Chapter 378
Previously, Xiao Minghuang only told her sisters about her experiences before becoming the Lord of the Southern Wilderness, but she did not tell them what happened after that, as it was too dangerous for her to say.
Therefore, Sheng Bailan only now learned from the immortals that the prince beside her had now become the ruler of the Southern Wilderness, a great emperor!
"Your Highness... you've already..."
494. Devouring the Immortal Sword
Xiao Minghuang glanced at her with a gentle smile, but didn't say anything more.
Sheng Bailan's heart was filled with surging emotions.
Immediately afterwards, Xiao Minghuang and the other person walked side by side, surrounded by the four Earth Immortals, into the main hall.
After exchanging pleasantries, we got down to business.
"I'll leave Zhongtian Dongji now. Fellow Daoists, could you please explain the current situation to me?"
Xiao Minghuang spoke slowly.
Upon hearing this, the four immortals' expressions shifted.
They certainly knew that since Xiao Minghuang had become the ruler of the Southern Wilderness World and was powerful enough to drive out the Demon Emperor, then without a doubt, her next step would be to advance into the Eastern Pole of the Central Heaven, and even to integrate the Five Realms and unify the five worlds into one!
To achieve this, it is essential to understand the current situation in the Five Realms and the relationships between various forces, which is crucial for Xiao Minghuang's upcoming plans.
"Your Highness knows that although the Five Realms are called the Five Directions, the Daoist traditions of the North Sea and the Western Lands are declining and the Heavenly Dao is not manifest. Wherever Your Highness's divine might reaches, they will surely submit. Your Highness's concern is nothing more than the Easternmost Point of the Central Heaven."
The Earth Immortal Xuan Du was the most enthusiastic, speaking at length, "The princess has been away for several months, and although it hasn't been long, considerable changes have occurred in the Eastern Pole of Zhongtian. The Holy Academy is now implementing a policy of silence throughout the entire Eastern Pole of Zhongtian, prohibiting all activities of Rogue Cultivator. Various holy lands and aristocratic families have also been forced to reduce their activities. Even the number of disciples that various forces recruit must be reported to the Holy Academy for a decision!"
"With all these strategies, the various holy lands and noble families have long been dissatisfied with the Holy Academy. They are just waiting for the princess to return. Once she raises her arms and calls for help, the holy lands and noble families will surely respond in droves. Then we can swarm them together. If the Eastern Pole Emperor does not want to die, he will have no choice but to sever his own World Origin and run away!"
"Oh?"
Xiao Minghuang's expression shifted, and he asked, "Please elaborate, fellow Daoist."
Previously, although she had learned some information about the situation in the Eastern Pole from Innate Osmanthus, it was not complete.
Earth Immortal Xuan Du then spoke eloquently, giving a complete account of the situation in the Eastern Pole.
After hearing what the Earth Immortal Xuan Du said, Xiao Minghuang fell into a brief silence.
As the Demon Emperor severed the source of the boundary, she ruled the Southern Wilderness. The Central Eastern Pole World, which shared the Heavenly Dao with the Southern Wilderness, was also damaged, and its lifespan was greatly reduced, now having less than 20,000 years left to live.
Twenty thousand years sounds like a long time, but that's for ordinary cultivators.
However, for those at the Saint Realm or Supreme level, this period seems rather short.
Saints typically live for ten thousand years, but if they seal themselves within the Spirit Source, their lifespan can be extended to one hundred thousand years; while Supreme beings live even longer, possessing a lifespan of twelve eras, or twelve units, totaling up to one million years!
As for earth immortals, they are even more terrifying.
Leaving aside others, all the Earth Immortals present were Earth Immortals who achieved their status in the first era of the Central Heaven World and have lived to this day, experiencing the era of the Five Emperors of the Ziwei Divine Dynasty and the era of the Eastern Pole Emperor has already passed eleven eras.
Each of them has a lifespan of millions of years. As long as the Heavenly Dao exists, the Earthly Immortals will exist for another day. In a literal sense, they live as long as Heaven and Earth and shine as brightly as the sun and moon!
Certainly, earth immortals possess Immortal Qi, which can help them resist the onslaught of the Epochal Annihilation and allow them to escape to other worlds.
But the universe is so vast that probably no world would be willing to accept a group of earth immortals.
Once they travel to a new world to begin a new life, unless that world has no earth immortals, it will mean a war that lasts until the death!
Therefore, even the Earth Immortals did not want the Five Directions One Realm to perish like this.
On the surface, the Holy Temple's approach to this situation, if not a desperate measure, was at least utterly helpless.
Therefore, it is understandable that the various holy land families are dissatisfied with the Holy Academy.
As for what the Earth Immortal Xuan Du said, as long as Xiao Minghuang raises his arm and calls out, all the holy lands will respond in unison, so just listen to it and let it go.
The one who truly determines the fate of a realm is not a particular holy land, but the one who truly stands at the end of the path of cultivation.
Eastern Pole Emperor!
As long as the Eastern Pole Emperor is not defeated and killed, there will always be holy land families wavering between the two sides.
Xiao Minghuang had already learned this lesson back in the Southern Wilderness.
If she doesn't completely shatter the authority of the previous World Lord, then she, as the new World Lord, will find it difficult to gain the recognition of the world and all living beings.
Even with the strong support of the Heavenly Dao of the Southern Wilderness, she still won with great difficulty in the Southern Wilderness. It is uncertain whether the Heavenly Dao will support her in the Eastern Pole of the Central Heaven.
After careful consideration, Xiao Minghuang slowly said, "This matter should not be rushed. Fellow Daoist, please maintain contact with the various holy lands and aristocratic families and proceed with caution."
She paused for a moment, then continued, "Next, I will travel to the Western Lands and the Northern Sea to obtain the source of these two realms, and then consider the issue of the Eastern Pole of the Central Heaven."
Upon hearing this, Xuandu and the others praised Xiao Minghuang's foresight and wisdom.
Later, Xiao Minghuang invited all the immortals to a banquet that evening, but they declined.
The reason was simple: Earth Immortal Xuan Du and the others all knew that Princess Xiao had been separated from her Dao Companion for a long time. How could they possibly participate in a banquet hosted by a group of young ladies?
Immediately afterwards, Xiao Minghuang took Sheng Bailan's hand and left.
She had just stepped out when the Penglai Earth Immortal caught up with her.
"Princess, please wait!"
The Penglai Earth Immortal cupped his hands and said, "I have a gift here, originally intended to congratulate the princess on her ascension to the Supreme Realm. However, I did not expect that the princess would return as an Earth Immortal Emperor, which seems somewhat unworthy of the princess's status... Nevertheless, it should still be of some use, so please do not find it offensive, princess!"
After saying that, she took out a storage bag from her sleeve and handed it to Xiao Minghuang.
Xiao Minghuang raised an eyebrow, took the item, and without examining it, a smile appeared on her delicate face, "Thank you, fellow Daoist!"
"You're too kind, Princess."
After speaking, the Penglai Earth Immortal did not leave. Instead, he looked hesitant, glancing at Sheng Bailan from time to time, as if he had something to say.
Seeing this, Xiao Minghuang said, "Bai Lan, you go ahead. I still have some things to say to Penglai Fellow Daoist."
"Good."
Sheng Bailan nodded slightly, then turned and left.
Watching Sheng Bailan's departing figure, the Penglai Earth Immortal slowly said, "The princess's four Dao Companion are all extraordinary individuals. To be able to break through to the Supreme Realm in such a short time, their future is undoubtedly limitless!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Minghuang's beautiful eyes narrowed, and she instantly recalled Lin Wanqiu's words from before. Could it be that the Four Earthly Immortals really intended to take advantage of her kindness?
"Oh? What are your thoughts, fellow Daoist?"
The Penglai Earth Immortal shook his head and said softly, "I have no insight. I just want to say that the reason why the princess's four Dao Companion were able to break through to the Supreme Realm in such a short time is not only due to the princess's excellent teaching, but also entirely due to their outstanding talent and hard work. We were just going with the flow!"
After speaking, the Penglai Earth Immortal cupped his hands in greeting and turned to leave.
Watching the departing figure of the Penglai Earth Immortal, Xiao Minghuang's lips curled up slightly, and a smile appeared in her eyes.
"This Penglai Earth Immortal is quite a remarkable person..."
At the same time.
A figure dressed in a moon-white dress emerged from the void; it was none other than the Innate Osmanthus.
She smiled and said, "Your young lady Lin is quite shrewd, despite her young age. I relayed her words to Penglai and the others, and the four of them are truly terrified."
"She's quite thoughtful," Xiao Minghuang chuckled, then extended an invitation. "Will you come to the banquet tonight?"
"No, no, I'm too old to talk to young girls like you..."
Innate Osmanthus waved his hands repeatedly, then his figure flashed and disappeared from the spot.
Watching Innate Osmanthus flee as if escaping, Xiao Minghuang couldn't help but chuckle.
Then, she leaped up and flew off the island, finding Sheng Bailan.
Upon approaching, Xiao Minghuang flicked his hand, and a storage bag emerged from his sleeve, hovering in front of Sheng Bailan.
