Chapter 288: The Heavenly Dao of the present age reveals itself; seeking the master of West Zhou Mountain, to seek a sliver of life f

Da Xia Dynasty.

A piece of farmland.

Evening light fell, shining on the fields; because of the changes these years in the Da Xia Dynasty, plus the great upheaval of heaven and earth, the oxen grew strong. In the past, when people farmed, they were reluctant to make the oxen toil, but now it doesn't matter; they don't mind plowing for at least seven or eight hours a day.

Gu Jin Nian's figure appeared.

After slaying the Thunder King Empress, these past few days Gu Jin Nian did not rush back to the Da Xia Dynasty; instead, he came alone to such a rural place to admire the scenery and settle his mind.

After merging with the divine king's seal, Gu Jin Nian clearly understood how important insight was for himself.

Looking back over these years, everything he had experienced was often just inner impulse, his own bottom line, plus a moment's hot-blooded fervor.

In short, he had never truly gained insight or experienced.

Even in the crisis of the River Peace Commandery, his point of anger might have been more about personal experience.

Insight meant too much for his current self.

It surpassed any heavenly treasure or earthly gem.

Some things, only when understood become the right way.

The sunset sank westward.

Twilight is infinitely beautiful.

Walking in the fields, Gu Jin Nian restrained all his aura; his appearance also looked ordinary, with no change at all.

Insects chirped as they returned to their old nests; the autumn fields lay idle.

Gazing at all this, Gu Jin Nian involuntarily opened his mouth, reciting a poem, while his gaze gradually turned toward a figure.

It was a middle-aged man wearing dark black clothes, painting on the side.

What attracted Gu Jin Nian was not the man, but that his painting was somewhat unusual.

Now it was twilight; although there was a sense of lateness, the content the middle-aged man painted was dark and fragmented, giving a feeling of the great world's decline.

This was quite different; looking up, there was an indescribable flavor.

"What does the sir's painting mean?"

Gu Jin Nian slowly stepped forward, looking at the other's painting, and involuntarily asked curiously.

He heard the sound.

The middle-aged man did not turn back immediately, but instead laid down the final stroke on the xuan paper, crossing the whole sheet, shattering it entirely; then he took out a new sheet of xuan paper and placed it on top.

He gave Gu Jin Nian no answer, continuing to paint; on the new xuan paper he laid down stroke after stroke—golden yang rising, all things reviving, between heaven and earth, everything renewed.

There was an indescribable charm.

After about half an hour, when the middle-aged man finished painting, his voice also sounded.

"It is already damaged; better to replace it with a new sheet, isn't it?"

He spoke, as if talking to himself, yet also as if answering something.

Hearing this, Gu Jin Nian slightly furrowed his brows; he vaguely felt this person was different, certainly not an ordinary person, very likely deliberately waiting for him here.

This was a kind of intuition.

At his level, intuition is extremely important, almost determinative.

"Sir, you overstate it; the painting just now was not completely ruined—if not for that final stroke, after the rain clears and the sky brightens, the great world would still be renewed, merely needing time."

Gu Jin Nian spoke, giving his reply; this was also his thought.

"After the rain clears and the sky brightens, is the great world still renewed?"

"For a painting already ruined, rather than adding more brushstrokes, wouldn't it be better to simply discard it and get a new one?"

"Each stroke begun anew, having learned from failure, will not the next be even more successful?"

The middle-aged scholar rose, picked up the xuan paper, and handed it to Gu Jin Nian.

One must admit, his painting skill is strong; this painting looks as if it contains boundless vitality and also boundless hope, making one feel delighted.

If one must say it, the painting he had made before was already damaged; trying to repair it would be as hard as climbing to heaven, so better to just paint a new one.

That is indeed the fact.

Anyone a bit wiser would choose to start over.

"Sir, every painting holds a different meaning; the true Way of Painting should not retreat in the face of difficulty, but advance boldly."

Gu Jin Nian spoke, looking at him and said.

"Really?"

The middle-aged scholar looked at Gu Jin Nian; his eyes were calm, showing nothing special, yet it gave Gu Jin Nian a feeling that this middle-aged scholar was no ordinary person.

"Indeed."

Gu Jin Nian nodded.

But as soon as he said that, the middle-aged scholar smiled.

