Chapter 179: Daoist Walks the Mortal World, His Reputation Already Rising, Renewing Things Together with the People

Today’s phenomenon of the great sun suddenly being obscured was, in the mouths of ordinary people, merely a rather novel experience, something to talk about. Yet in the eyes of those with even a little cultivation, it was incomparably strange. Within the Mingzhen Dao Alliance, requests piled up like mountains, all asking for Daoist Masters with Innate One Qi, or even True Persons of higher realms, to [explain the meaning] behind this strange celestial phenomenon. 

There were Daoist Masters and temple abbots at the Innate One Qi realm who attempted to offer explanations. 

But those who had cultivated to the level of True Persons in the mortal realm all kept silent. 

As for those hidden experts possessing the talent of Human Immortals or Earth Immortals, along with the Earth Deities and Water Officials, they did not even bother asking around. 

Their conduct was as though they knew nothing whatsoever about this matter. 

Even when people came to question them directly, they simply feigned ignorance. 

What? The sun was swallowed? The Seven Mansions of the Black Tortoise shone brilliantly? Something like that actually happened?! 

Me? I don’t know anything about it! 

The higher one’s cultivation, the more fearful and wary they became, wishing only to stay as far away from it as possible. 

Who would still dare to crowd forward and investigate? 

Yet the aftereffects still had not faded away. Faintly, it seemed as though the atmosphere of the entire world had improved somewhat. No one wished to attract the attention of that group of ruthless figures. And within the Central Plains, as reinforcements arrived from every direction, the region finally managed to catch its breath after the previous calamity. With the renewed flow of people from the other lands, the Central Plains was gradually recovering its vitality. 

The white-haired young Daoist still went into the city to heal the sick and save people, while during his free time, he slowly adjusted and recuperated his own condition. 

The armor of the True Lord upon his Primordial Spirit had already been removed. Without the support of the Northern Pole Exorcism Court and that overwhelming tide of momentum, he was still merely an ordinary young Daoist. Innate One Qi depleted, damaged Dao foundation, three Jiazi of lifespan severed away—whether he could even cultivate to the True Person realm remained uncertain. Whenever he refined Qi, he could clearly sense the emptiness and weakness within himself.

During the previous calamity in the Central Plains, when Qi Wuhuo gathered together the mountains and rivers, Earth Deities, and Human Dao fortune of the Central Plains to form the Xuantan Grand Jiao Ritual and slash out that sword, the prerequisite had been the use of Lingbao methods to refine the traces of the mountains, rivers, and Earth Deities into a painted scroll. The sword struck forth, and the scroll was completed as well. That previously blank paper scroll had already grown much larger, and upon it was densely painted the scenery of the Central Plains across several thousand li. 

Naturally formed, whether in origin or craftsmanship, it could truly be called a work of divine craftsmanship. 

Even the greatest painter beneath Heaven would find it impossible to paint such scenery. 

However, the Lianyang Sword and the little peacock had eaten their fill. 

The young Daoist examined the sword in his hand. Originally, the Lianyang Sword had possessed the appearance of an ancient sword, hanging upon Lüzu Tower, exposed to wind, sun, and rain. Afterwards, after several instances of devouring flesh and blood, it had turned blood-colored, faintly sinister, and inauspicious. But now, after swallowing that Emperor’s blood, the blood-red hue upon the blade had receded. Under normal circumstances, it now faintly revealed a pale golden radiance, upright and grand. 

As for the little peacock, after returning, it had eaten itself full and directly fallen asleep in one breath. 

When it woke up, the little Daoist Mingxin discovered the changes that had occurred to the little peacock and happily ran out shouting, “Martial Uncle Qi, Martial Uncle Qi, look! Yuntun has grown feathers!” 

The little peacock itself was still muddleheaded, even walking unsteadily, but it truly had grown feathers now. Previously, the little peacock had only possessed a body of soft down, but now it had several very long tail feathers. 

Blazing like gold, brilliant like fire. 

And while Qi Wuhuo was playing with the little peacock, he unexpectedly discovered that it seemed capable of displaying a trace of supernatural power. 

Moreover, it was a fire-aspect divine ability. Opening its mouth, it could spit out a ball of golden flames. 

The terrifying heat was enough to melt gold and iron with ease. 

Even Innate One Qi faintly gave rise to the illusion of being scorched apart by the blazing heat. 

Even the young Daoist was somewhat astonished, asking in confusion, “Just what exactly did you eat?” 

