Becoming a god starts from planting a Bodhi tree.

Chapter 438 All Laws Return to One, One is Reality

"They even want me to catch a few more..."

Qinglian couldn't help but shake her head. This kid from the Ji family really did have some similarities to his ancestor. Once he caught someone, he would exploit them relentlessly.

Why didn't He Donghuang kill that guy back then?
Perhaps there will be far fewer problems now.

Qinglian glanced at the young juniors who were having a heated argument at the entrance of their "home," and then at Ji Jingqiu, who was unaware that he was the "protagonist" and was still meditating in seclusion.

"It seems like we're just one step away from success?"

After a moment of contemplation, Qinglian sat in the center of the formation, suppressing the Death Demon and forcing its escaping killing intent to surge suddenly, becoming intense and fierce!

Under the impact of this oppressive force, Ji Jingqiu suddenly broke through the final barrier, finally crossed the last heavenly gate, and stepped into the fifth level of the Heavenly King realm. His Dao power increased wildly, breaking through the threshold of the first level of Dao power.

Inside and outside the door are two different worlds.

"Such power..."

Qinglian, who was constantly observing Ji Jingqiu's condition, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise,
"Comparable to a newly ascended Celestial Venerable, isn't it? At the fifth level of the Heavenly King realm, his Dao power has already reached the first level. He's definitely chasing after He Donghuang from back then—"

As far as Qinglian knows, after He Donghuang temporarily broke with Ji Tianxing, he saw his own path to the other shore, with the foundation of the Great Dao based on the two words "simplicity" and pursuing absolute Dao power.

It was precisely because of this that He Donghuang, at the peak of his Heavenly King status, accomplished the feat of slaying a Heavenly Venerable.

After Chi Yinghuo was reincarnated, he intentionally or unintentionally approached He Donghuang. His goal before returning to the Heavenly Venerable was to kill the Heavenly Venerable in his Heavenly King form.

In Qinglian's view, Ji Jingqiu was also showing similar signs.

Ji Jingqiu kept his eyes closed, not yet ending his seclusion, but a wondrous scene of the Great Dao automatically appeared around him, and a faint chanting arose, as if explaining his new understanding of the Dao over the years.

In that wondrous scene that resembled a brand new universe, the Bodhi tree, stretching from heaven to earth, took root in the deep sea and flourished in the vast universe, using its branches as paths and its leaves as rules.

When the branches and leaves rustle, it's like ancient scriptures being turned, depicting the birth and death of all things, and the rise and fall of all paths.

At this time.

As each of "themselves" who had traveled to the infinite distance returned, they brought back their experiences and insights from their journeys.

Ji Jingqiu finally opened her eyes.

The path of cultivation knows no bounds of time.

After years of seclusion, he finally saw the path ahead and raised his Dao power to its limit, "returning" to the fifth level of the Heavenly King Realm.

A familiar, surging power welled up in my heart.

He used his fingers as a sword, gesturing in the void. During this seclusion, his mind traveled far and wide, and he was moved by the sights of the heavens, which allowed him to re-examine his past sword techniques and inspired him to develop new ones.

"It will take a long time to hone his skills before he can reach the pinnacle of the Heavenly King."

Ji Jingqiu sat cross-legged silently, sensing his own state, preparing to reach the peak of the Heavenly King realm in one go. Once he reached the peak of the Heavenly King realm, he would consider whether to go beyond the boundary to avoid the invisible gaze of the River of Fate.

He didn't know what it was for the time being, but he instinctively felt that there was something seriously wrong with it.

"Now that I've broken through the barrier, I'll go out and settle some personal scores."

Qinglian's voice interrupted Ji Jingqiu's thoughts.

The latter looked at him with suspicion, wondering what personal grudge he might have.
Qinglian asked curiously, "What exactly did you do when you went to the Dawn Realm that made these extraterrestrial sects so 'unforgettable' of you, even going to great lengths to hunt you down in the Federation?"

Ji Jingqiu blinked. The outer gate... was it the [Intercepting Heaven Sect], [Realistic Temple], and others?
He suddenly noticed that there was an unfamiliar man in the room.

The latter sat cross-legged in the corner, feeling Ji Jingqiu's gaze, opened his eyes and looked at him, his eyes calm.

Ji Jingqiu became more serious; the opponent's Dao power and aura were no less than his own.

Is this a Heavenly Emperor?
Besides Qi Tian, ​​where else in the vast universe...?

Ji Jingqiu suddenly recalled what Senior Qinglian had just said, and his expression showed a hint of surprise.

Those guys, did they deliberately chase him all the way to the Netherworld?
"It's just a misunderstanding," Ji Jingqiu said absentmindedly, mentally assessing how much of his "rehabilitation" he had regained.

