Chapter 697

Zhang Jian himself would certainly not remain in the Tianling Realm forever.

Without his protection, would the Kyushu Ancestral God be a match for the other celestial gods of the Heavenly Court, or for the Daoist Sovereign?

Zhang Jian thought for a moment, then said.

"Very well, as the Primordial Sovereign and an elder of the human race in the Three Emperors' Heavenly Realm, I also hold a portion of special authority. Upon entering the Three Emperors' Heavenly Realm, you will naturally be able to enter the human lineage's secluded cultivation grounds to train in seclusion, which will greatly benefit your future Dao cultivation!"

"Moreover, the Daoist Sovereign of Hetu Luoshu may accompany you to the Three Emperors' Heavenly Realm, which is the ideal place to recuperate!"

Upon hearing this, the Kyushu Ancestral God's eyes also showed some joy.

……

Meanwhile, on another front, after consolidating the newly established Heavenly Court, the Purple Micro Emperor also announced, in his capacity as Heavenly Emperor of the Tianling Realm, that he would lecture on the Primordial Divine Dao both within and beyond the Tianling Realm, while simultaneously restoring the Dao lineage of the Tianling Realm.

The Purple Micro Emperor clearly intends to seize the fortune of an entire realm, indulging in the addiction of becoming the Dao Ancestor of a regional heavenly Dao!

He is one of the Six Sovereigns of the Heavenly Court, and himself possesses considerable accomplishments in the Dao, thus he is qualified to serve as this regional Dao Ancestor.

Zhang Jian, as the Lord of the Earth and the Netherworld Underworld, likewise received an invitation.

Zhang Jian thought for a moment, and thus prepared to listen to this Purple Micro Majesty's lecture.

For both public and private reasons, he felt he should attend this lively gathering.

First, to lend prestige to the Purple Micro Emperor in his capacity as Lord of the Earth and the Netherworld Underworld—this is a matter of social courtesy.

Second, to learn from experience and observe how this realm's Dao Ancestor conducts himself.

Having learned it, he will naturally be able to follow the example in the future.

……

Three thousand years later.

The celestial phenomena of the Tianling Realm have initially stabilized.

In the Southern Ming Divine Province, at the Earth Emperor Dao Palace, on this day a divine light burst forth from the Earth Emperor Dao Palace, piercing the void, and within moments transformed into a Xuanhuang Flying Qilin Golden Chariot that soared through the azure heavens, heading toward the depths of the star river.

This is the gift prepared by the human race of the Southern Ming Divine Province to celebrate the five-thousandth anniversary of the birth of the Earth Emperor Dao Sovereign.

It was crafted by numerous skilled artisans of the Southern Ming Divine Province.

Moreover, many human immortals and deities joined in its creation, to express gratitude for the Earth Emperor Dao Palace's protection of the human race.

At this moment, a procession of more than ten figures, like flowing light and electric flashes, moved at extreme speed.

Zhang Jian sat upon the Xuanhuang Flying Qilin Golden Chariot, and beside the chariot were several immortals and deities in attendance, led by a male and a female attendant deity.

The male deity is the Kyushu Ancestral God, and the female immortal is the Daoist Sovereign of Hetu Luoshu.

The Daoist Sovereign of Hetu Luoshu has a clear and beautiful countenance, dressed in emerald robes, her lively eyes yet bearing a bright radiance.

After thousands of years of reincarnation, she has gradually returned to the Path of Longevity, but to restore her Daoist Sovereign cultivation, she would likely need hundreds of thousands of years of arduous cultivation, otherwise recovery would be difficult.

Upon her return, Zhang Jian then promptly accepted her as an attendant deity in an exceptional manner, and thus brought everyone along to the Purple Micro Immortal Palace to participate in the grand assembly.

The speed of the Xuanhuang Flying Qilin Golden Chariot was extreme, and soon they saw one after another massive stellar light-shadows appearing on the horizon, each star resembling a colossal pearl island inlaid upon the azure heavens, floating before the eyes of the assembled immortals.

The site selection for the Tianling Realm's Immortal Palace and Divine Dynasty Alliance differs; instead, it stands towering above the azure heavens, where the Purple Micro Heavenly Emperor personally cast a spell to link the three hundred and sixty-five ancient primary stars above the heavenly void, as well as the one hundred and eight thousand malevolent stars, drawing the light of the heavenly stars into this realm and combining it with the realm's own nascent starlight to construct a magnificent stellar space.

