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The Dao Fruit.

It was the most crucial element of the Profound Yellow Dao Certification Method.

To ascend to the rank of True Monarch, one must first find a Dao Fruit compatible with their Dao lineage, then use their Dharma Body to temper their mortal coil, their Immortal Appearance to condense their spiritual intent, and the Dao Fruit to bear the Great Dao itself.

Only when the three aspects of Samadhi unify can one uplift their entire Dao Foundation, break free from the fetters of the River of Time, and ascend to the origin of the Ten Thousand Laws, the place where the Great Dao manifests.

The All Marvelous Heaven.

And thus achieve the rank of True Monarch.

This has been the immutable, iron law of the Profound Yellow world for all of eternity.

However, a Dao Fruit is not something an ordinary being can touch.

These profound objects, naturally forged by the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, are all hidden deep in the highest reaches of the All Marvelous Heaven. They are protected by the Ten Thousand Laws, far beyond what any Foundation Establishment Master could ever hope to reach.

For an ordinary Cultivator to obtain a Dao Fruit, the only way is to "perform deeds favored by the Great Dao." This could mean helping those in peril and saving the world to accumulate immeasurable merit, pioneering a new Refining Skill to establish a Dao lineage, or turning the tide during a great calamity of Heaven and Earth...

Only then might one attract the "attention" of a Dao Fruit in the great unknown, earn its favor, and gain a sliver of a chance to perform the Guiding.

Even so, the Guiding of a Dao Fruit is an incredibly perilous process.

The All Marvelous Heaven hangs high above the River of Time. Without a Dharma Body powerful enough to bear Dao Rhyme, and an Immortal Appearance of sufficient Perfection to commune with the profound, a Cultivator cannot even touch the illusory "boundary" between the Foundation Establishment Heaven and the All Marvelous Heaven.

Let alone uplift one’s Dao Foundation and receive a Dao Fruit.

But what Nether Spring saw at this moment completely defied that iron law.

The Blood Sea Dao Fruit—it was not hanging in the All Marvelous Heaven.

It was hidden deep within the Blood Sea.

"The Blood Sea is the Dao, and the Dao is the Blood Sea..."

Nether Spring whispered, his voice sending ripples through the deathly silent darkness of the trench.

What did this mean?

It meant he wouldn’t have to be like other Foundation Establishment Masters, painstakingly tempering his Dharma Body and Immortal Appearance, desperately trying to breach that illusory barrier between the mortal and celestial.

As long as he could win the "favor" of this Dao Fruit hidden deep in the Blood Sea, he could directly tap into the origin of the Blood Sea itself and temporarily assume the Fruit Position.

Even if his Dharma Body had not reached Perfection, his Immortal Appearance had not yet condensed, and his Samadhi had not yet unified.

He could still rely on the fundamental connection between the Blood Sea and the Dao Fruit to temporarily wield a portion of... a True Monarch’s Power!

Nether Spring slowly rose, the Blood Sea rising with him from behind.

On the sea’s surface, the once chaotic and intertwined phantoms of dragons, golden lotuses, and mountains suddenly began to rotate, sink, and settle into place with a certain rhythm.

It was as if an unseen giant hand was rearranging the fragments of the Great Dao in the depths of the Blood Sea.

Nether Spring stared at the embryonic Dao Fruit, the strange light in his eyes growing deeper.

’Once I temporarily hold the rank of a True Monarch...’

’Those two Supreme Treasures that are "untainted by karma"—’

’I can take advantage of the situation... and claim them for my own.’

From the depths of the ocean trench, a low laugh gradually began to sound.

The laughter started as a faint chuckle, like the cracking of ice. It grew louder, like a surging undercurrent of blood, until it finally erupted into a long, suppressed yet cathartic laugh. It echoed through this abyssal domain where time itself seemed to freeze, shaking the surrounding rock layers, which had settled over eons, until they crumbled away.

Before the laughter died down, Nether Spring had already raised a hand and made a beckoning gesture.

From the depths of the Blood Sea, an exceptionally solid Blood God Child split off and quietly merged into Nether Spring’s sleeve.

"Go,"

he said softly.

The Blood God Child transformed into a nearly imperceptible crimson thread, piercing through the dense water and speeding off toward the Northwest—in the direction of the Wuji Holy Sect.

---

「Outside the Cyan Mountain Daoist Temple, Wuji Holy Sect.」

A waning moon hung askew in the sky, and the shadows of the pines danced.

Qi Yun stood on the stone steps before the temple, his hands clasped behind his back. His Deep Blue Daoist Robe fluttered slightly in the night breeze.

He wore no Sect Leader’s crown, nor did he exude any imposing aura. He simply stood there like an ordinary Cultivator, yet he possessed a profound and unshakable stillness, like a deep abyss or a towering mountain.

