Chapter 213: Chapter 169: Daoist Monarchs Jointly Observe a Lower Cultivator, Shao Yang Punished by Profound Thunder (Part 2)

This was similar to the "Three True Superiors" of the Immortal Dao in the Dongsheng Continent—the Upper Profound, Upper Yuan, and Upper Origin, who had acted as guardians for the Tai Yang.

"So, this is about the Shao Yang."

The white-haired youth, devoid of any majestic air, chuckled and glanced down before speaking:

"Mingxuan, you were the first to place a bet? What audacity. If you lose this hand, the Innate Sect is doomed to a thousand years of decline.

From now on, you won’t be able to act so confidently in front of Yuanzu."

The gray-robed Daoist’s eyes glinted darkly as he responded in a level voice:

"The Taifu Sect wants to use the Shao Yang to elevate their own Daoist, letting him achieve the state of ’Divine Qi’ without any real substance.

To that end, they dared to play tricks right under my nose. That junior, Tao Ran, even secretly manipulated causality, first plotting to bring Fengdu into the world and then intending to merge with the Ghost Dao.

If I had simply stood by and watched, I’m afraid that for the next ten thousand years, the Eight Demonic Sects would have had no choice but to follow the Taifu Sect’s lead."

At these words, the other Daoist Monarchs’ expressions grew complicated, and they all turned to look at a kindly old woman in worn clothes, leaning on a staff.

She responded with a gentle smile:

"Why are you all looking at me, my fellow Daoists? I am merely a wandering cultivator, invited here by Daoist Yuanzu simply to preside over the grand situation between north and south."

Grandmaster Taiwei simply gave a light smile, offering no comment.

The friction between the Eight Demonic Sects was no secret, nor was it a topic that couldn’t be discussed openly.

Each manifest Daoist Lineage, vying for the authority to "govern the world and rule the heavens," would have gladly fought with real blades and spears, shedding enough blood to float shields.

But as long as the foundation wasn’t shaken, the powers that be would simply turn a blind eye.

After all, to elevate Ji Fuyao to the Tai Yang, the Immortal Dao had sacrificed nine Daoist Level cultivators in a brutal, Gu-like struggle—a cost equivalent to the entire foundation of four Ancestral Sect Dharma Lineages.

Only such a great price could purchase five thousand years of dazzling glory.

"To leave the Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven in the Nanzhan Continent—this was the decree handed down by Grandmaster Taiwei.

It is a good thing that Mingxuan is willing to champion the Shao Yang, grant him the status of a Daoist, and place a bet.

It also serves to fulfill the ’prophecy of overcoming the Tai Yang’."

Grandmaster Taiwei continued in a soft voice:

"As for the Taifu Sect’s plans, they are hardly blameworthy. Every sect has its Daoists, and it is certainly more reliable to nurture one’s own promising sprouts than to cultivate an outsider.

If Yu Shenxiu had not once betrayed the Demon Dao and fled to the Immortal Dao, the Eight Sects would not have simply stood by and watched."

The Daoist Monarchs listened in silence, understanding that Grandmaster Taiwei was playing the mediator.

The internal scheming and power struggles within the Daoist Lineages—you fight, I contend—were all within a controllable range, even if it meant the death of a True Inheritance disciple or the untimely demise of a Daoist. As long as the fundamental tracks of the Dao were not touched and no treason was involved, it was all permissible.

It was nothing more than a contest of which sect’s elders had greater abilities, and which sect’s Daoist Monarch had harder fists.

In the words of Grandmaster Taiwei, the Great Dao is nothing but contention.

Only Lower Cultivators believe that becoming an Upper Cultivator means transcending the mortal world and roaming the cosmos at will.

"This person has captured the unwavering gaze of the Shao Yang. He’s a talent worth nurturing."

Grandmaster Taiwei took an extra glance. That gaze descended from the depths of the great void, pierced through Fengdu, passed through a majestic, unfathomably deep grand hall, and fixed upon the figure of the youth in wide robes and flowing sleeves.

It lingered for a moment, then retracted.

The immense Qi Mechanism, which had seemed to press down upon the very heavens of Yanfu, quietly dissipated.

Only eight words came floating gently down:

"Worthy of being molded; there’s no harm in watching."

Beyond the Qingming, the five Daoist Monarchs each occupied a different quadrant of space.

Their manifested Qi Mechanisms connected heaven and earth, causing the Great Dao to pour down like the celestial river, flooding all of existence.

Before these five figures, the vast expanse of the Nanzhan Continent seemed like a mere trinket.

The gray-robed Daoist glanced around the cosmos, his gaze imperious:

"I have placed my bet. To have earned the Shao Yang’s favor for sixty years makes him worthy to be the Daoist of the Innate Sect.

