Chapter 219: Ten Thousand Miles to Grasp the Dao, the Agony of the Sage's Path, Heaven's Mandate Revealed, the Great World's Shackles

Heaven Cloud County.

It is two thousand seven hundred li from Da Xia Capital.

A figure slowly appeared.

It was Gu Jin Nian's figure.

However, Gu Jin Nian at this moment had already changed his attire, and even his appearance had altered somewhat.

Having reached his level, he used disguise techniques to change his appearance, making him look quite ordinary; even his demeanor was greatly restrained, so that he seemed like a common folk.

His clothing was no longer fine silk, but ordinary coarse cloth.

It wasn't that Gu Jin Nian had to make himself look this way to be considered enlightened; mainly, wearing fine clothes without changing his appearance would prevent him from participating in many matters.

Two thousand seven hundred li of road.

Gu Jin Nian took seven days, facing the great mountains and rivers, directly using divine powers to leap, but occasionally he would stop to admire the scenery.

On this journey, Gu Jin Nian let go of many things; regarding all affairs of the Da Xia Dynasty, he let them go.

Even a month's time would not see anything happen.

This time, saying he would go and then going, was also following his heart.

And over these seven days,

Gu Jin Nian did not seek to comprehend anything; instead, he learned to let go of his inner concerns, maintaining a spontaneous state, which allowed him to attain enlightenment.

At this moment, night fell.

Gu Jin Nian walked through a mountain range; having seen signs of habitation in the distance at dawn, he headed that way, intending to rest at an inn for the night.

Late night.

The mountain forest was utterly tranquil, aside from a few insect chirps, there was no other sound.

However, not long after Gu Jin Nian began walking, waves of sighing sounds arose.

This caused Gu Jin Nian to frown involuntarily.

This is a mountain forest; although there are no fierce tigers or wild beasts, it is also impossible for there to be any human presence.

He felt some doubt.

Gu Jin Nian followed the sound.

Not long after, he saw one after another oval-shaped tombs, all constructed of brick.

Looking closely, there was an oval tomb that had not been completely sealed; inside, an old man sat upright.

And the sighing came from this old man.

"Elder."

"What's going on with you?"

Seeing this, Gu Jin Nian was somewhat astonished; to build a wall around a living person and entomb them is simply unreasonable.

He quickly approached and stood before the old man.

"Who are you?"

The old man in the tomb was somewhat surprised, after all, a person suddenly appearing in the dead of night is rather frightening.

Fortunately, aided by moonlight, Gu Jin Nian's appearance, though somewhat altered, still looked quite upright, not the sort of deceitful-looking person, so the old man did not become overly wary.

"Junior is a passing traveler."

"Sir, what's the matter?"

"Why have you been walled up in stone?"

Gu Jin Nian spoke, and as he spoke he was about to use brute force to pull the stone away.

But the old man directly grabbed Gu Jin Nian's hand, his face full of panic, and said.

"Youngster, don't pull, don't pull."

The old man, face full of grief, tried to dissuade Gu Jin Nian, which made Gu Jin Nian even less able to understand.

"This is our village's custom: anyone who grows old is sent here; the village has little food, and we elders have no need to live, so we leave some rations for our children and grandchildren."

She spoke up, informing Gu Jin Nian of the specific situation.

"The Da Xia Dynasty governs the state so well, yet such things still happen?"

Gu Jin Nian was somewhat curious, and he asked.

First, the Da Xia Dynasty takes Confucianism as its foundation, and Confucianists hold that among all virtues filial piety comes first; to be unfilial is a grave crime.

Under such circumstances, that such a thing still occurs—how could Gu Jin Nian not be shocked?

Second, the Da Xia Dynasty strives for good governance; although it cannot let the people have fish and meat every meal, at least there should be some rations?

Especially now, with the birth of dragon rice in the rivers, the Da Xia Dynasty has become exceedingly prosperous; hearing of such matters, Gu Jin Nian indeed did not know how to respond.

Listening to Gu Jin Nian speak.

The old man, somewhat helpless, looked at Gu Jin Nian and said.

"Even if the state is well governed, farmland is still farmland, grain is still grain; recently there has been more grain, but who knows whether the next generation will be able to eat their fill?"

