Chapter 1803: Recognition

Hua Changdeng didn't elaborate on that particular battle. He didn't mention who challenged whom, the thoughts and considerations involved in accepting or refusing the fight, or the complete course of the battle.

In the struggle for the Great Dao, there is inherently no right or wrong.

Xu Xiaoshou stopped pressing the issue, but that didn't mean he shared the same view.

"The Dao struggle..."

His first encounter with the struggle for the Great Dao was likely in the White Cave, when Ba Zun'an invited him to join the Sacred Slaves. He began to comprehend the struggle for the Great Dao, perhaps in the deep sea, when the Water Ghost revealed that it was destined to involve bloodshed. He fully grasped the struggle for the Great Dao, perhaps after Void Island, at the culmination of the Divine Remains, during the battle with Ai Cangsheng...

"Had he truly understood?"

Half a year ago, Xu Xiaoshou believed he had understood. He felt his Dao differed from that of his contemporaries, including Ba Zun'an and Dao Qiongcang. At the very least, he would only boast a few words; he wouldn't go so far as to kill many innocent people in the pursuit of the Dao.

Consequently, that night, during his conversation with Er Zhu and Mr. Si Ren, he formulated his definition of the First Heavenly Tower: to rectify mistakes and rewrite history.

His tone was audacious!

Xu Xiaoshou still adheres to this principle.

Now, encountering Hua Changdeng and listening to his words, Xu Xiaoshou found himself deep in thought once more:

"In the pursuit of the Dao, since everyone knows that 'a general's success is built upon ten thousand corpses,' what exactly is everyone striving for?"

Or, to phrase it differently:

"What lies at the end of the Dao?"

Do the Ten Ancestors count? Yet, among the Ten Ancestors, the Four Ancestors still undergo reincarnation. The Sacred Ancestor was not content and subsequently demonized; the fate of the Medicine Ghost, existing between creation and destruction, remains unknown. Even the Technique Ancestor, who completed the path from "two" to "one," remained ambitious and did not cease his pursuit after being corrupted.

So, is the end of the Dao merely desire, power, or profit? If that's the case, isn't "rectifying mistakes and rewriting history" also an absolute defense of one's own Dao and an absolute critique of others' – isn't it, in essence, "control"?

Is the Dao about control?

The Dao shouldn't be like that.

So, what kind of monument truly stands at the end of the Dao, compelling everyone to flock to it and dedicate their entire lives to etch their name upon it?

"It seems not everyone is like this..."

Xu Xiaoshou then recalled Ai Cangsheng. Compared to the other ambitious figures among the Ten Venerables, Ai Cangsheng was the one who best understood his true inner desires. He didn't deliberately pursue the ultimate end of the Dao. He possessed the Eye of the Great Dao and appeared to be the only one capable of discerning its true essence, and so he chose...

Ai Cangsheng did not seek the Dao. Seated atop the Sacred Mountain, he merely wished to fulfill the mission he had assigned himself. He told himself that the summit of Gui Zhe, below the Heavenly Ladder, marked the ultimate end of his Dao, and there was no need to pursue anything further.

"Was it because he wasn't ambitious, and his aspirations weren't great?"

Not at all! Perhaps in Ai Cangsheng's eyes, the Dao was void. Of what benefit is gaining something ethereal and intangible, and what sorrow is there in losing it?

From another perspective, while the world pursues greed with a fanaticism akin to paranoia, Ai Cangsheng alone was a complete master of the Dao! He clarified the Dao and distinguished himself.

Even now, half a year later, Xu Xiaoshou reread Hua Weiyang's words from that time and gained new insights:

"Transcending the Dao is easy; discerning oneself is difficult."

In a world overflowing with materialism, how many can truly hold onto their original intentions? Even if one adheres to them throughout their life, who can guarantee that their initial path of the Dao is the correct one?

"So even my Dao could be flawed..."

