"Swoosh, swoosh!"
Seeing that Huang Tian had broken through successfully, Shen Dongming and Master Longding laughed heartily. With a whoosh, they soared straight into the high sky, arriving beside Huang Tian. Beaming from ear to ear, they offered their congratulations: "Congratulations to Fellow Daoist Huang on achieving the Celestial Being realm!"
At this moment, the many martial artists outside the mountain range also snapped out of their shock and bowed in unison. "We congratulate Senior Huang on achieving the Celestial Being realm!"
The sound reverberated for dozens of li!
Huang Tian chuckled softly, his peaceful voice ringing in everyone's ears. "I thank you all for your congratulations!"
Only then did the crowd straighten up and look toward Huang Tian atop the mountain peak, their eyes filled with excitement, yearning, and fanaticism!
"Achieving the Celestial Being realm in under a year!!"
Almost every martial artist who had calculated the span of Huang Tian's cultivation screamed frantically in their hearts.
In all the history of the Five Directions Realm, had there ever been anyone who went from an ordinary mortal who had not even forged force to achieving the Celestial Being realm, advancing by leaps and bounds in less than a year?!
Even Wan Shenyang, the Chief Commander of Great Gan's Martial Restraint Guard—hailed as the most gifted talent in Great Gan across countless years—had taken a full twenty years to break through to the Celestial Being realm!
Even then, his feat had stunned countless people!
Yet Huang Tian's cultivation journey was far more shocking and awe-inspiring than Wan Shenyang's!
Shen Dongming marveled, "I never expected Fellow Daoist Huang to condense five types of divine—"
Before he could finish, a meteor as blazing as fire suddenly streaked across the horizon, carrying the rolling momentum of wind and thunder as it plummeted straight toward the Yupan peak.
Master Longding turned his head to look. "It is Benefactor Wan."
Wan Shenyang had arrived!
Shen Dongming laughed loudly. "The commotion from Fellow Daoist Huang's breakthrough was so astonishing that it jolted Brother Wan out of seclusion."
"Rumble!"
A long wave of billowing air surged into the void before the peak, and a figure abruptly came to a halt, stirring up visible ripples in the surrounding air.
Huang Tian looked up.
It was a valiant man with thick black brows and piercing, bright eyes. Dressed in a striking scarlet robe that flared like fire, he stood there like a fluttering battle flag!
"You are... Huang Tian?"
Wan Shenyang had clearly seen portraits of Huang Tian and had a rather deep impression of him.
Huang Tian smiled slightly and cupped his hands in greeting. "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Wan."
In Wan Shenyang's heart, waves surged like a tempest. Just before he entered seclusion several months ago, the news he received was that Huang Tian had just broken through to rank two, clashing to a draw with a strand of Yin Fenghai's divine intent in Kunyun Commandery.
How had Huang Tian suddenly arrived at the Imperial Capital and attained the Celestial Being realm after just a few months of seclusion?!
It was utterly absurd!
Even though Wan Shenyang had been hailed as a peerless prodigy for years, at this moment, he could not help but inwardly sigh. How could such a monstrous anomaly exist in this world?!
Stepping forward onto the mountain summit, Wan Shenyang returned the courtesy. "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Huang!"
At this level, official ranks like Chief Commander or Commander were naturally meaningless to mention. As the pinnacle powerhouses of this realm, status, rank, and nobility meant nothing to them.
If they wished, they could carve out a territory to form a small kingdom and become an emperor. If they wished not, they could also be like Perfected Sanmiao, wandering the mortal world as a storyteller.
"Just now in the distance, I saw five strands of noble divine intent rising from this place. Could it be that Fellow Daoist Huang has cultivated five types of divine intent?" Wan Shenyang asked.
Huang Tian smiled and nodded. "Indeed. The process was far from easy."
Receiving his personal confirmation, Wan Shenyang, Shen Dongming, and Master Longding all drew a sharp breath.
Five types of divine intent!
Throughout history, it seemed such an individual had never appeared!