The Tianling Heavenly Court is thus established within this stellar space.

The Xuanhuang Flying Qilin Golden Chariot has now reached the outer edge of this stellar space.

A mountain need not be high to be renowned if immortals dwell there.

The fame of the Heavenly Court's Six Sovereigns and Heavenly Emperor resounds throughout the heavenly void; the Purple Micro Emperor's lecture has also drawn many immortals and deities from beyond the Tianling Realm's dimensions, who arrived early.

Above the void, the immortals and deities upon the chariot could see, above the starlight, cascading torrents of magnificent, sweeping radiance falling from the void.

These are immortals and deities who have come, drawn by fame, through the Gate of the Stars Beyond Heaven.

Their aura clearly differs from that of the native immortals and deities of the Tianling Realm, indicating they have not yet adapted to the heavenly Dao principles of the Tianling Realm.

It remains unknown whether they come for the Purple Micro Emperor's renown, or for the benefits of the Tianling Realm.

However, it can be affirmed that most immortals and deities daring to enter the Tianling Realm and appear before the Purple Micro Heavenly Emperor are either appointed officials of the Heavenly Court itself, or have ties to the Heavenly Court's Combat Division, or are of noble lineage; immortals and deities from heretical and heterodox paths clearly dare not reveal themselves.

In this Tianling Realm dimensional war, the heretical and heterodox paths stood with the Tianling Realm's primordial ancestor, causing the Heavenly Court's Combat Division to lose many personnel unnecessarily, yet they have gravely offended the Purple Micro Emperor's mansion; of course, those who died in the Purple Micro Emperor's mansion at the hands of the Three Immortal Maidens, the heretical and heterodox strong ones, are also numerous, and both sides have already forged deadly enmity, so they dare not lightly come here.

After piercing through vast expanses of barren stars, moments later the distance grew increasingly bright, boundless radiance appearing before the vast star sea, with magnificent immortal palaces floating within the star sea.

This is the location of the Tianling Realm's Heavenly Court Immortal Palace.

Boundless silver-white starlight cascades from the azure heavens, like tens of thousands of mercury-hued starlight pearls falling from the void, descending into this void juridical realm, transforming the void into a silver-white sea of clouds.

Intense stellar essence and qi swirl around this place like a galaxy, enduring without dispersion.

Moreover, layers of primordial Dao resonance from the initial opening of heaven and earth permeate within.

However, the Purple Micro Emperor's opening of the stellar space has not yet reached ten thousand years, so the innate creation within will not easily dissipate.

Upon Zhang Jian and his companions' arrival, several Star Sovereigns immediately emerged from the Immortal Palace to greet them.

Leading them was precisely the Heavenly Beam Star Sovereign.

They are all familiar faces.

Following behind him are the Northern Dipper Star Sovereign Zhu Yuan and the Southern Dipper Star Sovereign Fu Yuan.

Earlier, the Northern Dipper Star Sovereign Zhu Yuan had also entered the Southern Ming Divine Province's Earth Emperor Dao Palace to pay a visit, seeking the divine position of the Nine Netherworld Underworld, and the two sides had conversed quite amicably.

At this moment, the Heavenly Beam Star Sovereign laughed and said.

"Upon the arrival of the Earth Emperor Majesty, the Immortal Palace radiates light; the Heavenly Emperor Majesty has already prepared the upper seat for the Earth Emperor Majesty, and still invites all of you to follow this sovereign into the Ultimate Central Palace, where the Heavenly Emperor Majesty will lecture on the Primordial Great Dao to all gods and immortals!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian slightly nodded.

Immediately, the procession passed through layer upon layer of immortal palaces, heading toward the Ultimate Central Palace.

This is one of the main halls of the Immortal Palace, yet it does not appear ostentatious, but rather ancient and unadorned, solemn and dignified.

The Immortal Palace's aura is magnificent.

Zhang Jian, followed by the Kyushu Ancestral God, stepped inside, while the other immortals and deities, including the Daoist Sovereign of Hetu Luoshu at this moment, could only enter a side hall to the side, to listen in.

They currently lack the qualifications to enter the main hall; being able to enter the side hall to listen in is also due to Zhang Jian's status.

