Six Paths Assembly

Purple clouds gathered above Azure Cloud Peak, but the servants had long since grown used to them.

Over the past few years, several phenomena had appeared in heaven and earth above Azure Cloud Peak, and the one who had caused them was none other than Lu Changsheng, an Elder of the peak.

"Dao Palace Realm Fifth Layer."

Inside his cave abode, Lu Changsheng sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, white vapor rising from his head. He steadily expanded the small world within his Dao Palace and broke through to the Dao Palace Realm Fifth Layer in one go.

Because his foundation was so solid, Lu Changsheng encountered no obstacles. When the water rose, the channel formed.

"I've also grasped the Fifth Layer of the Taiqing Wuji Art."

After entering the Dao Palace Realm Fifth Layer, Lu Changsheng had fully comprehended the Fifth Layer of the Taiqing Wuji Art.

Lu Changsheng counted on his fingers and realized that two months had passed during this seclusion.

The first thing Lu Changsheng did after emerging from seclusion was summon his two disciples and continue his Transmission Empowerment.

Having entered the Dao Palace Realm Fifth Layer, Lu Changsheng had expanded his Dantian, Qi Sea, and Dao Palace Small World, allowing them to hold more Spiritual Qi.

[Ding! You have transmitted 200 days of cultivation to your disciple "Lian." Lian actually received 40 days of cultivation. You have received an Apprentice-Teaching Hundred-and-Tenfold Return Reward: 4,400 days of cultivation.]

Lu Changsheng had transmitted only a little cultivation, but Lian's little face was already flushed red.

[Ding! You have transmitted 180 days of cultivation to your disciple "Lin Qingzhi." Lian actually received 36 days of cultivation. You have received an Apprentice-Teaching Hundred-and-Fiftyfold Return Reward: 5,400 days of cultivation.]

From the two transmissions, Lu Changsheng received a total of 9,800 days of cultivation.

Though Lu Changsheng had only recently broken through, his Dantian and Qi Sea were once again filled with abundant Spiritual Qi, and his Dao Palace Small World expanded.

"Junior Brother."

"Senior Brother?"

Lu Changsheng had been teaching his disciples as usual when his senior brother, Li Changye, suddenly came to visit.

"The Sect Master has ordered you to bring Lian to the Six Paths Assembly."

"All right."

"Lian, you'll come with me to the Six Paths Assembly."

"As for Qingzhi, you'll stay and guard Azure Cloud Peak."

"Yes, Master."

"Wonderful! I can finally go down the mountain!"

Lian waved her fist excitedly.

She had spent four years on Mount Shu and could finally leave the mountain.

"With the Mount Shu Sect Master and Senior Brother leading the group, there shouldn't be any danger at this Six Paths Assembly, right...?"

The Four Great Demonic Sects and the Desolate Province Demon Race already knew that Lian was on Mount Shu, but because Mount Shu had such deep foundations, neither dared act rashly. Now Li Changye had asked him to bring Lian to the Six Paths Assembly. Could it be...?

Lu Changsheng pondered in silence, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

He had already guessed what Li Changye intended.

"Before the Six Paths Assembly begins, I'll see whether I can comprehend the Sixth Layer of the Taiqing Wuji Art."

Lu Changsheng continued cultivating.

Each seclusion lasted anywhere from a few days to several months. Lu Changsheng kept fleecing the wool, and before he knew it, the day of the Six Paths Assembly arrived.

The Six Paths Assembly was the greatest event in Xia Province's cultivation world. The sect masters of the Six Great Orthodox Sects and their long-renowned Elders would all attend to settle major affairs in Xia Province together.

At the same time, the Six Great Orthodox Sects would use the occasion to determine their rankings.

Although the Six Great Orthodox Sects still had some old monsters holding the fort, the younger generation of Elders represented their future. Thus, the potential of the younger Elders could, for the most part, represent a sect's strength.

Among Mount Shu's Dao Palace Realm Elders, Li Changye, Zhao Wuyan, Lu Changsheng, and the others were all Personal Disciples whom Taiyuan True Person had taken in during the past five hundred years. They could all be counted among the younger generation of Elders.

"Master, it's time to leave!"

Lian could hardly wait and came to Lu Changsheng's cave abode to urge him along.

Lu Changsheng emerged from meditation and shook his head with a wry smile.

