Chapter 1199: The Deliverer of Xuanhuang
“Daoist Baihua, it seems your cultivation has advanced considerably?”
After a century of simulated experience, Sun Erlang was a changed man. He could clearly perceive the transformation Daoist Baihua had undergone during his absence.
A sense of awe washed over him.
Yi Shu, on the other hand, gazed with keen interest at the five interconnected, resonating rings in the sky, and the six bright stars that orbited them.
"Daoist Baihua has moved two more grotto-heavens. Such an arduous task. These new ones seem even larger than the last, which explains why the Great Qi is traveling through the void so much faster now," Sun Erlang noted inwardly.
"The Great Qi Sacred Dynasty truly lives up to its reputation," Yi Shu remarked with genuine admiration as he sensed the myriad powers that constantly enveloped the small world.
"To think that in no more than fifty years, a mere mortal world could undergo such a heaven-and-earth-shattering transformation. I find myself growing truly curious about your master, young man."
Daoist Baihua gave Yi Shu another inscrutable look.
He didn't speak, however, merely letting out a cold snort.
Gazing up at the majestic, mountain-like figure seated upon the throne, Sun Erlang felt his heart tremble.
He had thought that after experiencing so many lifelike worlds in the simulation and meeting the most powerful Longevity cultivators of the bygone Ten Great Immortal Sects, he would be able to face his master with greater composure.
But at this moment, Sun Erlang knew he was wrong.
When facing the Longevity experts, what he felt was the pressure stemming from the chasm between their cultivation realms—the natural dominance of the strong over the weak.
But when facing his master, the Faceless Saint Emperor of the Great Qi...
the reason his body, mind, and even his very soul trembled uncontrollably was due to the Faceless Saint Emperor's profound inscrutability, and...
...the innate sense of being observed by a higher order of being, a natural perspective from a superior existence.
"Master, I have returned." Sun Erlang knelt on one knee, just as he always had.
Yi Shu simply offered a slight bow, his hands clasped.
"It is good you have returned. It seems you gained a great deal from your journey." The voice of the Faceless Saint Emperor, Li Ping, echoed through the vast, lofty throne hall.
Sun Erlang recounted his experiences in meticulous detail, leaving nothing out.
After listening to Sun Erlang's report, Li Ping finally addressed Yi Shu, saying, "Since the Tai Yan Sect has been so courteous, we must not be remiss in our hospitality. For now," he continued, turning his gaze to Sun Erlang, "you shall give our guest a tour of the Sacred Dynasty."
"Hold nothing back. You may show him anything he wishes to see."
Sun Erlang was taken aback for a moment, then hastily replied, "This disciple understands."
"You may go."
It seemed he had no intention of speaking directly with Yi Shu at all.
Although Yi Shu was an incarnation of the Tai Yan Sect's collective consciousness, he possessed a temperament born of his own distinct ego.
He tilted his head slightly, looking up at the Faceless Saint Emperor on his high throne, and clasped his hands in salute once more.
The Saint Emperor did not utter another word, even as Yi Shu departed from the throne hall.
"Seeing is believing. Once you have seen things for yourself, Senior, you will naturally find your answers," Sun Erlang quickly explained, trying to ease the awkwardness.
"Very well, then let me see just what is so special about this place," Yi Shu responded with a chuckle.
But his smile seemed somewhat different than before.
When he saw that nearly everyone within the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty was cultivating the very same technique, a flicker of astonishment crossed Yi Shu's eyes.
When he saw the Immortal Spirit Towers scattered about the Sacred Dynasty, seemingly placed at random yet constantly releasing waves of spiritual energy, the smile on Yi Shu's face slowly vanished.
After he observed the Heaven and Earth Myriad Spirits Array connecting the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty to other small worlds, his expression shifted to one of shock and uncertainty.
"Young man, do you realize..."
The words reached the tip of Yi Shu's tongue, but he swallowed them back down.
Sun Erlang assumed he was simply stunned by the sights of the Sacred Dynasty, and since Yi Shu didn't finish speaking, he didn't press the matter.
Next, Sun Erlang took Yi Shu to visit several other important sites within the Sacred Dynasty.
These included Wang Xuanba's beast-rearing grounds and the forges where the Sky Patrolling Arrows were crafted.
As they continued, Yi Shu grew increasingly silent.
Deep confusion and doubt flickered in his eyes from time to time.
Seeing his guest's expression, Sun Erlang, who had been so consistently astonished during his time in the Tai Yan Sect, couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction and quiet pride.
"Senior Yi, is there anything else you wish to see?"
Yi Shu did not respond immediately.
His gaze swept toward the horizon, as if trying to take in the entirety of this miraculous small world at once.
"If you hadn't mentioned your plan to counterattack the Xuanhuang Realm, I would have almost believed this to be a hidden sanctuary of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance," Yi Shu said abruptly after a long pause.
"Aside from having fewer cultivators and top-tier experts, you are indeed qualified to challenge the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance."
"However, based on what I have seen so far, it is still not enough for you to form an alliance with our Tai Yan Sect," Yi Shu concluded.
"Young man, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance is far more complex and dangerous than you realize," Yi Shu hinted.
Sun Erlang was not displeased by Yi Shu's reaction. Instead, he nodded slightly, a thoughtful expression on his face.
After a moment of thought, Sun Erlang finally led Yi Shu to the chamber beneath the Saint Emperor's throne, where Master Yin resided.
They did not see Master Yin in person.
However, the mere sight of over a hundred young children cultivating there, all of whom had already reached the Foundation Establishment realm, caused Yi Shu to lose his composure for the first time.
"This..." With his keen insight, he instantly perceived what was unique about these Foundation Establishment children.
"How is this possible?"
In that instant, far away in the Taixuan Realm, every member of the Tai Yan Sect, from the highest elder to the newest disciple, cast their attention toward the small world of the Great Qi.
Even the Transformation Dao Stone Mother, perpetually blooming with azure light, seemed to pause for a fleeting moment.
"Not long ago, a young man took the principles of 'Foundation Establishment Through Oneself' a step further," Sun Erlang said softly. "He forged a Mixed Origin Golden Core."
"Foundation Establishment Through Oneself?!" Upon hearing this term, Yi Shu froze completely.
This was no mere figure of speech; his thoughts had genuinely ground to a halt.
Possessing a Transformation Dao Stone himself, Sun Erlang recognized at a glance that this was the sign of a similar stone's computational power being pushed to its absolute limit.
"Impossible!"
The word escaped his lips after a long moment of silence.
Here, the children, deep in meditation and diligent practice, all turned to look at Yi Shu.
There was a clear look of displeasure in their eyes.
They had been taught by Master Yin from a young age that the very concept of "impossible" was something to be rejected.
Realizing his outburst, Yi Shu gave a light cough to cover his embarrassment.
He slowly approached one of the little girls, whose features were as delicate as carved jade, and observed her closely.
The more he looked, the more astonished he became.
Sun Erlang saw Yi Shu's hands clench into tight fists, seemingly of their own accord.
"Beyond the variables? Beyond all variables?"
"No, this isn't something beyond variables. This is..."
Yi Shu abruptly raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through stone and distance to meet that of the Faceless Saint Emperor upon his throne.
"The Deliverer of Xuanhuang?!"
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