A moment later, Lu Xuan placed his hand on the original cultivation method jade slip. Infinite ancient characters surged into it, and a brand new Desolate Heaven Art emerged. It was now Nine-star Emperor Tier.
Lu Xuan mused internally, “As expected of that man’s legacy. Nine-star Emperor Tier is just the starting line.”
Ye Chen’s hands trembled as he accepted the Desolate Heaven Art jade slip from Lu Xuan, ready to examine it.
Suddenly, above the Grand Dao Sect, the sky tore open with a deafening crack and a thunderous boom! Space twisted violently, and from the spatial rift, the voice of Tianyuan Old Ancestor boomed out.
“Hahahaha! The White Robe Daoist Friend is truly a Divine Person!”
With a mighty roar, Tianyuan Old Ancestor, clad in gray robes, stepped out of the rift. The overwhelming pressure of his Nine-star Emperor Realm cultivation surged like a tidal wave, filling the heavens and earth with supreme dominance.
Whoosh!
Tianyuan Old Ancestor instantly restrained his aura, descending toward Azure Mystery Peak on a stream of Divine Arc.
“Daoist Friend, please shut down the array for now.”
Chen Changsheng secretly deactivated the peak’s defensive array.
From another direction, the Sect Master, riding a torrent of Divine Radiance, shot toward Azure Mystery Peak. “Old Ancestor, you’ve finally returned!”
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor and the others also flew out from their hidden locations, rushing to Azure Mystery Peak. Seeing Tianyuan Old Ancestor return safe and sound finally eased the anxiety that had been plaguing them for days.
Cangxuan Old Ancestor and the others had learned from the Sect Master that Azure Mystery Peak possessed a terrifying, randomly activating teleportation array. They had been deeply worried that Tianyuan Old Ancestor might have been accidentally transported to the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone or some other deadly place, which would have been catastrophic.
The magnates landed on Azure Mystery Peak.
The Sect Master looked at Lu Xuan, scolding him with a wry smile, “Lu Xuan, perhaps you should keep this teleportation array closed most of the time! It nearly caused a disaster…”
Before he could finish, Tianyuan Old Ancestor interrupted him, his gaze profound. “No need. Let this array remain open year-round! The White Robe Daoist Friend acts with profound reason. This time, if not for the Daoist Friend’s guidance, I would not have achieved such a massive gain.”
Cangxuan Old Ancestor and the others looked puzzled. “Tianyuan Senior Brother, what gain are you referring to?”
Tianyuan Old Ancestor swept his sleeve, and an ancient token materialized before them.
The Bronze Token!
Everyone’s eyes widened in shock. The ancient token was incredibly mottled, inscribed with endless, complex, and obscure Dao patterns. It contained infinite profound secrets, imbued with profound Dao and Essence. Countless patterns intertwined, radiating a brilliant Divine Radiance, like a miniature star river.
Cangxuan Old Ancestor gasped, “Could this be…”
“Indeed! This is the key to opening the Bronze Ancient Palace—the Bronze Token!” Tianyuan Old Ancestor looked toward the empty air next to Lu Xuan, his eyes filled with reverence, and said in a deep voice, “This time, the White Robe Daoist Friend intentionally teleported me to Fuzhou, where I was able to sense the Dao Rhyme of the Bronze Ancient Palace and behold the palace itself.”
Everyone was utterly dumbfounded. They had assumed it was merely an accident, yet it turned out to be a profound, calculated arrangement by the White Robe Daoist Friend.
Lu Xuan paused, glancing at Chen Changsheng. Wait, can that array actually be controlled? This must be the arrangement of Old Third, that old fossil.
Tianyuan Old Ancestor turned to Lu Xuan. “Lu Xuan, since that Daoist Friend is unwilling to reveal himself, please pass on my thanks. This time, I owe the Daoist Friend a great debt!”
Lu Xuan nodded casually. “I understand.”
Tianyuan Old Ancestor continued, “The White Robe Daoist Friend truly planned this strategy from a thousand miles away! Fuyao was annihilating a Heavenly Net Hall Branch in Liangzhou and was surrounded by over a dozen high-star Great Emperors, including that old thing Ye Mo Great Emperor. But I killed them all.”
Cangxuan Old Ancestor’s expression shifted slightly. “Tianyuan Senior Brother, why didn’t Fuyao return with you?”
Tianyuan Old Ancestor replied, “Fuyao insists on continuing to annihilate the remaining Heavenly Net Hall Branches.”
The others were speechless. At a time like this, she still won’t return?
Tianyuan Old Ancestor smiled proudly. “Fuyao has already broken through to the Quasi-Emperor Realm!”
The Sect Master froze. “Huh?” Ji Fuyao’s cultivation speed was simply insane! How long had she been in the Grand Dao Sect to break through to the Quasi-Emperor Realm already?
Ye Chen was stunned. “Senior Sister’s cultivation base…”
Tianyuan Old Ancestor laughed. “Ye Chen, next, we will perform the Great Emperor Dao Pattern Baptism for you, Changsheng, and Luo Lingkong! The Great Era has arrived! Your cultivation cannot afford to be weak!”
Lu Xuan asked, “Old Ancestor, when should we go?”
Tianyuan Old Ancestor replied, “There’s no time like the present. Let’s do it today.”
