Volume One: Youths Meet in Humble Times Chapter 61: The Motive Behind It (Part 3)

This news struck the members of the Nether Spring Sect with even greater force. Others might not have a clear sense of the Daoist’s power, but Elder Gao of the Nether Spring Sect was different. He had witnessed firsthand the moment when the Daoist destroyed their protective array—an event that haunted his mind to this day, becoming an obstacle in his heart.

The strength of their adversary was unparalleled, at least in the Nether Spring Sect. Even their sect master and grand elder could only respectfully see the Daoist off. It was clear: had the Daoist refused to yield that day, the very existence of the Nether Spring Sect might have been erased.

Within the current order of sects, the Nether Spring Sect was a rising star. Their infiltration into Heavenly Gate Town had initially lacked both the status and power to establish a foothold. Thus, their influence here was exceedingly shallow. Unlike other sects, they had not stationed enough people early on to gather information and had merely set up a base as a stopping point.

Their journey to Heavenly Gate Town served two purposes: to observe and prepare for future expansion, and to announce to all that the Nether Spring Sect had secured a place in the cultivation world.

Yet, they never expected the figure who had brought them nightmares to be here as well, and moreover, to be tied to either the Imperial Palace or the Imperial Preceptor. This realization filled them with a profound sense of helplessness.

Except for the Nether Spring Sect, every other sect present had their patriarchs in Heavenly Gate Town. They had all contacted their patriarchs, but the decree of the Dao had hit them especially hard. Those elders were now preoccupied with adjusting to the suppression of the Dao in Heavenly Gate Town, unable to spare time or energy to make arrangements for their disciples. They had only offered a few instructions or bits of information about the place before falling silent.

The patriarchs had been here for a long time—aside from the grand elders, their status was the highest. But from the day they entered Heavenly Gate Town, they were cut off from the outside world.

In truth, people who come to Heavenly Gate Town from outside do so either to seek the chance for ascension or because their cultivation has stagnated, with no hope for further progress but the threat of imminent death and dissolution. Heavenly Gate Town is a lawless place; the Dao holds no sway, fate is absent. Thus, they come to survive, and to probe the secrets of the Heavenly Gate.

Everyone who takes this path understands: once you enter Heavenly Gate Town, you can never leave. To exit would be to face immediate retribution from the Dao.

Hence, under these circumstances, the patriarchs here have little impact on their sects, and their sense of belonging or responsibility to their sects has greatly diminished. For them, the sole desire is to ascend as soon as possible.

To offer a bit of information about the Heavenly Gate is the utmost they can do for their sects. To protect them within Heavenly Gate Town? Impossible.

As they had been warned before coming, the waters of Heavenly Gate Town run deep—so deep that, unless someone possesses cultivation at the fifteenth realm or is close to it, they cannot claim an independent status here.

This conversation left the hearts of the six major sects weighed down by a mountain.

They understood that, given the current situation, it was unlikely they could secure the greatest advantage when the Heavenly Gate opened relying solely on their own abilities.

If the patriarchs do not intervene, none among them could match the Daoist. Moreover, the decree of the Dao now hangs over them, making things even more dire.

Should the Daoist join forces with the Imperial Preceptor’s faction or the Imperial Palace, the Heavenly Gate would essentially fall into their hands. If they could even taste a morsel of the spoils, it would be a blessing.

At this point, Elder Luo of the Divine Craftsmen Sect suddenly asked, “Do you think, now that the decree suppresses Heavenly Gate Town, will that Daoist still be able to unleash his full power?”

Everyone was shaken by this question. Indeed, since the decree grows stronger with higher cultivation, could it be that the Daoist is also suffering under its weight?

Elder Huang of the Shadow Mountain Sect glanced at the others, noticing traces of hope and secret delight on their faces, and couldn’t help but think them foolish as swine.

She sneered and said, “My friends, don’t be so optimistic. How can you be sure the decree truly affects him? He has stepped into—or nearly stepped into—the fifteenth realm. Between each realm at the end, the gap is as wide as a chasm. Just because we are powerless does not mean he is. Besides, it is said that upon reaching the fifteenth realm, one can command the Dao and issue decrees. If he possesses such power, would he care about the decree as we do?”

