For ten thousand years, every martial artist had regarded the Void Realm as the supreme peak of the Five Directions Realm!
Whoever was first to ascend to the Void Realm would be truly invincible under heaven. Even if countless Celestial Being experts besieged them, it would be an exercise in futility; the chasm between realms alone was enough to crush everyone.
And yet—
At this very moment, as they looked at Huang Tian suspended high in the vast sky and Yin Fenghai struck down to the earth by a single palm strike, every martial artist's head buzzed.
How could a Void Realm supreme expert, the first to appear in ten thousand years, have lost?!
"Senior Huang... is he—is he even human?"
A first-rank Grandmaster watching from the sidelines let out a near-groan, his face filled with sheer disbelief.
It was one thing to break through rapidly and possess terrifying combat power, but by what right could he defeat a Void Realm cultivator while still being a Celestial Being?!
As everyone knew, the higher one's realm, the harder it became to defeat an opponent across realms.
Defeating an eighth-rank as a ninth-rank was something many could do. Defeating a third-rank as a fourth-rank was achievable only by a handful of stunning, peerless geniuses. Defeating a Celestial Being as a first-rank was a feat accomplished by vanishingly few throughout history.
And a Celestial Being defeating the Void Realm—
Even including the five Void Realm experts of ancient times, no one had ever heard of anyone achieving such a thing!
Yet this miraculous sight had unfolded right before their eyes, leaving them no choice but to believe it.
Pavilion Master Xuanji swallowed hard. "I take back what I said earlier. Sometimes, divine abilities truly surpass realms!"
Before Yin Fenghai and Huang Tian exchanged blows, he had believed the gap of an entire realm was an insurmountable crushing force. But the outcome had defied all expectations.
A single divine ability, profound beyond profound and wondrous beyond wondrous, could genuinely bridge an entire realm to vanquish a foe!
Shen Dongming exclaimed in wonder, "What kind of divine ability is this? Has our Five Directions Realm ever witnessed such a formidable martial divine ability?"
Master Longding shook his head. "Never heard of it."
"Fellow Daoist Huang must have created and derived it himself." Wan Shenyang's eyes burned with fervor. "Have you all forgotten? His greatest gift is his comprehension. Though he has cultivated for merely a year, he has studied no fewer than tens of thousands of martial techniques, bringing every single one to perfection. What is so surprising about him creating an unprecedented great divine ability from that?"
Hearing this, realization dawned on the crowd, followed immediately by silence.
Could supreme comprehension truly allow someone to do whatever they pleased?!
Amid the silence, Huang Tian flew down from high above, coming before Yin Fenghai. With a casual flick of his wrist, the Gold-Traced Painted Halberd settled steadily into Yin Fenghai's hands.
With a complex expression, Yin Fenghai turned his palm and took the divine armament back into his body.
"Fellow Daoist, your methods command my deepest admiration," he sighed. "May I ask the name of this divine ability?"
Huang Tian smiled faintly. "You may call it the Five-Colored Divine Light. One sweep of the divine light, and nothing fails to drop."
"The Five-Colored Divine Light, is it..." Yin Fenghai murmured softly.
"So it is called the Five-Colored Divine Light!" Pavilion Master Xuanji said, burning with excitement. "This is undoubtedly the most formidable divine ability in the history of the Five Directions Realm! If I compile a Divine Ability Ranking, this must sit at the very top!"
The Celestial Beings began conversing in intrigue, and the crowd of Grandmasters felt their hearts burn with longing as well.
If one could master such a divine ability, could a Grandmaster perhaps defy heaven and slay a Celestial Being?
Alas, it was nothing more than wishful thinking. Without peerless comprehension or a great convergence of karmic luck, even if the Taiyi Guizang Five-Colored Divine Light were laid bare before them, they could never learn it.
After his sigh, Yin Fenghai collected his thoughts, glanced around, and addressed the matter weighing on everyone's minds.
"Upon stepping into the Void Realm, once the Soul is born, one can sense a miraculous gate concealed between heaven and earth."
