Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

In so doing, not only would it probe the strength of the Heavenly Court and the foundation of the Calamity Immortals, but it would also allow the influence of this event to further ferment and grow, paving the way for the Wandao School to march into the Earth Immortal Realm in the future.

But times have changed, and Xu Yang had changed his mind. He no longer planned to sacrifice “Zhen Yuanzi” to explore the foundation of the Heavenly Court and the Calamity Immortals. On the contrary, he wanted to preserve Zhen Yuanzi, to keep the Wuzhuang Temple of Mount Longevity and its Tao Lineage. With this as the foundation, he intended to secure the foundation of the Wandao School in South Observance.

The Heavenly Court’s legacy is long-standing, with deep roots. The task of attacking the heavens cannot be accomplished in one fell swoop; it requires careful planning.

Therefore, the first step is to find a place to establish and take root, to transform the abundant resources of the Earth Immortal Realm into the strength of the Wandao School. Once sufficient strength has been accumulated, then the final battle can commence.

South Observance Continent is the finest choice for this!

There’s no point in talking about hiding one’s identity and secretly growing.

The Earth Immortal Realm is not the same as the mortal world, there’s no such thing as hidden forces or dark organizations.

Because the growth of power requires roots, it requires resources. Cultivators are not mortals, and with various Divine Powers at their disposal, unless you seclude yourself in one place, living off the declining resources, it’s impossible to cultivate by deceiving the heavens, secretly growing stronger.

Just like now, in order to pave the way for the Wandao School and to acquire various resources for development, it’s necessary to stir up trouble in South Observance and encroach upon the interests of various powers, which will also soon invite retribution from those forces.

This is an inevitable result; there’s no way to hide or avoid it.

If you can’t conceal it, then there’s no need to hide!

South Observance Continent will be the first step where the Wandao School will take root in the Earth Immortal Realm.

Securing this first step is crucial for future development.

How to secure this step?

Having the strength of a high-ranking Calamity Immortal is sufficient.

As long as you possess the strength of a high-ranking Calamity Immortal, you can carve out your own territory. The Heavenly Court will not risk serious injury to wrestle with you for life and death. Even if the Heavenly Court were willing, those Calamity Immortals would not be.

Power structures exist to serve those at the top; the higher-ups are not meant to make sacrifices for them.

At least the Heavenly Court doesn’t.

Even with authority akin to the Heavenly Emperor, you cannot forcefully command a Calamity Immortal to act, risking the destruction of their path.

As for the Nine Tribulations True Immortals…

The present Earth Immortal Realm is a very interesting place.

Cultivators not only have to face the Heavenly Tribulations that were absent in ancient times but also, after becoming true through the Nine Tribulations, they must endure the unique afflictions of the Three Calamities from ancient times. If they survive, they will live as long as heaven and earth; if not, their body and path will perish.

The previously mentioned Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Techniques and the Seventy-Two Earth Sha Skills are the Divine Power techniques used by the Ancient Immortal Gods to deal with the Three Calamities.

Therefore, in the Earth Immortal Realm, not only Calamity Immortals must not act rashly, but Nine Tribulations True Immortals also mustn’t act impulsively.

Although they too possess secret techniques to ward off disaster and divine powers to avoid calamity, they nevertheless do not place their focus on matters of little consequence.

In the entire Earth Immortal Realm, there is only one matter, one place, worthy of their expenditure of energy.

And that is the Heaven Reaching Secret Realm!

The various conflicts in the Earth Immortal Realm today, the standoffs and conflicts between the four paths of Immortals, Buddhism, Demons, and Monsters, are all in fact revolving around the Heaven Reaching Secret Realm, conducted under the will of the various Nine Tribulations True Immortals.

The four great Tao lineages, through war, continuously deplete each other’s strength, thereby gaining an advantage in the once-in-ten-thousand-years Heaven Reaching Secret Realm, to obtain opportunities.

Were it not for the Heaven Reaching Secret Realm, the Heavenly Court and Buddhism would never erupt in such intense warfare with the Monster Nation and the Demon Abyss, after all, what cultivation seeks is an eternal and long life; unless it involves the fundamental interests of the Dao, matters such as racial righteousness or national enmity and family hatred are not worth mentioning.

As Nine Tribulations True Immortals, being Calamity Immortals of the highest rank, they are the core combat power in the struggle for the great opportunities in the Heaven Reaching Secret Realm. Unless surrounded by life and death, they would not invest their limited energy into any affairs outside of the Heaven Reaching Secret Realm.

Therefore, as long as one’s strength is of a high-level Calamity Immortal, able to somewhat contend against Nine Tribulations True Immortals, then without being involved in the disputes over the Heaven Reaching Secret Realm, one can stand firm in the Earth Immortal Realm.

Does Xu Yang possess this strength?

He couldn’t say for sure, after all, without real combat experience, just based on the two encounters with the Southern Sea Dragon King and Mount Tai’s Yanluo, it’s truly difficult to estimate the capabilities of a Nine Tribulations True Immortal.

But no matter, trying it out is the way to know.

Two hundred plus years in the Upper Realm, two thousand plus years in the Lower Realm, Seventh Rank Heavenly Craftsmen Methods have been perfected and matured.

