Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 71 - 71 63 The Irreversible True Monarch

71: Chapter 63: The Irreversible True Monarch 71: Chapter 63: The Irreversible True Monarch The eighth day of the month, midnight.

Another visitor arrived at the mansion.

Bujie Monk, with his ancient bronze skin, entered without knocking, just like the others.

He repeated Yang Shanyu’s words to provoke discord between Gu Wen and the Zhao family, acting as if he had assumed Gu Wen was already tamed like a domestic servant by the Zhao family before his arrival.

Gu Wen couldn’t tell whether he had concealed himself too well or if his mortal status had made them overly complacent.

But then he thought, if they could discover it, it made no sense that the Zhao family couldn’t.

“Amitabha Buddha, Benefactor, you are now deeply mired; my Buddha is merciful and should guide you out of this sea of suffering.”

Bujie Monk’s face was amiable as he too took out a string of Buddha Beads from his sleeve, brimming with Spiritual Energy, clearly a Magic Artifact.

“These Buddha Beads can protect Benefactor’s Divine Soul from the harm of Demon Skills and Evil Techniques and also prevent Zhao Feng from using you to refine the treasures of The Three Pure Ones.”

Gu Wen took the Buddha Beads and asked, “Master, why not give me a Magic Treasure that can ensure victory, so I can kill Zhao Feng?”

“Amitabha Buddha, my Buddha is merciful and cannot take a life,” Bujie Monk replied with some hypocrisy, then his tone shifted, “Of course, if the Benefactor desires my guidance, a little offering is due, right?”

“What does Master require?”

“I am fond of wine and meat, but cannot seek them myself, as it would break my vows.”

“Wait a moment.”

Gu Wen walked out of the room.

Though it was the dead of night, the kitchen of a Marquis was always well-stocked with food and drink, which were never in short supply.

A stick of incense later, he returned with a chicken and a jar of fine wine, which the Bujie Monk refused to take directly, insisting Gu Wen place them in his bowl instead.

After receiving the wine and meat, the monk bowed with great solemnity, pressing his palms together, “Amitabha Buddha, many thanks, Benefactor.

As they say, the Buddha ferries those who are destined, and I am willing to give alms to the Benefactor.”

Was this monk practicing Mahayana Buddhism?

Gu Wen knew a bit about Buddhism; almsgiving, which can be understood as solving doubts or blessing and averting disasters, is one of the Six Paramitas of Mahayana and foremost among them.

He asked, “May I know how Master plans to give alms?”

Bujie Monk spoke, “Currently, Benefactor faces a great calamity, with nine in ten chances of death.

I, a feeble monk, lack the infinite Mana to ferry others.”

“Master, could you be more direct?”

“I cannot defeat the Lord Emperor, nor can my Buddha; therefore, Benefactor, you had better save yourself.”

“…..”

Very candid, indeed.

Gu Wen cracked a smile and asked, “Then where does my path to survival lie?”

Bujie Monk replied, “Amitabha Buddha, by remaining low-key.

Currently, the major Immortal Sects do not wish Daqian any peace.

We dare not kill Zhao Feng, but ensuring the Benefactor’s safety is no problem.”

Gu Wen then inquired further, “What if someone were to kill Zhao Feng?”

Without hesitation, Bujie Monk said, “They would be targeted by the most formidable True Monarch of the Immortal Land, and thus, death and the destruction of their path are only a matter of time.

Be cautious and deliberate in your actions, Benefactor; although I request your aid, I shall not bring harm to you.”

“Zhao Feng is not important; if he seizes your opportunity but cannot refine it, it shows that his talent is not supreme…”

“Master, what do you think of me?”

Gu Wen suddenly interjected, studying the monk with eyes that sought the truth.

Bujie Monk paused, not actually sizing up Gu Wen, the mortal, speaking indirectly, “The Benefactor’s fortune is insufficient.

Even if you have greater talent than Zhao Feng, I fear you won’t reclaim the chance for Immortality.”

Gu Wen understood; what the other meant was that without any backing, even if Zhao Feng were useless, he’d still be at an advantage over him.

He laughed and said, “Thank you, Master, for your guidance.”

“Amitabha Buddha, Benefactor, do not be disheartened.

My Buddha’s mercy will surely bless you to escape this sea of suffering.”

Bujie Monk imbibed another mouthful of ‘chicken soup’ for the soul, then excused himself and left.

He opened the door just as another person was standing outside.

Hee Huan, in his white garments, revealing a row of teeth, said, “What a coincidence, Master.”

“Is Benefactor Hee also here to give alms?”

“Indeed.”

Hee Huan entered the room, failing to recognize that the man sitting in the chair was none other than ‘Brother Red Dust’ he often talked about.

But he was the most straightforward of all, pulling out a talisman and slapping it onto the table.

“Considering you once aided my wife with a few pieces of silver, I won’t beat around the bush like they do.

Bleed on the talisman to escape ten miles away.

A small merchant like you should run now, the farther the better; otherwise, death is certain.”

Seeing Gu Wen unmoved, Hee Huan was somewhat frustrated.

“Are you afraid?

Or do you really think the Zhao family won’t kill you?

They can annihilate the Gu family and wouldn’t blink at taking another life, especially since they’ve been keeping you for this very purpose.”

Gu Wen still hadn’t moved, sitting in the chair, gazing at the bright moon above.

He didn’t know whether he had completely lost his senses.

