Chapter 544

Zhang Jian already bore several deep marks on his body.

The ruler of a dynasty, the human emperor of the outer realm, the innate divine being.

Moreover, he had lingered in the Fire Cloud Cavern Heaven for over twenty thousand years; for many Dao Lords who understood the mysteries of the Fire Cloud Cavern Heaven, it was inevitable that he had comprehended the Primordial Qi Wheel within the Fire Cloud Cavern Heaven and the innate imprint.

With such fortune, how could he not be called a Dao Lord's seedling?

Only Zhang Jian's growth rate was somewhat faster than the Heavenly Realm immortals had imagined.

"No wonder His Majesty King Yu is willing to set aside his dignity and spare no effort to seize the great fortune in the Donghua Realm; if I had such a disciple under my command, I would also have to cultivate him well!"

The Pure Yang Dao Lord thought to himself.

At this moment, his gaze fell upon Zhang Jian.

Zhang Jian had just broken through the fifth level, thereby obtaining the qualification to remain in the Donghua Realm and participate in the Ascension Plan.

The other Dao Lords and immortals and gods present also showed slight changes in expression.

Zhang Jian's action in breaking the Two Forms Dust Array was truly swift and decisive.

Moreover, many immortals and gods directed their gazes toward the State and Altar King's Cauldron.

The Nine Tripods forged by King Yu were naturally familiar to them.

King Yu naturally also witnessed this scene.

He had long known that the State and Altar King's Cauldron was on Zhang Jian, and he was pleased to see its progress.

If the State and Altar King's Cauldron could thus ascend to become an Eternal Immortal Treasure, it would also be a good thing for the Tongshan Dao lineage.

……

After breaking the Two Forms Dust Array, Zhang Jian's figure appeared in the depths of the void, surrounded by a layer of intense purple-yellow divine light.

As this layer of purple-yellow divine light emerged, layers of Dao Qi networks condensed in the depths of the innate Dao realm, and the law networks faintly trembled, as if sensing the emergence of a supreme mighty power, capable of suppressing various Dao Qi and possessing sovereign ability.

However, upon encountering the deeper Dao realm, where another primordial, vast qi mechanism arose, Zhang Xian's Earth Emperor Dao Qi immediately encountered resistance and could no longer advance.

Zhang Jian opened his eyes, gazing toward the depths of the Dao realm.

"Earth Ancestral Qi!"

He thought to himself.

The power of a complete ancestral qi is truly too vast.

In myth and legend, why are those ancient sages and saints so innately powerful? One rumor is that they are formed from a complete innate ancestral qi, born as myriad Dao Qi, even the source of heavenly and earthly laws, that is, the origin of all laws and the ancestor of all Dao.

His eyes flickered with many thoughts.

But for now, it is not the time to stop and contemplate.

Doing so would inevitably invite underestimation.

Moreover, having only passed five levels, in the major affairs of the Donghua Realm, he might not be able to secure a position of greater weight.

These positions are all solid gold and silver.

Of course, he must produce some means.

……

Zhang Jian immediately stepped forward and set foot on the sixth stone tower.

In the depths of the stone tower, Zhang Jian's gaze fell upon the Earth God's Gate before him, while above his head appeared a vast, scattered celestial melody of immortal sounds, and demonic sounds penetrated the mind, as if countless demonic sounds entwined his innate primordial spirit.

This level, however, requires facing the Heavenly Demon Tribulation.

Moreover, Zhang Jian sensed that deep in the void, several terrifying demonic shadows lurked, and within them even a Taiyi Great Perfection-level demon lord lay in wait.

Since attaining the Dao, Zhang Jian had never truly felt the power of the extraterritorial heavenly demon tribulation; this time, however, he got his wish.

……

In a newly built celestial pavilion of the Pure Yang Immortal Sect.

The Hundred Flowers Fairy was cultivating in seclusion here, and she had also already contacted the Lan Tai Dao Palace of the Central Heavenly Realm.

Preparing to gather some details about the Donghua Realm's ascension.

