Becoming a god starts from planting a Bodhi tree.

Chapter 454 I am the World Honored One
The two moved swiftly through the long street, engaging in fierce combat and entanglement in a small space. This was a "street fight" that neither of them had experienced in a long time.

This place was indeed strange; the aftershocks of their fight only shattered the bluestone slabs beneath their feet.

The vast majority of the aftershocks were swallowed up by the ghostly mist, causing minimal damage to the surrounding environment, and the surrounding materials were all of extraordinary hardness.

Ji Jingqiu reached out and grabbed the sword. His five fingers were as smooth as jade and as hard as diamond, capable of cutting through all magic. He directly grabbed the sword and wrestled it from his opponent!

The sword immortal was furious. For a sword cultivator, the sword is no less important than his own life. Since he attained enlightenment, no one has ever dared to "humiliate" him like this!
Above the sword's edge, with a sharp whistling sound as the Great Dao was torn apart, endless rules suddenly intertwined and spread, expanding from a point to a surface, covering everything in the world!

Before he could unleash his strongest true meaning, Ji Jingqiu first unleashed terrifying restraining and sealing power from his palms.

He grabbed the sword with his bare hands, and it clanged loudly. Although sparks flew everywhere, his flesh and blood were not cut open. Instead, the ripples of the Great Dao emanating from the sword became weaker and weaker and were gradually suppressed.

The sword immortal's expression changed drastically.

He had clearly already entered the Realm of Returning to Truth, free from the constraints and suppression of the rules of this world, yet he was now trapped in a predicament once again.

Left with no other option, he could only try to back away.

At the same time, this force felt familiar to him.

Suddenly, he looked up sharply, even forgetting to fight for the sword in his hand for a moment.

What I could see was that upside-down mountain in the distance.

"You dare to be distracted while fighting me?" Ji Jingqiu clenched his fist tightly. "You may not be very skilled, but you've got quite the nerve!"

The immortal sword flew out of his hand. Ji Jingqiu examined it for a moment and found that it was at least a Celestial Venerable Divine Weapon. It was in a dormant period, and the rank of the divine weapon could not be accurately determined.

Ji Jingqiu sheathed the other party's immortal sword with a backhand, while taking out the Azure Lord for himself.

The man, now only possessing the character "仙" (immortal), gasped at the strange Daoist aura of heaven and earth, realizing he had encountered an opponent who lacked martial ethics!

"If you have the guts, don't use a knife!"

His expression darkened. Instead of retreating, he continued to fight Ji Jingqiu, provoking Ji Jingqiu to lay down his weapon and fight him hand-to-hand, in order to verify some of his conjectures.

The old man and the boy behind them were completely unprepared to intervene.

The three of them were not originally a group; they were just temporarily traveling together.

"I was wrong about him. He's a very capable young man." The old man muttered to himself. "His Daoist aura isn't strong, which means he hasn't been with the Great Dao for long. His understanding of the Great Dao isn't outstanding, but his Daoist skills are extraordinary. He can actually shake a celestial weapon with his bare hands."

The young patriarch frowned as he stared at the battlefield, then looked towards the distant Upside-Down Mountain.

Why did the man who called himself "Sword Master" look towards that majestic sacred mountain in the distance when the battle reached its critical moment?
Did it sense something?

"Young people are so unrestrained, it's wonderful," the old man suddenly remarked.

The young patriarch looked back at the battlefield, his face expressionless.

The "unrestrained" attitude the old man spoke of meant that Ji Jingqiu did not put away his longsword under the sword master's provocation. Instead, he drew his sword fiercely, with surging blade light, and succeeded one after another, suppressing the sword master to the point of being speechless.

The sword master originally planned to use the same tactics against him, physically confronting the divine weapon and disarming Ji Jingqiu of the long sword.

But in the end, blood splattered everywhere, and Ji Jingqiu almost chopped off his entire hand.

"Come again!"

The sword master shouted, and his body became faintly ethereal, as if he had transformed into a ball of sword energy that could expand and contract. In the blink of an eye, a hazy sword light shot towards Ji Jingqiu.

These sword energies, whether hard and fierce or fiery and gentle, were all formless and invisible, instantly filling the void in a vast expanse.

