of heaven, but in reality, each character fully embodies the Path of Creation...’

In Bai Zichen’s vision, a river with no beginning and no end flowed before him. Within that layer of space, time itself seemed to have stopped.

After the Gilded Characters entered it, they underwent extreme transformations, yet none could escape the river’s flow. With every breath, they would bloom brilliantly, only to wither away.

The form of the river looked somewhat similar to the River of Time.

However, both its scale and power were diminished countless times over.

He could sense that the material of the invitation was not special, nor did it have any other restrictions placed upon it.

A single sword beam could destroy the invitation, fundamentally ending this all-too-obvious test.

But such an act would undoubtedly be seen as a provocation and an offense to the Moral Sect. No one would dare to do it.

Everyone followed the rules, using their own comprehension of the Great Dao to answer, turning in their own "exam papers."

’Other than the Qing Emperor Longevity Sword, I have no idea how to control the Power of Time. This reaction must have been stimulated by the Gilded Characters, causing the Time Path to manifest this river that is thirty percent similar to the River of Time... The Creation Path is also a top-tier path among the three thousand Great Daos. It seems to have provoked the competitive spirit of the Power of Time.’

Enveloped by the Power of Time, Bai Zichen’s entire aura became ethereal and unfathomable.

The Gilded Characters circled several times but still failed to cross the river. One by one, they turned and fell back onto the invitation.

On the inner page, one could see that the character "Zeng" had lost its color, leaving only the imprint of its strokes behind.

Almost simultaneously, the shrunken version of the River of Time rapidly faded away, as if it had never appeared.

"On the sixth day of the sixth month, our Sect will be there to witness your esteemed Sect’s heroic feat of slaying demons."

Bai Zichen did not mention the phenomenon with the invitation at all, acting as if nothing had happened as he cupped his hands and accepted.

"Meeting Fellow Daoist Bai today, I realize how my past view was as narrow as the sky from the bottom of a well... A true genius cannot have their brilliance hidden, no matter the environment they are born into."

Yuu Ziliang put away the invitation and bowed sincerely.

"With a figure like you, Fellow Daoist, your esteemed Sect will surely become a leader in the Northern Domain in a few hundred years... After the Du Family is eliminated this time, the trade routes of the various countries will be subcontracted to a single sect. If the Qingfeng Sect is interested, I can provide an introduction to the junior martial uncle who will be staying behind in Zengguang Immortal City."

Yuu Ziliang had sealed his five senses and locked down his Divine Sense, so he couldn’t discern that the Power of Time had appeared around Bai Zichen earlier.

He didn’t know that the supremely mysterious Time Path had spirited away the Gilded Characters. He still thought that Bai Zichen’s progress on the path of the Great Dao was truly comparable to that of a Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator.

His tone carried an extra measure of reverence, and he was eager to build a good relationship.

Yuu Ziliang refused to believe that such a figure would fall before reaching the Nascent Soul Realm. Establishing a connection with him in advance was a good piece of karma.

If not for the fact that his Cultivation Technique required him to walk the path of a hundred generations and refine Red Dust Qi,

Yuu Ziliang would never have appeared in the Northern Domain with the army from Celestial Punishment Peak, nor would he have met this miraculous Core Formation True Man born in a tiny country.

"In that case, many thanks for Master Yuu’s introduction."

Bai Zichen exchanged a look with Wei Dao. It was just as they had discussed earlier.

The Moral Sect was preparing to use this opportunity to extend its reach into the Northern Domain and occupy Zengguang Immortal City, a prize coveted by all cultivators under heaven.

The process and reasons were slightly different—it wasn’t for the Spirit Veins—but the result was the same.

The Moral Sect had invited all the Nascent Soul powers of the Northern Domain to Zengguang Immortal City. They definitely intended to use the might of slaying demons and breaking the city to establish the future rules of the Northern Domain.

As long as all the Nascent Soul powers reached a consensus, what could the remaining sects do even if they had objections?

Therefore, this trip to Zengguang Immortal City was one they absolutely had to make.

Not being present would be equivalent to being excluded from the highest echelon of power in the Northern Domain.

When the benefits were re-divided, no one would speak up for you. Before you knew it, your own territory might be carved up by two Nascent Soul Sects.

Subcontracting the trade routes meant that within your country, you would be the only one qualified to conduct large-scale procurement and trade with Zengguang Immortal City. This would make it convenient to levy cultivation resources from those below you and then resell them to Zengguang Immortal City.

The sects that could secure these subcontracts would become filthy rich, with billions of Spirit Stones rolling through their fingers.

The Du Family had used this strategy in the early days, back when Zengguang Immortal City was just founded and was far from becoming a center of commerce and trade.

Later, once the Immortal City was on the right track, the policy was quickly abolished.

Bringing up this old matter now was a clear sign that they intended to use this method to bind the four most promising sects to the future of Zengguang Immortal City.

If the Qingfeng Sect could really subcontract one of these routes, it would mean that all the sects and Cultivation Families in Liang Country’s Five States and Seventy-Two Commanderies that currently sold goods in bulk to Zengguang Immortal City would lose their right to sell directly in the future.

The Immortal City would no longer negotiate large-volume transactions with you; it would only recognize the four subcontractors.

The sects within Liang Country would only be able to sell the resources they had previously sold to Zengguang Immortal City to the Qingfeng Sect.

Whether to purchase, how much to purchase, and at what price...

Within Liang Country, all would be decided by the Qingfeng Sect.

Not only would they be able to earn massive amounts of Spirit Stones, but it would also be like placing a tightening headband on the heads of all the powers within the country.

Few sects could be completely self-sufficient. They all had to rely on selling their surplus products in exchange for the things they needed to sustain their development.

This was true for the vast majority of Core Formation Level Sects and almost all Cultivation Families. Once they lost access to Zengguang Immortal City, their caravans would become immeasurably idle.

"No need to thank me yet. I am only making an introduction. Whether it comes to fruition will depend on my junior martial uncle’s overall consideration..."

Yuu Ziliang waved his hand and spoke humbly.

In reality, it was still unclear who would be chosen as the Moral Sect’s allies.

But he was confident about making the Qingfeng Sect the subcontractor for Liang Country, as there were not many Nascent Soul Sects that could compete for it anyway.