Opening a path

For three consecutive days, Li Jiusheng devoted himself to quiet cultivation, transforming all the insights he gained from the battle with Dao Taichu into his own understanding.

These insights and realizations helped Li Jiusheng solidify his Venerable First Heaven Realm and even advance a little further.

"The magnitude of my realm improvement isn't much, but it has laid the foundation for my next Rebirth." Li Jiusheng reflected on himself, feeling satisfied with his accumulated experience.

With the completion of the third Rebirth, his cultivation level reached the Venerable realm.

To initiate Fourth Rebirth is far more difficult than the previous three combined; the energy, foundation, and insights required are simply immense.

These all require gradual accumulation.

"I wonder if I can Rebirth once I reach the Venerable Realm?" Li Jiusheng thought with great ambition.

He felt that by accumulating experience gradually and reaching the Venerable Ninth Heaven, he would surely Rebirth when he broke through to the level of the Ancestral Master.

But he wanted to Rebirth once more within the Venerable Realm.

This requires great opportunity and profound understanding to accumulate significant knowledge and skills.

"Take it slow, don't force things. Right now, I'm invincible below the Ancestor Realm," Li Jiusheng muttered to himself, standing up with a composed demeanor.

Compared to before, he now truly has confidence.

The night sky was still and quiet, with only the chirping of insects.

Under the moonlight, the mountains lost their deep green, as if draped in a silver veil.

Fallen leaves drifted down, landing in the clear stream, and flowed with the current to the waterfall in front of the Scripture Repository Pavilion, where they crashed down with a thunderous roar.

Li Jiusheng watched silently, his mind racing. "I still have a Hundred Thousand Year Ginseng King. Its medicinal effects must be incredibly potent. If I take it now, it will definitely help me break through several levels of the Heavenly Realm. But wouldn't that be too wasteful?"

If the Hundred Thousand Year Ginseng King were to fall into the hands of other forces, they would surely give it to Venerable Peak to help him break through to the Ancestral Master level.

Or it could be given to a master or expert to help them reach even greater heights.

No one would give such a miraculous medicine to a Venerable First Heaven cultivator.

"I'll save it for when I break through to the Ancestor Realm, and then take it to maximize its effects." After some thought, Li Jiusheng was reluctant to take it now.

He felt that breaking through from the Venerable First Heaven Realm to the Venerable Ninth Heaven was not a difficult task for him at all, so there was no need to waste the divine medicine Ginseng King on it.

"The Four Swords I obtained from the Deadly Land still have enormous potential to be explored. During this time, I will devote myself to cultivation and stay away from worldly affairs." Li Jiusheng focused his attention on the Four Sword Techniques he had acquired.

The power and terror of the Four Sword Techniques shone brightly in the battle against the patriarch, and Li Jiusheng naturally wouldn't let them go.

The night was cool and still. He sat alone on the edge of the cliff, seeking true inner peace amidst the noise, clamor, and roar.

His primordial spirit was clear and bright, illuminating the space between his eyebrows. Li Jiusheng's comprehension flowed through his body like water, doing everything in his power to help him comprehend these Four Sword Techniques.

The night passed quietly.

During the day, Li Jiusheng remained the same as always. Apart from demonstrating some boxing techniques to the Little Fox, he settled into his usual routine.

Enlightenment, tea drinking, mountain viewing, water viewing.

Rumors are circulating that he fought against Dao Taichu, the founder of the Heavenly Dao Sect, and was undefeated, even injuring Dao Taichu.

Those who heard it initially disbelieved it, but as more and more people emerged from the Deadly Land, and the various factions all gave the same version of events, the world had no choice but to believe it.

The senior brother of the Shangqing Palace Sect Master, Venerable First Heaven, was able to withstand the power of the Heavenly Dao Sect's founder without being at a disadvantage.

Such a sensational biography quickly became a popular topic of conversation among people.

Even when Li Qingshan shattered Dao Taichu and split his primordial spirit into four, it was not as shocking or explosive as Li Jiusheng's ability to defy his ancestor despite being above his level.

