Chapter 1738: The Afterglow of the Six Great Immortal Sects Leaves Prison

In the cosmic star river, the rule treasure born from the end of the Dharma Age gradually retracted its radiance, all manner of strange omens vanishing, revealing a nine-colored sword body—azure light blazing bright, the other eight colors dim and lifeless.

The flying sword's light flickered once, disturbing no space or rule, and appeared before the blue-robed youth.

This was an existence that transcended rules and space.

"What a pity,"

"There is a flaw…"

Jiang Ding sighed softly.

The Nine Heavens Ascension Sword-Forging Art, pioneered by the current Great Sun Sword Lord through inheriting the explorations of past sword lords, required slaying nine Dao Sons of the upper realm's Taiyi Qingmu Xianzong or beings of similar caliber—creatures of immortal-tribe Holy Sons—to complete one cycle of metamorphosis; currently, only one-ninth had been achieved.

Nine times nine returns to one.

Every nine times constitutes one cycle of metamorphosis.

In expectation, when nine Dao Sons were slain, the Taiqing Flying Sword would undergo a metamorphosis, thereby driving the sword lord's foundation and reserves to climb further, truly matching the Great Sun Immortal-Mortal Sword Soul.

Otherwise, one could only slowly refine the Dharma Body over a span of one hundred thousand to one hundred fifty thousand years, letting the sword soul drive the Dharma Body's advancement—letting nature take its course.

This was a result that only emerged after the appearance of the new four-step scripture, the Extinction-Dharma Solar Scripture; otherwise, it would have been even longer, and might even have been impossible to refine a Dharma Body suited to the four-step limit.

At that time, the Great Sun Sword Lord would reach the current limit.

Cultivating step by step, he would grow stronger; in expectation, he would in the future possess the power to unify the Great Thousand World, but if he wished to surpass the current limit, breaking through the eighth Nirvana of Dao Merging was utterly impossible.

Currently, the Great Sun Extinction-Dharma Sword Dao had two directions forward.

First, through step-by-step research and development, breakthroughs in immortal-path science would occur, and under the drive of the cultivation system, the eighth-step Dao Merging limit would be broken.

Second, slaying eight more times nine Dao Sons—nine times nine returns to one—using the corpses of eighty-one Dao Sons, or immortal-tribe Holy Sons, or Divine Dao Divine Sons to reforge the Taiqing Flying Sword, then using the life-bound flying sword to drive a great breakthrough in the sword lord's foundation and reserves.

These were the two main directions.

Others, such as breakthroughs in sword arts, breakthroughs in sword soul, stumbling upon immortal-grade opportunities by sheer luck, and so on, might indeed exist, but they were far too minuscule—placing hope in miracles.

Unfortunately, Dao Sons were not easy to find at present.

"However,"

"There is a new Great Thousand World, one that might even be stronger than the Fallen Immortal World…"

Jiang Ding murmured.

This place was the key to his Dao.

In all the world, any being that violated the immortal sect's laws, any being that violated the immortal sect's moral views, could be slain—acting on Heaven's behalf, promoting righteousness; this was an act of boundless glory.

However, before that, one must do well in developing concealment arts and escape arts.

On this point, he already had a thread of thought: namely, the Extinction-Dharma and Six Paths rules—using Extinction-Dharma to sever rule, spiritual energy, and karmic interaction with the endless cosmic starry sky.

Spiritual energy, and karmic interaction.

This rule held tremendous advantage in concealment; even the afterglow of the six great immortal sects greatly praised this point.

Countless thoughts, in a single instant.

Jiang Ding drew the Taiqing Flying Sword back into his brow, and in an instant felt his own tremendous change—the efficiency of inhaling and exhaling the world's spiritual energy and accumulating magic power had clearly risen.

It was estimated that in another ten thousand years he could advance to late-stage Dao Merging.

"Congratulations!"

"Your Dharma treasure has advanced, your Dao path has taken another step forward…"

Yuan, Zhenjun Shenji Divine Monarch, and other immortal sect cultivators offered their congratulations.

At this moment, they marveled within their hearts.

The Great Sun Sword Lord, who originally wielded a peak Dao Merging flying sword, was already extraordinarily powerful—the top combat force of the realm, surpassing peak Heaven-Human; now that he wielded a rule treasure, how strong would he become?

Likely, in most Great Thousand Worlds, he could be invincible beneath the Supreme.

Could such a being shoulder the duty of scouting foreign domains?

Many immortal sect Divine Monarchs grew worried.

Regarding the Great Sun Sword Lord's risking himself to scout an unknown Great Thousand World, the immortal sect's internal stance was collectively opposed, but as time went on, it would likely become harder and harder to stop him.

After some polite exchanges, everyone returned to business.

They continued discussing matters of fine-tuning rules, as well as the various immortal-path R&D projects and engineering works now in full swing within the immortal sect.

