When Yan Zhaoge heard from the Astro Sovereign, Chen Xuanzong that the Exalted Earth Luminary – Jiang Shen had finally returned to the World beyond Worlds, he let out a long sigh, "It's about to begin."
He checked his arrangements for the last time and calculated, "It's still a little rushed."
It would be best if he had more time.
However, that would be too idealistic. His opponent wouldn't wait for him according to his wishes.
Yan Zhaoge remained calm. After making all the necessary arrangements, he said to the Astro Sovereign, "Sorry for troubling you, your majesty."
"I'll do my best." The Astro Sovereign – Chen Xuanzong's expression was calm as well. He nodded lightly.
Then, Yan Zhaoge left the World beyond Worlds and arrived at the cosmic void outside of the boundaries.
His main body headed towards the Pill Hall where he had concealed his tracks, while the North Ocean Clone headed towards another direction.
Currently, in the cosmos outside of the World beyond Worlds, a silhouette was sitting quietly with his legs crossed.
Although they were separated by layers of void and boundless distance, the short-haired man's silhouette could be seen clearly by everyone in the cosmos.
Wherever he was, it was as if he was the center of the cosmos. At the same time, he seemed to be everywhere.
It was the Exalted Fire Luminary – Suo Mingzhang.
In front of him stood an old man who looked to be in his fifties or sixties.
The old man's gaze was gentle, but his expression was solemn.
Yan Zhaoge, who had seen his portrait countless times, naturally recognized him. He was the head of the World beyond Worlds' Three Sovereigns – the Earthly Sovereign. Now, he had ascended to the Virtual Immortal Realm and became the Heavenly Monarch – the Exalted Earth Luminary – Jiang Shen.
Just by the two of them standing there, the heavens and earth were dimmed, and everything around them was dimmed.
It was as if only the two of them were real within the cosmos, and everyone else was just an illusion.
As the North Ocean Clone got closer, the familiar sonorous voice of the great dao resounded in his ears again.
However, the sonorous voice of the great dao didn't suppress him at all. Instead, it felt even more profound, and he benefited a lot from it.
When he got closer, he could see the Sword Sovereign – Yue Zhenbei and the Concealed Sovereign – Yang Ce standing beside Suo Mingzhang and Jiang Shen.
Sensing the North Ocean Clone's approach, the Exalted Earth Luminary – Jiang Shen and the Concealed Sovereign – Yang Ce's gazes moved slightly and looked over.
The Northern Ocean Clone had a composed expression on his face as he cupped his hands in greeting, "Four seniors, forgive me for only coming here as a clone. Please forgive me for my lack of manners."
"A descendant of fellow Daoist Yan Xintang?" Jiang Shen smiled slowly, "While this old man has not been in the World beyond Worlds for a long time, the name of the Fallen Deity still resounds like thunder in my ears."
There was no trace of mockery on his face. Instead, there was a hint of pity in his eyes.
As a Grand Virtual Immortal Exalt, facing Yan Zhaoge who had yet to push open the Immortal Door and was still in the Martial Saint Realm, Jiang Shen's tone was very calm, as if he was an old man casually chatting with Yan Zhaoge.
"An outstanding young man like you will definitely achieve great things in the future. An old man like me should help protect you and pass on the torch. Only then will there be hope for the revival of our orthodox Daoism."
Jiang Shen slowly shook his head. "Unfortunately, fate makes fools of people. You became Yin Youming's successor, and your mother is a legitimate descendant of Bright Connection Hu."
The Northern Ocean Clone said, "Forgive this Yan's impertinence, but Elder Jiang's words are a little off."
"What the Dim Radiant and Bright Connection Emperors did in the past not only benefited us juniors. Even you and the Concealed Sovereign benefited from it."
"After the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord obtained all of the Heavenly Essence Stones, he doesn't have to forcefully capture them. As long as the Daoism martial art practitioners know of his existence, no matter where they are, as long as he's willing, he can directly illuminate them through space."
The Northern Ocean Clone looked at Jiang Shen, "Even a Heavenly Monarch like you who has already achieved Five Qis Unification might not be an exception."
Jiang Shen didn't feel offended. He said plainly, "It's true. Whether it's Yin Youming and Hu who used their authority for personal gain or something, it's hard to say even now."
He paused for a while before saying, "If it's true, we have to admit that not only this old man owes them a favor, but their contributions will also benefit the entire orthodox Daoism. However … currently, and for a long time in the future, we can't publicly acknowledge them and praise them."
"In fact, even if it's true, what we're doing now won't change."
The old man said calmly, "With the current situation, we have to do many things that go against our own will. However, no matter how difficult it is, we can only do it."
"All the merits and demerits now will be judged by the future generations. What we have to do now is to fight for a future for the future generations."
Yan Zhaoge's North Ocean Clone's expression didn't change at all, "However, what kind of future would that be?"
"It's true that the heretics are powerful now, and it's not easy to defeat them. However, it's also because of this that they won't let us, the orthodox Daoism, rise up again."
If it was still within the heretics' control, they might ignore it.
However, once there were signs of it going out of control, they would definitely attack it.
Even if it wasn't a destructive attack, it would definitely cause a huge setback and return to a controllable safe range.
It was just like rearing sheep and then shearing the sheep.
Under the situation where they kept a low profile and were under the control of others, unless there was a huge external change, it was almost impossible to break through such a seal from the inside.
"The situation isn't always the same." Jiang Shen clearly understood what Yan Zhaoge meant. He said calmly, "The world is far more complicated than what most people know."
"However, it might not necessarily be a change that's beneficial to us." Yan Zhaoge was similarly calm.
Jiang Shen didn't object.
No one could guarantee that the world would change as they expected, and that everything would be beneficial to them.
Even the Future Buddha and the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord couldn't do it.
Facing this Heavenly Monarch bigwig who had an irreconcilable grudge against his sect, Yan Zhaoge remained calm, "Although I'm not on the same path as you, your efforts for the revival of Daoism are still praiseworthy."
"You've contributed a lot to the World beyond Worlds' development."
As he spoke, he calmly looked at the Exalted Earth Luminary – Jiang Shen, "However, the World beyond Worlds, even the Roving Jade Heavens, and all of the Three Clear lineages have hope of reviving. The Southern Extremity Longevity Emperor, the Incongruence Divine Mother, the Exalted Wood Luminary, the Dim Radiant Emperor, the Bright Connection Emperor, and the others have also contributed a lot."
The North Ocean Clone extended his hand and flipped the back of his palm, "It's unrealistic to hope for us to give in and pay a part of the price in exchange for time and space. After all, our opponents wouldn't agree to it."
"The current fragile balance isn't because the heretics are kind to us. It's because we, the orthodox Daoism, have borrowed the opportunity of the Pure Land and the Immortal Court restraining each other to carve out a path of survival."
"Other than the Immortal Court and the Blessed Lands' mutual restraint, the most important reason why the heretics didn't completely fall out with us and made up their mind to annihilate our Three Clear lineage is because our Three Clear lineage has at least three Heavenly Lords."
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