The Heavenly Dao No Longer Wanted to Play Back Then

The cultivator's goal is Longevity, to attain true self-realization—ultimately, to suppress Myriad Heavens and Realms, bear the Heavenly Mandate, become the Myriad Realms Uniqueness, and wield the Heavenly Dao Will. From then on, they transcend Longevity immortality, forging true Immortality, becoming indestructible, transforming themselves into the 'Heavenly Dao'.

The Heavenly Dao is immortal, the Heavenly Dao is indestructible, the Heavenly Dao Immortality, the Heavenly Dao is eternal!

So why did the 'Heavenly Dao' encounter problems? What problems arose? Was it because humanity's capacity to bear the Heavenly Dao eventually became unsustainable, leading to these problems?

The 'Sage' Confucian scholar pondered for a long time before saying, "How should I describe it... Heavenly Dao has given up."

This [Sage Silence Pool] space seems to be able to shield everything. Here, 'Sage' can even directly mention the term 'Heavenly Dao' without fear of being detected.

"Huh?" Song Shuhang couldn't help but exclaim.

"Huh?" Both True Lord Dustfall and Lay Buddhist Drunk Sun exclaimed in surprise.

Don't want to play anymore? What kind of capricious reason is that?

The Sage recalled, "That year, even the most powerful beings in the world, the Tribulation Immortal with the Heavenly Mandate Talent, could vaguely sense a problem with the 'Heavenly Dao.' It seemed that the Heavenly Dao... had grown tired of playing and didn't want to play anymore. So, the Heavenly Dao was preparing to quit. Although it feels incredible, that's how I felt about the Heavenly Dao back then."

Song Shuhang suddenly realized that cultivators back then really had it tough. Having such a capricious Heavenly Dao must have been a real headache for everyone, right?

As the Sage finished speaking, he said calmly, "However, that year, I felt it was just the right time! Heavenly Dao was against it, and it was time for me to step forward and shoulder the mandate of Heavenly Mandate!"

The Sage spoke very simply: In his day, he was invincible; if one were to say who was most suitable to bear the Mandate of Heavenly Mandate, it would be none other than him.

He wasn't the only one who thought this way; probably over 90% of the cultivators in the Cultivation World at that time thought the same. Even among those Longevity Immortal possessed the Heavenly Mandate Talent, had already embarked on their own path, and achieved the 'Longevity' realm, most believed that the one who could bear the destiny of Heavenly Mandate was none other than Sage!

Of course, some people agree, and some disagree!

The Sage continued, "In those years, I fought against more than a dozen 'Longevity Immortal.' There were cultivators, beasts, Ancient Shamans, demons, monsters, and even so-called 'gods.'"

Some of those Longevity Immortal have lived in seclusion for a long time, and even I have never heard of them. I do not know their origins or their backgrounds.

Everything about them has vanished into the long River of Time. Their lineage and their heritage have all disappeared.

Only they themselves achieve 'Longevity' and are not limited by lifespan.

They are all waiting for the day when the 'Heavenly Dao' disappears, so that they can break free from the world, fight for Heavenly Mandate, become part of the Heavenly Dao, and forge their own Immortality legend.

Among them, some were no less powerful than I was. But in the end, they were all defeated by me, and went into seclusion once more, losing their qualification to 'compete for the Heavenly Dao '."

--[Did you see that? Back then, I was still the absolute best, single-handedly crushing all the 'Longevity Immortal' in the world. Do you all know that?]

At this point, a bitter expression finally appeared on the Sage's face. "However, just as I was waiting to inherit the Heavenly Dao, achieve Immortality, and create my own legend... a mysterious being quietly came to me. He advised me not to inherit the Heavenly Mandate, not to try to become the Heavenly Dao. Otherwise, I would regret it."

Don't try to become the Heavenly Dao? Otherwise you'll regret it? What does that mean?

The Venerable White and the others were very curious.

Song Shuhang, in particular, felt he was getting a lot of information—and this information seemed to be exactly what Senior White Two wanted to know?

The Sage continued, "How could I have believed it back then? So I banished it. Next, I waited for the Heavenly Dao to 'disappear,' and then I could naturally inherit the Heavenly Mandate, forge Immortality, and become the new Heavenly Dao. But... not long after, another 'Longevity Immortal' of unknown origin appeared before me."

"This 'Longevity Immortal' is very strange, completely different from Longevity Immortal I have ever seen before. It is neither human, nor ghost, nor beast, nor demon, nor 'god,' it is simply unlike anything in our world."

Not only their physical bodies, but also their attack methods and cultivation systems are completely different from any other cultivation system in our world.

I fought him for decades. At first, I had the upper hand and severely injured him several times. But his regenerative ability was beyond my imagination. Even when he was on the verge of death, he could completely recover in an instant.

"I repeatedly increased the intensity of my attacks, but even with all my strength, I couldn't kill it in one blow. And as long as I couldn't kill it in one strike, it remained immortal. This ebb and flow... In the end, I was outmatched."

