Chapter 1798: Open Heaven's Bell

Shang Jun’s return to Yankang from the Ancestral Court was on Qin Mu's orders. He was to impart his skills and absorb the fruits of Yankang’s reforms, not specifically to visit Zhu Santong and the other four.

It was only just before his departure that Qin Mu informed him of Dongyang’s reincarnation. Shang Jun hadn’t known that Zhu Santong, Dongyang, and the others had reincarnated and lost their past lives’ memories; even after he learned, he didn’t dwell on it.

Zhu Santong had recovered some of his memories. His past life felt like fleeting smoke, both his own and not. He couldn't help but feel indignant remembering how Qin Mu had tricked the five of them.

“If we had our past lives’ memories, why would we have needed to take so many detours?” he complained to Shang Jun.

Shang Jun was usually a man of few words, but seeing his five old friends made him more talkative. He said, “Brother Dao, think back. Are your cultivation methods and divine arts from your previous life still useful in this one?”

Zhu Santong carefully recalled his past life’s cultivation methods and divine arts, then considered his current studies. His mind went blank. His former methods were completely different from Yankang’s present cultivation system. The divine arts could be modified for use, but they seemed much cruder. As for the cultivation methods, they were utterly useless!

Yankang’s current cultivation methods all follow the Great Divine Treasure system, encompassing far grander Dao methods from the Spirit Embryo realm to the Ancestral Court realm than what he had cultivated in his past life.

A cultivation system is like a basket. The larger the basket the creator makes, the more later cultivators can fill into it. Some cultivators cannot fill the basket to the brim, while others can. The latter will naturally go further than the former. Yankang’s Ancestral Court Dao Realm system has a larger basket than the one Zhu Santong and his friends had in their past lives, containing more.

If he had started with his past life’s memories, he would have suffered from cognitive bias, relying on old cultivation experiences and unable to abandon the original basket. That would not have been a good thing for him.

“Actually, the Seventh Young Master’s intention in having you reincarnate was good. He just feared you wouldn’t accept it, which is why he didn’t tell you that reincarnation would erase your past life memories.”

Shang Jun said, “I envy you, being able to cast everything aside and start anew. Your reincarnation was only possible because we fought and struggled in the Ancestral Court, securing an opportunity for you to grow. Although I haven’t reincarnated and possess the realm of a Dao achiever, I’ve felt my strength increasingly constrained during my years of struggle in the Ancestral Court. After I pass on my Dao methods and divine arts, if the opportunity arises, I too wish to reincarnate and start over.”

He fell silent for a moment, then added, “After reincarnating, I don’t want to awaken my past life’s memories.”

Zhu Santong understood his choice. Shang Jun had lived a bitter life; the memories of the Sixteenth Epoch were a burden to him, offering little joy. If there were a next life, he would choose to live more easily.

“You’ve returned from the Ancestral Court. Has the war there finally subsided?” Zhu Santong asked.

Shang Jun shook his head. “It’s getting more intense. I was able to return because the Two Ancestors achieved Dao, significantly reducing my pressure.”

“The Two Ancestors achieved Dao?” Zhu Santong was perplexed. “Who are the Two Ancestors?”

“The two patriarchs who founded the Ancestral Court Dao Realm system have achieved Dao,” Shang Jun replied. “Lan Yutian and Xu Shenghua achieved Dao, and their combat power surpasses mine. This allowed me to steal away some time to return and impart my Dao methods and divine arts, and search for successors. Also, You Tianzun has achieved Dao as well. He returned with me and went to Youdu.”

Zhu Santong was stunned. Even he marveled at the profoundness of the Ancestral Court Dao Realm system. How formidable must the achievements of these two founders be upon achieving Dao? As for You Tianzun, he had only heard legends of him but had never met him.

“What about the Seventh Young Master then? Has he achieved Dao?” Zhu Santong pressed.

Shang Jun’s expression was strange as he shook his head. “His situation is somewhat unique. He would be the rumored Seventh Young Master if he achieved Chaos Dao, but he hasn’t managed that yet.”

“That old scoundrel also has his day!” Zhu Santong burst into hearty laughter, extremely pleased. Dongyang, Jun Xieyu, and the others didn’t understand what they were talking about, but seeing him laugh so happily, they chimed in with a couple of laughs themselves.

Shang Jun’s face was still peculiar. “While the Seventh Young Master hasn’t achieved Chaos Dao, his Return to Ruins Dao attainment and World Tree Dao attainment have become increasingly profound.”

