Heroes Under Heaven, as Numerous as Crucian Carp Crossing a River (Part 1)

Eastern Wilderness.

Above a city, several External Scenery auras swept across the city, carrying undisguised anger, but they still couldn't find their target.

Outside the city, an ordinary-looking martial artist was just leaving the city with a caravan of guards, his face showing a worried expression.

It was Deng Canglan who had changed his appearance, concealed his presence, and evaded the pursuit from External Scenery Floating Hill Mountain.

Sigh, if you beat the young one, the old one comes along; when will this cycle of revenge end?

Why can't the feuds between young people end between young people?

To be honest, his master had asked him to take the heads of two people who were ranked in the top ten of the Dragon and Tiger Ranking. He had been waiting for a month and had only managed to borrow Brother Yao's head, but he was still one head short.

Deng Canglan pondered whether to wait until the next ranking update, when the eleventh place Liaokong filled, before trying to borrow it again?

That's not right, that's not right----

Based on his understanding of his master, he would definitely fail him.

As for reasons? Master doesn't need to find reasons; if he says someone is unqualified, then they are unqualified.

"Brother Wang, look at this Dragon and Tiger Ranking."

Beside him, a man who looked to be about the same age as him in disguise excitedly approached, holding the latest Dragon and Tiger Ranking in his hand.

Deng Canglan happened to glance over and pondered who he would point to when he was pointing at the toads.

His gaze was fixed on Wu Xuan, who was ranked eighth.

This is someone I should definitely consider.

Deng Canglan seemed to be deep in thought.

Aside from Wu Xuan, this can be considered eliminating a scourge for the world, earning me some merit, and leaving my master speechless—a win-win-win situation!

But soon, he felt a pang of regret, realizing he still needed to consider the situation after entering the Eternal Dragon Gate.

If I deal with Wu Xuan ahead of time, and then get rid of that crazy woman An Ruyu, and then enter the Eternal Dragon Gate, I'm afraid I'll end up in a dangerous situation where I'm isolated and helpless.

Deng Canglan suddenly frowned and asked Brother Zhang, who was standing beside him, indignantly, "Brother Zhang, why is it that Yu Tunzhou killed Jin Xiongfei but wasn't hunted down by the Jin Household, while Deng Canglan killed the beast-faced Yao Liang but was relentlessly pursued by the External Scenery Grandmaster of Floating Hill Mountain?"

Where is justice?

Brother Zhang was taken aback for a moment, then rolled his eyes. "Brother Wang, you're joking. Young Hero Yu is the successor chosen by Great Hero Mo and Hero Lu. If he killed Jin Xiongfei, then Jin Xiongfei must be the one with the problem. Didn't you see that the Jin Household didn't dare to seek revenge afterward? He definitely can't stand up to scrutiny!"

"And that Deng Canglan, not only is he a disciple of the Six Paths of Evil and Demons Heavenly Demon Sect, but he is also a disciple of that Heavenly Demon. How could he be a good person? He even slandered Yao Liang of Floating Hill Mountain for eating people— Floating Hill Mountain is the lineage of the Human Emperor! How could they eat people? He can't even come up with a decent reason."

At this point, Brother Zhang shook his head, expressing his disdain for this person.

Deng Canglan suddenly realized.

So, in the end, it wasn't me who lost, but my master?

hehe.

A forced, insincere laugh echoed in his ears, seemingly omnipresent.

Deng Canglan remained expressionless, muttering to himself, "Damn these rigid sectarian views! Who says the Heavenly Demon Sect can't produce a Saint of Merit?"

--

Evergreen Mountain.

Three months ago, the Ancestral Hall was completely closed, prohibiting any disciples from entering to pay their respects. Even newly enrolled disciples had to postpone their visits to the Ancestral Master and their registration in the hall.

The Central Plains something that those who know it are all so envious that they lose their composure.

Unexpectedly, after nearly a thousand years of Daoist practice turning to martial arts, Evergreen Mountain has witnessed the revival of Ancient Method and the manifestation of the ancestral master in this generation!

The disciple chosen by the patriarch was Xie Linchuan, who possessed a Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart and chose to cultivate both Ancient Method and Martial Dao!

