Chapter 967: Me? (II)

The Divine Ruins Monastery was as quiet and peaceful as ever.

Yang Buwei was sweeping fallen leaves in front of the courtyard. When he saw the Whale-Riding Immortal, he instinctively tightened his grip on the broom.

"I’m not here to beat you today," the Whale-Riding Immortal said with a chuckle. "We’ve come to see the monastery overseer."

"Hmph." Yang Buwei turned his head away and pretended not to see them.

Bai Yuxian led the two of them through the Divine Ruins Monastery with steady steps, passing through buildings and courtyards until they reached the main hall.

Bai Wuxiang, the monastery overseer, was already seated inside, holding a steaming cup of tea. His gaze was fixed straight ahead, as if he had been waiting for them. Only when he saw Chu Liang and the others did a smile appear on his face.

"You’re back," Bai Wuxiang said.

"This junior of ours has something he needs your help with," Bai Yuxian said flatly. "We’re all family here, so don’t make things too difficult for him."

Bai Wuxiang replied with a mild, slightly aggrieved smile. "As long as it’s within the rules, when have I ever made things hard for anyone? Tell me. What is it?"

Chu Liang stepped forward and spoke solemnly. "I want to borrow the Cauldron of the Great Dao."

He then recounted how Evil Ksitigarbha had rampaged through Mount Shu and how Tuntun had died after a fierce battle against him.

After explaining everything, Chu Liang said, "I believe Senior Brother Yuan witnessed what happened at Mount Shu, so I assume you’ve already heard. Now that Tuntun’s life essence is close to dissipating, I want to save her as soon as I can. I’ve gained some enlightenment in the Great Dao of Creation and want to give it a try. But I don’t know how long it will take to attain the Heavenly Origin on my own. That’s why I am hoping to borrow the Cauldron of the Great Dao."

"You wish to attain the Heavenly Origin quickly?" Bai Wuxiang murmured. "The Cauldron of the Great Dao could help with that, but it will not be easy. Entering the cauldron comes with great risk. If your breakthrough fails, you will lose yourself inside it forever. The more profound a Dao is, the harder it becomes to reach the eighth realm with it. That also means the danger increases.

"With your talent, you could have reached the Heavenly Origin easily by following a simpler Dao. The Great Dao of Creation is extremely profound. In fact, it is one of the most difficult Daos of all. You would be putting everything at risk, and even one mistake could cause you to lose yourself forever."

"I’m not afraid," Chu Liang said firmly. "All I ask is that you tell me the price I must pay."

"The price..." Bai Wuxiang muttered, pausing to think.

He then continued, "If I help you attain the Heavenly Origin, I would be interfering in the affairs of the mortal realm. That goes against the rules. If you want to borrow the Cauldron of the Great Dao, then you must do something for me in return."

"Please tell me," Chu Liang replied.

"If you fail to ascend, then you’ll be lost, and that will be the end of it. But if you succeed, I want you to slay Evil Ksitigarbha," Bai Wuxiang said.

Huh?

Chu Liang froze for a moment and managed to utter only a single word. "Me?"

He looked carefully at Bai Wuxiang to make sure he hadn’t misheard. The one mentioned was Evil Ksitigarbha, a celestial devil from the upper realm and someone even the Demon God could not defeat. Even if the Demon God had been the weakest ninth-realm existence in history, it was still a ninth-realm existence.

Even if he succeeded in the Cauldron of the Great Dao, he would still only be at the eighth realm.

If you want me dead, just say so.

Chu Liang thought.

"I can lend you Deity Pan’s Bone, and I won’t interfere with how many resources or people you choose to use. I only ask that you slay that devil," said Bai Wuxiang. "Celestial devils are like a ticking toxic bomb that would disintegrate this world. Their goal is to devour everything in this realm before leaving, and that is something the Laws of Ascension absolutely forbid. But until he actually crosses that line, I am not allowed to act against him."

If the Divine Ruins Monastery could act based on the vague excuse of someone having the intent to harm the mortal realm, there would be too much room for gray areas. They could use the power left behind by Hallowed Li to eliminate anyone, as long as they claimed it was based on judgment. When the forces of justice are abused, they become more dangerous than evil itself.

That was why, according to the rules Hallowed Li had left behind, the Divine Ruins Monastery was absolutely forbidden from interfering in mortal affairs unless the Laws of Ascension were clearly broken. It was an ironclad law.

"Now that he is severely weakened after his battle with the Demon God, you should be capable of eliminating him," Bai Wuxiang said, looking at Chu Liang. "Can you do it?"

"Of course I can," Chu Liang answered without hesitation.

He had expected the condition to be something harsh or difficult. However, eliminating Evil Ksitigarbha was already something he had hoped to do. And if Bai Wuxiang could also provide the location of his hideout, then all the better.

