Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 555 The Mystery of the Imperial Homeland: Protecting One's Daoist Practices and the Five Virtues Revolving!

You stare at the words on the table: "The Imperial Treasury shall die."

[Your name, Di Ku, is renowned far and wide. This most celebrated sect leader in Fangcun Mountain's history still commands the most fervent worship in the Ancestral Hall.]

The younger generation of disciples from Fangcun Mountain lingered in awe of his portrait the longest.

During the years when the Imperial Treasury ruled the sect, Fangcun Mountain ushered in an unprecedented period of glory: its sphere of influence expanded to more than three times its current size, with over a hundred vassal states under its command, making it the dominant power in the southeast of Yuzhou in the Central Plains.

Even top-tier sects like the Dao Ling Sect had to contend with them on equal footing.

What's even more commendable is his strategic planning. He united the Longquan Sword Sect and the Western Kunlun Mountains, and forged an alliance with Zhongnan Mountain, making Fangcun Mountain a leading force in the righteous alliance. The three-way conflict that changed the entire landscape of this world was concluded under the witness of Fangcun Mountain.

[Looking back on its former glory, and then at the current predicament of Fangcun Mountain, which sits at the bottom of the nine righteous sects, its disciples have to keep a low profile when they go out.]

The contrast is truly striking!

[Look at the inscription above again: "On the fourth day of the seventh month, the Imperial Treasury investigated my plans and came to offer admonition."]

[What did the Imperial Treasury discover, and why did it offer this warning? These are the key questions that led the Imperial Ancestor to want to kill this younger brother.]

Siblings turning against each other, brothers fighting amongst themselves!

As you know, later records state that Di Ku "ascended to immortality," meaning he died of old age. Di Ku was also one of the supreme grandmasters recorded in Fangcun Mountain.

The name "Emperor's Hometown" has almost been erased from the ancient records of Fangcun Mountain, and later generations of disciples rarely even know of the existence of this patriarch.

What happened next?

Could it be that the Emperor's Township set a trap to kill the Emperor's Treasury, but was outmaneuvered instead, leading the Emperor's Treasury to seize control of the sect's discourse and slander his brother as a madman?

But that doesn't make sense. Dixiang is known for his strategic thinking, meticulousness, and patience; he is a true master strategist.

There must be more to this than meets the eye...

[“July 4th”—no other similar writing on the table; the clue ends here.]

Could it be that the patriarch of the Imperial Capital disappeared after writing this prophecy here?

In that era, the most sensational event in the cultivation world at Fangcun Mountain was the alliance formed between the prominent figures of the main sect and the outer sect.

Your eyes flickered slightly, a sudden thought occurring to you: Could this be related to this grand event?

【"This is?"】

Your gaze flickered, noticing several faint engravings on the table, bearing a few tiny characters. They were so small, written with magical power, that an ordinary person would likely see nothing at all.

You pronounced each word clearly: "The Immortal Sect of the Mortal World."

The "Red Dust Immortal Sect" is a mysterious sect that specifically shelters traitors from the righteous, demonic, and unorthodox paths. Although its members are few in number, each one is a top-tier cultivator at the Golden Core stage or above.

They set aside sectarianism and pursued only one ultimate goal: ascension!

Because of his unorthodox and unconventional behavior, he was regarded as a source of chaos by the three major powers, who never recognized him.

The eight-armed monster you encountered, who occupied the capital of Zhao, was a traitor to the Demonic Sect and a member of the Mortal Immortal Sect.

The former peak master of Xiaoqing Peak also betrayed his sect and joined this one.

[But what's strange is that this sect only emerged in the last thousand years, so how did its name appear here?]

Your brow is furrowed; could it be that someone came here later and intentionally stayed?

A multitude of questions churned in my mind—what exactly happened at Fangcun Mountain back then? Why was even the newly emerging Red Dust Immortal Sect involved?

You shook your head with a wry smile; these intricate clues were like a tangled mess, impossible to unravel.