At this moment, in a courtyard, looking at his restless disciple, the old man slowly said, "Whether you cultivate the Ancient Method or the modern methods, the sect allows you to choose for yourselves. Since you have chosen the Martial Dao, you should have more confidence in your choice and in the path of Martial Dao you are on, instead of being fickle."

Moreover----

The old man sighed; in the end, he still didn't say those words to his disciple.

Even if one practices Ancient Method, does that guarantee the approval of the patriarch?

Isn't that absurd?

Even in the ancient times when the High Antiquity Ancient Method were not suppressed, the Evergreen Mountain lineage had already produced a disciple recognized by the patriarch for countless years!

Xie Linchuan sat cross-legged beneath a deity statue, seemingly sitting in meditation for three months, but in reality, he was accompanied by heaven and earth.

Legend has it that in High Antiquity times, cultivators focused on cultivating their Primordial Spirit, and by concentrating their mind and spirit, they could forge an external body.

Among them, one glimmer of light, emerging from the shadows and entering the darkness, is unrestrained and prefers quiet and nighttime travel; it is called the Yin Spirit.

I don't know how much time passed.

A phantom figure stepped across the threshold, and after wandering the world for a night, returned to the Ancestral Hall to cultivate Daoist magic and supernatural Divine Ability.

It was also on this day.

Xie Linchuan opened his eyes and woke up to hear the patriarch's command.

Entering the Dragon Gate, the water transport is cut off.

--

Everlasting Spring Mountain.

Devotees along the way, heading up the mountain to burn incense, held up oil-paper umbrellas.

The spring rain is as fine as cow's hair, it wets clothes but doesn't soak them, yet it seems to seep into the bones.

Amidst the rows of oil-paper umbrellas, a young Daoist priest moved with ease. Dressed in a dark Daoist robe and carrying a wooden sword, he had delicate features and an otherworldly air. Rain rippled around him, yet remained unable to get close.

He came from the True Martial Sect, with the Daoist name Xuanfa. He was sent by his patriarch to visit a reincarnated Daoist Daoist School.

At the end of the mountain is a Daoist temple named [Everlasting Spring].

If Yu Tunzhou were here, he would probably be quite surprised.

Two young Daoist disciples were already on guard at the gate, following their master's orders.

Xuanfa stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and revealed his identity.

The two young Daoist boys returned the greeting with proper etiquette, one calling himself Qingxuan and the other Qingwu.

Xuanfa noticed that each of these two people's Daoist titles, when combined, form one of the Four Natural Spirits, which is also the mount of their lineage's ancestor.

Qingwu asked curiously, "Senior brother, are you the Daoist Xuanfa ranks seventh on the Dragon and Tiger Ranking?"

Xuanfa pursed his lips, looking embarrassed, and said, "Probably."

It's really a shame that its ranking is so low, it's a disgrace to the founder and the lineage.

"Yes or no, what do you mean by 'probably'?" Qingxuan frowned.

Xuanfa sighed helplessly and said with a smile, "It is this humble Daoist."

Qingwu, hands on his hips, said in an air of superiority, "Senior brother, you're not good enough! Martial Uncle Yu has already risen to fourth place on the Dragon and Tiger Ranking in just one year!"

Xuanfa's gaze sharpened, and he asked in surprise, "Are you talking about the Madman ' Yu Tunzhou '? He's also connected to our Zhenwu Lineage?"

"Martial Uncle Yu was brought by Uncle Mo, and he has been practicing at the temple for a period of time."

Xuanfa was taken aback. Was it that Great Hero Mo? Was Great Hero Mo related to their lineage? Wasn't it said that Yu Tunzhou was Great Hero Mo's successor in martial arts?

Why are those two considered to be of the same generation?

Led by Qingxuan and Qingwu, Xuanfa entered the Daoist temple and was the first to step into the main hall. The first thing that caught his eye was a statue of a deity, but it was not his own True Martial Ancestor, but the Daoist Venerable!

An old Daoist priest, who had been waiting there for a long time, smiled and said, "I am Wolong, what brings you to my mountain gate?"

Xuanfa performed the grandest Daoist ceremony and respectfully said, "Xuanfa has received guidance from the Patriarch and has come here to invite Founding Master Wolong to return to the mountain, to rectify the sect, and to purify the Daoist lineage!"

Qingxuan and Qingwu exchanged a glance, their small eyes filled with great confusion.