On the mountain path in the distance, a crimson streak of Flowing Light tore through the air and landed about thirty feet before the stone steps.

The Flowing Light dissipated, revealing a figure with a slightly pale face and a somewhat unstable aura—it was Xuan Ming.

He had changed into a new coarse cloth Daoist Robe, and his topknot was neatly combed.

But his eyes still held a trace of the daze that comes from surviving a life-or-death ordeal, as well as a lingering awkwardness in the face of this "old acquaintance" who was now the revered leader of the Holy Sect.

Qi Yun’s gaze fell upon his face. He watched him quietly for a moment, then gave a faint smile.

"You’re here."

The two words were spoken as casually as if greeting an old friend.

Xuan Ming’s lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, all that came out was a low mutter:

"...Qi Master."

Qi Yun shook his head. Without another word, he raised his right hand and tapped his index finger in the air.

BZZMM—

A gentle, divine glint burst from his fingertip. It was like a firefly at first, but in an instant, it transformed into a stream of Flowing Light as cool and clear as moonlight and shot into the Ancestral Acupoint between Xuan Ming’s eyebrows!

Xuan Ming’s whole body shuddered, and his eyes instantly lost focus.

In that instant, deep within his Purple Mansion, countless sealed fragments of memory surged forth like a tide.

The struggles of painstakingly cultivating the Blood Spirit Scripture in his past life, the terror of discovering the Cultivation Skill’s hidden pitfalls, the helplessness as his lifespan dwindled, the warning he gave Qi Yun before reincarnating to "trust no one"...

Countless images intertwined and collided, finally converging into a clear sense of "self."

Deep within his Divine Soul, the "karmic veil of delusion" that had clouded his True Spirit’s memories after reincarnation rapidly melted away under the cleansing of this divine light, like the last snows of spring.

The daze and awkwardness on Xuan Ming’s face gradually faded.

In their place was a weariness born from weathering the vicissitudes of life, and deep within that weariness, a sliver of relief at having finally "come home."

He slowly raised his head to look at the deep blue figure on the stone steps, the expression in his eyes shifting several times.

There was relief, sentimentality, and a melancholy as if a lifetime had passed. In the end, it all settled into a gentle smile.

It was a smile Qi Yun knew well.

A hundred years ago, in the Foundation Establishment Mirror Heaven, the gray-robed old man whose lifespan was nearly exhausted but who still did his utmost to leave him a warning had smiled just like this.

"...Teacher."

Qi Yun cupped his hands and performed the disciple’s salutation.

But Xuan Ming—or rather, the reincarnation of Deng Master—waved a hand, his smile holding a touch of nonchalance.

"Don’t call me Teacher. Since I have been reincarnated, the past is dust.

In this life, I am Xuan Ming, a Loose Cultivator you rescued from Bixuan Palace. Fate has brought me to the Holy Sect, so I have come to seek refuge."

He paused, his eyes carefully sizing up Qi Yun, his tone filled with emotion.

"But you... to have grown so much in just a short hundred years.

I truly did not misjudge you back then."

Qi Yun straightened up, a warmth also flowing in his eyes.

"I dare not forget the kindness of your protection and guidance back then, Teacher."

"Kindness? What kindness?" Xuan Ming shook his head and chuckled. "Back then, I was just going with the flow. That you have achieved what you have today is all due to your own Creation.

It’s just..."

Before he could finish, a streak of Flowing Light suddenly broke through the clouds in the distant sky. It was incredibly fast, reaching the space above the Cyan Mountain Daoist Temple in an instant. It then retracted its light, transforming into a figure that landed on the other side of the stone steps.

The newcomer wore the robes of a Holy Sect Law Enforcement Elder. With a solemn face, it was none other than Qian Xin Master.

His expression was grave as he walked quickly up the steps. He bowed to Qi Yun, his voice low but clear.

"Sect Leader, envoys from the Three Sects have arrived simultaneously at the mountain gate—the Cyan Sect, Fengduo, and the Yellow Springs Netherworld.

They all claim to be acting on the decree of a True Monarch and have important matters to report. They are waiting in the main hall right now."

Qi Yun’s gaze narrowed slightly.

’The Northwest Three Sects, sending envoys at the same time, all bearing a True Monarch’s decree.’

Frowning faintly, Qi Yun nodded at Qian Xin Master. "I understand."

He then turned to Xuan Ming, his tone gentle.

"Teacher, we can talk about today’s events later.

Qian Xin Master will show you to your quarters. Get some good rest."

Xuan Ming was a man of great experience. Although his memories had just been restored, his past life’s wisdom remained. Hearing this, he immediately realized the situation was serious and nodded at once.

"Important matters come first. You should go."

Qi Yun then said to Qian Xin Master,

"Take Teacher back to the Cyan Mountain Daoist grounds. Provide for all his needs according to the standard for an Elder."

"Teacher?"