"This is our village's custom; our village is still okay, but if it were other villages, some would send their elders into the deep mountains, ruthlessly throwing them off cliffs; those who cannot bear to do so leave them in valleys to starve to death."

"If something unfortunate happens, they might even be eaten by wild beasts."

"This is also unavoidable; we elders are useless, unable to work the fields, and can only burden our families."

The old man spoke, and as he spoke he kept shedding tears.

Although the reasoning is thus, to be sent to the mountains by one's own son, each day having a wall built, a meal delivered, counting down to one's death—who would not find it painful? Who would not wish to live?

Moreover, raising children to guard against old age—what does that old-age protection even mean? Hearing these words, Gu Jin Nian fell into silent contemplation.

He did not know what to say.

He also did not know what to speak.

These are the poorest commoners; they have their own survival rules, and when passersby see this, even if they feel reluctant, what can they do?

You can save one household, but can you save an entire village?

Even if you save the whole village, what about the other villages?

·"We scholars read the sages' books, constantly saying we seek welfare for the people, but in reality?"

"In the end, it's nothing but striving for fame and profit, for power, for personal glory and wealth."

Gu Jin Nian took a deep breath, but the next moment he pulled out the bricks one by one.

He didn't even bother with the old man's obstruction.

After the bricks were removed, the old man cried out in anguish.

"Young man, you shouldn't do this; if the villagers see it, I fear I won't even survive the last few good days."

"You'll be thrown straight into the valley; your kindness is appreciated, but everything has its own rules—doing this would be no better than letting me die."

The old woman spoke through tears; she knew Gu Jin Nian was reluctant, but rules are rules.

The bricks are easy to dismantle, but these feudal ideas cannot be torn down.

"Old lady, rest assured, I will help you resolve this."

Although I clearly know I cannot change everything at once, seeing Gu Jin Nian makes it impossible to ignore.

"Young man, you must not do foolish things; if you take me back to the village, the villagers will not let you off either."

The old man wiped his tears and spoke.

She still tried to persuade Gu Jin Nian.

Gu Jin Nian said nothing, but instead used his magic to lift the old man, then employed his supernatural abilities to go to the village.

Seeing all this, the old man became even more astonished.

Soon.

Upon arriving at the nearest village, it was already night; someone guarded the village entrance, waiting to see Gu Jin Nian descend from the sky.

The sturdy men guarding the village were all shocked.

"Where is the Village Chief?"

Gu Jin Nian spoke up, asking directly.

The sturdy men were all impoverished commoners; they had never seen such a scene. Upon hearing Gu Jin Nian ask for the Village Chief, they could not utter a word and immediately went to summon him.

In less than half an hour.

The Village Chief hurried over, over fifty years old, and respectfully said to Gu Jin Nian.

"May I ask which immortal sect you belong to?"

The Village Chief knew a bit about immortal sects, so he spoke up, asking about Gu Jin Nian's origins.

Seeing the Village Chief approach.

Gu Jin Nian gestured for him to step aside.

He did not hesitate and immediately walked over.

"I am Marquis Gu Jin Nian."

"During my travels, I discovered an old man deep in the mountains."

"Therefore I came to inquire about the situation."

Gu Jin Nian spoke, revealing his identity and background, and at the same time produced his marquis's token.

Upon hearing the three words 'Gu Jin Nian,' the Village Chief's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief.

"Are you the Heaven's Mandate Marquis?"

These three words 'Gu Jin Nian' are like thunder in the present Da Xia Dynasty; even a minor Village Chief knows his name.

"Yes."

Gu Jin Nian nodded.

He then immediately spoke.

"Marquis Lord, please do not misunderstand; this is the village custom. I have repeatedly urged the people not to do this, but every household is extremely poor—if we do not send the elderly to the mountains, we fear the young will starve."

"Such a custom has persisted for a long time, and it is not something I can change."

Upon learning that the other party was Gu Jin Nian, the Village Chief immediately spoke, hoping Gu Jin Nian would understand.

"I, the Marquis, am not here to blame you."

"The people's suffering, I, the Marquis, truly understand; often it is beyond their control."

"I, the Marquis, will write a letter to have the court immediately allocate grain to resolve this matter."

"Go and notify all regions; this is the Marquis's credential. From now on, Tianyun Commandery must not allow such things to happen again."

