Setting Out, Now I Shall Attain Great Divine Ability

(6k chapters, 5k more to come)

The interaction with the Cui family was extremely 'pleasant'.

A delegation led by the Cui clan patriarch, whose strongest members were only Celestial Person, had no say in the face of a mysterious and unknown powerful being.

After all, Zhang Fusheng wasn't as calculating as Su Qiansuan; the latter could run away but couldn't hide. If he really went too far...

Having a blood feud with the ancestor of the Cui family is a troublesome and tense situation—after all, he was a truly powerful figure.

But Zhang Fusheng was different.

At this moment, the patriarch of the Cui clan was wiping away sweat, carefully scrutinizing the 'ordinary young man' dressed in coarse linen clothes before him.

He said in a humble voice:

"We can grant all your requests, but regarding the Cui family's Divine Book, we truly need the ancestor's approval."

After a pause, the clan leader continued:

"We will do as you say and mold you into an ordinary disciple of the Cui family, but whether you can pass the screening in the capital is another matter."

Zhang Fusheng said with great interest:

"What, is it really that hard to get into the capital?"

The clan chief gave a wry smile.

"The capital is the true core of the Federation. Everyone who wants to enter the capital must pass through the Divine Mirror of Light. Under the reflection of the mirror, a person's cultivation level cannot be concealed, and it can even reflect some of their past."

Zhang Fusheng seemed lost in thought. (The phrase "divine mirrors" appears to be a separate, unrelated thought.)

"What are those two mirrors?" he asked.

The Cui clan members looked at each other, unable to answer. Su Qiansuan spoke at this moment, staring at Zhang Fusheng with extreme apprehension:

"The Divine Mirrors are the Speaker's two Supreme Treasure, used to monitor and suppress in the capital. One is called the Monster-Revealing Mirror, which can break through all disguises and reveal one's true form and cultivation level."

"The other one is called the Haotian Realm, which has the ability to reveal parts of the past."

Hearing Su Qiansuan's explanation, Zhang Fusheng's expression turned slightly serious.

Monster-Revealing Mirror, Haotian Mirror?

Famous and renowned.

However, the ability to Shift Stars and forge the past, and to Body Flying and Traces Entrusted, makes one no longer exist in reality, leaving only a shadowy trace.

Furthermore, given the concept of "All Things Are Empty," it seems there's a chance to deceive these two mirrors that haven't been deliberately activated.

After all, whether it's Shift Stars or Body Flying and Traces Entrusted, both are among the Great Divine Ability of the Heavenly Gang.

The All Things Are Empty goes without saying; this comes from the Primordial Heavenly Venerate.

It is a truly top-tier profound and wondrous technique within the Path of Karma.

However, all of this depends on someone cooperating, such as the Cui family.

"Your Cui family should arrange a passable identity for me, the more ordinary and common the better. As for the Monster-Revealing Mirror?"

Zhang Fusheng casually said:

"I have my own methods to make it shine with the past events you've arranged."

The members of the Cui clan exchanged bewildered glances, while Zhang Fusheng pondered: if entering the capital was so strictly regulated, how did Lin Dongxi and Chen Yuque manage to get in?

Did some important figure from the capital grant special permission?

As his thoughts raced, he heard the Cui clan patriarch speak cautiously:

"Coincidentally, the divine Lineage in various provinces will all send their best members to the capital to compete once every thousand years for the title of one of the top ten."

"If you don't mind, senior, would it be alright if I, a member of the Cui family from another clan, were to accompany you to the capital?"

Zhang Fusheng nodded calmly.

"Can."

He was somewhat puzzled about what the Ten Hopes were. The moment the doubt arose in his heart, cause and effect trembled, and heaven and earth provided him with the answer.

Now that Zhang Fusheng has reached this point, if he wants to know something, as long as it doesn't involve any major secrets, he can directly and naturally understand and comprehend it.

This is something that only highly powerful beings can do, but Fuli True Person Fruit Status is extremely special, so he possessed it ahead of time.

Under the mutual revelation of heaven and earth, and the mutual explanation of cause and effect,

Zhang Fusheng also roughly understood what the "Ten Hopes" meant.

In short, any Lineage with divine status can participate in the competition for the title of one of the top ten noble families in the Federation.

The Ten Lineage compete for the title once every thousand years. Once one becomes one of the Ten Families, one can receive massive amounts of Federation resources and enjoy special privileges in both the Federation and the parliament.

Strangely,

Regardless of whether the clan's ancestors were venerable figures, powerful beings, or those with Great Divine Ability User, they all had the opportunity to become one of the Ten Worthies, simply because the Ten Hopes Competition did not consider the strongest members of the clan, but only the younger generation.

