Chapter 852 The Third Generation Law Edict, Dao Lineage Struggle
The scene of his meeting with Zhang Yu surfaced in Fa Liuyuan’s mind.
He controlled the Feather Book, one of the four books of Feathered Ascension, and one of the abilities possessed by the Feather Book was the ability to detect the outstanding talents of others.
Not everyone was shown to have talent by the Feather Book. Often, only talents that were sufficiently excellent, had enough potential, could continuously grow, and could create a massive advantage in a certain field would manifest on the Feather Book.
At that time, Fa Liuyuan had secretly used the Feather Book on Zhang Yu, and saw…
“Six talents.”
Fa Liuyuan said to the two Reformist Faction Immortals in front of him, “According to what the Feather Book showed, Zhang Yu possesses six talents.”
“Moreover, none of these six talents are the kind that have yet to be developed. Instead, they have all been developed to the extreme, reaching the level of world-shaking talents.”
When he first saw that Zhang Yu possessed six great world-shaking talents, even Fa Liuyuan was startled in his heart.
After all, with the strict standards of the Feather Book, talents that could be revealed were already extremely rare.
Those who could reach the level of a world-shaking talent were rare even within the sect.
But Zhang Yu didn’t just have one world-shaking talent; he possessed a full six of them.
Hearing Fa Liuyuan’s words, the male voice asked, “Six world-shaking talents? Which six? Liuyuan, with your current control over the Feather Book, even if you haven’t interacted much with Zhang Yu, you should be able to probe them, right?”
Fa Liuyuan nodded and answered, “These six great world-shaking talents cover comprehension, magic power, Spirit Root, talismans, bloodline, and artifact refinement.”
The female voice said in surprise, “The scope is actually this broad? It even includes talismans and artifact refinement? This person’s artifact refinement skills were indeed shown during university. But how does he have a talent for talismans?”
“And this bloodline… He clearly doesn’t have an Immortal bloodline. Could it be due to the Immortal Legacy left behind by Senior Brother Ying?”
Fa Liuyuan had also felt surprised when he saw this result, which was why he wondered if Zhang Yu had mastered a Book or possessed an Immortal bloodline.
The male voice said, “Even among sect disciples or legitimate children of the Immortal Clan, few possess such world-shaking talents, let alone a First Layer cultivator. It seems this Zhang Yu indeed has secrets of his own.”
The female voice said, “Perhaps this is the reason Senior Brother Ying chose him, or the secret on Zhang Yu’s body… could it be Senior Brother Ying’s doing?”
The male voice denied it, “If it really was Senior Brother’s arrangement, it would be too hasty and unlike Senior Brother’s style. This Zhang Yu is more like someone Senior Brother discovered by chance in the Lower Realm this time.
“If anything, Zhang Yu’s current state… is actually more like those cultivators who have risen to prominence within the sect over the past century.”
Hearing these words, Fa Liuyuan’s heart stirred slightly, knowing what the other party was talking about.
Over the past century, some cultivators in the sect had suddenly risen up, either obtaining great Immortal Fortune and becoming wealthy overnight, or climbing the ranks to hold great power, or skyrocketing to participate in the Ascension Selection and become Quasi-Immortals.
And behind almost every one of these Heavenly Chosen who had risen within the past century, the traces of various powerful hands pulling the strings could be seen. They either had the blessing of a Book, experienced various fortunate encounters and the help of noble benefactors, possessed unparalleled talent, or even gained the support of a Evil God King.
For example, of the current possessors of the four Books of Feathered Ascension, the other three were all sect talents who had suddenly risen up within the last century. Only he, Fa Liuyuan, was the exception.
Through his interactions with Immortals, Fa Liuyuan was able to vaguely confirm one point.
“The rise of these people… is more or less related to the Immortal Emperors.”
“Is Zhang Yu the same?”
The Immortal Emperors were like venture capital firms, guiding the rise of these Heavenly Chosen within this century.
