The courtyard is quiet and secluded, with the sound of the wind rustling through the pines.
Chen Du sat upright on the futon, closed his eyes and meditated, letting a wisp of vast and boundless Calamity Qi slowly return to his sea of consciousness.
He secretly made a rough calculation in his mind, and realized that the power of this Calamity Qi was equivalent to the sum of all the calamity he had accumulated in the past ten years of hard work.
This time, the Red Flame King, with his Pseudo-Twelfth Realm cultivation, brazenly besieged the mountain. Tens of thousands of rebel troops pressed in, and the battlefield covered Qingfeng Mountain, once forcing the ancient temple, which had stood for ten thousand years, to the brink of collapse.
This calamity was extremely dangerous, far exceeding any disaster he had ever experienced before.
The way of Heavenly Dao determines the success or failure of a calamity. The more perilous the calamity, the greater the reward. That is why the Calamity Qi returned this time is so powerful and abundant.
Chen Du remained calm and did not rush to refine and break through this profound Heaven's Way's Gift. Instead, he steadily sealed the Calamity Qi deep within his sea of consciousness, keeping it dormant.
He has only just entered the Twelfth Realm, and his foundation is not yet fully stable; his Dao Resonance still needs to be refined and polished.
The greatest taboo in spiritual practice is being impatient and rash. Only by firmly establishing one's current state and solidifying one's foundation can one calmly embark on the long and arduous journey ahead.
He patiently waited for the most opportune moment before making use of his accumulated resources.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye, and once again, imperial carriages and horses arrived at the foot of the mountain.
The man who came this time was a middle-aged civil official, dressed in an elegant official robe, with a fair complexion and no beard, and a gentle and refined demeanor. He was none other than Vice Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Rites of the Ling Dynasty.
Vice Minister Zhou was very courteous. After arriving at the mountain, he first went to the Ancestral Hall to burn incense and pay homage to show his respect. Then he entered the main hall, brewed tea and chatted with Xuanwei. He spoke humbly and showed no arrogance of a court noble.
After some casual conversation, he finally revealed the true purpose of his visit.
The imperial court discovered that the master who had instantly killed the Pseudo-Twelfth Realm Red Flame King and quelled the rebellion that day had gone into hiding in Qingfeng Temple.
The emperor valued talent, and the court and the public respected him. They wanted to invite this reclusive master to come out of seclusion and serve the Ling Dynasty.
The imperial court specially established the position of Protector of the State Dharma Master, ranking first-rank, enjoying the highest salary of the dynasty, overseeing all affairs of the Daoist sects, coordinating the regulations of the Daoist lineage, and being required to step forward and fight for the country in times of national crisis and war.
Such power, salary, and honor are the highest attainable attainable by secular monks.
Zhao Yuanshan, who was listening from the side, had his eyes shining and was deeply shocked. Such immense wealth and supreme power were truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Master Xuanwei remained calm and did not immediately agree. He simply said that this matter was of great importance and that he needed to consult the true intentions of the master in the temple before he could give a reply.
As night deepened, the bamboo courtyard fell silent.
Xuanwei walked into the courtyard alone, sat down at the stone table, and got straight to the point, explaining the court's demands in detail.
"The imperial court wishes to invite you to leave your seclusion and engage in worldly affairs."
"The Protector of the State Dharma Master, with a first-rank salary, overseeing all Daoist sects in the land, holding the highest position among officials, enjoying unparalleled honors. The conditions are indeed exceptionally generous."
He looked up at his unassuming young disciple, his gaze gentle. "What are your plans?"
Chen Du remained seated as before, his expression calm and undisturbed. He gently shook his head, his tone resolute. "This disciple will not go."
Upon hearing this, Xuanwei's eyes flashed with a knowing smile. He had always known that Chen Du had a pure heart and disliked worldly noise and disturbances, and he had long expected him to give such a reply.
"In that case, I will refuse the envoy on your behalf tomorrow."
"There's no need to trouble you, Master," Chen Du said softly, his tone composed. "This matter can be handled by Prefect Qi down the mountain."
Xuanwei was slightly taken aback, but quickly understood his deeper meaning.
Prefect Qi of Qingyuan County had been under the protection of Qingfeng Temple for many years and had maintained good relations with the sect for a long time, so he could be considered one of their trusted confidants.
