Chapter 233: Supreme Azure Lotus, Qilin Manifested, Saint's Steed, Gu Jin Nian Takes a Half‑Step Nirvana!

Prince Ning was stirred.

After all, anyone would be moved upon hearing that.

The current situation is actually simple.

The Da Xia Dynasty has two saints, the highest combat power; the Da Xia Dynasty enjoys favorable weather, its people live peacefully, there is Jiangzhong Dragon Rice, and additionally the Da Xia Nightless City, making the entire Da Xia Dynasty vibrant.

At this moment, rebelling oneself would be pure harm.

But the Great Dao Office chief's line of thinking is entirely a different approach.

Because, regardless, the Yongsheng Emperor rose from rebellion; he is not a legitimately ascended emperor, whereas the Jiande Emperor is the true Da Xia emperor.

This is heavenly principle and also public opinion.

For the common folk, even if the Jiande Emperor were to be slain and return, what would that change? Moreover, this is not a war now but a self‑established kingship; the people really have little to say.

And for the Confucian‑Daoist circles, who dares to claim Jiande is not an emperor?

Originally, the Yongsheng Emperor also claimed to purge treacherous ministers, then ascended the throne, but he only proclaimed himself emperor after saying the Jiande Emperor was already dead.

If the Jiande Emperor could truly support me, everything would be legitimate.

In that case, if the Da Xia Dynasty dared to wage war against me.

The Xiongnu Nation, the Fuyu Dynasty, and the Great Jin Dynasty would have reason to aid me. As for Da Xia's top combat power—namely Gu Jin Nian and Su Wenjing—would the two dare to act? They are Confucian‑Daoist saints; if they cannot discern right from wrong, are they still saints? This could completely block their arguments.

All arguments are useless.

Prince Ning was somewhat stirred, but for the moment he still could not give any answer.

"Just these, I still don't trust you," he said.

Prince Ning spoke; he was indeed stirred, and he admitted it. He wants to become emperor, but the question is, on what grounds? Just by moving his lips? Will the Xiongnu Nation, the Fuyu Dynasty, and the Great Jin Dynasty certainly support him? Upon hearing Prince Ning, the Great Dao Office chief was not convinced; instead, he replied with full confidence.

"Your Highness,"

"Your greatest worry is simply that the Fuyu Dynasty and the Great Jin Dynasty might not help you."

"Then I will immediately have the Fuyu Dynasty and the Great Jin Dynasty supply gold, silver and grain to Prince Ning; with Golden Dragon Rice alone, we can provide ten years' provisions for all your troops."

"Gold and silver are easy, as are battle armor and swords. At the same time, I will have the Xiongnu Nation dispatch five hundred thousand troops; you can hold the tiger tally. If Da Xia truly targets you, those five hundred thousand soldiers will march first. In that case, what else would you need to worry about?"

"Furthermore, once you establish yourself as king and immediately join the Alliance, you will become a member of the Alliance; the Tai Xuan Immortal Sect will not stand by idly. How do you feel about that?"

The Great Dao Office chief truly understood people's hearts; each condition he offered left Prince Ning unable to refuse.

He took a deep breath.

Prince Ning fell silent.

He remained silent for a full half‑hour, pondering many things, and finally Prince Ning stood up and looked at the Great Dao Office chief.

"I have five conditions; if they are met, I will rebel!"

"If not, you two may leave; I will act as if I never saw you."

He spoke, considering everything, and settled on five matters.

"Your Highness, please speak."

The latter nodded, allowing Prince Ning to state his demands.

"First, Jiande. I must see Jiande; if I cannot, all talks are off."

"Second, gold, silver and grain must arrive in full within three months, including the five hundred thousand Xiongnu troops. However, I will disperse those five hundred thousand Xiongnu soldiers and demand that the Xiongnu Nation, the Fuyu Dynasty, and the Great Jin Dynasty each send a hostage; otherwise I will not be at ease."

"Third, I must obtain the Shangqing Daoist's approval; I want to see the Shangqing Daoist and receive his personal promise."

"Fourth, if Gu Jin Nian uses his saintly Dao power to trouble me, the Great Dao Office must intervene."

"Fifth, and also the final point, but especially important: the Da Xia Dynasty, the revival of Western Zhou Mountain. If I establish myself as king, half of Western Zhou Mountain's treasures shall belong to me; I will not covet the finest items, but at least half of the remaining treasures must be mine."

Prince Ning spoke, laying out the five conditions.

Upon hearing this, Chang Yun Tian frowned slightly, feeling that two of the five conditions were impossible; Prince Ning was too greedy.

