Chapter 61 Part 2

Various powers were all paying attention to Yangchun Terrace’s every move. The news hadn’t been out long before it was sent to the four Ministers of the Heavenly Dao Alliance.

“Yangchun Terrace is indeed starting to expand,” Yun Wuxiang said in a low voice.

“If I had that kind of ability, I’d just take the Wild Domain for myself,” Yu Zhiyi said with a beaming smile.

“Spare us these useless words. What do we do next?” Wu Weiye was not in a good mood.

The Wild Domain Restriction Decree couldn’t be enforced even within the Four Great Clans. Seeing this, the Three Sects also began concealing things. This led to “public righteousness” failing to stand firm. Although the lower-ranking people didn’t say anything, there was still resentment in their hearts. If it had been done thoroughly, no one would have complaints, but now it proved impossible. This was different from some past measures. It involved one’s Dao path and very life, stepping on the bottom line of what people could tolerate. One could tell just from the number of people choosing to enter the Wild Domain.

The appearance of Yangchun Terrace gave them a chance at survival. The Lifeless Land forbade them from staying, so they’d go to the Wild Domain. It wouldn’t be worse than having their lineage cut off and their bodies and Dao extinguished.

“Either bring everyone in, or let them all get out. What else is there to do?” Yu Zhiyi interjected coolly. She always loved to make sarcastic remarks; the other three couldn’t be bothered to deal with her.

Chen Shifei, who had been hanging her head the whole time, spoke up: “We can’t stop it.” The Heavenly Dao Alliance couldn’t resolve Yangchun Terrace, nor could it intercept the Daoists heading there. Even if reputation was disregarded and everyone was killed, could they be killed to the very last? After a moment’s thought, she added, “It’s not certain that Chongyuan Sect will take just anyone.”

“Agreed,” Yu Zhiyi glanced at Chen Shifei.

“The reason some hearts are stirred is simply that the Wild Domain Restriction Decree cut off their path of retreat,” Yun Wuxiang said. “It was merely confiscation, without compensation. Some families or sects obtained Dao manuals and artifacts from the Wild Domain and used them as the foundation for their establishment. What if we bestow new Dao transmissions? Would they still choose the Wild Domain?”

“Those things weren’t theirs to begin with,” Chen Shifei furrowed her brow and said coldly. Yet she had to admit, Yun Wuxiang’s proposal was indeed effective. She asked further, “What about the Three Sects?” The enforcement of the Wild Domain Restriction Decree could also opportunely weaken some small sects. If Dao manuals were also given away, that would go against the original intent.

“Are we to just watch helplessly as the Master‑Disciple Lineages attach themselves to Yangchun Terrace?” Yun Wuxiang paused, then continued, “Let the Three Sects resolve it first. If the Three Sects refuse to bestow Dao manuals, then we shall do it. We can also take this chance to turn those sects into clans.”

“The Pure Clean Sect is hard to say, but the Heavenly Origin Sect won’t give us that opportunity,” Wu Weiye said mockingly. Many people in the Heavenly Origin Sect had come from clans, but now their hearts might not entirely side with the clans. Her gaze flickered, and she struck the chime. “Then this matter is decided. Let us discuss the second matter.”

“Chongyuan Sect is recruiting without restricting origin, which means we can also send people in,” Chen Shifei said.

Wu Weiye frowned, somewhat impatient. She said, “Let the deacons below handle it.” Seeing Chen Shifei silent, she moved on to the second matter. “In the Wild Domain, free trade exists, using either Pill Jade or Merit Points. Now, Chongyuan Great Marsh has begun recruiting disciples and is also following our example by using Good Deed merit. What do you all say?”

Using Good Deeds had two possibilities. One, they were simply copying, since in the Wild Domain, Good Deeds were equivalent to Pill Jade. Two, the secrets held by the families were no longer secrets. The Grotto‑Heaven behind Chongyuan Sect also knew of this matter and intended to gather Good Deed merit to compete with the families. Whichever possibility, the Heavenly Dao Alliance needed to raise its vigilance, for this thing called Good Deed merit was a great use hidden in apparent uselessness.

