Not long after Jiang Yun ascended, more cultivators ascended from the lower realm.
Cultivators who had perfected their cultivation in the lower realm continued ascending one after another, and the frequency was quite high.
Jiang Ping'an and the others watched for about two hours, and the Immortal Reception Array brought up thirty-two lower-realm Immortals.
"The first time the Immortal Reception Array fired the Reception Divine Light down into the lower realm, cultivators who had perfected their practice and been backlogged there for many years were able to ascend relatively smoothly," Taihao explained to Jiang Ping'an. "In the early stages, there will be more lower-realm cultivators ascending."
Jiang Ping'an nodded.
At the end, he turned and ordered a Ministry of Revenue official, "Minister Ying, I'll leave the matter of settling the lower-realm cultivators to you."
"As you command," the Ministry of Revenue official replied, bowing respectfully.
Jiang Ping'an had made arrangements for this matter as early as two years ago, establishing a dedicated office under the Ministry of Revenue.
Jiang Ping'an then took Jiang Yun back to the rear garden of Lingxiao Treasure Hall and asked about matters in the Great Barrens World.
"How long had it been since my ascension before you ascended?" Jiang Ping'an asked.
Jiang Yun answered with respectful adoration, "Replying to Great Ancestor, it had been more than twenty-one thousand years."
Hearing this, the last bit of luck Jiang Ping'an had been clinging to in his heart was utterly shattered.
More than twenty thousand years—not only had Mother reached the end of her lifespan and passed away, even his son Jiang Feng had long since died of old age. The Great Barrens had long become a place where things remained but people had changed.
Jiang Ping'an could not help feeling dim and wounded. He had pursued and