Chapter 2139: I Am Here

When did the Red Dust Gate appear in this world? There is no fixed conclusion.

It seems that when people gained awareness and began to observe this world, it was already there. People have had many guesses about this, such as the "Theory of the Gate Created by the Taigu Human Emperor," and the "Theory of Red Dust Qi Self-Condensation." Ultimately, the mainstream of these guesses has been disproven one by one.

Even whether it is an acquired achievement or an innate creation, there is still no fixed conclusion.

Those who hold the first viewpoint believe that Heaven's will is impartial and will not favor anyone. The vast sea has not been covered, the border wilderness has not given birth to high walls, and Yu Abyss is also freely entered and exited, relying entirely on armies to guard. Why, then, for the place considered the most evil, the disaster water, is there precisely a Red Dust Gate to suppress it? Moreover, the human qi on this gate is so heavy. The human race is not born to dominate the present world and has never been the favored one of the present world.

Those who hold the latter viewpoint believe that although eras have been interrupted, historical writing has not ceased. If it were a creation, it would be impossible to leave no trace. The origin and experiences of the Ten Thousand Demons Gate, the entire process of building the gate, and the trials and tribulations it endured are all recorded in history, stroke by stroke. Why is there no trace of the Red Dust Gate's origin? Only by being naturally born and nurtured, and existing earlier than the Taigu Human Emperor, born from the same source as the disaster water, can all of this be explained.

In summary, the Red Dust Gate simply existed in this manner, becoming the only gateway in and out of the disaster water, and has long been accepted by the world. It is a gate that is taken for granted and is also destined to suppress that place.

Now, within it, a great voice echoed, claiming to be Ji Fu Ren. The second emperor of the Central Great Jing Empire, Jing Wen Emperor!

"Shi" means to add benefits, a single word encompassing praise and blame. The posthumous title is a final judgment for a monarch, used to highly summarize the emperor's merits and faults during their reign. Generally speaking, when an emperor abdicates, it also signifies the death of the monarch's identity. Then, their achievements are objectively evaluated, a posthumous title and tablet are established, and together with previous emperors, they are worshipped in the ancestral temple. The living worship the name, the dead worship the spirit. This itself is part of the present world's state system, "name" and "instrument."

The likes of Han Yin, who was reluctant to relinquish power and not leave, serving as monarch for over a hundred years and then as Taishang Emperor for another hundred years, exhausting the vast Yong country to the brink of collapse, can be considered rare. When he was alive and still in power, still controlling the court, it was naturally impossible to judge his merits and faults.

There was a period when the ministers of the Yong country endlessly praised Han Yin, petitioning to grant him a beautiful posthumous title. Once the posthumous title was issued and the dust settled, it also meant that he would forever lose state authority and the support of national power. At that time, the enthroned Yong Emperor Han Xu stepped forward, ruthlessly killing a group of ministers with "evil intentions," only then stopping this undercurrent... Thus, it wasn't until Han Yin died in battle at Lock Dragon Pass that his posthumous title and name were finally settled.

According to legend, Yong Emperor Han Xu extremely wanted to give his birth father a neutral posthumous title, but ministers argued based on reason. Yong Emperor helplessly covered his face and wept: "The monarch cannot love the people, I weep tears for descendants, ashamed to be a son, the rest of my life I shall repay the country!" Finally, the character "Li" was settled upon.

Comparing Yong Li Emperor and Jing Wen Emperor is indeed like measuring the vast sea with dust. To weave heaven and earth, to make ten thousand nations the constitution, to have vast imperial virtue, and broad and learned morals... Only then is the posthumous title "Wen" bestowed. Looking across the entire world, in nearly four thousand years of history, Jing Wen Emperor is among the top few monarchs. His prestige in the Jing country is not inferior to that of Jing Taizu. It was precisely in his hands that the Jing country truly shook off the control of the Daoist sect, completed centralization, and achieved the name and reality of the world's first empire. It was also he who allied with the world, truly established the Jing country's central position, personally held the knife, and carved up the interests after the Ten Thousand Demons Gate while talking and laughing.

He is the emperor among emperors, the hegemon among hegemons.

Is he actually still in the world? Can he actually make such a grand voice in this Red Dust Gate?

