Chapter 2230: The Night of the Full Moon

"Why?"

Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

He also possessed the Heavenly Mandate; could it be that his was weaker than the other two's, unworthy of being taken over?

"You have not yet reached the level of an Emperor, and not one like us," said Kong Shi. "Only with such strength can the Heavenly Dao within you be considered fully mature. Otherwise, even if you seize it, the strong and the weak cannot merge; instead, it will devour the other, leading to an imbalance of yin and yang."

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

If the Heavenly Dao were divided into yin and yang poles, merging them before both were mature would easily lead to a situation where yin flourishes while yang declines, or vice versa, ultimately becoming uncontrollable and resulting in even worse consequences.

Originally intending to save all beings, they might end up harming everyone instead.

"The God Realm, the Heavenly Mandate..."

Understanding everything, Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

No wonder this contest could not be avoided or stopped; it was indeed so.

This was Kong Shi's fate, and it would also be his own fate, unchangeable.

"Is there really no other way?"

Zhang Xuan murmured.

He had thought possessing the Library of Heaven's Path was a stroke of luck, but now he knew it was a responsibility.

"Over the years, I have been considering and pondering. There is a way, but... whether it will succeed, I do not know. However... your situation is different from mine; perhaps you will go further than I did..."

Kong Shi smiled.

He seemed utterly indifferent to life and death.

"Go further than you?" Zhang Xuan was stunned.

"Heaven's secrets must not be leaked, or the Heavenly Dao will inevitably alter its course. Everything depends on you alone, but... Lingxi Sovereign and I have done what we could; how far you can go is up to you."

Kong Shi said.

Seeing that he was unwilling to speak, knowing that further questions would be futile, Zhang Xuan said, "Kong Shi, you comprehended the Order of the Heavenly Dao, and I comprehended the Deficiency of the Heavenly Dao. May I ask... what does Lingxi Sovereign comprehend?"

He had always been curious about this.

If the Heavenly Dao was truly divided into three, what exactly did the other comprehend?

Why had he been completely unaware before?

"I have also been curious about what she comprehends!" Kong Shi shook his head.

"You don't know either?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

Luo Ruoxi had gone to the Master Teacher Continent to investigate you; she knew almost everything, yet you don't even know what kind of Heavenly Dao she comprehends...

Then... how would the contest be fought?

"In the forty-plus years since I came to the God Realm, I have been sensing nature and comprehending the Heavenly Dao. Although the Heavenly Dao of the God Realm is flawed, it still maintains its operation without complete collapse, as if some force is silently guarding the divine beings!"

Frowning slightly, Kong Shi looked over.

He could not speak of many things to his students, and his relationships with other great emperors were not harmonious; over the years, the only one he could confide in was the person before him.

Although his cultivation was insufficient, he was a good listener.

"Do you mean... this force is related to Lingxi Sovereign? What she comprehends is... the Guardianship of the Heavenly Dao?"

Zhang Xuan looked over.

Though the Heavenly Dao is unkind, it nurtures all beings.

Since it nurtures, it naturally also protects.

Like the Earth in his previous life, which nurtured countless lives; its magnetic field ensured the atmosphere was not stripped away by solar winds and protected life on Earth from harmful radiation.

This is protection.

The God Realm should be the same.

"No."

Master Kong shook his head. "What she comprehended is related to the natural way of heaven, which is why the people of Ziran Tian revere nature and freedom. As for the guardianship of the heavenly way... even if she didn't comprehend it, it should still be connected."

"You mean... she comprehended two different heavenly ways?"

Zhang Xuan was startled.

"That I don't know. It's just a guess. As for the specifics, I'm afraid we'll have to find out through battle..." Master Kong smiled lightly.

"Then... are you confident?"

"Not very confident, but... if they want to kill me, it won't be that easy!" Master Kong lifted his head, his gaze filled with strong confidence.

Having come this far, founding the Master Teacher Hall and the Divine Temple, challenging the Eight Emperors single-handedly, and making his name resound throughout the world, he had the confidence... that even the most difficult matters could be resolved smoothly.

"This..." Seeing his attitude, Zhang Xuan's expression turned grim again.

One of them would surely die...

If Master Kong won, Luo Ruoxi would die—this was an unsolvable dilemma!

But... after hearing his words, he also understood that their confrontation could not be dissuaded or stopped.

The struggle for the heavenly way, the struggle for destiny—no one could change that.

"Don't worry..."

Seeing his tension, Master Kong smiled, about to say something, when suddenly he felt the spiritual energy in the air pulsating violently, becoming狂暴, and the ground began to tremble.

He took two steps out of the great hall and looked up, seeing that the full moon had risen into the sky. Its bright moonlight shone upon the earth, covering it like a layer of silver frost.

"Master..."

The many disciples who had retreated earlier all came to the door, looking at their master with red-rimmed eyes.

The night of the full moon!

The time had come; the decisive battle was about to begin.

"You have followed me all this way and know my temperament. Life is like grass and trees in autumn; even if misfortune befalls me and I die, there is no need to grieve!"

Master Kong looked at the crowd, his expression calm. "If I go and cannot return, you shall take Zhang Xuan as your leader. With him here, you will be safe."

"Yes!" The disciples nodded.

"Me? Everyone here is my senior. I cannot bear such a heavy responsibility..." Zhang Xuan was startled.

Ran Qiu the Ancient Sage, Zi Yuan the Ancient Sage, Bu Shang the Ancient Sage, Qiu Wu the Ancient Sage...

These were all his seniors, and he had received much kindness from them...

How could he become their leader?

"Don't refuse... Since you possess the heavenly way, you must bravely face your responsibilities!" Master Kong waved his hand.

"But my strength..."

Zhang Xuan was currently only at the early stage of ordinary Divine King, far from the peak, let alone attaining a title.

The Zi Yuan Ancient Sage and others before him had all reached that level, far surpassing him... Leading them would be a great pressure.

"Your strength is only temporary. You have already comprehended a technique that transcends the heavenly way; transcendence is only a matter of time!"

Master Kong smiled faintly. "Don't refuse. I'm only talking about the worst-case scenario. More likely, I will return alive, and eventually you and I will have our duel..."

"Yes!"

Zhang Xuan was speechless.

Since it was fate and inescapable, he would silently bear it. There was no need to run away.

"The match is about to begin. I won't stay any longer. Farewell..."

Whoosh!

With that, Master Kong stamped his foot and flew into the air, heading straight for the full moon, departing gracefully.

"Master Kong... take me with you..."

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted as he hurriedly shouted.

This epic battle involved the man before him and Luo Ruoxi; even if he couldn't stop it, he wanted to witness it firsthand.

But Master Kong in the sky had already vanished completely, as if he hadn't heard his words.