Observations

"The Xingri Sect holds sway over a sphere of influence spanning three billion light-years! The hundreds of millions of civilizations across this region all revere the Xingri Sect as supreme. However, the area they truly control is actually less than one billion light-years. Only within this expanse have they established a branch-sect system to maintain direct governance over those star systems. The factions beyond one billion light-years merely offer annual tribute out of fear of their renown, seeking peace and tranquility." Information regarding the Xingri Sect flowed through Yaoguang's mind. Although this data dated back six thousand years, in the cosmic starry sky—and especially concerning a colossus like the Xingri Sect—it was completely normal for circumstances to remain unchanged for tens of thousands of years. A gap of merely six thousand years... could practically be called firsthand intelligence. "If I recall correctly, there should be a port star ahead named Yunji, serving as the Xingri Sect's gateway to the southeast. Cultivators, merchants, and civilization delegations arriving from the southeastern direction all trade goods and exchange intelligence on that planet... before submitting customs clearance documents to officially enter the Xingri Sect's territory." Yaoguang glanced at the star map. Considering that figures at the Dao Lord level caused too much of a stir, he leapt out of his pinnacle Dao-artifact-grade battleship and switched to an ordinary Dao-artifact-grade battleship. He also restrained his cultivation to the Void Shattering level. Concealed by the immortal artifact Ten Directions Heavenly Realm, as long as he did not make a move, even coming face-to-face with a Dao Lord might not expose him. After preparing himself, Yaoguang traversed space in just a few shuttles and arrived before a planet illuminated by nine stars. With merely a glance, Yaoguang realized this was not a natural planet. It was a formation. An artificial planet molded to meet the specifications of this formation. Moreover, the formation reached rank fourteen, and in certain respects, it even rivaled the standards of rank fifteen formations. "No wonder all outside factions obediently process entry formalities on Yunji Star. A rank fourteen formation deployed in the cosmic starry sky... and if presided over by a Void Shattering cultivator, unless a Dao Lord arrives in person, even the most powerful Void Shattering expert would be helpless and have no choice but to queue up meekly." Yaoguang piloted the battleship toward the planet. This was an artificial planet with a diameter spanning hundreds of millions of li. Its perimeter was enveloped by an artificial spiritual energy layer, while the planetary core within served as the operational hub of the entire formation, collaborating with the nine supermassive stars outside to constitute this rank fourteen formation. As soon as Yaoguang's battleship approached, patrol cultivators arrived promptly, guiding him through an aperture in the formation specifically designated for traffic. As a Void Shattering cultivator piloting a Dao-artifact-grade battleship, he naturally enjoyed ample privileges. While other battleships were still waiting in line, a Void Refining cultivator had already boarded his ship to handle his registration and the relevant formalities. Judging by the proficiency of the Void Refining cultivator handling the procedures... Yunji Star Port likely received Void Piercing, Void Refining, and Void Shattering cultivators from beyond on a regular basis. After completing the formalities, Yaoguang's battleship sailed into the artificial spiritual energy layer. Upon entering the spiritual energy layer, the first thing that met his eyes was a sea of spiritual energy clouds so vast that it filled his entire vision. Multihued spiritual energies were directly separated by the artificial atmosphere, allowing cultivators of various elemental attributes to choose the spiritual energy that suited them. More importantly... the concentration of this spiritual energy was far from low. With a casual wave, Yaoguang drew upon the spiritual energy within several hundred meters and condensed a spirit stone. Within the atmosphere, magnificent and radiant palaces abounded, looming indistinctly amid spiraling spiritual mists like celestial realms. Most cultivators visiting Yunji Star Port headed toward those palaces, either to conduct transactions, enjoy local special services, or interact with institutions of the Xingri Sect. However, after taking a look, Yaoguang grew curious and continued flying beneath the atmosphere. As he drew close to the surface, he felt a distinct barrier of resistance from a formation. Because he carried the Void Shattering token issued by the Xingri Sect, the formation did not obstruct him, and in an instant, he passed right through it. "It probably... only blocks cultivators below the Void Piercing realm. A Void Piercing cultivator who commands the power of the void could easily bypass this formation." Yaoguang glanced back at the grand formation. He then continued descending, passing through a lightning layer and a layer of astral winds. When he reached the airspace near the earth, an expansive terrain leaped into view. And at the edge of his vision, a gathering place for cultivators was clearly visible. There, over a dozen massive mountains floated thousands of meters up in the sky, while a colossal city stretched out beneath them. Looking toward those peaks, Yaoguang could see streak after streak of sword light shuttling back and forth between them. A great number of spiritual birds and celestial cranes were domesticated upon the mountains. From a few peaks, waterfalls cascaded down thousands of meters; just before striking the ground, the water was dispersed by the wind, turning into a misty rain that nourished the spiritual fields and soil below. This sight involuntarily stirred memories from several centuries ago in Yaoguang's heart. "'Flying torrent plummets three thousand feet, as if the Milky Way has fallen from the highest heavens.'" The scene before him resonated completely with the immortal wonderland in his mind. At that moment, several streaks of escape light pierced through the air. Arriving before Yaoguang, they bowed respectfully: "Elder Danqingzi of the Qingxiao Sect pays respects to the Upper Realm True Immortal." "Upper Realm True Immortal?" Yaoguang glanced at their leader. He was at the Incandescent White Golden Core realm. "The True Immortal has descended from the Heavenly Realm to inspect the