Chapter 201: 【Believe in the Wisdom of Later Generations】

The Ruthless Emperor ended after four lives. Her fifth life, the Red Dust Immortal road, had major problems. She no longer ruled the human universe but escaped into the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone to undergo Nirvana and transformation.

Her Dao inheritance had four lineages in total. The first lineage was the Heaven-Swallowing Holy Land established by her former followers, the Divine Generals. When the Ruthless Emperor passed away, her Heaven-Swallowing Devil Jar was left to them.

When the Ruthless Emperor was clear-headed, she had killed Great Accomplishment Holy Spirits and slain forbidden zone Supremes. Naturally, the world was awestruck, and all spirits were silent. No one dared to challenge her. The entire universe prostrated at her feet, which could be called unique throughout the ages.

But when she stepped to the most critical node of the immortal road transformation, there was a risk that she herself would explode if she were not careful. She had no time to look after or protect her descendants.

Thus, the forbidden zones the Ruthless Emperor had offended struck one after another. The Heaven Forbidden Zone sent down curses, the Divine Ruins Forbidden Zone retaliated, and the Undying Mountain destroyed her dojo. These were all life forbidden zones with great origins related to Holy Spirits.

It was only because the Ruthless Emperor had once sliced off the Heaven-Severing Mountain Range with a sword, turning the ancestral land of the Holy Spirit Imperial Clan into ruins.

After the Heaven-Swallowing Holy Land was destroyed, some descendants were trapped in several dojos in the Northern Region until their final decline, becoming indistinguishable from the masses and disappearing completely.

There were others who were extremely unique. They were people from the same village as the Ruthless Emperor. They had once bestowed kindness upon the Ruthless Emperor and her brother. Compared to the followers, they were closer and held the Ruthless Emperor's decree and Emperor order.

This was the second lineage of the Ruthless Emperor. After the decline of the Heaven-Swallowing Holy Land, they escaped and found the third lineage of the Ruthless Emperor, the tomb keepers of the Southern Ridge Heavenly Emperor.

The two hit it off immediately. One had orthodoxy, the other had a Holy Land, and together they forged the Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Tripod.

Lin Xian called himself the Ruthless Dao Master, the orthodoxy of the fourth lineage. It was not just because he had half of the Heaven-Swallowing Devil Jar and had learned part of the Heaven-Swallowing Devil Art, but also because there was a Little Nan Nan in the Tianxuan Holy Land.

What could be more symbolic of orthodoxy than the Ruthless Emperor's Dao Fruit?

With just a soft call, the Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Tripod rebelled instantly, or rather, set things right and returned to its true master.

The two remaining Saints of the Ruthless Emperor's second lineage changed color, soon realized what had happened, and shouted that they could also love the Immortal Alliance and be loyal.

However, the old Saint of Yaoguang was incomparably cold, requesting Lin Xian to cut the weeds and dig up the roots. One person who surrendered was enough. His attitude was even more determined than the Saints of the other families.

"Converts..." Ye Fan held Little Nan Nan's hand, thoughtful. As a latecomer, the Yaoguang Holy Land had to be more fanatical than the veteran members to demonstrate their loyalty.

Furthermore, it was for the sake of orthodoxy. The Yaoguang Holy Land had endured the influence of being unorthodox for who knew how many tens of thousands of years. Now that they saw the dawn of hope, they were naturally eager to resolve it.

Having lost the Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Tripod, even Saints could not resist the Supreme Dao might. Soon, the battle outside the starry sky ended, and the two Saints were beaten into Dao ash.

The materials on their bodies were also collected and gathered in the hands of the old man Wei Yi. This was a considerable fortune that could serve as startup capital for the Tianxuan Holy Land.

Weighing a piece of extremely large Daluo Silver Essence, the old man Wei Yi nodded, a trace of nostalgia appearing in his eyes. He murmured, "In the past, when attacking the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone, countless Saint weapons were damaged. Among them was a Star Spirit Pot forged from Daluo Silver Essence, which could draw upon the power of the stars."

"Now, recasting a Saint weapon can serve as the foundation for Tianxuan, and it is suitable for your cultivation."

