Yunxiao Becomes a Saint, Tongtian Plays Matchmaker

"Cast off the old shackles of the past; only today do I know that I am myself!"

In her epiphany, Yunxiao finally received an immense opportunity from Xu Yi. She comprehended the method of becoming a Saint, and her Great Luo Golden Immortal Dao Fruit rapidly began transforming into a Hunyuan Great Luo Golden Immortal Dao Fruit.

Yunxiao had originally been an innate being, transformed from the first cloud after the creation of heaven and earth. Whether in talent or fate, she stood at the very peak. Moreover, she often listened to Saints’ teachings and understood the principles of the Great Dao of heaven and earth.

In the original work, she had likewise been the only Quasi-Sage of the Intercepting Sect to completely Sever the Three Corpses, flawless and complete.

Yet, restricted by the shackles the Heavenly Dao placed upon all living beings, as well as the flaws in the method of Severing the Three Corpses, she had never been able to take that final step. She could only be plotted into the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, whereupon her entire Great Luo Dao Fruit dissipated.

Now, however, things were different.

Through her comprehension of Xu Yi’s mysterious cultivation technique, she grasped an even more profound Hunyuan method. Her accumulations of countless years converged at once, opening the gate to Hunyuan. Taking another step forward, she directly advanced from Great Luo Golden Immortal to Hunyuan Great Luo Golden Immortal, skipping the Quasi-Sage stage entirely.

Holy light radiated intensely from Yunxiao’s body. The sound of the Great Dao rang through the Void without end, making her appear ever more flawless, sacred, transcendent, and singular.

Though she seemed close at hand, she also seemed seated within the endless river of time. Past, future, and present—countless versions of her continuously overlapped and spread into myriad forms before ultimately becoming the one before them.

Because she was within the barrier Xu Yi had set up, no matter how vast the Divine Phenomenon of her ascension was, it did not affect the outside world. Everything beyond remained as calm as still water.

After a long while, the aura of Yunxiao’s breakthrough gradually faded. The phenomena around her receded, and she became the Fairy Yunxiao she had been before. The light of a Saint was no longer visible, yet her power could not be concealed.

"Thank you, Group Owner, for the grace of remaking me."

Yunxiao immediately rose and bowed, her eyes filled with reverence.

Just a cultivation technique, merely a few mysterious characters, had allowed her to comprehend the profound methods of the Great Dao and break the shackles of the past. It was truly inconceivable and unbelievable.

She had actually broken through to the realm of Hunyuan Great Luo Golden Immortal just like that. One had to know that even her master had relied on merit to enter the Saint realm! "Mm. That is also because your talent is exceptional, Yunxiao. If your talent had been insufficient, even if the opportunity were placed before you, you might not have been able to seize it," Xu Yi said.

Yunxiao shook her head and sighed. "Talent alone is useless. Among the Three Sects, there are countless exceptionally gifted people, yet not a single one has truly transcended.

Compared to talent, opportunity is what matters most."

"That’s true." Xu Yi agreed.

"Group Owner, how should I repay you for this kindness?" Yunxiao asked.

Cultivators valued the law of karma most deeply, especially such immense karmic fortune as becoming a Saint. Although Xu Yi had not asked for anything in return, she could not simply accept it. If she could repay him somehow, that would naturally be best.

"Repayment? I haven’t really considered that, Yunxiao," Xu Yi said.

"Group Owner, you are truly broad-minded. If I did not repay such kindness, I would feel terribly guilty," Yunxiao said.

Xu Yi thought for a moment and said, "Actually, I do not particularly care about repayment. Besides, it seems I do not have any special desires at the moment."

Hearing this, Yunxiao nodded inwardly.

At Xu Yi’s inconceivable realm, ordinary things truly could not move him.

At that moment, Xu Yi removed the barrier. Sun Wukong was the first to appear. He examined Fairy Yunxiao with shining eyes and said, "Fairy Yunxiao, did you succeed?"

