As the Lone Star Elder departed, another sharp whistle pierced the air.
"The envoys of the Grand Xia Dynasty, the envoys of the Grand Zhou Dynasty, and the Tianhua Palace have arrived!"
All eyes turned towards the palace entrance, where streaks of flying rainbows filled the night sky, accompanied by auspicious clouds and dancing cranes, creating a true celestial scene. Moonlight cascaded like water, celestial maidens scattered flowers, and figures in wide-sleeved robes floated gracefully, surrounded by ethereal music.
In the blink of an eye, four towering figures with monkey heads landed in the grand hall.
Dressed in robes of red, blue, yellow, and green, these four white-haired monkeys scratched their heads, waved golden rods, and chanted loudly, "The path in the south, aspirations of the two dynasties, the celestial palace Tianhua, guiding the myriad marvels."
With exaggerated strides and swaying movements, they seemed to possess a certain rhythm and cadence.
The dignitaries of the Tera Kingdom and the disciples of the six major sects were dumbfounded, astonished by this spectacle.
"These are the Joyful Spirit Monkeys, nurtured by the Tianhua Palace. They can speak human language, practice martial arts, and dabble in some low-level Dao techniques. Among the spirit beasts in the south, Joyful Spirit Monkeys are considered upper-medium grade, with only a few dozen in the entire Tianhua Palace," Qin Jiadian explained to Shuro.
Qin Jiadian approached Shuro and whispered, "Joyful Spirit Monkeys often only appear on special occasions, such as the ascension of the new emperor of the Grand Zhou Dynasty ten years ago, or the induction of a new disciple by the Southern Secret Sect five years ago. The fact that four Joyful Spirit Monkeys have been mobilized this time, all for you, shows the importance they attach to you."
At this moment, cultivators from the Grand Xia, Grand Zhou, and Tianhua Palace descended from the sky. The Tera Kingdom's masters and officials stepped forward to greet them, ushering them to their seats with utmost care.
In addition to the cultivators from the Grand Xia, Grand Zhou, and Tianhua Palace, there were also about thirty young people dressed in warrior attire accompanying them, quietly standing behind the banquet aisle. Their temples were swollen, their breath deep, and sparks occasionally flickered in their eyes. Even the weakest among them possessed half-step Master-level strength.
"Who are they?" Shuro asked.
"They are selected together with you, about to embark on the path of cultivation. By the way, Pu Yang, who was mentioned in the same breath as you and Marco, is also here," Qin Jiadian smiled slightly.
The leader of the Grand Xia envoy had white hair but a youthful appearance, and his mustache twitched slightly under his nose. He glanced at Marco, who was unconscious on the eagle's back, then turned to the Lone Star Elder with a smirk, "Lone Star, you act fast. Afraid we'll steal your people?"
"This kind of thing, your Grand Xia Dynasty has done it countless times," the Lone Star Elder replied expressionlessly, seemingly forgetting his previous act of forcibly taking Shuro.
Ignoring the Lone Star Elder's words, the leader of the Grand Xia envoy turned to Shuro, his face displaying a gentle smile, "Good, good, good. Unperturbed by favor or disgrace, leisurely strolling in the courtyard, it seems the rumors are true indeed. I am Tian Qi, the Inspector-General of the Eight Gates of the Grand Xia Dynasty. When you have time in the future, come visit my mansion."
The cultivators from the Grand Xia Dynasty were secretly surprised.
In the Grand Xia Dynasty, where talents abounded, to become the Inspector-General of the Eight Gates of Tianqi, one needed extremely strong power and background. Tian Qi, at the Nascent Soul Fourth Stage, possessed the privilege of not kneeling before the emperor, yet he was so polite to a young man from the Tera Kingdom...
Suddenly, a name floated into their minds.
The Scion of Crossing the Immortal River... Could he be the Young Scion who displayed great power at the Monument Sea Enlightenment Conference, hailed as the most talented genius in the south for a thousand years?