"Old man, why are you in the mood to refine weapons today?" Lin Xian was somewhat surprised. Whether it was the Old Madman or Wei Yi, neither placed much importance on weapons.

For one, they firmly believed in their own invincibility, that their fists could crush everything. For another, they worried that their disciples would rely on weapons and lose their drive.

Even the Old Madman's Saint Crown was merely a symbol of the Tianxuan Saint Master's inheritance.

"Today is different from the past. Tianxuan's stall is getting bigger and bigger."

The old man Wei Yi looked around, watching Yaochi, the Jiang family, and the Ji family, and finally his gaze fell on the Saint of Yaoguang. He said slowly, "The Immortal Alliance is turning from virtual to real. Some sects are afraid they will be completely integrated into it, and I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it."

"Senior is joking." The Saint of Yaoguang's body trembled. Without an Emperor weapon to protect his body, he felt immense pressure at this moment. Just by being stared at, his body felt like it was about to explode.

How could there be such a terrifying person in this age? This was the Era of Dao Difficulty. Those who could cut the Dao and become Kings in this environment were all peerless geniuses.

The other three Saints also felt immense pressure. Only the God Wang Jiang Taixu was calm and composed. With this Saint of the current age in the Tianxuan Holy Land, they were bound to hold the reins of the Immortal Alliance.

"Fellow Daoist in the dark, you have been watching for a long time." The old man Wei Yi nodded, suddenly looking toward a void, his expression solemn: "Are you not going to show yourself?"

"What, there is someone else!" The various Saints were shocked, hurriedly calling for their Emperor weapons to protect themselves, fearing that the mantis would catch the cicada while the oriole was behind.

"What kind of expert, please show yourself!"

The God Wang Jiang Taixu shouted, his heart suddenly trembling. Even with his realm, he hadn't discovered them. How terrifying must this person be?

"Old, I am truly old... even a Great Saint can discover my tracks." A coughing sound echoed in the void, and an old man with sparse hair, thin and sickly, walked out slowly.

The sick old man walked with a limp, but the various Saints were terrified and did not dare to underestimate him in the slightest. What did he mean by "even a Great Saint"?!

Who exactly was the person before them? Could it be a Quasi-Emperor of the current age?

To cultivate to become a Saint in the Era of Dao Difficulty and have the qualifications to become an Emperor—if one could cultivate to become a Quasi-Emperor in this environment, what kind of talent was that!

The various Saints were cautious with their Emperor weapons, not daring to be the least bit negligent. Theoretically, a Great Saint with an Emperor weapon could kill a Quasi-Emperor, but there was a high probability of being counter-killed. The two were evenly matched.

It mainly depended on the degree of the Emperor weapon's revival. The Great Saint's role was just a power bank, continuing to supply energy to the Emperor weapon.

The word "Emperor" was not just talk; it could truly crush the ages.

Even a Quasi-Emperor, in an era without Emperors, could dominate the universe. They had already stepped onto the path of the Supreme and could not be provoked.

Only Lin Xian was calm and composed on the scene, because he knew the sick old man's identity. He looked at the Great Saint Wei Yi and couldn't help but ask curiously: "Uncle Master, when did you break through?"

"I have contemplated many of the scriptures you brought, and I have gained some insights." The Great Saint Wei Yi said calmly, "A few days ago, the Dao marks of the Green Emperor began to dissipate gradually, no longer suppressing me, so I took the opportunity to step in."

The various Saints were shaken. Sure enough, Wei Yi was already a Great Saint; otherwise, he couldn't have such pressure.

"Green Emperor Dao marks." The sick old man heard this, shook his head, and sighed: "The Green Emperor's Dao suppression has harmed so many people."

"Living in the same age as the one who attained the Dao, this influence is extremely serious. Heaven and earth resonate, and the Dao is suppressed. The closer one is, the greater the suppression. Throughout history, few children of Emperors have attained the Dao; most linger in the Quasi-Emperor realm."

