Chapter 211: Chapter 168: I Wish to Be the Number One Cultivator of All Time

In the eyes of a True Monarch, Qi Cultivation was nothing more than the simple chore of filling a bucket with water.

First, one fortified the Primordial Gate until it was unbreachable. Then, one expanded the Inner Mansion to make it vast. Finally, one filled it to the brim. With that, the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer was considered accomplished.

Thus, when Jiang Yi spoke the three words, "Aid my cultivation," Lady Xuan’nv, seated upon the Jade Platform, was momentarily stunned.

"Young Monarch Jiang, no matter how much you improve your cultivation, I’m afraid it will be of no benefit to the grand scheme of things."

Lady Xuan’nv’s words were tactful, but their meaning was self-evident.

Unless this new monarch of Shao Yang could ascend to the heavens in a single step, achieve Perfection in Foundation Establishment, gather the Five Elements Life Essence, and plant half a foot on the Golden Position.

Otherwise, he had absolutely no way of influencing the direction of the current chess game.

"I would ask you to unveil Fengdu."

Jiang Yi’s expression remained unchanged. His bearing was proud and at ease, entirely unlike that of a mere Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer Lower Cultivator.

This was precisely the kind of bearing that made Lady Xuan’nv think highly of him, the very thing she admired most.

’Could it be that there are natural-born seeds of True Monarchs in this world?’

Lady Xuan’nv’s thoughts drifted for a moment before she returned to the matter at hand. Her elegant brows furrowed slightly, as if in confusion.

’Unveil Fengdu?’

’This new monarch of Shao Yang wants me to remove the seal that isolates us from the Mortal World?’

’What is the meaning of this?’

Lady Xuan’nv was so bemused she couldn’t help but laugh.

’A magnificent True Monarch like myself, yet I can’t guess the plans of a Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer cultivator. Instead, I’m being led around by the nose!’

’This new monarch of Shao Yang has yet to formally ascend his throne, but he already displays the full demeanor of an Upper Cultivator!’

"I intend to break through to the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer here."

Jiang Yi’s second statement only confused Lady Xuan’nv further.

’To a Foundation Establishment True Master, there’s hardly a difference between the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer and the Twelfth Layer, let alone to a True Monarch, or even a Daoist Monarch!’

Lady Xuan’nv could barely conceal the curiosity in her eyes.

But she believed Young Monarch Jiang was by no means the type to act without purpose or make baseless, boastful claims.

Thus, she listened quietly without interrupting.

"I also need nine Spiritual Objects of exquisite First Grade Qi Cultivation quality, preferably ones that align with the Five Elements and are divided between Yin and Yang."

Jiang Yi spoke again.

After Xiaoqiao’s candid confession and True Master Xuanmiao’s explanation of Shao Yang’s symbolism, he had already calculated what assets he held to get a seat at the "gambling table" and enter the "chess game."

They were but two things!

First, the Celestial Book, which could answer questions and solve puzzles, finding a path for change even in a dead-end situation.

Second, Shao Yang. The Sympathy between its golden nature and his Divine Sense was enough to prove that the supreme Golden Position—the one that had been shattered and split into three—was beginning to turn its gaze upon him.

As long as Jiang Yi could prove to the Great Powers at the very top of the Daoist Lineages that Shao Yang favored him alone, and that no one else could take his place...

...then no matter which Daoist the Daoist Monarchs of the Eight Sects’ Governance of the World originally intended to elevate, or which True Inheritance they planned to support...

...in the end, they would have no choice but to hold their noses and stand behind Jiang Yi, sheltering him from the storm and blocking the suppression from the Immortal Dao.

This was the fundamental meaning behind the three statements Jiang Yi had just made to Lady Xuan’nv.

He didn’t just want the Daoist Monarchs of the Nanzhan Continent to see him; he planned to voluntarily step under the gaze of the Daoist Lineages of the four quarters.

Using his breakthrough to the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer as a catalyst, he would invite all the Great Powers in the world to witness Shao Yang!

