Chapter 223: Chapter 176: Sincere Deduction of Sword Intent, Who Will Be Named Beidou’s Champion?
Lou Zhenxiao’s brow was furrowed, showing no hint of joy. He felt no relief that Senior Brother Fu had finally fallen silent.
The two Foundation Establishment True Masters were situated atop the Dharma Tower, looking down on Goose Mountain. They appeared as if they were calmly observing from a high perch, but in truth, their Dao Hearts quivered. They had long been scared into silence by the sheer scale of this "battle between Immortals."
From the moment that transcendent fate had condensed within the Kitchen God’s Temple, the entire situation had descended into chaos.
First came the appearance of the [Shao Yang]. A brilliant speck of golden light descended from the Great Void, which even Fu Lizi and Lou Zhenxiao could glimpse from afar, despite only being in the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Immediately after, the [Thunder Core] arrived on its heels. Nine bolts of profound lightning tore through [Fengdu] in a ridiculously grand display.
That would have been one thing, at most considered a conflict on the path of the Dao between the [Shao Yang] and the [Tai Yang].
But then a magnificent voice boomed, "A Qi Cultivator felling a True Monarch deserves a great reward!" It echoed throughout the Yanfu Vast Land, heard with perfect clarity by all, from the True Masters of the Foundation Establishment Realm below to the many True Monarchs wandering the Great Void above.
Without a doubt, this was the work of a Daoist Monarch!
’This chess game between the northern and southern lands... the one placing the pieces is a Daoist Monarch! True Monarchs are merely the hands moving them!’
Fu Lizi was drenched in a cold sweat.
He had come on True Monarch Tao’s orders to welcome the [Shao Yang] into the Taifu Sect. He was also aware that all these causal machinations were meant to pave the way for Senior Brother Zhang to realize the [Shenqi].
Compared to Lou Zhenxiao, who was being kept in the dark, he naturally had a much clearer understanding of the situation’s trajectory.
But it wasn’t until he heard that magnificent, resonant Daoist voice that Fu Lizi realized with a jolt that he had been completely wrong.
Behind the chess game of the north and south was a gambit between Daoist Monarchs!
"Senior Brother Fu, do you have any idea which Daoist Monarch it was who spoke?"
Lou Zhenxiao asked, holding his breath. Among the Eight Sects that governed the Nanzhan Continent, there were very few reigning Daoist Monarchs. The Taifu Sect, for example, had only a single "Ancestor Taiyuan," who rarely made an appearance.
"It should be the Innate Sect’s ’Daoist Monarch Mingxuan’."
Fu Lizi drew a deep breath. He wracked his brain but couldn’t fathom why the Innate Sect would stick its nose in this business, let alone why it would alarm a Great Power like a Daoist Monarch!
"Daoist Monarch Xianyou Mingxuan... He and ’Ancestor Taiyuan’ have never seen eye to eye."
Lou Zhenxiao blurted out subconsciously, then quickly fell silent. How could a Lower Cultivator dare to gossip about an Upper Cultivator, let alone a Daoist Monarch who ruled over Yanfu!
"True Monarch Tao sent a message saying the Innate Sect’s next Daoist has been decided. It is none other than that new [Shao Yang] Monarch."
Fu Lizi let out a soft sigh. ’True Monarch Tao had spent so long scheming, yet it was all undone by a single word from a Daoist Monarch, which had sealed the grand outcome. No wonder they always say in the Immortal Dao that when the Great Powers among the Demon Cultivators of the Nanzhan Continent play chess, every last one of them is brutal, ready to flip the chessboard at the slightest provocation.’
"In that case, Senior Brother Zhang’s path on the Dao..."
Lou Zhenxiao began hesitantly. According to what Fu Lizi had said before, the [Shenqi] needed the support of the [Shao Yang] and also had to borrow the power of the Ghost Dao.
"Ancestor Taiyuan and True Monarch Tao would never place all the hopes for their Dharma Lineage’s Daoist upon an outsider. Gaining the [Shao Yang]’s aid would naturally be for the best, but if fate doesn’t decree it, I imagine it won’t hinder the grand plan."
Fu Lizi shook his head. How could the Taifu Sect’s ten-thousand-year plan hinge on a single [Shao Yang]?
"Besides, while the Innate Sect’s exalted Daoist position has been vacant, that’s only because the previous Daoist, Ning Hechu, failed in his attempt to ascend. He wanted to strive for the [Tude], and then seek the [Sheji]—as if it could be that easy. Now the Daoist Monarch has named an outsider as the new Daoist. I fear it’s a sign of impending chaos."
The Innate Sect’s previous Daoist, Ning Hechu, had also been a legendary figure among the Eight Sects. In the past, he and Senior Brother Zhang had engaged in ten bouts of Magical Combat, competing in every aspect from cultivation depth to Magical Power and artifact wielding. They ultimately tied with five wins and five losses, an even match that became a celebrated story.
"The thoughts and plans of a Daoist Monarch are far beyond our ability to guess. The Innate Sect is betting on the [Shao Yang], perhaps because they feel the [Tude] is incomplete and the [She] position is difficult to attain, so they’ve simply given up on Ning Hechu."
