Chapter 154: Chapter 133: One Plants the Tree, Another Reaps the Fruit; The Tangled Web of Karma

The position of the Thunder Core has existed for ages!

Legend has it that it was claimed in antiquity. Through countless eons, it has risen and fallen, yet it has always been held by the Immortal Dao, never falling into other hands.

Even when that unparalleled grandmaster of the Demon Dao—who twice ascended the throne, possessing the supreme positions of She and Ji—forcibly struck down the sky-high Thunder Core to fulfill the four-word prophecy, "Rampant Thunder Annihilates Earth."

But the Daoist imagery governed by the Thunder Core has always coexisted with the heavens—magnificent, grand, and fiercely majestic, never diminishing in the slightest.

Especially in the current Yanfu Vast Land, the Great Powers of the Immortal Dao have repeatedly made their moves, seizing every advantage.

They elevated the Five Elements to set the foundation, raised Tai Yang to illuminate the cosmos, established the celestial order to suppress the four corners of the world, and spread the laws of the Dao to govern all Cultivators.

Under these arrangements, the Thunder Core stood firm, its Daoist imagery growing more powerful than ever before.

However, the might of Tai Yang was so overwhelming, holding the most prominent position in the Immortal Dao, that it made the Thunder Core seem insignificant by comparison.

But to Demon Cultivators, the Thunder Core was more feared than Tai Yang.

After all, it imposed too many restrictions, tying their hands and feet. It was truly unpleasant.

’The power of Thunder Techniques is just ferocious, carrying out heaven’s punishment! Anyone detested by the heavens and denied its favor gets beaten like a father beating his son! And you can’t even fight back!’

Huang Zishang slowly withdrew his True Qi, descended from the roiling flames, and landed in Hanyang Prefecture City.

The long street was littered with corpses, most of them dried husks, their Essence Qi drained by Fierce Fiends and ghostly creatures.

He lightly stroked his three-stranded beard and walked forward as if seeing nothing, stepping into the deathly silent Huang Family Mansion.

’Next, I just have to wait for the Thunder Core to deliver its punishment and scatter the two Fierce Fiends. Then I can use my own methods to subdue them and imprison them within my body.’

’Once that’s done, the gateway to Fengdu will open a crack.’

’I’ve also studied a bit of the Youquan Sect’s Nine Nether Transformation and Evil-Subduing Technique. The True Master’s long-term plan is finally bearing fruit. It’s truly a solid plan.’

Huang Zishang’s thoughts drifted. When he first became a disciple of True Master Kang of the Zhao You Sect, he was deemed an excellent material for cultivating Fire Life and was taught the Qi Cultivation Fourth Grade technique, the Dragon Transformation Nine Flames True Technique.

As expected, he thereafter found gathering and refining all sorts of Spiritual Energy related to Ding Fire to be effortless. His Cultivation rose like a boat on a swelling tide, right up to the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer.

’In my fifty years of Cultivation, I have yet to encounter a single obstacle or difficulty.’

Huang Zishang’s eyes were filled with arrogance. He stepped over piles of scattered, burnt ashes as a faint, blurry candle flame appeared behind his head, illuminating the area around him.

’A mere branch family, a Fifth-Grade Clan, dares to dream of becoming a Foundation Establishment Dao Race? They have no idea that for some Opportunities, it is a great transgression for a Lower Cultivator to even think about them!’

He snorted coldly and stood with his hands behind his back, silently waiting for the Thunder Core’s punishment to release its Qi Mechanism and draw out the hidden Fengdu on Goose Mountain.

...

...

「In the Gao Village ancestral hall」

The rumble of thunder seeped through the eaves and roof tiles.

Jiang Yi held up True Master Xuanmiao, who was curled up in his arms as if digesting a meal, and looked into his amber eyes.

"Cat Master, how can we let the Immortal Dao run so rampant here in the Nanzhan Continent? With Tai Yang reigning over the day and the Thunder Core hanging in the sky, they’re showing us no respect at all."

True Master Xuanmiao raised his chubby face, revealing a trace of majesty, and replied seriously:

"That’s where you’re mistaken, Xiao Jiang. While the Immortal Dao has been dominant for five thousand years, the Demon Dao can hardly be called weak. It’s still a titan of Yanfu, a great power of the Vast Land, firmly holding the second seat among the four great Daoist Lineages.

It’s just that Golden Positions have a ’Sign of Manifestation,’ which not even a Great Power can easily obstruct.

The might of Tai Yang and the punishment of the Thunder Core both fall into this category."

