Chapter 181: You’re Really Eleven Years Old?
True Profound Training Ground.
With the departure of the Savage Emperor and Baoshu Buddha, the original clamor gradually quieted down, but the shocking gazes showed no sign of calming, all looking toward White Mountain Old Daoist.
Now that the melee had stopped, the original tense emotions faded away.
They only gradually realized what had happened.
They originally thought that what they came to attend today was merely the Heavenly Human Ceremony of a newly promoted Heavenly Human from True Profound Sect, but who would have thought that this so-called newly promoted Heavenly Human was actually the rumored Patriarch of True Profound Sect, True Profound True Monarch!
“We pay respects to True Monarch!” A majestic voice echoed through True Profound Mountain, as the congregation all respectfully bowed down.
This was a living True Monarch.
If they could obtain even a tiny bit of guidance, that would truly be earning a full pot, an unparalleled opportunity that was rare and hard to come by.
The congregation’s gazes were all fiery.
White Mountain Old Daoist just smiled and waved his hand.
Now that they had emerged into the world, there was naturally no need to hide anymore. Anyway, in a few days, the old guys would successively emerge.
“Thank you all for coming to attend this old Daoist’s Heavenly Human Ceremony, and for startling everyone.” He showed no airs, and the congregation was all flattered and surprised, saying it was nothing.
True Profound Sect disciples were incomparably fanatical.
The rumored Patriarch appeared before their eyes, that faith condensing into a dreamlike reality made many older Daoists excited to tears, they never imagined that White Leaf True Person, who had no proper demeanor, was actually the Patriarch.
Ning Qi had already returned at some point unbeknownst to others.
Dragon Mountain Daoist met his gaze, Ning Qi just smiled and nodded, he immediately felt relieved, while sighing in his heart at the same time, the tacit understanding between master and disciple was all in the eyes, while the other True Martial Disciples still had no idea what had happened, only Zhuang Chen and Li Ling had some guesses.
White Mountain Old Daoist glanced at Ning Qi, then raised his voice:
“Today, this old Daoist will lecture to you all on the Way of the Heavenly Human.”
Previously, they had already reached the preaching stage, but it was interrupted by the Great Awakening Temple crowd, now without interference, they naturally continued.
They couldn’t accept gifts and not do anything.
The congregation immediately boiled over.
True Monarch personally preaching the Dao, this was far higher than previous expectations, Dragon Mountain Daoist sat upright, even Ning Qi felt some anticipation.
On the Dao platform.
White Mountain Old Daoist sat casually, the vast Dao sound already resounding:
“The Heavenly Human cultivates the three flowers of Heaven, Earth, and Man. Though the three flowers are Heaven, Earth, and Man, their root cause cannot escape the character ‘Man’…”
At this moment, White Mountain Old Daoist’s expression was ethereal, slowly expounding the principles of the Heavenly Human, that True Monarch demeanor naturally emanated, and one could see anomalies of mountains and rivers occasionally appearing in Heaven and Earth, flocks of white cranes circling in, the Dao sound vast, as the guests listened enraptured, feeling as if enlightened.
Ning Qi could tell that White Mountain Old Daoist was not holding back.
Whether to compensate the crowd for the shock they received today or for other reasons, he lectured on the Way of the Heavenly Human extremely thoroughly, practically imparting everything he knew.
Not only that, he was also using profound power to empower his preaching, aiding others
This was a Martial Saint Realm expert’s comprehension of the Way of the Heavenly Human, from a high vantage point there were bound to be some unique aspects, even Ning Qi felt he gained something from listening, let alone others, some even involuntarily shed tears, deeply moved with a sense of “hearing the Dao in the morning, one could die in the evening.”
He didn’t know how much time passed.
White Mountain Old Daoist finally slowly stopped preaching.
The guests were still savoring it, all having gained something, some even broke through on the spot, grateful to tears.
“We thank True Monarch for the grace of preaching the Dao!”
Everyone was excited, immensely grateful.
This was not mere formality, but completely from the heart.
What White Mountain Old Daoist lectured today completely unfolded the Way of the Heavenly Human before everyone, something that previous Heavenly Human Ceremonies could never have, the greatest beneficiaries were the Heavenly Human Realm experts who came, today’s preaching swept away many of their confusions, in the future they only needed to take one step at a time, and they would inevitably reach realms they previously dared not hope for.
As for the other Gang Yuan Realm or young juniors, they also gained much, the Heavenly Human Realm might be far from them, but today’s lecture from shallow to deep also set a goal for them to pursue.
White Mountain Old Daoist chuckled and raised his brow:
“You all should reflect on it often and work hard.”
His words seemed to contain some admonition and encouragement, the congregation was even more grateful, Ning Qi’s brow twitched, he initially thought White Mountain Old Daoist was compensating the guests for the disturbance at this Heavenly Human Ceremony, but now it seemed not necessarily, otherwise there was no need to preach so selflessly.