"Bai Lan, now that you've ascended to the Supreme Realm, you still don't have a suitable magic weapon. I'll bestow this magic weapon upon you."
Sheng Bailan glanced up and saw a long sword inside the storage bag. It was engraved with intricate patterns, the blade was gleaming, and the whole body was covered in frost, with a faint, lively luster flowing through it.
Now that she has reached the Supreme Realm, she can naturally see that this magic weapon is undoubtedly a terrestrial Immortal Method!
"This... is too valuable!"
Sheng Bailan quickly waved her hand in refusal.
Xiao Minghuang smiled sweetly and said, "Take it. Why be so polite between us? It's just a magic weapon, nothing at all!"
Upon hearing this, Sheng Bailan hesitated for a moment before finally reaching out to take it.
Since Xiao Minghuang has already given it to her, wouldn't it be a waste of his kindness to refuse?
Besides, this magical artifact is indeed very suitable for her!
Seeing that Sheng Bailan had accepted the storage bag, Xiao Minghuang breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Let's go, the sisters should be almost ready!"
"Um."
Sheng Bailan nodded and immediately followed Xiao Minghuang back to the cave.
[Ding! Detected that contractor Sheng Bailan has obtained an opportunity that is directly related to the host. Please select one of the following rewards:]
[1. A sword-shaped spiritual treasure of the Celestial Immortal level.]
[2. Several years of enlightenment regarding the Great Way of the Sword.]
As the notification sound rang, Xiao Minghuang pondered for a moment and selected the first option.
The path she followed was incompatible with the way of the sword. The reason she continued to use the sword was simply because it was convenient for her, and besides, she already possessed a Nameless Sword Talisman of the level of rare treasures among the heavens.
"The Nameless Sword Talisman can absorb other swords. I wonder what would happen if a celestial sword were absorbed by it?"
As she thought this, two longswords with vastly different auras appeared within her Purple Mansion Grotto-Heaven.
The first thing to be affected was that immortal sword, its blade sharp and overflowing with Immortal Dao Law, exuding an incomparably fierce aura, as if it could cut down everything in the world!
The next sword to appear was entirely platinum in color, crystal clear, as if carved from jade. The blade was surrounded by a rich Power of Stars, making the entire longsword appear even more magnificent and enchanting, dazzling and mesmerizing.
The longsword that appeared later was the Nameless Sword Talisman.
The two immortal swords clashed as soon as they appeared, sparking countless tiny sparks as if they were engaged in battle, and for a moment they were locked in a stalemate.
But soon, as if they had reached some kind of tacit understanding, they suddenly came to a stop.
The next moment--
"Buzz~"
An astonishing aura emanated from the Nameless Sword Talisman, followed by wisps of starlight-like Rosy Clouds surging from within the talisman, washing over the immortal sword like a tide.
In an instant, the surface of the sword shone brightly, dazzling and radiant.
"Snap!"
Almost at the same time that the sword emitted a dazzling Rosy Clouds, the immortal sword suddenly disintegrated, turning into specks of Immortal Light that surged like flowing water and flowed directly into the Nameless Sword Talisman.
Under the infusion of this enormous energy, the Nameless Sword Talisman trembled violently, and ripples gradually spread across its surface, becoming increasingly brilliant and dazzling.
In an instant, the power of the Nameless Sword Talisman rapidly increased, radiating overwhelming starlight, as if one were in a vast universe, surrounded by stars, a terrifying sight.
"Call out!"
The next moment, the starlight gathered into a vortex, quickly condensed, and finally transformed into a regular-sized ring, which quietly lay in Xiao Minghuang's palm.
The ring is engraved with ancient and profound runes, which seem to contain some kind of deep will, making people feel insignificant and humble when they look at it.
The ring landed in Xiao Minghuang's palm, radiating a warm, lustrous sheen that made it irresistible.
"After being integrated into the immortal sword, the level of the Nameless Sword Talisman should be no less than that of ordinary Immortal Dao Spirit Treasure..."
Xiao Minghuang thought to himself, what mortals use is called magic weapon, what immortals use is called spiritual weapon.
The Nameless Sword Talisman is an extremely rare and precious treasure of the heavens, in no way inferior to a powerful Earth Immortal Method. Now that it has devoured a Celestial Immortal level spiritual treasure, its power will undoubtedly be greatly enhanced.
It was around this time.
Xiao Minghuang returned to her cave.
When the two returned, the sun was setting and dusk was approaching.
Xiao Minghuang walked into the courtyard and immediately saw Lin Wanqiu and the other two sitting around the stone table.
"You're back!"