"I didn't expect a sage would also lie."

"Actually, your heart is also filled with hesitation."

"When this painting appeared in your hand, you felt hesitation, nothing more than responsibility and your own thoughts influencing your choice."

"Asking your heart, which is better—continuing the painting or replacing it?"

The scholar spoke with a smile, but he instantly knew Gu Jin Nian was a sage, which made Gu Jin Nian somewhat startled.

Although he knew this middle-aged scholar was no ordinary person, he himself had restrained his aura; unless it was an existence like Xuanyuan King, otherwise under normal circumstances even the Thunder King might not notice that he was Gu Jin Nian.

Thinking this, Gu Jin Nian involuntarily bowed to him.

"Junior pays respects to senior."

Gu Jin Nian performed a bow and said.

"There's no need to call me senior; I'm not your senior either; if anything, you and I are roughly peers."

The middle-aged scholar spoke, but his gaze was not on Gu Jin Nian; instead, he looked at the sun about to set. The world seemed somewhat gloomy; although there was a bit of light, it gave a feeling that great night was approaching.

It seemed that after a moment, it became Eternal Night.

Gu Jin Nian was somewhat silent; he carefully pondered those words, not understanding what his peers meant.

The only thing known is that the person before him is unfathomable, of great origin, perhaps even surpassing the Xuanyuan Capital.

"Rather than struggling desperately, it would be better to choose to let go."

"Others have no power to choose, but you can make a choice; a new world arrives, all things are renewed, and then countless thoughts will arise. Although you cannot control others' thoughts, you can still refine better thoughts."

"Just do your best."

The middle-aged scholar spoke, his words carrying a hint of sigh.

After carefully pondering those words, Gu Jin Nian roughly understood their meaning.

"Not yet truly done one's best."

Gu Jin Nian replied, his gaze somewhat firm.

"Enough already."

"Right now it's merely a struggle."

"It's you giving yourself too much burden and responsibility."

"Furthermore, I'd like to ask you: is your choice truly correct?"

"Time flows by; in a flash a hundred years pass. This generation will eventually be buried in the loam, and the next generation will be born, and so it continues."

"What changes do the farmers' descendants undergo? Even if their fates differ after three or five generations, what relation does that have to them?"

The middle-aged scholar spoke, pointing at those peasants returning from farming, expressing his understanding and thoughts.

Clearly, this is a contest of conscience.

I don't know exactly where this middle-aged scholar comes from, but his answer now is extremely important.

What he depicted was not the inner self, but a kind of insight.

The world now is devastated, devoid of kindness, only malice; or rather, the strife of the great age ultimately makes the world cold-hearted.

Therefore, only then will final brilliance appear, and the great age will wither.

The only opportunity is to grasp Heaven's Mandate and become a Heaven's Mandate Sage, only then can the great age be saved.

But for the world, such salvation means little; it merely extends life by three thousand, five thousand, or ten thousand years at most.

After the sage grows old and dies, the world remains the same.

Within dynasties, there will still be those who, in the struggle for power, commit acts contrary to heavenly principle.

In the great age, states vie for hegemony, committing heinous sins.

The great clans, in their contention for Heaven's Mandate and to seize opportunities, resort to any means.

Therefore, the problem of the present age is not decided by one person; rather, a great problem arises—a problem of thought.

Without benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith, the world's great and righteous qi will also sink into turbid qi.

This turbid qi will then affect everyone of later generations.

More wisely, what the middle-aged scholar said is not wrong at all; the rot has reached the root—what point is there in forced salvation? Better to open up a new heaven and earth; then for everyone it would be a good thing.

Everyone will eventually die; it's merely choosing to depart in this way in this era. If one must speak, it is a kind of helplessness, but rationally speaking, it is a good thing.

It depends on the standpoint from which one views it.

If viewed from the standpoint of present people, it is naturally bad; but viewed from the standpoint of the great age, or from the standpoint of heaven and earth, it is good.

It is far better than one person becoming a sage and prolonging life.

"Heaven and earth renewed is certainly not bad, but may I ask, sir, would the same thing not happen a second time?"

"All things renew cyclically; Heaven's Mandate is forever changing, yet the ultimate destination remains the same."