The little peacock refused to say anything, merely smugly showing off its new feathers. However, viewed from afar, the little peacock—still only a fledgling now—looked even more like a little three-yellow chick than before. Yue Shiru was also extremely curious. Within the Daoist Sect, he had once browsed through many ancient records, yet he had never seen any peacock spirit bird capable of controlling flame divine abilities. 

Peacocks were mostly aligned with the wood aspect as their foundation, capable of healing illnesses, dispelling poison, and offering blessings. 

So, where had such an overbearing flame foundation come from? 

He very much wanted to seize the little peacock and properly study it for a while, but unfortunately, the little peacock, Qi Yuntun, absolutely refused to let him touch it. The little fellow treasured its newly grown feathers immensely. Aside from Qi Wuhuo, no one was allowed to touch them. Even the little Daoist Mingxin, who played with it very well, had only been allowed to touch them once. 

It felt delicate and warm to the touch. 

That night, the little Daoist Mingxin dreamed of the great sun revolving endlessly like a wheel of fire. 

The next morning, he woke up with enormous dark circles beneath his eyes. 

Then, for no apparent reason at all, he suddenly learned the Fire-Raising Xuantan that he had been unable to master for a very long time. 

“True Person Qi, today you are going to…” 

That day, when Yue Shiru saw the young Daoist rise and leave the Daoist temple without carrying his medicine basket, he was somewhat surprised. 

The young Daoist replied, “I am going to meet an ‘old acquaintance’.” 

Yue Shiru nodded. When he saw the young Daoist departing, the Lianyang Sword hung at his waist. It seemed unwilling to enter the sword case, nor willing to once more be hung upon Lüzu Tower. One of his Patriarch’s reasons for sending him down the mountain, aside from searching for the one foretold in dreams, had been to take away this sword and then choose a sword master capable of wielding it. 

Now, these two sect missions no longer seemed necessary to continue searching for. Earlier, this sword had shattered the words left upon its blade by Patriarch Lü through his divine ability. Clearly, it had already made its own choice. Though speaking of it, it was also about time for him to leave Lianyang Temple and continue wandering beneath Heaven, just like his other senior and junior brothers, searching for that foretold dreamer. 

He would also need to discuss this matter with the True Persons and Daoist Masters. 

Yue Shiru pondered silently in his heart. 

The young Daoist departed from Lianyang Temple and, using the Earth Escape Technique, directly entered deep beneath the earth. When Earth Deities used earth escape methods, they relied upon the earth veins for rapid movement. Now that Qi Wuhuo had already reached the level of the earth veins, he did not stop there, but instead continued downward, using the Earth Deities’ earth escape methods to step into an even deeper region. 

Beneath the earth veins lay the place where all baleful Qi and foul Qi circulated. 

The so-called [Earthly Fiend]. 

Previously, the great Heaven and Earth Array had been destroyed, causing distortions in the foul Qi produced at the seven great nodes, including the entire Central Plains. Over the following several hundred years—or even several thousand years—this would often bring all sorts of influences upon the living beings of this region, and thus it had to be regulated. Yet such regulation was no ordinary matter. 

The various turbid and baleful Qi here, if leaked outside, would be enough to drive ordinary living creatures insane, much less slowly regulating the Earthly Fiend within this place. 

The young Daoist walked forward slowly and could already feel an extremely scorching heat. 

Ahead, the baleful Qi resembled molten lava, tangled and turbid, transforming into a vast and boundless sea of Qi. At times, the baleful Qi mixed together with the resentment of humans and the unwillingness of demons, attempting to transform into demonic monstrosities and evil aberrations that would pierce through the earth veins and enter the mortal world. Yet they were all firmly suppressed by a vast aura, ultimately collapsing and flowing back into the Earthly Fiend once more. And at the center of this sea, like blazing lava and also like an ocean of evil thoughts and poisonous miasma, a great azure dragon stood there heavily and silently. 

Eighteen chains bound this azure dragon. 

Within the void circulated Earth Spirit Baleful Thunder, one of the Five Thunders. 

Every three days, Five Thunders struck its crown. 

Every seven days, ten thousand swords pierced its heart. 

Naturally, Heavenly Officials subordinate to the Thunder Department, the Dipper Department, and the Four Duty Merit Officers came here to keep records. This dragon was required to endure eight hundred years of punishment, regulating the Earthly Fiend of the Central Plains to restore it to its original flourishing state before there would even be a possibility of release. And even if released, it would still have to go to the Northern Pole Exorcism Court to serve as a vanguard, charging into the fiercest battles until dying upon that road. 

A Merit Officer manifested and was about to sternly rebuke the young Daoist, saying, “This place is a heavily restricted region of the Earthly Fiend!” 

