Chapter 258: Zhou Qing's Strength

"I'll go slay it right now!"

Murderous intent boiled in Heavenly Monarch Extreme Sword's eyes.

Among the many ironclad laws recorded in the Sword Classic, aside from obeying the predestined person, there was also the duty to protect the Human Realm and snuff out any hidden dangers of a Demon Abyss Realm invasion.

"Don't be so hasty."

You immediately stopped him. "Fellow Daoist Extreme Sword, between you and the Void Whale Master in the Deep Sea, who is stronger? If you were to fight, do you have absolute confidence in killing it?"

Heavenly Monarch Extreme Sword fell into thought before replying, "That Void Whale Master is a descendant of the True Spirit Kunpeng. Although it is only at the Fifth Tier Early Stage, its overall strength isn't much weaker than mine.

"Even if I go all out and utilize the Heavenly Sword's foundation, I would most likely only heavily injure it. The chances of a complete kill are very slim."

He then added, "Heavily injuring that whale master so it cannot recover for several centuries wouldn't be a problem, however."

"Merely injuring it won't do."

You shook your head slightly.

You had always adhered to a single principle.

Either don't act, or go all the way. Since you had discovered an issue in the Deep Sea and prepared to strike, it absolutely had to be a fatal blow.

Let Heavenly Monarch Extreme Sword go alone? Give the Void Whale Master and the Demon Abyss Realm time to react?

How stupid would that be?

"That Buddhist Heavenly Monarch in the Western Desert—can he be trusted? Could he have defected to the Demon Abyss Realm?" you asked.

"Heavenly Monarch Miduo... could never defect to the Demon Abyss Realm," Heavenly Monarch Extreme Sword said solemnly.

No matter their previous title, once a Heavenly Monarch of the Western Desert's Mituo Hall stepped into Rank 5, they all called themselves Heavenly Monarch Miduo.

Their Buddhist legacy pursued the art of empowerment, and this empowerment encompassed memories, experiences, and spiritual imprints. The current Heavenly Monarch Miduo might even possess memories and experiences from tens of thousands of years ago.

The memories of successive generations of Heavenly Monarch Miduo overlapped.

Even their personalities were virtually identical.

Furthermore, the Buddhist legacy was diametrically opposed to the Demon Abyss Realm. If this generation's Heavenly Monarch Miduo defected? The imprints of every past generation would collapse. Among the Human Realm's many factions, Mituo Hall was second only to Heavenly Sword Peak in being absolutely incapable of defecting to the Demon Abyss Realm.

Heavenly Sword Peak was bound by the Sword Lord, and the ironclad laws of the passed-down Sword Classic ensured its highest echelons would not stray onto a crooked path or lose control.

"That works, then."

You looked at Heavenly Monarch Extreme Sword. "Contact Heavenly Monarch Miduo and await my notice. When the time comes, we will sneak into the Deep Sea together and besiege that deep-sea whale master."

Through your deep divination, you had confirmed there was an issue in the Deep Sea. And since there was a problem there, the Void Whale Master, acting as the deep-sea sovereign, was most likely compromised as well. Simply besieging and killing it would solve the problem.

When facing an alien race, you didn't care about evidence.

As for when to strike... naturally, it would be after you completely stabilized your Deity Transformation Stage cultivation and familiarized yourself with a Heavenly Monarch's power.

According to your deductions, after you stepped into the Deity Transformation Stage, the Demon Abyss Realm most likely wouldn't make any major moves for quite some time.

During the fifth simulation, even after Purple-Eyed True Monarch had stepped into the Deity Transformation Stage for decades, the Demon Abyss Realm hadn't made any overt moves. That was even more applicable in this simulation, where you were the one who reached the Deity Transformation Stage, depriving the Demon Abyss Realm of a Heavenly Monarch-level enforcer.

With the vast amount of intelligence gathered from the previous simulation, you understood the Demon Abyss Realm very well this time around.

"Alright."

Heavenly Monarch Extreme Sword nodded. "By the way, when does fellow Daoist Qingyuan plan to hold the Deity Transformation Grand Ceremony?" With business concluded, he shifted the topic.