"The Gate of Void Origin!!" Abbey Master Yunxiao blurted out. Except for Huang Tian, everyone present held their breath.
According to legend, passing through the Gate of Void Origin allowed one to journey to an upper realm and pursue an even higher and farther path!
"It is indeed the Gate of Void Origin." Yin Fenghai nodded. "So long as one cultivates a Soul, one can sense and pass through it. Furthermore, I have received a vague revelation from the unseen: I must depart the Five Directions Realm within a year, or I shall be rejected by the world."
"Within a year..."
Understanding dawned on everyone.
No wonder none of the five ancient Void Realm experts had lingered long in this realm. It was not merely to seek a greater path in a higher world, but also because this world could not tolerate the presence of the Void Realm.
"Before departing, I am willing to expound upon my insights into breaking through and the mysteries of the Void Realm for all of you."
"Our thanks to Brother Yin!" the crowd thanked him in unison.
"It is nothing. We are all fellow travelers on the Dao, so there is no need for thanks."
With that, Yin Fenghai returned with the others to the high peak and sat upon the ground to lecture.
This discourse lasted three days and three nights.
Over those three days, news of Yin Fenghai stepping into the Void Realm and Huang Tian defeating him swept through the entire Imperial Capital. Countless martial artists surged toward the Yupan Mountain Range once more.
In just three days, martial artists bearing sabers and swords could be seen everywhere inside and outside the mountains.
"...Such is my understanding."
Having concluded his discourse, Yin Fenghai looked up into the vast sky and let out a soft sigh. "The Dao has been fully spoken. It is time for me to depart."
Pavilion Master Xuanji was somewhat startled. "Brother Yin, why such haste?"
Perfected Sanmiao asked as well, "There is still ample time before the one-year limit. Why rush to leave?"
"In this realm, I have no ties, no entanglements, and nothing I hold dear. What meaning is there in staying another year?"
Yin Fenghai shook his head. "Better to leave early. Since all of you are gathered here, I might as well scout out this Gate of Void Origin for you."
Hearing this, no one urged him to stay. Unlike most of them, Yin Fenghai had no worldly ties; he was truly solitary, so an ascension would bring no regrets or lingering attachments.
With that, Yin Fenghai rose to his feet. A profound, ethereal aura rippled outward from his body.
Layer upon layer of ripples spread through the void. Dozens of breaths later—
*Whoosh!*
A clear, melodious, and ethereal immortal melody suddenly drifted from the horizon. Everyone hurriedly raised their heads, only to see a towering gateway slowly coalescing from the void amid churning seas of clouds.
The gate was half-ethereal and half-tangible, translucent as jade. Faint Dao scripts flowed across its pillars, each character swirling like a galaxy, shimmering in the play of light and shadow.
Behind the gate, one could faintly glimpse misty cloud-mountains, jade-like trees, and crystalline boughs—a true immortal abode.
"It really is the Gate of Void Origin!!"
The countless martial artists throughout the mountain range erupted in a thunderous clamor.
Though ancient records and chronicles had long noted that reaching the Void Realm allowed one to cross the Gate of Void Origin, over the past ten thousand years, no one had witnessed it with their own eyes, and no one could say for certain that it truly existed.
Now, they had finally seen it!
This meant there was indeed a higher path for martial arts! They would not remain trapped until death within the Five Directions Realm!
"It is calling to me..." Yin Fenghai murmured softly, gazing at the hazy, ethereal Gate of Void Origin.
He pulled his gaze back and looked around at the assembly. "I shall go ahead to pave the way for you all."
With that, he stepped forward, his robes billowing as he ascended straight into the high heavens. Standing before the Gate of Void Origin, even he felt his heart surge with emotion.
After a century of searching, he could finally step into a higher world!
Barely suppressing his excitement, he turned back for one final look: the sky, the earth, the wind and snow, the mountains, and his fellow cultivators...
Finally, his gaze rested upon Huang Tian.
