Ganlu Zen Monastery conveyed the decree of the True Monarch on his behalf.
Not only the sects of the Central Plains, but also the preeminent powers among the Buddhist sects of the Western Desert, the demonic sects of Beihuang, and the immortal islands of the East Sea received official invitations penned personally by Master Xingji.
The chosen location was the Ghost Rock Plateau; the former ruins of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect had now become the general headquarters of the Three Teachings Alliance.
As soon as the news broke, the cultivation world was shaken.
Finally, another True Monarch had appeared, yet for some reason he had not joined the Daoist sects, instead entangling himself with the Buddhists.
Only upon further inquiry did the truth come to light:
The world-renowned Daoist Qingfeng was actually this True Monarch Qin's external incarnation!
Having broken through to Deity Transformation, Qin Sang naturally had no need to deliberately conceal the relationship between his true body and his incarnation, and those who had witnessed the battle at the Wuxiang Immortal Sect knew something of it as well.
Upon learning this, some were enlightened, while others were perplexed.
Back then, this True Monarch Qin had been pursued by the Azure Fox Saint King and nearly perished—a fact known to everyone.
Some believed that Saint Huiguang and Ganlu Zen Monastery had publicly recognized Daoist Qingfeng out of appreciation for his contributions, seeking to protect him and share the pressure from the Azure Fox Saint King.
Others questioned: if he had merits, why vindicate only his external incarnation?
Only those directly involved knew the inside story. Outsiders could reach no definitive conclusion, but they guessed that Saint Huiguang, True Monarch Qin, and the Azure Fox Saint King must have had some secret reckoning between them.
This invitation was widely regarded as True Monarch Qin's Grand Deity Transformation Ceremony.
When his external incarnation broke through to the late Nascent Soul stage, the ceremony had been hosted at Ganlu Zen Monastery; now, his Grand Deity Transformation Ceremony was to take place at the Three Teachings Alliance's headquarters. This True Monarch Qin was indeed unconventional in his ways.
The Three Teachings Alliance was already a colossus in the cultivation world, virtually unshakeable by any other faction.
Everyone had hoped a Deity Transformation cultivator would emerge outside the alliance to hold it in check, but unexpectedly, yet another True Monarch close to the Three Teachings Alliance had appeared.
Some lamented, while others could discern potential variables.
The invited factions, each harboring their own motives, prepared congratulatory gifts and rushed toward the Ghost Rock Plateau.
***
Amid the gathering clouds and churning winds, in the South Sea, on a solitary spirit island isolated out in the vast ocean.
At the bottom of a valley on the island, rays of light flickered, revealing two figures.
The arrivals were none other than Qin Sang and Master Xingji.
In the valley, a novice monk and a Daoist boy had been meditating. Seeing the abbot of Ganlu Zen Monastery arrive, they hastily rose to salute.
It turned out there was an ancient teleportation array here leading straight to the South Sea, jointly controlled by the Buddhist and Daoist sects. It was normally only activated when entering the Immortal Palaces to save travel time, with one disciple from each side stationed here on regular days to guard it.
The two departed the island and continued heading south.
Master Xingji led the way into the storm belt. After flying for about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he halted first, pointing at the sea below. "True Monarch Qin, the two Immortal Palaces were right here back then. They were connected to each other, one named Tiantong and the other Tianxiang."
Qin Sang swept his gaze around, finding not the slightest anomaly.
Like the Hall of Seven Kills and Ziwei Palace, the Immortal Palaces of Zhongzhou were also located within a storm.
Qin Sang closed his eyes and released his divine sense, sweeping through the void and delving beneath the ocean's surface, seemingly searching for something.
While he searched, Master Xingji stood quietly aside, not daring to disturb him.
Not until Qin Sang came back to himself did Master Xingji ask, "In this world, outside of Guixu, is there truly another Ascension Platform?"
"This poor Daoist witnessed it with my own eyes. How could it be false?"
Qin Sang answered calmly, a hint of exhaustion flickering across his face; his divine sense had been heavily taxed just now.
Though the Immortal Palaces had ascended, he had still asked Master Xingji to bring him here, hoping that just like in the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, an Ascension Platform might be located nearby.
Unfortunately, he found nothing.
From questioning Master Xingji, he had learned that Zhongzhou's Immortal Palaces differed greatly from Ziwei Palace; there was no division between an Inner Hall and an Outer Hall. Even Deity Transformation cultivators had to be exceedingly cautious upon entering, facing dreadful perils and all manner of unfathomable beings.
It sounded somewhat similar to the Inner Hall of the Hall of Seven Kills.
In contrast, Ziwei Palace had only revealed its divine marvels as an immortal palace in the moment right before its ascension.
