Beyond the Timescape

Chapter 794: Why Question a Bell When You Can Question a Sword?

“The heavens have spirits,” continued the schoolmaster of the God-Merging school, “while living beings have gods. It’s a cold, hard fact that gods have come to us, and over the countless years that have passed, have become part of Revered Ancient. They are a part of the system of power here. And people like us should take advantage of that. We can take things that have been infected by gods and use them as material for our own godly ascension.

“By taking such materials into our bodies like we would medicinal pills, we can take the initiative to transform ourselves. We can make godly bodies that are appropriate for our times and our situation. Mutagen doesn’t need to be a poison. It can be a nutrient for cultivation, just like spirit energy. As a matter of fact, we in the God-Merging School call it god power.

“By using that as a cultivation technique, we humans can become incomparably strong. At the same time, considering the path of the immortal is severed, why try to force things in that regard? Instead, let’s make our own path to walk! The philosophy and goal of the God-Merging School can be stated as such: all humans will be gods!”

The God-Merging schoolmaster didn’t speak in wildly arrogant tones. But his words were still profoundly meaningful, and they became a tempest that struck the hearts of the students in the Imperial University. That was especially true of what he said about all humans being gods. That was the core of the God-Merging School, and it was also the reason it had grown so quickly. And the God-Merging schoolmaster expressed it with full confidence and conviction.

“Preposterous!” said the Xeno-Immortal schoolmaster with a cold laugh. “Historically speaking, we humans have had our share of glory. We’ve transcended the mortal world. We’ve created huge civilizations. We’ve also experienced tragic catastrophes. Regardless of what happens, we keep going. We’re still human! Our blood still runs red!

“You speak of humankind, but what you’re actually talking about is casting aside the human body. You’re talking about discarding human dignity! I’d rather just stay human than become some grotesque freak. You say that all humans will be gods? It sounds more like you want humans to serve the gods.

“Your methods are a way of exterminating a species! Everyone will be gods? If that happens, no one will be human!”

The Xeno-Immortal schoolmaster wasn’t afraid to debate ideas with other schools of thought. In fact, he enjoyed it. And as he got worked up, his oratory skills seemed to improve. He became even more persuasive. As a result, there were already fence-sitting students who felt moved by his words. Even Xu Qing found himself looking twice at the schoolmaster. He never would have guessed that the man could speak so incisively. There were also students from the God-Merging School who, hearing his words, looked reticently at their own schoolmaster.

The God-Merging schoolmaster didn’t say anything in response. He just looked at Seventh Prince.

Seventh Prince raised his eyebrows and coolly said, “Your Xeno-Immortal School techniques are too conservative. Too traditional. You people are too stubborn! You hold on the glory of the past and won’t let go, treating new things like enemies. And you’re clearly prejudiced against our God-Merging School. Well, the students of the Imperial University are no fools. They can look at the facts and make their own decision.

“The reason I chose to join the God-Merging School is the same reason that all the other students in our school did the same.”

His words met with quite a bit of approval among the students of the Imperial University. They were a new generation, and though they respected ancient traditions, they also thought they could be changed.

There were also fence-sitting students who sighed in their hearts. They had to admit that Seventh Prince’s status made his arguments even more persuasive. In fact, the prismatic beam shining up from the God-Merging School grew brighter as a result.

The God-Merging schoolmaster looked at the Xeno-Immortal schoolmaster. “See that? That’s why your Xeno-Immortal School has fallen into decline. Times have changed.”

The Xeno-Immortal schoolmaster sighed softly but had nothing more to say. In the debate of falsehood, the Xeno-Immortal School had not achieved any major advantage. After a long moment of silence passed, the chancellor introduced the second topic.

“What is the dao of a species?”

The first person to speak this time was from the God-Merging School, and in this case, it was their other chief student.

“In the Revered Ancient mainland, there are tens of thousands of species and trillions upon trillions of living beings. As for humans, we have the interests of all species in our hearts. Our goal is to unify Revered Ancient. To merge the daos of all species together into our own dao. We can take the best from everyone else and make it our own. We can learn from the strengths of others to offset our weaknesses. And by doing so, we can achieve unparalleled results.

“Times have changed. There’s no need to be stuck wallowing in the past. Embrace change. Embrace it thoroughly! In that way, we can make a bridge between the past and the future. We can leave the past behind and usher in new innovations!

“What’s wrong with saying that all humans will be gods? We will once again be the number one species in Revered Ancient. We can be tolerant of everyone. We can be in harmony with everything. And when that happens, then we can call ourselves Godfolk. We will be the unifiers of Revered Ancient. It’s not some impossibility! And then the broken face in the sky will bring us, not destruction and hardship, but positive blessings! [1]

“Have any of you ever considered that even after the broken face came and changed everything, there were still living beings everywhere in Revered Ancient? Couldn't it be possible that the coming of the face was a destined opportunity? And if we seize that opportunity, then the broken face can become a weapon for us to wield.”