Meanwhile, the Lan Tai Dao Palace side had temporarily given no response.

At this moment, the Hundred Flowers Fairy also heard a disciple of the Pure Yang Immortal Sect report that Zhang Jian had first passed the fifth level of the Dao realm, and then there was joyful news that the Water Emperor and the Water Virtue Star Lord, two great gods, had also successively passed the fifth level of the Dao realm.

This was deliberately requested by the Hundred Flowers Fairy.

Upon hearing that Zhang Jian had smoothly passed the fifth level of the Dao realm, the Hundred Flowers Fairy's heart slightly relaxed, and she also felt happy for Zhang Jian.

However, reflecting on this special state of mind, the Hundred Flowers Fairy's expression also became somewhat complex for a moment.

Logically, she had already passed the love tribulation, her Dao heart transcendent, yet seeing Zhang Jian cutting through thorns and advancing bravely and diligently, she still felt happy.

"Is it because of the grace of enlightenment? Or perhaps something else?"

As the Hundred Flowers Fairy raised her hand, a seven-layered golden divine tower appeared deep in her palm.

Her gaze was somewhat wandering.

At this moment, her Dao heart had already reached the state of 'Supreme Forgetfulness of Love,' and thus should not be troubled by the love tribulation.

But Supreme Forgetfulness of Love is not emotionlessness; it is merely a clearer understanding of one's own deep-seated emotions.

"Perhaps it is both gratitude and a trace of emotional inertia from a hundred years of companionship, like a close friend—after long association, it is inevitable to have mutual concern and care!"

"My beautiful lady, what are you thinking about, so deeply absorbed?"

Just then, a frivolous voice sounded, causing the Hundred Flowers Fairy to raise her brow, but immediately afterward, she was somewhat surprised.

"Qingxia elder sister, why have you come in person!"

At that moment, in the immortal abode, a figure silently emerged from the depths of the void, her figure graceful and splendid, her long hair bound behind her with a special hair ornament, part of it softly falling, and her entire body exuded a stern aura that made one unable to meet her gaze directly.

But only a moment later, it transformed into gentleness.

"Hua Mei younger sister, if I did not personally make this trip, how could I not help your 'lover'!"

Upon hearing this, the Hundred Flowers Fairy's bright eyes slightly revealed a faint smile.

"Qingxia sister, you're joking—I don't have any lover, and as a female immortal of Yaochi, there's no such thing as a 'lover'!"

Qingxia Daozun's lips curled slightly, and she had no intention of exposing it.

In fact, this situation was precisely what she had been striving to bring about.

She glanced at the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda in Baihua Xianzi's hand.

How could such karma be easily repaid? If she couldn't foster a deeper connection between the two, Baihua Xianzi would still face trouble even after regaining her immortal position, especially hindering her future attainment of the Perfect Dao Fruit.

However, Qingxia Daozun also did not wish to see Baihua Xianzi make a mistake.

The Central Heavenly Realm strongly opposes office romances, especially since Baihua Xianzi is one of the attendant female immortals of the Yaochi Holy Mother, making her position even more special.

Perhaps maintaining this 'like-minded' relationship would be better.

Qingxia Daozun smiled and said.

"My younger sister has always been rational!"

Baihua Xianzi glanced at Qingxia Daozun and said.

"I'm not like those few princesses..."

Qingxia Daozun smiled faintly, yet there was a hint of something unusual in her eyes.

"Baihua sister, after three lifetimes of reincarnation, you have truly grown much!"

Baihua Xianzi's jade-like face bore a hint of a smile.

"I finally understand why immortals and gods favor primordial spirit reincarnation—or spontaneous reincarnation after a period—aside from continuously accumulating foundation, fortune, and tempering the Dao heart!"

"In the mundane world, temptations are too many; yet if one remains forever lofty and aloof, never experiencing life, how can one transcend?"

At this moment, Baihua Xianzi's body flowed with increasing Dao resonance, indicating she had partially restored her Dao Fruit and cultivation.

