Embers of Sword

Chapter 547 The Great Dao Pen

The wild grass was ignited by the primordial fire.

A few breaths later, only a few ashes remained, swirling in the air.

The great calamity a thousand years ago was like this primordial flame...

Those who survived are now nothing more than the ashes and grass clippings left after the fire died down.

"If a destined person does not arrive soon, given the current consumption of the Yuan Tun Holy Realm, it can probably only last for another fifteen years."

Xuanming said, "Fifteen years from now, this wisp of my divine consciousness will vanish into thin air, and this Holy Realm will also perish on its own... Now that there is a new master, the Holy Realm left behind by my master finally has hope of continuing."

"Fifteen years..."

Xie Xuanyi looked at the withered trees in the distance, somewhat puzzled: "Why do I feel that this Holy Realm can't last this long?"

After his divine sense entered the Holy Realm, he made a decision.

A thousand miles around, all enter the heart lake.

This Primordial Devotion Realm is extremely vast; every blade of grass and every tree consumes its vital energy.

Based on my deduction, if the Yuan Devouring Holy Realm continues to consume resources like this, it would be considered quite good if it could last for a year.

“Things were different before you came.”

Xuanming smiled.

He said with a hint of desolation, "In order to maintain the operation of the Holy Realm, I have tried every means to reduce the consumption of the Holy Realm over the past thousand years. As a result, the plants and living beings within a thousand miles have become the nourishment of the core of the Holy Realm... This is the reason why the plants wither and the Holy Realm declines."

Clearly, the towering tree in the farthest distance is the core of the Holy Realm.

For the past thousand years, the Yuan Tun Holy Realm has sank into the earth, without any replenishment of Yuan energy.

This is the only way for Xuanming to survive.

Live frugally.

Following this method, the Holy Realm continued its shrinking existence for a thousand years...

Things are different now.

A new master has arrived, and he brings with him the Spring of Immortality. The immortal vapor that overflowed from the previous battle alone is enough to revive the spirits of plants and trees in a large area.

“I think…you must be the destined person that Master was talking about.”

Xuanming said sincerely, "The 'Fountain of Immortality' on your body can revive this withered Holy Realm."

"I...can revive this sacred realm?"

Xie Xuanyi took a deep breath.

He gazed at the withered giant tree in the distance.

With a thought, Xie Xuanyi vanished from his spot and reappeared above the giant tree.

He reached out and stroked the giant tree.

A wisp of moisture seeped from his palm, slowly seeping into the dry bark of the giant tree. This giant tree was a thousand feet tall, and compared to it... the Fountain of Immortality was truly insignificant.

The wisp of moisture that had just seeped out was completely absorbed by the tree trunk in less than a moment.

The withering and drying showed no improvement.

This scene... is like a person walking in the desert, about to die of thirst, opening their lips and drinking a drop of water.

Even a drop of water has its uses.

But there are far too few.

Although the Undying Spring can slowly replenish its moisture, its recovery capacity is limited... At this rate, how many years would it take to revive this giant tree?

"It takes more than one cold day for the ice to freeze three feet deep."

Xuanming approached Xie Xuanyi, looked at the withered tree, and chuckled softly, "This is a divine object that my master obtained by chance during one of his outings. My master called it the 'Immortal Tree.' This Immortal Tree possesses extremely powerful vitality. It was with the help of this 'Immortal Tree' that my master successfully created the [Yuan Tun Sacred Realm], which can accommodate countless living beings. This thing can be considered my master's natal object."

The relationship between the Immortal Tree and the Great Sage Bai Ze is similar to that between a chronic illness and Xie Xuanyi.

"All the myriad beings in the Yuan Tun Cave Heaven are protected and blessed by the 'Immortal Tree'."

Xuanming's expression was nostalgic, and his voice grew increasingly somber: "Back then... the Immortal Tree was lush and verdant, and the entire Holy Realm had endless resources and vital energy. I thought everything would be alright, but unexpectedly, a great calamity descended, and after my master perished, this Immortal Tree began to wither."

"Swish."

Xie Xuanyi suddenly noticed that the sound of the wind had become hoarse.

The location of the withered crown of the immortal tree trunk.

A new branch slowly sprouted from the part that had just been soaked by the steam from the Fountain of Immortality.

The new branch was tiny and tender, but it exuded a rich vitality... The "moisture" that had been poured into the immortal tree was not wasted; instead, it activated the divine tree's "will to survive."

"this?"

Xie Xuanyi never expected such a miracle.

"Life is the greatest miracle in the world."

Xuanming smiled and said, "Although your Undying Spring is weak, with the Immortal Tree there... it will eventually grow stronger. This Holy Realm has already passed its most difficult time. Now, as long as you live well, all the beings in the Holy Realm can come back to life."

As soon as he finished speaking, a gentle breeze began to rise again.

The new branches of the immortal tree fluttered in the wind, sprinkling out the vapors of the fountain of immortality they had absorbed.

Although this wisp of water vapor is small, it can still nourish a piece of land.

"Chi chi chi——"

Water vapor evaporates in the air, creating a mist that eventually dissipates.

