Chapter 958: Chapter 678: The Path to Godhood
The Zouyu Water Mansion emerges, phenomena startling the Three Thousand Worlds.
Those who were once trialists all turn their eyes to the long-dormant Zouyu Order.
In the Ancient Dragon Realm, Louis, who has already advanced to the Sixth Realm, smiles, "The Lord of the Water Mansion, it’s inevitable."
He follows his father, leading the clan, embarking on the migration to the Xia Realm.
If anyone can become a god in this era, he believes it must be Lu Chenzhou!
In the Hanhai Sect, Long Yue smiles slightly, "The Lord of the Water Mansion, none other than the Alliance Hierarch."
...
The Innate Water Spirit probes the conditions of all trialists through the Zouyu Order.
"In a hundred years, 68% of the trialists fell for various reasons. Out of the remaining 32%, over a hundred have advanced to the Sixth Realm, two have reached the Heavenly Realm. I am not surprised by Lan Daogang; the Water Tiger Tribe carries the master’s bloodline, now with a peak Seventh Realm cultivation...
But I did not expect Lu Chenzhou to have reached the Eighth Realm in just a hundred years."
As the Water Spirit learns more, his gaze grows increasingly shocked.
"What? Even the God Clan was recruited by him?"
This was something he never anticipated.
Immediately, the Water Spirit laughs heartily.
"Good, very good, I didn’t expect his progress to be so rapid. If nurtured, within a century, the probability of his becoming a god is not small."
In a thought, he summons Lan Daogang and Lu Chenzhou from their respective worlds to the Water Mansion Space.
"Long time no see." Lu Chenzhou smiles.
"Not so long, a hundred years is but a blink to me," says the Innate Water Spirit.
"Lan Daogang greets Alliance Hierarch Lu." The sturdy man with a tiger’s head politely bows, sizing up this legendary man.
Having heard of Lu Chenzhou’s deeds in his homeland, he developed admiration for him.
A hundred years ago, that inconspicuous human has now grown to the highest peak of the Three Thousand Worlds.
He no longer holds any hope of becoming the Lord of the Water Mansion.
"Have both of you completed the practice of ’Myriad Waters Flow’?" the Innate Water Spirit inquires.
Lan Daogang nods, "I achieved perfection ten years ago."
Lu Chenzhou shakes his head, "I didn’t practice it."
This surprises both Lan Daogang and the Innate Water Spirit, who both turn their gaze towards Lu Chenzhou.
Could it be that with his talent, he didn’t master it?
"Did you refrain from practicing because of any concerns?" the Innate Water Spirit asks.
Lu Chenzhou frankly replies, "Busy with Martial Arts."
"Well, take some time to practice. If you wish to control and refine the Water Mansion and Divine Artifacts, it’s essential," the Innate Water Spirit advises.
"I’ll be straightforward, I don’t want to become a god." After a moment of silence, Lu Chenzhou suddenly speaks.
He understands that the selection of trialists in the Zouyu Water Mansion is to nurture a new Water God.
Upon hearing this, Lan Daogang and the Innate Water Spirit find it hard to believe.
Especially the Innate Water Spirit, who originally had many things to say, now unable to utter a word.
This Lu Chenzhou is completely unconventional.
"Lu Chenzhou, you should know that only gods can oppose gods, right?" the Water Spirit says.
"I know, that was before, it doesn’t represent now," Lu Chenzhou replies.
"If not a god, how do you intend to ascend to Daoist Lord?" the Innate Water Spirit asks.
"I don’t know, maybe after reaching the Ninth Realm I’ll understand. When the time comes, there will be a way. I only know that becoming a god is just repeating the old paths of the Divine Court. To hope to defeat the Forbidden Zone is slim, and the divine positions are few. It’s better to take another path. If becoming a god means abandoning my current path, I certainly cannot accept it." Lu Chenzhou says, with increasing insight, he no longer has any illusions about becoming a god.
