dhibooks Chapter 505 - 6: Wouldn’t This Feel Like Being Appointed by Decree...?
Chapter 505 - 6: Wouldn’t This Feel Like Being Appointed by Decree...?
May 10, 2018
Golden Cloud Peak relics, among the thousands of Primordial Ruins under the Saint Sect’s jurisdiction, is the largest in scale, the most risky, and also the most rewarding.
According to legend, the inheritance of the Saint Sect originated here, and the two First Generation Sect Leaders chose the Primordial Ruins as their burial ground at the end of their lives. In the subsequent two thousand years, the Saint Sect has led more than a hundred large-scale exploration operations, of which over twenty were personally led by the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect.
And the Golden Cloud Peak relics have not betrayed the two thousand years of effort by the cultivators of Xiangzhou, containing endless treasures. Each successful exploration has brought a revolutionary boost to the development of Xiangzhou’s Immortal Dao civilization. No matter what achievements the Xiangzhou civilization has already made, they seem insignificant compared to the Golden Cloud Peak relics. And to this day, after countless explorations, the Golden Cloud Peak relics still hold infinite mysteries. Even the words "Golden Cloud Peak" were brought back to Heaven-Reaching City with great difficulty after two deans of the Cyan Lotus Sword Academy sacrificed themselves.
Now, Wang Jiu stands before the gateway to the Golden Cloud Peak relics.
This is a spherical gate. More precisely, Wang Jiu appears to be inside a stone ball. Behind him, the narrow passage he walked through has disappeared, surrounded by seamless gray stone walls. Only four lines divide the sphere into four equal sections, and at the intersection of these lines is a seal.
Beside him, the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect explained: "Actually, even if you hadn’t brought it up, I intended to find an opportunity to invite you here. Now that you’ve raised it yourself, I’m relieved. Among all the Primordial Ruins, the number one relic has the highest risk index and the greatest instability. Even the slightest mishap could lead to something extremely dangerous escaping from the ruins. Therefore, the seal’s protection here is the most solid. As you can see, this gate is an independent space used as a transfer station, connected to the number one relic on one side and controlled by the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect on the other. If uncontrollable risks arise, destroying this independent sanctuary would isolate the risk outside of Xiangzhou."
Wang Jiu asked, "So if you lose this transfer station, how will you lock the Golden Cloud Peak’s position?"
The Sect Leader replied, "For regular Primordial Ruins, we can cross-locate through several other relics, but the situation of the number one relic is very special. It has remained unstable for two thousand years. Not only are the internal changes unstable, but the relic’s position in the chaos also frequently shifts. We currently lack a stable positioning method. If this transfer station is destroyed, it’s almost equivalent to losing the means to re-enter the number one relic. Fortunately, in the past two thousand years, there hasn’t been such a severe accident. We owe much to the explorers of all generations, who often preferred to abandon the slightest hope of survival and sacrifice themselves within the ruins rather than bring the risk back to Xiangzhou."
Wang Jiu nodded and asked again, "So, if you destroy this transfer station now, I’ll be unable to return to Xiangzhou?"
The Sect Leader was visibly stunned, then sighed.
"Indeed, your insight is truly extraordinary, Sword Spirit elder. I thought I could at least keep it hidden a bit longer... You guessed right. If I destroy this transfer station, there is no known method within my knowledge that would allow you to accurately find the way back. Furthermore, the Golden Cloud Peak relics are surrounded by strong chaos tides, generating immense gravitational pull. Even if you find the way, you might not have enough power to resist the tidal gravity from the relic."
As he spoke, the Sect Leader placed his hand on the spherical stone wall beside him.
"Of course, if not necessary, I do not wish to commit such a crime against the savior of human civilization, so there are some questions I must ask clearly."
Wang Jiu did not rush to reply but carefully observed his opponent, mentally simulating potential developments in case of conflict.
Regrettably, the probability of winning does not exceed one percent, and the possibility of preventing the opponent from destroying the stone gate’s transfer station is less than ten percent.
Once war breaks out, the most likely outcome is the instant destruction of the transfer station, followed by being firmly trapped in the relic by the gravitational pull of the Golden Cloud Peak relics.
The utmost that can be done now is to drag the opponent down together, although unable to defeat the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect, Wang Jiu has enough means to hinder him from returning to the Saint Sect along the original passage when the transfer station is extinguished, falling into Golden Cloud Peak together... However, it seems the opponent might not care about this issue.
"Indeed, if it becomes absolutely necessary, I would not hesitate to perish together with you. Before welcoming your esteemed presence, I have already made arrangements, selected the next Sect Leader, and prepared the inheritance ceremony, so I hope you will seriously answer my questions."
Wang Jiu thought for a moment and decided to respond directly: "Ask away."
The Sect Leader of the Saint Sect took a deep breath as if suppressing the tension in his heart, and after a long silence, he finally asked, "Elder, would you be willing to become the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect?"
This question took Wang Jiu by surprise.
"Sect Leader of the Saint Sect?"