The Deity Transformation Grand Ceremony was the highest-profile cultivator ceremony of the modern ancient era. It occurred only once every millennium or so on average, and each time, it would draw congratulations from numerous factions across the Human Realm.

"Let's just hold it normally, following the precedent of past Deity Transformation Grand Ceremonies," you answered.

Having finally stepped into the Deity Transformation Stage with great difficulty, you naturally didn't mind holding a grand ceremony to announce it to the Human Realm and celebrate.

In the previous simulation, you had attended the Deity Transformation Grand Ceremony held by Purple-Eyed True Monarch, and you had been quite envious at the time.

Naturally, you weren't going to miss out in this simulation.

Aside from proclaiming your advancement to the Human Realm, you could also rake in a substantial sum of congratulatory gifts.

The top-tier factions of the Central Continent Territory, the ruling factions of the four great territories, and a portion of the Nascent Soul Stage factions would all send representatives to offer precious gifts.

These gifts were basically free for the taking; it would be a waste not to accept them.

"Then let's hold it in twenty years," Heavenly Monarch Extreme Sword said. The Deity Transformation Grand Ceremony required notifying factions all over the Human Realm, so the preparation time naturally had to be much longer.

Many Nascent Soul Stage factions from other territories would likely have to start their journey more than a decade in advance.

The Human Realm was vast. Even with the aid of a cross-domain teleportation array, traveling from other territories to the Central Continent still required a very long time.

...

After finishing your conversation with Heavenly Monarch Extreme Sword, you returned to your spirit vein dojo.

"Congratulations, Master, for stepping into the Deity Transformation Stage and ascending to the throne of a Heavenly Monarch."

A blood-colored roc silhouette immediately rushed over to offer congratulations. It was none other than the Blood Roc.

When you broke through, the Blood Roc had been standing guard in the spirit vein dojo.

Over the years, the Blood Roc had run itself ragged for you, acting as both your mount and your envoy. It had worked very hard.

"Mhm. You must also cultivate diligently."

You were in a good mood, so you rewarded the Blood Roc with a beast king monster core possessing a True Dragon bloodline.

This monster core came from True Monarch Chongtian and was one of the four monster cores the Blood Roc had brought back for you.

You planned to save these four monster cores, along with the two True Spirit Bloodline beast king monster cores you had collected over the past centuries, to refine the Five Saints Ultimate Transformation Pill.

Among them, this True Dragon bloodline beast king monster core had the richest True Spirit power. Using it to refine the Five Saints Ultimate Transformation Pill would be a bit of a waste, which was why you bestowed it upon the Blood Roc.

The power of a True Dragon bloodline inherently possessed a massive nourishing effect on the Blood Roc. If the Blood Roc swallowed this monster core, the results would be no less than a Five Saints Ultimate Transformation Pill, carrying the hope of pushing it to the Fourth-Order Late Stage.

"Thank you, Master!"

The Blood Roc was ecstatic. It had been intensely coveting this True Spirit Bloodline beast king monster core for a long time; this was a primal hunger stemming from the very source of its bloodline.

...

Upon entering your cave abode, a beautiful silhouette carrying a faint fragrance threw herself at you.

"Master."

Li Yan's body was incredibly soft and warm to the touch.

"Now that Master has become a Heavenly Monarch, you wouldn't abandon Yan'er, would you?"

Li Yan spoke in a delicate, pitiful tone. "How could I..." you replied.

You scooped Li Yan up and laid her down on the bed. "Who among the female cultivators in the Human Realm could ever compare to Yan'er's taste?"

The Primordial Yin Treasure Physique naturally excelled at charm, and the dual cultivation experience it offered far surpassed what any other female cultivator of the same level could provide.

After that, you and Li Yan engaged in several more deep exchanges on the Dao.

In this simulation, to push for the Deity Transformation Stage, you had forcefully held back for over six hundred years.

Even so, when you took Li Yan's first strand of Primordial Yin Qi before making your breakthrough attempt, it had been a hurried affair, your mind still entirely focused on breaking through to the Deity Transformation Stage.

