In the Divine Land, in the city where Guiming previously committed suicide.
The clear sky, like a sheet of white paper, was unstained by dust until a single point of ink emerged, outlining a form; finally, someone stepped out from it.
It was a scholar.
Clad in a green robe and a tall cap, his expression was solemn, as if he could never afford even the slightest relaxation. He held a book in one hand and a brush in the other as he arrived in the city.
He walked through the city, favoring paths that led past schools and the residences of various large and small sects. If he heard sounds of preaching or teaching that satisfied him, he would nod slightly. If he heard words he considered misleading to students, he would slightly shift his intent, correcting the errors and omissions.
Soon, he arrived at a courtyard in the city.
The scholar carefully examined the now-abandoned courtyard. After a moment of thought, he raised his brush and slowly wrote a record in the book he held:
[Guiming has died; the light of his Primordial Spirit extinguished here.]
[Zhu Liuxian and Xuande have reached a transaction— using Guiming's True Spirit as collateral, Xuande shall proceed to the Nurturing Immortal Land to plant the formation base, while Zhu Liuxian assists in seizing the Seed of the Great Dao.]
Every stroke and every line.
The scholar wrote with great seriousness. As he recorded it, an inexpressible profound wonder spread out, falling into this world of the Divine Land.
After finishing all this, he lifted his head and looked toward his side:
"Fellow Daoist Zhu Liuxian, have you been well?"
Within the courtyard, the Dao Ancestor of [Feng Shui], Zhu Liuxian, appeared silently. He leaned his cane against the ground, his gaze profound: "Dan Qingjian, why have you come here?"
Dan Qingjian, the Dao Ancestor of [Education].
He belonged to the same generation as Zhu Liuxian and was a veteran among the Dao Ancestors. Moreover, the Dao lineage he pioneered consisted only of himself; there were no other Dao Ancestors among his descendants.
"...Recording."
Faced with the inquiry, Dan Qingjian's tone was very calm: "I need to record the history of the Divine Land, bit by bit, until the arrival of the Final Tribulation."
As these words fell, a look of disgust appeared on Zhu Liuxian's face: "And so? Do you intend to do nothing, just like that fool Shan Qiu? You don't intend to compete for the Seed of the Great Dao, nor do you intend to save the Divine Land, merely recording history? What is the use of that?"
"It is useful."
Dan Qingjian continued: "The Final Tribulation is unavoidable. Civilization may vanish, but as long as a record remains, it will ultimately prove our existence."
"To be precise, it is to leave behind an inheritance."
"If our Dao and our inheritance can survive the Final Tribulation and successfully travel to the next era, then our civilization will not have been destroyed by the Final Tribulation."
"..."
Zhu Liuxian said no more.
Every Dao Ancestor who did not compete for the Seed of the Great Dao had their own path. Some Dao Ancestors, because their paths differed, chose to be hostile or antagonistic.
For example, he and Guiming.
Yet, similarly, there were some Dao Ancestors whose paths differed but did not conflict, merely holding each other in low regard—such as him and Dan Qingjian.
In Dan Qingjian's view, sentient beings and the Divine Land were unimportant; what mattered was the civilization and inheritance that grew upon the Divine Land. Sentient beings could die, and the Divine Land could perish, but as long as the inheritance of civilization remained, it did not matter—that was true continuation.
Therefore, he had to record.
Recording the history of civilization, recording everything, and then finding a way to send it to the next era. When the time came, this might become the beginning of the cultivation system for the new era.
However, in Zhu Liuxian's eyes, this was unacceptable.
But Dan Qingjian was different from Shan Qiu. Recording history did not conflict with his Feng Shui Grand Formation, so after a brief confrontation, Zhu Liuxian vanished first.
Dan Qingjian rode the clouds up into the sky.
Before long, he arrived at the entrance of the previously mentioned [Nurturing Immortal Land], but that was as far as he got. He could find the door, but he didn't know how to enter.