Thus, Jiang Yi’s eyes burned brightly as he gazed toward the Jade Platform at the head of the hall.

This time, his gaze penetrated deeper, finally about to reach the space right before Lady Xuan’nv.

The deep and profound Qi Mechanism, like layers of curtains, seemed to be gently parted by an invisible hand.

The slender figure of Profound Law Nvqing True Monarch was wrapped in a brilliant white, radiant light, seeming to merge with jade and condense like frost.

Unlike the spirited and lively Miss Xiaoqiao, this Lady Xuan’nv had a graceful and gentle temperament, with long, slender eyebrows that lent her an air of dignified serenity.

"Young Monarch Jiang, could it be that you find Xiaoqiao’s ’dowry’ insufficient? Are you raising the stakes?"

A smile played on Lady Xuan’nv’s lips, but her gaze was deep and somber.

If the new monarch of Shao Yang couldn’t provide a satisfactory answer, the True Monarch would have to punish the Lower Cultivator for his transgression.

"I entered the Profound City Central Palace not just to be seen by the Daoist Monarchs. I also came for you."

Jiang Yi’s heart sank slightly. His previous words hadn’t made him the least bit nervous, but this next sentence truly made him feel a bit apprehensive:

"If I satisfy the Daoist Monarchs and become the Nanzhan Continent’s one and only Shao Yang, I am willing to form a bond with you, share my destiny’s fortune, and obscure the heavenly secrets, so that you may leave Fengdu and once again walk the path of the Dao!"

The smile on Lady Xuan’nv’s lips froze in an instant, and her gaze grew even colder.

"You have some nerve!"

Waves of hazy light radiated outward, and in an instant, the eighty-one baring-fanged and brandishing-clawed Jiaoyao Flame Dragons were frozen solid.

CRACK, CRACK! They shattered like handfuls of powdered snow struck by a heavy hammer!

Lady Xuan’nv’s black hair flew wildly, and the pure, bright light behind her instantly illuminated the entire grand hall.

If not for the four great sun-wheel pillars promptly revealing dense arrays of Tai Yang dharma seals to suppress this boundless eruption of divine power...

...it’s likely Jiang Yi would have been turned to ash in less than half an instant.

「Outside the grand hall.」

Xiaoqiao gazed worriedly toward that deep, dark, and boundless layered space.

’I wonder how Young Master Jiang and my sister are doing?’

「Inside the grand hall.」

Jiang Yi struggled to maintain his composure, speaking calmly:

"I have something to say, and I ask that you hear me out."

It was rare for Lady Xuan’nv to reveal such killing intent. She hadn’t expected this new monarch of Shao Yang to not only have great ambition, but also be so audaciously lecherous!

’Wasn’t taking the Inverted Slaying Sword enough? Was getting Xiaoqiao still not enough to satisfy him?’

’To actually have such presumptuous thoughts!’

’Does he think that just because he was chosen by Shao Yang, he can look down on everyone and do as he pleases?’

"Miss Xiaoqiao was born in the Mortal World. She is not bound by the heavenly laws of the Immortal Dao.

It’s only because you couldn’t bear to let her go that she has remained in Fengdu, by your side."

Jiang Yi’s eyes were clear and his face was full of sincerity, showing that he had absolutely no wicked intentions.

"If I am fortunate enough to survive, gain the approval of the Daoist Monarchs, and am chosen to be used against Tai Yang...

I will certainly need the support of more Daoist Lineages. You, too, have an irreconcilable grudge against the Immortal Dao and Tai Yang.

As a Daoist of an Ancestral Sect, I can find a reliable Dharma Lineage for you, allowing you to transition through the Demon Dao.

And you, with your status as a True Monarch, can temporarily serve as my Guardian Daoist.

This is a plan that benefits us both!"

Jiang Yi spoke these words quickly and urgently, like a sudden downpour. But to Lady Xuan’nv’s ears, they sounded like the pleasant, tinkling flow of a spring, gently smoothing her tightly furrowed brows.

These were not the sly words of a debaucher.

