One Person Ascends to the Dao, Even Grass and Trees Receive His Blessing

Boom—

The spiritual energy throughout Yujing City surged like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, transforming into countless streaks of light that poured into that sky-supporting giant hand!

The scarlet clouds in the sky, the purple qi dragon shadow, the pitch-black sword mound, the palace beneath the deep sea... Every wondrous apparition was drawn to that hand and swallowed up!

Chen Qing watched, dazzled and entranced, and countless thoughts arose in his mind. Suddenly, his seven orifices burned, and all those thoughts seemed about to burst out of his body!

"Thump!"

The pulse of heaven and earth abruptly stopped.

Boom—

High above the nine heavens, the firmament split like brocade, opening a colossal black rift that stretched from east to west and from north to south! At its edges, earth, water, fire, and wind surged and were annihilated. Boundless golden light burst forth from the depths, dispelling the darkness in an instant!

Where the golden light gathered, a "gate" of immeasurable grandeur slowly appeared!

It was neither gold nor jade, neither stone nor wood. Its entire form was woven from pure, flowing chains of divine Dao laws!

Upon its doors, the sun, moon, and stars appeared and vanished, while mountains, rivers, and the realm itself revolved! Though it was only a projection, it was enough to twist the laws of the Central Spirit Continent until they wailed!

"The Immortal Gate! It's the Immortal Gate!"

Throughout Yujing City, countless cultivators trembled with excitement, tears streaming down their faces as they prostrated themselves in the direction of the Immortal Gate!

Chen Qing knew this was a fortuitous opportunity, but when he looked at the gate, all he could feel was its grandeur and complexity. Its profundity, form, and outline were beyond his comprehension; even one more glance made him feel as though his soul would split apart!

The Immortal Gate swung open!

"Om—Ang—Um—"

Daoic sounds like the creation of heaven and earth rang across the universe. Whoever heard them, regardless of cultivation, mortal or immortal, strong or weak, felt all hostility vanish from their heart. Their minds cleared, and every lingering ailment throughout their bodies was healed!

Golden flowers drifted down from the sky. Wherever they touched, withered trees bloomed anew and stubborn stones glowed with a halo. Nine-colored auspicious clouds unfurled across the heavens; dragons soared and phoenixes danced within them, while luan birds sang in harmony. Countless celestial flowers and spirit roots swayed gracefully, their exotic fragrance soothing the senses.

At the center of the Immortal Gate, that majestic figure finally became fully corporeal. His eyes, like furnaces of creation, swept across the land, and golden lotuses bloomed in the void.

The First Origin Immortal Emperor!

He raised his right hand and pointed lightly!

Rumble—

The earth's spiritual veins throughout Yujing City and the entire Central Spirit Continent roared to life!

Vast spiritual energy gushed forth from the depths of the earth's veins, transforming into visible seven-colored tides that swept across heaven and earth!

At that moment, countless cultivators trapped at bottlenecks suddenly found enlightenment. Their barriers loosened, and some even broke through on the spot!

"Good."

The Immortal Emperor cast one final glance at the human world. His gaze seemed to pause briefly at Yunmiao Immortal Palace, Qingwu Villa... and other places. Then, without another trace of reluctance, he stepped into the open Immortal Gate!

"We respectfully see the Emperor Lord off!!!"

A roar like mountains crumbling and seas surging resounded through the clouds!

The Immortal Gate slowly closed. Boundless golden light, Daoic sounds, golden flowers, and auspicious clouds all withdrew with it, scattering across the land.

The enormous spatial rift stretching across heaven and earth smoothed over as well, as though it had never appeared.

Drip.

Spiritual energy so dense it had reached its utmost limit condensed into rain and fell.

Golden flowers melted into the rain, auspicious clouds turned to light, and once more, a curtain of rain enveloped all of Yujing City.

The lingering resonance of creation echoed in every direction!

Within the formation at Qingwu Villa.

When that gaze of overwhelming pressure swept over Princess Xiyao, the demonic qi around her was suppressed and drawn back into her Yellow Court. The changes in her body vanished in an instant.

But she paid no heed to what had happened to her. Gazing up at the fading golden road, she silently shed a single tear.