The envoys of the Grand Xia and Grand Zhou Dynasties, as well as the disciples of the Tianhua Palace, including the young warriors standing behind the banquet, all turned their gazes towards Shuro. However, the attitudes differed: the envoys of the two dynasties were enthusiastic, the disciples of the Tianhua Palace were cold, and most of the young warriors showed provocation, eager for a challenge.
"If the opportunity arises, I will definitely come to visit," Shuro said confidently.
Tian Qi laughed heartily, stroking his white beard.
"So he's the Young Scion? Truly young."
"In the future Ten Young Scions, there will be another formidable figure!"
"What a joke! What Ten Young Scions! Given time, he might even catch up to the Six Great Daoist Scriptures!"
The envoys of the Grand Xia and Grand Zhou Dynasties praised Shuro one after another.
Although they also came from the immortal Daoist sects, their other identity was that of Daoist officials of the Grand Xia and Grand Zhou Dynasties. They spoke the language of the people and the language of the ghosts, and had no shame in boasting. They praised Shuro as unparalleled in the world, making the disciples of the seven major immortal sects blush with embarrassment.
In the grand hall, the most enthusiastic spectators were undoubtedly the officials of the Tera Kingdom.
Peppe had long since awakened. Although this was the Tera Kingdom's home ground, and he was the king of Tera, facing the powerful figures of the Grand Xia and Grand Zhou Dynasties, he still maintained a very humble attitude.
"Your Excellencies, you flatter me. Allow me to thank Shuro on behalf of the Tera Kingdom," Peppe bowed and circled around, his heart filled with excitement.
Shuro's sudden appearance had brought countless benefits to the Tera Kingdom. Although Peppe had been busy and tired these past few months, his mood had never been better.
"Tera King, you're too kind. Although the Tera Kingdom is located in a remote corner, it is a land of talents and wonders. Starting next year, my Limitless Cave Mansion will allocate seven spots for young talents from the Tera Kingdom," the elder from the Limitless Cave Mansion smiled.
"My Flying Snow Sect only accepts female disciples, and the spots are already filled. However, we will make an exception and squeeze out four spots for the Tera Kingdom," the female elder of the Flying Snow Sect said.
"As luck would have it, my Grand Zen Sect has also prepared six spots for young talents from the Tera Kingdom. Among them, one spot is specifically reserved for the York family," the elder of the Grand Zen Sect said proudly.
The officials of the Tera Kingdom were overwhelmed with excitement, trembling with excitement and at a loss for words. If it weren't for the many immortal Daoist officials present, they would have burst into tears or danced with joy long ago.
"Talents spots... Am I hearing this correctly..." York Old Lady, who was serving by the jade steps, stared blankly, then forcefully suppressed her ecstatic joy.
The so-called talent spots were children selected by immortal Daoist sects from various countries who were not more than three years old, brought back to the sects to be nurtured from a young age, and almost all of them started as inner disciples. In the past, not to mention the York family, even in the entire Tera Kingdom, there were hardly any talent spots.
Without talent spots, it was difficult to produce cultivators native to their own country. All along, the strongest fighting force of the Tera Kingdom had been Masters. Although they could suppress small neighboring countries, compared to some medium-sized or even large countries, the Tera Kingdom was far behind, like a child compared to a giant.
Starting tonight, the destiny of the Tera Kingdom was about to change.
The root of this change was undoubtedly Shuro. If it weren't for Shuro's face, the titans of the immortal Daoist world in the south would not have paid attention to a remote small country like the Tera Kingdom.
King Peppe stared at the young man's back, filled with mixed emotions.
"This time, Your Majesty has also given me thirty spots for young scholars to study abroad. Originally, they were to be distributed to several medium-sized countries," Renzhi lightly stroked his beard, teasingly saying, "I'll take the lead without reporting and, on behalf of His Majesty, the Emperor, I'll give ten of the spots to the Tera Kingdom. Tera King, what do you think?"
King Peppe's face was flushed with excitement, unable to contain his joy.
