Chapter 599. Establishing a Presence at Mount Kunlun, the Next Step: the Pinnacle of the Immortal Realm

Lu Yuan considered the second possibility far more likely. If that were not the case, they would have acted against Mount Tai and Mount Kunlun long ago instead of waiting until now.

The two factions had previously withdrawn into the depths of space to carry out their next plan. By the time they reappeared, that plan was mostly complete. Yet Mount Tai and Mount Kunlun remained unchanged, proving they had no way to affect these ancient mountains, both steeped in myth and mystery.

This also meant the Extracosmic Heavenly Demons could not completely transform Earth's laws. At the very least, Mount Tai and Mount Kunlun remained beyond their reach.

Jiang Ningxian nodded. "Then should we focus our attention on these two places?"

The Extracosmic Heavenly Demons might not have acted against them yet, but that did not mean they never would. Jiang Ningxian felt they should station people nearby and watch for any changes.

"I was thinking the same thing." Lu Yuan nodded. "A portion of the Celestial Court's elites can be stationed at Mount Kunlun to patrol the area."

That would place both Mount Tai and Mount Kunlun under their watch, allowing them to respond at once if anything happened.

Although the Awakening had placed considerable distance between them, Lu Yuan could cross it in an instant.

Jiang Ningxian said, "There's nothing we can do about those black altars, but at least this trip has given us a clearer picture of the situation. All we can do now is wait for the Extracosmic Heavenly Demons to descend."

She knew they could not prevent the descent and would have to prepare for it instead. Even so, she did not believe Earth could face such a powerful enemy alone.

They had to join hands with experts throughout the cosmos and the top ten starfields. In her view, the final battle would happen on Earth, so changes elsewhere were no longer their primary concern.

"Agreed. We need to start making those arrangements," Lu Yuan said. That was precisely why he had asked Jiang Huanyun to venture into space. With the Teleportation Dao Platforms destroyed, reinforcements would be unable to reach Earth quickly if anything went wrong. They had to prepare in advance. Lu Yuan possessed a powerful trump card, but he would not stake everything on it.

At least for now, many great clans and experts recognized the same threat. Uniting everyone against the coming crisis was the better choice.

I only hope I can reach the Supreme Immortal Realm in the time we have left, Lu Yuan thought. Strength was everything. As long as he was powerful enough, he could face any crisis with composure, just as he had overcome every danger before this one.

Afterward, Lu Yuan and Jiang Ningxian returned to Mount Tai. Lu Yuan then ordered a portion of the Celestial Court's forces to move into Mount Kunlun and establish a branch there.

Zhu Qingyu would lead the branch with full authority over its affairs. Lu Yuan had never cared for administrative matters and knew some responsibilities were better entrusted to others.

However, before taking up the post, Zhu Qingyu came to brief him on recent developments.

Most importantly, the various races wanted to cooperate with the Celestial Court. They knew a crisis was approaching that would engulf the entire universe, and they had little faith in their ability to survive it alone. Their only option was to seek the protection of a stronger power.

The Celestial Court was growing stronger by the day. In many people's eyes, sooner or later, it would stand alongside the top ten starfields.

Forming ties with the Celestial Court now would leave them in a far better position.

Lu Yuan did not offer an opinion. As before, he left the decision entirely to Zhu Qingyu.

Zhu Qingyu felt somewhat helpless. She rarely made decisions of this scale, but ultimately decided against forming any new alliances for the time being.

She was willing to work with the few races that had stepped forward when the Celestial Court needed them most, because they had proven themselves trustworthy.

The others were another matter. Who knew whether they would choose to submit to the Extracosmic Heavenly Demons when the time came?

With war approaching, the key was not simply how much strength they could gather. What mattered was whether those people could be trusted. Numbers meant nothing if their allies might turn against them at the critical moment.

Lu Yuan was pleased with her decision, for he had reached the same conclusion. He told Zhu Qingyu to proceed as she saw fit.

With that settled, Lu Yuan had no other immediate concerns. He returned to Jade Emperor Peak, sat down cross-legged, and sealed the surrounding area.

Ever since entering the Celestial Seat Immortal Realm, he had rushed from one place to another and fought battle after battle. He had never taken the time to settle down and fully understand his new realm.

Now that the immediate matters were resolved, he could finally devote himself to understanding the Celestial Seat Immortal Realm. His next goal was the pinnacle of the Immortal Realm: Supreme Immortal.

First, he had to fully comprehend everything he had gained during this period, then determine the path he would take next.

After entering the Immortal Realm, cultivation was no longer merely about developing one's physical potential and accumulating power. It required an understanding of the laws of the entire universe.

Lu Yuan understood that further progress required him to put everything else aside. Only then could he take an honest measure of himself.

Supreme Immortal, the pinnacle of the Immortal Realm... yet it is still not the highest realm of cultivation. Beyond it lie the Quasi-Emperor Realm and the Emperor Realm Heavenly Lord. What does that level truly represent? Lu Yuan thought.

Lu Yuan focused on the question. Immortals advanced by comprehending the laws of the universe, but what came after that process remained unclear.

He had once asked Jiang Taiyu about this.

Unfortunately, Jiang Taiyu had never reached that realm either. The ancient texts contained very few records, so he could not explain it clearly.

Jiang Taiyu had offered only one possibility. Perhaps one had to transcend this universe and view existence on the scale of the Endless Cosmos before the answer became clear. The explanation was vague, but Lu Yuan suspected he might be right.

However, there was no point dwelling on any of this now.

The most important thing was to reach the peak of the Celestial Seat Immortal Realm, then find a way to become a Supreme Immortal.

Only then could he take the next step and be better equipped to confront the Extracosmic Heavenly Demons when they descended.