This is a faint sharing that is difficult to see even with divine sense.

However, Xie Xuanyi, as the master of the Holy Realm, could feel that the desolate land beneath him seemed to have gained a glimmer of life.

"The creatures on earth, after they die, become nutrients that nourish the trees."

"The great tree sprinkles down sweet rain, which turns into water and nourishes the earth."

Xie Xuanyi murmured softly, "This is birth and death, and also reincarnation."

A little makes a lot, and sand makes a tower.

He understood Xuanming's meaning: by nourishing the Immortal Tree with the Undying Spring, the Immortal Tree would sprinkle this moisture into every corner of the Holy Realm... In this way, the Holy Realm could be saved.

The Fountain of Immortality and the Tree of Immortality nourish and support each other, forming a perfect closed loop.

"good."

Xuanming said with relief, "Back then, Master also had the Fountain of Immortality on him. Relying on the Immortal Tree... one begets two, two begets three, and many 'immortal vapors' were created. If it weren't for that great calamity, perhaps Master really could have made the [Yuan Tun Sacred Realm] change this world outside."

Hear this.

Xie Xuanyi quickly asked, "What happened to those immortal water vapors later?"

Xuanming paused for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I don't know. Master left the Holy Realm to undergo his tribulation alone outside. That tribulation was extremely harsh, and all that moisture may have been exhausted outside."

“Senior Xuanming…”

Xie Xuanyi spoke again, asking the same question he had before the battle: "I want to know... in the past thousand years, besides me, who else has stepped onto the Dao Stele as a challenger?"

There's no need to be so formal.

Xuanming's attitude improved considerably at this moment.

The Primordial Deva Realm has already recognized a master.

In a sense, Xie Xuanyi is the successor of the Great Sage Bai Ze's lineage.

"You have inherited the throne of the Holy Realm. If you don't mind, you can call me Senior Brother Xuanming from now on."

Xuanming chuckled softly and said casually, "Several years ago, there was actually another challenger."

"Is it him?"

Xie Xuanyi quickly used his divine sense to draw Lu Yuzhen's face.

When Xuanming mentioned the "undying water vapor" that Bai Ze had refined from the immortal tree, he immediately thought of Lu Yuzhen.

"good."

Xuanming raised an eyebrow and smiled, "You know him?"

"More than just acquaintances."

Xie Xuanyi's expression darkened: "When did he arrive here?"

Five hundred years ago? Six hundred years ago?

Xuanming stroked his chin. His gaze was somewhat distant. After thinking for a long time, he calmly said, "I don't remember very clearly. When he entered the Holy Realm, the Immortal Tree had not yet completely withered... Chi Lian, Qing Nu, and Su Huan were all there. At that time, to become the master of the Holy Realm, one needed to defeat the four of us."

"What was the outcome of that battle?"

"He lost."

Xuanming said calmly, "His strength is considerable, and his cultivation method is also quite strange. He defeated my junior brothers and sisters one after another. However, he was ultimately defeated by me."

Those who step onto the Dao Stele have only one chance to undergo the trial!
If we lose.

They would no longer be qualified to refine the Holy Realm!
"..."

Xie Xuanyi sneered inwardly.

The causes and consequences of the trip to southern Xinjiang are now all connected.

No wonder those Immaculate Venerables of the Paper Doll Path knew so much about the Bai Ze Secret Tomb.

No wonder this place holds such a great fortune, yet Lu Yuzhen has not appeared.

That's it!

This guy has long since lost the qualification to refine the Dao Stele!
However, there was one thing Xie Xuanyi couldn't quite understand...

According to Xuanming, Lu Yuzhen appeared here five or six hundred years ago, when the Holy Realm had not yet withered!
Did Lu Yu really live for five hundred years?

How can this be?

"Senior Brother Xuanming."

Xie Xuanyi pondered for a moment, then slowly asked, "What level was that guy at back then?"

"Yang Shen...Sixth Heaven".

Xuanming thought for a moment and said, "Yes, he was probably around the sixth realm at that time. That battle with him consumed a lot of the Holy Realm's energy."

Xie Xuanyi was even more confused.

At that time, was Lu Yuzhen at the sixth level of the Yang God realm?

If everything is true.

Five hundred years ago, Lu Yuzhen, at the sixth level of the Yang God realm, arrived in the Yuan Tun Sacred Realm and was defeated in a battle against Xuanming...

How can this be? !
"Junior Brother Xie... what's wrong?"

Seeing Xie Xuanyi's strange expression, Xuanming smiled and asked, "You seem quite interested in this guy?"

"It's true."

Xie Xuanyi rubbed his temples and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air: "I suspect he is the [Great Dao Brush]."

This statement came out.

The smile on Xuanming's face vanished completely.

"What did you say?"

The man with black satin-bound eyes became serious.

"Is such that……"

Xie Xuanyi sighed softly, gathered his thoughts for a moment, and then began to talk about Beihailing.

The next half hour.

Xie Xuanyi revealed the Paper Doll, Pure White Mountain, and all the magical artifacts that could be transformed...

In his opinion.