The entire evil sea, even the sound of waves no longer rose. As if all were subdued by his majesty. Meng Tianhai's tens of thousands of zhang Dao body was just like this, stagnant in the air, unable to rise another step. Although this world is infinitely high, this gate is the limit of height. He already felt that extreme pressure, already touched the power that this world cannot tolerate. The distance between the absolute peak and transcendence, he already saw clearly!

He didn't know why, at this moment, he thought of the meeting with Xia Xiang Emperor in the blood river sky that year. At that time, accompanying the Xia Emperor was that 'Six Toes Child', and he was still Huo Shi Ji.

Xia Xiang Emperor said — "The Great Dao walks alone, because it cuts off those who walk together."

He approved in his heart, yet could only say with Huo Shi Ji's identity — "Since it is the Great Dao, why must it walk alone. We govern water, those with the same aspirations and paths walk together." Huo Shi Ji's Dao body, saying words that absolutely conform to Huo Shi Ji but absolutely do not conform to Meng Tianhai, is it against the heart or not against the heart? Sometimes he also couldn't distinguish.

All past events were vivid in his mind. Fifty-five thousand years of life, there were too many profound memories. He saw many, many scenes, but in the end, only a back figure remained in his mind. A back figure wearing an immortal crown, stepping through the river of time. Fortunate or unfortunate?

He lifted his eyes, calmly looking at the Red Dust Gate: "I was born a favored son of heaven, once stood on the peak of an era. I also took one wrong step, wore shackles and chains, labored for fifty thousand years. Now, I walk back again, standing at the position you once stood. I don't feel I am fortunate, nor do I feel I am unfortunate. Whether you are Ji Fu Ren or Li Cang Hu, I only know to walk my path. Those who block my path are my Dao enemies. Those who block my transcendence, I must kill them!"

Jing Wen Emperor's voice, echoing in the Red Dust Gate, was also just a direct sentence: "Enter the gate! The one who blocks your Dao is Ji Fu Ren!"

Historical figures, speaking in reality, have a kind of grand symphony across time and space.

The Red Dust Gate opened from the inside out, like a great world opening a gap for the present world. Behind the gate was no longer the familiar empty Red Dust space, but there were also no more details to be seen. Behind the gate hung a curtain woven by countless Red Dust cause and effect lines.

Transcendent beings do not enter the world, stepping into this gate determines life and death. I do not judge you, because your Dao will not be shaken again. But I will kill you, wipe out this Dao of yours. This is the oppression from Jing Wen Emperor!

"I come also!"

Meng Tianhai, without any hesitation, brought the cracked velvet of this world and stepped into the gate, lifting the curtain and entering! His Dao body reached tens of thousands of zhang, yet this Red Dust Gate fully accommodated it.

Everything after the curtain, Jiang Wang could no longer see clearly. He consecutively opened the Seeing and Hearing Immortal Domain and Qian Yang Red Pupils. Even with such blessings, even Eye Immortals could not see more. But he was also unwilling to shift his gaze, staring intently at the hazy shadow of the Red Dust Gate, as if he could discern some movement from it.

Dou Zhao's eyes were blank. Just as he was about to turn his head, he glimpsed Chong Xuan Zun and Jiang Wang both remaining unmoved, so he also did not move.

The tens of thousands of zhang Dao body stepped into the void in a single step, and the evil sea high sky inevitably had a feeling of being overly empty. The red destructive thunder was still tearing, and the illusions of gods and Buddhas left behind by Meng Tianhai in the sky were still imprinted in the air, as if waiting for something.

Several Yan Dao True Monarchs were all silent. Time seemed to have passed for a long time, but the still-growing Lotus World described its brevity — the lotus flower had only opened one petal.

The lotus seed worlds had already disappeared one by one, and the prototype of the Lotus Hua Holy Realm had also already manifested. The blood color was washed clean, and the great concept of the various saints' era was being realized step by step. Light and shadow were hazy, vast and boundless within, with vicissitudes of the sea and mulberry fields. Looking at this world from the outside, it was just a huge, floating land-like lotus flower, slowly opening.

When the lotus flower opened this petal, a great vitality just barely flowed out. The illusions of gods and Buddhas left behind by Meng Tianhai in the air... all dimmed! Like lamps being blown out. One died, one lived. Fifty thousand years of labor, not waiting for the flower to bloom.

The Red Dust Gate closed once again and fell back to its original place, virtually suspended in the center of the Jade Belt Sea. It was eternal as before, as if it had never moved. The rift in the sky had already healed, and the destructive thunder had disappeared. It was still the dim sky, the boundless turbid flow.

