Chapter 20: Becoming a Disciple of Huang Lao

Ziyang Shen has already made up his mind; he will continue studying, reading endless books, to fully forge a path to the Extreme Realm that best suits him!

"Hehe, kid, have you already figured out your cultivation approach for this life?"

Suddenly, a voice tinged with age and a hint of smile drifted slowly from the void ahead of Ziyang Shen.

At once, a flash of extreme delight lit up Ziyang Shen's eyes!

"Huang Lao! I have seen you... Huang Lao! I didn't expect you hadn't left yet!"

The owner of the voice that appeared was none other than Huang Lao!

Huang Lao stepped slowly out of the void, still appearing as a towering human figure of Guangying.

Only now, he fixed his gaze on Ziyang Shen, seemingly blowing his beard and glaring.

"What, are you hoping so much for me to leave?"

With that sudden remark, Ziyang Shen was instantly jolted!

He frantically shook his head!

"No, no, no! Huang Lao! Please hear my explanation! I absolutely didn't mean that!"

"Senior, your whereabouts were vague and ethereal; the day I said farewell to Brother Ye, I thought you had already departed... that's why I said that..."

"Senior's kindness toward me is as heavy as a mountain; I haven't even had time to repay it, how could I be hoping for you to leave?"

Seeing Ziyang Shen's frantic explanation, Huang Lao seemed in good spirits and burst into hearty laughter.

"Hahaha! That's more like it!"

"Alright then. Since you, kid, have decent talent and are quite clever... as for me... I'll personally guide your cultivation during this period!"

Ziyang Shen was first slightly stunned, then he inhaled a sharp breath of cool air!

He fully understood the value of Huang Lao's personal guidance, and he still recalled the regrets and resentment from the previous life caused by insufficient insight!

Therefore, without any hesitation, Ziyang Shen nodded vigorously, and then performed a deep, grand bow!

"Ziyang Shen... thank you... senior... no... thank you... Master!"

Upon hearing the words "Master," Huang Lao's mouth twitched upward slightly, looking quite satisfied.

He spoke:

"Alright, stand up. Between you and me, these empty courtesies are unnecessary!"

"You only need to remember, in cultivation you must never be lax! Do not disgrace my face!"

"And one most important point!"

The smile on Huang Lao's face suddenly vanished, turning exceedingly serious.

"Your heart's method must be upright!"

Ziyang Shen nodded heavily: "Yes! I will never disappoint you, Master!"

"Alright, my time is also tight; I can't stay here long... let me first share my thoughts..."

"In this life of yours... you are bound to walk the path of the Extreme Realm..."

"As for how far you can ultimately go... it will ultimately depend on you..."

"Your previous life's Human King Extreme Realm Eternal Netherworld Spring... the concept is excellent, its power ample, it matches you well... you can base on it, further expand... try to realize more possibilities of the Extreme Realm..."

Soon, under Huang Lao's guidance, Ziyang Shen quickly obtained a general direction.

Next comes the long road of cultivation...

Just as the Purple Clan rested and Ziyang Shen entered seclusion...

Beyond the Purple Clan, the entire Hengyu Land was already buzzing to the extreme!

Today is the day the Ancient Imperial Tomb is about to open!

At this moment, the central region of the Hengyu Land is packed with endless beings!

In the Void, on mountain peaks, in rivers, on the ground, everywhere there are dazzling beams of light—each a Heavenly Pride cloaked in brilliance!

Various races, various cultivation levels, various attire, various phenomena—so many that one's eyes are dazzled!

There are Humans, Demons, plant-like beings, ferocious beasts of terrifying might, and myriad exotic beings manifesting strange powers; countless races and endless Heavenly Pride monarchs gather here!

Here is the vibrant scene of the Hengyu Land of the Nine Heavens Ten Earths, in the central region, the central Star Domain!

In a certain area, a tall, slender Black Robe Figure stood silently, its brilliant eyes bearing a faint hue of awe.

