Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

After this venture, contrasting himself with the immortals of the Heavenly Court and the last Emperor who intervened, Xu Yang had a rough understanding of the power of the Immortal Spirit Mech Armor and his own combat strength in relation to the Nine Rituals Heavenly Venerate.

The seventh-rank Heavenly Mechanics Methods, with top-grade Immortal Spirit Mech Armor and leaving out special entities like the Nine Rites Xuanyuan, could, by convention, bridge a heavenly pass and help Mahayana cultivators to confront a Calamity Immortal, securing an invincible position and even the potential for victory.

But that only applied to the first Calamity Immortal. For the second or third Calamities, at most, it could slightly compete.

To stand and fight to the death would undoubtedly lead to certain death.

Only by fleeing could there be a chance to survive.

This was the standard combat strength of an ordinary Mahayana paired with an ordinary top-grade Immortal Spirit Mech Armor when facing ordinary Calamity Immortals.

Xu Yang was not ordinary. Endowed with a series of skill characteristics such as “Daoist Law Ancestor,” even without using mech armor and relying only on Taoism and Divine Power, he could defeat the likes of the Wugong Star Lord who was of the first tier…

Utilizing ordinary top-grade Immortal Spirit Mech Armor, like those from the White Jade Capital, defeating the Wugong Star and the like was a piece of cake, and he had a significant chance of winning even against second and third Calamity Immortals.

This was his individual strength when bolstered by skill characteristics.

Besides, he also had one extremely potent method.

Holy Tao Xuanyuan, Nine Rituals Heavenly Venerate!

As a Holy Divine Emperor Weapon, the Nine Rituals Heavenly Venerate, composed of hundreds of millions of Xuanyuans, though still a top-grade Immortal Spirit Mech Armor, far exceeded the ordinary limits.

With its cooperation, and aided by a series of skill features such as Daoist Law Ancestor, Spiritual Treasure Mech Armor, and Heavenly Crafts Natural Creation, he could break through the heavenly pass and surpass limits even further.

Him driving the Nine Rituals Heavenly Venerate, if willing to pay the price and disregard the damage, could claim that no one under Nine Tribulations could be his adversary.

In the battle just now, although there were no opponents from the Seven or Eight Calamities, there were the White Tiger Star and the White Tiger Seven Constellations.

The White Tiger Star was a Six Calamity Immortal, and the other six constellations were also above the Three Calamities, specializing in combat and cultivating the Dao of slaughter with astonishing battle prowess. When the seven constellations joined forces, they were comparable to the Seven Calamities, but still they could not stop him; he killed his way out of the encirclement.’

This demonstrated the power of the Nine Rituals Heavenly Venerate!

Even facing the Seven or Eight Calamities, who would fight without considering the consequences, they would find it difficult to achieve victory over him, and might even be defeated.

Therefore, the Nine Rituals Heavenly Venerate, driven by him personally, could be considered an invincible force under the Nine Tribulations.

As for those above Nine Tribulations…

Completion of Nine Tribulations was to be a True Immortal!

Such beings had indeed taken action just now, and although it was only a single attempt to intercept, without revealing their full power, it demonstrated extraordinary strength.

Judging from this, if he were to fight without holding back, Xu Yang admitted that he was not an opponent of True Immortals, and it would be difficult for him to remain undefeated, able only to preserve his life and maybe even have to sever his own tail to survive.

With no adversaries under Nine Tribulations, and difficult to match above Nine Tribulations!

This was the current combat strength of Xu Yang and the Nine Rituals Heavenly Venerate.

With this, is it enough to confront the Heavenly Court?

That depends on whether the Heavenly Court is willing or able to move the True Immortals.

According to the information he had gathered so far, the situation of the five great Emperor Lords of the Heavenly Court was quite delicate.

The strongest among them, without a doubt, was the founder of the Heavenly Court, the previous Heavenly Venerable, Taihuang Emperor!

This person was the first Nine Tribulations True Immortal of the Earth Immortal Realm, also the strongest among True Immortals, his might pressuring all under heaven into submission.

But he, for the sake of ascending to Earth Immortal, had been closed in seclusion and hard cultivation within the Miluo Palace for tens of thousands of years, not participating in the once-in-ten-thousand-year battle of Immortal Gods and the Contest for the Heavens, resulting in restless hearts and rampant rumors.

There were even rumors that he had failed in his breakthrough, suffered severe injuries, was possessed by demons, and is now only lingering in the Miluo Palace, too ashamed to meet anyone.

Though these rumors are baseless, there might not be smoke without fire.

The various disputes in the Heavenly Court in recent years, the constant backstabbing, forming factions, and strife, had a lot to do with the Taihuang Emperor’s prolonged seclusion and the Jade Emperor’s insufficient authority.

Even the Four Auxiliary Imperial Lords of the Heavenly Court were stirring because of this matter, let alone others.

