Chapter 1116: The Canghai Tianjun Who Ascended to the Upper Realm

Beyond the world's starry sky, thunder rumbled and roared, serpents of lightning densely crisscrossing, bolt after bolt crashing down, filling everything with terrifying pressure.

Beneath such a heavenly tribulation, let alone the limit of late-stage Soul Transformation cultivators of this world, even peak Soul Transformation cultivators would perish and their Dao would dissipate within a short time.

This is the reason why, when the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder True Sect and Blood Lake Corpse Mountain governed this Minor Thousand World, they could only establish contact once every ten thousand or even tens of thousands of years.

Only those cultivators who stood out even among peak Soul Transformation cultivators were the talent the Ascension Platform's rules required, permitted to ascend to the upper realm.

Cultivators who fell short of the standard and recklessly attempted ascension would meet only one end—death.

"Such magnanimity that embraces all rivers…"

Jiang Ding's heart jolted, a hint of dread rising within him.

Upper realm cultivators had already stood at the pinnacle of countless Minor Thousand Worlds, the birthplace, one of the sources, of the immortal Dao civilization, representing an unimaginable height of immortal Dao civilization, yet they still possessed such a humble and cautious attitude—it was truly terrifying.

Their strength far surpassed yours, yet they were more open and inclusive, embracing all rivers to draw in the outstanding talents of countless lesser worlds.

How could such a person be defeated?

"No!"

"No need to frighten myself."

"From what I know, looking at the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder True Sect's Thunder Division Dao Soldiers with that commanding, imperious air, completely treating the lower realm's beings as if they were not of the same kind—that doesn't look like openness and inclusivity at all."

Jiang Ding comforted himself: "The way he looks at the lower realm's beings is like looking at ants, like servants; openness and inclusivity absolutely cannot be like this."

"In the distant past, the ancient immortal-level power that established the Ascension Platform's rules may indeed have thought this way, but now things have long since changed."

"After all, lower realm cultivators—those who can fight their way up are certainly gifted and resolute in their Dao heart, but absolutely untrustworthy. For example, Master Canghai Canghai Tianjun, for example, Chong Chong Guang Zi, for example, Master Dinghai Master Dinghai Zhenjun, for example, Li Qingyun Master Dinghai Zhenjun…"

"These cultivators each have their strengths; they are indeed heaven-blessed talents, without question."

"But these cultivators could never pledge loyalty to any sect!"

"Embracing all rivers is not so easily achieved."

"Master Canghai Canghai Tianjun harbors wild ambitions, Master Dinghai Master Dinghai Zhenjun conceals malicious intent, Li Qingyun Master Dinghai Zhenjun is much better, has principles, but is also completely insufficient to entrust a sect to…"

"Who would dare to cultivate them? Which heaven-blessed talent who fought their way up from the lower realm is not like this?"

"Who would dare to accept them without regard for the past, to cultivate them into the strongest of their sect?"

"Who would dare?"

"Besides this sovereign, who would dare be so open and inclusive?"

Jiang Ding's heart swelled with the heroic spirit of pointing his sword at the world.

"If one does not cultivate them with full effort, but instead places prohibitions upon them, trapping them forever at Soul Transformation, or forever limiting their growth, then no matter how exceptional the talent of these heaven-blessed geniuses—"

"—they would be nothing more than some inner or outer elder, with little impact on the overall situation."

"The upper realm, though strong, is not so strong that it can never be looked up to…"

Jiang Ding Zi murmured to himself.

As his thoughts flowed, beyond the world's starry sky thunder roared without cease, serpents of lightning crisscrossed ten thousand li of starry sky, appearing three times in succession, then gradually subsiding.

Then came heavenly maidens scattering flowers, golden lotuses springing from the earth, immortal cranes dancing in the air, young boys and girls clearing the path, all together guiding toward a hazy, indistinct portal.

The Gate of Ascension!