"By luck, by luck, fellow daoist Wukong." Yunxiao smiled faintly.

"You really broke through from Great Luo Golden Immortal straight into the Saint realm?" Sun Wukong asked in shock.

"By luck." Yunxiao nodded.

"No way. Old Sun still hasn’t managed to break through, yet you succeeded just like that?" Sun Wukong said.

"Wukong, everyone’s opportunity is different," Xu Yi said.

Upon hearing that, Sun Wukong looked at Xu Yi and said, "Group Owner, everyone’s opportunity really is different. But Old Sun also wants to improve a little. Group Owner, what do you think? Hehe!"

"Sure," Xu Yi said without refusing.

"Really?!" Sun Wukong cried excitedly.

"Of course!" Xu Yi said with a smile.

So Xu Yi proceeded to guide Wukong for a while, allowing him to seek an epiphany through the cultivation technique. Whether due to his comprehension ability or some other reason, Sun Wukong failed to perceive even the slightest useful core principle of the Great Dao.

Logically speaking, as a Spiritual Stone Monkey, Sun Wukong understood transformations, recognized the seasons, knew the advantages of the land, shifted stars and reversed constellations, and possessed extraordinary divine abilities and wisdom.

He certainly did not lack comprehension. There was no reason he should fail to understand the ultimate principles of the Great Dao.

Yet the truth was that Wukong truly could not comprehend anything useful to himself, much less break his shackles and step into the Hunyuan realm.

Afterward, Wukong ended his cultivation with his head hanging low and sighed. "Group Owner, is the gap between people really this great? Why can’t Old Sun succeed?"

"Everyone’s Dao is different. Wukong, I think you cannot break through through epiphany. You need constant battle and must use battle to break your shackles," Xu Yi said.

"The Group Owner makes sense. Wukong, you are a monkey by nature and naturally active. You are not suited to sitting in meditation and cultivating step by step. Battle may be able to change your present predicament," Yunxiao said.

"Battle?" Sun Wukong froze.

Thinking carefully, ever since the two worlds had merged, he had not fought a truly satisfying battle in a long time.

His most exhilarating battle had been his bloody fight against the Ten Progenitors in the Highland Land of Disaster. That primal combat had filled every cell in his body with power, leaving an endless aftertaste.

"Alright, Old Sun will give it a try." Sun Wukong nodded.

"Still, Fairy Yunxiao, now that you have broken through and become a Saint, the Intercepting Sect’s strength has greatly increased. Its fate can certainly be changed. Congratulations."

Sun Wukong continued. Naturally, he was very happy about Yunxiao’s breakthrough.

"Mm, but compared to the two Saints, our foundation is still far too lacking," Yunxiao said.

"Take it slowly. Becoming a Saint means you now have the capital to contend. At the very least, the Intercepting Sect will not be directly destroyed as it was before," Xu Yi said.

"Alright," Yunxiao said.

Next, because Houtu and He Xi were cultivating reincarnation, Di Lena, Yan, and Qi Lin temporarily left.

The three of them sat and discussed the Dao for a while, exchanging cultivation insights.

Of course, most of the time, Xu Yi merely listened while Sun Wukong and Yunxiao chatted.

Soon afterward, Yunxiao and Sun Wukong left Xu Yi and returned to their own worlds.

Investiture of the Gods World, Biyou Palace.

Master Tongtian rubbed his eyes and stared at Yunxiao before him in disbelief. He muttered, "Disciple, how did you do this? Without Primordial Purple Qi, without Severing the Three Corpses, you became a Saint just like that?"

He remembered that when they had last met, Yunxiao had only been at the peak of Great Luo Golden Immortal. How many years had even passed? She had become a Saint already, and without a trace of news.

When one became a Saint, the Divine Phenomenon alone was enough to make heaven and earth change color!

As the Saint of the Intercepting Sect, he had not sensed a thing.

