Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1728 - 926: Destiny and Unity, United in Heart and Purpose_2

While Human Immortal Martial Artists and Martial Saints appear quite similar, a significant divergence exists in their utilization of Will Heart Light.

Upon grasping the profound mystery of Returning to Void in the past, he bypassed further deduction of realms beyond Martial Saint, instead viewing it as a potent Secret Technique to breach the Returning to Void stage.

The Second Ancestor, Zhao Hongyun, however, demonstrated remarkable originality, forging an entirely new Human Immortal Martial Dao through the power of Qi and blood.

Practitioners of this Qi-blood Human Immortal Martial Dao, possessing formidable Qi-blood comparable to a blazing furnace, began to systematically explore the True Acupoints within their bodies.

Employing their Martial Arts Will, they then gradually assimilated the Will Heart Light, unlocking more True Acupoints and subsequently transforming this Will Heart Light into a distinct manifestation known as a "Martial God."

Each "Martial God" signifies a profound martial art that has been honed to the absolute pinnacle of mastery.

Naturally, the most powerful "Martial God" remains the Human Immortal themself.

Once all three hundred sixty-five True Acupoints within the human form have given rise to "Martial Gods," the Human Immortal Martial Dao reaches the ultimate conclusion of its current realm.

At this juncture, even the mightiest Human Immortal can only seek further advancement by shattering the void, embarking towards an unknown and distant shore.

Regrettably, the truth remains concealed: the Human Immortal Martial Dao is, in essence, a perilous dead end.

Those peak Human Immortals who manage to break through the void ultimately find themselves mere pawns in Tianyunzi's grand design upon arrival.

The appropriation of Qi Fortune and Destiny is merely a secondary consequence; even the very essence of the Human Immortal is transmuted into Guardian Dao Soldiers, becoming part of the vast legion of Heavenly Soldiers defending the Heavenly Destiny Cave Heaven.

The Second Ancestor, Zhao Hongyun, harbored no intention of concealing this reality; he even voluntarily ceded a portion of his authority, thereby enabling Zhao Sheng to rapidly comprehend the true nature of the Human Immortal Martial Dao and the Qi Fortune Dynasty by tracing the echoes of time.

By this point, Zhao Sheng had already grasped that the illegitimate child, Chen Yi, was nothing more than a pitiable pawn.

The true mastermind orchestrating this entire scheme was none other than the Second Ancestor, Zhao Hongyun.

Chen Yi's predetermined fate was meticulously laid out: he was destined to vanquish his own father, Duke Jing'an, and ultimately overthrow the entrenched and decaying Great Yu Dynasty.

Zhao Sheng perceived Chen Yi's destined glorious life, and concurrently witnessed the unfolding of countless turbulent tempests and dramatic entanglements.

The Great Yu Dynasty, encompassing millions of souls and home to numerous ancient and powerful Martial Arts Sects and Family Sects, boasted over twenty Human Immortals who stood at the zenith of Martial Arts.

Yet, every single one of them was merely a piece on the Second Ancestor's board, manipulated to weave one spectacular destiny after another, including those formidable Martial Dao Immortals capable of moving mountains and parting seas.

The Great Yu Dynasty stretched across thousands of miles, but in the grander scheme, it represented merely a fraction of this immense territory.

On a continent far more prosperous and expansive, countless Martial Arts Dynasties analogous to the Great Yu existed.

Those ancient dynasties that had established kingdoms more than ten thousand years prior were already recognized as Divine Dynasties.

Over millennia, the Heavenly Destiny Cave Heaven had seen the genesis of thousands upon thousands of Martial Arts Dynasties, along with an immeasurable number of Martial Dao Immortals.

As eons passed, every dynasty inevitably transitioned from its zenith to ruin, and those brilliant, unparalleled Martial Dao Immortals eventually faded into history, one after another.

Bound by the unyielding laws of the Heavenly Destiny Cave Heaven, no matter how magnificent or invincible one appeared in life, none could escape the clutches of destiny, ultimately returning to mere dust.

Zhao Hongyun acted as a devoted gardener and meticulous director, tending to the Cave Heaven Spirits with utmost care while artfully scripting grand narratives.

Contemplating these revelations, Zhao Sheng experienced an inexplicable surge of clarity, suddenly grasping the Second Ancestor's profound intentions and ultimate goals.

The Second Ancestor clearly viewed the Heavenly Destiny Cave Heaven as his personal farmland, with billions of lives serving as his carefully cultivated "crops," ceaselessly harvesting the Qi Fortune and destiny of the populace to augment his own Dao comprehension and mastery over the Destiny Dao.

Though the Second Ancestor did not explicitly articulate it, he was receptive to delegating a portion of the Cave Heaven's authority, subtly guiding him along the path of Cultivation.

At this precise moment, Zhao Sheng had fully apprehended the Second Ancestor's overarching plan and acknowledged his own prior negligence.

Previously, his sole focus had been on expanding his own Cave Heaven, inadvertently or intentionally overlooking the spiritual well-being of its inhabitants.

If the Second Ancestor was a paragon of "meticulous nurturing," then his own methods could only be described as "careless husbandry."