"Whatever I can help with, the Marquis will help."

"Although this matter does not concern you, as Village Chief you should also think of ways to prevent it."

"I still hope you will do your best; thank you."

Gu Jin Nian said, "I cannot solve too many such problems; the only thing I can do is have the court urgently allocate a batch of grain, which would somewhat alleviate this issue."

After saying this, Gu Jin Nian bowed to the Village Chief.

He also knew the other party had his own difficulties; no one wishes such things to happen in their jurisdiction. Each has their own hardships, but if one holds a position, one must bear responsibility.

To suffer a few for the benefit of all under heaven.

Seeing the dignified Marquis Lord bow to him, the Village Chief felt both moved and admiring.

Gu Jin Nian did not blame him; he understood the situation and had such magnanimity, leaving the Village Chief at a loss for words.

"Please rest assured, Marquis Lord."

"I, the humble official, will certainly do my utmost."

The pavilion chief spoke.

Then please trouble you, go and say a few words to this old man; otherwise, she will still feel uneasy inside.

Gu Jin Nian spoke.

The pavilion chief nodded, hurried to the village entrance, roughly told the other party the situation, and upon learning that he would not have to die, he was overcome with joy, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed to Gu Jin Nian.

Old sir.

Such a great courtesy, I, the junior, feel ashamed to accept it.

Please rest assured, old sir, one day such things will not happen again.

Gu Jin Nian spoke.

He could not make a great promise, so he could only say this.

After saying that, Gu Jin Nian no longer had the idea of borrowing lodging, and left the place.

He came to the deep mountains.

He remained silent, not speaking.

Moonlight shone down, and Gu Jin Nian fell into deep silence.

He broke the wall stone.

But he could not break the wall stone in people's hearts.

What kind of suffering is this.

What would cause someone to send their own biological mother to the grave?

Raised from childhood with hardship, brought up through bitterness, ancient childbirth was like walking through the Gates of Ghosts.

But I never expected such a thing to happen.

Gu Jin Nian had always known that the people suffered, the people suffered, but when he saw this scene, the impact on him was too great, too great.

In the capital.

The people's suffering he saw was busily toiling, bending over for five pecks of rice.

And in these places, the suffering he saw was true suffering.

The mortal world.

Like purgatory.

Born, as if suffering punishment.

Even the eighteen levels of hell are not as bitter as this mortal world, perhaps.

Today.

One person was rescued today, but yesterday, the day before, how many people were buried here?

Or there may be ruthless people.

Throwing one's own parents off a cliff.

But Gu Jin Nian believes that most people are still unwilling to do so.

According to law and reason.

Good and evil.

Thinking of all this, Gu Jin Nian fell into utter silence.

He had always felt that he was changing the world, wanting to save mankind's suffering, but now he realized he was too insignificant.

How could such suffering be changed by one person alone? This is merely what he can see.

But where are those things he cannot see?

Gu Jin Nian tightly closed his eyes.

He drew a deep breath.

A sage, to bless heaven and earth and all beings.

The sage's way follows heaven's will, changing this world.

To worry before the world worries, to rejoice after the world rejoices.

This path is too hard to walk.

An unprecedented sense of oppression welled up; he had some understanding of the sage's path, but the more he understood, the more Gu Jin Nian felt how arduous the sage's way is.

To set the heart for heaven and earth.

To establish the livelihood of the people.

To continue the learning of the past sages.

To usher in eternal peace for myriad generations.

At this moment, Gu Jin Nian fully understood how difficult these four lines are, why the Hengqu Four Lines could become the goal pursued by countless scholars.

Because they are too grand, any one of them is difficult to accomplish.

Today's suffering, seen today.

Tomorrow's suffering, not yet seen.

Gu Jin Nian let out another long breath.

He sat cross-legged here.

His mood was unusually heavy; he felt the hardship of the sage's path, the difficulty of the sage, and even more how hard this road is.

Only by truly seeing it.

can one attain clear understanding.

The terrifying sense of oppression is not this one thing, but countless unseen matters.

Precisely for this reason.

Anything, the more you understand it, the more you realize how terrifying it is.

Gu Jin Nian sat on Lonely Mountain, silent for a long time.

He had thought of many things, trying to resolve this situation.