As soon as the sword light appeared, the surrounding mist dissipated completely, revealing a clear sky stretching for thousands of miles, while simultaneously causing the mist to riot.

But the sword master couldn't care less about these things. He transformed himself into a sword, and there was nothing he couldn't cut down, not even the origin of time and destiny!
The next moment, a winding blade of light seemed to transcend time.

At the same time, the sacred land around Ji Jingqiu was no longer holy; blood rained down, and all eight kinds of suffering were present, as if he had fallen from godhood to demonhood.

This slash severed the true meaning of the eight sufferings and the cycle of rebirth, allowing one to struggle and cross the mortal world.

puff!
The body formed from sword energy reappeared, and the sword master's expression changed again. He was once again suppressed by the opponent's Great Dao and forced to withdraw from his strongest state.

This was originally one of his strongest forms, but the opponent's methods matched a certain power in this place of returning to the truth, as if negating his laws, his path, and everything about him, forcing him to return to his origin!

Returning to one's true self... This is the true meaning of returning to one's true self that they are pursuing!

With a hiss, golden, dripping blood flew everywhere, representing the essence of the Great Dao, scorching the bluestone slabs on the ground and emitting a strange corrosive sound.

The swordsman was sent flying backward, a gash appearing on his chest, the flesh torn open, the bone already injured, his expression slightly ferocious.

Once he had stopped, the sword master ran one hand across his body, forcibly stitching up his wounds temporarily, and said solemnly, "Who exactly are you? A seed that can possess such power is definitely not a newcomer on the path to enlightenment!"

He not only lost this battle, but he lost it so decisively that it was unbelievable among his peers. He even felt that his opponent had not used his full strength and still had a lot of hidden strength.

Ji Jingqiu had not yet spoken.

The young patriarch standing nearby suddenly asked, "What kind of seed are you talking about?"

The old man chuckled and said, "Brother Sword Master, if you can't beat someone, you just say they're not a newbie. That's not a good habit."

"Hmph, if you don't believe me, you can go up there yourselves and see for yourselves his strength!" the Sword Master sneered.

The old man shook his head and said, "Since you can't beat me, why should I bother? It just shows that the young people of the future are all more and more fierce. That's a good thing. The Great Dao should become more and more prosperous."

These remarks made Ji Jingqiu glance at this person.

at the same time.

The sword master secretly transmitted his voice to his two companions: "The power this person wields is similar to that upside-down mountain. Either join forces to capture him and interrogate him about his origins, or try to recruit him into our group."

The old man countered, "Even if the three of us join forces, are we guaranteed to take him down? This man's strength is extraordinary; he could find an opportunity to escape our encirclement at any moment. As for what happens next? Well, the three of us will just have to be on tenterhooks, constantly on guard against him emerging from any corner."

The young patriarch stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "I'll spar with you for a couple of moves. If you can suppress me, then on this path of returning to truth, the three of us will acknowledge you as our leader!"

The sword master secretly praised, "What a great step!"
The young patriarch stepped forward, his fingertips wisps of chaotic heavenly lightning, like sticky flowing water, hanging down to the ground. With a wave of his hand, he unleashed supreme thunder magic, endless lightning!
"This is bad..." Ji Jingqiu muttered to himself. "Why does it feel like I'm being forced to rebel against the Heavenly Gang?" The worst outcome had come.

He sighed inwardly at the unpredictability of life, but he had no choice but to take action. However, he eventually put away his long sword to avoid accidentally using too much force.

The sword master twitched the corner of his mouth upon seeing this scene.

Ji Jingqiu met the attack with one hand, unleashing boundless, sacred light that surged and surged, clashing with the lightning.

In the eyes of the three, Ji Jingqiu was not afraid of them at all. He fought the boy who called himself 'Yuan' with his bare hands. Between his palms and fists, lightning and boundless light collided and annihilated, and a chilling explosion sounded, just like the birth and death of the universe and stars.

A moment later, the boy felt his hands go numb.

The opponent's strength was unbelievably heavy; under normal circumstances, it was not just a simple second-level surface!

Ji Jingqiu did not hold back his strength, but he did not use his supernatural powers, for fear that he might accidentally unleash extraordinary abilities. Pure Dao power was easier to control and could be used freely and smoothly.