"Meeting the Shangqing Daoist is somewhat troublesome,"

The Great Dao Office chief replied that, in his view, none of the five conditions posed major issues, except meeting the Shangqing Daoist; he was unsure whether the Shangqing Daoist would appear, since the Shangqing Daoist had already reached the Seventh Realm.

"All five conditions are indispensable."

However, Prince Ning's attitude was very firm; to be honest, he had already been drained of all his spirit by the rebellion, and now being asked to rebel, he truly was unwilling.

It's not that he doesn't want to, but it's like striking a stone with an egg.

If there were not a Jiande Emperor, he truly would not rebel; the five conditions he proposed are somewhat excessive, but given the current situation, they are necessary.

"Fine."

"Please be patient, Your Highness; after one month, I will give Prince Ning a reply."

He spoke earnestly.

"No, two months."

"Be more cautious; I need more time to think, and you should also think carefully—no mistakes can be made, otherwise I may change my mind at any moment."

Prince Ning spoke.

Rebellion cannot be taken lightly; the two‑month period allows me to think more, and also gives the other side time to consider, lest a rash decision be made and later cause misfortune.

"Understood."

The Great Dao Office chief nodded, then without further chatter, left with Chang Yun Tian.

As the two departed, Prince Ning also fell into silence.

After all, this matter was not a trivial issue for him.

Thus.

Time passed like a white colt slipping through a crack.

In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

During these half a month, the most noteworthy matter remained the affairs of the Twelve Divine Mountains.

Pan Mountain and Tianqi Mountain are former Divine Mountains that have not yet revived, but these two Divine Mountains have been uneasy lately.

The thunderous aura of Pan Mountain grows increasingly heavy, and every three days a muffled roar sounds.

Some speculate that within Pan Mountain there is also a peerless ferocious beast similar to that of Puyuan Mountain, and it is undergoing metamorphosis.

The Celestial Crane of Puyuan Mountain faced a Great Tribulation, nearly perished at the hands of an Upper Clarity Daoist, but ultimately rebirthed through the Phoenix Bloodline, now lying in a hibernating state; the beasts of Pan Mountain and Tianqi Mountain likely witnessed the Crane's plight, thus suppressing the Divine Mountains' revival.

It is very possible that after reaching the Seventh Realm, the Divine Mountains will be released.

The Yin‑Yang Bagua Diagram of Tianqi Mountain shines even more brilliantly, and no one knows what it is nurturing.

An important figure speculates that, barring any mishap, the two Divine Mountains will fully revive soon, and the Formation will vanish.

Consequently, more and more forces gather beneath the two great mountains.

The Taixuan Immortal Sect obtained treasures from Puyuan Mountain; it can be said that one person attained the Dao and even their chickens and dogs ascended, and the entire Taixuan Immortal Sect's disciples have been consecutively advancing realms, envying countless others.

Now, the Da Xia Dynasty's Western Zhou Mountain, the Xiongnu Nation's newly revived Divine Mountain called Langya Mountain, the Great Jin Dynasty's Yuan Mountain, the Zhongzhou Dynasty's Heaven Mountain, Tai'a Mountain, and Purple Sky Mountain are reviving in succession.

In the Southern Barbarian Lands lie Wu Mountain and Cloud Mountain.

In the Western Desert Lands are Kaya Mountain and Bodhi Mountain.

Ten New Divine Mountains revive, each radiating endless light and nurturing Divine Artifacts.

The emergence of so many Divine Mountains is a good thing.

After all, if Divine Mountains are few, competition inevitably intensifies, just like Puyuan Mountain, where the Taixuan Immortal Sect holds the advantage; now the sect has Seventh Realm cultivators, and from now on they can win step by step.

If the number were any fewer, it would be unfair to all under Heaven.

Finally.

On that day, Tianqi Mountain revived, the Formation lost its effect, and the Yin‑Yang Immortal Sect, having waited long, finally seized the opportunity.

The entire Yin‑Yang Immortal Sect mobilized its teachings and surged in, beginning to scramble for treasures.

It seemed that the longer the nurturing, the more treasures there were.

After Tianqi Mountain revived, the Yin‑Yang Immortal Light shot upwards, flooding ten thousand miles; atop the mountain lay various treasures.

Countless cultivators rushed upward, including many sent by the great dynasties as well as some forces hidden in the shadows.

They entered, seeking to snatch the treasures.

However, an extremely perilous event occurred: beams of Yin‑Yang Immortal Light shone down from the mountain, and the crowd's gaze fell upon an exquisitely beautiful immortal maiden standing atop the peak, enveloped in Yin‑Yang immortal aura, her features invisible.

Yet just seeing her silhouette made one's mind flutter.

