Chapter 288: The Dao Guardian: Nine-Fish Ancestor

At the valley entrance, the body cultivator quickly made his decision.

"Friends."

Alone, I can't hold onto this one—I need the others to join in.

But trade and mutual interests bind us all; these old devils must see enough profit to shatter the status quo.

What could possibly rival the 'Ascension' within this valley?

"Now that outsiders have descended, waiting like this won't do."

All eyes turned to him.

"What insight does Brother Chen offer?" the old Taoist asked gently.

This Brother Chen Yan, though impulsive in conduct,

had always been admired by the old Taoist—perhaps because he saw his own past self in him.

Once, hadn't he himself wished to purge demons and cleanse corruption, restoring the world to clarity?

Many, many years ago, it was that very spirit that drew his master's attention in the Supreme Tai Xuan Tian and earned him the transmission of wondrous methods.

Alas, times have changed…

Ah~

He had become the very thing he once despised.

Sometimes he wondered—if he'd kept that spirit, would his cultivation have reached completion?

Though perhaps he'd have perished instead.

Chen Yan knew nothing of his thoughts; after glancing at the old Taoist, his gaze swept over the others.

The dragon-horned youth felt a sudden unease.

"To ascend, we must cooperate with utmost sincerity," Chen Yan said gravely. "I will reveal the evaluation I received from the Ascension Platform—hope none of you withhold yours."

Everyone present, except that one, were human.

Even if the Ascension Platform's evaluation truly measured contributions to one's own race, that would suffice!

Hearing this, the giant Monk on the golden lotus throne's eyes brightened.

"Your words are wise, layman."

The others nodded slightly.

In truth, all of them had this thought—but none had dared voice it until now.

Seeing them swayed, the dragon-horned youth's unease deepened.

"Easy to say—but how do we verify if your words are true?"

"The Ascension Platform lies right behind us; truth or falsehood, one test will reveal it."

Chen Yan's expression remained calm, yet his aura spread silently, sealing off the surroundings, then he cut straight to the point:

"My evaluation: 【Exterminating Demons, Alleviating Human Suffering, Achieving Further Great Merit—Outer Conduct Complete】."

Achieving Further Great Merit—Outer Conduct Complete?!

A flicker of envy passed through their eyes; the old Taoist's heart stirred with inexplicable emotion.

Several sharp sword auras flashed; a sword array quietly expanded.

"My evaluation: 【Subduing Demons, Eradicating Evil, Later Cultivating the Emotionless Sword Dao, With No Thought of Protecting Humanity—Outer Conduct Less Than Three-Tenths】."

The white-robed sword cultivator's cold voice came from above.

As his words fell, golden Buddhist light and chanting sutras spread, each brilliant "卍" character sealing the void.

The dragon-horned youth's fur bristled—if not for the crushing auras pinning him down, he would have transformed and fled.

"My evaluation…" he muttered, "I won't say."

The sword cultivator had three-tenths—he had none.

The old Taoist flicked his dust whisk; an invisible, profound wave rippled outward.

"My evaluation: 【Youthful Ambition to Change Heaven, Yet Spirit Faded, Ultimately Blended Into the Crowd—Outer Conduct Exceeds Five-Tenths】."

Chen Yan glanced at the old Taoist in surprise.

This old man who only ever smoothed over conflicts had received such an evaluation?

Perhaps spurred on, after speaking those words, the old Taoist's expression suddenly became unreadable—like a faint smile—then he rose from his dais.

"Mediocre, aimless, over years—I now realize I've betrayed my master's teachings."

Youthful ambition…

The old Taoist stared calmly at the dragon-horned youth, making his heart pound.

This old Taoist…

What is this old Taoist planning?!

The others watched him with wary uncertainty.

No one knew his name; his temperament was sluggish, often summoned to mediate disputes—so among Tai Xuan Tian cultivators, he was privately called the 'Smooth-Mud' Venerable.

But that didn't mean he was weak.

On the contrary, his spiritual powers were earth-shattering, terrifyingly fierce.

"Brother… why are you looking at me like that?" the dragon-horned youth said uneasily.

"Brother Long, no need to speak."

Huh?

"I don't wish to hear."

Huh?!

As all attention was drawn away, the moment their auras briefly lapsed!

Hum~!

A dragon's roar shook the heavens; the brilliant swastika shattered, the icy sword qi was swept aside, yet that dominant, mighty aura remained locked firmly upon the dragon ascending into the ninth sky.

"Catch this punch!"

Boom—!

Torrents of blood qi spread outward, as if igniting the entire sky.

Arrogant and blazing fist marks rose like ten-thousand-ridge divine mountains propping up the heavens, or like countless volcanoes erupting in unison, slamming hard against the blue celestial dragon.

Hum~!

A mournful cry rang out as its body was bent and curled, scales shattered, and its flesh beneath the skin emitted the scent of roasted meat.

Yet, he was nearly escaping the range of the aura lock.

Just as Chen Yan was about to chase after him!

A sigh, sorrowful and resentful, filled with boundless grief, suddenly reached his ears.

"Pity my human race, how much suffering and sorrow…"

How much suffering and sorrow…

The voice echoed endlessly, thick sorrow surging into the heart—this sound seemed to awaken the deepest grief within all living beings.

