Tao and Heaven

Chapter 195: Sacrifice is the key to success

Ao Tang was not surprised, on the contrary it was exactly in line with his expectations.

There is no way Gu Wen would leave. This kid has been very arrogant from the beginning to the end, and his faith in Taoism is more steadfast than anyone else.

After five years of forbearance, he soared to the top of the Earth List.

"I need to remind you that you may have to fight one against two, or at least face a round-robin battle."

Yu Hua frowned slightly and said dissatisfiedly: "I can understand that Dao Sect arranged for Gu Wen to leave. But Senior Brother Xi has the eighth-seventh Dao foundation, and may even be higher. He already has an advantage in realm, so how can he use his numbers to bully the minority?"

The strength that Chan Xi had shown alone was not something that Gu Wen could easily surpass by three levels.

She wanted Gu Wen to leave, but she didn't want him to leave in such a miserable state.

"Huayang had anticipated this question. He said that Dao Zong recognized Gu Wen's current talent, but if he wanted to be willful in times of crisis, he would have to show a higher talent."

Ao Tang was no longer as playful as usual. Today he was particularly serious and said, "It is very difficult to revive Qingcang now. We have even lost the trace of the immortality medicine. We did not tell Dao Zong about this, but Hua Yang and Yun Miao are not stupid. They know better than you."

When Yu Hua got part of the immortality elixir in public, everything was out of control and the entire cultivation world fell into a strange silence.

A cloud of suspicion hangs over everyone.

Why didn't Qingcang revive? Was he unable to revive, or was he reviving? If he was reviving, then they still had one last chance.

Dao Zong had anticipated such a situation, but they were also gambling that Qing Cang would be able to have the final say after his resurrection.

Now it can be said that they did not win the bet, but the situation is not that bad, at least they found Gu Wen.

"Crossing levels is something that only geniuses can do. Only when you cross levels and defeat many enemies can you show your peerless style."

Gu Wen asked, "How do you win?"

"It's not a life-and-death fight, the sect's fighting rules are followed, and whoever loses in three moves will lose."

Ao Tang explained to him the rules of the Three Pure Ones Taoist martial arts competition, which is a relatively common competition rule in Taoism.

It is forbidden to kill people, take elixirs, or use magic weapons that exceed one's own realm. Other than that, only winning or losing counts. If there is an accidental disability, a special powerful person will investigate, and the person may even be sent to the Jade Emperor's Hall for Tianzun's review.

Gu Wen and Sanqing Daozi are from the same sect, so naturally they also have to apply this set of rules.

"You can use your immortal sword, but remember not to kill him intentionally. If you still injure or maim him accidentally, you can only blame him for his lack of strength. The same goes for you."

Gu Wen nodded and said, "I will pay attention, but the premise is that he also abides by the rules."

"He doesn't follow the rules, so you can kill him without any problem."

Ao Tang wanted to persuade him not to cause trouble here and leave as soon as possible, but he changed his mind and thought that Gu Wen was not an ordinary person, and he was not unreasonable.

We are just trying to gain the right to speak in a very compliant manner, but compliance is not necessarily right.

Even if Gu Wen defeated the Three Pure Ones, at this stage he still couldn't deal with those demon ancestors and Jianmu.

"Well, you just need to know your limits. I am your protector now, and I will go with you when the time comes."

Hearing this, Gu Wen did not show any joy, but instead could not help but frown.

His intention was too obvious. He was clearly going to give up on Yu Hua, just like he had given up on himself.

Yu Hua grabbed Gu Wen's arm and shook his head slightly.

At night, the moon is bright as a disk, and shooting stars streak by from time to time.

The mountain temple that had been abandoned due to the chaotic times became their place of residence. Jun Yan lit a bonfire to boil soup and cook. His small Qiankun bag was always filled with pots and pans, some grains and pickled vegetables.

Akabane was squatting with her knees hugged, the firelight illuminating her delicate facial features like those of a porcelain doll, and she was as dull as the doll.

Chanxi took the bamboo flute, put it to her lips and blew out a long melody.

Yu Hua stepped out of the threshold of the mountain temple and sat down next to Gu Wen, who was squatting on the steps. He looked at the jade pendant with a mythical beast inside in the other's hand. The divine light of the jade pendant gradually became brighter under the moonlight.

The white-feathered bird standing on the shoulder poked its head out, and as soon as it got close to the jade pendant, it was immediately slapped in the face by the subtle force transmitted from the jade pendant.

It was obvious that the divine beast didn't like it, but the white-feathered bird still approached it foolishly.

Yu Hua asked, "Is the pregnancy about to be completed?"

"It's still a little short." Gu Wen stroked the jade pendant, "The little guy may have sensed the danger and has been unwilling to be born."

For a mythical beast that takes thousands of years to grow, the last bit may be several years. But Gu Wen is more inclined to believe that the mythical beast should avoid danger and seek good fortune, as the current environment is too dangerous for it.

"What do you think it will be?"

"There are hairs, but I don't know the rest."

The two fell silent again, and the chirping of frogs and crickets became louder and louder, until a white star in the sky slowly lit up and began to slowly fall.

Yu Hua broke the silence, pointed at the slow meteor and said, "Those are the sacred mountains cast by Sanqing Mountain. There are countless mortals on each sacred mountain. They will take their spiritual veins, fields, houses, etc. and penetrate into the earth, and continue to reproduce and thrive."

"But not everyone can leave. All those who are celestial masters must stay, and so do I."