Qingxia Daozun nodded slightly, glanced around, and came to a stone bench beneath a peach tree, sitting down lightly—her every movement resembled a painting of a female immortal, extraordinarily graceful and pleasing to the eye.

"Then tell me—what do you think the Lingyuan Emperor is like?"

Baihua Xianzi glanced at Qingxia Daozun.

Qingxia Daozun seemed quite gossipy about her and that Lingyuan Emperor's relationship.

But the two women had long been old acquaintances, with an extraordinary bond, and saw no need to conceal it.

"The Emperor should be a man of great talent, immensely benevolent, and possessing great wisdom—he saw through the deadly calamity on my path at a glance and skillfully resolved it; he is my benefactor!"

Baihua Xianzi made no attempt to hide this.

Qingxia Daozun's eyes flickered slightly as she spoke earnestly: Zhang Jian is indeed Baihua Xianzi's benefactor.

Had it not been for his sacrificial Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, she truly wouldn't know where to borrow such a precious merit-based magical artifact—unless she went to the Yaochi Holy Mother.

But the Yaochi Holy Mother's things are not so easily borrowed.

Baihua Xianzi added.

"Moreover, he is extremely meticulous—of course, cultivators should possess decisive lethality in battle, and he has that too!"

Qingxia Daozun laughed and said.

"Could there really be no flaws?"

Baihua Xianzi thought for a moment, shook her head, and said.

"Not at present!"

"Then you're done for!"

Qingxia Daozun shook her head.

She inwardly smirked, thinking to herself.

"That brat is terribly greedy—every few days he finds an excuse to enter the ancestral shrine to offer sacrifices..."

Baihua Xianzi caught the teasing tone in Qingxia Daozun's words, paid it no mind, and then directly pointed to the core of this journey.

"Qingxia sister, have you inquired into the details of the Donghua Realm's ascension?"

Baihua Xianzi's greatest concern remains this matter.

When the Donghua Realm ascends, it had already been proclaimed across various heavenly realms before her descent to the mortal world, though immortals had long dismissed it as mere rumor among the myriad gossips of the celestial void—now it has become fact, and many immortals of the Central Heavenly Realm will surely be curious and investigate.

As the head of the LanTai Dao Palace under the Yaochi Holy Land, Qingxia Daozun certainly knows part of the secret.

Qingxia Daozun smiled faintly, a hint of an unusual expression appearing in her eyes.

"Of course I know—any realm wishing to enter the heavenly dimension must first obtain the divine edict of the Great Heavenly Venerable and the Lady Mother; otherwise, it would be difficult to enter the known heavenly dimensions governed by the Heavenly Court and land safely!"

Baihua Xianzi was not surprised by Qingxia Daozun's words.

The heavenly dimension possesses too many unknown dimensional regions.

Though the area occupied by the Heavenly Court is vast, many places remain untouched by its radiance.

To enter the sphere of influence of the heavenly dimension, under the protection of the Heavenly Court's immortals, one must naturally integrate into the vast domains governed by the Heavenly Court.

Of course, one may also choose to enter unknown heavenly dimension regions.

But that would be extremely perilous.

Without the Heavenly Court's gods to deter, one would easily become a target for demon gods, evil gods, or even wandering great powers in the heavenly dimension.

The most terrifying prospect is facing the demon kings under the command of the seven demon patriarchs of the demonic path.

Even if immortals were to sacrifice part of their interests and lose some so-called freedom, they would still refuse to accept such risk.

Since accepting the Heavenly Court's governance, one must naturally accept some of its conditions.

For example, stationing troops, acknowledging the Heavenly Court's status, and surrendering part of heavenly and earthly authority to the Heavenly Court's gods for operation.

The ascension of the Donghua Realm certainly cannot proceed without the Heavenly Court's involvement.

And the LanTai Dao Palace, as the eyes and ears of the Heavenly Court, certainly knows much about this.

Qingxia Daozun laughed and said at this moment.

"Rest assured, our palace will guide him—even if it's for your sake, Baihua sister!"

