Chapter 157: The Great Dao is Heartless

Erqing's face flushed instantly, the red color spreading all the way down to her neck.

Seeing this strange reaction, Wang Yuanfeng asked, "What is the matter, Maiden Erqing? Is there something wrong with your cultivation? I have my own unique insights into the path of cultivation. If you feel comfortable sharing, you can tell me, and I can help resolve your doubts."

Erqing was terribly annoyed by her own reaction, secretly cursing herself for such a foolish mindset, yet she still nodded subconsiously at Wang Yuanfeng's words.

At a single glance, Wang Yuanfeng understood that this was merely an unaccustomed physiological reaction, entirely unrelated to any romantic notions. It was likely just the result of having had minimal conscious contact with the opposite sex, leading to a sense of awkwardness. Naturally, Wang Yuanfeng was not foolish enough to assume that Erqing fancied him.

With a quiet chuckle and a shake of his head, he stepped into the military tent ahead of her, where he saw a young man dressed in dark red attire holding a Yin-Yang shovel standing inside.

The moment he laid eyes upon him, Wang Yuanfeng's spiritual platform stirred, his eyes brightening as he silently thought that his luck today was indeed quite good.

Then came the voice of Erqing, who had just entered behind him: "Young Master Wang, this is Commander Yin, who is in charge of the intelligence system of our Greater Mystery Lake."

She then turned to Commander Yin and said, "This is the Divine Lord of Mount Tianzhu, Wang Yuanfeng."

A jolt ran through Commander Yin's heart, and he thought to himself that it was indeed just as he had suspected. The instant Wang Yuanfeng stepped inside, he had felt the aura within his own body being drawn and pulled, as if destined by fate to be connected to this person. Recalling the rumors regarding the origins of the Star Lords of Mount Tianzhu, his heart began to grow warm. Although matters concerning the Star Lords had not spread widely, as a top-tier intelligence operative, he had already analyzed nearly the whole truth.

Noticing that Erqing and Wang Yuanfeng clearly knew each other, he quickly stepped forward, bowed to Wang Yuanfeng in greeting, and said, "Commander Qiu Yin of Greater Mystery Lake pays respects to the Sovereign of Vast Heavens. I was unaware of the Sovereign's arrival and beg for your forgiveness."

"Haha!" Wang Yuanfeng laughed heartily and said, "Commander Yin is too polite. I came here uninvited and barged into the military camp; I only hope Commander Yin will not take offense."

"Not at all, not at all! The Sovereign's arrival is an honor for our Greater Mystery Lake; how could we possibly dare to take offense?" Commander Yin quickly waved his hands in denial. Since the supreme master of Greater Mystery Lake bore no ill will, how could he possibly dare to make a fuss?

After exchanging polite pleasantries, each harboring their own thoughts, Wang Yuanfeng looked around and asked, "Where is Xiaoqing? Why is she not here?"

***

"She was just right here a moment ago!" Only then did Erqing snap back to reality. Xiaoqing had originally been sitting right beside her, yet she had not even noticed when she had slipped away. Shaking her head, she replied, "Perhaps she wandered off somewhere to play!"

Hearing this, Wang Yuanfeng sensed that something was amiss. He performed a brief divination with his mind, only to find the future shrouded in mist, though free of any disaster, so he shook his head and let the matter drop.

At this point, Erqing spoke up: "Young Master Wang must have come here for a specific reason. Let us sit down and talk first."

Wang Yuanfeng nodded. After taking a seat, he pondered for a moment and then asked straightforwardly, "I have indeed come with a purpose today. I wonder if Maiden Erqing still honors our previous discussion regarding an alliance?"

Erqing thought for a moment. Instead of giving a direct answer, she asked, "Young Master Wang must be well aware of the current situation in the Southern Continent, right?"

Wang Yuanfeng nodded, and he heard Erqing continue, "In the past, the imperial court held the moral high ground, but now its power is in decline. If I were to ally with the court, I would inevitably be entangled by the court's destiny. As you know, the court is like the sun setting behind the western hills; even if we achieve success in the Southern Continent, we still cannot withstand the great momentum of the world. By that time, out of the tens of thousands of living beings in Greater Mystery Lake, surely fewer than one in ten would survive."

Changing her tone, she went on, "However, if I form an alliance with you, Young Master Wang, I can make the decision: between our two sides, you shall be the master."