Now that you had successfully become a Heavenly Monarch and achieved your goal, you naturally intended to properly relax.

A day and a night later.

You changed into a clean Dharma robe, looking completely refreshed.

Although Li Yan, who was only at the Mid Nascent Soul Stage, couldn't fully satisfy you, it had still relieved some pressure.

It's a pity. Whether it's dual cultivation arts or the Primordial Yin Qi that Yan'er nurtures, their effects on my current self are microscopic, you sighed inwardly. The cultivation gap between you and Li Yan was simply too vast. Even her Primordial Yin Qi would have absolutely no effect on you if it hadn't been nurtured for several centuries. In the next simulation, if I can cultivate Yan'er to the Deity Transformation Stage, what kind of effect would a first strand of Primordial Yin Qi nurtured for a thousand years have...?

Your heart stirred slightly. A first strand of Primordial Yin Qi from a Deity Transformation Stage Primordial Yin Treasure Physique had probably never appeared in the Human Realm before.

Let alone a first strand of Primordial Yin Qi, even a Deity Transformation Stage Primordial Yin Treasure Physique might never have existed.

The Primordial Yin Treasure Physique was already incomparably rare, and its cultivation speed was even slower than a heavenly spiritual root. Coupled with its unique nature, it was incredibly difficult to reach the Deity Transformation Stage, let alone guarantee that one's Primordial Yin remained intact.

While you couldn't speak for the ancient era, at least in the modern ancient era, you had never heard of a Primordial Yin Treasure Physique cultivating to the Deity Transformation Stage.

Moving forward, I need to make Yan'er focus as much as possible on cultivation. It would be best if she could reach the Late Nascent Soul Stage Peak, then accumulate enough experience and insights to prepare for the next simulation, you thought to yourself.

With your help, although Li Yan couldn't inherit a hundred percent of everything from this simulation, she was still countless times better off than other cultivators. She clearly understood the numerous bottlenecks and shackles she would encounter on the path of cultivation ahead, as well as the methods and concepts to overcome them.

Yan'er being able to reach this step today was also reliant on the accumulation and insights from previous simulations.

Without those, it was highly debatable whether Li Yan could have even stepped into the Nascent Soul Stage.

...

Months later, inside the cave abode, you sat cross-legged with several Tier 5 life-extending items placed in front of you.

They were a Tier 5 Longevity Fruit, a Purple Jade Spirit Peach, and Earth Fate Marrow.

These three life-extending items had reached Tier 5 and were suitable for Deity Transformation Stage Heavenly Monarchs. They were precious collections of Heavenly Sword Peak.

In truth, Heavenly Sword Peak did not lack life-extending items. Among the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens, there were three or four that specifically produced abundant life-extending spirit fruits. The Late Nascent Soul Stage Great Cultivators of the Central Continent's top-tier factions could all max out their lifespans with life-extending items.

If I consume these three life-extending items together, they can probably extend my lifespan by five or six hundred years... you thought silently. Basically, by consuming these three items, your resistance to other life-extending items would max out. Even if you took more items of the same quality, they would lose their efficacy and offer no life-extending effects.

Life-extending items possessed a resistance factor; they could not be consumed repeatedly.

The Ghost Realm Trial Field has a supreme-grade Tier 5 Longevity Fruit capable of extending a Deity Transformation Stage cultivator's lifespan by eight hundred years...

You looked at the Tier 5 Longevity Fruit in front of you.

This fruit was only of above-average quality. It was a far cry from a supreme-grade Tier 5 Longevity Fruit and could only extend a Heavenly Monarch's lifespan by two hundred years.

A supreme-grade Tier 5 Longevity Fruit was something one could only discover by luck, not seek out, even in the ancient era. The longevity fruits produced by the three or four life-extending grotto-heavens among the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens were mostly of below-average quality; they had never birthed a supreme-grade longevity fruit.