Had Zhongzhou's Immortal Palaces been placed in the Hall of Seven Kills or the Beichen Realm, cultivators would have found even the periphery impassable, left only to gaze at the palaces and sigh. It was only because Zhongzhou produced an endless stream of masters that they could unearth so many blessed lands and supreme arts, their heritage continuously nurtured by the palatial bounty.
Even so, over the countless years, they had explored only a tiny fraction of it.
A flash of black light gleamed in Qin Sang's palm, revealing an iron chain.
After forming his Nascent Soul, Shen Chen had followed his master's instructions, devoting himself to studying the art of artifact crafting and contemplating the fragments of the Demon Binding Rope within the Meteoric Iron Divine Whip to restore the treasure.
With the authentic Demon Subduing Spirit Formation, restoring the Demon Binding Rope was considerably easier.
To Qin Sang's surprise, it took Shen Chen only several decades to forge a Demon Binding Rope.
Although its power could not compare to the genuine Demon Binding Rope, and Qin Sang could spot many areas that needed improvement, it already possessed the ability to subdue demons—his disciple's talent was indeed extraordinary.
Pleased, Qin Sang imparted all his insights into artifact crafting and the ancient texts he had gathered over the years to Shen Chen without reservation, presenting him with the Jinchen Sword as an encouragement.
He gently shook the Demon Binding Rope.
Qin Sang recalled how he had obtained the Demon Binding Rope years ago—in a stone chamber of an ancient cultivator's ruins, where an ancient demon was very likely sealed.
Moreover, he had seen an imitation Demon Binding Rope in the Hall of Seven Kills, which had likely been forged using fragments as well.
Qin Sang remembered Ghost Mother's speculation: the ancient demons outside were not of the same faction as the Demon Sovereign of the Immortal Palace, and like her, their cultivation might also be sealed below Deity Transformation.
Once these ancient demons awakened, they would inevitably search for Ascension Platforms. Would they all risk crossing the storm belts and traveling tens of thousands of miles to reach the Beichen Realm?
Qin Sang suspected that Zhongzhou and other lands also possessed Ascension Platforms; they were simply not as conspicuous as the one in Ziwei Palace's Outer Hall, lying hidden somewhere, waiting to be activated by ancient demons.
His purpose in summoning the various sects was to unite all factions of this realm to dig three feet into the ground to find an Ascension Platform, reopening the path of ascension for this world!
Even ascending to the Demon Realm was far better than being trapped in a cage.
This was not an impromptu whim; before coming, Qin Sang had already ordered Dragon Whale Great Sage and the other demon kings to command all demons to initiate a search across the East Sea.
The two did not linger long here before returning to the Central Plains and heading straight for the headquarters of the Three Teachings Alliance.
Sect Master Yu of Tianhao Tower and Daoist Hegao of Bajing Abbey were already waiting there.
Holding a feather fan and wearing a scholar's silk headscarf, Sect Master Yu looked not like a demon lord, but rather an elegant scholar. "I have long heard Fellow Daoist Qin's renowned name, yet unfortunately never had the fortune to meet you. Little did I expect that our first meeting would find you already a True Monarch. Truly, a great reputation is never unearned!"
With that, Sect Master Yu bowed deeply, expressing deep admiration, then gave a wry smile. "Elder Fan encountered a bottleneck and is currently in life-or-death seclusion. It was inconvenient for him to come pay his respects to the True Monarch; I hope the True Monarch will not take offense."
Daoist Hegao bowed as well, saying with shame, "Back then, during our fleeting encounter, I was ignorant of the True Monarch's exalted presence. I spoke brashly and offended you. Thinking back on it now, I feel utterly mortified."
Having said their pieces, both men presented jade slips. "We heard from Master Xingji that the True Monarch seeks arts excavated from the Immortal Palaces. These represent our two sects' accumulations over countless years; please critique them as you see fit."
Qin Sang accepted them with a smile and said calmly, "Let past matters rest; we must look forward."
The path of ascension was arduous, but Qin Sang would neither despair nor halt his steps. Gathering all manner of ancient techniques was his attempt to see if there were any loopholes to exploit, allowing him to use the Jade Buddha to blaze a new trail and swiftly bolster his strength even within this realm.
The two exchanged a glance, their expressions relaxing.
Once Qin Sang withdrew his divine sense from the jade slips, both bowed respectfully and asked, "The True Monarch possesses a noble and chivalrous heart. With the immortal path of this realm obstructed, what guidance can you grant us?"
It turned out Saint Huiguang had already explained the celestial upheaval to them before his departure.
Only because of this had the Three Teachings Alliance been formed.
For countless years, the Buddhists, Daoists, and Demonic cultivators had formed a tripartite balance, contesting yet never fracturing their relationship; there had naturally been a tacit understanding among them, as none wished to see the cultivation world plunge into chaos.