"Rather than constantly changing, why not strive for it? Even if we fail, at least we gain a new and different insight."

Gu Jin Nian spoke, responding to the middle-aged scholar's inquiry.

Although this world is somewhat corrupt, after replacement, could it truly be better? It would merely extend life by a few more great ages.

The final result is likely still the same.

"Then replace it again? What is the meaning of cyclical renewal? 'We have already contended four times.'"

"Why do you think you can win this time?"

The middle-aged scholar sighed, uttering those words, and in an instant Gu Jin Nian's expression changed.

"Contended four times."

"This remark is too crucial—could it be that this world just happens to have four sages? These four sages are separated by a great age each, and this presence before us has an astonishing origin."

Upon careful thought, Gu Jin Nian had a guess.

"Senior, are you...?" Gu Jin Nian spoke, unable to refrain from asking.

"My identity is not important."

"Don't worry too much about it."

The latter spoke, not caring about his own identity, but wanting to obtain an answer from Gu Jin Nian.

After hearing those words, Gu Jin Nian became somewhat silent.

He had already guessed a bit about the other's identity, though not entirely certain, but his intuition told him it should be the existence seen when the Seven Seals unite.

Great World Heavenly Dao.

But as for the person before him, whether he is the Ancient Heavenly Dao or the Present Heavenly Dao, Gu Jin Nian is unsure.

This origin surpasses the Xuanyuan King by far.

In other words, his current answer is very important, important to the fate of the great age.

"Things are in human hands."

Gu Jin Nian thought a lot, and he had many ideas he wanted to express, but when it came time to speak, he ultimately chose these four characters.

Things depend on human effort.

This sentence determined his inner thoughts.

"What if defeat is inevitable?"

The latter asked, looking at Gu Jin Nian, his gaze calm, yet giving a feeling that penetrates straight to the heart.

"Regardless of the outcome, do one's best."

Gu Jin Nian's answer was also extremely firm; he didn't care how the outcome turned out, as long as he gave his all, failure was unavoidable.

"People have no choice, but you do."

"You not only have a choice, you can also wait for the new era to descend and perfect your thoughts."

"My appearance today is for you."

"The great world's withering is already destined; originally it was to be completely destroyed, but because of you, they are willing to give one last chance."

"I believe you can lead a new era, at least stronger than the present age."

"This is neither giving up nor compromising, but the best choice."

"You need not bear any burden, nor need to answer immediately; I give you a certain time, half a year later, you just give me your answer."

The middle-aged scholar spoke, he revealed the truth, and also disclosed his identity.

The incarnation of the present world's Heaven's Dao also informed Gu Jin Nian of the tension in the current situation.

Fifty Heaven's Dao wills, most of them want to destroy the world, and it's not just simple destruction; it's very likely to eliminate many worlds.

Utter annihilation.

No one can survive.

However, because of Gu Jin Nian, plus the will of the present world's Heaven's Dao, this opportunity was finally granted.

If Gu Jin Nian agrees, willing to try one last time, if he still cannot increase his benevolent thoughts, everything will be destroyed.

But if Gu Jin Nian refuses, it will be the final showdown; Gu Jin Nian's chances of victory are nearly zero, because he faces Heaven's Dao.

Moreover, it is not just one Heaven's Dao, but the Heaven's Dao of every age, past and present.

Only half a year of time remains.

In other words, after half a year, a life-or-death showdown will occur.

There are no other options left.

This is the final notice.

"Can't we strive once more?"

Gu Jin Nian asked the other party.

"There's nothing left to strive for."

"You only have half a year."

"I can do little for you now; take this seal, if you choose to enter the Time River, it can save your life at a critical moment."

The middle-aged scholar spoke, after speaking he waved his hand, and a seal entered Gu Jin Nian's body.

Obtained the seal.

Gu Jin Nian's mood remained heavy.

"Becoming a Heaven's Mandate Sage, can it turn the tide?"

Gu Jin Nian gazed at the other party.

"Not necessarily."

"However, if you can create a new ideology, letting all peoples live in peace, perhaps there is a certain possibility."

"If possible, go to West Zhou Mountain; the Lord of West Zhou Mountain has a mysterious origin, even I don't know what she is."

"She might have a way; of course, this is just my speculation."

