First Ancestor's Second Question! One Day in Heaven, One Year on Earth

The stars in the sky reflect each other, while the sun and moon linger on earth.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten days have passed.

Within the Longevity Sect, Chen Dengming had already dispatched a second clone carrying a backup map to the Fallen Forbidden Zone.

However, this strategy of rapidly expanding one's forces to explore the Fallen Forbidden Zone is limited by the fact that the sect is far away from the Fallen Forbidden Zone, and the duration of the clones is also limited by Mental Strength.

Therefore, after spending six days to reach the Fallen Forbidden Zone, the second clone only had a maximum of eight days left to explore Fallen Forbidden Zone.

Fourteen days—this is the maximum time Chen Dengming can currently maintain an avatar.

To extend the lifespan of the clone, one must further enhance one's spiritual cultivation and dissolve some of the Daoist inscriptions within Sea of Consciousness. Only then can the clone's spiritual imprint become more condensed and stable, allowing it to exist for an even longer period.

Chen Dengming currently has no good solution to this problem.

The cultivation of the Spiritual Realm is inherently like the white clouds that leave no trace, a state that cannot be forced, no matter how far one travels.

Therefore, for the past ten days or so, although Chen Dengming knew that this method of rapidly deploying troops to explore the map was troublesome, he had no choice but to accept this trouble for the sake of safety.

While focusing on his cultivation, he also used up all his remaining battle merits to exchange for several one-time high-power talismans and two mid-level third-tier sect Law Technique for future use.

In addition, he also sent his Soul Shocking Silk and Sang Tianrong to the Curiosity Sect to complete the spirit attachment, further enhancing its destructive power.

The Demon Weapon armor and Demon Weapon battle axe he had previously obtained were given to Elder Ge of the sect to be reforged into a set of armor and Great Saber more suitable for him to wear in his Human Immortal Physique state.

After all these arrangements were made, Chen Dengming not only spent all his battle merits, but also nearly five thousand High-grade Spirit Crystal.

Although the sect's Artifact Refining Grandmaster, Old Man Ge, no longer charges him for his work, the materials needed to craft Law Treasure still require expenditure.

The materials used to equip the Demon Weapon armor and the hurricane battle axe, which are Third-tier High-grade Law Treasure, must be extremely rare and valuable, costing money like water.

Inside the cave abode, Chen Dengming was organizing the supplies he had prepared over the past ten days, placing the items into several Storage Bag and categorizing them.

"Put the Daoist methods and maps in this bag and preserve them with a protective seal. These methods should not be passed on lightly; they are all treasures."

Third-tier intermediate Wood Element Technique Method <Boundless Falling Wood Rustling Down>, third-tier intermediate metal-type Technique Method <Gold Generates Water>, fourth-tier basic Daoist spell <Seven-Colored Bright Mirror Destiny Technique>.

"Put the pills in this bag. In addition to the Heart Mending Pill and Zhuang Shen Dan I received from the exchange, I also received Exorcism Pills. I don't expect these Exorcism Pills to be of much use to me, but it's better to be prepared."

"These pills are really expensive, but we can't afford to be without them. They're all high-quality medicines that you can't buy anywhere else."

"Finally, there are the talismans crafted by Nascent Soul True Lord; I exchanged for three of them."

These are the offensive [Golden Mountain Suppressing Top Talisman] and [Myriad Phenomena Senluo], and the [Wood God's Guardian], which combines defense, purification, and recovery. Once activated, they all possess 30-40% of the power of Nascent Soul True Lord's Law Treasure.

These should be no problem dealing with experts in the Golden Core Late Stage, but I'm not so sure about those in the Golden Core Perfection.

He Yingyu walked over and, seeing how meticulously Chen Dengming was tidying up, couldn't help but smile. "Junior Brother, only someone like you would prepare Golden Core Late Stage or even Golden Core Perfection cultivators when you're only at the Golden Core Early Stage. We wouldn't even dare to dream of it."

