Chapter 1309: Blue Yutian and the Illusory Flower

In the Emptiness, Emperor Kai imparted his Dao Realm system to Lan Yutian. Their long discussion proved highly fruitful for both Wuyouxiang and the Creators of the Beyond.

Although Emperor Kai was sharing his self-created Dao Realm, Lan Yutian's ability to draw inferences from a single point allowed him to gain significant insights as well.

Emperor Kai personally opened the doors to the three rooms at the end of the Void Bridge, sending Lan Yutian and his followers into Yankang. "Brother Dao," he said, "I hope we meet again someday."

"Brother Dao, please stay," Lan Yutian said as he bade him farewell.

Emperor Kai stood quietly at the entrance for a long time before finally turning back.

His Four Heavenly Masters and Four Heavenly Kings had been waiting at the bridgehead for a long time. The Woodcutter Sage inquired, "Your Majesty, I have been listening to your discussions with Lan Yutian these past days and have gained considerable insight. A disturbing thought suddenly occurred to me: even if we overthrow the Heavenly Court in the future, once Lan Yutian achieves Dao, we gods will become the old rulers, the ancient deities of the past, destined to be overthrown by new gods."

Emperor Kai nodded, smiling, "So, Grand Heavenly Master, have you lost your courage and resolve for change?"

The Woodcutter Sage paused, then bowed. "Tiange has become preoccupied with gains and losses. Thank you for the reminder, Your Majesty. Lan Yutian is already on the path to becoming a sage. What I couldn't achieve, I shouldn't hinder him from; instead, I should hope he succeeds, and even help him accomplish it sooner!"

"Perhaps Lan Yutian will become the first true sage."

Emperor Kai grasped the hilt of the Wuyou Sword, his thumb tracing the patterns on its scabbard. "The Wuyou Sword," he said, "was originally forged to create a Wuyouxiang. Yet, after our recent discussion, I suddenly realized this sword is not Wuyouxiang itself, but rather a tool for me to strive for humanity and all sentient beings, to ensure they live without worry."

He smiled. "Our discussion has also clarified my Sword Dao's Thirty-Five Heavens. Tiange, you need not belittle yourself. Your three hundred and sixty types of Post-Heaven Great Dao were conceived for the million-year path of the Kaihuang era. You are called a sage precisely because you planned a million-year path for the Kaihuang era. Your aspirations are lofty; it was my inadequacy that I could not protect the Kaihuang era for a million years."

"The great tide of destiny was not with me; Kaihuang is not to blame."

The Woodcutter Sage declared, "The defeat of that year shall be reclaimed today!"

Lan Yutian led five thousand disciples into Yankang. He looked around, trying to discern the path, though his accompanying deities knew their teacher would inevitably get lost, no matter how he tried to orient himself.

"Teacher, where are you planning to go?" a goddess inquired.

"I have no idea!" Lan Yutian replied cheerfully.

Silence fell among the group, and a few deities discreetly slipped away.

Lan Yutian chuckled, "Just follow your instincts. I feel someone is waiting for me ahead."

The group, though skeptical, followed. After several days of travel, they spotted the Grand Thunderclap Temple in the distance, with its Reclining Buddha.

The Reclining Buddha glowed with boundless Buddhist light, deep in slumber. This light connected to Mount Meru, the twenty heavens of the Buddha Realm, extending directly to the Great Brahma Heaven realm at the mountain's summit.

Thousands of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas sat within the Reclining Buddha's dream, immersed in contemplation. Their Buddha names echoed widely, and their Sanskrit chants resonated powerfully.

The Reclining Buddha was a striking sight. Its physical form was that of an enormous demonic ape, snoring in its sleep. The black fur on its body rippled like a dark forest swaying in the wind, rising and falling erratically.

Yet, the Reclining Buddha's primordial spirit was incomparably sacred, holy and solemn, appearing both demonic and human, yet undeniably a Buddha.

After gazing up at the magnificent Buddha for a moment, Lan Yutian shook his head. "That's not the one waiting for me," he said. "Let's continue."

