Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 194: Chapter 137: Identity_2

Translator: 549690339

True Monarch Changrong’s gaze sharpened, “Does the Taoist Master mean…”

Xu Yang said with a light chuckle, “Although I cannot see its trace, I can guess its identity.”

“How could you guess?”

True Monarch Changrong was somewhat startled and doubtful.

“Simple!”

Xu Yang smiled and said, “Once cultivation reaches such a level and develops to such an extent, there must be traces. It’s impossible for it to be quietly cultivating somewhere, unnoticed, and become an ancient monstrosity over ten thousand years.”

A cultivator needs resources for cultivation.

But resources don’t come without reason; one must fight for them, snatch them!

Therefore, a world of cultivation is inevitably a world of great contention.

This is the case for the current world of cultivation, and it’s no exception in the world of Taoism, even with “moral” constraints. There are still struggles over fate and incense offerings between the great sects of Taoism.

Without competition and strife, remaining unknown while hiding in the deep forests and mountains to become a True Monarch or an ancient monstrosity of ten thousand years is an impossibility.

Once one reaches a certain scale, it is inevitable to collide with all parties involved. Guo Bei Academy is the best example of this.

“So…”

Xu Yang said solemnly, “This Blood Armored Sky Dragon must have an identity in the open, an identity that allows it to obtain resources for its cultivation.”

“This…”

True Monarch Changrong’s eyes sharpened again, “Does the Taoist Master mean that the Blood Armored Sky Dragon is among the strongest in the world?”

“Exactly!”

Xu Yang nodded and analyzed, “After the empowerment of the Luotian Dajiao ritual, my mana and Taoist cultivation are close to that of a Heavenly Master. Therefore, when the Blood Armored Sky Dragon could break through my ‘Iron Wall Siege’ and survive a strike of my Heavenly Thunder Great Skill, it must undoubtedly be an ancient monstrosity of ten thousand years. Ordinary True Monarchs and Demon Emperor Monarchs have not such ability!”

“An ancient monstrosity of ten thousand years?”

True Monarch Changrong frowned and said, “The few known ancient monstrosities each have their own territory and are under close surveillance. If there were any unusual movements, they could not ‘Deceive the Heavens and Cross the Sea.’ However, since the Blood Armored Sky Dragon possesses an ancient treasure, it might not be under the full surveillance of the great sects of Taoism. This…”

The more he spoke, the more confused it became, even less clear.

“I have already observed with my Admiring Eye of Heaven, and all the ancient monstrosities of ten thousand years are in their own dens and have shown no signs of activity.”

Xu Yang shook his head, “Therefore, the identity of this Blood Armored Sky Dragon should not be one of the known ancient monstrosities of the present.”

“Not an ancient monstrosity?”

True Monarch Changrong was astoundingly dubious, “Then what is it?”

“If not a demon, then naturally it’s a human,” Xu Yang said with a smile. “According to Brother Dao’s view, among all the sects and Ten Directions True Monarchs under heaven, who could, under the empowerment of the Great Ritual, match an ancient monstrosity of ten thousand years?”

“This…!”

True Monarch Changrong’s expression changed, his gaze at Xu Yang filled with shocked uncertainty, “Does the Taoist Master suspect…”

“The Chen Dynasty’s rejuvenation!”

“The Great Virtuous Monk!”

“Duxing!”

Xu Yang put forth a conjecture, “Looking at all those under the heavens, among the cultivators of the Ten Directions, only this person has the ability, or rather, this person is the only one who, decades ago, conducted the Water-Land Dharma Assembly and received the empowerment of the masses.”

“Could it be him?”

Although True Monarch Changrong also had a vague idea, hearing Xu Yang reveal the answer still changed his expression.

“No, no, no.”

But he quickly shook his head and said, “Decades ago, he entered the capital alone, first visited the great Buddhist temples to preach and conquer a group of high monks. Then he led Buddhism in disputations of the Buddha’s Way against Taoism, overpowering three True Monarchs of Taoism. With this, he set the tone for the foundation of the Chen Dynasty’s rejuvenation.”

“After the Chen Dynasty’s great governance, one was to return favor for favor, and the other was to cleanse the world. For him, a Water-Land Dharma Assembly was held, increasing his cultivation greatly and establishing him as the Great Virtuous Monk, cleansing the Northern Territory of demons.”

“Logically, at this moment, he should already have ascended after breaking the realm. How could he…?”

True Monarch Changrong looked puzzled.

But Xu Yang was unsurprised, “Does Brother Dao believe that the Chen Dynasty truly rejuvenated?”

“This…”

“That’s just the appearance,” said Xu Yang, shaking his head. “A Water-Land Dharma Assembly conducted like that could not possibly help him become a Great Virtuous Monk, nor could it aid him in ascending after breaking the realm. As for cleansing the Northern Territory of demons, I fear that too was neither entirely truth nor entirely falsehood.”

True Monarch Changrong fell silent for a while before finally speaking, “Even if this demon truly is Duxing, since he has already disappeared and even Buddhism does not know his whereabouts, what can be done once the identity is confirmed?”

