I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times-Chapter 386Book 2: : The Three Ancestors Compete for the Dao, The Mysterious Yellow Court Secret
Vol 2 Chapter 386: The Three Ancestors Compete for the Dao, The Mysterious Yellow Court Secret
Seeing the Dao Venerable appear in the world, everyone from Taishang Dao showed excitement and reverence on their faces.
But Uncle Pang could not understand;he only felt confused and quietly asked, “May I ask, Immortal, who is the Dao Venerable?”
“……”
The courtyard instantly fell silent.
Uncle Pang shrank his neck, seemingly realizing he had asked the wrong question.
Immortal Li glanced at him with a somewhat dangerous look.
“The Dao Venerable is the founding ancestor of our Taishang Dao.”
Uncle Pang crooked a bitter smile, his expression sour: “My apologies, so it is this venerable elder.”
“The world does not know his reputation;what crime is that?” Immortal Li seemed to think Uncle Pang was quite the talent, and his attitude softened by two degrees as he explained, “As for why the Dao Venerable is here, you must ask your ‘Yellow Court Scripture’.”
“Ah?”
“The Dao Venerable was the first in the Xuanyi Realm to achieve the Yang Spirit stage.”
Uncle Pang suddenly opened his eyes wide.
The founder of the Yang Spirit Method?
No wonder he is called the Dao Venerable!
“So his appearance here in Jiushan Realm…”
“Should be said, it’s not the venerable elder himself.” Immortal Li looked up, as if sensing something, “It is his shadow image in the river of time.”
Uncle Pang still didn’t understand.
Even Head Seat Mingde and the others didn’t fully grasp what was happening at this moment.
Immortal Li sighed, “This concerns the Tianhe Venerable and is a secret within the sect. Even among the four sects at the Dao Fruit stage, it’s unlikely many know the reasons behind it.”
“What reasons?”
“As long as a new Dao path appears in the Xuanyi Realm, the Dao Venerable will appear to contend for the Dao at the Nascent Soul stage.”
“Contend?” Uncle Pang’s heart immediately tightened. “Zheng Fa is going to contend with the Dao Venerable… to fight a battle?”
Seeing this, Immortal Li comforted him, “No need to be so nervous. This shadow image is just at the beginning of Nascent Soul cultivation.”
Uncle Pang slightly relaxed.
The Dao Venerable created a sect like Taishang Dao and even founded the Yang Spirit Method;his cultivation must be immense.
At the Nascent Soul stage, it’s still manageable.
Seeing his nod, Immortal Li smiled again, “The reason it’s called contending for the Dao is that it only measures the cultivator’s Dao technique strength;aside from innate treasures, no external aids are allowed.”
𝔯âNổʙЁṣ
Uncle Pang frowned, pointing at the Tai Chi diagram above the Daoist’s head, puzzled: “What about that?”
It must be known that the innate treasure was created by the Tianhe Venerable. This Dao Venerable obviously wouldn’t have it, so this Tai Chi diagram looks suspicious—Uncle Pang suspected cheating!
“That is the ancestor’s innate divine ability.” Immortal Li smiled, “Doesn’t Zheng Fa have it too?”
Uncle Pang thought silently;this meant it wasn’t necessarily bad for Zheng Fa.
Although Zheng Fa’s most powerful Trapping Immortal Sword was restricted.
Who knows what treasures the Dao Venerable has?
If he could use treasures, Zheng Fa might suffer a big loss.
Seeing his expression calm down slightly, Immortal Li laughed again:
“You seem very confident in Zheng Fa. You must know, the Dao Venerable was once invincible in the world but was not an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator.”
Uncle Pang slowly shook his head upon hearing this, “It’s not confidence, but Zheng Fa simply won’t be afraid.”
“Hm?”
“He once said something.”
“What did he say?”
“That if we cultivate the predecessors’ methods but end up worse than them, then what is the point of cultivation?”
Immortal Li’s smile stiffened.
The faces of everyone from Taishang Dao at the Nascent Soul stage also became awkward.
The words were good, logical, and ambitious…
But also quite a slap in the face.
Immortal Li was silent for a moment, then asked, “So Zheng Fa originally thought this way… no wonder he achieved so much.”
Uncle Pang smiled and looked proudly toward where Zheng Fa was at the Nascent Soul stage.
At this moment, none of the Taishang Dao people present thought his pride was pathetic or shallow:
Jiushan Sect certainly had no deep foundation.
If only comparing to the past, against Taishang Dao, they were naturally lacking in countless ways, like fireflies compared to the bright moon;this comparison alone was enough to invite ridicule.
But as Zheng Fa said, predecessors are meant to be surpassed.
In that case, the secret ridicule from these Taishang Dao people was more pitiful.