This is simply because in people's minds, the patriarch is equivalent to invincibility.

Only the patriarch can defeat the patriarch.

Before Li Jiusheng made his move, no one had ever imagined that Venerable First Heaven could contend with an Ancestral Master; even Venerable Peak couldn't do it.

But now Li Jiusheng is competing with Dao Taichu in front of all the major powers, and he is not at a disadvantage.

The facts are undeniable, leaving no room for doubt.

So in an instant, the Cultivation world was ignited.

Everyone is asking, who is Li Jiusheng?

As a result, Shangqing Palace gained great fame and was no longer the little nobody it used to be.

Li Qingshan's breakthrough to the level of the patriarch and Li Jiusheng's transcendence to confront the patriarch have unconsciously elevated the status of the Shangqing Palace in the eyes of the world.

However, the Heavenly Dao Sect, which was the other party in the discussion, was very unhappy.

Even with their own patriarch's help, they couldn't defeat a Venerable First Heaven. Instead, the Shangqing Palace Sect Master shattered their Pure Yang Primordial Spirit, severely injuring them and forcing them into seclusion. They wouldn't emerge for at least two or three hundred years. In effect, the Heavenly Dao Sect lost a patriarch during those two or three hundred years.

How to avoid getting angry?

However, Shangqing Palace and Heavenly Dao Sect are located far apart, one in the south and the other in the north. Unless we send our patriarchs and experts to capture them, there is really no other way.

If Dao Taichu was defeated so cleanly and decisively by Li Qingshan, which patriarch could be sent to ensure a sure victory?

A fierce debate has erupted within the Heavenly Dao Sect.

Even Grandmaster Realm aren't all of one mind. Why should they be expected to seek revenge for the humiliation suffered by Dao Taichu?

Faced with a Sword Dao madman, whose Pure Yang Primordial Spirit could be shattered at any moment, no patriarch stepped forward for the time being.

Li Jiusheng, who was the subject of much discussion and widespread fascination, now resembled a reclusive old man, detached from worldly affairs and living a carefree life.

Inside the Shangqing Palace, Li Qingshan had already given orders that his disciples were not allowed to disturb the palace. Even if they went to borrow books, they had to handle them carefully and leave quickly.

Therefore, Li Jiusheng's life remained unchanged.

Every day, he used his exceptional comprehension to study the Four Swords he had obtained from the Deadly Land.

In the past, no technique could withstand Li Jiusheng's comprehension for even a moment.

However, these Four Swords techniques were clearly beyond the scope of the curriculum. After studying them for several days, Li Jiusheng could only advance his understanding by one step.

"What level of swordsmanship are these Four Swords techniques?" Li Jiusheng was a little puzzled.

He felt that if his comprehension hadn't been so exceptional, he probably wouldn't have been able to cultivate it successfully.

Therefore, Li Jiusheng specially sought out Li Qingshan taught him the Four Swords techniques in their entirety.

I hope Li Qingshan will achieve success in his spiritual practice.

The result was quite unexpected.

Faced with these Four Swords, Li Qingshan, after three days of arduous training, shook his head in dejection. "Senior brother, the Dao and Law intertwined within this sword technique are far beyond the realm of ordinary Dao. It involves Laws, and extremely profound ones at that. With my current level, I simply cannot comprehend it."

Li Qingshan failed, Li Jiusheng could only silently ponder the truth on his own.

"Indeed, these Four Swords are completely different from the cultivation methods I've studied before, containing laws within them. I'll silently study them, and when I break through to the Ancestor Realm, if I can unravel a complete law, won't it be a piece of cake then?" Li Jiusheng thought to himself.

Time flies, and a month has passed.

Over the past month, Li Jiusheng's popularity has noticeably declined, with very little discussion about him. Even the disciples of the Shangqing Palace have become accustomed to his seclusion next to the Scripture Repository Pavilion.

When they see him on ordinary days, they simply salute him from afar, and no one comes to disturb his quiet life.

After a month, Li Jiusheng had a different perspective on the Four Swords.