“A major criminal is imprisoned here. Who are you, to dare come to this place?!” 

“Withdraw immediately!” 

The young Daoist replied, “I am the Earth Deity of Helian Mountain in the Central Plains.” 

“I came here to see the Jing River Dragon King.” 

The Merit Officer responsible for the Central Plains frowned slightly. The officers exchanged glances with one another before sending a memorial upward through the Heavenly Register. 

Within the Heavenly Court, the Immortal Official among the Four Duty Merit Officers who received this message had originally intended to reject it outright and order the their subordinate Officials beneath him to drive that Earth Deity away. Yet for some reason, when he raised his brush to write the response, his spirituality faintly stirred with unease. After remaining silent for a long time, he still chose to follow the warning of his own spirit nature and replied: 

“It matters not. It is merely something akin to prison visitation in the mortal world. Give him the time of one incense stick.” 

At the Earthly Fiend region of the Central Plains, that Merit Officer was surprised. 

He was rather curious why his usually severe superior had been willing to make an exception today. Thus, he slightly cupped his hands and said: 

“Then, Mountain God of Helian Mountain, please proceed.” 

“You have the time of one incense stick.” 

“Many thanks.” 

The young Daoist walked into this execution ground and saw that the Earthly Fiend Qi had almost condensed into physical substance. Within the mortal world, there were schools that cultivated sword arts that only needed to temper their blades here once to elevate the quality of their treasured swords to another level. From this alone, one could know how fierce this baleful Qi was. Qi Wuhuo walked into its midst while the Merit Officer waited outside. 

The baleful Qi stirred slightly. That azure dragon, like a stone sculpture suppressing the baleful Qi, slowly opened its eyes. 

Those eyes looked toward the young Daoist before him, without sorrow or joy. 

“So it is the Daoist Master who has come.” 

“Forgive me for being unable to welcome you.” 

“It matters not.” 

The young Daoist looked at Ao Wulie before him. In merely a little over a month, this young azure dragon had transformed from his former arrogant and overbearing self, disdainful of all things, into the aura he possessed now. Calamity alone could shape a person. Qi Wuhuo did not say much, merely speaking softly: “The origin of the Central Plains incident was the Heavenly Court’s Eastern Radiance Great Emperor.” 

“He has already been slain by the Northern Pole Exorcism Court.” 

“This matter has likewise been downgraded and transferred to the Heavenly Pivot Academy for handling.” 

The pair of eyes that had held neither sorrow nor joy suddenly erupted with emotion. Even the Earthly Fiend Qi of this place surged violently due to the change in his emotions. The young Daoist gave a slight nod and then turned to leave. He had only come here to tell Ao Wulie this one matter. 

Now that the matter had been conveyed, there was no need for him to remain here any longer. 

Ao Wulie’s voice was hoarse: “You… wait a moment.” 

The young Daoist turned back around, his expression calm. “What else is there?” 

Ao Wulie fell silent for a moment before saying: “A few days ago, my father once traveled to the Demon Kingdom to escort one of my younger female cousins to another branch of the Dragon Clan. But in truth, he also sought an item from my cousin—a demon-slaying artifact once used by her father. My father had hoped to use this item to suppress the demonic miasma of the Central Plains, and thus undertook this journey…” 

“But in the end, it still failed.” 

“Now my father is gone, and I am trapped here, unable to leave until eight hundred years have passed. I ask that Daoist Master deliver this treasure to my younger sister. Her name is Ao Qing, and she is presently within the Demon Kingdom. Upon this treasure remains a trace of her divine sense. Once Daoist Master obtains it, you will be able to find her.” 

Ao Wulie slightly opened his mouth. Brilliant radiance burst forth from the dragon pearl, and then an object was sent out from within it. 

It was the treasure Qi Wuhuo had seen Ao Liu use during the calamity of the Central Plains—the treasure capable of releasing threads of rain like woven silk, binding those demons and monsters corrupted by evil Qi and miasma so they could not recklessly move. Now that he saw its true form, it resembled a net, yet every single strand emitted a pure and limpid flowing radiance, clearly extraordinary. 

Ao Wulie said, “If entrusted to others, I would not feel at ease.” 

“Then I shall trouble Daoist Master with it.” 

Ao Wulie slightly lowered his head, causing the chains to ring out. These chains extended directly into the earth veins of the entire Central Plains, as though binding this azure dragon to the countless great mountains of the Central Plains. Incomparably heavy, he would have to maintain this posture for eight hundred years. Suddenly, streams of light appeared, and from the skies above, sword Qi began to howl. 

