227: Fifth Incarnation: Heavenly Physician (19)

Three months of time, for a Cultivator, was merely the snap of a finger.

Xu Yuan's past three months had been exceptionally fulfilling.

Following his established plan, he first consolidated his cultivation, refining his Early Foundation Establishment Stage Realm until it was perfectly flawless, while his Divine Sense became increasingly condensed due to intensive reading and deduction;

On the other hand, he had swept through almost all the miscellaneous scholarly texts in the "Other Mountain Stone Mirror" section of the Zhenyan Lineage's Scripture Pavilion, texts covering mortal history, ideological evolution, institutional changes, and the shifting loyalties of the populace. Combining this with the core principles of the Dao of Karma and Heavenly Mandate and the Kunlun and I Ching Dao, he performed extensive mental deductions and simulations, already having constructed several preliminary models for "Civilization Unit Guidance" in his mind.

On this day, the sky was just breaking, and the morning bell rang out melodiously, echoing throughout the entire Tianyan Mountain Range.

At the summit of the Zhenyan Lineage's main Peak, "Tianyan Peak," a gigantic white jade plaza, usually hidden in the clouds and mist, slowly emerged.

The plaza was paved with profound array patterns, and the central area was dotted with starlight, as if a miniature starry sky had been imprinted within it, emanating a vast and mysterious aura. This was the venue for the Minor Derivation Dharma Assembly—the Derivation Platform.

At this moment, the area around the Derivation Platform was already packed with people.

Numerous Inner and Outer Sect Disciples of the Zhenyan Lineage, as well as Disciples from other Branch Lineages who had rushed over to observe the ceremony, packed the outer perimeter of the plaza shoulder-to-shoulder, with discussions and voices of anticipation rising and falling continuously.

After all, the Seven Lineages' Minor Competition, held once every twenty years, was not only a stage for the young Disciples of each lineage to display their strength but also a rare grand event for exchange within the Kunlun and I Ching Dao.

To the north of the plaza, seven Cloud Beds and Jade Seats were arranged, radiating a faint pressure. These were set up specifically for the Fruit Position True Persons of the seven lineages.

Xu Yuan, along with Senior Brother Zhao Qian, Senior Sister Liu Jiu, Senior Brother Chen Feng, Senior Brother Li Mubai, and one other person—five in total—arrived and stood in a designated area on the east side of the plaza.

His gaze swept across the area, finding that varying numbers of young Disciples had gathered in the other six directions as well.

"Look, those are the Disciples of the 'Divination' Lineage. They are said to be most skilled at prying into the Heavenly Secrets and deducing fortune and misfortune. There aren't many, only four people, but every single one of them is deep-minded," Zhao Qian whispered, introducing them to Xu Yuan and pointing toward a group of Disciples wearing Star-Patterned Daoist Robes on the west side.

"The ones to the south are the 'Heavenly Mechanism' Lineage. They specialize in strategic planning and often anticipate the enemy's moves. There are six of them," Liu Jiu added in her cool voice, her gaze resting on a group of Disciples on the south side whose aura was ethereal, seeming to merge with the surrounding environment.

"To the north is the 'Fate Plate' Lineage. They are said to be capable of manipulating Luck and influencing fortune, making them quite mysterious. Five people came," Chen Feng interjected, looking at the group of Disciples to the north whose aura was obscure and difficult to comprehend.

"There are also the 'Strategy,' 'Orbit,' and 'Talisman Map' Lineages..." Li Mubai recited them like family treasures, pointing out the directions and approximate numbers of the remaining three lineages.

Xu Yuan focused his gaze and saw that the Disciples of each lineage ranged from six or seven people at most to two or three at least, totaling no more than thirty-something people.

However, these thirty-odd people were all elite prodigies carefully cultivated by their respective lineages, all under sixty years old, with cultivation bases of at least Late Foundation Establishment Stage, and quite a few at the Golden Core Stage.

And Xu Yuan, being only in the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, appeared particularly "conspicuous" among them, attracting many curious or scrutinizing glances.

"As expected, this is a gathering of Geniuses."

Xu Yuan mused inwardly, yet he felt no fear; instead, a strong sense of anticipation arose within him.

Just then, a flash of light appeared above the seven Cloud Beds and Jade Seats, and seven figures materialized from illusion into reality almost simultaneously, fully appearing.

In an instant, the entire Derivation Platform fell silent. All noisy discussions ceased abruptly, and an invisible, awe-inspiring majesty enveloped the entire venue.

