Liang Wendao was startled. The Samadhi True Fire sealed within the first page of his Ten Thousand Scroll Heavenly Tome was fearsomely potent, certainly no mere trifle. Although he hadn't expected to incinerate Feng Zikang in a single strike, he certainly hadn't expected him to emerge completely unscathed, shattering the attack with such ease!
“A junior with some skill, I see!”
Liang Wendao’s face shifted, and he clapped his hands together. “Open the Heavenly Tome!”
Even if this brat’s cultivation was profound, he couldn't possibly withstand the continuous unsealing of the Heavenly Tome and the assault of its formidable sealed divine abilities!
Hurricane winds, ice and snow, ten thousand years of cutting blades, mountains pressing down from above!
As the Heavenly Tome continued to turn its pages, the sealed divine abilities grew stronger and stronger. Feng Zikang shielded himself with a sheath of sword light, traversing through them calmly; they simply couldn't harm him!
Liang Wendao was greatly alarmed. The divine power of his Ten Thousand Scroll Heavenly Tome was extraordinary; he prided himself on it being the most potent artifact. To think he couldn't even subdue a junior at the Foundation Establishment Mid-stage left him utterly disheartened.
The soldiers watching from the formation were spellbound. They watched Feng Zikang stand as steady as Mount Tai amid the torrent of divine abilities, showing not a trace of fear. Unsurprisingly, they erupted in cheers, their applause thundering like rolling thunder!
Liang Wendao’s persistent attacks yielded no result, further dampening his morale.
Feng Zikang sneered, and his sword light flared abruptly.
“Sect Master Liang, courtesy demands reciprocity. You have attacked so many times; it’s time you took a strike from me!”
He uttered a soft cry, and myriads of white sword lights converged into a single beam, slashing toward Liang Wendao’s head. Unable to dodge completely and unwilling to meet it head-on, Liang Wendao pulled out the golden Ten Thousand Scroll Heavenly Tome and held it before him. With a chira sound, pages scattered like shredded leaves—this artifact was actually being destroyed by Feng Zikang’s Starlight Great Extinction Sword Technique!
Liang Wendao’s courage was utterly shattered, and his reputation ruined. He uttered no more words, merely sweeping his sleeve across his face and fleeing in disarray!
Seeing their master retreat, Geshu Luo was terrified out of his wits, and the army’s morale evaporated. Luo Kedi seized the advantage and led the troops in pursuit. They chased him down, striking off Geshu Luo’s head from behind, and pressed their advantage, slaying countless others.
The Great Tang’s first military expedition thus ended in a crushing defeat and rout.
When this news reached the court, how the Emperor would rage, and how further punitive expeditions would be launched—that was a matter for the future.
Feng Zikang knew that the Great Calamity of Heaven and Earth had already begun. He also knew it was brewing relentlessly and might take several decades to unfold. He was in no hurry; for the time being, he decided to take his leave of Wu Ji and return to the Military Household on Dragon Tiger Mountain.
Wu Ji and Luo Kedi tried hard to persuade him to stay, but Mr. Xu Wan laughed heartily. “Commander, General Luo, do not be so insistent. Let Brother Feng return. If you ever face an insurmountable difficulty in the future, you can invite him then. Furthermore, Brother Feng’s influence in the cultivation world might be even greater than it is within our ranks!”
Feng Zikang offered him a faint smile and a slight nod.
Hearing this, Wu Ji ceased his insistence and accompanied him out respectfully. Though reluctant, Luo Kedi had no choice but to comply.
Feng Zikang left Lizhou but did not rush back to the mountain; instead, he pondered the situation slowly.
War had broken out, and the campaigns launched by the Great Tang Emperor would naturally be continuous. Within the military formation, he was not afraid, but looking at this Great Calamity, the deciding factor in victory or defeat would primarily be the cultivators.
The Great Tang Emperor had the backing of the Three Teachings—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism—and formidable figures would surely emerge ceaselessly. Not only could Feng Zikang not stand against them alone, but even if his strength sufficed, confronting the Three Teachings head-on would require the support of the Military School. This was why, during the confrontation with Liang Wendao, he had not sought to kill him outright, sparing his life.
From the demeanor of Sect Master Yuan Buhuan, it seemed the Military School might indeed stand with the Wu family. However, since the situation was still unclear, no definitive judgment could be made.
His purpose in returning now was to ascertain the attitude of the Military School faction on Dragon Tiger Mountain!
“If the Nine Streams intend to break away from the Three Teachings, this matter becomes quite interesting…”
Feng Zikang vaguely sensed the attitude of the Military School and the Nine Streams regarding this entire affair.
After all, the world was currently dominated by the Three Teachings. Despite belonging to the righteous path, differences in perspective were inevitable. It was not surprising that the Military School might see an opportunity to exploit this vacuum.
“If that is the case, perhaps I should invite friends from the Three Mountains and Five Peaks to assist Wu Ji.”
As he was contemplating this, he suddenly felt a pressure capable of shaking heaven and earth washing over him from ahead. Even at a height of a thousand zhang, he felt a slight jolt, and a great wonder filled his heart.
“What is happening ahead that generates such world-shattering energy?”
He waved his hand gently, pushing aside the clouds, and looked out. He saw a massive man seated on a mountain peak, wielding an enormous stone staff. His brows were furrowed with deep, dark rage—this surge of Heaven-defying energy was emanating entirely from this man!
Feng Zikang’s heart tightened. Although he couldn't discern the man’s cultivation level, the mere stirring of his anger could shake heaven and earth; this man’s divine prowess must be extraordinary.
