Chapter 745: Rules The Fruit of the Dao Law

Qianxing appeared to be fifteen or sixteen years old, with short white hair and a slightly youthful face. He wore an ordinary t-shirt and shorts, looking much like a stay-at-home internet addict.

Yet, the five revered Nascent Soul cultivators on Gathering Immortals Peak, each holding significant authority within the Immortal Sect, faced him with utmost reverence.

"Ancestor, this year marks the Immortal Sect's leadership transition," one of them, a tall and upright elderly cultivator in a loose, silver-white robe, responded.

He was Lin Daoming, the Hall Master of Immortal Affairs, an old man with a youthful complexion despite his white hair. Among the six present, he was the only one who showed signs of advanced age; his hands resembled dry branches, yet his voice was like a gently flowing stream—peaceful and profound.

Lin Daoming had governed the Immortal Sect for a full eight sexagenary cycles, or 480 years.

From the very beginning of his tenure, he had aspired to create a more prosperous Immortal Sect. Over the years, he diligently managed state affairs, toiling day and night. He constantly used the Fancun Scroll to maintain a clear mind, sharp insight, and decisive judgment, overseeing every aspect of the Immortal Sect.

Under his nearly five centuries of rule, social order was impeccable. He vigorously developed agriculture, handicrafts, and commerce, leading to an unprecedented economic boom within the Immortal Sect, allowing the common people to live in peace and prosperity.

Even the Four Great Dao Academies and Ten Grand Palaces, under his initiative, loosened their admission restrictions. With resource subsidies from the Immortal Sect, these top-tier institutions nurtured a vast number of outstanding talents over the years.

His greatest source of pride was the emergence of Chen Mobai and Wenren Xuewei, both possessing the potential for Spirit Transformation.

After Qianxing and Baiguang pass away, it is highly probable that these two will become the Immortal Sect's next Spirit Transformation cultivators.

Overall, Lin Daoming's 480 years as the Immortal Sect's governor were widely acknowledged as a period of exceptional governance. Even when compared to the entire history of the Immortal Sect, his rule was lauded as "a time of peace and prosperity, with harmonious government and people."

If Lin Daoming were to retire now, his monumental achievements would be forever etched in the long annals of Immortal Sect history, revered and spoken of by future generations.

"Oh, does that concern me?" Qianxing asked, a slight frown on his bewildered face.

The transition of the Immortal Sect's Three Great Halls and the change of its leader might be a momentous shift for the 300 million inhabitants of the Immortal Sect, but for an Ancestor of Spirit Transformation like Qianxing, it was not particularly significant.

"Ancestor, may I now attempt to refine 'The Rules'?" Lin Daoming hesitated before voicing his true desire.

"Hmm?" Qianxing's originally languid gaze suddenly sharpened. He looked at Lin Daoming, who sat first on his left, and his pupils seemed to transform into a cosmic river, flickering with brilliant starlight.

This was a symbol of the Fancun Scroll cultivated to its highest realm. Within an inch, an infinite galaxy!

Approximately a quarter of an hour later, the dazzling starry river in Qianxing's pupils vanished, returning to ordinary black.

He shook his head and uttered words that filled Lin Daoming with despair.

"You cannot refine it."

"The Rules" were an unconscious "Fruit of Dao Law" accumulated over millennia through the Immortal Sect's education of billions of inhabitants on the Earth Star. They were the materialization of moral power for governing people, ensuring their peace and prosperity, maintaining national stability, and upholding order between elders and juniors, and respect between superiors and inferiors.

A cultivator at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm, if their will was strong enough, could refine this "Fruit of Rules" and achieve the Spirit Transformation realm.

Among the thirteen Spirit Transformation cultivators in the Immortal Sect's history, two had achieved their Dao by refining "The Rules."

Having governed for 480 years, Lin Daoming was eligible, according to Immortal Sect regulations, to apply to refine "The Rules" and attempt Spirit Transformation.

But Qianxing, using the Fancun Scroll, divined and told him that he could not refine "The Rules."

Should the refinement fail, the cultivator would completely lose their self-awareness and become part of "The Rules."

Over 6,000 years in the Immortal Sect, at least twenty Hall Masters of the Three Great Halls had attempted this feat.

But only two had succeeded.

One could easily imagine how difficult it was.

Lin Daoming had asked this same question three times. Except for one instance where Qianxing divined a 1.37% success rate, all other times, he had simply shaken his head, indicating no possibility whatsoever.

"My thanks for your efforts, Ancestor!" Lin Daoming sighed deeply and bowed to Qianxing, who waved his hand dismissively.

"Since you're all here, let's go over the recent Immortal Sect affairs. I'll catch up, so I don't truly become an old fossil from a bygone era." Qianxing conjured a chair from the void, sat down, and addressed the members of the Heaven-Mending Lineage before him.

"At the end of this year, the Immortal Sect will undergo a leadership transition. Senior Lin Daoming will officially retire, and I will be transferred from Hall Master of Righteous Law to Hall Master of Immortal Affairs. Water Immortal will become Hall Master of Righteous Law, and the Hall Master of Initiation will remain unchanged..."

