Chapter 504

The civil and military officials were naturally delighted at the prospect of following His Majesty Zhang Jian, the Holy King of Great Xia, to ascend together to the Heavenly Palace.

They even nearly came to blows over the limited slots.

After all, true immortals find it difficult to enter the heavenly realm in this world.

Even if they enter the heavenly realm through special channels from lands beyond the world, once inside as true immortals, it remains difficult to obtain an official celestial post in the Central Heavenly Court.

True immortals possess no competitiveness.

The patriarchs of numerous immortal sects and lineages are unwilling to become cannon fodder.

But following this Great Xia Holy King in his ascension is entirely different.

After ascending, it is heard that the Great Xia Holy King must first enter the human sacred site, the Fire Cloud Cavern.

Those emperors who have entered the Fire Cloud Cavern, whether serving as officials in the heavenly realm or as local immortal officials in other heavenly realms, begin at least as mid-level immortal officials; moreover, the Great Xia royal court has announced that the Great Xia Holy King has already received investiture from the Jade Emperor of the Central Heavenly Heavenly Court, starting as a upper-mid level immortal official, directly surpassing the mid-level.

Most of the immortals from the various immortal sects and lineages are shrewd individuals, and they clearly understand what this signifies.

Mid-level immortal officials can already establish offices and command fiefs, ruling independently over a region.

The upper-mid level immortal official ranks are extremely prestigious; given the Great Xia Holy King's background—innate constitution, divine path emperor, and human emperor's body—he is certain to bear great responsibility and may very well become a Heavenly Emperor upon arrival.

Following this Heavenly Emperor, they would gain the backing of the heavenly realm, and their status would rise accordingly.

Even without promotion, they would at least not be easily used as cannon fodder or directly dispatched to the heavenly armies to serve as heavenly soldiers and generals.

Not long after, vast auspicious clouds and blessed vapors appeared at this moment; within the auspicious clouds and radiant light, a great golden phoenix circled, surrounded by dense immortal light, and suddenly cried out as it arrived.

Feng Ling, however, directly manifested her golden phoenix form; joy flickered in the depths of her eyes, and she simultaneously gestured for Zhang Jian to come onto her back.

Zhang Jian, sensing her through their spiritual connection, felt her intent but declined her kindness, instead waving his hand as a majestic crimson dragon appeared among the clouds.

That majestic crimson dragon swirled, shaking the nation's fortune, boundless imperial aura, and dragon energy gathered and surged straight toward the Dipper and Ox constellations.

This is the protective dragon god he condensed after advancing to the fourth stage of the Nine Dragons True Scripture, an imperial immortal method based on national fortune.

Its power is immense, equivalent to nine crimson-pulse fire dragons fused into one, possessing the strength of a Taiyi True Number level.

Soon after, Bai Xianyun and Bai Gui also returned in succession, entering the plaza.

In the distance, Bai Qiu Zhenren and Bai Jiu could be seen gazing this way with earnest eyes.

In their eyes lay some reluctance, but even more so, joy for Bai Xianyun and Bai Gui.

Zhang Jian sensed the arrival of the auspicious moment and, with a casual gesture, activated his own power to summon the heavenly gate from the void.

Only then was seen: above the firmament, vast heavenly light suddenly appeared, piercing through layers of auspicious vapors and clouds, as a majestic nine-colored gate abruptly emerged from the heavens.

Nine-colored rosy light illuminated everything, filling heaven and earth with countless auspicious vapors.

A majestic heavenly-earthly power seemed to penetrate the great Dao of heaven and earth.

As this power appeared, the immortals gathered around the ascension platform felt, from the depths of the firmament, the rules of the great Dao tremble, as if heaven itself had given birth to will; even though the gaze was not upon them, the many observing immortals and gods felt their hearts tremble with fear.

The holy king clans and even the ancient immortals of the immortal sects and lineages standing in the crowd also felt this terrifying pressure, and even they hastily bowed their heads, lest their Dao hearts be shaken and leave a shadow.

