The sun sets in the west.

Qilin Cliff was tinted a golden yellow by the remaining glow of the sunset.

Inside Yuxu Palace, Yuanshi Tianzun slowly opened his eyes, which seemingly contained countless worlds appearing and disappearing like an illusion.

He held the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi in his right hand and gently shook it in a mysterious rhythm.

Suddenly, the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi came to a halt.

A faint hint of realization flashed in Yuanshi Tianzun's eyes as he murmured to himself, "So it is at Linhuan Pass?"

He looked towards the Southern Continent, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers upon layers of space, traversing immeasurable distances, yet ultimately saw nothing.

Something was blocking his vision.

However, the more this was the case, the more it indicated that someone was concealing something.

A slight smile curled at the corners of Yuanshi Tianzun's mouth as he softly commanded, "Go and summon the Vice Sect Hierarch here."

"As you wish."

The Bai He youth serving in the hall replied softly and quickly stepped out.

Soon after, Vice Sect Hierarch Randeng Taoist entered, bowing deeply with utmost respect.

Yuanshi Tianzun looked at him and asked, "Do you know of Linhuan Pass?"

Randeng Taoist's brow furrowed slightly, and with hesitation, he said, "I only know that this place lies in the southeast barbarian lands of Great Shang, downstream of the Huai River and adjacent to the East Sea. The land is vast and sparsely populated.

Previously, Great Shang intended to clear the land for cultivation and to establish a fortified pass to contain the Eastern Yi and the southern barbarians, but due to repeated rebellions in the North Sea, a large number of elite troops were redeployed to suppress the uprisings, causing the land clearing efforts to be abandoned."

Yuanshi Tianzun indifferently stated, "Yu Yuan of the Jie Sect is now at Linhuan Pass, so there must be something unusual there."

He left one thing unsaid.

He now suspected that the stolen power of the Xuan Bird might indeed be hidden in Linhuan Pass.

Randeng Taoist nodded understandingly and said solemnly, "Then I shall immediately go to Linhuan Pass to investigate clearly."

"Just ascertain the situation; do not act rashly for the time being," Yuanshi Tianzun ordered lightly.

"As you wish!"

Randeng Taoist responded respectfully, "Does the Sect Hierarch have any other commands?"

Yuanshi Tianzun spoke seriously, "Take Jiang Ziya with you on this trip. Perhaps his adversaries in the future won't be limited to Great Shang... Additionally, instruct Guang Chengzi and the others to prepare for descending to the Human World to transcend the calamity."

"As you wish!"

"Go."

Randeng Taoist bowed once more respectfully and then exited.

After watching the Vice Sect Hierarch leave Yuxu Palace, Yuanshi Tianzun's eyes half-closed, and the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi in his hand gently swayed, radiating a dazzling treasure light, concealing the Heavenly Mechanism and allowing the cause and effect to hide.

"Mercy, mercy,"

Yuanshi Tianzun chanted softly.

For Saints, a great calamity of Heaven and Earth is but an opportunity for a fierce competition of the Dao.

The victor would take control of the new world after the Calamity, manifesting their own Dao Fruit within it.

For example, during the Dragon Han Calamity, the Taoist Ancestor contended with the Demon Ancestor. The Taoist Ancestor was victorious, and thus the Immortal Path of Primordial rose, and Xuanmen prospered.

Now, the Divine Enthronement Calamity is the same.

If Chan Sect triumphs, then afterwards, Primordial will esteem Chan Sect above all. All clans and spirits will comply with the Heavenly Dao, follow the rituals, and keep to the strictures.

By then, Chan's Dao could truly achieve the realm of "The Heavenly Dao as my Dao, the Heavenly Heart as my Heart, my will as the Heavenly Will," ultimately seizing the right to speak on behalf of the Heavenly Dao.

What is the Heavenly Dao?

Chan Sect has the final say!

...

Randeng Taoist left Yuxu Palace and with a slight shift, appeared before a rather modest thatched hut. Thousands of old cypresses and countless tall bamboo shoots around it were all bathing in the sunset's afterglow, appearing rather elegant.

A young man sat cross-legged under an ancient pine tree, with a handsome face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. Dressed in a green Daoist robe, he held an ancient scroll in his hands and, as if starving, read thirstily by the last light of the setting sun, showing no reaction even as Randeng Taoist approached.

"Ziya."

Randeng Taoist called out gently.

Upon hearing the sound, the young man finally shifted his gaze from the ancient scroll, looked up at Randeng Taoist, then stood up and respectfully bowed, "Disciple greets the Vice Sect Hierarch!"

"There's no need for such formality."

Randeng Taoist smiled, waving his hands, his eyes falling on the ancient scroll in Jiang Ziya's hands, vaguely seeing a line of immortal text:

"Fasting and chanting scriptures bear great merit, dispelling heavenly calamities above, protecting the emperor and pacifying disasters below, to save the myriad commoners..."

"It seems Ziya has the will to benefit the world and a merciful heart. Very good, very good!"

Randeng Taoist praised with a smile.

Jiang Ziya shook his head and said seriously, "The Vice Sect Hierarch praises me too highly. Ziya wholeheartedly pursues the Dao. Though I come from the Red Dust of the mundane world, my only wish is to seek the true fruit of the Immortal Path."

"Then Ziya, since you've joined our mountain, have you achieved the true fruit?"

When the question was asked, the Randeng Daoist above him was spouting a seven-colored Spiritual Energy, and above was gathering a good acre of orange colored Qingyun cloud, with Yingluo beads drooping in the cloud like dripping water eaves, gathering into a moral golden light. Jiang Ziya looked on with both envy and reverence.

Jiang Ziya then looked at himself. It has been nearly ten years since he went up the mountain, and he has yet to achieve anything.

