Two Worlds

"A Dao Sovereign ought to overpower the world," Dao Lord Penglai said with a smile. "You flatter me. I was merely settling personal scores. As for the other factions, I don't have the time to uproot them one by one," Yaoguang replied. Dao Lord Penglai nodded. "Looking across history, Dao Sovereigns who dominated their eras were hardly few in number. The reason none ever unified Beihai Star was likely due to thinking much like yours. Still, if an ambitious leader possesses enough ability, they could seize the momentum, ride on the Dao Sovereign's renown, and perhaps even take control of a Gate of the Immortal Realm. Nurturing Dao Lords one after another through that gate would form the nascent foundation of an overlord faction." Yaoguang's thoughts drifted to the Xingri Sect. That was precisely how that sect had risen. Right now, if someone from the Nine Cauldrons Sect could become a Dao Lord, they too could leverage his prestige to rally the dozens of Dao Lords from the Ten Immortal Sects, the Four Great Celestial Dynasties, and the Three Immortal Martial Sects. Securing the support of so many Dao Lords would grant them a scale scarcely inferior to the Xingri Sect's. Furthermore, with those Void Dao Lords and foreign Dao Lords terrified of his might as a Dao Sovereign, they would never dare oppose such a colossal Immortal Dao Alliance. Most would even withdraw voluntarily, leaving Beihai Star far behind to keep out of trouble. Over time, people would naturally come to accept that the Immortal Dao Alliance, led by the Nine Cauldrons Sect, held dominion over Beihai Star. Before departing, he would also lay down immortal formations for the Nine Cauldrons Sect and even leave behind immortal artifacts. With those supreme treasures and the abundant resources reaped from holding Beihai Star, the sect would only need to nurture three to five Dao Lords from their own inner lineage, and their rule over Beihai Star would be all but guaranteed. These thoughts flickered through Yaoguang's mind. Yet he had no intention of putting such ideas into practice right now. He would lay a solid foundation for the Nine Cauldrons Sect, perhaps even bestowing the entire Fuyao Realm upon them as a new home. If someone capable arose in the future to unify Beihai Star with the backing of the Fuyao Realm, he would not interfere or hold them back. Yet if they lacked the ability and chose to remain content in a corner, Yaoguang would not force their growth either. At this stage, he had done almost all he needed to do for the Nine Cauldrons Sect. "The Penglai Immortal Sect can now advance into the territory of the Nine Demon Immortal Lineages and claim all their lands," Yaoguang noted. "Forget it." Dao Lord Penglai shook her head. "In truth, after thinking it over carefully these past years, what is the point of doing so much for the Penglai Immortal Sect if they lack the ability to defend it? If they take more than they can hold, seizing vast territories and resource-rich lands might only invite ruin." Yaoguang was slightly surprised. "Why the sudden change of heart?" "Frankly speaking, pouring so much effort into these sects makes little sense for people like us in the first place." Dao Lord Penglai rolled her eyes at him. "Besides, you came along much later than I did, yet you've already attained Dao Sovereign. Meanwhile, after cultivating over a thousand years longer than you, I'm still lingering at the Dao Lord stage. If I don't focus all my efforts on cultivating, won't you leave me even further behind?" "Attaining Dao Lord doesn't necessarily mean detaching oneself entirely from the world," Yaoguang said, then added, "Though perhaps it's simply because we are too young, and our perspective hasn't shifted yet." He produced a jade talisman. "If you don't want these territories, should I summon the Nine Cauldrons Sect and the Ten Immortal Sects to take over?" Hearing this, Dao Lord Penglai looked at him with amusement. "As you wish." "What is it?" Yaoguang asked, sensing something odd. "Although the Lord of Yuanxi issued a strict prohibition, we belong to the same kind. There's no need to guard the information so tightly between us." She paused briefly. "Still, since you arrived later than I did, if you have the interest, go ahead. Whether it's the Nine Demon Immortal Lineages or the God Domain, gather your people and take those lands. Under your formidable renown as a Dao Sovereign, no faction will be foolish enough to step forward and stop you." "The Lord of Yuanxi?" Yaoguang's heart stirred, and he quickly made a connection. "The Xiyu Group?" Xiyu. One of the nine great groups of the Immortal Realm. Most of the immortal arts and scriptures he currently cultivated originated from those nine great groups. "Yes." Dao Lord Penglai looked at Yaoguang. "Judging by your growth trajectory, do you hail from the Creation Group?" "You truly possess knowledge of the Immortal Realm." Yaoguang studied her. "So... you didn't stumble upon the legacy of an ancient powerhouse by chance. You are... a reincarnated Immortal King? Immortal King Penglai?" "A reincarnated Immortal King?" Dao Lord Penglai blinked in surprise. "You actually reached the level of an Immortal King in the Immortal Realm? What was your title there? Every Immortal King is an illustrious figure whose name resounds across the realm, someone with hope of breaching the Gate of Karma and the Gate of Destiny. If you tell me, I might have heard your legend." A trace of envy crept into her gaze. "I almost forgot—if you weren't an Immortal King's reincarnation, how could you have regained Dao Sovereign so quickly?" "You're