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Ascension! Thirty-four Dao Lords merged directly into the welcoming power of the Gate of the Immortal Realm and, guided by that pulling force, ascended into the Immortal Realm! The entire process left virtually no disturbance behind in the lower realm. Yaoguang had already pushed his perception to its utter limit. Based on what he sensed, these Gates of the Immortal Realm seemed more like an intrinsic part of the universe's operational laws, spontaneously drawing in all Dao Lord-level beings from the lower realms and ushering them into a brand-new world. Or perhaps... They gathered every entity capable of wreaking catastrophic destruction upon the lower realms into one place, enabling them to cultivate, comprehend, and progress together. It was an entirely benign mechanism. It was vastly different from what Yaoguang had imagined—where ascending Dao Lords would immediately face grave peril or even be hunted down by immortals and Immortal Venerables lying in wait. *A mechanism inherent to the universe itself...* Yaoguang pondered. From the looks of it, entering the Gate of the Immortal Realm to ascend was actually a relatively safe choice. Naturally, he could also choose to forcibly tear through the barrier of the Immortal Realm using the power of the Grand Dao of the Void. But defying the cosmic laws of operation in such a manner carried consequences no one could foresee. Therefore, having confirmed that the Gate of the Immortal Realm and its ascension mechanism were merely parts of the universe's natural order, he decided to adhere to the rules and enter through the conventional path, avoiding any uncontrollable ramifications. *With my current level of preparation, as long as I don't run into an Immortal Venerable upon ascending, I can prevail even against a guarding True Immortal. At worst, I can easily disengage and flee. My safety is fairly well assured.* Having thought it through, Yaoguang put his mind at ease. Under the envious gazes of several dozen Dao Lords, including Dao Lord Zongmai, the thirty-four Dao Lords ascended smoothly. The Gate of the Immortal Realm remained open for a short while longer. However, the pulling power corresponding to thirty-four Grand Daos had already been consumed. The remaining pulling power lacked matching Dao Lords, and any other Dao Lord who approached could not be drawn in. The onlookers could only stare helplessly from the sidelines. Before long, the welcoming force of the Gate of the Immortal Realm gradually dissipated, and the radiance flowing from its surface dimmed once more. From here on, this Gate of the Immortal Realm would enter a recovery cycle lasting over nine thousand years. Indeed, nine thousand years. Although the Xingri Sect had established its sect grounds upon the planet housing the Gate of the Immortal Realm, they had not drawn excessively upon the planet's internal energies. Furthermore, the Xingri Sect had routinely devised ways to shorten the gate's activation interval, reducing its average cycle to a mere nine thousand years. Of course, now that Yaoguang held sway over the gate and ceased pouring resources into it, its next opening would likely be delayed to over ten thousand years. If he were to lay down a rank-sixteen formation anchored to this planet just as he had in the Fuyao Realm, it would prolong the gate's activation cycle even further. As the Gate of the Immortal Realm closed, the assembled Dao Lords cupped their hands and bowed in unison toward Yaoguang. By presiding over the Gate of the Immortal Realm, Yaoguang had not only dissolved a bloody Dao Contention into nothingness, but had also granted everyone a relatively fair path to earn an ascension quota. Even though the required price was steep, it was infinitely more acceptable to the Dao Lords than gambling their lives away in a Dao Contention. Consequently, every Dao Lord offered this salute from the bottom of their heart. Once their respects were paid, the Dao Lords departed one after another. Yaoguang turned his gaze back toward Zongmai. "The next time I come, it will likely be during the gate's subsequent opening cycle. In the meantime, I need someone to guard the Gate of the Immortal Realm on this planet. Would you be willing?" Upon hearing this, Dao Lord Zongmai bowed with solemn respect. "I am willing to serve at the Dao Sovereign's command." To establish ties with a Dao Sovereign was a joyous fortune for Zongmai. After all, Yaoguang's eradication of both the Xingri Sect and the Star Slayer Alliance had made many realize that a true Dao Sovereign was nothing like the Xingri Sect's Dao Lord Jinguang. Formidable though Jinguang had been, he was still doomed to die if besieged by a dozen or several dozen Dao Lords. A true Dao Sovereign was exactly as described in ancient records, without the slightest exaggeration. They truly possessed the supreme might to fight a hundred adversaries alone and overpower an entire era. Once such a figure entered the Immortal Realm, they were destined to soar to the heavens, their future limitless. There was no shame in pledging service to such an illustrious existence early on. "Very well!" Yaoguang calmly produced a jade talisman. "This is a specialized talisman I refined. There are two pieces. While they cannot transmit messages, if one is broken, the one in my possession will shatter as well. Take it. Should you encounter a danger you cannot resolve, crush it, and I will arrive within two hundred years." "Thank you for your trust, Dao Sovereign." Dao Lord Zongmai reverently received the jade talisman, feeling far more confident in his heart. He then added, "Guarding the Gate of the Immortal Realm may prove difficult through my strength alone. May I invite some like-minded Dao friends to dwell around the gate...?" He quickly followed up, "Rest assured, Dao Sovereign, we will never tarnish your esteemed name." "You may," Yaoguang