Chapter 503: Pulling the Residence to Ascend (I) (4K)

Beside Zhang Yi and Zhang Xian stood the couple Zhang Zhao and his wife, and behind them were Prince Anping Zhang Chang'an, Prince Nanyang Zhang Qiao, and many other royal princes.

Many of these royal princes and princesses had already attained longevity, a few outstanding ones had achieved the realm of True Lord of the Primordial Spirit after three thousand years of cultivation, and two had even attained the body of a True Immortal.

With the innate Dao body's talent and a Sage King imparting the Dao and resolving doubts, their cultivation proceeded exceptionally smoothly.

Another portion of the imperial grandsons and great-grandsons, though their cultivation time was shorter than that of the second-generation princes, still advanced in Dao cultivation rapidly, most standing at the threshold of the Yin Spirit Venerable realm.

The bloodline inheritance of the innate deities was exceptionally excellent.

This allowed them to spare much of the effort of arduous cultivation.

Besides these princes and grandsons, there were also some imperial elders present, and even powerful imperial figures who had been deified after death came forward one after another.

For example, Zhang Yi, who had been ennobled as the Sovereign of the Five Continents' Capital, and Prince Qing Zhang Kui, who had been ennobled as the Guardian General of the State and transferred to the Martial Temple for worship, now manifested their Star Sovereign forms.

Although they were only of the Second Rank Star Sovereign realm, the divine power they displayed was not much weaker than that of a First Rank Star Lord.

Beside them stood many civil and military immortal officials of the Great Xia, lining up, their eyes also showing a hint of longing.

They had heard the news: this time, the Great Xia Sage King's ascension to the Heavenly Gate included many slots for simultaneous ascension.

Moreover, ascending the Heavenly Gate allowed direct entry into the Great Xia Sage King's heavenly bureau, without fear of being reassigned elsewhere, becoming subordinates to other immortals, or even cannon fodder.

How could this not make many immortals eager and restless?

Yet no one knew how many slots were available for accompanying ascension!

Many immortals secretly guessed in their hearts, while also harboring some hope.

At this moment, one side of the square was also filled with distinguished guests.

Furthermore, many other deities were present—various water gods, fire gods, mountain gods, and powerful figures of the Great Xia Sacred Dynasty—standing to one side, immortals and gods divided into two groups, clearly distinct.

One part was led by the newly appointed Sovereign of the State and Earth, below whom stood four Inspection Envoys, while the Kitchen Goddess, a former First Rank Star Lord known for her ferocity, also stood to one side, forming a separate entity with the deified founding generals such as the City Lord Zhang Yi and the Guardian General of the State.

The observing immortals were led by the immortals of the Tongshan Dao, including the Floating True Lord, the Slaying Demon True Lord, the Azure Cloud True Lord, the Boundless True Lord, the Burning Bones True Lord, the Purple Orchid True Lord, the Chasing Stars True Lord, and the Emerging Clouds True Lord.

Also present were the elders of the Seven Great Sacred King Clans, including the Ji, Yi, Jiang, and Feng clans, who had come in person.

Qian Guang Daoist of the Nanhua Sect and Yi Hun Elder Ancestor of the Tianyi Sect also led groups of immortals here.

Many immortals were also gazing into the crowd.

"Elder Ancestor, I don't know whether Junior Sister Ji and Junior Jiang will ascend together with the Great Xia Sage King this time?"

In the crowd, Jiang Chen Guang, the Lingyun True Lord and master of the Seventh Spirit Mountain, fixed his eyes on Yi Hun Elder Ancestor, his expression somewhat unusual.

Upon hearing this, the immortals all turned their gazes over.

Yi Hun Elder Ancestor spoke upon hearing the words.

"According to our sect's records, in eras led by a Sage King, the duration is usually very long—often tens of thousands of years, even up to hundreds of thousands of years—but the longer the time, the more likely the Imperial Purple Qi and Imperial Merit obtained after abdication will suffer some loss!"

He stroked his beard slightly, sighing with emotion.

"Moreover, merit is closely related to the number of people one can bring along during ascension; ordinary true immortals have limited merit, and the heavenly realm may not be willing to admit people, at most allowing only two to be brought along, and mostly only allowing a quota for a single mount!"