"By luck, Master. It was only a small opportunity," Yunxiao said.

"A small opportunity? Then what counts as a great opportunity? Do you know how great a price we paid to become Saints back then?" Master Tongtian sighed.

Master Tongtian did not press further. He knew that Yunxiao’s opportunity came from some extraordinary existence, perhaps one that even surpassed this world. Now it seemed that if he activated the Zhu Xian Formation, even in a two-against-four battle, the advantage would be his! "I only want to preserve the Intercepting Sect’s legacy, Master," Yunxiao said.

"You have suffered, my disciple," Master Tongtian said. A trace of helplessness flashed through his eyes. As a Saint, yet unable to protect his own orthodoxy—what an irony that was.

"By the way, Yunxiao. Now that you are a Hunyuan Great Luo Golden Immortal, the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation is ordained by heaven. I fear the Heavenly Dao will find you before long, and that will be extremely unfavorable to you."

Master Tongtian seemed to have thought of something. The Heavenly Dao watched over all living beings, and the fates of all beings lay in its hands.

In order to make heaven and earth follow its script, the Heavenly Dao would not permit the existence of any Saints beyond the six Saints of the Heavenly Dao!

Of course, even the Heavenly Dao could not destroy a Hunyuan Great Luo Golden Immortal. But this was the Heavenly Dao’s home ground. Even if it could not kill one, it could still drive one away.

"Master, do not worry. A certain method has been placed upon me. Unless I actively expose myself, the Heavenly Dao will not be able to detect me," Yunxiao said with a smile.

Before she returned, Xu Yi had left a safeguard for her. Fortunately, Xu Yi had reminded her, or the Heavenly Dao might truly have targeted her in advance.

"By the way, Master. If someone bestowed a great kindness upon you, how should you repay them?" Yunxiao asked.

She was still thinking about repaying Xu Yi. She had received an enormous benefit from him for nothing.

Master Tongtian’s expression shifted slightly. "You are talking about yourself, aren’t you, Yunxiao?"

"I have a friend, so I am only asking," Yunxiao said.

"…"

"Is this fellow daoist male or female? What do they look like? What is their temperament? How old are they?"

Master Tongtian asked, roughly guessing that this was related to Yunxiao becoming a Saint.

He was also extremely curious about the other party’s strength. They had actually allowed a Great Luo Golden Immortal to advance to Hunyuan in such a short time.

"A male fellow daoist. He has an unrestrained temperament, is humorous and interesting, and is also very handsome," Yunxiao thought for a moment before replying.

"… Then how do you want to repay him, my disciple Yunxiao?" The smile on Master Tongtian’s face gradually vanished.

"I don’t know, which is why I wanted to ask you, Master," Yunxiao said.

"Repayment is nothing more than returning kindness with kindness. It depends on how great the favor is, Yunxiao. If you cannot repay it, then offer yourself in marriage and bear him a few children," Master Tongtian sighed.

"??" Yunxiao.

"No, it’s my friend. Master, what are you talking about?!"

A flush appeared on Yunxiao’s face. Her gaze darted away, and the state of mind that had not wavered for countless years rippled once more.

"Your master isn’t blind. What friend? Besides, Yunxiao, the immortal path is long. Walking it alone is far too lonely. You are different from us. We have long been bound to this world, but you possess limitless possibilities," Master Tongtian said.

"It really isn’t me," Yunxiao continued to argue.

Master Tongtian could not be bothered to argue further, as there was no real point.

Beyond that, he actually wanted to find Yunxiao someone to rely on. Once the tribulation began, it would inevitably become incomparably brutal.

If the Intercepting Sect was fated to perish, then no matter what, the Heavenly Dao would make it a reality.

Another world, the Wu Geng Ji World.

Chaoge, Royal Palace.

Di Xin’s subordinate delivered news of victory. His army had once again repelled the northern barbarians. At that moment, he was holding a victory feast in the great hall with his generals, drinking wine and eating meat together.