The local prefect politely declined on their behalf, demonstrating a gentle and tactful approach. This approach clearly conveyed Qingfeng Temple's uninterestedness in worldly affairs, upholding the sect's stance, while also avoiding damage to the court's reputation and preventing any estrangement or discord between the court and the reclusive sect—a win-win situation.
After considering this, Xuanwei nodded slightly. "This method is sound. I will immediately send a message to Prefect Qi."
The next day, Prefect Qi went up the mountain as instructed.
He made a special trip to visit Vice Minister Zhou, and the two had a private conversation in a guest room for more than half an hour.
When Vice Minister Zhou came out of the guest room, his face was still refined, but he could not hide a faint trace of melancholy. In the end, he did not say another word.
He bowed respectfully to the gate of Qingfeng Temple, then silently descended the mountain with his entourage, completely abandoning the matter of this conscription.
The turmoil subsided quietly.
Zhao Yuanshan moved closer to Chen Du, full of curiosity, and asked with a smile, "Junior brother, what exactly did the imperial envoy say to us? Why did he leave so suddenly?"
Chen Du smiled faintly and said simply, "They just wanted me to enter officialdom, which I declined."
Zhao Yuanshan paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, patted his shoulder heavily, and wholeheartedly agreed, "Good! If you don't want to go, then don't go! The imperial court is a murky pool, full of power struggles and intrigues. How can it compare to the tranquility and freedom of our Qingfeng Temple! We cultivators should stay in the mountains and cultivate in seclusion, not concerning ourselves with worldly power—that is the right path!"
Chen Du simply smiled and nodded, offering no further explanation.
Others only thought he disliked worldly troubles, but no one knew that deep within this seemingly serene young disciple's sea of consciousness lay a vast Calamity Qi comparable to ten years of arduous cultivation.
He remained patient and quietly Lie Dormant time, neither rushing forward nor seeking personal gain.
The Great Dao of the Twelfth Realm has been initially established, but the foundation still needs to be solidified. The road ahead is long and full of uncertainties.
He would wait for the most opportune and crucial moment to refine all of this immense Heavenly Dao Calamity Qi, breaking through the shackles on his path once again.
A moment later, the long and melodious sound of the bell from Qingfeng Temple slowly echoed through the mountains, clear and ethereal, washing away the dust.
The rebel army at the foot of the mountain had long since collapsed and fled, and the chaos of war had come to an end, but the traces left by that great battle were still clear.
Outside the mountain gate, vast tracts of land were scorched black by the flames of war, with vegetation destroyed and scars of slaughter everywhere, silently telling the story of the perilous catastrophe that had occurred just days before.
Chen Du in the bamboo courtyard, gazing at the scorched and barren land in the distance. He stood silently for a long time, his eyes calm and still.
After a long while, he gently turned around, pushed open the door, and returned to his peaceful cultivation.
Worldly fame, imperial favor, and the turmoil of a chaotic world are all like fleeting clouds, ultimately unable to compare to even a fraction of the profound clarity of the Great Way in his heart.
Several months later, I felt the time was right.
Chen Du sat upright on the futon, and with a thought, poured all the vast Calamity Qi that had been sealed away for 100,000 years into the Heaven's Way's Gift.
Buzz--
His sea of consciousness trembled violently, the sound of the Dao resounded endlessly, and the boundless Heavenly Dao Resonance washed over his soul and cleansed his foundation.
In just a few breaths, an unparalleled divine sword slowly materialized from the Dao Resonance energy, hovering in the deepest part of the sea of consciousness.
The sword has a long, straight blade, untouched by worldly dust. Its entire body is covered with deep, ancient, dark gold tribulation patterns, the lines crisscrossing like natural Dao seals engraved by the tribulations of Heavenly Dao.
The sword's edge was sharp and clear, with nine extremely fine lightning marks embedded in its blade. These marks, layered upon each other and varying in depth, were indestructible imprints left by countless tribulations and trials of life and death throughout the ages, containing the supreme divine power to destroy all laws.
Twelfth-Tier Divine Sword!
A peerless divine weapon truly rooted in the Great Dao and originating from the Heavenly Dao!
Chen Du concentrated his mind and calmed his spirit, slowly probing a wisp of pure Spiritual Power into the depths of the sword, instantly understanding its true essence.
Within the sword's body lies not merely a weapon, but also a complete, closed-loop network of Daoist laws, profound and vast, with interconnected layers.