Above her head floated a Yin‑Yang Ancient Umbrella; as it turned, myriad Yin‑Yang Immortal Lights streamed down, and anyone struck instantly turned into blood, dying on the spot.

It was terrifying, several times stronger than the Celestial Crane of Puyuan Mountain.

People were stunned, some unable to believe; this method was too god‑defying—under the Yin‑Yang Immortal Light, Fourth Realm and Fifth Realm strongmen were cut down like ants.

This made many feel hopeless.

Before Heaven's Mandate descends, Fifth Realm cultivators are already among the stronger beings in this world; a Martial King, if he joins any of the three great dynasties of the Eastern Wilderness, provided he harbors no ulterior motives, would at least be appointed a rank above third grade.

Now.

Fifth Realm strongmen are like ants, cut down with a single strike, lacking any ability to resist.

Pfft.

Most shocking was that a Sixth Realm cultivator, having formed a magical instrument to shield against the Yin‑Yang Immortal Light, could not endure even half a minute before turning into blood.

This made many tremble.

Although humans are greedy, facing an utterly unbeatable presence makes greed seem laughable.

A mass of cultivators surged in.

It was because of Puyuan Mountain, and with Gu Jin Nian supporting the world, naturally the crowd was unafraid of any single faction dominating.

But now that such events occur, they naturally fear.

Fear was born in their hearts.

They fled one after another, seeking to escape lest they die inexplicably.

Boom.

Yet atop the summit, the Yin‑Yang Immortal Light grew even more dreadful, beaming down and wiping out a swath of people.

At that moment, people realized that the Divine Mountain's revival was a great opportunity, but also a calamity.

Below the mountain.

Blood blossoms burst everywhere; the casualties were so severe that surviving at all was already a good outcome, let alone any exotic treasures.

Moreover, the path down became strange, with new formations activated to block people from descending.

It was clear: they intended to exterminate everyone.

"Open."

Finally, the voice of the Yin‑Yang Sect Headmaster rang out; at this point, he dared not be careless.

In an instant, a Yin‑Yang Ancient Mirror appeared, spreading a light screen.

All Yin‑Yang Immortal Sect disciples gathered within, blocking the Yin‑Yang Immortal Light.

Perhaps due to shared origin, or because the Yin‑Yang Immortal Mirror is overly powerful, the light that could slay Sixth Realm cultivators had no effect when struck upon the mirror.

"You, obey the command."

"Gather quickly, harvest heavenly materials and earthly treasures; the Yin‑Yang Immortal Sect ensures your safety. Submit half of all treasures, or bear the consequences yourself."

The Yin‑Yang Sect Headmaster spoke.

He addressed the crowd, establishing different rules.

This aspect is far better than the Taixuan Immortal Sect.

The Taixuan Immortal Sect's gluttony is unsightly; the Yin‑Yang Immortal Sect, unwilling to provoke public anger, takes half and offers protection, which is reasonable—after all, keeping the treasures here is not worthwhile.

You shouldn't have come here.

This is not something you can lay a hand on.

This is a forbidden area; your scramble for treasure may end up empty.

At that moment, atop the mountain, a woman's voice rang out, cold and sharp.

She did not continue to act, because of the Yin‑Yang Immortal Mirror.

The great world contest—if you do not fight, it is truly empty. Stop the idle talk and hand over the sacred mountain treasure.

At this moment, the Yin‑Yang Sect Master spoke coldly. He had been waiting here for a long time. Now that Tianqi Mountain has revived, can they be allowed to leave? The Tai Xuan Immortal Sect has obtained the Starry Ancient Tree and has become the foremost sect, far surpassing the second sect by an incalculable margin.

Indeed, under the great world, there are so many treasures; who would be willing to depart? "Then let's try."

At the summit, the peerless woman spoke coldly. In an instant, she extended her palm, unleashing ten thousand strands of Yin‑Yang Immortal Qi that tore through the void; each strand turned into a chain, piercing the other cultivators.

Many rushed over and hid beneath the Yin‑Yang Immortal Mirror; any strong ones who did not arrive in time were all buried.

This is absurd.

Far stronger than the celestial crane of Puyuan Mountain.

Screech! On Puyuan Mountain, the white‑feathered celestial crane's cry rang out. It was watching this area, and upon seeing the scene it seemed delighted, its eyes full of mirth—strange.

Kill!

The Yin‑Yang Sect Master did not waste words; massive spirit crystals burned and were poured into the Yin‑Yang Immortal Mirror. Their greatest confidence lay in this artifact, capable of suppressing everything.

Absorbing the vast spirit crystals, the Yin‑Yang Immortal Mirror erupted completely, a terrifying aura spreading. A brilliant beam shone down, a massive explosion erupted, the void shattered, and those divine chains broke apart.