At this point, the 'Sage' remained calm. "In the years I've fought against him, I've sensed that this strange 'Longevity Immortal' sometimes seems devoid of emotion. Because of this lack of emotion, it's capable of anything. If I were to be defeated, I wonder how it would deal with the 'Confucian School' I founded. Furthermore, since it doesn't belong to any particular sect of cultivators in this world, I wonder how it would deal with all the fellow Daoists in the world?"

"Having lost the battle, this old man knew he had no hope of survival... In the decades-long struggle between this mysterious 'Longevity Immortal,' we were locked in a life-or-death struggle. Between him and me, only one could survive."

"So... in the end, I used a 'talent ability.' It was a talent that I awakened after comprehending Confucianism as the way of the world, but I had never used it before."

"When this 'talent' is used, this ability will 'devour' a part of the recipient's 'existence'. This 'talent' is very abstract, and even in the end, I could not understand its principle."

However, if the spell is successful, the 'existence' of the person being spellcast will be incomplete.

This 'existence' is neither body nor soul—after being affected by the spell, although it still stands before me unharmed, its 'existence' has been partially lost; it is no longer complete, it is not the whole thing."

"Then, this 'Longevity Immortal' became the new Heavenly Dao. I too was slain by him, my Body-and-Soul Annihilation."

At this point, the Sage's voice finally ceased.

His life thus came to an end.

He Body-and-Soul Annihilation.

Body-and-Soul Annihilation, meaning the 'Sage' is completely dead, with even the possibility of reincarnation gone and the future lost.

If that's the case, then who is this Sage before us?

Song Shuhang asked doubtfully, "Could it be something like a recording?"

True Lord Eternal Fire, True Lord Dustfall, Drunken Yue Lay Buddhist all shared the same doubt.

--Because this 'Sage' before them had no spiritual energy fluctuations whatsoever. Moreover, from the very beginning, this 'Sage' had been recounting his extraordinary life. Song Shuhang and True Lord Eternal Fire both tried to communicate with it, but it ignored them.

[Or perhaps it's a recording like that of the Longevity Immortal 'Cheng Lin'.] True Lord Dustfall thought to himself.

True Lord Eternal Fire smiled bitterly and said, "The Sage has passed away, that's a fact. What am I still hoping for?"

Just now, for a fleeting moment, he desperately wished that the 'Sage' were still alive and could come out to help Confucian Sect regain its former glory.

Even after Sage emerges, he can only remain behind the scenes and can no longer fight against enemies, but for the Confucian Sect scholars, he still provides indescribable spiritual support.

[I'm being possessed by demons.] True Lord Eternal Fire thought to himself.

As the fellow Daoists sighed in amazement, Venerable White, stroking his chin, was still carefully examining the recording of this 'Sage'.

Song Shuhang sighed silently—it seemed that the 'Upside-Down Myriad Books Mountain, Sage Silence Pool...' left behind by the Glazed Scholar was an image created to let people know about the past of the Confucian School 'Sage'?

This might be an important treasure for a Confucian School disciple. But for him, it's of little use.

At this moment, Venerable White chuckled and said, "Since the Sage has already 'Body-and-Soul Annihilation,' then... in what way do you exist in this space?"

Since the Sage Body-and-Soul Annihilation in battle with the 'New Heavenly Dao,' then who 'recorded' this footage?

This 'video' is clearly Sage's own account—and the account takes place after his great battle with the 'New Heavenly Dao'.

However, after the 'Sage' finished speaking, he remained motionless and did not respond to the crowd.

"Shuhang ...go up and pinch this 'Sage'," said Venerable White.

"Huh?" Song Shuhang pointed to himself, then glanced at 'True Lord Eternal Fire' beside him. After all, this was a 'Sage' of the Confucian Sect. If he went up and pinched him, True Lord Eternal Fire would definitely be unhappy, right?

"I'll do it!" At this moment, True Lord Eternal Fire gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and reached out his hand to touch this 'Sage'.

However, before True Lord Eternal Fire could even extend his hand halfway, his body spun and flew out, crashing to the ground—it looked like a terrible fall, but in reality, such a fall wouldn't even scratch True Lord Eternal Fire's head.

True Lord Eternal Fire's eyes brightened. "Sage!"

The Sage of Confucian School are truly not dead yet!

"Sorry, I was distracted just now. The Sage's last words have finished playing, right?" At this moment, the 'Sage' turned around again and said, "I am currently communicating with everyone in a way that is hard to explain. So, I often get distracted."

This time—his tone changed, and he no longer referred to himself as 'this old man'.

And just now, he said, "[The Sage's last words have finished playing, right?]" So, that incredibly impressive self-narration was indeed some kind of video or something similar?

"Let me introduce myself again," the 'Sage' smiled slightly and said, "I am Sage Silence Pool."

Song Shuhang: "..."

Having seen Myriad Books Mountain do handstands before, the next moment a humanoid, talking 'Sage Silence Pool' appeared.