Chapter 276: Still Think You Can Compete With My Taishang Dao Sect?

Immortal?

The voice echoed clearly within the vast, brightly lit Ascension Hall.

Upon the Cloud Platform, the leaders of several Xian Sects wore varied expressions.

How to put it—though he knew his words weren't meant as mockery, the feeling in his ears was still strange.

Especially when remembering that the true Immortals—Founding Master of Ling Yin Fang, Xiang Yuanjun, and the Xiang Jianzong—were watching this place...

Finally, Cheng Junming, the leader of Taishang Dao Sect, broke the strange silence.

"We are not yet Immortals."

Huh?

Li Ming froze.

Even this isn't considered an Immortal?

The major sect leaders did not let him continue asking; instead, Li Wanwan, seated at the highest central seat, spoke lightly.

"Young friend, please enter the Washing Immortal Pool."

Washing Immortal Pool?

A white qi, no larger than a thumb, floated up before him, rising one foot into the air.

Hu~

Like rolling clouds, the thumb-sized white qi suddenly expanded as if inflating.

Li Ming quickly stepped back several paces.

In the next instant, that thumb-sized white qi had spread across the entire platform, revealing within it a clear pool of water, shimmering with ripples, its surface alive with auroras, surrounded by swirling mists.

Magnificent and strange.

Each droplet seemed interwoven with a mysterious, vast, profound, and weighty aura, stirring in him an instinctive yearning.

Suppressing his many odd feelings, Li Ming bowed respectfully and asked: "May I ask, Elder, what is this Washing Immortal Pool...?"

Since they're not Immortals, using "Elder" can't be wrong.

"Though you have ascended, the Xuan Realm does not yet recognize you. You must draw a thread of its aura through this Washing Immortal Pool, refining your bones and roots, to continue cultivating within the Xuan Realm," Li Wanwan explained.

"Thank you, Elder," Li Ming bowed again.

Then he looked up at the Washing Immortal Pool, still somewhat uneasy, yet without hesitation, stepped directly inside.

Splash!

Water splashed, auroras rippled, and the swirling mists beside the pool trembled endlessly.

No matter the truth behind this, from the moment he chose to ascend, there was no turning back.

Once he understood this, Li Ming's heart grew calmer, walking steadily toward the center of the Washing Immortal Pool.

The water deepened as he neared the center—from his knees, to his waist, then above his chest, over his mouth and nose, until his entire body was submerged.

Within the pool.

Li Ming kept his eyes open; the aurora-flowing water rose a string of tiny bubbles.

As a Fan Xu, he had no fear of suffocation, and though underwater, he felt no choking—yet...

He discovered he could not summon a single bit of magic power, as if his vast magic power had fallen utterly silent.

But he felt an overwhelming warmth and comfort; breath flowed from all directions, majestic and heavy, pure and ethereal, boundless and lofty...

He could sense from it every kind of qi, every kind of aura, every kind of "state."

Complementary and opposing, embracing all, encompassing everything—it seemed the most primordial qi of the world.

As this qi surged into him, he felt his magic power refined, becoming denser and heavier; even his physical form subtly changed, becoming more adapted to the Xuan Realm's laws.

Even the terrifying pressure he felt had weakened somewhat.

Soon, streams of information began flowing through his mind.

The Xuan Realm, the Qidaxian Sect, the Alliance of the Righteous, the Era of Great Change, the Four Star Realms.

Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Jin Dan, Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, Fan Xu...

And something he had never heard before—the Three Proximate Immortal Realms!

Harmonizing the Dao, Penetrating the Mysterious, Realizing the True.

The path beyond Fan Xu is long.

Only when one comprehends the myriad phenomena of the cosmos and sees the world's true nature can one become an "Immortal!"

Immortal!

This is what an Immortal truly is!

The difference between Fan Xu and He Dao is as vast as heaven and earth.

In a world like Fuliu, a single He Dao entering it would need no grand gesture—merely their overwhelming presence could shake the entire world to its foundations, bringing endless calamities.

The gap between He Dao and Tong Xuan is even greater, let alone Dong Zhen, and certainly the "Immortal" beyond them.

The disparity between them is simply incalculable!

Aah~

Now, recalling how the beings of Fuliu called Soul Transformation "Earth Immortals" and Fan Xu "Heaven Immortals," Li Ming felt deeply ashamed.

He finally understood why his earlier exclamation had silenced the hall.

Above the Ascension Platform's core.

The sect leaders on the Cloud Platform observed Li Ming's changing state.

Chang Yue's aloof expression softened somewhat; she turned her head and asked, "What do you think, Qingjun sister?"

"..." Shen Qingjun gazed downward, paused briefly, then spoke slowly, "This Washing Immortal Pool is the work of our Founding Master—I cannot see it clearly, but it should succeed."

Even a He Dao lacks the insight to fully perceive this Washing Immortal Pool.

"There's no need to worry," Li Wanwan at the head said, looking at all of them. "Our ancestors will inform us of the results shortly."

Everyone nodded, then fell silent.

…

…

Inner grounds of Ling Yin Fang.

"It's done." Xu Xing withdrew his gaze and looked at Ning Ruo. "Your calculations were correct, Ning Ruo."

The Dao-combining masters of the Xianzong Sect couldn't see through it, but they naturally wouldn't fail to notice.