"What a pity."
Dan Qingjian frowned: "The [Nurturing Immortal Land] has been carved out separately. I cannot enter, nor can I record it. It seems I can only wait outside the door for now..."
Just then.
Suddenly, Dan Qingjian's gaze shifted. He turned around to look at a figure walking toward him—it was a youth wearing a tall cap and square shoes.
"...Hmm?"
Dan Qingjian was stunned at first, but then surprise surfaced in the depths of his eyes: 'Such high comprehension! A natural-born seedling for [Education]!'
Thus far, as the Dao Ancestor of [Education], he had scoured the world for outstanding talents, always wanting to teach a Dao Ancestor under his tutelage, but had never succeeded.
Now, he felt he had seen hope. The youth before him not only possessed an air of cultivation but was clearly, like himself, someone who enjoyed teaching and nurturing talent.
"This child, he should join my Dao Gate!"
Inside the [Nurturing Immortal Land].
Watching Bu Changming before him, Lu Yang shook his head and cast aside the distracting thoughts from his heart: 'Perhaps there is a connection, but ultimately, they are not the same person.'
Shan Qiu, Bu Changming—this [Health Preservation] Dao Ancestor who was one person with two sides, and potentially one person with three sides in the future, might have truly passed through the Divine Land's Final Tribulation, but his True Spirit was utterly lost and his Primordial Spirit collapsed. It was no different from death; the "Great Sword Ancestor, San He" was at most a trace he had left behind.
'Ultimately, he didn't cultivate reincarnation.'
Among the many Dao Ancestors, only the [Fate] lineage prioritized reincarnation, with attainments in "how to reincarnate well" reaching the pinnacle. [Health Preservation] was a bit lacking in this regard.
But this was not surprising.
'The Dao of [Health Preservation] prioritizes the self, does not seek the afterlife, and does not look upon the past. Why would it ever consider reincarnation? This is a question of differing Daos.'
While pondering, Lu Yang had already stopped his attack.
On the other side, Bu Changming looked coldly at the surrounding Infinite Rings, knowing in his heart that he truly had nowhere left to flee.
'A second qualitative metamorphosis of essence. What a profound method of metamorphosis! Among the Dao Ancestors, I fear only those two who have completed the third metamorphosis can suppress this person.'
At this thought, Bu Changming let out a long sigh.
In the next second, he closed his eyes. The arrogance between his brows rapidly receded. Layer upon layer of radiance bloomed, and a figure walked out from within his body.
It was none other than Shan Qiu.
"Heh heh..."
Shan Qiu first glanced at Bu Changming's body, finding it unharmed, then looked at the Great Dao rings that had trapped him in place.
He then clapped his hands in admiration:
"Junior Brother Xuande, well played. Not hurting anyone, only trapping them. No wonder Bu Changming was subdued by you. Rising to the top—you are truly worthy of being the personal disciple of the Dao Venerable."
As the words fell, Lu Yang found Shan Qiu's words quite pleasant to the ear. Looking at this shifty-eyed youth again, a sense of goodwill suddenly arose in his heart... But in the next second, he realized something and examined Shan Qiu with a strange expression, before whispering:
"[Connecting with Noble People]?"
At these words, Shan Qiu scratched his head and gave a wry smile: "You saw through it? It seems my attainments in this area are still lacking; I'm not smooth enough."
"However... Junior Brother is not wrong."
Shan Qiu performed a salute, smiling in a fawning manner: "I have shallow learning and inferior skills, but I do indeed have a little attainment in [Connecting with Noble People]. I hope Junior Brother will forgive me."
"I will make the decision regarding your matter, Fellow Daoist."
"The Feng Shui formation base can be planted within the [Nurturing Immortal Land], and I will persuade Bu Changming on the other side... Consider it forming a bond of good karma, and connecting with you, Junior Brother, as a 'Noble Person'."
"How about it?"
(End of Chapter)