Chapter 300: Chapter 23 September 1
Time passed swiftly, and seven days flew by like a fleeting steed. Unknowingly, September had arrived.
"First day of the ninth lunar month, the year of 1995, Renxu Month, Bingwu Day, suitable for..."
Jiang Li stopped his calculations and shifted his gaze from the calendar that appeared on the Karma Collection.
The Emperor had reversed the seasons, turning autumn back into spring. Now, the climate near the Divine Capital could hardly match the natural seasons, and naturally, divination by the calendar could also lead to errors, large or small.
Although calendars were generally made according to heavenly phenomena, the climate was an indispensable factor, not to mention that the current climate was not a natural evolution but the result of someone’s will.
’Moreover, considering that the Divine Capital is the heart of Great Zhou and the pivot of Qi Shu, and with the influence of the third grade... Even my master might find it difficult to perform divination as if by divine intervention, right?’
Jiang Li had already noticed that the accuracy of his divination was no longer as precise as it was seven days ago; Tian Ji had also likely been affected.
Perhaps, her sudden insistence on giving him extra lessons seven days ago was not just due to the nagging of the elders Tian Ji and Wuqu but also due to her sensing the chaotic heavenly mechanism near the Divine Capital and worrying about Jiang Li’s potential defeat in battle.
’The waters of the Divine Capital run deep indeed.’
This thought crossed his mind and then dissipated into nothingness, leaving behind only serenity, as he regained his calmest state of mind.
Jiang Li walked at a steady pace along the path towards the Shooting Flood Dragon Platform.
...
...
The Shooting Flood Dragon Platform, located on East Mountain adjacent to Dragon Abyss Lake, was a massive rock on the mountainside.
The rock hung over the edge, larger at the top and smaller at the base, propped up by several random boulders as if teetering on the brink of collapse, with most of its volume extending beyond the mountain, making it extremely perilous. The top had a flat area of about thirty square meters, on which two faint footprints were visible, one in front of the other in a bow stance—the legacy of the first Emperor of Zhou.
Both the Ji Family and the Jiang family originated from the northwest, where their ancestral lands were unsuitable for establishing a capital. Thus, after divination through the Yi Dao, both families’ ancestors chose the vicinity of Dragon Abyss Lake within a radius of three thousand li as the land for the capital, where they established their reign.
At that time, Dragon Abyss Lake was under the domain of a Dragon King who resisted the two families and was eventually defeated near the Shooting Flood Dragon Platform in a battle of life and death.
Back then, the Grand Ancestor stood on the giant rock of East Mountain, armed with the Qiankun Bow and the Sky-shattering Arrow. With one arrow, he quelled storms, with another he controlled the flood, and with another, he slayed the Dragon King. Thus, the sovereignty over Dragon Abyss Lake was secured.
This event is recorded in history books, and undoubtedly holds no falsehoods.
Latterly, the place was called "Shooting Dragon Platform," but as Great Zhou revered the dragon as its totem, the name was deemed inauspicious. The dragon was demoted to a lesser dragon, and the name was changed to "Shooting Flood Dragon Platform."
Yuan Zhen had chosen this place as the ground for the duel, also harboring a resolute determination of confronting life or death.
Time reached noon, when the yang energy was at its strongest. A large crowd had already gathered early around the Shooting Flood Dragon Platform, and all sorts of boats were congregated on the water surface of Dragon Abyss Lake.
Flashes of light twinkled, and three Daoists, one elderly, one middle-aged, and one young, appeared atop a peak on East Mountain.
The elder was none other than Dan Xuzi, the Daode Sect’s master of the Alchemy Dao, who had conversed with the green-clothed young master the other day. The middle-aged Daoist looked just past the age of forty, with fine eyebrows and a long beard, his hair done up in double buns, dressed in wide-sleeved robes with a sash and hemp shoes, presenting an ethereal deportment, yet his leisurely demeanor resembled more of a reclusive country gentleman than a fully-realized Daoist.
As for the youth, he was naturally Zhang Daoyi, the Daoist Lord’s closed-door disciple.