Chen Shifei added, “This is not something we can resolve.” Good Deed merit involved the power of the Grotto‑Heaven level. Before they achieved Grotto‑Heaven, they couldn’t understand its true nature.

They were still in deliberation when suddenly a talisman edict flickering with pale golden light descended from the void.

Wu Weiye stretched out her hand and caught the edict. Her gaze swept over it; just a single word: “Let it be.” She raised an eyebrow and said, “Indeed, there is no need for us to manage this.”

Beyond Heaven.

There was a place called the “Upper Heavens,” a location carved out within the spatial turbulence by Dao Fruit Realm Perfected Ones of the Taiyi Era using their great magical power. At that time, the Nine Provinces could still bear some of the power of the Dao Fruit Realm. It wasn’t like later, when upon entering Dao Fruit, one had to abandon the Nine Provinces and depart.

The mysteries of Beyond Heaven were infinite. It also grew all sorts of wondrous cultivation resources suitable for cultivators to consume. But the spatial turbulence raged, so that even Grotto‑Heaven Perfected Ones couldn’t establish themselves within it. Fortunately, the Upper Heavens existed, and all sorts of wondrous things were transformed into collectible Purple Qi and Divine Sand.

But to enter the Upper Heavens, besides having the cultivation of a Grotto‑Heaven, one also needed a key formed from Good Deed merit.

This key had always been in the hands of the Grotto‑Heaven Perfected Ones of the Four Great Clans. As for the Grotto‑Heaven of the Jade Emperor Sect, that was obtained through an existing agreement.

At the moment the four Ministers were deliberating, within the secret hall of the Upper Heavens—

Seven massive radiances, swirling like vortices, appeared on the jade walls.

“Chongyuan Great Marsh… also implementing a Good Deed merit exchange system? Did that person learn of the Upper Heavens’ secret?” The Grotto‑Heavens in the hall, though they paid no mind to worldly affairs, still knew of many things. Like those below, they also believed there was a Grotto‑Heaven seated within the Chongyuan Sect, an entity of particularly unique divine abilities.

“Not of our clans, how could they know?” a cold voice sounded.

“That one is always unwilling to reveal herself. We don’t even know how she achieved it, or where she achieved it,” a quiet sigh came.

“It couldn’t have been in the Pure Domain.” If she had achieved Grotto‑Heaven in the Pure Domain, the surging, sky-reaching celestial phenomenon could not possibly have escaped the notice of the Grotto‑Heaven Daoists. The only possibility was in the Wild Domain, moreover, in the extreme depths of the Wild Domain. After all, with such unique divine abilities, establishing a foothold deep in the Wild Domain wasn’t difficult. But while in the Nascent Soul realm, where did her cultivation resources come from? Ninth-Grade Divine Sand was distributed in fixed quotas. Checking the Heavenly Dao Alliance’s records, one could clearly see its flow and could eliminate individuals one by one.

Beyond this, there was only one other possibility.

That was to intercept and kill what belonged to others.

And over the past thousand years, the only person they knew to possess such sharpness was one.

“Fellow Daoist Yun, did she die?” After a moment of silence, a calm voice asked. With the cultivation of a Grotto‑Heaven, they usually didn’t pay much attention to those of lower cultivation. But one, this person had killed too many clan members; two, she had a deep connection with Yun Weiyang.

“The path she walked was entirely one of pure, slaughterous sword Dao. The divine abilities on her sword were not ones that could establish land in the Wild Domain. Wanting to switch paths and re-cultivate is no easy matter.”

“I wasn’t asking about that,” the Daoist added.

But Yun Weiyang didn’t speak. A few moments later, even the projection of her radiance on the jade wall completely dispersed.

“She—”

“Don’t bicker with her. It’s not the first or second time this has happened. Haven’t you all gotten used to it yet?”

A cold humph sounded, and the Daoist who had spoken added, “Collecting Good Deed merit might be unintentional, but we cannot rule out that she has glimpsed the essence of Good Deed. If she takes the key to the Upper Heavens, it will be the perfect time for us to meet with her.”

