Chapter 561 - 22: The 4 Incarnations of Zhang Ling Gather, the Dao Fruit Arrives at Purple Cloud

Lu Xuan sat cross-legged on a meditation mat, his mind one with the entire Daoist Palace. He cast down the Chaos Ladder, reaching into various points in time to guide living beings to come and hear him preach.

The people he guided,

were either old acquaintances, whom he would bless with a fortuitous opportunity, or they were figures of immense influence who had dominated their respective eras.

This was to ensure that after he preached the Dao, they could carry his teachings forward, spreading them far and wide to enlighten the Human Race.

As time passed,

more and more illustrious figures stepped onto the Chaos Ladder, their expressions a mix of caution, wariness, reverence, and shock!

"State your name!"

At the gate of the Daoist Palace, Xiaohuo’Er was dutifully at his post.

"Liu Bang."

With a hoarse, aged voice, a dying old man walked into the Purple Cloud Palace. Emperor Xin and Ji Fa cast curious glances his way.

Liu Bei and the others, however, shot to their feet in shock.

"Grand Ancestor!!"

Liu Bei performed a deep bow, and the equally elderly Old Zhuge bowed as well.

Liu Bang limped over, first staring at that terrifying Daoist for a long while before nodding toward Zhuge and Liu Bei.

Just as he was about to speak, another sound came from outside the gate.

"State your name!"

"I am Xiang Yu!"

With a rough, heroic voice, a powerfully built man strode in. He walked with the stride of a dragon and the bearing of a tiger, clad in Broken Armor and holding a Broken Blade from which Immortal Blood still dripped!

"Xiang Yu..."

Liu Bang’s head snapped to the side, his lips trembling as he stared at the formidable man.

Xiang Yu, for his part, frowned slightly. He looked at the dying old man, who seemed very familiar, and said with some hesitation,

"You are... Liu Ji?"

"I am!" Tears streamed down Liu Bang’s old face.

Xiang Yu’s mind raced, and he quickly understood. He said softly,

"Old friend, how did you become so old? It seems you and I are not from the same era. Why do you cry? Did I... die later on?"

Liu Bang’s body swayed. He nodded with great difficulty, his eyes cast down in shame.

Xiang Yu, too, fell silent for a moment before asking softly,

"Then the war against the Heavens... was it a success?"

’War against the Heavens?’

Emperor Xin and Ji Fa were both stunned. ’Is he talking about the same war against the Heavens they’re thinking of?’

’No, impossible.’

In Emperor Xin’s time, though the Celestial Court was not yet at its zenith, it was still vast and boundless. Emperor Haotian held absolute sway over all creation, looking down upon all the lands.

In Ji Fa’s time, the Four Extremes Celestial Court illuminated the world, the Central Celestial Court was immense, and the Human King was but the Celestial Son, revering Heaven as supreme and holding the Immortal Gods above all!

’War against the Heavens?’

These two figures, renowned in the annals of history, wouldn’t have even dared to imagine such a thing.

Yet now, Liu Bang nodded forcefully, his voice uncharacteristically firm and resonant.

"It was a success! A success!"

"The third war against the Heavens ended in a disastrous defeat. But then, the Profound Yellow Emperor returned. He struck the Four Directions Celestial Court, causing them to fall, and even marched upon the Central Celestial Court. The slaughter was immeasurable. That day..."

"The Immortal Gods fell once more, again like rain!"

Xiang Yu laughed with joyous surprise. He strode forward and clapped Liu Bang on the shoulder so hard it nearly knocked the old man apart.

He said,

"If that’s the case, why the tears? My death is nothing! All the Immortals and Buddhas of the heavens fell, and there is no longer a distinction between high and low for the Celestial Court and humanity!"

Xiang Yu laughed heartily. Emperor Xin and Ji Fa shot to their feet in horror. ’People of later generations were truly so bold as to wage war on the Heavens and make immortals fall like rain?!’

The Last Human King and the First Celestial Son looked at each other, seeing the shared terror in their eyes. ’These descendants of later generations... are they this ferocious?’

Good, good, good!

Emperor Xin clapped his hands and laughed, while Ji Fa’s expression was complicated.

By now, more people were gradually arriving.

"First Emperor Ying Zheng, arrives!"

"Duke Mu of Qin, arrives!"

"King Wu He Lv, arrives!"

One by one, figures—some still living in their time, others long since passed—entered the Daoist Palace. Old acquaintances met again, letting out a few sighs.

"State your name!"

"I am Zhang Ling."

"My name is Ghost Valley Master."

"I am Zhang Liang!"

"Zhang Daoling, has arrived."

A young man led the way, walking in with a grin. Behind him followed a hundred-thousand-year-old man, who watched the grinning youth with a complicated expression.

And behind the old man, Zhang Liang sighed softly, his gaze fixed on the old man and the grinning youth.

As for Zhang Daoling, he was looking left and right, scanning his surroundings with astonishment in his eyes.

