The Great Way to Truth, Starting from Jiazi Laodao

Chapter 292 A Shocking Speculation

The universe is filled with dazzling stars.

Faced with the scrutinizing gazes of the powerful figures, Xuanming tried his best to suppress the trembling and anger in his heart. His mind was racing as he repeatedly pondered Zhong Neng and Ji Yuan's words.

As for his own safety, he was not worried.

Now that our side is deeply bound to him, we will not let him get into trouble without solid evidence.

The Master of the Way of Peace: "This is only the one side of the story of these two fellow Daoists. Is it entirely accurate?"

Zhong Neng: "Don't the words of the Dao Ancestor and the Four Great Dao Venerables count as evidence?"

The Master of Taiping Dao said, “When I was a great master, I saw the remnant soul of the Nanhua Dao Venerable. I was able to escape from the hands of the two fellow Daoists thanks to the help of the remnant souls of the four Dao Venerables. Under their guidance, I foresaw the calamity that would destroy the world in the future.”

If Xuanming is the reincarnation of the Dao Ancestor's evil intentions, then my assisting Qiuming would be aiding and abetting evil. Why then would the four Dao Venerables rescue me, while my two fellow Daoists were severely injured by them?

After a moment of silence, Zhong Neng continued, "Perhaps the four Dao Venerables are only remnants of their souls, with incomplete memories. In addition, you are a promising talent with the potential to become a half-immortal. You couldn't bear to see your brilliance go to waste and wanted to help the world cope with the future catastrophe. That's why you left to save us."

"Seriously injuring me and Fellow Daoist Ji Yuan was a last resort. After all, the remnant souls of the four Dao Venerables are ultimately inferior to their original forms, and their power is difficult to control freely. It was inevitable that I would be too heavy-handed for a moment."

The more he talked, the more uncertain he felt.

Over the past thousand years, Zhong Neng and Ji Yuan have sometimes pondered and discussed this issue, and have several guesses in their minds.

The Master of Taiping Dao raised an eyebrow and sneered: "Oh? Then I accidentally killed you. Please don't blame me, as mistakes are inevitable."

Zhong Neng was furious: "You!"

Ji Yuan: "Enough! Stop with the verbal sparring, business is more important."

The Taiping Daoist glanced at Zhong Neng with lingering interest, then looked at Ji Yuan and said, "Fellow Daoist speaks with such certainty that Xuanming is the reincarnation of the Dao Ancestor's evil thoughts. However, the remnant souls of the Four Great Dao Venerables have survived for thousands of years due to their obsessions and still have the ability to severely injure the two fellow Daoists. I'm afraid their obsessions are extraordinary. Only the mystery of the White Jade Capital can explain this."

Even if their memories are incomplete, they should still remember the truth vividly and not forget it. What do you think, fellow Daoist?

Ji Yuan: "What you say makes sense, fellow Daoist."

"I do not mean any disrespect to the Dao Ancestor, but the words of the two fellow Daoists contradict the actions of the remnant souls of the Four Dao Venerables. Do you agree?"

Ji Yuan: "This old man... admits it."

The leader of the Taiping Dao nodded and was about to continue his efforts when Xuanming stopped him.

"Fellow Daoists, I have a few questions that I would like to ask you both."

After giving Xuanming a deep look, the Master of Taiping nodded, temporarily shutting up and letting Xuanming speak.

---

The great powers in the starry sky remained silent.

They were all curious about what Xuanming would ask.

Some were thoughtful, speculating, and waiting to confirm their answers; others simply wanted to know the specifics.

Zhong Neng and Ji Yuan had complicated expressions.

After the fall of the Four Great Dao Venerables, they, as the most outstanding third generation of the Daoist sect, shouldered the heavy responsibility of guarding the reincarnations of evil thoughts from the time of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top of the Head.

Except for his first life, in which he was killed by the Four Great Dao Venerables, his evil thoughts were sacrificed to them in every lifetime for thousands of years afterward.

They both hated and sympathized with Xuanming.

Looking at Zhong Neng and Ji Yuan, Xuan Ming asked, "May I ask you two fellow Daoists, if the remnant souls of the four Dao Venerables are missing their true memories, why didn't your former masters leave behind any inherited spiritual treasures? Dao Venerable Nan Hua and Dao Venerable Dong Ling could do it, so there's no reason why the other two Dao Venerables couldn't."