Was it for the development of the Dao Lineage? For a high rate of return? Or for some other reason? Fa Liuyuan was not certain, and even the Immortals couldn’t say for sure what the Immortal Emperors’ plans were.
And looking now at Zhang Yu’s background and talent, especially the existence of those six world-shaking talents, Fa Liuyuan couldn’t help but feel that something was wrong.
He couldn’t help but think to himself, “Could Zhang Yu possessing six world-shaking talents… also be an investment by a certain Immortal Emperor?”
“And to be able to climb to this position, could it be the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor…”
Right at this moment, the male voice continued: “If it really is the handiwork of an Immortal Emperor… then that’s fine too. We will continue to push him to the forefront to continue serving as a banner for reform, and in the future, he can also absorb a lot of crossfire for Tai Yuebai.”
Fa Liuyuan knew that Tai Yuebai was the one recognized by the two Immortals and was the true successor of Ying Xintian.
Before Ying Xintian left back then, he had suppressed Tai Yuebai and directly banished him to the 18th underground level of Kunxu, but it was actually to protect him.
Meanwhile, although Zhang Yu’s talent was shocking to the world, his overall Immortal Dao Potential was still quite a bit lacking compared to Tai Yuebai.
Especially Tai Yuebai… he was considered by the two Immortals to be the person who truly inherited Ying Xintian’s ideals and integrated the spirit of the Reformist Faction. He was also their key cultivation target for the future, and they absolutely had to assist him to ascend and become an Immortal.
The female voice said: “Although this Zhang Yu cannot compare to Tai Yuebai, he also has a lot of potential. Especially since he might represent the investment of an Immortal Emperor, which shows that the Immortal Emperor also approves of the reform.”
“Since we are going to continue pushing Zhang Yu to the forefront, then we must continue to cultivate him.”
“Once he finishes the mission in the Development Zone this time, he doesn’t need to do much… as long as he can increase Myriad Laws’ share in the Development Zone’s Soul Cultivator Industry to over 10%, it will be considered a good start, and increasing it to 20% in the future won’t be impossible.”
“When that time comes, we can help him establish a Law Edict.”
Fa Liuyuan knew that a 10% market share… this goal did not sound like much, but Myriad Laws had previously ranked at the very bottom among the ten sects in the Soul Cultivator Industry, with a market share of less than 1%.
To tear off a piece of meat in the highly mature field of the Soul Cultivator Industry while surrounded by a pack of wolves would absolutely not be easy, and he would inevitably have to face a massive number of obstacles and opponents.
The male voice continued, “When that time comes, we can support him in establishing a third-generation Law Edict.”
Hearing this, Fa Liuyuan’s heart stirred. A third-generation Law Edict, you’re willing to go that far?
In this instant, Fa Liuyuan understood that although Zhang Yu’s importance in the eyes of the Immortals was not as great as Tai Yuebai’s, he was still a cultivator who would receive vigorous support.
A Dao Lineage was the extreme manifestation of the tyranny of Immortal Dao Technology.
And as long as Immortal Dao Technology continued to advance, their respective Dao Lineages would also continuously develop.
The Law Edict technology related to the Dao Lineage naturally also constantly updated and upgraded.
According to Fa Liuyuan’s knowledge, the technological development related to Law Edicts had already reached the third generation.
The so-called first-generation Law Edicts governed the heavens and the earth, restricting various natural forces such as mountains, rivers, geography, and climate changes. The Dao Lineages ultimately upheld by this type of Law Edict would also permanently affect the operation of the world.
The second-generation Law Edicts, on the other hand, governed people: cultivators, various cultivation realm certificates, behavior certificates, licenses, authorizations, various taxes, fines, protections, and restrictions… The Dao Lineages ultimately upheld by this type of Law Edict would permanently affect all intelligent beings.
Although there was a chronological order to the development of these two generations of Law Edicts, their strength was not fixed.
In ancient times, the power of heaven and earth was the strongest. At that time, the cultivators who could govern the heavens and the earth and mastered the first-generation Law Edicts were obviously more formidable, and the Dao Lineage they upheld was also stronger.
