I Sit Upright Amid the Starry Sky

Chongshan City.

Du Mingsheng stealthily into a dark alley, his heart pounding.

His 'wanted posters' were plastered everywhere in the streets and alleys.

This is a huge problem.

"My lord, what should we do now?" a follower asked, his face also pale, his body covered in horrifying wounds, blood flowing from his wounds.

He let out a heavy breath and spoke bitterly:

"I was just here to preach in Chongshan City as usual. Who would have thought that this was a gathering place for those guys from the Tianli Faction?"

Du Mingsheng put on his hood, his expression extremely serious, pondering how to escape Chongshan City and how to return to the dragon boat.

There's definitely something wrong here.

He whispered:

"We, the Mandala System, have always kept to ourselves and the Tianli Faction School, but when they see you and me preaching, they all go crazy!"

After a short while,

Du Mingsheng's expression was uncertain as he continued:

"There's a great secret hidden in the mountains, and those madmen from the Tianli Faction are deeply involved here. So, we'll split up; you go to the train station on the east side, and I'll go to the airport on the west side."

"Let's see if we can sneak out through the waterway!"

The believer nodded emphatically, straightened his robe to cover his wound, High Envoy a glance with his envoy, and walked out of the alley one after the other.

They turned their backs to each other and went their separate ways.

Ten steps.

Fifty steps.

One hundred steps.

As he reached the end of the street, Du Mingsheng keenly noticed several young men walking back and forth.

Someone turned their gaze toward them and approached, intending to investigate.

There's nothing we can do.

He lowered his eyelids, quietly detonating the spiritual imprint he had just left on the believer.

In the distance, on the street.

Spiritual thoughts surged, and several terrifying auras rose within Chongshan City. Several powerful figures who had been capturing and probing these Mental Intent ascended into the air.

The young men and women who were walking towards Du Mingsheng seemed to have received some kind of order. They paused and turned to walk towards the believers in the distance!

It's done.

Ignoring the commotion behind them, and paying no attention to the overwhelming force that was descending upon them,

Du Mingsheng silently left the long street and walked towards the airport, walking faster and faster until he was almost there!

"Kid."

A gentle voice rang out.

Du Mingsheng's scalp tingled. He glanced to the side and saw an old beggar, dressed in rags, leaning on a cane, holding a broken bowl, and blind.

He ignored him and tried to leave, but then he heard the old beggar's empty eyes stare at him, and he chuckled as he spoke:

"Heavenly Dao is merciful, child. Tell me, how should we uphold Heavenly Dao's merciful will?"

Du Mingsheng a chill run down his spine as he saw a plane taking off, indicating that the flight path was open and he could leave by following it!

He no longer concealed himself; crimson Qi and Blood erupted from his body, his essence, Essence, Qi, and Spirit, and spirit uniting and intertwining to form a gigantic Dharma image a thousand meters long!

His appearance was ferocious.

"Wind!"

"Blizzard!"

"Dense fog!"

He roared, and a sudden gust of wind arose, snow fell heavily, and thick fog filled the streets and alleys. At this moment, the thousand-meter-tall Dharma Image turned around and let out a silent roar!

Du Mingsheng a step and then leaped.

The earth was torn apart by the Dali, and he soared into the sky. The invisible course was near; he was about to leave!

How foolish people are!

The blind old beggar sighed and tapped his rotten wooden cane on the ground.

'Thud!'

The thousand-meter-long, wrathful Vajra image suddenly tore apart, and the thick fog, blizzard, and gale instantly ceased!

The world is clear and bright again.

As Du Mingsheng soared into the sky, he seemed to sense something; every hair on his body stood on end.

He roared, unleashing his inner strength; the waterway was now before him, within reach!

It was a success.

The space shifted slightly, Du Mingsheng dared not hesitate.

The Mental Intent lifted itself up, following the course, and flew into the distance at an extreme speed, breaking the sound barrier, and disappearing into the distance.

Just a few breaths.

Chongshan City has been left far behind.

He escaped? He got away?

Subconsciously, Du Mingsheng turned to look at that lower-level city.

He saw the Great Grandmaster of the Tianli Faction, and he saw the blind old beggar.

The old beggar slammed his broken bowl on his head, his left hand empty, slightly outstretched, as if supporting something out of thin air.

With the eyesight of a great man, one can see two or three hundred kilometers away.

Therefore, Du Mingsheng saw that the old beggar was indeed carrying something.

In his hands.

It consists of thirty-six mountain ranges and a bustling city.

"Celestial Person".

Du Mingsheng muttered to himself, his figure stopping in mid-air, trembling as he lowered his head to look at the vast earth.

Or rather, a hand.

The entire Chongshan City.

The entire mountain valley is a small world.

