Chapter 354: with translation of chapter title

360. Chapter 360: Calamity Arises and Gives Birth

【7】

Li Shwen followed the Dao's natural way, broke the old realm to achieve the inner landscape method, entered the state of seeing the divine, and thus firmed this notion.

Thus, after confirming that the construct system could indeed fundamentally strengthen the Human Immortal martial way, Li Shwen acquired a more urgent and lofty demand.

That is, to skip the implantation process and have the martial artist build the construct themselves.

Lay Practitioner

Poor Daoist

Strength, true qi, true essence, true vigor, momentum, intention, domain, inner landscape—these are passed down in a single lineage.

The construct exemplified by 'Courageous Martial Peerless' also advances level by level, each level moving upward.

Since that is the case, why not fully fuse the Human Immortal martial arts with the construct, changing the construct from external implantation to internal generation?

One must know that the Human Immortal martial way follows a path of balanced development of essence, qi, and spirit.

Essence trains the body externally; qi circulates true qi, true essence, true vigor through the heavenly circuit; spirit, via visualization, develops momentum, intention, domain, and then reaches the inner landscape of the state of seeing the divine.

Merging the Human Immortal martial arts with the construct can completely replace the implantation process with visualization of the heavenly circuit circulation.

Closed-Door Disciple

Imperial Astronomy Bureau

Eight Extremes Martial Hall

After careful thought, this cognitive obstacle is related to his having studied pharmacology from the start and later alchemy.

He is accustomed to considering problems from outside to inside, and habitually defines the construct as something that must be implanted by others from the outside to succeed.

Huai River Three Ways Ferry

For example, why does he persist in the idea that if he cannot form a construct witch school, he will create the profession of 'construct artisan'?

Precisely because his subconscious has realized that continuing on the outside-to-inside path makes it basically impossible to create a construct witch school whose upper limit is at least great-sage level and peaceful.

The true focus of the construct witch school should actually be at the point when a third-rank witch apprentice is promoted to first-rank witch, when the natal sorcery is inscribed.

The distinction among elemental witches, spirit witches, body-tempering witches, artifice witches, and beast-witches begins precisely at the point of inscribing natal sorcery.

Construct Non-thing School

Elemental Wizard

True Spirit Wizard

Body-tempering Wizard

Artifice Wizard

Beast-taming Wizard

Construct

Upon seeing Lin Ke behave this way, Li Shwen immediately understood that his hypothesis was completely correct.

Inner View Method

Leaving the experimental base, Li Shwen returned to the Eight Extremes Martial Hall; after just a few words with his wife, he received a report that an old acquaintance had come to visit.

When Li Shwen walked into the main hall and saw the so-called old acquaintance, he was quite surprised.

It turned out to be the closed-door disciple of the senior director of the Imperial Observatory, the Heavenly Gang Daoist!

"Lay practitioner, we parted at the Three Routes Crossing of the Huai River that year; unexpectedly, it has already been sixteen years."

The Heavenly Gang Daoist's image perfectly matches everyone's fantasy of a highly accomplished Daoist.

Li Shwen and the other party, as the Heavenly Gang Daoist said, have not seen each other for sixteen years.

In fact, Li Shwen and the Heavenly Gang Daoist only met once sixteen years ago, and they have little affection.

However, Li Shwen's retirement and his disregard for worldly affairs are related to the Heavenly Gang Daoist's persuasion.

"True Person, it's indeed been a long time since we last met; I don't know how you have been lately."

Celestial Circuit Circulation

Meditation Celestial Circuit Circulation

Brave Martial No Equal

Natal Witchcraft

Li Shwen had just entered the state of seeing the divine, had communicated with nature and heaven and earth, and felt an extremely strong impression.

Inscribe Natal Witchcraft

Essence

Li Shwen is ultimately a martial man; even after years of cultivating body and nurturing nature, he remains straightforward.

After a few more words, he bluntly asked: 'True Person, you seek me not merely to catch up; if there is business, please speak plainly—I, Shwen, will certainly exert my strength if I can.'

Human Immortal Martial Dao Techniques

The Heavenly Gang Daoist praised, then spoke solemnly: 'I observed the night sky; the Purple Forbidden Star is dim, likely the Kangqian Emperor has passed away.'

Internal Generation

Knowledge View Obstacle

Pharmacology

In this current age of advanced communication, with telephones and telegraphs, such a major event as an emperor's demise cannot be concealed.

But now there is no movement at all; indeed, after Li Shwen returned from the experimental base, he even heard a news report saying the Kangqian Emperor had finally left the camp and returned to the palace.