In the main hall, when Zhang Jian entered, he noticed that no other external immortals or deities had been brought into the Zhongji Hall.

The Tianliang Star Lord beside him, seeing this, spoke.

"Your Majesty, this is to ensure the interests of all the deities in the Heavenly Court, so Your Majesty has arranged the deities in ranks and had them enter in turn to maintain order!"

Zhang Jian gave a slight nod.

From afar, Zhang Jian saw that on the upper seat of the Zhongji Hall, there was another Dao platform standing high directly ahead, while in front were several cloud platforms appearing to float above a three-dimensional sea of stars.

Each cloud platform was supported by a celestial body.

Upon close inspection, this Zhongji Hall seemed like a starry universe formed by countless stars.

In the frontmost first row, there were twelve cloud platforms.

At this moment, the front eight positions on the twelve cloud platforms were already occupied by immortals and deities.

These immortals and deities included both men and women, some sitting cross-legged, others standing in peculiar postures on the cloud platforms, yet each possessed a magnificent aura; upon careful sensing, Zhang Jian also felt a sense of treading on thin ice in his heart.

Their divine power and aura were overwhelmingly strong.

With a slight stirring in his heart, Zhang Jian's form transformed into a streak of flowing light and landed on the ninth position, while behind him, the Nine Provinces Ancestral Gods were left at one side of the Zhongji Hall, waiting for the second batch of immortals and deities to take their seats.

After Zhang Jian took his seat, his gaze swept over the eight immortals and deities ahead, and he slightly bowed.

"Junior Zhang Jian pays respects to all the seniors!"

After giving a slight bow, he saw that most of the eight immortals and deities opened their eyes, slightly nodded in acknowledgment, but a few remained unmoved, as if they had not heard his greeting; Zhang Jian paid no mind to this.

He fixed his gaze on the eight immortals and deities, noticing that their seats also held some hidden significance.

Among the eight immortals and deities, the foremost was a female immortal wearing a white long robe, her hair coiled in double buns, adorned with a white crane and vermilion tassel, a belt of Qiankun silk around her waist, and hemp shoes on her feet; her attire was simple, yet her face bore unparalleled beauty, and between her brows and eyes lay a hint of cold, untouchable gentleness, sacred and serene.

Zhang Jian knew this was likely Yunxiao Immortal Maiden, the leader of the Three Xiao Immortal Maidens under the Purple Micro Emperor.

This Yunxiao Immortal Maiden was indeed renowned.

Zhang Jian had also heard of her, but he did not know whether she was the same as the Three Xiao Immortal Maidens serving under Lingbao Tianzun in mythology.

After all, the origins of such beings were not dared to be spread widely, for fear of offending the Dao Sovereign.

And beneath Yunxiao Immortal Maiden were two immortals whose bodies were entwined with intense starlight from the other shore; these two immortals must be descendants of the Ancient Star Lords, extraordinarily powerful.

The other shore is a special realm.

To reverse one's innate ancient main star's starlight attribute and transform it into one's own unique starlight is called other-shore starlight.

After the ancient demon court, among the ancient stars, very few star lords could achieve this.

But those who could achieve this had mostly already stepped into the other-shore realm.

These two star venerables, Zhang Jian had heard their divine titles over the years.

They were respectively the First Generation Nine Luminaries Star Lord and the Tianlu Star Lord.

One of the two venerables was called Nine Luminaries Dao Sovereign, the other Tianlu Dao Sovereign.

After the two Dao Sovereigns came the Jiongxiao Immortal Maiden and the Bixiao Immortal Maiden among the Three Xiao Immortal Maidens.

The Jiongxiao Immortal Maiden was tolerable, slightly opening her eyes, but the Bixiao Immortal Maiden held great displeasure toward him, keeping her eyes closed throughout, nurturing her spirit with a cold and indifferent expression.

Zhang Jian also paid no mind to this.

Behind the two immortal maidens were two female and two male immortals whose auras were extraordinarily strong.

The female immortal was likely a Dao Sovereign from the Heavenly Court who had come in person.

The two male immortals had bodies flowing with intense innate divine dao aura and carried the status of primordial ancestors; they were probably primordial ancestors of Dao Sovereign level surviving in the Tianling Realm.