Chen Dengming shook his head, reached out and patted He Yingyu's long legs standing beside him, and said, "Being prepared is an essential quality for cultivators like us. Senior Sister, you should also update your Treasure Pouch, just in case."

"Hate!"

He Yingyu rolled her eyes with a charming expression. "Don't tear the stockings I just made from ice spider silk with your rough hands."

Chen Dengming chuckled and praised, "Your craftsmanship is quite good. I only need to describe it once, and you've already made it. These stockings feel alright. Next time, make some black stockings."

"Black?"

He Yingyu frowned in disgust, pouting, "Does black look good?"

"Of course it looks good."

"Fine, you're getting a good deal anyway. I'm not going to wear this out."

"It's better not to wear it outside; it's very chaotic outside right now."

Chen Dengming sighed, put away the Storage Bag, and glanced at the panel again.

After cultivating within the sect for more than ten days, his Longevity Merit had increased by more than two thousand points of proficiency.

But let alone breaking through to the Golden Core Mid Stage, even breaking through to the next level is no easy feat.

This is still due to the advantageous location of occupying Fourth-Rank Spirit Vein.

If one leaves the sect's Fourth-Rank Spirit Vein, their cultivation speed will be greatly slowed down.

Given the current situation, leaving the sect and their hometown is only a matter of time.

Just seven days ago, the Western Region Demonic Sect, in alliance with the cultivators of the Northern Region, launched a major attack on the Cultivation World of the Southeast Region, with even Nascent Soul True Lord personally taking part in the attack.

The Southeast Region naturally joined forces to counterattack and resist.

As soon as the battle began, many Golden Core cultivators perished, and even Nascent Soul True Lord were injured.

Seven days have passed, and although the war has gradually intensified and entered a probing phase, the entire Southeast Region is still in a state of defensive retreat and appears to be at a disadvantage.

Ultimately, the top combat experts have been suppressed by the Northwest Region, causing the Southeast Two Regions to exercise restraint and hesitate to act rashly.

With the return of Qu Shenzong, the first ancestor of the Tiandao Sect, the Spirit Transformation experts in the Southeast Region felt as if they had found their backbone.

With the power of Qu Shenzong, he could easily overpower both the Mochao Kingdom Lord and the Heavenly Demon.

But now, the Qu Shenzong has fought the Mochao Kingdom Lord and that Venerable Lord all the way to the heavens, and the Longevity Dao Ancestor has been severely injured.

Now, in the Southeast Two Regions, there are only three Nascent Spirit Transmutation Dao Lord who are capable of fighting: the Divine Sword Dao Lord of the Shu Sword Pavilion, the Five Elements Dao Lord of the Five Elements Escape Sect, and the Buddha Venerable Putuo of the Vajra Putuo Gate in the Southern Region.

In the Northwest Regions, there are three Nascent Spirit Transmutation Dao Lord, including the Heavenly Demon, all of whom have a strong desire to wage war.

Besides the Heavenly Demon, whose strength is absolutely top-tier even among those who have reached the Spirit Transformation stage, the other two are the Five Elements Sword Lord of the Five Elements Sword Sect in the Northern Region and the Heavenly Crystal Dao Lord of the Shuangxue Body Sect.

Comparing these lineups, it seems that the difference in strength between the top experts on both sides is not significant.

However, the Heavenly Demon of the Heavenly Devil Sect was stronger than all other Spirit Transformation, even surpassing the Divine Sword Dao Lord of the Shu Sword Pavilion.

Furthermore, the Vajra Putuo Gate's Buddha Venerable Putuo, who has always been even more reclusive than the Longevity Sect, has an ambiguous attitude and a weak willingness to participate in the war, which has led to an imbalance in the confrontation between the top combat forces of the four regions.

"Now even the Second Ancestor has gone to the War Zone. Once these Nascent Soul experts start fighting, Golden Core cultivators will be reduced to dust like dumplings."

Chen Dengming secretly resented that his strength was improving too slowly.

It will take him at least another hundred years to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm.

However, such a hundred years of peaceful cultivation time is clearly something that cannot be obtained within the four Inner Domain.