An artifact is, after all, an artifact.

It possesses extraordinary power.

But the peerless woman atop the mountain showed no fear; she continued to wield the Yin‑Yang Treasure Umbrella, radiating light, and fought it.

Do you need our assistance?

At that moment, the voice of the Upper Pure Taoist sounded; a Xuanhuang Tower hovered above his head as he appeared beneath Tianqi Mountain.

Having gained the benefits of Puyuan Mountain, the Upper Pure Taoist grew even greedier; he wanted to seize all the treasures, but earlier he had negotiated with the various great sects, each having its own domain.

Tianqi Mountain is the territory of the Yin‑Yang Immortal Sect, so the Upper Pure Taoist dared not forcibly take it.

Even though he is a Seventh Realm cultivator, he cannot act recklessly; everyone possesses artifacts. If the Upper Pure Taoist truly gave no courtesy, they would not return any.

"Upper Pure Taoist, you need not act for now; if you cannot hold on, please assist."

The Yin‑Yang Sect Master cursed the Upper Pure Taoist's insatiable greed in his heart, yet he also understood that Tianqi Mountain is unlike others, ten times more dangerous than Puyuan Mountain.

At the critical moment, he might not be able to slay this person, so if necessary, he must still rely on the Upper Pure Taoist.

"The Dragon‑Tiger Dao Sect is also willing to assist."

At this time, the Dragon‑Tiger Sect Master Zhang Zhenren also appeared; Pan Mountain is his territory, but the problem is that Pan Mountain has not yet revived.

He, too, grew impatient and wanted to intervene.

In fact, everyone understood that since the Upper Pure Taoist gained benefits, it was clear that from now on only strength mattered; once someone's power reaches the pinnacle, all cooperation and all restraints become a blank sheet.

No one would obey.

Thus, any extra benefit could be plundered.

Kill.

Hearing Zhang Zhenren's voice, the Yin‑Yang Sect Master grew increasingly displeased, but he could not say much now, lest he offend the two; if they joined forces, he would be the unlucky one.

Thus.

The Yin‑Yang Immortal Mirror unleashed an even more terrifying power, sweeping everything as it sped toward the mountain peak.

Where it went, massive explosions followed.

This contest attracted countless eyes; at this moment, the world fully understood how extraordinary an artifact is.

In the great world contest, without an artifact, one lacks even the qualification to enter.

But the most frowning are the great dynasties.

In the past, they commanded millions of soldiers who could sweep everything, and the sects could only submit.

Now, in the great world contest, an individual's strength can crush collective power, so they can only watch helplessly as sects keep growing stronger.

Because they cannot partake in this scramble, sending millions to vie for the sacred mountain holds little meaning.

The great battle continues.

As everyone expected, Tianqi Mountain is terrifying; the peerless woman atop the peak is nearly invincible, aided by the Yin‑Yang Treasure Umbrella.

Fortunately, amid the conflict, the Yin‑Yang Immortal Sect also gained many benefits, greedily looting the sacred mountain's treasures.

They even fought to the end.

A divine stone containing the Yin‑Yang Bagua diagram appeared; after it was shattered, a Yin‑Yang Golden Core emerged, astonishing countless onlookers.

"It hasn't even reached the summit, yet such a rare treasure appears?"

"The Yin‑Yang Golden Core is not weaker than the Starry Ancient Tree, but the Starry Ancient Tree is the most precious treasure of Puyuan Mountain; that means on Tianqi Mountain there truly is…"

"Obtaining this Yin‑Yang Golden Core, if combined with the Yin‑Yang Great Divine Skill, one can transform into the Seventh Realm."

"This is unbelievable."

"To have such a treasure here, what other peerless treasures could the mountain hold?"

People were shocked; Zhang Zhenren and the Upper Pure Taoist also felt their eyes blaze with desire to seize, but the previously established rules prevented them from acting.

Boom.

There was no surprise; the two Yin‑Yang Golden Cores were taken by the Yin‑Yang Sect Master. He was ecstatic and even more certain that he had secured the treasure.

"Having already obtained the precious treasure, why continue climbing the mountain?"

"You truly are greedy."

The voice from the summit sounded again.

With anger.

"The treasure was birthed by heaven and earth, it belongs to no one; Tianqi Mountain is not your territory either. Hand over the ultimate treasure, and I may spare your life."

The Yin Yang Sect Leader spoke, his excitement evident, yet his face remained utterly calm.

"Indeed, humans are the most greedy."

A faint voice sounded.

In the next instant, a terrifying aura swept the entire mountain; a blue lotus materialized atop the summit, its strange light casting shadows over Tianqi Mountain.

The blue lotus appeared, and spiritual energy gathered like a sea.