Baihua Xianzi thought Qingxiao Daozun was helping Zhang Jian out of consideration for her face, and felt somewhat embarrassed.

She then took out the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda again and handed it to Qingxiao Daozun.

"Qingxiao elder sister, I am now returning this treasure intact!"

Qingxiao Daozun casually took the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda.

This Soul-Suppressing Pagoda is a precious merit-based magical artifact, its value undoubted; over these tens of thousands of years, it has sheltered Baihua Xianzi's primordial spirit, allowing her to pass through many demonic calamities safely.

But now she possesses a more precious innate merit spiritual treasure, so such merit-based artifacts have limited use for her, and she said at once.

"Little sister, do not rush to return this treasure to me; if you wish to earn some merit and fortune in the Donghua Realm, you will certainly need it!"

"Do I also have a share?"

Baihua Xianzi was startled upon hearing this.

Qingxiao Daozun smiled faintly and said.

"This is not difficult!"

Baihua Xianzi's expression, however, became somewhat solemn.

For outsiders to interfere in matters of the Donghua Realm is extraordinarily difficult; she did not believe it could be so easy and carefree.

Yet she still trusted Qingxiao Daozun's methods.

This good friend is skilled in calculation, and moreover she is a Daozun of Yaochi Holy Land; if she wished to help, perhaps there truly is a way.

At this very moment, a disciple of the Chunyang Xian Sect hurriedly came to report at the immortal abode's gate.

"Immortal, the Water Virtue Star Lord and the Water Official Emperor Lord have respectively passed the seventh and sixth gates! The Lingyuan Emperor Lord has also passed the sixth gate!"

Not long after, the two women quickly received news: Zhang Jian and the Water Official Emperor Lord had each passed the seventh gate.

"They passed the seventh gate so quickly!"

Qingxiao Daozun's eyes showed some surprise.

This is nearly on par with the Water Official Emperor Lord and the Water Virtue Star Lord, without distinction.

Qingxiao Daozun also knows something of the difficulty of the seventh gate; it has already reached the level of those who have attained the Great Perfection of Taiyi.

Not old-timers with deep foundations—certainly not all with solid foundations can pass.

And the difficulty of the eighth gate is even greater; the three immortals and gods may not necessarily be able to pass it.

But Qingxiao Daozun soon received news that the Water Official Emperor Lord and the Water Virtue Star Lord had successively entered the eighth gate.

Zhang Jian, however, was sitting in meditation before the eighth gate, beginning his quiet cultivation.

Qingxiao Daozun's expression shifted slightly, and in an instant she understood that Zhang Jian was surely eyeing the mysterious earth-attribute primordial qi deep within the Luan Sheng Kun Yue Dao Realm.

"His nature has not changed in the slightest; he will never give up any opportunity to seek advantage..."

Qingxiao Daozun felt both amused and exasperated.

But the advantages of the Taiqing Tian lineage are not so easily taken!

……

In the Chunyang Xian Hall, the various Daozun also saw Zhang Jian's actions, and at this moment each of them wore somewhat strange expressions.

But upon careful thought, the eighth gate of the Dao Realm is extremely difficult; Zhang Jian's attempt to seek opportunity within the Luan Sheng Kun Yue Dao Realm to increase his strength seems quite normal.

Yet this loophole is not easy to exploit.

The Taiqing Tian lineage stipulates that one may remain in the Luan Sheng Kun Yue Dao Realm for at most three hundred years.

If one does not enter the next gate after three hundred years, the trial is considered concluded.

Before the eighth gate, dense innate primordial qi enveloped Zhang Jian, and his entire body was surrounded by purple-yellow divine light, flowing like dragons and snakes around him.

"Three hundred years of time—though slightly lacking, but one must still try!"

Zhang Jian secretly thought.

He could feel that whether he could comprehend part of the mystery of the earth-attribute primordial qi was of utmost importance to him.

His innate divine origin has a fundamental yearning for this earth-attribute primordial qi.