Chapter 275: I Have Met All You Immortals!

The lines of golden text did not linger in the sky for long, soon dispersing entirely.

But it was foreseeable that the events of today's Ascension would sink deep into the hearts of countless billions of beings in this realm.

The Dragon Clan's ancestral homeland.

The human race's Grand Elder of Fuliu Realm stood atop the void, his expression complex.

In that instant when the grand immortal gate opened, vast immortal light and boundless Dao essence rained down, he could not help but feel a surge of longing.

The immortal path is not yet finished; Returning to Void is not the end…

After a long while, he closed his eyes, drew a deep breath, suppressed all emotions within him, and turned to face the Dragon Clan's ancestral homeland below.

When he opened his eyes again, fury boiled within them, and even the sky faintly reddened.

The Dragon Clan, the Feather God Clan…

Every alien race that harbored ill intent during this ceremony shall escape not one!

Boom—

Clouds churned violently as a colossal Jun Tian hammer crushed the heavens, crashing down with thunderous might!

Though thousands of spiritual lights rose in defense, not one could halt the storm-and-thunder hammer by so much as a hair's breadth.

Air exploded in shockwaves; the earth nearly collapsed inward in an instant—mountains, rivers, dragon nests, and imperial palaces turned to dust.

One hammer blow!

The Dragon Clan's ancestral homeland, even larger than the human ancestral seat, was utterly leveled!

Only a single hammer imprint remained branded into the earth, within which Lei She writhed wildly, rivers of magma like ruptured veins of the planet.

A race stripped of the protection of a Returning-to-Void elder.

Even with the foundational power of a Returning-to-Void-level technique, they remained utterly powerless against the human Grand Elder, who had reached full Returning-to-Void.

Boom—

Lei Guang echoed through the heavens as a storm of thunder and wind surged toward the distance!

It was precisely the location of the Feather God Clan.

……

……

At this moment, the human ancestral seat.

At the Ascension Ceremony site, the human race's newly attained Returning-to-Void descended gently, landing before the Ascension Platform, holding in hand an ordinary-looking longsword.

Ordinary-looking?

Yet not a single alien race present thought so.

Merely a calm gaze swept over them, and many aliens trembled in their legs, nearly collapsing to the ground.

"I am Elder Fu Yan. Welcome, all of you, to my ascension ceremony."

Elder Fu Yan, newly attained Returning-to-Void of the human race in Fuliu Realm.

Five severed heads of alien Returning-to-Void elders were lined up in a row; their overwhelming aura had not yet faded, their eyes still filled with terror, making Elder Fu Yan appear all the more terrifying.

"We humbly congratulate Elder Fu Yan on attaining the Returning-to-Void realm! May your immortal blessings endure forever, your immortal life know no bounds!"

It was an alien race allied with the humans, who suppressed their fear and bowed tremblingly.

"We humbly congratulate Elder Fu Yan on attaining the Returning-to-Void realm! May your immortal blessings endure forever, your immortal life know no bounds!"

Aside from the Dragon Clan, Feather God Clan, and a few other races whose elders had perished—all others snapped to attention and bowed respectfully.

"Hmm." Elder Fu Yan nodded slowly. "Today marks both our Grand Priest's Ascension and my own ascension to Returning-to-Void—a grand occasion. Do not be restrained. Please be seated."

Hoo~

Many alien races exhaled in relief.

It seemed Elder Fu Yan had no intention of wiping them all out.

Numerous alien races swiftly found their assigned seats; the ceremony hall filled to capacity.

As for the envoys of the Dragon Clan, Feather God Clan, and other races whose elders had died, their expressions were grim.

The humans had not prepared seats for them…

Meaning that even before this ceremony began, the humans had discovered the elders preparing to strike!

No wonder!

Under the threat of life and death, the reactions of the alien envoys varied.

Some trembled violently, faces pale.

Others held their heads high, glaring fiercely at Elder Fu Yan.

Some had already knelt, weeping and wailing…

Elder Fu Yan did not even look. He casually swung his sword—several alien envoys instantly turned to dust.

Then he gestured with his hand.

The five severed heads of alien Returning-to-Void elders floated upward and settled before the golden-white structure resembling an altar, arranged like offerings!

Five Returning-to-Void Immortal Elders offered as sacrifice—never in all of Fuliu Realm's history had any race made such a grand gesture!

Elder Fu Yan turned, lit incense, and bowed to the ancestors of the human race; his expression remained utterly unchanged.

Three days ago, the Grand Priest found him and revealed all he was to do today.

After all, whether the Grand Priest or the Grand Elder, both had protected the human race for countless ages.

In terms of strength, the alien races did not fully understand, but they knew the general range—so leveraging the former elder's reputation could achieve only limited effect.

But he was newly attained Returning-to-Void; the alien races knew nothing precise of his strength—perfect for this task!

Of course, suspicion was inevitable.

But securing the human race from turmoil for a time was not difficult.

【Grand Sacrificer, may your Immortal Path proceed smoothly…】

After silently offering this wish, he was about to straighten his posture and continue the ceremony, when suddenly his vision blurred.

His perception soared infinitely at that instant, arriving at a space even a Return to Void cultivator could not reach.

Within this space, golden light shimmered brilliantly, yet did not sting the eyes—instead, it felt gentle, faintly revealing the shadows of all beings in the Floating Liu Realm.