With all terms agreed upon, the Bai Wuxiang swept out his sleeve. A thunderous sound echoed through the hall as a massive cauldron descended to the ground. Its surface was covered in profound sigils that made one’s head spin just by looking at them.

"This is your final warning. Once you enter, there is a real chance you may never come back out," Bai Wuxiang said seriously. "Are you sure you still want to go in?"

"Yes," Chu Liang replied without the slightest hesitation.

"You’re very confident," Bai Wuxiang said with a small smile. "You didn’t even leave a will this time."

"I did," Chu Liang replied while staring at Bai Wuxiang. "I just handed it to someone else. I didn’t let Senior Brother Yuan know."

Ever since Chu Liang found out that Senior Brother Yuan was one of Bai Wuxiang’s three thousand incarnations, he had become a little more cautious around him. At the very least, he no longer shared any of his core secrets. Whenever he ran into that square-faced man outside, he would instinctively lower his voice.

Bai Wuxiang let out a sigh. "If only I hadn’t told you."

Chu Liang cast him a speechless look and thought to himself,

You might not have wanted to tell me, but I’m not blind.

That square face and blocky head look just like Senior Brother Yuan’s. Even if you were burned to ash, your bones would still be square. How could I possibly not recognize you?

...

Across the lands of the Yu Dynasty, in the Western Province, the recent changes in the skies had caused widespread fear at first.

However, over time, people began to grow used to them. The blinding flames that covered the West Sea, the swirling black chaos hanging over the South Sea, and the starlight that never faded from the skies above the Western Province had all become part of daily life.

Eventually, the common folk began to wonder who would become the next Hallowed One. As ordinary people, they had no idea how the ascension to the ninth realm worked. All they hoped for was that the next Hallowed One would be human.

According to ancient legend, whichever race gave rise to a Hallowed One would rule the mortal realm for at least a thousand years. If the demon race were to gain another Hallowed figure, the human race might once again fall into hardship.

If the one who ascended was a kind-hearted demon, it might not be too bad. At most, they would lead the demon race to rise. But if it were a wicked one, then the bloodshed from three thousand years ago could return.

At the moment, among all the cultivators nearing ascension that could be seen, only the Heavenly Star Grand Ancestor was human.

Thus, the Heavenly Star Grand Ancestor had the highest support among human civilians. If the title of Hallowed One could be attained by voting, he would surely be elected without a doubt.

The people of the Southern Regions might still feel some attachment to the Mount Shu Sect, while those in the Northern Regions still held faint hopes for the Noble Dharma. Although the imperial court had revealed that he had faked his death and that Evil Ksitigarbha had been drawn to the world because of him, the Holy Mountain had deep roots in the north and many devoted followers.

Until they saw it with their own eyes, a great many believers refused to accept that Noble Dharma had turned to the dark path.

Compared to the huge number of people who supported the Heavenly Star Grand Ancestor, the other groups were small and didn’t matter much.

Lately, people from all over the world had been visiting the Western Province. Drawn by the star shining brightly in the daytime sky, they came as if on a pilgrimage. It was as if they wanted to show their respect early to the human they believed would become the next Hallowed One.

Inside a cave dwelling above the Celestial King Sect, the Heavenly Star Grand Ancestor sat quietly on a round platform. He wore white robes and looked calm as he focused on the stars above.

The Morning Star in the sky shone brighter, sparkling in time with the Heavenly Star Grand Ancestor’s breathing and flow of energy, glowing as brightly as the sun and moon. If he succeeded in his cultivation, this star, known as the White Star, would become just as important as the sun and moon, standing high above all other stars.

As he meditated in silence, a dark cloud slowly drifted in from the distance. Bit by bit, it covered the shining Morning Star.

This was the power of chaotic mass.

Suddenly, the Heavenly Star Grand Ancestor opened his eyes, and his voice rumbled like thunder.

"I live far from the South Sea. We have always stayed out of each other’s way," he said. "So why has the Grand Ancestor Wuchao come to disrupt my cultivation?"

Though his voice roared like thunder, no one nearby could hear it. Instead, it traveled straight across the land to the South Sea, where it echoed over the waves and stirred the ocean into a storm.

Boooooooom!

The people of the Western Province had no idea what was happening in the South Sea. All they saw was the sky darken as the bright stars were swallowed by black mist. Fear quickly spread through the land.

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

At that moment, divine fire swept across the sky beneath the dark clouds, and a piercing cry echoed through the heavens!

"You may not meddle in the affairs of the South Sea, but you are blocking my path." The Divine Phoenix King’s powerful voice echoed across the Western Province. "Heavenly Star Grand Ancestor, today you have only two choices. Step aside, or die."