Chapter 124: Chapter 106: Pinnacle of Strategy, a True Monarch’s Feigned Death

In the ethereal high heavens, clouds surged in a boundless, hazy expanse.

Above the majestic White Jade City, countless steps cascaded downward.

In the vast palace at the very peak, only two figures stood—one in gold, one in purple.

The colossal Daoist Palace revered Tai Yang as its sovereign and the Thunder Core as its law.

The Daoist in the purple robe stood with his hands at his sides, asking softly,

“Senior Brother, your trip to the Nanzhan Continent… is it because of Yu Shenxiu?”

The Immortal Dao Emperor known as Ji Fuyao nodded slightly.

“I was in seclusion, preparing for the next Luotian Dao Discussion.

Unexpectedly, Yu Shenxiu’s Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven began to tremble, causing a disturbance in the Tai Yang Golden Position. I had no choice but to emerge and investigate.”

A True Monarch who holds a Golden Position must align with its imagery and follow its Daoist track.

The purple-robed Daoist was, of course, well aware of this principle.

There were very few in the world capable of causing a change in Tai Yang, and Yu Shenxiu was one of them.

He pondered for a long time before finally voicing the doubt in his heart.

“In your opinion, Senior Brother, is Yu Shenxiu truly dead, his Dao extinguished?”

At first glance, the question seemed to come out of nowhere, utterly abrupt.

Since ancient times, there had never been a precedent of a True Monarch surviving after their Golden Position was shattered.

But when it came to Yu Shenxiu, no one dared to draw a conclusion so easily.

This was because everyone in the Yanfu Vast Land knew that True Monarch Yu was a master of faking his own death, capable of deceiving even the Celestial Lord.

In terms of escaping by leaving a decoy, feigning death, and manipulating others, he was undeniably at the pinnacle of cunning strategy.

Otherwise, why would it have taken more than twenty True Monarchs gathering to witness and confirm that his Golden Position was shattered and his soul dispersed before they could finally rest assured?

To say nothing of others, the Dragon Monarch of the Beiju Continent, the Buddha Elder of the Ximizhou Continent, and even Outer Universe Daoist Cultivators had all been run in circles by his schemes, losing considerable fortunes in the process.

Therefore, whether Yu Shenxiu was truly dead had become a major affair that all the True Monarchs and Great Powers of the Yanfu Vast Land were secretly concerned, and even curious, about.

Ji Fuyao fell silent for a rare moment. In the five thousand years since Tai Yang had manifested, very few things had ever made him feel uncertain.

Yu Shenxiu was an exception.

The appearance of that Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven had nearly shaken the Tai Yang Golden Position.

It had forced the Great Powers of the Immortal Dao’s three lineages—Upper Profound, Upper Yuan, and Upper Origin—to intervene and suppress it.

With his power alone, he had nearly ruined the Immortal Dao’s ten-thousand-year grand plan.

Such ability was enough to make anyone who heard of it sigh in admiration.

“He should be dead.”

After a long pause, Ji Fuyao finally gave a definitive answer.

“If he were merely feigning death to deceive the world, hiding in the Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven to seek another path, the radiance of Tai Yang would never be as brilliant as it is now.

Besides, in the Dao’s revered sun and moon, Tai Yang holds the dominant position.

Since I have already defeated him once, he has no chance of victory. Even if he could truly be reborn, he couldn’t possibly hope to shake my Golden Position in the slightest.”

The purple-robed Daoist thought for a moment and found his reasoning sound.

His Senior Brother controlled Tai Yang, and its domineering nature was never limited to just Cultivation Techniques and Divine Techniques.

The extraordinary aspects of Tai Yang were truly innumerable.

Otherwise, why would so many Great Powers of the Immortal Dao have bet on him, merging the vast fortune of a prophesied ten-thousand-year rise with Ji Fuyao’s path?

It was a gamble tantamount to betting their entire fortunes.

The most widely known aspect of Tai Yang’s might was “All Daos Follow in Its Wake.”

As long as Tai Yang manifested, all heavens and all Daos would act as its subjects, none daring to disobey.

The world believed this was the source of Tai Yang’s domineering power.

But they didn’t know that what truly pushed it to the extreme was another principle.

Its name was “When Its August Light Shines, the Great Dao Proclaims Fealty.”

The purple-robed Daoist said with sincere admiration,

“Senior Brother, your Divine Techniques are vast and boundless. If, after ten thousand years, you can reign supreme and advance to the next realm, you will surely restore the Immortal Dao to a golden age where all heavens bow in submission!”

Ji Fuyao just chuckled.

“Junior Brother, you are in charge of punishment. You should be more stern and stoic, not spend all day saying pleasantries.”

The purple-robed Daoist cupped his hands and said,

“Senior Brother, you command the Dao, and I serve under you. It is only natural that I show you respect. This is as it should be!”

Ji Fuyao said no more, his gaze turning toward the Nanzhan Continent.

“Junior Brother, did you know? Tonight, I rode Tai Yang on a patrol, illuminating the north and south. I saw that the Demon Dao Dharma Lineages are numerous and showing signs of a vigorous resurgence.

It seems the strategy discussed by the Eight Sects True Monarchs—to absorb the Sword Dao, merge with the Witch Dao, and encroach upon the Ghost Dao—is already showing its initial effects.”

The purple-robed Daoist’s expression turned grim. He knew well that in the five thousand years since Tai Yang’s manifestation, the Immortal Dao appeared to be flourishing like a raging fire, suppressing all other Daoist Lineages.

But as the Daoist Scriptures say, that which flourishes for too long must decline; extreme heights lead to regret.