The courtyard fell into an awkward silence. Uncle Pang remained unaware, his heart focused on Zheng Fa’s yard. His eyes suddenly opened wide as he asked Immortal Li:
“How many Dao Venerables are there?”
“...How many? There has been only one since ancient times, who is called the Dao Venerable.”
“Then who are those two?”
Immortal Li suddenly looked up and saw two more figures appear in the sky.
One had a green immortal sword hanging from his waist, his body a sword light that pierced the sky, coming in an instant.
The other wore an imperial crown and robe, walking like a dragon and tiger, stepping on heaven and earth.
Immortal Li’s face showed confusion;he hadn’t expected this development, murmuring, “How could the Tianhe Venerable be here?”
Uncle Pang also recognized the Tianhe Venerable.
Or rather, he couldn’t see the sword cultivator’s face but truly recognized the sword—the Qingping Sword.
But as Immortal Li said, shouldn’t only the Dao Venerable contend for the Dao?
How did the Tianhe Venerable appear?
He looked at Immortal Li, who furrowed his brow and after deep thought said, “The sect recorded the Nascent Soul phenomenon of the Tianhe Venerable, and at that time, only the Dao Venerable appeared…”
He was the only one who had seen this record, so others naturally did not dare question it.
But the others looked at him with suspicion and distrust.
Immortal Li looked around, his face darkening: “It’s really not that I forgot!”
Uncle Pang fell into deep thought. If what Immortal Li said was true, this change could only be due to one thing:
The Yellow Court Scripture!
When the Tianhe Venerable created his method, only the Dao Venerable obstructed the Dao.
But when Zheng Fa used the Yellow Court Scripture to reach Nascent Soul, three contested the Dao.
Uncle Pang suddenly understood;these three were the founding ancestors of the Yang Spirit Method, Dharmakaya Method, and Heavenly River Method!
Judging from the Trapping Immortal Sword Canon, the Tianhe Venerable’s Heavenly River Method never relied on the Dharmakaya Method but had a close relationship with the Yang Spirit Method.
Or rather, both the Heavenly River Method and Dharmakaya Method originated from the Yang Spirit Method.
This Dao Venerable could be said to be the ancestor of the Xuanyi Immortal Dao.
Therefore, when the Tianhe Venerable reached Nascent Soul, only the Dao Venerable appeared.
But Zheng Fa’s Yellow Court Scripture merged three methods, so this time at Nascent Soul, the three founding Dao ancestors appeared together!
“Immortal, this… seems to be the founding ancestors of three Nascent Soul methods.”
Uncle Pang’s eyes revealed worry, and his prior confidence faded.
Immortal Li’s gaze moved, finally landing on the man in the imperial robe. His expression was stunned, as if he realized something, his face filled with sudden clarity:
“It really is him.”
“Who?”
“The Dharmakaya Dao was truly created by that Lu True Immortal.”
Uncle Pang was shocked, but he was not alone. All the Nascent Soul cultivators from Taishang Dao looked at the imposing man with indistinct features, all dumbfounded.
“Haori Mountain, Lu True Immortal?”
“Hmm…” Immortal Li looked at that figure with a tone bordering on gritted teeth, “The Dao Venerable suspected it, but neither I nor the ancestor dared believe it—unexpectedly, it really is him.”
Uncle Pang felt heavy in his heart as well.
They and Haori Mountain were mortal enemies;hearing Lu True Immortal had such achievements was not good news for Jiushan Sect.
Head Seat Mingde, however, was the first to regain composure. He frowned at the three figures in the sky and asked, “Putting other things aside, with these three founding ancestors, can Zheng Fa survive his tribulation?”
Uncle Pang’s face darkened. Head Seat Mingde’s words hit his heart:
Each of these three, taken alone, other Xuanyi cultivators would worship. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Even at Nascent Soul, they were far beyond ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators.
One, Uncle Pang had some confidence in Zheng Fa.
But three…
Zheng Fa’s scalp tingled.
He looked up at the three figures in the sky;he actually recognized the Tianhe Venerable too.
But Jiushan Realm was under his control, and he overheard Immortal Li and others’ discussion.
He felt everything around him lose connection.
The Trapping Immortal Sword could no longer be commanded.
Even the Sun and Moon Bell seemed distant;though it could sense, it could not be summoned.
Now, all he could rely on was his cultivation divine abilities and the Creation Jade Slip in his dantian.
At this moment, he could only depend on his cultivation techniques and divine abilities to compete for the Dao’s supremacy.
Zheng Fa took a deep breath, stood up, and flew upward, silver light flashing in his eyes as he approached the three.
The Tai Chi diagram above the Daoist’s head showed the yin and yang energies chasing each other.