That person was none other than Ye Wuque, who had already successfully arrived near the opening site of the Ancient Imperial Tomb.

Even Ye Wuque, who had long witnessed countless bustling scenes, was slightly shocked at this moment.

How many fated secret realms had he explored?

Such as the Heaven-Reaching Divine Tomb, the Hibernating Dragon Secret Realm, the Eternal Night Heavenly Tomb, the Origin Divine Hall, the Ten Thousand Emperor Nest, and some ultra‑large secret realms of Liuhe Yu, but none of these, regardless of which, matches the sheer grandeur of the current Ancient Imperial Tomb's spectacle!

"Truly worthy of the Nine Heavens Ten Earths! Even if it's not the Nine Heavens, just the Ten Lands alone is already so awe‑inspiring!"

"Is this the terrifying gap between different planes?"

"Indeed, only by truly reaching such a pinnacle world... can one truly witness the genuine splendor of the Zhutian Wanjie!"

Ye Wuque scanned with a glance; besides marveling at the overwhelming strength of these beings, he was also struck by the sheer variety of their races!

Many bizarre races Ye Wuque had never seen or recognized were now everywhere.

Such as terrifying gigantic black serpents with nine massive heads, oddly shaped black demonic beasts emitting blood‑thirsty icy rays, colossal terrifying beings that block the sky, and so on...

There were also many Human cultivators, of course, and many beings of other races that had taken on Human form.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Suddenly!

From afar, a deafening wave of terror reverberated!

The clashing sounds of metal and iron, along with occasional roars, echoed!

Countless eyes followed the wave and looked over…

Ahead, an area spanning tens of thousands of li had been cleared.

The two erupted into a terrifying massive battle here…

These are two… Sword Cultivators.

Among them, a brilliant and mighty man wielded a black greatsword that blocked the sky and sun, his murderous aura fixed on the opponent!

Opposite him stood a tall young man clad in a dark robe, his expression utterly cold, a flash of terrifying killing intent flashing through his Dark Eye before vanishing!

Around them, countless Heavenly Pride gathered to watch, murmuring endlessly.

"So it's them! The junior Sect Leader Xiao Shuihan of the War Heaven Sword Sect of the Earth of the Ten Directions! And… the invincible Sword Cultivator from Mystic Light Land… Ju Jian Wang… Zhan Qianqiu!"

"Why are these two fierce ones fighting? And it looks like a life‑or‑death clash?"

"I have actually heard…"

"It was Ju Jian Wang Zhan Qianqiu who first provoked it!"

"He sought out Xiao Shuihan, demanding that he immediately drop the title 'Celestial Sword'!"

"Do you think this is ridiculous?"

"Huh? Not? On what grounds? Their title is being used just fine, why force them to change it!"

"Yeah, I think the same; do you know what Zhan Qianqiu said?"

"He said Xiao Shuihan does not deserve to be called Celestial Sword!"

"How reckless, this Zhan Qianqiu! But it does indeed match his long‑standing character!"

While the lively discussion continued here, what they didn't notice was that not far away, several Sword Cultivators, upon hearing the words 'Heavenly Sword', involuntarily showed an extreme… look of terror!

As if recalling an unimaginable, indescribable, earth‑shattering Great Terror!

Like seeing a ghost in broad daylight!

They couldn't help but shiver!

They, without exception, are Sword Cultivators who participated in the recently concluded Billion‑Sword Dao lineage's Son of Sword Trial!

And at this moment, Ju Jian Wang Zhan Qianqiu, standing proudly in the Void, fixed his pair of Sun‑and‑Moon‑like Dark Eyes on Xiao Shuihan and, in a cold voice, said:

"I'll say it one last time! You! Now! Immediately! Right now! Declare publicly! Remove the title Heavenly Sword! Because… you trash… are utterly unworthy! Being called 'Heavenly Sword' would tarnish this immensely great title!"

Zhan Qianqiu spoke slowly, word by word, each syllable laced with unabashed murderous intent!