The Taiqing Wuji Art was divided into nine layers, each more obscure and difficult to understand than the last.

After breaking through to the Dao Palace Realm Fifth Layer, Lu Changsheng had spent several months on it, yet he still had not fully comprehended the Sixth Layer of the Taiqing Wuji Art.

If Taiyuan True Person knew that Lu Changsheng wanted to master the Sixth Layer of the Taiqing Wuji Art in just a few months, he would surely think Lu Changsheng had gone mad.

After all, it was an Upper-Grade Heaven Stage cultivation method.

"Let's go."

Lu Changsheng swept his sleeve, and a gentle breeze drifted over, enveloping the two of them and carrying them to the Mount Shu Main Hall to assemble.

Seventy-two Mount Shu Elders were taking part in the Six Paths Assembly this time. The one with the highest cultivation among them was Senior Brother Li Changye, who was at the Dao Palace Realm Ninth Layer.

Of course, Taiyuan True Person, who was leading the group, had unfathomable cultivation and had long since surpassed the Dao Palace Realm.

The Mount Shu Sect Master and seventy-two Elders formed a group large enough to easily destroy any mortal dynasty. Even the Great Xia Dynasty, the most populous dynasty in Xia Province, could not withstand such a force.

Flying swords came piercing through the air one after another. Those riding them drew in and breathed out Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, like whales and dragons. Every one of them was an Elder with profound cultivation.

"Junior Brother greets Senior Brother!"

"Senior Brother Zhao, it's been a long time."

"Junior Brother Qian, you've been in seclusion for so long. I didn't expect you to come out this time."

"The Six Paths Assembly is the greatest event in Xia Province, and the Sect Master and Senior Brother are leading us in person. How could I miss it?"

"Junior Brother Lu? And Junior Brother Lu's little disciple..."

The Elders present turned pale at the sight of them, all eyes converging on the newly arrived Lu Changsheng and Lian. Quite a few Elders went pale, and others hurriedly protected their beards.

Lu Changsheng's little disciple was a little Demon who had thrown Mount Shu into chaos, sending chickens flying and dogs leaping.

Yet the Sect Master and Senior Brother never punished her, with the result that Lian had secretly set fire to quite a few Elders' beards.

Apart from the Grand Supreme Elders in the Rear Mountain, every Elder had suffered at the hands of this little ancestor to some degree, and they had learned to fear her.

"My disciple, all the Elders are here. As their junior, shouldn't you pay your respects to them?"

"Mount Shu Disciple Lian pays her respects to the Elders."

Lian obediently performed a disciple's salute, looking charming and adorable, but the Mount Shu Elders broke out in goosebumps at the sight of this little Demon.

Who knew what things would be like when Lian became a Mount Shu Elder of equal standing with them?

"Senior Brother."

"Senior Brother Zhao."

"Junior Brother Lu."

Lu Changsheng greeted Li Changye, Zhao Wuyan, and the other Elders.

Li Changye was at the Dao Palace Realm Ninth Layer, and Zhao Wuyan was at the Dao Palace Realm Fifth Layer. These Elders were all Personal Disciples of Taiyuan True Person and held exalted positions among Mount Shu's Elders.

"Junior Brother Lu, your cultivation has advanced again."

"It's truly unbelievable. You only entered the Dao Palace Realm five years ago, Junior Brother Lu, yet now, after five years, I can't even see through your cultivation."

Zhao Wuyan was Lu Changsheng's senior brother. Although his disciple had lost to Lu Changsheng's disciple at the Mount Shu Assembly, leaving him without a shred of face, the two of them were unexpectedly on good terms.

Apart from his senior brother Li Changye, Zhao Wuyan was the Mount Shu Elder closest to Lu Changsheng.

"I've merely had the occasional sudden enlightenment lately."

Lu Changsheng was also worried that others would be astonished by how quickly his cultivation had advanced, so he attributed it to sudden enlightenment.

Legend had it that those with an immortal destiny could be mortal at dawn and ascend to the Immortal Stage by dusk.

"I'm truly envious."

Zhao Wuyan sincerely envied Lu Changsheng.

Sudden enlightenment was a fortuitous opportunity one could encounter but not seek.

"The Sect Master is here!"

The Mount Shu Elders fell silent as cicadas in winter. An old man in a yin-yang Taiji Daoist Robe and an old woman leaning on a wooden staff had appeared in the middle of the hall at some unknown time.