The Path Toward Heaven

It was rumored that there existed a magic treasure or divine object in Chaotian a long time ago that could make the time go backwards. State Duke Lu had always thought it was nonsense; but he hoped that it was true when he heard Jing Jiu’s request; in so doing, he would have the chance to return to the earlier moment and to rescind what he had said earlier.

He was the Chief of Taichang Temple, so it would be easy to let Jing Jiu enter it. However, he was well aware that Jing Jiu wasn’t a regular person, and that he wouldn’t be interested in entering the regular Taichang Temple seen by the regular folks; what Jing Jiu wanted to enter must be that place.

Besides the strict rules of the imperial court, State Duke Lu couldn’t let Jing Jiu take the risk, considering his relationship with the State Duke Manor.

State Duke Lu was prepared to stop him at any cost, so he had thought of more than ten sufficient reasons to refuse him in a short time. But, when he saw the expression in Jing Jiu’s eyes, he realized that there was nothing he could do to change his mind, even if he pressed a sword to his neck.

“I don’t know which level you’ll go to. If it’s the first level, I might be able to do something; but if you go further…it’s too dangerous.”

State Duke Lu gave up on dissuading Jing Jiu. He wiped off the sweat seeping out from his forehead with the sleeve and said in a low voice, “You should know what place Taichang Temple is. In case you alarmed that being, even the Emperor, let alone I, couldn’t rescue you from there in time.”

Jing Jiu said, “Though I haven’t been there, I’m prepared for it. So don’t worry about me.”

Besides the Snowy Kingdom and the Heavenly Well, Taichang Temple was the most dangerous place in Chaotian. In Jing Jiu’s current Cultivation state, how useful was his preparation?

Thinking of these matters, State Duke Lu couldn’t help but sigh in tandem. “Please give me a precise answer. Which level are you going to enter?” he asked.

Jing Jiu replied, “I’m not sure.”

Upon hearing this, State Duke Lu knew he was in trouble; but he dared not ask Jing Jiu what he planned to do in Taichang Temple. All he could do was inquire in a trembling voice, “How long are you going to stay there then?”

After some thought, Jing Jiu said, “It’d be three years if I could finish what I intend to do quickly enough; otherwise, I don’t even know how long it would take.”

It would take at least three years if he could finish it quickly!

And it was another ambiguous answer.

State Duke Lu heard a buzzing sound in his head, thinking he was indeed in big trouble this time.

…

…

State Duke Lu left the Jing family by the underground tunnel, his expression gloomy and crestfallen.

Jing Jiu lay on the bamboo chair.

The white cat climbed out from Jing Jiu’s sleeve and leapt onto his chest, staring into his eyes from above, full of lethal intent.

You brought me to Zhaoge City to fight that guy. Now that I’m ready for it, you are going to take me to that sunless place!

Jing Jiu said, “Since you want to fight him, the best way to do so is come with me to that place.”

Hearing this, the white cat’s eyes brightened, thinking this was indeed an excellent way to achieve his goal.

But, soon he decided it was not a good idea after all.

It was said that the place was damp and dark, some parts of it were as cold as if being pierced by the ice, and some parts of it were intolerably muggy and hot with great many mosquitoes.

The worst part was that the place was his opponent’s arena; even if he could mount a sneak attack on his opponent, it was still pretty much a trap for him.

If he had died there, it would become the biggest joke in the circle of the divine animals.

Jing Jiu perceived his spiritual awareness, and realized it was indeed problematic.

No matter how well Ada could hold his energy, he still couldn’t do as well as Jing Jiu; he would be discovered easily by his opponent.

“Let’s do this then,” said Jing Jiu. “During the years when I’m away, you keep an eye on this place for me.”

The white cat narrowed his eyes, indicating he didn’t quite understand him.

The biggest taboo in the Cultivation circle was that the Cultivation practitioners’ family or offspring were harmed or held as hostages, even though they were supposed to cut off all mortal connections.

As long as Shenmo Peak held certain power on Green Mountain, nobody would dare harm the Jing family.

The problem was, if the Center Sect and the One-Cottage House wanted to change the attitude of Shenmo Peak, the Jing family, located in Zhaoge City, would have to withstand a great deal of pressure.

Hearing Jing Jiu’s explanation, the white cat reached out his right paw to scratch Jing Jiu’s collar, which was meant to ask Jing Jiu what benefit he would get from this arrangement.

Jing Jiu said, “This is the ‘fight’.”

The white cat meowed unpleasantly.

Jing Jiu continued, “If Jing Yao became the Emperor, we would win, and the Center Sect would lose in this fight. You have been fighting against him for thousands of years without a definite outcome; it’s because neither we nor the Center Sect would like to see the two of you have a fight to the death. So, let’s use this matter to determine who would win the fight.”

Hearing this, the white cat remained silent for a long time.

In fact, both he and Jing Jiu knew very well that he would lose for sure if the two of them had a fight to the death.

Of the Principal Guards on the Green Mountain, Round Turtle had never left Tianguang Peak; he and Dark Phoenix were a bit weaker; and that black dog was the only one who could have a draw when fighting against those two divine animals on the Cloud-Dream Mountain.

The white cat jumped off Jing Jiu, and disappeared without a trace after meowing twice. His whereabouts were now unknown.

He accepted Jing Jiu’s request, and also promised that he would hold off the other being to give Jing Jiu an opportunity to flee if there was a mishap.

…

…

The Pure Heaven Bureau had been busy during the last few years. Like what they had done before, they had to clear up the mess left by the Cultivation practitioners. They were busy with compiling the files confiscated from the Cloud Platform, allocating the resources to various sects, capturing the remaining members of the Old Ones, and preventing them from committing suicide in order to find out more of their secrets, especially those related to the Underworld.

One day, a carriage covered tightly with the black cloth was brought to the office of the Pure Heaven Bureau. The officials of the Pure Heaven Bureau who were used to all sorts of things didn’t feel odd about it, but they were slightly curious about the identity of the prisoner, because they could sense the formation on the carriage, which meant that the prisoner had a formidable Cultivation state.

The black cloth covered carriage didn’t stay at the Pure Heaven Bureau, but went to the back of the office and onto a passageway, heading toward Taichang Temple not far away. The official responsible for this area had a high rank, so he was well aware of the charges. He returned to his desk and sat behind it after having signed the document proficiently.

Seeing the black carriage disappearing into the passageway, the official shook his head while thinking of the rumors about Taichang Temple, and picked up the tea bowl and took a sip.

In Taichang Temple, State Duke Lu was drinking tea as well. As he put down the teacup, he could feel the hardness of that object in his sleeve. After some hesitation, he had decided not to take it out.

He had intended to give this magic treasure of the Center Sect, the Evil Wind and Fine Drizzle, to Jing Jiu, but he thought he’d better not help Jing Jiu since Jing Jiu said he had already been prepared for it.

On the other hand, if that being could sense the energy, it would be more dangerous.

Soon after, the black cloth covered carriage came out from the passageway and headed toward the back of Taichang Temple, passing by his sight in distance.

State Duke Lu dropped his eyelids slightly, without raising his head to take a look, his expression terrible.

If something had happened to Jing Jiu, would the Emperor sentence him to death? How could he have the honor of seeing his father on the other side?