……

Great Sun Dayang Dayang Tianchi.

After a session of cultivation, Jiang Ding opened his eyes.

"The Extinction-Dharma Concealment Art has hit a bottleneck."

"Unable to establish an 'Extinction-Dharma Concealment Membrane' that blocks the Supreme's prying—this has run into a technical obstacle…"

Jiang Ding said quietly.

The Extinction-Dharma Concealment Art concerned the essential prerequisite technique for his journey to the upper realm, exploration of the gods-and-buddhas Great Thousand World, and any sacred sword duels.

He did not seek complete concealment—at the very least, he needed to ensure that when the Supreme did not carefully scan a region, his divine sense sweep would be blocked; only thus could a baseline level of safety be obtained.

Without this concealment technique, all actions must wait.

Unless driven to the absolute limit—such as when his five-hundred-thousand-year lifespan was about to end—he would not take risks while the concealment technique remained unbreakthroughed.

"How to solve it?"

An answer immediately surfaced in Jiang Ding's mind.

The inspiration for the Extinction-Dharma Concealment Membrane came from the Six Paths Reincarnation inheritance, and from the immortal art 'Summon Rain' remaining in the ancient god's arm; it was precisely the construction of the raindrops of Summon Rain that had given Jiang Ding his earlier powerful confidence, making him believe that he, together with the immortal sect, might develop this concealment art.

This Extinction-Dharma Concealment Membrane could not only be used by him alone—the immortal sect fleet could use it too, and in the future it might become a strategic-grade legion art of the immortal sect.

However, now he had

run into a difficulty that proved his confidence was mistaken.

Some critical techniques, involving the technology of the Supreme's divine sense sweep, were things the current him could not easily overcome; matters stalled right here.

"Seek aid from the Six Great Immortal Sects' Afterglow, in exchange for immortal art inheritance."

Jiang Ding made his decision.

The Six Great Afterglow Immortal Sects do possess immortal art inheritance.

Moreover, the immortal art achievements of the Six Great Afterglow Immortal Sects are more complete, closer to true immortal arts; the Supreme stands higher, therefore sees farther — in terms of value, they far exceed the immortal art inheritance mastered by the Immortal Gate.

But the problem is not significant.

The Immortal Gate can forcibly trade for all knowledge of the Six Great Afterglow Immortal Sects at a price ratio of one to thirty.

Jiang Ding closed his eyes and continued to sink back into cultivation.

A span of time that was not long — merely a few sessions of cultivation, a few enlightenments, a few refinements of the Taiqing Flying Sword — and over five hundred years had passed.

This day was the day the Six Great Immortal Sects' Afterglow and the Dao Children were released from prison.

The Immortal Gate held no welcoming ceremony of any kind.

Prisoners being released — to grandly welcome their release, what would that look like?

Is being locked in prison some kind of honor?

The Six Great Immortal Sects' Afterglow and the six Dao Children walked out of prison very calmly, and had beforehand forbidden numerous disciples from coming to greet them. They went through the various procedures in an orderly fashion, and once again were free.

"Lord Five-Phase Divine Lord, Lord Spiritual Treasure Divine Lord…"

The voice of the Central Array Spirit Computer surfaced in the minds of the many Immortal Sect Combined-Dao Divine Lords, making their hearts tighten.

This is the Immortal Gate's civilization heavy weapon, an eighth-tier heavy treasure, the core of civilization, holding an incomparable position within the Immortal Gate. If this civilization heavy weapon existed together with the Great Sun Sword Master and the Immortal Gate fleet, it would be an invincible force in this world cluster, sufficient to sweep across all under heaven.

"Honored lords, your temporary visas for the solar system will expire in half a month. Please depart before then."

"Furthermore, you must reach your respective sects within one year. If you wish to travel outside, please apply in advance to the Immortal Gate's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; only after obtaining approval may you leave your respective sect's domain."

These are the Immortal Gate's strict regulations.

Of course, due to the now gradually normalizing relations between both sides, when a Combined-Dao Divine Lord applies with legitimate reasons, approval is generally granted. They are not prisoners and may freely travel the four directions.

But prior registration is extremely important; if this one procedure is missing, the consequences are very severe.

"We obey the command!"

Spiritual Treasure Divine Lord and the others said solemnly.

The Immortal Gate places extreme emphasis on law. This is both a constraint upon them and a protection for them — the two exist mutually.

For example, right now,

"Honored lords,"

"the Great Sun Participating-in-Government requests a meeting with you all. May I ask if you

all have the time?"

The Central Array Spirit Computer spoke again.

This is not an official diplomatic meeting of the Immortal Gate, but more like a private conversation among cultivators, without binding force. They may refuse outright, and there will be no direct or indirect repercussions.

The surroundings instantly fell silent.

A bone-deep chill rose unbidden within the souls of Taiyi Taiyi Qingmu and the other Dao Children, instinctively raising layer upon layer of alarms.