"Haha!" Wang Yuanfeng let out a laugh and said, "It seems Greater Mystery Lake is well aware that my words carry considerable weight on Mount Tianzhu!"

The two of them were left somewhat at a loss by his laughter. Yet, hearing Wang Yuanfeng modestly claim that his words merely "carried some weight" on Mount Tianzhu, they both harbored silent criticisms in their hearts—clearly, he was the very master of Mount Tianzhu, yet he spoke of it so lightly.

Erqing thus said, "Young Master Wang is too modest."

Commander Yin, standing nearby, also nodded in deep agreement.

Observing their expressions, Wang Yuanfeng understood that their comprehension of this underlying principle was still far from profound. In his past life, organizations of this nature could be found everywhere, and they bore a specific name: limited liability companies. Such an entity could be viewed as an anthropomorphized corporation; it did not belong to any single individual, and whoever met the criteria of the company's highest leadership effectively became its corporate legal person.

Everything Wang Yuanfeng was doing operated on the same principle, though it was infinitely more complex, formulated in accordance with Heaven, Earth, and Man, as well as the Sun, Moon, Stars, and the Four Seasons and Five Elements. If someone fulfilled the qualifications of this Divine Lord position—meeting the standards of virtue and destiny—they could cause Wang Yuanfeng to step down to accommodate them. Even if one's Daoist cultivation were powerful enough to suppress the Three Realms, this world was most certainly not the world of a single individual.

***

He shook his head, feeling that although Erqing intended to cooperate with him, it was best to make certain matters clear beforehand. Otherwise, if the forces of Greater Mystery Lake were to vanish as a result, and various leaders lost their authority in the process, unnecessary conflicts would inevitably arise.

At that juncture, those whose mindsets failed to adapt would surely be eliminated; paths that failed to conform to the Dao of the current era would be utterly crushed by it. Those unable to integrate would have no choice but to flee into deep mountains and remote forests, or suffer the destruction of their inner peace, thereby ruining their cultivation and sinking into oblivion.

As for others, Wang Yuanfeng felt no obligation to issue warnings. If this generation passed, there would simply be the next. Survival of the fittest, elimination of the unfit—the Great Dao was ruthless, evolving entirely by its own laws. The demon race was already inherently weak precisely because their past conduct failed to comply with the operational laws of Heaven and Earth, which was why they had lost the ancient war.

If, after the passage of several kalpa cycles, the actions of the human race likewise ceased to conform to the operation of Heaven and Earth, their elimination would be equally inevitable.

After a moment of thought, he said, "According to legend, Mount Tianzhu is the backbone of the world, connecting the Ninefold Heavens above and the Nine Nether Hells below. At its center resides the sacred spirit of all things amidst the Three Powers, which may be called humanity."

Hearing this, the two of them felt that what Wang Yuanfeng was about to impart was of utmost importance. These were things they had never heard of before. Previously, they had only ever heard that Mount Tianzhu was the pillar supporting the heavens and the earth, but its specific origins remained entirely unknown. Thus, they braced themselves and listened with rapt attention.

Wang Yuanfeng continued, "I observe that all living beings in the world are ignorant of the path of cultivation, endlessly sinking into the bitter sea of suffering. Because humanity fails to recognize the true path, natural disasters and great calamities occur without cease, thereby obstructing the self-evolution of Heaven and Earth. Those who cultivate the Dao have long since reached the limits of their paths, unable to advance any further."

With a solemn expression, he proclaimed, "Therefore, by the imperial decree of the Supreme Emperor of Xuan yuan of the Great Dao, the Primordial Heavenly Lord, I am establishing the Three Realms, perfecting the Heavenly Dao of this realm, and instituting the order of the Three Realms!"

Upon hearing this, the two were struck with a shock so profound it defied description. It turned out that the path of Mount Tianzhu was of such lofty and distant grandeur. When they recalled that they had previously spoken of merely cooperating with Wang Yuanfeng, it felt like petty bandits seeking an alliance with the imperial court—there was simply no comparison whatsoever, filling them with a secret sense of shame.

Commander Yin, however, harbored different thoughts. Hearing that Wang Yuanfeng had someone even greater standing behind him—meaning a force already formidable enough possessed an even higher backer—he did not dare to ask any further questions.

Both of them fell into deep contemplation. The impact of these revelations upon them was nothing short of monumental.