Steadily becoming a saint, the immortal officials hired me to tend the horses Chapter 1131 - 1122: The Great Dao’s Lament
Upon reuniting with Zhang Buku, Li Ya’s world was turned upside down. Zhang Buku detailed his travels through the Chaos, explaining that his ascension to the status of a Saint occurred because he had seized the Saintly foundation of a fallen predecessor during the Great War of Saints. While the exact cause of that Saint's demise remained a mystery to him, he had secured the opportunity by sheer luck.
Following eons of wandering the Chaos, he manifested his own Tongxuan Venerable Spirit, manifesting as the Yin Yang Red House.
After forty million years of expansion, the Yin Yang Red House had evolved into the Transformation Realm. It now housed a multitude of internal worlds where Zhang Buku satisfied the cravings of cultivators while simultaneously amassing vast cultivation resources.
As the two strolled down the thoroughfare, they engaged in casual conversation.
Li Ya noted that none of the passing entities could overhear their words, a fact that further solidified his belief in Zhang Buku’s Saintly status.
“Since you have attained the rank of a Saint, why do you still require such a massive amount of cultivation resources? You possess the power to manifest anything,” Li Ya inquired, unable to suppress his curiosity.
Creation is the ultimate hallmark of a Saint; they can bring anything into existence.
The mana wielded by ordinary cultivators does not appear from a vacuum; it is refined from the spiritual energy of the natural world, and their insights are drawn from the Great Dao. While formidable, they remain bound by the existing laws of reality.
A Saint operates on a different level, capable of birthing a new Great Dao and literally manifesting something out of nothingness.
Even though Li Ya had not reached Saintwood himself, he had received guidance from a future Saint and possessed a fundamental grasp of their divine capabilities.
A smirk played on Zhang Buku’s lips as he replied, “I do not collect these resources because I have a need for them. I simply wish for those who enter to pay a price. As time passes, I have come to better understand Master Gu’s perspective on playing within the Human World. As Saints, our actions aren't always driven by profit; we merely wish to observe shifts and witness outcomes. From our vantage point, all paths are predetermined, and our only joy lies in hunting for variables within those fixed fates.”
Li Ya found these concepts difficult to grasp. Just how immense must one's power be to treat the Human World as a mere playground?
He recalled theories suggesting that no Saints had actually perished during the Great War. What appeared to be a terminal struggle was, to a Saint, a painless affair. He had once questioned his future self about whether any Saints had truly fallen, but he had been met with silence.
It now seemed plausible that the Saints were all still present, and what mortals perceived as a world-ending cataclysm was nothing more than a game to them.
When Gu An summoned the future versions of himself and the other Wushiji Disciples, was it perhaps just a demonstration of his overwhelming might?
The deeper Li Ya’s thoughts drifted, the more his imagination ran wild.
Zhang Buku remarked irritably, “Stop speculating about Master Gu in that manner. Regardless of his motives, we would not have achieved our current standing without him. He has bestowed a massive debt of gratitude upon us.”
Li Ya felt a prickle of annoyance. How did this man keep reading his private thoughts?
“I am not doubting him, it is just that you lack a deep understanding of his character. How should I put it... He certainly isn't as carefree as he looks. Regarding his many interests... forget it, I cannot explain it to you. You simply don't know him like I do!”
Li Ya began to gesture dismissively, worried that talking too much might allow Zhang Buku to take his place in Gu An’s favor.
Zhang Buku gave him a look of pure contempt and said, “You truly are measuring the heart of a Great Man with your own petty mind.”
“Watch your mouth! Have you forgotten the numerous times I rescued you in the past?”
“All I can recall is nearly dying alongside you. My memories are nothing but pain.”
“That's ridiculous! Was it always me who invited trouble?”
“Was it not?”
“I was merely searching for opportunities. And who was it that came crying to me, declaring they had to grow stronger? Now that you have become a Saint, you act all high and mighty, trying to wipe away the past.”
The two continued to trade barbs and sarcastic remarks, yet neither took offense; in fact, their spirits seemed to lift.
Through this bickering, they felt as though their bond remained unchanged, pulling them back to the feelings of their early days.
Back then, reaching their current heights was beyond their wildest dreams. Even the Immortal Gods seemed like distant, unreachable myths. Their only goal had been to increase their strength, carve out a reputation in the Immortal Cultivation Realm, and live a life of glory.
Suddenly, rain began to fall within the Yin Yang Red House, but the droplets were strange, shimmering with a distinct silver radiance.
Li Ya looked upward, reaching out his hand to catch the moisture. He remarked with a sigh, “Your Yin Yang Red House is truly magnificent to produce such a phenomenon. The density of spiritual energy and Dao Intent here is incredible.”
When Zhang Buku failed to respond, Li Ya turned to look at him.
He found Zhang Buku looking incredibly grim, his brow deeply furrowed in concern.
“What is the matter?” Li Ya asked, his voice tinged with sudden anxiety.
Zhang Buku answered slowly, “This rain is not my doing. It is washing over the entirety of Chaos, and the barriers of the Yin Yang Red House are powerless to stop it.”
Li Ya’s face paled. Throughout his long life, he had witnessed several such omens. Some were manifestations of the Great Dao bringing blessings to the world, while others signaled a Great Power breaking through and sharing their Dao with the universe. No matter the cause, they always indicated an impending shift in the landscape of the Great Dao.
Looking back toward the sky, he whispered, “After such a long era of tranquility, is the world destined for chaos once more?”
The memories of the last Saintly war remained vivid, even though millions of years had passed. In such a span of time, oceans turn into fields and entire eras rise and fall.
Zhang Buku remained silent, his sense of dread far exceeding anything Li Ya could fathom.
As a Saint, Zhang Buku could feel the reality of the situation more acutely.
He could actually hear the Great Dao itself wailing in sorrow!
Even the Great War of Saints had not produced such a terrifying omen. What could possibly be happening?
...
Deep within the Palace of the Polestar in the Celestial Court.
The Celestial Emperor’s eyes snapped open, a golden light erupting from his gaze that instantly filled the darkened chamber. He looked up with a frown as silver rain bypassed the roof of the palace, drenching him.
He made no move to block it or escape, choosing instead to let the silver rain soak into him.
As the rain washed over his physical form, the Celestial Emperor felt his Dao Practice surging. Simultaneously, he heard the mournful cry of the Three Thousand Great Dao, as if a truly horrific entity was about to be birthed into existence.
This silver rain felt like a gift from the Great Dao—or more accurately, a desperate defense mechanism. It blanketed the Chaos; at least as far as his vision could reach, the silver downpour was universal.
A sense of unease gripped the Celestial Emperor. He wasn't sure if the Three Thousand Great Dao of Chaos were in a state of revolt or if their very source was trembling with fear.
One thing was certain: Chaos was about to be plunged into turmoil.
The Celestial Emperor suddenly detected the presence of Saints in the Human World. Those Saints, whom Gu An had stationed across the mortal realms to propagate their Dao, were also shaken. Some were already sending invitations for him to meet in Outer Heaven for a council.
After a brief moment of hesitation, he rose and vanished from the hall.
In the heart of the void, shadows began to materialize. Hongqian Ancestor and the Great Profound Yin Dominator arrived on the scene.
The gathered Saints turned their attention toward the Celestial Emperor. Given Gu An’s instructions to them, it was clear that the Celestial Emperor was being groomed as Gu An’s chosen representative.
“Where is the Patriarch?” the Nine Yang Divine Ancestor demanded, his voice heavy and his brow knit with worry.