Gu Wen was speechless. He was thinking, he was calm, and looking for a perfect solution.

"Master, no matter how talented you are, you still have to sacrifice. Being a human being is all about sacrifice. Sacrifice your six desires to build up your virtue, sacrifice your nature to maintain etiquette, and sacrifice your life to continue the human race."

Yu Hua slowly grabbed his hand, as if to crush his calmness, and for the first time put pressure on Gu Wen.

Gu Wen was not a greenhouse flower, but she provided him with brief warmth.

Now it’s time to end this warm dream.

"The Dao Sect's sword that intimidates all races is destined to be cold, and we should be prepared. I may die, or I may not, and the same goes for you." Gu Wen clenched his fists and said in a low voice, "What if Master Qingcang is resurrected?"

"Then neither you nor I will die. Our master has the ability to suppress everything, but we can't just rely on him." Yu Hua said, "It is still unknown whether the immortality medicine is in the furnace, but it is known that you can become an immortal. You must survive."

After leaving the place where immortals become gods, I no longer have my celestial marrow or destiny. Can I really become an immortal?
Gu Wen was a little confused, but then he was weighed down by his iron-like mood.

What he has to do is very simple, kill the emperor, seize the alchemy furnace, and collect a large number of spiritual objects to become an immortal. This is the only constant.

It doesn't matter how many things happen during this period, he will never give in until his last breath.

"I will live, and so will you. As long as the elixir of immortality is in the land of immortality, I will find it even if I dig three feet underground."

"It seems like you didn't listen to a word I said. You always play dumb with me."

Yu Hua smiled sweetly, then moved slightly closer to Gu Wen and looked up at the sky where stars were falling.

"I still have one hundred years of life left. If there is no lifespan calamity, these hundred years can turn into a thousand years, or even ten thousand years. But don't worry, Master can help me solve the lifespan problem."

Will the master solve all problems?

Gu Wen suddenly felt a breeze blowing, as if it came from three thousand years ago, and a tall figure embraced them from behind.

He closed his eyes slightly, and through Yu Hua who was leaning on his shoulder, he called out to the existence that was like the mother of the human race.

In the vast space, he got the answer without saying a word.

"Child, she won't die. She won't die even if I die. But after Master is gone, you must know how to protect yourselves."

Everyone for me, and I for everyone?

Gu Wen came back to his senses, slowly exhaled a breath, and his heart was no longer heavy.

He seemed to have come to terms with it, and said in a gentle voice: "If things can't be done, I will take the initiative to leave."

Yu Hua didn't know what his master said to him, but he still smiled and nodded.

A whiff of rice aroma wafts over.

"It's time to eat, our good Taoist partner."

Jun Yan stood at the door with a wooden spoon in his hand. Only at this moment did the Holy Son of Demon Sect show humaneness, and the words "eating" were his only tenderness.

Yu Hua and Gu Wen got up and returned to the temple one after another, and then it started to drizzle outside again.

The hazy water vapor mixed with hot air, and the light from the fire made the light blurry.

Everyone held a bowl of mixed vegetable porridge, and although they didn't look like humans, they still ate like human beings.

Farming and eating grains are human beings.
-
The next day, early morning.

Gu Wen pulled up the sleepy Chan Xi, and asked her to be his sparring partner. She was also one of the incarnations of the Three Pure Ones. Logically, the strength of the three should be similar.

In the clearing in the forest, Gu Wen and Chan Xi stood on the left and right, with sword light and lightning flashing and colliding with each other.

Gu Wen took a step back and Chan Xi took two steps back.

The fight was over with just one move.

In this result, Gu Wen wins on the surface, but Chanxi is not a complete form, so the specific outcome depends on her response.

Chan Xi hesitated for a moment, and a rare smile appeared on her cold face. She said, "Congratulations, Junior Brother. My main body is not as good as yours in the same realm."

What I mean is just one level higher than me.

Gu Wen looked thoughtful. He had just made only one correct move, but he could still figure out a lot of information from it.

He didn't use his full strength just now, but since he won, he has an advantage, even if it is just one level higher.

"Junior brother, do you need my help?" Chan Xi suddenly asked, "I am also a member of the Dao Sect and can participate."

"Thank you so much, Senior Sister."

Gu Wen was not opposed to having help, and he and the Three Pure Ones were not mortal enemies.

What he needs is for the other party not to block his way.
-
In Luodu, there was war all the time.

Countless iron men marched shoulder to shoulder on the earth, and the laborers pushed the ladder trucks forward, like the arms extended by a giant, climbing up the towering city walls and overlooking this commercial city.

Nanchun was the first to climb up the city wall with the help of ladders and black-armored soldiers. At first, there were only small black dots standing on the wall, and gradually the black color swallowed up the yellow color.

On the city wall, the sound of fighting was deafening, the flashes of swords and the shadows of sabers were intertwined, blood flooded every crack in the stone, and the corpses were piled up to the point where they could no longer stand.

Outside the battlefield, above the clouds.

Gu Wen and his group reunited with the two incarnations of Sanqing Daozi.

Chanxi, Chanxi and Xi are all different from each other, yet they all have subtle similarities.

The two incarnations bowed in greeting one after another and introduced themselves as Chan Xi and Xi's Taoist names, and Gu Wen also returned the greeting.

There was not much tension between the two sides, but there was no intention of harmony either.

"Brother Gu, what is your answer?"

"Get out of the way."

(End of this chapter)