On second thought, if I could encounter the Imperial Ancestor again, perhaps I could subtly glean some clues from him.

However, he quickly dismissed this dangerous thought. With your current cultivation level, before reaching the Supreme Grandmaster realm, it's best not to provoke anyone.

Set aside these chaotic thoughts for now, and turn your gaze to the shelf of jade slips, gleaming with a soft, lustrous sheen, in the corner of the secret room.

[Grandmaster of the Imperial Capital, please don't disappoint me.]

You picked up one of them with some anticipation, and as you scanned it with your divine sense, six ancient and simple Dao patterns appeared in your sea of ​​consciousness.

This is the secret martial art of the Qiyun Peak lineage of Fangcun Mountain, kept hidden from outsiders!

Even within the entire cultivation world, it is an unparalleled treasure trove sufficient to serve as the foundation for top-tier sects, ranking among the three great body-refining divine techniques of the righteous path.

【Pick up another piece and scan it with your divine sense again, and you'll read the *Innate Five Virtues Revolving Scripture*.

This is the ultimate technique of the Dao Ling Sect, exactly the same as the "Nine Revolutions Jade Body of the Primordial Essence" just now. It is one of the most precious techniques in the cultivation world.

[The cultivation of the Five Elements and their interactions of mutual generation and restraint is the practice of the Nine Yang Immortal, the foremost figure on the righteous path. This is the true book of the Great Dao.]

Upon closer inspection, the entire text appears to be a complete and flawless inheritance.

Suppressing your excitement, you picked up another jade slip, and the five naturally formed seal characters of the "Jade Purity Spiritual Root Scripture" came into view.

[This is clearly the supreme secret technique of the Jade Purity Sect, a heretical sect, one of the most profound and mysterious texts among contemporary Qi cultivation methods. It can replenish spiritual roots and is a divine skill manual that is not passed on to outsiders.]

After you have read through all the jade slips, your eyes are filled with a bright light, and you can hardly hide your joy.

[The Ancestor of the Imperial Capital is still too much like a supermodel.]

Fifteen jade slips were displayed silently. Three of them were imprinted with the secret techniques of Fangcun Mountain, while the remaining twelve were all the supreme martial arts techniques of various sects, each of which had once been renowned throughout the world, attracting cultivators from all over the land.

Of the fifteen cultivation techniques, three are body-training techniques, and the remaining nine are profound Qi-cultivation techniques.

[The patriarch of the Imperial Capital obtained these cultivation methods from an unknown source; they are all complete texts, all directly pointing to the Golden Core Dao, capable of enabling one to overcome the Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulations. Any one of them is sufficient to establish a sect and become a lineage of Dao.]

Those who created this technique were all unparalleled grandmasters who suppressed the world at that time.

For example, the "Pure Yang Skill," though its name is simple, was created by the Pure Yang Daoist, the foremost figure among the heretics of that era. He was a being who once cleansed the Nine Netherworlds with his radiant Pure Yang energy, hailed as "indestructible through countless eons, the supreme being of Pure Yang!"

Looking back, if the righteous path hadn't produced two supreme grandmasters at the same time, it would have been difficult to suppress the heretical sects.

These inheritances are not merely cultivation methods, but encompass everything—they contain the essence of Xuanmen (mystical) doctrines, as well as the deduction of the Zhou Tian (celestial array) diagrams; each is a self-contained Xuangong (mystical martial arts) manual.

The only regret is the absence of the true teachings of the Demonic Sect. Upon reflection, this makes sense: the *Emperor's Pillow Book* could only be seen by the successive leaders of the Demonic Sect, and the secret techniques of the other six major Demonic Sects were passed down orally, unlike the righteous and heretical sects which clearly divide their techniques into progressive stages like the "Dao Embryo Chapter" and the "Dragon Court Chapter."

[You caress the jade slip, and suddenly you have an epiphany—eight or nine out of ten of the cultivation methods compiled by the patriarch of the Imperial Capital are essential techniques for cultivating Qi, and the annotations reveal numerous traces of deduction.]