The blue lotus, with twelve petals, radiated endless divine light. The woman on the summit, grasping the lotus, swung it, causing myriad divine rays to explode, shattering the Yin Yang Immortal Mirror with a thunderous clang.

The Yin Yang Sect Leader spat a mouthful of fresh blood.

He felt incredulous.

"Supreme Blue Lotus."

"This item is definitely linked to the Eight Realms, and is no weaker than a celestial artifact."

"A treasure surpassing the Starry Ancient Tree; possessing this blue lotus allows a steady entry into the Seventh Realm, endless evolution of spiritual energy, and can cause a sect's spiritual energy to surge by more than a hundredfold."

"Within this blue lotus can be born lotus seeds; swallowing one, cutting hair and cleansing marrow, one can, within a lifetime, surely reach the Seventh Realm. Even a Sixth Realm master who obtains it might directly break through to the Seventh Realm, perhaps?"

Voices rose one after another; so many eyes turned toward them that discerning individuals were naturally not lacking.

Among them, some were speculating, some deducing, and some truly knew what it was.

Regardless, this blue lotus surpasses everything, far stronger than the Starry Ancient Tree.

"Dao brother, I come to aid you."

At that moment, the Shangqing Daoist could no longer restrain himself and surged forward; the Xuan Huang Tower rose above his head, shedding myriad divine rays.

The terrifying aura engulfed everything, shattering space.

He raised his hand, the Starry Great Hand Seal descended, and a dreadful star fell directly onto the summit; a golden mushroom cloud emerged, its terrifying glow visible from thousands of miles away.

This is the Shangqing Daoist's power—more than ten times that of the Yin Yang Sect Leader. The Yin Yang Sect Leader still relies heavily on celestial artifacts and is inferior in realm; moreover, during this time the Shangqing Daoist has also comprehended the Starry Dao Technique from the Starry Ancient Tree, further elevating his strength.

One must admit.

With the Shangqing Daoist's arrival, the peerless woman atop the mountain felt pressure; she kept swinging the blue lotus, each swing causing myriad divine rays to explode.

The whole Tianqi Mountain roared; had it not been for the Heaven and Earth Formation, it would have vanished long ago. "I, the humble Daoist, have arrived."

When the Shangqing Daoist struck, Zhang Zhenren could not simply wait to be destroyed; he too sought to claim a share.

Yin Yang Immortal Mirror.

Xuan Huang Tower.

Dragon Tiger Treasure Furnace.

The three celestial artifacts exuded a terrifying aura; the Shangqing Daoist, wielding the Starry Ancient Tree, unleashed myriad starry sword lights, cutting a path of unparalleled ferocity.

It is terrifying.

Three celestial artifacts, combined with a Seventh Realm master.

At the summit, the peerless woman could clearly no longer hold her ground; if this continued, a major disaster would ensue.

"I will give you the lotus seeds."

"What about a ceasefire?"

She spoke; having reached this point, she no longer wished to continue fighting—it was meaningless, and she herself was in an extremely perilous state.

She lacks a Phoenix bloodline; if she dies in battle, she would truly perish, unable to revive.

"Hand over the blue lotus, and everything can be settled."

"Surrender the blue lotus, and I may spare your life."

"Stop babbling, hand over the blue lotus; we will not press you step by step."

All three spoke in unison; at this point, mere lotus seeds could not satisfy them.

They covet something greater.

"Then let's see whether you are greedy enough."

The opponent sneered, then gave the blue lotus a shake; in an instant, six lotus seeds flew outward like six golden cores.

Each seed contained terrifying energy; if swallowed, a Sixth Realm practitioner could indeed break through to the Seventh Realm.

The probability is at least high.

After all, no one has swallowed them yet; the outcome remains to be seen.

The peerless woman of Tianqi Mountain was clever, using this tactic to relieve pressure.

For a moment, the three exchanged glances, then without hesitation set off, leaving the place to scramble for the lotus seeds.

Although the blue lotus remains, truly obtaining it will likely be difficult; the peerless woman still holds a hidden card, so wasting time here is worse than fighting for the six lotus seeds.

It is human nature.

Zhang Zhenren left immediately; for him, the disadvantage was greatest—Tianqi Mountain was never his territory, an agreement had been made earlier, and now he acted because of the Shangqing Daoist.

If he truly slaughtered the summit's occupants, the benefits would go to the Shangqing Daoist and the Yin Yang Sect Leader; better to seize the lotus seeds oneself—if all are taken, there is no loss.

Both Zhang Zhenren and the Shangqing Daoist left at once; his thinking mirrored Zhang's, but more importantly, with Zhang gone, there was no one to kill on the spot.

