I Have A Sword

The man was silent.

The Great Daoist Brush Master withdrew his own Dao seal and said, "You should already know that the young man is no ordinary person. Right now, he has chosen the Ancient God Nation... Let me tell you, while the Ancient God Nation may not have the power to completely eliminate you all, that young man does."

The man laughed. "Great Daoist Brush Master, that boy is indeed remarkable, but you're saying he can destroy us... Are you trying to scare me?"

The Great Daoist Brush Master said calmly, "Chi Cang, I really don't have time to waste words with you. I'll analyze the current situation once. Just once. If you still want to bargain or waste time, I'll walk away right now."

As he spoke, he walked up to Chi Cang and said, "The reason Gu Daotian was able to seal you all was because of that supreme divine artifact. I know that the seal will break soon because Gu Daotian won't last much longer; that's your advantage, isn't it?"

Chi Cang stared at him in silence.

The Great Daoist Brush Master continued, "Here's the situation: once the seal breaks, you'll fight the Ancient God Nation again. But this time, the difference is that they have that 'traitor' helping them. I know you so-called 'gods' are curious about him and think he's unusual, but none of you are taking him seriously."

He looked straight at the seated Chi Cang. "But I must tell you this—that traitor is more terrifying than the Ancient God Nation itself. And his ambition is greater, too."

Chi Cang laughed. "Order Dao... what, does he plan to unify the vast expanse?"

The Great Daoist Brush Master stared at him. "Yes. He wants to unify the vast expanse."

Chi Cang frowned slightly. "Him?"

The Great Daoist Brush Master sighed deeply, helplessly.

He knew why all of Ye Guan's former enemies had ultimately lost because no one had ever taken him seriously.

Ye Guan's age was deceptive. Moreover, because of his family, people always focused on his relatives and ignored him. But rationally speaking, if one looked closely, he was a monstrous talent. The reason he didn't appear so overwhelmingly monstrous was that his enemies were always incredibly powerful, far above his current level.

If placed among those of his age or cultivation level, he would be invincible.

Though the Great Daoist Brush Master had always appeared to look down on Ye Guan, in truth, he had long acknowledged Ye Guan's value. After all, Ye Guan was the one he initially chose.

The Great Daoist Brush Master snapped back to reality and looked at Chi Cang again. He didn't think these gods were stupid. After all, the Yang Family's power was beyond their comprehension.

It was natural for them to underestimate or even ignore Ye Guan.

However, he wouldn't allow that to happen this time. After all, this wasn't just a war between the Ancient God Nation and the Boundary of Truth and Illusion; it was also a war between him and Ye Guan.

The Great Daoist Brush Master looked at Chi Cang. "Don't mock this young man for wanting to unify the universe, because if anyone can do it, it's either me... or him."

Chi Cang said nothing, still staring.

The Great Daoist Brush Master added, "Since the Ancient God Nation has chosen him, they will go all-out to help him grow... They may even give him that Supreme divine artifact."

Chi Cang shook his head. "He can't control that artifact. Even Gu Daotian couldn't fully control it."

The Great Daoist Brush Master replied, "Anyone else probably couldn't. But if it's him, it's entirely possible."

Chi Cang's brow furrowed.

The Great Daoist Brush Master added, "Even the Bizarre God died by his hands. What else is impossible?"

Chi Cang narrowed his eyes. "Do you really believe the Bizarre God died at his hands?"

The Great Daoist Brush Master shook his head. "It doesn't matter if we believe it or not. What matters is, the Bizarre God tried to take him out... and ended up dead."

Chi Cang fell into silence.

The Great Daoist Brush Master added, "Chi Cang, haven't you realized yet? That young man is a variable for all of you..."

Chi Cang smiled. "Great Daoist Brush Master, I know what you're trying to say. You want me to take that young man seriously..."

The Great Daoist Brush Master nodded. "Yes."

Chi Cang stared at him. "Can you handle him?"

The Great Daoist Brush Master replied, "If you're all willing to listen to me, then yes, I can."

Chi Cang asked, "What's your plan?"

The Great Daoist Brush Master leaned in and spoke a few words in a low voice.

Upon hearing them, Chi Cang's expression changed drastically. He suddenly stood up and stared intently at the Great Daoist Brush Master. "Are you sure?"

The Great Daoist Brush Master nodded.

Chi Cang said, "If you can truly do that... we will fully cooperate with you."

The Great Daoist Brush Master nodded. "What we need to do now is prepare for the worst-case scenario... For instance, if he inherits that Supreme artifact and manages to unleash even half of its power..."

Chi Cang instinctively shook his head. "That's impossible."

The Great Daoist Brush Master stared at him. "If it's him, then it's possible."

Chi Cang frowned again.

The Great Daoist Brush Master said, "If we don't prepare for the worst-case scenario when dealing with him, then in the end, we'll be the ones who suffer."