Xu Yang smiled, “If he could disappear, he can also return. Regardless of whether he has any magic techniques surpassing the Golden Core, cultivation cannot do without resources. He either has to dominate a region in the form of a thousand-year-old great demon, or he has to revert to being his holy monk. There are no other options.”

“So what the Taoist Master is saying is…”

True Monarch Changrong tentatively asked, “To reveal Duxing’s true identity?”

“Indeed, it must be exposed.”

Xu Yang shook his head and said somberly, “But, as I have said, all of the above are merely the words of myself and my household, without evidence or proof. Since Duxing is regarded as a holy monk of Buddhism, if I were to proclaim to the world that he is a demon in disguise, the entire Buddhist community would challenge me, perhaps even to the death.”

“Taoist Master…”

True Monarch Changrong, upon hearing this, could not help but sigh in resignation.

Xu Yang’s expression remained calm, unconcerned, “Although I do not fear Buddhism, such contention, the internal consumption of the righteous path, is not only futile but could even aid the demon in gaining power. That is not my wish!”

“The Taoist Master’s righteousness!”

True Monarch Changrong nodded approvingly, “Then what should we do?”

“There is nothing that can be done.”

Xu Yang shook his head and sighed, “If Brother Dao could borrow the Kunlun Mirror, it would naturally solve the problem by revealing the demon’s identity. However, if you can’t borrow it, or if the Kunlun Mirror fails to reveal the demon’s roots, then we have no choice but to wait for him to expose himself.”

“Expose himself?”

True Monarch Changrong’s eyebrows raised in understanding, and his expression changed instantly, “Taoist Master means…”

“Exactly.”

Xu Yang nodded, “No matter how well he hides, as long as he has an agenda, there will come a day when he slips up. At that time, there will be no need for us to expose him, people of the world will see his true face.”

“Isn’t… isn’t that too passive?”

True Monarch Changrong found it difficult to accept, “As the saying goes, when the map is unrolled, the dagger is revealed; when he slips up, I fear it will be the moment he strikes!”

“That’s why I said there is nothing that can be done.”

Xu Yang shook his head, “Unless something unexpected happens, this missing Holy Monk Duxing will soon return to the capital, select a new emperor, implement reforms, and during that process, eliminate his adversaries to gather resources.”

“Once he accumulates enough, he will rise up and strike, swallowing the emperor and ministers of the Chen Dynasty, even the common people of the capital, the millions in the north, and then attack the major Taoist sects to seize the blood of cultivators as resources.”

“Growing step by step, his power increasing with each move, in the end, he will become a world-ending giant demon!”

Xu Yang sighed, “A calamity is imminent!”

“This…”

True Monarch Changrong was a mixture of shock and anger, “Are we just going to let him be?”

“What else can we do?”

Xu Yang shook his head, “Even if I immediately urge the Guo Bei Academy to take up arms, it is not possible to destroy the Chen Dynasty overnight. As a holy monk, his return will surely have the full support of Buddhism. By then, a stand-off between the north and south is inevitable, and we’ll be helpless against him.”

“Unless… I take a dangerous move, enter the capital directly, and execute him!”

Xu Yang looked at True Monarch Changrong, “If it really comes to that, I will try to take action. But I cannot guarantee success, and the outcome will likely be as previously mentioned.”

“Taoist Master!”

Even True Monarch Changrong couldn’t help but change color at this, looking at Xu Yang unsure of what to do.

He understood what Xu Yang’s attempt meant.

In conflicts of Taoism, there are many key factors, and various aspects can have an impact. But the most important are the cultivation realm, spells and divine skills, artifact spirits, and the mana altar or Taoist domain.

Thus, the advantage of fighting on home ground goes without saying.

As long as one is on their home ground and well-prepared, a cultivator’s power can be several times magnified.

The recent battle between Guo Bei Academy and the demons of Mount Mang serves as an example.

The demons of Mount Mang, the four Demon Emperors, to be honest, were not weak.

But because they were fighting on away ground, facing a well-prepared Guo Bei Academy that had arranged the “Luotian Dajiao,” they were at an absolute disadvantage and got entirely slaughtered without a chance to fight back.

This shows the advantage of home ground.

Xu Yang may be powerful, but if he leaves Guo Bei and enters the capital alone, his home ground turning into enemy ground, could he still capture Duxing?

The hope is slim, and there is a risk of losing his life!

So, his attempt is to risk his life for the people of the capital, the millions in the Northern Territory, and all beings of the world, to fight with all his might!

How could Changrong not be moved by this?

“Taoist Master!”

True Monarch Changrong stood up, speaking earnestly, “No matter what, I must get Kunlun to lend us the Kunlun Mirror!”

Xu Yang smiled, “Brother Dao, you have my thanks for your efforts, but there’s no need to insist. Just inform the world about this matter so that they can be on guard and won’t collapse at the first blow when the time comes. As for the rest… we do our humanly best and leave the rest to fate!”

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