But with the development of the times, cultivators became stronger and stronger, to the point where the entire heaven and earth was controlled by cultivators. Therefore… the second-generation Law Edicts gradually emerged. And at this time… the second-generation Law Edicts that could govern people and cultivators became more formidable.
It could be said that from managing heaven and earth to managing cultivators, the development of Law Edict technology had a huge impact on the era changes of the entire Kunxu and the extension of the Dao Lineages…
“Kunxu’s extreme prosperity today, and some of its deformed development directions… are also inseparable from the fierce development of the second generation of Law Edicts. It can be said that the second generation of Law Edicts has made an indelible contribution.”
“And the emergence of the third generation of Law Edicts…” Fa Liuyuan thought to himself, “may represent the birth of yet another new era.”
Thinking of the third generation of Law Edicts, the current struggle over High-Intelligence Artifact Spirits, and the increasingly intense Dao Lineage struggles, Fa Liuyuan could not help but sigh in his heart. “Immortal Dao Technology is developing faster and faster, and the era changes in Kunxu are becoming more and more intense.”
“Contradictions arise, interests intertwine. In the end, who can resolve all this? Who can find an ultimate solution for Kunxu?”
Fa Liuyuan sighed in his heart. “Truly… signs of a chaotic world.”
“But if a great war were to break out, perhaps it would also be the time for the Civil Engineering Dao to shine once again.”
After finishing the topic about Zhang Yu, Fa Liuyuan and the two immortals also discussed the real purpose of this meeting.
The male voice said, “Although the Former Days Graveyard was saved, the struggle between the Artifact Spirit Faction and the Soul Cultivator Faction will only become more intense.”
And after finishing the topic about Zhang Yu, Fa Liuyuan and the two Immortals also started discussing the real matter they were here to talk about this time.
The male voice said, “Although the Former Days Graveyard was saved, the struggle between the Artifact Spirit Faction and the Soul Cultivator Faction will only become more intense. Especially since the Artifact Spirit Faction’s actions this time have touched the bottom line, surpassing the tacit agreement everyone originally had to fight without breaking apart.”
Fa Liuyuan asked, “Will they fight?”
The female voice said, “If the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor wants to fight, then there will definitely be a fight. On the contrary, if he can restrain himself, then a fight won’t break out.”
Fa Liuyuan nodded slightly. He knew that although the Reformist Faction wanted to contain the Innate Dao Lineage and suppress High-Intelligence Artifact Spirits, overall, they still didn’t wish for a great war to erupt within the sect.
The male voice said, “Myriad Laws must not fall into chaos. Once it falls into chaos, it will definitely be taken advantage of by other sects.”
“The Immortal Emperor knows this; he should exercise restraint.”
Fa Liuyuan said, “The Immortal Emperor’s current cultivation growth rate ranks in the top three among the ten Immortal Emperors, on par with Nine Nethers and the Buddha Emperor. He shouldn’t act too hastily.”
Fa Liuyuan knew that the rule of the Immortal Dao was different from the mortal dynasties of the past. If it could be said that the younger a mortal ruler was, the more patient they could be, able to wait for time to pass and slowly solve problems, then under the rule of the Immortal Dao, the higher a strong person’s cultivation growth rate was, the more patient they would be. This was because as time passed, the gap between them and the weak would only grow larger.
Fa Liuyuan said, “Time is on the Immortal Emperor’s side.”
The male voice sighed, “But the fear is that the Artifact Spirit Faction also knows this. After being certain that the Immortal Emperor will exercise restraint… they will take a desperate risk just like they did this time in the Former Days Graveyard. In order for an Immortal-level High-Intelligence Artifact Spirit to be born, this group of people will do anything.”
“This time, the technological breakthrough in the direction of artifact spirits began to erupt from our Myriad Laws Sect. This is an opportunity.”
“But if this technological explosion causes internal strife, then the opportunity will become a crisis…”
“This time, we must also stand on the Immortal Emperor’s side and suppress the Artifact Spirit Faction.”