"Yes, to become a god, you must follow my path. Before his fall, the master painstakingly researched a method for mortals to become gods, but it requires superlative comprehension of the Dao... You, in a century, reaching the Eighth Realm, are most suitable. Trust me, on this path, you just need to retreat in the Water Mansion for a century, to immediately achieve divine enthronement, coagulate the Wu Water Divine Rank, master the Water Mansion, and mobilize the power of rivers and water elements across the Three Thousand Worlds."
The Innate Water Spirit patiently explains.
He cannot understand how Lu Chenzhou’s mentality changed over this century.
The opportunity for divinity, no mortal does not wish to possess.
Back then, to enter the Dao Palace and be named among the gods, numerous great beings of the Dao and true spirits of the starry sky fought until they were obliterated.
Ultimately, only 49 achieved divinity!
Now, an opportunity is before Lu Chenzhou, yet he voluntarily relinquishes it.
Lan Daogang is even more bewildered.
How does it seem that he now has a bit of an opportunity?
Alliance Hierarch Lu actually does not wish to become a god?
If this spreads, who knows how many will curse him.
Becoming a god! This is a chance that the ancient great powers could not obtain, even with their lives.
In the Great Universe, there is nothing more precious than that.
"The former me was somewhat confused, unsure of the direction of the future. As time passes, I have found a more suitable path for me. Though my path is difficult, once successful, I won’t be the only one who can tread it. This is the Martial Way," Lu Chenzhou resolutely states.
Seeing this, the Innate Water Spirit sighs, "Then follow your path, we do not have much time left. If you do not wish to control the Water Mansion, I can only let Lan Daogang become a god. He possesses a trace of Zouyu bloodline. Though his comprehension is not as good as yours, his success rate is not low."
"Ah? Me?" Lan Daogang is taken aback, now it’s his turn?
Such a favorable occurrence, he wouldn’t dare dream so boldly.
Lan Daogang asks, "Can’t Alliance Hierarch Lu’s clone practice instead?"
Though the opportunity to become a god is close at hand, he feels the burden is too heavy, and he cannot bear it.
"If the clone and original are soul-unified, then there’s no difference. In the divine path, both are divine paths," the Water Spirit responds.
"If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave," Lu Chenzhou says.
"If you regret, you can always find me. The Wu Water Divine Rank has two positions, a Primary Divine Rank, and a Subordinate Divine Rank. Though the Subordinate is not as great as the Primary, it is still divine, and most of the gods slain by the Four Emperors were subordinate gods," the Water Spirit adds. He remains somewhat reluctant, trying to persuade once more.
It’s so surreal that one day, he’d be asking others to become gods.
He respects Lu Chenzhou’s choice.
This was also the master’s initial instruction.
Some beings are born different, whether due to personality or fortuitous encounters, do not force it.
"I won’t regret it," Lu Chenzhou smiled and said.
"I wish you success. This is a Myriad Rivers Order, at a critical moment, it can summon the projection power of the Map of Ten Thousand Rivers. As a complete Divine Artifact, it is enough to allow you to confront Great Powers, or wait until you ascend to Great Power to shake ordinary Gods... Furthermore, through this order, as long as you are within any water element area in the Great Universe, you have three opportunities to return to the Water Mansion. If you encounter a strong enemy, you can come to me," the Water Spirit smiled and said.
"Thank you," Lu Chenzhou left.
The Water Spirit looked at the stunned Lan Daogang.
"Young man, do you want to become a God?"
"I do!"
"Come with me then."
"It’s a pity. Can the path of Lu the Alliance Hierarch truly be taken?"
"Perhaps, daring to try is a good thing. If he can maintain his current progress and not be hindered by the Enlightenment of Dao in the future, then his level in Martial Arts might reach that of the Four Emperors within a hundred years, and his achievements then may not be weaker than your Godhood," the Water Spirit also had a trace of anticipation in her heart.
Becoming a God was the only method that masters like them could think of in that era.
But perhaps the times have truly changed.
...