Compared to the medium-sized countries mentioned by Renzhi, the Tera Kingdom was as vulnerable as a child, let alone the Grand Xia Dynasty, the number one power in the south. The Grand Xia Dynasty, with its thriving industries, was even able to contend with the seven major sects in the realm of immortal Daoism. Ten study abroad spots, returning from the Grand Xia Dynasty after ten years, would definitely elevate the overall strength of the Tera Kingdom. At that time, not only would they be able to conquer neighboring small countries, but they might even be able to join the ranks of medium-sized countries.
But at this moment, a soft and melodious laughter rang out.
"Who allowed you to represent His Majesty, Renzhi?"
Shuro clearly noticed Renzhi's pupils contract, a flash of anger rising in his eyes, a profound and abyssal aura emanating from him. It dissipated in an instant, as if nothing had happened.
The speaker was the woman in the Golden Luang Palace. She wore a plain white mask, like a performer on stage, revealing a pair of bright eyes. Concealing her appearance made it impossible to discern her age, but her mysterious appearance, graceful demeanor, and the identity of the Princess of the number one dynasty in the south all sparked endless imagination.
"Bro, what's the background of this princess?" Shuro asked through voice transmission.
"Speaking of which, this princess is also a legend. She was originally the current Grand Xia Princess... Forget it, when I have time, I'll tell you in detail," Qin Jiadian smiled.
Being called a legend by Qin Jiadian was definitely not simple... Shuro was curious.
At this moment, the woman spoke again.
"Xiaoqing, go and try," her jade-white fingers lightly tapped the armrest of her chair, commanding.
"Oh," the green-clothed palace maid descended gracefully.
Damei Shitai finally showed a hint of annoyance, "When did my affairs in Kongxu Mountain involve you! How would a little girl like you have the Daoist transmission fire, causing trouble!"
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"Little girl..." The green-clothed palace maid lowered her head, muttering softly.
In an instant, she appeared in front of Damei Shitai, not saying a word, and struck out with a palm. Under her lovely and adorable little hand, a world-shaking power emanated, causing the void to collapse layer by layer, and swirling black winds to blow. Although Damei Shitai was surprised, she remained calm and collected, lightly flicking her fingers, forming seals, and punching out.
The air shattered heavily, and waves of tremendous force swept out, like ripples on a lake, with each "wave" shimmering with terrifying power fluctuations, as if they were going to level the palace.
Including Renzhi and the Lone Star Elder, everyone's faces were solemn as they performed their techniques, forming a formation to block the spreading force. Even so, the palace still shook.
Damei Shitai stepped back five steps, her face flushing with a sickly red color. The green-clothed palace maid, however, remained calm as if nothing had happened, floating back to stand in front of Shuro.
"You..." Shuro was about to speak, but the palace maid pressed down with a palm, her expression cold, her gaze unfamiliar, as if the person who appeared in the River God's Mansion during the day was not her.
The icy palm pressed against his forehead, a faint, refreshing fragrance wafted from the palace maid's sleeve, and Shuro couldn't help but take a sniff.
Like the Lone Star Elder and Elder Duan, the palace maid named Xiaoqing also transmitted a strange power into Shuro's body. However, unlike the Lone Star and Elder Duan, Xiaoqing's transmitted power was devoid of any warmth and instead extremely cold, as if it were cold iron in a snowy field.
Shuro instinctively mobilized his true essence to resist the icy power.
In the past month or so, about forty percent of Shuro's true qi had been condensed into true essence. True essence was the liquid form of true qi, even more concentrated and containing even stronger power.
In the blink of an eye, Xiaoqing easily dispersed the true essence with a flick of her finger.
Shuro was taken aback, only to see the strange little palace maid, who had always had no expression, lower her head and give him a disdainful look!
She's even rolling her eyes at me!
Shuro felt a sense of familiarity, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember where he had seen her before today.
After a while, the palace maid exclaimed softly and flashed back to stand beside the woman in white.
