Demon Cultivator with Celestial Book

Chapter 348: Chapter 248: Pity the Mortals, for Their Hardships Are Many

In the time it takes to have a cup of tea, the line of golden light that split the heavens and the earth revealed a massive gap.

Faint immortal music, a melody of bells and chimes, drifted out from within. It sounded like a hymn of praise, and also like a chanted mantra, floating all around above the waters of the Dian River.

Jiang Yi focused his gaze. He could see large clusters of spiritual clouds surging upward, and streaks of auspicious light illuminating the surroundings. The great world shone like a colossal lampstand.

Just then, the brilliant gold Talisman Decree he held suddenly grew scorching hot, like a red-hot branding iron.

"Daoist, we will go on ahead."

Feng Yuan tossed his Talisman Decree. It spun rapidly in mid-air, casting down thousands of golden rays that enveloped him.

He then formed a hand seal, using the Talisman Decree to guide the golden light and share it with the two junior disciples from Li Peak.

A moment later, the great world rumbled and pulled Feng Yuan and his group in first.

’Inside this Talisman Decree... there are voices...’

Jiang Yi held the Talisman Decree, infusing it with his True Qi and Magical Power. He could faintly hear a clamor of voices from within.

His Divine Sense, residing within his Primordial Gate, stirred. Like wisps of blue smoke from a burning incense stick, it twined around his True Qi and Magical Power, causing several scenes to inexplicably flash before his eyes.

"...begging the Exalted Ones from beyond this world... to save us from suffering and hardship..."

A flicker of doubt crossed Jiang Yi’s eyes. ’The native inhabitants of Juku Continent see these True Disciples from the Ancestral Sects as living Bodhisattvas, here to relieve their suffering?’

He had no time for deep thought. The brilliant gold Talisman Decree grew increasingly hotter, and following Feng Yuan’s example, he tossed it into the air.

An immense vibratory force erupted instantly. Golden light rippled out like water, washing over his body again and again.

"Lady Xiaoqiao, True Master Shao, let’s meet again in the spirit realm."

Jiang Yi didn’t dally. He split the golden light covering his body and guided it to Xiaoqiao and True Master Shao.

He then spun in mid-air, transforming into a streak of light and plunging swiftly into the opened expanse of the Juku Continent.

"I wonder if the Daoist will be able to successfully reach Foundation Establishment this time."

Worry filled Qu Liu’er’s eyes. The Innate Sect’s fortune had already been damaged when Daoist Hechu failed on the very cusp of attaining the Golden Position, causing them to fall behind the Taifu Sect and the Hunlun Sect.

If Daoist Jiang failed in his Foundation Establishment, she feared the Eight Peaks True Inheritance would find it difficult to ever distinguish itself again.

A Daoist Lineage and its disciples always rise and fall as one.

This was the fundamental reason why the Eight Peaks Grotto-heaven had been so critical when Patriarch Mingxuan first appointed a Daoist with an outside surname.

It was the same for a True Disciple of a peak and the disciples of their Grotto-heaven. If the former failed to display their brilliance and prove their mettle, the latter would not receive the generous treatment and grand opportunities bestowed by the sect.

Over time, complaints would inevitably arise.

Once that popular support was lost, the Upper Court would naturally back other disciples, allowing them to challenge the incumbent True Disciple, or even advise the True Monarch to force them to abdicate.

It could be said that for the Daoist of a sect...

...their honor and disgrace, their successes and failures, were never a purely personal affair.

Their fate was enough to sway the rise and fall of the entire Ancestral Sect’s destiny!

"After Zhang Yuansheng’s ascension, the Taifu Sect produced over a hundred new Foundation Establishment True Masters in one fell swoop... In the coming Immortal-Demon War, the Mingcang Marsh forces will be formidable."

Yuan Xiao’s eyebrows were sharply defined, his gaze piercing:

"The Nanzhan Continent is destined for turmoil over the next sixty years. Who knows how many candidates for True Monarch will emerge."

Qu Liu’er said charmingly:

"I hope we can both achieve our ascension."

Yuan Xiao’s expression was full of pride:

"That is only natural."

As the two spoke, their Talisman Decrees also activated, flying out and pulling them into the realm.

Seeing the Taifu Sect get a head start, Nie Ying of the Hunlun Sect snorted coldly:

"Sooner or later, we’ll see who comes out on top!"

With that, he too released his Talisman Decree and awaited passage.

Before long, the once-bustling Five Elders Peak grew quiet and deserted, with not a soul in sight.

’Inside Juku Continent, opportunities are everywhere... I wonder if the Innate Sect’s Daoist Jiang can seize them.’

Yue Ziqi, for his part, had no intention of causing trouble for him.

True Disciples from the Ancestral Sects were not so shortsighted.

A Fate Shuzi like Jiang Yi, burdened with great karma, could alter the mechanisms of heaven with a single move.

Yue Ziqi wished he could keep his distance. What if his Heart Spirit was led astray and Tribulation Qi invaded his heart, causing him to do something foolish and court his own death?

Wouldn’t that make him a mere stepping stone for Jiang Yi to advance his cultivation and temper his Dao path!

’Senior Brother Zhang is already a True Monarch. No matter how exceptional Daoist Jiang’s talent may be, it’s impossible for him to catch up and surpass him.’

At this thought, a look of anticipation lit up Yue Ziqi’s eyes. ’Once my True Qi breaks through the Shell Gate and forges my Dao Foundation, the moment I step into the Foundation Establishment Realm, I’ll be at the Perfection of the First Layer.’

’The next time we have a Magical Combat, I might have a chance to learn a thing or two from Daoist Jiang!’

This True Disciple from the Taifu Sect gazed up at the sky. As his Talisman Decree shook violently, he transformed into a streak of light and was gone!

...

...

Within the vast, boundless void, the True Monarchs of the Eight Sects stood, each with a unique form.

One appeared as a vast celestial river, its waves surging. Another was a boundless sea of fire where a Golden Crow soared, burning mountains and boiling oceans. Yet another was a verdant, divine tree, ancient and immense, towering from the deepest ravines to pierce the highest heavens...

"The Innate Sect shows little regard for the rules."

A True Monarch with long, flowing hair, clad in a Daoist Robe embroidered with a Golden Crow, frowned.

"While Juku Continent can indeed accommodate a True Monarch, which sect has ever sent a disciple inside with a True Monarch as their guardian?"

This venture to open the Juku Continent was spearheaded by three sects: the Innate Sect, the Taifu Sect, and the Hunlun Sect.

Thus, most of the True Disciples who crossed the Dian River to reach Five Elders Peak belonged to these three Ancestral Sects.

The one who had spoken was True Monarch Xinghuo Fuming of the Hunlun Sect.

"How is the exalted status of a Daoist not worthy of a True Monarch’s protection?"

The True Monarch from the Innate Sect presiding over the situation was none other than True Monarch Cunyuan Cunjing, who had not left her mountain for a long time.

Her figure was slender and graceful, and she stood upon a vast expanse of misty waves:

"If True Monarch Fuming objects, he is welcome to take it up with our Patriarch and have the Daoist’s unique honor revoked."

"True Monarch Lu, are you using the Patriarch to pressure me?"

True Monarch Xinghuo Fuming’s brow furrowed. He had attained the Thunder Fire Dao Fruit and achieved his position through the Fire Virtue.

Based on the very imagery of their Great Daos, he was naturally at odds with True Monarch Lu.

"I am merely stating that our sect’s Daoist is acting in accordance with precedent. It is not True Monarch Fuming’s place to criticize."