Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 842 - 825: Tragic Hero
Zhou Guangzheng was still young, and Zhouyang feared he might not withstand the memory information transmitted from the Inheritance Immortal Pillar, so he was prepared to assist in cutting off the information transmission when Zhou Guangzheng reached out to touch the pillar.
As Qin Yue'Er held Zhou Guangzheng and approached the Inheritance Immortal Pillar, allowing his tiny hand to touch the jade-like stone pillar, the "Golden Seal Text" and "Silver Talisman Text" engraved on it immediately came alive, writhing incessantly as if they were about to fly off the pillar. A brilliant white spiritual light instantly enveloped Zhou Guangzheng and Qin Yue'Er.
Witnessing this scene, Zhouyang squinted his eyes and quickly acted decisively. Seeing the painful expression on Zhou Guangzheng's small face, he forcibly interrupted the information transmission from the Inheritance Immortal Pillar and took Zhou Guangzheng away from the stone pillar.
Without the lure of the Pure Yang Dao Body's aura, the writhing Immortal Runes on the Inheritance Immortal Pillar quickly calmed down and returned to stillness.
Seeing this, Zhouyang immediately asked his son Zhou Guangzheng, "Zheng'Er, try to recall what inheritance information you received just now."
As he spoke, he employed a Secret Technique to temporarily link his consciousness with Zhou Guangzheng's to peer into his memory.
During this brief memory peering, he easily saw the words "Great Brightness Immortal Scripture" in Zhou Guangzheng's recollection, and then he stopped looking further, voluntarily severing the link.
After all, Zhou Guangzheng was still very young, and Zhouyang's Primordial Spirit was overwhelmingly powerful, so he did this to avoid leaving any negative impacts on his son's soul.
"Immortal Venerable Zhou, did the inheritance information your disciple just received include the Great Brightness Immortal Scripture?"
Qiao Yangming looked at Zhouyang with burning eyes, holding back again and again, but finally couldn't resist asking this question.
Although he was the Palace Master of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, he had no means to know what inheritance information others got from the Inheritance Immortal Pillar.
Yet Zhou Guangzheng, just a little child without any cultivation, could trigger the inheritance response from the pillar, which already revealed significant implications.
Facing Qiao Yangming's fiery gaze, Zhouyang couldn't help but frown slightly, understanding that the situation he was concerned about was likely to arise.
However, as a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal, he found no need to deceive Qiao Yangming on such matters.
So he nodded slightly in acknowledgment: "Indeed, Zheng'Er did receive a part of the Great Brightness Immortal Scripture's inheritance, but in his current fragile state, he is not suitable for receiving the complete inheritance."
"Does this mean that Immortal Venerable Zhou's esteemed disciple also possesses the Light Spirit Body?"
Qiao Yangming's voice trembled with excitement, his face full of elation.
However, Zhouyang did not answer his question, instead saying calmly, "Fellow Daoist Qiao, if you have something to say, please speak it directly."
Hearing Zhouyang's somewhat indifferent tone, Qiao Yangming's fiery gaze momentarily faltered, realizing his words were somewhat inappropriate, he quickly bowed in apology, "Forgive my rudeness, Venerable Immortal, I lost my composure just now."
He then gave a deep respectful salute to Zhouyang: "As Venerable Immortal knows, although the Immortal Palace has had the Great Brightness Immortal Scripture as its foundational inheritance Cultivation Technique, in tens of thousands of years, only a very few Palace Masters have been able to practice it. The last one was over seven thousand years ago!"
"And according to the ancestral teachings of the Immortal Palace, any cultivator able to practice the Great Brightness Immortal Scripture, if willing to join the Immortal Palace, can immediately be bestowed the title of Saint Son and, after forming their Nascent Soul, become the Palace Master unconditionally!"
"Currently, the Immortal Palace is in its most declined state of tens of thousands of years of inherited history. I, Qiao, am insufficient and believe myself incapable of leading the Immortal Palace from decline to prosperity."
"But today, I have seen hope, the hope for the revival of the Immortal Palace. This must be the blessing of the Ancestor, surely the compassion of Heaven, surely the divine will that our Immortal Palace's inheritance shall remain unbroken!"
"I humbly beseech the Venerable Immortal for compassion, beseech the Venerable Immortal to show mercy, beseech the Venerable Immortal to allow your disciple to enter the Immortal Palace, so our Immortal Palace can perpetuate its heritage and revive once more!"
Qiao Yangming suddenly knelt down with a "thud" at Zhouyang's feet, bowing heavily in plea.
The scene of the dignified Palace Master of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, a Seventh-Layer Nascent Soul Cultivator, kneeling and bowing in front of someone, would astonish cultivators from the Westernmost Cultivation Realm far more than the sight of a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal.
Zhouyang was also slightly surprised and promptly reached out to help him up: "Fellow Daoist Qiao, what are you doing? Please rise quickly, please rise quickly!"