But after thinking for a long time, no matter how he tried to resolve it, time was still needed.

Thus.

When the day brightened again.

Gu Jin Nian stood up and continued walking down the mountain.

He could not think of anything more; this required time.

It is impossible to gain many insights and understand the principle just from seeing one thing.

He continued walking.

Traveling through mountains and rivers.

Thus.

In the blink of an eye, another ten days passed.

Over these ten days, Gu Jin Nian traversed five thousand li of mountains and rivers, heading steadily southeast toward Jixia Academy, which lay to the southeast.

Jixia Academy belongs to no faction.

It is entirely an independent force, centered on scholarship, and all scholars under heaven may go to Jixia Academy.

However, most scholars who go to Jixia Academy do so merely to have heard the holy words before.

Only a Great Scholar can debate the law there.

It is not that they look down on Great Scholars; rather, Jixia Academy believes that even Great Scholars have not reached it, and there is not much greater principle.

Even if some principles are spoken, they cannot be perfected.

Jixia Academy still had half a month before opening; it should have opened half a year earlier, but due to Da Xia's heavenly calamity, Jixia Academy was delayed three months.

Later, Su Wenjing stepped forward, and with Jixia Academy's own considerations, it was delayed another three months.

This time, Jixia Academy will not continue to be delayed.

However, this half‑year delay was a good thing for many, giving them time to settle their learning and thoughts.

However.

For Gu Jin Nian,

Jixia Academy, for him, was not the main goal; on this journey of ten thousand li to comprehend the Dao, his gains were indeed many.

He used the myriad affairs of the mortal world to verify his thoughts.

Over the past few months, Gu Jin Nian has seen and heard much.

Most of it was evil.

Only a small part was good.

He saw those who bore children but did not raise them, the elderly left without support, and those who, because of gambling, lost wife and children, family destroyed.

He also saw children struggling to study, by moonlight at night, reading books and practicing characters on a sand tray.

He also saw affluent families whose children were unruly and disrespectful to their parents.

Too many, too many things.

Gu Jin Nian observed all this as a bystander; unless it was truly unbearable, he would not intervene.

For intervening would also be of no avail.

All these things left Gu Jin Nian seeing only bitterness.

Where is there any tranquil prosperity? Where is any flourishing glory? It is merely some whitewashing.

All the bustle of the world comes for profit.

All the turmoil of the world goes for profit.

During this time, Gu Jin Nian has been pondering one matter.

That is, where exactly lies the sage's path?

He continually gropes for the holy Dao.

But he could never truly comprehend what the holy Dao is.

the thirteenth year of Eternal Prosperity

November 19

There are still eleven days until Jixia Academy opens.

All factions are watching.

Jixia Academy. The academic dispute.

This has always been a grand spectacle every few years; not that each time someone proposes new learning, but each time many Great Scholars continually perfect the way of the ancient sages.

The academic dispute.

It mainly divides into two factions.

One faction is New Learning, which seeks to create new scholarship, perfect it to the utmost, and promote it among all scholars under heaven.

The other faction is Old Learning, taking the Four Great Sages as its foundation, using the ancient sages' books to understand and improve.

After all, the sages' learning needs to be perfected generation after generation; their knowledge is too profound, requiring later people to understand it, to transform it into another meaning that accords with the holy Dao's process, so that people may better comprehend it.

The Old Learning way has the most followers.

Following the sage's way, even if mistakes are made, one will not face harsh criticism but will instead invite discussion; unless you are oblivious to death and insist on twisting the sage's meaning, otherwise there is basically no major problem.

As for New Learning,

Since the founding of Jixia Academy, New Learning has rarely arisen; whoever dares to propose New Learning will become the target of everyone's criticism.

It's not that I'm targeting anything; it's merely my understanding of learning.

First, you need to have extremely high prestige; otherwise, anyone could just show up and claim to create a New Learning—who would accept that?

Second, your New Learning must gain everyone's approval; if it doesn't, it's useless.

Indeed, it's not that your learning being good guarantees its flourishing; everyone must find it good and reasonable for it to form. Otherwise, what's the point of 'the world is drunk while I alone am sober'? Learning is a dissemination, not something you keep to yourself.

You must adapt to each individual, or rather, to the whole environment, to be considered learning.