"Not necessarily." Lin Xian stepped forward, smiling brightly: "This age is extraordinary. The road to immortality will open. Only the children of Emperors considered most outstanding by the Ancient Emperors, those with hope of surpassing themselves, will be sealed away."

"That's right, the road to immortality." The sick old man looked dazed: "That Holy Land six thousand years ago calculated wrong. Is it about to open again now?"

"Geniuses throughout the ages compete for one path, and Supremes throughout history shine together. This age is incomparably cruel." Lin Xian nodded, then changed the subject: "But, I believe that in this age, there are still people who can compete with the children of Emperors and geniuses, and even ancient Supremes!"

"Oh, what kind of expert is that?" The sick old man became interested, several figures flashing through his mind, all of them people at the Ninth Level of the Quasi-Emperor realm.

"His name is Gai Jiuyou!" Lin Xian said leisurely: "Eight or nine thousand years ago, a Gai Jiuyou emerged in the Central Plains. It was only a thousand years after the Green Emperor disappeared. He bore immense pressure, and in just a short thousand years, he walked to the threshold of attaining the Dao, the ultimate leap."

"This speed far surpasses the Great Emperors and Heavenly Venerables of the past. If he had missed the Green Emperor, he would have been destined to attain the Dao and be a Great Emperor Jiuyou."

"It's just..."

"Just what?" The sick old man was intrigued and asked with his hands behind his back.

"It's just that he was born at the wrong time. As the long years passed, even if he were as strong as a Great Emperor, so what? Even if he were stronger than ancient Supremes, so what? The world only remembers the number one in the world; who would remember the number two?"

"Time passes in a hurry. Without attaining the Dao, one is ultimately an ant. The Heaven Heart Imprint will only carry the Dao of the Great Emperor. Even the heavenly tribulation imprints and humanoid lightning will only project the Great Emperors, Ancient Emperors, and Heavenly Venerables."

Lin Xian sighed with regret: "After the ages, all living things praise the glory of the Green Emperor, and there is no longer the name of Gai Jiuyou in heaven and earth. It is sad and lamentable."

"No longer the name of Gai Jiuyou..." The sick old man's heart was touched, and he sighed. At this moment, his identity was self-evident.

He was the peerless genius who had swept across the Big Dipper and was invincible in the universe, the once-invincible Gai Jiuyou.

A person who had almost attained the Dao!

"The rolling Yangtze River flows east, the waves wash away the heroes, right and wrong, success and failure, all turn to nothing. The green mountains remain, how many times has the sunset been red..."

Lin Xian said softly: "Senior Gai Jiuyou, you wouldn't want to spend your whole life cultivating, only to end up unknown, dying of old age in the depths of the wilderness, turning into a pile of yellow earth, would you?"

"If later generations mention your name and think you were not as good as those Ancient Emperors who cultivated slowly and took three or four thousand years to attain the Dao, wouldn't that be a pity?"

"I have a path in the Ten Thousand Dragon Nest. The risk is a bit high, but the profit is very high. As the saying goes, wealth is sought in danger."

"There is an undying true dragon medicine there. If Senior picks it and takes it, you can live a second life and restore your peak blood energy."

"This age is destined to be the era of Great Emperor Jiuyou, and even ancient Supremes will not be able to stop you from attaining the Dao."

"Undying medicine, a second life?" Gai Jiuyou was moved, followed by endless silence, so long that Lin Xian couldn't help but speak, continuing: "I know the son of the Fighting Holy Emperor, and I can introduce you."

"The former Fighting Holy Emperor suffered Dao wounds, and it was also after taking undying medicine that he charged into the realm of attaining the Dao. After attaining the Dao, his combat power shook the past and present, far surpassing other Ancient Emperors. With the case of a predecessor, Senior Gai will surely succeed!"

"The Fighting Holy Emperor, that person who attained the Dao at the end of the Primordial Era." Gai Jiuyou's eyes showed a trace of inquiry, then he shook his head and sighed: "The Green Emperor blocked my path back then, so how could I imitate the Green Emperor and block the path of later generations?"

"Gai Jiuyou does not want a second Gai Jiuyou to appear in the world."