Chen Yan wanted to say something, but tears flowed uncontrollably; finally, he burst into loud sobs.

The large monk beside him was the same.

Even the sword cultivator who practiced the path of emotionless sword dao now wept like a dam broken, crying as he fled farther away.

What kind of divine art is this?! And as for the azure celestial dragon, its dragon tears fell, as if a heavy rain had begun across the horizon.

Its aura, even its origin, steadily leaked away with the tears, growing ever weaker.

"Unworthy disciple, borrows once more the teacher's divine art—hope the teacher does not blame."

A single clear tear slid down the old Taoist's face.

He took one step forward, summoning winds and clouds to surge together, heaven and earth changing color; the old Taoist raised his hand and slowly reached forward.

Reach palm!

Grasp the dragon!

…

…

Within the secluded valley, a space not existing in reality.

!. Read

Looking at the valley entrance shrouded in boundless sorrow, Xu Xing nodded slightly.

"Yet still lacking a little."

If this dragon had been slain by Chen Yan alone, his merit would barely meet the standard.

But unfortunately, it was slain by two together—thus still lacking something…

Aah~

Still need the Fuliu Realm.

Not to mention Li Ming's merit far exceeding the transcendence platform's standard, even the Grand Elder was no less.

Even the newly promoted Elder Fu Yan, according to the established calculation rules, had surpassed the required 'merit' standard for transcendence.

How unlike these Three Realms, where even gathering one is difficult…

But precisely because of this, Xu Xing chose this method to plant the transcendence platform in the Three Realms.

"Next, they should go seek the 'Demon Sovereign.'"

After all, aside from his alien identity, the 'Demon Sovereign's' karmic sins are even greater than this little dragon's.

In addition,

"The cultivators-in-training have also become aware of the 'transcendence' matter."

Aside from the specific group within the Taishang Dao Sect, other Xian Sect cultivators-in-training should still stir up some commotion over this matter.

Hmm…

No, wait—I must exclude the Hehuan Sect's charm cultivators and pleasure cultivators.

…………

Several days later.

The Mortal Realm.

Songyun Dynasty, Yunzhou, Changming Prefecture, Anqin County.

Smaller than Mufeng Commandery, Anqin County was far more prosperous, precisely because it lay at the confluence of many Dajiang rivers within the Songyun Dynasty.

In this feudal era, rivers were the most vital transportation routes.

People and goods from all directions gathered here; moored ships pressed against each other, gangplanks linked to gangplanks—boatmen, merchants, high officials, even imperial relatives—all converged here for their own purposes, then scattered again.

And the rising Dingnan Prince's Wang Fu stood right here!

The county's main roads were smooth, crowds flowed back and forth; vendors cried their wares, the scent of daily life thick in the air.

A tall figure walked through the crowd, holding a long sword, radiating a cold aura that kept others at a distance.

In fact, no words were needed—ordinary people, upon seeing her long sword, would carefully avoid her, then…

Report it to the authorities!

Carrying a sharp weapon through a bustling market was itself a violation of the law!

Especially here, within the Dingnan Wang Fu's territory.

Yet for some reason, not a single soldier or constable came to apprehend or question her before she vanished at the end of the street.

Of course, this person is Zhang Yunlu.

After parting with Chi Jiuyu, she wandered far and wide, eventually arriving here.

Not long after.

Inside a small roadside eatery.

Zhang Yunlu sat quietly waiting; she had already sheathed her long sword.

Just by the roadside, she overheard people discussing how female crabs were now carrying eggs, their roe plump and rich—the perfect season to eat crab.

So she found this small eatery by the roadside, planning to taste some first.

If the flavor was good, she would bring some back for her senior sister, and some for her older brother too.

As for her master…

She was an immortal; she probably didn't care about such gustatory desires. She could just find some meaningful souvenirs to bring back later.

Yet Zhang Yunlu, lost in thought, failed to notice a figure cloaked in black entering behind her.

The figure waved a hand and summoned the waiter.

"Waiter, bring me one of everything! No—bring me several portions of each!"

"Huh?! Sir, can you even finish all that?"

"Why do you care so much? If I can't finish it, I'll pack it up and take it away."

Bang!

A gold coin the size of a thumb was slapped onto the table, gleaming with Jin Guang.

The waiter's eyes went wide with awe!

"Keep the change!" she declared with great generosity, waving her hand.

Holy shit!

Where did this idiot come from…

Cough, cough!

"Got it! Just wait a moment—I'll arrange it right away!"

The owner appeared out of nowhere, snatched up the gold coin, weighed it in his hand, and his wrinkled face nearly split with laughter.

"Alright, alright, don't bother me!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The owner bowed and shuffled away, pulling the waiter with him.

Though the amount was correct, he still planned to check the coin's purity first!

After both had withdrawn.

"Why call him 'waiter'?" she murmured in confusion.

This person was naturally Chi Jiuyu.

After parting from Zhang Yunlu, she had wandered around a bit, but still found it dull.

So she circled back and quietly followed Zhang Yunlu.

Since accompanying her would hinder her cultivation trials, she might as well follow secretly!

That's what a guardian of the Dao is for.

She was now in the form of Jiuyu Laozu, the guardian of the Dao! (End of chapter)