Without any mishap, Chong Chong Guang Zi and Master Canghai Canghai Tianjun passed the Ascension Thunder Tribulation; they could easily slay the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder True Sect's strongest Soul Transformation cultivators, their strength already counted as top-tier among Soul Transformation cultivators, and they should not be unknown among upper realm cultivators of the same rank—naturally meeting the Ascension Platform's requirements.

So long as one was strong enough, the Ascension Platform's rules were not a life-and-death great tribulation, merely a step, a trip far from home.

Zou Zou Xiyuan seemed to fall a little short, carrying some risk, but with her father present, everything was no problem.

Within that maddening scene of immortal splendor, three Soul Transformation beings, their wide sleeves fluttering, stepped forward, walking toward the vaster starry sky of the upper realm.

"The upper realm…"

"Immortals! Immortals…"

"Ancestor! My Master Canghai ancestor…"

Once more, under the influence of the Ascension Platform's rules, these scenes of ascension were projected through some unknown power into the hearts of countless sentient beings, making their eyes go red, awakening the supreme longing and reverence within them, as if they had glimpsed the true path to immortality.

The sentient beings of the entire world went mad!

Jiang Ding watched quietly, making no attempt to interfere.

Before such a rule-level cosmic immortal Dao miracle, although he possessed some power, he was still far from reaching such a threshold.

"Boy, this is for you."

Zou Zou Xiyuan's voice came through, like a falling leaf in the wind, extremely weak, as if all her strength had been spent.

A crystal orb of deep blue luster appeared before Jiang Ding.

This was what Zou Zou Xiyuan had once promised: the complete memories of a Void Refinement cultivator of the Thunder Dao rules, stripped away and crafted into a physical object, placed before him.

"Many thanks, Sword Master!"

Jiang Ding's expression stirred, and he bowed deeply in salute.

Zou Zou Xiyuan alive was his mortal enemy.

Zou Zou Xiyuan dead was a senior worthy of respect, a forerunner upon the great Dao, an important founder of the Master Shuoyang Sword Dao.

"Live."

"Push the Master Shuoyang Sword Dao as far as possible above Dao Merging, up to the height of True Immortal, and see what the scenery there is like."

"Then, find my grave, and tell me what lies there, how magnificent and grand it is…"

Zou

Zou Xiyuan's voice grew fainter and fainter.

Then, it vanished completely.

"Father…"

At this moment, Zou Zou Xiyuan on the path of ascension wept like rain, unable to restrain herself any longer.

"I will."

Jiang Ding put away the deep-blue crystal sphere and solemnly promised, "The path of True Immortal will not be able to stop me. I will certainly reach such a peak and see the scenery there."

Silence, no sound.

No response came.

Between heaven and earth, in the cosmic starry sky, every place was utterly quiet. The Lei Gao Jie was gone, the scene of ascension was gone, and the cosmic starry sky once again returned to its eternal deathly stillness.

Drip...

The soft sound of a water droplet hitting the ground.

Jiang Ding turned his head and saw a teardrop fall from the corner of Yue's eye.

A fairy in a flowing white skirt, gentle and kind, was weeping.

One of her juniors had died completely.

"Yue, you've become more spirited."

"I sense that you are about to be born with true spiritual intelligence, to possess life. This is not necessarily a good thing—you will come to know the inherent sorrow and regret of life."

Jiang Ding glanced at her, rested his remaining left hand on the sword hilt, and slowly walked into the Minor Thousand Worlds.

"This is your choice. I will not interfere."

Life could no longer be relied upon as reliably as the cold logic of an array spirit.

Therefore, sufficient permission restrictions had to be set for the Dayang Dayang Tianchi Moon Spirit, these restrictions upgraded, and certain absolutely impermissible matters delineated.

The Immortal Gate had sufficient technical achievements in this area—indeed, it had risen to prominence precisely through such techniques, reaching a top-tier level in the realm.

"Mm,"

"I understand, Dayan Jianzi."

The Dayang Dayang Tianchi Moon Spirit nodded gently.