Outside, the Merit Officer said: “Mountain God, you should come out now.” 

“It is already time for the seven-day punishment.” 

The young Daoist slightly cupped his hands, his sleeve sweeping lightly as he stored this Dragon Clan treasure within his sleeve. 

He had accepted this request. 

Then he departed. Behind him, he could hear the sound of ten thousand swords erupting forth together, piercing through scales and stabbing into flesh, along with Ao Wulie’s muffled groans as he forcibly endured it. The scent of blood descended, stirring the Earthly Fiend into circulation, becoming ever more turbulent. The Earthly Fiend Qi resembled molten lava, surging and rolling as though it sought to swallow the entire azure dragon Ao Wulie within it. 

It seeped into the flesh around his heart, producing sounds of corrosion. 

The young Daoist knew Ao Wulie’s temperament and did not linger, walking outward step by step. 

And after he had departed— 

Ao Wulie’s body trembled. In the end, he could no longer endure that agony greater than death itself. His body shook violently as he released howl after howl, roars of pain that had reached the utmost extreme. Five Thunders struck his crown, ten thousand swords pierced his heart. The flesh and blood of the Dragon Clan could preserve his body from death, yet every time his injuries were close to healing, the next round would arrive, causing the pain to intensify each time. 

At the same time, his body remained suppressed atop the Earthly Fiend, enduring incomparably intense corrosive agony every single moment. 

The price of remaining alive was ten thousand times more painful than dying and entering reincarnation. 

As Qi Wuhuo slowly walked out, he saw ahead of him Lingmiao Gong leading a group of Earth Deities here. Among them were the foremost Earth Deities of the Central Plains, the chief of the Mountain Gods, and the Great Elder Land God, along with the foremost Water Official beneath only the Jing River. They had likely also come to inform Ao Wulie that the true mastermind behind the scenes had already been punished according to the law, only to discover someone had arrived before them. 

When they saw the young Daoist with white hair at his temples, their expressions all shifted slightly. 

Some were fearful, some ashamed, some incomparably complicated, and there were even those who wished to curry favor with him. 

The myriad states of living beings were all different from one another. 

The young Daoist raised one hand in a Daoist salute and slightly nodded. 

He did not stop walking. 

Nor did he speak. 

He merely walked step by step past them, Daoist robes flowing, pure and natural. That was all. 

At this moment, within the imperial capital, several civil officials wearing crimson robes embroidered with qilin knelt upon the ground and submitted a memorial, saying: 

“Reporting to the Sage Human Emperor.” 

“Congratulations to Your Majesty, felicitations to Your Majesty.” 

“Through reliance upon Your Majesty’s grace, the realm beneath Heaven is now peaceful across the four seas.” 

“The Sage Human Emperor fasted, bathed, and purified himself for seven days. Even Heaven and Earth were moved by the Sage’s heart; and the common people throughout the four seas are all moved to tears in gratitude. They submit memorials saying that the Sage Human Emperor must also take care of the sacred body and must not grieve excessively for the people, harming the sacred form and thereby damaging affairs of state. Would that not be abandoning great matters for the sake of small compassion?” 

“And now, because of the Sage’s benevolence and virtue, the calamity of the Central Plains has also eased.” 

“All affairs and all things have already returned to their proper course. Yet the great affairs of nation and state cannot be neglected.” 

“This minister requests that the Sage Human Emperor end the fast.” 

“Additionally, regarding the era name [Shengde] proposed during the great sacrificial rites, this minister privately believes it is inappropriate. ‘Sacred’ is too lofty and too distant from the common people.” 

“The great rites should be renewed, and the era name changed to ‘Rende’.” [TL_Note: Shengde = Sacred Virtue / Rende = Benevolent Virtue]

“To pray for blessings upon the people of the Central Plains, and to celebrate on behalf of the people of the Central Plains.” 

“This shall be called renewing things together with the people.” 

“To rejoice together with the people!” 

The many officials who had come all kowtowed, speaking of renewing things together with the people, saying they would rejoice together with the people. 

That Human Emperor clad in white slightly lifted his eyes and calmly said: 

“Granted.” 

Thus, that very afternoon, the Crown Prince received the news that the Sage Human Emperor intended to recommence the grand ceremony from before. He quietly let out a sigh of relief, then turned and walked into the inner chamber, opening a wooden box. His hand stroked the scroll carefully stored within. In his heart was both the relief of having left the lands of the Central Plains early and also a nervousness toward the opportunities and challenges soon to come. 

“At last, it is finally going to be submitted.” 

“The Great Roc Ode!”