Ascension

Beihai Star. Shaohua, who looked no different from Yaoguang's true form, was seen off at the Nine Cauldrons Sect by Li Hanqiu, Wan Liugui, Li Qingshan, Su Yaoxue, Su Yaoyu, Lin Xia, Xu Nianhua, Tang Fenghua, Qi Sha, and others. Besides them, several hundred elite disciples who had emerged within the Nine Cauldrons Sect in recent years stood assembled in the area. Every single one of them was an expert who had cultivated at least to the Deep Blue Golden Core grade. Many had even broken through to the Void Piercing realm. With Yaoguang’s vigorous backing, combined with a millennium of accumulated foundation, the Nine Cauldrons Sect had fully matured. It possessed not only dozens of Void Shattering and over a hundred Void Refining cultivators, but hundreds, even thousands, in the Void Piercing realm. In scale, it had already surpassed factions such as the Heavenly Dao Sect, Taiyi Sect, and Jinwu Sect, reaching a level that rivaled the Sanqing Sacred Hall. As Yaoguang's Shaohua avatar appeared, everyone, led by Sect Master Su Yaoxue, bowed and proclaimed aloud: “We respectfully congratulate the Sect Master on ascending to immortality, attaining eternal life, and walking an ever-flourishing immortal path!” Yaoguang nodded to the crowd. Immediately after, he sent a voice transmission to Su Yaoxue and Li Hanqiu: “Just as we discussed previously, once I ascend, the Nine Cauldrons Sect should focus primarily on defense. During this period, some ill-intentioned Dao Lords might target the sect under various pretexts. But you need not worry. Let every last one of those Dao Lords jump out into the open. Before long, a Dao Sovereign on good terms with me will arrive at Beihai Star. When that time comes, he will step in and round up all these troublemakers in one fell swoop.” “Thank you for your pains. Even on the verge of ascending to the Immortal Realm, you still have to make all these arrangements,” Li Hanqiu said. “It is nothing.” Yaoguang waved his hand. “Together with that Dao Sovereign, I have developed a new Gate of the Immortal Realm called the Fuyao Realm. For now, it is still under development. Once he finishes, you can consider whether to travel with him and take possession of that Gate of the Immortal Realm.” “A Gate of the Immortal Realm?!” Li Hanqiu and Su Yaoyu exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other’s eyes. Yaoguang… had actually found another Gate of the Immortal Realm? Yet a moment later, they found it entirely reasonable. A Dao Sovereign was a figure capable of matching a hundred opponents single-handedly, holding sway over an entire era. When such a personage traversed the cosmos, what place was barred to him? Spending a bit of effort to find a Gate of the Immortal Realm seemed by no means beyond belief. At present, the only real problem was the Nine Cauldrons Sect itself. The sect was simply too weak. After all this time, not a single person had managed to break through to become a Dao Lord. Under such circumstances, trying to forcefully lay claim to a Gate of the Immortal Realm… whether that would prove a blessing or a curse was hard to say. “Dao Sovereign, in your opinion, should we go with that Dao Sovereign?” Li Hanqiu could not resist asking for guidance once more. “The choice is yours to make.” Yaoguang paused, then added, “However, the cosmic starry sky should become relatively peaceful in the future. The number of Dao Lords will decrease drastically, and the Dao Contention… will become history along with that decrease. So whether to head to the Fuyao Realm is up to you.” Having learned the truth of the Immortal Realm, he did not particularly wish for the people of the Nine Cauldrons Sect to ascend there. He did not even wish for them to achieve Dao Integration. Still, whether ascension or Dao Integration, those were matters thousands of years in the future. Everything would have to wait until he reached the Immortal Realm and figured out the exact situation. If the situation could take a turn for the better, he could convey new intentions through his true body. “From now on, I will no longer be at the Nine Cauldrons Sect. You will have to confer and resolve matters of all sizes yourselves. Well, then—there is no need to see me off to the Gate of the