There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 221 Why not shatter it?

The next day, before dawn, the old gate of Mingxia Mountain had already changed.

Several futons were arranged in a fan shape, surrounding a simple but clean wooden platform.

Bai Shaoyou's preparations were meticulous. Not only did he prepare refreshing and calming fruits, but last night he also proactively inquired, "Does this disciple need to arrange for someone to record the key points of this sermon?"

But Chen Qing simply waved his hand and said, "Speak freely, there's no need to deliberately record it."

Bai Shaoyou agreed, but still summoned two masters of painting and calligraphy, prepared paper and ink, and wanted to record the grand occasion.

Chen Qing did not stop it after learning about it.

Fang Da'ao and Qu Xiaoyao arrived first and sat quietly on the futons at the very front.

Although they are nominally Chen Qing's junior apprentices, they have long regarded their senior apprentice as their master, and are the most authentic and legitimate lineage of Mingxia Mountain.

Immediately afterwards, Bai Shaoyou led the little monkey to sit down quietly.

This man and monkey were disciples personally accepted by Chen Qing, representing the orthodox lineage of his school.

In contrast, Sun Nian, who arrived later, appeared much more reserved.

He was sheltered here because of the kindness of his ancestors, and he always carried a bit of caution as a dependent. At this moment, he hesitated even more, but seeing that everyone's expressions were normal and they all nodded and greeted him, he felt a little more at ease and found a seat at the back.

"Master's sect has far too few people!" The black cat appeared out of nowhere, leaping onto a rock, licking its paws, and scanning the area. It muttered to itself, "With such a foundation, how can it support the Taiyi lineage? The name 'Hidden Star' is even more ominous! If we could persuade Master to change his mind, retrieve the Taiyi Edict, and raise his voice, why wouldn't his old followers flock to him? But he insists on guarding this desolate mountain..."

Suddenly, its ears twitched slightly, sensing several faint presences in the distant forest. These seemed to be the ordinary craftsmen who had been working in the mountains recently, drawn by the call that "anyone with a predestined connection may come and listen," and were cautiously peering into the distance.

For these people, this was a great opportunity for immortals to preach, and naturally they did not want to miss it easily.

The black cat curled its lip, thinking to itself, "What can a mere mortal understand about the great Dao?" Suddenly, a premonition from its bloodline made its heart skip a beat—it was a sudden impulse!

"Huh? What's this feeling? Could it be that some of the descendants of these craftsmen really do have some special opportunities? Hmm?"

But before the black cat could think it through, it was drawn to a commotion in the woods and turned its gaze to catch a fleeting glimpse of a figure.

"Hmm? There's life here... Are they rogue cultivators who came after hearing the news? Or spies from some organization?"

It narrowed its eyes, but didn't care much. Since it has always been a public sermon, it has never been forbidden for people to listen. The more people come, the stronger the "momentum" that the sermon giver gathers, which is beneficial to himself and the fortune of his sect, and can even help him advance his path of cultivation.

Meanwhile, in the shadows of the forest surrounding the mountain gate formation, a figure that almost blended into the trees stood quietly.

It was none other than the ink-writing master, Jun Wuya.

He gazed at the high platform from afar, secretly alarmed: "This time, Chen Qing's aura is like a dragon hidden in the abyss, obscure and unpredictable. He's becoming more and more unfathomable! Just one glance at him makes me shudder. Could it be that he only went out for a stroll and yet he's already formed his core, and at a higher level than me?"

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that choosing to lie low here was a brilliant move.

"A great calamity is coming, and this place may truly be a safe haven. What does it matter if we suffer a little loss? As long as we survive, we've already won."

As dawn breaks in the east, the first wisp of purple mist appears.

Chen Qing's figure appeared silently in the center of the high platform.

He did not deliberately exude pressure, but as his golden core circulated naturally, it resonated with the spiritual energy of Mingxia Mountain. As the energy surged, a vast and indistinct portal appeared behind him!
Boom!

The entire mountain range trembled, as if it could not bear the weight of the door!