The rules are strange and illogical, so there must be something wrong behind them.

Zhang Fusheng didn't delve into the matter—it was none of his business anyway; he only intended to use the Cui family as a springboard to enter the capital.

"You may call me Dao Venerate, Dao being my surname and Zun my given name."

Zhang Fusheng began:

"You will be in charge of compiling the family genealogy, and you will create a story about a Cui family woman Entering the Dao family."

The members of the Cui clan looked at each other and responded with bitterness.

To rewrite the family tree for an outsider is a great disgrace, but the young man before us is excessively powerful.

He is at least a top-tier Venerable!

Add to that the mysterious black-robed man's bizarre evaporation.

Su Qiansuan, standing to the side, was moved. Dao Venerate?

What a grand name!!

It's clearly not a real name—but the fact that someone would dare to use it, even if it's a pseudonym, speaks volumes.

Where did this unheard-of youth come from?

Su Qiansuan couldn't figure it out, so she made up her mind not to offend them.

"You two can talk now."

Zhang Fusheng stretched:

"I will travel to the Golden Province and return to the Purple Bamboo Forest in one hour. Similarly, I will go to your Qinghe Province in one hour."

"I need to leave for the capital by tomorrow at the latest."

The Cui clan chief hurriedly nodded in response, and after bowing, when he looked up again, the mysterious young man who used the name Dao Venerate had already disappeared.

The girl, who seemed like Banished Immortal, also vanished.

Longzhou City.

Zhang Fusheng did not go to find Shi Zhengyuan, but simply walked side by side with Ruan Yutu on the bustling street, watching the Mortal World go by.

He was looking back at the past, and also introspecting on himself, gaining insight into his true self.

"My physical body has undergone a significant change!"

Zhang Fusheng murmured to himself:

"The richness of the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil, the vitality of the Peaches of Ginseng Fruit, coupled with the Innate Willow Branch, almost sculpted a physical body for me comparable to that of a top-tier powerhouse."

No, that's not all.

Zhang Fusheng silently comprehended that, apart from the Sword Dao, he had once again mastered three different ways.

One-tenth of the Way of Earth, two-tenths of the Way of Life, and a full fifty-tenths of the Way of Water!

All this is due to the cultivation of the elixir of immortality for nineteen years.

"To be more precise, it's the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil. This stuff, combined with the herb cultivation method, is ridiculously powerful, allowing me to directly comprehend the Dao."

Zhang Fusheng looked inward at himself, his eyes gleaming as he observed the unusual patterns that had appeared on the Wheel of All Daos.

"Perhaps it's also related to the fact that when I was born, before the innate qi in my chest had dissipated, I planted these celestial medicines."

"This is practically equivalent to turning all the elixirs of immortality into my byproducts!"

"Growing alongside the fertile soil, peaches, Ginseng Fruit, and willow branches"

Lost in thought, Zhang Fusheng had unknowingly arrived outside Dragon Boat University.

Longzhou University is open to the public, and the security guards did not stop the two from entering. Upon entering the university, they saw students coming and going on the spacious sports field.

And two of them were old acquaintances.

Lu Yao and Zhong Yue.

"Godfather, do you know those two people?" Ruan Yutu noticed Zhang Fusheng's gaze and asked softly.

"The situation is special now. To enter the capital, you need to pass the inspection of both sides. Normally, you can just call me brother."

After a moment's pause, a look of emotion appeared on Zhang Fusheng's face:

"Of course we know each other; they're all old friends."

When they left the Golden Province,

He had brought good fortune to his old friend, and both women had also benefited greatly, now showing signs of becoming grandmasters.

"Old friend," Ruan Yutu said softly, "Would you like to bestow a favor upon me?"

Zhang Fusheng looked at the two women who concealed their aura and did not reveal their Martial Arts Master, and gently shook his head.

"Let them be. In this world, no one has a choice. It's better to stay peacefully in the Mortal World; at least there will be peace."

As they spoke,

Zhang Fusheng suddenly frowned.

A deep, starlight-like light flickered in his eyes, revealing the cause and effect surrounding Zhong Yue and Lu Yao.

However, they discovered that the causes and conditions of the two were somewhat strange and peculiar, each with an unclear and bizarre cause and effect that pointed to the distance.

Even I can't see the cause and effect clearly.

"Strange thing"

A dark look flashed across Zhang Fusheng's face. Although he couldn't see the cause and effect clearly, he could sense that it was related to him.

Therefore, there is only one possibility.

"Someone is searching for someone from my past."