Lu Xuan nodded. “Alright.”
Tianyuan Old Ancestor looked at Lu Xuan. “Lu Xuan, would you like to try the Great Emperor Dao Pattern Baptism again?”
Lu Xuan yawned. “I just finished eating. I’m a little sleepy.”
Tianyuan Old Ancestor chuckled. “Then stay here on Azure Mystery Peak. Come, Ye Chen, Chen Changsheng, follow me.”
Ye Chen and Chen Changsheng bowed slightly to Lu Xuan. “Master, we’re leaving.”
Lu Xuan smiled faintly. “Go on.”
Tianyuan Old Ancestor flicked his sleeve, and two streams of Divine Radiance lifted Ye Chen and Chen Changsheng, soaring into the sky and heading toward a hidden location.
Lu Xuan slowly rose from his lounge chair and walked into his cave dwelling, settling down on the玄冰 (Xuanbing) bed. A voice echoed in his ear.
[System Notification: Oh, right. Fuyao’s long spear was shattered.]
Lu Xuan suddenly realized. “No wonder I received the Ultimate Emperor Weapon, Howling Heaven! They should have told me earlier.”
He was already lying down. He would have to send the Howling Heaven spear to Fuyao another day.
***
In the Grand Dao Sect’s hidden cultivation grounds, the other top true disciples had also arrived.
Liu Xuan, wearing a long dress, stepped forward on a carpet of sparkling petals, smiling alluringly. “Ye Chen is here. And Junior Brother Changsheng, too.”
Ye Chen smiled. “Senior Sister Liu Xuan, hello.”
Chen Changsheng, maintaining his 'honest person' facade, offered a polite greeting. “Senior Sister, Senior Brothers, hello.”
The others managed strained smiles.
Fang Yan’s face darkened the moment he saw Chen Changsheng. “Chen! Chang! Sheng!”
He still hadn’t recovered from the humiliation of their previous sparring match, which had left him injured for half a month! This kid looked honest but was utterly ruthless and black-hearted.
Chen Changsheng grinned innocently. “Senior Brother Fang Yan, hello.”
Fang Yan was furious. “Don’t say anything, or I might just lose control and beat you up right here.”
Chen Changsheng silently pulled out a black array disk.
Seeing the array disk, Fang Yan’s body visibly trembled. He let out a frustrated grunt, recalling the sheer terror of being dominated by Chen Changsheng on Azure Mystery Peak. The other top true disciples burst into laughter.
Luo Lingkong, dressed in a simple azure robe, stood aloof, not engaging in conversation. A faint Sword Intent pulsed around him. He merely nodded slightly when Ye Chen arrived. Having returned to Sword Peak, his Dao Heart had become even more resolute. He had gained new enlightenment in the Dao of the Sword.
He glanced at Chen Changsheng but immediately ignored him.
Chen Changsheng mumbled under his breath, “I really didn’t do anything this time.”
Soon after, Tianyuan Old Ancestor, in his gray robes, looked at the assembled disciples with satisfaction. “Follow me.”
The disciples followed Tianyuan Old Ancestor deeper into the hidden grounds. It was the first time any of them had been here, and they looked up curiously at the changing landscape. Above their heads, stars and the moon rotated, and a magnificent star river leaned against the firmament, sparkling brilliantly and breathtakingly beautiful.
Chen Changsheng continuously surveyed his surroundings, secretly sensing the profound Dao and Stance of the area, gaining new insights. The mountains, rivers, sun, moon, and stars here were not real but phenomena derived from the profound mysteries of the Heavenly Dao.
The power of the Grand Dao Scripture circulated throughout the world.
Tianyuan Old Ancestor led Ye Chen and the others to a waterfall. The water plunged down, radiating Divine Radiance, resembling a celestial silver river cascading from the heavens. The aura of Dao and Essence was incredibly rich.
“Everything here is a derivation of a wisp of the Great Dao’s profound mystery!” Tianyuan Old Ancestor explained with a smile. “This waterfall is where you will undergo the Great Emperor Dao Pattern Baptism.”
“You will have ten days. You only need to sit cross-legged beneath the waterfall. I will use a Supreme Secret Art to derive and infuse the Great Emperor Dao Patterns into you through Dao Pattern Enlightenment! The longer you persist, the greater your gains will be!”
The disciples were immensely excited. “Yes, Old Ancestor!”
Tianyuan Old Ancestor waved his sleeve, and a gentle force lifted the disciples.
Whoosh!
The power of Star Shift surged, and the disciples instantly found themselves sitting cross-legged beneath the waterfall.
At that moment, Tianyuan Old Ancestor waved his sleeve again, his spiritual seals shifting. Complex Dao Rhyme auras surged around his body, seemingly merging directly into the surrounding environment.
Brilliant Great Emperor Dao Patterns continuously derived, condensing like the waters of a vast ocean in the void. The Dao and Essence flowed, emitting bursts of profound Daoist chanting that echoed like a great bell throughout the space.
Ye Chen, Chen Changsheng, and the others felt their minds clear, entering an incredibly ethereal and profound state.
Tianyuan Old Ancestor slowly began to speak, his voice resonating with the fundamental truth of the universe. “Dao! Dao! Dao! Dao! Dao! Dao!”