Lady Xuan’nv was an enthroned True Monarch, not a narrow-minded Lower Cultivator who only considered her own gains and losses.

What an Upper Cultivator cared about were the pros and cons, and their respective weights.

Because they resided high on their Golden Positions, because they were immortal, they paid no mind to gains of sixty years or losses of a century.

Moreover, they knew full well that there was rarely a winner-takes-all scenario on a chessboard. They never sought total victory, for if such an opportunity arose, it was surely because a Great Power was manipulating things from behind the scenes.

The profound and silent grand hall was quiet for a long time.

The time it takes to drink half a cup of tea was almost up.

"Have you thought this through?"

Lady Xuan’nv had returned to her dignified appearance, her long, slender eyebrows raised.

"The moment I unveil Fengdu, the Daoist Monarchs will take notice, the Immortal Dao will become aware, and it will be announced to the entire Yanfu Vast Land.

Once this step is taken, there is no turning back."

Jiang Yi stood in the center of the grand hall, his head bowed in silence.

’Over the past few days, he had often questioned himself. With the Celestial Book in hand, was the proper path to hide his light and grow quietly?’

’A mere Qi Cultivation cultivator involving himself in the schemes of True Monarchs and Daoist Monarchs—was it not like an ant looking up at the blue sky, utterly overestimating its own abilities?’

’But if he did that, would the golden nature of Shao Yang still turn its gaze upon him?’

’If he didn’t follow the path of Shao Yang and switched to cultivating the Five Elements instead, what chance would he have of attaining a position?’

Thoughts like these swirled in his mind, and at one point, even caused Jiang Yi to feel lost and confused.

’This path beneath his feet... how exactly should he walk it?’

This was a question for which not even I beg the Celestial Book could provide the correct answer!

The time it took to drink half a cup of tea slowly passed.

Jiang Yi slowly raised his head and lifted his gaze. It was as if he were looking at Lady Xuan’nv on her Jade Platform, and at the same time, looking up to the heavens in search of the Daoist Monarchs.

After two or three breaths’ time.

He finally spoke, but it was in a clear chant:

"I have leisurely swallowed the qi of the Eight Extremes,

And drank from the Three Perils a cup of dew.

If a hateful enemy comes to do me harm,

Why should I worry, when I can stand as a sword?

I lament that this is not my land,

So for now I’ll drift through the world of men..."

As these words left his lips, it was as if Jiang Yi had shed all his restraints. His Primordial Gate’s Divine Sense leaped forth, blazing hot, to receive and form a Sympathy with that thread of Shao Yang’s golden nature.

"Should the Daoist Monarchs ask what I seek,

I wish to be the Ancient and Modern First Cultivator!"

BOOM!

The instant Lady Xuan’nv lifted the seal on Fengdu—

The moment Jiang Yi’s Divine Sense created a Sympathy with that wisp of golden nature—

The great void trembled, and Spiritual Energy flowed like a river!

Countless gazes, reaching across impossible distances, were all drawn in.

Great Daoist Venerable Yin and Yang!

Therefore, when Yin and Yang manifest in the world, heaven and earth are bound to resonate loudly!

Nanzhan Continent! Dongsheng Continent!

Ximizhou Continent! Beiju Continent!

Aside from the Zhonghuang Continent, which had been condensed by the supreme Divine Techniques of Daoist Monarchs and Great Powers and was not visible to the mortal world!

The four continents under heaven, the Daoist Lineages of the four quarters!

All of them looked in unison toward that wisp of golden light descending from the great void!

That was the radiance of Shao Yang—struck down by the Immortal Dao, shattered by Tai Yang, and consequently split into three incomplete parts!

"’I wish to be the Ancient and Modern First Cultivator...’ This boy wants to seize the radiance of Tai Yang and make Shao Yang favor him alone. What tremendous spirit!"

Beyond the Qingming, in the vast and hazy expanse, a grey-robed Daoist who flickered in and out of existence laughed with delight, as if he were asking the Nanzhan Continent:

"The Innate Daoist I have chosen—is he fit to enter your sights?"