Of course, how many types of divine intent those five Void Realm powerhouses had fostered was unknown to them. But since those five, across recorded history, no one had ever comprehended more than three types of divine intent. Yin Fenghai's Dual Manifestation of Immortal and Demon divine intent was virtually the very peak!
Five types of divine intent, each belonging to the Five Elements, cycling and mutually generating one another—its might was bound to be extraordinarily formidable!
As this thought crossed his mind, an intense battle intent flared within Wan Shenyang's chest. The true qi in his body burned like fire, faintly distorting the air into transparent ripples.
"I would like to spar with Fellow Daoist Huang and discuss the Dao through martial arts. Would you be willing?" Wan Shenyang asked.
Huang Tian smiled and shook his head. "The time has not yet come. We must wait until everyone is gathered."
"Wait until everyone is gathered?"
Wan Shenyang was taken aback for an instant, then immediately understood. Huang Tian was waiting for the top powerhouses on the Celestial Being Ranking to arrive together!
Taking a deep look at Huang Tian, Wan Shenyang nodded. "Then we shall wait until they arrive!"
As for whether they would come, that was not even a question.
For true powerhouses, worthy opponents were paramount. Without evenly matched adversaries to spar and contend against, groping forward alone made advancement in the martial Dao exceedingly difficult.
Not to mention, Huang Tian now seemed poised to claim the title of the world's foremost powerhouse. If no one else, Yin Fenghai was certain to come to the Imperial Capital!
Once he came, Fu Yunjue, Holy Monk Baojia, and Perfected Sanmiao would surely come as well!
When that time came, the top six on the Celestial Being Ranking—the six foremost powerhouses in the world—would gather in Great Gan's Imperial Capital!
This would be an unprecedented grand gathering of the martial Dao!
It was foreseeable that countless martial artists across the world, upon receiving the news, would rush posthaste to the Imperial Capital to witness a battle of supreme powerhouses seen only once in a thousand years!
Since they could not spar for the moment, Wan Shenyang did not press the matter and suggested, "Since the four of us are here together, why don't we sit down and discuss the Dao?"
"Excellent!"
The four sat cross-legged atop the mountain peak. The vast mountain winds fluttered their robes as they unhurriedly shared their insights and experiences of the martial Dao. When inspiration struck, one of them would stand up and demonstrate a technique.
Aside from the Grandmaster-level powerhouses, the countless martial artists outside the mountain range could not hear clearly what was being said across the great distance. Yet every single one of them was brimming with enthusiasm. The reason was simple: four supreme Celestial Beings were gathered together, sitting in discourse over the Dao. To them, such a sight carried an aura of sacred wonder!
Time flew during their discourse on the Dao, and in the blink of an eye, a month passed. Over this month, news of Huang Tian breaking through to the Celestial Being realm spread like wildfire across the five nations, reaching the ears of countless martial artists.
Qin Province, Kunyun Commandery, the commandery seat.
Zhou Tu, Yu Jingcheng, Bai Yuanfu, and others were gathered together.
Zhou Tu could not stop shaking his head in wonder. "I never expected Commander Huang to step into the Celestial Being realm so quickly. In my memory, he was still a rank-two martial artist..."
Yu Jingcheng said proudly, "Huang Tian is a peerless talent hailing from our commandery's Martial Restraint Guard. Isn't it only natural that he advances swiftly?"
Hearing this, Zhou Tu chuckled. "He's not just a prodigy of our commandery's Martial Restraint Guard, but the most brilliant and dazzling genius the Five Directions Realm has seen in ten thousand years."
Bai Yuanfu sighed with emotion. "I remember Huang Tian only joined our Martial Restraint Guard this spring. Now, in less than a year, he has achieved the Celestial Being realm... Thinking back on it now, worldly affairs are truly wondrous. Tell me, if Huang Xunjiu had sent him over earlier back then, what would have happened? And if he had never sent him over, what then?"
