Therefore, Xue Chuqing knew of many secrets which others were not privy to.
“The most initial World beyond Worlds experienced much bloodshed and dark times before things gradually stabilised,” Xue Chuqing said, “Even then, there was still an ideological split between the bigwigs at the top till irreconcilable differences ultimately appeared and they split apart.”
“Some left while others remained. Those who remained ultimately solidified the World beyond Worlds’ current state which has persisted till today.”
Here, Xue Chuqing suddenly halted.
“I already know of the matters regarding Buddhism, the Immortal Court and the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord,” Yan Zhaoge smiled.
Hearing this, Xue Chuqing’s expression instantly changed greatly, “You have yet to reach the Human Exalt stage…”
Yan Zhaoge waved his hands dismissively, “Relax, I’m fine. Just as you are unaffected due to the half of the River Diagram that you possess, I too have my ways.”
“While the Dim Radiant Emperor’s Dim Radiant Wheel remains uncompleted, I carefully analysed the concept of peerless infinity within such that with the help of the treasure, the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord cannot plant a seed within me.”
Hearing this, Xue Chuqing’s expression eased greatly though she still looked somewhat worried.
“So what were you saying regarding the World beyond Worlds?” Yan Zhaoge changed the topic.
Xue Chuqing gazed deeply at him before exhaling slowly.
“Since you already know about it, I can speak freely then,” She said slowly, “The Grand Clear direct lineage is rare as the new Kunlun Nine Luminaries who established the World beyond Worlds were all of the Jade Clear direct lineage.”
“Still, there were divisions amongst them which became irreconcilable in the end, leading to them ultimately splitting up.”
“One faction preferred stable development and accumulation as we silently await the chance to lead our orthodox Daoism back to its former glory.”
“The other was radical in comparison as they believed that even as we accumulate our strength, there is still a need for us to hinder the development of the external dao’s Immortal Court.”
Xue Chuqing said, “The Earthly and Concealed Sovereigns are obviously under the former. The Astro Sovereign who later stayed in the World beyond Worlds as well held a relatively neutral stance.”
“As for the latter faction, it consisted of the Exalted Solar Luminary, the Exalted Lunar Luminary as well as my Great Grand Master.”
“Father-in-law and the Exalted Rahu Luminary need not be mentioned as they died rather early. The Exalted Fire Luminary was neutral just like the Astro Sovereign,” Xue Chuqing paused momentarily before saying, “According to Grand Master, rather than saying that the Exalted Fire Luminary was neutral on the subject, it is more like he did not have a definite stance.”
Yan Zhaoge looked at Xue Chuqing, “Wait a moment, mother. If the Exalted Wood Luminary was of the radical faction, the lineage of the Bright Connection Emperor that you are from…”
“We deliberately concealed it, of course, and lay low over here,” Xue Chuqing said matter-of-factly.
Yan Zhaoge’s face twitched slightly, “Yes, a very successful undercover job. Even the Dim Radiant Emperor was dragged into this…”
Xue Chuqing said solemnly, “May the sacrifice of the Dim Radiant Emperor never be forgotten. These merits of his should be remembered by all disciples of orthodox Daoism.”
“So the rumours were true?” Yan Zhaoge immediately turned solemn too, “What exactly does that Heavenly Essence Stone do?”
Xue Chuqing said slowly, “If the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord obtains the completely Heavenly Essence Stone, he will be able to easily illuminate and convert all of our orthodox Daoism. Even Immortals will have seals embedded within their souls when they hear of his name. So long as the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord is willing, just a single thought would be sufficient to turn us all into his believers!”
Yan Zhaoge tapped on his forehead as countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
There had not been any information regarding the Heavenly Essence Stone amongst the records of the Heavenly Court’s Divine Palace.
Was it that this had only appeared after the Great Calamity or were its origins even more obscure and mysterious than he thought?
“Mother, where exactly is that Heavenly Essence Stone fragment now?” Yan Zhaoge asked, “Is it really in your possession?”