"Father..."

Within Shuyu Xuan.

The Sixth Prince stood with his hands behind his back, clad in a black robe and jade belt, staring up at the sky. There was no longer any attempt to hide the ambition burning in his eyes! His five fingers slowly curled, as if he meant to seize all of Yujing in his palm.

Behind him, his trusted subordinates knelt in rows, their suppressed excitement palpable.

At the First Prince's residence.

The First Prince, dressed in a plain robe, set down the chess piece in his hand. The black and white pieces on the board had already formed a deadlock.

Watching the road of light that reached the heavens, he remained calm, letting out only an almost inaudible sigh. "Heaven and earth are the board; all living beings are the pieces. Father, you've played a fine move, leaping right out of the game."

On the martial training grounds.

The Second Prince stood drenched in blood, gazing at the place where the golden light had faded. He drove his bloodstained halberd hard into the ground, sending sparks flying. "Good riddance! In the end, this immortal dynasty must be defended with iron and blood!"

Behind him, tens of thousands of armored soldiers silently pounded their chests. Their killing intent surged into the heavens.

Yunmiao Immortal Palace, on the terrace of Shuyu Pavilion.

The Empress's phoenix robes trailed along the ground, magnificent and dignified.

She gazed in the direction where her husband had vanished. Her face showed neither grief nor joy; only a faint, deeply complex relief and... loneliness flickered in the depths of her eyes.

But soon, her gaze turned indifferent again.

"The time has come to clear the board."

Deep within the Treasure Pavilion.

At the instant the golden light shot into the heavens, Elder Jiang's figure had already faded away. Only his voice lingered faintly through the pavilion: "First Origin, First Origin... You finally took this step!"

His laughter faded, leaving no trace behind.

Elsewhere.

Just before, at the very moment the Immortal Gate opened and the Emperor's shadow was about to step inside...

Chen Qing sensed the Immortal Emperor's resolute will to refine all qi, return all laws to unity, and break free from the constraints of this world. It suddenly resonated with the fragment of the Primordial Chaos Qi Scripture in his heart!

The profound meaning within the scripture perfectly matched the scene of the Immortal Emperor's palm swallowing the myriad celestial phenomena!

"Primordial chaos qi... all-encompassing... refining all laws... So that's it!"

It was like having wisdom poured directly into his mind!

In an instant, every pore across his body opened to its utmost without him realizing it!

The innate spiritual energy scattered within a hundred zhang of him, the golden flowers bearing Dao Rhyme, the nine-colored auspicious clouds—they suddenly seemed to have found their way home and rushed toward him in a frenzy!

"Rushing—"

A visible vortex of seven-colored spiritual energy poured into him, with Chen Qing at its center! Supreme Harmony Qi surged through his meridians like a dragon. In his qi sea, his lifebound talisman blazed with brilliant starlight!

Deep in the starry sky, a star gradually brightened!

Within his Niwan Palace, a speck of pure spiritual light was born from nothingness!

Though this light was as tiny as a mustard seed, the moment it appeared, it suppressed, sorted, and gathered all the insights roiling in his Sea of Consciousness and all the spiritual energy surging through it!

The Samadhi True Fire Talisman slowly revolved around that speck of light, growing more condensed and translucent!

Chen Qing abruptly awoke from his hazy state of insight.

"Spiritual light shining through the crown? This is the sign of reaching perfection in the second realm, Soothing Harmony Foundation Establishment! A vortex forms in the qi sea, spiritual light shines through the crown! It means the flesh is flawless and the spiritual light is untainted! Both nature and life are manifest! Witnessing the Immortal Emperor's ascension actually raised the cultivation of this dream-self!"

He immediately gathered his thoughts, only then realizing that his true gain this time wasn't simply a higher cultivation realm. It was the new understanding that had sprouted from the Primordial Chaos Qi Scripture after witnessing the celestial phenomena!

At that moment, the understanding was still just two hazy thoughts, so Chen Qing cast aside all distractions and sought within!

The spiritual light in his Sea of Consciousness flickered, illuminating both inside and out. His thoughts grew clear and his mind became limpid, bringing on a feeling of sudden enlightenment!