Immortal Realm. Activate the sect's grand formations immediately and hold your ground in readiness.” Yaoguang waved his hand. “Do not fret over the consumption of spirit stones. Over all these years, the spirit stones accumulated by the Nine Cauldrons Sect are more than enough to maintain all formations running at full power for two to three centuries. Use them when they ought to be used.” “Understood.” Li Hanqiu and Su Yaoxue both responded, their hearts weighed down by solemnity. With the foundational pillar of the Nine Cauldrons Sect ascending to the Immortal Realm, from this moment on, they truly had only themselves to rely on. Having given his instructions, Yaoguang looked once more toward Su Yaoyu. Su Yaoyu wanted to say something, but she also knew that ascending to the Immortal Realm and attaining eternal life was the aspiration of nearly every cultivator. She had no reason to detain him in the mortal world. In the end… a thousand unspoken words condensed into a single phrase: “Take utmost care.” “Mm,” Yaoguang replied calmly. “I am off.” With that, he turned, leapt into the air, and vanished beyond the horizon of the Nine Cauldrons Sect cultivators' sight. This departure offered no date of return. From now on, his karmic ties with the Nine Cauldrons Sect—including his entanglements with the Su family—would come to a close with this parting. *** The core of Beihai. Around the Gate of the Immortal Realm, over twenty Dao Lords had already assembled. When Shaohua, bearing an aura identical to Yaoguang’s, arrived in the area, every Dao Lord gathered around him with beaming smiles. “Dao Sovereign Yaoguang.” “The Dao Sovereign is here.” “Haha! That this Dao Contention could conclude in such a peaceful manner is entirely thanks to Dao Sovereign Yaoguang’s merit!” One Dao Lord after another crowded around Yaoguang, showering him with flattery. Yaoguang did not act excessively aloof either, chatting and laughing along with them. Out of the corner of his eye, however, he noticed Dao Lord Penglai off to the side, quietly observing him. To this, Yaoguang showed no outward sign of change. “Dao Sovereign, are matters settled on the Nine Cauldrons Sect's side? Many Dao Lords usually have a few close friends. With you slaying over a hundred Dao Lords this time, I worry their friends might covet the Nine Cauldrons Sect and the Beihai Gate under the guise of avenging their sworn brothers,” Dao Lord Juntian said cautiously. “Rest assured, I know what I am doing,” Yaoguang replied. Off to the side, Dao Lord Dihui said with a smile, “In recent years, Dao Sovereign Yaoguang has been busy back and forth in the Nine Cauldrons Sect, laying down countless formations. Several of them have even reached the level of immortal formations. On top of that, the Dao Sovereign seems to have enlightened an immortal artifact. With the two reinforcing each other, even if three or five Dao Lords dare plot against the Nine Cauldrons Sect, they will find only a one-way trip.” Yaoguang nodded slightly. Then he glanced at Dao Lord Juntian and the others. “As for you all, once you depart, your sects will have no Dao Lords presiding over them, and the situation will likely see unrest. Therefore, I still hope you will consider carefully whether to ascend only after nurturing figures at the Dao Lord level. After all, it is only ten thousand years. Given your lifespans, ten thousand years may be long, but it is not beyond your patience.” “We truly cannot wait,” Dao Lord Dihui said with a wry smile. “I know my own strength. If not for riding Dao Sovereign Yaoguang’s coattails this time, there would never have been a spot in the Dao Contention for me. If I wait another ten thousand years, who knows what unforeseen changes might arise? It is better to ascend early.” “The Immortal Realm might not be as wonderful as you imagine. Perhaps the living conditions there are dozens of times harsher than in the lower realm,” Yaoguang said, his expression tinged with solemnity. “Even if it is dozens of times harsher, it will still be better than Beihai Star, will it not? If I could fight my way out of an environment like Beihai Star, what fear do I have of the Immortal Realm?” As Dao Lord Dihui spoke, his tone was resolute. Evidently, he had already