He returned to the fifth level of the Heavenly King realm, which was equivalent to receiving the first tribulation of death. His Dao power broke through one level, making him comparable to the Heavenly Monarch.

I wonder what level of Heavenly Lords have come this time.

"Wasn't this person already won over by the senior?" Ji Jingqiu suddenly realized.

"The boy from the Ji family wants you to capture a few more Heavenly Lords so you can make deals with the forces in the Boundary Sea," Qinglian said casually.

Ji Jingqiu tentatively suggested, "Why don't you do it for me, senior? I'd like to continue my seclusion."

Qinglian rolled her eyes at him: "Do you really think I can just make a move at will? Unless those people voluntarily enter this sealed place, like that one."

Ji Jingqiu looked in the direction Qinglian pointed and saw that the fellow Daoist sitting in the corner had "walked right into the trap."

Xuan Yi, who was in the corner, also understood the implication and his smile was very bitter.

"Where do you come from, fellow Daoist?" Ji Jingqiu suddenly asked, cupping his hands in greeting.

“...Xuan Yi”.

"How many people from various families in Jiehai came this time?"

Xuan Yi sighed: "Including me, there are six of us."

Ji Jingqiu clicked his tongue in surprise. Six Heavenly Lords... all came looking for him?
During his trip to the Chaoxia Realm, four Heavenly Lords died at his hands. Even if each family sent one more, two more would still be there just to join in the fun.

"May I ask, fellow Daoist, what are the Daoist names and origins of the other five?"

Xuan Yi didn't hide anything, and even gave a very detailed introduction, including what level they were at before and what supernatural abilities they were good at.

The six of them did not come from the same school, and he had already "stumbled," so the best situation now was for Ji Jingqiu to step up and help them share the burden.

"Fellow Daoist is righteous." Ji Jingqiu couldn't help but praise after hearing this, and then said with regret, "Next time, don't trust others so easily. A dignified Heavenly Lord has fallen so unjustly. I feel sorry for you."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yi's expression clearly darkened, as if he was thinking of someone.

Qinglian was speechless. This brat and that boy from the Ji family really were birds of a feather, both with black hearts, and he was digging a pit for someone else.

Ji Jingqiu then used telepathy to ask Qinglian how this guy had come to their door.

He wouldn't be surprised if the other party found the Eastern Continent, but this sealed place was not something an outsider could find.

"It's Zhang Tiancheng."

Ji Jingqiu frowned. It was Zhang Tiancheng again? How did he know the coordinates of this sealed place?
This person is hiding quite a secret.

"By the way, don't rush to break through to the Heavenly Venerable realm, first step into the Heavenly Monarch realm." Qinglian suddenly transmitted her voice to Ji Jingqiu, "In this realm, it seems that I can grasp the basics of the 'Great Freedom Ultimate Meaning'."

Ji Jingqiu was surprised. Did he mean a Dao realm cultivation level on the same level as the other shore?
He didn't notice this at all while in the Dawn Realm.

"Besides Fellow Daoist Xuanyi, have any other Heavenly Lords come knocking on our door?"

"The fighting is taking place in the star systems surrounding the Federation, and it has already affected the star systems under the jurisdiction of the Nine Palaces," Qinglian said with a smile. "You caused this trouble, so deal with it yourself."

Ji Jingqiu nodded, got up and walked out of the sealed land. His powerful mental energy instantly merged with the trajectory of the universe, achieving oneness with heaven and earth, forgetting himself and the world, as if the universe and starry sky were his current "body".

With a state of mind of forgetting worldly concerns, he stood at another height, overlooking the universe and quickly locked onto two battlefields around the Federation.

Unlike the Dawn Realm, where the will of Heaven is dying, the Great Dao is dying, and the universe and starry sky have long been shattered, no matter how high Ji Jingqiu's mental cultivation is, he can hardly move even a fraction of the power of a dead world.

But at this moment...

Ji Jingqiu finally truly understood what it meant to be "unburdened by physical form, one's eyes are already in the Great Heaven".

The true meaning of this, as the breadth of his mind continued to rise, commanding the boundless void, drawing upon immense power to bless himself, was thus thoroughly understood in his heart.

"Self-sufficient, free..."

Ji Jingqiu murmured, her thoughts surging and shifting, a complete upheaval ensued.

"The fifth level of the Heavenly King Realm has truly enabled me to achieve the state of mind of forgetting worldly desires. Right now, I am... even stronger than those in the Dawn Realm!"

Ji Jingqiu's gaze was intense as he looked towards the Eastern Continent, where he also saw his own [One True Dharma Realm].

