Chapter 187 - 186: Tai Xu

This was his first time visiting Master Jing Yuan's Dao Field.

It was by no means grand or imposing, but Chen Qingyang had never in his life seen a design of such exquisite ingenuity.

The Dao Field was situated at the peak of a mountain. A waterfall served as its gate, resembling the Milky Way cascading from the heavens and scattering countless jade-like pearls.

Passing through it was like entering another world. It felt as if he had ascended above the Nine Heavens, with auspicious clouds floating beneath his feet and flying cranes gliding by his side, making him feel like an Immortal.

A staircase shot straight up, set into the rocky cliff face as if a natural part of it. There were no trees on either side, only jagged, strange rocks. A golden sun was just beginning to rise, and from Chen Qingyang's vantage point, it seemed to be level with him.

He didn't know what it felt like to ascend and become an Immortal, but being here was like standing in the Celestial Court. It was truly the work of divine craftsmanship!

It was not yet 7:00 AM. Being cautious, Chen Qingyang had set out early to avoid being late. He admired the scenery all the way to the summit. From the top, he gazed into the distance and saw no other peak could match its height.

The ground beneath his feet was flat, and at its end stood a lone palace. There was nothing else—no grass, no trees, no flowing water. It was the epitome of simplicity. Only the occasional gust of mountain wind would sweep past, making Chen Qingyang's robes flutter.

He placed great importance on today's meeting.

He wore a set of dark cyan robes to show his solemnity and had tied up his long hair, giving him a more serious demeanor. He also carried the Qianxue Treasure Sword on his back. It was a gift from his Master, so it was only right to have it with him.

The same Child he had seen yesterday was already waiting at the palace entrance. He didn't speak upon seeing Chen Qingyang, merely staring straight ahead while holding a duster.

'That makes sense,' Chen Qingyang thought. 'We're in Master Jing Yuan's presence now, who would dare be impudent? Besides, I'm a tough nut to crack.'

He stood there and waited for a short while. Soon, his senior brothers and sisters began to arrive in twos and threes. They were all unfamiliar faces. When it seemed like most everyone had arrived, Chen Qingyang counted them again but still didn't see his Eldest Senior Brother. 'Could it be that he hasn't come out of seclusion yet?'

Once everyone had gathered, Master Jing Yuan slowly walked out from the palace. Today, he was dressed in a profound robe, which added to his dignified air. His gaze swept over the crowd, lingering for a moment on Chen Qingyang.

One of the disciples took the lead, and they began to bow to the Master. "Greetings, Master!"

Men and women, old and young, all did the same. He had never known what the bearing of an Immortal Family was, but today, he felt he was seeing it firsthand.

Chen Qingyang followed suit. The Master gave a slight nod in acknowledgment of his disciples, then walked over to Chen Qingyang. "Your Cultivation has broken through?"

Chen Qingyang replied, "I just broke through. The Earth Root Biochemical Pill that Master bestowed upon me came in handy."

It was impossible to tell from the Master's expression whether he was pleased or not. He simply nodded and said, "Faster than I expected!"

During this exchange, many disciples turned to look at them with expressions of surprise. It seemed they had some knowledge of Chen Qingyang's previous Cultivation level but had not interacted with him due to their Master's orders.

"I must thank you for your guidance, Master!"

After that, the Master paid him no more mind. He walked to the head of the group and addressed the disciples, "The Tai Xu is Qi. It is the beginning of all things in heaven and earth. When Qi gathers, it forms all things; when Qi disperses, it returns to the Tai Xu... As for our Tai Xu Dao Sect, its name first signifies that it is the origin of the Daoist Sects in Cyan Nether State, and second, it signifies the meaning of Returning to the Tai Xu..."

'So the Master is beginning his lecture on the Dao.'

There were no prayer cushions, no one was seated, and they hadn't even entered the palace. The disciples simply stood in small groups while the Master paced back and forth, explaining in great detail.