After Lin Daoming finished reporting his matters, it was the turn of Ying Guanghua, the Hall Master of Righteous Law. He briefly outlined the changes in positions during this Immortal Sect transition conference.

In truth, it was primarily an exchange of interests among the four major factions. Since their Heaven-Mending Lineage had governed the Immortal Sect for such a long time, as long as the interests were balanced, the transition would proceed smoothly.

"Hmm, then proceed as you've agreed," Qianxing said. He had no objections; he was too lazy to manage governmental affairs. If not for the Nascent Soul resources needing to be acquired from the Three Great Halls, he wouldn't have even bothered with civil service exams.

After the Hall Master of Righteous Law, it was Revered Yuansu's turn.

He merely gave a brief update on the two matters he was currently responsible for: the secret arts of "Asura Dharma Body" and "Instant Bloom"!

"All progress in virtual simulation is complete," Yuansu stated, "only practical application in reality remains."

"I recall Chengxuan from the Dancing Weapon Dao Academy was attempting 'Instant Bloom' himself, wasn't he?" Qianxing asked. He had an impression of "Instant Bloom," a forbidden art from an ancient lineage, as it was something he had personally handled a while ago, rarely putting down his games and leaving Gathering Immortals Peak for.

"Yes, but the results are not yet out. Furthermore, Chengxuan chose a fire spirit tree. 'Instant Bloom' can be attempted with different types of spirit plants. For example, Senior Lin Daoming cultivates earth-attribute techniques, so the Green Profound Dao Pine in Qingcheng Grotto-heaven would be more suitable." Yuansu's reply also served as a prior exchange between him and Lin Daoming before ascending the mountain.

"Green Profound Dao Pine, you say..." Qianxing's pupils once again transformed into a brilliant starry river upon hearing this, but shortly after, he shook his head.

"At most, it would only allow him to experience some profound mysteries of Spirit Transformation, but it wouldn't enable him to truly and completely cultivate a Primordial Spirit. We won't waste such a precious Tier 4 top-grade spirit plant."

Upon hearing this, Yuansu could only give Lin Daoming a helpless expression, indicating there was nothing more he could do.

Next came Revered Qingping and Revered Meihua.

They mostly had accumulated doubts about their cultivation, and they seized this opportunity to seek Qianxing's guidance. Qianxing answered each of their questions. Then, he unexpectedly glanced at Revered Qingping.

"Fifth layer Nascent Soul already? Not bad, not bad. If you can break through to the seventh layer of Nascent Soul, I'll divine whether you can refine 'The Rules'."

Revered Qingping immediately bowed deeply to Qianxing in gratitude.

The last time he had helped Chen Mobai's group open the world gate, he had broken through to the fourth layer of Nascent Soul here.

Now, thirty-four years later, he had broken through to the fifth layer of Nascent Soul and was even close to reaching the bottleneck of the sixth layer. This speed was not fast within the Immortal Sect, but it was not slow either.

Theoretically, only the Hall Masters of the Three Great Halls were qualified to refine "The Rules," this Fruit of Dao Law.

However, if Revered Qingping could break through to the seventh layer of Nascent Soul, then, given the influence of the Heaven-Mending Lineage, arranging for him to become a Hall Master would be an easy matter.

The next challenge would then be whether he could cultivate to the peak of the Nascent Soul realm.

Among the five present, Yuansu was the most likely to refine "The Rules." When Yuansu had just formed his Nascent Soul, Qianxing had used the Fancun Scroll in conjunction with the Heaven's Calculus Bead to divine his success rate, which reached an astonishing 13.78%!

However, Yuansu found this success rate too low and was unwilling to gamble on such a possibility, as failure would mean completely losing his self. Therefore, he still wished to achieve Spirit Transformation through his own efforts.

Furthermore, refining "The Rules" meant being bound by the Immortal Sect's laws, prohibiting any actions that would violate them. Yuansu had therefore explicitly refused.

Qianxing let him be, remarking that disciples always have a rebellious phase!

He predicted that when Yuansu grew older and lost hope for Spirit Transformation, he would naturally come to him for help.

After all five revered Nascent Soul cultivators had finished their reports, Qianxing stood up from his chair, ready to return to playing his game.

"Ancestor, I am unwilling to grow old and decay like this in this life; I want one last gamble!" Lin Daoming spoke, uttering words that silenced everyone present.

"How do you want to gamble? By cultivating a forbidden art?" Qianxing replied with a half-smile, his words causing Lin Daoming to tremble slightly.

"Ancestor, please permit the activation of the Divine Astonishment Melody!"

This was a path to Spirit Transformation within the Immortal Sect, but sadly, to this day, no cultivator of the Profound Sound Marvelous Law had formed a Nascent Soul, preventing the Divine Astonishment Melody from ever being played.

However, during Lin Daoming's tenure, three Golden Core cultivators of the Profound Sound Marvelous Law had been gathered!