However, today’s Zhang Daoyi exhibited a more robust Qi Mechanism compared to previous days, with gusts of wind following his every move, clearly due to a rapid increase in inner strength within a short time, making it somewhat difficult for him to contain.
He had ascended in rank.
Upon seeing his state, Dan Xuzi sighed softly, "If only he could obtain the Dao Fruit of the Pure Yang True Man, with his foundation, he could increase his power by another thirty percent and control it at will. Why did the junior brother rush his ascension? Once Yuan Zhen retrieves the Dao Fruit, he could’ve ascended using the Uniqueness Dao Fruit of the Pure Yang True Man."
"Wouldn’t that add a burden to Master Yuan Zhen?"
Zhang Daoyi shook his head slowly, "I’d rather have Master Yuan Zhen fight for his own sake, not for mine. I would feel unworthy to obtain such a Dao Fruit."
"How pretentious!" snorted the middle-aged Daoist upon hearing this.
"Daoist Wen Xu!" Dan Xuzi frowned in disapproval.
"But it’s pretentious in a good way," Daoist Wen Xu added, "The path of Dao Fruit cultivation is far less challenging than the Ancient Cultivation Method, so many Cultivators overlook the cultivation of their Mental State. By sacrificing certain desires for the sake of your Mental State, such a gain is already more significant than acquiring a Uniqueness Dao Fruit. Anyway, you’re not without ways to enhance your power."
Cultivators of the Dao Fruit system find it challenging to progress further once they reach a certain barrier, as their power is derived entirely from within themselves. Once their potential is fully tapped, they need to ascend to raise their limits.
On the contrary, the Ancient Cultivation Method allows for breaking through by harnessing the Heaven and Earth Qi. In reality, even without a Dao Fruit, Zhang Daoyi could continue to advance at each stage.
For him, the abilities of a Uniqueness Dao Fruit were not all that crucial.
"This makes me feel even more ashamed," Zhang Daoyi said with an even deeper wry smile, "just for an insignificant Dao Fruit, Master Yuan Zhen has to fight life-or-death with that Fellow Daoist Jiang..."
"It may not be because of you."
Wen Xu, however, shook his head, "You two, one ascending and the other assisting Yuan Zhen in alchemy, are unaware of the rumors circulating recently within the Divine Capital. It is said that the demise of the Jiang family in Yun County years ago had to do with the Fourth Prince, who now harbors the Three Corpses God Dao Fruit of the Yun County Jiang family."
"Three Corpse Gods?!" Dan Xuzi’s eyebrows raised slightly, a sharpness flashing across his face, "Is this true?"
As a major sect of the Mystic Sect, the Daode Sect was of course not ignorant about what the Three Corpse Gods signified. Back in the day, Zhang Daoyi and Yuan Zhen were actually in the same location as the Fourth Prince.
"The Three Corpses God has the ability to stir the thoughts of others. If the Fourth Prince provokes unwarranted thoughts in Yuan Zhen’s mind at a crucial moment, then..."
Not only Dan Xuzi, but Zhang Daoyi’s face also bore a streak of evil Qi.
If this rumor were true, then Yuan Zhen’s interference in others’ advancements might also have been aided by the Fourth Prince.
Quietly, the Fourth Prince gained another enemy.
Having heard this news, Zhang Daoyi harbored a murderous intent, which also served to mask his shame. Catching his demeanor, Dan Xuzi’s gaze flickered as he transmitted his voice to Daoist Wenxu, "Can we confirm if the Fourth Prince had a hand in this?"
"How could we confirm that? Even if someone from the Dinghu Sect were to arrive now, they’d be unable to ascertain the cause. It’s sufficient if Daoist Brother Dao Yi avoids any mental obstructions," Daoist Wenxu casually replied with a voice transmission, "Regardless, Ji Chengyuan harbors ill intentions and can’t be absolved from the interference. There’s no harm in him shouldering one more blame."
"Speak of the devil, and the devil appears. The people from Dinghu Sect have arrived."
As Daoist Wenxu spoke, he looked towards a mountain peak not far away.