Inside the Former Days Graveyard.
Xie Lanyin looked at the projection of the Kurong Child in front of her and hurriedly said, “My Lord, you are finally here.”
At this moment, Xie Lanyin looked somewhat anxious. Or rather, ever since the Heaven Collapse was halted and Zhang Yu returned safely, she had been very anxious.
Xie Lanyin was just afraid that a thorough investigation of the Former Days Graveyard collapse and the purging of the Artifact Spirit Faction would implicate her.
“It’s all that Zhang Yu’s fault. Not only did he ruin our great ‘Die and Retreat’ plan, but he also allowed Myriad Laws to meddle…”
Seeing the anxiety Xie Lanyin deliberately displayed, the Kurong Child said lightly, “Don’t be anxious. With the Heavenly Monarch protecting you, the sky won’t fall.”
The Kurong Child consoled, “You are, after all, a Void to Dao Refinement cultivator who manages the Law Edicts related to the belonging of the Divine Soul, upholding the Primordial Qi Dao Lineage of our White Bone Cult. How could we let anything easily happen to you?”
“Besides, the matter this time ultimately stems from the internal strife within Myriad Laws. You are a member of our White Bone Cult; they have no jurisdiction over you.”
An image of Fa Liuyuan rewarding Zhang Yu and the others flashed through the Kurong Child’s mind, and he said lightly, “The Reformist Faction of the Myriad Laws Sect has already intervened. If they really trace it to you, just confess the matter concerning Lu Hengzhang. This is exactly what they want. Let those Myriad Laws cultivators fight among themselves.”
“If they can turn the world upside down, it will actually be a great merit for you.”
In a secret chamber within the Former Days Graveyard.
Su Lingyou came here once again, seeing the giant corpse that was being detained.
It was just that this time, besides her, Kuang Tianqing had also followed along.
“Senior…” Su Lengyou bowed to the giant corpse and said, “This junior has come once again to seek your guidance.”
The giant corpse glanced at Su Lingyou, then looked at Kuang Tianqing and said, “Past Life Awakening?”
Kuang Tianqing was startled in his heart, not expecting the other party to determine his background with just a single glance.
But thinking of the other party’s identity, Kuang Tianqing felt that it was only natural.
Kuang Tianqing sighed inwardly, After all… this is the existence that once controlled reincarnation.
The giant corpse continued, “Past Life Awakening… did you also crawl back up from the Lower Realm? Could it be that you also know Zhang Yu?”
Kuang Tianqing was startled again, then nodded slightly and said, “I do.”
The giant corpse said thoughtfully, “I see, so that is how it is?”
Kuang Tianqing was stunned in his heart, his thoughts fluctuating for a time in his mind, but he could not figure out what the other party was actually talking about.
He thought to himself, Does he think… the Reincarnation Group has long been interfering in the Lower Realm? That we have long been in contact with Zhang Yu? Could it be that he saw through our support for Zhang Yu? And our attempt to push for Zhang Yu to be planted within Myriad Laws Sect?
There was another question, a question that had always remained unanswered in Kuang Tianqing’s heart, and that was…
Why Zhang Yu? Why push Zhang Yu, support Zhang Yu, and plant him in the Myriad Laws Sect?
Although Kuang Tianqing knew that the Reincarnation Group wanted to support Zhang Yu, he still did not understand the reason why Zhang Yu was chosen.
Was this planned long ago, with Zhang Yu chosen early on? Or was it just by chance? Was he ultimately selected after layers of screening from among many invested cultivators?
As his thoughts rapidly fluctuated, Kuang Tianqing could not help but ask, “Senior, what are you talking about?”
The giant corpse waved his hand and said, “It is nothing. I already understand his intention in sending you here.”
Then the giant corpse looked at Su Lingyou and said, “You want to ask… how should the Soul Cultivator Industry in the Former Days Graveyard develop next? As for Myriad Laws and Zhang Yu, should they be suppressed or supported?”
Su You said, “Please advise, Senior.”
At this moment, Su Lengyou felt very troubled.
