My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

In ancient times, humans and gods were not mixed.

However, Jiuli disrupted virtue, blending humans and gods together in chaos, indescribable.

The heavenly mechanism tilted, immortal gods left their marks, demons ran rampant, cause and effect were reversed, destiny scattered like fluff.

Chen Yi acted with no restraints, though he was Zhou Yitang’s disciple and knew a few Taoist skills, he barely counted as half a Taoist, yet he observed no taboos. For example, Taoists don’t eat beef, but he loved beef. Despite this, thanks to being Zhou Yitang’s disciple, he had heard some ancient secrets.

The term Absolute Heaven and Earth, ordinary people might often hear these four words but mostly know not their true meaning. It is not an ancient adage buried in bamboo slips, but a scar that this world truly experienced.

In those times, so distant even time itself blurred, humans and gods cohabited, laws were in disorder, the will of heavenly beings could descend at will to interfere with the rise and fall of the mortal realm, while the prayers and resentments of earth could easily reach the heavens, disturbing the tranquility of immortal gods.

Then, a cultivator might step into the heavens in one leap, seizing a divine position. Heavenly beings, too, could shower blessings or disasters upon whim. Opportunities seemed abundant, yet they were the source of chaos. Cause and effect tangled like a mess of thread; destiny fragile as eggs stacked precariously; the entire world seemed a swamp ready to collapse at any moment.

Until Zhu Xiu was commanded by heaven, appointing Nan Zhengzhong to govern the heavens, and Huo Zhengli to manage the earth, restoring the former order without mutual violation, known as Absolute Heaven and Earth, separating humans from gods, establishing human world order.

At this moment, Chen Yi contemplated, occasionally gaining enlightenment.

Xu Qi, the True Heavenly Person, was that chasm spanning between the heavens and the mortal realm.

And within it, Martial Intent, as well.

In place for years at Great Heavenly Mountain, number one in the world. Pressing down the whole Jianghu, isolating Jianghu from the heavens; as it isolates heavenly people descending to earth, it naturally isolates earthly people from reaching the divine.

Therefore, this time coming here, he was not summoned by any immortal god, but because Xu Qi’s rules did not allow for a human deity to emerge, particularly loathing beings like the "Ming Venerable" that could alter the River of Time.

The Shenxiao Sect had once foretold a Great Demon and a great figure would appear, Chen Yi guessed the so-called Great Demon was the Ming Venerable, yet did not expect the great figure would be Xu Qi.

If he had known earlier it was Xu Qi, Chen Yi’s initial mindset would have been much calmer. Though living through two lifetimes, he barely had any encounters with this True Heavenly Person, but for such a person high above, rarely interfering with Jianghu, it was hard to say he felt aversion.

And an incense stick’s time ago, Xu Qi had already left, without much pause.

Surely, there was no goodbye; he paused for a moment, then his figure flashed away.

Chen Yi slowly landed, wiping the sword edge, turned around, and saw Gongsun Guan standing like a shadow behind him.

Chen Yi did not turn back but slowly asked, "Am I now... finally considered Ming Venerable?"

"When you consider yourself Ming Venerable, then you are Ming Venerable."

Gongsun Guan’s words were still as obscure as Cloud Mountain, seemingly full of mystery, yet Chen Yi knew the words were straightforward.

Within that Time Fragment, he personally shattered the Bright Hall, and using the Unenlightened Resentment brought from Resentment Demon Master, slowly eroded and weakened the Bright Hall’s power, bringing it to a level enough to be housed within the Sword Intent World.

And as he released this brilliance, he was the Ming Venerable.

In other words, Ming Venerable was just one of his identities.

This is why Xu Qi regarded Purity Saintess becoming Ming Venerable as a great demon, yet simply left moments ago. The True Heavenly Person had already seen through the intricacies, trapping the so-called Great Demon in a cage, isolating it from the world.

Chen Yi exhaled slightly, thinking this might be a loophole, perhaps also due to Xu Qi’s regard for Zhou Yitang, or maybe, such a world number one figure knew some insider details.

He circulated True Qi again, the True Qi flowing through his body, connecting the meridians, the previous blockage sensation no longer there, the True Qi flowing like a Jiao Dragon into the sea, smooth and unimpeded. Even without using the power of Ming Venerable, he had one foot in the Second Grade Realm, while in the distance, Resentment Demon Master still wandered blindly in the World of Ignorance, unaware of him, like a drifting solitary island.

The World of Ignorance remained as dead and stagnant.

A figure staggered out of the shadows, kneeling before him.

It was none other than Wu Meng.

"Ming Venerable above... all saints dwell in peace, free from obstacles, forever departing from dispersion without worry or distress..."

Wu Meng knelt on the ground, chanting frantically and fervently, his shoulders trembling slightly, indescribably excited.

Then from behind came the sound of footsteps.

The Four Great Saintesses and Donggong Ruoshu had all arrived, each with a different expression, like a knocked-over palette of ink wash painting, spreading different colors.

The Wisdom Saintess was the calmest, as if the scene before her was within her deduction, merely slightly lowering her head. The Old Saintess was first stunned, her wrinkled face full of disbelief, then that astonishment turned into ecstasy, her lips trembling slightly, as if she had been waiting for this moment for far too long.

Zhu E, on the other hand, displayed unrestrained joy and excitement, looking up at Chen Yi, her eyes burning with a fiery blaze. Yin Tingxue’s expression was the most complex, her eyes glimmering as if a thousand words were stuck in her throat, surprise, confusion, a trace of imperceptible disappointment, mixed feelings culminating in a barely audible sigh.

Donggong Ruoshu didn’t understand anything, just scratched her head.

Immediately, amidst Wu Meng’s crazed and devout chanting, the Four Great Saintesses exchanged glances.

Wisdom Saintess first knelt, followed closely by the Old Saintess and Zhu E, Yin Tingxue hesitated slightly before slowly bending her body as well.