It can have flaws, but it must not go against Heaven's will.

Moreover, with the emergence of sages, the reverence of scholars worldwide for sages has turned into a frenzied worship; to some, creating a New Learning is seen as disrespecting the old learning.

This will provoke an innate aversion, leading to criticism, which will distort the matter and generate conflict.

Such things have happened before; the Jixia Academy has always urged that academic discussion remain purely academic.

But throughout history, someone has once created a New Learning, only to be fiercely denounced by a hundred Great Scholars, then slink away in disgrace; even if they left, that was bad enough, but later they were ostracized by the literary world, meeting a miserable end.

This is the terror of creating a New Learning.

It's not for ordinary people; one cannot casually speak of creating a New Learning.

The thirteenth year of Yongsheng.

November, the twentieth.

Midnight (the zi hour).

The heavens were dim and gray, the stars devoid of light.

There were only ten days left before the Jixia Academy opened.

Everything appeared extremely quiet.

On Lone Mountain, Gu Jin Nian leaned against an ancient tree, gazing into the distance, his thoughts occupied with many matters.

After witnessing too much evil, Gu Jin Nian involuntarily formed a great notion.

Where does the evil in people's hearts ultimately come from?

All along, he found that most evil and most suffering were not caused by the dynasty.

For example, two days ago he saw a family where the children were left at home, cared for by their grandparents, but due to weather issues, the two elders successively caught a chill and lay at home to recuperate.

Yet he never expected that the children, being unruly, would, simply because they didn't get their way, set fire to the house while the elders were resting after taking medicine, burning the two elders to death.

As for that child, after being severely beaten, he was taken away that night by his mother; his father, upon hearing the news, was anguished but could not find his wife and child for a while.

Such evil nearly challenged Gu Jin Nian's bottom line; he used divine abilities to trace the child's whereabouts, originally intending to capture him.

But upon second thought, what would capturing him achieve? Beat him again? Or tear out his tendons and bones?

Using evil to counter evil is inherently wrong.

Yet Gu Jin Nian did not let him off lightly; using immortal sect arts, he implanted a flame essence in the child's body, causing him to suffer burning pain each month—not fatal, but agonizing.

Once a month, for twenty years.

He could only do this; punishment must be meted out, but more importantly, he needed to reflect.

There is also another matter.

This also left a deep impression on Gu Jin Nian: in a household, an elder fell ill, and the son, hearing a quack doctor, used the flesh from his young son's chest to boil a medicine that could cure the grave illness.

He then killed his own biological son, cut open his abdomen, took out the heart, and boiled the chest meat into a potent medicine.

The father, upon learning where the prescription came from, died on the spot from anger, while this person was hailed by the surrounding villages as a 'great filial son'.

This made Gu Jin Nian feel a chill run through his flesh.

Furthermore, martial artists of the jianghu, fleeing destitute with no food or silver, went to seek friends; the friends were extremely poor, yet to entertain them, they actually killed their own wives and cooked the meat for them.

The more remote the place, the more impoverished, the more such occurrences there are.

Moreover, they are extremely bizarre and shocking to hear.

Only by leaving the prosperous lands and going to these places of suffering did Gu Jin Nian realize how destitute and difficult the lives of the lower-class commoners truly are.

The way of the commoners' livelihood is far more terrifying than he had imagined.

What frightened Gu Jin Nian was.

How should he solve it? How can one person's strength resolve this? With so many troubles in the world, can he possibly handle everything personally? Even if he could, how should he deal with such a child? Kill him?

Would there not be another? If he doesn't kill him, does he know his wrongdoing?

Emotion and law.

Dao and virtue.

Mixed with too many things inside, it made Gu Jin Nian feel immensely heavy.

He raised his head and gazed upon the heavens.

Gu Jin Nian's inner anguish was too much, too much.

However.

Just then.

A rumbling sound echoed across the entire Divine Continent.

Brilliant light shot toward the southeast, ultimately empowering the Jixia Academy.

On Lone Mountain.

Gu Jin Nian was somewhat curious, and the Heaven's Mandate mark within his body showed some agitation at this moment.

"Will Heaven's Mandate manifest in the world?"

After a moment, Gu Jin Nian murmured to himself; the sudden appearance of the portent made him feel astonished.

The Heaven's Mandate mark within his body was agitated, likely related to Heaven's Mandate.

But after only a short while, Gu Jin Nian withdrew his gaze and instead immersed himself in comprehending the Dao.

He needed to comprehend these matters.

If he can comprehend, he will truly grasp the Sage Path, awaken the Way of the Sage, and thus walk the Half Saint road; with the aid of Establishing Speech, he may become a Sage.

And at the same time.

A dazzling light startled the entire Divine Continent.

That beam of light poured into the Jixia Academy.

The whole academy, hundreds of Great Scholars, were instantly alarmed at that moment.

"What phenomenon is this?"

"Why did this suddenly happen?"

"This is a Heaven's Mandate phenomenon."

"The Heaven's Mandate Star coalescence phenomenon, blessing the Jixia Academy—what is this?"

Jixia Academy.

It is immensely grand, its whole structure shimmering silver‑white, looking extraordinarily magnificent, as if forged from crystal.

The academy stands atop a high mountain; the sky is filled with countless stars, already dazzling, and now, with the Heaven's Mandate stars' blessing, the entire Jixia Academy becomes even more magnificent.

Academy entrance.

Nine chess boards are set up; at each board sits an elder—these are the nine Chess Dao Great Scholars of the Jixia Academy, who welcome the various celestial prodigies here.

Yet the light of the Heaven's Mandate stars poured a Heaven's Mandate into the final chess board.

The player responsible for the game is Duan Kong, the Eastern Wilderness Chess King.

Duan Kong frowned; he did not quite understand what had occurred.

And at that moment, a voice sounded above the Jixia Academy.

It was an elder, clad in a teal scholar robe, white‑haired, gazing at the firmament.

"We have seen the Dean before."

Upon seeing the elder appear, all the disciples inside the Jixia Academy bowed one after another toward the Dean.

No one knows how powerful the Dean of the Jixia Academy is, but they can be certain that even Half Saint Su Wenjing cannot compare with this being.

"Dean, what is happening?"

Duan Kong spoke, looking at the Dean in the void, and asked.

"Heaven's Mandate blesses the Jixia Academy."

"This Heaven's Mandate dispute, I fear, will become the prelude to Heaven's Mandate's manifestation."

The elder spoke, gazing at the Heaven's Mandate Star, and said.

Hearing this, everyone present was startled.

All mortals know that Heaven's Mandate is about to appear, but they did not expect it to use the Jixia Academy as the prelude.

"So, in this academic dispute, if someone expounds the Sage's teachings, they will receive Heaven's Mandate's blessing?"

A Great Scholar spoke, asking the Dean.

"I fear it is more than that."

The Dean shook his head, then spoke, his eyes filled with emotion.

"This Jixia Academy already bears Heaven's Mandate's blessing; Confucius sealed the Heaven's Mandate seal within the Heaven's Mandate Star."

"Logically, one should wait until someone pioneers New Learning, then Heaven's Mandate would bless the Jixia Academy, granting it to the new scholars."

"But now, Heaven's Mandate descends early; this is an omen, an omen of Heaven's Mandate."

The Dean spoke, seeming to perceive some foresight.

"May I ask, Dean, is this a good or bad thing for our Confucian Dao?"

Someone voiced, continuing to ask the Dean.

Hearing this, the Dean fell silent.

After a brief moment, he slowly spoke.

"If, before Heaven's Mandate descends, the Confucian Dao produces a true Sage, it would be a tremendous boon for our Confucian Dao."

"But if, before Heaven's Mandate descends, the Confucian Dao has no true Sage, it would not be a good thing."

"Immortal sects, Buddhist sects, demons, sword paths, art paths, even warriors—all have hidden Seventh Realm masters in the world; only our Confucian Dao has yet to produce a Sage."

He spoke, saying earnestly.

Whether there is an advantage still depends on the highest combat power.

Hearing this, all the Great Scholars frowned, for it was not good news to them.

"Moreover, even if the Confucian Dao has a Sage, the Immortal Dao will reap the first benefits."

He spoke again, then waved his hand, silencing the entire Jixia Academy.

"Regardless, devote yourselves wholly to preparing the academy's grand ceremony ten days from now."

"Everything shall prioritize scholarship."