Beneath the boundless splendor of White Jade City, treacherous undercurrents had long been surging. It was a perilous situation, like standing on the edge of a cliff.

“What are your instructions, Senior Brother?” the purple-robed Daoist asked sincerely.

“I have observed that the way the Demon Dao governs the world is vastly different from the past. The Eight Sects are skilled at ruling the populace and nurturing living beings.

Their many Dharma Lineages are branching out and growing stronger by the day. Given time, they will inevitably produce a torrent of talented individuals.

In contrast, many of the Immortal Dao’s cultivators treat the world as their private property. They harvest Spiritual Objects for their own extravagance, gathering them like sand but using them as sparingly as scraps.

This trend absolutely cannot continue.”

Those last five words were as heavy as a mountain, causing the purple-robed Daoist’s heart to tremble.

A single grain of sand from White Jade City, if it fell upon the Dongsheng Continent, would be enough to crush billions of lives.

His Senior Brother’s words were much the same; they could make the countless Dharma Lineages of the Immortal Dao tremble in fear.

“The Thunder Core is in charge of punishment; it must enforce the strictest laws.

The Immortal Dao is a furnace, and its cultivators are the firewood. If the fire doesn’t burn brightly, how will others know of our Dao’s prosperity?”

The purple-robed Daoist bowed deeply.

“I shall obey the Emperor’s command.”

「A moment later.」

At the highest point of White Jade City, only Ji Fuyao remained.

The Immortal Dao Emperor stood with his head lowered, the light in his golden eyes flickering uncertainly.

’Yu Shenxiu… if you hadn’t walked that path, you could have been a friend to me.’

…

…

「Observing Sun Peak, Merit Supervision Institute.」

Jiang Yi slowly ceased his cultivation, and the fiery light circulating around him was completely withdrawn into his body.

After forming the Dao Embryo Prototype, the abundant Bing Fire in the cavern was an unparalleled tonic for him, causing his physical body to undergo an increasingly qualitative transformation.

Under internal inspection, his flesh and blood, muscles and bones, skin and pores all seemed to have been tempered a thousand times, gradually revealing a pristine, glass-like luster, untainted by the slightest trace of Dense Qi.

With every breath he took, the air currents WHOOSHED, powerful enough to stir the air both inside and outside the great hall.

This was a sign that his internal organs had reached an extreme level of strength.

“They say that in ancient times, the Martial Dao once manifested in the world. Its practitioners had such vigorous qi and blood that they could burn mountains and boil seas. At the pinnacle of their cultivation, their bodies were considered saintly… Cat Master, is that true?”

Jiang Yi sealed his pores, concealing his Qi Mechanism.

This Long-term Nourishing Daoist Embryo Skill was not only exquisite in its “nourishing” aspect, but its “concealing” aspect was even more profound.

Even though his body had transformed and his Dao Embryo had just begun to form, it would be impossible for others to detect the slightest abnormality.

True Master Xuanmiao was currently devouring a plate of Spirit Bird Jerky. Ever since being frightened by the august light of Tai Yang, it had been acting as if it were starving, constantly pestering Jiang Yi for snacks.

“It’s true,”

it replied indistinctly, its mouth full.

“My old master once said that back when the Yanfu Vast Land was conquering the Outer Universe, the Celestial Lord nurtured all living things, which allowed the Martial Dao to reach its zenith.

But the great cycle of the Dao is never fixed. Once its fortune was exhausted, it naturally declined from its peak.”

“I see.”

Jiang Yi seemed lost in thought, then suddenly changed the subject.

“Since the cycle of the Dao is unpredictable, then the Immortal Dao can’t necessarily flourish forever.

So why are all the Daoist Lineages so wary of Tai Yang, viewing it as such a grave threat?”

True Master Xuanmiao had been channeling its shock into its appetite, but when it suddenly heard Xiao Jiang mention those two words again, the fur on its neck stood on end as if electrified.

It bit through a piece of jerky with a vicious CRUNCH and said sullenly,

“Because he was the one jointly chosen by the Immortal Dao to fulfill the prophecy of a ’ten-thousand-year rise’.

If Tai Yang truly succeeds and allows the Immortal Dao to prosper for ten thousand years, then forget the Dongsheng Continent—the entire fortune of the Great Dao of the Yanfu Vast Land will be poured into him alone.

That Emperor would very likely use this opportunity to leap into the ranks of the most supreme Great Powers and aim for the highest of realms.”

The corner of Jiang Yi’s eye twitched. ’No wonder he’s so domineering,’ he thought.

It meant that as long as he could keep Tai Yang manifest and shining upon Yanfu for another five thousand years… that Emperor would be guaranteed a position as a Great Power, and could even accumulate an even more terrifying foundation in the Great Dao.

’Of course the other Daoist Lineages would do everything in their power to stop him!’

But according to True Master Xuanmiao, every failure in the struggle against him only made Tai Yang shine even brighter.

’If you don’t mess with me, I’ll become invincible. If you mess with me, I’ll become even more invincible.’

After this simple summary, Jiang Yi fell into a deeper silence.

’Isn’t that a bit too heaven-defying?’

’Is the Celestial Lord really not considering weakening him a bit?’

“There’s nothing to be done. The three main lineages of the Immortal Dao supported the Five Elements back then precisely to pave the way for Tai Yang’s manifestation.

This scheme dates back ten thousand years. The other Daoist Lineages lost the initiative, so naturally they’re constrained at every turn.”

True Master Xuanmiao sighed helplessly, its expression downcast.

It was again reminded of its former master, who had once held great hope of shaking Tai Yang and obstructing its path.

But for certain reasons, he failed to win the full support of the Demon Dao and ultimately had his Golden Position shattered.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep