Chapter 557

At this moment, she suddenly spoke again.

"I heard the Holy Mother Empress intends to hold the Peach Banquet ten thousand years early!"

Upon hearing this, several heavenly princesses turned their gazes toward her, and the green-clad female immortal nodded and said.

"I've heard as well—my mother rarely holds the Peach Banquet early across so many yuan kalpas; it's usually precisely on time, and if it's held early, there must be a reason!"

The orange-clad immortal beside her said.

"Once the Peach Banquet begins, we'll have to get busy!"

Her expression carried a hint of helplessness.

The Hundred Flowers Immortal and the Hundred Herbs Immortal beside her merely furrowed their brows—hosting the Peach Banquet at the Jade Pool Sacred Land naturally required the Jade Pool immortals to lend their aid.

After exchanging more heavenly secrets, the several women departed, satisfied.

But the Hundred Flowers Immortal stayed behind.

Seeing her hesitate to speak, the Azure Radiance Dao Lord directly addressed her.

"Hundred Flowers, are you wanting to ask about the Water Emperor's news?"

The Hundred Flowers Immortal nodded and said.

"Sister Azure Radiance, I've sensed that the heavenly realm has been unsettled lately—he is of divine origin, and since ancient times, those born divine have drawn envy; many such beings have perished before they could even grow..."

The Hundred Flowers Immortal looked worried.

Since the batches of innate deities emerged during the Desolate Ancient Era, immortals have recognized the power of innate deities, and thus harbor some wariness toward the later ones.

The Azure Radiance Dao Lord smiled: "Don't worry—he's far more cautious than you imagine!"

"I heard he hasn't left his residence lately, staying constantly in the Water Emperor's mansion, and even the Zhang clan members from the lower realm are being successively guided into the Three Sovereigns' Heavenly Realm!"

After a brief pause, she lifted her starry eyes and said.

"The Three Sovereigns' Heavenly Realm will not allow anyone to harm him!"

The Hundred Flowers Immortal's eyes flickered, and she immediately exhaled in relief.

After thinking, the Hundred Flowers Immortal suddenly spoke again.

"Sister, I heard the reincarnated form of the Lunar Yin has already appeared!"

The Azure Radiance Dao Lord's expression hardened, and after a moment, she coldly snorted.

"Appeared—so what?"

The Hundred Flowers Immortal said: "I heard the Holy Mother Empress has ordered you to guide back the Lunar Yin's incarnation..."

She paused slightly, then continued.

"It's all due to the inadequacy of me and others—we've implicated you, Sister Azure Radiance, causing you to be rebuked by the Holy Mother!"

Her face bore an expression of guilt.

Upon hearing this, the Azure Radiance Dao Lord stepped forward and took the Hundred Flowers Immortal's hand, saying.

"Hundred Flowers, little sister, you must never speak of divided loyalties—otherwise, I won't be pleased. The Lunar Yin is the arch-enemy of us all, but speaking frankly, if it weren't for the Lunar Yin's targeting, I wouldn't have attained Dao Lord fruition so swiftly!"

The Hundred Flowers Immortal still wore a sullen expression—these flower immortals have low cultivation, unable to aid the Azure Radiance Dao Lord, unable to share her burden, and instead become a hindrance.

Gazing at the Hundred Flowers Immortal's expression, the Azure Radiance Dao Lord's eyes flickered with a strange light, and she leaned close to whisper in her ear.

"Sister, are these words truly sincere?"

The Hundred Flowers Immortal's water-like eyes shimmered with brightness.

The Azure Radiance Dao Lord gave a slight nod: "Naturally true—this immortal position of yours has existed since the Desolate Ancient Era; there are many innately born flower gods in heaven and earth. If you could obtain those innate fortunes, you would someday hope to glimpse the boundless fate, transcend and escape!"

The Hundred Flowers Immortal nodded.

She had originally been detached from the world, but such detachment also meant powerlessness.

Unable to act.

She did not wish to become a burden to others again.

……

Nine Nether Realm, the Netherworld Underworld.

The Underworld of the Nine Nether Realm is the core of the myriad void underworlds, lying beneath the mundane world.

Here lies a special dimension, called the Nine Nether Dimension, also known as the Earth Realm Dimension.

The Earth Realm Dimension is equally vast—besides containing the myriad void underworlds, it also holds many unknown illusory spirit realms, even extending into the Netherworld Domain.

The Tenth Hall, the Residence of the Wheel-Turning Emperor.

This place is grand and magnificent, with a solemn and awe-inspiring yin chill; beyond it lies the final station before reincarnation—the Naihe Bridge, which souls must pass through.

Then comes the land of reincarnation.

Among the Ten Netherworld Emperors, the Wheel-Turning Emperor holds a uniquely special position.

He governs the Tenth Hall, the endpoint of the ghosts' journey through the Netherworld, belonging to the rebirth assignment station. Outside the hall lies the Netherworld Mourning Stone, facing directly the Turbid Evil World of Samsara.

He has the authority to evaluate and judge the numerous registered ghosts and spirits, then decide which path they take into the cycle of heaven and earth.

His authority is immense.

At this moment, deep within the Wheel-Turning City, on the city wall, a black-robed figure gazed into the distance at the rolling Yellow Springs nearby; this black-robed figure was surrounded by flowing Netherworld divine light, and beside him stood a figure in royal robes—an emperor, the left-hand aide of the Wheel-Turning Emperor, the Left Holy Emperor.

Occupying the blessed position of one hall, the Left Holy Emperor is undoubtedly exalted in status, yet before this black-robed figure, he voluntarily places himself beneath others.

Though standing behind, his tone lacks much reverence.

"Senior, it seems your plan has failed—even after deducting the注元, that one has no intention of personally coming to investigate!"

Upon hearing this, the black-robed figure spoke calmly and detachedly.

"Don't rush—this is only the beginning!"

The Left Holy Emperor shrugged his shoulders upon hearing this.

Just then, both felt a stir in their hearts, yet saw an invisible force surge through the River of Fate, sweeping toward the palm of the black-robed figure.

Yet I saw that black-robed figure surrounded by countless ghosts, yin spirits, and even deities, with the Zhu Yuan Judge trapped upon his black robe.

That invisible force of fate surged forward, as if seeking to tear open the terrifying black robe's shroud and locate the Zhu Yuan Judge's whereabouts.

Within the force of fate, the two deities instantly saw a figure in magnificent Daoist robes casting a spell.

That was a Taiyi Perfected Immortal Deity.

Merely gazing upon this figure, the two figures merely hesitated slightly, yet their expressions changed subtly, becoming unusually solemn.

Though this fish was indeed 'hooked,' they dared not reel in the line.

The black-robed Daoist Monarch clearly sensed that behind the casting Immortal Deity lay several surging torrents of magnificent divine power.

He should now be within one of the Three Sovereign Holy Temples.

The other party is also fishing!

How can he possibly act!

For now, he could only cast out the true form of the Zhu Yuan Judge, tossing it into a netherworld space and sealing it shut.

For now, he actively severed this force of fate.

The Left Holy Emperor watched this scene and could not help but chuckle.

"That Water Official Emperor is truly extraordinarily cautious, unwilling to take even the slightest risk!"

The black-robed Daoist Monarch's lips twitched slightly, then after a moment he coldly laughed.

"He will inevitably reveal a flaw!"

After a brief pause, he spoke again.

"I recall he left behind many bloodlines in the mundane world, and this seat observes he seems to value these mundane bloodlines greatly!"

"Go to the Yanluo Palace and check the Book of Life and Death—see if you can perform a ritual to summon their souls!"

Upon hearing this, the Left Holy Emperor shook his head.

"This likely won't work; he is not some background-less wild monster. If the deities of the Three Sovereign Heavenly Realm discover my actions, this emperor cannot escape!"

He directly refused.

The black-robed Daoist Monarch's eyes held a hint of displeasure.

"Since you have decided to join us, why do you waver left and right?"

The Left Holy Emperor snorted lightly.

"I wish to join you, but joining you is for seeking the Dao, for self-preservation, for gaining greater power—not for throwing away my life. Even if several venerables came, I would say the same: a good blade must be used on the steel edge, not recklessly exposed for no necessary reason!"

After a brief pause, he sensed the difficulty of the Mysterious Origin Daoist Monarch before him and added.

"If you truly wish to bring misfortune upon him, you may enter the mortal realm yourself, enter the Zhou Mountain Realm, and act there!"

Upon hearing this, the Mysterious Origin Daoist Monarch snorted lightly, his form descending directly from the city wall and vanishing from sight.

The Left Holy Emperor watched the other's disappearing silhouette and silently sighed.

To deal with a celestial deity of the heavenly court, the best way is naturally to undergo a series of extremely meticulous designs, causing the opponent to vanish into nothingness, and preferably also to obtain the protection of those Dao Sovereigns and Demon Sovereigns—only then can one achieve success and withdraw safely.

Where could one possibly act so brutishly.

Acting so brutishly, even if successful, would still invite pursuit.

However, this fellow also has protection from heterodox Dao Sovereigns behind him, so he does possess this qualification.

The Left Holy Emperor silently thought.

If the path were not nearly cut off, with no way forward, he would not lightly associate with this troublemaker who enjoys chaos.