Yet in the deep void of the unseen, at this moment a calm, solemn voice sounded:

"The Heavenly Emperor's decree: Now there is a disciple of the Tongshan Gate, the netherworld emperor Zhang Jian, lord of the Great Xia Sacred Dynasty of Dongxuan Shenzhou, who has cultivated for over three thousand six hundred years, bears the Holy King's Dao fruit, whose merit is complete and whose Dao conduct is manifest; now the Central Heavenly Heavenly Court permits his ascension, and due to the vastness of his merit and the lingering influence of his fortune, it specially allows one hundred and nine individuals of complete Dao cultivation and deep blessings to ascend together! Other ennoblements and entries into the heavenly palace will be followed by further ennoblements."

The immortal sounds are faint and distant, the heavenly Dao clearly revealed!

As the solemn, undulating voice faded, a nine-colored talisman edict condensed into form from the void.

At the moment it appeared, many primordial spirit true persons below, and even immortals, felt their primordial spirits violently tremble.

They could not help but gaze upon this talisman edict, and in their eyes flashed a deep hue of longing.

Yet within the vast rosy light, as if the clouds and rosy light of heaven were splitting, a nine-colored stream of light fell from the firmament, transformed into rosy light enveloping Zhang Jian, and in an instant the talisman edict merged into his heart.

He knew this was the heavenly realm's guiding talisman edict.

At the same time, above the firmament another majestic imperial Dao divine light appeared, and in an instant condensed into a purple stream of light, forming a purple qi talisman edict that floated before Zhang Jian, which he received.

Merely touching it slightly, Zhang Jian immediately knew this was the guiding talisman edict for entering the Three Sovereigns Heavenly Realm.

He may first choose to enter the Central Heavenly Heavenly Court, or alternatively first choose to enter the Three Sovereigns Heavenly Realm.

And Zhang Jian naturally prepares first to enter the Three Sovereigns Heavenly Realm, then later the Central Heavenly Heavenly Court.

This matter he has already discussed and settled with the various ancestral masters of the heavenly realm!

Meanwhile, at the base of the ascension platform, the civil and military officials of Great Xia had their eyes heated with fervor.

"One hundred and nine cultivators?"

Just now they had clearly heard the heavenly envoy proclaiming the imperial edict: this Great Xia Holy King may bring one hundred and nine people to ascend together to the heavenly realm.

The many civil and military officials in the field hurriedly looked toward the front of the ascension platform.

Yet before the ascension platform, although there were not few immortals, there were absolutely not one hundred and nine.

Compared to the number one hundred and nine, at least fifty or sixty slots were still missing—a huge shortfall.

At once, a senior official hurriedly kowtowed and pleaded:

"Your Majesty, Senior Minister, the Duke of Chengguo, Xiong Tingwu, kowtows and begs Your Majesty to take this old minister; this old minister is willing to devote himself to Your Majesty until death!"

"Your Majesty, the humble Daoist begs Your Majesty to grant an opportunity!"

After Chengguo Duke Xiong Tingwu finished kowtowing, the Daoist of Jingming beside him brightened his eyes and also hurriedly followed in kowtowing.

Seeing the Daoist of Jingming bow down, beside him several elders of the Dongshen Guan—Dongzhen, Dongxuan, Dongju—were about to also bow down, but then ahead came a commotion, dozens of Great Xia Dynasty garrisoned immortals working together to push through the crowd, only to see Deyang Laozu of the Five Elements Immortal Sect force his way to the front.

"Your Majesty, this old minister has been utterly loyal to you; Your Majesty's ascension, please also take this old minister; this old minister cannot bear to part from Your Majesty!"

He burst into tears, and incidentally squeezed out tears from the corners of his eyes.

Watching the movements of Deyang Laozu, the other civil and military officials on the plaza, and even some clan relatives, all began to 'wail loudly,' about to step forward and embrace the national fortune crimson dragon, ascending together.

Seeing this chaos, some officials standing farther away, and even some deities feeling remorse in their hearts, also hurriedly followed in rushing forward.

Even some members of the royal clan, the elders of the Zhang clan, could not help but stir with thought, all crying out as they rushed forward.

