Tao and Heaven

Chapter 192: Seventy-seven Dao Foundations Completed
Early November, Nanshui, Jiangjia Village.

One carriage after another, escorted by cavalry, drove into this small village that can be seen everywhere. The Nanshui County Magistrate got off the carriage with a big belly and showed a flattering smile to Jiang Jucai, who was riding a horse and wearing armor beside him: "Marshal Jiang, who are you taking me to see?"

People dressed in silk and satin, with silver and jade crowns to hold their hair in place and warm jade belts on their waists also got off the other carriages. When they got off the carriages, they needed a servant to kneel down and stand under their feet.

There are more than a dozen people in total, all representatives of major families in Nanshui, but because this place is located in the borderland, they have no immortal background.

There is a bit of arrogance in the Jiangjia Village compared to the surrounding villages, but their good education and political intelligence allow them to hide it well.

Now the Nanshui River has changed hands, but the aristocratic families are still in control, as the Nanchun Army was funded by them.

If it weren't for the two power grabs in the military that caused the disappearance of the forces they had planted in the army, Jiang Ju would have come to visit them now.

If they are not satisfied, the Marshal of the Nanchun Army can consider replacing him.

On the contrary, now they have to accommodate Jiang Jucai, this young man who came out of nowhere, because the other party really has a knife in his hand.

Also because it is rumored that there is a fairy behind the other party.

"Just follow me and you'll find out."

Jiang Jucai dismounted from his horse, then led a group of people towards the bamboo forest at the end of the village, and a small courtyard in the bamboo forest came into view.

A short middle-aged man who looked like an old slave was sweeping the floor. Jiang Jucai took two steps at a time and walked over to him, saying, "Dad, let me do it."

Many representatives of aristocratic families showed some surprise on their faces. They did not expect that this old slave-looking man was actually Jiang Jucai's father.

Then they looked at each other, becoming more certain of their guess.

After a while, everyone entered the courtyard one after another, making the already small courtyard crowded.

Through the doorway one could see several people sitting in the living room. A man and a woman sat in the main seats. The man had regular features, while the woman was covered with a veil, her face hidden. Then standing on either side were a man and a woman who did not look like ordinary people.

They were talking and did not stop when the crowd came in, and they didn't even look at them.

"Mortals are useless, why bother with them? If you want to hire someone, just grab a few civilians."

Jun Yan was arguing with Gu Wen, who was teasing the white-feathered bird and said, "The people are uneducated and do not know the art of numbers and how to rule people. Just like anyone here can slaughter an army, we still need them to conquer towns big and small."

"It is too time-consuming and laborious to train from scratch, so it is more practical to directly use the children of existing noble families."

Gu Wen had been at the bottom of society before, and he knew that ordinary people were very ignorant. At the same time, forcing them to take on responsibilities that did not belong to them would not benefit anyone.

Jun Yan's proposal to capture a few mortals to control their minds, and Jiang Jucai's inclination to wipe out the noble families and promote the poor are very advanced ideas, but they go against the basic logic of social development.

"So you plan to let these noble families form a city lord's mansion?"

"It should be said that the court."

Gu Wen cast his gaze towards the representatives of the noble families with a kind look. His words just now made them feel even more kind. He said, "Those with more than 50,000 acres of land, please stand up."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone looked at each other, and no one dared to stand up.

Seeing this, Jun Yan couldn't help but show some sympathy.

Based on my understanding of Gu Wen, this guy has a devilish heart. He is a wild man, but he is not as pedantic as the righteous. Sometimes he is more devilish than the devil.

"Don't want to say it?"

Gu Wen was not surprised at all. No one would speak openly about matters involving land.

Since ancient times, the powerful have annexed land and hidden fields and households. Any noble family can be beheaded. Even in modern times, there are countless people who evade taxes. This is human nature.

He said that ordinary people are ignorant, but that doesn't mean that the noble families are smart.

In fact, it is just the opposite. The so-called aristocratic families enjoy the best education and resources, but they often show amazing stupidity.

"Laojun, just search the soul directly."

As soon as these words were spoken, Jun Yan raised his hand and froze the representatives of many aristocratic families. Amid their horrified gazes, wisps of virtual spiritual thoughts wrapped around their necks.

Jun Yan confirmed: "After the soul search is over, these people will most likely go crazy."