If these three were sacrificed, the Divine Astonishment Melody could perhaps barely be played.

"The Divine Astonishment Melody would be less effective for you than 'Instant Bloom'," Qianxing refused without lifting his head. "Keep those people; perhaps one of them will form a Nascent Soul in the future and truly play the complete Divine Astonishment Melody. So, I disagree."

Indeed, without a Nascent Soul cultivator, activating the Divine Astonishment Melody would not only require sacrificing those three Golden Core cultivators but also hundreds of years' worth of accumulated Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Such a gamble, risking everything for one individual's potential Spirit Transformation, was simply impossible.

"Yes, Ancestor!" Qianxing's word was law; since he disagreed, he would not change his mind.

Lin Daoming could only suppress the bitterness in his heart, resolving to do one last thing for his Spirit Transformation.

"Then please, Ancestor, permit me to leave the Immortal Sect!"

Upon hearing this, Qianxing's pupils narrowed. He looked deeply at Lin Daoming. After a long moment, he produced a jade token and threw it to him.

"From this day forward, you are no longer a disciple of my Heaven-Mending Lineage."

"Thank you, Ancestor, for your mercy!"

Upon receiving his identity jade token, an indescribable feeling surged within Lin Daoming. It seemed like liberation, yet it was also like leaping from solid ground into a vast ocean, transforming from steady footing to a gradual descent.

Is this truly what it means to leave the light and walk towards darkness?

As Lin Daoming pondered this, he looked up and realized that Qianxing was no longer there.

The Hall Master of Righteous Law and the other three stood together and called out to him one last time, "Senior!", before descending the mountain together.

From now on, they would be strangers.

Lin Daoming looked around and saw Chen Chun still there, nodding gently at her.

"Master is waiting for you!"

Just as Lin Daoming was about to descend the mountain, Chen Chun suddenly called out to him. He was momentarily stunned, then his expression shifted to one of slight surprise and delight as he followed Chen Chun to see Qianxing again.

"I know you're colluding with Patriarch Longhu of the Ascension Sect," Qianxing said without turning his head, playing his game in the void living room to Lin Daoming, whom Chen Chun had brought in. Lin Daoming's body trembled. "But after you go there, help me keep an eye on someone."

After receiving Qianxing's instructions, Lin Daoming left Gathering Immortals Peak with a heavy heart.

Chen Chun escorted him down the mountain, then returned to the peak.

"Master, according to fate, Lin Daoming has no hope of Spirit Transformation. Why did you still allow him to leave the Immortal Sect?" Chen Chun asked, a hint of confusion in her voice, seizing the moment after Qianxing finished a game.

"Fate is unpredictable. Your cultivation is still insufficient; you are limited to judging only him," Qianxing explained. "Just like I once thought Yu Baiguang couldn't reach Spirit Transformation, but didn't she cleave her own destiny with a single sword and merge her Primordial Spirit with it?!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Chun wanted to refute that Patriarch Baiguang was an exception.

However, that exception did indeed prove that their Divine Mechanism Abode's fate-divination art had its flaws.

"Master, why did Patriarch Baiguang send a separated spirit to reincarnate?" Chen Chun asked, taking the opportunity while Baiguang was mentioned, a question that had long puzzled her.

Baiguang had achieved Spirit Transformation later than Qianxing. Even Qianxing had not yet cultivated to the pinnacle of Spirit Transformation, diligently absorbing Tier 6 spiritual energy daily and condensing Heaven-Mending Immortal Light in pursuit of realms beyond Spirit Transformation.

Logically, Baiguang should also have focused wholeheartedly on cultivating her fundamental realm on the Five Peaks Immortal Mountains, the only Tier 6 spiritual vein available, rather than splitting her spirit and wasting time on reincarnation.

"That's because she saw the lines entwined around her sword," Qianxing said, uttering words that made Chen Chun ponder deeply. "Her sword may have cleaved her destiny and held her Primordial Spirit, but it had not yet severed the karmic ties of Yu Baiguang as a person in the mortal world."

This was a domain of the highest realm of the Divine Mechanism Abode's divination art, and with her mere Golden Core cultivation, Chen Chun could not comprehend it.

She wanted to ask more, but Qianxing impatiently waved his hand, urging her to leave quickly.

He had already started another game and was ready for full combat.

Chen Chun could only bow and leave Qianxing's void domain.

No one knew that this very place was the Qianxing Sword that had once cleaved a star!

Chen Mobai stayed in Danxia City for two days with Shi Wanyu and her daughter.

His daughter had to go to work on Monday.

Upon returning to Yumu City, he received an email from the Rotating Committee of the Initiation Hall, inviting him to attend the Immortal Sect's year-end leadership transition conference.

As an Immortal Sect councilor, this was both his right and his obligation.

Today's writing was difficult because it's the opening of a major arc for the Immortal Sect.

On a side note, I'd like to recommend Brother Gou's new book, *The Daoist Wants to Ascend*. The title was conceived by us together, and I helped discuss and participate in some of the world-building. It's one of the new books I'm most looking forward to this year.