Now it felt more like hoping everyone would improve their strength to cope with something.
Guesses arose in his heart.
The congregation all respectfully saluted:
“We will remember True Monarch’s teachings!”
After a moment of quiet, a Heavenly Human Realm expert boldly stood up, from the world’s number one Daoist Sect Yin Yang Sect, named Yang Li True Person, he took a deep breath and said:
“There is one matter I wish to ask True Monarch!”
The congregation’s hearts all jumped.
White Mountain Old Daoist said indifferently:
“Speak.”
Yang Li True Person dared not offend, carefully asked:
“Dare I ask if True Monarch has lived for ten thousand years?”
White Mountain Old Daoist slowly shook his head:
“No, a Martial Saint can at most live three thousand years. We Ancient Saints coming to the present world used different means.”
Ning Qi’s eyes condensed.
“True Monarch, with Ancient Saints successively appearing in the world, is there some major event about to occur?” Gaze after gaze filled with eagerness, they vaguely sensed unease.
White Mountain Old Daoist was silent, only sighing after a long time:
“The time has not yet come.”
Yang Li True Person quickly apologized.
The congregation’s hearts all jumped.
But White Mountain Old Daoist had already stood up, drifting away amid the numerous reverent gazes.
The rest was left to White Leaf True Person and the other two to continue the proceedings.
Some formal words naturally had to be said.
But from the congregation’s still unsettled gazes, one could foresee what massive changes would come when today’s events spread, likely causing a great earthquake throughout Great Yan, with Ancient Saints returning, many forces might reshuffle.
Some currently powerful Martial Arts Sects might not have long inheritances, while some declining small forces might have Ancient Saints reviving.
But what unsettled the congregation even more was, what exactly did the return of Ancient Saints mean?
Ning Qi had no heart to stay here, after giving Dragon Mountain Daoist a look, he also quietly departed.
…
True Profound Sect Scripture Depository top floor.
Ning Qi slowly stepped in.
White Mountain Old Daoist, who was flipping through ancient books in front of the white jade bookshelf, turned around, his Daoist robe fluttering like a flying immortal, his demeanor completely different from what Ning Qi had seen before, but the next moment, that True Monarch demeanor vanished, he grinned revealing big yellow teeth, then clicked his tongue:
“You sneaky Young Ning, hiding so deeply!”
He circled around Ning Qi, constantly sizing him up, a lecherous glint unavoidably appearing in his eyes.
The slight unfamiliarity that had risen in Ning Qi’s heart instantly disappeared, he casually slapped away White Mountain Old Daoist’s right hand, rolling his eyes:
“Same to you, you never told me you were the renowned True Profound True Monarch.”
White Mountain Old Daoist chuckled:
“That was keeping a low profile, this old Daoist isn’t one for ostentation, besides I did remind you, follow this old Daoist in the future, eat well and drink spicy, no problem, it’s your own fault for not getting it.”
Ning Qi gave him a glance, casually picking an ancient book from the shelf.
He had some doubts before, where these ancient books came from, now he understood, eight or nine out of ten were collected by the one before him, possibly even written by him.
Ning Qi opened the ancient book and said:
“It says here that the power of Heaven and Earth is called spiritual energy, what does that mean?”
White Mountain Old Daoist gave him a look as if he were a country bumpkin:
“In ancient times, everyone called it that, but later the inheritance was cut off, the name spiritual energy was gradually omitted, later people out of reverence called it power of Heaven and Earth, of course, not entirely for that reason, strictly speaking, power of Heaven and Earth and spiritual energy do have some differences.”
“You don’t even know this? Kid, you aren’t really eleven years old, are you?”
He stared straight at Ning Qi, as if trying to discern something.
Mainly because Ning Qi’s previous performance was too astonishing, actually suppressing Baoshu Buddha, though White Mountain Old Daoist always disdained Baoshu Buddha’s character, he acknowledged his strength, an Ancient Saint who lived to the present wasn’t someone just anyone could impersonate.
By reason, except for a few special people, no one in this era could be a match for old monsters like them.
Ning Qi was absolutely an exception.
Ning Qi raised a brow:
“Or what? How old do you think I am? Twelve?”
White Mountain Old Daoist grimaced, feeling somewhat stifled in the chest, he finally sighed long:
“Damn… what a prodigy!”
There was regret in his eyes.
“If born ten thousand years earlier, perhaps…”
Ning Qi heard the implication, he just asked:
“Why was the inheritance cut off?”
White Mountain Old Daoist sighed:
“All erased at once.”
Ning Qi was surprised:
“Not done by Great Yan Martial Saint?”