Though pulled up by Zhouyang, Qiao Yangming still wore a look of earnest entreaty, continuously bowing to him: "I beseech the Venerable Immortal to show compassion and mercy, to give the Immortal Palace a chance!"
Seeing this, Zhouyang couldn't help but frown, sighing helplessly: "Fellow Daoist Qiao, there's no need for this. The Immortal Palace still has over a dozen Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators and remains the largest power in the Westernmost Cultivation Realm!"
"It's different, Venerable Immortal; you are not of the Immortal Palace and do not understand the significance of the Great Brightness Immortal Scripture to the Immortal Palace, nor the immense significance of a Palace Master who practices it to the Immortal Palace!"
Qiao Yangming shook his head repeatedly, entirely disagreeing with Zhouyang's words.
Then, without waiting for Zhouyang to question what was different, he continued speaking as if to himself: "Does Venerable Immortal think, in a time when no one has been able to practice the Great Brightness Immortal Scripture, why it remains the foundational inheritance Cultivation Technique of the Immortal Palace for tens of thousands of years, unchanged? Does Venerable Immortal think the Immortal Palace has maintained such a significant power to this day, relying on what?"
"The Great Brightness Immortal Scripture has remained the foundational inheritance Cultivation Technique of the Immortal Palace for tens of thousands of years because only cultivators who practice this Cultivation Technique can unleash the true power of the three Inheritance Immortal Artifacts of the Immortal Palace and practice the unparalleled Divine Techniques that True Monarch Guangming once used to awe this realm!"
"As for why the Immortal Palace has maintained such power to this day, aside from the three Inheritance Immortal Artifacts and the foundation left by True Monarch Guangming, it is also because the disciples of the Immortal Palace hold deep-seated reverence and respect for True Monarch Guangming. Despite internal contradictions, no one is willing to betray the Immortal Palace and this belief!"
"Cultivators of the Great Brightness Immortal Scripture can become the Saint Son and Palace Master of the Immortal Palace not only because of ancestral teachings but also because, in the hearts of the Immortal Palace disciples, they are seen as reincarnations of True Monarch Guangming, naturally destined to be the leaders of the Immortal Palace!"
"The most direct cause of the Immortal Palace's division thousands of years ago was the untimely demonic deviation and death of a Palace Master who practiced the Great Brightness Immortal Scripture. Suspicion and mistrust among factions led to internal chaos and division!"
"However, if the disciples of the Immortal Palace discover the presence of a Saint Son, a reincarnation of True Monarch Guangming, who can practice the Great Brightness Immortal Scripture, all internal conflicts within the Immortal Palace will cease to be conflicts. Everyone will resolutely support the new Palace Master, at which point all the longstanding issues accumulated over the years will be eradicated with the emergence of the new Palace Master!"
Qiao Yangming's speech concluded with a fervent emotion embedded in his tone.
Hardly imaginable was it that a Late-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator and the highly authoritative Palace Master of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace would be in such a state.
Furthermore, the most unbelievable aspect for Zhouyang was that the revered True Monarch Guangming, who could inspire such fervor in someone like Qiao Yangming, had been deceased for tens of thousands of years.
It's indeed extraordinary that, after such an expanse of time, the Immortal Palace's descendants maintain such a fervent belief.
Even now, Zhouyang could inspire the Zhou Family's cultivators to hold him in such fervent belief as Qiao Yangming, perhaps even more so.
However, that all hinges on him still being alive in the "Spirit Realm." If one day he is no longer there, or if he falls, the Zhou Family cultivators' reverence and faith in him will undoubtedly diminish significantly.
Nonetheless, Zhouyang keenly picked up on the main point in Qiao Yangming's earlier words, particularly regarding the fact that the cultivators with the [Light Spirit Body] are viewed by Immortal Palace disciples as the reincarnation of [True Monarch Guangming].
The existence of this legend has attributed an unparalleled status to the [Light Spirit Body] cultivators within the Immortal Palace, becoming a crucial factor for the disciples' fervent reverence and faith in [True Monarch Guangming].
Thinking of this, an old question in his mind arose, prompting him to ask, "That being said, Zhou is quite curious about one thing. Back then, as this realm's foremost powerhouse, why did [True Monarch Guangming] choose to remain in this realm when he clearly could have ascended to the Upper Realm?"
As a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal, what Zhouyang and all the existing Tier Seven beings in the "Spirit Realm" desire most is undoubtedly ascending to the Upper Realm.
Therefore, he could not for the life of him understand why [True Monarch Guangming], a peerless powerhouse from ancient times, would choose to remain in the "Spirit Realm" despite having the ability to ascend, ultimately seeing his lifespan wane and facing demise.
"Immortal Venerable, you've misunderstood. Back then, [True Monarch Guangming] Ancestor didn't choose to not ascend, he couldn't!"