His words struck like lightning bolts into the hearts and minds of the students. His words violated the classics and departed from the orthodox dao. However, what he said was actually very logical. It made sense. All of a sudden, the students in the Imperial University were lost in thought. Among all the groups and organizations were people who looked down on words like this, but there were also people who were now considering them.

The emperor looked closely at the God-Merging School.

The God-Merging schoolmaster looked up and met the emperor’s gaze. The reality was that the words which had just been spoken by the chief student were actually not directed at the other students in the audience, or even the Xeno-Immortal School. As far as the God-Merging schoolmaster was concerned, those words were intended for the person he was currently looking at.

Xu Qing noted that.

Meanwhile, the Xeno-Immortal schoolmaster barked out a harsh laugh. “You ignorant child. You think the dao of a species is as simplistic as that? You couldn’t be farther from the truth! The so-called dao of a species relates to that species’ soul, traditions, philosophies, civilization, and ideals. All of those things together!”

At this point, the Xeno-Immortal schoolmaster was throwing caution to the wind. Standing up, he pointed at the emperor up in the air. Looking at all the gathered students, he shouted, “Can anyone tell me why Emperor Dark War is referred to as ‘human’ emperor? Back in the day, Ancient Emperor Dark Serenity was the emperor of all species, yet his official title was ‘human emperor.’ Why?

“Because we’re human! Whether in ancient times or in the future, we’re all human. It’s in our souls, our traditions, our philosophies, our civilization, and our ideals.

“The broken face in the sky brought unending suffering and misery to us humans. We’re natural-born enemies. You want to make a compromise? To let down all of the countless humans who have died from mutation over the years? That’s not the proper dao. That’s outright betrayal!”

His words were full of grief and lamentation. Even hatred. The students in the university heard them and were shaken deeply. That was especially true when it came to his explanation of ‘human emperor.’

The university became very quiet. The emperor closed his eyes.

The God-Merging schoolmaster frowned beneath his mask. As he looked at the Xeno-Immortal schoolmaster, he once again got the sense that this person who he had previously looked down on as a nobody was actually a lot more difficult to deal with than he imagined.

A long moment passed, and then the chancellor revealed the third topic.

“What is the proper dao?”

Someone else on the God-Merging side prepared to answer, but then the schoolmaster raised his hand. Looking at the Xeno-Immortal schoolmaster, he calmly said, “The proper dao is the dao that is orthodox. The dao that is righteous. [2]

“Our God-Merging School has a clear conscience in this world. We have a clear conscience among humankind. We do merge with godly materials, but we also scrupulously abide by the proper dao. It’s your Xeno-Immortal School that is cruel, ruthless, and wicked. You torment fellow humans and absorb the souls of innocent cultivators. Everyone knows about this.

“Just now, you spoke with great confidence, saying ‘humans blah blah blah’ and ‘humankind this-and-that.’ But if you look at such words in context, they’re pure hypocrisy. The Xeno-Immortal School isn’t worthy of the proper dao.”

The words were spoken very calmly, but given everything that had been happening with the Xeno-Immortal School, they were a mortal attack. The thought-provoking words from the Xeno-Immortal schoolmaster now seemed weak and ineffective.

Then the God-Merging schoolmaster delivered the final death blow. “When a person doesn’t act properly, how can they possibly speak properly?”

All the students in the Imperial University looked up at the Xeno-Immortal schoolmaster. All the onlookers outside the university seemed to be sighing. The Xeno-Immortal dao seeds were just too evil. Because of that, the words spoken by the God-Merging schoolmaster were like a sharp blade.

The Xeno-Immortal School opened his mouth to speak, and yet he wasn’t sure what to say. He wanted to offer a retort. But in the end he couldn’t. Not even he could explain why the Xeno-Immortal dao seeds, which he believed to be a good thing, had led to slaughter and killing. He had no explanation. During the time when he had been confined in the tower, that question had eaten at him.

Only two stages of the dao debate had passed so far, but already, people were reaching the point where they wouldn’t trust anything the Xeno-Immortal School said.

The chancellor of the university sighed inwardly, then looked out and prepared to speak. However, that was when a cold voice echoed out from the crowd.

“It’s only natural that someone who behaves improperly will speak improperly. Similarly, if the techniques are improper, then the school of thought is also improper.”

It was Xu Qing’s voice, and as it echoed out, the other students looked over in surprise. Meanwhile, Xu Qing floated out of the crowd and into the air. Everyone was looking at him, including the students and the spectators outside the university. The emperor also opened his eyes. Numerous streams of divine will locked onto him as he floated up onto the Xeno-Immortal School’s dao altar. He became the second cultivator from the Xeno-Immortal school to present himself publicly.

The Xeno-Immortal schoolmaster was struggling to control his breathing when it happened. He looked over at Xu Qing with surprise and confusion. He recognized this student, but at the same time, that recognition was what made him realize there was something very unusual about him. And that sensation was growing stronger by the moment. How could he ever have guessed that the student named Sir Dark-Thunder would step out into the open and say something like that? He was actually somewhat stunned. Then, his daze turned into keen speculation and anticipation.