The risk was too great; if the opponent were to be completely destroyed, despite his clear advantage, a single misstep would lead to disaster—unnecessary.

As the two departed, the Yin Yang Sect Leader also withdrew swiftly; he alone could not block the opponent's assault, and vying for the lotus seeds caused no loss.

This is humanity.

Profit decides everything.

The three left; the peerless woman atop the summit immediately swung the blue lotus to create interference, and simultaneously executed all offenders.

Quickly.

In less than half an hour.

The Shangqing Daoist obtained two lotus seeds, and Zhang Zhenren and the Yin‑Yang Sect Leader each received two lotus seeds, the division being very even.

The only thing is, when they planned to join forces and ascend the mountain again, the formation on Tianqi Mountain reappeared and sealed it completely.

At that moment, people realized that the revived Divine Mountain offered only one chance to go up; once they left, they could not advance further, and of course it might be linked to those who had died.

Because Puyuan Mountain was the same: many died there, and it was eventually sealed off.

Nevertheless, it must be said that the Yin‑Yang Sect Leader gained the most benefit, though the Shangqing Daoist still held the greatest advantage.

"You wait."

"In the near future, your fate will be terrible."

A cold voice rang out, sounding like a curse yet as if stating a fact.

The immortal cranes of Puyuan Mountain earlier meant the same.

No one knows what confidence they truly possess, but the beneficiaries do not care at all; the non‑beneficiaries, even if terrified, are of no use.

These matters are beyond their control.

If a great calamity truly comes in the future, they will be the unlucky ones.

"You cannot decide the future."

"If the Divine Mountain opens again, we will certainly climb it."

Hearing the other's words, the Shangqing Daoist appeared especially domineering.

"Hope so."

The latter spoke again, but after saying that, said no more.

And the entire Divine Mountain was instantly shrouded in white mist.

Thus, the Yin‑Yang Sect Leader led his people away, the Shangqing Daoist also left, and Zhang Zhenren arrived at the foot of Pan Mountain; without hesitation, he swallowed the lotus seeds outright.

He wanted to enter the Seventh Realm quickly.

The methods the Shangqing Daoist displayed today made them realize how terrifying the Seventh Realm is.

So they wished to reach the Seventh Realm swiftly.

The changes on Tianqi Mountain made the world understand a principle: the arrival of the Great Era belongs to the elite; any cultivators or warriors who merely seek to slack off and go again are courting death.

Consequently, at the foot of Pan Mountain, many forces that had gathered vanished by two‑thirds, all returning.

They did not wish to linger.

Of course, some were unafraid of death, or already faced grave trouble that might end their lives within years, and wanted to try their luck on Pan Mountain; after all, death is inevitable, so they might as well gamble.

Thus.

In the blink of an eye.

A whole month passed.

During this period, the Yin‑Yang Immortal Sect exuded the aura of the Seventh Realm.

The world learned that the Yin‑Yang Sect Leader would inevitably step into the Seventh Realm, which surprised no one.

However, rumors claimed that the aura emanating from the Yin‑Yang Immortal Sect was far more dreadful than a normal Seventh Realm, suggesting not one but two Seventh Realm cultivators.

Yet the Yin‑Yang Immortal Sect gave no answer.

At the foot of Pan Mountain.

The Dragon‑Tiger Daoist Sect's Zhang Zhenren swallowed two lotus seeds and also entered the Seventh Realm.

The Tai Xuan Immortal Sect also manifested the Seventh Realm aura, and it gave a positive response, adding a new Seventh Realm cultivator.

This was unsurprising, since the Tai Xuan Immortal Sect is itself the biggest beneficiary.

Nevertheless, these matters were nothing.

There were a few things that were truly terrifying.

After the battle of Tianqi Mountain ended, a cultivator realized they could not partake in such conflict; upon leaving, they obtained a Divine Fruit in a great mountain, and after devouring it, reached the peak of the Sixth Realm, though rumors claimed they attained the Seventh Realm.

Others, while wandering the mountains, accidentally entered a formation, discovered a Fountain of Youth, and after soaking, their precious bodies shone, accompanied by dragon roars and tiger howls, with omens, their constitution transformed, and they stepped directly into the Seventh Realm.

Moreover, rumors spoke of a Master who, in a mountain cave, obtained the insights of a Heaven's Mandate Sage, seemingly about to enter the Sage Realm.

This Master came from the Central Continent, was immersed in Dao comprehension, and ancient sutras resonated for hundreds of li around.

These events attracted enormous attention.

In everyone's eyes, to stand out in the Great Era's contest, one must ascend the revived Divine Mountain, seize peerless treasures, and thus seize the chance to transform.

Who could have imagined that within this Great Era lay so many hidden treasures.