"But whenever a great power ascends in ancient or modern times, this restriction is relaxed; in ancient ages, there are plenty of examples of ancient Sage Kings leading parts of the civil and military officials of the court to ascend together!"

"The Great Xia Sage King unified the world, his merit is illustrious, and having attained the Dao in less than four thousand years, he chose to ascend—it is highly likely he is seizing the peak of his Imperial Dao Fruit and Sage King Merit to ascend directly!"

"Therefore, the number of people who can be brought along during ascension should be relatively ample; Consort You Shi should be on the list, as well as Consort Meng Shi, but your eldest senior sister, having completed her Dao cultivation, might instead not be on the list!"

Yi Hun Daoist actually did not quite understand; logically, since the Great Xia Sage King attained the Dao not long ago, he would be more likely to continue staying in the position of the ancient Sage King to calmly cultivate.

Even if he cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years, he would not encounter any mishap.

Yet he did not expect that he would choose to ascend so soon.

"Is this to ensure the Imperial Purple Qi and Imperial Merit are at their peak, so as to bring as many 'mortals' as possible into the heavenly realm?"

Besides this reason, Yi Hun Daoist could not think of any other!

At this moment, he noticed that many immortals and gods had turned their gazes toward the Crown Prince of the Great Xia Dynasty, Zhang Zhao, and the Crown Princess, Lady Yi.

Many of these powerful immortals had eyes filled with an inspecting gaze.

After the Great Xia Sage King's ascension, whether this successor, the second-generation Emperor of Great Xia, could suppress the arrogant and fierce generals in the court, and even the feudal lords of the ten directions, remained an unknown.

Moreover, this Crown Prince's entire body was always concealed within the Great Xia Dragon Qi and Imperial Qi, making it impossible to discern truth from falsehood, and Yi Hun Daoist could not make a judgment.

At the same time, Yi Hun Daoist noticed that the three second-generation elders of the Tongshan Dao lineage seemed not to have appeared.

This involuntarily gave rise to other thoughts in him, and his expression showed some speculation.

……

Not only was Yi Hun Daoist speculating, but most immortals and gods had their gazes fixed on the Great Xia imperial family, wondering whom the Great Xia Sage King would bring directly into the Heavenly Gate this time.

No need to undergo the tribulation of the immortal trial—direct entry into the Heavenly Gate to serve as an official, such fortune is what all immortals and gods dream of.

Even if an immortal or god has no blood relation, or even no friends or relatives!

In the imperial mausoleum, Zhang Jian had already arrived at the tomb.

Inside the tomb, Zhang Jian first came to the burial chamber of the Retired Emperor Zhang Yi and Empress Qi Shi.

The two were each confined in two blocks of black ice coffins, their faces peaceful, yet their appearances frozen in middle age, or dignity, or graceful nobility.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian's mouth curled into a slight smile; with a wave of his hand, a vast divine power enveloped the two blocks of solid ice.

The two blocks of ice rapidly melted under the divine power in his palm.

Zhang Yi and Empress Qi Shi, whose lifespans had been sealed by ice, gradually began to flow again, and the speed of this flow suddenly surged.

Zhang Jian watched this scene without surprise.

To freeze their lifespans with ice-bound immortal arts is to go against life and death; when the immortal art is lifted, they will also suffer backlash from the Yin-Yang Great Dao laws, and their lifespans will be burned out in an extremely short time.

However, his authority over life and death suppresses these backlashes, making them insignificant.

With a wave of his hand, a divine light transformed into a seal that fell upon both of them, and he casually smoothed out the backlash from the Yin-Yang Great Dao laws!

Free from the soul tremors caused by the laws, Zhang Yi and Empress Qi Shi both opened their eyes.

The depths of their eyes seemed somewhat hollow and numb.

As if they had slept too long, their memories seemed to have faded somewhat, but after a moment, their souls fully recovered, they gazed at each other, and each saw surprise in the other's eyes.

"Ayu, is it time for us to ascend?"

Lady Zhang Qi's gaze fell upon Zhang Jian's faceplate, her expression somewhat astonished.

Zhang Jian nodded and smiled.

"Indeed, Father, Mother, your son will bring you to ascend to the Heavenly Gate!"

Zhang Yi, however, asked the most pressing question.

"Ayu, has your Sacred King Dao achievement been completed?"

Zhang Yi had still been pondering this matter even before falling into slumber.

Zhang Jian nodded and smiled.

"Father, your son attained the Sacred King Dao fruit over three thousand years ago, and now the merit of the Sacred King is complete!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yi and Qi Ruolan were slightly startled, then could not help but rejoice.

"Husband, I never imagined we would have slept for over three thousand years; I do not know what the outside world is like now!"

Qi Ruolan's eyes filled with emotion, and at this moment she could not help but recall the descendants of the Qi clan, as well as some other children.

Zhang Yi then laughed heartily.

"This is a good thing; we are about to enter the Heavenly Gate, and I do not know what the scenery above is like?"

This couple was full of curiosity and felt no discomfort at all.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian gave a faint smile and then led the two toward Fengling.

Before Fengling, the eternal lamps lit over three thousand years ago still emitted a soft glow; the stone statues stood respectfully, their divine power entirely restrained by the Four Symbols divine force on the murals.

With a wave of Zhang Jian's hand, four beams of divine light instantly emerged from the mural wall and fell before him in an instant.

At this moment, the four figures each appeared as if they had just awakened from sleep.

"Young Master, oh, no, Your Majesty!"

At this moment, having just opened her eyes, Bai Xianyun immediately chirped loudly.

After not seeing each other for three thousand years, her form had already transformed into that of a graceful young maiden, though her entire body was surrounded by white tiger divine light, and her cultivation neared the peak of the Primordial Spirit True Lord.

Not only him, but Bai Nu, Feng Ling, and Bai Gui also displayed the Four Symbols divine light around their bodies, extraordinarily vigorous, all having reached the peak of the Primordial Spirit True Lord.

Moreover, having accumulated profound foundational Dao essence, they could at any moment assault the Heavenly Immortal realm, especially Feng Ling and Bai Nu.

As the state-protected divine beasts bestowed by imperial decree of the Great Xia Holy Dynasty, they enjoyed exceptional favor.

Unlike the ice-sealed Zhang Yi couple, although their true forms guarded here, their incense offerings spread across the Five Continents and seas, so they clearly understood the changes in the outside world, and even more clearly understood what achievements Zhang Jian had attained before them.

The ancient and modern Sacred King, the Great Xia Emperor, the youngest mighty one within and without the Zhou Mountain Realm.

"Pay homage to His Majesty the Sacred King!"

The three deities bowed in unison.

Even though Bai Nu and Zhang Jian shared a special relationship.

Zhang Jian's gaze fell upon the Four Spirits deities, and he smiled.

"You also go prepare yourselves; shortly, follow me to ascend to the Heavenly Gate!"

Zhang Jian also prepared to fulfill his own vow.

Upon hearing this, the four deities' expressions became overjoyed.

At that moment, after the three deities each clasped their hands in salute, they dispersed and left the imperial mausoleum.

Only Feng Ling remained, her expression unchanged, standing in place.

Zhang Jian looked at her and smiled.

"You may go as well; seize the opportunity to endure the Heavenly Immortal tribulation, and perhaps after entering the celestial realm, I can still secure a suitable celestial post for you!"

Feng Ling pondered for a moment, then immediately nodded slightly.

The legacy of her ancient phoenix, which defied innate nature, had achieved the Innate Nirvana Dao Body; after accumulating great fortune over thousands of years, she already possessed the foundation to assault the Heavenly Immortal realm.

Moreover, she was a descendant of the Golden Phoenix clan, a great clan of the celestial realm.

After entering the celestial realm, she would likely be able to return to the ancestral land of the Phoenix clan to cultivate.

The higher the cultivation, the greater the rewards reaped.

In the celestial realm, the Golden Phoenix and the Crimson Phoenix are equally renowned and famous throughout the world.

She glanced at Zhang Jian with her phoenix eyes, then turned and departed.