Under the purification of the Immortal Washing Pool, Li Ming, who had ascended from Fuliu Realm, had been granted a trace of the Xuan Realm's aura, becoming a recognized human of the Xuan Realm.

"It seems this method truly works," Xiang Yuanjun also approved. "Elder Lingzu, you are truly gifted."

"Xiang Yuanjun flatters me," Ning Ruo smiled. "This method wasn't my sole achievement. The Master Jianzun deserves great credit for its success."

Xiang Yuanjun nodded, then seemed to suddenly recall something. "I wonder when you last contacted the Master Jianzun."

After all, Elder Lingzu didn't usually speak in group chats.

"Well…" Ning Ruo glanced at Xu Xing. "Xu Dage probably already knows."

"Last time I went back, I asked. My sister said she and Ning Ruo have been in contact all along," Xu Xing replied casually.

Hm?

All along?

That seemingly cold, actually extremely irritable, and online troll little yellow duck Master Jianzun has been in contact with Elder Lingzu all along?

This is truly perplexing.

Xiang Yuanjun could hardly imagine what their online conversations looked like.

Just as she was still astonished by this, she saw Xu Xing stand up.

Ning Ruo quickly understood what he intended to do: "Is Xu Dage going to meet the ascended one?"

"Correct," Xu Xing did not deny. "He is the first ascended one, and I once taught him some divine arts. His character and conduct are excellent."

"It's also fate. Since he has just arrived in the Xuan Realm, I should give him a small gift."

!. Read

As his words ended, Xu Xing's figure vanished, having left the inner grounds of Ling Yin Fang.

A small gift?

Xiang Yuanjun shook her head slightly, then murmured softly: "Brother still hasn't changed."

"Indeed."

Of the Thirteen True Immortals of Xuan, aside from Kui, he was the easiest source of opportunity.

………

Ascension Hall.

A splashing sound, Li Ming stepped out of the Immortal Washing Pool.

But strangely, his body carried not a single drop of moisture—as if he had never entered the pool at all.

Huhuh~

The clear waters of the Immortal Washing Pool rolled inward, contracting swiftly as it had expanded before.

In an instant, it shrank back to its original thumb-sized white qi, spinning as it vanished.

Li Ming pondered the flood of information in his mind, then looked up toward the cloud platform.

"Elders, what must I do next?"

If there's nothing else, I'd like to go out for a walk…

"Young friend."

A voice came from the cloud platform.

Li Ming turned to look, and saw a heroic, commanding youth. He could faintly sense boundless, surging blood qi.

"Would you like to join Longxiang Qingtianzong?" Qin Wei was blunt.

Body cultivators are straightforward—no need for pretense!

Longxiang Qingtianzong?

That body-cultivation Xian Sect with an Immortal dwelling in the mortal realm?

Just as he was about to answer, a calm, gentle voice came from behind.

"Young friend, you cultivate both body and method. Abandoning the path of divine arts and spells would be a great waste. Why not join Taishang Daozong? You needn't give up either."

Li Ming turned and saw an ancient, immortal-looking elder seated on the cloud platform—white-haired, ruddy-faced, radiating pure celestial grace.

Qin Wei glared at Cheng Junming: "Longxiang Qingtianzong also has divine arts that refine method into the body."

He had to maintain his Sect Master's dignity, and Chang Yue was watching him—his constraints were severe. Otherwise, three sentences would've shown this old man what body cultivation truly meant!

What's all this fake celestial grace?

"Ah~" Cheng Junming sighed suddenly. "To be honest, our Taishang Daozong's internal atmosphere is poor. The younger generation only seeks self-preservation. We need a cultivator like you—someone with the resolve to protect humanity—to set an example for our disciples."

Qin Wei: "…?"

Did this old man really have to?

He was even playing the victim now!

Yet faced with invitations from two major Xian Sects, the subject, Li Ming, felt his scalp tighten.

What should he do?

Who should he accept?

Just as he was torn between choices…

"Young friend, there is no need to give your answer so quickly."

A clear, tranquil voice rang out—it was Du Ruoheng, the sect leader of Zong Sect, his demeanor calm and unhurried.

"Why not go see this world for yourself, then make your decision?"

This young one had been taught by our Hehuan Laozu; of course I must step forward to support him.

"These words come directly from our Zong Sect's Ancestral Master; young friend, do not worry—follow your heart."

The Zong Sect's Ancestral Master?

Li Ming suddenly remembered the scene he had just seen.

"Is it the Ancestral Master?"

"Precisely."

Huh~

With a sigh of relief, Li Ming bowed to Qin Wei and Cheng Junming respectively.

"Thank you both for your kindness, but I have just arrived in the Immortal Realm—may I be granted some time to decide?"

"Of course." Qin Wei nodded; he had never intended to pressure him.

But after a pause, he added: "The Spirit Net is full of deceit—do not believe everything you see there."

"Hah."

Cheng Junming let out a scornful laugh.

Is that all?

Is that really all they have to challenge the Taishang Dao Sect?

"The Taishang Dao Sect welcomes you anytime, young friend."

"Thank you both, venerable sirs."

After bowing once more to the several sect leaders, Li Ming finally walked toward the exit of the Ascension Hall.

He soon reached the valley entrance.

There, he saw a familiar figure waiting for him. (End of Chapter)