Hee Huan and Bujie Monk, who were not familiar with the commoner named Gu Wen, turned and left upon seeing this situation, not even bothering to offer unnecessary advice.

This was the effect that Gu Wen once desired.

He hoped to hide himself completely, creating defenses layer by layer with caution and mire.

Even though he was already in the midst of the whirlpool, the various powers tended to unconsciously overlook his existence.

Even now, as the news of Zhao Feng’s damaged foundational cultivation and the inability to refine the Jade Pendant became known to outsiders and coincided with the various powers moving against Daqian, everyone rushed toward him.

Yet, when they looked at him, they saw…

Look, a commoner.

Not like Yu Hua, who pulled himself out of the mire, wiped his face clean, and showed him the warm sunshine outside the pit.

When will you be the first among men, and unparalleled in talent?

Gu Wen looked at the bright moon, surrounded by countless people, but none felt as close to him as that silver disk hanging high in the sky.

“Sure enough, some vermin have come to visit.”

A noise came from outside, followed by someone stepping through the air entering through the doorn window, clashing directly with Hee Huan and the other, managing to repel them both.

The door was not closed, and Feng Baizhou, the chief steward in black court attire, walked in.

He was today’s third visitor.

Seeing that Gu Wen did not move from his chair, nor rise to greet him, Feng Baizhou, a Third Realm great power, didn’t bother with such trivial manners, nor did he wish to provoke Gu Wen’s current state.

“Gu Wen, by imperial command, ‘I embrace the mountains and rivers with my breath, and you shall assist the Crown Prince in refining the Taoist Soldier.

You are granted the title of king for generations to come.'”

Gu Wen still did not rise, his deep and dark eyes calmly watched him.

Feng Baizhou felt he was out of his mind and continued, “I don’t know what those youngsters have told you, but eating the Emperor’s grain and being graced by him, you should fulfill your duties as a subject.

Even if I return the Jade Pendant to you, could you keep it safe?”

“Daqian may take your chance for immortality, but in return, they will bear the karma and ensure you a lifetime of glory and riches.

You needn’t worry about the court taking your life; they are just misleading the crowd.”

But you will be completely relegated to that of a commoner.

Gu Wen was not ignorant.

He had studied the Cultivation Technique given by Yu Hua; he understood the consequences of having one’s Fate Diagram absorbed.

Fate Diagram might sound mysterious, but it is a comprehensive term for essence, Qi Fortune, and foundation.

“You shouldn’t have taken these things.”

With a wave of his hand, Feng Baizhou took the items on the desk, then turned and left without going far.

Gu Wen made no move, sitting in the chair, falling into complete darkness as the candle burned out, only his faint breathing could be heard.

Just like a mighty dragon lying dormant in its final hideaway, a tiger crouched before descending the mountain.

No one dared to kill Zhao Feng; everyone feared the Lord Emperor.

They tell me to take what comes; no one believes I have the right to be compared with Zhao Feng, just because his father is the Lord Emperor.

They are preaching, advising, taming, warning, threatening, belittling…

me?

Are they worthy?

Gu Wen was determined to kill Zhao Feng, the more they feared it, the more they opposed it, the more he wanted to kill.

Not just to kill, but to step on Daqian’s Crown Prince underfoot in front of the whole world after Zhao Feng’s ascension, to erase the last of the Lord Emperor’s lineage!

All because…

‘My spear path, with the words Flame, illuminating righteousness and fierce slaughter.’

In the Qi Sea, a red dragon with five claws roars towards the heavens, an executioner’s cry.

Where dharma form meets intent, my will connects with the heavens, this is Divine Skills.

Divine Skills connect heaven and earth, the mystery of the Fourth Realm.

Refining Essence and Transforming Qi is to condense the Qi Sea, to transform the Qi into a Divine Soul, and Returning to Void is the union with the path, while Harmonizing with the Void is to Fatian Xiangdi.

Yet the mere dharma form is just a lowly practice; those who truly master it are at a level most people strive for their whole lives to reach.

But in the realm of Harmonizing with the Void, there are those who have achieved even greater fulfillment – this is the Divine Skills from dharma form.

When dharma form is condensed to the extreme, it extends Divine Skills.

To gather Spirit Form is the standard of a genius, to nurture it into dharma form is to be acknowledged as extraordinary, but Divine Skills only mark the threshold to an unbeatable path.

Gu Wen’s dharma form had yet to reach this step, but he had perceived a hint of Divine Skills – a Divine Skill was gestating,

The Fate Diagram vibrated, and after four years, the Heavenly Marrow descended into the dharma form.

The red dragon merely trembled slightly; this achievement was not something that four years of Heavenly Marrow could attain, and even a hundred years would only advance it slightly further.

But Gu Wen could step onto the invincible path in one go, leveraging the crack opened by the Heavenly Marrow and grasping the fleeting insights amongst countless karmic obstacles, he understood a thread of the Divine Skills’ brilliance.

[Flame Spear Divine Ability, Slaughter]

This was not a true Divine Skill, merely a residual image born from a glimpse of enlightenment, yet it was already a top-tier Attack and Conquest Technique.

A whiff of purple air came from the east, and the sky gradually brightened.

The palace gates opened, and countless armored imperial guards surged out, sweeping down Vermilion Bird Avenue, cutting right across Bianjing, and through Dragon Bridge.

The city was clad in gold armor.