Stronger by Killing

Chapter 643 -343: A Millennium-Old Foreshadowing

The few old women felt heavy-hearted, unexpectedly overwhelmed by a sense of unacceptable impulse, and fell silent, remaining so for a long time.

Eventually, one elder slowly asked, “But… in the history of the Cultivation Realm, there have been quite a few successful in ascending through the Kouxian Sect. The Taoist Ancestor, Buddha, and Confucian Saint are not to be mentioned, for in the past, the Four Major Side Sects were preceded by other cultivation sects only second to the Three Major Ancestral Veins. Although gradually disappearing in history, at least hundreds succeeded in ascending, these high practitioners…”

Yan Qingshan sighed deeply and said, “They are simply the most successful batch of nurtured fodder, and the result…”

With this, Yan Qingshan said no more.

The others remained silent, understanding what Yan Qingshan meant.

The conclusion for already fattened fodder was self-evident.

After another bout of silence, Yan Qingshan said, “However, do not be too despondent, the Human World is merely pasture in ‘its’ eyes. For us, it’s still vast, and those with the opportunity to become ‘its’ fodder are exceedingly few.”

The few old women had slight twitches at the corners of their mouths,

not knowing whether to be glad or sad at that moment.

Should they be grateful for not even qualifying as fodder?

“The second,” Yan Qingshan said, “is resistance.

In truth, the Human World has always been trying to resist, which is why historically, many side sects like our Talisman Sect appeared, only to eventually fade into the river of history, due to failed resistance.”

“What do you mean?” the old woman asked in confusion.

Yan Qingshan explained, “Actually, our Four Major Side Sects, though reputed as new forces breaking the orthodoxy of the Three Major Ancestral Veins, you should be clear on the real situation that we haven’t completely transformed. We still haven’t left the teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.

Because, our Four Major Side Sects essentially originate from the Three Major Ancestral Veins, take our Talisman Sect for instance, it’s virtually an alternative form of Confucianism, or one of Confucianism’s special branches.”

The few old women were quite surprised,

As for a long time, the Four Major Side Sects were recognized in the Cultivation Realm as being outside Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, embodying four new doctrines for cultivation.

Even they thought so,

Thus they were hearing Yan Qingshan’s words for the first time.

Yan Qingshan continued, “Not just the Four Major Side Sects, but all historical side sects were such, severally branched from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism intentionally.

The reason being, resistance against ‘it’.

The Three Major Ancestral Veins are too distinct, already under ‘its’ watch, unable to escape its gaze, naturally daring not make subtle moves under its nose. Hence, for nearly ten millennia, side sects have emerged continuously and sometimes seven per era.

They were chosen by the Three Major Ancestral Veins as potential resistance against ‘it’. For example, in our era, Shushan Sword Sect takes the Sword Dao, which is actually an offensive art hoping to create a means of attack transcending realms that can bridge the mortal and immortal divide.

And Jingshen Valley has always researched the Array in the Human World, aiming to find a way to consolidate human power and see if there’s a chance to draw ‘it’ into the Human World, our home ground. Simultaneously, Jingshen Valley also delves into Artifact Refining, with the ultimate goal of crafting a Divine Artifact called Red Dust Intent, one that could control worldly arrays.

Our Talisman Sect and Pill Tower serve as support. The Talisman Sect gathers Human Power through talismans to form true Divine Talismans, ones that can trap or wound the heavens, coordinating with Shushan Sword Sect for defense. As for Pill Tower, it’s notably clear, aiming to concoct Divine Pills, and when the time is right, with the heavens drawn into the array, consuming the Divine Pill to forcibly elevate the realm to match the heavens!”

Yan Qingshan took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, pondered for a while, and said, “This is the mission of our Four Major Side Sects, akin to historical ones. The Three Major Ancestral Veins groomed many side sects, veiling from ‘its’ gaze, attempting over twenty routes, ultimately deducing the most promising—our present Four Major Side Sects’ paths of Sword, Talisman, Array, and Pill.

This is also why, a million years ago, the Three Major Ancestral Veins chose to sacrifice themselves to protect us.”

The few old women fell silent for a long time before slowly accepting the incredible news, asking, “Sect Leader, what exactly happened in the catastrophe a million years ago, why did the Three Major Ancestral Veins sacrifice themselves?”

Yan Qingshan narrowed his eyes slightly, pointing upwards, said, “Because, ‘it’ turned over!”

“What do you mean?”

Yan Qingshan hesitated momentarily and said, “Because of the Confucian Saint, the Confucian Saint from over a hundred thousand years ago has been battling in the heavens all along, he lost and angered ‘it’, ‘it’ turned over and gazed at the Human World.

The ancestral lands of the Three Major Ancestral Veins are where ‘it’ has consistently observed within the Human World. It’s colossal, disinterested in ants, and of the entire Human World, only interested in the slightly larger ant nests crafted by the Three Major Ancestral Veins.

Therefore, to divert ‘its’ attention, the ancestral lands collectively departed from Shanhai Pass, ventured into chaos, eventually vanishing, successfully buying time for the Human World, or rather our Four Major Side Sects.”

At this, Yan Qingshan sighed sorrowfully and said, “It’s simply unfortunate, despite careful scheming, who could foresee that just as Spiritual Qi Revival began, a fifth person would appear through the Kouxian Sect, once again attracting ‘its’ focus.

A million years ago, the Three Major Ancestral Lands severed the path for human cultivators through the Kouxian Sect to prevent unexpected occurrences, in the Human World, theoretically for the next three thousand years, only those within the Four Major Side Sects could ascend via the Kouxian Sect. Yet there was an oversight in this planning, and now our plans must be expedited, a whole three thousand years early… before only having half a chance of success, now even less than half remains!”

The few old women’s faces were heavy, uncertain of what to say.

“So be it,” Yan Qingshan waved a hand, saying, “Ultimately, we must make a gamble, remember my words, if ever I suddenly disappear, do not seek me, lead the sect disciples into the Mortal World peacefully researching the Talisman Dao!”

“Sect Leader…” The few felt pangs of grief in their hearts?

Yan Qingshan smiled faintly, took a step forward, flew into the void, vanishing in the blink of an eye into the horizon.

Soon,

Yan Qingshan appeared in a desolate desert, enveloped by sweeping yellow sands, walking up on the solitary mountain in the endless desert. At that moment, atop the mountain were three individuals, gazing skyward!