At the summit of Jianmu, Qing Ling's primordial spirit returned to its place. At the center of the Heavenly Spirit, the true self was unified.
In the Eastern Wasteland, all the azure essence within the Four Extremes was gathered in this innate Azure Essence Great Formation.
The Eastern Wasteland was nearly sealed, with only Senluo City offering passage to the lands of the Four Ancient Clans.
Duguang, however, was completely sealed.
Neither entry nor exit was permitted.
Within, the laws of heaven and earth had been rewritten by Qing Ling. Duguang was entirely isolated from the world. He intended to reshape the origin!
But Qing Ling was still waiting. He had to hold on a little longer; the sealing could only occur after the moment of rewriting history.
Meanwhile, Qing Xuan ascended the Thirty-Three Heavens path.
In the Underworld, within the Underworld Lord's Palace, beside the Three Lives Stone, the Black and White Impermanence guarded a purple, ethereal lotus.
This was the Purple Ethereal Lotus, moved to the Earthly Realm by Qing Ling.
The Purple Ethereal Lotus had been gestating for forty-nine Yuanhui. It was the time for Hong Jun to achieve enlightenment, and also the time for the flower to bloom and bear fruit!
The Purple Ethereal Lotus slowly revolved, its leaves, unaware of a million years, unfolding petal by petal.
It bloomed within the Nine Netherworlds, bloomed beside the Three Lives Stone, bloomed in the River of Three Crossings.
Nine petals unfolded, transforming into human form within the flower.
An incomparably enchanting woman sat cross-legged on the lotus platform. She wore a flowing purple gauze dress and possessed a face that could topple nations.
She slowly opened her slumbering eyes. Her purple irises reflected the vast Underworld. "I awoke from a dream to find forty-nine Yuanhui had passed.
A great dream, passing springs and autumns, all like a fleeting splendor."
Upon witnessing this, the Black and White Impermanence respectfully bowed and said, "Your subordinates, Black and White Impermanence, pay homage to the Ancestor."
The woman in purple smiled and said, "You two have worked hard. No need for formalities. My name is Qi Meng, and from now on, I shall be under the command of the Underworld Lord."
The Black and White Impermanence exchanged glances, surprised. They asked, "Has the Ancestor forgotten her past?"
Qi Meng chuckled lightly, offering no reply. She rose gracefully, her lotus-like steps moving lightly as she stepped onto the River of Three Crossings. The purple lotus disk behind her spun and transformed into a alms bowl, which she took into her hand.
The maiden's alluring countenance instantly shifted into that of a hunched old woman. Her flowing dark hair turned white, her face etched with the vicissitudes of time and hardship. The old woman held the alms bowl, scooping up a bowl of water from the River of Three Crossings. Reflected on the surface of the water in the bowl was still that exquisitely beautiful face.
The old woman smiled and said, "The mortal world is a fleeting dream, a cycle. What remains to be sought from the past?"
The Black and White Impermanence fell silent, able only to listen.
From then on, the Underworld Lord's Palace gained an Ancestor, and the great powers of the Underworld knew that another formidable being had emerged in the Underworld!
In the Eastern Sea, outside Penglai Island, in the sun-drenched waters.
A figure emanating the pressure of the Heavenly Dao descended. Dong Wang Gong was perplexed.
Immediately, he saw the heavenly presence holding a true spirit in its hand.
At the summit of Jianmu, Qing Ling watched this scene with indifference.
That heavenly presence was Hong Jun's true self, and the true spirit imprisoned in its hand was the Fusang Book Spirit, "Hao"!
Qing Ling saw through Hong Jun's true self: it was a primordial spirit stone from Jade Capital Mountain, possibly one that had obtained the Primordial Violet Qi, hence allowing it to be the vessel for Hong Jun's true self.
The true self descended into the Primordial World in an instant and departed in an instant.
Though the great powers were alarmed, they continued their ascent towards the heavens.
On Kunlun Mountain, three Daoists rose and stepped into the Thirty-Three Heavens.
On Fengqi Mountain, Nuwa and Fuxi rode golden phoenixes towards the heavens.
The Wu Clan, Ancestral Witch Houtu, ascended Buzhou Mountain, also heading to the heavens.
In the Sea of Blood, Ming He, dragging a sword-carrying youth, also hurried towards the heavens.
In the Northern Darkness, nine Kunpeng avatars landed in nine locations of the icy sea, suppressing the situation.