"I know you, lay practitioner, harbor doubts, and I know the Kangqian Emperor is still appearing, but the celestial signs are correct—the Purple Forbidden Star is dim, and this cannot be false."

True God Person

【126】

Add:

What does the True Person want me to do?

Li Shuwen did not dwell on whether the Kangqian Emperor had died or not, and continued to focus on the key point.

The Kangqian Emperor was suspicious and tyrannical, stingy and ungrateful, fond of grandiose achievements; to the people of the jianghu, he was not a good emperor.

Not dying is annoying; dying is of course best.

The key now is, Tiangang Daoist—the closed-door disciple of the Senior Director of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau who makes even the present Li Shuwen sense a threat—what exactly does he intend to do?

Li Shuwen didn't believe it; Tiangang Daoist had suddenly shown up at his door, with no intention.

"Lay practitioner, do not worry; I, the poor Daoist, cannot possibly compel you to do something that would provoke heaven's wrath and people's resentment."

Tiangang Daoist first tried to dispel Li Shuwen's concerns, lower his guard, then spoke solemnly: "The sages of the Daoist sect, who claim to come from the upper realm, the Void Tranquil Heavenly Master, left behind instructions; in this world a great calamity will arise, one of its omens is the three openings of the Valley of the Dead, and another omen is the dimming of the Purple Star while the emperor reigns."

He paused, then Tiangang Daoist emphasized: "This calamity is a tribulation that will affect all sentient beings in this world. If it cannot be overcome, this world will sink into utter ruin, even destruction."

Li Shuwen heard this and fell silent.

He had heard this theory before, when he was young and wandering the jianghu, from some old-timers.

He also had some knowledge of the rumors about the Void Tranquil Heavenly Master.

But…

Li Shuwen frowned and spoke: "True Person, speak plainly if you have something to say—what do you want me to do?"

Tiangang Daoist replied solemnly: "I, the poor Daoist, merely ask that you, lay practitioner, prepare to resist the invasion of the extraterritorial heavenly demons."

"Extraterritorial heavenly demon?"

This statement left Li Shuwen somewhat doubtful: "What does 'extraterritorial heavenly demon' mean?"

Tiangang Daoist explained: "You should have heard of the distinction between ancient witchcraft and heretical witchcraft, and you ought to know that meteorites once fell from the sky, heralding a resurgence of heretical witchcraft. More than half of the origins of heretical witchcraft come from the extraterritorial heavenly demons."

"Is that so?"

Li Shuwen was half-believing, half-doubting.

At that moment, Tiangang Daoist suddenly rose and walked out, saying: "Lay practitioner, I have delivered the message; please make sure you are prepared."

He came abruptly and left abruptly.

Indeed, he comes and goes as he pleases, following his own heart.

Li Shuwen merely watched Tiangang Daoist depart, without bothering to observe the customary etiquette.

To be frank, in Li Shuwen's view, the present Tiangang Daoist appears like a living true immortal, yet he falls short of the impression he gave sixteen years ago. At least back then, Tiangang Daoist would not speak in such a vague, mystifying manner.

What "world-ending calamity", what "extraterritorial heavenly demon"—baseless and false, truly hateful.

However, Li Shuwen did not dismiss this reminder; instead, it strengthened his resolve to swiftly push forward the expansion of the construct implantation.

As the saying goes, one must grasp with both hands, and both hands must be strong.

Self-built constructs are a long-term strategy and must be emphasized.

Externally implanted constructs can alleviate immediate needs and must not be neglected.

Both must be intensified and accelerated!

Thinking this through, Li Shuwen set off again, arriving at the experimental outpost, where he saw Lin Ke, head down, working on realizing self-built constructs.

"Master, is there something?"

Lin Ke broke off his brainstorming, his inspiration flowing, and posed the question.

"Hmm."

Li Shuwen nodded, recounted Tiangang Daoist's visit and his vague, mystifying remarks in full, and stated his own request.

Then he asked what help Lin Ke could offer regarding the self-built constructs.

"Tiangang Daoist?"

After hearing the account, Lin Ke grunted, beginning to ponder the true intent behind the other's visit.

To say that the Senior Director of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau has no connection with True Person Wuyai and True Person Jingxu, Lin Ke firmly does not believe.

Who else is best at stargazing if not the Daoists?

As a closed-door disciple of the Senior Director of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau, Tiangang Daoist, is he here to warn him that the world-ending calamity is real and has already begun?

Besides that, what else could he mean?

Is he urging him to quickly find a way to undergo the tribulation, even to overcome it?

