Chapter 372: Chapter 251: Undercurrents Surging! Hiring Someone! On What Grounds?_2
"Encountered trouble?"
This old man’s seniority was terrifyingly high, even the current Sect Leader of Profound Pure Sect had to address him as Master Ancestor.
Likewise, the Domain Master of the Eastern Region, Daoist Monarch Xuan Yan, who hadn’t appeared for many years, was this very person.
Back when Su Nan rose to power, he had received guidance from this person, making them both mentor and friend.
This was also why the Su family had a good relationship with Daoism.
"Alas, if it were a common issue, I alone would be enough."
Su Nan sighed helplessly, "But this time, I’m afraid the opponents are quite numerous."
"Numerous?"
Xuan Yan raised an eyebrow, "How numerous?"
"Heh..."
Su Nan gulped down a glass of clear water, grinning bitterly, "The world is my enemy."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yan twitched the corner of his mouth, "Not going!"
"This old man still wants to live to see the final battle."
"This old body can only fight two more battles; I don’t want to waste it lightly."
...
"Only two more battles?"
Su Nan was stunned, then said speechlessly, "Being a Domain Master, the Peak of Quasi-Emperor, you might be the first to kill yourself this way."
At Xuan Yan’s level, having lived over five thousand years, with unchanged appearance and undiminished combat power, was fundamental.
But Xuan Yan was only four thousand years old, not at his peak, but definitely not in such an exaggerated state now.
The main reason being, Xuan Yan years ago audaciously tried to fuse with an Emperor’s Weapon to forcefully break through.
Attempting to leverage the Emperor’s Weapon to forcefully enter the realm of the Great Emperor.
Obviously, Xuan Yan failed and suffered the backlash from the Emperor’s Weapon.
The Emperor’s Weapon left by the Daoist Ancestor was quite mysterious, actually containing ’temporal’ powers.
After suffering the backlash, Xuan Yan had gained a surge of ’Time Power’ within him.
This terrifying power made Xuan Yan gradually age, with a flow of time around him ten times faster than others!
This also meant, for every year others lived, his body’s functions aged by ten years.
And if he were to activate his cultivation and engage in battle, the power of the ’Time Power’ would be even more formidable.
In Xuan Yan’s current state, just fighting two more battles would completely deplete his life span.
"Can this injury of yours be healed?"
Su Nan rubbed his chin, pondering thoughtfully.
As long as it was an ’injury’, it should fall under the jurisdiction of the Celestial Doctor.
And he had seen Chang Qing’s skills, even curing Wu Jiuling, so Xuan Yan should also be possible?
Xuan Yan seemed to also see what Su Nan was thinking.
He shook his head, "You’re talking about Wu Jiuling, right?"
"My situation is different from his, injuries can be healed, but this... it’s not an injury."
"There’s no discomfort in my body, just an extra stretch of ’Time’ inside me."
"To resolve my issue, unless you find a cultivator who can control time."
"But the power of time..."
He paused, then chuckled bitterly, "How could it be controlled by a cultivator."
Hearing this, Su Nan also grew frustrated.
Indeed, such a terrifying law as time, the Heavenly Dao would never allow it to be mastered by cultivators.
The only way to heal Xuan Yan would be for the ’Heavenly Dao’ to intervene, otherwise, not even a Celestial Doctor would have any means.
But the problem is, the Heavenly Dao is unfeeling, so why would it make a move for an ordinary cultivator?
This was almost an unsolvable condition.
"Forget it, this matter truly troubles you."
After thinking, Su Nan shook his head.
He waved and took out a Jade Pendant inscribed with the character ’Su’, saying:
"I can’t help with your injury, but augmenting some of your lifespan should still be possible."
"Take this Jade Pendant and find my son, Chang Qing; he might be able to extend your life a bit."
For Xuan Yan, typical longevity methods were long useless.
But Chang Qing was different.
The methods of a Celestial Doctor aren’t comparable to those of so-called Alchemists.
Xuan Yan and Su Nan had a very good relationship, seeing the other in this state now, he couldn’t help but feel a bit somber.
He did not bring up offering help again but rather laughed heartily, patting Xuan Yan on the shoulder,
"Old man, live well and watch as I, Su Nan, take that step!"
"I’m off."
Su Nan came quickly and left just as swiftly.
He said with a smile and walked straight into the void, disappearing in an instant.
"You brat."
Weighing the Jade Pendant in his hand, Xuan Yan looked towards Su Nan’s departing back, scolding with a laugh:
"I just refused you once and you stopped asking?"
"I could still strike twice, wasn’t that obvious enough?"
Su Nan certainly understood, if he continued to ask, Xuan Yan would definitely help him.
But after learning that the other had little lifespan left, with only two possible actions, he abandoned the idea.