Zhang Fusheng lowered his eyes.

The titles of World-Honored Tathagata and Buddha Ancestor Fusheng have spread throughout the land, but most people do not know that Buddha Ancestor Fusheng is Zhang Fusheng.

But for truly powerful individuals, this is not a secret at all.

Thus, it naturally involved his old friends.

"Brother?" Ruan Yutu asked softly.

Zhang Fusheng waved his hand, said nothing more, and squinted his eyes as he said:

"It's alright. Someone is plotting against me, through an old friend of mine—but I'll pretend I don't know anything, so as not to alert them."

He gave the two women a deep look, and then subtly discerned Shi Zhengyuan's situation.

Sure enough, the other party also had a similar causal link with unclear implications.

It's not just Old Shi.

Other old friends who had been sent to Longzhou City before, including elementary and middle school classmates, and Old Master Wang from next door,

Even Uncle Yu and Aunt Li, who have already retired to Spring Thunder City,

They all have a strange, unclear cause and effect within them.

"Looks like they've investigated me thoroughly."

Zhang Fusheng's eyes grew even colder as he communicated with the World World-Honored One Dao Body residing in the Other Shore World.

Observing the situation of Dad, Mom, and Wei Lingzhu —fortunately, they did not have this strange cause and effect appearing.

This means that the guy behind the scenes doesn't yet have the ability to infiltrate the Other Shore World.

So,

What is he trying to do?

Zhang Fusheng didn't know.

"Let's go," he ordered, glancing sideways. "We're getting ready to head to the capital."

There's really no need for Zhang Fusheng to stay in the Golden Province. If he had more time, he could have a good time catching up with his old friends.

But now, the phrase "racing against time" is almost apt.

In this Age of Great Strife, he was never able to stay idle.

Lin Dongxi of the capital, Mountain River Society and Country Diagram, Huang Mei who sealed himself in the starry sky, and the Northern Emperor of Yin Chang'an.

There are many other minor details, such as Liu Bang and Xiang Yu Yingtian Province, and Shen Baobao finding the fragments of the Heaven-Turning Seal in the starry sky.

In addition, there's the universe that hasn't been refined yet and contains the remains of the four great gods.

Even disregarding the increasing number of resurrected ancient spirits, just considering the current trivial matters...

The pressure was already making it difficult for Zhang Fusheng to breathe.

He dared not stop to rest for even a moment, and could only keep moving forward, forward, and forward again.

"Only by transcending the tides of historical evolution and the Age of Great Strife can there be a sliver of possibility of escaping the chessboard."

"It's not time for me to rest yet."

Zhang Fusheng took a deep look at the students coming and going on the playground, and then at Zhong Yue and Lu Yao, who were completely unaware of what was happening.

I took a peek at university life, a experience I've never had before in my life.

So he turned and left.

Qinghe Province.

Since the governor converted to Other Shore World afterlife not long ago, and during this period before the new governor takes office,

Qinghe Province was in complete chaos.

The Federation comprises Forty-Nine Provinces, excluding the Heavenly Dao Province, with sixteen provinces each in the upper, middle, and lower sections.

Among the sixteen provinces below, the Venerable One is the strongest; the sixteen provinces below already have divine Lineage.

As for the sixteen provinces like Qinghe, there are powerful Lineage within them.

For example, the Cui family, and also the Zhao family in Qinghe Province.

At this very moment, the Cui clan occupies a superior city—the Cui Clan's World.

Cui Liuduo yawned, straightened her Rainbow Skirt, and said softly:

"This trip to the capital will probably not be peaceful. We didn't compete in the last Ten Thousand, but this time..."

Beside him, Cui Wending nodded solemnly:

"Everyone in the world knows that the Cui family possesses a Heavenly Book that can rewrite human lifespan. In this competition among the younger generation, any member of the Cui family who possesses this Divine Book is destined to win."

The Book of Life and Death can rewrite lifespans, but it poses no threat to beings of Deity Level, infinite lifespans.

But what about beings below the level of a Venerable One?

The Cui family could say that whoever they wanted to die, would die.

With almost no exceptions, the only time it failed was in the Golden Province, when a candidate for Book Holder used the Book of Life and Death to erase someone's remaining lifespan, but he failed.

The other party suddenly gained ten more years of lifespan for no apparent reason.

Cui Liuduo's eyebrows trembled slightly, her eyes sparkling:

"To take it to an extreme, some people might not want us to make it to the capital alive, especially since our ancestors are now nowhere to be found."

The three people standing nearby remained silent.

In this competition among prominent families, each Aristocratic Clan sends four talented young men, and these four are the ones who will be competing this time.

