Chapter 25: Chapter 2360
The Western Desert
Barren dunes stacked high across the scorching earth.
The Western Desert had always been a place with little to no resources, but that didn't stop them from producing Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable.
In fact, the only region to have not produced a venerable ironically enough was the resource-abundant Eastern Seas.
As the saying went, 'The North abounds in Fortuity that stemmed from Savagery up above the Dao observed, the South gave birth to both yin and yang, striking Terror and Mercy, from the West one man stood still, nothing to gain and nothing to lose with strength of his own he Stole the most from Heaven and Earth and down below. In the Middle where Origin first led, and the Stars shine bright on this land, the ebbing of Time and the waning of love, one should appreciate all in this life Genesis sees the Dream come last. With nothing to show though its land is filled with plenty, no Venerable will spring forth from the East."
Of course, the poem was made around Fang Yuan's time and thus, only used information that was known at the time such as Great Dream Immortal Venerable.
The poem was currently being remade and adapted to fit Fang Yuan into the mix, but it seemed impossible until a bard in the Western Dessert just decided to make Fang Yuan his own poem
"From the greatest heights to the lowest depths, one life is all we get. For 3 million years we journeyed and waited, friends, families and loved ones aplenty, through the misguides of life one man stoop unperturbed the myriad beings have found the one, Fang Yuan!"
The poem was making its way around the numerous traveling caravans in the Western Desert
Peng Da and Mo Li were walking around the campsite of one such caravan.
"Venerable huh? I wonder if we'll ever reach such heights?" Peng Da spent his time contemplating.
After Mo Li had achieved Rank 5, he believed that being at the peak of the mortal world he would be able to seek out the beast that killed his family, and that Mo Li's revenge would finally be over.
But alas, the only knowledge he acquired was that they were still miles away from even attempting revenge.
"Mo Li how about we just call it quits, the more I see what Rank 6 and even Rank 7 Gu Immortals are capable of the more I am certain that it was a Rank 8 Immemorial Desolate Beast."
Mo Li just sat at the campsite not responding.
"I know that you loved aunty very much and I'm sure that both she and your daughter would not want this please just give," before Peng Da could finish.
"Shut Up! What do you know? You're a youngling what would you know of having someone that stuck by you for years and the joy of having a child with such a woman?" Mo Li began to unleash all his pent-up emotions.
"You're not even from this world so what would you know of its unfairness and cruelty, from the sound of it although your world had its problems it wasn't anything compared to the Gu world."
Mo Li looked up at the moon and began to cry: "I know it seems hopeless and it may take me 10, 20, or even 30 years to complete! But I will not give up, vengeance is my only reason for living now!"
Peng Da sighed, even though Mo Li had been the one to kill him he felt somewhat pitiful for the man, after all, he wasn't like this before.
He had once been a caring and nurturing man; he found and took in Peng Da as he adjusted to the world.
Peng Da truly did want to help Mo Li accomplish his dream but not at his only chance at revival.
Even though he felt pity and gratitude towards Mo Li he didn't want to remain a slave all his life.
Worse if Mo Li wanted to suicide to finish the beast off, then Peng Da would have no choice but to join him.
"It seems as if I really have to do this," Peng Da sighed to himself.
Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable's inheritance contained the numerous stages and ways to refine the Gu's required power and to use the 'Mecha' system of his old world.
Peng Da still appeared hesitant: "*Sigh* Mo Li you've left me no choice after all you were the one who taught me that the strong eat the weak, I promise you if I am ever strong enough, I will grant you your vengeance."
Peng Da then spoke to Mo Li: "Okay I don't want to end up dying as a result of your foolishness, so I'll help you, let's undergo Immortal Ascension after this caravan trip."
Mo Li smiled: "Mhm I have almost reached the peak of Rank 5 with the reward from this trip I should be able to break through but I have no experience controlling the 3 Qis."
"Don't worry here I was waiting until the time was right," Peng Da extended his fingers and touched Mo Li's forehead.
A burst of information regarding Thieving Heaven Venerable's experience rushed into Mo Li's head.
Mo Li then entered a meditative state as he digested the information.
Peng Da watched the moon as he waited: "Soon…"
As Peng Da was watching the stars he noticed one streaking across the sky at a rapid speed.