The two exchanged a hundred blows in the blink of an eye before Ji Jingqiu struck the young patriarch in the chest with a palm strike. As the chest caved in, the young patriarch staggered backward uncontrollably. The sword master snorted coldly, "Why does this guy seem to be holding back?"

The boy did not retreat, because he did not sense that power from Ji Jingqiu.

"Are you underestimating me?!" The young patriarch was furious, and at the same time, he no longer held back. Behind him, a black hole resembling the mouth of an abyss appeared, filled with an aura of immortality.

boom!
The endless Dao runes distorted the void, turning this world into a dead zone. A terrifying force of attraction and assimilation erupted, like an end point that swallowed everything, pulling Ji Jingqiu into an abyss-like black hole.

Helpless, Ji Jingqiu could only unleash his full power, and the crimson true world reappeared. He pressed down with one hand, as if the sky were falling, crushing all the great Dao patterns, and grasped the black hole in his palm. Then he closed his palm and forcefully annihilated the strange phenomenon of heaven and earth.

This time, Ji Jingqiu also used a method he learned from the "study," which was rather subtle, but the young patriarch noticed it immediately. He was so shocked that he almost forgot to make a move and was swept away by a palm strike.

The sword master "thoughtfully" caught Fellow Daoist Yuan, noticing the shock on the latter's face. Assuming he too was surprised by Ji Jingqiu's strength and the source of that power seed, he chuckled and said:
"It seems we've really met a master this time."

The young patriarch shook off his hand, somewhat dazed.

He was quite certain that it was some kind of minor technique he had left in the palace, which he had developed in his spare time.

This was unbelievable to him. Could there really be such an outstanding disciple among the descendants of the Yuan Chu Palace, who could surpass even the patriarch in the same realm?!
He built the Yuanchu Palace merely to leave a trace for posterity, ensuring the survival of his lineage and the possibility of its return in the future.

Or perhaps... the Yuan Chu Palace of later generations has already been destroyed, and even all its treasures have been taken away by hostile forces?
He didn't speak, nor did he reveal Ji Jingqiu's identity, nor did he even send any extra telepathic messages. He simply stood silently to the side, his eyes calm, quietly observing this potential "traitor."

The old man standing to the side looked serious; the battle just now had confirmed the sword master's words.

The other party truly possesses power nearly equal to that upside-down mountain; although not identical, it is at least a similar seed of power.

Could it be that they guessed wrong?
This person is not only not from the younger generation, but might actually be an ancient being far older than them?!

Otherwise, how could he have invoked the power of that mountain?

The sword master privately encouraged the old man to go up and learn from him, reasoning that with his vision and path, he might be able to analyze Ji Jingqiu's foundation and origins in the Great Dao.

"Who exactly are you?" the old man asked seriously, completely ignoring the sword master's words.

Ji Jingqiu wasn't ready to acknowledge the Ferocious Ancestor yet; he was just leaving the Ancestor in a state of surprise and uncertainty. Otherwise, if the fight continued, he might get itchy and not be able to resist, and actually reunite with him.

He glanced at the upside-down mountain; during the battle just now, he had also sensed a familiar fluctuation in the world.

"History that lasts for eternity..."

Ji Jingqiu muttered to himself, thinking of the existence within the Burial Sea.

He might need some help on this journey back to his true self.

He composed himself, looked at the three of them, and walked slowly towards them. The billowing mist that had been gathering around him dissipated again with each step he took.

Witnessing Ji Jingqiu's arrival, the eerie mist retreated in all directions, and the three of them's pupils contracted once again.

Although they have the means to dispel the fog, they cannot do it so casually, as if entering and leaving their own backyard. They simply approach, and the fog will retreat on its own initiative.

"The eternal night is endless, and the flickering candle illuminates the new frost. Era after era, you are merely interesting beings among them. To be able to remain undefeated in a single move by me is something to be proud of among those of the same realm."

Ji Jingqiu's expression was cold and his tone indifferent. He copied and modified the words from the being in the Burial Sea, emphasizing a sense of awe and shock.

However, it must be said that such "riddles" are very effective. The higher one's level of understanding and the more one knows, the easier it is for one to let one's imagination run wild and be fooled.