Everything had ended. Meng Tianhai, who had survived from the mythological era until now, who had twice stood on the peak of an era, impacting transcendence, in the end of his life, only left three words —

"I come also."

Just like this, he left without return.

"How could he possibly win, ah? That's Jing Wen Emperor, he just rushed over without saying anything..." The first to speak was Ji Li. She, who had been immersed in the calculation bureau, realized a little late. She was fortunate enough to see a certain true meaning in the Tian Yan Bureau, knowing that Meng Tianhai was actually a prisoner of the various saints. At this moment, relying on the power of Xue Hai again, she witnessed Meng Tianhai's curtain call, and her feelings were somewhat complex. Xue Tan Hua, in her arms, gently rubbed her arm.

"He had no choice." Chen Pu's tone was inexplicable: "He only had a short freedom. Either stop here waiting for his life to be exhausted, or walk into the Red Dust Gate and meet his Dao blocker."

Meng Tianhai actually had choices. He could have continued to do his labor, boost the opening of the Lotus Hua Holy Realm, and achieve an immortal will in the great world.

Si Yu An originally wanted to say this. But finally said: "Right, at least in the last moment, he already had no choice." He had absolutely no goodwill towards Meng Tianhai. If given the opportunity, he would very much want to personally chop off his head. But that person's last step towards the Red Dust Gate, he did indeed see an eternal and unified will.

Wu Bing already faintly said: "This is his choice." Facing the destruction of a transcendent being, those who experienced it would more or less have some emotional fluctuations. Only this Legalist great master still remained in his initial state. His residual arm also did not affect his sternness. Meng Tianhai's actions all the way led to today's result.

"Respected predecessors, I want to ask —" In the sound of the merciless Xue Hai waves, Jiang Wang said seriously: "Will every existence walking towards transcendence encounter Dao blockers in the end?"

Dou Zhao sneered: "Isn't asking this now too hasty? As if saying you can —" He changed the topic, looking towards the various True Monarchs: "This is exactly my doubt."

Chong Xuan Zun casually glanced over, adopting a posture of 'if there is an answer, I'll listen conveniently, no harm done'.

Chen Pu smiled tolerantly. The young people's vigor somewhat brought a few points of vitality to this dead silent evil lotus world. Finally, he answered: "This only depends on each person's cause and effect. Asking if a strong one walking towards transcendence will encounter Dao blockers is like asking if you will have enemies later. This depends on yourselves — what you have experienced and what you have chosen."

"Actually, I know what you are truly worried about, but there is no need to have this concern." Chen Pu said: "If the transcendence of predecessors could intercept all later ones, how would the demon race heavenly court be overthrown?" He did not mock these juniors for thinking too far ahead and worrying about the sky, but seriously answered: "The road is not blockable, because people must move forward." This sentence was extremely calm and extremely powerful. He glanced at Ruan Qu, who was stepping on starlight, and added: "Taking the ancient Human Emperor's descendant Xuan Yuan Shuo as an example. If Qi Heavenly Emperor did not want to have a transcendent being beside his bed, he would become Xuan Yuan Shuo's Dao blocker. Qi Heavenly Emperor chooses to acquiesce, then he is not his Dao blocker. Things are this simple. For another example, if Zhuang Gao Xian did not die, and had the opportunity to transcend, would you block him?"

Ruan Qu said: "Under the current human race's moral order and legal order, the human race cannot allow someone like Meng Tianhai to transcend. Putting aside new grudges and old hates, a person like him, mad and wicked without restraint, if he reaches that step, there will be too many variables, harmful to the human race without benefit."

"What exactly is the Red Dust Gate? Where exactly does it connect?" Dou Zhao asked: "Why is its origin a blank? Meng Tianhai managed the disaster water for tens of thousands of years, does he actually not know the secret of this gate?"

"Just as Meng Tianhai said, eras have their secrets." Chen Pu said: "The Red Dust Gate should be information that only transcendents know. In fact, I also just learned that I can actually see transcendence here. The disaster water cannot be lost, we made all preparations beforehand, but we only knew that there would be transcendence acting at the crucial moment. As for whether Meng Tianhai knows the secret of this gate... He may have guesses, or he may know nothing. The Red Dust Gate is not the point, the point is that someone will certainly block him."

"So this is a road destined to fail." Chong Xuan Zun said.