He muttered to himself,

’Zhang Liang, the Great Han Li Hou; Ghost Valley Master, the Great Virtue of Spring and Autumn; Zhang Ling, an Elder Sage of the Spring and Autumn Period... and he seems to be Lu Zi’s senior brother?’

The four of them entered the Daoist Palace one after another. Zhang Ling scanned the room, then turned back and asked in confusion,

"You’re called Ghost Valley Master? Why are you looking at me like that? Do we... know each other?"

Ghost Valley Master opened his mouth, then let out a soft sigh.

"This mysterious Daoist Palace seems to connect all of time and space. The eras we come from are different... I am you, in the next life."

"You are... my future?"

Emperor Xin and Ji Fa wore strange expressions. ’A past life and a present life, here in the same place... This Daoist Palace... ’

Both were astonished, and they looked toward the terrifying Daoist with a mixture of reverence and fear.

Meanwhile, Liu Bang, Ying Zheng, and the others were utterly confused. ’The Great Virtue Ghost Valley Master and the Elder Sage Zhang Ling are actually different lives of the same person??’

Zhang Ling’s expression brightened, his eyes shining.

"Quick, tell me! In this life of mine, did I help that Qi Xiaobai unify the world? Did I find someone to love? Did we live a carefree life together in the countryside?"

Ghost Valley Master gazed at his former self—so high-spirited and ambitious—and sighed softly.

"No... You accomplished none of it."

"You’re that useless?" Zhang Ling was baffled. "Not a single one?"

Ghost Valley Master’s face twitched in annoyance.

"It’s not me who’s useless; my life turned out pretty decent. You’re the useless one! Your life was almost completely mediocre. And ’searching for an enlightened lord’? That Duke Huan of Qi... Bah!"

Zhang Ling’s eyes widened. He rolled up his sleeves and was about to speak when he heard the man called Zhang Liang say with a smile,

"I am the third life. I have already found my beloved. Though the war against the Heavens was a great defeat, she and I are about to be wed. In fact, today is our wedding night."

"You’re me too?"

Zhang Ling and Ghost Valley Master asked in unison, their faces immediately breaking into joyful grins.

Zhang Ling sidled up, grinning shamelessly, and said cheerfully,

"What’s my wife like? Is she pretty?"

Zhang Liang’s smile froze. He felt deeply uncomfortable and said sullenly,

"She is my wife, not your wife!"

"Close enough!" Zhang Ling chuckled. "Quick, tell me, tell me! Is my wife virtuous? Is she a devastatingly beautiful? Does she have long legs...?"

Zhang Liang clenched his fists.

Seeing this, Zhang Ling stopped joking, and his expression suddenly turned solemn.

"It seems my life doesn’t end well, does it? In that case, can you tell me how my little junior brother is doing? Xiaoxuan... did he become renowned far and wide? Did he leave his name in the annals of history?"

He paused, an expectant look on his face.

"That brat, he couldn’t have just stayed in the Guardian Storage Room forever, right? Did he become an Immortal? Did he achieve Immortality?"

Liu Bang and the others started to look uncomfortable. ’Xiaoxuan...’

’Are they referring to Supreme Profound Clarity, to Lu Zi??’

The Daoist on the meditation mat was also slightly taken aback. He gazed at Zhang Ling and lowered his eyelids slightly.

’Ah, Senior Brother Zhang...’

A pang of sorrow, mixed with a little joy, stirred in Lu Xuan’s heart.

’Senior Brother Zhang... I am already famous throughout the world.’

’Immortals, Buddhas, Gods, and Ghosts—all of them fear me.’

At that moment, before Ghost Valley Master or Zhang Liang could answer, Zhang Daoling cut in.

"Xiaoxuan... you mean Lu Xuan, Saint Lu? His fame is far more than just known throughout the world! During the Spring and Autumn Period, he invaded the Qi Kingdom, spread his teachings across the land, and deposed the West Pole Celestial Court."

"Furthermore, in my era, he achieved the state of Daluo and suppressed all worlds and realms!"

"Daluo!!"

Zhang Ling, Ghost Valley Master, and Zhang Liang all cried out in shock at the same time.

Emperor Xin and Ji Fa, who had been listening with curiosity, also stared wide-eyed.

’The legendary Daluo...’

Zhang Ling was beaming, exclaiming repeatedly,

"That’s my junior brother! That’s my junior brother!"

Ghost Valley Master clapped his hands in delight. Zhang Liang said "Good" several times, then glanced sideways.

"I hear your name is Zhang Daoling... Are you a life after me?"

"Me? I don’t acknowledge you lot." Zhang Daoling waved his hands dismissively, but Ghost Valley Master frowned and said,

"I have divined the threads of Cause and Effect. The four of us are connected. You must be one of our lives."

"Impossible!"

Zhang Daoling stated this categorically.

"I was born of Heaven and raised by my father. I have no past lives!"

"If you were born of Heaven, how can you have a father?"