"Report to Your Highness, unable to transmit the fire," Xiaoqing said.
Discussions broke out, and everyone's gaze towards Shuro became more disdainful.
"Unable to transmit the fire?" The woman in white rested her chin on her hand, scrutinizing Shuro with a hint of interest.
Above and below Kongxu Mountain, hearts were pounding incessantly. The ruler and subjects of the Tera Kingdom felt a vague sense of unease. The disciples of the sects exchanged glances. Only the people of the Kunting Mountain revealed a gloating expression.
Three successive cultivators, each with cultivation levels beyond the Nascent Soul realm, failed to transmit the fire, which was clearly abnormal.
"Why?" The woman's voice remained steady, devoid of any fluctuation, lacking even a trace of fireworks as she calmly inquired.
A green-clothed palace maid leaned in and whispered something.
"Playing mysterious tricks," the leader of the Great Zhou Dynasty, a general with a stern face, laughed heartily. "Let this general give it a try. If by chance the transmission succeeds, according to tradition, he will be a descendant of our Great Zhou Dynasty's immortal Dao lineage."
Without waiting for Damei Shitai's approval, the Great Zhou general slammed the table, and his body floated up as if weightless, drifting over like a wisp of willow fluff. In an instant, like the weight of the Five Sacred Mountains pressing down, he shattered the invisible dust in the air and landed in front of Shuro.
The Great Zhou general's stature was as massive as a small mountain, towering a full two heads taller than Shuro.
He reached out, pressing down on Shuro's head.
"Throughout history, in cultivation, we transmit the Dao, not the fire! This is the secret we Great Zhou do not pass on, the Heavenly Net Dao Fire, guide it with intent!" The Great Zhou general's eyes sparkled as he enunciated each word deliberately.
Shuro's pupils contracted; this time, he finally felt something.
The warmth in his lower abdomen turned into a scorching heat, as if there was a ball of fire burning fiercely, faintly hinting at something about to be born.
Shuro's heart swelled with waves of emotion.
The essence of cultivation was constant advancement and change. Each advancement in realm represented a completely different existence. Among these, transmitting the fire was a crucial stage. It could be said that the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment realm was entirely preparatory for transmitting the fire. Only with successful transmission could one establish the Yellow Court and truly step into the immortal Dao.
Throughout history, in cultivation, we transmit the Dao, not the fire! There is often talk of 'bathing in fire and undergoing rebirth,' and the significance of transmitting the fire lies therein. It is a rebirth on the path of cultivation, a true metamorphosis from a cocoon to a butterfly!
However, at this moment, a strange force came from Shuro's head, swirling the fire seed into his upper dantian.
The sensation of burning in the lower dantian disappeared, and Shuro trembled all over, opening his eyes to meet the incredulous gaze of the Great Zhou general.
"What's going on? Where is my Dao fire?" After a while, the Great Zhou general returned to his seat, muttering to himself.
"Hahaha, I refuse to believe it's a jinx! If I succeed in transmitting the fire, you, Young Master Shuro, will become my disciple, and I will impart all my knowledge to you." Renzhi from the Great Xia Dynasty burst into laughter, his white beard floating as he vanished into thin air.
In the next moment, he appeared from the other end of the air, standing in front of Shuro.
With his aged hand pressed on Shuro's head, Renzhi's eyes gleamed as he solemnly declared, "Throughout history, in cultivation, we transmit the Dao, not the fire! This is one of the five supreme fires passed down in my Great Xia Dynasty, the Subjugating Inferno. Concentrate your mind and receive it well!"
As he spoke, the domineering fire seed flowed into Shuro's head.
Similar to before, the sensation in the lower dantian was very obvious. However, before long, the strange force in the upper dantian surged again, as if an insatiable glutton swallowing the fire seed.
"How strange." Renzhi withdrew his hand, looking at Shuro in confusion, then walked back somewhat reluctantly.
Next, disciples from the Feixue Sect, the Boundless Cave, the Great Zen Monastery, and even elders from the Tianhua Palace tried to transmit the fire to Shuro, but none succeeded.
