HPDBC Chapter 202 137. Heaven originally did not exist; it is endowed by humans.
Chapter 202 137. Heaven originally did not exist; it is endowed by humans.
The one handling the black pieces was Ning Shuqi. The black pieces moved first, but they were still relentlessly pursued by the white pieces, causing Ning Shuqi's forehead to be covered in cold sweat. However, this hidden battle of wits within the game of slaughter was abruptly interrupted by the appearance of Heaven's Will.
"Heaven's Will?" Ning Shuqi exclaimed in shock.
For it was his first time perceiving Heaven's Will so clearly, and it resonated with him from afar.
"Someone is welcoming Heaven's Will, seeking to prove themselves," explained the person sitting opposite Ning Shuqi, who was holding the white pieces, his tone light. He was known as Jun Zimo, hailed by Western Tuo Mountain as the Present-Day Buddha's Son and esteemed by the Upper Pure Sanctuary as having an Innate Taoist Body before Ning Shuqi's arrival.
After Ning Shuqi's arrival, the past accolades of this man had all gained an additional suffix, "one of".
In contrast to Ning Shuqi's unclear perceptions, Jun Zimo perceived it much more clearly, even sensing the "anger" hidden within Heaven's Will.
Thus, Jun Zimo, smiling, said, "Brother Ning, how about we make a bet?"
"Betting on whether this elder welcoming Heaven's Will will succeed? Forget it, the outcome of welcoming Heaven's Will is well-known to both of us, and many scriptures from both factions also record much about it," Ning Shuqi shook his head and declined directly.
"No, I'm betting on how this fool who welcomes Heaven's Will is going to die!" Jun Zimo's smile contained a trace of mockery.
"Brother Jun, isn't this inappropriate? Regardless, this elder is still a hero of our times," Ning Shuqi shook his head in refusal.
Ning Shuqi could feel some animosity from Jun Zimo, which made him wary that the bet was a trap. Besides, for some reason, he had a strange premonition that the one welcoming Heaven's Will might actually succeed!
Because this feeling was so baseless and absurd, Ning Shuqi dared not speak it aloud.
"A hero? More like a fool! Not to mention some ignorant Loose Cultivator who, after a lucky century of cultivation, gained some insight and is now foolishly trying to break through," Jun Zimo scoffed disdainfully.
Listening to Jun Zimo's words, Ning Shuqi felt somewhat displeased, but he couldn't contradict him on this matter, as all disciples of the Immortal Sect knew that now was not the time to welcome Heaven's Will. Thus, Ning Shuqi changed the topic and asked, "Then, Brother Jun, what is your view on the current Demon Lord Tan?"
"You mean Tan Shuchang..."
Jun Zimo raised his eyebrows, and then with a cold snort, he said, "He's nothing but a jumping clown; once the Ancestor descends, the only use for him will be to fuel the Fourth Sword."
This Fourth Sword referred to the yet unborn fourth mighty sword-type spirit treasure.
The first and second were in the hands of the Ancestor of Sword Disciple Mountain, and because of the Ancestor's three proofs, detailed information about these two swords had vanished from the Jiawu Realm, with only a few ancient records remaining.
And the third sword was in the hands of a young girl from the Heavenly Sword Mansion.
"Brother Jun, aren't your words a bit too absolute? I don't deny that when the Ancestor descends, Demon Lord Tan will certainly be no match. But if Demon Lord Tan is just a jumping clown, then what about all the cultivators who must pay respects upon seeing him?" Ning Shuqi sighed lightly, a wry smile on his face.
He didn't like to force a smile, but whenever he mentioned Tan Shuchang, he couldn't help but make that expression.
To not show respect before the Demon Lord meant suffering the torment of being possessed by a demon seed. This might sound trivial, but anyone who has been possessed by a demon seed even once would know the excruciating pain involved.
Upon hearing this, Jun Zimo was momentarily at a loss for words.
After thinking for a moment, he then declared, "If one day I preside over the Heavenly Mandate, I will slay Tan Shuchang to elevate the prestige of the righteous path!"
Therefore, Nangong Tianshuang cut off the possibility of this event from the root. After all, with no citizens in Vast Cold State and not many cultivators around, and with Mountain-Sea Beasts not meeting the requirements for the birth of the fourth Demon Sword, even if the fourth Demon Sword was powerful, it surely couldn't emerge from nothing, right?
The cultivators of Jinglong Cave Heaven were so excited now because the Heavenly Book had prophesied that once a cultivator bathes in the red heavenly lights and confirms it, the opportunity for ascension that comes with the advancement of the Jiawu Realm would descend once again!
This time, the opportunity for ascension doesn't even require high cultivation levels.
When that time comes, the cultivators of Jinglong Cave Heaven would ascend as a sect, and Nangong Tianshuang would finally be able to go home!
...
"Cross Calamity Immortal Scripture," Volume Five, Wu Tian.
This was the fifth volume that gathered all of Tan Shuchang's learning, and it was his self-created method for self-verification.
He sought immortality.
He upheld the proprieties.
He witnessed the vastness of the heavens and the earth.
He wished for a world without calamities.
This Wu Tian doesn't mean lawlessness or heavenlessness but implies that heaven doesn't inherently exist; it is endowed by humanity.
The Rage of Heaven's Will is not a rage of living beings.
After all, Heaven's Will lacks self-consciousness and intelligence, and all of its actions originate from the most instinctive reactions of heaven and earth.
The Rage of Heaven's Will arose three hundred years ago when the Jiawu Realm advanced to Heaven Jia and was granted the fifth rank, but the calculation was spoiled, leading to others benefiting from its efforts—rage born of such betrayal!
This rage could be called the hatred of heaven!
Hence, to succeed in ascension, one needs to first appease the rage of heaven.
And how to appease it?
Tan Shuchang's millennium of cultivated power was dissipating, but in the process, he began to develop a power for immortality.
His appearance seemed to be fixed in an instant, never to age again.
The mundane essence in his blood also washed away. His originally red blood started showing traces of gold, hinting at a transformation toward becoming golden.
This was immortal blood.
However, not all beings with confirmed immortality could possess such immortal blood; in many cases, it could only be present in triple-verified cultivators.
As the immortal blood appeared, the power in Tan Shuchang that had been dissipating also began its final transformation.
From power to spiritual attainment.