Chapter 291 - 258 Disaster from the West_3
Han Chao had already accepted Zhou Yi as a transmigrated being from a great ancient power and found such sublime ideas to be only natural, and he asked, "Does Master have a method to resolve the great calamity?"
"This poor Taoist cannot even deduce what the great calamity is, let alone resolve it. The only strategy at present is to proceed from two aspects."
Zhou Yi said, "First, we must accelerate the construction of the ocean-faring giant ships and relocate a portion of the human race deep into the Eastern Sea. No matter what happens to the Nine Continents, at the very least, it will preserve the bloodline and heritage of our race!"
Han Chao said, "Master, the spiritual energy is sparse deep in the Eastern Sea; it is even the Land of Absolute Spirit. Cultivators, no matter what, cannot escape it!"
"You aspire to immortality and can only stay in the Nine Continents. Faced with the great calamity, there is no escape!"
"This is the second point. We must investigate the source of the disaster. Even if we cannot resolve it, we can at least prepare in advance!"
Zhou Yi said, "Through my divination technique, I have deduced that the source of the disaster comes from the west. However, I must personally refine the sea-crossing giant ship, intending to relocate our race into the ocean as soon as possible, unable to divert my focus. Therefore, I am thinking of having you go and investigate."
The path of immortality originates from spiritual energy; ancient cultivators who wished to break through their realms were bound to stay in the Nine Continents.
As for martial artists born of the new techniques, they were even less able to leave.
Integrating a heterogeneous bloodline, the cessation of spiritual energy would lead to the decline of qi-blood, and the consequence would be exploding on the spot!
"This..."
In his heart, Han Chao’s first choice was naturally to avoid the disaster. With his cultivation level, unless heavens fell and earth rent, hiding in secluded mountains and forests for closed-door cultivation, being cautious in daily life, he should not encounter any great difficulties.
On the contrary, stepping into the midst of calamity, facing the raging currents of fate, he might very well end up as ashes and smoke.
"With Master’s divination technique being so profound, could you not know the news of the disaster?"
Zhou Yi sighed and said, "This poor Taoist has exhausted over three hundred years of lifespan, trying with all my strength to divine, but I only know its direction."
"Three hundred years! Master’s profound concern for the human race, your disciple admires most fervently!"
Han Chao’s eyes showed shock. Such divination left only two hundred years of lifespan, and looking up at Zhou Yi again, it seemed as though hallowed golden light suffused his entire being.
Zhou Yi had not deceived his disciple, but he had not mentioned that each daily divination consumed a thousand years of lifespan, and three hundred years did not even compare to one morning.
Such a life-reducing method was also paving the way for his eventual transcendence.
When the human race had a new Golden Elixir True Monarch, Zhou Yi would again use the excuse of divining the human race’s fate, reducing his lifespan, and then pass away in transcendence, in actuality changing his identity to hide within the common world of the Nine Continents, no longer taking risks by appearing in public.
While Han Chao greatly admired him in his heart, he did not agree to the request in line with the conversation.
The western part of Cloud Continent and even further west to Qiong Continent and Buddha Continent were deep territories of fierce beasts and demon races, fraught with danger. Han Chao, carrying supreme treasures, was unwilling to take the risk.
Moreover, the Nine Continents were vast, and the source of the great calamity could be an unnamed mountain or river—who else with incredible fortune could find it?
Usual days spent in contemplating the teachings of Zhou Yi, though superficial in many ways, Han Chao deeply grasped the true transmission of Zhou Yi, and made up his mind to carefully and cautiously seek immortality.
Zhou Yi was well aware of his disciple’s thoughts and did not oppose them. Instead, he agreed with them, for those endowed with great destiny are not immortal, and a stable and cautious cultivation is more likely to achieve the Great Way.
However, with the present spiritual energy of heaven and earth, the strongest was no more than the Golden Core. Zhou Yi was confident that he could protect Han Chao’s safety.
All he needed was Han Chao’s incredible fortune; otherwise, Zhou Yi would go to the west himself to investigate.