not one?" Yaoguang sensed that something was amiss. "No." Dao Lord Penglai shook her head slightly. "I'm a newcomer to the 'Ancient Immortal Realm.' While I was provided a complete cultivation system by the Xiyu Group and applied for a quota allocated by the group to become a Dao Lord, I've only just earned my qualification. I haven't officially entered the Immortal Realm to compete for the Pinnacle of Glory!" Dao Lord Penglai's words triggered a cataclysmic tempest in Yaoguang's mind. The Ancient Immortal Realm?! A complete cultivation system provided by a corporate group? Applying for a quota from the group? The Pinnacle of Glory?! Even though Yaoguang had long known that the true "Immortal Realm" might differ drastically from the traditional understanding, hearing these terms strung together unveiled a concept far beyond his imagination. Once this concept fully took shape, it threatened to overturn everything he knew. "An Immortal King..." Dao Lord Penglai looked at Yaoguang with genuine wonder. "Does that mean I should address you as Your Highness from now on? Attaining Immortal King qualifies you for a seat on the board of directors in the Creation Group, doesn't it?" She offered a light, playful greeting. "Director Yaoguang?" Suppressing the turmoil surging within, Yaoguang forced his composure to remain steady. "What do you plan to do next?" "I entered the Ancient Immortal Realm with a Grade Seventeen 'Immortal Spirit' rating. Next, I'll await ascension to the Immortal Realm..." Dao Lord Penglai glanced around. "Even though this world and its people feel so tangible and real, I have my own duties to bear. Once I ascend to the Immortal Realm, according to the agreement I signed with the Xiyu Group, they will recruit me, swiftly help me become an immortal, and after completing an 'internship' and advancing to Immortal Venerable, appoint me as vice president of the Source Dao." With that, she extended her hand. "The Xiyu Group and the Creation Group are partners. We should have plenty of opportunities to cooperate in the future." Looking at the hand offered in goodwill, Yaoguang found it difficult to quiet the storm in his mind. Yet he reached out and shook it. "There will be opportunities." Studying his expression, Dao Lord Penglai seemed to discern something. "You seem a bit disappointed?" Noticing the faint auras of Dao Lords from the Ten Immortal Sects rushing over from the horizon, she appeared to realize something and spoke apologetically, "Did I... disturb you?" "No. It's just that my situation is rather complicated, and I don't know how to explain it at the moment," Yaoguang said. "Complicated?" Dao Lord Penglai frowned, puzzled, but then a realization seemed to dawn on her. "The Creation Group... wait! Three thousand years ago, an Immortal King Yuxiao from the Creation Group was drawn by karmic bonds and fell under the assault of native cultivators. Rumors circulated that for such an esteemed Immortal King to perish so abruptly made no sense... Many even petitioned the Lord of Yuanxi for a thorough investigation, but the matter was ultimately dropped..." She stared at Yaoguang. "Are you Immortal King Yuxiao?!" Yaoguang could not fathom what Dao Lord Penglai was talking about. Yet that did not prevent him from playing along. He neither confirmed nor denied it, asking instead, "What is the current state of the Creation Group?" Dao Lord Penglai hesitated, looking at him with caution. Only after a long pause did she reply, "My apologies. I've been in the Ancient Immortal Realm for less than two thousand years, and I haven't reached the Immortal Realm to make contact with true executives of the Creation Group. As such, I know very little about the details surrounding Immortal King Yuxiao's fall. Even regarding the Creation Group's current status, I've only caught bits and pieces through certain news channels, and that was nearly two millennia ago. The lower realm of the Ancient Immortal Realm is separated from our 'Hunyuan Realm' by an entire layer; information simply cannot cross over. Perhaps only upon reaching the core of the Ancient Immortal Realm—the Immortal Realm itself—can one learn the group's current situation." Clearly, she was reluctant to meddle in the internal affairs of the Creation Group. Especially when those affairs involved disputes at the Immortal King level. Her words were effectively a polite refusal. Even so, Yaoguang had gleaned an immense amount of information. The Ancient Immortal Realm. The Hunyuan Realm. He could not help but think of the world he perceived through his Higher-Dimensional Cognition. Could it be... Was the Hunyuan Realm the place he truly came from? Was the Milky Way Galaxy just a starry expanse within the Hunyuan Realm? Yaoguang let out a long breath. He could not say whether learning this was a blessing or a curse. Seeing his prolonged silence, Dao Lord Penglai pondered for a moment before speaking, "Fellow Daoist Yaoguang... if the Creation Group truly engaged in illicit operations regarding your situation, all the more reason you should ascend to the Immortal Realm as soon as possible and contact the great Lord of Yuanxi to explain the truth." Her tone turned solemn. "Every Immortal Spirit who reaches the realm of Immortal King is our Hunyuan Realm's greatest asset, having amassed boundless experience along this path. We cannot afford any losses. What the Creation Group did, at best, was petty internal power-struggling; at worst, it was reckless disregard for the bigger picture, holding us back in the war between our Hunyuan Realm and the Ancient Immortal Realm. It must be severely punished!"