The various Saints were moved. The opportunity to attain the Dao was right before his eyes, yet Gai Jiuyou gave it up just like that, so lightly that even Lin Xian was stunned.

Only the Great Saint Wei Yi looked at Gai Jiuyou and seemed to understand something, shaking his head: "Fellow Daoist Gai, what you lack is not the opportunity to attain the Dao, but that breath in your heart?"

Gai Jiuyou remained silent. He had cultivated for many years; what was he pursuing?

Was it the ultimate glory after attaining the Dao?

Was it the desire to step into immortality and the longing for longevity?

Or was it the fighting spirit to compete with the Great Emperors and Ancient Emperors?

This breath of spirit had been suppressed in his heart for who knew how many years—a full eight thousand years—and he didn't know where to pour it out.

"We cultivators, why fear a battle!"

Lin Xian realized. This was how the cultivators of Shrouding the Heavens were. They were not only stubborn but also extremely twisted. The environment created a fragile yet strong Dao heart.

Gai Jiuyou was like this, and Di Que was also like this.

What they pursued was not to become an immortal, but to be the number one in the world!

Without this goal, what was the point of cultivating? Cultivating to the end, it was only the level of the second in the world, so it was better not to cultivate at all.

Gai Jiuyou's situation was more complex; he both longed to attain the Dao and did not want a second Gai Jiuyou to appear in the world.

Thinking of this, Lin Xian immediately iterated his approach, re-empowered, dug deep into a new track, and changed direction to bluff: "Senior, you are wrong. This is an old concept, old thinking."

"This age is different. The road to immortality is opening, destined to be golden and brilliant. Not only will people attain the Emperor realm, but some must also attain immortality!"

"Geniuses throughout the ages emerge in the same age, which is unusual. Senior, how can you be sure that no one can break the Dao suppression and attain the Dao against heaven?"

"Since you place your hope in later generations, you must believe in the wisdom of later generations even more!"

"This age repeating the glory of the Mythological Era, with various Emperors standing together, is all possible."

Lin Xian spoke eloquently, his words flowery. Gai Jiuyou's eyes moved, as if he had some resonance. Believe in the wisdom of later generations—could there really be someone who is better than their predecessor?

"If you don't believe it, you can pick any genius and ask."

Lin Xian pointed casually at Ye Fan: "Why don't you ask him if he has the confidence to attain the Dao against heaven."

Gai Jiuyou looked at Ye Fan, watched for a moment, and suddenly clicked his tongue: "Desolate Ancient Holy Body?"

Ye Fan said with a "let it rot" expression: "It doesn't matter to me. The Holy Body has never been able to attain the Dao; it has its own broken path. There has never been a Holy Body that attained the Emperor realm throughout history. Even if Senior attains the Emperor realm, it won't affect me."

"The Holy Body is special, just an individual case." Gai Jiuyou looked at Lin Xian and asked softly: "You are also a genius. Do you have the heart to attain the Dao?"

"Genius, ah, me?" Lin Xian was stunned, pointing at himself, looking around.

The various Saints nodded. Crossing the tribulation in the Four Extremities realm—although it was the last minor realm to cross the tribulation, he definitely had hope of becoming a Great Saint, or even a Quasi-Emperor.

An ancient star only had one Great Saint in an age; how could he not be a genius?

"Attaining the Dao is something I think cannot be achieved in one life." Lin Xian pondered, stroking his chin: "In the first life, become a Great Saint; in the second life, take undying medicine to cultivate to a Quasi-Emperor; then take a Nine-Turn Immortal Pill to live for ten thousand years. I think I have a great hope of attaining the Dao."

Gai Jiuyou, who had reached the threshold of attaining the Dao in a thousand years, was silent for a long time, then slowly said: "That is also a path."

"That's what I'm saying, all roads lead to the Great Emperor!" Lin Xian laughed: "Besides, the Green Emperor is still alive. Don't you want to see him?"

"Who? The Green Emperor!" Divine light burst from Gai Jiuyou's eyes, incomparably brilliant. In an instant, he seemed to have become eight thousand years younger, full of energy and fighting spirit, no longer sickly.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 202 =====