His right hand reaching out, Meng Qi attempted to seize the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, yet that miniature universe remained completely unmoved, as if it truly contained inverted galaxies, each filled with countless star systems and stars, stretching boundlessly at a glance.
This was the weight of one of the Twenty-Four Deva Realms, surpassing even the legendary cosmic scale!
Taking a light breath, Meng Qi ceased forcibly seizing or moving it. Instead, he joined his hands into a mudra, continuously casting the treasure-seizing incantations recorded in the “Yuanshi Jin Zhang.” Golden lotuses flew across the air, dark lights danced chaotically, gradually refining and tainting the ownerless treasure bit by bit.
Was this peerless treasure once wielded by the legendary Xuantan Zhenjun really so easy to obtain?
After a full eighty-one days, the miniature universe was surrounded by clusters of golden lotuses and wrapped in streams of dark light. Its colors shifted in five hues, radiant beams bursting forth, as it began to tremble violently.
Splashing!
A sound like rushing water echoed, galaxies rippled, dazzling like waves. Brilliant five-colored rays outshone the dark lights and golden lotuses.
Meng Qi suddenly clenched his right hand. The miniature universe rapidly contracted, shrinking smaller and smaller, transforming into a pearl cloaked in five-colored radiant beams, hidden within chaos and mist, flying toward him.
After days of refinement, success was finally achieved!
Stretching out his right hand, he grasped the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl. Smiling faintly, he placed it behind his head, where a round of pure, radiant light immediately arose, manifesting the five aggregates in color, radiant beams scattering.
Within this radiant light, mist swirled, as if concealing a fairyland.
With this five-colored radiance atop his head, Meng Qi retracted the Yuanshi Celebration Cloud and the Dao-resembling grandeur, his Daoist robe fluttering as he leisurely returned, reentering the “black hole.”
The radiant beams fell, all forces of compression and accretion were completely repelled. Ahead, mist swirled, revealing the location of the turbulent currents and marking out a clear path.
Treading this fairy path, Meng Qi, resembling a Buddha or Immortal Sage, calmly departed from this black hole, directly returning to the Realm of Reality.
Unlike other treasures or divine weapons, the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl’s supernatural nature stemmed from its “transcendent trait above all worlds” and “weight surpassing a single universe”—qualities it retained even while dormant, making it more of a material than a typical treasure. Thus, it could still display a fraction of legendary might without prior awakening.
When encountering enemies, Meng Qi could directly hurl it at them, though without the five-colored radiance to confuse true spirits.
Of course, whether it would actually hit the enemy under such circumstances was another matter entirely.
…
In the grand palace of the Zhou Dynasty’s Changle era.
Gao Lan sat upon the Dragon Throne, wearing the Emperor’s Sword. His eyes were half-closed, surrounded by holy virtue waters and flames of civilization, intertwining to form a faint golden aura of kingship, radiating outward into the void, seemingly connecting different universes.
He was wielding the Emperor’s Blade to perceive his “other selves” across countless worlds, forging connections and establishing communication. He raised banners in myriad realms to propagate the radiance of mankind, proving himself as the sole sovereign transcending all worlds.
Unlike Meng Qi, who carried the “Cause of All Fruits” and could descend remotely, unless a passage was opened, Gao Lan currently could not directly enter the myriad worlds. He could only explore with his divine consciousness, a far more dangerous endeavor than wandering through heavens or roaming the stars, with the risk of getting lost and potentially failing to sense his “other selves.”
This was one of the critical barriers on the path to becoming a legend, a challenge that had stymied countless renowned immortals!
Suddenly, Gao Lan’s thoughts stirred. His eyes opened, a faint golden glow revealing every detail within a ten-thousand-mile radius.
As the golden light faded, he saw a figure descending from the sky, wearing a cloud-fanning crown, a robe of flowing water, a silk sash around his waist, straw sandals on his feet, and behind his head, a round, pure radiance of five-colored beams slowly cascading—a sacred and transcendent sight.
