Steadily becoming a saint, the immortal officials hired me to tend the horses Chapter 1131 - 1122: The Great Dao’s Lament

Upon reuniting with Zhang Buku, Li Ya found his entire worldview shattered. Zhang Buku detailed his travels through the Chaos and confessed that his ascension to the rank of Saint was the result of seizing a Saint’s foundation during a massive conflict between supreme beings. He wasn't entirely certain why that particular Saint had perished, but he had managed to claim the opportunity by a stroke of luck.

Following eons of wandering the Chaos, he manifested his own Tongxuan Venerable Spirit, known as the Yin Yang Red House.

Developing over forty million years, the Yin Yang Red House had evolved into the Transformation Realm. It now housed a multitude of internal worlds where Zhang Buku gathered cultivation resources by fulfilling the various desires of practitioners.

As the two walked down the street, they continued their conversation.

Li Ya noticed that the local inhabitants were completely oblivious to their presence and speech, further solidifying his belief in Zhang Buku’s status as a Saint.

“Since you have attained the rank of Saint, why do you still seek such vast amounts of cultivation resources? You possess the power to manifest anything,” Li Ya asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

To a Saint, creation is the ultimate manifestation of their power; they are capable of anything.

The mana of a standard cultivator is not generated from nothing; it is the result of absorbing natural spiritual energy, and their insights are restricted by the laws of the Great Dao. While formidable, they remain bound by existing rules.

A Saint operates on a different level, capable of establishing a Great Dao and bringing something into existence from absolute nothingness.

Even though Li Ya had not reached Sainthood, he had received guidance from a future Saint and possessed a basic grasp of their immense power.

With a faint smirk, Zhang Buku replied, “I don't collect these resources because I have a use for them. I simply want those who use this place to pay a price. I am beginning to truly understand Master Gu’s motivation for roaming the Human World. As Saints, our actions aren't always driven by profit; we simply wish to witness change and observe results. From our perspective, the future is already set, so our only interest lies in finding variables within that predetermined fate.”

Li Ya struggled to grasp the weight of those words. What level of power was required to treat the Human World as a mere playground?

He recalled rumors suggesting that no Saints had actually perished during that great war. What looked like a life-or-death struggle was, to a Saint, a painless affair. He had once asked his future self if any Saints had truly fallen, but his future self had remained silent on the matter.

It now appeared that the Saints might still be present, and what mortals perceived as a world-ending catastrophe was nothing more than a game to them.

When Gu An summoned his future self and the future versions of the Wushiji Disciples, was he merely putting on a display of dominance?

The more Li Ya pondered, the more his thoughts began to spiral.

Zhang Buku interrupted him with a grumble, “Stop speculating about Master Gu in that manner. Regardless of his reasons, we wouldn't be where we are today without him. He has bestowed a massive favor upon us.”

Li Ya felt a flash of irritation. How did this man keep reading his mind?

“I’m not doubting him! It’s just that you don't know him as I do. How can I put this... he isn't as relaxed as he seems. His various interests... forget it, I can't explain it properly. You just don't have my level of understanding!”

Li Ya began waving his hands dismissively, worried that saying too much might allow Zhang Buku to take his place in Gu An’s favor.

Zhang Buku gave him a look of pure contempt. “You really are judging a superior being by your own narrow standards.”

“Watch your mouth! Have you forgotten the many times I saved your life in the past?” Li Ya snapped.

“All I recall is nearly dying alongside you. My memories are nothing but pain,” Zhang Buku countered.

“That's lies! Was I always the one looking for trouble?”

“Weren't you?”

“I was merely hunting for opportunities! And who was it that kept crying to me about needing to get stronger? Now that you’re a Saint, you’ve become arrogant and want to wipe away the past.”

The two continued to trade barbs and insults, but despite the sharp words, neither was actually angry. In fact, their moods brightened.

Through this bickering, they felt as though their bond remained unchanged, taking them back to the feelings of their youth.

Back then, reaching their current level of Cultivation was beyond their wildest dreams. Even becoming Immortal Gods seemed like an impossible goal. They had simply wanted to grow stronger, carve out a reputation in the Immortal Cultivation Realm, and live a life of glory.

Suddenly, rain began to fall within the Yin Yang Red House, but the droplets were strange, shimmering with a distinct silver glow.

Li Ya looked up and held out his hand to catch the moisture. He sighed in admiration. “Your Yin Yang Red House is incredible. To think it can produce such a phenomenon. The spiritual energy and Dao Intent here are incredibly dense.”

When Zhang Buku failed to respond, Li Ya turned to look at him.

He found Zhang Buku standing with a grim expression, his eyebrows tightly knit.

“What happened?” Li Ya asked, his tone turning anxious.

Zhang Buku spoke slowly, “This isn't my doing. This rain is falling across the entire Chaos, and the barriers of the Yin Yang Red House are powerless to stop it.”

Li Ya’s face paled. Throughout his long life, he had witnessed several such phenomena. Some were gifts from the Great Dao meant to bless all life, while others marked the breakthrough of a supreme power spreading their Dao to the world. Either way, it meant the balance of the Great Dao was about to shift.

Gazing back at the sky, he whispered, “After such a long era of peace, is the world falling into chaos again?”

The previous war of the Saints felt recent to him, but millions of years had actually passed. In that time, oceans had turned to fields, and several eras had come and gone.

Zhang Buku remained silent, his internal dread far exceeding anything Li Ya was feeling.

As a Saint, he could sense the truth more clearly.

He could actually hear the Great Dao crying out in sorrow!

Even the great battle of the Saints hadn't caused such a reaction. What could possibly be happening?

...

Within the Palace of the Polestar in the Celestial Court.

The Celestial Emperor opened his eyes, a golden light erupting from his pupils that instantly filled the darkened hall. He looked up with a frown as the silver rain passed straight through the roof of the palace, drenching him.

He made no move to block it or escape, choosing instead to let the silver rain wash over him.

As the rain touched his physical form, the Celestial Emperor felt his Dao Practice surging. Simultaneously, he heard the mourning of the Three Thousand Great Dao, as if a terrifying entity was being born.

The silver rain felt like a gift from the Great Dao, or more accurately, a desperate defense mechanism. It blanketed the Chaos as far as his vision could reach.

The Celestial Emperor felt a deep sense of unease, unsure if the Three Thousand Great Dao were simply in flux or if their very source was trembling.

One thing was certain: the Chaos was about to face a crisis.

He suddenly sensed the presence of the Saints in the Human World. Those whom Gu An had stationed there to spread the Dao were also stirred, and some were already calling for a meeting in Outer Heaven.

After a brief moment of hesitation, he stood up and vanished from the hall.

In the deep void of space, figures began to manifest. Hongqian Ancestor and the Great Profound Yin Dominator both arrived.

The gathered Saints turned their attention toward the Celestial Emperor. Given Gu An's previous instructions, it was clear that the Celestial Emperor was being groomed as Gu An’s representative.

“Where is the Patriarch?” the Nine Yang Divine Ancestor asked, his voice heavy and his brow furrowed in concern.