"Yes, take over my position and become the leader of the Xiangzhou Continent," the Sect Leader said. "As long as you nod, I can immediately conduct the inheritance ceremony."
Of course, Wang Jiu did not rush to respond but fell into deep contemplation.
The opponent’s question was really unexpected and even went against common sense.
Could the position of Sect Leader of the Saint Sect be handed over like this? The records say the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect is inherited through generations of bloodline, and clearly, he and I are not related by blood—unless he is trying to take a roundabout way to gain some ethical advantage.
At this moment, as if seeing through Wang Jiu’s confusion, the other party explained proactively: "The Sect Leader inheritance of the Saint Sect does not require a blood relationship. More accurately, only after the inheritance will there be a blood relationship."
As he spoke, the Sect Leader opened his hand, revealing a drop of blood in his palm.
"This is the Immortal Dao True Blood of the Sect Leader. By inheriting it, you inherit the Immortal Dao True Inheritance of the Saint Sect for the past two thousand years, and you can also possess all the bloodline divine techniques of the Sect Leader."
Wang Jiu looked at the droplet of blood that had a golden hue.
This kind of blood drop inheritance existed during the Jiuzhou Era as well and wasn’t a particularly rare technique. The recipient only needs to integrate the drop of blood into their own bloodline to acquire the other party’s core divine techniques, becoming kin akin to blood relatives.
The Celestial Divine Sword is not human, but as long as it forges a Flesh Puppet in the Sword World, it can use blood drop inheritance, and the True Blood in the Sect Leader’s hand seems to be genuine, its rich divine technique power almost overflowing... but, there’s an issue here.
"Didn’t you say you’ve already settled matters outside? If you die here, won’t the True Blood of the Saint Sect be lost as well?"
The Sect Leader said, "Don’t worry, elder. Before I came, I left half of the True Blood, sufficient for the Sect Leader’s inheritance."
"Leaving only half can’t grant one true divine techniques."
"In theory, that’s true, but in practice, the inheritance of the Saint Sect is slightly different. Since the first generation, the Saint Sect had two Sect Leaders, hence two sets of inheritance. However, 1200 years ago, due to internal reasons, only one post was maintained, leaving the inheritance quota actually with an extra."
Upon hearing this, Wang Jiu frowned again: "So you always held two sets of inheritance as one person? Hmm, no wonder it can be divided into two drops of blood, but merging two inheritances into one is easier, trying to divide one person’s inheritance evenly into two True Bloods is difficult. Can Xiangzhou’s technology achieve this now?"
The Sect Leader said, "... Honestly, it’s not possible. The drop of blood left in the sect and the one in my hand are not equally divided. To evenly split all the divine techniques and inheritance I possess is an impossible technique for me and the entire Saint Sect, a technology unimaginable even in the next 100 years."
Wang Jiu said, "If not evenly divided, then both inheritances are essentially incomplete. There will inevitably be divine techniques that exist only in one drop of blood."
"Yes, inevitably incomplete, unless both inheritances are obtained simultaneously and then merged in one—during which some loss is unavoidable. However, actually, it doesn’t matter," the Sect Leader sighed, "As early as when the first-generation Sect Leader left the inheritance, there was already a loss and pollution. The technology back then was cruder than now. The successor had to rely on their efforts to complete the missing parts. Through this bloodline inheritance to this day, many of the first-generation’s divine techniques have become unrecognizable. Some treasures left by the first-generation Sect Leader, subsequent Sect Leaders cannot open with their bloodline. In other words, over 2000 years of inheritance, the bloodline of the first-generation Sect Leader has long been severed. But what of it? The Saint Sect is still the Saint Sect, and Xiangzhou is a thousand times stronger than the past Xiangzhou. Therefore, we actually do not care if the bloodline inheritance is complete or pure."
"I see, this explanation is much more reasonable. Now, for the next question." It was quite natural for Wang Jiu to take the lead, reversing roles and questioning the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect.
"Why are you so determined to have me become the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect?"
"Because it’s the only way to restrain you."
"Restrain me?"
The Sect Leader asked, "Sword Spirit elder, based on your foundation, how long will it take you to recover enough to suppress Xiangzhou?"
Wang Jiu roughly calculated, "First, it depends on your standard of ’suppressing Xiangzhou.’ If it’s just a matter of personal power being able to dominate the beings of Xiangzhou, then the fastest 3 years, the slowest 5 years, mainly depending on the collection efficiency of Heavenly and Earthly Treasures. If you require that I can single-handedly annihilate all living beings of Xiangzhou, including all my friends, then the fastest 10 years, the slowest 50 years, mainly depending on my efficiency in analyzing the Laws of Heaven and Earth in Xiangzhou."
As Wang Jiu continued to report numbers, the Sect Leader’s expression kept changing, "So, in at most 50 years, there will be a monster capable of destroying the world any moment. And as soon as 3 years later, no one in Xiangzhou will be able to stop you from growing into that monster. Therefore, I must make every effort to restrain you."