Please call me Dadaozu

Chapter 476 Breakthrough, Zhang Yuanzhu: Ming Dynasty, Entering the Valley (4000)

The armored soldiers stretched out like a crimson dragon, walking across the land.

The Qi Refining cultivator roared through the sky, riding on various rainbow lights, shattering mountains and breaking rivers, heading straight ahead.

The foundation was laid and extensively repaired, perched high in the sky, surrounding the vermilion palace like stars holding up the sun.

Such a journey, such unrestrained freedom, is unprecedented in the history of this ancient and modern land of Guya.

All the living beings and ordinary people they encountered along the way knelt down in devout worship, as if they were gods.

The eternal and everlasting congratulatory greetings resounded throughout heaven and earth.

Above the sky, the vermilion palace emitted rays of red light, as brilliant and dazzling as the sun, as it moved slowly forward.

Inside the palace, four figures sat facing each other, with various spiritual fruits and wines laid out before them.

“I saw this palace once when I was young, outside the capital city. I never thought you would find it again.”

Zhang Yuanzhu rested his arms flat on his knees and chuckled softly.

The young man, now clad in a red robe, no longer possessed the imposing presence he had displayed not long ago; instead, he appeared more gentle.

Feng Ling stretched out her hand, picked up a spirit fruit the size of a longan, and parted her red lips slightly:
"It is also a flying treasure found several years ago. Its shape has been recast to suit this trip."

Zhang Yuanzhu nodded, picked up the spirit wine placed in front of him, and took a small sip.

A petite woman in white armor turned her gaze away from the palace and spoke:
"The appearance of the army was unprecedented in history. The people cheered and shouted as if they had seen a god. From then on, under the rule of the Ming Dynasty, even the most foolish person would not have any improper thoughts."

“Sister Xintang, you are still too soft-hearted and too naive.”

“They’re just a bunch of mortals, ignorant of right and wrong, ungrateful and righteous, and most of them don’t even know how to read. How long can they last today’s events? If they offend our established laws, then kill them.”

Feng Ling scoffed, swallowed the spirit fruit in one gulp, and chewed it thoroughly.

She presided over the affairs of the Ming Dynasty and encountered too many incredible situations.

In remote, impoverished areas, some people would actually lead their villages in rebellion and storm towns simply because of bad weather.

Without logic, or unable to understand the other person's thoughts, she couldn't distinguish between strength and weakness, thus courting her own demise.

There were too many such things, especially right after the fall of the Yuan Dynasty. Most ordinary people were like wild beasts, and not even as fierce as wild beasts.

Zhang Yuanzhu downed the tea in one gulp and whispered:

“Then educate them, tell them what is right and what is wrong, so that they can rely on their own hands to make a living and change themselves.”

bang~
He put down his wine glass and stared directly at Feng Ling with his double pupils:
"Hasn't that always been the way the Ming Dynasty has always done it?"

"If this large-scale military expedition can stabilize morale and prevent more people from dying due to ignorance, that will be enough. Moreover..."

He toyed with the jade cup, his eyes calm, and whispered:
"I was once an ordinary person, even the lowest-class beggar, living on the charity of kind people."

"Give them some hope, let them live, it's a very simple thing."

Feng Ling remained silent.

She was born into the Azure Thunder lineage, and her father was the mountain lord of the Azure Thunder lineage. Although he always followed the rules set by the young man, he never overstepped them.

Yet, they also genuinely disregarded worldly affairs.

With great power bestowed upon him, the common people are nothing but weeds.

Feng Ling swallowed the spiritual fruit in her mouth and looked up to face the crimson shadow:
"Emperor Ming is different; how can they be compared to you?"

“You could have achieved such great things no matter where you were born, but only because you are Zhang Yuanzhu.”

This is what the many cultivators and powerful figures of the Immortal Soldier Valley are thinking.

Zhang Yuanzhu remained silent.

All he did was seek to achieve a clear understanding of the other party's thoughts; the other party only needed to follow his instructions, and there was no need to change the group's mindset.

After all, this is ultimately a side path.

