Yefutidaolu

Chapter 359 Further to the East China Sea
On the way back to the Land of the Dead, a cold wind swept across the desolate land.

Gao Jian sat in the carriage, with strange beasts pulling it in front of him, and Xia Youdu opposite him.

He reached out and lifted the curtain of the small window on the carriage, his gaze sweeping over the scenery along the way.

Under the vast sky, several vultures were fiercely tearing at the remains of a rotting carcass, feathers and blood flying everywhere.

On the distant horizon, beside a small oasis surrounded by withered thorns, several rogue cultivators stood wary of each other, their hands on the hilts of their swords, facing each other in a tense standoff. In the center of them, there were a few swaying plants that emitted a faint spiritual energy.

The ubiquitous scenes of this world coldly attest to the state of things at this moment.

Competition, natural selection.

This is the most naked depiction of the world—a war of all against all. For survival, for resources, for everything, mortals, noble families, sects, and cultivators alike are all locked in a bloody struggle.

When one person blocks another's way, one instinctively tries to push them out and take their place.

The Four Pillars of the North did not die at his hands, but were destroyed by the world itself, by this endless, mutually destructive war.

This kind of competition is the worst foundation of the world.

Gao Jian withdrew his gaze, his eyes remaining completely calm.

The strange beast pulling the cart strode forward, carrying him and Xia Youdu behind him, continuing towards that deeper, more profound, and more deeply entrenched realm of darkness.

The Gobi Desert beneath them was deathly silent, except for the invisible millstone that turned ceaselessly deep within people's hearts, among noble families, and among sects.

Competition most fully reflects the war of all against all that is prevalent in the world today.

Ordinary people compete with each other for a meal and a place to live; powerful families compete with each other for resources and a dominant voice; various sects and cultivators compete for a chance and a glimmer of hope for immortality.

This war, this war for survival, for everything, and therefore, when necessary, a war of life and death, is fought not only between the classes of society, but also between the members of those classes.

One person is blocking another's way, so everyone tries to squeeze out the rest and take their place.

Ordinary people compete with each other, and so do noble families. Various sects and practitioners are all competing.

Competition is fierce, and everyone tries to eliminate their rivals.

Therefore, the Four Pillars of the North were destroyed. They did not die at the hands of Gao Jian, but were destroyed in the course of this world.

This kind of competition between each other is the worst aspect of all relationships in the world.

Really...

What a world!

----------

Several hours later, in the depths of the Yellow Springs.

Xia Youdu walked ahead, pushed open the door, and then turned around to welcome Gao Jian back.

We've come to this place again.

Here, several floating pearls illuminate this space.

However, the faint light could not change the oppressive atmosphere here. The air was stagnant, and Yuan Lu sat not far away, his figure completely shrouded in a black robe.

The shadow of his hood obscured his face, but his eyes, like cold stars burning in the abyss, pierced the darkness and fell upon Takashi, who had just entered the hall.

That gaze was calm and expressionless, yet it sent chills down your spine.

"You're back?" Ancestor Yuanlu's voice rang out, deep and magnetic, like the ancient friction of rocks, echoing in the empty hall.

Gao Jian bowed and said, "Yes, Ancestor. I have not failed you."

“In just over a month…” Ancestor Yuan Lu’s voice was devoid of emotion, only a pure statement: “The four pillars of the North, deeply rooted and interconnected, were all overthrown and vanished in your hands.” He paused: “No wonder you were able to strategize in Liangzhou, destroy the Jin family, and disrupt my plans. You are indeed… very capable. You are even more capable than I imagined.”

Gao Jian maintained his composure, humble yet steady: "Ancestor, you flatter me. This is not my doing, but merely a matter of leveraging the power of others and taking advantage of their influence. The Fang family has lost control over its subordinates and its foundation is rotten; the Liu family is insatiable, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant; the Wei and Wang families are blinded by greed, their mutual trust as thin as paper. I merely saw these flaws and gave them a push, causing them to kill each other. Such petty tricks, manipulating people's hearts, are insignificant in the grand scheme of things."

"A minor trick? Insignificant?" Ancestor Yuanlu seemed to chuckle. "With a wave of his hand, he caused the internal strife among the powerful clans that had dominated Youzhou for hundreds of years to collapse, without expending a single soldier or soldier, and without touching the sensitive nerves of the clan groups, preventing them from banding together to launch a counterattack... He obtained so much wealth for nothing—"

His slender fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, producing a crisp "tap-tap" sound.