Zhu Santong was dumbfounded. Shang Jun continued, “His Return to Ruins Lotus Pedestal has reached Dao Rank Six, and Dao Flowers have bloomed and Dao Fruits have formed on his World Tree—and not just one Dao Flower or one Dao Fruit.”

Zhu Santong was stunned again, scratching the bristles on the back of his head. He asked confusedly, “That’s not right. The Ancestral Court Dao Realm system isn’t cultivated that way…”

“He’s not in the basket,” Shang Jun stated.

Zhu Santong’s mind roared as if struck by lightning, instantly understanding his words. Someone who filled the Ancestral Court Dao Realm basket was a genius. Someone who created it was an ancestor. But someone who jumped out of that basket early could not be measured by the basket at all!

Qin Mu was the first to jump out of the basket. Even before Lan Yutian, Xu Shenghua, and the new generation of Celestial Venerables created the basket, he had already leapt out!

There were many baskets in the world. Miluo Palace’s Dao attainment method was a basket, the Heaven Openers’ Dao attainment method was a basket, Boundless Elder and other prehistoric beings also had large and small baskets, and Lan Yutian and Xu Shenghua’s Ancestral Court Dao Realm system was also a basket! But Qin Mu was not contained within any of these baskets! Not a single basket could hold Qin Mu!

He could achieve Dao through the Return to Ruins Dao attainment method, or follow Miluo Palace’s Dao Realm system, or use the World Tree to achieve Dao. He even mastered the Heaven Openers’ Heaven Opening method. But none of these were the path he wished to walk. His path was singular: Chaos Dao attainment.

Shang Jun departed, saying, “Now that I’ve seen you, I’m at ease. I’m going to pass on my Dao methods.”

Zhu Santong hurriedly caught up to him. “Shang Jun, can I go to the Ancestral Court?”

Shang Jun stopped and studied him. “You can only go to the Ancestral Court when you are one step away from achieving Dao. The Ancestral Court is extremely dangerous right now. With your current strength, going there would only be seeking death.”

Zhu Santong felt a chill. He was already one of the few top young experts in the world. He had mastered the Ancestral Court Dao Realm’s Four Heavenly Gates, Jade Pool and Jade Platform, God Slaying Platform, Heavenly Sea, Nine Hell Platform, and other realms. In the Five Tais, he had cultivated the Five Great Veins to the Primordial realm, and his Dao realm was growing increasingly profound. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have triggered the Dao realm of the Path of Reincarnation and awakened partial memories of his past life when he met Shang Jun. His cultivation and strength could now rival former Celestial Venerables, yet even with such power, entering the Ancestral Court would be a dead end. How terrifying must the war in the Ancestral Court be?

Shang Jun walked off, his voice drifting back from the distance: “This time, Earth Count will lead a group of beings close to Dao attainment to the Ancestral Court to fill the gaps. You all cultivate diligently. If you can, come to me for instruction.”

“Earth Count will lead a group of Celestial Venerables to the Ancestral Court?” Zhu Santong’s eyes darted around. Dongyang mumbled, “Santong, don’t be reckless.”

Zhu Santong feigned compliance, but internally he scoffed. He thought, “Among the five of us, I awakened the earliest and am the strongest. They haven’t even awakened their past lives’ memories yet. Since I have my past life’s abilities, why shouldn’t I go with Earth Count and see for myself?”

Full of excitement, he left Dongyang and the others, activated a divine art to open the Gate of Bearing Heaven, and entered Youdu.

In Youdu, the colossal Six Paths of Reincarnation operated autonomously. The Yin World was connected to Youdu, and countless souls came and went between them. Below the Six Paths, karmic fire raged, with myriad souls struggling within.

Within the Six Paths, in Earth Count’s mansion, Zhu Santong quietly sneaked in, peering around. He saw You Tianzun, Qin Fengqing, Celestial Empress, Di Yiyue, Village Chief, Blind, Grannie Si, and Old Man Heavenly Emperor (who had transformed into a white-browed old man) seated in their respective places, engaged in a discussion.

“With You Tianzun presiding over Youdu, it can be ensured safe. But in Xuandu, if Heavenly Emperor leaves, who will manage the Heavenly Dao’s operation?” Qin Fengqing inquired. “And in the Yin World, if Celestial Empress goes to the Ancestral Court, who will be responsible for refining starved ghosts? Who will use soul black sand to create new souls and manage the Great Dao’s operation in the Yin World?”