The Daoist Wolong smiled and said, "From this day forward, you will stay in the temple to cultivate the Ancient Method. When the Dragon Gate opens, you will enter it on my behalf and retrieve one item. In return, I will grant that person's wish and restore his Dao lineage."

Xuanfa stood respectfully with his head bowed and said, "Please enlighten me, senior!"

Cross-River Sword Sect.

Lin Yueheng was pale and exuded a strong herbal scent, yet he still sat cross-legged opposite the man in front of him.

A Sword Intent had already locked onto him from the opposite side, stimulating the Sword Intent hidden deep within his body. The two clashed, and he was not at a disadvantage.

Sitting in front of him was his master, Zhao Jiangxue, the current sect leader of the Cross-River Sword Sect and Grandmaster ranked among the top twenty on the Earth Ranking [Sword Illuminates the Great River]!

"How did you fare in this battle?" Zhao Jiangxue asked casually.

Lin Yueheng his eyebrows slightly, but his tone was calm and powerful. "This battle has been very fruitful for me. I will surely be able to slay him next time."

Sensing the Sword Intent flowing from the disciple before her, Zhao Jiangxue nodded. "Take good care of yourself and rest well. I hope that your journey to the Eternal Dragon Gate will allow you to leap over the Dragon Gate, surpass all the patriarchs of the past, and find the path to Dharma Aspect."

Mending Heaven Pavilion.

A man sat upright under the midday sun, with a straight nose, sharp features, and standard sword-like eyebrows. He was dressed in a plain white robe, exuding a masculine and fierce temperament. At this moment, he was practicing Method Formula, and his exposed skin turned golden, shimmering with golden light.

At this moment, he nourished himself with the omnipresent essence of the sun, and with one breath, he followed the principles of Yin and Yang, transformed into the Five Elements, and finally achieved complete circulation!

Buzz-

Nine deep humming sounds emanated from his body in succession. Nine major acupoints on his chest, Dantian, shoulders, knees, and brow lit up simultaneously. In each acupoint, it was as if a sun had been planted, and golden light penetrated his skin and flesh, weaving a dazzling net of light around him.

Suddenly.

His inner energy surged, tearing his clothes apart. The shredded fabric fluttered like butterflies, revealing muscles that had turned a dark gold, like cast iron. His shoulders and back were broad like outstretched eagle wings, while his waist and abdomen were taut and toned, exuding masculinity.

Not far away, several Daoist priests who had been waiting nearby had a gleam in their eyes. The leader whispered, "They're here!"

At the same time, an invisible, intense heat emanated from the man.

At first, only the air was slightly distorted, but in an instant, several Daoists at the Divine Ability Realm all turned their gazes away.

The area around the person in front of him had become an unbearable, blazing white, like a divine sun descending upon the world, violent and chilling!

The ground around the man and beneath his feet was "melting" at an alarming rate, as if everything was melting away when he was in close proximity to the sun.

In their perception, the change was not in the man himself, nor in the intense heat emanating from him, but in the fact that all the laws and principles around him were being reconstructed.

This has gone beyond the scope of External Scenery Divine Ability; it is no longer about borrowing the power of the laws of heaven and earth, but about rewriting and reorganizing them to form its own rules.

Within this field, it is like a self-contained microcosm, viewing itself as true yang, and regarding all surrounding laws and things as "fuel" that can be melted and devoured.

Soon, the group also began to feel inexplicably hot all over, with red eyes and ears, and dizziness, as if an unnamed fire was burning from the inside out, affecting not only their physical bodies but also their Primordial Spirit.

They retreated again and again until they were more than ten feet away from the man before their condition improved and their minds cleared. They were immediately shocked and exclaimed, "This is the Great Perfection of the Divine Meridian, forming its own domain? This alone is no less than Dharma Aspect technique!"

"That should have been the Three Yang Realm, the initial formation of the field, with all things scorching, igniting the inner fire."

"No, even the surrounding laws are beginning to melt away! Junior Brother Huang has already reached the Six Yang level!"

"I've heard that when the Nine Yangs unite, the Nine Heavens Blazing Sun Divine Meridians is formed, making one's physical body comparable to a primordial deity of the same level—"

Just then, golden light shot into the sky from the nine major acupoints in the man's body, seemingly drawing upon the power of the sun, which gathered in mid-air to form a huge phantom of the sun, hovering above his head!

