Chapter 421

After all, fabricating a few lies to deceive others is the easiest thing in the world; without solid evidence, who would be led by the nose?

"Four-oh-three," but when the Incense Sect sent someone to test the Qingyun disciple delivering the message, this news was confirmed.

That utterly ordinary Qingyun disciple possessed strength far exceeding the Sect Master of the Incense Sect—this utterly stunned the entire world.

The Tianyin Sect and other factions had also tested this, arriving at the same conclusion—the ordinary disciples of Qingyun possessed strength far surpassing that of every sect's Sect Master.

If this is true, then doesn't it mean the Immortal Realm and Ascension are real?

This massive news spread rapidly across the land, drawing hordes of righteous cultivators to rush here.

In truth, it wasn't just the righteous sects—the demonic sects could no longer sit idle, sending spies to probe near Mount Qingyun.

Mount Qingyun.

Tongtian Peak.

Many righteous cultivators gathered together; the foremost seats were occupied by the Tianyin Sect and the Incense Sect, while behind them sat smaller sects and lone cultivators.

"Sect Master, what scheme do you think Dao Xuan is hatching by forming the Immortal Alliance?"

"Could he be aiming to unify the righteous sects and become our supreme leader?"

"It's possible. Now that Qingyun is so powerful, if they truly intend this, what can we do to resist?"

"Sigh… we'll take it one step at a time. If Ascension is truly possible, then forming an Immortal Alliance isn't unthinkable."

As they discussed, several streaks of light descended from the sky, revealing their forms: the Qingyun party—Dao Xuan, Tian Pangpang, Cang Song…

"Thank you all for your patience!"

Dao Xuan took his seat. "A month ago, our Qingyun Sect's Spirit Lord was summoned by his elder in the Earth Immortal Realm, receiving a divine edict from the Upper Realm stating that our world's Immortal Dao had declined and should not open the Ascension Path. But the Spirit Lord's elder in the Immortal Realm held considerable influence, pleading with the Dao Lord on our behalf—thus, cultivators in our world may now Ascend to the Upper Realm!"

"The Spirit Lord—is that water Qilin?"

"Does the water Qilin have elders in the Upper Realm? Then the Qilin clan truly is a divine beast race—even their descendants in the mortal realm receive support. Qingyun has venerated the Spirit Lord for nearly a thousand years—what incredible fortune!"

"Why didn't my ancestral master venerate a divine beast?"

"Your ancestral master couldn't defeat a divine beast, right?"

Dao Xuan waited until the murmurs subsided, then continued: "To be frank, a month ago, some of our Qingyun disciples already reached the Earth Immortal Realm. That place is truly an immortal paradise—just inhaling one breath of immortal qi yields better results than a year of arduous cultivation here. To Ascend to the Earth Immortal Realm is an unparalleled immortal fortune."

"Hss… no wonder Qingyun's ordinary disciples are so powerful—they've been to the Immortal Realm!"

"The Immortal Realm… legends say even a single blade of grass there is a miraculous elixir. If only I could go to the Earth Immortal Realm…"

"Qingyun Sect truly has great fortune."

"Having received this immortal fortune, Qingyun does not wish to hoard it alone," Dao Xuan cleared his throat solemnly. "We are willing to share the method of Ascension and the path of cultivation. But the Dao is not lightly bestowed—this is the path to immortality and Ascension. Who among those outside the righteous sects deserves such a gift?"

"After all, if we trained some demonic heretics who Ascended to the Immortal Realm, I, Dao Xuan, would bear the blame—and the Spirit Lord's elders might be scolded by the Dao Lord. The cost would far outweigh the benefit."

"Do you all understand?"

"Sage Daoist, your righteousness!"

"Sage Daoist, your compassion!"

The smaller righteous sects below cheered loudly, their expressions brimming with excitement.

As for merging sects, they didn't care—after all, their sects had only two or three members; merging brought no loss.

The Tianyin Sect and the Incense Sect were trapped in discomfort.

After merging, could they still hold power over their domains?

Power is not merely a poison to mortals—it remains so for cultivators.

"Dao Xuan, your sect has gained the path to immortality—why not share it selflessly with all cultivators? You claim to be the righteous leader, yet you cling so greedily to power."

At that moment, a booming voice rang out, as if coming from all directions, making it impossible to locate its source.

"Hah! Since the demonic sects have come, why hide your faces?"

Dao Xuan smiled confidently; behind him, streams of sword light coalesced into countless ferocious swords, surging skyward and instantly blanketing Mount Qingyun—numbering perhaps tens of thousands.

This sudden display left the righteous cultivators present utterly stunned.

"Is this even human?"

"How could any cultivator possess such power?"

"Sect Master Dao Xuan truly received immortal fortune—could we also attain such abilities someday?"

In this world, even the most skilled sword cultivators could only manifest a few hundred sword beams—this scene, where magic power condensed into tens of thousands of flying swords, blotting out the sky, was unimaginable!

And the demonic sects? They were even more terrified…

They had hidden over ten miles away, intending to sow discord among the righteous—but in an instant, they were surrounded by the flying swords above.

"This… this is Dao Xuan? The rumors were true!"

"Damn it! Does the Qilin have such powerful connections in the Immortal Realm?"

The next moment, ten thousand swords descended. The demonic sects unleashed their techniques to resist—but found that though the sword beams were formed from magic power, they were ferociously violent; ordinary magic treasures shattered at a single strike, and only famed treasures could withstand even a little.

"Run!"

The Ghost King, bearing the Fulong Cauldron, spat blood as he broke through.

Only when he reached safety did he realize few of his companions remained.

"These were the elite of our Shengmen—now they've perished beneath Mount Qingyun!"

The Ghost King's heart bled—this single battle would leave the demonic sects unable to rise for a hundred years.

Tongtian Peak.

Dao Xuan stirred his thoughts; the ten thousand swords returned, dissolving back into magic power and reabsorbed into his body.

"Leave some demonic disciples alive—otherwise, the righteous sects will lose pressure, and the disciples will grow arrogant," Dao Xuan sighed inwardly, then turned to the righteous cultivators. "Ladies and gentlemen, please follow me."

The group stepped outside, where Dao Xuan extended his hand, revealing a small mountain three inches tall.

"This is a cultivation paradise granted by the Dao Lord. Whoever passes the Heart-Testing Stairway may join the Immortal Alliance and attain immortality and Ascension. Those who fail simply lack the necessary character—and have no destiny for immortality."

With a casual flick, the three-inch mountain instantly grew to ten thousand meters high, landing in a desolate place, taking root as if it had always been there.

Everyone looked over and saw the mountain shrouded in white mist, like divine light.

Bai He cried out; lotus flowers bloomed in the pond, a true immortal sanctuary.

"Such powerful spiritual energy! Just one breath, and I already feel my magic power has grown purer!"

"Indeed, this blessed land is incredible—just three inches tall, it instantly grew to ten thousand meters high. Truly the work of immortals."

Someone turned back, gazing at Dao Xuan, and asked: "May I ask, Immortal Master Dao Xuan, what is the Noble One's true name? We wish to burn incense and pay homage daily."

"The Noble One's name is Hunyuan Wuji Taixuan Dao Jun!" Dao Xuan's expression turned solemn. "The Dao Jun is the primordial ancestor who opened heaven and earth..."

Hearing this long list of titles, everyone felt dizzy, and their hearts echoed: "Qingyun has truly secured a powerful patron."

A moment passed.

When Dao Xuan announced the formation of the Immortal Alliance and the opening of the Wenxin Stair, all orthodox sects surged toward the Wenxin Stair, fearing even a half-step behind.