Chen Qingyang had been in the Tai Xu Sect for a long time, but he had never thought about the meaning of the words "Tai Xu." Today, he was finally beginning to understand.

"...The so-called Returning to the Tai Xu is the supreme Daoist Technique in Cyan Nether State. This technique is profound and ephemeral, beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. It also encompasses the evolution of all things in heaven and earth. One cannot practice it until reaching Foundation Establishment, and it is one of only two Dharma Gates in Cyan Nether State that allow one to break through to become a Golden Core True Monarch. The other one belongs to the Yu Xiao Demon Sect..."

The Cultivation Techniques Chen Qingyang currently knew, aside from the Cyan Nether Sword Embryo he had yet to comprehend, could only support him up to the Foundation Establishment Realm. He had no idea what came after that.

Hearing this, he immediately understood why the Yu Xiao Demon Sect and the Tai Xu Sect were able to divide Cyan Nether State between them. To become a Golden Core True Monarch, one had to remain and cultivate in one of these two sects. Over time, this had led to their monopoly over all the Golden Core cultivators in Cyan Nether State.

"...Furthermore, only those who achieve Foundation Establishment earn the title of Master. They can climb to great heights without fear, enter water without getting wet, and walk through fire without being burned. They preserve their true nature, attain truth through Cultivation, and comprehend the origin of all things and of humanity itself. Only then can they be called a Master... Another way of putting it is that a Master is one who has achieved some success in cultivating the Tai Xu Returning to Truth Technique..."

"...Their Nine Acupoints are open, their Qi Vortex is condensed, their Meridians flow like rivers, and they have mastered Refining Essence into Qi. It is also said that they have transcended the mundane and no longer enter the world of Red Dust..."

Chen Qingyang seriously contemplated every word the Master spoke, interpreting them through the understanding he had gained from his own years of Cultivation.

He couldn't help but feel emotional. Master Jing Yuan was truly worthy of being the foremost Foundation Establishment cultivator on Cyan Bamboo Peak. Few could match his level of understanding alone.

The phrase "transcending the mundane," in particular, made Chen Qingyang reflect on his past. It strengthened his resolve for the path ahead and helped him make sense of the path he had already walked.

After speaking of Tai Xu, the Master then began to explain the vastness of the world and the mysteries of heaven and earth in simple but profound terms.

As his lecture reached a crescendo, golden lotuses bloomed beneath his feet with every step, and above his head, the Three Flowers were Gathering at the Top. Some of the disciples who were deeply moved immediately began to circulate their Qi Mechanisms, seeking a breakthrough.

At such an opportunity, Chen Qingyang couldn't help but feel a stir within him. Unfortunately, he didn't dare rashly circulate his Qi Mechanism, as doing so would surely expose his true Cultivation level to the Master.

"...This world is vast, containing Nine Heavens and Ten Lands and one hundred and eight states. Each state differs in size, local customs, human sentiment, mountains, terrain, and rivers, thus giving birth to different paths to immortality... And due to differences in Earth Deities, Spiritual Rhythm, True Skills, and the quality of people, different immortal-seeking sects have been nurtured."

Here, the Master paused briefly and glanced over. "Chen Qingyang, in such a vast world, what do you believe is most important?"

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Chen Qingyang couldn't react right away. However, the Master's previous words implied that the powers in this world were complex, the Cultivation Methods were uneven, and people were of high and low station. It could be summed up in one word: chaos.

'Therefore, to govern this chaos, rules must be established.'

"Is Master saying that rules are important?"

The Master nodded slightly. "You've answered correctly." Then he turned his head and resumed pacing back and forth.

"Before speaking of these rules, we must first mention Earth Deities. Perhaps it is because the Celestial Dao tends toward balance, or perhaps it is a limitation of the Human Race itself... There is also the saying that Cultivation is an act of defying the heavens. Thus, once a Cultivator opens their body's Nine Acupoints, they become constrained by heaven and earth. Their breakthrough will always be lacking one part in ten, and only an Earth Deity can make up for this deficit."

