Chapter 428: The Future Without Life Scripture

Yang Pan has suffered a devastating blow this time!

In Jade Capital, whispers spread among the people.

Yang Pan’s western suburb estate was entirely burned to ashes; the central hub of his imperial heir operations, along with all the heroes he had gathered, was wiped out—no communication could be maintained up or down. For Yang Pan, it was like bone-deep bleeding and marrow-draining, leaving him severely weakened.

“The Luo Sect’s experts are all gone too.”

Hong Xuanji clenched his fists. He was a prodigy in martial cultivation—any martial art he touched, he mastered quickly, soon forming his own insights. As a young hero, Hong Xuanji carried his own pride.

But Gu Qing had trampled his face into the dirt; that vast, boundless, utterly defenseless feeling filled Hong Xuanji with deep shame.

“Xuanji, these things are external to me.”

Yang Pan placed a hand on Hong Xuanji’s shoulder and said, “What I care about most is your mindset. You must not let Gu Qing’s successes or failures shake your spirit.”

Since their friendship began, Yang Pan had deeply understood Hong Xuanji’s potential in martial arts. Even amid his own massive losses, he must hold onto Hong Xuanji.

“Strength determines temporary victory or defeat; principle decides eternal triumph or failure.”

Hong Xuanji steadied his mind and said, “Gu Qing had no justification in striking me.”

Hong Xuanji acted on behalf of the Great Qian Dynasty, riding its momentum, while Gu Qing, though he struck him, had no faith to back him.

“If you understand this, that’s enough!”

Yang Pan, seeing Hong Xuanji’s martial resolve firm, said, “Centuries ago, the Zao Hua Sect’s legacy stirred great turmoil, but the world did not know—the Zao Hua Sect’s legacy is held by our Great Qian imperial family. Xuanji, you and I are bosom friends. I will tell you the contents of the Zao Hua Heavenly Book.”

Upon hearing this, Hong Xuanji was deeply moved and tightly gripped Yang Pan’s hand—his gratitude and bond lay entirely within that grip.

Jade Capital had already been on the brink of storm due to Yu Wenmu; now, with Gu Qing appearing in Sanhua Pavilion, it was like pouring cold water into a pot of boiling oil—exploding with crackles, leaving all factions uncertain of Gu Qing’s origins. They sent out countless spies, who could only crane their necks and peek nervously, daring not to probe further.

Inside Sanhua Pavilion.

Gu Qing and Meng Bingyun sat facing each other, chatting casually.

Meng Bingyun came from the Meng family of Tianwai Tian, where human civilization far surpassed this world. Arriving in the Great Qian Dynasty, she naturally carried an elevated perspective—and after meeting Gu Qing, she felt as if she’d found a kindred spirit.

During their conversation, Meng Bingyun asked Gu Qing why he had come to the capital.

“I wish to cultivate the Future Without Life Scripture.”

Gu Qing replied frankly.

In the world’s transmissions, the Great Chan Temple’s Past Amitabha Scripture, Present Buddha Scripture, and Future Without Life Scripture were renowned. The Past Amitabha Scripture was the method by which Hong Yi, the destiny-blessed one, rose to power—it could endlessly repair the soul. The Present Buddha Scripture was the dominant technique of the age; the current Fighting Buddha Yinyue was its practitioner.

As for the Future Without Life Scripture, this method would later be held by the Great Qian imperial family. Yang Pan, through his governance of the realm, had forged a “Lord of the Future,” using faith to calculate the future and manifesting a second spiritual body.

Gu Qing’s personal cultivation already far surpassed the realm of mortal immortals of this age, yet in physical cultivation, he still lacked “Blood and Flesh Genesis,” “Thousand Transformations,” and “Shattering the Void.” Even with the Method of Heaven’s Manifestation and the Seventy-Two Transformations, even if he could forge Pangu’s Axe by hand, he still fell short.