They had initially found it hard to believe, but Saint Huiguang had shown them the indescribable demon spirit within the Five Elements Diadem, and recalling the scene of Daoist Zilei undergoing his heavenly tribulation, they had no choice but to believe it.
"The efficacy of superior Spirit Calming Incense varies from person to person; this poor Daoist cannot make guarantees. However, the matter of the Ascension Platform is beyond all doubt..."
Qin Sang glanced at Daoist Hegao. "When you and I first met outside the storm belt, this poor Daoist had just arrived from the North Sea. At the time, I did not know ferocious beasts roamed the storm belt, and reaching Zhongzhou safely was sheer luck. I personally witnessed an Ascension Platform open, with four people breaking through the realm and departing."
With a conflicted expression, Daoist Hegao sighed toward the heavens: "Alas, heaven is blind! Senior Brother possessed peerless natural talent, yet was born at the wrong time!"
***
In the following days, the various factions arrived as promised, gathering at the Ghost Rock Plateau.
Qin Sang had not intended to hold a Grand Deity Transformation Ceremony, but unexpectedly Master Xingji had acted on his own initiative, staging a celebration on a scale nearly equivalent to the monastery's founding ancestor's Deity Transformation assembly.
Given such hospitality, Qin Sang simply let him have his way.
At the celebration, Qin Sang made an appearance accompanied by the temple master of Qingyang Temple, the patriarch of the Xie clan, and the temple master of Loutai Temple.
Zhongzhou's Qingyang Temple stepped onto the public stage for the first time, but only Temple Master Shen showed his face. Shen Chen kept Qin Sang's teachings firmly in mind, remaining prudent in word and deed, aiming only to make acquaintances with heroic figures of every faction.
Compared to Zhongzhou's top factions, Qingyang Temple was still insignificant and needed to bide its time in obscurity.
At the celebration, Qin Sang met many old acquaintances.
There was Hall Master Mu of Six Prefectures Hall, who had been the first to assist Qin Sang in searching for the Ascension Platform; however, the power of a merchant association was limited after all, and no valuable clues had been discovered yet.
There were Sect Master Situ Yu and Grand Elder Lu Zhang of Mount Bunian.
Lu Zhang had already broken through to the late Nascent Soul stage!
Reuniting with old acquaintances and seeing each make progress naturally brought great joy.
There were the Seven Water Mirror Islands, who felt immensely validated that inviting Daoist Qingfeng to serve as a guest elder had been a wise decision.
There were also those who were not quite so pleased.
Such as the Poison King, sect master of Myriad Poison Mountain, and the eminent monks from the Vast Sea of the Western Desert.
After the ceremony concluded, Qin Sang dismissed the attendants and onlookers and led the leaders of the various sects and factions into the main council hall of the Three Teachings Alliance.
Inside the grand hall.
Qin Sang stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from everyone.
Master Xingji, Sect Master Yu, Daoist Hegao, and others stood attentively to the side.
It was so quiet that a dropped needle could be heard.
Most were bewildered, watching Qin Sang with puzzled eyes, wondering what this True Monarch Qin—who had stirred up unease across the entire cultivation world—actually intended to do.
"This poor Daoist once received kindness from the descendants of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect to achieve what I have today."
Qin Sang turned around; his very first words ignited a clamor of murmurs.
Even if Xiaoxiangzi was not a descendant of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, he certainly had profound ties to it; Qin Sang's words were by no means false.
The Buddha bone relic, the three sticks of Spirit Calming Incense, and the incense recipe had drawn tribulation upon him, yet had also brought him tremendous opportunities, without which he truly would not have known when he could reach the threshold of Deity Transformation.
"More than a century ago, those who opened the ruins of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect were ancient demon thralls. Disguising themselves as descendants of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect and borrowing its name, they released the ancient demon sealed within the mountain; it was not done by the actual descendants of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect. The sect's destruction originated from a demonic catastrophe, and all its descendants regarded slaying demons as their bounden duty. Regrettably, the demon thralls muddied the waters, leaving them unable to defend themselves and subjected to unjust accusations. Now that the ancient demon has been eliminated and its thralls uprooted, we should clear their name today."
At this grand assembly, all the worthies were gathered, lacking only the descendants of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect. They were already birds frightened by the mere twang of a bowstring; even Moon-Veiling Nunnery had only secretly sent congratulatory gifts, not daring to appear openly.
Qin Sang wanted to unify the forces of Zhongzhou to find the Ascension Platform, and he could not do without the descendants of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect. They undoubtedly held many unknown secrets, which had sadly vanished into obscurity along with them.
One of his objectives in orchestrating the demon tribe's internal strife had been to end the chaos as quickly as possible, allowing all the tribes to unite in purpose and concentrate on this endeavor.