Lu Yuzhen has an extremely close connection with "Bai Ze".

No trace of the Great Dao Brush can be found in Beihai Mausoleum.

Therefore... the most likely truth about Lu Yuzhen's identity is that he is the manifestation of the Great Dao Brush!

Xuanming listened attentively to everything.

After listening, he too fell into deep thought.

"You mean, this guy is the embodiment of the Great Dao Pen..."

After a moment, Xuanming murmured, "Back then, he came to the [Yuantun Sacred Realm] to devour the greatest treasure left by my master."

The information Xie Xuanyi had given him was confirmed in his mind.

He was Bai Ze's eldest disciple.

Xuanming knew that his master had left behind all sorts of blessed lands and grottoes in the outside world.

The Master, with his free and unrestrained nature, spent his life roaming the world… As the great calamity approached, the Master gathered his disciples and clansmen in the Holy Realm and went alone to face the tribulation. He left behind these “blessed lands” to provide opportunities for the wild grasses and weeds that survived the calamity. What if, after the great calamity, there were still survivors in this world?

The Beihai Mausoleum was clearly designed by the Master.

"good."

Xie Xuanyi gave a wry smile: "It's just that the timeline... seems to have some problems. That guy is still alive, and if I'm not mistaken, he's currently only at the seventh or eighth level of the Yang God realm."

"How can this be?"

Xuanming raised an eyebrow; his reaction was exactly the same as Xie Xuanyi's.

Five hundred years ago, the sixth level of the Yang God realm was still alive today, which is nothing special.

It's just based on their qualifications.

Five hundred years to advance only one realm? Absolutely impossible!

Moreover... the existence of such a realm, as long as it exists, will inevitably have a huge impact. The Paper Doll Sect is a sect that has only emerged in the last ten years.

Xuanming frowned, deep in thought. After a long while, he uttered three words with some uncertainty: "The Way of Time?"

"The Way of Time?"

Xie Xuanyi looked even more confused.

"I'm just guessing..."

Xuanming shook his head and said helplessly, "There are too many 'Dao Fruits' in the Great Dao River. Some of the Great Daos, even I have never seen. I once heard my master say that many years ago, there was an extraordinary demon saint in the northern part of the demon kingdom who mastered the power of the Great Dao that could 'slow down time'. Although he had lived for hundreds of years, his physical appearance was as young as a cultivator who had lived for sixty years. This kind of 'youthfulness' is completely different from the age-preserving techniques that create external appearances. The demon saint who controlled the 'Dao of Time' had the vitality and energy emanating from his muscles and bones that were at the peak of his life."

"Does such a great path exist in this world?"

"The world is full of wonders."

Xuanming said in a deep voice, "Master also said that in the western part of the Demon Kingdom, there is another Demon Saint who wields the 'Way of Emptiness'. If these two Demon Saints are willing to use their Dao techniques together, they might be able to change space and time... It is said that some ancient 'sacrificial arts' contain similar Dao principles..."

"That's really true."

Xie Xuanyi's eyes suddenly lit up.

Otsuki Kingdom!
Blue carp!

Emperor Qi used the power of the entire nation to build the Ascension Platform and used ancient rituals to summon a "true dragon"!
The blue carp was brought here across the river of time by an ancient sacrificial ritual!

Xuanming's words awakened him...

Back in the Great Yue Kingdom, during the battle between Emperor Qi and the True Dragon, Lu Yuzhen ultimately chose to stand on the side of the "True Dragon." In that battle, Lu Yuzhen found a high-sounding excuse, saying that he wanted to seek good fortune and blessings for himself. But at the end, watching the True Dragon's soul dissipate, he still showed a look of regret and sorrow.

This scene was very brief.

But Xie Xuanyi remembered it very clearly.

If the blue carp is a traveler who doesn't belong to this era...

Then why can't Lu Yuzhen be the same?
This way.

The paper figures that appeared out of nowhere can be explained.

The challengers from five hundred years ago can also be explained.

"I have heard that the Great Sage Bai Ze's Great Dao Brush can depict and replicate all the Great Daos in the world."

Xie Xuanyi looked at Xuanming and slowly said, "If Lu Yu is indeed the [Great Dao Brush] that has cultivated into human form, then all of this makes sense... A thousand years ago, it followed Bai Ze away from the Holy Realm to undergo its final tribulation. During this process, it stole the vapor from the Undying Spring by betraying Bai Ze. After Bai Ze met with disaster, the [Great Dao Brush] survived the great tribulation by chance."

“Master’s Great Dao Brush indeed has many wonderful uses.”

Xuanming sighed softly: "But the possibility you're talking about is extremely, extremely low..."

There was a pause.

"Because the Great Dao Brush shattered before the great calamity arrived."

Xuanming said with a complicated expression, "Before leaving, Master originally intended to use the Great Dao Brush to complete the final Dao principle of the Holy Realm. If the Holy Realm could be perfected, he could safely confront the great calamity... However, this final stroke was too heavy, and the Great Dao Brush could not be fully applied, so it broke."

"That day, I watched with my own eyes as the Great Dao Brush broke in two."

(End of this chapter)