Xue Chuqing shook her head, “It once was, but no longer.”
She pointedly scanned the surrounding heavens and earth with her gaze, “Now, it is everywhere.”
“So junior apprentice-sister Sikong and the others are really…”
“So junior apprentice-niece Sikong and the others are really…”
Yan Zhaoge and Yan Di realised what this entailed at once.
“It looks like a child amongst them entered Broad Creed Mountain? You have also interacted with more than a single one?” Xue Chuqing nodded, “Yes, that’s right. It is exactly as you are guessing.”
Yan Di said slowly, “In that case, the World beyond Worlds also benefited from the Dim Radiant Emperor’s actions.”
“The Earthly Sovereign and the others may well be aware of this,” Xue Chuqing sighed, “Even so, they cannot admit it lightly on the surface. Maybe only time can return justice to the Dim Radiant Emperor and Grand Master.”
“What exactly are the origins of the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord?” Yan Di asked in a heavy tone, “Since when did Daoism produce such a figure?”
Xue Chuqing shook her head slowly, “No one knows exactly how this came about, but it is definite that he was once one of Daoism’s Heavenly Lords!”
“Otherwise, even with the Heavenly Essence Stone, it would be impossible for him to illuminate us descendants of orthodox Daoism so easily.”
Yan Zhaoge gazed into the skies, “Heavenly Lord…is it?”
Heavenly Lord here was more of a title rather than referring to a cultivation realm.
The three Heavenly Lords who were the founders of the Three Clear lineages were naturally incomparable to the likes of the Broad Accomplishment Heavenly Lord and the (Heavenly) Lord of Plentiful Treasure.
As for the legendary Daoist Suppressing Land, Primordial Suppressing Immortal and the Four Imperials of Daoism etcetera, no one would doubt their strength despite ‘Heavenly Lord’ being absent from their titles.
Not all peak experts would be called Heavenly Lords.
Still, all experts who had the title of Heavenly Lord would be extraordinary.
“Since he is able to fight toe-to-toe with the Future Buddha, he must have advanced atop his original foundation?” Yan Zhaoge murmured, “But if he has advanced his cultivation base, doesn’t it mean…”
He rubbed his temples, “How many of Daoism’s peak figures made it through the Great Calamity? One of these limited few people who also has the ability to achieve this-that narrows it further.”
“Still, most of Daoism’s bigwigs vanished as whether they are dead or alive is unknown. Thus, it is difficult to guess which of them the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord was,” Xue Chuqing said, “As for those who can we know for sure are still alive, I am aware of three of them.”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1165: This is just a great big pit waiting for someone to fall inside i
HSSB1165: This is just a great big pit waiting for someone to fall inside it
“Oh?” Yan Zhaoge looked at Xue Chuqing, intrigued, “Which three?”
Yan Di gazed over, looking rather interested as well.
Xue Chuqing held up three fingers, “The first is the Southern Extremity Longevity Emperor.”
“Incidentally, my lineage is one of the direct lineages of the Southern Extremity Longevity Emperor.”
The Southern Extremity Longevity Emperor was also known as the Jade Clear True King as his full title was the Supreme Lord of Divine Sky Jade Clear True K
ing Longevity Emperor Prime Heaven Ruler Sage.
“The second is another of the Four Imperials alongside the Southern Extremity Longevity Emperor, the North Star Emperor.”
The North Star Emperor’s full title was the North Star Upper Palace Heavenly Sovereign Emperor.
The Purple Tenuity Emperor, the Southern Extremity Longevity Emperor, the North Star Emperor and the Earth Queen had been collectively acclaimed as Daoism’s Four Imperials as they were all peak figures of Daoism.
“In terms of seniority and history, the third is even more ancient,” Xue Chuqing said, “This is none other than the source of the Roving Jade Heaven’s lineage, the Incongruence Divine Mother who was a personal disciple of the founder of the Prime Clear lineage, the Lord of Numinous Treasure.”