The atmosphere in the palace became heavy and eerie, with almost everyone's gaze filled with suspicion.
A hint of excitement rose in Shuro's heart!
After experiencing several failed attempts at transmitting the fire, something unexpected happened: for the first time in over five months, Shuro saw the words on the black wooden tablet.
The black wooden tablet was clearly still in his storage ring, but at this moment, it seemed to reflect in his mind, a peculiar sensation indeed.
"A millennium of bitter cultivation, sacrificing everything, all for the sake of slaying sages." This was the first sentence that appeared on the wooden tablet.
The writing was plain, but it allowed Shuro to vaguely see the image of the once unruly figure, the one who overlooked all beings, gods, demons, and immortals—the supreme Devil Emperor.
"In the world of cultivation, one either establishes the Yellow Court Secret Realm or breaks through the Lingtai Secret Realm. Rarely is there one who opens the Heavenly Gate Secret Realm, as it is a talent that is difficult to find even among billions. However, the Heavenly Gate is the origin of wisdom, the destination of the celestial Dao. The six universally recognized sages all opened the Heavenly Gate, cultivating the Profound God, unmatched by any..."
"Understanding this point, I began to seek ways to open the Heavenly Gate in the future... For hundreds of years, I have been searching the Nine Heavens, comprehending the ninefold Dao, and finally found the method to open the 'Heavenly Gate'...
Opening the Heavenly Gate and cultivating the Profound Deity are often the realm of the Profound Family.
Within the Profound Patterns lie the principles of heaven and earth, the laws of the Dao. I collected ninety-nine Dao Patterns, each containing the essence of heaven and earth, engraved on wooden tablets.
Observing and studying day and night, in half a year, one should be able to open the Sea of Consciousness. Afterward, only the ingestion of the essence of heaven and earth is required to further fill and transform the Sea of Consciousness.
Once the Sea of Consciousness is completely transformed and filled, one can forcibly open the Heavenly Gate...
The essence of heaven and earth includes spiritual veins, elemental essences, primordial exotic beasts, and primordial ores...
All things that contain primordial power are the essence of heaven and earth...
However, to use this method to open the Heavenly Gate, there is only one prerequisite, that is, not having undergone the Fire Transmission...
Since ancient times, the victor is honored as a sage, and the defeated is seen as a demon. If I were to be defeated, I would abandon my body as a demon, severing the memory of the 'Fighting Saint.'
In the future, I will follow the clues and track down here to obtain the method of opening the Heavenly Gate...
Nine hundred million years of nine thousand heavens, the number one Fighting Saint, the Nine-Dragon Sovereign. Stay!"
So that's it! Until today, Shuro finally understood the cause and effect. In order to slay the sage, the Nine-Dragon Sovereign hid the method of opening the Heavenly Gate in the southern domain.
And because he feared that the sages would capture his memory, he forcibly erased all memories related to the Fighting Saint, including the method of opening the 'Heavenly Gate,' and his layout in the southern domain. Only leaving behind some scattered clues.
The Nine-Dragon Sovereign's original plan was that if he were to be defeated, he would be reincarnated and start his cultivation anew.
The final outcome, Shuro had long known from the memories of the Nine-Dragon Sovereign. Betrayed by his three disciples, the Nine-Dragon Sovereign was on the brink of success, with only a wisp of soul left, fleeing to the southern domain.
"No wonder the Fire Transmission failed, it turns out it was all absorbed by the Sea of Consciousness as the essence of heaven and earth. Every day when I pondered the Dao patterns on the wooden tablet, I always had a feeling of falling into an endless abyss. It seems that this is the process of transforming the Sea of Consciousness."
Shuro thought to himself. Just then, as Shuro understood the cause and effect, another fragment of severed memory surfaced: the White Bone Prison Hall! This was the second forbidden place left by the Nine-Dragon Sovereign in the southern domain after the Monument Sea of Warden City, and also the second layout.