On the Yang Shen cultivation level, Gu Qing believed he could reach the Ghost Immortal’s “Sixth Thunder Tribulation.” For the Seventh Tribulation’s Creator Realm, he would need to simulate the Lotus Lamp. As for the Eighth and Ninth Tribulations, he knew he could not achieve them—but his soul was pure yang, his reserves immense, and he had yet to undergo any tribulation. How far his accumulated power could carry him remained uncertain.

Overall, Gu Qing’s strength had not yet been refined by the Yang Shen world’s system—his numbers were unstable.

And in the Yang Shen world, the later stages were truly about raw numbers. “Future Without Life Scripture.”

Meng Bingyun, hearing the music, understood the meaning, and said, “The Great Qian Dynasty is hard to touch. The Great Chan Temple is hard to touch. And there’s Meng Shenji.”

To cultivate the Future Without Life Scripture, immense faith is required. Gu Qing must pacify the entire Great Qian Dynasty, win the hearts of all, and gather faith upon himself—that is the first condition. The second condition is the Great Chan Temple, which has the mortal immortal Yinyue, the Four Bodhisattvas, and the Thirty-Six Arhats—acquiring the Future Without Life Scripture is extremely difficult.

As for the third, Meng Shenji of the Supreme Dao forbids any emperor from becoming a Ghost Immortal.

And Meng Shenji, the number one man in the world, had already reached the “Creator” realm three hundred years ago.

“Nothing in the world is difficult if you are willing to climb.”

Gu Qing said calmly, “By demonstrating my strength here in the capital, Yinyue will likely take interest. I just wonder if he dares come to Jade Capital.”

Yinyue was known in the world as the Fighting Buddha, having endured countless battles over the past century.

“The capital is no longer a good place,” said Meng Bingyun.

Yu Wenmu’s Yunmeng army pressed at the borders; noble families across the provinces outwardly submitted but harbored hidden agendas. Under these conditions, the Great Qian Dynasty appeared perilously unstable.

“I want you to deliver a message to Meng Shenji.”

Gu Qing looked at Meng Bingyun and said, “Of course, as the Supreme Dao’s Holy Maiden, you should deliver this anyway: the Great Qian Dynasty holds the Zao Hua Sect’s legacy. The current emperor is a Daoist emperor—he has already become a Ghost Immortal. If you doubt it, let him watch as Yu Wenmu’s army advances.”

The situation was complex, and Gu Qing did not wish to stand directly against everyone. So he chose to send this message to Meng Shenji, preparing to use others’ strength to his advantage.

Meng Bingyun nodded slightly upon hearing this.

Gu Qing studied the Meng Bingyun before him. Though she was a woman from the modern age, every gesture, every frown and smile, carried the grace of an ancient noble lady—making Gu Qing feel naturally at ease in her presence.

“Bingyun, you have a younger sister, don’t you?”

Gu Qing asked suddenly.

In the later stages of Yang Shen, Hong Yi had a powerful rival: Xu Yi from Tianwai Tian, whose wife was identical to Meng Bingyun—named Meng Bingxin.

“She married Xu Yi, becoming the Lady Leader of Tianwai Tian. Would you like to become the Lady Leader of this Grand World?”

She married Xu Yi, leader of Tianwai Tian; would you like to be the lady of this vast world?

The Great Qian Dynasty lies at the center of the universe, the origin of all existence, the celestial realm within the cosmos, the source of all cultivation methods. This land holds unique destiny—the ancient sage emperors and the middle-ancient philosophers all emerged from this Grand World.

The Great Qian Dynasty lies at the center of the universe, its origin, its immortal realm, the source of all cultivation methods; this land bears unique destiny, for the ancient sage emperors and the medieval sages all emerged from this vast world.

Meng Bingyun’s spirit hesitated slightly; her fingers unconsciously plucked the zither strings. “I…”

She had just arrived in the Grand World, appeared in Sanhua Pavilion, witnessed Gu Qing striking Hong Xuanji, and now, after a casual chat, Gu Qing suddenly proposed marriage—this had never entered Meng Bingyun’s thoughts.

As in the phrase from A Chinese Odyssey: “I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet.”

Using a line from A Chinese Odyssey, it’s like Bai Jingjing’s words: “I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet.”

(End of chapter)