As Xu Qing settled onto the Xeno-Immortal School’s dao altar, his gaze seemed utterly calm. He was looking at the black dao altar and the God-Merging School cultivators there. After scanning the group, his gaze came to rest on Seventh Prince.

The God-Merging schoolmaster’s pupils constricted as he looked at Xu Qing and realized he seemed familiar.

Seventh Prince didn’t feel any sense of familiarity. But he did feel a sense of danger. And when Xu Qing’s gaze locked onto him, that sensation exploded within him.

Next, Xu Qing spoke again in his cold voice. “This seems like a good time and place to clear up matters regarding the Xeno-Immortal dao seeds. Fellow students, Your Majesty, please bear witness.”

Xu Qing waved his hand, revealing a jade slip. He pushed down onto it.

Instantly, beams of light shot out of the jade slip, intersecting in midair to form an image. It was an image of a private chamber, within which a person was practicing cultivation.

That person was none other than Seventh Prince. Astonishingly, he was surrounded by masses of human souls. At a quick glance, there seemed to be millions and millions of them. They included old people and young. Men and women. Most were mortals, and they were screaming in anguish and horror. They were begging for mercy. But Seventh Prince’s expression was placid, without any hint of mercy. He inhaled, and the souls of numerous fellow humans entered his mouth.

He started chewing, and at the same time, used the magical techniques of the God-Merging School. As a result, the human souls smashed into the bottleneck in his God-Merging cultivation, and allowed him to absorb more godly materials.

It was obvious that this process was very beneficial, and from his facial expression, he even seemed to be enjoying it. The contrast created between him and the screaming souls... made the scene shocking and ghastly. Anyone who saw it would bristle with anger.

The jade slip was no ordinary item. It didn’t just have an image on it. It also preserved the auras present when the image was captured, which could be used to confirm its authenticity. But that just made the evil scene worse.

All students in the Imperial University felt their minds spinning. Their eyes became bloodshot, and rage built up within them, causing colorful winds to spring up everywhere.

A commotion had erupted in the organizations outside the university. After all, it was bad enough that something like this was happening, but what was more shocking... was that it was being done by an imperial prince. This level of evil was beyond shocking.

The emperor’s face looked extremely grim, and frigid coldness emanated off him, filling the imperial capital. The dome of heaven darkened, and the rumbling of thunder could be heard.

Trembling, Seventh Prince shot to his feet. Working hard to control his facial expression, he calmly said, “Father, that image is a fake. Someone is setting me up! I hereby request to use the Immortal Questioning Bell to prove that the person in the image isn’t me!”

Seventh Prince’s expression was calm, but he was shaking. It was one thing to swagger around doing as he pleased in Sea-Sealing County. But right now, he was in the imperial capital, right in front of the emperor. As a result, he felt terror and alarm building within him.

Of course, Xu Qing was here, and there was no way Xu Qing was going to let Seventh Prince overturn the game board. He waved his hand, and out came the student who had been possessed by Little Shadow.

Before he could open his mouth to speak, Xu Qing slapped his hand down onto his head. Instantly, an image from the student’s memories appeared in the air above him. It depicted the image from that secret meeting, and everyone could see it.

The storm began to intensify.

Xu Qing’s eyes were as cold as ice as the storm raged. He glared at the God-Merging schoolmaster.

“Who is it exactly that’s tormenting fellow humans? Who is it exactly that’s devouring human souls? Who is it exactly that’s speaking with great confidence?”

Those three sentences seemed to shake heaven and earth.

The Xeno-Immortal schoolmaster was deeply shaken. As for the God-Merging schoolmaster, he was looking deeply at Xu Qing.

Seventh Prince was also glaring at Xu Qing. Flying up into the air, he prostrated himself to the emperor.

“Father, someone is targeting me by means of that image. Father, please give me a chance to prove myself. I can clear my name with the Immortal Questioning Bell!”

Within the projected image of the imperial palace, the emperor looked coldly at Seventh Prince.

“Go ahead.”

His words counted as an imperial edict. And when the emperor spoke, people obeyed. But today... things were different.

Xu Qing took a step forward. “That won’t be necessary. Why question a bell when you can question a sword?” Xu Qing pointed up into the sky. “The Emperor’s Sword!”

1. In Chinese, what I’m rendering as Godfolk essentially takes the word ‘god’ and combines it with the same word for ‘species’ that appears in the names of all the various species we’ve seen in the story, from the Seazombies to the Firemoons. It seems to imply that gods are a species. That said, the specific character (like just about every character in Chinese) can be interpreted in different ways. For instance, it could also be “clan.” However, given the context it seems that it’s referring to gods as a species. Don’t forget that the Holytides are a unique species, but are/were considered to also be human, or at least partly/formerly human. This is one of those things that could get some sort of wordplay clarification hundreds of chapters from now in a chapter that, as of translating and uploading this chapter, hasn’t been released yet. If that happens, I reserve the right to change this translation choice if appropriate. ☜

2. The words rendered “orthodox” and “righteous” both share a character with “proper.” In English, it would be akin to asking “what is anti-war” and then the answer being “anti-war means being anti-violence and anti-hatred.” ☜

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