The Monument Sea of Warden City allowed Shuro to find the black wooden tablet, which was used to transform the Sea of Consciousness and open the Heavenly Gate realm. And in the White Bone Prison Hall, there was hidden the method of practicing the Heavenly Gate realm after opening it.
The memories of the Nine-Dragon Sovereign were very fragmented, and Shuro didn't learn much from them. He didn't even know where the White Bone Prison Hall was or what the secret method looked like.
All he knew was that the Nine-Dragon Sovereign left eight entrances to the White Bone Prison Hall in various locations in the southern domain. "The White Bone Prison Hall..."
Shuro didn't continue to ponder further. He hadn't even opened the Heavenly Gate realm yet, let alone practiced it. "It seems that to master the Fire Transmission and establish the Yellow Court, one must first open the Heavenly Gate.
But there's no rush, I'm only at the third stage of foundation building now, still a long way from the fourth stage of foundation building needed to establish the Yellow Court." Shuro thought to himself.
Suddenly, a strong sense of curiosity arose within him. Since the era of Silence, the civilization of cultivation had entered a new era. But regardless of the kind of cultivation method or profession, they all originated from the three major cultivation systems.
However, whether in the Tynche Continent or other domains, the most powerful and mysterious profession was undoubtedly the Profound Family profession. To become a member of the Profound Family, there was only one condition, which also puzzled countless cultivators. That was to open the Heavenly Gate.
"I really thought he was some kind of once-in-a-millennium genius." "Exactly. I've never heard of anyone unable to undergo the Fire Transmission. It's quite rare." "This is the consequence of cultivating without guidance.
What a farce... But today wasn't a wasted trip."
"A single phrase to enlighten oneself! Let's see how he enlightens himself this time!" When Shuro opened his eyes and returned to reality, he heard endless mocking voices. Apart from the disciples of the Empty Mountain Sect, including dozens of martial artists, all pointing and mocking Shuro.
The elders of various sects did not intervene, pretending not to see, allowing their disciples to release their pressure and vent their emotions. Shuro's sudden emergence had made him a legend in the southern cultivation world in less than half a year, a topic of discussion every day.
This made the disciples of various sects feel pressured. Who would want to see someone appear above them, whom they could never hope to surpass in their lifetime? "Unable to undergo the Fire Transmission...
It seems that his cultivation path is truly going to come to a halt." The leader of the Heavenly Palace declared conclusively. The monarchs and ministers of the Tera Dynasty widened their eyes, somewhat dazed. Masters such as Sun Zhongyuan and Wu Jurén found it hard to believe.
But the most unwilling to accept it was still the group from the Empty Mountain Sect. When Shuro defeated Diego in the Wind Rising Hall of Warden City, displayed his talent in alchemy, and formed friendships with Tiancan and Adamo, everyone thought that a new legend was about to begin.
When Shuro surpassed many geniuses such as Yue Qun, Diego, Wangxiang, and Nandu in the Monument Sea Enlightenment Conference, breaking the millennium-old record with ease, everyone seemed to see another peerless genius, not inferior to Bruno, step by step onto the stage of the southern cultivation world.
When he reached the peak of the Monument Sea Enlightenment Conference, activated ninety-six tombstones, and all revealed cultivation methods, shocking everyone with his amazing talent by killing Diego and Yue Qun across levels, who would have thought that his cultivation path was about to come to an end?
He was like a star streaking across the sky of the southern domain, once shining brightly enough to overshadow everyone's brilliance. What "Ten Little Masters", "Ten Great Masters", even "Ten Old Masters," none could compare.
But unfortunately, this star was ultimately just a shooting star. Like those in history who rose and fell rapidly, he too was about to disappear from everyone's sight. In the regretful and complex gazes of the disciples of the Empty Mountain Sect, Shuro looked at the leader elder of the Heavenly Palace and smiled slightly, "Wrong, wrong, wrong, you're wrong. I've come this far, and I won't stop now."