The surrounding area was serene, and the palace guards, powerful cultivators, seemed to witness a scene from myth—a Celestial Sage or Buddha—prompting them involuntarily to bow their heads.
A moment later, they regained their senses, realizing it was Yuanhuang Daoist, the Emperor’s younger brother and heir apparent from the Jade Void Palace atop Kunlun Mountain!
Was Yuanhuang Daoist nearing the threshold of becoming a legend?
With such majesty and divine signs, was the present world truly returning to the mythic age?
Radiant light behind his head, Meng Qi enjoyed the gazes cast upon him, a smile playing on his lips as he pushed open the grand hall’s door and stepped inside, casually saying, “Little brother has not disappointed expectations—I have obtained the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl.”
“The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl…” Gao Lan murmured, quite familiar with this peerless treasure naturally born from heaven and earth.
After all, the term “deva realms” among the myriad worlds largely referred to such treasures!
Before he could speak further, suddenly he saw Meng Qi’s sleeve tremble, from which a beam of light shot forth, bursting from the hall and soaring into the heavens, vanishing without a trace.
The Qisha Tablet had been recalled… Meng Qi glanced at his sleeve, sighing inwardly.
Such a convenient peerless treasure could not possibly remain with him permanently.
Fortunately, he now had a Sea-Stabilizing Pearl of his own!
“A suspected Heavenly Emperor Stone Tablet?” Gao Lan pondered for a moment before inquiring.
Meng Qi nodded. “A fragment of the Heavenly Emperor’s stone tablet, reforged by a great cultivator into the Qisha Tablet.”
“Can it travel back in time and alter history?” Gao Lan’s voice suddenly dropped, low and magnetically hoarse.
“Yes, but it will be disrupted and inaccurate if there are traces of legendary beings or higher-level figures.” Meng Qi answered truthfully.
Gao Lan slowly leaned back into his chair, his aura growing deeper and more profound. After a long silence, he said, “Then let’s discuss how to repair the formation deep within the Endless Abyss Sea.”
Time passed, and after repeated attempts, Meng Qi and Gao Lan finally cultivated a virtual domain within the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, setting up multiple formations and channeling their respective sentient forces.
The pearl, radiating five-colored beams, grew increasingly heavy, its interior swirling with scenes resembling ten thousand households’ lanterns, as if bearing the weight of humanity.
Meng Qi once again transformed the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl into a radiant halo behind his head, took a step forward, and directly descended into the Endless Abyss Sea using the Yuanhuang Edict from the ruins of the Asura Temple, sinking downward.
The five-colored radiance was heavy, the warmth of ten thousand world lights dispelling the darkness of the abyss. Mist dissipated, and roars echoed from the depths, yet dared not approach.
Rumbling!
One of the deva realms descended, and the abyss sea groaned under the unbearable burden. Meng Qi, surrounded by five-colored light, sank faster and faster, finally reaching the boundary resembling a fusion of Buddhist and Daoist barriers.
With a wave of his hand, the five-colored treasure light flew forth, first transforming into a pearl, then evolving into a layer of heaven and earth, overlapping with the sealed laws. The power of sentient beings flowed in an orderly manner, repairing the damage.
“When the time comes that I no longer need the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl to suppress this place, I will truly possess one of the deva realms. Then, what name should I give it?” Meng Qi performed transformations, altering his body to adapt to the abyss environment, slowly ascending.
This barrier indeed resembled something set by the Azure Emperor. Meng Qi wondered where he had gone and what he was pursuing now.
Where was the Nine Nether Gate? Was Jiuling Yuansheng still guarding it, or had he already left with the Azure Emperor?
Looking downward, these questions suddenly flashed through Meng Qi’s mind. He had a vague premonition that when he met the Azure Emperor again, something momentous would happen.
Perhaps that would be the moment the Azure Emperor took his final step toward reaching the other shore?