"The clan leader is back!"

Accompanied by the call, Cui Liuduo, Cui Wending, and the other three hurriedly walked out of the training ground and looked at the Starry Sky Ship that had descended from the sky.

Starry Sky Ship are even more advanced than spaceships. They can travel and explore in space, and if their main cannons are charged long enough, they can even destroy a small planet.

At that moment, the Starry Sky Ship landed, and Cui Liuduo saw the clan leader leading a group of clan elders down.

But behind them followed three unfamiliar boys and girls.

"Is he from another family?" Cui Wending casually guessed. "Or perhaps a branch of the family from the Golden Province?"

Cui Liuduo glanced at it indifferently and said calmly:

"Unimportant."

She was the most outstanding talent in the Cui clan, possessing astonishingly strong innate abilities, coupled with the Cui clan's preferential resource allocation.

At only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, he was already a top-tier innate cultivator!

Of the ten Cave Heaven, nine have already been opened.

Under the watchful eyes of the four talented young men, the elders returned to their respective residences, while the clan chief approached with the three young men and women.

Cui Liuduo ignored it, while Cui Wending scrutinized her closely.

He recognized one of the candidates for Book Holder from a branch of the family; he had seen his photo. His name was Cui Wendao.

The other two were people I'd never seen before. The man looked ordinary, wearing straw sandals and coarse linen clothes, like a poor countryman.

As for that girl

A look of amazement flashed across Cui Wending's face. The girl's skin was like jade, and her movements were as graceful as a dragon in flight, or like a startled swan flitting through the clouds.

With delicate eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, and a beautiful nose, she was an absolute beauty beyond compare!

She looks more like Banished Immortal descended from heaven!

Cui Wending swallowed hard, while the other two young men beside him stared wide-eyed.

Even the haughty Cui Liuduo was amazed after just one glance.

"They're all here?" The old patriarch stepped forward and spoke calmly, interrupting Cui Wending and the others' dazed state.

The four quickly bowed.

"Chief."

"Um."

The old patriarch spoke through his nose, his expression calm and indifferent, his eyes fixed straight ahead:

"This is Cui Wendao, who will be the Book Holder of our Cui family for this generation. In this competition, he will be the one to carry the Book of Life and Death to the capital."

Cui Liuduo frowned, about to speak, but the clan leader raised his hand to interrupt her, pointing to the young man dressed in coarse linen clothes standing to the side.

"This is Dao Venerate —his surname is Dao and his given name is Zun. He is a member of the Cui family, but not of the same surname. He is your fourth aunt's child. This time, he will also participate in the competition."

After a pause, without giving the four a chance to speak, the old clan chief pointed to two young men:

"Qian Yuan and Hong Hu, you two don't need to stay in the capital anymore. Take some time to reflect and mature."

"Chieftain!"

Cui Qianyuan and Cui Honghu were astonished, and even Cui Liuduo frowned:

"Great-Grandpa, I think..."

The old patriarch waved his hand to interrupt, saying in an unquestionable tone:

"That's settled then. Liuduo and Wending, pack your things and head to the capital tonight. As for Qianyuan and Honghu, you two come with me."

With that, the old clan chief led the two resentful youths away, leaving the five of them looking at each other in bewilderment.

Cui Liuduo glanced at the three 'outsiders' and gave a faint snort:

"Since Great-Grandfather chose you, he must have had his reasons. I hope you won't get in the way or hold us back."

"Take care of yourselves."

After saying that, she turned and left, her flowing Rainbow Skirt billowing in the air.

Cui Wending shook his head with a wry smile:

"That's just how Sister Duo'er is, please don't take it to heart. And who is this?"

He couldn't help but look at the stunningly beautiful girl who seemed like a Banished Immortal.

"Jade Rabbit, I have come with my brother," Ruan Yutu said gently.

Cui Wending touched his nose, not daring to meet the eyes of the stunningly beautiful girl. He glanced at Cui Wendao and then fixed his gaze on the young man dressed in coarse linen clothes.

Dao. Venerable?

What a grand name.

But who is Fourth Aunt? When did she marry into a family with the surname Dao that I've never heard of before?

The Cui family was deeply entrenched, with a large and numerous extended family. Cui Wending racked his brains for a long time but still couldn't figure out which fourth aunt it was.

He stopped thinking about it and reached out his hand to invite her:

"Let me take the three of you to rest first."

"Thank you." Zhang Fusheng nodded gently.

Night falls.

"Grand Sacrifice has been performed to our ancestors, and a message has been conveyed."