"This..."

Outside, Lu Feng looked astonished. In his empty eye sockets, a speck of clear spiritual light was reflected!

Yin Lin'er stared at the vortex of spiritual energy surging around Chen Qing, utterly dumbfounded!

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

The spiritual rain over Yujing City had gradually faded, leaving only a few wisps of Dao Rhyme drifting through the world.

Within Jiaowei Qin Lu, the vortex of spiritual energy surrounding Chen Qing had already subsided, but Lu Feng still stood nearby, holding his qin.

Yin Lin'er dragged his weary body back and forth through the courtyard. By day, he ran about gathering news of medicinal ingredients; at night, he came to sweep the courtyard. Even when exhaustion made his eyelids droop, he still respectfully bowed toward Chen Qing's seated figure.

Still, today he couldn't help asking, "Lord Lu, how much longer will Young Master Chen need to meditate?"

"Why the hurry?" Lu Feng replied. "The Emperor Lord's cultivation was profound, his merit complete. His ascension was celebrated by heaven, earth, and mankind—a rare opportunity, seen once in ten thousand years. The longer one lets it settle, the more one gains. Besides, Young Friend Chen is blessed with deep fortune. His Foundation Establishment spiritual light must have received a trace of Dao Rhyme from the Immortal Emperor's ascension, forging the light of his Dao Foundation. His future is limitless!"

Listening, Yin Lin'er grew even more amazed. He couldn't help recalling his parents' final instructions: if he ever met someone bearing the great fortune of heaven and earth, that would be his chance to cast off his half-demon form and set foot on the right path. He must do everything in his power to follow that person!

Young Master Chen before him seemed young, but with such bearing and such fortune, wasn't he exactly the sort of person his parents had meant by "one bearing the great fortune of heaven and earth"?

But thinking of his own origins, Yin Lin'er lowered his head again. How could someone with a half-demon body like him be worthy of following a figure like that?

Just then.

"Hum—"

Chen Qing opened his eyes, and yin and yang seemed to turn within his pupils.

The true meanings of two entirely different arts became fully clear and took shape in his spiritual awareness!

Chen Qing raised both hands.

His left palm turned upward, and a pale flame leapt silently. It radiated a fierce intent to incinerate everything, even if it meant perishing together. Rain within a zhang of him evaporated, and the light warped!

"This art can be called 'Fuel Exhaustion Fire Transmission.' It uses everything one has as kindling, blending all into one and burning oneself to the end—a desperate technique that stakes everything on the fight!"

His right palm pressed down slightly. The old tree in the courtyard rustled, the grass and leaves trembled, and the "qi" of the entire courtyard seemed to come alive, faintly connecting with his thoughts!

"This art can be called 'Qi Harmonizes with Heaven and Earth.' It is the rudimentary form of a method for sensing, resonating with, and drawing upon the qi of all things."

"Whoosh—"

Chen Qing let out a long breath of turbid qi and stood up. The rain fell within three feet of him, then was pushed aside by the invisible resonance of "Qi Harmonizes with Heaven and Earth."

He raised his head to gaze at the sky. The magnificent scene of the Immortal Emperor's ascension still lingered before his eyes.

"In the real world, there aren't even any immortals. I never imagined that in this dream, I'd witness an Immortal Emperor ascend with my own eyes! This truly is a fortuitous opportunity bestowed by creation! Even if this dream gave me nothing else, this single moment of insight would have made it all worthwhile!"

The spiritual light within his Niwan Palace flickered faintly. The insight he had gained from witnessing the Great Dao of ascension had settled deep in his heart, waiting to be explored.

Lu Feng's empty eye sockets "gazed" in Chen Qing's direction!

"Dao Rhyme born of nature, spiritual tides surging of their own accord," he murmured. "His Spiritual Bone was dug out, yet he still encountered such fortune. Could he be someone born to face a calamity, bearing great fortune?"

Yin Lin'er had already been staring, dumbfounded. Hearing Lu Feng murmur those words only deepened the tremor in his heart. The mysterious aura emanating from Chen Qing, harmonizing with heaven and earth, had already been deeply imprinted in his mind.