Compared to having another Domain Master to assist, he wished more for this old man to live a longer life.
"An enemy of the world..."
Daoist Monarch Xuan Yan held the Su-character jade pendant and chuckled, "Intervening in such a situation, how could it be considered a waste?"
"But can that Su family boy really help extend my life by some years?"
Thinking of this, he laughed softly, his body slowly dissipating into the air.
"Never mind, it would be good to see this newly ascended Sword God of the Eastern Domain."
...
In the Eastern Domain, at Sword God Mountain.
After a few days, Sword God Mountain had become lively once more.
Sword cultivators who passed through the Path of Heart Inquiry would directly become outer disciples of the Sword Emperor Sect.
Indeed, just the outer sect!
No matter their cultivation, as long as they had not condensed the Sword Emperor’s intent, they could only belong to the outer sect.
And at this time on Sword God Mountain, besides Su Changqing, the true inner core only included Er Niu.
These days, Er Niu was utterly exhausted.
Together with Li Jin and several veteran sword cultivators, he worked to perfect the sect’s system.
Building appropriate living quarters on Sword God Mountain.
And dealing with various other tedious affairs, and so on.
Meanwhile, Su Changqing, who had taken on the role of a hands-off leader, was in secluded cultivation at the mountain’s peak.
The condensation of the Emperor’s intent and the establishment of the sect had caused some changes in his internal world.
He needed to enter seclusion for a few days to sort out his inner self.
"The Creation Jadeite seems more complete now..."
Su Changqing sat cross-legged, examining his inner self.
In the past, the Creation Jadeite was merely inscribed with numerous mysterious Dao patterns.
Those patterns crisscrossed, nurturing a path unique to Su Changqing himself.
But with the condensation of the Emperor’s intent, one of the patterns on the Creation Jadeite had become tangible.
This pattern shone with a purple-gold brilliance, with a rich Sword Dao Law emanating from it.
If one concentrated on observing, the Creation Jadeite contained many Dao patterns similar to the purple-gold pattern.
But those patterns were dim and lusterless, with only a few emitting their own distinct hues.
"Confucian, Martial, Alchemy, Sword, Formation..."
Su Changqing examined each one carefully.
He discovered that the glowing patterns corresponded to the Dao methods he had practiced.
But among these Dao methods, only the Sword Dao was fully realized and reached completion.
Upon further exploration, Su Changqing found that the number of Dao patterns on the Creation Jadeite was precisely three thousand!
"Three thousand..."
Recalling the legendary wonders of the Creation Jade Disc, a gleam of astonishment appeared in Su Changqing’s eyes.
The Creation Jade Disc, containing the mysteries of three thousand great Dao and the ultimate truth of the Heavenly Dao, was a supreme artifact from the beginning of chaos.
"That means, the Dao methods I practice will be reflected upon the Creation Jadeite."
"Once all three thousand Dao methods have been cultivated to their peak, the Creation Jadeite will transform into... the true Creation Jade Disc!"
With this thought, Su Changqing glanced once more at his internal world.
Indeed, it was just as he expected.
A world that once held only the ’power of emptiness’ now nurtured the power of the Sword Dao!
In the past, with the Chaos Pearl suppressing the void, he could only wield spatial power.
But now, he could fully unleash the might of the Sword Dao in the suppressed space without restraint!
If all three thousand Dao methods were cultivated to completion, and in the future, the suppressed void descends into his internal world...
He would, indeed become, one who masters the three thousand Dao methods of the Heavenly Dao!
"Cultivating three thousand Dao methods... is this my path henceforth..."
Insight flashed in Su Changqing’s eyes, but he quickly fell into silence.
For ordinary people, cultivating a single path would take a lifetime.
Yet, he had to cultivate three thousand Dao methods to perfection.
Such a thing seemed impossible.
But the problem was... his comprehension was astoundingly innate!
For him, this wasn’t too difficult a task.
An innate comprehension, three thousand Dao methods...
A coincidence?
Or had someone already foreseen this, deliberately orchestrating it?
The oppressive sense of being bound by shackles reappeared, leaving Su Changqing silent for a long time.
"Comprehending the three thousand Dao methods can perfect the Creation Jadeite."
"Absorbing Chaos Qi can make the Chaos Pearl tangible."
"Then what about the Heaven-Opening Axe and the Creation Cyan Lotus? Can they be possible as well?"
"If all four divine artifacts are gathered and perfected simultaneously, what would happen..."
Su Changqing pondered deeply and for a long time.
He saw his own ’path’ more clearly.
At the same time, he seemed to glean some insight into the intentions of the person behind it all.
"To mold a ’Pan Gu’ and redeem the Cangyan Continent?"
Su Changqing suddenly chuckled, looked up at the sky, and murmured,
"But why should it be me?"