Chapter 207 - 199: Bodhisattva’s Golden Body
Taking a step out of the Foundation Establishment Realm Heaven, Qi Yun returned to the Wuji Holy Sect Mountain Gate.
The moment his figure solidified.
The unique Dao Rhyme of his [Venerable Dao Foundation] spread out naturally, like mercury spilling across the ground.
Although he had deliberately restrained it.
Its magnificent aura, which surpassed that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment, was still impossible to completely conceal, shaking Heaven and Earth and causing the very sky to change color.
Almost at the instant of his return, the vast gazes from various powers lingering in the void outside the Holy Sect all wavered.
Shock, apprehension, indifference, calculation... all sorts of complex and inscrutable thoughts intertwined.
In the end, they all dissolved into silent sighs or cold snorts, receding like the tide and vanishing without a trace.
The die is cast!
What’s done is done!
Even if they were filled with reluctance, they could only grit their teeth and accept the fact that the Wuji Holy Sect now had a [Venerable Master].
To continue lingering and prying was now meaningless. On the contrary, it might completely infuriate the Desolate Halberd True Monarch, whose Evil Qi soared to the heavens.
The undercurrents of the outside world subsided for the time being.
But within the Holy Sect, a completely different, bustling scene was unfolding.
Qi Yun had barely landed when he saw more than a dozen streaks of rainbow light, each a different color but all radiating a powerful Foundation Establishment aura, speeding toward him from the direction of the Taixu Mirror Heaven like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.
In an instant, they landed around him, revealing figures with extraordinary bearings.
They were none other than the Foundation Establishment Masters of the Wuji Holy Sect—cultivators who were rarely seen together, as they were usually in secluded cultivation or presiding over their own territories!
The crowd of Holy Sect Masters landed.
The first to speak was Qian Xin Master, who was closest to Qi Yun and the Elder Master Deng Yin.
His face overflowing with undisguised joy and excitement, he strode forward, clapped his hands, and said with a laugh:
"Congratulations, congratulations!
Nephew Qi, for you to ascend to the Foundation Establishment Realm and forge a supreme Dao Foundation today is truly a blessing for our Holy Sect, a blessing for the Northwest, and a blessing for the entire world!"
Although his words were exaggerated, they also spoke to a part of the truth in everyone’s hearts.
The birth of a Venerable Master truly had an extremely far-reaching impact.
Not to mention the future, even now the entire Northwest Cultivation Realm had become turbulent and filled with undercurrents because of Qi Yun’s Foundation Establishment.
Qian Xin Master gazed at Qi Yun, whose aura was now profound and deep, his eyes filled with a myriad of emotions as he couldn’t help but sigh:
"Good lad! Across the entire Holy Sect, besides that old brother of mine, I’m afraid no one else thought you could succeed.
But you went and did it anyway!
You’ve made us proud, truly proud!"
As he spoke, his tone lowered, and a trace of gloom flashed in his eyes.
He had clearly been reminded of his old friend, who had given everything for this but could not witness the final result.
Hearing this, Qi Yun’s heart also felt a pang of bitterness.
But his expression remained calm. He took a step forward, cupped his hands slightly toward Qian Xin Master and the other Masters, his attitude humble and his tone sincere:
"Martial Uncle Qian Xin, you praise me too highly.
That I, Qi Yun, could achieve this meager success today is all thanks to the Holy Sect’s cultivation, my teacher’s guidance, and the support and care of all the martial uncles and seniors present.
It is not my accomplishment alone."
Upon hearing this, Nan Dou Master, who held a verdant bamboo staff, stroked his beard with a smile, his eyes filled with approval. He nodded and said:
"Neither arrogant nor impatient, taking credit without being conceited.
Well said! For our nephew to have such awareness is truly a great fortune for our Holy Sect."
As the current Acting Sect Leader of the Holy Sect, the birth of a Venerable Master within the Sect was undoubtedly a monumental achievement, enough to earn him great prestige before the True Monarchs.
It held immeasurable benefits for the entire Sect’s reputation and future development.
The more he looked at Qi Yun, the more satisfied he naturally became.
Afterward, the other Holy Sect Masters—those who had interacted with Qi Yun before, or had only heard his name in connection with events like Black Death Peak or the Pot Valley Yin Ruins—also gathered around with beaming smiles, their voices an endless stream of congratulations.
"Nephew Qi is a peerless talent! To verify your Dao today is a well-deserved achievement!"
"Congratulations, Nephew! In the future, our Holy Sect will have another jade pillar supporting the heavens!"
"Nephew, if you have the time, please feel free to visit my peak and exchange some cultivation insights..."
Their enthusiasm was a world apart from how they had acted in the past.
The reason was simple: Venerable Master!
In the entire long history of the Wuji Holy Sect, Qi Yun was the only one clearly recorded to have successfully attained it!
What did this mean?
It meant that as long as he didn’t die prematurely, this young man was guaranteed to grow into a Great Master at the very least!
If he were to encounter another fortunate opportunity, with the time, place, and people all aligned.
Then the supreme position of True Monarch might not be beyond his reach!
Faced with such a future titan of limitless potential.
If not now, when would be the time to curry favor?
For a time, Qi Yun was surrounded by clinking glasses and joyous laughter, as if all the schemes, plots, and cruel competition had temporarily faded away.
All that remained was the camaraderie of fellow sect members and beautiful hopes for the future.