Yan Zhaoge and Yan Di ruminated on the names of these three bigwigs of Daoism, pondering on what they entailed as they gradually realised something.
“The Incongruence Divine Mother is obviously the figure behind the Roving Jade Heavens,” Yan Zhaoge said, “As for the other two, standing behind the Exalted Wood Luminary, Exalted Solar Luminary and Exalted Lunar Luminary is the Southern Extremity Longevity Emperor?”
Yan Di asked, “Whereas standing behind the Earthly and Concealed Sovereigns is the North Star Emperor?”
“That’s exactly it,” Xue Chuqing said, “The three of them reside in extradimensional space, but the connection they have with the World beyond Worlds and Roving Jade Heavens is inseparable.”
Yan Zhaoge and Yan Di both nodded in understanding.
If the three bigwigs were to reside in stable worlds like the World beyond Worlds and the Roving Jade Heavens or even lower worlds like the Eight Extremities World, the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord would be able to easily zero in on their positions.
If they remained hovering amidst extradimensional space, even changing their modes of existence as they entered semi-slumbering states that existed almost between existence and nonexistence, even the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord would be hard pressed to apprehend traces of them.
Additionally, the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord also had to compete with the Future Buddha.
With that, they were best able to preserve their strength while ensuring that the worlds of Daoism like the World beyond Worlds and the Roving Jade Heavens were safer.
A fragile equilibrium had thereby been formed.
The Immortal Court too was willing to spend most of its energies on Buddhism.
Although the North Star Emperor held a conservative stance, seeking to avoid conflict with the Immortal Court and the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord as much as possible, he would definitely be unwilling to reside in the World beyond Worlds and leave his safety in the hands of others unless it was utterly essential.
Still, just like Xue Chuqing had said, their relationship with the World beyond Worlds and the Roving Jade Heavens was simply inseparable.
The Kunlun Nine Luminaries had simultaneously viewed the Heaven Opening Scripture and created the World beyond Worlds that year with behind the scenes support from the North Star Emperor and the Southern Extremity Longevity Emperor, finally establishing a safe and healthy haven for orthodox Daoism.
The Incongruence Divine Mother had also been behind the Roving Jade Seven establishing the Roving Jade Heavens.
The split amongst the new Kunlun Nine Luminaries that year had actually been from a severe difference in opinion between the Southern Extremity Longevity Emperor and the North Star Emperor.
In the end, the Exalted Wood Luminary and co who supported the Southern Extremity Longevity Emperor had left, departing the World beyond Worlds.
This had been an unavoidable result.
After all, the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord and the Immortal Court would definitely be harsher towards the Southern Extremity Longevity Emperor and his followers. This was a simple truth.
“The Roving Jade Heavens are even more radical than our faction of people,” Xue Chuqing sighed, “Because of that, the Roving Jade Heavens have had fewer peak experts than our World beyond Worlds all these years, with so many having perished in their conflict with the Immortal Court.”
“That old Grand Master was injured time and time again. The accumulation will probably have taken its toll.”
Yan Zhaoge stroked his lower chin, “Actually, there is something I have always been wondering.”
“It is not just the Immortal Court as there is Buddhism too. While they are opposed to each other, both of them can illuminate and convert the disciples of our orthodox Daoism. Even if they have left the relatively moderate World beyond Worlds alone, they should logically not have tolerated the radical Roving Jade Heavens, right?”
Back when he had been on Buddhism’s side of the wall, besides the Concealed Way World, Yan Zhaoge had journeyed through many other worlds of Buddhism too.
He could tell that Buddhism was definitely not devoid of experts internally and only powerful externally as it truly possessed great strength.
Due to the protection of the Future Buddha, Buddhism had not been harmed as intrinsically as Daoism as its foundation was better than that of both the Immortal Court and the orthodox Three Clear lineages.
“For Buddhism and the Immortal Court, orthodox Daoism which has at least three Heavenly Lords in existence is not some insect that can be decimated with the flick of a finger,” Yan Zhaoge waved his palm, “In that case, why not join forces to split and illuminate us descendants of the direct lineages of the Three Purities between themselves before deciding victory and defeat between them?”