On the mountain peak, starlight emerged, changing into constellations, as three Daoist figures appeared amidst the shifting stars. An irresistable Qi Mechanism enveloped the peak, preventing others from ascending.
Tianxuan, Tianji, and Wuqu—the three elders from the Dinghu Sect had also arrived.
Tianxuan, in her moon white palace dress, her face veiled by a light scarf, cast her moonlike gaze from afar, and gentle starlight appeared on this mountaintop.
"It seems, today we must decide life or death," muttered Daoist Wenxu softly, exhaling lightly.
If the elders from both sides hadn’t arrived, or if only one side did, that would suggest there was still room for compromise. But with both present, there was no longer room to maneuver.
The Daode Sect’s elders had arrived first, seeking to gauge the stance of the Dinghu Sect. If the other side chose not to make an appearance, it would indicate a reluctance to create a conflict. However, their direct appearance and intimidating gaze signified Dinghu Sect’s refusal.
Now it was time to rely on individual abilities.
"So be it, let’s rely on our own abilities then." Dan Xuzi appeared in the Taiching Immortal Light, dispelling the quietly dispersed celestial Qi.
Meanwhile, others around the Shooting Flood Dragon Platform were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the two main protagonists.
Time slowly passed, and when the sunshine was high in the sky, two figures appeared almost simultaneously.
To decide the ephemeral clouds, to look down upon a thousand mountains, a sword came from the west, sweeping through the wind and clouds.
Yuan Zhen came sword-wielding, the five-colored Sword Light shooting down like a long rainbow towards the Shooting Flood Dragon Platform.
On Dragon Abyss Lake, the Green-clothed Young Master stood on a small boat, witnessing this scene with a grave look.
"It’s a choice to seek victory after all," he sighed softly.
Choosing between following the Dao or seeking victory, he had already given his advice, which Dan Xuzi would never ignore. But if Yuan Zhen made the decision himself, Dan Xuzi could only aid him.
"They say Jiang Li has lost his edge, but looking at you now, it seems you’re the one who has truly lost it," the Green-clothed Young Master murmured.
Yet losing that edge was exchanged for stronger power.
As the Sword Light descended upon the platform, Yuan Zhen appeared, the five-colored Sword Qi towering behind him like pillars of heaven, his sword momentum overwhelming, with sword shadows seemingly flickering in all directions.
In contrast, Jiang Li seemed nearly imperceptible in Qi Mechanism, appearing ghostlike, clearly reflected in the eyes but, in a flash, if the gaze shifted ever so slightly, Jiang Li would vanish from perception, as if he never existed.
He was like the wind, merging with the light, becoming one with... heaven and earth.
"Clang, clang, clang, clang..."
Sword sounds were heard from all around.
Jiang Li appeared almost non-existent, but in his movements, the forces of heaven and earth also circulated—shifting, grinding down the flashing sword shadows, leaving behind nothing but the shattered sounds of swords.
He stepped forward with the wind, leaving behind numerous transparent and broken sword shadows. As his footsteps touched the Shooting Flood Dragon Platform, Qi Mechanisms collided, creating a whirlwind out of thin air.
"Lost his edge, indeed."
With an insightful gaze, Jiang Li observed minutely, "But this intense ferocity... it seems you have prepared yourself for death."
"If one lacks such resolve, how dare they climb this platform?" Yuan Zhen said indifferently.
Up to this point, could it be possible to just say, "Alas, can we reconcile?" and turn hostility into peace?
Whether because of their personal resolution, their Mental State, or due to the reputation and stance of their Sect, today on this Shooting Flood Dragon Platform, one must die.
Yuan Zhen’s obstruction of Jiang Li’s advancement equated to a grievance as serious as life and death. Jiang Li had worked hard to force him to this point and certainly did not wish to give up.
Jiang Li held leverage over Yuan Zhen; spreading it could not harm the root of the Daode Sect, but it would still be a stain on their honor. Moreover, with enmity already established between them and difficult to resolve, Yuan Zhen naturally harbored an intent to eliminate him.
Therefore...
"Let’s decide who’s superior,"
"And determine life or death."