Volume One: Youthful Encounters in Humble Times Chapter 118: The Daoist's Choice (4)

Finally, the lifeline was completely destroyed, and the spirit of Tianmen Town fell into a deep slumber. Even if it wished to intervene, it no longer possessed any power to do so.

Zhang Helun guarded the formation array, watching as the spiritual energy distribution of Tianmen Town before him dissipated. He knew clearly in his heart: "Tianmen Town has been ruined. Soon, it will succumb to natural disasters, and its spiritual energy will gradually wane. Everyone will age rapidly, lose vitality, and even their souls will ultimately vanish."

Zhou Ce also felt something slipping away inside his body. Worried that something unfortunate had happened to Tianmen Town, he asked just then as Zhang Helun appeared, "Uncle Zhang, has something happened to Tianmen Town? Why do I feel like something inside me is draining away?"

Zhang Helun looked toward the distant sky, at the place where the heavenly sea and the horizon should have shone brilliantly. A profound melancholy filled his heart as he said, "The foundation of Tianmen Town has been destroyed. From now on, it will gradually decline. Before long, not only will the people vanish, but the town itself will become a thing of the past."

Hearing this, Zhou Ce could not hide his sorrow. Since he was a child, he had lived in Tianmen Town; to him, it was home. Now, to hear that his home would be destroyed—anyone would feel a deep sadness.

Tianmen Town held extraordinary significance for him, so he still hoped for a solution. Yet, to his surprise, the ever-capable Uncle Zhang displayed rare helplessness. "Who do you think I am? What means do I have to oppose the decisions of those great powers?"

For the first time, Zhou Ce heard such weary words from Zhang Helun and asked, puzzled, "Great powers? Do they have demands on Tianmen Town?"

At this, Zhang Helun glanced back at Zhou Ce and, after a few moments, said, "Zhou Ce, our abilities are limited. If we do not stand on a high enough platform, our power is even more restricted. So, a powerless person like us, when faced with matters we wish to change, can only watch helplessly. To truly alter a future that might come to pass, one must elevate oneself, gain unique abilities, and thus earn the right and opportunity to choose."

Zhang Helun’s words were abrupt and left Zhou Ce bewildered.

Before he could respond, Zhang Helun continued, "After this, you should go with the people of the Dacheng Dynasty. You are not from Tianmen Town. Its decline will affect you, but not deeply. Besides, Zhou Yu will arrange everything. The outside world is your true home; you have stayed long enough in Tianmen Town."

Zhou Ce had long known his origins and never forgot a deeply imprinted childhood memory: a scene within the palace, where a man and a woman lived, and Zhou Ce was their child.

That palace was called Zhaoming Hall.

Zhaoming Hall was the residence of the Crown Prince of the Dacheng Dynasty.

His family name, Zhou, was the imperial surname. He once only remembered that vivid image engraved in his mind, but as he grew, he learned more and read in books about the significance of the Dacheng imperial family and the hall’s name.

The Dacheng envoy had already met with Zhou Yu, promising that once Zhou Ce returned, he would immediately receive the education and training he was supposed to have. What was meant by "supposed to have"? Zhou Yu didn’t say outright, but Zhou Ce knew well—it meant assuming the path of rightful rule.

Worried, Zhou Ce asked, "What about you? Won’t you return with us?"

Zhang Helun smiled with relief, "Why should I leave? I am the city lord of Tianmen Town and should live and die with it. Moreover, this calamity is connected to me. Even if I truly cannot save Tianmen Town, I must share its fate. Only then can I honor my identity as its city lord!"

Though saddened for him, Zhou Ce understood this was Uncle Zhang’s choice, one no one could interfere with. It was his freedom and the greatest right of a person.

So, was Tianmen Town’s future doomed to darkness? Zhou Ce pondered.

While they worried, Sun Li, the eyes of the Imperial Preceptor’s faction stationed nearby, anxiously observed.

His mission was to monitor every movement around the opening of Tianmen, but he was not to intervene.

Initially, he had taken a spectator’s attitude. After all, this was the legendary war of the sages. If he could glean any insights into Daoist methods or divine powers, it would be a rare opportunity.

But as he watched, sensing the lifeline of Tianmen Town being destroyed, he realized everyone who had lived there would be affected.

Especially those like himself who had gained cultivation advances in this lawless place—those gains would ultimately return to the heavens and earth, meaning his years in Tianmen Town had been wasted.

He understood the likely scenario: those who could not defeat the Daoists resorted to a self-harming tactic—a plan of mutual destruction. But how could such a method truly impact the Daoists?

The Imperial Preceptor had originally sent him only to monitor Tianmen’s every move. Later, an additional task was assigned: to uncover the identity and origins of the Daoist.

Though rewards would come if successful, no reward could compare to lost cultivation, which required not just resources but endless time to rebuild.

At last, he resolved not to sit idly by but to act.

He faithfully relayed everything back and then stopped paying attention to the local situation. He knew that if anyone could resolve this dilemma, it was Zhang Helun alone.

Meanwhile, Liang Hui, the sole remaining scholar at the Tianmen Town Academy, stared at the portrait of the sage hanging in the main hall, lost in thought. The old master had already left, leaving Liang Hui as the last scholar.

He was aware of the Tianmen’s opening but had chosen not to intervene. Whether Tianmen could open was not their concern. The Confucian school cared only about why Tianmen existed, a matter surpassing Tianmen itself.

They only sought to establish their influence in Tianmen Town to facilitate their own affairs.

Until now, Liang Hui had merely observed, planning to realize their long-held schemes when the time was right. But he never expected the fools of Tianmen Town to destroy their own foundation in a reckless act, making it impossible for him to remain passive.