"Hmm, that star is too fast to be a falling star, could it be a Gu Immortal? Impossible! After blinking it's already gone; who could be that fast?"
Peng Da was right the star he saw was actually Star Constellation Immortal Venerable.
"Strange. What could Fang Yuan be scheming now? Whatever it is since Giant Sun and Spectral Soul are there I can't miss out."
Star Constellation was worried that Fang Yuan would buy them out so that they could deal with her but it seemed unlikely as both Giant Sun and Spectral Soul would never trust Fang Yuan.
At a remote area of the Western Dessert.
3 figures were seated at a round table with a 4th seat empty.
They were naturally Giant Sun, Spectral Soul, and Fang Yuan!
3 Venerables were sitting face to face with one another, the tension was palpable
Spectral Soul kept glaring daggers at Fang Yuan, Giant Sun was on edge against both of them and Fang Yuan was leisurely sipping tea.
"Come dear friends you must sample my newest tea concoction, Toppling Empires And Overturning Heaven."
This tea actually contained Heaven Path Dao Marks!
Although Giant Sun and Spectral Soul were both apprehensive, they could not deny that their curiosity was piqued.
This was likely the first-ever Heaven Path tea which meant that Fang Yuan's attainments have once again improved.
Giant Sun kept inspecting the tea with his various methods concerned about the potential side effects.
Spectral Soul grabbed the cup and gulped the tea down!
"Good Tea, friend might I have more," Spectral Soul held his cup out to Fang Yuan.
Giant Sun thought to himself: "How bold and shameless can Spectral Soul be?! To drink that Tea without doing much investigation and still asking for more?! Truly these 2 are the peak of shameless path."
Seeing no negative effect from Spectral Soul, Giant Sun himself decided to surrender to his curiosity and have a taste of the world's first Heaven Path Tea.
The tea was of a rich gold color, as the scent of the tea entered one's nose, memories of Heaven could be recalled, depending on where the Dao Mark came from it would play a scene from that location as the Heaven Path Dao Mark had stood there since time immemorial.
Drinking the tea would further boost this sensation as it would allow the drinker to see, hear, smell, feel and taste the passage of time, the change in seasons.
This particular tea used Dao Marks from one of the Grotto Heaven's that Fang Yuan absorbed.
Giant Sun could witness the growth of the Gu Immortal it belonged to, his joys his lows his life his death and, his descendants.
With each generation, he felt both its joys and despairs its hope and its dismay. He felt like a god living amongst men.
While people came and went, he stayed stagnant in one spot soaking it all in. Sometimes he would be moved, or he might stay rooted for centuries without batting an eye.
"Is this what eternity feels like," Giant Sun thought to himself: "No, this is nothing more than just existing forever, it is not the Eternity that Limitless was searching for."
Although Giant Sun had gone through Epochs after Epochs nothing more than a few seconds had passed in the real world.
"Sure, friend Spectral Soul where would you like to experience next, I have tea from all the 5 regions."
As Giant Sun came to his senses, he saw Fang Yuan pouring Spectral Soul another cup of tea.
"Ah friend Giant Sun I didn't want to ruin your experience, so how was my tea?" Fang Yuan smiled.
Giant Sun frowned: "This tea is exceptional," he responded to Fang Yuan.
"Glad to hear it," Fang Yuan then poured himself another cup.
Soon a bright star in the sky seemed to be heading towards the group.
"It would appear that lady Star Constellation has arrived we can begin shortly now."
Star Constellation soon landed at the remaining empty seat.
"Friend Fang Yuan I hope you didn't invite me out just to have tea with 2 old men."
Giant Sun looked at Star Constellation and thought: "Speak for yourself, you're the oldest one here!"
But wisely he kept such comments to himself, after living with a harem he knew firsthand how sensitive women can be, especially when it came to age.
"Friend Star Constellation what's wrong with friends enjoying tea," Fang Yuan's words made Giant Sun choke on his drink.
Star Constellation squinted: "If that is all then I won't waste any more of my time with you."
As Star Constellation prepared to fly away.
"Hahaha, a joke it's a joke, of course, I have a serious matter to discuss with you all," Fang Yuan beckoned his hand to Star Constellation to take a seat.
Star Constellation glanced at the seat and then at Giant Sun who shrugged his shoulders in response.