The Tianhe Venerable drew the Qingping Sword from his waist.
The man in the imperial robe was surrounded by golden light, towering a hundred zhang tall, his body solid as if containing the power to suppress all opposition.
His gaze swept over the three, then looked down at Senior Sister Zhang standing in the courtyard holding the Tranquility Bamboo, worry filling her eyes. But when she saw his gaze, she immediately forced a smile.
Xie Qingxue bit her lips, her hand resting on the Qingping Sword, seemingly ready to strike the Tianhe Venerable.
Even Elder Yu’s worried expression and the nervousness in the eyes of Jiushan Sect disciples were within his sight.
He naturally understood the concern and tension of these Jiushan Sect people. He was Jiushan Sect, and Jiushan Sect was him—it had always been this way.
With a thought, the spiritual energy within Zheng Fa flowed according to the Yellow Court Scripture.
A purple Yang Spirit condensed from his Mud Pill Palace, holding the Creation Jade Slip, leaping out from his crown.
A Fusang Wood tree reaching from heaven to earth formed in the void behind him.
The three auras were distinct yet subtly unified.
Just as Uncle Pang said:
Combining the wisdom of predecessors and gathering elites from two realms, the Yellow Court Scripture was created. If this challenge couldn’t be passed, then what was cultivation for?
…
The Dao Venerable, the Tianhe Venerable, and Lu True Immortal exchanged glances, each seeming still somewhat lucid, their pride apparent, as if unwilling to act simultaneously.
The Tianhe Venerable did not move. Lu True Immortal slightly leaned forward, ready to strike, but suddenly a purple glow flashed. The Dao Venerable seemed delighted at the hunt and struck first!
He pointed to the Tai Chi diagram above his head, where yin and yang energies spun rapidly.
The Sun and Moon Bell in the medicine garden suddenly tolled loudly, as if encountering a great enemy. The bell’s rhythm was chaotic, evoking fear and urgency.
All beings in Jiushan Realm, cultivators and mortals alike, felt a heavy weight in their hearts. Looking up, they saw the Tai Chi diagram cross the sky, surrounded by countless beings kneeling in worship, a hundred worlds fleetingly appearing and vanishing.
“This Tai Chi diagram of the Dao Venerable is the innate divine ability he gained back then, and also his method to achieve the Dao. His entire life’s study is embodied in it. It’s not an innate treasure but surpasses one.”
In the guest courtyard, Immortal Li’s expression was hard to read—whether suppressed or excited.
“What kind of power does it have?”
“I have never seen the Dao Venerable, only glimpsed from the ancestor’s scriptures and sect methods.” Immortal Li’s eyes shone as he stared at the Tai Chi diagram, seemingly wanting to understand it thoroughly. “I speculate this Tai Chi diagram controls earth, fire, water, and wind, mastering yin and yang creation.”
Uncle Pang frowned.
This vague statement clearly showed Immortal Li was unwilling to reveal all the sect’s secrets.
But Uncle Pang had studied many courses from Jiushan University. Comparing this with the Tai Chi diagram’s overwhelming presence, he had some enlightenment:
This Tai Chi diagram seemed capable of generating matter and controlling space. In Jiushan Realm, it even subtly replaced the position of the Sun and Moon Bell?
Immortal Li continued, “The Tai Chi diagram’s greatest power is its invulnerability to all methods, used for defense and suppression. It is unparalleled throughout history.”
Uncle Pang’s heart trembled. Sure enough, the Tai Chi diagram swept across the sky, pressing down on Zheng Fa. Where it passed, space rippled like a delicate, precious curtain, creasing and tearing.
Through the cracks, various strange scenes faintly appeared, like another world.
Zheng Fa was trapped beneath, as if in an invisible cage, unable to advance or retreat.
Uncle Pang’s mind raced, considering ways to break it. If it’s innate divine ability, Zheng Fa also had some, but none were good at offense. Moreover, his research on divine abilities was not as deep as the Dao Venerable’s on the Tai Chi diagram.
It wasn’t that Zheng Fa was careless, but time was too short:
He cultivated very fast, and after only thirty years, perfecting the Yellow Court Scripture had exhausted him, leaving no surplus energy.
He thought long and hard, feeling that Great Sun True Fire might be a match, but it was not guaranteed:
After all, Zheng Fa obtained the Great Sun True Fire most recently.
“...It could really be like this?”
Just as he worried for Zheng Fa, he heard Immortal Li’s exclamation, his tone full of complicated emotion.
He was confused but saw Zheng Fa raise a divine light of positive and negative Five Elements from his hand. Instead of attacking the Dao Venerable, it flew toward the Tianhe Venerable’s shadow.
As a scattered immortal, Immortal Li noticed Zheng Fa’s action earlier than him.