But beneath this warm and peaceful atmosphere, a trace of clarity and calm always remained in the depths of Qi Yun’s eyes.
On one side, the crowd of Holy Sect Masters were surrounding Qi Yun, their words warm and enthusiastic.
They cordially invited him to visit their respective Dao grounds for exchanges, making the atmosphere seem perfectly harmonious.
Suddenly—
"BOOM!"
A boundless, tyrannical, and absolutely terrifying pressure, as if the Celestial Vault itself were collapsing, suddenly swept back from the endless void and instantly enveloped the entire Taixu Mirror Heaven!
Under this pressure, the bodies of all the Foundation Establishment Masters froze.
Their expressions changed. They immediately wiped the smiles from their faces, turned in unison toward the source of the pressure, bowed their heads, and shouted with utmost respect:
"We respectfully welcome the True Monarch’s presence!"
Their voices were uniform, carrying a reverence that came from the bottom of their hearts.
Hearing them, Qi Yun also bowed slightly in salute.
But just as he lowered his head.
With a soft "THUD," something was casually tossed onto the empty ground in front of him.
It was an arm, severed cleanly at the shoulder!
The arm was as fair as jade, as if carved from the finest white nephrite.
What flowed from the stump was not crimson blood, but a glittering golden liquid that emitted waves of a refreshing, exotic fragrance!
As this golden blood dripped onto the ground, golden lotuses bloomed, and from their centers, faint Sanskrit hymns and chants could be heard, profound and mysterious.
The next second, Desolate Halberd Shattering Void True Monarch’s placid yet supremely majestic voice rang out like rolling thunder:
"That bunch of Taoists and bald donkeys from the south secretly plotted against you, obstructing your path."
"This True Monarch just went to find them and had a ’nice’ chat."
He paused, as if speaking of a trivial matter:
"Their attitude of admitting their mistake was passable. This arm is their compensation to you."
"Take a look. If you feel it’s not enough to vent your anger, this True Monarch can make another trip and collect some more interest for you."
The Holy Sect Masters listened, their hearts pounding in terror, but their gazes were involuntarily drawn to the severed arm on the ground.
They stealthily scanned it with their Divine Sense.
When they perceived the majestic life force and pure Buddha Power contained within the golden blood, as well as the faint, glass-like radiance under the arm’s skin that seemed to be composed of countless tiny swastika characters.
The expressions on their faces suddenly froze, and an unbelievable horror surged from the depths of their pupils!
A Bodhisattva’s Golden Body?!
In the Buddhist Cultivator lineage, a Bodhisattva...
...is a supreme title equivalent to a True Monarch of a Taoist Sect!
This arm, which seemed as perfect as jade and smelled of exotic fragrance.
Had been brutally hacked off a living God, Buddha, or Bodhisattva!
What Desolate Halberd True Monarch called "a chat" was actually cutting off a Bodhisattva’s arm and bringing it back as an apology gift.
How domineering!
How tyrannical!
Qi Yun’s gaze swept over the Bodhisattva’s severed arm. Feeling the immense aura contained within, his heart grew solemn.
He nodded slightly, cupped his hands again, and said in a calm voice:
"This disciple respectfully accepts the True Monarch’s arrangements."
"Mm."
Desolate Halberd Shattering Void True Monarch lowered his gaze, his eyes that could pierce the void landing on Qi Yun, studying him carefully.
Sensing the aura of his [Dao Position]—newly formed at Foundation Establishment yet already far surpassing his peers—the corners of his mouth slowly curved into a smile of satisfaction and appreciation.
"Not bad." He nodded slowly, a rare hint of gentleness in his tone.
"Your path and that fellow [Wu Dao]’s are quite compatible."
He paused, then dropped a piece of news that made every Master present skip a heartbeat:
"When he comes out of seclusion, this True Monarch can make an introduction for you, let you two have a chat."
Hearing the name [Wu Dao], and then hearing Desolate Halberd True Monarch personally promise an introduction...
...an irrepressible, intense look of envy instantly flooded the faces of the surrounding Holy Sect Masters!
The [Wu Dao] that Desolate Halberd True Monarch mentioned was another of the Wuji Holy Sect’s famous and unfathomably powerful True Monarchs—[True Monarch of No Dao Extreme Law]!
This was a super-powerhouse who was widely acknowledged to rank in the top three among the Holy Sect’s True Monarchs!
His style was eccentric and ruthless, his Daoist Skills were bizarre and unpredictable, and his power was boundless!
To gain his appreciation, even if it was just a few words of guidance, would be a great Creation.
If one’s luck was heaven-defying enough to be noticed by him and taken under his wing...
...that would mean becoming a True Monarch’s direct disciple!
An opportunity like this was enough to make any Foundation Establishment Master go mad with desire!
For a moment, all the gazes on Qi Yun were a complex and indecipherable mix of envy, jealousy, and awe.
This newly-ascended Venerable Master not only possessed limitless potential but had now also caught the eye of Desolate Halberd True Monarch.
He might even be able to establish a connection with the [True Monarch of No Dao Extreme Law]!
His future was now boundless!
Qi Yun felt the change in the gazes around him, and though ripples stirred in his heart, his face remained serene. He simply bowed once more:
"Thank you, True Monarch, for your great favor."
Desolate Halberd True Monarch nodded and said no more. The vast pressure dissipated as quietly as it had arrived.
When the crowd looked up again, the True Monarch’s figure was already gone.
...