"Royal grandfather, I also cannot bear to part from you; please take me with you!"

"Ancestral forefather, and me as well..."

Crown Prince Zhang Zhao, Crown Princess Si Shi stood in the distance, at this time the corners of their mouths also looked somewhat strange, they noticed that there were also some princes and grandsons under their knees, taking the opportunity to squeeze in……

They originally wanted to reprimand, but when the words came to their lips, they exchanged a glance and chose to silently watch.

Most of these descendants possessed innate divine bloodlines, their aptitude was quite high, if they could ascend together with the Holy King of Great Xia, it would not be a bad choice.

Beside them, Zhang Yi, Zhang Xian watched this scene, and could not help but stare in shock.

"This also works!"

Zhang Yi muttered, he had accumulated many peach blossoms over these years, dragon sons and daughters were not few, seeing the situation he gave a look to the two dragon sons and daughters beside him, and with a wave of his hand, a wind and thunder divine power directly pushed aside some civil and military officials, directly sending the dragon sons and daughters onto the dragon's back.

In the distance, Ji Shi saw this scene, followed suit, and directly sent several outstanding descendants beside her onto the dragon's back.

Under the nine-colored divine light, Zhang Jian and the fortune red dragon beneath him involuntarily flew toward the heavenly realm gate.

Watching this scene, he slightly furrowed his brows, immediately with a wave of his hand he first sent some concubines, princesses, and other immortals and gods onto the scarlet pulse fire dragon.

Seeing the people below each using their methods to claw at the fortune red dragon, breaking through the void and departing, he secretly shook his head, with a wave of his hand a magnificent immortal light flowed, the red dragon flicked its tail, instantly throwing down some officials and royal descendants.

In an instant, crimson light soared into the sky, flying toward the heavenly realm gate.

Looking closely, only to see that after some officials and immortals had fallen, the cultivators on the scarlet pulse fire dragon numbered exactly one hundred and ten.

Among them, some people successfully remained on the scarlet pulse fire dragon, such as the patriarch and disciples of the Dongshen Teaching, the Lunar Immortal Maiden, and the two dragon sons and daughters Zhang Yi had sent over, and the three royal descendants Ji Shi had sent up.

Additionally, there were also some old ministers of the Great Xia Dynasty.

For example, the Greedy Wolf Star Lord An Ruoming, the Broken Army Star Lord Song Yingzhen, and some Great Xia generals who carried stellar fate and had martial attainments achieving the stellar god body.

There were also a few civil officials, most of them were old ministers.

Zhang Jian also gave them an opportunity, a fortune.

After all, it was a bond between ruler and subject.

Other existences that tried to muddy the waters and ascend together were directly thrown down by him.

For a time, on the square there were many fallen cultivators like they had lost their parents.

Even some cultivators could not help but have their Dao hearts shaken, directly sitting limp on the ascension platform and bursting into tears.

They truly missed a great opportunity.

Direct ascension, they would have avoided countless detours, escaped many tribulations, and ascended to heaven in one step.

They had just seen clearly that among the civil and military officials following the ascension, there were still a few ordinary people of the current dynasty.

Ordinary people could follow and ascend to heaven, while they had missed the opportunity and were thrown down.

Truly, it was time, it was fate.

Above the firmament, even more boundless Dao omens appeared.

Countless purple qi clouds gathered in the firmament, and even more a magnificent purple dragon suddenly peeled off from Zhang Jian's form, at this moment Zhang Jian also felt that the ancient Holy King's Dao fruit had left his body, the next moment it turned into a great mass of purple qi dissipating between heaven and earth.

The ancient Holy King's Dao fruit had departed!

But Zhang Jian felt that there was still a great mass of imperial purple qi, imperial merit, and imperial fortune settled down.

That mass of imperial fortune was extraordinarily rich.

Zhang Jian felt that supporting him to cultivate in the state of the Son of Heaven for thirty or forty thousand years should be sufficient.