Several people breathed together in one room, and it worked! It really worked!

Nine acupoints connected, blazing sun shining through the sky, divine meridians fully formed!

The method passed down by the patriarch can actually work!

According to the patriarch's deductions, when this path is fully realized, the field reaches perfection, theoretically capable of completely fusing a world within it. One who is within it becomes the embodiment of the True Yang Heavenly Dao.

At this moment, the man slowly opened his eyes. His pupils had turned golden, and his masculinity and bloodlust were overwhelming. The divine yang field not only did not subside, but instead expanded even further.

"Junior Brother Huang, it's done?" a Daoist priest asked excitedly.

The man named Huang Tian nodded, his tone calm yet each word firm. "Heaven divides the land into nine realms, and we all worship Huang Tian."

"I have achieved the initial mastery of what the patriarch taught me."

The leading Daoist priest exclaimed in astonishment, "Isn't it said that Heaven divides the land into nine regions, all worshipping the Haotian?"

"My name isn't Haotian," the man named Huang Tian said matter-of-factly.

"Junior Brother Qian, you must immediately inform Master of this news."

The leading Daoist priest found an excuse to send away his fellow disciples, then looked at Huang Tian, puzzled and exasperated. "Why didn't you accept the patriarch's Martial Fortune? Did you also catch that Yu Tunzhou's curse? But you've never even seen him!"

This person is named Yi Hanjiang. He was a regular on the previous Dragon and Tiger Ranking, ranking second until he turned twenty-five, at which point he was removed from the list.

Huang Tian glanced at his senior brother strangely, seemingly unable to understand why his senior brother would ask such a foolish question. There was a sense of incomprehension in his eyes, like trying to explain ice to a summer insect. But thinking that the person in front of him was, after all, his senior brother Yi, who cared for him, he could only kindly explain, "If he doesn't want it, then naturally I don't want it either."

"Otherwise, even if I defeat him in the future, it will be an unfair victory, not the act of a true man."

Yi Hanjiang said irritably, "Is the only purpose of your cultivation to defeat him? Shouldn't you be thinking about your future path in Martial Dao?"

Do you know that once you miss it, there won't be a next time? Do you know that your master's Martial Fortune is something countless martial artists in the world dream of but can't obtain? Do you know----"

"Senior brother."

Huang Tian frowned and interrupted, saying seriously, "My master's wife said that one should be upright, for only by acting righteously can one stand upright. A man should be masculine, not spouting effeminate nonsense; that's not the behavior of a real man!"

Yi Hanjiang took a deep breath and beckoned, "Come here."

Huang Tian stood up, but still suppressed his eagerness and said sincerely and frankly, "Senior brother, my divine meridians are newly formed. The area covered by my divine sun is no less than a small world of its own. I am only one step away from manifesting the Dao Path. You can't beat me."

Yi Hanjiang sneered, "Your master's wife told you to respect your teacher and the Dao. Your senior brother disciplined you because he was protecting you. Did you dare to fight back?"

Huang Tian frowned, but quickly relaxed, and patiently explained, "Senior brother, if I stand still and simply maintain this Divine Yang Domain, you can't do anything to me."

Enveloped by divine sunlight, it forged the principles of law, and all External Scenery Divine Ability were refined before they even got close!

Yi Hanjiang snorted coldly, "Then you should stop using this Divine Ability and let your senior brother give you a good beating!"

Lu Daolin looked at his disciples and their followers with great interest and smiled, "It seems that not all of my disciples' disciples are boring. Their courage is quite pure."

At this point, he sighed, "In the end, this path seeks only purity, and it's lamentable that it has only come to this realization after a thousand years."

The Daoist Xuanqi laughed and said, "Should I summon this boy here so you can give him some pointers?"

"Too early," Lu Daolin a slight smile. "This path has only just begun. Let this boy hit a few walls and still refuse to turn back before he comes to see me."

"Before this, he was only slightly better than trash."

The Daoist Xuanqi sighed, "That shouldn't be far off. This child has always been single-minded. A few years ago, in order to comprehend the Blazing Sun Fist..."

He stood under the sun for three months, almost drying himself out. For Fist Intent, if there was a mountain blocking his way, it was either smash into it and die, or smash through it.