The latter spoke, informing Gu Jin Nian of this matter.

"Lord of West Zhou Mountain?"

At this moment, hearing this name again, Gu Jin Nian indeed felt a bit startled.

The first time hearing this name was from the Divine Mountain Woman, who told him that at the time he only thought the Lord of West Zhou Mountain was the chief of a great clan.

Later, as all tribes feared the Lord of West Zhou Mountain, Gu Jin Nian thought it must be an existence above ancient times, very likely a being from the mythic era.

But when the Heavenly Tribulation appeared, just a single thought from the Lord of West Zhou Mountain caused the tribulation to vanish outright; that tribulation's form earlier was very likely an incarnation of Heaven's Dao.

Otherwise, such confidence would not exist.

Now, even the present world's Heaven's Dao does not know the origin of the Lord of West Zhou Mountain, and furthermore urges oneself to go find her.

The identity of the Lord of West Zhou Mountain makes Gu Jin Nian feel increasingly fearful, yet also full of curiosity.

"Well, her origins are unknown to anyone, not among the Five Elements, not controlled by Heaven and Earth; she knows many things, perhaps she really has a way."

The middle-aged scholar gave the answer.

"Good."

Gu Jin Nian nodded, but in the end he couldn't help his curiosity, looking at the other party he said.

"May I ask, sir?"

"Over these years, have all the anomalies been related to you, sir?"

Gu Jin Nian inquired; he really was a bit curious about this matter, the other party being the present world's Heaven's Dao, and over the past two years, his own actions have produced astonishing anomalies related to Heaven and Earth, which makes him very curious.

"Yes."

The latter nodded, directly admitting it.

"Why is this?"

Could it be that you, sir, have noticed my extraordinary talent?

Gu Jin Nian was truly curious this time; this is somewhat strange. If one were to say that heaven and earth do not know his origins, that would obviously be impossible.

As for these poems and essays, including famous sayings, Gu Jin Nian himself dare not claim they are his original work.

He can only say that he follows these things, but cannot say that these things belong to him.

So he is very curious: why has Heaven Dao bestowed upon him such astonishing visions?

He really is somewhat curious.

"That's not the case."

"It's simply because I feel the Great World is about to perish; it would be better to exaggerate a bit, so that I won't miss seeing it later."

The latter spoke, and this answer left Gu Jin Nian utterly silent.

Indeed, there was some silence.

To be honest, I had expected the other party to give a more normal reply, but I never thought it would be this kind of answer.

Simply put, do you find it boring?

Is there anyone who acts like Heavenly Dao like this? Seeing Gu Jin Nian's silent expression, the latter couldn't help but chuckle, then patted Gu Jin Nian's shoulder and said.

"Not entirely thinking that way either."

"The words you have set forth, each sentence, comes from the heart; although these remarks are unrelated to you, you indeed are doing so."

"I can comprehend your intentions, which is why I chose you."

"With so many beings in the Great World, why choose you? Naturally there is a reason."

"However, don't overthink it; just do what you want to do with peace of mind."

"Since you don't care about the outcome, then enjoy the process fully."

The middle-aged scholar smiled and said.

Having said that, he departed in a carefree manner, without saying anything more.

Gazing at the departing middle-aged scholar.

Gu Jin Nian was somewhat silent.

But after a moment, Gu Jin Nian couldn't help but speak.

"Sir, can the Five Clans be destroyed?" Gu Jin Nian asked, posing this question to the other party.

"As you wish."

The scholar spoke, his two-word answer relieved Gu Jin Nian; afterward he also set out, but instead of following the middle-aged scholar, he headed toward West Zhou Mountain.

Thus.

The next day.

A voice echoed throughout the Great World.

"Junior Gu Jin Nian, I seek a sliver of hope for the human race."

Holy Punishment's Voice rang out, spreading throughout the entire Great World.

It drew attention from all quarters.

The Great World was shaken; not knowing what had happened, how could Gu Jin Nian, out of the blue, not return to Da Xia but go to West Zhou Mountain? This is astonishing.

The Five Clans frowned at once; they knew what West Zhou Mountain signified.

Few know much, but they have long heard of the Lord of West Zhou Mountain, whose origins are immense.

It is very likely to disrupt their plans.

(End of chapter)