"Brother Huang, I hope that one day, we shall meet again in another realm to discuss the martial path!"
He lowered his sleeves and bowed with hands clasped, and Huang Tian returned the courtesy from afar.
A few breaths later, Yin Fenghai's expression hardened with resolve. Without hesitation, he stepped into the semi-tangible Gate of Void Origin, leaving only a clear voice echoing between heaven and earth.
"Everyone, farewell!"
"May Brother Yin's Dao fortune remain ever prosperous!!!"
*Whoosh—*
A gale swept past, and the Gate of Void Origin gradually faded until it vanished entirely, leaving behind only the swirling wind and snow.
"He has truly... departed..." Pavilion Master Xuanji said, yearning gleaming in his eyes. "Behind that gate, there really is another world."
Perfected Sanmiao stroked his beard. "Who knows when we might unravel the mysteries of the Void Realm and cross that immortal gate?"
Holy Monk Baojia wore a look of mixed joy and worry. "We know nothing of what lies beyond the gate. I only hope it is indeed a vaster and more magnificent realm..."
The Celestial Beings lingered atop the mountain peak for a long time, their emotions tangled.
Meanwhile, the martial artists who had witnessed Yin Fenghai's 'ascension' from afar were wild with excitement, their cheers rising in a deafening roar—
Time flowed swiftly, like a great river rushing eastward, never to return. In the blink of an eye, more than a year passed.
Imperial Capital.
In an elegant courtyard, sparse slender bamboos swayed, and rich floral fragrance filled the air.
"Heng'er, you must concentrate when practicing," a tall woman spoke up.
In the courtyard, a green-robed young girl with the grace of a swallow snapped out of her daze. Giving a quiet reply, she forced herself to settle her mind and continued practicing her martial techniques.
An hour slipped by.
"That will do," the tall woman said.
"Mhm." Heng'er finished her stance, looking somewhat downcast.
Puzzled, the tall woman asked, "Heng'er, you rarely get distracted during practice. Why have you been like this these past two days? Are you hoping to go to Mount Yupan to watch the Martial Dao Assembly?"
Over a year ago, after Yin Fenghai ascended and departed, Huang Tian had remained in the Imperial Capital. Shen Dongming gifted him a beautiful residence and gathered all kinds of rare martial arts from across the realm for him.
Several months later, Shen Dongming sent people to bring Aunt Qin, Heng'er, and the others from Kunyun to the Imperial Capital, where they had now stayed for over half a year.
As for the Martial Dao Assembly the tall woman mentioned, it was jointly hosted by the Celestial Being experts of the five nations to promote martial exchange and discuss the heights of the martial path.
All martial artists of the middle three ranks and upper three ranks could participate. Those ranked in the top hundred within their respective realm could obtain handsome rewards: spirit pills, precious medicines, divine armaments, techniques—everything one could desire.
The Martial Dao Assembly was to be held once every five years, with this being the inaugural event, hosted in the Yupan Mountain Range where Yin Fenghai and the others had clashed with Huang Tian.
Celestial Being experts such as Wan Shenyang, Shen Dongming, and Perfected Sanmiao would all attend. Rumors even circulated that they would select several individuals from the assembly as disciples to pass down their mantles, drawing countless martial artists flocking to the Imperial Capital in grand celebration.
"Sister Yun, it's just... a little..." Heng'er offered a strained smile.
The tall woman—the former sole female guard in Qinghui Garden, Sister Yun—replied, "There are only two days left before the Martial Dao Assembly opens. I will accompany you to watch it then.
"Speaking of which, Senior Wei Shen has already reached the first rank. Relying on his divine armament, he can match a Celestial Being, so his chances of taking top place are very high..."
For this Martial Dao Assembly, the greatest center of attention was undoubtedly the Celestial Being experts, followed by the Grandmasters who had a chance to take first place in the first-rank category.
As an armament master, Wei Shen was widely favored to take first place.