Di Xin’s great generals and soldiers all admired and revered him.

As the king of the Shang Dynasty, he was likewise beloved by the common people and worshipped by children.

Because of Di Xin, the lives of the Shang Dynasty’s people had grown better and better over the years, and their smiles had gradually become more numerous.

Yet today, thick gray mist suddenly appeared over Chaoge, which had not seen dark clouds for a long time. Layer upon layer of shadows covered the earth, and an ominous aura enveloped everything, as though the vitality of heaven and earth itself were slowly being devoured.

Looking up, they saw a black vulture circling above Chaoge. Below it, a hunched and sinister old man carrying a bamboo basket on his back walked step by step toward Chaoge’s royal palace.

Di Xin seemed to sense something. The smiles on everyone’s faces in the hall slowly vanished and were replaced by solemn expressions.

The sinister old man was the Messenger of Heaven from the God Race. He traveled the human realm specifically to announce the God Race’s decrees and could be considered the God Race’s spokesman among humanity.

The messenger himself was not particularly powerful, but with the God Race as his backing, no one dared slight him.

Yet today, a transformation of the era was about to begin.

The messenger slowly entered the palace. His gaze was indifferent and emotionless, even carrying a hint of mockery. Perhaps in his eyes, these were not living beings at all, but merely talking monkeys.

Di Xin deliberately reclined lazily upon his throne, looking down at the God Race’s messenger with a king’s contempt, utterly unmoved.

"King of the Shang Dynasty, today I have come to proclaim the God Race’s latest decree."

The messenger took out a scroll of sheepskin and raised it high.

Yet neither Di Xin nor the generals knelt to receive the decree. Instead, they watched him like tigers eyeing prey.

At this sight, a chill ran down the Messenger of Heaven’s back. Awkwardly lowering the sheepskin scroll, he opened it directly and said, "King of the Shang Dynasty, the God Race hopes that this year the Shang Dynasty can send more humans to the mines to excavate Bloodstone. The offerings to the God Race must be doubled, especially Bloodstone, which must increase by thirty percent over before…"

At this point, Di Xin waved a hand. One of his subordinates walked directly up to the messenger and took the sheepskin scroll.

The Messenger of Heaven said nothing and quietly watched Di Xin’s actions.

After Di Xin read all the contents on the sheepskin, he sneered. "The God Race truly is insatiably greedy."

At those words, the Messenger of Heaven’s expression changed drastically. He warned, "King of Shang, please mind your words. The gods created humanity. Everything humanity possesses was given by the gods. If such words reached the God Race, think of how great the gods’ wrath would be. Countless people would be implicated and lose their lives."

"The God Race did indeed create humanity and grant humanity life. But humanity was not born to be enslaved. Year after year, Bloodstone is mined. How many have died there? How many bones lie buried beneath the mines?" Di Xin rose to his feet and demanded loudly.

The Messenger of Heaven smiled faintly. "Sacrificing some people allows a great many of you to live well. What is wrong with that?

King of Shang, could it be that you intend to rebel against the God Race? You must understand that your position was granted by the God Race. If you do not want it, the God Race can take it back as well."

At those words, all the generals under Di Xin revealed furious expressions.

"What, do you wish to rebel against the God Race? Humans, I advise you to remain calm. That price is not one you can bear. King of Shang, you are still young. What does this little sacrifice amount to?" the Messenger of Heaven said with a smile.

He felt that if Di Xin gave up being a fine king in order to lead monkeys in rebellion against the God Race, it would be utter stupidity! "For freedom, for the future!"

"God Race, the Shang Dynasty will no longer serve you!"

Di Xin directly burned the sheepskin scroll and let out his roar.

PS: I was originally planning to write ten thousand words today, but I caught a cold and my headache is terrible. Sigh. Please subscribe and send monthly votes.