Jiang Yi had been joking, but seeing True Master Xuanmiao’s solemn tone, he immediately put on a serious expression and nodded.

"What you say makes sense, Cat Master. In that case, our Demon Dao must also have True Monarch positions that can emit a ’Sign of Manifestation,’ right?"

True Master Xuanmiao scratched his whiskers, seeming somewhat wary and unwilling to comment freely. He said vaguely:

"Of course we do. The ’Venerable Virtue and Immeasurable Silence Daoist Monarch’ from the Primordial Erosion Sect is one such example.

It’s just that what this figure represents isn’t convenient to speak of directly. Anyway, if you had to pick the most hated Daoist Monarch in the history of the Yanfu Vast Land, if he isn’t number one, he’s definitely number two."

"Oh? Tell me more, Cat Master."

Jiang Yi’s interest was piqued.

’The Thunder Core’s punishment should take a while. Besides, I’m right here on Goose Mountain. As soon as the Fengdu gateway opens, I can seize the Dense and Evil Qi and sneak inside.’

’That True Master from the Zhao You Sect is after the Opportunity for Foundation Establishment.’

’But what I want is the ’Fire Life Destiny’ hidden within Fengdu.’

’At least our initial goals are different.’

Jiang Yi had calculated it over and over, and the Celestial Book had confirmed it: as long as he wasn’t greedy for the Foundation Establishment Opportunity and only took the Fire Life Destiny, he would surely be safe from any grave danger.

"You just need to know that ever since the ’Venerable Virtue and Immeasurable Silence Daoist Monarch’ ascended, the ’Yin Demons’ that are drawn when Cultivators’ Cultivation goes awry, and the trillions of ’Celestial Demons’ entrenched beyond the Gangfeng Layer, all originate from Him.

The Immortal Dao and Buddhist Dao in particular suffer greatly because of him. It’s said that when that Tai Yang was establishing his Dao and reaching Foundation Establishment, a full one hundred and twenty thousand demons attacked him all at once to destroy his path, a tribulation on par with what a True Monarch would face.

If not for the protection of the Daoist Palace’s Three Profound Ones, that fellow with the surname Ji might not have made it through.

Even the magnificent and boundless White Jade Capital couldn’t block the Sign of Manifestation, let alone the other continents."

Jiang Yi nodded to himself. Choosing the right path in Cultivation was very important.

’Since True Master Xuanmiao put it that way, it seems being a Demon Cultivator does have some prospects.’

’For a worthless nobody like me, with no background, falling into the hands of the Immortal Dao would be true suffering.’

’Setting aside the Dao Inheritance that’s destined to clash with Tai Yang, they only accept ’Dao Materials’ and ’Fate Shuzi’ over in the Dongsheng Continent.’

’It’s said that if an ordinary Demon Cultivator goes there, they are first captured and taken to the Exorcism Institute to be struck by lightning, purging their Dense Qi. Then, their physical body is destroyed, and only their Primordial Spirit is allowed to reincarnate. After accumulating a lifetime of Merit, they are finally registered and become a "New Immortal Cultivator" of the Dongsheng Continent.’

’Even then, they can’t dream of receiving a Daoist registry and techniques or joining an Upper Sect. They still have to serve a Giant Family Gate Valve and work to obtain a "Cyan Talisman" to prove they have no further karmic ties to the Demon Dao.’

’The threshold to become an Immortal Daoist is too high. A mortal frame like mine could never measure up.’

Jiang Yi shook his head slightly. He’d better just stick with the Demon Dao. Once he reached the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer and condensed his Innate Qi, he would beg the Celestial Book to ask about an Opportunity to enter an "Ancestral Sect" Dharma Lineage.

...

...

「Zhao You Sect.」

In a scenic Cave Mansion, surrounded by a ring of peaks, wreathed in flowing rosy clouds, and adorned with cascading waterfalls, a white-haired old man holding a fishing rod suddenly looked up.

’This long-planned game is finally bearing fruit.’

The old man’s face was ancient and his body decrepit, but his eyes were deep, as if they held a candle flame that flickered and swayed.

Though thousands of miles away, he seemed able to peer into the scene at Hanyang Prefecture.

’The Thunder Core hangs in the sky, scattering the Fierce Fiends. This is the moment when the Qi Mechanisms of Yin and Yang converge, pulling upon the Fengdu gateway. It is time for it to emerge... huh?’

The white-haired old man, who had been as calm as a fisherman on his platform, suddenly felt his hair and beard stand on end. His expression changed drastically!