"Still, other armament masters might arrive in the Imperial Capital to take part in the Martial Dao Assembly. When the time comes, an intense clash of titans will be inevitable..." Sister Yun said. "I hope Senior Wei wins!"
Wei Shen had accompanied Huang Tian for years and put on no airs in daily life, maintaining good relations with everyone in the estate. Sister Yun, Aunt Qin, and the others naturally hoped he would prevail.
Heng'er nodded slightly, but her gaze drifted toward a courtyard to the east—the place where Huang Tian was in secluded cultivation.
Two days ago, Huang Tian had suddenly announced his seclusion, forbidding anyone from disturbing him.
A master entering seclusion was common practice, so the servants thought nothing of it and carried on with their duties. But Heng'er harbored a strong premonition that this time, Huang Tian was very likely attempting to break through to the Void Realm!
After all, counting from the day Huang Tian entered the Guard Academy to first encounter the martial path, he had reached Celestial Being in merely a year. Now more than a year had passed—longer than all his prior time combined. Touching the threshold of the Void Realm was hardly surprising.
*I hope Fourth Brother breaks through smoothly...*
Heng'er unconsciously clutched her sleeve, both hoping Huang Tian would successfully enter the Void Realm and feeling a deep pang of reluctance. She knew that once Huang Tian broke through, he would never remain long in this realm. Like Yin Fenghai, he would surely travel to another world in pursuit of a higher and farther path. When that day came, it might be a parting forever...
*Rumble!!*
Suddenly, the spiritual qi between heaven and earth violently surged into a frenzy.
Dense spiritual qi converged in a roaring rush, forming an immense spiritual qi vortex above the quiet room where Huang Tian cultivated in seclusion.
A brilliant pillar of light, blending five colors—azure, scarlet, yellow, white, and black—soared boldly into the heavens. The pillar pierced through the firmament, dispersing layers of cloud, and even the blazing sun high in the sky seemed to dim beneath the divine radiance.
A sacred, vast, and majestic aura washed over all directions. Wherever this pressure covered, an impulse to prostrate in worship welled up inside every living being.
"Is this... a breakthrough?!!" Sister Yun stared slack-jawed at the radiance in the sky, shaken beyond words.
Heng'er tilted her head back, gazing at this mythic spectacle, lost in thought for a long time.
Throughout the Imperial Capital and beyond, countless martial artists looked up in astonishment, staring wide-eyed at the vast sea of spiritual qi and the breathtaking divine light above.
"That is the Five-Colored Divine Light! The supreme divine ability ranked first on the Divine Ability Ranking! In all the world, only Senior Huang knows it!"
"The spiritual qi surges like an ocean—someone is definitely attempting a breakthrough! It seems Senior Huang is preparing to break through!"
"I wonder if he can succeed?"
"Are you joking? If even Senior Huang cannot succeed, no one in this world ever will!"
"He is the foremost genius throughout all of history. There is no way he could fail!"
"..."
Amid the clamor, the boundless spiritual qi and the five-colored divine light intertwined, persisting for a full half-hour.
*Whoosh—*
Suddenly, a figure about three feet tall leaped up from the quiet chamber and stood in the void. This small figure looked identical to Huang Tian, with distinct features and skin like white jade, draped in an immortal robe misted with rosy dawn-light.
The figure's eyes were clear and bright. With a wave of his hand, the five-colored pillar of light that had shaken the sky instantly receded, transforming into an ethereal wisp of rosy luminescence that sank into his body.
At that moment, the tempestuous spiritual qi in the heavens stilled, gradually turning peaceful before dissipating completely into nothingness. The brilliant sunlight emerged once more, illuminating the dawn-robed figure until he shone like a true deity.
The small figure curiously inspected his Soul state, then gazed in all directions at heaven and earth. After looking for a brief while, he dropped down into the quiet chamber below in a flash.
*Hum—*
As the Soul entered the body, an invisible wave of presence rippled outward, permeating and enveloping the entire Imperial Capital.
"The Void Realm is achieved!"
Chapter 149