Chapter 316: I Will Not Allow It

After leaving Lingyu, Yan Buji's expression shifted, and he directly activated Heaven Gate Law!

Run first, talk later!

Although I indeed didn't do anything wrong, this time after entering Lingyu the Asura tribe suffered heavy casualties while I returned unscathed; even the North Asura King would surely ask what happened to me.

Even if my personal safety is fine, wouldn't this mean I'm trapped deep within the Asura tribe, unable to ever leave this Youming Jie?

Better to cut ties cleanly; running early is best—worst case, Yan Buji simply won't come to the North Asura tribe's side again.

Heaven Gate Law activated, and Yan Buji vanished from the spot.

Immediately after, pushing open the Heaven Gate, Yan Buji suddenly saw a huge domed palace.

"The divine envoy has arrived; please come over."

The voice of the South Asura High Priest came over; Yan Buji nodded and walked over.

"Hey, kid, who is that old geezer?" the Dragon Pattern Furnace suddenly transmitted.

"The High Priest of the South Asura tribe."

"Is it him? Is he still alive..."

"Have you seen him before, senior?"

"I have; he's older than the boss, roughly sixty thousand years old."

"Sixty thousand???"

"What kind of cultivator can live sixty thousand years?"

"Even if the Asura tribe lives a bit longer than humans, the High Priest surely can't be a sage, right?"

Yan Buji had only heard that sages could live as long as heaven and earth, with no talk of lifespan, but among cultivators lifespan is heaven‑ordained; even if one could extend it, he'd never heard of anyone extending it by sixty thousand years.

"Why are you surprised? Cultivators who specialize in the Way of the Universe naturally have long lifespans, and he's probably about to undergo a heavenly tribulation; each tribulation adds three thousand years to lifespan, roughly speaking."

"Heavenly tribulation?"

"You don't know? Oh right, you're just a loose cultivator. Let me give you a rundown: a Nascent Soul cultivator, as the start of the immortal path, can already begin to cultivate Dao Marks."

"Dao Marks are the manifestation of the Great Dao within oneself; a Nascent Soul cultivator who cultivates a thousand Dao Marks can break through, for a total of three thousand; while above Nascent Soul lies the Spirit Transformation realm, where cultivating ten thousand Dao Marks allows a breakthrough. Above Spirit Transformation are the three great realms of Void Refinement, Union with Dao, and Great Vehicle; heavenly tribulation is when a Great Vehicle cultivator condenses their Dao Marks into the true intent of the Great Dao, undergoes the baptism of heavenly tribulation—once every thousand years, nine times total—to achieve ascension!"

Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Void Refinement, Union with Dao, Great Vehicle, Heavenly Tribulation.....

Ascension!!

Yan Buji listened, his heart yearning, but he was merely a Qi‑refining loose cultivator.

Sigh, I truly don't know when I'll be able to reach that realm.

Yan Buji strode forward and saw the High Priest.

Seated before the domed palace, Yan Buji looked at him, clasped his hands, and said, "High Priest, I don't know why you summoned me; what is the matter?"

The High Priest glanced at Yan Buji, then caught sight of the Dragon Pattern Furnace at his waist, and chuckled, "It seems he has entrusted everything to you."

"That's the case." Yan Buji didn't lie, estimating that given the other's strength, it would be easy to tell.

"If so, the divine envoy will stay here for a while and watch the reformation of the New Netherworld."

"Why?"

"What do you think the New Netherworld will become?"

Yan Buji frowned: "Because the Lord of the Starry Sky has appeared, the cultivators of the New Netherworld now have a new path to rise; naturally they will seek power and rights at the same time. For those who originally benefited, others wanting to share their gains will spark conflict."

"As the conflict intensifies, war will erupt. Whether Asura or Rakshasa, they will inevitably enter a war caused by uneven distribution of interests, after which the old order will be shattered and a new one established."

The High Priest nodded: "What you say is correct, but war is merely a continuation of politics. Do you think the higher-ups can't see future developments? To have endured so long in the New Netherworld, whether it's the North Asura King, the South Asura King, or the East Rakshasa Queen, they are all clearly aware."

"Then why..."

"Because of this."

The High Priest smiled and produced a broken disk.

This disk remains only in part, as if torn apart by an irresistible mighty force, split into two pieces.

Yan Buji's pupils contracted: "This... this is the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk?"

"You didn't say this thing was in the North Asura King's hands?"

"Was it given to you by him?"

"Now that the Primordial Wilderness Deity has reappeared, for the New Netherworld it's neither good nor bad—at least He dares not easily set foot in reality. Therefore we need to harness His power to deal with the Original Netherworld."

"Huh?"

"This is a future matter, even something that will inevitably come to pass. The Netherworld has been split for too long and needs reunification. Whether us or them, we all await that day, so now we must shatter the old order, reorganize everything, gather all our strength, and vie for sovereignty over the Netherworld!" The High Priest's words rang out solemnly and awfully.

Yan Buji's face darkened: "What does that have to do with me?"

"You are His chosen; wherever you go, He can use you as a vessel to release His power, which our plan cannot allow. Therefore we must wrong the divine envoy, having him reside here for a period."

"Then why don't you just kill me? That would be more direct. Besides, doing so would also cause trouble for the Lord of the Starry Sky—wouldn't sparing Him make Him hold a grudge against you?" Yan Buji asked strangely.

"Then He would have justification to intervene directly."

"Reason?"

"No.... Do such unimaginable beings even need reasons to act?"

The High Priest looked at Yan Buji: "You don't really think the Lord of the Starry Sky is terrifyingly strong, do you? Besides, there are still many sages in the Five Domains; if He truly dared to descend without any reason, He would have been captured long ago."

"But you also said the Primordial Wilderness Deity shouldn't be just one....."

"Therefore, for the sake of world peace, at their level they cannot act arbitrarily. Your arrival has stirred waves, hastening the integration of the New Netherworld. So the reason we can't let you leave lies here; perhaps one day you'll run back to the Netherworld and get caught up in the dispute."

"By then, whether you wish it or not, you will become one of the main actors in this transformation."

Yan Buji froze for a moment, pondering for a long time.

"Oh, that means I might become the side leading the Starry Sky Sect in a power struggle against the Asura and Rakshasa tribes? But I fundamentally lack that strength."

"You don't, but the Lord of the Starry Sky does."

Yan Buji nodded: "So I can't run away?"

Sorry to trouble the Divine Envoy cultivating here; I will personally watch over you, and you can tell me what resources you need.

Is that so.

Yan Buji suddenly smiled: "Grand Priest, as a junior, I have great respect for you and am also very grateful."

The Grand Priest looked at him blandly, as if thinking of something.

You....

But I, too, have my own convictions. I can endure living under others' roofs, endure being insulted and trampled by others, but I will absolutely not allow anyone to dominate my will!!