Heavenly Emperor arranged fifty Heavenly Dao artifacts. “Half of the Heavenly Dao’s operation relies on these Heavenly Dao artifacts. Di Yiyue is my descendant and can manage the Heavenly Dao’s operation on my behalf.”

Di Yiyue frowned. “I also wish to go to the Ancestral Court for tempering. Firstly, my cultivation has reached its limit, and further progress is difficult relying solely on the benefits of Yankang’s reforms. Secondly, I want to see Emperor Kai Qin Ye. After all, he was once a Dao companion, and…” She glanced at Heavenly Emperor, not finishing her sentence.

Back then, Heavenly Emperor and her father had arranged for her to become a child bride to Emperor Kai. Her relationship with Emperor Kai Qin Ye was extremely subtle, both teacher and friend. In her early years, she had had an unrequited crush on Emperor Kai Qin Ye, but he had a beloved and rejected her. Later, her heart was then taken advantage of by Yin Tianzi, Yin Chaojin, who seized the opportunity. However, the feelings of that first love still lingered deep in her heart.

Heavenly Emperor knew he owed her a great deal. Helpless, he could only look to Human Emperor (First Ancestor). “How is Daoist Qin Wu’s Heavenly Dao attainment? Can he temporarily manage the Heavenly Dao’s operation?” Human Emperor replied, “I am still far from achieving Dao, but I can manage it for a period.” Heavenly Emperor sighed in relief.

Celestial Empress said, “King Yama can temporarily manage the Yin World’s operation.” King Yama bowed and assented, then asked, “Who is that person outside the door?”

Everyone had long noticed Zhu Santong hiding outside but hadn’t said anything. King Yama, being blunt, spoke up directly. Qin Fengqing said, “It’s someone not afraid of death. My brother and I tricked him years ago, so I didn’t drive him away. Zhu Santong, come in.”

Hearing this, Zhu Santong quickly entered the hall and declared loudly, “Earth Count, you owe me! I’m going on this trip to the Ancestral Court too!”

Everyone in the hall frowned and looked towards Qin Fengqing. Grannie Si said, “While Santong’s abilities are not weak, he is only on par with someone like Yin Tianzi. Going there would merely be seeking death.”

Qin Fengqing said, “Grannie, my brother did wrong and owes him. Since he wants to go, then let him go. There’s nowhere yellow earth doesn’t bury people.”

You Tianzun said, “Daoist Si, rest assured. With Heavenly Emperor, Earth Count, and Celestial Empress on this journey, even if he’s beaten to ashes, he can be saved. As long as he’s not turned into chaos.”

Zhu Santong shivered, regretting his decision to go, but he could only steel himself, refusing to show any sign of fear.

A few days later, everyone was ready and immediately departed for the Ancestral Court.

Six months later, they arrived outside the Ancestral Court. They saw that Qin Mu had refined the Ancestral Court into a colossal, square cauldron, immensely vast, like a gigantic exotic treasure, radiating dazzling light and colorful mist.

Zhu Santong shivered inwardly. “This Ancestral Court is almost refined into a treasure! But who can activate this huge cauldron?”

Heavenly Emperor and Qin Fengqing led their expedition. They stepped forward and each performed hand seals and divine arts. A passage covered in beautiful primordial runes appeared before them, and everyone entered in single file.

They walked for an unknown duration in the passage. Zhu Santong looked at the walls of the passage, where the runes were not just primordial runes, but other strange symbols, like terrifying creatures from chaos, constantly shifting forms within the walls.

“The Seventh Young Master’s seals!” Suddenly, the space ahead opened up. They finally exited the passage, finding themselves on one of the huge cauldron’s four walls. Looking down, the majestic and expansive landscape of the Ancestral Court stretched out before their eyes!

The most striking sight was the World Tree, incredibly magnificent!

At this moment, beneath the World Tree, a gigantic bell-shaped treasure lay horizontally, piercing through the sixteen Chaos Rivers outside the World Tree. The great bell resembled the universe at its birth, its mouth facing the World Tree, emitting chimes that sounded like the creation of heaven and earth!

And within that great bell, Emperor Kai Qin Ye, Celestial Venerable Yue, Jiang Baigui, Dao Ancestor, and others defending the Ancestral Court were engaged in a fierce battle!

The World Tree’s roots were embedded in the sixteen Chaos Rivers, connecting sixteen cosmic epochs. Prehistoric powerhouses continuously climbed upwards along the World Tree’s roots, fiercely attacking them. Various divine arts constantly flashed within the giant bell!

Zhu Santong stared blankly at the scene, somewhat regretting having come here.