Her words were like a basin of cold water poured over their fervent hopes. Indeed, if the Daoist has truly reached the legendary fifteenth realm, whether or not he is affected by the decree remains unknown.

Each realm possesses its own mysteries. They currently understand up to the fourteenth realm; the fifteenth remains shrouded in legend. Ancient texts might record fragments, but details are scarce and become vague with the passage of time.

All they know, aside from oral transmission, are the legends circulating among cultivators.

It is said that after reaching the fifteenth realm, one can ascend to immortality, command the Dao, achieve a state where one’s words shape reality, and issue decrees to restrict all beneath the Dao. Such abilities are miracles in their eyes.

If the Daoist has attained the fifteenth realm, he would become a mountain weighing down upon all their hearts.

Finally, Elder Chen of the Fate Sect closed the topic, “Let us set this matter aside for now. We’ll contact our patriarchs again to see their judgment of the Daoist and plan accordingly. For now, we need to focus on tomorrow. Tomorrow, the Great Dynasty and the Imperial Palace arrive. Though we are under their jurisdiction and must obey in major matters, each of us has our own mission here. I suspect you all do as well?”

Everyone fell silent, clearly agreeing with Elder Chen.

In truth, they all had their own tasks.

Besides investigating the Heavenly Gate, they were to bring promising disciples back to their sects. If they could find rare treasures and materials here, all the better.

Heavenly Gate Town is not only secretive because of the Gate itself; being a lawless place, it is home to more exotic beasts and rare materials than outside. Even the local currency—shells and crystals—are prized materials for forging artifacts elsewhere.

But shells and crystals are found in the sea, and in recent years, the sea level has risen and waves have grown fierce. People from Heavenly Gate Town seldom venture out, so it is now difficult to find as many shells and crystals as before. The currency in circulation is from the past.

Residents of Heavenly Gate Town have begun searching for alternatives to their currency, but any substitute must be attractive to outsiders; otherwise, outsiders will stop bringing goods in, leaving the town to rely entirely on self-sufficiency. For vital goods unavailable locally, they would face hardship.

This is a boon for outsiders. Since shells and crystals are now scarce in Heavenly Gate Town, whoever finds suitable substitutes first can establish cooperation: they’ll bring goods in, trading them for the town’s residents to hunt down what they want.

This, indeed, is the main purpose of every sect’s visit to Heavenly Gate Town.

Everyone both respects, resents, and fears the Great Dynasty and the Imperial Palace: respect for their overwhelming power, resentment because they use it to erode the sects’ interests, and fear that their power will only grow, becoming an unstoppable force.

If they act alone, no sect could compete with the Great Dynasty or the Imperial Palace. Thus, they must unite, so when the representatives arrive tomorrow, they’ll have enough voice to negotiate.

Elder Luo of Fallen Peak spoke up, “We must cooperate.”

After each shared what they hoped to obtain from Heavenly Gate Town, they chose the most abundant and easily acquired items and reached an agreement.

While they schemed in secret, the Daoist from Another View was watching them with relish. Everyone thought their plotting was well concealed, but little did they know a Daoist with a less-than-respectable appearance was sprawled on a meditation cushion, munching melon seeds, feet propped up, listening to their self-important plans.

“Such pretty dreams. But it all depends on whether I agree, doesn’t it?”

Just as the Daoist had once told Li Yu, anything that happened in Heavenly Gate Town, as long as he was aware of it, he would know.

The six sects thought themselves clever, brimming with pride as they planned to seize the town’s future for themselves. But things are never so simple.

The Daoist has lived in Heavenly Gate Town for centuries. To him, its future can only be decided by its own people; no one else has the right.

And that future naturally includes the townsfolk.

The past and the future alike are shaped by people. Since the past cannot be changed, he would plan carefully for Heavenly Gate Town, ensuring the future remains in his own hands—only then can it truly be called the future.