The former Xu Xiaoshou might have been thrown into confusion by such thoughts, then unable to escape the self-inflicted whirlpool. Now, as he gazed at Hua Changdeng, whose face remained placid after speaking of Elder Yu, Xu Xiaoshou clenched his fists and a murderous intent gleamed in his eyes.

"But what does that matter?"

No one is inherently nobler than another. Given that, there's no need for excessive contemplation. Whether the Dao is righteous or sinister, it ultimately boils down to a single principle: "He who kills shall himself be killed."

"Whoosh—"

The Central Realm had succumbed to night, and the cold wind howled. Hong Niang lay prostrate on the ground, deeply feeling the tension of being caught in the situation. Before the matter of Elder Yu came to light, Master Shou's easygoing demeanor seemed genuine; he could converse freely with Hua Changdeng, an opponent whom he also admired.

Now, everything was different, starkly so. Although neither had made a move, their auras were already clashing, hinting at a deadly confrontation.

Perhaps just a single shift in words...

Peace was about to shatter! A storm was imminent!

"I can see you still harbor doubts."

On the other hand, as an opponent, Hua Changdeng perceived more clearly than anyone the turbulent waves suppressed beneath the young man's calm exterior. Having weathered much in life, he remained unfazed by the murderous intent, calmly stating:

"It has been a long time since I encountered a young man as courageous as you. To achieve such accomplishments at this age is indeed something to be proud of."

"If you have further questions, feel free to ask."

Was this a bestowal? If he faced him with bravery, he would receive guidance, whether on practical matters or concerning the Dao?

"Heh."

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but chuckle. He had encountered such a condescending tone many times throughout his journey. Indeed, for a high-ranking individual whose perception of him remained at the "Little Shi Tan Ji" stage, such an attitude was not unwarranted when facing a "relatively outstanding" young man. Hua Changdeng's confidence and self-assurance lent weight to his words.

Xu Xiaoshou wasn't angered by this; instead, he spoke with a remarkably calm demeanor: "As it happens, I do have one last question."

"Speak."

Xu Xiaoshou didn't dwell on the matter of Elder Yu. Instead, he turned his head northward, pointing towards the Ghost Buddha at the distant peak of the Sacred Mountain, and said:

"I previously severed a wisp of your will."

"That wisp of will appeared to emanate from Fengdu and return there, but in truth, it had permeated from the Ghost Buddha's body and ultimately returned to it."

At this point, Hua Changdeng remained expressionless. Xu Xiaoshou paused, deducing from the fluctuations in Hua Changdeng's spiritual will that the latter had been completely unaware when his unformed will was severed previously.

This meant...

A few days prior, when sacred-level ghostly beings first emerged in the Ghost Buddha Realm, Hua Changdeng's infiltration of the Ghost Buddha was still far from complete. However, just a few days later, he had progressed from "unawakened will" to "frequent manifestations of will," and now, upon his appearance, he could conjure the extraordinary "Fengdu anomaly."

This pace of strengthening was incredibly rapid. This indicated that the actual person's descent was likely mere days away. What Xu Xiaoshou was concerned about was not the "duration," but the "number of individuals" involved when the time came, so he immediately inquired:

"For this journey to the lower realm, have you been sent as a vanguard to lead the charge, or will everyone make their grand entrance together when the time comes?"

What did he mean?

Hua Changdeng had yet to respond. Hong Niang and the over five million spectators on Golden Apricot all listened with bated breath:

"Not just Sword Immortal Hua?"

"By Master Shou's implication, if the Ghost Buddha breaks, will the Sacred Emperors and Ancestral Gods from beyond the Heavenly Ladder all appear simultaneously?"

"Didn't Sacred Slave Wuxiu say it would take a year? How is it breaking in half a year? It's impossible to protect!"

"No way, the Five Regions were already struggling to cope with the Xu-Ai battle; how could the Sacred God Continent possibly endure their subsequent devastation?"

"Heavens, it's all about to collapse..."

Hua Changdeng, however, remained unperturbed. His gaze shifted from the Central Realm Stele to the distant place where sword intent emanated, then to the Ghost Buddha in the north, and he softly replied:

"One person is sufficient."