One Kun and one Peng merged, transforming into a tall figure. He was no longer the youth of yesteryear, but a handsome man.
With a single step, Kunpeng left the Northern Darkness.
Zhen Yuan and Hong Yun, who had just returned to Longevity Mountain, embarked on their journey once more, heading towards the heavens.
The Nine-Colored Deer Clan, Bai Ze, rose and set off for Zixiao.
In a primeval marsh, a nine-headed giant snake transformed into a gloomy man and ascended the firmament.
A blazing, horned firebird soared into the clouds.
The years of seclusion for these great powers were broken, and they all set off for the heavens.
In the West, Zhun Ti and Jie Yin also set off for Zixiao.
However, as they ascended the first heaven, they discovered that this heaven had changed!
Within the first heaven, the further one ascended, the more one felt a suppressive force.
Although it was slight, with the height of thirty-three heavens, the accumulation was immense and terrifying.
The two looked up at the successive heavens and indeed saw some great powers struggling to ascend.
Others, using various methods, advanced step by step, heading towards the heavens at great speed.
For instance, Patriarch Kunpeng, with the Wind and Cloud formations, soared upwards.
And the three Daoists from Kunlun Mountain, one holding a crimson staff, another a Ruyi scepter, and the third a sword, ascended through the heavens seemingly without any obstruction.
Zhun Ti and Jie Yin's faces turned bitter. By the time they reached the ninth heaven, they already felt the difficulty. While others advanced ten thousand li, they had not even covered a thousand.
Their Western lands were impoverished, and they possessed no spiritual treasures. The two had only focused on benefiting the beings of the West, dedicating little time to cultivation. Their cultivation was only at the mid-stage of Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
They could not compare to those at the late or peak Grand Unity stage. Seeing themselves about to be left behind by the other great powers, the two brothers could only fret.
Zhun Ti sighed, "At this pace, I fear the thousand-year deadline will not be for us."
Jie Yin also looked troubled. He said, "If that is the case, I, your elder brother, will transfer all my cultivation to you. As long as one of us can hear the true teachings of the Ancestor, it will be enough!"
Zhun Ti shook his head, "Impossible! You, Senior Brother, should go! My cultivation is inherently inferior to yours. If you go, you will surely receive the true teachings of the Great Dao better than I!"
Just then, a voice sounded.
"So it is the two virtuous Daoists from the West!"
Zhun Ti and Jie Yin looked towards the speaker.
It was a Daoist in a white robe, handsome as the wind, with clouds and mists faintly appearing, his immortal aura difficult to conceal.
Zhun Ti suppressed his bitterness and said with a smile, "May I know on which immortal mountain this Daoist cultivates?"
The Daoist smiled and said, "This humble one is the Ancestor Snake of Lingling Mountain, Qing Xuan."
Zhun Ti paused slightly upon hearing this, then reacted, "So it is Daoist Qing Xuan. I apologize for my ignorance."
"It is nothing!" Qing Xuan smiled. "Are you two also heading to Zixiao Palace to hear the Ancestor preach the Dao?"
"Indeed!" Zhun Ti said with a wry smile, "It is a pity that my brother and I cannot compare to the profound cultivation of the senior Daoists. We may miss the thousand-year deadline!"
"Oh, I see!" Qing Xuan chuckled. "The Ancestor's sermon is a heavenly opportunity! You two Daoists must not miss it.
If you trust this humble one, I can show you a path."
Zhun Ti's expression stirred as he asked, "May I know what path Daoist speaks of?"
Qing Xuan pointed to the East and said, "Rumor has it that in ancient times, a great being planted the Dao in Duguang, named Jianmu. Its master is the Dao Lord of the Eastern Wasteland, capable of connecting heaven and earth.
If you two Daoists can gain the favor of that Eastern Wasteland Dao Lord and ascend directly via Jianmu, stepping onto the heavenly ladder into chaos, you will not miss the thousand-year appointment!"
Upon hearing this, Jie Yin's heart flashed. He remembered the Daoist who had shared time with them by the Eight Treasures Pool in years past.
Zhun Ti's heart rejoiced. He smiled and said, "Many thanks to Daoist for showing us the way!"
Qing Xuan smiled and shook his head. Countless pure white chains of Dharma sprung from beneath his feet, forming a heavenly avenue. The Daoist stepped onto it and ascended ten thousand li!