Having said this, the Dean vanished.

And the Jixia Academy gradually fell silent.

Only the Jixia Academy quieted, while the entire Divine Continent could not settle.

Grand Profound Immortal Sect.

Inside the main hall.

The Upper Clarity Daoist sat at the head, while on both sides sat numerous avatars, each avatar being the head of a great immortal sect.

The heads of the various immortal sects wore curious expressions, summoned swiftly by the Upper Clarity Daoist's immortal sect methods.

This made them extremely curious.

"Brother Upper Clarity Daoist, why have you suddenly called us to gather here?"

Someone spoke up, looking at the Shangqing Daoist with a curious expression.

"The contest for Heaven's Mandate is about to begin."

However, a single sentence from the Shangqing Daoist left the crowd astonished; they all involuntarily rose and stared at him.

"Is the contest for Heaven's Mandate about to start?"

"When?"

"Weren't we told to wait several years? Why the sudden acceleration?"

The crowd, curious, couldn't help but ask.

"This time Heaven's Mandate appears early at the Jixia Academy, which means the contest for Heaven's Mandate is about to begin."

"If nothing goes wrong, after the Jixia Academy ends, Heaven's Mandate will fully manifest, and the great world contest must commence."

The Shangqing Daoist spoke.

He informed the crowd.

"After the Jixia Academy ends, will the contest for Heaven's Mandate begin?"

"Then what should we do now?"

"It came early?"

"If it is early, it would be a rare boon for us."

"Should Heaven's Mandate appear early, our immortal sect would become invincible."

The various sect head instructors voiced themselves, showing surprise and curiosity, but mostly joy, for the manifestation of Heaven's Mandate is a tremendous boon to them.

However, they were also puzzled about what they should do now.

Most sect head instructors are still vague about Heaven's Mandate, only the Shangqing Daoist knows a bit.

"Everyone, don't be too hasty in your joy."

"This early manifestation of Heaven's Mandate is not a good thing for our sects."

"Before Heaven's Mandate, if we are not stripped of our fortune by Gu Jin Nian, that would be a great blessing; but once Gu Jin Nian strips our fortune, it may not be good."

"However, there is a remedy now that can let us claim the top spot after Heaven's Mandate manifests."

The Shangqing Daoist spoke, delivering news that was not entirely good.

"Brother Shangqing Daoist, you didn't say this before; you previously claimed that if Heaven's Mandate descends, our sect cultivators would receive its blessing, transform, and gain countless benefits. Why have you changed your meaning now?"

"Indeed, Brother Shangqing, you didn't say that before. Why the early arrival and the change of meaning?"

"Brother Dao, we are willing to oppose Gu Jin Nian and even offend the Da Xia Dynasty for the sake of the Tai Xuan Immortal Sect because of Heaven's Mandate. Now you say it's not a good thing for our sect—aren't you deceiving us?"

Hearing this, the crowd frowned; the Shangqing Daoist hadn't said this before, and now that Heaven's Mandate is about to manifest, he suddenly claims there is a problem, which displeased them.

"Everyone, calm down."

The Shangqing Daoist seemed to have anticipated their reaction; he rose and spoke again.

"You have misunderstood."

"My meaning is not that there are no benefits, but that the benefits are few."

"With this manifestation of Heaven's Mandate, the sect will obtain the greatest benefits, but do you know what Heaven's Mandate truly means?"

The Shangqing Daoist looked at the crowd and said.

Upon hearing this, the crowd was genuinely puzzled.

Indeed.

They only knew that Heaven's Mandate's arrival would benefit the sect, but they never knew exactly what the benefits were.

"Brother Shangqing, now that we are at this point, just say whatever you have to say directly."

Someone spoke up, looking at the Shangqing Daoist.

"Key."

The Shangqing Daoist replied calmly.

His words left the crowd extremely confused; this time they truly couldn't understand what the Shangqing Daoist meant.

"We all bear shackles on our bodies."

"And Heaven's Mandate is the key that unlocks those shackles."

"If Heaven's Mandate descends, the shackles on us will be released; at that moment, our cultivation will surge dramatically, and our training speed will increase a thousand miles a day."

"This key not only opens the shackles on our cultivation, but also the shackles on artifacts, Daoist methods, all shackles. On the Shenzhou Continent, everything is bound by shackles."