Through daily practice and continuous comprehension, I eventually gained something; the power of the Four Swords became even more formidable than before.

As for sorting out a complete law, that's still a distant dream for Li Jiusheng, who is at the Venerable Realm.

He wasn't in a hurry; he patiently and quietly devoted himself to cultivation.

On this day, Li Qingshan suddenly sent a message, asking Li Jiusheng to go to the Sect Master’s Main Hall, saying that an old friend had come to visit.

Upon receiving the message, Li Jiusheng raised an eyebrow. "An old friend is visiting? Could it be the Jin Family?"

He had no friends in the Cultivation world, and the only person he could befriend on this trip was Jin Jiuling. Moreover, when they parted last time, Jin Jiuling said that he would go back to the Jin Family to rest for a while and then come to the Shangqing Palace to pay his respects.

Without further thought, Li Jiusheng rose, transformed into a rainbow, and departed, arriving at the Sect Master’s Main Hall.

Inside the main hall, people were talking and laughing.

Li Jiusheng stepped inside and immediately recognized the visitor as Jin Jiuling from the Jin Family.

However, he did not come alone, but with an old man.

The old man was very old, with a full head of white hair, but his face was ruddy. Strangely, his two eyebrows were extremely long, hanging down like a beard and resting on his shoulders.

"Dao Friend, it's been several months since we last met. How have you been?" Jin Jiuling greeted Li Jiusheng with a hearty laugh.

"Brother Jin, how are you? Hope you've been well." Li Jiusheng nodded with a smile, then looked at Li Qingshan.

"This is the previous patriarch of the Jin Family," Li Qingshan introduced with a smile.

"Greetings, Jin Grandmaster!" Li Jiusheng greeted him.

"Dao Friend, there's no need for such formalities. I've heard your story of slaying the Dao Taichu with your sword countless times, and I've always admired it. That's why I came with Jin Jiuling to pay my respects at the Shangqing Palace," said Jin Grandmaster with a smile.

"Dao Friend, there's no need to be so formal. This Jin Grandmaster is my senior brother in terms of seniority. He, like you and your fellow disciples, walks the path of Sword Cultivator," Jin Jiuling said with a smile.

Li Jiusheng turned his head, looking at the kind old man in front of him in surprise. He was actually the patriarch of Sword Cultivator?

There was not a trace of Sword Dao in him.

"Senior brother, Jin Grandmaster achieved the position of ancestor three hundred years ago. Since then, he has been cultivating in seclusion and has long since reached the pinnacle of his skill. His Sword energy has reached perfection and can be controlled at will. Unlike your junior brother me, who is still showing off his sharpness and is like a child who has just started out." Li Qingshan saw Li Jiusheng's doubt and explained jokingly.

"I see. Then I must learn more from Jin Grandmaster," Li Jiusheng said with a smile.

"Very well, very well. I would also like to ask you two young friends how to block the Patriarch's attack while only at the first level of the Venerable Realm?" Jin Grandmaster said, stroking his eyebrows.

"Alright, enough with the mutual flattery. My senior brother and I have come to visit today, firstly to catch up, and secondly to invite Fellow Dao Friend and his fellow disciples to join us in this effort," Jin Jiuling said.

The pleasantries and compliments came to an abrupt end.

Li Jiusheng looked at Jin Jiuling and asked, "Brother Jin, what does 'joint action' mean?"

Jin Jiuling said, "Dao Friend, have you ever heard of the concept of Path-Opening '?"

Li Jiusheng nodded slightly. The concept of Path-Opening has existed since ancient times, so he naturally knew about it.

According to the books, the resources of the Cultivation world in the Old Land are limited. Whenever a prosperous era arrives, a large number of cultivators emerge, and the Old Land cannot contain them all, so they have to explore the outside world.

This is called Path-Opening!

However, these are all ancient accounts. With the fall of the Heavenly Emperor City, the Central Land became the Old Land, and it took nearly a thousand years to barely stabilize the situation after the invasion.