White Mountain Old Daoist laughed:
“Naturally not, though this one’s methods are also extremely strong, but relying on him alone couldn’t make all Martial Saint Methods disappear in the river of history.”
This resolved a doubt in Ning Qi’s heart, previously whether Wu Jianghe or Demonic Sect Grand Elder, both thought Great Yan Martial Saint wanted to monopolize and erased all Martial Saint Methods, now it seemed not so.
Ning Qi stared straight at White Mountain Old Daoist:
“Why so?”
White Mountain Old Daoist’s gaze became profound:
“Cannot say.”
“Is it related to the anomalies in Heaven and Earth?”
“Cannot say.”
Ning Qi fell silent, he exhaled lightly and said:
“Is there anything you can tell me?”
White Mountain Old Daoist sighed:
“Some things aren’t that I don’t want to tell you, but if I forcibly say them, it’s no good for you or me. Wait until the day you step into Martial Saint Realm, you’ll naturally know, but for you now, stepping into Martial Saint Realm isn’t easy, no Martial Saint Method, no dense spiritual energy, you’ll need to wait some time.”
The two spoke, standing shoulder to shoulder gazing out the window.
“So, you all now are not Martial Saint Realm either?” Ning Qi was asking, but his tone very certain.
In the previous battle he perceived very clearly, except for that Blind Old Man, the other three relied on Martial Saint Secret Treasures just like him, the only difference being these three were once powerful Martial Saints, so even the Martial Saint Power condensed by manipulating secret treasures was handy, able to erupt with great power.
White Mountain Old Daoist nodded:
“Correct, right now spiritual energy revival hasn’t happened, I’m no different from you, merely Heavenly Human Perfection, the previous power relied on my Natal Secret Treasure, True Xuan Seal.”
As he spoke.
He turned his palm, a small seal floated above it, profound qi clearly manifested.
Ning Qi also took out King Yu Bead.
White Mountain Old Daoist suddenly realized and laughed:
“You indeed obtained a Martial Saint Secret Treasure too, actually figured out how to use it, truly not simple, but I didn’t expect the Martial Saint Secret Treasure you got was King Yu Bead.”
Ning Qi astonished:
“You know this secret treasure? I got it from Demonic Sect.”
White Mountain Old Daoist showed reminiscence:
“Naturally. Speaking of it, this old Daoist even met the owner of this King Yu Bead once, seems like the turn before last reincarnation, then last reincarnation awakening, found Great Yu already replaced by Great Yan, that one also disappeared, don’t know if he chose other seclusion methods.”
Seeing Ning Qi’s expression somewhat grave, White Mountain Old Daoist laughed:
“Relax, if that one really awakened and returned, this old Daoist will mediate for you then, no big problem. But I think he’s most likely in trouble, not necessarily able to return.”
Ning Qi nodded slightly.
He really didn’t know if this King Yu Bead’s owner would come looking for trouble, but he wouldn’t pin all hopes on others, he just remembered the matter, secretly raising vigilance.
White Mountain Old Daoist shook his head with a wry smile, knowing Ning Qi hadn’t fully taken his words to heart.
Ning Qi asked again:
“You just mentioned spiritual energy, what is it?”
White Mountain Old Daoist thought and said:
“Do you remember I just said power of Heaven and Earth and spiritual energy still have some differences?”
“The difference is spiritual energy.”
“In our era, for some reasons, all Martial Saint experts decided to strip the spiritual energy from spiritual power, thereafter it gradually evolved into the current power of Heaven and Earth, without spiritual energy, though power of Heaven and Earth still has great power, it lacks much spirituality.”
“Do you know why True Xuan Seal and your King Yu Bead can condense spiritual power? Oh right, spiritual power is what you commonly call Martial Saint Power.”
He smiled slyly.
Ning Qi naturally wasn’t stupid, instantly comprehending:
“You mean, these two secret treasures contain spiritual energy?”
“Good lad, and without spiritual energy, can’t condense spiritual power, you wanting to step into Martial Saint Realm is basically impossible.”
Ning Qi’s heart jumped, first time knowing this theory, but he immediately frowned and said:
“But I know some can step into Martial Saint Realm using external objects, like Southern Border’s Blood Emperor Gu and Demonic Sect’s Saint Pill, do these two contain massive spiritual energy?”
White Mountain Old Daoist waved his hand:
“Achieved using external objects are mere False Saints, in the current Heaven and Earth environment, he himself is a funnel, once acting will continuously consume spiritual power, even realm falling, unless one day spiritual energy revival happens, and with corresponding method, only then possible to gradually stabilize and become true Martial Saint.”
“Otherwise, such False Saints can only bully little Heavenly Human Realm guys, meeting old things like us must kneel, of course, you kid are the exception.”
As he spoke, his face again couldn’t help showing astonishment.