This powerful being clearly intends to fuse the strengths of all schools of thought and create a groundbreaking and profound martial art!

This opportunity is truly important to you. The reason you have been so slow to undergo the Golden Core Tribulation is precisely because you have not yet found your own path to enlightenment.

Cultivation is arduous, like crossing a sea of ​​suffering; one must not be distracted or distracted, nor should one attempt to conquer others.

These fifteen profound martial arts techniques before us are like the culmination of the lifelong cultivation of fifteen supreme grandmasters.

By observing the ways of others, we can see our true selves.

Although you possess secret techniques and supernatural powers such as the Jade Emperor's Aura Observation Technique, the Seven Treasures Mystic Physiognomy Book, the Taiyuan One Yang Sword, and the Demon-Slaying and Evil-Exterminating Divine Thunder, they are ultimately only techniques for protecting your path.

Cultivators cultivate the Dao, the Qi, and the Mystery, which constitute their own Dao fruit, known as the indestructible foundation of the Dao.

Elder Nie's permission for you to enter the library is like rain after a long drought, completing the most crucial link on your cultivation path. We truly must thank Elder Nie.

[You didn't linger any longer, and memorized all the cultivation techniques on the jade slip.]

After completing this, use the deactivation function to close the superimposed space and return to the original "Imperial Hometown Serenity Abode".

[After reviewing all the Taoist scriptures and books here, with your current cultivation level, it will only take two days of practice for them to be imprinted in your mind.]

However, you still stayed for seven or eight days.

On the ninth day, you finally took out the seal, silently recited the incantation, and left the library.

The air outside the bamboo grove, seemingly rising from the cave entrance, was fresh and invigorating.

The bamboo forest behind Xiaoqingfeng Mountain is always shrouded in a thin mist.

As you watch the library vanish completely, you can't help but think that someone who will one day transform into a "true descendant of the Great Ming Peacock Spirit" and possess the profound skills of various schools will likely be someone even the Imperial Ancestor wouldn't be able to fathom.

Attracted by the commotion outside, Nie Qingzhu stepped out of the thatched hut.

You stepped forward and respectfully said, "Thank you, Elder Nie. The books here are vast and numerous; Zhou Jing has benefited immensely from them."

[Nie Qingzhu had originally planned to wait another day, but since you still hadn't come out, she called you out.]

Only those who have broken through to the Dao Embryo stage in their cultivation can abstain from grains for extended periods.

Seeing the rare joy in your eyes, she couldn't help but feel happy too.

She asked with some doubt, "The library has a vast collection of books; have you truly read them all?"

"Not a single one is missing."

She nodded slightly. "You come out looking refreshed and energetic, without a trace of fatigue. Your eyes are even brighter than before. It seems you have a natural talent for reading."

Nie Qingzhu also advised, "You still have more than a month left; it's time to improve your cultivation level."

"The level of the Solid God realm is still too low; lest the other lineages laugh at us."

[He then took out a jade bottle and handed it over: "These calming pills can help you regulate your mind. Reading thousands of volumes of Daoist scriptures will eventually exhaust your spirit."]

You solemnly accepted the bottle; the elixir within emanated an aura of intertwined dragon and tiger, clearly indicating it was no ordinary item: "Elder, your kindness is deeply appreciated; this disciple will forever remember it."

You may then take your leave.

~

Nie Qingzhu stood quietly on the bamboo path, watching your figure gradually disappear into the lush bamboo sea.

A mountain breeze swept by, lifting her black hair and letting it fall loose, like a traditional Chinese ink painting.

Suddenly, a clear light flowed, and a hazy white figure gathered beside her.

The newcomer was dressed in white, with exquisite features yet an ethereal quality—it was Jiang Yingxue's incarnation.

"Aunt Zhu, you treat this boy very specially."

"It seems that Xiao Qingfeng's library has not been opened for hundreds of years."