The arrogance of ancient sword cultivators was truly ingrained in the very bones of all who wielded swords. As Hua Changdeng uttered these words, his gaze didn't even settle on Xu Xiaoshou, as if the lifeblood of the Five Regions lay entirely within his grasp.

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but smile faintly. The stone sword at his waist, previously held in the black chicken's beak, seemed to awaken with vitality at the sound, humming with anger as if about to shatter its stone sheath.

"Not to that extent..."

Xu Xiaoshou smiled and patted the sword, signaling it to calm down. Finally, he extended his index finger and gently wagged it at Hua Changdeng, saying playfully:

"Not enough."

—Even more arrogant!

A heated discussion immediately erupted on the Golden Apricot screen. Hua Changdeng, moreover, raised an eyebrow, a look of surprise crossing his face. In his eyes, there had never been a "Little Shi Tan Ji" or a "Xu Xiaoshou"... it was inconsequential; he couldn't be bothered to correct the names. His sole concern had always been the old enemy from the distant place where sword intent emanated. Yet, the arrogance and audacity of the young man before him now surpassed even that of Ba Zun'an in the past.

"Heh heh..."

Hua Changdeng chuckled softly, a nostalgic look in his eyes. Just as Xu Xiaoshou had no intention of drawing his sword, Hua Changdeng also refrained from unsheathing the illusory, broken sword from his waist. He simply slowly raised the lamp in his hand and gave it a gentle sway.

"Hiss—"

The candle flame in the ancient lamp flickered. From within, endless wails of ghostly beings resounded. Hua Changdeng turned his gaze back to the young man, pursing his lips as he said, "You mentioned severing a wisp of my will earlier, so I presume you've sought me out this time for more than just resolving your inner doubts."

As these words were uttered, Hong Niang, watching from afar, turned ashen. She seemed to already envision the outbreak of a great battle, retreating incrementally on the ground like a human maggot. Xu Xiaoshou grinned, revealing a row of bright white teeth, his expression sunny and benevolent: "What do you think, old geezer?"

*Sizzling sounds*...

The moment his words faded, the earth began to decay once more. From the boiling, bubbling swamp water, ghostly beings seemed poised to emerge, yet this time, not even ghostly hands or skeletal claws broke the surface. All things, transforming into green smoke, converged into the candle flame within Hua Changdeng's lamp.

"The power of Death God!"

At this, everyone finally understood. That green smoke was not, in fact, residual power from vanquished vengeful spirits. Even the appearance of swamp water and ghostly beings was merely a secondary effect; the true origin of all anomalies lay in the convergence of Death God's power! And the power of Death God, summoned and gathered from heaven and earth, from the Great Dao, from the transformations of life and death among all beings, was all solely due to a single shift in Hua Changdeng's thoughts!

"So powerful..."

"How can it be this powerful, when it's merely a wisp of a Sacred Emperor's will..."

Hong Niang was terrified. It wasn't that she hadn't witnessed powerful individuals wield ancestral origin power. Emperor Cangsheng had utilized Evil God's power, a fact most Spirit Refiners in the Five Regions had witnessed, understanding it was ancestral origin power cultivated by him over decades. However, Hua Changdeng's method of utilizing ancestral origin power was entirely opposite. He was so powerful that merely by accumulating the power of Death God, he could manifest the terrifying anomaly of the mortal realm transforming into Fengdu. His power didn't originate from within himself, but from all things outside of him. He was like someone fishing while seated; ancestral origin power, born from the nameless, converged into his lamp, allowing him to command it.

"Sizzle!"

The bronze lamp's flame flared brightly. Space undulated around Hua Changdeng, yet remained unbroken. Such an immense quantity of Death God's power converged, yet contained within such an ordinary old lamp, he could still maintain the balance of the fragile space around him.

"A Sacred Emperor..."

"Indeed, Sword Immortal Hua is still a Sacred Emperor..."