And the imperial purple qi could be directly integrated into the authority of the State and Emperor, accelerating the completion of the State and Emperor's authority, pushing it to great perfection, laying a solid foundation for transforming into the Earth Emperor's primordial spirit.

Immortal sounds, misty clouds.

Wherever Zhang Jian's gaze reached, from above the firmament he faintly saw countless immortals and gods bowing their heads on the earth.

"See off Your Majesty!"

Moreover, many relatives gazed with reluctance.

"Until we meet again!"

Zhang Jian silently thought in his heart, his mind flashed with many figures.

There was Ji Shi, also the Slaying Demon True Lord, and also Zhang Zhao and his wife, as well as the fellow disciples of the Tongshan Dao lineage, and also a few remaining descendants Zhang Yi, Zhang Xian, disciple Shi Rui, and also many old acquaintances he had once interacted with.

The thought turned, Zhang Jian's body was surrounded by Daoist immortal lights surging out, protecting the people beside him, Zhang Yi and his wife, Qi Shi, Bai Shi, Yun Shi, Meng Shi, as well as the two princesses Zhang Chang'an, Zhang Qiao, and many civil and military officials, including the Four Symbols Divine Beasts, Lady Red Flower, their forms directly rushed into the depths of the heavenly realm gate.

Boom—boom—boom!

But after rushing into the depths of the heavenly realm gate, Zhang Jian's mind stirred, yet he faintly felt a great threat appearing in his heart, he lifted his eyes toward the top of his head.

In an instant, it was as if boundless heaven and earth storm surged forth.

At this moment, as Zhang Jian focused his mind, this spacetime channel was immediately affected.

The guardian immortal light of the heavenly realm gate was actually torn apart.

Countless destructive storms swept in!

Zhang Jian's mind gazed upon this scene, his expression changed.

Was this the spacetime storm born from the depths of the heavenly realm gate itself, or was someone attacking them?

As his mind moved, Zhang Jian's body was surrounded by vast immortal light condensing into bead after bead of star-constellated treasure maps floating around him.

The celestial starry sky appeared, immediately suppressing that terrifying storm.

At the same time, a deep purple light appeared in the depths of the heavenly realm gate, withstanding the boundless storm, it was like a straight pillar of light, directly tearing through layer after layer of storm, booming and striking some point in the spacetime storm.

At the same time, Zhang Jian's heart stirred, he felt that in the depths of the void there were even more several forces far surpassing his innate primordial spirit's perception, their commanders suddenly descending upon a certain point in spacetime, suddenly splitting apart and coming, the next moment he felt that point in spacetime had disappeared from his perception.

In the depths of the innate primordial spirit, that urgent surge of blood omen also promptly disappeared along with it.

In the depths of the heavenly realm passage, layers of immortal light were restored.

The scarlet fire true dragon roamed, seizing the opportunity to swiftly fly upward.

It is unknown how long passed.

It seemed like ten or more years, yet also seemed like only a fleeting moment, the scene of spacetime chaos disappeared, Zhang Jian's vast innate primordial spirit saw light from ahead.

The scarlet pulse fire dragon roamed, in an instant it flew out from within.

Only to see it manifesting, Zhang Jian clearly felt a previously unseen solemn Dao law appear in the depths of the void, he felt slightly unaccustomed, but his innate primordial spirit had extremely strong adaptability, and soon recovered.

While the other hundred or so people were not so fortunate, in an instant their souls seemed to 'crash', as countless dark qi surged from their bodies, drawn away from the countless white lights wandering around them.

They appeared to have collectively fainted.

Zhang Jian frowned slightly, and at that moment a familiar voice came from afar.

"A Yu, you need not worry; calm your mind and familiarize yourself with the great Dao laws of the Three Emperors' Heavenly Realm!

This is the Three Emperors' Heavenly Realm, the No. 9 Ascension Pool of the Jia character under the jurisdiction of Qingqiu Immortal Land; all who ascend from the lower realms must enter the Ascension Pool, where they reforge their immortal bodies within!"

"And this Ascension Pool is one of the highest-grade Ascension Pools under the command of the Lady of Qingqiu, which should also benefit you!"