Qiao Yangming's words caught Zhouyang off-guard instantly.
"Couldn't ascend? Why not? [True Monarch Guangming] Ancestor was at least a Late-Stage Tribulation Cultivator; with such cultivation, he could have ascended to the Upper Realm by himself, even without the Ascension Platform, right?"
Zhouyang looked at Qiao Yangming with a face full of astonishment, truly shocked by his words.
Yet Qiao Yangming, being gazed at like this, simply smiled wryly and shook his head, saying, "Immortal Venerable, you've misunderstood again. I meant [True Monarch Guangming] Ancestor couldn't ascend to the Upper Realm, not because he didn't have the ability to ascend, but because he couldn't ascend only to face death!"
"Couldn't ascend to avoid death? What sense does that make?"
Zhouyang's expression changed slightly, and his tone became serious.
Could it be that besides the dangers in the Chaos Void, there are other dangers in ascending to the Upper Realm?
"The specifics I am not privy to. It's just that from the secrets passed down orally by successive Palace Masters, it's said that [True Monarch Guangming] Ancestor killed the offspring of a major figure in the Upper Realm back then, causing them to scatter their soul in this realm. He also obliterated an incarnation of this figure's split soul, leading this major figure to declare that should the Ancestor dare ascend, he would ensure a fate worse than death, eternally beyond redemption!"
"Thus, [True Monarch Guangming] Ancestor had the capability to ascend but ultimately could only regretfully pass away here in this realm."
Filled with regret, Qiao Yangming revealed the inner truth, and Zhouyang felt his heart relax.
Ahh, so that's the reason, it turns out he offended a big shot from the Upper Realm!
Then that has nothing to do with me!
Zhouyang breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, and the tense look on his face eased considerably.
When it comes to the Upper Realm, not only does he have no enemies, but he also has a "backer."
Whether it's True Monarch Donglai, his half-way master, or the sect of Master Qianyang who left behind the Qianyang Treasure Pearl, both have the capacity to be his backing.
As long as he can make it to the Upper Realm, he may not necessarily live flamboyantly, but at least he won't be without support, a target for anyone's steps.
With these thoughts, Zhouyang couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for [True Monarch Guangming].
Given [True Monarch Guangming]'s cultivation strength at that time, if he could have gone to the Upper Realm, he'd likely advance to a Returning Void Stage Earth Immortal, with the future possibility of becoming a Harmonious Celestial Immortal not being out of question.
But alas, a single misstep turned into an eternal regret, offending a dignitary in the Upper Realm, leading him to end his days in the "Spirit Realm" alone and timelessly.
"So, the rumors that in your Immortal Palace, the [Light Spirit Body] cultivators are the reincarnation of [True Monarch Guangming] spread simply because he passed away in this realm?"
Zhouyang looked at Qiao Yangming and asked, his tone quite certain.
Qiao Yangming did not respond, which was a tacit admission.
"Can just a rumor rally the morale of the Immortal Palace's people?"
Zhouyang murmured to himself, feeling very skeptical about it.
Although there are legends of the "Netherworld," most cultivators actually don't put much stock in the concept of reincarnation.
Besides, even if reincarnation does exist, who can guarantee that a cultivator of the "Spirit Realm," after passing and reincarnating, can return to this realm?
"Immortal Venerable, you exaggerate. The rumor might not matter, but the fact that cultivators who've trained in the 'Great Brightness Immortal Scripture' can fully harness the three Light Attribute Inheritance Immortal Artifacts of the Immortal Palace is indisputable. With these three artifacts that epitomize the supreme power and authority of the Immortal Palace, regardless of whether they believe in the reincarnation rumor or not, the disciples would definitely unite under such a powerful figure!"
Qiao Yangming could no longer stay silent, realizing that in front of someone like Zhouyang, a True Immortal, speaking in clichés would only incur annoyance, so he just spoke frankly about the facts.
"As for those three artifacts, the other two are understandable, but the [Skull of Light] is truly astounding and intimidating if someone genuinely manages to unleash its full potential, reverse-slaying a True Immortal might not be out of reach!"
Zhouyang nodded slightly, acknowledging Qiao Yangming's words.
But just as Qiao Yangming thought Zhouyang agreed to Zhou Guangzheng joining the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, Zhouyang suddenly acted.
With a swift grasp, Zhouyang conjured a massive golden flame sword in his hand and directly swung it at the shrine's statue of [True Monarch Guangming].
"Immortal Venerable, you..."
Qiao Yangming was astounded and gazed at Zhouyang with a mix of shock and anger, completely unprepared for his sudden and unprovoked action to destroy a sacred item of the Immortal Palace.
Had it not been for his remaining rationality, recognizing that this person before him was a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal, whom he could not possibly contend against, he might have already drawn his sword in defense of the Immortal Palace's honor.