The discrepancy between the two approaches was as vast as the gulf separating clouds from mud, leaving him with a sense of profound embarrassment.

Zhao Hongyun, sensing Zhao Sheng’s unspoken criticism through his shifting countenance, spoke with the air of one who had traversed the world. "The ancients wisely stated that with favorable timing, advantageous geography, and unity among the people, no obstacle is insurmountable! The secret to breaching the Tribulation Crossing Realm is found within these very elements."

These words immediately sobered Zhao Sheng, his gaze swiftly turning towards the Second Ancestor.

He observed Zhao Hongyun offering a gentle smile before continuing, "The so-called favorable timing is overshadowed by advantageous geography, and advantageous geography pale before the unity of the people! If you perceive the Lifebound Cave Heaven as advantageous geography, then the 'Heart Intent' of its inhabitants represents the unity of the people."

"The entity residing within this realm is known as the Martial Ancestor. Billions of Martial Artists revere me as a deity. Since the inception of the Cave Heaven, all Human Immortals have followed my path. As the embodiment of Martial Arts, I can perpetually draw upon the fervent faith of all beings to augment my divine power."

The Ancestor once imparted, ’When we are united and share a common purpose, we can cleave through any obstacle.’ When all beings are as one with me, I can harness their collective might to exert twelvefold strength, thereby increasing the odds of overcoming the Nine-layered Thunder Tribulation by a full ten percent."

Upon hearing the Second Ancestor's revelation, Zhao Sheng let out a gasp, his expression alight with fervor, his gaze fixed in rapt anticipation.

This, he mused, was the undeniable advantage of belonging to the Zhao Family; had he not been a member of this esteemed clan, how could the Second Ancestor possibly have unveiled such a world-altering secret to him?

"I express my deepest gratitude, Second Ancestor, for illuminating the path forward! I shall forever cherish this profound favor." Zhao Sheng executed a deep bow towards Zhao Hongyun, his voice resonating with sincere thankfulness.

"Between us, such formalities are quite unnecessary!" Zhao Hongyun assisted him in rising, adding, "To successfully transcend the tribulation, thirty percent is attributed to heaven, and seventy percent to oneself. You must always remember that fate is a fickle mistress, and destiny, an uncertain path. Only through reverence for the heavens and the earth can one achieve enduring success."

Zhao Sheng nodded, affirming, "I shall diligently heed the Second Ancestor’s teachings."

Zhao Hongyun placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, speaking warmly, "It appears you still haven't fully grasped the essence. Very well, allow me to demonstrate once more."

Before his words even fully registered, Zhao Sheng felt his vision soar to unimaginable heights. The layers of destiny's mist seemed to dissipate, unveiling fantastical and bizarre vistas before his very eyes.

Within these visions, time compressed and accelerated. He witnessed the legendary and magnificent existences of countless Martial Dao Immortals, alongside the ebb and flow of innumerable dynasties.

He also observed the cycle of 'birth, aging, sickness, and death' experienced by billions of beings, watching as the threads of destiny guided them along diverse life journeys.

Amidst the countless scenes, certain individuals were born chosen by destiny. These fated 'protagonists' led lives of extraordinary grandeur, often coinciding with the downfall or ascendancy of entire dynasties.

When he beheld the pinnacle Human Immortals shattering the void and departing, only to realize with crushing shock that their destinies had been preordained long before, the sheer despair etched on their faces left an indelible mark upon Zhao Sheng.

At this pivotal moment, a profound understanding of the Destiny Dao dawned upon him, and with it, comprehension of a supreme Divine Power intrinsically linked to destiny.

This Divine Power is known as: Chance Coincidence.

It does not function as a direct offensive or defensive ability but rather as a means to subtly manipulate 'probability' and 'cause and effect.'

The wielder temporarily alters the trajectory of destiny, amplifying or fabricating seemingly random occurrences between various elements.

Through a myriad of such 'coincidences,' a definitive 'destiny' is ultimately woven. Much like a master screenwriter, this power doesn't dictate fixed dialogues or scenes for individuals but guides the protagonist 'naturally' towards the caster's desired outcome through subtle psychological cues.

This Great Divine Power is exceptionally difficult to comprehend and master, its principles remarkably obscure and its acquisition challenging.

Even with Zhao Sheng's profound mastery of the Dao, he had only managed to grasp a rudimentary understanding, necessitating countless future endeavors to successfully wield this divine power.

An indeterminate amount of time passed before Zhao Sheng felt himself plummeting from an infinite height, as the misty veil of destiny once again obscured his vision.

As Zhao Sheng's senses returned and the surrounding scenery became clear, he was astonished to find himself back atop the desolate mountain.

Glancing around, he immediately recognized the figures of the two Ancestors, Yuan Hong, Eternal Night, Wu Lei, and Chong Yue.

At this precise moment, Eternal Night and his companions stood frozen, their faces etched with disbelief and a creeping terror. What unspeakable visions had unfolded within the Heavenly Destiny Cave Heaven, leaving them utterly bewildered?

Zhao Xuanjing, however, maintained an unruffled demeanor. His presence was as steadfast as an unmoving mountain, betraying no hint of the turmoil that might have transpired.