This is strange.

It is unbelievable and makes the world ecstatic.

They originally had no chance, should have faded into the dust of this Great Era, yet Heaven unexpectedly granted them another chance.

This is a momentous joy.

Countless people set out for the mountains, entered the Great Wilderness, ventured into marshes; whether blessed lands or perilous ones, wherever a legend existed, the world rushed there, hoping to use the chance to achieve transformation.

Again,

another half month passed.

Four figures.

arrived inside the Ning Prince's Residence.

One of the figures was the Shangqing Daoist.

No one knew what had happened.

After they left,

the Northwest Second Realm grew somewhat strange.

But a greater event occurred.

A qilin appeared.

A qilin silhouette appeared on Mount Xizhou; the event instantly caused a great uproar.

Qilin.

An ancient divine beast.

It is the exclusive mount of Confucian-Daoist sages.

As the saying goes, when the qilin appears, sages emerge.

The qilin appears in Mount Xizhou, which happens to be in the Da Xia Dynasty; people know, fearing that this qilin is closely related to Gu Jin Nian.

But some say otherwise; in fact, after Gu Jin Nian and Su Wenjing became sages, the Great Age descended, and some Half Saints are still comprehending the sage path.

Just like the Confucian scholar of Zhongzhou, if he suddenly comprehends the sage path successfully, he too can become a sage.

The qilin appearing at this time is likely related to him.

Of course, this view lacks broader support; most people still believe that this qilin is probably something Gu Jin Nian can easily obtain.

After all, Mount Xizhou is within the Da Xia Dynasty.

But.

In the blink of an eye, about half a month passed.

More and more events occur; a disciple of the Tai Xuan Immortal Sect, while training outside, rushes into the Immortal Pool, receives its baptism, and actually attains cultivation at the sixth level, near peak.

Moreover, a disciple of the Tai Xuan Immortal Sect, in the extreme north, actually obtains the ancient battle armor, the Chiyou Golden Armor, which even immortal artifacts cannot destroy.

It can be said that the Tai Xuan Immortal Sect has recently been in the limelight, its fortune receiving a terrifying boost.

Not only that; every day there is a huge amount of news, true and false mixed, no one knows, but the only thing that lets people know is.

The Great Age has truly arrived.

All kinds of heavenly treasures and earthly riches, all kinds of spirit veins, keep emerging endlessly.

Overall strength has increased; even martial artists, under such terrifying spiritual energy, have also increased.

The ones who benefit most are indeed the immortal sects; they have gained too many benefits.

If this continues, the immortal sects will truly come to dominate the world.

But the ones suffering most are not the dynasty, but the Buddhist sect.

The world undergoes great change; the immortal sects gain boundless benefits, while the Buddhist sect can only stare helplessly; all the monks, wide-eyed, all opportunities of creation are fundamentally unrelated to them.

This makes them inevitably suffer; it can be said they are filled with deathly gloom.

But for unknown reasons, perhaps because the Buddhist sect prays all day, a new Heaven's Mandate finally appears again.

Strands of Heaven's Mandate power surge toward the Western Desert.

Above the Great Treasure Glazed Temple, a true Buddha's apparition appears; the entire Western Desert ripples with layers of golden light, and all Buddhist implements receive empowerment.

The chanting of the ancient Buddha spreads throughout the Western Desert; each scripture transforms the Western Desert, turning some impoverished lands into oases, and countless heavenly treasures and earthly riches are born.

Ancient temples burst forth with light, especially the three great Buddhist implements, which have absorbed a large amount of Heaven's Mandate power.

Like immortal artifacts, they break free of their shackles.

Not only that.

Soaring Buddhist light pierces the clouds, shaking the Divine Continent; the terrifying power of faith erupts at this moment, transforming into golden lotuses.

「Heaven's Mandate bestows blessings; the Buddhist sect, having gathered this much faith over the years, releases it all, aiming to achieve the Nirvana realm. 」

「The Buddhist sect has waited so long; no one knows how many seventh-level powerhouses will be born. 」

「What a calculation; storing this much faith over the years and now releasing it all is precisely to avoid falling behind in the Great Age struggle. 」

Voices sound out one after another.

They also understand the Buddhist sect's choice, given the shocking means they employed.

The Buddhist sect, after countless years, has stored a vast amount of faith power; this faith power is their foundation, their inherent strength.

Now, Heaven's Mandate bestows blessings; the Buddhist sect seizes the opportunity, imbues these faith powers into themselves, aided by Heaven's Mandate, and in one fell swoop breaks through to the Nirvana realm.

If they did not do this, attempting to break through to the Nirvana realm would likely be very difficult.