"I have several spiritual medicines here, each of which can increase the probability of Core Formation by ten percent. If you manage to investigate the news of the disaster, I will bestow them upon you for your consumption and refinement!"
As he spoke, five rays of light flew out of his sleeve, transforming into mysteriously shaped medicinal herbs, such as multicolored lotus seeds, Five-Colored Cloud Mushrooms, millennium mushroom-horses...
The spiritual light was splendid, dazzling the eyes of onlookers.
Han Chao prided himself on his extensive knowledge, yet he could only recognize two of the items, fully convinced that his master was a reincarnation of an ancient immortal, and these spiritual medicines were most likely sealed and left behind from his previous life.
"Master, your disciple is willing to investigate, but there is another favor to ask!"
"Speak."
Zhou Yi nodded slightly, "As long as you can investigate the source of the great catastrophe, as your master, I will not stint on supreme treasures and spiritual objects, I shall support you in every way."
The great catastrophe that caused the frequent shifting of the stars, Zhou Yi also had no confidence in his heart; in recent months, he increased to divining six times, consuming a millennium of lifespan every three hours to divine the safety of one day, one month, one year.
"Disciple requests that Master lends me the Bodhi Treasure Wheel for protection."
Out of gratitude for Zhou Yi’s kindness, coupled with the opportunity presented by the Golden Core and his confidence in his escape skills and the protection of the supreme treasure, Han Chao was willing to go west to investigate the source of the disaster. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
After all, Han Chao did not possess an endless lifespan; even if he were to cultivate in seclusion for another hundred years, he might not necessarily be able to push the probability of core formation to a full guarantee.
Zhou Yi waved his hand, and the Bodhi Gold Wheel fell into Han Chao’s hands: "This object contains my mana and can be used to either burst forth power or protect oneself three times."
"Thank you, Master."
Han Chao felt greatly reassured; with this treasure to protect him, even if he encountered the Dragon Emperor, he could preserve his life.
"Master, I still have doubts in my heart. You often teach me to pursue longevity, so why are you willing to consume three hundred years of your lifespan to divine the great catastrophe? Isn’t such an act cutting off the path of ordinary people?"
Zhou Yi waved his hand, and a screen of light appeared before him, displaying scenes from the Immortal Capital City.
He pointed at a certain place, and the view quickly zoomed in, showing two commoners talking about how the prices of rice and flour had dropped again and life was getting better by the day.
He pointed casually at another place, and to his surprise, it was a couple in the heat of romance, secretly meeting and kissing in a hidden spot.
"They are all living people, not merely a string of numbers or a static backdrop; the joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness experienced by each person could be written into a volume of memoirs."
"I still have some strength, I can’t just watch them coldly, all dying in disasters!"
Zhou Yi slowly said, "You must remember, no matter how powerful you become in the future, your essence is still that of a human, not a god, buddha, spirit, or demon!"
"I will bear Master’s teachings in mind!"
Han Chao bowed deeply and then sought advice on several cultivation puzzles before transforming into a beam of light and leaving; he would soon travel westward.
In the office,
Only Zhou Yi remained, seated on the jade couch, deep in thought for a long time.
"With the fortune to stir the heavens on him, and the secret protection of Clear Wind and Bright Moon, there is no threat to his life on this journey. However, the vast expanse of the Nine Continents means Han Chao might not be able to find the source of the great catastrophe; preparations must be made early!"
Upon thinking this, his form slowly faded and reappeared at the inner cabinet yamen.
Zhou Yi was not about to emulate a tragic drama, hiding the impending disaster for various nonsensical reasons, pretending to be unfathomable, deliberately leaving words unsaid to create obstacles from misunderstandings, only to triumph from a last stand.
The catastrophe of the Nine Continents concerns the lives of billions, the four words "last stand" could mean millions more would die.
Moreover, there are very few who can successfully counterattack; most of the time, it’s a desperate situation with no turning back!
Prepare for defeat before expecting victory.
Zhou Yi, who had lived a long life and seen much, was not averse to the word "escape."