Chapter 6861 Heavenly Magnificence Palace of Learning
When Long Chen and the others arrived at the Dao discussion area, it was already crowded. Luckily, the disciples from Xin Yu’s sect had saved some spots at the very front. When Long Chen and the others showed up, four disciples immediately gave up their seats for them.
“What exactly is the Heavenly Magnificence Palace of Learning?” Long Chen asked.
Xin Yu replied, “It is a holy land for studying the Dao in the Heavenly Magnificence Divine Prefecture. It ranks among the three major pure cultivation lands, alongside the Wine God Palace and Tea Saint Dao Temple. However, the Wine God Palace and Tea Saint Dao Temple are regarded as transcendent places, as they rarely interact with outsiders. They also possess unique cultivation methods that are not openly shared."
Long Chen’s curiosity was piqued. It seemed he would have to visit the Wine God Palace and Tea Saint Dao Temple soon.
Xin Yu continued, “The Heavenly Magnificence Palace of Learning is unique because its understanding of the Dao is shared openly. As a result, all major gatherings always invite their masters to discuss the Dao. It is said that every Dao discussion is filled with insights that anyone can understand. Moreover, it seems they’ve invited a white-robe master this time! That’s only second to a violet-robe master.”
The Heavenly Magnificence Palace of Learning had eight levels of mastery, distinguished by the color of their robes. The white robe represented the seventh level, while the violet robe was the highest.
Just then, the sound of a bell rang out, and a white-robed elder slowly walked onto the stage. He was accompanied by over ten women in their prime.
Those women were continuously beckoning and bowing to him to guide his way.
The white-robed elder had a fair complexion. His white hair and white robes should have given a sense of purity associated with the immortal path. However, his sharp features, thin lips, scraggly eyebrows, and pockmarked face shattered the typical image of a white-robe master for most people.
Under the guidance of those women, the elder walked to the center of the stage and looked over everyone. He nodded.
“Good. The Northern Celestial Region not only has many geniuses but also many who truly seek the Dao. I am pleased to see so many divine sons and daughters here. To learn, you need patience, talent, and aptitude. Those who stop learning are destined to fail. Always be aware of your flaws and work to improve them. After all, only through constant reflection can one keep progressing.”
The elder’s voice resounded throughout the plaza, and all the disciples listened intently.
Although his looks didn’t meet their expectations, his words were quite reasonable. Everyone made sure to listen attentively, since meeting a white-robe master from the Heavenly Magnificence Palace of Learning was a rare opportunity.
Many people had come to this gathering for this Dao discussion.
The white-robe master continued, “The path of cultivation is like rowing a boat upstream. If you are not progressing, you are regressing. You minor divine sons and divine daughters...”
Hearing this, Long Chen looked a little surprised.
Why is this elder so arrogant?
However, the disciples did not take offense. For them, a master from the Heavenly Magnificence School of Learning had the qualifications to make such a remark.
The elder continued, “You need to realize that each step forward is challenging. Every advancement comes at a cost. Why are these steps so challenging? Why does the Grand Dao resemble hell? Because everyone in this world is shackled by bad karma..."
Bad karma?
Long Chen immediately frowned. While everything up to that point was fine, this bad karma instantly made him feel something was off.
The elder sighed, “As long as bad karma binds you, it is like shackles on your body and soul. The more you fight it, the tighter they become. The slightest carelessness and your Dao will vanish. This bad karma also makes the path of cultivation increasingly difficult.
“Eventually, you reach the end of your lifespan, and your Dao disappears all the same. Therefore, if you want to advance in cultivation and transcend death, you must first break free from the shackles of bad karma.”
“Then how does one shatter those chains?” Long Chen suddenly spoke out loud.
Chi Yutong and the others jumped. It was well-known that the masters of the Heavenly Magnificence Palace of Learning despised interruptions. Long Chen would be expelled.
However, the elder surprisingly praised, “Good! To dare to ask questions shows that you truly seek the Dao! You seek to change your fate! You have guts and wisdom. Not bad.”
No one had expected the elder to be fine with it, let alone praise Long Chen. The crowd looked at each other strangely. In the past, others had asked similar questions, only to be mercilessly expelled.
Did they perhaps know each other? Was that why the elder gave him face?
Long Chen had also discussed the Dao before. He knew that asking questions at this time would only move the discussion along. That was a good thing for this elder.
The elder stated, “Regarding bad karma, the first topic to address is the primal chaos war. When discussing this war, one cannot ignore the leading expert of the nine heavens and ten lands of that era—the Star Master!”
Startled gasps echoed through the crowd.
The Star Master’s name was considered taboo. Although everyone knew he was the greatest expert in all of history, no one dared to mention his name, not even within their own sects. They wanted to avoid getting tangled in some kind of invisible karma.
“As expected of a white-robe master! He really dares to say anything,” Xin Yu said, clenching her fists excitedly.
The elder smiled, seemingly pleased with everyone’s reaction.
He continued, “The Star Master seized the fortune of the world and rose to the pinnacle of the martial path. He believed himself unmatched and sought to shatter the shackles of the heavens, rebuilding the laws of the world with himself as the master. However, he did not realize he was bound by bad karma.
“The heavens saw him as an enemy and unleashed divine punishment. That was the outsider devils. In the end, not only did he die a miserable death, but he also caused many innocent lives to be massacred across the world. Our world has only recovered to this state after trillions of years. It can be said that all of this was caused by the Star Master.”
Long Chen’s expression darkened. He had long since felt that this old fogey was a piece of garbage, but for him to lie and slander the Star Master who had protected the nine heavens, turning him into the villain, drained the last of Long Chen’s patience.
The Star Master and Pill Sovereign had sacrificed themselves to protect the nine heavens. But after their deaths, they were blamed and labeled as the cause of the war?
Long Chen’s killing intent flared.
"Therefore, regardless of how powerful someone becomes, they need to see themselves honestly. They must acknowledge their sins and karma. No one can conceal themselves from the Heavenly Daos!", the elder said.
Long Chen suddenly asked, “Does that mean that the outsider devils were brought forth by the Star Master?”
The elder earnestly nodded. “Correct!”
“So, the devils didn’t leave after the Star Master died because we are also affected by bad karma?” asked Long Chen.
“Haha, child, you are truly wise!”
Long Chen suddenly bent down and whispered to Yan Li. Yan Li immediately stood up and walked onto the stage, then raised his hand in front of the many dumbfounded gazes.
Pow!
A slap struck the white-robe master’s face, knocking him to the ground.
Shocked cries rang out through the crowd.