Lou Zhenxiao sighed softly. ’The path to ascension is so arduous. The more supreme and noble the Golden Position, the harder it is to win its favor and receive its acknowledgment.’
"That person can only be described as exceptional. Not only did he condense a transcendent fate and possess extraordinary fortune, but he also received the favor of a Golden Position, drew the attention of the [Shao Yang], and even withstood the punishment from the [Thunder Core]... but the most unbelievable part is that he’s still just a Qi Cultivation Cultivator!"
If the Daoist Monarch hadn’t personally announced, "A Qi Cultivator felling a True Monarch," Fu Lizi would never in a million years have believed that this new [Shao Yang] Monarch had yet to even reach Foundation Establishment.
"I hear that within the Eight Sects, many True Inheritance disciples are calling him the ’Number One Qi Cultivation Cultivator of All Time.’ Across ten thousand years, there has never been a person who could draw the gaze of a Golden Position, let alone dare to strike upwards against a True Monarch in defiance of their station, all before reaching Foundation Establishment."
Lou Zhenxiao exclaimed in sincere admiration, then raised his eyes to the water mirror.
"[Fengdu] is about to sink into the Netherworld, so he should be coming out soon. I wonder if I’ll have the good fortune to witness the splendor of this new Daoist of the Innate Sect for myself."
Fu Lizi suddenly grinned, unable to suppress his schadenfreude.
"Junior Brother Lou, your fated connection with this new Daoist of the Innate Sect must be quite profound. Just look, he’s already number one on the North Dipper Law List. HAHAHA! All those Dao Materials hoping to contend for the championship of the North and South Dipper Sword are probably going to lose their minds!"
Lou Zhenxiao was taken aback. The northern and southern regions each established their own ranking lists, recording the Life Qi of Dharma Lineages and gauging the Cultivation of Dao Materials. It was a tradition for the North and South Dipper Sword competition, meant to encourage All Cultivators to become competitive and challenge the top spots.
But by all rights, the Daoist of the Innate Sect shouldn’t be on such a list. After all, the Daoists of the Eight Sects were typically already Foundation Establishment Grand True Masters, just half a step away from ascending to their positions. Why would they go to the Dragon and Tiger Profound Altar to participate in a sword competition?
"I wonder if a Daoist Monarch took action, somehow recording the new Innate Sect Daoist’s achievement of striking down True Monarch Yingyuan Sijie of the Dongsheng Continent onto the North Dipper Law List."
Lou Zhenxiao summoned his boyish Artifact Spirit and ordered it to retrieve the list for him to inspect. Sure enough, emblazoned on the list was a single line of text: "Struck upwards against True Monarch Yingyuan Sijie, injuring his Dharma Body."
Such an achievement couldn’t be surpassed by anyone, not just in the northern and southern lands, but across the entire Yanfu Vast Land.
That new [Shao Yang] Monarch was firmly seated at the top of the North Dipper Law List—a truly well-deserved honor.
"True Monarch Yingyuan Sijie, wielder of the [Thunder Core], is going to be the butt of jokes for the next few hundred years, I’m afraid."
Fu Lizi roared with laughter. To be the first True Monarch in history to have his Dharma Body injured by a Qi Cultivation Lower Cultivator—it was an utterly unforgivable, monumental disgrace.
"It might even affect his Great Dao’s conceptual imagery, causing him to fall from a primary to a subordinate position."
Lou Zhenxiao couldn’t help but crack a smile. ’This move by Daoist Monarch Mingxuan seems like he’s just mocking a junior, but his real intent is to weaken the might of the [Thunder Core].’
The few Supreme Golden Positions upheld by the Immortal Dao all followed an ultimate path: setting the laws of heaven, promulgating the edicts of the Dao, and ensuring that those who submit flourish while those who resist perish. They were like emperors and Monarchs whose influence could topple the world and whose commands were absolute. Any event that caused them to lose face would diminish their "domineering, heroic posture."
If such incidents happened too often, they would, over time, naturally lose the ability to command respect from the masses.
"The North Dipper has three lists: the ’Law,’ ’Dao,’ and ’Artifact’ Lists..."
Fu Lizi trailed off, suddenly stunned.
"What’s wrong, Senior Brother Fu?"
Lou Zhenxiao wondered what could have possibly shocked Fu Lizi so deeply.
"First on the Law List, first on the Dao List, and first on the Artifact List! He’s swept all three, taking the North Dipper championship!"
Fu Lizi stared blankly at the North Dipper lists on the table. When he had just checked, that new [Shao Yang] Monarch had unexpectedly been number one on all three.
"’Striking Upwards Against a True Monarch,’ ’Foundation of the Heavenly Dao,’ ’True Treasure Slaying Sword’..."
Lou Zhenxiao looked closer and was also shaken. With such an illustrious record, who could possibly contend with that?
"It seems that in the upcoming North and South Dipper Sword competition, All Cultivators can only vie for second place on the northern lists. The championship is already out of their reach."