Even beyond the four realms, he must strive to obtain them.

"I don't know when the Daoist Temple will open; my Third Martial Uncle said it will be in the next few days."

I must seize this opportunity to see if I can absorb more Dao power, and ideally, figure out the wonderful uses of Immortal Celestial Dao Power."

Inside the cave abode, Chen Dengming changed into Movement Method, washed himself with the Spirit Spring that had been brought in from outside, straightened his clothes, and cast a Cleansing Technique. He thought to himself, "If only my State of Mind could be improved again, my clones could be maintained for a longer time, and I could be more efficient in my work."

Third Martial Uncle said, "There are many sources of information on the selection of auspicious sites for sects outside the Four Regions. It would be more efficient to explore with many clones together."

His selection of a new blessed land for the Longevity Sect was not as simple as wandering aimlessly across the four seas after leaving the Four Regions, slowly searching for one.

Instead, they explore the locations of blessed lands recorded by their predecessors, provided by the sect, and then report back to the sect to find suitable locations. Finally, they compare the best locations and select the new blessed land address for the sect.

Those blessed lands recorded by our predecessors are one of the foundations that the Longevity Sect has gradually accumulated over the years, and they represent many backup plans that have been prepared in advance.

Those who live long and live by the Dao often take one step at a time, plan two steps ahead, and then strategize for the third.

With so many years of lifespan, the sect's patriarchs naturally wouldn't be completely unprepared; they had already selected some auspicious sites long ago.

However, at least a hundred years have passed now. Whether those blessed lands have become the Mountain Gate of other forces, whether their feng shui resources have been destroyed, and whether the surrounding areas have been occupied by Great Demon are all things that Chen Dengming needs to investigate in advance.

He was preparing to go to Master Ge's sect to check on the progress of the Law Treasure's crafting.

At this moment, the Sound Transmission Jade Talisman hanging at the waist lit up.

"Nephew Disciple Chen, the First Ancestor has sent word that he wishes to see you and has lit Longevity Incense."

Get ready, I'll take you to the Heavenly Immortal Hall to meet the First Ancestor!

Chen Dengming's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly felt a little nervous. His heart was pounding like it was filled with seven or eight buckets, and he felt excited as if his whole body was on fire.

But when the terrifying bands of light and black holes that had appeared in the sky came to mind, this fiery excitement quickly turned into fear and unease.

What level of Golden Core Spirit Transformation is needed to reach the Spirit Transformation?

He was actually able to face a powerhouse of that level directly.

He still hasn't forgotten the terrifying scene of that day when the Spirit Transformation cultivators clashed.

After a long while, his State of Mind gradually calmed down, and his excitement and anxiety turned into calm. He immediately responded that the Third Ancestor would arrive at any time.

Hillside.

Deep valley.

The sea of clouds stretched across the land like mercury.

Wildflowers bloom in clusters, like brocade.

It was under that same huge ginkgo tree.

The Third Ancestor, Su Yanyan, stood beneath the tree, her flowing hair and robes billowing in the mountain breeze, highlighting her slender figure and otherworldly elegance, like a fairy descended to earth.

Chen Dengming's figure broke through the clouds and flew over, bowing respectfully to Su Yan Yan.

"Third Martial Uncle!"

Su Yan Yan nodded slightly, her expression calm, and said, "This time, the First Ancestor specially came out of seclusion for you. Not only will he light Longevity Incense for you, but he will also entrust you with information on blessed lands collected by the sect outside the Four Domains. This item is a top secret of the sect, so you must remember not to lose it."

Chen Dengming's expression turned solemn, and he bowed, saying, "This disciple will cherish and preserve it."

Su Yan Yan nodded, said no more, and turned to enter the hollow of the giant ginkgo tree.

"The Immortal Celestial Lineage - The Way of Longevity!"

Chen Dengming looked at the huge, towering ginkgo tree. He wondered how many years the tree had lived, and it seemed to be a symbol of longevity, the hope of the Longevity Sect.

