Following the sharp rebuke came a surge of majestic power, unlike any cultivation system in the Sea of Light. Its stature was not high, yet its essence was terrifyingly strong.
"...Hoho." Lu Yang watched the other party with great interest.
If one had to describe it, the stature cultivation system of the Sea of Light was like climbing a mountain; the higher one climbed, the higher their cultivation, and naturally, the stronger their power.
However, the existence before him was not like that. He was more like a being completing a self-sublimation—from an ordinary pebble to a seasoned rock, then to steel—continuously refining himself and improving his essential strength. This granted him the ability to progress continuously even without ascending in stature.
Neither was superior to the other.
For the same destructive force, a Sea of Light cultivator was like someone standing on a mountain throwing things down to achieve the result, while a Pre-Ancient cultivator possessed that inherent strength within themselves.
Which was better?
'In all fairness, the Pre-Ancient way is certainly better. The "mountain climbing" of the stature system is, after all, predicated on there being a mountain for you to climb.'
Once the mountain is gone and there is nowhere left to climb—much like the Dao Lords who lost the [Paramita]—one would instantly fall back to the level of Great Perfection of the Golden Core. In contrast, Pre-Ancient cultivation was not restricted by external things; it was a pure elevation of the self, walking a path far more stable than the stature system.
"RUMBLE!"
In the next second, the majestic power crashed down ruthlessly, only to dissipate into a clear breeze around Lu Yang. All its profound wonders were neutralized into nothingness.
"Hmm?"
The rebuke stopped abruptly. The figure that had suddenly appeared halted his steps, looking at Lu Yang and the ring of light behind his head with hesitation.
Subsequently, he became respectful at a speed visible to the naked eye:
"So it is a Dao Ancestor in person."
Having said that, he pulled a register from his robes and slowly flipped it open. Turning each page appeared incredibly strenuous, as if the leaves weighed as much as Mount Tai.
Lu Yang was in no hurry and watched patiently. As the pages turned, the mysterious cultivator grew increasingly nervous, cold sweat trickling down. Lu Yang could even capture his thoughts—
'How can it not be here? The name of this Great One is not in the [Dao Register]...'
He eventually reached the final page.
Lu Yang saw clearly that the thin book had a total of seventeen pages. On each page, a name was recorded.
'Dao Ancestor... Dao Ancestor is truly an extraordinary fate.'
The title used by the mysterious cultivator made Lu Yang stroke his chin. He had never expected that the title he had made up on a whim actually existed in the Pre-Ancient Era.
Seventeen pages... were there also seventeen Dao Ancestors in the Pre-Ancient Era?
At this thought, Lu Yang attempted to peek at the names on the book, but all he saw were layers of profound mysteries and dense radiance.
In an instant, realization flooded his mind.
'First is Fate, second is Fortune, third is Feng Shui; fourth is Accumulated Merit, fifth is Education; sixth is Name, seventh is Form, eighth is Reverence for the Divine; ninth is Nobles Connection, and tenth is Health Preservation—these are the ten Great Daos of the Pre-Ancient Era!'
The so-called Pre-Ancient Era was essentially the age of the Heavenly Divine Mountain, Mount Longhu. Therefore, the ten Pre-Ancient Daos were fundamentally different from the ten Daos of the Sea of Light.
At this moment, the concept around Lu Yang manifested continuously like the rising and falling of the tide, yet he hid it all, preventing the mysterious cultivator from seeing.
A moment later.
The mysterious cultivator seemed to finally give up. He looked around cautiously, then reached into his sleeve to carefully pull out a brush.
He flipped the book to the very end and pinched a hand seal. Suddenly, the seventeen-page book gained an eighteenth page. He dared not dally; using profound wonder as ink, he dipped his brush, looked at Lu Yang, and spoke in a low voice:
"May I ask the Dao Ancestor's name?"
Lu Yang understood immediately, capturing the other's thoughts: 'Lord help me, the [Dao Register] actually failed to show this person's name.'
'Could it be broken?'
'Dear mother, if the Dao Venerable finds out, it might affect my career... I'd better find a way to add it in; it should be fine...'
Dao Venerable? Is that the Deity Transformation being?
While Lu Yang speculated, he smiled gently:
"This poor Daoist is Xuande."
As soon as he spoke, the mysterious cultivator looked relieved. He moved his brush, and a moment later, the eighteenth page of the [Dao Register] bore his name.
However, at that exact moment, Lu Yang's vision went dark, followed by a sudden opening of his senses. When he looked back, he seemed to have arrived at a hall where countless lights and shadows intertwined—a magnificent, indescribable great thousand hall. There, besides himself, stood exactly seventeen silhouettes.
He was standing at the entrance of the hall.
The seventeen silhouettes seemed to sense his presence and turned around. One Daoist laughed loudly, pointing at him:
"Another Fellow Daoist has arrived."
"Let me see the [Dao Register]... Xuande? A good name!"
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Xuande."
The various Daoists bowed one after another, their voices carrying the sound of profound law. Though they appeared somewhat illusory, the magnificent essence within them was still staggering.
Lu Yang's expression remained unchanged as he returned the salute.
He then stood with his hands down in a corner of the hall, calmly observing the seventeen figures. He saw that they were clearly divided into two factions.
They seemed to be arguing about something.
He could not hear the specific details of the argument or see clearly, but upon seeing the object of their dispute, he could not help but narrow his eyes.
It was a book.
Lu Yang instantly recognized its appearance—it was the [Heavenly Destiny Divine Record] held by the Primordial Saint!
Just then.
The Daoist who had first laughed and pointed at him spoke, seemingly making a final decision: "Since that is the case, let us take the middle path."
"The Dao Venerable insists on leaving a sliver of hope; we must not go against his will. Furthermore, without the reinforcement of the Dao Venerable's majesty, we would find it difficult to completely exterminate that False Immortal, nor could we stay here permanently. Since the Dao Venerable has already left a backup plan, there is no need to pay it much heed; just leave one or two methods to restrict it."
"Merge the [Dao Register] into the book."
"As for later, use a copy to substitute for the time being. It may no longer be able to sense the Dao-traces, but if a descendant takes up a pen to add to it, they can still leave their name and title."
At this point, Lu Yang discovered that the Daoist had turned to look at him.
"What does Fellow Daoist think?"
"..."
Out of caution, Lu Yang did not answer.
The Daoist did not mind, smiling: "In that case, I shall take it as Fellow Daoist agreeing. Fellow Daoist's attainment of the Dao lies in the future; please handle this matter with care."
RUMBLE!
Before the words finished, the illusory image shattered completely. Like turbid water being stirred, countless scenes were extinguished like candles, leaving only nothingness.
Then, a sliver of heavenly light broke through.
Lu Yang opened his eyes.
To be precise, at the same moment the mysterious cultivator added his name to the [Dao Register], he had only blinked once—no more than a fraction of a second had passed.
However, everything that had just happened was by no means an illusion.
Because this place was the eighth secret realm, the True Spirit of Deity Transformation. As long as something happened here, it was real and beyond all logical paradoxes.
"What majesty..."
Translator's Note:
The tenth great Dao of Pre-Ancient era are ten principles regarding the factors that determine a person's success in life in traditional chinese philosophy.