The resources of the Old Land Cultivation world have not yet been exhausted, so few people would want to Path-Opening.

Li Jiusheng couldn't figure out what Jin Jiuling was up to, so he simply said, "Brother Jin, please speak frankly."

"To be honest, my Jin Family has been operating in the Northern Land for thousands of years. We have many descendants. Although we are a large family and a great business, we also face great pressure. The resources in the Northern Land are relatively depleted, so a long time ago, my Jin Family began to Path-Opening outwards." Jin Jiuling explained in detail.

Li Jiusheng's heart stirred. The Jin Family had been Path-Opening for a long time. As expected of a great family with a thousand-year history, it was a top-tier power.

"Isn't the Old Land surrounded by Forty-Nine Sea-Supporting Purple Gold Beams?" Li Jiusheng asked in confusion.

"Senior brother, you may not know this, but the Jin Family controls seven of the Sea-Supporting Purple Gold Beams," Li Qingshan explained.

Li Jiusheng suddenly realized, "So that's how it is. The Jin Family controls the Sea-Supporting Purple Gold Beams, so they can open passages to the Outer Domain at will, allowing them to enter freely. Path-Opening is a piece of cake for them."

Jin Jiuling continued, "Over the years, my Jin Family has acquired some businesses outside the Central Land. Of course, those are clan-owned and have little to do with our main branch. Therefore, my senior brother and I came here to invite you two to redevelop a new region and obtain substantial resources. At that time, the cultivation of my Jin Family's main branch will be promising, and the Shangqing Palace will also see a flourishing of disciples."

Li Jiusheng understood: the Jin Family had been Path-Opening for a long time, but the resources they acquired belonged to the entire Jin Family.

The Jin Family has occupied the Northern Land for a thousand years, multiplying through countless generations and branching out numerous branches. Even when the resources gained from Path-Opening are divided among them, very little ends up in their hands.

Jin Jiuling is the next head of the Jin Family, as recognized by the main branch. Naturally, he wants to strengthen the main branch, which is why he brought his senior brother to the Shangqing Palace and invited Li Jiusheng and Li Qingshan to jointly Path-Opening outward.

If this Path-Opening succeeds, the profits will be split equally between the Jin Family's main branch and the Shangqing Palace.

"We, fellow disciples, have lived in our Old Land since childhood and know nothing about the Outer Domain. How can we Path-Opening?" Li Jiusheng asked.

Jin Jiuling smiled slightly and said, "Dao Friend, there's no need to worry. There's nothing scary about the Outer Domain. It's just a place, like the Old Land, with different cultivators. Some places have more demonic Demonic Beast, and some have more Demonic Humans. That's all."

"The place where we invited you two to jointly Path-Opening is only a million miles away from the Old Land. It used to be a Floating Land of a powerful force, but in the last five hundred years, that force seems to have been declining, and its control over this Floating Land has become increasingly weak. Today, it is practically non-existent. We are sure to gain a lot from our trip there," Jin Jiuling explained in detail.

"Floating Land are desirable, but we're probably not the only ones eyeing them, are we?" Li Jiusheng raised an eyebrow, seemingly lost in thought.

"That's why my senior brother and I went to invite you. With Fellow Dao Friend and his fellow disciples here, plus my two senior brothers and our two ancestral masters, and with Dao Friend's formidable combat power, this trip is sure to be a success," Jin Jiuling said confidently.

Li Jiusheng did not agree immediately, but looked at Li Qingshan instead.

Li Qingshan said, "We'll split the resources we get from Path-Opening equally between our two families, but any cultivation techniques we encounter along the Path-Opening need to be reviewed by my senior brother first."

Jin Jiuling immediately agreed, "Of course. Dao Friend has exceptional comprehension, and the methods from Outer Domain are strange and different; they might be of assistance to your cultivation path."

Upon hearing this, Li Jiusheng's heart stirred, and he slowly nodded, agreeing to Path-Opening.

He didn't really care about resources or anything like that.

But the opportunity to witness cultivation methods from Outer Domain and to comprehend different techniques held immense appeal for him.