No matter how good the new blessed land is, for the Longevity Sect, the most important thing is still the Mountain Gate that currently possesses the Daoist lineage of the Mustard Seed Realm.

Once the Thirteen Peaks of Longevity are lost, the Daoist traditions of the Mustard Seed Realm and the Heavenly Immortal Hall will also be lost.

No matter how good a new blessed land is, if it loses its lineage, it cannot be considered a top-tier power in terms of sect foundation.

Chen Dengming now holds two major lineages, so he is certainly aware of the importance of sect lineages.

This is also why the patriarchs did not go to find a new blessed land themselves, but still had to fight for the Mountain Gate and the Eastern Region.

"Golden apricot branches adorned with jade-like dew, war rages and chills the heart. Cultivating immortality is but a pursuit of eternal life, why endure the hardships of war and worldly existence?"

He sighed softly and plunged into the hollow of the ginkgo tree.

Ripples spread outwards.

It resembles the rings of a ginkgo tree.

Chen Dengming descended from those rings of time and arrived at the site of the Longevity Sect's lineage.

At a glance, a grand hall shrouded in mist came into view in the distance. The hall's roof was square, while its base, including the entire floating island, was round, symbolizing the square heaven and the round earth. This was the Heavenly Immortal Hall.

"Go!"

The Third Ancestor, Su Yanyan, slightly raised her delicate, fair chin, her hair flowing freely in the wind, and looked at Chen Dengming with a hint of encouragement in her eyes.

Chen Dengming had already calmed State of Mind, so he was no longer nervous or flustered.

He sensed the rapid loss of his lifespan within the Daoist realm, and after urging his Immortal Celestial Dao Power to stop this loss, he smiled, bowed, and headed straight for the Heavenly Immortal Hall.

Passing through the misty expanse of the floating islands, we entered the ancient and simple hall, which seemed as high as the Sky Dome.

That feeling of immense grandeur and magnificence washed over me once again.

The Heavenly Immortal Hall, though mysterious and cold, also exudes a complex, profound, and benevolent spirit.

Chen Dengming sensed the incredibly dense Immortal Celestial Dao Power within the Heavenly Immortal Hall.

At the top of the palace, a crystal of Dao power, resembling a giant sapphire, poured down azure light like a curtain of the sky, enveloping him entirely. It was as if he were wandering in the azure Sky Dome, lying flat on the clouds, making him feel relaxed and comfortable.

Although Chen Dengming neither saw nor sensed the presence of the First Ancestor, he still bowed and paid homage to the crystallized Dao power above his head.

"Disciple Chen Dengming pays respects to the First Ancestor!"

The crystallized Dao power atop his head, resembling a bluish-green gemstone, suddenly emitted a brilliant light.

The azure-blue Dao energy gradually condensed into a huge face with cold, icy features. Looking down from the sky, its eyes were filled with indifference and coldness, as if it were the words of the heavens, devoid of any human emotion.

A powerful yet oppressive spiritual force descended instantly, causing Chen Dengming's entire body to tense up.

"Dao Child, the student surpasses the master; how do you understand this saying?"

A grand voice suddenly resounded throughout the hall as that face opened its mouth.

Chen Dengming was taken aback, wondering what the First Ancestor meant by asking this question, from what angle he was asking it, and what kind of answer he needed.

His thoughts raced for a moment before he realized that no matter how he answered the question, he might not have the best solution.

However, answering this question from the perspective of understanding the Heavenly Dao might be the best answer at present.

Or rather, what does it matter if it's good or bad? Heaven treats everyone equally.

He bowed and replied, "Reporting to my master, I believe that both blue and indigo have their own merits. There is no such thing as blue being superior to indigo, nor is there any such thing as indigo being inferior to blue. There are two flowers, each representing its own branch."

The face above remained noncommittal, continuing, "How do you understand the word 'love'?"

Chen Dengming was taken aback, not daring to look directly at the immense and powerful spiritual force emanating from above, but he remained composed and smiled as he bowed, saying, "This disciple believes that even heaven, if it had feelings, would grow old; but human emotions, if they existed, would remain unchanged."