May I venture a guess that the four Dao Venerables, or the Dao Venerable Tongxuan and the Dao Venerable Chongxu, foresaw something that compelled them to decide not to leave behind the spiritual treasure?

What exactly made the Daoist Master so wary that he couldn't even trust his own disciples?

Is it because the two fellow Daoists are going to act as accomplices to evil or have been bewitched by a higher being?
Although it seems absurd, it might not be impossible.

Zhong Neng and Ji Yuan felt a jolt in their hearts. These words, so hurtful they seemed to have struck a nerve; their master's failure to leave behind a sacred treasure was a lifelong source of pain for them.

However, they were somewhat inclined to follow Xuanming's line of thought, and the other powerful beings also found it terrifying upon closer examination.

If that's the case, then...

Some of the powerful beings subconsciously looked at Bai Yujing, and couldn't help but shiver, suppressing their crazy and audacious thoughts.

In the starry sky, Xuanming continued to ask questions:

"Fellow Daoists, why don't we make another bold assumption? What if the four Dao Venerables were also deceived?"

What if the Dao Ancestor was corrupted shortly after suppressing the source of evil, and secretly instigated rebellions in the Netherworld and beyond? What if the one who escaped was the Dao Ancestor's benevolent intention, but was slandered by the evil intention?

After all, Baiyujing's sealing was meant to suppress evil thoughts, not good ones.

What if the four Dao Venerables, after slaying the so-called evil thought in its first incarnation, suddenly realized the truth, and, filled with regret and hatred, knew that the matter was irreversible and could not be undone, and thus sacrificed themselves to strengthen the seal of the Jade Capital, completely sealing away the power of that Dao Ancestor?

Who told you two fellow Daoists that you were to be responsible for sacrificing the reincarnations of evil thoughts?
If it were the two Dao Venerables, Chongxu and Tongxuan, then this speculation would have occurred when the four Dao Venerables joined forces to seal Baiyujing, and each of them separated a wisp of their remnant souls to prepare to warn the world.

If it weren't for two Dao Venerables, then it would be quite intriguing.

The powerful beings who heard this became increasingly terrified.

The same applies to Zhong Neng and Ji Yuan. Xuanming's hypothesis was shocking, but upon closer examination, it turned out to be strangely reasonable.

Their thoughts were unconsciously led astray.

---

stop!

We must stop!

Zhong Neng and Ji Yuan realized that something was wrong.

They tried their best to suppress their surging thoughts and control themselves from going astray from profound and mysterious ideas.

We must not fall into their trap.

The two immortals frantically tried to stop it, but when they calmed down, they looked at each other and saw cold sweat on each other's faces.

Zhong Neng said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Xuanming, please be careful with your words. Do not fabricate such nonsense in order to distort the truth."

Having anticipated this question, Xuanming calmly replied, "Since you are unwilling to accept this, and do not want to make such a conjecture, and feel that I am being unreasonable and confusing right and wrong, then let's change our perspective and continue to speculate."

Zhong Neng and Ji Yuan's hearts pounded upon hearing this.

They wanted to stop it, but that would make them seem guilty, like they were trying to cover something up.

The other powerful beings also felt a jolt in their hearts, and their reactions varied. Some were curious, some were puzzled, some were excited, some were anxious, some were fearful, and some were uneasy.

While deep in thought, the Master of Taiping smiled and wanted to continue listening. Some of Fellow Daoist Xuanming's ideas coincided with his own, and some of his guesses made his eyes light up. The fog that had been bothering him disappeared when he thought about it from a different perspective.

Xuanming paid no heed to the thoughts of the powerful figures. He spoke up and asked, "Fellow Daoists, have you ever heard the saying 'One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black'?"

Zhong Neng nodded.

Ji Yuan said, "Of course."

Xuanming smiled and continued, "Over the years, I have offered sacrifices life after life to reinforce the seal of the Jade Capital. Have I done any good or meritorious service?"

Zhong Neng subconsciously retorted, "That's true, but there's a reason for it..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xuanming interrupted him.

(End of this chapter)