Everyone felt an immense pressure bearing down on them!

Chen Qing slightly calmed his mind, and the shadow of the door dimmed a bit.

The crowd relaxed a bit and bowed respectfully, saying, "Greetings, Sect Leader!"

Chen Qing nodded to everyone, then said, "Today, we will not discuss killing techniques or supernatural abilities, nor will we recount clever tricks and transformations; we will only speak of the essence of cultivation..."

Upon hearing this, the crowd was not disappointed. After all, they all regarded this matter as an opportunity. How much they could gain was a matter of fate, so why should they be picky?

Ignoring everything else, Chen Qing spoke slowly and clearly, his voice low but each word distinct, like a babbling brook, nourishing the hearts of everyone present.

He started with the most basic breathing techniques and the generation of Qi, but every sentence went straight to the essence, analyzing the subtle principles of how spiritual energy flows in the meridians, and pointing out the mistakes that many disciples usually took for granted or even went wrong.

At first, the disciples found it rather uneventful.

But as they listened, many people's expressions gradually changed.

The basics were finished when the sun was high in the sky.

Everyone felt as if they had drunk fine wine; having only heard some basic methods of cultivation, their bodies and minds were completely refreshed!

Chen Qing didn't stop there; he went on to discuss the various aspects of circulating qi throughout the body and between heaven and earth—

"Know that heaven and earth breathe, and all things have rhythms. When you inhale, visualize all rivers flowing into the sea, all streams converging, not by forcibly taking in, but by inviting; when you exhale, it should be like a spring breeze and rain, silently nourishing all things, spreading into your limbs and bones, nourishing your acupoints, rather than simply expelling impurities..."

He sometimes quoted the principle of "gathering flames into light, its nature is fierce but not violent" from the Great Sun True Flame to explain how to precisely control the output of spiritual power; at other times he used the meaning of "extinction is not death, but contains new life" from the Taiyin Extinction to describe the wonder of the circulation and endless life of spiritual power.

He even casually uses natural scenes such as mountain breezes, forest dawns, and flowing springs to vividly and easily explain the Taoist concepts of the vibrancy of pure yang and the serene coldness of yin.

The audience listened with increasing fascination. Many key points that were unclear in their daily cultivation, and that they knew the "how" but not the "why," suddenly became clear in this simple explanation. It was as if a blocked river had been cleared, and their energy flowed freely throughout their bodies.

Fang Da'ao and Qu Xiaoyao were completely focused, their eyes sparkling with wonder as they tried their best to memorize and comprehend, their spiritual energy unconsciously circulating around them.

Bai Shaoyou took out a jade slip and quickly made notes, sometimes frowning in deep thought, as if verifying what he had learned.

Sun Nianchu was initially a little reserved, but gradually he became engrossed in listening. His initial inferiority and unease quietly disappeared, leaving only a sincere desire to seek the Dao in his eyes.

The little monkey also sat upright, its scratching motions had long since ceased, and its pale golden fur moved undisturbed even without wind.

The ordinary people in the distance listened to Chen Qing's words and felt even more awe and respect. Although they did not experience any immediate improvement, their minds and perspectives were greatly broadened.

However, to some people, these words were like a thunderclap!
The black cat had long forgotten to lick its paws, its pair of emerald eyes wide open: "Damn it! The Sect Master is clearly trying to dissect the patterns of the universe! He's using his Golden Core form to perform Nascent Soul actions, starting preparations for fusing the 'Appearance of Heaven and Earth' into the realm! He's only been in Core Formation for a few days?"

Deep within the distant woods, Jun Wuyai's eyes twitched violently. He gasped, nearly revealing his presence: "He's already begun to organize his knowledge, harmonize his Daoist principles, and explore the laws of heaven and earth, laying the groundwork for the Eightfold Nascent Soul Realm? He must have already formed his core! This boy's comprehension and foundation are simply terrifying! And that gate behind him—just looking at it sends chills down my spine. What kind of divine power is it?" His mind raced as he pondered: "How did Mingxia Mountain produce such a figure! Who exactly is Zhou Yuanjing? Could his death be anything but ordinary, with some hidden secret? Should we investigate further?"