Gu Wen said in surprise: "That's a good way to get rid of the roots. They are not necessary to control the mind anyway."

"."

For a moment, everyone was silent, and the representatives of the noble families who were frozen in time burst into tears.

Yu Hua was quite helpless. She could hear that Gu Wen was almost harsh towards the aristocratic families, but he didn't mind using them.

As Jun Yan's divine consciousness penetrated into the three souls and seven spirits of mortals, a list of the assets of the major families in Nanshui was soon sorted out. Gu Wen found that he had wronged the other party and did not need to stand up at all, because everyone had more than 50,000 acres.

The largest family, the Wu family, occupied one-tenth of the arable land in Nanshui. In their area, the government could collect taxes by visiting their home.

Gu Wen picked up the list and made some changes. Soon half of the families were circled with red crosses, and then he threw it to Jiang Jucai.

"Go and confiscate the property. According to my system of military merit, if you have enough land as military merit, your army will be invincible."

Jiang Jucai was a little unsure about attacking Luoshui, and said, "Luoshui has always been a wealthy place, and the troops there are well-equipped. Can we really take it down with just us?"

"If you lose, come back to farm. If you die, just bury yourself." Gu Wen said indifferently: "Heroes are made by the times. If you step down, others will naturally stand up. If the people can't survive anymore, they will naturally rise up in rebellion."

"You didn't save the world, but you participated in the dynasty change that led to countless people rising up in rebellion."

Jiang Jucai was a little confused. He had read military books and didn't understand much about this kind of thing.

He asked: "Master Wen, how can we achieve world peace?"

"Why are you getting scared now? You were always thinking about making great achievements."

Gu Wen saw the timidity in the other person's eyes, or the calmness that came from hard work, and the fear of the future.

Jiang Jucai once just wanted to be granted amnesty and complete his class leap in advance. It was a very simple and realistic idea, but now Gu Wen told him to conquer the world.

He couldn't help scratching his head with a guilty conscience and said, "Many people died in Jiangjia Village, and half of the brothers I brought with me died. Many brothers said that it would be good to surrender, but if we continue to fight like this."

"When you go back, if you hear these words again, tell them to get out and give them a few acres of land to farm. If you think the same way, you can come back and farm."

Gu Wen's voice was slightly cold, and Jiang Jucai felt a chill on his back and his body stiffened. It seemed as if there was a giant with his palm suspended on the top of his head.

"People will die in war. If you don't want to fight, there are plenty of people who do."

"My nephew knows his mistake."

Jiang Jucai bowed his head repeatedly to admit his mistakes, and Gu Wen stopped scolding him. He waved his hand and asked him to take away the representative of the aristocratic family who was lying on the ground, not knowing whether he was dead or alive.

Jun Yan teased, "You are really cruel, and you have some of the style of the Emperor Daojun. I wonder how many people will die if you start a war to achieve your goals."

“Troubled times are never provoked, but set on fire by those in power.”

Gu Wen took a sip of tea and said calmly, "And I will bring peace to this world in advance."

On the third day of November, the Nanchun Army unified the Nanshui Army, confiscated the property of the aristocratic families, and killed them all in one day. They seized land worth tens of millions and distributed it to soldiers. The army's momentum increased again, and the people were eager to join the army.

At the same time, the Nanchun Army also sent the collected elixirs to Jiangjia Village.

The fee for November's sacred tree friend, the four spiritual fruits of the Jade Sword Buddha, and all the spiritual medicines from the South Water were given to the White-Feathered Bird, and then transformed into the elixir of immortality for consumption.

【Six Hundred Years of Tiansui】

[Fate reduces the time required to become an immortal by 400 years, and the required heavenly marrow is 9,000 years]

Gu Wen practiced the Taiyin method, reaching one level every fifty years and one level every day. It took him three hundred years to reach the ninth level of perfection.

[Nine levels of Taiyin Dharma, three flowers gather at the top of the head, Yin life span is ten thousand years]

The Taiyin method provides a soul strength that is nine times greater than that of the same level, as well as a lifespan of ten thousand years, which means that he can exist for ten thousand years relying solely on his soul.

Compared with the true solution of swordsmanship and the Nine-transformation Golden Pill, the Taiyin method is undoubtedly much weaker. The immortal sword and the eighty-one times of mana are too powerful, and the nine times of soul strength and Yin life seem much more ordinary.

