Chapter 1361: Grievances and Entanglements

For a moment, the radiance of the Bodhi Dao Fruit had not yet faded, yet the resplendent light on many cultivators began to flicker one after another.

The entire assembly fell into an indescribably strange atmosphere.

"Heh, there really are those who can break through..." The Wheel of Reincarnation Hall Master's gaze lifted, looking toward a seat far in the back.

A young man who had followed his clan's ancestor here but unexpectedly obtained a Dao Fruit was now surging with cyan light, his aura rapidly swelling as his cultivation broke straight through the mid-stage Golden Immortal bottleneck into the late stage.

Before the commotion there had subsided, cries arose elsewhere—seven or eight people broke through in succession.

The Wheel of Reincarnation Hall Master swept his gaze casually and found that most were below the Taiyi stage, since the higher the cultivation, the harder it was to break through.

Yet even from the faces of those Taiyi cultivators, much excitement could be seen; clearly they had also gained no small benefit, though not enough to break through, it would surely reduce many hidden obstacles on their future path of cultivation.

Although the Dao Fruits consumed by Daluo cultivators were generally of higher grade, limited by their already high cultivation, any bottlenecks they faced were major barriers on the path, making it difficult to achieve immediate results.

Nevertheless, there were naturally various benefits, but they were often as calm as a deep well, hard to stir, and even if they gained much, they would not easily show it.

This continued for a long while before the unusual movements in the assembly gradually subsided.

"At this banquet, to see all fellow cultivators encounter their own opportunities—such a splendid sight truly does justice to the Heavenly Court's intentions." Gu Huojin swept his gaze over the crowd and said with a loud laugh.

"All thanks to the Supreme Being's generous bestowal of immortal grace and the gift of Bodhi Dao Fruits. We are deeply grateful and bow to the Supreme Being." A young man in a moon-white robe, who had just broken through a realm and whose aura had not yet fully stabilized, stood up with barely concealed excitement and bowed deeply to the Time Ancestor.

The many other Taiyi cultivators who had obtained immortal fortunes, as well as several Daluo cultivators, also rose one after another to express their gratitude to the Heavenly Court.

The Wheel of Reincarnation Hall Master watched this scene, a hint of a smile in his eyes, and murmured to himself:

"The Heavenly Court's methods are indeed extraordinary. With a mere Bodhi Dao Fruit, they attract so many followers—truly enviable..."

His voice was not loud, and he did not deliberately amplify it with magic power, but given the cultivation levels of those present, and the fact that many had been keeping a sliver of divine sense on him, all eyes turned to him as soon as he spoke.

Apart from a few who looked noncommittal, most showed displeasure, either frowning or angry.

"Hmph! The Wheel of Reincarnation Hall has always opposed the Heavenly Court, defying the Heavenly Dao, violating moral principles, and stirring up chaos throughout the True Immortal Realm. Now, thanks to the Supreme Being's magnanimity in allowing you to share in this grand feast, you still dare to speak arrogantly..." An old man with white hair, righteous and indignant, could not help but stand up and curse loudly.

Seeing this, others also began to denounce the Wheel of Reincarnation Hall's misconduct.

For a moment, the entire assembly seemed to have been invaded by a nest of magpies, chattering incessantly, creating considerable disorder.

Gu Huojin, however, showed no anger upon hearing this, maintaining a smiling face.

He raised his hand and pressed down twice in front of him, signaling everyone to calm down, and soon the surroundings returned to peace.

"Fellow cultivators need not be so agitated. The old grievances between the Heavenly Court and the Wheel of Reincarnation Hall have entangled for endless ages. It is now difficult to trace their origin or determine who was right and who was wrong. Inviting the Wheel of Reincarnation Hall Master to this Bodhi Banquet is not for verbal attacks, but to seek a path to quell the conflict." Gu Huojin said.

Hearing this, the crowd nodded and praised, all extolling the Time Ancestor's profound righteousness, worthy of being the lord of the Immortal Domain and a great pillar of the righteous path.

"What a fine 'path to quell the conflict'! In this world, I doubt there is another who can utter such high-sounding words without a blush or a racing heart." The Wheel of Reincarnation Hall Master laughed loudly.

"Do you doubt my sincerity? My allowing you to enter the Jade Pool assembly safely, and not sending troops to suppress the Wheel of Reincarnation rebels outside the Heavenly Gate—does that not already show my sincerity? As long as you are willing to end the strife and cease hostilities... we can turn enemies into friends and let bygones be bygones with a smile, leaving a fine tale for the Immortal Domain for millennia to come." Gu Huojin raised an eyebrow slightly and said slowly.

Hearing this, the expressions of many cultivators present changed, and a flash of anger was evident in many eyes.

"The Supreme Being wants to turn enemies into friends with such a villain? To erase the enmity with the Wheel of Reincarnation Hall? Then what about my grudge? What about the grudges of those loyal ministers and righteous men who died for the Heavenly Court at the hands of the Wheel of Reincarnation?" Cangwu True Lord rose in indignation, questioning repeatedly.

"Fellow Daoist Cangwu, tit for tat, revenge upon revenge—when will this hatred ever end? Over the years, the Heavenly Court has lost many, but has the Wheel of Reincarnation Hall lost fewer? If we do not erase this cycle of enmity and karma, who knows how many more loyal ministers and righteous men will die for it. How can this vengeance ever be fully avenged?" Gu Huojin looked deeply at him and counseled earnestly.

