NOVEL NEXT Chapter 38 Aftermath
Lu Yu now knew that the scenes depicted on the stone walls on both sides of the temple were of the Great Minister of Fate slaying the Dragon Clan.
Yet, even such a formidable Divine Spirit eventually had to fade away, with the likes of Eastern Emperor Taiyi and all the Heavenly Gods ultimately becoming mere footnotes to the Ancestral Master's transcendence.
Thinking of this, Lu Yu couldn't help but become lost in thought – one had to be incredibly powerful to bring an end to the era of gods.
"Does it feel overwhelming?"
"Yes, when I think about how such powerful Divine Spirits could eventually fall to ruin, it's somewhat unbelievable." Lu Yu answered truthfully.
"You weren't born in the same era as the Ancestral Master, and didn't witness his invincible elegance, so naturally it feels a bit hard to believe. When I saw him for the first time, I knew the era of the gods was coming to an end."
"His brilliance is beyond mere words. Only upon seeing him can one truly understand how vast this world, how far-reaching the Great Dao is. It's about stepping out of this narrow heaven and earth to see a wider world." The Emperor of Fengdu spoke with a sigh, as the impression the Ancestral Master, who had already transcended, left on him was too deep.
It lingered in his mind so persistently that even now, he could not forget it. It was that very encounter that made him decide to abandon his authority and seek reincarnation for further cultivation.
"What kind of person was he, exactly?" Lu Yu asked curiously. About this individual, who was invincible across the three realms, who had passed on his teaching throughout the world, and was the first to transcend the three realms, he was filled with curiosity.
"He, well, he appeared to be an ordinary man, just like any other common creature in this world. But his eyes always shone with the light of wisdom. When he was still a mortal, he traveled far and wide, comprehending heaven and earth, until at the summit of Mount Buzhou he grasped the techniques for cultivation.
He did not hoard his knowledge; instead, he imparted his teachings indiscriminately, spreading the methods of cultivation to all under heaven. Such breadth and depth of understanding are truly rare in this world."
When the Emperor of Fengdu spoke of this, the image of that young man's face surfaced in his mind once more, as if forever carrying an air of ease and detachment. The principles and laws of the world seemed to be hidden in those profound eyes.
"Ah, I truly wish I could see the Ancestral Master's true form and understand what kind of person he was." Lu Yu couldn't help but sigh. To not have witnessed such a legendary figure with his own eyes was indeed a regret in life.
"You will have the chance," the Emperor of Fengdu replied with a smile.
Lu Yu looked at him in surprise, not understanding what the Emperor of Fengdu meant. If the Ancestral Master had already transcended, how could there still be a chance to see him?
"Do you know what transcendence truly is?" the Emperor of Fengdu asked.
"Didn't you just say? To bear the complete Fruit of Tao, to step beyond the river of time and destiny, that is called transcendence." Lu Yu replied earnestly.
"Five Qi towards the origin, Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, this is the highest realm of cultivation, and then one must cultivate their own path and turn the Three Flowers into their own Fruit of Tao.
Only when the Fruit of Tao matures can one call forth the river of time and destiny amidst Chaos, reverse its flow, step out of the sea of suffering, and leave their mark on the far shore – that is true transcendence."
```
"Now the Fruit of Tao of these mighty beings is nearing maturity. They push forward the great calamities, quietly waiting for the moment of transcendence. When that time comes, the River of Time and Fortune and Destiny will appear once more. As the first to leave their mark on the other shore, then all beings of the Three Realms shall see it," laughed the Emperor of Fengdu as he spoke.
"So that's how it is." Lu Yu finally came to an epiphany. The so-called Journey to the West must be the opportunity for transcendence discovered by these mighty beings. Although Lu Yu did not know the specifics of their method, he could infer that the Fortune and Destiny of the Human Path must be closely connected to it.
"Well, now that the Great Minister of Fate has fallen, it's time for me to take my leave as well. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can find me in the Underworld," said the Emperor of Fengdu, leaving behind these words as his form gradually vanished. The force of life and death that had enveloped the Cave Heaven instantly disappeared without a trace, as if it had never existed.
Lu Yu's gaze swept over the Southern Borderlands, finding that the strange aura that once lingered over this land had vanished. It was unlikely that new Curse Masters would emerge in this region again. However, this time his gains were significant. Not only did he learn many ancient secrets from the Emperor of Fengdu and witnessed the strength of the top powers of the Three Realms.
He understood the strength of the Ancestral Master, who was once the first person of the Three Realms, learned about the cultivation realms that followed, and his speculations about this great calamity deepened.
Moreover, from the strange power left behind by the Great Minister of Fate in the land of the Southern Borderlands, his understanding of the path of curses has further deepened, given the time, he was confident he could deduce Curse Techniques like the Seven-Arrow Nail Head Scripture.
And as Lu Yu was silently tallying his gains from this experience, in a world shrouded in clouds, a Taoist also opened his eyes.
This was a world enveloped in white clouds, inhabited by countless members of the human race. They donned simple clothing with beautiful cloud patterns and spoke in the ancient language of Chu, which Lu Yu had once heard.
They herded on the clouds, driving creatures formed of white clouds, and found joy in their tasks.
Above this cloud-covered world hung a great sun. If one observed closely through the dazzling brilliance, one could see a palace hidden within, at the heart of which was a Fusang Tree. Its scorching breath spread out, bringing the warmth of the sun to this world of clouds, the very Divine Fusang Tree that had long vanished from the Three Realms.
Sitting beneath the scorchingly hot Divine Fusang Tree was a Taoist, wearing a Taoist robe, youthful yet imbued with an indescribable majesty. A gourd flitted about beside him, radiating a strong metallic aura.
The Taoist looked into the void beyond, sighing lightly, "Why bother!" His tone was ethereal, seemingly tinged with a bit of nostalgia and regret, after which he slowly closed his eyes once more and continued his cultivation.
Meanwhile, at Yu Ding's cave in Zhongnan Mountain, Yun Zhongzi looked in the direction of the Great Minister of Fate's fall and also heaved a deep sigh.
"What's the matter, finding it hard to watch him fall?" A hearty voice came, and a Taoist clad in a gold-trimmed Taoist robe emerged from behind him, his face genteel and his demeanor distinguished.
"Yu Ding, instead of looking after your precious disciple, what brings you to my Zhongnan Mountain?" Yun Zhongzi said displeasedly.
"I thought I might come to offer you solace, fearing you might be disturbed by these events. As for my disciple, what talent he has! There's no need for me to look after him.
He's now mastered the Five Qi Toward the Primordial, and within a few years, there will be another mighty being in the Three Realms," said Sage Yu Ding with a laugh, speaking of his own beloved disciple Yang Jian with ineffable satisfaction.
"You're just lucky, to have stumbled upon a splendid talent like Yang Jian," said Yun Zhongzi, his words laced with a hint of envy, for among their disciples, Yang Jian was widely acknowledged as the top first-generation disciple of their sect, and his strength and temperament were truly exceptional.
```