Immortal Master Jiang Tingyun of the Zhenyan Lineage was notably among them. He still wore his Dark-Colored Daoist Robe and maintained his lean, peaceful appearance, but seated upon the cloud bed, he naturally possessed an imposing and steadfast demeanor.

The other six Immortal Masters, male and female, old and young, varied in appearance, but without exception, profound Dao Rhyme that harmonized with Heaven and Earth circulated around them. Merely sitting there, they seemed to become the center of this world.

Seven Fruit Position True Persons! This was the Peak power of the Kunlun and I Ching Dao Lineage, standing tall within the Shangqing Dao Lineage! They were rarely seen normally, yet today they were all gathered here!

The invisible pressure spread out, yet it carried an indescribable, harmonious rhythm, as if breathing along with Heaven and Earth.

All the Disciples in the plaza, regardless of their cultivation level or which lineage they belonged to, held their breath and focused their minds, their hearts filled with reverence.

Without needing an order, the thirty-three Disciples on the plaza who were about to participate in the Dharma Assembly, along with the countless Sect Members observing on the periphery, simultaneously bowed and, facing the direction of the Cloud Beds and Jade Seats, respectfully saluted in unison:

"Disciples respectfully greet all Fruit Positions!"

The voices were uniform and echoed across the spacious Derivation Platform.

There didn't seem to be much exchange between the seven Immortal Masters; they merely nodded slightly to greet each other, their gazes sweeping over the Disciples below, carrying scrutiny and expectation.

A moment later, the old man seated in the center—with white hair, a white beard, an ancient face, and wearing an Eight Trigrams Daoist Robe—slowly spoke. His voice was not loud, yet it clearly entered the ears of everyone present, carrying a power that soothed the mind:

"The hour has arrived."

The old man's voice was peaceful and vast, as if traversing long years. "This old man is Xuanweizi of the 'Heavenly Mechanism' Lineage."

The old man announced his identity; he was the highly respected master of the Heavenly Mechanism Lineage, known among the seven lineages for deducing Heavenly Secrets and long-term planning.

"This time, the 'Minor Derivation Dharma Assembly' is hosted by the Zhenyan Lineage on rotation." Immortal Master Xuanweizi's gaze turned to Jiang Tingyun, giving a slight signal, then swept across the entire venue. "The rules, I presume, have already been explained to you by the Elders of your respective lineages."

His placid gaze slowly swept over the thirty-three young but already extraordinary faces below. Though his voice was faint, it carried undeniable authority: "The seven lineages have a total of thirty-three Disciples. The Dharma Assembly aims to exchange ideas on the 'Derivation Dao,' verify what you have learned, and temper your Heart-Nature, not to engage in reckless fighting. I hope you all guard your original intentions and do not lose the true meaning of the Great Dao."

After this concise admonition, Immortal Master Xuanweizi slightly turned sideways and looked at Jiang Tingyun, who was seated nearby, his aura subtly resonating with the surrounding Array Diagrams:

"Junior Brother Jiang, since the Zhenyan Lineage is hosting this time, please announce the theme of this Dharma Assembly."

Everyone's gaze instantly shifted from Immortal Master Xuanweizi and focused uniformly on Jiang Tingyun!

Especially the thirty-three Disciples below who were about to step into the "Derivation Small World" themselves held their breath and focused their minds. Their hearts involuntarily quickened their pace, and their eyes were filled with nervousness, anticipation, and burning light.

This theme, about to be announced, would determine the form of their "battlefield" in the Small World, their rules of action, and even the key to ultimate victory or defeat!

Would it be an intellectual game like "Contention of a Hundred Schools," or the construction of institutions like "Governing the World"? Would it be the deduction of "Celestial Phenomena," or the surveying of "Geomantic Layouts"?

Every possibility tugged at their hearts and minds.

Jiang Tingyun looked at the audience and spoke clearly.

His voice was clear and resonant, not deliberately loud, but carrying a unique rhythm that seemed to subtly resonate with the array patterns of the Derivation Platform beneath his feet and the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, clearly entering everyone's ears:

"The theme for this 'Minor Derivation Dharma Assembly,' decided through joint discussion among the seven lineages, is set as—"

He paused slightly.

Everyone on the Derivation Platform, from the Fruit Position True Persons above to the ordinary Disciples observing on the periphery, seemed to hold their breath with this pause.

Two weighty words were clearly uttered from Jiang Tingyun's mouth:

"Rise and Fall."