"Haha... 'When will this hatred ever end?' Since the Heavenly Court is unwilling to end it, after leaving the Jade Pool, I, Cangwu, will end it myself." Cangwu True Lord's expression was sorrowful as he looked up and laughed.

"It seems the Heavenly Court is not entirely full of useless yes-men; there are still some with backbone." The Wheel of Reincarnation Hall Master's eyes showed a hint of approval as he spoke.

"Hall Master, the Heavenly Court's sincerity is laid before you. Are you truly unwilling to accept reconciliation?" Gu Huojin asked with a frown.

"Reconciliation? Haha... I have a proposal. Let Fellow Daoist Gu take a look at my true face, and then decide whether to reconcile or not. How about that?" The Wheel of Reincarnation Hall Master laughed wildly, then raised his hand and removed the bamboo hat that he always wore on his face.

Unlike what the assembled crowd had guessed—neither an immortal demeanor nor a fierce ugliness—it was a rather ordinary young face.

The Time Ancestor's body trembled slightly, and a flash of disbelief passed through his eyes.

The other Ancestors present also changed color, with Li Yuanjiu of the Nine Yuan Temple being the most affected.

"Han Li?" Li Yuanjiu leaned forward slightly and could not help but utter that name.

To most of those present, this name was no longer unfamiliar.

At first, the name was mentioned only sporadically, sometimes involving Heavenly Court personnel, sometimes the demon and monster races, and sometimes rumors from the监察仙使 about this person.

Of course, what truly drew the entire Heavenly Court's attention was when Han Li single-handedly stormed the Gold Origin Immortal Palace, completely disregarding the Heavenly Court's authority. After that, the name was heard with increasing frequency.

Not long ago, the newly proclaimed Heavenly Court fugitive who defeated Ancestor Feng Qingshui was also called 'Han Li'.

As for his subsequent killing of one of the Seven Sovereigns, Xuan Yuan Jie, since it coincided with the Bodhi Grand Feast, not many knew of it, and even those who heard rumors might not take them seriously.

No matter how extraordinary this person's experiences, a Daluo cultivator killing one of the Seven Sovereigns, Xuan Yuan Jie, was utterly inconceivable.

"How is this possible? The Wheel of Reincarnation Hall Master is actually that Han Li?"

"He is that Han Li? He looks quite ordinary..."

"This... no, the timing doesn't match..." A Daluo cultivator who had fought the Wheel of Reincarnation Hall for years muttered.

"Han Li, doesn't he cultivate the Time Law? What is going on?"

"Could it be that the killing of Sovereign Xuan Yuan Jie is true? Was it actually the Wheel of Reincarnation Hall's doing?"

...

For a moment, the entire Jade Pool assembly was in great turmoil, with all sorts of speculations about the Wheel of Reincarnation Hall Master and 'Han Li', the discussions even more heated than before.

Combined with the various bizarre rumors of the past and the influence of the Wheel of Reincarnation Hall, all the top cultivators present were now puzzled by the name 'Han Li', and the most frequently mentioned name in their conversations was also 'Han Li'.

Yu Menghan, sitting behind Dream Mother, was even more shocked. The moment she saw his face clearly, she almost stood up, but was restrained by her master in time.

"Child, do not act rashly." Dream Mother transmitted via secret technique.

She did not know why Yu Menghan had suddenly lost composure, only vaguely guessing it was related to the 'Five Thunder True Dharma Sutra'.

However, Yu Menghan soon calmed down on her own. She scrutinized the Wheel of Reincarnation Hall Master for a moment and murmured:

"No, it's not him..."

Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's, noticed by no one.

"No wonder all of Ancestor Chen Tuan's divinations were shrouded in mist and never yielded results. It turns out the cycle of cause and effect had long been disrupted. No wonder, no wonder..." Gu Huojin let out a long breath, as if a doubt that had lingered in his heart for years had finally been resolved, and said slowly.

"It seems Fellow Daoist Gu has already sorted out the various reasons?" The Wheel of Reincarnation Hall Master raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Before, perhaps not entirely clear. Now, by contemplating the mysteries of past celestial trigrams and combining them with what I have seen and heard, I have a partial understanding. So, you are Han Li, and Han Li... is also you?" Gu Huojin nodded and said something that few could understand.

"Back then, with your words 'The Great Dao walks alone; how can it tolerate covetousness?' you hunted me down to the death, killed my Dao companion, and forced me into a corner. In my dying moments, I fought desperately, and by a twist of fate, traversed time and space to become the current Wheel of Reincarnation Hall Master. Do you think such a grudge can be erased with a smile?" The Wheel of Reincarnation Hall Master did not answer Gu Huojin but shifted the topic.

Time Law? Traversing time and space? The more the crowd heard, the more confused and shocked they became.

Only Li Yuanjiu frowned first, then twitched, as if he had guessed a clue.

He certainly knew that one person could not cultivate two supreme laws. This Hall Master, who cultivated the Reincarnation Law, and that Han Li, who cultivated the Time Law, were the same person and yet not the same person.

Then, which person was it who had transmitted the teachings to him back then?