Chi Cang asked, "Great Daoist Brush Master, can you all go somewhere else to fight for the Dao?"

He didn't know where Ye Guan came from, but he understood how terrifying the man before him was, and if even he was this wary of Ye Guan, then there was no doubt Ye Guan's origins were unimaginably fearsome.

If they couldn't afford to offend him, could they at least avoid him?

The Great Daoist Brush Master calmly replied, "What do you think?"

Chi Cang was silent.

The Great Daoist Brush Master continued, "Both he and I have no way out. If I leave now, once he comes out, I won't be his match. Of course, he's in the same situation. Neither of us has another choice."

Chi Cang said, "Then you need to persuade Vast God. He was the one who initiated that battle back then, and all the 'gods' who came here listen to him."

The Great Daoist Brush Master nodded. "That's exactly why I came here, to find him. Since I passed by, I figured I'd give you a heads-up. Demon God, even though he's the initiator, your stance is especially critical, isn't it?"

Among those gods back then, the two strongest were Vast God and this Demon God before him. Only if both agreed could he implement his plan.

Chi Cang said nothing, deep in thought.

The Great Daoist Brush Master wasn't in a hurry. After all, it was the gods at the Boundary of Truth and Illusion who should be anxious now.

A moment later, Chi Cang looked at him and asked, "One last question, can that man be killed?"

The Great Daoist Brush Master replied, "No."

Chi Cang frowned.

The Great Daoist Brush Master said, "Just defeat him."

Chi Cang nodded. "I understand. When the time comes, I'll fully cooperate."

The Great Daoist Brush Master responded, "Good."

With that, he turned and left.

After he left, Chi Cang sat back down on the stone steps. Slowly, he looked up at the sky. Due to the seal, the heavens were pitch black, like a bottomless black hole.

A moment later, Chi Cang suddenly chuckled. "So they all want to use us as chess pieces..."

***

Ye Guan was still receiving the inheritance, or more precisely, he was engaging in a philosophical exchange with the experts of the Ancient God Nation.

At this moment, his consciousness was in a void. Around him were the shadowy figures of the sages of the Ancient God Nation, and Ye Guan was having a heated discussion with them.

The topic of debate was whether to cultivate realms or not to cultivate realms!

One expert questioned, "You've suggested abandoning the conventional realms, and that is essentially about forging your own Dao and following it to its peak...

"But what is this so-called peak? Do you even know where this peak is? Do you have a reference point?"

Outside, a white-robed elder stared at a glowing screen. When he saw that particular expert speak, he was visibly surprised. He hadn't expected that one to speak in person...

In the void, Ye Guan nodded after hearing the expert's question. "I do have a reference, and I know where that peak is."

The expert asked, "What's your reference?"

Ye Guan replied, "The elders in my family. They are the reference points."

"Have you ever considered that what they call 'not cultivating the conventional realms' does not necessarily mean not cultivating at all?

"It could be that their strength has simply surpassed the known systems, making it meaningless to measure them that way."

Ye Guan frowned.

The expert added, "In other words, they may still have realms, but only they know what those realms are. And you're already trying to imitate them... I think that's unwise.

"You haven't even mastered the known realms, yet you're already aiming for the unknown. Isn't that unrealistic?"

Ye Guan thought for a moment, then replied, "Senior, I believe realms are merely labels. For us cultivators, the ultimate goal is to gain power. Power is the core. Don't you agree?"

The expert said, "There's truth in what you say, but you've overlooked something. Every realm system in every world is actually a way to obtain power. For example, in the 'Transcendent Realm,' one could temper the Void to forge the True Void Divine Body...

"Beyond that, one can absorb the god's divine laws... and forge a special 'Divine Body.' I see that although your body isn't a Divine Body, it is still a True Void Divine Body...

"Have you not realized it yet? You're not actually walking your own Dao. You're still on someone else's Dao. You just think it's your own."

Ye Guan was stunned.

The Ancient God Nation's old expert added, "Where there is thought, there is desire. Desire arises from the heart. The realm of right and wrong is sustained by delusion.

"Thus, the debate of existence and non-existence is but a product of the heart..."

"Young man, people lie, and so do hearts. Many times, we lie to ourselves. The distinction between existence and non-existence is born from delusion, which arises from the mind.

"Hence, there is the saying, 'Desire arises from the heart'... Your Dao isn't wrong, but you haven't truly understood your heart. Or rather, you've been misled by it, believing your version of 'not cultivating realms' is the same as your family's."

Ye Guan fell silent.

"You are a swordsman. You should strive to 'transcend duality' and reach the realm of undivided reality."

Ye Guan looked up at the expert. "Senior, how can I reach that state?"

The sage answered, "Empty your mind and focus on your heart; only then can you eventually be enlightened to the state of 'Heaven and I are born together, and all things and I are one,' which is a state of unity between oneself and the vast expanse."