They continued their journey for another dozen days, traversing mountains and rivers. From a distance, they sighted Yankang's Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge, where large tower-ships constantly sailed in and out.

Upon reaching the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge, they witnessed a group of people squabbling. A young Daoist was tugging at the sleeve of a handsome deity, exclaiming, "Xu Shenghua, you can't leave! That treasure has only just been refined, and you're already departing, leaving us to toil while you take it easy!"

The handsome man, Xu Shenghua, tried to break free, sighing helplessly, "I've already organized all the blueprints Cult Master Qin gave you. Just refine them according to the diagrams; the rest are trivial matters. How can I possibly stay here for fifty years? I still need to go to the Ancestral Court; Cult Master told me long ago there are good things there!"

Lan Yutian recognized the Daoist as Lin Xuan, the Dao Master of the Dao Sect, though he didn't know why he was arguing with Xu Shenghua.

"If you leave, who knows how many years you'll be gone. Your daughter, Xu Mengqing, will likely be of marriageable age. By the time you return, you could be holding your grandchildren!"

Lan Yutian also recognized the speaker as an immortal from Little Jade Capital named Wang Muran, known as Immortal Wang, whose abilities were exceptionally high.

Xu Shenghua said, "Immortal Wang, don't get any ideas about my daughter."

Immortal Wang laughed, "You should be worried about Cult Master Qin! Be careful he doesn't charm your daughter's soul away while you're not home!"

"He's old and past his prime, so I never worry about him. Fellow Daoists, I must go to the Ancestral Court; Cult Master Qin has been calling me there for a long time! I've always had a feeling that place is crucial for my Dao achievement."

Xu Shenghua broke free from Lin Xuan, bowed, and said, "Gentlemen, I appreciate your good intentions, but are you trying to hinder my path to Dao? Besides, you can't defeat me."

The group, having no choice but to cease their obstruction, said, "You're off to enjoy yourself, leaving us here to suffer. Oh well, we can't beat you anyway, so go ahead."

Xu Shenghua stood up and, seeing Lan Yutian, asked in surprise, "Brother Dao Lan, are you lost again?"

Lan Yutian nodded repeatedly, smiling, "Last time, Brother Xu kindly guided my way; I'll have to trouble you again this time."

Xu Shenghua pondered for a moment, then said, "I'm going to the Ancestral Court. Do you want to come along?"

"Yes!"

"Then come with me."

Xu Shenghua waved his hand and stated firmly, "Gentlemen, if you try to stop me again, I'll truly have to resort to force."

The crowd dispersed.

Xu Shenghua led Lan Yutian towards the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge. He glanced at the five thousand deities trailing behind them, feeling surprised but asking no further questions. "These past days," he remarked, "I've been tied up by various trivial matters, unable to embark on my journey to the Ancestral Court. Now I realize it wasn't those trivialities that held me back, but rather that I was waiting for you. It seems both our paths to Dao lie in the Ancestral Court."

Lan Yutian replied, "I have that feeling too. I sensed you were waiting for me. This should prove to be a wondrous journey."

The five thousand deities followed them into the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge. After a long passage, they emerged from an altar on the other side, immediately confronted by the Ten Heavenly Venerables' seal.

"Teacher, there's a seal here, but over there's an unsealed cave!" someone exclaimed.

That cave entrance to the Ancestral Court had been blasted open by Qin Mu, who activated the power of the Grand Primeval ore vein.

Xu Shenghua and Lan Yutian exchanged glances. Xu Shenghua shook his head. "It's too far; who knows how long it would take to reach that cave entrance," he said. "This rift is closer; we can just walk straight in from here."

"There are eleven types of seals here, and one of them was left by my brother."

Lan Yutian examined it and remarked, "Breaking his seal won't be difficult."

Xu Shenghua also examined it and nodded. "Breaking his truly isn't difficult. Let's proceed."

The two, accompanied by the five thousand deities, surged forward and entered the seal left by Qin Mu.

In the Ancestral Court, Qin Mu arrived at the Seventeenth Void, wondering, "Pi, what are you all so afraid of?"

"Cult Master, the Grand Emperor has arrived!" the Dragon Qilin said, trembling.