At this moment, the spectators from the Five Regions suddenly awoke to realization. Over the past six months, guided by Master Shou's Dao Disc, the Spirit Refining world had largely grasped the concept of "Ten Realms Sacred Emperors": Only high-level Sacred Emperors can generate ancestral origin power. Others, be they Half-Saints, mid-to-low level Sacred Emperors, or even individuals of exceptional talent, might also gain control of ancestral origin power through certain means, but that would merely be "borrowing" it.

Borrowing, using.

A single word's difference, yet a world apart.

"Little brat..."

This long night, the Sword Immortal held his lamp aloft. Hua Changdeng's gaze fixed intently on the young man before him. He harbored no intention of bullying the weak, but in the lineage of ancient sword cultivators, there was no concept of "refusing battle." Even when challenged by the weaker. If the opponent wished to prove or comprehend the Dao through death. While regrettable, ancient sword cultivators always fulfilled such challenges.

Thus, at the Gui Zhe Ruins, beneath the Ghost Buddha, Hua Changdeng acceded to the battle intent of Kui Leihan's son, granting him a single sword strike. That single sword strike caused Kui Leihan to cross realms with a hammer, traveling thousands of miles to rescue his son. Similarly, he could now bestow such a sword strike upon the ignorant young man before him, though he wondered if fate had any fortunate stars in store for this child...

Or, perhaps.

Could his life or death elicit even a single glance from Ba Zun'an?

As his thoughts reached this point, Hua Changdeng raised his lamp high, his presence imposing, and was about to speak...

"One sword!"

The young man opposite, surprisingly, spoke first. He spoke casually, as if a superior bestowing a gift upon a subordinate. These words caught the exact same two words in Hua Changdeng's throat, forcing an incredulous expression onto his face.

Hong Niang was bewildered. The millions of spectators on Golden Apricot stared in bewilderment. Everyone clearly heard the words "one sword," but no one understood Master Shou's intention behind uttering them.

And before the only Sacred Emperor among the previous generation's Seven Sword Immortals, Master Shou, the current First Sword Immortal, slowly advanced, clearly not finished speaking:

"That previous encounter was an ambush on my part; it wasn't a fair victory."

"This meant you, old geezer, didn't even realize you had been struck down by me once, nor did you comprehend my strength."

What?

As the latter half of the sentence emerged, Hua Changdeng thought he had misheard. But it was certainly not an auditory hallucination, nor a phantom sword art, because the audacious young man before him continued to speak volubly:

"You and I both understand the sword, or rather, our comprehension of it began under the tutelage of Mr. Si Ren."

"You cultivated the sword for over thirty years before me, and have now reached the Sacred Emperor realm. While I may have been a bit slower, I have the advantage that you are currently merely a wisp of will, whereas I am my true self."

"From another perspective, this battle is quite fair."

Fair? Is this considered fair? Not only were the millions of spectators on Golden Apricot dazed, but Hua Changdeng also seemed bewildered; wasn't he the one attempting to bully a junior?

Yet this man...

This "Master Shou" truly didn't seem to think that way, as he declared:

"Actually, it's not entirely fair; I also have the advantage of terrain."

He genuinely believed that his "smallness" was currently bullying the "largeness," and as he spoke, he drew the stone sword from his waist, slowly raising it as he said:

"But I won't take advantage of you."

"This sword will remain sheathed, sealed beneath stone. During our battle, it will absolutely not be drawn. If you can withstand one strike from me..."

Hua Changdeng let out a long breath, utterly amused by the provocation. After thirty years spent behind a screen and ascending to Emperorship in a single day, he felt he was falling behind the times. Were young people truly this amusing now? Did his "one sword" truly mean he had to withstand a single strike from him? Intrigued, Hua Changdeng asked:

"And if I do withstand it?"

Xu Xiaoshou nodded slightly, like an ancient elder, holding the simple stone sword horizontally before his chest, and stated calmly:

"If you can withstand it, then I shall acknowledge your title as 'Ghost Sword Immortal.'"