Feeling the decline of Tianmen Town’s lifeline, he was momentarily at a loss for words.

Rising in anger, he declared, "What utter fools, to burn the forest to sow fields."

With that, he vanished, heading straight to the heart of Tianmen Town’s lifeline.

Elsewhere, the Blade Sage was at a critical juncture in his “Broken Mirror” breakthrough. The Sword Sage’s eighteen sword paths had formed a pure world of sword Dao. The Blade Sage was trapped within, carefully observing its myriad changes.

The Daoist had kept part of his spirit focused on the Blade Sage. He could wait no longer. He had given the Blade Sage his chance to comprehend, but if he still could not, he would have no choice but to shatter the Blade Sage’s breakthrough moment. Delay would jeopardize his larger plan.

Just as he prepared to act, the Blade Sage awoke from his contemplation. Though his cultivation hadn’t advanced, his entire aura had changed dramatically.

Where the Blade Sage had once been fierce and imposing, like a blazing blade radiating danger, he now seemed sheathed, his sharpness concealed, calm and upright without a trace of blade qi.

At that moment, the Daoist understood: the Blade Sage had finally broken through to the True Origin.

This meant his blade path had reached the pinnacle of the mortal realm—below the fifteenth realm and the sages, he was unrivaled.

“Congratulations on reaching the pinnacle of the blade path,” the Daoist sincerely said.

The Blade Sage bowed toward the Sword Sage, "Thank you, Senior, for granting me the opportunity to comprehend the Dao."

The Sword Sage replied warmly, "It’s nothing. This was your own realization; I did not do anything."

The Blade Sage said no more, then bowed to the Daoist, "Thank you, Senior, for your protection of the Dao."

The Daoist waved his hand and smiled, "Even the Sword Sage refuses your thanks, so I certainly will not accept it. This is your own opportunity; it concerns us not."

After these formalities, the Blade Sage began to inspect his surroundings carefully.

To his surprise, he found five different great Dao circulating around the Daoist—each one the most profound path in existence.

He glanced at the Daoist, who showed no emotion, calm and unruffled. This earned the Blade Sage’s respect; to remain so composed while besieged by five sages was either the result of a tranquil mind or absolute confidence, viewing it all with disdain.

“I am not from Tianmen Town nor came for its sake, but my Blade Dao lineage also adheres to the path of self-reliance. All external forces are illusory and unsustainable. So, let me receive Senior Sword Sage’s sword for the Daoist!” the Blade Sage said respectfully.

The Sword Sage responded approvingly, "Very well, then show me what kind of Dao your blade follows!"

As the Blade Sage prepared to take the sword path from around the Daoist, the Daoist stopped him with a smile.

“I do not need your help. I can handle this. If you wish to test your strength after breaking the mirror, I can recommend someone whose sword path rivals the Sword Sage’s. For now, I have another matter requiring your assistance. Please help me with that first.”

The Blade Sage was reluctant. When had he ever needed to cooperate with others?

But after hearing the Daoist’s private transmission, he was surprised and took a long look at the Daoist, realizing his words were no empty talk. After a moment’s thought, he made his decision.

Bowing to the Daoist, he broke free and flew off into the distance.

When the Daoist finished this last task, a great weight lifted from his heart.

The Sword Sage asked puzzled, “Sometimes I don’t understand why you push away all your allies. What do you hope to gain?”

The Daoist smiled, “Because I think it’s more heroic to stand alone against five sages.”

Bai Ling glanced at the sword formation, knowing the ravages of time could no longer be stopped. Moreover, judging from the Daoist’s actions, Tianmen was not his sole goal; his mission was far more secretive.

She asked, “Is it worth it? To sacrifice your cultivation, even risking death and Dao extinction?”

The Daoist laughed heartily, “There is no worth or not worth. Since I comprehended the Great Origin Dao, I know what I must do. Everything depends on my willingness alone. Beyond that, there is no gain or loss, no distinctions.”

As he spoke, the five great Dao swirling around him began to whirl wildly.

Yet, the Daoist showed no fear. With one hand forming a mudra, he chanted, “The so-called Great Origin is the first manifestation of qi. Named without form, it changes into qi but lacks shape. This is called the Great Origin. It is the beginning of qi before form is seen.”

None of the five sages’ spirits had heard this teaching of the Great Origin Dao for countless years. The Great Origin Dao represents the formless, formless qi, a state more primal than chaos—a primordial universe state. Together with the Great Simplicity, Great Beginning, Great Elemental, and Great Ultimate, it is one of the five primordial stages transitioning from the void to the birth of heaven and earth.

Originally, these five great Dao had been sealed by past sages, forbidden for all beings to study or cultivate.

Yet unexpectedly, the Daoist had discovered and truly comprehended them.

Judging by his cultivation, his breakthrough to the fifteenth realm owed much to the Great Origin Dao.

A sudden surge of power erupted. The Great Origin Dao acted as a catalyst, propelling the Daoist’s cultivation forward by leaps and bounds.

Though they were all fifteenth realm sages, the five spirits had been sealed in the void of Tianmen’s decrees for countless years, their understanding stagnant and without progress.

Unequal footing left them no confidence to suppress him.

Indeed, when the Daoist recited the Great Origin Dao scripture, the five great Dao around them transformed into the purest primordial qi—formless, formless, and immaterial, the very source of Dao.

At that moment, they confirmed the Daoist’s cultivation had surpassed the fifteenth sage realm and reached the Dao Source realm.

However, if he did not ascend soon, the only outcome would be dissolution into the Dao.

Thus, the fate of the Daoist and Tianmen Town hung in a precarious balance, poised on the brink of transformation or oblivion.