"He is my adoptive father, and also my senior brother!" Zhang Daoling snorted coldly and proceeded to narrate how his "father" had accepted him as a disciple on behalf of his own master. As he spoke, the expressions of Zhang Ling and the other two changed in unison.

’They could perceive Cause and Effect; this Zhang Daoling was clearly one of their own future reincarnations!’

’In that case...’

The three of them asked in unison.

Zhang Ling said,

"Your father took you as a disciple on his master’s behalf, changing your lineage... wasn’t he beaten with a ruler by a petty old man?"

Ghost Valley Master said,

"Wasn’t he pelted with sparks by a petty old man?"

Zhang Liang finished,

"Wasn’t he whacked with a hoe by a petty old man?"

The moment their words fell.

A ruler, a spark of fire, and a hoe,

appeared simultaneously above the heads of the three men.

"OW!"

The three grimaced, howling in pain as they were whipped by the ruler, burned by the spark, and hammered by the hoe. But in that moment, they all understood.

’In the Taishang Lineage, how could anyone dare to tamper with the line of succession?’

’That "father" Zhang Daoling described was most likely...’

Zhang Ling flew into a rage.

"That scoundrel!"

Ghost Valley Master gritted his teeth.

"That bastard!"

Zhang Liang trembled with anger, utterly grief-stricken.

"He’s less than human! Less than human!"

The three of them began cursing loudly, leaving everyone around them bewildered. ’What in the world is going on?’

Then, the expressions of everyone in the Daoist Palace changed. Sensing that something was wrong, they looked over.

The Daoist sitting on the meditation mat, one eye open and one eye closed, had a dark expression, as if holding back his anger.

"In the hall of the Daoist Palace, how dare you cause a ruckus?"

The Daoist’s voice was like heavy thunder, and a real bolt of Great Thunder did strike from the void, unerringly hitting the three of them!

The three men howled in agony, then were shocked into awareness. Realizing what a terrifying place this was, they all fell silent, obediently found a spot, and sat down.

After taking their seats, Zhang Ling couldn’t help but whisper to Ghost Valley Master and Zhang Liang,

"When I get out of here and back to the Guardian Storage Room, I’m going to deal with that little bra—"

CRACK!

Another bolt of lightning fell, striking Zhang Ling so hard he saw stars. The terrifying Daoist spoke indifferently,

"Still making a ruckus?"

Zhang Ling opened his mouth, his face crestfallen.

"Senior, I was just whispering. How was that a ruckus..."

"Still talking back?"

Another bolt of lightning fell.

Zhang Ling was left completely speechless, grimacing in pain.

For a time, the Daoist Palace fell silent. Everyone remained quiet, afraid of angering this incredible but seemingly temperamental Profound Origin Fusheng...

Time passed. Member after member of the Human Race arrived, from the Earth Emperor Shennong and Human Emperor Xuanyuan, to the various Great Virtues and Great Sages, down to the kings, dukes, ministers, and generals of various dynasties. The stream was endless.

Yan Huang, Wang Zhiyao, and others also arrived. Wu Datong and Wu Xiaoxu from the Current World were not left out, either.

Even the just-eighteen-year-old Lu Nian entered the Daoist Palace.

Finally, with the arrival of the three-thousandth person—a stunningly beautiful and aloof woman—the gates of the Daoist Palace slowly closed.

The Little Daoist Child announced in a clear voice,

"The three-thousandth guest, Yan Jiangxue, has arrived."

Lu Nian sucked in a sharp breath. Sitting in the crowd, he desperately lowered his head.

As the great gates closed,

the Daoist slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the three thousand people who had come from across the river of time, from ages past and future.

He spoke calmly, his voice carrying a melodious Dao Rhyme, like the music of silk and bamboo, yet also like the rumbling of the Celestial Realm itself.

"I have observed the Human Race throughout its history and seen its many hardships. Today, I shall preach the Dao and impart my teachings."

"The scripture I am about to describe is the culmination of my life’s enlightenment. I call it..."

"The ’Celestial Book’."

Within the Daoist Palace, all three thousand people focused their minds to listen, their faces showing their astonishment.

’The "Celestial Book"?’

’What an audacious name!’

The Daoist—one eye open, one eye closed, as if judging Yin and Yang and separating Chaos—waved his hand. A great table materialized, upon which rested the Celestial Realms, all the worlds, and all the realms!

It was just a table, yet all the realms rested upon it. It seemed vast and boundless, yet it could all be taken in with a single glance. One could observe the living beings and civilizations within as clearly as the lines on one’s own palm!

"My Dao is..."

He had just begun, not even starting the lecture proper, when suddenly a Brahma Sound rang out from outside the Daoist Palace. It came like a great tide, a torrent, piling in layer upon layer, vast and overwhelming!

"A Dao Fruit wielder has personally arrived. Will the Purple Cloud Palace Master not rush out to greet me?"

The Buddha Mother’s voice was thunderous, shaking one to the core.