"Therefore, if you wish for your Cultivation to advance further after the Nine Acupoints, Earth Deities are indispensable. This is the origin of the saying that one cannot reach Half-Step Foundation Establishment without an Earth Deity. These beings are manifestations of the Earth itself, existing within the mountains and Earth Veins. Once consumed, they are gone forever. For every one used, there is one less in the world."

"As I said before, the world was already chaotic enough. Now, with the struggle for Earth Deities, it is chaos upon chaos. Shattered landscapes and rivers of blood are a matter of course... In response, the system you all see was created: the ranks of A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H... These were made to serve as rules."

While listening, Chen Qingyang also covertly observed his other senior brothers and sisters. He saw that every one of them was listening with extreme focus, as if it were the first time they had heard their Master speak of these matters.

Only today had his horizons been truly broadened. The scattered fragments of information he had heard from Liu Tao before were now all connected.

"...Speaking of which, we must mention the Eternal Life Assembly. There is the Eternal Being, the world's only Grade A Immortal Mansion. It does not call itself Dao or Demon, nor does it follow unorthodox paths. It refers to itself only as the Eternal Immortal Dynasty, and it is this Immortal Dynasty that established these rules... Within the world's Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, the land of the Immortal Dynasty is also known as the Heaven of Eternal Life."

"...Furthermore, every three hundred years, the Eternal Life Assembly is held to decide the ranks of the sects and determine the future allocation of Earth Deities, thereby avoiding pointless conflict..."

Chen Qingyang had heard the name "Eternal Life" mentioned once before by that man from the Demon Sect. He never would have thought it was called the Eternal Immortal Dynasty, let alone that it was the world's only Grade A power. Its strength was truly immeasurable.

Once again, he was struck by how the vastness of the world far exceeded his imagination.

"...This Immortal Dynasty enjoys the prosperity of the Divine Court and possesses the fortune of the Human Dao, being born of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands... Among the Ten Lands is a place named Gui Xu, and beneath it are the Seven States, of which Cyan Nether State is one."

"The purpose of today's discussion is to make you all understand clearly where the Tai Xu stands, what the Tai Xu is, and how one should cultivate the methods of Tai Xu..."

It was truly a lecture that explained profound concepts in simple terms, moving from the surface to the core. He began with the origins of many worldly matters, then introduced his own understanding of the Great Dao and the cultivation philosophies of the Sect's various techniques. His sermon lasted from sunrise to sunset.

In addition to the world itself, he spoke of Tai Xu's Daoist Skill, the meaning of being a Daoist Sect, and of those in the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands who cultivate a myriad of techniques.

His voice was like a great bell, seeming to resonate in each disciple's mind, leaving them to savor its meaning long after. It was an ultimate form of enjoyment.

Though Chen Qingyang was not widely experienced, he was certain that he would rarely encounter a lecture like today's ever again. Even to the naked eye, the Master's face showed a hint of exhaustion.

The afterglow of the setting sun illuminated his back.

Seeing that the Master was about to stop, the Child finally dared to offer him a cup of hot tea. The Master took it and drank deeply before continuing, "You all must remember what I have said today. No matter where you find yourselves in the future, you must not forget it. This is the foundation of Cultivation and will benefit your path to the Great Dao... Tomorrow is the Tai Xu Elemental Separation Conference. No disciple is permitted to leave. You will all remain here to meditate and cultivate!"

Finally, he raised a hand and pointed at Chen Qingyang. "This is your youngest junior brother. Go and greet him."

With that, the Master finally entered the palace. Led by Fourth Senior Brother Ji Rang, Chen Qingyang greeted everyone one by one. They were all extremely warm toward him. Even the Child who had been so huffy yesterday seemed to have completely changed his attitude.

'As expected, the Master's preference is the Child's preference,' he thought. Amid the lively conversation, an old man was slowly walking up from the mountainside below.

Chen Qingyang took a closer look and saw that it was none other than Eldest Senior Brother, Shen Chongzhou.