The three men looked solemn, filled with doubt and suspicion as they wondered about each other's identities.

The sword master said in a deep voice, "Who exactly are you?!"

“I am in a state of no-heart, yet I pursue the void; at the end of returning to truth, one can see one’s true form.” Ji Jingqiu turned his head to look at the upside-down mountain and said coldly, “If you chant my name, you will receive the protection of heavenly light and be immune to the invasion of the dark mist.”

"You've talked for so long, but you haven't mentioned your real name!" the sword master couldn't help but say, as he was very suspicious of this person's identity.

"The world calls me the World Honored One," Ji Jingqiu said calmly.

The old man's expression turned solemn: "Such arrogance!"

Whether one chooses to leave the world, engage with the world, or shun the world, or whether it pertains to a past life, present life, or future life...

The three worlds and ten directions are all within this world!
Who are these people who dare to call themselves the most noble in the world?!

"World Honored One?" The Sword Master dared to think and shout without hesitation, directly verifying Ji Jingqiu's statement.

The other two looked at him at the same time. Since this person had already tested the law, there was no need for them to try it themselves; they could simply check his condition.

Soon, they discovered that there seemed to be a hazy inner lamp shining faintly between the sword master's brows, dispelling the surrounding mist.

The sword master frowned. What kind of power could silently invade his body?
He poured all his spiritual power into the space between his eyebrows to search for the source of the Heart Lamp, but ultimately found nothing. The other party's power was not rooted in his body, but rather it was almost a kind of... unseen resonance?
The three of them were clearly shocked.

Can reciting this person's name truly bring some kind of invisible protection?
If that's the case, this person must have an extraordinary background and is most likely connected to the Land of Return to Truth, or even closely connected to it!
"Fellow Daoist, you are truly capable." The old man's eyes were deep. "My Dharma name is 'Cang'. I have met you, Fellow Daoist World Honored One. As per our previous agreement with Brother Yuan, I am willing to take you as my guide on the path to returning to the true self."

Ji Jingqiu stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance, and said indifferently, "To travel with me and lead you to the end of the path to truth is your greatest blessing."

The sword master's expression was strange.

This guy previously said that his true form could be seen at the end of Guizhen, and now he says that he wants to pay homage to the end of Guizhen. Is he trying to trick them into paying homage to his true form in a roundabout way?

The three exchanged glances and communicated telepathically, ultimately deciding to abide by their previous agreement, even if the end was fraught with danger. They were, after all, just one clone, working together to find the truth.

Moreover, with this leader, they can probably avoid many dangers along the way and go further.

That alone is a tremendous victory!
"The three of us are willing to take you as our leader and protect you along the way!"

In the end, the sword master, pinching his nose, took the lead in declaring that he could afford to lose.

The young man, Yuan, was still in a daze, hesitant and uncertain. He tried to communicate with Ji Jingqiu's primordial spirit, but all his efforts were in vain, with no response whatsoever.

Ji Jingqiu looked towards the end of the bluestone path. As his gaze fell, the mist receded, and the strange scene made all three of them look solemn.

"Since you've made your decision, then come with me." Ji Jingqiu said calmly, "If you harbor any disloyalty and dare to betray me, I will follow the law of cause and effect and sever your true form in the future."

The old man who called himself "Cang" nodded: "It is nothing more than an avatar. We can afford to lose and will not go back on our word. Fellow Daoist World Honored One, you can put your mind at ease."

He recited Ji Jingqiu's "real name" and looked at the mist to the side. He found that there were indeed signs of it dissipating, although not as obvious as the other party's. It was still quite remarkable.

Cang thought to himself:
"What kind of true name can be imprinted in this fragment of returning to truth, becoming a rule of heaven and earth? This person is either related to the Land of Returning to Truth, or... that Lord of the Netherworld?"

Just as the group set off, the Sword Master suddenly remembered: "Fellow Daoist World Honored One, what should we do if we encounter other people along the way?"

Ji Jingqiu had already gracefully moved forward, taking the lead and clearing the way, truly acting as a guide.

Upon hearing this, his response was quite rude and domineering.

"Trust me and stay."

"Those who do not obey me will be killed without mercy."

(End of this chapter)