Chapter 1242: Heavenly Dao as Nourishment
The power originally meant to protect the earth veins had been devoured by the Dao One worms, transforming into nourishing sustenance.
What began as a fist-sized black shadow instantly spread like thick ink dissolving in water, gradually staining the rushing river of earth veins black.
What was most unsettling was that this black torrent, once corroded by the Dao One worms, was identical to the original yellow earth veins in every way—from its aura to its energy fluctuations—except for its color. Mere perception was utterly incapable of detecting this change.
However, Wang Xuanba, who had a clone among the Dao One swarm, could clearly feel the terrifying speed at which the swarm was growing and expanding.
Following the earth veins, it spread ferociously from its epicenter in Yueyang Prefecture to every corner of the Xuanhuang Realm.
And beyond this horizontal expansion, the Dao One worms also spread vertically, continuously corroding downward along the dense roots of the inverted trees.
“The wonders of creation are truly boundless. If not for my Master's guidance, I would never have imagined that such a colossal tree was hidden beneath the Xuanhuang Realm,” Wang Xuanba marveled inwardly.
Through the images transmitted by his Dao One worm clone, Wang Xuanba watched as the dense, previously motionless roots gradually came to life as they turned black, beginning to sway gently.
A vast consciousness swept back and forth across the blackened sections. It felt more alarmed and uncertain than before. Wang Xuanba knew it must be the consciousness of the ancient earth vein tree.
“It knows something is wrong with its body but can't find the cause. As the affliction worsens, its fear and despair will only grow. Attacking the mind is the superior strategy, as they say. Master's plan is truly a brilliant stroke.” A cold smile touched Wang Xuanba's lips. Deciding the time was right, he issued a mental command.
The rapidly expanding, surging tide of shadow worms came to a halt in an instant. The Dao One swarms fell into a deep slumber, lying dormant within the body of the ancient earth vein tree.
The yellow power of the earth veins continued to flow over them, seemingly suppressing the shadows. Yet the blackness did not disappear; it merely settled at the bottom of the yellow current.
Viewed from a macro perspective, it was as if a dim speck had appeared within the earth veins of the Xuanhuang Realm.
“Master said that the earth veins are ultimately connected to the countless lives on the surface, and even the slightest disturbance could cause mountains to collapse and the earth to split open. If handled improperly, it could even provoke the hostility of the Xuanhuang Realm's Heavenly Dao...”
Just a moment ago, Wang Xuanba had indeed seemed to sense a subtle shift in the world's will. But as the Dao One swarms went dormant, this disturbance quickly vanished.
“Interesting.” Wang Xuanba narrowed his eyes, contemplating the sensation for a moment.
Then, without resting, he hurried to the next earth vein node. He needed to plant sixteen such black spots in the body of the ancient Xuanhuang earth vein tree.
The plan proceeded smoothly.
Aside from the last few attempts, during which the increasingly agitated ancient tree spontaneously triggered violent surges in the earth veins and caused him minor injuries, the rest of the shadow swarms were deployed perfectly.
And even when the ancient earth vein tree struggled, as if sensing something was wrong, its efforts were useless. In fact, its struggles only caused the Dao One swarms to spread through the veins with explosive speed, making those shadow spots noticeably larger than the others.
Half a month later, having completed his mission perfectly, Wang Xuanba returned to the Sacred Capital.
In the Saint Emperor's hall, several of Li Ping's disciples were already waiting.
Wang Xuanba was somewhat surprised. His fellow disciples all cultivated separately according to their Master's teachings and rarely had the chance to meet. There were even some he had never seen before, only heard that the Master had taken them on. He hadn't expected to see them all gathered here today.
“It seems Master is finally about to make a major move,” Wang Xuanba thought, a jolt of excitement running through him.
Striding before the Saint Emperor, Wang Xuanba knelt on one knee and reported his progress.
The faceless Saint Emperor gestured lightly with his hand, helping Wang Xuanba to his feet.
“Well done.”
Hearing such rare praise from the Saint Emperor, Wang Xuanba couldn't help but lift his head with pride.
“With sixteen swarms of Dao One worms nailed into it, the ancient earth vein tree is doomed. Which of you will subdue this tree for your master?” Li Ping then asked lightly.
The six disciples below the throne all declared in unison, “This disciple is willing to share our Master’s burden!”
Li Ping looked at these disciples, each of whom spoke from the heart, and nodded in satisfaction.
There were six disciples in total, three men and three women.
They were Sun Erlang, Su Yuqing, Wang Xuanba, Lin Ling, Ou Shangtian, and the Daoist child, Liuli.
The first five had been Li Ping's disciples for some time, carefully trained and guided by him. Liuli, however, was a more recent addition, a decision Li Ping made on a whim after discovering the miraculous nature of the Cat Treasure.