Sixty years is enough time for him to reach Flying Foundation Establishment and become a candidate for True Monarch.

How do the rest of you choose?"

The old woman remained silent.

She represented the Taifu Sect. Now that the plan concocted by Daoist Yuanzu and Tao Ran to co-opt the Shao Yang had come to nothing, it was naturally not her place to make another move.

The middle-aged scholar, Daoist Monarch Tongzhen Xuan’an, mused for a moment before speaking:

"The Shao Yang’s unwavering favor certainly increases his chances of ascending to the position again.

But can he withstand the Profound Thunder?"

This question made the gray-robed Daoist narrow his eyes.

It was common knowledge that the Immortal Dao had joined forces to strike down the Shao Yang, subsequently splitting it into three.

Ji Fuyao, upon achieving the Tai Yang, expended Great Magical Power to carve a six-word prophecy of fate: "Shao Yang, by Thunder, shall be slain."

Should the Shao Yang ever manifest again, should it ever find a successor...

...it would suffer the heavenly punishment of the Profound Thunder!

This young man dared to step into the machinations of Daoist Monarchs, and even dared to seek the favor of the Shao Yang, announcing his identity to the entire Yanfu Vast Land.

Such audacity was immense.

But it came with a hidden danger!

The White Jade City of the Dongsheng Continent, upon seeing the Shao Yang emerge in the great void...

...would surely move the Thunder Core to dispense its punishment.

If he failed to pass this trial, he would be annihilated in an instant.

Daoist Monarch Fuji Shenhai, who appeared to be over seventy years old, spoke at a deliberate pace:

"Too hasty. If he had reached the Twelfth Level of Cultivation and possessed a sufficiently profound foundation, he would have a fifty-percent chance of surviving the Profound Thunder’s tribulation.

But at his current Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, rashly seeking the Shao Yang’s favor is tantamount to suicide."

Daoist Monarch Qiting Doukui, a radiant figure with a blurred face, said in a heavy tone:

"His audacity is commendable, but audacity without ability isn’t enough to make the Eight Sects place their bets.

Unless... Daoist Mingxuan, are you willing to act and dispel this tribulation for him?"

The gray-robed Daoist shook his head. Having already wagered the lofty position of Daoist, why would he do anything more?

Upper Cultivators nurtured Lower Cultivators for one reason only: to be useful.

If one proved useless? Why waste the effort?

Many Lower Cultivators spend their entire lives failing to grasp this point, pinning all the hopes of their Cultivation, their successes and failures, on the favor of an Upper Cultivator.

They fail to realize they have the causality backward.

If one’s Cultivation yields no results, why would an Upper Cultivator be willing to invest in them?

"I have given him the Daoist title. If he cannot bear it, then he is simply ill-fated."

As the gray-robed Daoist’s words faded, the frozen expanse of the great void began to shift and change once more.

That brilliant, radiant golden essence of the Shao Yang resumed its slow descent, rushing toward its successor with palpable joy and elation.

’The Daoist Monarchs are all looking at me?’

A moment ago, Jiang Yi had felt like a fly trapped in amber, completely cut off from the outside world.

It felt as if gaze after gaze, each containing infinite might and boundless Divine Techniques, had swept over him.

’Is it still not enough? To make the Shao Yang fix its gaze, to have its golden essence descend upon me—is that still not enough to move the Upper Cultivators?’

’Jiang Yi’s thoughts churned. The current situation was still within his expectations, just like back on Red Flame Peak in the Qianji Sect. For a Lower Cultivator, simply fawning on one’s superiors was a futile way to advance; one could be cast aside at a moment’s notice.’

’Fortunately, he still had the Celestial Book. Even if the odds were ten to one against him, there was still a sliver of a chance.’

’And that sliver was all Jiang Yi was fighting for.’

’As a Lower Cultivator, I must prove myself a ’useful asset’!’

He turned to face the high Jade Platform, to face Lady Xuan’nv, and slowly sat down cross-legged.

He slowly spoke one sentence:

"I implore you, My Lady, to aid me."

"A risky move, Young Monarch Jiang. I hope you make it to the other side."

The graceful figure, like jade and frost, shrouded in brilliant, pristine moonlight, gently raised a hand.

The items Jiang Yi had requested materialized from thin air, landing before him.

Nine First Grade Spiritual Objects!

Meanwhile.

「Dongsheng Continent.」

In the White Jade City, held aloft at the very zenith of the heavens.

A purple-robed Daoist waved a wide sleeve:

"By my decree, Profound Thunder, slay the Shao Yang."