Zhou Tu stroked his beard and said, "Had he sent him over earlier, Brother Huang certainly would have revealed his peerless talent sooner. If he had never sent him over, I believe Brother Huang would have still stepped onto the martial path and swept across all opposition undefeated!"
Yu Jingcheng agreed. "How could a man like him ever be kept down by Huang Xunjiu?"
Bai Yuanfu sighed with deep lament. "If Huang Xunjiu had treated everyone fairly when running his household back then, not mistreating Huang Tian or letting his birth mother die in melancholy, the Huang family today would surely be flourishing like flowers over a blazing fire."
Once upon a time, Huang Xunjiu's lifelong dream was to expand the family clan, nurturing the moderately talented eldest son in the hope that he would become a Grandmaster and turn the clan into a Grandmaster clan.
And now—if only he hadn't antagonized Huang Tian, the Huang family would already be a veritable Celestial Being family! Even Great Gan's princes and princesses would have to treat members of the Huang family with the utmost courtesy!
Alas...
"Heh, as the saying goes, no one has the gift of foresight."
Yu Jingcheng smiled. "However, I heard that after what happened with Huang Tian, the concubine-born sons and the sons of maidservants in some of the commandery seat's prominent clans have had a much better time. At least they're treated like young masters and not abused by servants. Every one of them has Huang Tian to thank."
Zhou Tu and Bai Yuanfu exchanged a look, both finding it somewhat humorous. This could be considered a warning to the prominent clans in the commandery seat brought about by the Huang family's downfall.
Clearing his throat, Zhou Tu spoke slowly, "The ownership of the Juntian Ocean-Subduing Ruler is settled, and Wei Shen has accompanied Commander Huang to the Imperial Capital. There will be no further turmoil in the commandery. Tomorrow, I will be leaving Kunyun."
"Returning to the provincial capital?"
"No, to the Imperial Capital!"
Zhou Tu said with yearning, "I want to witness that impending, epoch-making battle with my own eyes!"
Ever since Huang Tian entered the Celestial Being realm, everyone knew Yin Fenghai would seek him out, making a clash inevitable.
One was Yin Fenghai, hailed as a prodigy seen once in several thousand years in the Five Directions Realm, who had overshadowed the world for sixty years!
The other was Huang Tian, who achieved the Celestial Being realm in a single year, his aptitude and comprehension unmatched throughout history!
Just thinking of a clash between the two made blood surge with excitement!
Hearing this, Yu Jingcheng's interest was piqued. "Since Wei Shen left with the divine armament, Kunyun has indeed been rather peaceful lately, and I don't have much to busy myself with. Brother Zhou, how about I accompany you?"
"Splendid, we can keep each other company!" Zhou Tu said happily.
Bai Yuanfu was tempted as well. "I'll come along too!"
"Can you get away?"
"No matter. The commandery Martial Restraint Guard will neither suffer from my absence nor overflow with my presence," Bai Yuanfu smiled. "Besides, I have already broken through to rank three!"
Once one entered the Grandmaster realm, their freedom increased substantially, and the court would not place excessive constraints on them. On the other hand, with the elevation of his realm, his official post would also be transferred, making this the perfect time to go to the Imperial Capital to observe the battle.
"Yuanfu, when did you break through?" Yu Jingcheng asked in pleasant surprise.
Bai Yuanfu laughed heartily. "Yesterday, while patrolling outside the city, I had a sudden insight. I immediately found a secluded spot, took a Precious Elephant Sacred Fetus Pill that Huang Tian had gifted me back then, and broke through quite smoothly!"
"Good! Wonderful!" Yu Jingcheng clapped his hands and laughed.
"In that case, the three of us shall travel together!" Zhou Tu said.
The following day, at daybreak, the three set out together for the Imperial Capital.
Rushing forward at full tilt, they took over twenty days to reach the Imperial Capital. After making a few inquiries, they headed straight for the Yupan Mountain Range.
Before they even reached the mountains, they were astonished by the endless sea of martial artists along the way.