As his breakthrough was completed, the [One True Dharma Realm] was also undergoing a kind of transformation.

Within that light, Ji Jingqiu saw a glimmer of hope.

……

In the starry battlefield.

Under the combined attack of Zhang Yuan and Tian Yan, Kong Xiao had no choice but to fight and retreat. Even with the Five-Colored Divine Light protecting him, he had still suffered severe injuries from their combined killing techniques.

Left with no other choice, Kong Xiao had to steer the battlefield to the other side.

He remembered that there had been a considerable feud between Fu Dao and Tian Yan.

Sure enough, as he intervened on another battlefield, Fu Dao stopped Qi Tian from making a move, gave Kong Xiao a cold look, and then focused his attention on Tian Yan.

The latter returned the gaze defiantly.

Qi Tian's expression also became solemn.

Looking at it this way, it's not just one Heavenly Lord, but... four?!

When did the Heavenly King become as common as cabbage?
Although Qi Tian had never met these people before, as Heavenly Lords of the same era and backed by the Yin Spirit Realm, he naturally knew their Daoist titles, true appearances, and battle records, so it was not difficult for him to recognize them.

Even though he had just made a breakthrough, these were still formidable enemies, and apart from Kong Xiao, they were all top Heavenly Lords from their respective families.

Qi Tian couldn't help but feel a little doubtful.

Where did these guys come from?
It's not a battle of righteousness between different sects, nor is it a war of expansion. Why then have the top Heavenly Lords from each sect gathered here?

Even if it's for the sake of the mysteries of the Netherworld, they shouldn't all be gathered in the Yanhuang Federation.

"What brings you four here?" Qi Tian asked directly while pondering the question in his mind.

Zhang Yuan said coldly, "Qi Tian from the Yin Spirit Realm? I advise you not to interfere in this matter. Ji Jingqiu of the Yanhuang Federation, relying on the power of the Killing Calamity, brutally murdered my [Starry Sky Tower] Heavenly Lord Jiang Wanjing. This villain must be punished."

Tianyan said with a half-smile, "My poor junior brother Shidao also died at the hands of Ji Jingqiu. Although I didn't like him very much, the sect has ordered that we must use Ji Jingqiu's blood to wash away this shame."

Qi Tian fell silent.

Why does this term seem a bit niche?
The massacre of Jiang Wanjing, the Heavenly Lord of the Starry Sky Tower... Massacre?

The Heavenly Lord Master Blade of the Intercepting Heaven Sect also perished at the hands of Brother Ji?
Why did he say "also"?
Fu Dao also snorted angrily: "My junior sister Bai Lu also died at his hands! You surnamed Qi, do you still want to interfere?"

The third victim...

"Brother Ji is only at the third level of the Heavenly King realm, how could he have slaughtered your esteemed Heavenly Lord?" Qi Tian still didn't believe it. "This is probably a misunderstanding."

Zhang Yuan said in a bad tone, "What do you know? This scoundrel made some kind of agreement with Chaoge of the Chaoxia Realm. He inherited the Heavenly Calamity and his great power eventually reached the level of a True Saint. Even Chaoge willingly died under his sword, let alone my Junior Brother Jiang!"

Inheriting the calamity of heaven and earth...

Chaoge... Isn't this the strongest person in the Chaoxia Realm, one of the ten strongest people in the True Saint Domain?
He willingly died by Brother Ji's blade?!

Qi Tian was stunned on the spot.

He suddenly remembered that when he met Brother Ji the year they met, Brother Ji seemed to have no concept of the title "Heavenly Emperor".

As it turns out, this wasn't a matter of lacking understanding; rather, they had already shattered the Heavenly King's domain, even killing a supreme expert like Chaoge at their hands. Even with the impending doom of death, they remained unfazed by praise or blame...

In his eyes, what was a Heavenly Emperor like himself?
Qi Tian gasped, feeling heartbroken and having an urge to turn around and leave.

With Brother Ji's demeanor, there's no need for him to get involved!

The next moment, Qi Tian received a telepathic message from Ji Jingqiu.

"This mental cultivation..." Qi Tian's expression was solemn. He had long heard that the Yanhuang Federation's mental cultivation was unparalleled in the Netherworld, and seeing it today, he was certain that it lived up to its reputation.

He dreamt for three thousand years and went through hundreds of reincarnations before finally reaching the "sitting in oblivion" level of the Yanhuang Federation.

Not far away, Kong Xiao stood tall. Although his clothes were stained with blood, he had no intention of fleeing. Suddenly, his expression changed as he received a telepathic message from the Buddha, and his expression relaxed.