…

Central Heavenly Realm, Qian Yuan Mountain, Golden Light Cave

Taiyi Sword Sect.

At this moment, in a temple, a purple-robed old Daoist shook his head and swayed his body.

"There is absolutely no flaw to be found!"

Zhang Jian's lips twitched slightly as he glanced at the three Holy Emperors enshrined in the temple—performing Taiyi Divine Calculations here, where could there be any flaw to speak of?

This is far too steady!

This Daoist before you is the one recommended by the Tongshan Dao Lineage, skilled in Taiyi Divine Calculations cultivation, known as the Chenan Daoist.

Since he warned the other party that seeking the Zhu Yuan Judge might involve certain danger, the other party decisively found a Three Sovereign Temple to perform divination!

At this moment, the Chenan Daoist stroked his beautiful beard beneath his chin, smiling narrowly.

"Your Majesty, Water Official, although we failed to find the person you seek, this deposit of one hundred thousand immortal crystals, this poor Daoist will not refund!"

Zhang Jian had long anticipated this, and now he nodded.

This Chenan old Daoist's cultivation is not weak, and he is furthermore a renowned upper immortal of the Taiyi Sword Sect—he cannot find the Zhu Yuan Judge, so there must undoubtedly be a great problem here.

This confirms his suspicion.

This is a trap!

Zhang Jian has further resolved that he will not easily leave the Central Heavenly Realm unless he becomes a Daoist Monarch, or perhaps the Three Sovereign Heavenly Realm.

If he must go out, then he must necessarily seek the aid of the Holy Emperors of the Three Sovereign Heavenly Realm to conceal his movements.

Zhang Jian glanced at this extraordinarily cunning old Daoist, then immediately stepped forward and left Qian Yuan Mountain.

Zhang Jian at this moment prepared to enter the Three Sovereign Heavenly Realm.

At this moment, calculating the time, in the Great Xia Dynasty, Zhang Zhao, Zhang Yi, Zhang Xian, and the Ji clan should have successively ascended to the Three Sovereign Heavenly Realm.

To bring the immortals over.

After borrowing the immortals, he can then properly cultivate and fully evolve the ancestral qi foundation.

The path from Taiyi Perfected Immortal Deity to Daoist Monarch has seven steps.

They are: shedding the ancestral qi fruit, evolving the ancestral qi foundation, harmonizing the Dao heart, severing fate, the heavenly heart returning to the Dao, Dao accomplished seeing me, and destruction accomplishing the Dao.

His foundation is exceptionally solid, though he never actively prepared for it.

But when he transformed into a divine body, he had already, to a certain extent, directly crossed the first step and directly possessed the Ancestral Qi Dao Fruit.

Now he is evolving the Ancestral Qi Dao Fruit, completing the formation of the Earth Emperor's Treasure Wheel, and thus naturally can complete the second step.

With each step completed, his cultivation undergoes a tremendous change.

Similar to how he condensed the Earth Emperor's Ancestral Qi and displayed various immortal arts, his cultivation, and even his authority over the laws of heaven and earth, far surpasses that of ordinary Taiyi Great Perfection immortals and gods.

If he completes the second step, his strength will continuously rise upward.

Furthermore, upon entering the Three Sovereigns' Heavenly Realm, Zhang Jian also seeks to integrate the Earth Emperor's Ancestral Qi into the Three Sovereigns' Heavenly Realm.

As an official member of the Three Sovereigns and Five Elders Assembly, Zhang Jian believes this will be much easier than in the Heavenly Court.

……

Three Sovereigns' Heavenly Realm

Still the land of Qingqiu.

Before the Jiazi Thirteenth Ascension Platform.

Zhang Jian's figure appeared.

Before entering the place of request, he went to Qingqiu Palace to pay respects to the Lady of Qingqiu.

Only then did he proceed to this ascension platform.

This time he did not come alone; also present were the Dharma-Dispelling Elder Ancestor, who has been cultivating in the Tongshan Dao Lineage, and the Qingyuan Ancestral Master.

Because the Tongshan Dao Lineage also has immortals ascending together this time.

Since the Zhou Mountain Realm might be targeted by unknown hostile powers, Zhang Jian naturally also notified the Tongshan Dao Lineage, asking a portion of the old acquaintances to ascend together, to avoid suffering the disaster of the fish in the pond.

Thus, this time the Slaughter-Demon True Monarch stationed in the mortal realm, the Purple Lightning Elder Ancestor, and additionally several third-generation heavenly immortals of the Tongshan Dao Lineage all ascended together to the Heavenly Gate.

After a brief discussion and not waiting long, they saw the ascension platform before them emitting a hazy milky-white immortal light, and a magnificent heavenly passage was opened.

The ascension from the lower realm has begun.