That supreme-grade Tier 5 Longevity Fruit in the Ghost Realm Trial Field also originated from the ancient era. It was perhaps the only one left in the entire Human Realm. The Ghost Realm Trial Field is fused with the heaven and earth of the Human Realm. Even a Heavenly Monarch must follow its rules and cannot forcibly shake it... you mused inwardly. This was also the reason why the Ghost Realm Trial Field had continuously existed throughout the hundred thousand years of the modern ancient era.

The Deity Transformation Stage Heavenly Monarchs all knew there were good things inside the Ghost Realm Trial Field, but there was simply nothing they could do. The methods of the entity who opened the Ghost Realm Trial Field were far too brilliant.

I should just take them directly.

You looked at the three life-extending items in front of you and began to consume them one by one.

If you encountered higher-quality life-extending items in the future, taking them would still have an effect, so there was no need to save these three items for later.

The three life-extending items slid down your throat, transforming into a warm aura that flowed toward your limbs and bones.

...

Year 636. You were 653 years old.

Ten years had passed since you stepped into the Deity Transformation Stage.

Over these ten years, you had thoroughly familiarized yourself with a Heavenly Monarch's power, and you had also mastered the combat methods and secret arts of the Deity Transformation Stage.

The Mountain and Sea Lineage legacy you obtained included a Deity Transformation chapter, and many of its secret arts could only be used upon reaching the Deity Transformation Stage. Currently, the Deity Transformation Stage secret arts you had mastered were the "Mountain and Sea Realm" and the "Mountain and Sea Slash."

The "Mountain and Sea Realm" was a domain-type secret art. Using the vast power of your Mountain and Sea primordial spirit, you could temporarily construct the embryonic form of a realm. All enemies within its range would suffer suppression, and you could mobilize majestic Mountain and Sea power with a single thought.

Domain-type secret arts were not uncommon. Many Nascent Soul Stage true lords knew them. Hundreds of years ago, that True Monarch Wu Gan had excelled in such methods.

However, the "Mountain and Sea Realm" maximized the Mountain and Sea Lineage's advantage in dense, heavy dharma power, pursuing the principle of absolute power subduing all tricks.

As for the "Mountain and Sea Slash," it was a purely offensive secret art.

It continuously compressed your robust Mountain and Sea dharma power—compressing and compressing again until it reached the absolute limit, forming a single slash to annihilate everything.

My current combat strength... You examined yourself, forming an estimate of your combat strength, but what exact level you had reached still required actual combat to determine.

...

Months later, you ended your closed-door cultivation.

"Fellow Daoist Qingyuan, I've already contacted Heavenly Monarch Miduo. Everything went smoothly."

Heavenly Monarch Extreme Sword had sought you out to deliver this news. "That's good," you replied.

You nodded slightly. Your heart suddenly stirred as you looked at Heavenly Monarch Extreme Sword. "Fellow Daoist Extreme Sword, do you have time? Let's have a sparring match."

Since stepping into the Deity Transformation Stage, you had never fought a Heavenly Monarch of the same level.

Your understanding of your own combat strength had always remained an estimate; you had never truly tested it in battle.

Since Heavenly Monarch Extreme Sword happened to have time now, you naturally wanted to try exchanging blows.

The location for your spar with Heavenly Monarch Extreme Sword was a secret realm within Heavenly Sword Peak.

That secret realm was independent of the Human Realm. Even if Deity Transformation Stage Heavenly Monarchs went all out inside, it wouldn't affect the Human Realm, so they naturally wouldn't suffer a backlash from the Human Realm's heaven and earth.

"A spar?"

Heavenly Monarch Extreme Sword was momentarily stunned.

You had barely stepped into the Deity Transformation Stage ten years ago, yet you wanted to spar with a Sword Cultivator Heavenly Monarch like him, who controlled the Heavenly Sword's foundation and was hailed as the number one combatant in the Human Realm?

No matter how much Heavenly Monarch Extreme Sword valued you, he didn't think this spar would have any suspense. It would be completely one-sided.

Could it be that fellow Daoist Qingyuan wants to use this spar so I can give him some pointers? Heavenly Monarch Extreme Sword pondered to himself.