"Snort--"

A cold snort, like a thunderclap, echoed loudly within the magnificent hall, shaking Chen Dengming's mind, making his head buzz, and causing his internal energy to surge wildly.

The majestic voice continued, "How can the heavens grow old? If the heavens have feelings, only the common people will suffer. If people have feelings, there will only be more entanglements of love and hate."

Chen Dengming steadied his State of Mind. He was momentarily unsure of the Ancestor's intentions, but he had already sensed that the other party meant no harm. He continued to respond according to his own instincts.

"Whether one is compassionate or indifferent, Heaven is always high above and treats everyone equally."

Therefore, whether one is affectionate or indifferent is like the difference between indigo and ochre; there is neither superiority nor inferiority, neither high nor low.

"What I said—that even Heaven would grow old if it had feelings—is nothing more than hearsay. Grandmaster, there's no need for you to take it to heart."

"Good, not bad!"

That cold expression seemed to soften somewhat. "Treat everyone equally, indeed. You're right. Your understanding of the Immortal Celestial Lineage is already very profound."

Chen Dengming felt the intense spiritual power emanating from above his head gradually subside.

Then a hazy blue light shone down, making him feel that the traces of time around him became clearer, as if the flow of time accelerated in this area.

However, because he possesses the protective Immortal Celestial Dao Power being, his lifespan does not diminish rapidly.

However, he soon realized that as more and more azure and blue Dao power enveloped the area, the traces of time seemed to slow down, becoming slower and slower, to the point that he even felt a sense of temporal and spatial distortion.

The great voice of the First Ancestor echoed down from the sky once more.

Do you know why your senior uncles often go into seclusion within the Daoist territories?

Because a day in heaven is equivalent to a year on earth.

With the help of the Immortal Power left behind by the celestial beings of this land, your master can assist you in cultivating for five years in five days.

This will consume a lot of your cultivation power. Remember, you only have five days to cultivate, so hurry up and improve your strength.

Five days later, I will light Longevity Incense for you and send you off."

"I'll see you out."

"Get out."

"Go out."

As the echoes reverberated, Chen Dengming's heart trembled violently.

Incredibly, he felt the speed outside his body slow down, and waves of azure-blue Dao energy surged around him, protecting him inside.

At the same time, a surge of Spiritual Qi welled up from the soles of my feet, like a golden lotus emerging from the earth— the Spiritual Qi of Fourth-Rank Spirit Vein.

Chen Dengming took a deep breath, calmed State of Mind, and the surprise in his eyes gradually subsided.

Unexpectedly, the First Ancestor could use the power of the Immortal Celestial Lineage of the Dao of Longevity to alter the flow of time, slowing it down to help him rapidly increase his strength.

However, it is clear that this is also a huge drain on resources, and may even deplete the celestial power left behind by this lineage, otherwise it would not only be given for five years.

If he hadn't taken on such an important task this time, he probably wouldn't have had such a good opportunity.

"They said they were lighting Longevity Incense, but after they came in, they first fooled me and then started giving me benefits."

Indeed, this is the way of Heaven: to take from the surplus and give to the deficient. This First Ancestor may seem cold and intimidating, appearing devoid of human emotion and close to the will of Heaven, but he too is acting in accordance with the way of Heaven.

Chen Dengming didn't dare to hesitate. He sat down cross-legged and began to seize the time to cultivate.

A day in heaven is equivalent to a year on earth.

Five days compared to five years of cultivation time seems like a lot.

But that wasn't enough for him to break through to the Golden Core Mid Stage.

However, it can shorten the cultivation time by more than half, and one only needs to cultivate for three years to break through to the Golden Core Mid Stage.

Most importantly, in such an environment, he could truly focus on his cultivation for the full five years.

Unlike in the outside world, where you're constantly running around and there are always dozens of days a year that you waste on cultivation time.

"I hope that one day in the future, after I become the Longevity Old Ancestor, I can also take charge of the Heavenly Immortal Hall, slow down time, make one day in heaven equal to one year on earth, and enjoy the life of the Jade Emperor."