They were all being held up by an old, aged hand.

"Heaven creates all things to nourish humankind."

The old beggar's sigh echoed from above; looking up, one saw a gigantic face that blotted out the sky.

The empty eyes were now fully open, one like the sun and the other like the moon, both gazing intently at Du Mingsheng.

"Then, what do people offer to Heaven?"

The old beggar asked a question.

Du Mingsheng's breath caught in his throat, and in a flash, he was back in Chongshan City, the echo reverberating before the old beggar.

The enormous face in the sky and the hands that held up the earth had vanished, as if it were all just an illusion.

"Child, I see you have extraordinary talent, so stay here, stay here."

Du Mingsheng suddenly realized that the old beggar was not a real 'person'.

It was just a projection.

He smiled bitterly as he watched the powerful figures arrive, their hooks piercing his shoulder blades and their divine nails piercing his acupoints.

"Take him away."

The old beggar coughed, seemingly very weak and suffering from some kind of severe injury. His figure turned into light and disappeared into a mountain outside the city.

Du Mingsheng was taken to the dungeon.

"A great master, a rare find. In sixteen days, we will offer him as a sacrifice to the Great Heavenly Dao, to [Heavenly Principle]."

After saying this, Da Zong left, leaving only the middle-aged man with his bones pierced and his soul nailed to the ground in the dungeon.

"Am I about to die?"

Du Mingsheng and suddenly heard a soft knock from the void, followed by the sound of a great bell.

"The heavens have opened; enter the Entering the Dao Palace."

He opened his eyes, overjoyed, his will soaring higher and higher!

The Mental Intent detached from the body and, guided by the Dao Sound, vanished into an infinitely high realm. Opening its eyes, it found itself in a magnificent Dao Palace!

Four familiar, shadowy figures were already standing in the Dao Palace.

"Second Master, you've arrived."

Huang Qiuxian, the Third Seat immortal, nodded slightly and said softly:

"It seems there are new faces again this time."

"Newcomer."

Du Mingsheng was panting. He subconsciously turned his head to look and could see three figures standing on the eighty-one white jade steps.

"Three at once, huh?" the Fifth Buddhist disciple chuckled. "I just wonder what sect they're from, and what their skill level is."

All eyes turned to the three blurry figures.

Although its exact appearance cannot be seen, its general shape can be discerned through the mist.

Two women and an old man.

The three of them ascended the steps, stepping on the white jade staircase, looking around as they went, taking in the eight major scenic spots, wonders, and breathtaking views that floated outside the Dao Palace.

At the Dao Palace.

The three newlyweds simultaneously raised their heads, gazing at the solemn plaque above the gate.

The woman in the center seemed startled; a tremor ran through her otherwise elegant voice.

"Eight-Eight View Palace".

"It really is the Eight Sceneries Palace."

Upon hearing this, the other two newcomers were alright, but the five elderly people were all startled.

What does it mean that it's actually the Eight Sceneries Palace??

Did this newcomer already know about the Eight Sceneries Palace beforehand?

All eyes were fixed on the newcomer, filled with curiosity and surprise.

Although the voice was muffled, it was still recognizable as that of a young woman.

The Fourth Seat of the Shi Zhengyuan, stroked his chin, pondering, "Could it be a disciple of some Celestial Person, possessing knowledge of some great secret?"

Listening to the subtle nuances in that indistinct voice, he could roughly sketch out the person's appearance in his mind.

Um.

She is a disciple and descendant of some old monster, well-educated and refined, a lady from a prominent family. Although she may not be very old, she should have profound knowledge.

Similar thoughts swirled in their minds, just then...

'Buzz!'

The gates of the Dao Palace hummed, and the chaotic energy churned and retreated to both sides.

The door opened.

Five elderly people and three newlyweds entered the room, each with their own complex emotions. As always, the profound silence of the place was overwhelming, and a sense of solemnity and reverence weighed heavily on their hearts.

The Mingyue quietly surveyed the surrounding scenery.

[My ego] once accompanied the master to the Eight Sceneries Palace.

Although my memory is hazy, seeing the Dao Palace now still brings back memories of its former glory.

She cautiously looked at the person sitting on the futon; the person was shrouded in a chaotic mist, indistinct and dim.

Surrounded by layers of dark universe, it seems to have existed since time immemorial, as if it were eternally burning.

She hurriedly lowered her head, her heart pounding.

"Greetings, Celestial Venerable!"

Several elderly people performed the ceremony, and Shen Baobao, Yuan Feidao, and Mingyue followed suit, bowing in a similar manner.

For a moment, the Dao Palace fell into silence.

The Celestial Venerable in the Chaos remained silent.

Is it just my imagination?

A thought flashed through the Buddhist disciple's mind.