After a moment of thought, he planned to detour around him.
“You boy floating up there!”
Unexpectedly, the giant man suddenly shouted aloud, his voice like a thunderclap, making Feng Zikang’s ears buzz.
Feng Zikang dared not delay. He stepped out of his cloud chariot and offered a respectful salute with cupped hands.
“Senior, may I ask why you called upon me?”
A wise man does not take undue offense. He had no idea of this giant man’s origin or the extent of his power, so caution dictated he should avoid offending him.
The giant man scratched the back of his head, pulled his lips into a grin that looked worse than crying, and said, “You kid, you’re quite sensible. I initially intended to give you a good beating—two hundred strikes, as is fitting—but since you’re so polite, I, your elder, won’t bother with that! Let me ask you something!”
Feng Zikang offered a wry smile. This man seemed willful in his conduct. He had called him over intending to vent anger through violence, but thankfully, Feng Zikang’s proper etiquette had made the man feel awkward, causing him to switch to asking a question instead.
“Senior, please ask away.”
The giant man suddenly looked vacant, scratching his head again. It seemed this question had been troubling him for a long time.
“Let me ask you: among us cultivators, what is the purpose of seeking eternal life?”
“This…”
Feng Zikang had not anticipated that the giant man’s question would be such a fundamental query about the Dao.
Many people had their own answers to this question, and not every answer suited every individual. What the giant man asked was naturally for his own sake.
“What each person seeks naturally differs. For my pursuit, it is victory—to conquer all that is unconquerable, to become unmatched…” When he first cultivated the Dao, this was Feng Zikang’s answer, and he often questioned himself; this answer had not changed.
But clearly, this answer offered the giant man no help. “Then what is the use of surpassing all living beings?” He shook his head, deep confusion clouding his features.
Feng Zikang sighed, “Senior, that goal is merely my personal realization. What you desire, only you yourself know in your heart. Such questions can only be asked of the self; what use is it to ask others?”
“What use is it to ask others?”
A desolate expression spread across the giant man’s face. “My Master also told me the same thing…”
The ferocity in his expression intensified, and he waved his arms in frustration, revealing muscles like steel cables beneath his skin.
“Back then, when I first apprenticed under my first Master, my mind was simple, and I never wasted energy worrying about such trifles. Of all the myriad Daos, all the myriad transformations, I only asked one question: does it grant immortality?”
“Later, having achieved the path to immortality, doubts began to plague my heart instead…”
This giant man had already attained the Dao of Immortality?
Feng Zikang’s face turned pale, disbelief warring with shock.
What did achieving the Dao of Immortality mean? Even General Lu, unrivaled in his time, would not dare utter the phrase ‘Dao of Immortality.’ That Celestial Emperor Sheath Fish Spirit, possessing such divine power that it could create and sustain a Mystic Realm for forty-eight thousand years, still perished and still had not attained the Dao of Immortality!
One who has attained immortality is no longer a mortal; they are an Immortal!
The giant man chuckled, “Little brother, you need not be afraid. Attaining the Dao of Immortality was my endeavor when I was young. Later, I encountered some misfortunes, and now I’m not sure if I’ve achieved it, but this physical body is difficult to destroy. My current cultivation, however, cannot surpass that of my second Master…”
This statement only confused Feng Zikang further.
“Senior, are you an Immortal cast down to the mortal realm?”
The giant man frowned. “Perhaps you could count it that way, but those Immortals are nothing special. Those who truly ascend to the Upper Realm are quite different from the deities in the Heavenly Court and the Mystic Realm; they generally create their own realms. I was deceived back then and went to serve in the Heavenly Court’s Mystic Realm…” Alas, these unlucky matters are useless to recount.
He tapped his head. “It’s just that these past few days, I’ve been constantly thinking about what the right path truly is. My Master attained the Immortal Fruit position but deliberately refused it, preferring to suppress the beings of the Nine Hells with his own cultivation. Watching his power wane daily, which in turn causes mine to decline, is truly tedious.”
Feng Zikang listened, trembling. This chance encounter on a desolate mountain had exposed him to a realm of cultivation he had never heard of!
This giant man had once gained the Dao of Immortality, and his Master, after achieving enlightenment, abandoned that Dao, forsaking even eternal life. For what reason?
Furthermore, the fact that the Master’s cultivation decline caused the disciple’s cultivation to fall as well was strange indeed.
It was no wonder the giant man looked troubled; saddled with such a Master, if one lacked a firm Dao heart, confusion was inevitable.
“Senior, what did you plan to do after achieving eternal life?”
The other party’s pedigree was immensely high, so Feng Zikang did not mind spending more time trying to enlighten him. The giant man looked up and thought for a moment. “Naturally, I planned to roam the world day and night, drinking wine and seeking pleasure, often practicing martial arts and divine abilities with my sworn brothers. And then, just let things be…”
His desire was vulgar and common. With such a heart, one could achieve the Dao; his spiritual aperture was naturally pure and exquisite.
“If that is so, Senior, why can’t you do that now?”
The giant man’s face darkened, a faint gloom entering his eyes. “That path… is no longer possible. Seeing my Master act that way, my heart can no longer be carefree. The state of mind I once had cannot be sought again.”
He gave a faint smile. “Now I always feel that I should accompany my Master to complete that unreasonable idea of his, even if it means never achieving immortality. So be it…”
What kind of Master was this?!
Feng Zikang’s expression changed again. It was one thing for his own actions to be affected, but this Master’s actions were actually moving his disciple, even disrupting his established Dao heart for achieving immortality!
The giant man’s eyes shone with unconcealed admiration and gratitude.