Then, the young man tilted his head slightly and looked at the petite woman in white armor:

"Fellow Daoist Feng, I haven't yet congratulated you on breaking through the Foundation Establishment stage and advancing to the Divine Constable level. From now on, your lifespan will be 240 years."

"Fellow Daoist, you flatter me."

The woman clasped her hands in a fist salute, and her armor clanged.

She had broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, but among the many outstanding individuals in the vermilion palace, she was insignificant.

Both Qi Heng of the Vast Ocean Dharma Lineage and Feng Ling of the Azure Thunder Dharma Lineage far surpassed her in cultivation.

At this moment, Qi Heng, who had been silent all along, slowly spoke:
"Fellow Daoist Feng is too modest. At your age, you have broken through the Foundation Establishment stage and forged a mid-grade Spirit Platform. In the future, you may very well break through to the Condensation of Evil and attain a lifespan of five hundred years."

He paused, then reached out, picked up the glass, and slowly sipped the wine, a hint of reminiscence flashing in his eyes:

"Junior Sister Zhou Zhi also has the potential to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, but unfortunately she's too hasty!"

As for why they were in such a hurry, Qi Heng remained silent, and everyone else was silent as well.

Zhang Yuanzhu remained calm, picked up his wine glass, and sipped it slowly.
"In matters of spiritual cultivation, there is little room for luck. One must be as fierce as a tiger and as gentle as a rose."

Feng Ling, Qi Heng, and Feng Xintang all nodded.

Spiritual practice is a matter of life and death, so one should be fully prepared.

Then, Feng Xintang spoke again, recounting the story of the Lonely Light Temple and the invasion of the Qian Kingdom.

"The Lonely Light Immortal came from the Jade Sun Temple. After re-establishing the temple in the Yan Kingdom, he continuously encroached on the territory of the Qian Kingdom. He repeatedly defeated the armies of the Ming and Qian Kingdoms, causing rivers of blood and mountains of white bones."

Her voice was heavy as she recounted the past conquests and bloodshed.

"If it weren't for the intervention of the Lord of Zhuoyang Mountain, the Yan Kingdom's invasion would never have stopped, but now..."

A smile appeared on Feng Xintang's face, her red lips slightly parted:

"Fellow Daoist has returned; it is they who should be filled with fear and dread."

Zhang Yuanzhu finished the wine in his cup.

bang~
The wine glass fell to the ground.

"I will go to the State of Yan."

The voice was calm, yet it caused a slight change in the expressions of the three people.

If Emperor Ming were to go to the Yan Kingdom, it would surely be a major event that would alarm the ancient cliffs.

The situation in this region is bound to be stirred up again.

Afterwards, the four continued their conversation, recounting their experiences over the years.

Time passed by, from day to night, and the three of them left one after another.

Inside the vermilion palace, only Chi Ying slowly drank from his cup.

"Woof~, Dao Master, I'm back."

With a bark, Big Yellow emerged from the depths of the palace and came to the side of the red-robed man.

With a spit, a long, shimmering white ruler floated down in front of the young man.

Zhang Yuanzhu stretched out his hand, took the measuring ruler, and slung it around his waist:

"Did you enjoy your trip?"

Big Yellow lay sprawled beside Red Shadow, its beastly eyes filled with boredom.

"Like a vast expanse of green mountains, there is nowhere to travel."

"It's better to stay by the Dao Lord's side."

The young man looked helpless, put down his wine glass, and patted the dog's head.

"The mountains and rivers are enchanting, and the world is bustling. While they may not be enough to make one intoxicated, they still require much experience."

He paused, then withdrew his hand and placed it flat on his knee:
"However, let's end this journey here. Now, come back to the sect with me."

Big Yellow nodded, affectionately rubbing against the young man's robes:

"Lord Dao, I will have the Silver Wolf clear the way for the army, which will be enough to kill all the villains."

"it is good."

Zhang Yuanzhu gently tapped his forehead.

Immediately, he took out the Dragon and Phoenix Yin-Yang Jade from his bosom and began to comprehend the laws of Yin and Yang.

There is still some time before he returns to his sect, enough time for him to take another step forward.

This was also one of the reasons he led his army to the northern mountains.

