Journey to the Heavenly Realm, Before the South Heaven Gate

Kunlun Mountain, Sanqing Palace.

Looking at the goddess before him—dignified and graceful, draped in rosy light, her beauty ever-changing—Grand Pure Daoist asked calmly, "Junior Sister Nuwa, you have honored Kunlun Mountain with your presence today. What guidance do you bring?"

Beside him, Yuqing Yuanshi Daoist and Shangqing Tongtian Daoist also turned their gazes toward Nuwa, a trace of scrutiny on their faces.

"Three Senior Brothers, in a thousand years, the Yao Race Heavenly Court will hold the Heavenly Emperor's enthronement ceremony in the Thirty-Three Heavens.

"Junior Sister has come to Kunlun Mountain on behalf of the Demon Court Heavenly Court to deliver invitations, inviting the three Senior Brothers to the Heavenly Court as honored guests!

"I hope the three Senior Brothers will grace us with your presence and personally attend the ceremony in the Thirty-Three Heavens!"

Having said this, Nuwa produced a purple-gold invitation and handed it to Grand Pure Daoist. Dijun had personally written it, its wording exceedingly humble as it invited the Three Pure Ones to attend the ceremony in the Thirty-Three Heavens.

After reading the invitation, the Three Pure Ones exchanged glances. Yuqing Yuanshi Daoist spoke, "When the Demon Court Heavenly Court was established, Master Hongjun of Purple Heaven Palace issued a decree. It is naturally the legitimate order of Heaven and Earth, entrusted with maintaining the Primordial World's order!

"Since several fellow Daoists have extended such a sincere invitation, we three brothers will certainly go to the Thirty-Three Heavens to attend the ceremony.

"We may also see how the Yao Race Heavenly Court founded by Dijun and Taiyi differs from the Heavenly Court of Gods and Devils in the ancient era."

"Thank you, Three Senior Brothers, for gracing us with your presence!" Nuwa's phoenix eyes slightly moved, and a faint smile appeared on her lovely face.

Looking at Nuwa, draped in rosy light, Shangqing Tongtian Daoist frowned slightly and sighed. "Junior Sister Nuwa, Fellow Daoist Fuxi and you are both true seekers of the Dao. Why wade into the murky waters of the Yao Race Heavenly Court?

"The Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Three Clans are a warning not far removed. Even if the Witch and Demon Clans show signs of dominating the Primordial World, the cultivators of both clans do not cultivate virtue. They are simply brutal and bloodthirsty. Entangled in karmic sinful power, they may well repeat the Three Clans Tribulation's disastrous course.

"Though Dijun and Taiyi are heroes who stand above the ages, Master Hongjun of Purple Heaven Palace has already attained the Primordial Dao Fruit, while the Twelve Ancestral Witches eye them like tigers eyeing their prey. The Yao Race Heavenly Court may seem to promise a great hegemony, but it is no more than a dream bubble."

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother Tongtian. Junior Sister will remember this kindness in her heart!

"As for the Yao Race Heavenly Court, Junior Sister has never taken part in its affairs. They have always been managed and planned by my elder brother.

"However, now that my elder brother and I have boarded the Yao Race Heavenly Court's 'ship,' how could Fellow Daoists Dijun and Taiyi possibly allow us to disembark so easily?

"We can only take one step and see where it leads..."

As she spoke, a trace of bitterness surfaced on Nuwa's dignified face. How could she not know the horrors of the Dragon Han Tribulation? Yet the Fengqi Mountain lineage had already boarded the ship!

Thinking of the fragment of heavenly secrets Fuxi had deduced when the Twelve Ancestral Witches founded the Witch Race, Nuwa's heart was shrouded in gloom.

"Alas..."

Beside her, Yuqing Yuanshi Daoist also sighed. "Since that is the case, Junior Sister Nuwa, avoid becoming entangled in the Yao Race Heavenly Court's karma as much as possible. With your cultivation and attainments, even if you are swept into the tribulation, you may not be unable to emerge from it."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Yuanshi. Junior Sister will remember it in her heart!"

After saying this, Nuwa rose to her feet and bowed to the Three Pure Ones. "Three Senior Brothers, Junior Sister must still make a trip to West Kunlun to deliver an invitation to Fellow Daoist Golden Mother. I shall not disturb you further!"

"Travel safely, Junior Sister!"

The Three Pure Ones watched Nuwa leave the Daoist field, until she transformed into rosy light, rode auspicious clouds through the air, and completely vanished into the heavens.

Returning to Sanqing Palace, Yuqing Yuanshi Daoist looked at the invitation upon the jade platform and snorted coldly. "Hmph, Dijun and Taiyi truly have deep schemes and towering ambitions, making full use of Teacher Hongjun's decree!