Before setting off, the old clan chief gave instructions and advice:

"If you encounter danger, you can crush this jade pendant, and the spirit of our ancestor will descend."

Cui Liuduo frowned:

"Great-grandfather, isn't our ancestor coming in person? Our Cui family might be a thorn in the side of many divine Lineage. What if someone tries to ambush us?"

The old clan chief chuckled, glancing discreetly at the young man in hemp clothing who was leaning back in his chair, yawning.

He calmly said:

"Don't worry, it's alright."

Cui Liuduo frowned again, but ultimately said nothing.

The Starry Sky Ship slowly ascended, sailed out of the border city, and appeared on the World Plateau.

Thick fog obscured the sky and blocked out the sun.

Cui Liuduo sat quietly cross-legged, closing her eyes to rest, while Cui Wending walked to the porthole and gazed at a glimmer of light in the distance.

In this thick fog, there shouldn't be any light to be seen, but there is one, and it can be seen in the distance, like a guiding lighthouse.

What is that?

Cui Wending in confusion:

"I've never seen this before when I came to the World Plateau."

Cui Liuduo, who was resting quietly, and Cui Wendao, who was caressing the wooden box containing the Book of Life and Death, both looked out of the porthole.

An elder accompanying them said in a low voice:

"It is the light of the Other Shore World."

"The Other Shore World?" Cui Wendao, unable to contain himself. Ruan Yutu raised her eyelids slightly.

As for Zhang Fusheng, he simply sat quietly with his eyes lowered.

"Yes, the Other Shore World."

A look of reverence appeared on the elder's face:

"The World-Honored Tathagata, sits in the Other Shore World, and He causes the light of the Other Shore World to shine on the World Plateau, guiding all beings who wish to reach the Other Shore World."

"It is said that in the Other Shore World, Prohibition of Killing, and all living beings can live there safely—even the Federation cannot do anything about the Other Shore World!"

Cui Liuduo stared at that single ray of light, somewhat lost in thought:

"He single-handedly confronted the entire Federation; there are even legends that he converted forty-five gods with a single word."

Her eyes sparkled, and she murmured to herself:

"I might very well achieve this!"

The elder smiled but didn't say anything to discourage them; he just glanced subconsciously at the young man in hemp clothing who was sitting quietly.

He wondered, how does this terrifying being compare to the World-Honored Tathagata?

It must be quite a difference, right?

The elder quietly withdrew his gaze.

Beside her, Cui Liuduo gazed at that single ray of light for a long time before finally letting out a breath.

She glanced at the people beside her, her gaze sweeping over Ruan Yutu before landing on Cui Wendao and the young man in hemp clothing called Dao Venerate.

Cui Liuduo smoothed her hair, revealing her long, slender, snow-white neck, and spoke softly:

"From here, it only takes one day to reach the capital."

"Upon reaching the capital, danger lurks everywhere, with the possibility of assassination. Even if one escapes assassination, there will still be competition."

After pausing for a moment, she continued:

"Both of you, describe your own level of expertise and what you are good at, and I will guide you."

Cui Wendao stood up nervously. He was still in a daze, not understanding why he had been chosen and why he had suddenly become the Book Holder.

As for the young man in hemp clothing standing to the side...

He raised his eyelids, smiled, and shook his head:

"I don't need that. I still need to cultivate. Please don't disturb me from now on."

Anger flashed in Cui Liuduo's eyes, and she was about to reprimand him when the clan elder raised his hand to stop her:

Let him be.

Cui Liuduo's lips trembled, she let out a cold snort, and stared indifferently at the young man in hemp clothing.

But they found that the other person had completely closed their eyes, as if... falling asleep?

Cui Liuduo's eyelids twitched, her face turned cold, and she turned and left, ignoring Cui Wendao, leaving behind only one sentence.

"I have no idea what my great-grandfather was thinking!"

A deathly silence fell over the cabin.

Zhang Fusheng paid no attention to it, his thoughts slowly sinking into his divine realm.

The time has come, today is the perfect day, and this is the right moment.

"All the Daos have been bestowed upon me, reversing the Innate Being, and I now wield the Three Lights Divine Water, which is infinitely rich and full of life."

Zhang Fusheng stood above the Heavenly Realm Sea of Clouds in the divine realm, murmuring to himself, his gaze unfathomable.

"It's time to refine that Great Universe, it's time to become the [Great Spirit]."

While it's not fair to say that gods are everywhere in the capital, at least 90% of the Great Divine Ability User in the real universe are gathered there.

This journey to the capital presents both Great Opportunity and great danger.

It's time for him to break through to the Great Power realm.