The next moment, he looked at the dazed Tianhe Venerable in the sky, then at the “Qingping Sword” in Zheng Fa’s hand, opening his mouth but unable to ask the similar question choking in his throat:
Can it really be like this?
…
Grasping the Qingping Sword, Zheng Fa’s spirit surged.
No innate treasures? Others have them!
But what others held was his!
Facing the isolating space and rule-rewriting power of the Tai Chi diagram, he truly had no good countermeasures—
The problem of divine ability versus divine ability was that Zheng Fa understood his own divine ability far less than the Dao Venerable understood the Tai Chi diagram.
Even though the Creation Jade Slip had transformative powers, it was not a weapon of offense, and Zheng Fa was careful not to damage it.
But the Qingping Sword he didn’t mind damaging!
He was too familiar with it!
He knew the Qingping Sword Technique by heart.
Looking at the Tai Chi diagram above, Zheng Fa pointed his sword tip upward, the man and sword merging, sword light surging through the two principles.
With one stroke, the Tai Chi diagram was shattered!
Since ancient times in the Xuanyi Realm, regarding offensive methods, the Tianhe Sword cultivator is universally acknowledged as peerless!
As the sword light dissipated, Zheng Fa’s figure slowly appeared, but the Qingping Sword returned to the Tianhe Venerable’s palm, and the positive and negative Five Elements divine light could only control the Qingping Sword alone.
The Tianhe Venerable lowered his head, looking at the Qingping Sword returned to his palm, seemingly deep in thought.
Then he glanced at the Dao Venerable with a look of unwarranted pride.
“Broken?” Immortal Li murmured, almost convincing himself, “That’s right. What the Tianhe Venerable achieved back then, Zheng Fa could do the same.”
Uncle Pang agreed inwardly;the Tianhe Venerable also contended with the Dao Venerable, so surely did the same back then.
Zheng Fa was like copying someone else’s exam paper…
No, not copying, snatching someone else’s exam paper, changing the name, and handing it in.
…
The Dao Venerable’s strike missed. He reached out, and the Tai Chi diagram reformed but stepped back, unwilling to continue entangling.
Lu True Immortal could no longer restrain himself. Seeing the retreat, he rushed forward without using any treasure, striking Zheng Fa with a single palm!
At first glance, this move seemed simple, but halfway through, the palm transformed into a mountain thousands of zhang tall, crashing toward Zheng Fa.
Everyone felt a terrifying urge to bow their heads and not resist.
Uncle Pang heard Immortal Li sigh, “It’s said the original Dharmakaya only pursues…”
“Pursues what?”
“Ultimate power.”
Uncle Pang’s heart moved, recalling Senior Brother Yuan’s words that his Dharmakaya could destroy all in the future. He hadn’t expected Lu True Immortal to be ahead of him.
But Zheng Fa felt even more: strength was indeed the most obvious attribute of the physical body. It was normal for the Dharmakaya Method to develop in this direction.
Yet Lu True Immortal before him was not just about strength!
Outsiders saw only one palm strike.
But Zheng Fa, under the palm wind, knew that in an instant, thousands of palms had been unleashed!
At this moment, Zheng Fa still had the composure to think of another idea—Lu True Immortal seemed educated, knowing that sometimes speed and power are the same thing!
But compared to speed, Zheng Fa never feared anyone!
He transformed into a rainbow light, intending to dodge the overwhelming attack.
He thought that with the speed of the Rainbow Transformation Method, Lu True Immortal’s move was the easiest to deal with.
Who would have thought Lu True Immortal himself turned into a long rainbow, not much slower, with his fist chasing Zheng Fa.
Two rainbow lights raced through the air, front and back, dazzling those on the ground.
Zheng Fa only felt like he was being repaid—
I steal a sword with divine ability, you steal my divine ability?
But upon sensing again, he found these rainbow lights were similar to the Rainbow Transformation Method but were actually a spell, incredibly marvelous and able to keep up with Zheng Fa’s method.
Zheng Fa was a bit amazed:
Ultimate strength, supreme speed, able to stand alongside the Dao Venerable and Tianhe Venerable—Lu True Immortal was no pretender.
But Haori Mountain had existed for a long time;he wondered why this man was still a true immortal…
This thought passed in a flash. Seeing Lu True Immortal’s relentless pursuit, Zheng Fa held the Creation Jade Slip in his left hand and drew a circle in the air with his right.
Immortal Li stood in the courtyard, his tone deeply confused: “Th-that is the Tai Chi diagram?”
Uncle Pang saw the Taishang Dao people glancing sideways at him and awkwardly smiled, hurriedly explaining, “Actually… the rest of us Jiushan Sect people don’t behave like this.”
