I, the spirit of the primitive land, have the ability to understand the universe and prove the origin of the universe
Chapter 6 - Heavenly Merit Descends

Chapter 6: Heavenly Merit Descends

Zhong Yue departed from Jilei Mountain, continuing deeper into the West.

His journey to Jilei Mountain had been rewarding; the emergence of the Heaven-Devouring Demon Art [tūn tiān mó gōng]^ perfectly resolved the issue of demonic energy, effectively opening a new path to elevate his cultivation.

The earth veins themselves could yield primal essence, the demonic energy within could be transformed into nourishment, and restoring the veins would bring merit to his being.

Thus, the shattered earth veins of the Western continent were not a problem but rather a treasure.

In the time that followed, Zhong Yue traversed the West, relishing the task, tirelessly restoring the broken earth veins.

Wherever he passed, earth veins were mended, demonic energy was purged, and spiritual energy gradually returned.

A century passed in a flash.

A youth clad in a mysterious grey robe emerged from a certain earth vein in the West.

A century of journeying had diminished the naivety in Zhong Yue’s brow, replaced by resolute determination.

During this time, he had also gathered some precious herbs, spiritual grasses, jade marrow, and spiritual soil.

Though none were innate spiritual treasures like the Wood Spirit Pearl, these spiritual items together were of considerable value, their essence all devourable to bolster his origin.

As the saying goes, what is fated will come in time; what is not fated should not be forced [mìng lǐ yǒu shí zhōng xū yǒu, mìng lǐ wú shí mò qiáng qiú]^.

He knew well he was not one of the Three Pure Ones, with innate spiritual treasures flying to choose their master.

He was merely a wandering cultivator with some fortune; though he had a golden finger, it did not mean he was beloved by heaven and earth.

From the moment he left the mountain, he had been clear about his path: to traverse the West and restore earth veins.

Encountering an innate spiritual treasure or innate spiritual root was a stroke of luck; not encountering them was the norm.

After all, the West was inherently barren.

Moreover, over these hundred years, Zhong Yue had encountered some reckless fools.

Most were dispatched, or simply erased with a wave of his hand.

Of course, there were also beings stronger than him.

Yet, as he restored earth veins, the merit accumulating upon him grew ever denser, and those of profound cultivation, valuing their reputation, would not act recklessly without cause or enmity.

Naturally, there were also formidable beings curious about Zhong Yue.

Occasionally, they would sit and discuss the Dao, expounding the supreme truths of heaven and earth, yielding Zhong Yue considerable gains and advancing his cultivation significantly.

Beyond the heavens, within Zixiao Palace.

Amidst Zhunti and Jieyin’s jesting and antics, the good-natured Hongyun was persuaded to give up his seat, inadvertently dragging Kunpeng into an undeserved calamity.

Ultimately, the six meditation mats saw Jieyin take Hongyun’s place, and Zhunti take Kunpeng’s.

Kunpeng had intended to resist, but Hongjun appeared precisely on time.

Declaring the seats immutable thereafter, he sat upon the high platform, his voice resonating with the sound of the Dao, beginning his sermon.

In an instant, within Zixiao Palace, heavenly flowers fell in disarray, golden lotuses surged from the earth, and a fragrance filled the void.

Dense charm of the Dao and golden flowers were continuously absorbed by the many great powers, with misty purple qi mingling with the melodious sound of the Dao.

Of course, the content mattered most, not the outward spectacle.

Saint Hongjun began from the basics.

Starting from the Heavenly Immortal realm and concluding at Great Luo, he elucidated every intricacy.

From shallow to profound, encompassing all, each word a gem, profoundly thought-provoking.

The three thousand mortal guests sat entranced, listening in rapture, discovering issues they had previously overlooked.

They addressed deficiencies, perfecting themselves.

Their foundations deepened, their accumulations thickened, their charm of the Dao grew richer, their laws more mysterious.

After the Immortal Dao came the Array Dao, Sword Dao, Pill Dao, Artifact Dao, Talisman Dao, Thunder Dao…

From wind, rain, thunder, and lightning to the changes of the four seasons, from the transformations of the five elements to the interplay of yin and yang, from the karma of all beings to the illusion and extinction of time and space.

Hongjun, as the first saint of heaven and earth and holder of the Jade Tablet of Creation, possessed vast and profound insights into the Dao, lecturing with effortless mastery.

Often, a single method of physical cultivation could be linked to the primordial spirit.

As for how much the three thousand great powers could comprehend or keep up with, that depended on their fortune and opportunity.