"Heaven's Mandate is the sole key to unlock the shackles."

"Now, fellow Daoists, do you understand?"

The Shangqing Daoist revealed the truth of Heaven's Mandate.

His words left the crowd utterly astonished.

No matter how they reasoned, they never expected Heaven's Mandate to be a key, that the entire great world was shackled?

"And Heaven's Mandate is the key to unlock the shackles? What truly shocked them was that after Heaven's Mandate manifests, their cultivation would surge step by step, and their training speed would be a thousand miles a day."

This left them extremely astonished and incredulous.

"Brother Dao, you mean we will reach the Seventh Realm from now on?"

A head instructor spoke; he was a cultivator in the early Dongxu stage, a strong Sixth Realm practitioner.

"Not only that."

The Shangqing Daoist shook his head and said to the other.

"Without Heaven's Mandate, one can still step into the Eighth Realm."

"If one obtains Heaven's Mandate, one can enter the Eighth Realm and become an Eternal True Immortal."

The Shangqing Daoist spoke, and his words left everyone profoundly shocked.

Without obtaining Heaven's Mandate, can one become a quasi‑Eighth Realm strongman? With Heaven's Mandate, can one step into the Eighth Realm?

That's rather terrifying, isn't it?

"Then isn't that a good thing?"

"Why does Brother Shangqing Daoist say it's troublesome?"

The Sect Master of the Dragon Tiger Dao Sect spoke, looking at the Shangqing Daoist, unable to grasp the other's meaning for a moment.

"World's Shackles."

"Heaven's Mandate is the key."

"If you wish to untie them, there is an order; the first to be released should be my Immortal Sect's Nine Divine Artifacts."

"Then the shackles of the Dragon Vein Mountains and Rivers will be undone, gestating divine objects."

"But this humble Daoist asks you all, how many Immortal Sect artifacts do we have at present?"

The Shangqing Daoist opened his mouth and said thus, looking at the crowd.

Upon hearing this, the Sect Masters couldn't help but furrow their brows.

"Regarding artifacts, the Great Profound Immortal Sect has the Mystic Yellow Pagoda, the Dragon Tiger Dao Sect has the Dragon Tiger Treasure Furnace, and the Yin Yang Immortal Sect has the Yin Yang Immortal Mirror."

"Gu Jin Nian possesses the Primordial Five Elements Banner and the Mystic Yellow Bell, and it is said that the Ten Thousand Stars Gate has the Star River Immortal Gourd, totaling six artifacts."

"The remaining four artifacts have not yet manifested; they are not in our hands, nor in anyone else's."

"With the Great World's arrival, are artifacts truly important?"

A Sect Master spoke, full of curiosity.

"Extremely important."

"After Heaven's Mandate descends, the Nine Divine Artifacts will immediately release their shackles, and at that moment each artifact will possess inconceivable power."

"In other words, each artifact, in a sense, is equivalent to an Eighth Realm strongman."

"When the second-stage awakening arrives, the Dragon Vein Mountains and Rivers revive, birthing countless Immortal Sect treasures; the more artifacts one has, the greater the benefit."

"So this is why I, the humble Daoist, said there is trouble."

The Shangqing Daoist clarified these words.

Leaving the crowd suddenly enlightened.

"But the remaining four artifacts, we do not know where they are, do we?"

"Could it be that we should join forces to seize the artifacts in Gu Jin Nian's hands?"

Someone asked; although they know artifacts are important, they are even clearer that no one knows where the other four artifacts are.

"No."

"The artifacts in Gu Jin Nian's possession have already recognized their master; they cannot be snatched."

"Among the remaining five artifacts, two are highly likely to appear in the Taihao Immortal Realm."

"Therefore, the only thing to do now is, using the Alliance's strength, to hinder the Da Xia Dynasty."

"Make sure Gu Jin Nian never notices the Taihao Immortal Realm."

"Now this humble Daoist has heard some news: the Da Xia Dynasty intends to target the Xiongnu Nation."

"In other words, if the Da Xia Dynasty truly invades the Xiongnu Nation, no matter the cost, it will be forced to return defeated."

"Do you all understand?"

The Shangqing Daoist spoke.

He revealed the true purpose.

(End of chapter)