Xue Chuqing shook her head, “While there may some underlying reason for this, I am unclear on it.”
“The waters are even deeper than expected…” Yan Zhaoge muttered aloud.
His thoughts circulated as there was much that instantly came to mind now.
It was just that they were mostly guesses that could not be verified at the present time. Therefore, he could only set them aside to the back of his mind for now.
Breaking out of his reverie, Yan Zhaoge looked first at his father and then at his mother before spreading his palms apart, “The foremost problems that we have to face now are these two.”
“Firstly, are our opponents in the World beyond Worlds only the Earthly and Concealed Sovereigns or is it that…there is a possibility of the North Star Emperor personally making a move too?”
“Secondly, might the Immortal Court make use of this chance to launch their attack?”
Yan Zhaoge rubbed his temples, “On the flip side, will the Southern Extremity Longevity Emperor just sit by and watch the show?”
“This is very hard to say. It depends on the ongoing situation between the Immortal Court and the blessed lands,” Xue Chuqing said.
Yan Zhaoge clapped lightly, “In that case, let us remain focused on what we can see before us.”
“Previously, I was roaming about everywhere, the Area Latitude Formation requires much time and effort and I had to make sure to hide the traces too,” Xue Chuqing said, “Now that I can freely walk the World beyond Worlds thanks to the two of you, setting up the formation will be much quicker.”
“It is just that while being well aware that the Exalted Solar Luminary may be scheming something, do we still move according to the original plan?”
Yan Di slowly said, “We most likely have the same opponents, at the very least. Thus, following the same path is no problem at the present moment. More crucial is what comes later.”
Xue Chuqing nodded, “Let us first try to contact the Exalted Fire Luminary and see if he replies then.”
“You try to contact the Exalted Fire Luminary here, mother. I will go look for the Astro Sovereign,” Yan Zhaoge said.
Still, even as he did so, a voice swiftly reverberated within his mind.
“Gao Han’s thoughts are strange and indiscernible. Things are seldom out of his grasp.”
“While some things may seem incidental, they could have been intentional.”
The words of M
ars Halberd that year appeared again in Yan Zhaoge’s mind.
“This is just a great big pit…” Yan Zhaoge narrowed his eyes into slits, “Only waiting to see who falls into it and is buried in the end.”
Suddenly remembering something, he asked Xue Chuqing, “Right, mother, one more thing.”
“Hmm?” Xue Chuqing asked, “What is it?”
“How much do you know about the Great Calamity from back then?” Yan Zhaoge asked solemnly.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1166: Joy and tragedy
HSSB1166: Joy and tragedy
“Not much,” Xue Chuqing replied, “The limited information that I know of was told to me by Master when she was still alive. What she knew should also have originated from Grand Master and Great Grand Master in turn.”
“Those who witnessed the event are virtually all no longer here now. All I know is that it was probably related to Buddhism and is likely the result of a competition between Buddhism and Daoism in pre-Great Calamity times.”
“As for the specifics, there are probably only the Southern Extremity Longevity Emperor and the North Star Emperor who know more about it.”
Hearing this, Yan Zhaoge silently nodded.
Within his mind again surfaced the image of that massive palm that had descended upon the Heavenly Court’s Divine Palace on the eve of the Great Calamity.
“Right, mother, with that half of the River Diagram, can you seek out someone deep in the Nine Underworlds?” Yan Zhaoge snapped out of it and asked.
“It is pretty difficult. After all, the Nine Underworlds is different from the human realm we are in,” Xue Chuqing said, “Still, it depends on the specific situation. If the person in question has not fallen to the dark side and has a relatively low cultivation base, I might still be able to discover some clues.”
Yan Zhaoge now narrated Feng Yunsheng’s incident which surprised Xue Chuqing, “The Exalted Rahu Luminary really is extraordinary.”
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