Amid the radiance stood a solemn, weighty golden seal, nine inches square, its top adorned with nine coiled dragons, uncarved with characters, yet instantly known by name—

The Floating Liu Heavenly Emperor Seal!

The supreme authority of the Floating Liu Realm!

Another blur—his perception withdrew from that boundless height, and before him reappeared the golden-white Ascension Platform. 'The Floating Liu Heavenly Emperor Seal!'

The information flowing through his mind sent Elder Fu Yan into shock, like a raging storm he could not halt.

Only three more Ascended ones are needed—then the human race may hold this seal for a hundred years!

He rose, his astonishment still unquiet, yet when he turned to face the various alien races, his expression had become utterly calm.

……

……

In the unseen depths, before Xu Xing floated the golden seal.

Around him hovered a hazy, immature consciousness, emitting affectionate thoughts, like a puppy wagging its tail to please its master.

But Xu Xing paid it no heed; he watched Elder Fu Yan continue the ceremony.

Now that the existence of the Floating Liu Heavenly Emperor Seal is known, the human race of this realm may ascend with greater peace of mind.

Then Xu Xing turned his gaze beyond the realm.

!. read

Li Ming, who had just Ascended, had been drawn away by the central core of the Ling Yin Fang Ascension Platform—his process was perfectly stable, with not a single flaw.

After all, this Ascension Platform was crafted personally by Ning Ruo; its stability is unquestionable.

'The first Ascended one…'

He shifted his gaze toward a direction he had once visited.

'The Beast God Realm should be close too.'

Long before leaving Qing Xu, he had sent an Ascension Platform and a Sword Intent Spiritual Body toward the Beast God Realm.

…………

Vast, chaotic sea.

A beam of guiding light descended from the highest heights, striking an absurd contrast against the eternal solitude of the chaotic sea.

Within it, Li Ming stared blankly into the distance, watching the boundless, endless chaotic sea slowly unfold before him.

He had not been beyond the realm before—he had even visited other small worlds near Floating Liu.

But back then, all he saw was infinite chaotic qi—how could it compare to this view from 'above,' where everything lay laid bare before him!

Even the Floating Liu Realm, which he had once believed to be immensely powerful!

Now, it appeared no more than a single grain in the ocean.

Vast, boundless chaotic sea—countless realms as numerous as grains of sand!

All past perceptions were but a frog peering at the moon, a mayfly gazing at the blue sky.

His thoughts churned, complex and unclear, until he could not help but sigh deeply:

'Ming, how fortunate I am!'

How fortunate to have been recognized and guided by the elder!

How fortunate to have received this Ascension opportunity!

How fortunate—after nearly a thousand years of cultivation, I never forgot my vow to protect the human race!

His position continued to rise!

Soon.

The guiding light had drawn him to the utmost height—even the Floating Liu Realm had shrunk to a speck too faint to see.

Light!

Eternal radiant light descended from above, within which the Dao's principles intertwined, piercing past and future, cause and effect, fate, all things!

Boundless, without boundary—it seemed like an inverted chaotic sea.

Or perhaps… the entire vast chaotic sea was but its projection!

Words could not describe it; perception could not even glimpse its tiniest corner.

Tai Xuan!

Tai Xuan Immortal Realm!

Hummm~!

The eternal radiant Dao-light seemed to pierce through all—Li Ming felt his body, spirit, magic power, and even his very existence dissolve into that boundless radiance.

It was like a single instant—or an eternity!

Only then did he regain awareness of his own 'existence,' and the scene before him slowly sharpened.

It was a vast, bright hall.

On the wall ahead were carved scenes of sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, grasses, and trees, chronicling the arduous deeds of humanity's ancestors, who forged paths through thorns and brambles.

The script was entirely unfamiliar, yet he understood its meaning instantly; the scenes themselves appeared directly in his mind.

Before him stood a figure not particularly tall, but in his hand glowed a crimson longsword, its radiance like enduring flame, piercing dawn and night, protecting countless human beings.

The Sword Ancestor!

'Elder!'

He couldn't help but cry out, and the scene before him instantly dissolved.

Li Ming froze, only then realizing he stood atop a promotion platform scaled up many times over, his body weighed down impossibly.

And this 'weight' seemed omnipresent, pressing upon his flesh, spirit, magic power, and even his very existence!

Every inch of space felt indestructible, bearing unimaginable, crushing suppression.

In the Fu Liu Realm, a Return-to-Emptiness strike could flatten hundreds of thousands of li; a single breath could drain the spiritual energy from entire mountain ranges and great wetlands!

But here, let alone hundreds of thousands of li—even affecting a few dozen li was already impressive!

As for drawing in spiritual energy?

That was out of the question!

Even if he drew in spiritual energy until he burst, the concentration in the void would barely change.

No wonder this is the Immortal Realm!

"Li Ming, welcome to the Tai Xuan Realm."

A clear girl's voice sounded at his ear; Li Ming paused, then looked up.

There, on a high cloud terrace, a girl in a light-colored palace gown with a childlike face gazed at him.

Though her appearance was young, her aura was terrifyingly immense—he felt she could crush him with a single finger!

And there were seven such beings!

Some radiated blazing sword intent, others surged with torrential blood qi!

One possessed noble, exalted majesty, like a supreme empress of the nine heavens.

Li Ming's heart tightened; he immediately bowed deeply and spoke loudly:

"Li Ming, a cultivator ascending from the Fu Liu Realm, greets you, Immortals!"

The hall fell utterly silent! (End of chapter)