After mastering the Taiyin method, Gu Wen Daoji also successfully entered the seventh stage of perfection.

【Three Hundred Years of Tiansui】

[The eighth level of Yuqing Dao Foundation, the birth of Dharma, the achievement of human immortality, requires four hundred years of heavenly marrow] Human immortal Dharma!

Gu Wen was shocked. This was the strongest point of Yuqing Taoism, and it was also the foundation for him to enter the ranks of Heavenly Venerables.

As long as he reaches the eighth level of the Dao foundation, the Heavenly Lord, Demon Saint and the like will no longer be his opponents. With Chi Yuzi's cooperation, he might even be able to wrestle with the Semi-Immortal.

Suddenly, the three flowers between the eyebrows of the Nascent Soul in the sea of ​​qi emitted a golden-red color, and wisps of enlightenment emerged.

[The Sun Method, Yin and Yang, creates all things, one level requires a hundred years of heavenly marrow]

The Taoist priest is lacking his celestial marrow again.

Gu Wen opened his eyes, his eyes bright and lively.

Three steps away, Yu Hua was sitting on a chair, dozing off with his chin propped up by his right hand. Sensing the change in his breath, he slowly opened his eyes and smiled, "Qi Qi is perfect. Master said you are faster than she was back then."

Afterwards, the others also sensed Gu Wen’s aura after his breakthrough, and they all went into the house to check. After confirming that there was no doubt about the breakthrough, they looked at Gu Wen as if he were a monster.

If this continues, when the battle reaches Bian Jing, will Emperor Daojun have to face a perfect immortal?

Ao Tang passed the news to Dao Zong, which was also in response to Gu Wenzhi's request.

Since he wanted the position of Jade Purity Heavenly Venerable, he naturally had to build up momentum in advance.
-
Three days later, Jun Yan found Gu Wen in the middle of the night and showed his back with a covered face.

The Ten Thousand Demons Body, like the Immortal Tao Body, is also a kind of immortal body.

Jun Yan said: "Now it's my turn. Let me explain it briefly. Due to the calamity of my life span, the old man behind me was eager to become an immortal, so he made a compromise and gave me a solution that would satisfy both parties."

Akabane said expressionlessly: "Don't follow my path."

"Do I have a choice?"

Jun Yan restrained his previous confrontation with Chi Yuzi and sighed slightly, "Your problem is your life span, and the threat is external. But I have internal problems, so I can't have my head chopped off for a headache or my legs broken for a foot pain."

Gu Wen asked: "So what is the solution?"

Jun Yan replied: "You use the immortal sword to kill the demon in my body, and the celestial corpse will take over my body step by step. In the process, he will peel off my three souls and seven spirits bit by bit and store them in a container. One soul will be divided into a thousand parts, and one spirit will be divided into a hundred parts."

Hearing this, everyone's expression changed slightly.

Gu Wen frowned and said, "What's the difference between this and chopping you into pieces and then piecing you back together?"

Just as he described, separating the three souls and seven spirits is extremely dangerous, let alone peeling them off bit by bit.

"There is no difference, but this is my only way to survive." Jun Yan explained: "You can treat me as a can. To replace a can, you can only scrape and fill it from the inside out little by little. Scrape off a little, and fill it with a little soul from the Heavenly Corpse."

What's even more dangerous is that before he is chopped into pieces, he has to merge with a semi-immortal-level demon.

Gu Wen asked back: "How can you guarantee that you won't be possessed by someone else?"

"I can't guarantee that."

Jun Yan shook his head, his pair of phoenix eyes showing a fierceness that was the opposite of his femininity. He said calmly and resolutely: "Once you start, you can kill me at any time."

He took out an ancient wooden plaque, strung together with a thin string, revealing its spiritual charm.

"Hong Chen, I leave my life to you."

"If you fail, I will help you kill this so-called celestial corpse. I will fight you to the death, up to the heavens and down to the earth."

Gu Wen took the wooden sign. This was what had been agreed upon from the beginning, and it was also what he should do.

Jun Yan showed a gentle smile for the first time, took two steps back, and his soul flew out from his forehead bit by bit and fell into the wooden sign.

The three souls and seven spirits were like fireflies and flying fire, being peeled off bit by bit. At first, Jun Yan just frowned, then slowly squatted down, and then he clenched his teeth and curled up his body.