Although he diligently practiced every day, carrying water to water pines, fanning the fires for Alchemy, reading scriptures by day, reciting histories by night, leading a life extremely fulfilling and content, his Dao Xing and Mana have not seen any increase.

To be precise, the growth has been extremely slow.

One would think that in a Saint Realm such as Qilin Cliff, even doing nothing, just staying for a while would lead to becoming immortal and finding the Dao. However, Jiang Ziya's Dao Xing and Realm were as steady as a rock, not budging in the slightest!

He bowed deeply, his face full of shame, "Ziya's Dao Xing is shallow, and despite ten years of arduous cultivation, it is still far from the true fruit of the Immortal Path. Your concern, Vice Sect Hierarch, leaves me deeply ashamed."

Randeng Daoist smiled and said, "Ziya, you need not feel such shame. Your slow progress in Dao Xing is merely because your Dao is not here."

"Oh?"

Jiang Ziya was slightly stunned, and a bit puzzled he said, "Then where is my Dao? I beg of the Vice Sect Hierarch to enlighten me!"

"Where you come from, that is where your Dao lies."

Randeng Daoist teasingly replied, looking at the increasingly baffled Jiang Ziya with a smile: "Your Dao lies within the mundane world... Come, let this humble Daoist take you for a walk through the mundane world."

"This…"

Jiang Ziya was quite tempted.

For ten years on the mountain, while others came and went like the wind, unseen, he alone stayed on Qilin Cliff devotedly cultivating, practically in solitude for a decade.

How could he not yearn for the worldly pleasures of the mundane life?

Thus, with only a moment's hesitation, he bowed respectfully and said, "I am grateful to the Vice Sect Hierarch."

"No need for such formalities."

Randeng Daoist waved his hand, while at his feet a large cluster of clouds formed, lifting him and Jiang Ziya up to Yun Xiao, drifting toward the direction of the Southern Continent.

As a pinnacle Daluo Immortal just half a step away from the Primordial Quasi-Saint, distance was no longer of great significance before him.

He was merely riding the white clouds at a leisurely pace, still arriving at the downstream of Huai River, located southeast of the Southern Continent, by the next morning.

To avoid detection by the people of Jie Sect, he did not approach Linhuan Pass directly but descended onto a mountain cliff several thousand miles away from Linhuan Pass.

Having been looking forward to it all along the way, Jiang Ziya now glanced around and couldn't help furrowing his brows, curiously asking, "Didn't the Vice Sect Hierarch say we were going to take a walk through the mundane world? Why have you brought me to this desolate, uninhabited place?"

Randeng Daoist didn't answer his question. Instead, he looked at the unceasing flowing Huai River, his expression gradually becoming serious.

Jiang Ziya, not understanding, also concentrated on the Huai River like him, but except for the raging waves, he could discern nothing else.

Randeng Daoist glanced at him and reminded, "Try to look with your Qi Observation Skill."

Jiang Ziya's face slightly reddened, and he spoke in a low voice, "My shame, I have yet to master this skill."

Randeng Daoist nodded, waving his wide sleeve in front of Jiang Ziya, who blinked instinctively, only to find the scene before him undergo a dramatic transformation.

The endless Huai River in front of him seemed to harbor a mysterious and powerful presence, flowing like a majestic dragon.

This dragon followed the current, branching into smaller dragons at various tributaries, infusing the lands along the Huai River with infinite vitality and Spiritual Energy.

The Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth blended, resulting in fertile land and abundant resources.

"Is this... the Spirit Vein of the Huai River?"

Jiang Ziya's eyes widened, somewhat astonished by the scene.

"It's not that simple."

Randeng Daoist shook his head, and with a solemn voice said, "This is an undeveloped Luck God Dragon being raised in the Huai River, merging with the Spirit Vein of the Huai River.

Therefore, everything on both sides of the Huai River will be blessed by the Luck God Dragon, a place where humans and geography are both outstanding, becoming increasingly prosperous."

"Who has done this? Such grandeur!" Jiang Ziya exclaimed sincerely.

"Not one person, but a Saint Realm Sect... the Jie Sect!" Randeng Daoist looked at Jiang Ziya and solemnly said, "What they are doing is building a powerful tribe downstream of the Huai River, to eventually replace the increasingly decadent Great Shang Dynasty."

"Replace the Great Shang?"

Jiang Ziya was somewhat surprised.

He was originally an official of the Great Shang Dynasty in Chaoge, so hearing this news was naturally alarming.

"The shift of dynasties is determined by the Heavenly Dao and cannot be resisted," Randeng Daoist explained indifferently, then instructed, "Now, what you must do is to go to Xi Qi, assist the Zhou Clan clan leader Ji Chang to strengthen Xi Qi, and then thwart the Jie Sect's plan! When the Zhou Dynasty rises and the Shang prospers, that will be the day you, Jiang Ziya, achieve the true fruit.

Your Daoist name is Fei Xiong, born as an agent of Heaven destined for Deity Sealing, it is foreordained that you will not achieve true fruit but can only enjoy worldly riches. If you wish to achieve the Dao, you must comply with and respond to Heaven, fulfilling your mission.

This is your Dao, and it is the only path to achieving true fruit.

Do you understand?"

Jiang Ziya seemed to be somewhat struggling to accept this at first.

Terms like 'born to respond to destiny' and 'Deity Sealing on behalf of Heaven' were completely beyond his comprehension.

However, ten days of arduous cultivation on the mountain had taught him one thing.

To achieve the true fruit of the Immortal Path, it was highly unlikely on his own.

Therefore, the words of Randeng Daoist undoubtedly offered him a new path.

After long contemplation, he finally nodded firmly.

"Many thanks to the Vice Sect Hierarch for the guidance. Ziya understands what to do now!"

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