“Solid as a Rock!” Fang Yan roared.
The next instant, Luo Lingkong’s terrifying sword qi blazed across the void, descending like a river of stars, slashing directly at Fang Yan. With a thunderous boom, a vibrant earthen-yellow light erupted from Fang Yan’s body, rendering him utterly indestructible.
Boom! Luo Lingkong was instantly sent flying, spitting a mouthful of blood as he crashed heavily to the ground. He lay there, his face a mask of shock. He couldn’t accept it! He hadn’t even broken through Fang Yan’s defense. His Dao Heart was on the verge of shattering! How was this possible? He had clearly achieved enlightenment! First, he couldn’t defeat Ye Chen, and now he couldn’t even beat Fang Yan? “Argh…” Luo Lingkong roared internally.
Fang Yan laughed heartily, helping Luo Lingkong to his feet. Seeing the despair in Luo Lingkong’s eyes, Fang Yan consoled him, “Don’t worry, Senior Brother. This is only because Peak Master Lu bestowed upon me the Dao of Earth Principle.”
Luo Lingkong felt a little better.
Lu Xuan smiled faintly, and with a flick of his sleeve, casually raised a hand to summon the massive Spirit Sword embedded in a distant mountain peak. This was precisely the foundational divine artifact of the Heavenly Sword Sect branch. An Ultimate Emperor Weapon! “This is an Ultimate Emperor Weapon,” Lu Xuan stated calmly. “It carries the Dao patterns and obsessions of countless supreme Sword Emperors. I’ll help you refine it!”
Lu Xuan immediately began assisting Luo Lingkong in refining the Spirit Sword.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Luo Lingkong caressed the Ultimate Emperor Weapon, utterly captivated by it. “Many thanks, Peak Master Lu,” Luo Lingkong said, his voice filled with profound gratitude.
Lu Xuan simply smiled. “Go on back now.”
Soon after, Lu Xuan led everyone back to the Yanwu Sect. Wisps of cooking smoke began to curl lazily into the air. This time, Lu Xuan was personally cooking.
***
Meanwhile, beyond the Southern Wilds, in the Four Domains, the numerous Overlord-level factions of the North Plains, East Wilds, West Desert, and Central Domain eagerly awaited. They were all waiting for the Bronze Ancient Palace to descend upon their Great Domains. This was because the Bronze Ancient Palace had always first appeared in the Southern Wilds. Therefore, every time the Supreme Path was about to open, the Bronze Ancient Palace would manifest in the Southern Wilds first. Only then would it be the turn of the other Four Domains.
Back then, the Grand Dao Sect founder, Dao Yi, had risen to unparalleled prominence, dominating all Five Domains and making the Southern Wilds a force to be reckoned with. But ever since Grand Dao Sect founder Dao Yi disappeared, no one in the Southern Wilds had been able to suppress the other Four Domains. The Southern Wilds had since fallen, becoming the weakest of the domains. Regarding the descent of the Bronze Ancient Palace, the other Four Domains grumbled and complained, but they could do nothing but accept it. An ancient supreme artifact like the Bronze Ancient Palace transcended their understanding; it moved according to its own will, not the whims of mortals.
***
The West Desert.
Upon countless spiritual peaks, temples stood in continuous rows, radiating brilliant golden light. Colossal ancient Buddha statues stood tall, bathed in a layer of golden brilliance by the light of the immense sun. The West Desert was a land where both the Buddhist and Demonic paths flourished. Buddhist cultivators and the Demon Race were the two largest major powers! Heavenly Spirit Mountain was the supreme Buddhist cultivation ground of the West Desert, having given birth to three Buddhist Supremes over eight epochs.
At this moment, within Heavenly Spirit Mountain, a middle-aged man in a gray monk’s robe, with a clean-shaven, refined face and an ethereal aura, exuded a radiant Buddhist intent that shone like golden light. He spoke slowly. “When the Supreme Path opens,” he murmured, “that Wuwu should also begin his journey, passing through numerous Demon Race territories to reach my Heavenly Spirit Mountain and seek the Nirvana Sutra!”
A nearby Buddhist cultivator nodded respectfully. “Indeed. Wuwu’s body, having undergone eight reincarnations and re-cultivations, is perfectly suited to offer his Buddha Fruit as a sacrifice to our Heavenly Spirit Mountain.”