The pain of having one's soul stripped away is comparable to being cut into pieces.

One soul was separated and turned into a stroke and a fold on the wooden sign.

Jun Yan's aura became sinister and his aura rose, approaching the eighth level of Dao foundation.

"Hehehe, Jun Yan, you are really cruel."

Gu Wen took out the magic sword, and Jun Yan's strange cry suddenly disappeared. He slowly stood up, but saw the magic sword falling on his neck.

Jun Yan paused, and then did not move again, still holding the magic sword on his shoulder.

So Gu Wen took back the magic sword and asked, "What should we do next?"

Jun Yan replied: "One part of the soul per month, one part of the spirit per ten days."
-
Ten days later.

Jun Yan split another soul, his skin color became paler and his nails grew uncontrollably.

Gu Wen touched his chin and teased, "Are you going to turn into a zombie?"

Jun Yan rolled his eyes and did not refute, because he was indeed a zombie.

"I got the information about Yin Shou that you asked me about before from the old guy. The Yin Shou is a very old concept, which can be traced back to Xuan Yong in the ancient times. The so-called Yin Shou is the life span of ghosts and immortals, and the life of the spirits and souls."

Gu Wen asked: "If the soul and life are increased, isn't that equivalent to the life span of heaven?"

"That's the common sense. Generally speaking, the lifespan of the soul is about 50% longer than that of the body, so there is a saying that one can live a second life by possessing another body. But it's not the same. The lifespan is fixed under the calamity of lifespan. For example, one year in the immortal realm is equivalent to a hundred years in the outside world."

The whites of Jun Yan's eyes were gradually stained black by the ink, and his aura was tainted with a hint of heavenly disgust.

"Let this old fellow explain it to you in detail, hehehe."

Gu Wen took out the magic sword, and Jun Yan's strange cry suddenly stopped. Strands of demonic energy covered half of his face, forming a face that did not look like a human.

The Sky Corpse opened and closed his mouth, his voice low and like coughing up phlegm, and said: "Boy, you have so many opportunities, not to mention the way to become an immortal. From the throne of Fengdu, from the elixir of immortality."

Isn't this normal speech?
Gu Wen didn't bother to understand their backgrounds, and asked directly, "What is the use of this Taiyin Order?"

The Sky Corpse explained: "In ancient times, the three realms were connected, and there were three ways to transcend. The first was to be listed as an immortal, the second was to enter the netherworld and become a god, and the third was to become an immortal today."

Gu Wen understood that this Taiyin Order was just an organization.

I just didn’t expect that in the so-called ancient times, there were other ways to transcend, and it sounds like heaven and hell.

Suddenly a wisp of memory emerged. He remembered that his master had a conversation with the immortal Wukong, and there was no one in the fairyland.

When Gu Wen asked, the Sky Corpse smiled coldly and said, "The sky maintains the roundness of the sky, and the roundness means perfection and endless existence. The earth maintains the local area, and the squareness means the common sense of birth, aging, sickness and death. In the past, because the heaven and earth were incomplete, they needed the maintenance of the immortals and the earth gods, but now they are not needed."

"why?"

"Can't say."

Gu Wen looked thoughtful, and then he began to understand something.

Jianmu is seeking to become a saint, and there may be saints in both heaven and earth. Saints govern the rules of heaven and earth, and make up for the imperfections of heaven and earth. After perfection, they naturally do not need the assistance of humans.

Tianshi grinned and said, "It seems that you are indeed very lucky to be able to come into contact with beings of that level."

Whether directly or indirectly, many later generations of immortals are unaware of matters concerning the heaven and earth and the saints.

Behind Gu Wen is Qing Cang. The fact that he was able to break into the fairyland and come out alive had scared many old monsters.

"This Taiyin Order is useless now, but it may be useful. Who knows, you may be able to use it to enter Fengdu and meet that being."

"That's what happened after leaving the Immortal Realm."

Gu Wen stabbed Jun Yan's kidney with a sword, forcing him to retreat. This was safer.

"Okay, you go back and rest first."

Jun Yan limped away. The expressionless white-haired girl stood at the door and pointed to the side room and said, "I'll let you use it. Chanxi and I will just meditate in the yard."

"Thanks."

(End of this chapter)