Of course, all of this was temporarily unrelated to him. His most important task now was to create “other-self imprints,” striving to prove himself a legend before the twentieth year of the new calendar.
Because of the future he had experienced, because of the resolute golden-silver demonic-eyed cultivator, Meng Qi felt an increasing sense of urgency.
However, no matter how urgent, he could not lose his composure. He could not rely solely on absorbing mindless Yuanshi projections for rapid advancement. At least half of the “other-self imprints” he created had to closely resemble the Demon Buddha projection, forming a balance and restraint.
The path of legends began from this moment!
…
Inside the meditation room of the Shuiyue Nunnery, moonlight spilled across the communal sleeping mats, but the young nuns tossed and turned, unable to sleep, secretly playing with the Myriad Worlds Awareness Talismans.
“Sister, sister, there’s a hot post in the Jianghu Teahouse, lots of people arguing—it’s pretty interesting,” text popped up within the Myriad Worlds Awareness Talisman, and wisely, they chose not to speak aloud.
Curious, the addressed elder sister clicked into “Jianghu Teahouse” and saw the hot post:
“It’s Time to Re-Rank the Current Top Powers in the World.”
The poster, going by the username “Black Emperor,” wrote in the preface: “With the lifting of heavenly restrictions, Celestial Immortals are emerging in droves. The former top-tier powers have begun to differentiate, forming hierarchies. Worse still, many sects among the Nine Evil Paths have become mere names, absorbed into the Demon Sect. It’s time to re-rank the top powers—everyone is welcome to join the discussion.”
“In my opinion, the current top powers are as follows: East and West Immortal Sects, North and South Sword Sects, Two Pure Lands, the Two Demon Pillars, and the Zhou Dynasty—making a total of nine.”
“After Chonghe Daoist’s death, the Xuantian Sect has had no breakthroughs, and the Zhenwu Sect lacks successors. The Three Daoist Sects can no longer be considered top-tier powers. Of course, if the Guangyin Blade fully awakens, that would be another matter. Now, in the east, there is the Sanxiao Island from the Overseas Immortal Realm, a lineage of Lingbao Tianzun. In the west, there is the Yuxu Palace on Kunlun Mountain, a direct lineage of Yuanshi Tianzun, perfectly upholding the Daoist reputation, known as the East and West Immortal Sects.”
“Sanxiao Island’s Hunyuan Immortaless has long been a Celestial Immortal, wielding three peerless treasures—the Hunyuan Golden Basin, Golden Dragon Shears, and Measuring Heaven Ruler. She makes Guangcheng Tianzun seem stingy by comparison. Although it’s said the Hunyuan Golden Basin cannot affect Yuanhuang, others cannot withstand it. Moreover, Sanxiao Island has a long heritage, deep resources, and talented disciples. Recently, a new Dharma Body cultivator emerged, undoubtedly qualifying as a top-tier power.”
“Though the Yuxu Palace on Kunlun Mountain has few members, Yuanhuang wields the Hegemon Blade, the Myriad Worlds Awareness Sphere, and something suspected to be the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl. He practices the supreme technique Yuanshi Nine Seals, cultivating the ‘Cause of All Fruits,’ rarely having equals on the Immortal Ranking. As long as he remains, the Yuxu Palace is a top-tier power. Without him, it would be just an ordinary sect.”
“The North and South Sword Sects naturally refer to Xi Jian Pavilion in the south and Huamei Villa in the north. ‘Heaven-Outside Sword’ Su Wuming from Xi Jian Pavilion is closest to becoming a legend, his sword techniques ranking among the top two in the current world. His successor, ‘Supreme Sword’ Jiang Zhiwei, has an even more solid foundation, promising an even brighter future. As for Lu Daxiansheng of Huamei Villa, he hasn’t fought in years, reportedly exploring his own unique path. However, his Celestial Immortal realm and sword techniques rivaling Su Wuming are enough to make him renowned in this age. Like Yuanhuang, he alone upholds Huamei Villa as a top-tier power. Moreover, recently, the Cold Ice Immortaless seems to have encountered a great opportunity, nearing Dharma Body attainment. The younger generations of Huamei Villa have also produced many talents. Given time, their foundation will become even stronger.”
