Qi Cultivation Starting from the Repair Panel

"It is the disciples' incompetence..."

Xi Youyue seemed to sense the disappointment hidden beneath the calm gaze of the Immortal Ancestor. Her already pale face turned even paler as she slowly leaned forward, intending to kneel and plead for forgiveness, but was held back by an invisible gentle force.

"Master..."

The Moonlight Immortal Ancestor slowly shook her head, "This is not your fault this time."

She rose slowly, gazing in the direction of the Martial Hall, her voice calm:

"The origins of both of you have been severely injured. Enter the Moonlight Pool at once, draw upon the Taiyin Origin to reconstruct your Immortal Bodies. For now, do not concern yourselves with these matters."

Upon hearing this, Lei Chen raised his head, "What about Chu Zheng..."

"He is in no immediate danger of death."

The Moonlight Immortal Ancestor interrupted him, her tone indisputable, "The two of you should focus on healing. We are in need of manpower now, and later we will still require both of your efforts."

Feng Ting would not easily let her intervene, nor would the Martial Ancestor. Heavenly Punishment still finds use for Chu Zheng. For now, at least in the short term, Chu Zheng will not die.

Chu Zheng is not important. The main target of Heavenly Punishment remains her.

With that said, she said no more. Her figure gradually faded into the gentle moonlight, ultimately disappearing without a trace.

The two remaining in the hall exchanged glances, both with bitterness in their eyes.

......

......

Deep within the Martial Hall.

A temple entirely constructed of colossal purple-black stones silently stood under the starlit sky.

Inside the hall, the light was dim. Only a few pale blue crystal lamps embedded in the stone walls emitted a faint cold light, barely illuminating a small space.

Ji Zhouyin, the Martial Ancestor, was still dressed in simple gray clothes, sitting cross-legged at the center of the hall. His figure was not brawny, even appearing somewhat thin.

Not far in front of him stood Heavenly Punishment, clad in Blood Jade Battle Armor. His expression was exceptionally calm, even carrying a sense of indifferent tranquility.

Silence, as deathly stillness shrouded the entire grand hall.

"Why did you take such a risk to strike? What if those two had not resisted at the moment you acted? Have you considered the consequences?"

After a long pause, Ji Zhouyin spoke, his voice not loud, yet exceptionally clear and forceful:

"Fu Pinglan's injuries have not healed. You have already taken the pretext of 'overseeing the battle' to personally come to the front line. That was my greatest tolerance for you. Now, what are you intending to do?"

Heavenly Punishment raised his head, meeting Ji Zhouyin's unfathomable gaze with steady eyes, his voice equally calm and undisturbed: "Chu Zheng is indeed Zheng Chu, this is beyond any doubt. Looking back, Wan Wenfeng concealing this news likely was under your directive. I have refrained from directly killing Chu Zheng, that's already showing restraint."

The frown on Ji Zhouyin's brow was barely noticeable.

He knew Heavenly Punishment was speaking the truth. If Fu Pinglan had been present this time, Chu Zheng, even if he had ten lives, would not have survived today.

The biggest difference between Heavenly Punishment and Fu Pinglan was that he would consider the consequences of his actions.

"Aside from killing Zheng Chu, nothing else can fit in his heart."

Heavenly Punishment slightly shook his head, his tone deepening: "What is Chu Zheng? He can be killed with a wave of the hand. Since retrieving his eyes from Ancient Times, he has become possessed. Previously, in the campaign against the Chaos Sea, he audaciously used the favors of more than half the Ancient Ancestors across the Universe, disregarding the grand compass of the Dao warfare."

So many Ancient Ancestors, such formidable military strength, only traded for a trivial piece like the Chaos Sea. In the end, he himself lost an arm, his source greatly damaged, only to slay an Incense Fire God. A truly unprofitable transaction.

"Now that inside the Chaos Sea the Heavenly Fate shows signs of outflow, it is already a lucky omen for my Martial Path. There is no need to stir up further trouble."

Ji Zhouyin contemplated for a moment, then spoke again, revealing some inside information:

"This time, the Dao War will eventually be initiated by the Qi Cultivator. Taiching is the most suitable candidate, and he has already agreed."

The Qi Cultivator, with no ties or burdens, without implicating the Taoist Orthodoxy, is the most appropriate person to start it off.

"Is this true?"

Heavenly Punishment's expression was unexpected. The cost of the Heavenly Fate's backlash was too weighty. Now, all the ancestral leaders are refraining from hostile actions, simply to avoid becoming the target of everyone's censure.

"This matter was decided long ago, Feng Ting handled it. Otherwise, why do you think he helped Taiching enter the Ancestral Realm back then? Even if Immortal Martial Arts fights, that would only be after utterly sweeping through the Myriad Heavens and Realms."

Mentioning this, Ji Zhouyin's eyes dimmed slightly. No matter how things unfold subsequently, the Martial Path will never be the ultimate victor. Yet, aside from himself, there are very few within the Martial Hall willing to believe this.

Even though he is the Martial Ancestor, his current prestige within the Martial Hall is even less than that of Fu Pinglan.

Only after becoming the Martial Ancestor did he see paths indiscernible to ordinary Ancestral Realms. As time and years pass, only the river of spacetime remains eternal.

Spacetime is the Supreme Law, the river of spacetime itself is the sole eternal constant in this world. All else is but dust surging beneath the tides.

The outcome of this battle was, in fact, determined long ago after that battle in Ancient Times.

"Could it be that Taiching intends to become the second Ancestral Dao?"

Heavenly Punishment furrowed his brows, his gaze puzzled: "Does he not fear death?"

"Have you ever seen any truly accomplished Qi Cultivator who fears death?"

Ji Zhouyin casually said, then shook his head upon reflection:

"That makes sense. After all, the only Qi Cultivator you have encountered is Chu Zheng."

"Qi Cultivators seek to explore the heavens and earth. All the Taoists say this path escapes heaven and acts recklessly, stealing Heaven's lifespan for oneself. It is not tolerated by the world, yet those who persist in cultivating this path in this world, how bold they must be."

To endure through Ten Thousand Tribulations and remain imperishable, those with the heart to cross countless calamities and become Daluo Golden Immortals have long since ceased to concern themselves with concepts of life and death.

Those who fear death cannot cross numerous tribulations. They either sever and cultivate anew early on, or they remain trapped in the midst of calamities, unable to extricate themselves, ultimately failing to grow into a formidable force.

Heavenly Punishment remained silent for a long time, then posed a piercing question: