Chapter 149: The Substitution Calamity Method

Please, Great God, don't tease Qi; nowadays Qi has no heart for play.

Qi gave a rare bitter smile and said.

"What exactly is the method you speak of, Great God? What preparations are needed, and where does one begin to be ruthless? I hope you can clear up my doubts."

Yangmei gathered his smile, turned serious, and said:

"What I just said is indeed a method; do not look down on the Heavenly Dao sages, for, as His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor envisioned, it is equivalent to attaining the Primordial Dao through the Divine Dao."

"Even the strongest in the Wilderness today is only at the Primordial Dao, still far from proving the Dao; now there is a fruition—if achieved, one can immediately prove the Dao on the spot—how dare you slight it?"

What Yangmei said is true, but he did not tell Qi that the Supreme Emperor utterly rejected it, considering it merely a shortcut.

Although the Earth Emperor is not so extreme, he also feels it is not the proper way, inferior to his own created method.

"In the Supreme Emperor's conception, proving the Dao is based on fortune, gathering the power of the Wilderness, to attain the Divine Dao Primordial Limitless Realm."

"If achieved, the gap between them is comparable to that between the Lofty Heaven Venerable God and a Great Luo Golden Immortal."

"Although they are the same realm, their strength differs vastly, and there is no such thing as tribulation, the two declines of heaven and man, or the three calamities of wind, fire, and lightning."

"The Earth Emperor's Way, though not as flawless as the Supreme Emperor's Great Dao, is much easier in difficulty and can accommodate many more who prove the Dao."

"The Heavenly Emperor's Sage Way is even easier, able to accommodate even more people, yet naturally falls short in many aspects."

"Yangmei walked his own path, different from the Three Emperors; he proves the Dao by himself, far weaker than the Supreme Emperor in strength, but only needs sufficient accumulation, without needing to gather fortune."

"There are not so many competitors; the only competition comes from those who cultivate the same path, for a single Great Dao can accommodate only one person."

"The Supreme Emperor, however, is supreme above and below; as long as he attains the Primordial Dao, within the Wilderness and the universe, he has no rival."

"Anyone who cultivates this Way can succeed, but only one person can do so."

"The Earth Emperor's Way relies on heaven and earth, occupying a supreme fruition of one Dao; on the Divine Dao's Three Powers, it can sustain three supreme fruitions, using the breadth and depth of the Dao it holds as a method to increase strength."

"Although the Heavenly Emperor's Sage Way is the weakest among the Three Emperors in strength, within the Wilderness it is not inferior to Yangmei's Way."

"Qi understands; please, Great God, tell me another method, even if it fails, so I know there is still an option."

"Qi certainly will not look down on the sages; though his past memories contain little knowledge of the Wilderness, he also knows the future belongs to the sages."

"How could he possibly look down on the mainstream that may arise in the future?"

"Only then did Yangmei nod and say:"

"Since the cause of cause and effect is opening the Great Calamity, your entering the calamity can naturally resolve it."

"However, the Great Calamity is perilous; the Three Clans will surely hate the one who opens it, and participating, you will likely not escape this disaster."

"However, there are indeed other ways to dissolve the calamity; I once had a fellow Daoist who inadvertently conceived this technique, which he called the Substitution Calamity Method."

"At this point, Yangmei paused slightly, selling the suspense, and Qi timely raised a question:"

"Substitution Calamity Method? Can the Great Calamity allow someone to take one's place? Will Heaven and Earth not investigate?"

"Yangmei laughed and explained:"

"Naturally it is possible; Heaven and Earth will also investigate its root, but the Way of cause and effect is so marvelous that deceiving Heaven and Earth is not impossible."

"Please, Great God, explain it in detail."

Qi bowed his hands and humbly sought instruction.

"The Three Clans' Great Calamity should not have erupted now, but those two feared the calamity's protagonist would become themselves, so they prematurely triggered it—this also counts as another application of the Substitution Calamity Method."

"However, it is too high-end and requires a fortuitous coincidence to use; you cannot employ it for now."

"All you need now is to find someone among the Three Clans whose fate matches yours, let him owe you cause and effect, and have him bear the calamity in your place."

"They will naturally participate in the Great Calamity; you need not bear any psychological burden, though it is somewhat shameless, it remains a viable method."

"Furthermore, by assisting him with Spirit Treasures, matching destinies, and having your cause and effect entwined, how could Heaven and Earth say you are not in the calamity?"

"Yangmei smiled and added:"

"Seek one with a somewhat ruthless mind; such people are necessarily bold, and in the clan's predicament, being alone with Spirit Treasures, they will surely act as we wish."

"Moreover, the calamity is still early; you can also supply Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, and I have found many treasures, enough to nurture him to Great Luo within several aeons."

"By then, their fates and realms will match, cause and effect entwined, and the Spirit Treasure will carry your fortune, allowing Heaven and Earth to be deceived as well."

"He himself is originally a person of the calamity, merely lighter in weight than you; when the time comes, you can step forward to help a little, and then withdraw safely."

"Regardless of his life or death in the calamity, it has nothing to do with you."

Yangmei's eyes showed self-satisfaction; initially he followed the Three Emperors, made many friends, and has lived extremely long, so there is little in this world he does not know.

Qi hesitated a bit, but eventually asked:

"What happened to that fellow Daoist of the Great God in the end?"

Yangmei hesitated a moment, then told Qi the truth, as he said:

"Before the Great Calamity, relying on this method, he acted too arrogantly, offended the Supreme Emperor; during the calamity, the Supreme Emperor seized him and forcibly cast him into the Return to the Ruins, where he fell into sleep."

"This is also a drawback of the method: one cannot have someone specifically watching you, then, during the calamity, settle the cause and effect."

Qi carefully reflected, thinking he likely had no major enemies, and that being forced to join the calamity to understand cause and effect was what eased his mind.

Qi replied:

"In a few days I will go to the Dragon Clan; earlier, because I caused them to lack a Great Luo Golden Immortal, I will now make up for it."

"This also makes up for a shortfall, and it happens that I, like the Ancestral Dragon, belong to the lineage of earth and water deities; helping each other is appropriate."

"Yangmei blinked slightly, and after a moment said:"

"I, too, almost forgot—you are a fierce god; what compassion could you have?"

"Since ancient times, appearance follows the heart; your current demeanor makes me forget your true nature."

"Qi then retorted:"

"How could the Great God spread such rumors? Moreover, who in the Wilderness has not heard of my benevolent fame as the God of Water governing Yunmze Marsh? When I lectured on the Dao, all under heaven revered me as supreme."

"The Great God surely does not receive such treatment; at least I have never heard of it."

"Yangmei laughed and scolded:"

You little brat, you're truly shameless! Earlier you locked me out, and I still haven't settled the score with you! Now that the matter's settled, you actually dare to make fun of this poor Daoist.

Qi Yi laughed loudly and replied:

At that time Qi was indeed drunk, but it's also the fault of the great god—he never showed up after a long time, and initially he left without saying goodbye, so it's only natural that this happened.

Yang Mei finished laughing, then slowly rose and said while driving him away:

Hurry up and leave, don't disturb my fishing mood.

Qi, however, didn't listen; instead he stepped forward, grabbed Yang Mei and left, shouting at the same time:

Bai Ling, quickly set up a feast; I will entertain my good friend!

Yang Mei, standing aside, voiced her refusal, but her steps showed no sign of resistance.

(End of chapter)