Tianyan keenly noticed the change in Kong Xiao's expression, narrowed her eyes, and suddenly looked around the void, saying:
"Fellow Daoist Ji, are you so stingy with a meeting?"

Fu Dao and Zhang Yuan also noticed the strangeness in the world.

As outsiders who had only been there a short time, their connection to the universe was far less acute than that of Ji Jingqiu's "locals."

Suddenly, Tianyan raised her right hand, and a snow-white blade flashed across the sky, like a bolt of lightning cutting through the cosmos. With a hiss, it sliced ​​the starry sky in two!
Zhang Yuan also raised his right arm, his expression calm and composed. He formed a fist and threw a punch without saying a word. The fist light was like the blazing sun in the sky, and the entire starry sky shook violently!
Kong Xiao frowned and was about to make a move when he received an order, which made him suppress his urge to attack.

Qi Tian crossed his arms, humming to himself as he prepared to witness Brother Ji's prowess.

In an instant.

The world seemed eternally silent. The two top-tier Heavenly Sovereigns joined forces, attempting to forcibly drag out Ji Jingqiu, whose mind resided at an infinite height overlooking them!

Break the latter's aloofness and let it return to the "mortal world".

The light of the flying knife annihilated everything, faster and sharper than the one Ji Jingqiu had encountered in the Dawn Realm!

The fist, which struck later but arrived first, pierced through the boundaries between the intangible and the tangible, creating a world and forcibly dragging Ji Jingqiu into it.

As expected of two top-tier Heavenly Lords, they are much stronger than Kong Xiao in the beginning!

Ji Jingqiu emerged from the sealed land, filled with awe, yet utterly devoid of fear.

In terms of spiritual power, he is still somewhat inferior to these two.

But the key to his victory is that this is his home turf!
With the combined efforts of the two, Ji Jingqiu's true form was revealed to everyone, as if he had been forcibly pulled into the mortal world.

Fu Dao's expression darkened slightly; Ji Jingqiu's cultivation level seemed somewhat off.

Tianyan sneered. No matter how promising a Heavenly King's future may be, how could he possibly stand up to the combined might of two top Heavenly Sovereigns?

Having achieved his goal, he did not stop. The blade flashed along a mysterious trajectory, containing the destructive power to annihilate calamities, piercing through everything in its path and silently obliterating everything in its way, as if returning to nothingness, even space and time!
With this strike, heaven and earth seemed to collapse and vanish into nothingness, piercing straight through Ji Jingqiu's Dao body.

Upon witnessing this scene, Zhang Yuan, who was a step too slow, was about to say something in dissatisfaction when a strange sight appeared in front of him.

Instead of showing the faint smile that came with success, Tianyan's expression turned serious for the first time.

This seemingly inevitable strike appeared to have landed on... loose sand?

Wherever the flying knife points, all phenomena and laws are born and die endlessly, and all kinds of rules emerge, just like flowers blooming and withering. In the end, it forms its own world, which still stands firmly under the annihilation and destruction of the flying knife, without any signs of collapse.

【The Realm of True Truth】—

A single speck of dust contains a world; a single grain of sand reveals the three thousand great worlds.

Under Tianyan's sudden all-out attack, the boundless power of Dao was dispersed into the Three Thousand Microcosms, disappearing into nothingness.

"The creation of heaven and earth?!" Zhang Yuan exclaimed in surprise. "No... the Heavenly King's Dharma Realm?!"

In this suddenly manifested world, everyone seemed to see a ray of light appear between heaven and earth.

It transcends the relative concepts of light and darkness; it is an absolute state where there is neither light nor darkness, and neither darkness nor light.

This light is permeated with a wondrous Taoist rhythm, a state of permanence without birth or death, absolute tranquility, and wisdom.

Kong Xiao's eyes shone brightly as he gazed at the ray of light.

In his perception, this was the light of wisdom, yet it was more than just the light of wisdom!

"This is the One True Dharma Realm!" Qi Tian's vision was different from Kong Xiao's; his expression was almost fanatical.

In a state of semi-enlightenment, he walked this land for nearly thirty years. If this continent had not already "owned" someone, he would have "merged with the Dao" long ago.

At this moment, Qi Tian, ​​who had just awakened from his dream, finally saw the true appearance of the [One True Dharma Realm]!

Ji Jingqiu reclaimed the [One True Dharma Realm] for the first time, and with its first characteristic, he neutralized Tianyan's attack.

The One True Dharma Realm encompasses all dharmas of the ten directions and three times. All matter, energy, cause and effect, and even the Great Dao that enter it will be reorganized according to its thoughts.

All things return to one, and that one is the truth.

All that he denies is false.

(End of this chapter)