An avatar outside the body can think independently after leaving the original body, just like a living person. This is a supernatural power that only the Golden Core of the Great Dao possesses.

Nie Qingzhu was somewhat surprised, "Yingxue, you've emerged from seclusion?"

He paused for a moment and then said, "However, it's just that I'm afraid he'll embarrass Aomine."

Jiang Yingxue said, "Aunt Zhu, you actually waited outside for seven days."

Nie Qingzhu then looked somewhat embarrassed, "I was just worried that his cultivation level was too low and he would be trapped inside."

"really?"

“As an elder, it is my duty to offer some assistance.”

"But Aunt Zhu, what are you doing sitting here grinning like an idiot?"

"Um... Yingxue, don't talk nonsense."

The woman in white smiled and teased, "Aunt Zhu, something's not right with you."

After saying that, she vanished in a flash, leaving only a string of clear laughter echoing in the air.

Nie Qingzhu looked embarrassed and was about to speak when her expression suddenly changed, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead.

wrong!

Since Xiao Qingfeng was robbed and Yingxue's parents died, and since her older sister, whom she admired most when she was a child, betrayed the sect, when has she ever shown a smile again?

She always had a cold and aloof demeanor, so what's wrong with her today?
Nie Qingzhu suddenly remembered the "Seven Kill Sword Manual," a martial art that could cause people to go mad and drastically change their temperament.

And now, the Peak Master is comprehending the most crucial plot point!

Peak Master, something's wrong!
~

After returning to your villa, you secluded yourself to cultivate your skills. In the blink of an eye, the green bamboo was tinged with autumn frost, and a month had quietly passed.

[You have cultivated the "Innate Five Virtues Revolving Scripture" to the Dragon Court Realm.]

[Indeed, this skill is immense, arguably the most difficult for you to cultivate. You even had to read it twice before you finally grasped the true meaning of the Dragon Court Realm.]

[Now you finally understand why the current leader of the righteous path, Master Jiuyang, can firmly hold the position of the world's number one cultivator. This is no ordinary Qi cultivation technique.]

[This is clearly a supreme classic expounding on the principle of "Tao gives birth to virtue and cultivates virtue"!]

Before the formation of heaven and earth, the Five Primordial Elements already existed: the Qi Element, the End Element, the Killing Element, the Intercepting Element, and the Calamity Element. These five elements rotate like a wheel, governing the rise and fall of all things.

The Five Elements of the Innate Heaven are further divided into the Five Virtues: Sacred Virtue, Blessing Virtue, Merit Virtue, Hidden Virtue, and Moral Virtue.

The Five Virtues correspond to the Five Great Elements: namely, Taiyi, Taichu, Taishi, Taisu, and Taiji, with each element corresponding to the other.

The Five Virtues are in harmony with the Five Great Elements: Morality aligns with the primordial chaos of Taiji, Hidden Virtue corresponds to the primordial stillness of Taisu, and Merit Virtue inherits the creation of Taishi. The subtle interplay of their mutual restraint reveals the profound mysteries of creation.

[Morality overcomes the end times: In the Dharma-ending Age, virtuous people will emerge to spread the Way; it is people who spread the Way, not the Way that spreads people.]

[The Spirit of Saint Deke: The saints have turned, the teachings have been renewed, the world is renewed, a single lamp illuminates a thousand-year-old dark room, dispelling a thousand years of deep-seated ailments.]

[A person of great fortune will be unharmed by calamities and will never be plagued by misfortune.]

[Virtue can overcome misfortune: Even a wisp of virtuous deeds can offer a glimmer of hope amidst endless calamities.]

The Five Virtues cycle endlessly, and the Five Elements' interactions are as fluid as water.

Those who cultivate this path must understand the wondrous, ever-flowing, mutually generating and restraining nature of it, only then can they glimpse the true face of the Primordial Great Dao.

This profound skill truly reveals the wonders of those who cultivate Qi.

(End of this chapter)