Chapter 1717: A New Immortal Sect Dao Son Has Emerged

The powerful ones of the Supreme Sect descended, and cultivators of the Badaxian Sect all bowed deeply in reverence; not a single person remained standing.

Many Refining Void elders and disciples of the Badaxian Sect trembled involuntarily, fear arising in myriad forms, unable to suppress the trembling of their divine souls.

The Great Sun Sword Master!

An ancient powerhouse hidden deep within the mists of time in the Immortal Sects, invincible across an entire starry sky, a being who had been invincible long before their countless generations of ancestors were even born.

Now, he descended here, as if a mythic tale had been reflected into reality, making people feel it was unreal, like a dream.

"Everyone, please rise."

The hazy figure within that light spoke faintly.

This was the will of the Sword Master.

All cultivators rose involuntarily; their divine souls instinctively obeyed this will. Even if a cultivator wished to resist, their divine soul and body's instincts would forcibly override their personal will and turn to obey the commands of this terrifying will.

A cultivator wishing to resist could not do so.

The light in the sky gradually dissipated without anyone noticing.

All cultivators of the Badaxian Sect breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts.

At the same time, a trace of regret arose in their hearts; they had failed to see that mythical being, the peak of the Immortal Dao, and might never have the opportunity to meet again in the future.

"Hahaha!"

"Everyone, long time no see! I see everyone's spirits are still quite good, eh?"

Within layers of clouds, Jiang Ding laughed heartily and walked toward the nine Dao Sons.

The Great Sun Councilor of the Immortal Sects holds a political status; every movement must follow the etiquette of a state visit, and in public settings, a certain dignity must be maintained; one cannot be too casual.

This is not mere empty ritual, but has benefits.

Repeated ceremonies and rituals like this have obvious effects in soothing the ruling order within the realm, maintaining the stability of world clusters, and lowering the cost of governance.

However, in private, these need not be observed.

Furthermore, the state just now was in fact the normal state of the Great Sun Sword Master; the pressure was something innate to high-level cultivators, not something deliberately unleashed.

Being approachable was instead a form of self-restraint, like mortals deliberately lowering their breathing frequency or speaking voice.

This state was not difficult to achieve, but it was somewhat uncomfortable, going against a cultivator's nature.

Unless before old acquaintances or in a wartime concealment state, the Great Sun Sword Master was unwilling to restrain his pressure; being completely relaxed was the comfortable state.

This was a deliberate act considering others' feelings.

"Good spirits my foot!"

"We're all damn old now... Sigh, only you still look like a little runt; it really makes Laozi envious to death."

Antuzi, carefree as ever,

sighed heavily for a while.

Seventy is rare since ancient times; the former Five Elements Dao Son had also reached this age, and many past matters had become indifferent. Seeing an old friend now, he felt a joy from the bottom of his heart.

When people grow old, they like to recall the past.

Especially when the beings in that past remain exactly the same as many years ago, without a single change.

"Jiang Ding Zi, long time no see."

Taiyi Taiyi Qingmu Dao Son Ji Liuyue and Yu Yu Qianzi and others sighed lightly and greeted him in the same manner.

As for appearance, female cultivators likewise prefer to maintain a maiden state, appearing the same as that youth in green robes.

But are they truly the same?

Beneath similarly youthful appearances, some beings are vibrant and full of vitality, brimming with an unmaskable potential, like a newborn sun.

Beneath other youthful appearances, however, lies an unmaskable weariness and old age.

This contrast made female cultivators who valued appearance feel uneasy in their hearts.

"Little ones,"

"Come, meet this senior."

Ji Liuyue clapped her hands lightly.

She gently led nine young and tender little ones from the mountain gate; all were at the Qi Refining realm, looking at everyone with innocent confusion.

These little ones seemed to be of the same generation as that youth in green robes.

"This is..."

Jiang Ding was stunned.

This scene caught him off guard, leaving him at a loss, as if time itself had been traversed.

"Has this generation's Great Sun Sword Son not yet emerged?"

Ji Liuyue was not surprised and asked softly.

This generation's Great Sun Sword Son?

"Taiyi Taiyi Qingmu of Qingmuxian Sect,"

"I must tell you something."

Yue suddenly popped her head out, looked at the little one before her who was much the same as tens of thousands of years ago, the next Taiyi Taiyi Qingmu, and smiled, saying, "This generation's Great Sun Sword Son is still alive, has not died, so the new Great Sun Sword Son need not emerge."

"I see."

"Thank you, Senior Yue, for your guidance."

Ji Liuyue sighed lightly.

"Seeing me now, you must feel much the same as when you met my master many years ago; this makes me think that many years ago, my master was also a maiden, and the scene of her first meeting with you; at that time, my master must have been innocent and curious as well."

"Just like this little one."

"Right, little He Sui."

"Are you feeling curious and confused? Just like me, many years ago."

She squatted down and gently pinched the cheeks of the little girl beside her.

Qingmuxian Sect, Dao Child of the Grain Ear.

Her skin was like jade, obedient and lovely, and she wore an elaborate dark-green palace dress—

the attire of every generation's Dao Child of Taiyi Qingmu.

Many years ago, when the Great Sun Sword Master first saw the Dao Child of Taiyi Qingmu, the Dao Child of Taiyi Qingmu was wearing just such an elaborate dark-green palace dress.

Simple, homely words of small talk, yet a faint sorrow drifted in all directions.

Jiang Ding felt a slight pang of wistfulness in his heart.

"We juniors,"

"pay our respects to Senior Great Sun!"

The Dao Child of Taiyi Qingmu, the Dao Child of Tianji, the Dao Child of Wuxing, the Dao Child of Tianji, and others bowed obediently.

Though young in years, their conduct was courteous and proper, as if born knowing it—these were the most gifted Dao-body cultivators among the realms, destined for extraordinary futures.

"Rise, no need for such ceremony."

Jiang Ding sighed softly and, with a gentle push, helped these little ones to their feet.

He rummaged through his storage jade pendant.

Fortunately, though he was now a pauper with all his savings spent, there were still a few usable things tucked in a corner—perfect for these little ones, able to solidify their foundations and smooth their future Dao paths a little.

"Many thanks to Senior Great Sun!"

The Dao Child of Taiyi Qingmu and the others were a little excited. After thanking him again, they took their leave at the elders' signal.

"It's good that this generation's Great Sun Sword Child hasn't appeared. For them, that's a blessing."

"In the future, they won't have to struggle as we did in our youth."

Tianji Divine Monarch sighed deeply: "What a pity. Without hardship, tempering departs with it as well. Their future achievements will likely fall short of our generation's."

"That's fine too. Being able to pass down the sect peacefully and safely is enough—no need to overthink it."

"Peace is a blessing."

"Indeed. What more could one ask?"

The surrounding Divine Monarchs looked desolate.

The Heavenly Human Realm—they would likely never reach it in this lifetime.

This was the combined shackle of their own talent and the will of the world's overlords; they could only accept it.

Tens of thousands of years later, behind the sect's Ancestral Patriarch Hall, a single barren grave and a single tombstone would end their remaining days. Everyone in the world would forget that once there had been a living being who had once shone with a different light.