"No one can allow him to succeed. We worked hard to make his failure the ending, he worked hard to change this so-called 'destined,' first contending with the various saints, later contending with all sides. Finally, it is what you all saw." Chen Pu said.

"How did the battle in the Red Dust Gate just now proceed, Dean can describe a bit?" Jiang True Person was unable to spy on this kind of battle, feeling like ants crawling in his heart.

"Has Jing Wen Emperor transcended?" Dou Zhao asked.

Dou Zhao's great-grandmother, Song Po Ti, at this time had already flown towards the depths of the evil sea, going to seek the Yun Meng Boat. Qin Tian Jian Supervisor Ruan Qu also relied on star divination to find the Chi State Tripod. Legalist great master Wu Bing already wore a face of not approaching strangers. Sword Pavilion Pavilion Master Si Yu An then stood far away, quite impatiently putting away the Kun Wu Sword.

Only Chen Pu still maintained patience towards the young people, seriously answering every question... He was truly worthy of being the academy's dean, a model of teaching and educating.

"Before today, I only knew that after Jing Wen Emperor abdicated, he returned great power to himself and then restarted the transcendence path, but I did not know if He achieved it. Now that He can suppress Meng Tianhai, presumably He has succeeded." He sighed: "You ask for more news of transcendence, ask about existences like Jing Wen Emperor. Actually, I also know very little. I am separated by the pitifully thick barrier, unable to understand that realm. Just now, that Red Dust world-separating curtain, I also could not see through. I am ashamed, compared to you, I have just wasted some years."

Even Chen Zongshi did not see through!

Dou Zhao couldn't help but squint at Jiang Wang and Chong Xuan Zun... These two really had the nerve, pretending as if they were watching with relish, making the old man think how backward the Dou family's pupil technique was!

Chong Xuan Zun simply did not look at Dou Zhao. While Jiang Wang was still immersed in his own mood, he suddenly sighed: "On the road to transcendence, how many stories perish!"

The high-crowned and broad-sleeved Wu Bing already, at this time, walked into Xue Hai. "Meng Tianhai indeed does not need an audience." He looked up at the huge holy lotus in the center of Xue Hai. The lotus flower was like a mountain, quietly deriving a world: "But it needs it."

Then, upon these words falling, the last petal of this holy lotus finally bloomed.

Jiang Wang felt intense vitality, his qi and blood circulating smoothly around his body, unobstructed everywhere. His Dao Yuan was also lively because of it, joyful because of it, as if his lifespan had been supplemented — he had indeed increased his lifespan! But this feeling quickly disappeared.

The huge holy lotus was still blooming in the center of Xue Hai, like an isolated island. About the infinite light and shadows within that great world, they could no longer be seen again. But subsequent "island-landing" people could obviously start a new adventure. What a great world, merely the breath released at the moment of birth could make a True Person increase their lifespan.

Dou Zhao stepped forward, wanting to go in and see. Yet he only saw Wu Bing already's finger fall, dividing the void into warp and weft, one into "rule," one into "square," intersecting with each other, finally turning into two white seals, in a cross shape, steadily pasted on the surface of the holy lotus. The seals had words. The left said: Four seasons forbidden entry. The right said: Eight directions not pass. Time and space were both sealed!

Dou Zhao had the mind to ask this old man, but after thinking, he still directed his doubtful eyes towards the kind Dean Chen. Chen Pu warmly explained: "Although it is said that the three fiercest of the evil sea will not emerge without a great calamity, the three hundred thirty-three years one evil calamity has not yet arrived. But the Shen Xiao world is about to open, at this important moment, we must make more preparations to avoid accidents."

"The reason why so many of us came to the disaster water and made so many preparations is precisely for this — whether Meng Tianhai exists or not, the Lotus Hua Holy Realm must open."

"The birth of the Lotus Hua Holy Realm is to suppress the disaster water. It is not our harvest, nor for us to enjoy or allocate. So Zongshi Wu, on behalf of the Three Punishments Palace, will seal its entrance, let it grow freely, and continue the legacy of the various saints."

Jiang Wang subconsciously looked towards the distance. The end of his vision was still turbid, but in the turbidity, there seemed to be faint wave light. The legacy of the various saints, the disaster water forever clear.

Thanks to book friend Li Xiao Bai for becoming the alliance master of this book, which is the 636th alliance for Chi Xin Patrol Heaven!