“I think there’s no need to stop her.”

“Seconded.”

“No objections.”

–

Within Yangchun Terrace.

Wei Mingyi once again learned from Lang Fengya about the Heavenly Dao Alliance’s new policy.

Previously, it was brute confiscation, and now they were willing to offer some Dao manuals to those small families who refused to destroy their own foundations, and even gave out many Longevity Elixirs. The Dao manuals the Heavenly Dao Alliance provided couldn’t be called good—some were even worse than their original ones. But after the violent destruction of the previous period, the small families, obtaining this small benefit, immediately felt satisfied. Those who originally had no way out and wanted to go to the Wild Domain immediately began to retreat.

If they could continue staying in the Pure Domain and guard their ancestral foundations, they would not choose the Wild Domain. As for the sacrifices made during the transition, they could accept.

“Some small clans, while stalling the Heavenly Dao Alliance, also sent people to the Wild Domain to gather information. Many have now retreated,” Wei Mingyi raised her eyebrows. The Heavenly Dao Alliance still had smart people. The fact that they were willing to make some changes was actually a good thing. Wei Mingyi didn’t reject an organization that could coordinate all sides. What she needed was to break the shackles binding her, to topple the mountain-like hierarchy, and to erase those inhumane and evil methods. If the Heavenly Dao Alliance itself had the will to cut away its own rotting flesh, she wouldn’t move against them. Although that possibility seemed very slight now, variables still existed.

“Will this affect our recruitment?” Feng Cangcang looked worried.

Wu Chongyun lowered her eyelids and said indifferently, “Those who cannot cross the Heart-Questioning Steps won’t pass anyway.”

Wei Mingyi: “…” She pondered for a moment and felt her Shizun’s words made sense. In this murky, evil cultivation world, how many lotuses could emerge unstained from the mud? She thought for a moment and said to Feng Cangcang, “Senior Sister Cangcang, let’s set a small goal first: exceeding one person will be considered a success.”

Feng Cangcang looked at Wei Mingyi, wanting to speak but stopping herself. One person? Wasn’t this goal a bit too small? It didn’t match their ambition to pierce the heavens.

“Shizun.” Wei Mingyi grabbed Wu Chongyun’s arm and shook it.

Wu Chongyun echoed expressionlessly, “Better to have none than to accept indiscriminately.”

Although some small powers that had intended to put down roots in the Wild Domain retreated, when the gates of Chongyuan Great Marsh opened, a crowd still gathered outside. Among them were not just rogue cultivators, but also Daoists from the Master‑Disciple Lineages and the clans. Some were free of any constraints, while others were acting under orders from above, trying every means to infiltrate the Chongyuan Sect and find out its secrets.

“You Master‑Disciple Lineages value lineage above all, right? How can you bow to two masters?”

“Shizun is Shizun, a teacher is a teacher. Fellow Daoist, can you not shove me?”

“Why hasn’t anyone been chosen? What does it take to be selected?”

“Didn’t you read the announcement? There, you just have to climb those steps.”

“Less than a thousand steps? Isn’t that as easy as reaching out your hand?”

Amidst the cultivators’ chatter, a silver light suddenly flashed. Immediately after, a melodious chime rang out, signaling the start of the selection.

The Daoists eagerly rushed forward, disappearing in the blink of an eye, leaving only a vast, hazy mist enshrouding the steps.

Outside the mountain gate.

There was a Foundation Establishment Daoist who, no matter how he squeezed, couldn’t enter the mountain gate. His brows furrowed, and a few traces of fierceness involuntarily flickered through his eyes.

In the shadows.

Wei Mingyi and Wu Chongyun sat on a cloud, quietly observing.

Seeing the Daoist who couldn’t enter the mountain gate, Wei Mingyi was first stunned, then her gaze hardened.

With the Heart-Questioning Steps in place, the conditions she’d set were very lenient. Anyone human could come and try.

But this thing outside that looked human—

An intelligent Wicked Wraith!