In the Feng Chamber, the Four Symbols divine power receded, and Zhang Jian's gaze fell upon the Feng bed.

Qi Yuhua lay quietly upon the bed, wearing a splendid great red phoenix robe; her figure was slender, her countenance beautiful and captivating; even in slumber, she seemed to possess an indescribable majesty and splendor.

Zhang Jian gazed upon Qi Yuhua's silhouette, a hint of smile in his eyes.

"Yuhua younger sister, you too must have slept long enough; it is time to awaken!"

He formed a seal with his hand, and in an instant, he removed the freeze of the Instant Freeze Great Law; the profound ice divine coffin transformed into a wisp of cold air that dissipated.

The beautiful emperor and empress upon the Feng bed slowly opened their eyes; at this moment, the myriad dragon qi and imperial qi of the Great Xia Holy Dynasty surged upward, and in the depths of the void, a magnificent scene of dragon and phoenix presenting auspiciousness emerged.

The empress's position, naturally awakened from the conception at the center of Qi Yuhua's brow.

Her entire body also generated a magnificent divine power spontaneously, naturally resisting the backlash of the life-and-death great Dao law.

Seeing this scene, Zhang Jian's expression stirred slightly, but there was no surprise whatsoever.

Upon the Feng bed, Qi Yuhua slowly opened her eyes; her soul experienced no turmoil, on the contrary, protected by the empress's position, her soul became extraordinarily strong.

After sleeping for so many years, her soul had been nourished by the position, growing ever stronger, and her entire body still gathered boundless incense divine power.

These incense divine powers surged; even if incense could make one a god, it would be entirely sufficient.

"Your Majesty!"

After Qi Yuhua awoke, her gaze fell upon Zhang Jian, and her expression held some joy.

She had already seen the surrounding scenery, knowing that this awakening likely meant ascension was imminent.

Then they bowed again to Zhang Yifu and his wife.

Zhang Jian's mouth corner showed a hint of a smile.

Although they had not seen each other for thousands of years, when the two locked eyes, many words went unspoken.

After leaving Fengling, Zhang Jian again led the group across the void, awakening the slumbering Prince Duan, Zhang Min, in Prince Duan's Mausoleum.

Only then did they return to the imperial mausoleum once more.

Seeing the crowd appear, Princes Zhang Yi, Zhang Zhao, Zhang Xian, and the princesses all stepped forward to pay their respects.

Qiyu Hua gazed upon the sons and daughters, her lively eyes holding a touch of surprise and joy.

Though thousands of years had passed and the sons and daughters had changed greatly, she could still recognize them at a glance among the crowd.

Zhang Jian watched this scene, his expression merely a faint smile, while his gaze turned toward the horizon.

On the horizon, a mass of dense thunderclouds appeared, as Feng Ling had already begun to withstand the Heavenly Immortal Tribulation.

But Zhang Jian did not pay too much attention, for with Feng Ling's foundation, passing the Heavenly Immortal Tribulation was not difficult.

He then summoned Crown Prince Zhang Zhao and Crown Princess Consort Yi Li'er to his side, gave them a brief private instruction, and only afterward entered the square, gesturing for those who would ascend with him to step forward.

Besides the Zhang couple and Prince Duan Zhang Min.

Within the imperial household were the Western Palace Empress Bai, Consort Shu, Consort Meng, the Four Symbols Divine Beasts, and also Prince Qiao of Nanyang.

Among the immortals and deities were the Kitchen God Red Flower Lady and over a dozen guardian spirits of the state—these were his retinue in the mortal world; after entering the Heavenly Immortal Pool and reforming their immortal bodies, they could directly enter the Emperor's mansion and become trusted aides in Heaven.

Also, among the civil and military officials of the court, some with profound cultivation were the feudal lords; most had already attained true immortal form and could be directly brought into Heaven, serving both as Heaven's retinue and as hostages to stabilize the order of the Xia Dynasty in the lower realm.

This had already surpassed the scope of lifting one's residence to ascend.

It could be called the ascension of the entire court!

But exactly how many could be brought still needed to wait until the Heavenly Gate manifested!