Almost at the same time.

Further away, hidden by the dense forests and cliffs, several faint traces of demonic energy rippled.

It was those demons who occupied several side peaks and were "persuaded" to relocate by Bai Shaoyou.

The leader was a black bear spirit that had gained sentience, accompanied by a flower snake demon and an ape demon.

They were initially resentful, knowing that the person in charge of the mountain had recently returned, and wanted to investigate. But at this moment, Chen Qing's sermon drifted on the wind. At first, they didn't pay much attention, but as they listened, they were involuntarily drawn in and forgot their original purpose for coming.

A few breaths later, the black bear demon's rugged face was filled with infatuation; the flower snake demon's eyes darted around as she desperately tried to memorize and understand; the ape scratched its ears and cheeks, sometimes frowning in deep thought, sometimes grinning in sudden realization, so anxious that it spun around in place.

They had cultivated for many years, but mostly relied on instinct to absorb the essence of the sun and moon, or obtained some incomplete inheritances. They had never heard such a systematic and insightful explanation of the "foundation of the Great Dao".
As they listened, the resentment in the hearts of the old demons caused by giving up the peak had long since vanished.

The flower snake demon couldn't help but say, "Boss Xiong, listening to this Lord Mingxia preach seems to be more useful than us hiding in our caves and pondering blindly for a hundred years!"

The ape demon clutched a handful of fur and exclaimed anxiously, "Yes, yes! I feel like my bottleneck is about to loosen! If I had known that listening to the Dao would be so beneficial, why would I have stayed on that wretched mountain? I'd give it up! I'd give it up! As long as I can listen to these sermons more often, I'd even move my cave to the foot of the mountain!"

The black bear spirit took a deep breath, the struggle in his eyes vanished, replaced by determination, and roared, "Silence! This master is truly accomplished! We were too naive before! We didn't concede this mountain! Not only should we concede, but we should also be more respectful in the future. Perhaps... perhaps we can even get more guidance from him!"

After speaking, the three demons had no more distracting thoughts. They held their breath and focused all their attention on the Daoist sound that came with the wind, wishing they could engrave every word into their very bones.

On the high platform, Chen Qing seemed oblivious, continuing his narration in a leisurely manner. Behind him, the illusory portal appeared and disappeared, as if endless mysteries of the Dao were arising and recurring within it.

His words today are both a preaching and a review of his own learning, preparing him for the next step.

The sermon lasted for an entire day.

Chen Qing's voice finally ceased as the sun set and the moon rose.

He glanced at the fascinated crowd, then his thoughts shifted, and he saw several craftsmen in the distant forest, as well as Jun Wuyai, the Three Demons, and others further away. He sensed something, as if he had vaguely grasped some kind of connection.

"It seems that the Hidden Star Sect of Mingxia Mountain will undergo some changes starting today. However, relying solely on instinct for calculation is bound to lead to some errors. Indeed, we must find a high-grade divination method as soon as possible to supplement ourselves. But we don't know which way to start. The Remnant Scroll Pavilion, the Mysterious Scroll Pavilion, or the Dream Immortal Dynasty..."

He had seen and learned many divination methods in the real world and in his dreams, but they were all ordinary methods with limitations.

After thinking for a while, Chen Qing said, "What I have said today is where your opportunity lies, so try to understand it yourself."

After saying this, he said no more. With a sway of his body, he vanished from the Dharma transmission platform like a cloud, leaving behind the crowd below who were still immersed in the lingering charm of the Dao. No one left for a long time.

The black cat licked its paws, unusually quiet, a complex expression flashing in its emerald eyes. It muttered under its breath, "Meow! Today's lecture has truly rebuilt the foundation of this small sect, raised the aspirations of its disciples, and planted seeds of opportunity. It has the air of a sect's founder. He is clearly the successor of the head of my Taiyi Dao Palace! How come he is nurturing the Hidden Star Gate here?"