But doing this is not necessarily a good thing; these faith powers equate to the Buddhist sect's future fortune, and if they cannot obtain great benefits in the future, it amounts to borrowing against the Buddhist sect's future fortune.

The trouble will be greater.

So, the Buddhist sect is also gambling, gambling on a twist of fate and opportunity.

If the gamble succeeds, naturally it is a great gain.

If the gamble loses, then it will be troublesome.

Moreover, it is not ordinary trouble.

This is also why people are not overly envious, after all, they are sacrificing future fortune.

The phenomena in the Western Desert lasted a full three days and three nights.

The Golden Dragon evolves, myriad auspicious signs, the ancient Buddha chants sutras.

Finally, five Nirvana realm powerhouses are born: the ancient Buddha of the Upper Practice Esoteric Sect, plus the two Buddhas Guangyuan and Jingxin, as well as the abbots of the Great Sound Temple and the Small Fate Temple.

The entire Buddhist sect gave birth to five Nirvana realm beings all at once, which is truly unbelievable.

If it were not for expending the entire Buddhist sect's faith power, frankly speaking, everyone would be dissatisfied.

But people also know that the Buddhist sect this time is making a huge gamble; if they lose, the next hundred thousand years will be horrendous for the Buddhist sect.

The more glorious they are now, the more likely they will suffer defeat in the future.

But just at this moment.

Above the Western Desert, a Buddhist sect Golden Dragon flies toward the Da Xia Dynasty.

The five Nirvana realm powerhouses act at the same moment, wanting to seize this Golden Dragon; they know this Golden Dragon is headed to where Gu Jin Nian is.

It's a pity that, no matter how strong they are, they cannot resist Heaven's Mandate.

Gu Jin Nian initially obtained a Buddhist sect's qi fortune; now the Buddhist sect has overdrawn the future, sacrificing all faith power, and naturally must also share part of the benefit with Gu Jin Nian.

This is unavoidable.

This Golden Dragon could easily give the Buddhist sect another half-step to Nirvana.

Not just a half-step; if bestowed on other divine monks, it could very well produce a Nirvana-level powerhouse.

It's a pity that Gu Jin Nian can share such benefit without doing anything, while the Buddhist sect must bear the future karma.

If I were the Buddhist sect, I'd probably be furious to death.

Now it seems provoking Gu Jin Nian back then was a most unpleasant thing.

People discussed, watching the Golden Dragon fly to the Da Xia Dynasty; most were delighted.

The reason is simple.

If the Buddhist sect gained another Nirvana-level Buddha, that would hardly be a good thing for the world.

Especially for the Immortal sect.

Now there is a Golden Dragon flying to where Gu Jin Nian is; they are naturally pleased.

Da Xia Dynasty.

In the ancestral temple.

The Golden Dragon surged into it.

Ignoring spatial formations, it directly submerged into Gu Jin Nian's small world.

Lasting nearly three months.

Gu Jin Nian has successfully attained complete enlightenment of the Dao, stabilizing the sage realm, clearly understanding the truth of unity of knowledge and action, and also clearly understanding his own law.

But the reason he hasn't emerged from seclusion is not due to any problem refining war machines.

But rather the sage king's mark bestowed by Confucius.

After all, this is the insight and transmission of a Heaven's Mandate sage; naturally it cannot be easily mastered.

And as the Golden Dragon's blessing entered his body.

In an instant.

Gu Jin Nian's physique shone brilliantly, bursting with endless light.

This is a Heaven's Mandate blessing evolved from the Buddhist sect's qi fortune.

In merely an instant, Gu Jin Nian's Buddhist cultivation reached the consummate Arhat realm.

Behind him evolved a Buddha statue, radiating light, containing boundless wisdom, and the Bodhi tree was even more brilliantly splendid.

Reaching the consummate Arhat realm counts as a half-step to Nirvana; only a further half-step forward would be the existence of the seventh Buddhist realm.

Not only that.

Under the Golden Dragon's blessing.

His Daoist realm was also affected, formally entering the Cave Void realm.

This is an unsurpassed augmentation.

And Gu Jin Nian remained undistracted, still clearly comprehending the sage king's way.

Meanwhile.

Outside.

A piece of news shocked the Eastern Wilderness.

Prince Ning rebelled.

No.

More accurately.

He declared himself emperor. —Brothers.

I won't say anything else; just give double monthly tickets, everyone, at month's end—if you don't, it's wasted.

I guarantee I'll burst forth with all my strength next month; as to how much, I can't say, for fear of overpromising and then failing, drawing criticism—I'll just see how things go, but I will surely give my utmost.

Now all the groundwork is written; next comes wave after wave of great satisfaction.

Please believe in July! (End of chapter)