“The Two Pure Lands refer to Lanke Temple and the Earthly Buddha Land. Lanke Temple is elusive, visible only to those with fate, and I am fatedless, so I dare not rashly comment. Due to its mystery, it is rated as one of the Two Pure Lands. The Earthly Buddha Land has the prophesied descent of Maitreya, now uniting the Pure Land Sect and allying with the Vajra Temple, forming a massive power capable of being ranked among the top. As for Shaolin Temple and Shuiyue Nunnery, even if they soon produce a Dharma Body cultivator, they still cannot enter the top tier.”
The Two Demon Pillars are the Demon Sect and the Luo Sect. The “Demon Sage” is a prodigious talent who has taken the Heaven-Annihilating Gate as his foundation, uniting the Asura Temple, the Blood Robe Sect, and the Joy Temple—formerly part of the Nine Evil Paths—to restore the original might of the Demon Dao. It is said that he himself has reached the peak of the Celestial Immortal realm, mastering the Heavenly Emperor’s techniques, making him capable of rivaling any figure in the top ranks of the Immortal Ranking. Thus, he qualifies as a top-tier power.
The Luo Sect has recently expanded rapidly, producing countless experts. Although its Dharma King, Ye Di, is only an Earth Immortal, the Six Fan Gate reports that one of their deceased undercover agents encountered a terrifying figure from the Luo Sect, suspected to be a legendary entity! If this doesn’t qualify as top-tier, then what does?
“As for the Zhou Dynasty, need I say more? With the Human Emperor in the world and Yuanhuang’s assistance, it is the top power in the world!”
“There are also three powers under discussion: first, the Wang Clan of Jiangdong, whose heritage traces back to ancient times, with profound secrets and resources beyond our comprehension. Although they have recently kept a low profile and reportedly suffered severe losses, even losing the Luo Shu, such a massive power likely remains formidable, perhaps squeezing into the top tier. Second, the Su Nu Sect, for the same reasons. Third, the Red Earth of the Southern Wilderness, where ‘Demon Emperor’ Qi Zhengyan possesses the Demon Emperor Claw, whose awakening level remains unknown!”
“As for others, those with Dharma Body cultivators or peerless treasures like Celestial or Immortal-grade weapons are considered major powers below the top tier, and those merely possessing such weapons are even lower.”
The following replies were filled with debates, mostly from disciples of previously top-tier powers like the Great River Gang, arguing fiercely.
Inside the meditation room, the young nuns felt uneasy, wanting to argue with the user “Black Emperor.” Could their Shuiyue Nunnery no longer be considered a top-tier power?
Light and shadow flickered, and suddenly a stern voice came from outside:
“Are you playing with the Myriad Worlds Awareness Talismans again?”
“How can you focus on Buddhist cultivation and martial arts this way?”
It was the enforcing nun, frustrated with her disciples being lured by worldly temptations, planning to report to the abbess and ban the talismans within the nunnery.
Unmentioned, inside the abbess’s meditation room, the gray-robed abbess calmly recited the Heart Sutra beneath a statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva:
“Shariputra, all dharmas are empty in nature; they neither arise nor cease, neither defile nor purify, neither increase nor decrease…”
A willow branch inserted into the jade vase before the Bodhisattva statue was fresh and dripping.
Suddenly, this willow branch slowly grew, sprouting branches and leaves!
The gray-robed abbess opened her eyes in astonishment, forgetting her previous thoughts.
What was this?
…
Within Sanxiao Island, “Hunyuan Immortaless” Bi Jingxuan sat cross-legged by the lotus pond, guarding the three slowly growing Chaos Green Lotus plants.
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