Qian Xin Master shot a surprised glance at Xuan Ming, stunned for a moment before a smile broke out on his face.

"So it’s Senior Brother Deng! You’ve finally returned."

"Just now, Qian Xin called you ’Sect Leader’?" Xuan Ming looked at Qi Yun, his eyes filled with confusion.

"You’re... the Sect Leader of the Holy Sect now?"

Hearing this from the side, Qian Xin Master couldn’t help but chuckle.

"Senior Brother Deng, Senior Brother Qi is indeed our Sect’s Vice Sect Leader. Senior Brother Black Mountain is in secluded cultivation to reflect on his mistakes, so all sect affairs are currently being managed by Senior Brother Qi in his stead."

Xuan Ming was completely stunned.

’Vice Sect Leader?’

’Acting leader of the entire Sect?’

He had been reincarnated for barely a century. While he knew Qi Yun was destined for greatness, he never imagined that in such a short time, this former nominal disciple would have already ascended to the pinnacle of power of the Northwest Demon Path Champion Scholar!

He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but it ultimately turned into a complex, soft laugh. "It’s truly... hard to believe."

Qian Xin Master chuckled and stroked his short beard.

"Indeed. The twists and turns involved are not something that can be explained in just a few words.

Since you’ve returned to the Sect, Senior Brother, we will have plenty of time to discuss it in detail later.

For now, please follow me to the Daoist grounds to get settled."

Only then did Xuan Ming suppress the tempest in his heart. He nodded and followed Qian Xin Master down the mountain.

After walking a dozen or so steps, he couldn’t help but glance back one more time.

At the top of the stone steps, the figure in deep blue still stood quietly.

The light of the waning moon fell on his shoulders, making his aura seem even more serene and profound, as if he had completely merged with the night, with this cyan mountain, with the very destiny of the Sect.

The last trace of daze in Xuan Ming’s heart finally dissipated completely.

He knew that the young man who had needed his secret protection and careful guidance was long gone.

Standing at the peak of the mountain now was the one who controlled a major branch of the Demon Dao, a figure capable of stirring up storms in the Profound Yellow world—

The Vice Sect Leader of the Wuji Holy Sect, Qi Yun.

He withdrew his gaze and followed Qian Xin Master into the shadows of the pines at the foot of the mountain.

On the stone steps, Qi Yun watched the two depart, the warmth in his eyes gradually fading.

He straightened his sleeves, turned, and walked slowly toward the Sect’s main hall.

His steps were unhurried, yet each one seemed to land on the very ley lines of the Sect’s destiny.

...

「In the Taixu Hall of the Taixu Mirror Heaven, the lamps were brightly lit.」

Three figures stood in the hall. Their auras were all different, yet each was as deep as an abyss.

On the left was a man in green robes with a sword on his back. He had a lean, sharp face, and the faint clang of a sword seemed to hum around him. This was the Cyan Sect’s Sword Elder, Ling Xuzi.

On the right was a man with red hair and red eyes, as burly as a mountain. A Fengduo Flame Jade hung from his chest, and an aura of fiery tyranny washed over all who saw him. This was the Fengduo Flame Hall Master, Zhu Yun.

In the middle was a figure shrouded in gray mist. Their form was stooped, and a Yellow Springs Netherworld Talisman hung from their waist. An aura of cold, deathly stillness filled the air around them. This was the Yellow Springs Guide, Ming Bone.

The envoys of the Three Sects had arrived at the same time.

And all claimed to be "acting on a True Monarch’s decree."

Qi Yun strode into the main hall and calmly took the main seat. His calm gaze swept over the three of them as he raised a hand with a smile.

"Fellow Daoists, you have come a long way. Thank you for your trouble. Please, have a seat."

Ling Xuzi was the first to step forward. He cupped his hands in a salute, his voice as clear and sharp as a sword.

"Ling Xuzi of the Cyan Sect, acting under the decree of True Monarch Tongming, has come specifically to pay a visit to Sect Leader Qi."

Zhu Yun’s voice boomed like a great bell: "Zhu Yun of Fengduo, acting under the order of Celestial Fusion True Monarch, has an important message to relay!"

Ming Bone slowly raised their head. Two points of eerie green light flickered in the gray mist, and their voice was as hoarse as a night owl’s cry.

"Ming Bone of the Yellow Springs Netherworld, by order of the Nine Nether True Monarch... has come to ask a single question."

The three sentences were spoken almost simultaneously.

The air in the hall suddenly grew still.

The smile on Qi Yun’s face did not falter. He merely nodded slightly.

"Fellow Daoists, please, speak one at a time."

He raised his hand, gesturing for an attendant disciple to serve tea.

The fragrant aroma of tea wafted upwards, but it could not conceal the faint yet palpable tension in the air.

It seemed the winds and clouds of the Northwest would, on this night... begin to stir once more.

...

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