"I've reviewed the list. The resources gained from destroying the Four Pillars far exceeded expectations. It's more than enough to cover the portion needed for the trade with the True Dragon of the East Sea." Ancestor Yuanlu's gaze seemed almost tangible as it fell upon Gao Jian. "To manipulate events with a mere flick of the wrist, to turn the tide and create rain, to leverage enormous power with minimal effort, to devour huge profits without tainting oneself—this is considered a 'minor skill'?"

Gao Jian slowly straightened up, raised his head, and said, "Compared to the Great Dao of Immortality, these are naturally insignificant techniques and not worth mentioning."

A brief silence fell over the main hall.

The shadow beneath the hood of the Old Ancestor Yuanlu seemed to sway slightly, and his gaze lingered on Gao Jian's face for a few moments, as if trying to see right through him.

Gao Jian met his gaze calmly, without flinching.

After a moment, Ancestor Yuanlu slowly spoke, breaking the silence. His voice returned to its previous deep tone: "Very good. Only by not being attached to material things and having one's heart turned towards the Great Dao can one hope to ascend to heaven."

He changed the subject: "Then, without further ado, Youmingdi will quickly take over and digest what it has gained from the North, transforming it into a portable and easily tradable form, and complete the preparations for delivery as soon as possible."

He leaned forward slightly, seemingly with some urgency, and said, "Once we're ready, we'll... set off immediately for the East Sea."

The expert nodded in approval.

That's right, this is the real heart of the story.

This is the ultimate goal of this trip.

The so-called destruction of the Four Pillars of the North and the seizure of resources mentioned earlier were all just a prelude.

All of this was done in exchange for the opportunity to comprehend the legendary fragments of the Dragon Clan's secret manual, which contained the profound mysteries of reincarnation! And Ancestor Yuanlu promised to share this opportunity with Gao Jian!

Gao Jian closed his eyes slightly, as if trying to calm his mind.

His face appeared unusually calm in the dim light, even carrying a hint of pure longing for the Great Dao.

However, beneath those lowered eyelids, deep within those seemingly devout eyes, a chillingly cold and pure killing intent, like a venomous dragon lurking at the bottom of an abyss, quietly opened its eyes.

Chance……

Ancestor Yuanlu wanted to use this opportunity to seek a glimpse of the path to breaking through the shackles of the twelfth realm and glimpsing the realm of Earth Immortals or even higher realms.

His brilliant idea was... to find an opportunity on the shores of the East Sea, in that secret place guarded by the dragon clan, during that subtle moment of shared enlightenment... to kill this old ancestor of the Netherworld who had lived for countless years and possessed boundless magical power!

This idea was insane and dangerous enough to terrify someone like Xia Youdu.

But at this moment, it burns clearly and firmly in Gao Jian's heart.

Changing the world? That grand, almost illusory goal might require the fall of countless giants like Yuan Lu as a stepping stone! The first step is right before our eyes!
The next moment, Ancestor Yuanlu neither formed a hand seal nor chanted a spell. He simply slowly raised the hand hidden beneath his black robe.

With a slight lift of his finger, a massive, suffocating vortex instantly formed, centered on the spot where Yuan Lu and Gao Jian stood!
The thick, dark clouds were violently torn apart and twisted, forming an inverted funnel-shaped vortex, its core as black as ink, as if leading straight to the deepest hell!
"Om-!"

With a loud bang, Xia Youdu felt her soul tremble violently, as if she were being forcibly shaken out of her body by the silent roar. Her face turned pale, and she staggered back several steps, covering her ears tightly.

In the next instant, Yuan Lu merely flicked his sleeves, and an overwhelming yet incredibly gentle force enveloped Gao Jian. The next moment, the surrounding scenery suddenly stretched and blurred, transforming into flowing, iridescent lines that shot backward!
The heavens and earth seemed to be folded, and distance lost its meaning.

The last time Yuan Lu "carried" him like this, Gao Jian felt as if his internal organs were being squeezed and displaced, his bones were about to break, he was in a sorry state, his whole body was smashed into mincemeat, and his vital energy was almost completely exhausted.

But this time, the power that was enough to tear apart ordinary cultivators was like the gentlest flowing water, holding him steadily without him feeling even the slightest bump or discomfort.

Yuan Lu had clearly restrained his power, and this subtle difference in control revealed a subtle shift in his attitude towards Gao Jian—from a tool that could be manipulated at will to someone worthy of a little "courtesy".

Beneath their feet was a surging sea of ​​clouds, and above them was a vast starry sky. They sped eastward at an unimaginable speed.

The silence didn't last long. Yuan Lu's deep, indifferent voice rang out clearly within the rapidly moving barrier of gale-force winds:

"The East Sea is far superior to any divine dynasty," he began.

The expert bowed and said, "I am all ears."