replied. "You may also act under my title as Dao Sovereign. However, if I discover that you are committing misdeeds in my name, do not blame me for being merciless." "I will never disappoint you, Dao Sovereign," Dao Lord Zongmai said, hastily bowing once more. Yaoguang nodded. Over the past sixty years, everything that needed doing at the Xingri Sect had been concluded. Moreover, with little time remaining before the Dao Contention on Beihai Star, Yaoguang could not afford to waste any more time here. After giving Dao Lord Zongmai a few general instructions, he swiftly took his leave of the planet. Watching Yaoguang depart, Dao Lord Zongmai wore a complex expression. Only after a long while did he let out a lengthy breath. "May our star domain remain peaceful and serene under Dao Sovereign Yaoguang's illustrious name for the next ten thousand years." *** In the depths of the starry expanse. Yaoguang activated a Star Gate, instantly leaving the core territory of the Xingri Sect behind. The destruction of the Xingri Sect had created some turbulence within the star domain, but because only Dao Lord-level figures had fallen... to those at the bottom, Dao Lords had always been lofty, untouchable entities. Whether they lived or died had no real bearing on the ordinary folk below. Just as in many mortal nations, the disappearance of high-ranking officials would not halt the daily operations of common society. At the very least, the Star Gates continued to function normally. People, after all, had to survive. After leaving the core region via the Star Gates, Yaoguang summoned the Xuanguang Boat. This semi-immortal artifact flying vessel, which had previously served as the headquarters of the Star Slayer Alliance, had been re-refined by him over the years. Though it had not yet transformed into a genuine immortal artifact, its performance had surpassed what it had been under Dao Lord Jiugong. At the very least, its speed when traversing the void was a cut above his previous pinnacle Dao artifact. Piloting the vessel, Yaoguang spent several decades reaching the Fuyao Realm. Upon arriving, he spent some time observing and found that, thanks to the concealing formations, this Gate of the Immortal Realm had remarkably remained undiscovered. Furthermore, more than two thousand eight hundred years remained before this gate would open. It could not be helped. Compared to the mature Gate of Beihai and Gate of Xingri, this Gate of Fuyao had formed only recently. According to his estimates, its activation cycle was as long as eighteen thousand years. In other words, many Void Piercing cultivators might live their entire lives without ever seeing the Gate of the Immortal Realm open. *Eighteen thousand years is a long time, but for a Dao Lord, it still offers four or five opportunities in a lifetime,* Yaoguang reflected. Pressed for time, he did not linger long in the Fuyao Realm. Having verified that the Fuyao Realm remained undiscovered, he set out once more toward Beihai Star. Along the way, he naturally seized every moment to refine growth-type semi-immortal artifacts for Shaohua, even preparing them to serve as the foundation to perfect a Supreme Sacred Artifact once they advanced into immortal artifacts. Yes, a Supreme Sacred Artifact. Shaohua also possessed a Supreme Sacred Artifact centered around the Grand Dao of Time. This Supreme Sacred Artifact was based on the Stream of Time, which Yaoguang had named the River of Time after its elevation into a Supreme Sacred Artifact. However, compared to the Dao Pagoda that had integrated multiple Grand Daos, the current River of Time possessed only the powers of Time and the Void. Fully equipped, and combined with the enigmatic subtleties of the Dao of Time... Even though Shaohua's attainment in the Dao of Time was merely equivalent to an ordinary immortal's, it was enough to grant combat power surpassing that of an Invincible Dao Lord. While inferior to Yaoguang's own "Dao Sovereign" level of power, it was more than sufficient to oversee the lower realm. *Beihai Star is not the Xingri Sect, after all. Wars in the Xingri Sect's star domain easily involved dozens of Dao Lords locked in mortal combat, whereas battles between the major factions on Beihai Star lean more toward individual duels. Even though mutual defense pacts exist, they generally apply only during the Dao Contention. Once the Dao Contention ends, the agreements must be renegotiated. During the negotiation period, even if a Dao Lord faces mortal peril, other Dao Lords will stand idly by unless paid a steep price,* Yaoguang pondered. Under these circumstances, having Shaohua oversee Beihai Star and even maintain control over the Fuyao Realm would be completely foolproof. What was more... *This time, I can take advantage of the Dao Contention to wipe out the Ten God Races and the Six Demon Sects directly.* Yaoguang smiled faintly. Then, another thought crossed his mind. *I can also help Dao Lord Penglai clean up the Nine Demon Immortal Lineages. Even though each of these alliances possesses nearly ten or even a dozen Dao Lords, I am no longer who I used to be.* Having experienced the great war at the Xingri Sect, his mindset had undergone a quiet transformation. Naturally, this was primarily due to the immense growth in his strength. Before leaving Beihai Star, he might have been considered formidable, but he had merely stood at the level of an Invincible Dao Lord. Now, however... Even if he encountered a true Dao Sovereign, the victor could only be determined after a battle. *Once Beihai Star's matters are resolved, I can ascend with peace of mind.* With that thought, Yaoguang urged his vessel to travel even faster. Without any delays, and with his vessel upgraded to the semi-immortal-grade Xuanguang Boat, the return journey was far swifter than his initial voyage. In just thirty years, the familiar yet distant starry sky of Beihai Star appeared before his eyes.