The master leads you to the door, but cultivation depends on the individual [shī fù lǐng jìn mén, xiū xíng zài gè rén]^.

A saint would not slow down to accommodate the majority of great powers.

As the saint’s sermon reached its zenith,

In the Primordial Wilderness.

Three thousand years passed quietly.

…..

On the Western continent, a figure in mysterious robes remained busy.

By now, Zhong Yue had restored earth veins for four thousand years.

Though arduous, the gains were substantial.

First, in terms of cultivation, his realm had broken through to the late-stage Golden Immortal.

Second, in comprehending the Dao, restoring earth veins deepened his mastery of the Dao of the Earth and the Dao of Earth Veins.

During this time, he even refined the Source Heaven Divine Art [yuán tiān shén shù]^ several times, pushing it to new heights.

Moreover, he acquired a high-grade acquired spiritual root—Nine-Leaf Blood Mushroom.

This mushroom, nurtured by dragon’s blood, was wholly crimson and had the effect of tempering the body.

It took three thousand years to grow, sprouting three leaves upon maturity, with an additional leaf every thousand years thereafter; it matured at seven leaves and reached perfection at nine.

It was precisely through this mushroom that he seized the opportunity to break through both his physical body and cultivation to the late-stage Golden Immortal.

Beyond this, he also found a segment of dragon bone at the site where the spiritual root grew.

It was a Great Luo Golden Immortal-level dragon bone.

Though many years had passed, its lingering pressure still caused Zhong Yue considerable hardship.

However, the benefits were immense.

Using the dragon bone, Zhong Yue refined it into a bone sword for combat.

Time flowed leisurely.

After restoring earth veins for seven thousand years, Zhong Yue finally paused.

As he ceased, his internal energy reached its peak, and a bucket-thick beam of golden merit light descended from the heavens upon him.

Bathed in the golden light of merit, his energy surged.

Zhong Yue’s mysterious robes fluttered, his sword-like brows and starry eyes exuding a sharp, ethereal aura.

He stood as if a banished immortal had descended, proudly upright in the world.

He did not absorb this merit but transformed it into a Merit Golden Wheel.

Since his goal was the Great Path of the Primordial, he could not hasten growth at the expense of his foundation, which must remain solid.

Moments later, a faint Merit Golden Wheel appeared behind his head.

Though incomplete, it bestowed fortune and heavenly favour, radiating auspicious omens.

Yet, even so, as his energy surged, like water overflowing when full, Zhong Yue’s internal energy bloomed once more.

Buzz~

The void trembled, then his aura retracted; Zhong Yue successfully stepped into the peak of the Golden Immortal realm.

After the breakthrough, Zhong Yue pondered briefly, then turned towards the East.

Having reached the late-stage Golden Immortal, he needed to prepare for the Taiyi realm.

The West was barren, making it nearly impossible to gather the innate five elements.

Moreover, cultivation could not be done in isolation; the West’s poor cultivation environment made finding peers exceedingly difficult, so he had to head East.

Footnotes:

吞天魔功 (tūn tiān mó gōng):

• Meaning: Literally “Heaven-Devouring Demon Art,” it refers to a powerful divine ability created by Zhong Yue, inspired by the Black Scorpion Lion’s ability to consume negative energies, enabling the user to absorb various energies and laws to enhance their own power.
• Origin: Unique to the narrative, this term is typical of xianxia genres, where protagonists devise custom techniques to overcome challenges. It reflects Daoist ideas of seizing cosmic forces for personal growth.
• Cultural Significance: The term evokes the audacious ambition of defying natural limits, a recurring theme in Chinese cultivation stories where individuals strive to transcend mortality by harnessing the universe’s energies. It highlights Zhong Yue’s ingenuity and bold vision.

命里有时终须有，命里无时莫强求 (mìng lǐ yǒu shí zhōng xū yǒu, mìng lǐ wú shí mò qiáng qiú):

• Meaning: Literally “When it is fated, it will come in time; when it is not fated, do not force it,” it advises acceptance of destiny’s flow, suggesting one should not strive for what is not meant to be.
• Origin: Rooted in Daoist and Confucian philosophy, this proverb is common in Chinese culture and literature, particularly in xianxia, where fate and fortune play significant roles in a cultivator’s journey.
• Cultural Significance: The saying reflects the Chinese emphasis on harmony with the natural order and the balance between effort and acceptance. In the narrative, it underscores Zhong Yue’s pragmatic approach, recognising his limits while pursuing his path diligently.