Soon, the disciples, the three demons, and several mortals awoke one after another. When they saw the empty platform, they were all disappointed, but they quickly rallied because they had a clear understanding of their future path!

Chen Qing had returned to the quiet room and sat down cross-legged.

This lecture was also a process of sorting out what he had learned. At this moment, his mind was clear and his energy was harmonious, and he gained a lot of insights into the Dao.

He looked up at the moonlight outside the window.

“I have shown them the way forward; now, I will walk my path in their dreams.”

The Immortal Dynasty, 9070 years ago.

Inside the quiet room, Li Qing sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his breath subtly resonating with the surrounding world.

Outside the door, Bing Yanmiao leaned against the stone wall, her icy eyes like cold stars, staring coldly at Canxuan Gong and the twelfth prince Xu Wenji opposite her, looking like a protector.

Master Canxuan stroked his beard and smiled wryly: "Bing girl, why be so wary? This old Daoist is truly sincere! Fellow Daoist Li is no ordinary person, but after the Nine Revolutions of the Golden Core, his true potential will be revealed. The Nascent Soul realm is not the accumulation of strength, but the choice of the Dao! The choice of which 'scenery of heaven and earth' to temper oneself is related to the height of one's innate nature that one can reach in the future! This key point is difficult to be fully guided by the inheritance of ancient sects with profound foundations. Although the Hidden Star Sect is strong, it is still young. This old Daoist Li is afraid that his talent will be wasted, and it is a pity!"

Although he spoke highly of "Li Qing," he still retained a degree of pride and arrogance regarding his own sect's heritage.

At this moment——

"Buzz!"

In the quiet room, a sense of atmosphere suddenly spread.

The clouds outside the window paused slightly, and the ancient leaves in the courtyard fell silently, as if heaven and earth had gained some understanding at this moment and found peace.

The composure on Canxuan Gong's face changed, and he turned to look at the quiet room: "The path of the Dao is clear, a sign of interaction between heaven and earth?! He himself is in seclusion and yet he has seen through the direction of the path of the Dao and understood the mystery of the Nascent Soul stage? How is this possible! Even during the Hundred Races Era and the Dao Inquiry Era, there were very few who could have such an enlightenment!"

Just then, a voice came from outside the window—

"Truly amazing! Such skill is truly breathtaking! This trip was definitely worthwhile!"

"who!?"

Everyone in the room paled.

"Squeak-"

At this moment, the door to the inner room opened by itself without any wind, and Li Qing slowly stepped out. He did not look at Canxuan Gong and the others, but instead looked out the window.

Under the moonlight, a tall figure stood between the moonlight and shadow, his wide cloak fluttering in the night wind, surrounded by firelight, flowing water, thick earth, golden light, and the illusory image of Yi wood, all shifting and changing.

He was also looking at Chen Qing.

"As expected of someone who has been repeatedly favored by the Celestial Dynasty, yet grows stronger with each battle! I thought you had just entered the Ninth Rank and would need time to hone your skills and find your own path, but I didn't expect you to be so fast! In addition, your bizarre methods that disregard the laws of the Jade Capital... You are indeed the person I have been looking for!"

"Who are you?" Li Qing's gaze narrowed slightly as he sensed an aura of profound control over the five elements of heaven and earth emanating from this person.

"Who am I?" The mysterious visitor chuckled, his tone laced with untamed arrogance. "Who I am is unimportant. What matters is you, Fellow Daoist Li. You roamed the Northern Lands, slaying Nascent Soul cultivators with your sword, and thus defied the Jade Capital. They oppressed you with their power, abused their authority for personal gain, and frequently threatened you with your family and sect! Don't you feel stifled by this corrupt land, by this world ruled by such despicable people? Don't you feel... it should be shattered?"

At this point, he took a step forward, and the true essence of the Five Elements erupted from his body, stirring the night sky. His tone suddenly became impassioned: "Why not come with me! Let us join forces, smash this stagnant pool, and create a new world!"

(End of this chapter)