"Fine. Don't waste my time dear friend, what is so important that you brought us all here."
Fang Yuan smiled: "Simple I want to call a sort of truce."
His words caused the 3 venerables to raise their eyebrow in suspicion.
"A truce? What do you mean?" Giant Sun was the first to ask.
"Let's be honest within each Venerable's HQ it is impossible to lose, this was clearly evident when the 3 of yall failed on your mounted campaign against me recently,"
Fang Yuan was rubbing salt on the pride of the 3 Venerables but only Spectral Soul was slightly annoyed.
"If I hadn't held back because I wanted to observe and waste Giant Sun's and Star Constellation's strength things might have been different," Spectral Soul thought to himself.
Fang Yuan continued: "As I'm sure you've noticed the plans of Venerables can escape even our own detection, Reckless was a good example of this, his revival was sudden and caught us all by surprise luckily his method had waned over the million years, and he did not regain his full strength."
The 3 venerables wanted Fang Yuan to explain what exactly happened to Reckless. But he dodged that topic.
"So I propose that we set up a truce, the 4 of us will rely on our subordinates to fight out the war between Venerables and we will tie each other down here in the Western Desert where no one has an advantage!"
Star Constellation snorted: "Hmph, this clearly favors you the most! You have the most capable subordinates of the 3 of us, in fact, you even have 2 Rank 8 clones that have pseudo-venerable strength,"
The other 2 venerables nodded.
While Giant Sun had a strong force in longevity heaven, he did not dare imagine the size and strength of Fang Yuan's.
Worst of all Spectral Soul only had himself and his Female form, Guang Xin.
Fang Yuan responded: "I'm not talking about a permeant one but rather for key events such as the retrieval of Reckless Savage's Grotto Heaven!"
"I've leaked the information to the world let's let the mortals decide the fate of the war."
The other 3 venerables thought about it.
Even though there seemed to be something fishy going on there were benefits to this.
Firstly, the 3 venerables were too strong! Their fight would plunge the world into needless destruction.
Second, despite their strength, a clear winner can never be found as even if 3 of them ganged up on the 4th one, a retreat to their HQ would render all that effort worthless.
Third, because this is now in the open the other Venerables would serve as a deterrent to having 1 venerable profiting from this solely.
Star Constellation was the first to think through it all: "I can agree but I want to add more stipulations."
Giant Sun was the only one who wasn't very satisfied with the deal: "How can we guarantee that the winner is given the spoils fairly? Won't the other 3 just gang up on the winner or am I supposed to trust the honesty and sportsmanship within yourselves?"
Giant Sun did raise a good point.
"We will take an Alliance Oath," Spectral Soul proposed.
Giant Sun and Star Constellation were confused as to what that was.
Only Fang Yuan secretly smirked when he heard Spectral Soul propose it.
Why? Because Fang Yuan had found out about it through Exposing Heavenly Secrets!
The whole reason he began this ploy was to be able to take Reckless's grotto heaven without the other Venerables interfering!
Thus, the 4 Venerables made an Oath.
1. They would not attack or steal from the participants
2. Aside from knowledge and Gu they were not allowed to add killer moves to enhance their members
3. Both sides could only send 1 Pseudo-Venerable.
4. There was a limit of 3 people from each Venerable
There were of course many smaller clauses interwoven into the Oath.
All the Venerables agreed, and it was decided.
The Cold War between Venerables began!
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
zulbucks
zulbucks My first attempt at poetry though some of you might rmb the cringe attempt at the beginning of this novel. Though I still find it a bit cringe.
But anyway welcome to my first arc, The Cold War, I want to slow the pace of the novel down a bit after all I just resurrected nearly 2 venerables just 20 chapters in.
So I did a reevaluation of my plot and decided to do some setting up.
This took me longer than usual so sorry I uploaded it an hour later than my standard time, though I don't really have a standard time.
As always I hope you enjoy reading the book do show your support by adding this book into your Library it makes a world of difference to my motivation to know that there are people who are actually invested in what I have to say!
With that, I would like to thank everyone who has ever even read a chapter of my work, and to the mad lads who care enough to give power stones and comments I can't show my appreciation enough, I will work hard to live up to your expectations.
I'll see you all in the next one.
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