Fortunately, the human race was relatively stable and did not require much effort from Qin Sang. His tolerance of Master Xingji and decision to leave the Three Teachings Alliance untouched was also because he did not want to disrupt the grand plan for ascension.
Qin Sang was a hero who had subdued demons; his credibility was exceptionally high, and people had long suspected him of being the Fire Phase successor of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect.
The onlookers showed mixed expressions. Then, seeing Master Xingji and the other two leaders step forward to corroborate his statement and swear an alliance oath together, they effectively cleared the name of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect before the eyes of the realm, finally bringing closure to that long-standing case.
Doing this was not yet enough to make the descendants of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect lay down all their fears, but at least it would alleviate the pressure and dispel some of their doubts, giving them the courage to walk freely out in the world.
The destruction of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect was obviously not so simple.
What role had the Buddhists, Daoists, and Demonic cultivators played?
Qin Sang did not delve deeply into it; history was best viewed with broad strokes rather than fine scrutiny.
Then, Qin Sang announced another earth-shattering piece of news.
Ascension Platforms existed in this world; one did not need to reach Deity Transformation—late Nascent Soul cultivators also had a chance!
In an instant, everyone was utterly shocked, their burning gazes practically threatening to set Qin Sang's robes ablaze.
What the Ascension Platform signified was obvious to everyone.
The late Nascent Soul stage was difficult, but compared to Deity Transformation, it was vastly easier!
"With the ferocious beasts emerging from their lairs, what changes have occurred in Guixu remains unknown. Saint Huiguang and the Azure Fox Saint King have crossed east ahead of us, their futures uncertain. This poor Daoist has chosen to remain behind to seek another path. After this assembly, I shall travel to the outer domains to spread this news, striving to unite the cultivators of this world to search for an Ascension Platform together. By advancing on all fronts, I believe we can surely find a way out for the practitioners of this realm!"
Qin Sang said in a deep voice, "This poor Daoist can swear before all of you: I once personally witnessed people using an Ascension Platform in an outer domain to break through the realm and ascend. Regrettably, ignorant of the circumstances at the time, the Ascension Platform was accidentally destroyed. However, I believe there is a high probability that another Ascension Platform exists in Zhongzhou, requiring your joint efforts to find it."
"Tearing open the void is certain death. Can an Ascension Platform truly protect us?" someone asked.
Qin Sang nodded. "It possesses a degree of protective power. For the late Nascent Soul stage, it is nine deaths to one life, but consider this: is attempting a breakthrough to Deity Transformation any different?"
Back then, Old Demon Ye and the others had utilized the immortal palace to resist the chaotic spatial turbulence, but now cultivators would have to rely on their own capabilities.
"How many people can stand upon the Ascension Platform? If it is destroyed after a single use, wouldn't we merely be laboring for another's benefit? And what if someone finds the Ascension Platform and keeps it secret?"
Someone asked point-blank.
Qin Sang answered candidly, "The Ascension Platform does have limitations, and activating it is no easy task. Only this poor Daoist knows the method of activation. When the time comes, I will take the fellow Daoists who contributed the most along with me to ascend, and before leaving, I will pass down the ascension techniques and my experience in resisting chaotic spatial turbulence. Bearing the lessons of last time, I guarantee the Ascension Platform will not be destroyed, and I can swear an oath before all of you."
***
Qin Sang answered many questions before proceeding to a side hall.
The grand hall was still in an uproar.
Master Xingji and the other two invited several people in.
They included the Poison King, Situ Yu, and the sect masters of Longju Grotto-Heaven and Qiongying Sect, among others.
All were the realm's top experts, their cultivation at peak completion or approaching peak completion.
Qin Sang nodded to Master Xingji.
Master Xingji recounted to them the matter of the Demonic Voice of the Heavenly Dao.
Qin Sang watched quietly. This action served first to drive them to search for the Ascension Platform with all their might, and second to prevent anyone from attempting a breakthrough completely unprepared, resulting in needless casualties; with sufficient preparation in the future, perhaps someone might survive breaking through to Deity Transformation and become an ally to him.
If no Ascension Platform could be found, he would eventually have to make a journey into Guixu anyway.
In the future, as other cultivators caught up in cultivation, they would also be informed in succession.
Saint Huiguang and the Azure Fox Saint King had been unable to wait, but Qin Sang had the protection of the Jade Buddha and was in no rush.
Qingyang Temple was still weak, but backed by Luye, no matter how the situation in the cultivation world shifted, it would have little impact on his lineage; thus, Qin Sang had few worries and entanglements.
Though the demonic voice blocked their path, with the Ascension Platform, hope still remained, preventing these people from falling into despair and acting recklessly.
All for ascension!
Chapter 1721