Apart from the Water Spirit and Lan Daogang, no one knew that Lu Chenzhou quietly declined a chance to become a God.
Returning to the Mystic Sky Alliance, the projection of the Eternal Immortal appeared.
"Alliance Hierarch, what is the situation? It succeeded, right? How will you become a God?"
The Divine Kingdom is about to return, the Gods are about to come back, everyone is tense and confused.
Becoming a God is the fastest and most certain answer.
"I rejected it. To become a God, one must give up Martial Arts and follow the path arranged by Zouyu," Lu Chenzhou said.
"Then tread your own path, carve out a Tenth Realm path for Martial Artists of Tianxia! Succeed or die trying, if not a God, then become a Saint!"
"Move forward boldly without worries," Wang Changming encouraged.
"When the Alliance Hierarch becomes a Saint, all Martial Artists of Tianxia will be like dragons," Yaochi Immortal also said with great enthusiasm.
The powerful people of Tianxia were not disappointed because Lu Chenzhou gave up on becoming a God.
Through a century of trials and tribulations, they had already forged their path.
...
Forbidden Zone.
"The Water Mansion has emerged, Zouyu wants to select someone to become a God," murmured the oblivious Mother.
"Rest assured, even if they become a God in a hundred years, it will be too late," the Blood God confidently smiled.
"In a hundred years, we will have already entered the Dao Palace, descending to the mortal world," Lord Toad grinned proudly.
"Even if someone truly becomes a God, they won’t be our match," the Holy Lord laughed.
"Don’t celebrate too early. Lu Chenzhou is a variable. He may not choose to become a God. If he truly chooses to become a God, I would be happy instead," the Witch, gazing at the Great Dao, said thoughtfully.
...
The emergence of the Water Mansion was just the beginning.
In the following year, twenty-four different Divine relics located in the Three Great Fire Worlds were successively revealed.
In past trials, each of them selected a group of the best Trialists.
These chosen fortunate ones have the hope of inheriting the Divine legacy, condensing Divine Rank, entering the Dao Palace, and achieving Divine Enthronement.
These were the fallback measures already prepared by the Gods of the Divine Court before their fall.
Whether to follow their path step by step or forge one’s own path, each person made their choice.
But it was clear that, except for Lu Chenzhou, everyone chose to become a God.
...
Mystic Sky Alliance, in the secret room.
Lu Chenzhou opened his eyes, with momentum as tangible as reality weaving lightning in the void.
["Mountain Moving Scripture": Fourth Layer (100%) → Fifth Layer (1%)]
As he raised his hand, an illusory golden three-legged cauldron appeared, surrounded by star-like gaseous flames.
"Finally reached the fifth layer."
His Qi-Blood, like rivers after a storm, surged grandly, reaching fifty million in magnitude.
If he did not exert control, the energy level generated by his breath would be more than a hundred million cauldrons.
To kill an ordinary Heavenly Realm in one breath was no exaggeration.
His body, like an aerospace engine, could be lightly ignited to unleash a power that breaks all shackles.
He placed his hand on the land of the Mystic Sky, and in the twinkling of an eye, the magnetic field of the entire world trembled with his heartbeat.
He could mobilize a trace of Great World’s power to suppress enemies.
The Ultimate Strength Dao, controlling stars, the power was immeasurable.
This is the "Great Wilderness Power"!
He looked at the Martial Arts Tree.
Chaos Dao reached Seventh Rank (60%) progress, approaching the late stage of Seventh Rank.
Withering and Flourishing, Five Elements, Wind and Thunder, Three Extremes Dao, Rotation, Void, Great Dream, Severe Poison were all at the middle stage of Seventh Rank.
Vibration at Sixth Rank,
After practicing "Winning Half a Game Against Heaven," Destiny Dao also rose along with the tide, entering the Sixth Rank.
Regarding the most difficult Dao among the Four Heart Cultivation Laws, Lu Chenzhou had some insights, only lacking practical application.
"Time to visit the Boundary Tower."