Together with the resources gathered by Zhen Yuanzi, the matter of Ascension can be carried out ahead of time, to quickly construct Top-Grade Immortal Spirit Mech Armor.

In this way…

A hundred years later, in the Earth Immortal Realm.

In East Victorious Divine Continent, auspicious radiance abounds; some ride white egrets, sit astride Qingluan birds, some tread on auspicious clouds, controlling Escape Light, showing off their divine powers like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, all heading towards the high heavens above the Ninth Heaven.

Above the Ninth Heaven, amidst the highs of the sky, a grand Heavenly Palace Immortal City stands towering.

The cultivators from the Lower Realm, ascending to heaven, see only dazzling golden light and rolling rainbows, auspicious vapors and billowing purple mists.

The Southern Heavenly Gate, constructed of deep azure glazed tiles, shimmering with jeweled splendor, flanked by dozens of Celestial Marshals with lofty stances, wielding axes, holding staffs; surrounded by numerous golden-armored celestial beings, each bearing halberds and whips, swords and sabers; impressive from the outside, awe-inspiring within.

Once past the heavenly gate, within the courtyard, there stand towering columns coiled with golden dragons that gleam in the sun; there are also several long bridges spiraling with colorful celestial birds that soar through the sky; radiant clouds reflect heavenly radiance, while misty fog obscures the stars.

Palace upon palace, each ridge bearing golden beasts; hall upon hall, each column set with jade Kylins; atop Mount Longevity, there flourish perennial illustrious flowers; beside the elixir furnace, there grow eternally fresh auspicious grasses; and in front of the Pilgrimage Tower, starry robes glitter brilliantly, lotus crowns shine with the luster of gold and jade.

As the golden bells toll and the celestial drums resonate, the cultivators step into the Heavenly Court. Upon reaching the Lingxiao Hall, its golden-nailed doors inlaid with jade, Caifeng birds dance at the vermilion gates, allure evident in each intricate carving; tiers of dragons and phoenixes fly about, a multitude of beings of the Immortal Clan, categorized in ranks, quietly await the arrival of the Heavenly Venerable.

It is indeed the time for the once-in-a-century Grand Assembly of the Heavenly Court.

Though it should be once every century, due to matters concerning the Heavenly Emperor, it had in fact been postponed twice already.

Not until this third time, after the Jade Emperor, Heavenly Venerable of Qiong Gao, had undergone over three hundred years of secluded arduous cultivation, did he emerge to preside over the assembly, to handle important matters piled up over these three hundred years.

One could see the Heavenly Venerable of Qiong Gao, the Jade Emperor, seated in the Golden Que Cloud Palace’s Lingxiao Hall, below him numerous civil and military officials aligned in six columns, the Emperor Venerable forming one column, the four aides another, the vassals of the Earthly Realm, Fengdu and Dragon Palace, another. Thus, with these six columns of officials, those at the head were all Calamity Immortals; the rest were Mahayana beings, none but True Immortals could enter the assembly.

As the officials presented themselves at court, the Jade Emperor remained silent, allowing only the heralds to announce.

“Those with matters to report may raise them, those without, leave the assembly!”

“Your Majesty, your servant has a petition!”

No sooner had the proclamation ended than one person stepped out from the ranks, approached with a statement, and spoke.

“Your servant, Aogin, the Southern Sea Minor Dragon from the South Observance Continent of the Lower Realm, petitions before the Jade Emperor, the exalted Heavenly Venerable of Qiong Gao: Three hundred years ago, Zhen Yuanzi, a nefarious being from South Observance, breached the Southern Sea Dragon Palace uninvited, seized the Dragon Palace’s precious treasure, and uprooted the Ancient Iron Mountain, causing turmoil in the Earth Aura of the Southern Sea, disrupting the water veins, resulting in countless deaths and injuries among the Aquatic Clan, with mourning widespread!

“After taking the Iron Mountain, he further barged into the palace under false pretenses, deceived my beloved wife, slew my brother-in-law, threw the Southern Sea into chaos, upturned heaven and earth, enraging gods and men alike, startling the Four Seas. Even my father’s intervention proved futile to subdue him. I hereby petition for judgement, earnestly beseeching celestial soldiers, to apprehend this malevolent being, so that the seas and mountains may be tranquil, and the Lower Realm peaceful.”

“Hmm!?”

Upon hearing this petition, the Jade Emperor also furrowed his brows but did not immediately pass judgement, waiting instead for another to make a statement.

“I, too, have a petition!”

As expected, no sooner had the Dragon Monarch of the Southern Sea finished his petition than another stepped forward with their own: “Your servant, Donghe, an Underworld Governor from the South Observation Underworld Realm of the Lower Realm, petitions: A hundred years ago, the villainous Zhen Yuanzi of the South Observance State breached our Nether City, caused havoc in the Senluo Hall, killed countless ghostly emissaries, frightened and injured innumerable governors, and stole the Book of Life and Death, claiming it as his own. Even the appearance of Yanluo did not suffice to manage him. I implore the dispatch of divine soldiers, to capture this malevolent being, to eternally secure the Underworld!”