The young man's double pupils were deep and unfathomable, and various thoughts surged through his mind before finally fading into silence.

He began to cultivate with all his might, increasing his magical power, comprehending the laws, and refining his spiritual consciousness.

Time flies, and half a month has passed in the blink of an eye. The army marches north, and a long, winding ravine gradually comes into view of the armored soldiers and cultivators.

They gazed at the endless canyon, at the rock walls that had turned into glass from the intense heat, and at the mountain gate on the other side of the canyon.

At this moment, everyone, regardless of strength or weakness, was shaken and felt at a loss.

Faced with such a power that surpasses the imagination of living beings, one instinctively feels bewildered, followed by reverence.

One by one, the armored soldiers and cultivators unconsciously looked up at the blazing sun in the sky.

boom!
The blazing sun trembled slightly, the heavens shook, and a beam of radiant white light descended, connecting the two banks.

At the same time, a voice echoed from the heavens:
"Cross the bridge!"

"Honor the Emperor's order!"

Silver wolves led the way, armored soldiers obeyed, the army crossed the bridge, and cultivators rode across on rainbow lights.

A vast army, resembling a crimson ocean, appeared before the gates of Immortal Soldier Valley.

The surging aura of war soared into the sky, tearing through the clouds, and streaks of rainbow light stood in all directions of the firmament, gazing towards the mountain gate.

At this moment, the majestic gate of Immortal Soldier Valley disappeared, revealing a group of cultivators.

There were Taoist priests wearing star-patterned robes and crowns; cultivators dressed in blood-red cloaks, exuding a bloody aura; and creatures riding various spirit beasts and demon beasts.

The cultivators were clearly divided into groups, all gazing solemnly at the blazing sun in the sky.

Yi Xing, Xue Hai, Yu Shou, Lian Bing, and Jian Zong—the five major Dao lineages and numerous other Dharma lineages—have all arrived here.

At the same time, two blurry figures stood deep in the void, gazing at the vermilion palace under the blazing sun.

"He led a large army to the front, with Zhuoyang, Canglei, and Hanhai all coming out at once, but he still felt indignant."

"In the past, the sect was influenced by Tai Ri and paper dolls, and its actions were unfair."

The two True Lords of Immortal Soldier Valley looked serious.

With their wisdom, they naturally knew that if they made even the slightest mistake in handling today's events, the orthodox tradition would be in danger of falling apart.

"let's start."

The two True Lords, Lianbing and Chiming, exchanged a glance and then disappeared simultaneously.

When they reappeared, they were already in front of the five major Dao lineages and numerous Dharma lineages.

Their bodies are in harmony with heaven and earth, and their every move is extremely mysterious, causing cultivators to become immersed in the Great Dao.

Then, under a series of incredulous gazes...

He cupped his hands to the blazing sun, then bowed deeply!

"We, along with countless beings and numerous lineages from Immortal Soldier Valley, welcome fellow Daoist back."

"On this journey to the Shichuan Plain, we destroyed Qingyangzhai, disrupted the Du family, and stormed Wuliang Palace, making immortal contributions to the sect."

"Please come inside the mountain gate for a chat!"

As the words echoed, the five major Dao lineages and numerous Dharma lineages bowed in unison and shouted:

"Welcome back, Daoist Master!"

The sound shook the heavens and the earth, creating ripples in space, like waves surging and churning.

Many armored warriors, as well as cultivators from Zhuoyang, Canglei, and Hanhai, also looked up, their eyes filled with shock.

They actually coerced Immortal Soldier Valley into making the Golden Core True Monarch submit.

They witnessed a myth!
The blazing sun in the sky remained silent, offering no response whatsoever.

The vast expanse of space grew increasingly silent, carrying an indescribable sense of oppression.

"Ah!"

A soft laugh broke the silence of the sky, smoothing out the ripples.

In the next instant, an extremely explosive aura rose up, as if ten thousand volcanoes were erupting at the same time, tearing the sky apart and revealing the vast starry sky.

The moon shines brightly in the daylight, and the stars twinkle with dazzling brilliance.

A figure in crimson emerged from the vermilion palace and sat cross-legged.