"They wish to use Great Divine Ability Users like us to bolster their Yao Race Heavenly Court and proclaim it the legitimate order of Heaven and Earth!

"And even if we understand the whole story, even if we do not wish to give Dijun and Taiyi face, we still have no choice but to personally go to the Thirty-Three Heavens."

The Three Pure Ones had seen through the Demon Court Heavenly Court's planning and calculations at a glance. Unfortunately, this was an open scheme with no solution.

Just as Yuqing Yuanshi Daoist had said, even if one refused to give Dijun and Taiyi face, could one refuse to give the Purple Heaven Palace Saint face?

"Since Dijun and Taiyi have set the stage and invited us to watch the play, then in a thousand years, we shall make a trip to the Thirty-Three Heavens.

"We can also take the opportunity to see the bearing of this 'Yao Race Heavenly Court' and see how much fate it possesses."

Grand Pure Daoist, who had remained silent until now, had a glint of light flash through his eyes as he spoke calmly.

"Eldest Brother speaks truly!"

Shangqing Tongtian Daoist nodded, a trace of sharpness emerging from his body. "When the time comes, the fellow Daoists of Purple Heaven Palace will all gather. It will be a fine chance to discuss the Dao and test our swords against the heroes of the world!"

As though it sensed Shangqing Tongtian Daoist's intent, the Qingping Sword on his back rang sharply, blazing with intense spiritual radiance.

Seeing Shangqing Tongtian Daoist like this, Yuqing Yuanshi Daoist knew that his third brother had gotten carried away again.

Curling his lip, Yuqing Yuanshi Daoist said, "In my view, this Heavenly Emperor's enthronement ceremony will likely not be peaceful. The Twelve Ancestral Witches certainly will not let the matter rest!

"Tongtian, under such circumstances, even if all the fellow Daoists of Purple Heaven Palace gather, there will be neither the opportunity nor the ground for discussing the Dao.

"You would do better to bring your three junior nephews—Duobao, Jin Ling, and Qingxuan—to the Thirty-Three Heavens, let them see more of the world, and broaden their horizons!"

"Second Brother speaks correctly!" Grand Pure Daoist nodded slightly beside him, greatly agreeing with Yuqing Yuanshi Daoist's analysis.

"Uh..." Realizing that he had gotten excited over the wrong thing, Shangqing Tongtian Daoist showed a trace of embarrassment.

In the blink of an eye, more than nine hundred years passed. Within Sanqing Palace, the Three Pure Ones, Daoist Duobao, Saint Mother Jin Ling, Immortal Elder Nanji, Lu Yuan, and the others gathered together.

After arranging for White Crane Boy and the Water Fire Boys to guard the Daoist field, the Three Pure Ones rode auspicious clouds, carrying Daoist Duobao, Saint Mother Jin Ling, Immortal Elder Nanji, and Lu Yuan—the four people—toward the Thirty-Three Heavens.

The Primordial World was boundless. Kunlun Mountain lay in the eastern lands of the Primordial World, while the Thirty-Three Heavens stood above the ninefold heavens. Even at the speed of Great Divine Ability Users, the journey would take several years.

To avoid missing the auspicious hour for the Heavenly Emperor's enthronement ceremony, the Three Pure Ones departed early with Lu Yuan and the others.

After all, the Yao Race Heavenly Court was now immensely powerful. Even the Three Pure Ones had no wish to become enemies with Dijun, Taiyi, and the others when no conflict of interest existed.

At the same time, Great Divine Ability Users from all across the Primordial World set off one after another for the Thirty-Three Heavens. Evasion lights flashed from Mount Sumeru, Longevity Mountain, Fire Cloud Cave, the Northern Sea, the Netherworld Sea of Blood, and other places.

Soon, several years slipped away, and Lu Yuan's group arrived at the Thirty-Three Heavens.

The Heavenly Realm lay in the immeasurable north, so to enter the Thirty-Three Heavens, one first had to pass through the South Heaven Gate.

This Heavenly Emperor's enthronement ceremony was grand in scale. The Demon Court Heavenly Court had invited mighty figures from throughout the Primordial World, and countless guests had arrived. Before the South Heaven Gate, many powerful members of the Yao Race served as greeters, receiving the guests who came.

Just as Lu Yuan swept his gaze across the bustling South Heaven Gate, a familiar voice entered his ears. "Three Daoist Brothers of the Three Pure Ones, please come in quickly. For this Heavenly Emperor's enthronement ceremony, we must thank the three Daoist Brothers for gracing us with your presence!"