Li Ping himself harbored no ill intentions; he simply planned to nurture her and later use the special connection between Liuli and the Fishing Pool to procure more treasures. His intentions were pure, and he told her this outright. Liuli, being exceptionally perceptive of people's hearts, sensed his sincerity and gradually came to accept and grow accustomed to her new Master.
Furthermore, Zhong Shentong was constantly nagging her to obey the Saint Emperor's commands. Coupled with Daoist Baihua occasionally giving her special lessons, the little Daoist child's progress had ironically become the fastest among all the disciples.
Speaking of Zhong Shentong, ever since arriving in the Great Qi, he had fully embraced his favorite lifestyle of “lying flat.” The ever-increasing concentration of spiritual energy in the dynasty meant he could live freely for several more decades without breaking through to the next realm, so he simply gave up on cultivating altogether.
Having received the Saint Emperor's special permission, he spent his days happily casting a line in the Fishing Pool, living a life that was truly the envy of others.
Returning to the Saint Emperor's hall, all the disciples were eager to take on the Saint Emperor's task.
But in truth, Li Ping had already made his decision.
“Lin Ling, you go with Xuanba. If that ancient tree knows what's good for it, then so be it. But if it remains obstinate...”
Li Ping smiled. “You may take its place.”
As the incarnation of the Spirit Tree from the Spirit Wood Realm, Lin Ling had spent this life conquering other small worlds for the Great Qi ever since being enlightened by Li Ping. The unconcealed, almost tangible killing intent she exuded made her the most feared and respected among Li Ping's six disciples.
When Li Ping assigned the task to her, none of the others had any objections.
The faceless Saint Emperor sent a wheel-shaped magic treasure floating through the air to Lin Ling. “With this wheel, you can freely control the Dao One worms. With the infestation reaching its very core, the ancient earth vein tree should have no room to resist. However, you must still be wary of a cornered beast's desperate struggle...”
After a few final instructions, Li Ping watched Lin Ling and Wang Xuanba depart from the hall.
The great hall fell silent for a moment.
It was Ou Shangtian who finally mustered the courage to ask, “Master, about that matter you mentioned you would entrust to me...”
Li Ping smiled faintly. “Soon. You should also make your preparations.”
The remaining three disciples also turned their gazes toward him.
As Li Ping's eldest disciple, Sun Erlang had long assisted in managing the various affairs of the Great Qi. He knew that his Master had been planning for a long time, and now that he was suddenly making his move, it would surely not be limited to just this one matter.
“Erlang.” Just as he expected, Li Ping spoke.
“Disciple is here.”
“I need you to make a trip to the Five Elders Association for me.”
Sun Erlang was stunned.
He had anticipated many possible campaigns to come, but he had never expected his Master to send him to the Five Elders Association.
That name was foreign to most people in the Great Qi. Sun Erlang himself had only learned a little about it from Yi Shu.
“Ask them for me if they know what happened to the Eastern Extremity Heavenly Venerate back then.”
Li Ping transmitted an image into Sun Erlang's mind.
“The Eastern Extremity?” Sun Erlang had never heard the name before. But for someone to bear the title of Heavenly Venerate, their power had to be at the Longevity stage, without a doubt.
Therefore, when Sun Erlang saw the image in his mind clearly, even with the resolute will he had forged from living “two lives,” he couldn't help but tremble all over.
Li Ping paid no mind to Sun Erlang's reaction and continued his instructions: “The Five Elders Association is different from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance. The power of the Heavenly Venerates covers their entire territory, which they rule separately. When you go, head to the domain of the Zhenshi Heavenly Venerate. As for the other Heavenly Venerates, do not provoke them...”
Sun Erlang firmly committed his Master's instructions to memory.
Like Lin Ling, Sun Erlang also received a treasured gift before he left.
“You already possess the Dao Transformation Stone, which is the greatest treasure of all. Relying on other external objects would only lead you astray,” Li Ping said, slowly sending a brilliant, crystalline stone to float before Sun Erlang.
Within his sea of consciousness, his own Dao Transformation Stone suddenly erupted with an unprecedented blue light, followed by a flood of avarice and agitation.
A craving that stemmed from his very soul, one that Sun Erlang could not and would not suppress.
“Another Dao Transformation Stone? And its quality is even higher than the one in my sea of consciousness! It must be at least mid-grade or better.” Sun Erlang was overcome with a pleasant surprise.
Having spent a long time exploring the Great Qi with Yi Shu of the Taiyan Sect, Sun Erlang understood just how precious Dao Transformation Stones were. Only a few remained in the world, and nearly all of them were in the possession of other cultivators with profound fortunes, impossible for outsiders to obtain. And now, his Master was actually giving him a mid-grade one...
Sun Erlang immediately kowtowed in gratitude for his Master's grace.
The joy in his heart washed away the fear that the Eastern Extremity Heavenly Venerate's condition had just instilled in him.
