CHAPTER 726: CHAPTER 273: HEART AND BODY UNITY, HOLY HALL’S EASTERN EXPEDITION! (PART 2)

Tianqingzi couldn’t help but be astonished: "Ancestor Luo wants to walk the path of the Divine Dao?"

In the Three Thousand Yanfu, there are only two paths that can be called the Dao: one is the Divine Dao, and the other is the integration of all self-ascension paths, not limited to Martial Arts.

Someone once summarized that within the same realm, it is often the Divine Dao that has stronger combat power, and the resources required to advance are also "simpler," needing only stable, vast numbers of followers, which means "population."

Continuous invasion, development of followers, and plundering followers is the path of the Divine Dao.

In contrast, for the same realm, paths like Martial Arts require more resources, and the challenges faced in breakthroughs are more difficult.

But why do so many people still choose the second path?

It is naturally because——

Freedom!

Though both gather great power within themselves, the second path possesses a level of freedom that the Divine Dao cannot compare!

Some even believe that the Divine Dao does not truly count as gathering great power within oneself.

The path of the Divine Dao lies in shepherding people; success depends on followers, as does failure.

Especially for top forces like them, stepping into the Divine Dao is tantamount to being controlled by others.

The middle-aged Daoist sighed: "It’s just that there’s no choice, Uncle Master, his Dao Foundation was only considered middle-upper back then."

Tianqingzi remained silent.

Aged True Saint Dojos like the Heavenly Saint Lake directly or indirectly dominate more than fifty plane worlds.

These plane worlds vary in size, but without exception, they have long become the "pasture" of the Heavenly Saint Lake.

With such a massive population base, the Heavenly Saint Lake won’t lack "geniuses," or even Heavenly Persons.

What they lack are those who go further and the resources for further advancement.

While Heavenly Persons can be cultivated from geniuses, the concept does not exist for Heavenly Kings.

The primary determinant is the Martial Artist’s own Dao Foundation, most directly reflected in the strength of their Heaven and Earth Dojo.

Tianqingzi had seen too many Martial Artists, eager for quick success in the early period, leading to an unstable Dao Foundation, so even if they break through to Heavenly Person, they are forever stuck at the First Tier, not daring to cross the Heavenly Person Three Calamities.

Secondly, there are the resources needed for breakthroughs.

For a Heavenly Person Perfection to break through the threshold of Heavenly King, one must either open the way or follow the path of predecessors.

The former is as difficult as ascending the azure sky, requiring not only vast resources but also a pathless frontier, all depending on oneself to explore.

The latter, although there is a path to follow, loses the "gift of the Heaven and Earth Dao for opening the way."

Therefore, more resources are needed to complete the transformation of the Inner Heaven and Earth, to open up the Inner Universe, and to evolve a world of creation and destruction.

Most crucially, this step also requires anchoring with a vast number of beings to ensure the birth of the Martial Arts God.

In the Three Thousand Yanfu, some small worlds may not be able to support Heavenly Persons treading the second path into the Heavenly King Domain, even if they consolidate all resources.

"The Dao is obstructive and long, Tianqingzi, cultivate well. You have the hope of stepping into the Heavenly King, your Ancestor Master and we all have great expectations for you. Your early entry into the Great Universe is your opportunity, try to make connections with local forces over there."

The middle-aged Daoist spoke earnestly.

While the master and disciple were in harmony, someone suddenly approached from the sea of clouds in the distance.

"Master Hanyang! Oh, isn’t this Nephew Tianqingzi?"

A sprightly, white-haired, slightly chubby Daoist strode over, chuckling heartily and warmly.

Tianqingzi’s teacher, Hanyang Daoist, remarked in surprise: "Junior Brother Hanyin?"

"Haha, it is indeed your Junior Brother, I just returned from outside and dropped by to visit you!" The slightly chubby Daoist laughed heartily.

For a moment, Hanyang Daoist was puzzled, feeling uneasy at heart.

Not long ago, they had negotiated over Uncle Master’s breakthrough with the Dao Lineage to which Hanyin belonged, only to be refused.

Now, Hanyin was proactively visiting, which meant no good intentions without cause...

He probed: "Is Junior Brother Hanyin’s visit related to our Uncle Master?"

The slightly chubby Daoist’s eyes flickered, his smile genuine: "I heard about this matter, and our lineage is naturally willing to contribute a bit of effort to Master Luo’s breakthrough."

Upon hearing this, Hanyang Daoist felt more suspicion than joy.

The slightly chubby Daoist looked at Tianqingzi and said warmly: "This is Nephew Tianqing, right? Truly outstanding!"

Tianqingzi felt odd inside, but thanked this Uncle Master.

The slightly chubby Daoist turned back, his expression becoming earnest as he said seriously: "Senior Brother, I won’t beat around the bush. Tell me, who exactly is Tian Qiu, our lineage owes you a great debt, and you must know that with your current situation, you cannot support a Divine Prohibition!"

Hanyang Daoist was shocked inside, but outwardly remained calm: "What does Junior Brother mean? I do not quite understand."

The slightly chubby Daoist complained: "Why pretend, Senior Brother? News from Yaochi Fairyland confirmed that the person is an old acquaintance of the Tianyang Lord from the Yi Vein and your lineage’s Tianqingzi!"

Hanyang Daoist fell silent, looking at his disciple with a complex expression.

Tianqingzi was dumbfounded, his mind buzzing.

He and the Tianyang Lord are acquainted?

When did that happen?

When did he meet that Tian Qiu?

He suddenly realized something——

This news came from Yaochi Fairyland, so it must be true.

And right now, the Tianyang Lord can no longer speak...

Now it’s only him who knows?

...

The Ancestral Land of Heavenly Saint Lake is not in any of the Three Thousand Yanfu worlds but is located above a colorful lake in the Void.

This is a "miracle" that was captured and permanently solidified by Luofu True Saint, formed at the moment before the destruction of a large universe, no lesser than Emperor Heaven Acquired, when all high energy matter gathered spontaneously, creating an energy vortex.