The Mo Ya monk felt victory was within his grasp. Although the Ancestor Tree Golden Bell was taking shape, vowing to slay Star Covering and Zhao Qingxiao, he believed that it was just a minor setback. The grand scheme was set, and with the looming collapse of the Mingjiang Great Tree, how could a few small vines hope to stop it?

In his triumph, the arrogance typical of Buddha Country people inadvertently showed. He said, "I've heard there's a classic saying in Jing Country: 'If one hears the way in the morning, they can die content in the evening.' You experts and human demigods, being able to glimpse even a fraction of the king's divine skills from the Secret Realm, can die without regrets."

"Monk, I think you're wrong."

Master Wu Ya replied, "It's these divine skills of the Heaven and Earth chessboard that are truly unimpressive. In my opinion, the truly fortunate one is you—you are about to witness the infinite grandeur of another Heavenly Venerate. If this Venerate's methods are unleashed, you might truly feel 'if one hears the way in the morning, they can die content in the evening.'"

"There's another Heavenly Venerate within the Heaven and Earth chessboard? Are you referring to Blood Well?" The Mo Ya monk understood that Zhou Xuan harbored a Double Secret Realm, one of which originated from Blood Well Venerate.

"The will of Blood Well junior disciple is the hardest to awaken. Forced awakening will only replay the dreaded Laba night of old... I wasn't referring to that..."

"Are you then speaking of Tao Ancestor or Witch God?"

The Mo Ya monk commented with great disdain.

For reasons unknown, he harbored a bias against Master Wu Ya. If certain words came from Zhou Xuan's mouth, he would trust them completely, but from Master Wu Ya's, he would quietly discount their credibility.

Master Wu Ya raised his head and recited a phrase known throughout the Jingguo Taoist—"The Dao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Dao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name."

Mo Ya monk: "..."

...

The Ancestor Tree Golden Bell was still taking shape. Apart from the nine main ridges, the smaller root ridges also traversed the souls and flesh of other Mingjiang Hall disciples,

The souls and flesh acted as the adhesive between the Ancestor Tree and Golden Bell, to integrate them and create a feeling of true wholeness,

As their souls and flesh were pierced through, each hall disciple attached to the Golden Bell cried out in pain repeatedly, but despite their screams, there were almost no regrets among those who had fallen under the bell.

In this moment of pain and despair, mixed with the thrill of battle against Star Covering and Zhao Qingxiao,

The Music Master, with his flesh and blood, played out the Law of Music, and said, "If this battle commences, our souls will have nowhere to return to, but dying is dying. Still, if we cannot sing a song of triumph before dying, it's less than fulfilling. Comrades, I have a song that comes from the Young Master. Allow me to sing it for everyone,

This song is bold, fitting our current mood."

Using song to bolster morale, to encourage courage, is indeed a good method.

Naturally, everyone agreed.

The Music Master then started singing the song he heard when he first met Zhou Xuan—that Zhou Xuan had once sung, "A Laugh from the Vast Sea."

"A laugh from the vast sea, waves surging on two shores, rising and falling with the tide, only remembering this day."

"Heaven laughs, the bustle of the world cast aside, who wins and who loses, only heaven knows..."

Singing this line brought deep resonance among everyone. They even felt this song was written for today's event—the Ancestor Tree Golden Bell, converging the blood and souls of thousands of disciples, whether it can prevail over Star Covering, is truly only known to heaven.

If even heaven doesn't know, why worry about victory or defeat? Better to exalt high in song, vent the courage within, laugh at Mingjiang, laugh at the heavens above.

Great Music Must Be Simple; the more pleasing the song, the simpler its lines. Similar to this song "A Laugh from the Vast Sea," everyone, hearing just a few lines, could mostly follow along, and thus cared not for the beauty or ugliness of their own voice, singing together in unison.

"Mountains and rivers laugh, mist and rain afar..."

The singing became harmonized from its initial disorder, resounding through the skies, even causing the Golden Bell to hum in resonance, beating drums while singing, just the grandeur of the current scene...

...

Within Zhou Xuan's Secret Realm.

Both the Dragon Seeking Incense and Dunjia Incense had burned out, as Zhou Xuan, just like Master Wu Ya had said, was performing the Promotion Ceremony,

Yet this time's Promotion Ceremony was rather peculiar.

During Zhou Xuan's Dragon Seeking divination, using the Four Emperor Coins to inquire the path, they shot into his Secret Realm one after another.

The Emperor Coins spun above the Black Water within the Secret Realm, stirring four Water Dragons.

After the Water Dragons spun up, they transformed into the Four Divine Monarchs of the Taoist school.

Southern Emperor, Beitai Fengshen, these two Monarchs spread forward, and within the Secret Realm, an unprompted sandstorm arose.

East Palace Master, West Valley True Monarch, each pointed toward their own brow centers, transforming themselves into multiple streams, a tranquil valley.

During this, Zhou Xuan's surroundings changed scene; he was not standing in Black Water, but within a mountain valley pass.

Behind him were streams rich with Spiritual Energy and valleys, not far ahead lay a towering city wall.

On the city wall were three huge characters—Valley Pass.

Behind the gate's city tower was a setting sun in the west, while in front of the tower stood an elder riding a blue ox.

The elder's hair was white as crane feathers, his face youthful, dressed in a white Daoist robe, sitting idly upon the blue ox, ethereal like an immortal, or rather, he truly might be an immortal.

Immediately, Zhou Xuan understood who he was.

The Four Divine Monarchs in the Taoist school tower above the Heavenly Dome Level Gods of the Taoist school, with the Four Monarchs simultaneously appearing within the Secret Realm, collectively transforming into this old Daoist—his status was undoubtedly extraordinary.

Riding an ox, an old Daoist, heading west out of the Valley Pass...

All signs coincided, making Zhou Xuan recall a legend from his past life—Laozi travelling west to Hangu Pass, Purple Qi Comes from the East nine thousand li.

In his prior life, Laozi was revered as the Tao Ancestor, called Taiqing Daode Heavenly Venerate,

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