Yuan Lu continued, “Within the Divine Dynasty, there are still laws, etiquette, and aristocratic families to check and balance things. Even if there is infighting, it is covered by a veil of warmth. The East Sea… only power is respected, and the law of the jungle is the way of the world. Its cruelty is even greater than that of the Netherworld.”

Gao Jian remained calm and asked, "I've heard that the True Dragon Clan, which dominates the East Sea, has almost nothing left to desire. Is it possible that they also engage in endless infighting like mortals?"

"Struggle?" Yuan Lu's voice seemed to carry a hint of sarcasm: "It's more than just struggle. In fact, if it weren't for the numerous factions within the True Dragons, constantly checking and scheming against each other, and endless infighting, how could the Divine Dynasty have become the ruler of the world today, with their unique bloodline and power? The Dragon Clan is inherently proud and greedy; territory, resources, mates, offspring... all can become reasons for a life-or-death struggle. The intensity of their internal strife often leaves other races astonished."

Gao Jian nodded slightly. This explained why the powerful dragon race had failed to completely dominate the human realm. He continued, "I have read ancient texts that mention the 'Dragon Gate' wonder in the East Sea. Legend has it... that it's not only aquatic creatures that can leap over it?"

Yuan Lu nodded, not surprised by the insightful observation: "You do know quite a lot. Indeed, the 'Dragon Gate' is a wondrous creation of heaven and earth, containing incredible transformative power. All sentient beings, fish, insects, snakes, pythons, birds, beasts... even humans!" He deliberately emphasized the word "humans," "As long as one's innate talent, comprehension, and opportunity are sufficient, and one can endure the pain of being reborn and undergoing a soul-refining process, leaping over the Dragon Gate can shed one's mortal form and be reborn as a dragon! This is the path to defying fate and changing destiny, and it is also the source of chaos in the East Sea."

Gao Jian was astonished: "There are actually humans who can transform into dragons?"

He really didn't know that!

This isn't mentioned in the Xuanhua Tongmen Daodao Ge. Is it a recent development in the last eight hundred years? Just like the 'Divine Strategist' of Yuezhou before.

The world is constantly evolving, and the Xuanhua Tongmen Daoda Ge (a Taoist epic) is not omnipotent. Even Gaojian (a person with profound insights) is not entirely clear about the latest and trendiest things.

“That’s right,” Yuan Lu affirmed. “Deep in the East Sea, there is indeed a human race whose ancestors, through some unknown opportunity or great perseverance and wisdom, successfully leaped over the Dragon Gate and transformed into dragons. This race is the ‘Liu Clan.’ They hold a special position in the East Sea, serving as vassals of the dragon race. Due to their unique nature, they are also subject to suspicion and exclusion. However, they are still formidable and should not be underestimated.”

Gao Jian remained silent for a moment, digesting this astonishing information.

Humans transforming into dragons? This overturns conventional wisdom.

He then asked, "If that's the case, how does the True Dragon Clan maintain its rule in such a chaotic and turbulent land? And what ideology governs the East Sea, where all races vie for power?"

For the first time, Yuan Lu's voice carried an almost reverential, icy quality:

"Absolute confidence brought about by the Way of Evolution!"

"Survival of the fittest. The strong live, the weak die; the victor seizes everything, the loser becomes sustenance. This is the only rule of the East Sea, and the 'worldly way' that the True Dragon Clan regards as the guiding principle! They not only do not prohibit competition, but encourage killing and condone plunder. In their view, only the most brutal elimination and tempering can give birth to true strongmen and maintain the 'vitality' of the East Sea and even the entire world."

"But the true dragon has never lost."

He paused, his tone carrying an indescribable complexity:

"Therefore, there are no righteous wars in the East China Sea, only eternal struggles for interests and power. Our journey here to trade with the true dragon is no different from seeking a tiger's skin. We must carefully adhere to the 'natural law' at every step—demonstrate sufficient power and value, otherwise we will be offering ourselves up as resources."

Gao Jian listened quietly, his gaze fixed on the approaching deep blue sea to the east.

The scene of the East China Sea depicted by Yuan Lü was more naked and cruel than he had imagined.

The "Way of Evolution" pushes the law of the jungle to its extreme, a more primitive and bloody millstone than the power struggles between divine dynasties and aristocratic families.

However, he is not afraid.

Gao Jian looked up and gazed at the distant horizon.

The speed didn't decrease; in fact, it seemed to increase. The sea of ​​clouds below was completely left behind, the scenery flashing by at high speed, leaving behind blurry shadows.

In the far distance, where the sea meets the sky, a thin, deep blue line gradually becomes clearer and wider.

That is the East China Sea!
Coming soon!

(End of this chapter)