At this moment, the two primordial ancestors were gazing at him, their eyes showing some complex emotion.

Zhang Jian estimated that these two primordial ancestors probably wanted to 'kill a person' in their hearts.

Without him, the Tianling Realm would not have fallen so easily.

It was feared that the two primordial ancestors had already set their sights on him, including his Earth Emperor Dao Palace.

However, Zhang Jian felt these primordial ancestors should thank him, for without his inside-outside coordination and guidance in bringing down the Purple Micro Emperor, the Tianling Realm would likely have to fight the Heavenly Court to the bitter end.

After all, given the Tianling Realm's potential, it was destined to be unable to match the Heavenly Court.

After all, the Heavenly Court governs the myriad heavens and void; such a colossal war potential is not something the Tianling Realm can compare to.

The Heavenly Court merely wanted to take the Tianling Realm at the smallest cost.

If they fought to the death, the worst outcome would be the Heavenly Court capturing a broken Tianling Realm, with the native spirits of the Tianling Realm suffering near-total casualties.

To some extent, he had still saved the vast majority of the Tianling Realm's native spirits.

Zhang Jian observed his nose, observed his heart from his nose.

He felt it was better to first avoid discussing this matter with these two angry primordial ancestors.

After all, some people might not be able to appreciate his 'wholehearted sincerity'!

After Zhang Jian took his seat, a moment later, the Tianliang Star Lord brought forth two more immortals whose bodies flowed with intense immortal light and great divine powers to take their seats.

These were immortals and deities with whom Zhang Jian was not familiar.

Finally, the Tianliang Star Lord sat in the last position of the first row.

After the immortals and deities of the first row had taken their seats, the Zhongji Hall then gradually opened up!

The Nine Provinces Ancestral Gods waiting in the Zhongji Hall then smoothly entered the 108 positions of the second row, followed by the Heavenly Court's myriad star lords, and the primordial ancestors of the Tianling Realm, as well as powerful beings from the Heavenly Court or other dimensions and spacetime, who all took their seats in turn.

Divine light shone everywhere, vast and magnificent.

After the subsequent 108 positions were filled, next came the remaining 3,000 positions.

Only seen, the gates of the Zhongji Hall evolved into one magnificent heavenly gate after another; the Zhongji Hall itself seemed like the central celestial universe, with boundless flowing light surging in from the gates, beginning to compete for status within the hall.

The immortals each relied on their own abilities.

Yet many immortals and deities still exercised restraint, lest they offend the Purple Micro Emperor and lose this opportunity to hear the Primordial Dao.

Since the Primordial Dao came into being with the birth of the myriad heavens and void, it has been one of the orthodox Dao of heaven and earth, capable of leading directly to the Primordial Realm; immortals and deities, even Dao Sovereigns who have proven the other shore, would not lightly miss this chance.

After all, beings of the level of the Six Heavenly Emperors do not often expound the Dao.

After the three thousand cloud terraces were filled, the great gate of the Central Ultimate Hall closed silently, and seeing this, the other immortals and deities wore helpless expressions, able only to enter the side halls, vying for a place to listen in.

At this moment, upon the Purple Microcosm Dao Terrace in the center, a grand purple starlight descended from the firmament.

Within the grand purple starlight stood a supreme and exalted being, as if born from the nurturing of the central heavens—a majestic Emperor of the Heavens standing upon the Dao terrace, his entire being now enveloped in a layer of grandeur, vast Dao resonance, as if submerging the celestial spheres and the boundless cosmos.

A solemn, distant voice echoed.

"Since you have all gathered, I shall now elucidate the profound mysteries of the Great Dao for you all!"

"In this realm, the divine path is barren, with the innate held as supreme, yet the innate cannot endure forever; only the divine path of the Heavenly Court is eternal and unchanging, capable of transcending the innate, the acquired, and even the Dharma-ending age and the severing of spirits. Today, I shall open the River of the Innate for the exalted of the Spiritual Realm, and expound upon our Heavenly Court's divine path, as well as the primordial profundities!"

As the words fell, the deities instantly wore expressions of joy.

Even the immortals and deities seated in the front row showed moved expressions.

Most of them had some familiarity with the Heavenly Court's divine path, so naturally they did not regard it as rare.

But the primordial profundities were something the immortals had long sought in vain!