"Oh?" Lu Daolin chuckled, "Then I'm really looking forward to it."

The main altar for Incense-Smelling.

The statues of twelve old women are arranged in a circle, some standing, some sitting, some with lowered eyes, and some with wide-open eyes. Their postures are different, but they are all lifelike, as if they will open their eyes at any moment and look down on all living beings.

At this moment, a faint light shone from the brows of half of the statues, illuminating the entire hall with shifting light and shadow.

A young girl in a white dress knelt before numerous statues of deities. Her features were exquisitely beautiful, her eyes deep and unfathomable. At this moment, her aura was incredibly changeable, almost demonic; sometimes she was holy and compassionate, sometimes ethereal and otherworldly, sometimes alluringly sickly, sometimes imposing and dignified.

It seemed as if the avatars of various deities had descended upon her, each in a different form, yet all exuding an aura that commanded the awe of even the Heavenly King Qingxuzi, the protector of the faith.

After an unknown period of time, the eerie light between the brows of the surrounding statues gradually dimmed. An Ruyu's eyelashes trembled slightly as she slowly awoke, revealing a pair of clever eyes.

"How is it?" Qingxuzi asked slowly.

An Ruyu's eyes slowly dimmed, and she said thoughtfully, "It's rare for the old mothers to agree on this. They want us to find a way to unite all parties and get rid of Martial Ancestor Lu Daolin as soon as possible."

"Is it because of Martial Fortune?"

An Ruyu shook her head. "The elders didn't say it explicitly, but I could tell it seemed to be related to this person's background."

"His background—" Qingxuzi frowned.

That Martial Ancestor was invincible among the Mortal Realm a thousand years ago, and his actions were known to all. Naturally, his background could not escape the eyes of everyone.

As far as he knew, there was nothing particularly noteworthy about it.

"Furthermore, my mothers were very interested in the Eternal Dragon Gate and urged me to go inside to find out what the Dragon Race were really planning."

Qingxuzi was still pondering matters related to that Martial Ancestor. As far as he knew, this person had recovered to the Dharma Aspect level last year; he wondered if he had made further progress since then.

"You are responsible for the matter of Dragon Gate. If you need anything, take whatever the sect has," Qingxuzi said slowly.

An Ruyu nodded. "I have received divine revelation, but I am exhausted both physically and mentally. I will go back to rest."

Qingxuzi nodded and did not stop him.

An Ruyu went straight back to the courtyard, took off her spotless white boots, and stretched out her toes, which were like white jade carvings. She sat lazily behind the table, her black hair falling over her shoulders, her plain white dress spreading out, her body slightly tilted, her posture leisurely like a fairy in a painting.

After a moment, she sat up straight, reached out and touched the zither. The music was high and expansive, with a profound and far-reaching artistic conception.

A hunched figure appeared outside the door at some unknown time.

When the music ended, he said hoarsely, "The saintess's zither music hides a tender sentiment; is something troubling you?"

An Ruyu looked at the messenger of the Earth-Surging Mother and chuckled, "Ruyu only recently received instructions from the various mothers, and hasn't even had a long rest, yet the Earth Mother couldn't resist coming to urge me on?"

The Earth Mother's messenger said respectfully, "It is truly the Old Mother's command that the Holy Maiden should capture Yu Tunzhou as soon as possible and bring him back to the sect."

An Ruyu asked with a smile, "Is it alive or dead this time?"

This person had approached her once before, but at that time it was an order; he asked her to resolve the Yu Tunzhou.

The Earth Mother's messenger said in a deep voice, "The Mother's latest instruction is that you should bring him back alive."

17

An Ruyu's eyes flickered, recalling the instructions given by the "Netherworld Mother" not long ago, and she already had a guess in her heart.

She smiled and said, "Yu Tunzhou's strength has greatly improved now, and Ruyu is not confident that she can definitely defeat him. I beg the old mother to bestow some Divine Ability powers upon me."

The Earth Mother's messenger was silent for a moment, then said, "My mother knows some information about the Dragon Gate. She can help the Holy Maiden gain the upper hand and win the first prize."

"Ruyu for your guidance, Mother," An Ruyu said with a smile. "With your help, I'll enter the Dragon Gate in a few months. If I ever encounter that scoundrel again, I'll make him pay!"