He always felt that the [Celestial Venerable] of today seemed different from the past.

The Celestial Venerable seems to be more 'compatible' with this terrifying Dao Palace?

Yes, it's about perfect alignment.

There was an added sense that He was meant to be there!

He has always been there.

The thought came to the mind of the Buddhist disciple.

The figure of the True Person emerged from the mist and stood beside the Celestial Venerable, his hands hanging at his sides, his aged face filled with solemnity.

The True Person spoke:

"Above High Heaven, three more people have been added to the ranks, and have now been granted an audience with the Heavenly Venerable"

Within the chaotic mist, the Celestial Venerable seemed to raise his eyelids slightly, causing the mist to churn and thin out briefly!

The eight people looked over instinctively, their gazes piercing through the brief, thin mist of chaos, and caught a glimpse of the vague outline of the Great Celestial Venerable.

He was an old man.

An old man with a hairpin in his hair and wearing a Daoist robe; his appearance is difficult to describe in detail.

If I had to say, his appearance resembled that of the Dao.

Every member of the High Heavens who caught a glimpse of the Celestial Venerable's true face trembled with fear. The moment they saw the Celestial Venerable, the same thought and idea uncontrollably arose in their minds!

Road!

If the Dao is to have form, then it should be in this form, and can only be in this form!

'Smack!'

A muffled thud was heard, and everyone looked over to see the newlywed with the gentle voice kneeling on the ground!

"See you."

"Dao Ancestor!"

The newlywed kowtowed, the darkness around him churning as if he were trembling.

Dao Ancestor?

The crowd was bewildered, finding the title unfamiliar and having never heard of it before, yet they all understood the significance of it.

Dao Ancestor.

The progenitor of the Tao.

Shen Baobao licked her dry lips, her thoughts wandering. The progenitor of the Dao, who would dare to bestow such a great title upon herself!

Right before my eyes!

She was excited, her hands and feet were burning, and the other 'old men' suddenly looked up—the usually taciturn Great Celestial Venerable spoke once again.

Get up.

A peaceful voice echoed within the Dao Palace. Mingyue carefully stood up, her head bowed.

"I know that Master Zu dislikes elaborate etiquette, but my master has repeatedly warned me that etiquette should not be disregarded."

She then bowed again, rose again, and then bowed down once more.

This process is repeated nine times.

The group looked at each other in bewilderment.

Little boy?

Master?

I initially thought she was a disciple or descendant of some old monster, but now it seems she's just a maid or something?

That makes sense; a maidservant of some important figure would naturally have heard many great secrets, but...

Can a mere maidservant ascend to the Above High Heaven?

Although there wasn't much of a 'class consciousness', a strange feeling still lingered in everyone's hearts.

At the same time.

The Celestial Venerable, seated cross-legged in the chaotic mist, remained silent, while the True Person coughed:

"As always, please feel free to exchange ideas among yourselves first."

The five elders and three newcomers looked at each other in bewilderment. Shi Zhengyuan coughed and first gave a brief introduction of the elders to the newlyweds.

"The First Seat belongs to the Western Sect; the second and fifth seats belong to the Mandala System; the Third Seat belongs to the East Cult; and as for me, I am the Fourth Seat."

Shi Zhengyuan simply said:

"From the Lingshan lineage."

Shen Baobao was surprised, Yuan Feidao suddenly looked at the shadowy figure.

Lingshan?

Shi Zhengyuan continued:

"I am currently walking on the edge of the Golden Province, in a certain Great Wilderness. What about you all?"

He spoke off the cuff as always, his gaze falling on the three newcomers.

Shen Baobao thought for a moment and said:

"I am currently in a superior city—I am a member of the Ancient Sage Faction."

Du Mingsheng suddenly raised his head, but swallowed the words that were about to come out; it wasn't time to ask for help yet.

Yuan Feidao's eyes flickered, still puzzled by the title "[Dao Ancestor]", and he said at this moment:

"I am a member of the Vulture Peak Buddhist Sect lineage."

He glanced at the second and fifth seats, having heard from their introductions that both were from the Mandala System, and then turned his gaze to the Fourth Seat, Shi Zhengyuan, who was also from the Lingshan lineage.

The group was also surprised—another Spirit Mountain System?

Nowadays, the Spirit Mountain System is rarely seen.

Yuan Feidao continued speaking:

"I am currently in a superior city."

As soon as she finished speaking, curious gazes turned to the woman with the elegant voice who addressed the Dao Ancestor and referred to herself as "Little Child".

The latter seemed to come to his senses, and before answering, he first performed an ancient salute to the [Celestial Venerable], and then said:

"I can roughly be considered a follower of the Western Sect, and I am currently..."

The Miss Mingyue said softly:

"Beyond the great star, within the starry sky."