“Absorb it slowly. The sublimation of the Dao Transformation Stone will, in turn, lead to a comprehensive enhancement of your abilities. Of course, if you wish to maximize the stone's potential, you might need to pair it with another wonder.”
Li Ping’s majestic voice echoed through the hall: “The Five Elders Association's foundation is the former Ten Great Immortal Sects. They exist in substance though not in name, and they hold countless treasuries within. On your journey, you might consider inviting Yi Shu of the Taiyan Sect to accompany you.”
“I will obey Master’s command.” Sun Erlang nodded and strode away.
Among his disciples, Li Ping felt a special connection to Sun Erlang. This assignment was not only a strategic move to use one force against another, but also because Li Ping had faintly sensed where Sun Erlang's own destiny lay. This premonition was profound, not a deduction based on known information, but more like the intuitive guidance a cultivator feels on the verge of a breakthrough.
Seeing that her senior brother and sister had both received treasures, the Daoist child Liuli couldn't help but look on in anticipation, her big eyes fixed on Li Ping.
Su Yuqing, on the other hand, had the most placid reaction of them all. Perhaps it was because the child in her womb had not yet been born.
Su Yuqing's mind drifted back to what her Master had told her before: “The fetus in your womb is, in fact, the incarnation of this small world's Heavenly Dao.”
“This world faces imminent destruction, so it has borrowed your body to seek a sliver of hope. Yet, even with the power of a small world's Heavenly Dao, you are still a mortal. Your body is too frail. Even if you are lucky enough to give birth to this child, she will not live to adulthood, and you will surely die.”
“Unless... you cultivate with me...”
From that day on, Su Yuqing had followed him to the Great Qi.
As her own cultivation realm grew higher, the weakness in her body gradually faded. And the fetus in her womb slept more peacefully.
However, her Master had said that the stronger she was at the time of childbirth, the greater her daughter's future achievements would be. A mother's instinct drove Su Yuqing's pursuit of cultivation, making her dedication the strongest among the six disciples.
As for winning glory in battle, however, she held no particular obsession.
Li Ping's consciousness settled on the two in the hall who had yet to be assigned a task, and for a long time, he said nothing.
This caused the Daoist child Liuli to sense something. A flutter of panic went through her, and she immediately lowered her head, retracting her expectant gaze.
“You two have compatible temperaments. Staying together will be mutually beneficial. And due to your special constitutions, it is not advisable for you to be exposed to too much killing intent...”
“I have recently opened a special small world. The two of you can come and help inside.”
Upon hearing this, the Daoist child Liuli's face fell.
Perhaps because she was raised by Zhong Shentong, her temperament was remarkably similar to his. Without external pressure, she tended to be quite lazy. Since Li Ping had taken her as a disciple, he naturally intended to correct this bad habit.
After Ou Shangtian had departed, Liuli and Su Yuqing followed Li Ping to the newly opened small world.
“Mas'er, it's so dark in here. Liuli is a little sca'ed,” Liuli said, deliberately slurring her words in a pitiful voice.
This wasn't just Liuli trying to act pitiful; this world was truly different from ordinary small worlds, devoid of a single ray of light. This was because it was a special world that Li Ping, Tianyang, and Xu Ke had created together, specifically for the You Clan.
“Yuqing, besides the darkness, can you sense anything else that is different here?” Li Ping asked slowly, ignoring Liuli's pitiable act.
The absolute darkness was silent and tranquil. It even lessened the activity of the fetus in Su Yuqing's womb, as if lulling it into a deep slumber.
Su Yuqing focused on the emotions coming from her daughter, and after a moment, she frowned and answered, “The Heavenly Dao of this small world... is incomplete? Or perhaps, it simply doesn't exist?”
“There is only a vast expanse of space. In this disciple's opinion, this place doesn't yet deserve to be called a world.”
Su Yuqing's talent was indeed extraordinary; she had sensed the abnormality of this place in just a few moments.
Li Ping smiled. “You are only half right. This place did originally have the consciousness of a small world's Heavenly Dao. It was very weak, but it was there.”
Su Yuqing was taken aback and was just about to ask where the world's Heavenly Dao had gone.
When suddenly, a golden cube appeared before her. Its brilliant light illuminated the entire dark world.
And when she sensed the vaguely familiar aura within the cube, Su Yuqing felt an instinctive, irrepressible fear.
The fetus in her womb was startled awake and began to stir restlessly.
Because sealed within that golden cube was the consciousness of a world's Heavenly Dao—an essence identical to her own!
“They all received gifts, and you will not be an exception,” Li Ping said, naturally sensing Su Yuqing’s fear.
“This place must be under my absolute control, and has no need for a Heavenly Dao's consciousness. So I stripped it away and sealed it.”
“And now, I give it to you,” Li Ping said calmly.
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