Because according to Kuang Tianqing’s message, the higher-ups of the Reincarnation Group wanted her to support Zhang Yu.
But supporting Zhang Yu, helping Zhang Yu, meant helping the development of the Soul Cultivator Industry of Myriad Laws in the Former Days Graveyard.
If Su Lengyou did this, wouldn’t she be making enemies with the Soul Cultivator Faction of the Heavenly Demon Sect?
You had to know that the Heavenly Demon Sect occupied the top spot in the Soul Cultivator market in the Former Days Graveyard. If she, Su Lengyou, went to support Zhang Yu, she would probably be labeled as a sect traitor and a Heavenly Demon Rebel by countless cultivators, and who knows how many people in the Soul Cultivator Faction would attack her.
“Ah, you are caught in the middle.” The giant corpse said faintly: “On one side are the interests of the Soul Cultivator Faction, and on the other is the overall Dao Lineage situation of suppressing the artifact spirits. You are caught in the middle between the two sides, it is indeed difficult for you.”
Kuang Tianqing on the side thought to himself: The higher-ups just want Su Lengyou to offend the Soul Cultivator Faction, sacrifice a part of the Soul Cultivator Faction’s interests, let Myriad Laws enter the game, achieve the goal of suppressing the Artifact Spirit Faction, and gain the upper hand in the Dao Lineage Struggle… Su Lengyou herself should have realized this.
Su Lengyou smiled bitterly in her heart: “This is making me offend all the Heavenly Demon Sect cultivators related to the Soul Cultivator Industry inside and outside the Former Days Graveyard… as well as the Immortals behind them.”
The giant corpse continued, “But it is not just you who is having a hard time. Xiao Yunhe, the President of the Management Committee, is also having a hard time. Zhang Yu, who will have to start from scratch under pressure next, is having a hard time too. And the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor and the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor are having an even harder time. From top to bottom in this Kunxu, who isn’t having a hard time?”
Su Lengyou asked, “Senior, what do you think… I should do?”
The giant corpse said, “That depends on whether you are loyal to the Soul Cultivator Faction, or loyal to our Reincarnation side.”
Kuang Tianqing, who was standing to the side, felt his heart stir. He knew that within the Heavenly Demon Sect, although the Soul Cultivator Industry was extremely developed, ultimately… the Soul Cultivator Industry caused a large number of dead people to remain in the present world. This was not a benefit to the Reincarnation Dao Lineage; the two had a conflict of interest.
Hearing the giant corpse’s words, Su Lengyou’s body trembled, and a hint of determination gradually surfaced in her eyes: “I am only loyal to the Immortal Emperor alone.”
Within the Development Zone, Zhang Yu was cleaning up the labyrinth.
Previously, in order to stop the Heaven Collapse, Zhang Yu had borrowed the Earthly Fiend Gravity of the entire labyrinth, causing all the matter within it to shoot up into the sky and triggering a devastating disaster. The labyrinth, which already looked like ruins, became even more fragmented.
However, compared to before, Zhang Yu’s cleanup ability had also greatly increased at this moment.
He stretched out his large hand, and the Earthly Fiend Gravity erupted with a boom. Countless ruins soared into the air and then disappeared into thin air.
As the nine major cultivation arts of Inverted Kunlun began to operate, Zhang Yu felt as if he had entered a construction mode. All the matter that could be identified by the Kunlun Eye soared into midair with a wave of his large hand, moving to various places according to his will.
In addition, the current Immortal Grotto-Heaven was superimposed with the entire Former Days Graveyard. As the Grotto-Heaven force within Zhang Yu’s body swept out, the ruins he grabbed could be seen disappearing, directly teleported into the Immortal Grotto-Heaven, and then transmitted from the Immortal Grotto-Heaven to an empty clearing in the Former Days Graveyard.
Zhang Yu could feel that at this moment, through this layer of transit via the Immortal Grotto-Heaven, he could instantly teleport the ruins of the labyrinth to every corner of the Former Days Graveyard, increasing his work efficiency countless times over.