Its body was only eight feet tall, yet it seemed larger than the bright moon, making the boundless stars mere embellishments.

Rumble~ Rumble~
Like surging waves, or like exploding thunder.

The cultivators of the five major Dao lineages and numerous Dharma lineages were filled with fear and felt an instinctive tremor.

"What...what is this?"

A cultivator collapsed to the ground, staring blankly at the crimson shadow in the starry sky.

"Breakthrough! Daozi is breaking through!!"

A low growl came from Ning Sha Zhenren, his voice filled with horror.

Even the True Lord of Refining Weapons and the True Lord of Crimson Sea showed shock on their faces.

If they remembered correctly, Zhang Yuanzhu had only broken through to the Foundation Establishment realm eleven or twelve years ago, yet he had already crossed the ninth level of Foundation Establishment and reached the second step of Condensing Qi.

Now another breakthrough is needed, if successful.
Do not!
Success is inevitable; that will be the third step of the Condensing Fiend Realm, and one will have already completed half of the first step of the Condensing Fiend Realm.

This is simply an unprecedented myth.

At this rate of cultivation, how long would it take to reach the peak of the Condensing Qi Realm?

Two years!

Three years! !
Four years still!!!

The two True Lords looked up at the starry sky, trying their best to suppress the turbulent emotions in their hearts, but they could not suppress them no matter what they did.

Under the starry sky, Zhang Yuanzhu sat cross-legged, sensing the surging magical power in his dantian and comprehending the Yin-Yang laws, all of which had reached the end of the second step of the Condensing Evil Realm.

Without hesitation, a thought arose in my mind.

The Blood Demon Banner appeared behind him, fluttering like fire, and wisps of green mist emanated from it, flowing into his body.

He's starting to really break through!

Within his dantian, the nine-layered green platform trembled violently, and streams of magical power surged and churned, filling every inch of the space.

Above the spiritual platform, the Yin and Yang calamities surged, and wisps of black and white evil energy rolled down, passing over the layers of the spiritual platform and covering the fifth layer.

The magical power roared, and the malevolent energy surged, constantly washing downwards, yet it could not get through even an inch.

At the same time, the skin, flesh, bones, and internal organs trembled slightly, emitting the roar of dragons and the howl of elephants, and began to transform, moving towards a higher level.

In his mind, an eighteen-story glazed pagoda stood in the center, and streams of spiritual consciousness emerged and merged into the pagoda, making the glazed light shine even more brilliantly.

The three treasures of essence, energy, and spirit, as the evil energy washes over the barriers, begin to strengthen and leap towards a higher level.

Time passed, and an incense stick burned.

Zhang Yuanzhu's eyes were indifferent as he slowly raised his arms.

"The timing is perfect."

Snapped!
Clench your palms together.

At this moment, on the nine-layered spiritual platform, the Yin-Yang Jade Tree swayed, and four colors of light—green, blue, red, and purple—drooped down, merging with the evil energy.

In the five directions of the dantian, the phantom images of the five divine beasts—Black Tortoise, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Azure Phoenix—emerged, raising their heads and roaring, stirring up magical power and urging forth malevolent energy.

Click~
The sound of shackles breaking came from within his own body.

The black and white malevolent energy corrupted the fifth level of the spiritual platform.

At this moment, the transformation within his body intensifies, with his flesh, bones, and tendons rapidly propelling him towards a higher level, generating powerful surges of energy.

In his mind, the glazed pagoda stood tall, the phantom of the nineteenth floor pagoda appearing and disappearing.

Zhang Yuanzhu lowered his palms, sensing the changes within his body, and a smile appeared on his lips, filled with pleasure.

The third step of the Condensing Qi Realm has been achieved!
From then on, he had completed half of the Condensing Fiend Realm.

Chi Ying stood up, ignoring the fearful gazes directed at him.

He turned and walked towards the vermilion palace, his figure slowly disappearing, and a deep voice fell from his lips.

"Having broken through to a higher realm, it is inconvenient for me to visit the two seniors. I will definitely come to the Blood Sea Dao Vein in seven days."

After a pause, the voice continued.

"Mingguo, enter the valley!"

(End of this chapter)