steeled his resolve to face whatever perils awaited him after ascending to the Immortal Realm. Yaoguang pondered for a moment and urged them no further. Even if he revealed the truth of the Immortal Realm to these people, at this point, it would hardly shake their determination to ascend. Without seeing the Immortal Realm with their own eyes, they would not rest in peace even in death. Furthermore… He had already learned from Dao Lord Changqing that Dao Lords ascending through the Gate of the Immortal Realm did not appear together on some single ascension terrace. While their arrival points in the Immortal Realm were not entirely random, they would be scattered across various regions. Even cultivators ascending from the very same Gate of the Immortal Realm were no exception. It was like living beings plunging toward a planet from outer space. Due to the planet's rotation, even if they dropped one after another from the same vessel, their eventual landing positions on the ground would differ entirely. “Then allow me to wish all of you an ever-flourishing immortal path in advance.” Yaoguang clasped his hands. “We thank the Dao Sovereign for his auspicious words!” The Dao Lords returned the gesture one after another. After exchanging pleasantries for a short while, he walked over to Dao Lord Penglai’s side. Seeing Yaoguang approach, she was not surprised. “Once we reach the Immortal Realm… the differences between us and them will truly reveal themselves. Though the Immortal Realm is vast and crossing paths with these dozen-odd Dao Lords will not be easy, forming too close a bond… might not be a good thing given our differing stances.” “Stances.” Hearing Dao Lord Penglai’s words, Yaoguang fell silent. Only after a long while did he ask, “Tell me, can our two sides truly not coexist peacefully?” “Coexist peacefully…” Dao Lord Penglai fell silent. After a moment, she shook her head. “Wherever there are people, there are grievances. And wherever there are grievances, strife and slaughter cannot be avoided! As the ancients said, hell is other people! When applied to the scale of civilizations and worlds, this phenomenon is only displayed to an even more incisive degree. It will not shift according to our will.” “It is not that it cannot shift according to my will. There is only one reason I feel powerless,” Yaoguang said calmly. “I am not yet strong enough.” Dao Lord Penglai gave Yaoguang a startled look. From his demeanor… he did not seem to be experiencing sentimentality over parting ways with these Dao Lords and stepping onto opposite sides from now on. Rather, had he genuinely contemplated this issue? Had he… grown weary of the war between the Hunyuan Realm and the Ancient Immortal Realm? Right at this moment, dazzling immortal light suddenly burst from the Gate of the Immortal Realm, which was already radiating intense Dao rhymes. In this instant, every Dao Lord distinctly sensed an attractive force drifting out from within the gate, seeming to draw them deep inside toward the world that lay beyond. This phenomenon stirred excitement among the Dao Lords present. Yet without Yaoguang giving the word, none dared act rashly. “Go on.” Yaoguang waved his hand, holding back the Dao Lords no longer. Receiving his permission, the Dao Lords clasped their hands in succession. “Dao Sovereign, we shall meet again in the Immortal Realm!” “Through this ascension, may we reunite in the heavens!” Every Dao Lord beamed with excitement, eagerly following the pull of that attractive force as they entered the Gate of the Immortal Realm. Dao Lord Dihui, Dao Lord Juntian, and the rest were no exception. In the distance, the disciples of the numerous Dao Lords bowed respectfully, bidding farewell as their masters ascended. “I am off. If you make up your mind, you can find me at the Xiyu Group,” Dao Lord Penglai called out. Yaoguang nodded. “I will.” Dao Lord Penglai nodded as well, then bounded forward and plunged into the Gate of the Immortal Realm. Yaoguang remained outside the gate, watching each Dao Lord step into its domain. Only when everyone had vanished within and the Gate of the Immortal Realm verged on closing did he finally step forward, following its pulling force into the depths, vanishing from everyone's sight.