He watched, wide-eyed and helpless, as his prized possession was snatched away. The candle flame in his eyes flared, actually scorching black spots into the void before him!

"Who dares to upset my chessboard! Who dares to ruin my plan! Who is it?!"

The white-haired old man threw down his fishing rod and channeled his Magical Power, his fingers flying through calculations so fast that afterimages blurred and nearly struck sparks!

He cultivated Ding Fire to refine his Magical Power, and from it, he had comprehended a True Skill for divining karma and seizing fate.

Across the three thousand miles of Beimang Ridge, he had never once failed to calculate, seize, and obtain any "unclaimed Opportunity" he set his mind to!

"In this territory of Beimang Ridge, to dare snatch an Opportunity from my, Kang Congyun’s, hands and expect to escape unscathed... truly courting death..."

The white-haired old man was still muttering threats when his figure suddenly shot up like a bolt of lightning. He bowed deeply and said with utmost respect:

"This little old man, Kang Congyun, is a humble Elder of the Zhao You Sect. I have offended you unknowingly, Senior. I beg for your magnanimity and forgiveness!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the vast, misty void before him was gently parted like a curtain, and the figure of a long-eyebrowed Daoist slowly appeared.

The latter was looking over with a smile, and asked faintly:

"You dare have designs on this old Daoist’s hermitage? You’ve got a lot of nerve, junior."

Kang Congyun broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly said:

"Please, Senior, see the truth! This little old man truly knew nothing! If I had known that Goose Mountain was already claimed by you, Senior, I wouldn’t have dared touch it even if you gave me ten thousand times the courage!"

’Damn it!’

’I’ve been plotting for this Opportunity for two hundred years. How did it end up being a tree planted by someone else?!’

But he would never dare say these words out loud. The hierarchy of the Demon Dao Dharma Lineages was strict; how could a Lower Cultivator defy an Upper Cultivator?

Just now, when he was divining the karma, he had been led directly to this person.

This meant the long-eyebrowed Daoist’s Cultivation was extremely profound. He might even be a peak figure preparing to advance to the rank of True Monarch!

"You’re a quick thinker, junior, but this old Daoist isn’t there yet. I’m still a hundred and eight thousand miles away from claiming a position."

The long-eyebrowed Daoist suddenly spoke, frightening Kang Congyun so much his face turned deathly pale and he froze on the spot.

’He can hear my thoughts from thousands of miles away?’

’He must be a True Monarch who has refined a Life Divine Technique!’

Kang Congyun clenched his jaw, utterly terrified.

He usually loved to toy with Lower Cultivators like this, publicly exposing their unspeakable, sinister thoughts or stirring their desires to make them look like fools.

Now that he was on the receiving end of such treatment, he found it extremely humiliating.

"Junior, that Fengdu is not for you to touch.

This old Daoist won’t make things difficult for you. Cower in your Cave Mansion for ten years and stop fiddling with that Ding Fire everywhere. It’s annoying to look at!"

The long-eyebrowed Daoist waved his wide sleeve. BANG! The thread of karmic connection shattered. Before his figure completely dissipated, he deliberately left behind a final sentence to completely break Kang Congyun’s nerve.

"If you’re not convinced, feel free to come find me at the Mingcang Marsh! This old Daoist is ’Fu Lizi’!"

...

...

RUMBLE!

The mountains shook and the earth quaked!

Jiang Yi walked out of the Gao Village ancestral hall with True Master Xuanmiao in his arms, a look of confusion in his eyes. The Thunder Core hadn’t delivered its punishment yet, so why was Goose Mountain starting to tremble?

Immediately after, his expression changed. It was as if a giant palm had lifted the thousand-ren peak, forcibly uprooting it, sending a pillar of billowing dust and smoke into the sky.

"The Taifu Sect’s Exquisite Magic Tower?"

True Master Xuanmiao poked his head out and saw a magnificent Eight-Cornered Flying Tower suddenly descend from the Qingming High Heaven.

"This is bad! This can’t be bait laid out by that old schemer ’Fu Lizi,’ can it?"

The calico cat seemed to have suddenly remembered something and abruptly asked:

"Xiao Jiang, are there any legends about Immortals on this Goose Mountain?"

Jiang Yi didn’t understand what he meant, but he answered:

"An Immortal once flew by on a crane, passed through here, and built a hermitage for quiet Cultivation for over two years."

True Master Xuanmiao cried out, "What awful luck!" and pawed at Jiang Yi’s lapels with both claws.

"We’re in trouble, big trouble! Fu Lizi is going to catch us!"