It was truly an ocean of people, without the slightest exaggeration. Looking around, everyone wore snug attire and carried sabers or swords, and the auras of many were exceptionally profound and steady—evidently accomplished martial cultivators!
"An unprecedented grand gathering of the martial Dao!" Infected by the atmosphere, the three grew increasingly thrilled.
Arriving before the Yupan Mountain Range and looking up, they saw a dense sea of people, while atop the mountain peak twenty li away, seven figures sat quietly cross-legged.
Yu Jingcheng and his companions only recognized Huang Tian, Wan Shenyang, Shen Dongming, and Master Longding among them; the remaining three were unfamiliar.
Fortunately, by merely pricking up their ears, they could hear the conversations of those around them.
"...The one in the faded gray Daoist robe is Perfected Sanmiao of the State of Yu, formerly fifth and now sixth on the Celestial Being Ranking. The one draped in a purple robe is Pavilion Master Xuanji, and to Pavilion Master's right is Abbey Master Yunxiao."
Every single one was a renowned Celestial Being powerhouse!
And powerhouses near the top of the rankings, at that!
Just as they were listening intently, an exclamation abruptly erupted from the crowd.
"Holy Monk Baojia has arrived!"
"The number one Celestial Being of the State of Mi, Holy Monk Baojia!"
Up in the sky, an old monk draped in a moon-white monastic robe, displaying a solemn and dignified demeanor, strode through the void. With each step, lotuses blossomed beneath his feet. Reaching the peak, he chanted, "Amitabha," and without saying much, sat cross-legged on the ground as well.
"Rumble!!"
Before the crowd's exclamations could subside, a series of booming roars echoed from the distant horizon. The sounds rapidly approached from afar. Looking up, a purple greatcloak billowed like rolling clouds, and a figure tore through the wind across the sky, sweeping up a violent surge as he ascended straight to the mountain peak.
"Cult Master Fu Yunjue of the Demonic Cult! He is here as well!"
"Are you insane?! How dare you call it the Demonic Cult... If you provoke him, don't let your blood splatter on me!"
"Ahem, Sacred Cult, Sacred Cult!"
"What's there to fear? With so many venerable seniors and masters present, who's afraid of him alone? If he dares lay a hand on us, he'll probably be suppressed in an instant!"
"Do you think he came alone? The Sacred Cult has tens of thousands of members. Maybe right now, plenty of them are watching you. Once you leave this place and find yourself alone, heh..."
"Ah, ahaha, just a joke, just jesting! Only joking!"
Amidst the clamor, Bai Yuanfu said with churning emotions, "Five of the top six on the Celestial Being Ranking have gathered. What a magnificent sight!"
Zhou Tu said slowly, "Only one is missing!"
"Yin Fenghai! Wonder when he will arrive?" Yu Jingcheng murmured to himself.
Whoosh, whoosh~
The mountain winds blew briskly. The sun rose and the moon set; the moon set and the sun rose.
In the blink of an eye, three more days passed.
"Skreee!"
On this day, beneath a clear, crystalline sky, a clear crane cry suddenly resounded from the distant heavens.
Everyone's hearts jolted, and they all looked upward in unison.
A white crane broke through the clouds, its wings spread wide like unfurled white silk, its neck long and slender, its iron beak tipped with cinnabar red.
It flew with supreme stability and beauty, exuding an unhurried, graceful elegance.
And atop the crane stood a man with his hands clasped behind his back, his black robe fluttering in the celestial wind like ink lotuses blooming one after another amidst a sea of clouds.
As he drew nearer, everyone finally saw his appearance clearly: lean, refined features, aloof, delicate brows and eyes, and long hair loosely bound by a white jade hairpin, carrying the leisurely poise of drifting clouds.
"Dwelling long in the mountains, news travels slowly indeed. I have arrived late..."
A clear voice resonated between heaven and earth. The white crane bore him to the mountain summit. He looked around at the crowd and smiled faintly.
"Greetings, fellow Daoists."
Chapter 143