“`

Therefore, Xu Yang did not need to worry that his actions would alarm the Taihuang Emperor.

If the Taihuang Emperor did not appear, the Heavenly Court would only have four auxiliary imperial lords as Nine Tribulations True Immortals.

Among the four auxiliary imperial lords, two were still in the Heaven Reaching Secret Realm, observing the ancient immortal treasures and comprehending the wonderful Tao of heaven, seeking further progress.

Therefore, when he had just caused a commotion in the Heavenly Palace, he did not alarm the four imperial lords; only one of them acted to intercept him.

With two of the great imperial lords in the Heaven Reaching Secret Realm, the other two had to guard the Heavenly Court and watch over the East Victorious Divine Continent, lest someone took advantage of their absence, and that would be more than a minor loss.

The Monster Nation and Demon Abyss had always been covetously eyeing that Flat Peach Immortal Tree.

Thus, with the two great imperial lords left to guard, the Heavenly Court could at most dispatch one of them, or perhaps not even one, as True Immortals still faced the peril of the Three Calamities.

With his current strength, as long as True Immortals did not appear, the Heavenly Court was not an insurmountable opponent.

Even if unexpectedly the Heavenly Court mobilized True Immortals, with the capabilities of the Nine Rituals Heavenly Venerate, he was confident he could lead the entire Wandao School to retreat safely.

With that in mind…

In the South Observance Continent, the situation changed abruptly.

Auspicious clouds drifted over, their Buddhist light brilliant, resembling the proud sun.

Looking closely, one could see eighteen monastic figures, all of venerable Arhat status, some seated on divine deer, composed; others with large bellies, smiling like Maitreya; some holding alms bowls, their faces compassionate; and some supporting pagodas, commanding yet unangered…

These were indeed the Eighteen Arhats of Buddhism, disciples of the Tathagata, attendants of the law.

Among the Eighteen Arhats, two were prominent, Subduing Dragon and Tiger at the fore, both marking the boundary of their cultivation, having already passed through the fifth and fourth tiers of tribulation.

The Subduing Dragon Venerable, a Five Calamities Arhat!

The Subduing Tiger Venerable, a Four Calamities Arhat!

Also present were Bin Toulu, seated on a deer; Jialuo Jia, the joyful one; Nuobali, holding an alms bowl; and other four Venerables, all of Calamity Immortal cultivation.

The Eighteen Arhats, six great Calamity Immortals, and twelve Mahayana!

Indeed, the Buddhist light was resplendent, the auspicious clouds floating gently.

Thus entering the borders of South Observance, they crossed thousands of mountains and rivers in a blink, arriving at their destination at last.

A thousand miles away from Mount Longevity, cultivators gathered, still watching.

“The Wuqu Star Lord has retreated, a hundred thousand Celestial Soldiers utterly defeated, such great shame and humiliation, the Heavenly Court will not let this rest.”

“Who will they send next, can Zhen Yuan withstand them?”

“Brother Dao has advanced into Mahayana within just a thousand years, gained Divine Power, and valiantly defeated Wuqu. If only he endures for a while, after ten thousand years, he must enter the Tribulation Realm.”

“By then, even the Heavenly Court will have to treat him with respect!”

“Being so defiant is truly unwise!”

“Hmph, that is precisely Brother Dao’s style!”

“If Brother Dao were weak and bowed his head, kowtowing, how could South Observance have today?”

“Alas…”

The Immortals sighed, speechless, when suddenly they saw the auspicious clouds descend, the Buddhist light approaching.

“That is…”

“Subduing Dragon and Tiger?”

“The Eighteen Arhats?”

“What could the people of Buddhism want here?”

“Could it be…!”

Seeing the Eighteen Arhats arrive in unison, the Buddhist light and auspicious clouds directly heading towards Mount Longevity, everyone’s expression changed, and while they intended to move forward, they stopped in their tracks.

“Brother Dao just mentioned a great battle, could it be taking place here?”

“The Heavenly Court, are they really making Buddhism take action?”

“Is it about the southward spread of Buddhist Law?”

“It wouldn’t be related to the great cause and effect of the Great Mercy Bodhisattva, would it?”

“No wonder, back when Pill Origin reached its peak, after two Arhats were defeated, Buddhism made no further moves; it turns out they were hidden here.”

“Bald donkeys… Shameless!!!”

The gathered cultivators were shocked and enraged, yet felt helpless.

In an instant, the auspicious cloud floated thousands of miles, settling on the outskirts of Mount Longevity.

“Amitabha!”

A Buddhist chant was heard, and the two venerables, Subduing Dragon and Tiger, stepped forward, their powerful voices resonating towards Mount Longevity: “Zhen Yuan, my friend, we come bearing the directive of the Bodhisattva to invite you to ascend to heaven, to end this military calamity and turn weapons into gifts of peace!”