mortal realm. May I ask if there is anything Danqingzi can do for you?" Danqingzi acted with utmost deference. Every Upper Realm True Immortal was an accomplished cultivator of great attainment. Especially the person before him... With such magnificent bearing, he was very likely a Void Shattering Golden Immortal beyond Void Piercing True Immortals and Void Refining Mystic Immortals. That was a truly enlightened master of consummate Dao methods. If lower realm cultivators like them hosted him well and were casually bestowed some pills or techniques, it would suffice to benefit them for a lifetime and lay an abundant foundation for shattering the void and ascending into the Heavenly Realm in the future. "Seeing how bustling your sect is with people coming and going, is there some event going on?" Yaoguang asked. "Yes, yes! If the exalted immortal would permit me to explain, the sixteen sects of our Yun Prefecture take turns holding a grand disciple competition every ten years—" "Yun Prefecture?" "Indeed. Yun Prefecture is one of the thirty-six prefectures of the Xuanling Realm, spanning eighteen million li north to south and fourteen million li east to west. It is home to sixteen top cultivation sects, three hundred and sixty-six first-rate sects, countless second- and third-rate major sects, and one hundred and eight thousand mortal kingdoms, each with distinct customs..." Danqingzi replied enthusiastically, appearing intimately familiar with the details. Hearing this, Yaoguang could not help but marvel at the sheer scale of the land. At the same time, listening to Danqingzi's words... it seemed they did not know they lived on an artificial planet, nor that this planet was actually a rank fourteen formation. "A sect competition... Let's go take a look," Yaoguang said. The purpose of his cultivation was to live more comfortably, to allow himself to go wherever he wished and do whatever he pleased. The world before him... bore a striking resemblance to the cultivation realm of his imagination... Of course, that was not to say the Cangwu Great World or Beihai Star lacked their own distinct character; they simply had not matched his personal perception of an immortal cultivation realm. Now that he had encountered such a world, it naturally piqued his interest. "The exalted immortal's presence brings boundless glory to the sixteen sects of Yun Prefecture." Danqingzi enthusiastically led Yaoguang to the grounds of the Qingxiao Sect. When he arrived with Yaoguang, the elders and sect masters of Yun Prefecture's sixteen sects all rose to their feet at once, bowing in greeting. Only then did Yaoguang discover that he was not the only upper-realm immortal who had arrived... There were more than a dozen others just like him. Danqingzi seemed to sense his curiosity and said with a smile, "The reason every grand competition receives enthusiastic participation from all the top sects, each sending their most elite disciples to compete, is that Upper Realm True Immortals attend to spectate every single time. Quite a few who perform brilliantly are noticed by an Upper Realm True Immortal and taken as disciples." "Doesn't that amount to weaving wedding gowns for others?" Yaoguang remarked. "For a disciple of our sect to catch the eye of an Upper Realm True Immortal is a blessing earned across three lifetimes," Danqingzi replied with a laugh. "Moreover, after taking a disciple, to encourage our sects, Upper Realm True Immortals also bestow miraculous elixirs and medicines whose value far exceeds the resources we invested into that disciple. At the very least... with this bond of goodwill, our sects gain an added measure of backing to establish ourselves firmly across the land of Xuanling." Hearing this, Yaoguang nodded slightly. From this perspective, the interactions between lower realm cultivators of the Xuanling Realm and the so-called Upper Realm True Immortals were fairly close. After a moment, a thought seemed to occur to him. "Have any Upper Realm True Immortals settled permanently in the lower realm?" "There have been some, but usually not for long," Danqingzi said. "Taking the vicinity of our Qingxiao Sect as an example, there was once a Daoist Po Suo who established the Po Suo Pure Land and cultivated in seclusion for six hundred years. He even mentored a disciple named Sun Xing whose talent was so extraordinary that he attained Golden Immortal status in three hundred years. He even stormed the Heavenly Palace, seeking to divide heaven and earth equally with the celestial realm." "Three hundred years?" Yaoguang was somewhat surprised. Reaching Void Shattering in three hundred years—such talent... was exceedingly high. "Where is he now?" "He was suppressed by the mighty figures of the Heavenly Palace, five hundred years ago now," Danqingzi said. Yaoguang nodded. By now, the disciple tournament seemed to have entered its next round. The two currently competing were remarkably disciples at the Constant Light realm. Yaoguang could discern that the sect masters and elders of Yun Prefecture's sixteen sects were basically at the Incandescent White Golden Core or Radiant Sun Golden Core realms. Of course, these top sects likely had Azure Blue Golden Core cultivators as well, but they would all be in closed-door cultivation preparing for ascension to the immortal realm. As for the disciples... figures on the level of chief true disciples, Holy Sons, and Dao Children could reach the Crimson Golden Core realm, while ordinary true disciples were generally concentrated in the Heavenly Fire and Constant Light realms. Below them were disciples at the Core Formation realm who had just sought longevity. Those who had not even reached Core Formation were outer disciples or handymen, possessing no right to set foot on the grounds of such a grand competition. Just as Yaoguang was watching the competition, a transmission of divine mind reached him: "Why are you the only one here this time? Where is Daoist Huang Feng?" Hearing this divine mind message, Yaoguang paused slightly. His gaze instantly locked onto one of the "Upper Realm True Immortals." It was remarkably a fellow Void Shattering cultivator. Sensing Yaoguang's gaze, the cultivator even nodded cordially. Yet his divine mind spoke simultaneously: "Our people aren't all here yet; don't reveal any flaws. If our plan is ruined, we won't be able to rescue Sun Xing, let alone find Dao Sovereign Po Suo." "Huh!?" Yaoguang had originally intended to ask if the man had mistaken him for someone else, but upon hearing those words, he snapped his head up. "Dao Sovereign!?"