Concurrently, in the West Desert, an immense distance from Heavenly Spirit Mountain, a handsome young man wore a string of ancient jade beads around his neck. There were seven beads in total, each incredibly radiant and imbued with terrifying power. From a distance, a monk hurried over, bowing respectfully. “Wuwu Master, it is time for your lecture.”
Hearing this, Wuwu slowly rose, a faint smile gracing his lips. Pure and pristine Dao patterns flowed around him as he calmly walked towards a high platform. Below the platform, numerous monks had already gathered, kneeling with utmost piety before settling into cross-legged positions, their gazes fixed on Wuwu Master.
Wuwu slowly ascended the platform and began to recite sutras. “Amitabha!”
“Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, when practicing the profound Prajnaparamita, perceives that all five skandhas are empty, thus overcoming all suffering…”
Wuwu spoke eloquently, golden characters swirling around him, filling the path with brilliant light. These flying scriptures continuously circled, gradually merging with Wuwu. The many Buddhist cultivators saw a perfectly formed ancient Buddha, seemingly standing upon the high platform.
An hour later, Wuwu concluded his lecture and, surrounded by the monks, returned to his room. Once everyone had departed, Wuwu gently caressed the seven-colored jade beads hanging on his chest—his seven Dao Fruits. A hint of complexity flickered in his eyes as he gazed at the distant setting sun. When the Bronze Ancient Palace descended, according to his agreement with Heavenly Spirit Mountain, he was forbidden from entering it in this life. Instead, he had to journey from the easternmost part of the West Desert, heading west to Heavenly Spirit Mountain to seek the Nirvana Sutra.
Why? Because Wuwu sought to sever his past self. The past was beyond recall, yet everyone in the West Desert knew that Wuwu’s previous incarnation had been a terrifying, supreme existence within the Five Domains. But who this person was, no records in the Five Domains could say. There was no trace of him! Wuwu had undergone eight reincarnations and re-cultivations precisely to erase all traces of that person! This was also why his Buddhist name was “Wuwu” (No-Self)! That person had once failed too many, ultimately inviting a calamitous slaughter. Thus, Wuwu was born. He sought to remold himself, to forge a new self. In this life, he had to journey to Heavenly Spirit Mountain to seek the Nirvana Sutra, to cleanse his physical body, Divine Soul, and Dao Foundation in Nirvana, completely eradicating all vestiges of that past self.
Wuwu sighed silently. He naturally knew this journey would be fraught with peril. This westward pilgrimage would be incredibly difficult; the Demon Race of the West Desert knew he was heading to Heavenly Spirit Mountain and all coveted his seven Dao Fruits. And Heavenly Spirit Mountain itself desired his Dao Fruits. Difficult! Yet, his resolve was set on this journey west.
For a time, numerous factions in the West Desert awaited the descent of the Bronze Ancient Palace, but each harbored their own hidden agendas.
***
The North Plains.
Above the boundless glaciers, mountains shimmered like silver serpents, and the plains stretched out like vast, white elephants. Heavy snow fell, painting the world in a desolate, boundless white. A woman of breathtaking beauty walked through the void, her features exquisite, her figure perfectly sculpted, her delicate jade feet seeming to dance with each step. This was none other than the Frost Empress of the North Plains.
The North Plains Royal Court, the sole peak Overlord-level faction in the North Plains. Unlike the other Four Domains, the North Plains had been unified by its ruler in the First Epoch, establishing the North Plains Royal Court. For eight epochs, all opportunities for the Supreme Fruit Position had been claimed by members of the Royal Court.
The Frost Empress wore an ice-blue gown that clung to her perfect figure, outlining a flawless silhouette. Her long, slender jade legs swayed in the void, as pristine and white as pillars of ice. Her gaze was as cold as the deepest ice, exuding an air of supreme authority; every gesture carried the undeniable presence of a true sovereign. Behind the Frost Empress, several handsome men followed closely, almost reverently, gently lifting the hem of her gown. With each step she took, imprints of ice and snow, imbued with Dao patterns, appeared in the void. She looked out into the vast emptiness. “This epoch marks the final Supreme Path. My North Plains Royal Court possesses two peerless experts, both with the hope of attaining the Supreme Realm.”
One of the men spoke, “But our North Plains only has one Supreme Fruit Position.”
The Frost Empress clenched her delicate hand, then a chilling smile touched her lips. “Then we’ll seize it! The Southern Wilds is the weakest of the Five Domains. This time, we can simply take their Supreme Fruit Position!”