Then… these exalted Daoists—the Senior Director, Daoist Wuyai, Daoist Jingxu, and Tiangang Daoist—have nothing to do?

Are they just waiting for Lin Ke to go through the tribulation?

It's not that Lin Ke is maliciously guessing this; it's simply that Lin Ke is unwilling.

He always felt that the Yang Binshi Du Gong Seal and the Nine Elders Immortal Capital Seal had come into his hands too easily.

One must know that he severed five karmic lines, yet it took great effort before he found the clues and opportunity.

The shackles that ought to be hardest to cut—how could they be so simple?

Moreover, Lin Ke would not forget that life-prolonging peach tree in the Valley of the Dead, nor the witchcraft apprentices who left the Valley of the Dead and went off in all directions.

There's no reason Loren Bend could find a way to turn himself into a tree demon and scrape by to this day.

The other witchcraft apprentices must die clean and utter.

"Master, I understand."

Lin Ke gave a brief reply, saying nothing of his opinion.

Li Shuwen knew Lin Ke surely had his own considerations; since he was unwilling to speak, Li Shuwen did not ask.

Soon, the master and disciple turned their focus together to promoting external implantation of constructs and researching self-built constructs.

No matter how the situation develops, increasing the strength of human immortals and martial practitioners is never wrong.

The capital.

The Kangqian Emperor returned to the palace, and the court and populace were shaken.

Someone almost dissolved in water, the Kang-Qian Emperor was extremely furious, yet he forcibly restrained himself and did not cause a major prison.

This is not only not a good thing; it's actually a disaster within a disaster.

No specific terms.

【129】

Term: Kang Qian Emperor. This is an emperor's name. According to the guidelines, we use pinyin for personal names, but 'Kang Qian Emperor' functions more as a title, so we translate its meaning as 'Kang Qian Emperor'. We'll treat it as translated.

【132】

Same term.

From the highest ministers to the lowest clerks, the entire court awaited the emperor's thunderous wrath.

【134】

After all, even Wei Dugong, who had just been made a marquis, said he would feed the dogs—and he did.

【136】

They didn't even bother with the execution procedure.

No specific term.

【139】

is note about term again.

【142】

No.

There was no thunder, no mass imprisonment, no reckoning.

【144】

After returning to the palace, the Kang Qian Emperor merely lodged in the inner palace, night after night summoning consorts to attend him.

【146】

What surprised everyone at court and beyond was that the Kang Qian Emperor actually visited the Kunning Palace every day.

【148】

Sometimes by day, sometimes by night, they would share a meal or sleep together under the same blanket.

No.

【151】

note about term.

【154】

No new.

For instance, favoring the scholar-officials, rewarding the soldiers, easing pressure on the aristocratic clans, loosening restrictions on the imperial clan...

【156】

All these measures made people feel as if they were seeing the wise ruler from twenty years before his reign.

【158】

Suddenly, the Kang Qian Emperor ate the longevity peach, and much of the pressure from the promise of long life and eternal vision faded.

【160】

Officials, aristocrats, and those of the martial world feared the Kang Qian Emperor, whose moods were unpredictable, whose killing intent was extreme, and who was stingy and ungrateful.

【162】

Now that the Kang Qian Emperor is willing to show friendliness and concede benefits, officials, the imperial clan, aristocrats, and the martial world naturally have nothing to worry about.

【164】

No one knows whether replacing the emperor could do any better than this.

【166】

The unknown is always the most frightening.

No.

【169】

note about terms.

【171】

note about term.

【173】

note about term.

【175】

note about terms.

【177】

note about term.

【179】

note about terms.

【181】

note about term.

【183】

note about term.

【185】

Absolutely impossible!

No.

【188】

note about terms.

【190】

note about term.

【192】

note about terms.

【195】

No.

The Wei Dugong version of the Kang Qian Emperor wore a grim face, glaring angrily at the empress.

Terms: same.

【198】

note about terms.

【200】

note about terms.

【202】

note about terms.

【205】

Terms: same.

Is this meant to make him a cauldron?

【207】

Can this be tolerated? No, it cannot be endured.

No.

【210】

note about sound effect.

【213】

Terms: same.

His knees bent involuntarily, and he knelt down.

No.

【217】

No.

Hahaha...

【219】

The empress's clear, nightingale-like voice burst into extreme joy.

【221】

A dog is a dog; to presume to be the master is nothing but a foolish daydream.

No.

【224】

note about terms.

【226】

note about term.

She is the living Buddha Mother, ruling heaven and earth!