Accompanied by a soft rumbling sound, tens of thousands of tons of ruins landed on the ground. Many cultivators immediately swarmed forward and began sorting through them, recycling and processing all the materials and garbage within.
And while Zhang Yu was working, he was also browsing various information through the Spirit Realm.
What he was browsing at the moment was information regarding Immortal Emperors.
“Do Immortal Emperors even post on social media?”
With this curiosity, Zhang Yu browsed through and came to a conclusion: “Although I can’t see the Immortal Emperors’ social media feeds, judging from what other cultivators say, most Immortal Emperors probably don’t post.”
“It makes sense. If an Immortal Emperor posted on social media, it would too easily cause uncontrollable consequences.”
“But this is only true for seven of the ten Immortal Emperors.”
“The other three Immortal Emperors are quite different…”
Zhang Yu turned to the social accounts of the Heavenly Sword Sect, the Joyful Union Sect, and the Celestial Monster Sect: “The Immortal Emperors of these three sects… can post hundreds of messages a day.”
Fu Ji said, “How willful! Hundreds of messages a day, how many markets are they trying to manipulate?”
Immortal Slayer said, “This probably has something to do with their Dao Lineages.”
Just as a conversation was taking place in Zhang Yu’s mind, a piece of news suddenly caught his attention.
“Myriad Laws Sect, overhaul of the spiritual energy circulation system for layers 16 to 20? The following areas will… temporarily stop spiritual energy supply during… time periods.”
Zhang Yu’s heart stirred: “This is equivalent to a power outage notice? If the power goes out…”
Fu Ji exclaimed in surprise: “The higher-ups are going to make a move? If the spiritual energy is stopped, wouldn’t the High-Intelligence Artifact Spirits be mostly crippled?”
Immortal Slayer analyzed: “Such a large-scale suspension of spiritual energy operations is indeed problematic.”
Zhang Yu thought of the evidence of crimes he had handed in. With that, the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor’s side should have seized the initiative.
Not long after, Zhang Yu saw another major piece of news within the Myriad Laws Sect: a grand conference discussing the development of the artifact spirit and Soul Cultivator industries was being convened.
Zhang Yu took a look and found that Fa Liuyuan, who had brought him rewards last time, was also among the participants.
Immortal Slayer said: “Ascension Realm cultivators and quite a few Immortals are participating. It looks like at this conference… they are going to start suppressing the Artifact Spirit Faction.”
Zhang Yu had heard Immortal Slayer say that within the sect, many times, everything was already decided before a grand conference even began.
But sometimes, the conference itself was a grand battle. The high-level figures of various factions would confront each other and clash with magic power during the meeting, and even armed conflicts could break out in the end. If not handled well, it could trigger a world-shaking war.
But this time, the conference obviously did not break out into a great war; everything proceeded smoothly.
Along with the news announcements, various control regulations regarding High-Intelligence Artifact Spirits were about to be promulgated.
Conversely, support policies for various Soul Cultivator Industries were announced.
For a time, all stocks related to High-Intelligence Artifact Spirits plummeted across the board, the bubble burst, and the assets of related cultivators significantly shrank. Many Sect Staff went directly bankrupt, with some suffering Qi Deviation, some selling off their magical artifacts and Bionics, and some converting into Soul Cultivators…
Meanwhile, the stocks of some industries related to Soul Cultivators surged all the way, with some cultivators becoming overnight millionaires, their strength greatly increasing, and their subsequent immortal path looking smooth.
Zhang Yu thought to himself, “It seems the Artifact Spirit Faction has conceded.”
“This is a Dao Lineage struggle. A victory or defeat among the big shots at the top does not only concern the big shots themselves, but also affects countless cultivators upstream and downstream of the related systems.”
“As a Dao Lineage struggle progresses, the related cultivators will also follow suit, becoming rich or poor, stronger or weaker…”
And Zhang Yu understood that the development of the Soul Cultivator Industry he would promote next in the Former Days Graveyard was also under the influence of this Dao Lineage struggle.