Winds and Clouds Rise!

After leaving the Dao Treasury Hall, Zhou Hao went to the Myriad Forms Hall to study again. Then he returned to the Xia Clan Great World and retrieved the Earth and Wood elemental energy veins of evil energy that he had set up at the Tianbao Mountain branch in Anchan City, as well as the strange object that nurtured the evil energy within his body.

He then immersed himself in the Red Dust Immortal Mansion, cultivating secret techniques and supernatural powers in seclusion, only emerging once every month or two to accompany Liu Yu and Yun Yuchan.

Cultivating immortality and attaining enlightenment transcends time.

Let alone celestial immortals, even those who are Primordial Spirit Daoist or Earth Immortal of the Void Return, each of them spends decades or even hundreds of years in seclusion.

In the blink of an eye, three years have passed.

Late autumn.

The very center of the capital of the Great Xia Royal Capital.

A magnificent palace, nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine miles high, radiated golden, silver, red, blue, purple, and many other lights, illuminating the entire capital.

Hundreds of millions of cultivators, no matter where they are in the capital, can see this enormous immortal palace as soon as they look up. It is also the place where the Xia Emperor usually resides— the Heavenly Brilliance Hall.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two figures appeared one after the other above the nine layers of clouds Heavenly Brilliance Hall.

The first to appear was a majestic man dressed in a bright yellow robe embroidered with Yinglong pattern; he was none other than the Left King, Xia Mang Zuo.

Then appeared a young man with soft facial features, dressed in a light yellow robe.

"Brother King." The young man in the pale yellow robe greeted the Left King with a cupped-hand salute.

"King Qi." The Left King nodded gently.

The young man in the pale yellow robe was named Xia Mang Qi, and he was also a Celestial Immortal of the Great Xia Emperor.

Unlike the Left King, who was in charge of commanding the most elite and powerful Yinglong Guard of the Great Xia Dynasty, the King Qi was equivalent to the prime minister of a mortal dynasty.

Two celestial beings, one skilled in martial arts and the other in literature, assisted Xia Emperor in governing the world.

"Your Highnesses, His Majesty is waiting in the main hall," a burly, two-headed demon god said respectfully.

The Left King and the King Qi dared not be negligent and entered the Heavenly Brilliance Hall together. They immediately saw the black-robed man sitting high on the imperial throne, who was none other than the absolute ruler of this great world, the ' Xia Emperor '.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," said the Left King and the King Qi respectfully, bowing.

"During my absence, has anything important happened?" Xia Emperor's face was ancient and simple, his eyes like those of lightning. Wherever his gaze fell, the heavens and earth seemed to split apart, causing even the two celestial beings to tremble and submit.

"Your Majesty is aware of King Yan's ascension to the Heavenly Immortal realm," King Qi said respectfully. "As for other matters, there is nothing of great importance; everything in the Great Xia Dynasty remains peaceful."

Xia Emperor nodded slightly and looked at the Left King.

"Everything is normal within Yinglong Guard, except that three years ago, the next Feather God Duke of Shaoyan Clan died, which led to a conflict between Zhou Hao of Xuantian Sect and Shaoyan Clan. Shaoyan Chou and Senior Brother Muyang intervened one after another... In the end, the Shaoyan Clan's Celestial Immortal Xuanji destroyed his Golden Core and reincarnated, which can be considered a loss."

Normally, even if the current Duke Feather God dies, let alone the next Duke Feather God, it would be a trivial matter and not worth reporting to Xia Emperor.

However, this time it involved two of the most powerful forces, even dragging in their respective patriarchs, and it was also related to Zhou Hao. So, Left King briefly recounted the cause and course of events.

"This little guy is quite the troublemaker, even getting Poison Ugly involved, and now Mu Yang has to come to his rescue." Xia Emperor shook his head.

"After all, he is only at the Void Return level. Even with the few supernatural powers bestowed by Xia Emperor, he can handle ordinary Celestial Immortals, but he's still too inexperienced against Poison Ugly," Left King said with a slight smile.

The several lightning-based divine abilities that Zhou Hao exchanged with Yinglong Guard were all arranged by celestial attendants from the Heavenly Brilliance Hall.

Without the Xia Emperor's approval, even the Left King wouldn't have that much influence.

"A great calamity is imminent, and Mu Yang will no longer remain silent," Xia Emperor sighed.

A catastrophe!?

The Left King and the King Qi looked at each other, both showing surprise in their eyes.

The Xia Emperor was a powerful ruler renowned throughout the Three Realms.

He led his tribe from the ancient world to the world of the Great Xia Dynasty, then fought with the native gods and demons, and struggled with other tribes, eventually unifying the world.

Even he lamented the great calamity...

Thinking of Senior Brother Mu Yang's recent alliance with the Heavenly Realm Heavenly Court, Left King thought to himself, "It seems this calamity is no small matter."

Seeing the look of surprise on the face of his most trusted right-hand man in the dynasty, Xia Emperor did not say anything more.

They were all veterans who had fought alongside him to conquer the world, and they had experienced the upheavals of the Three Realms; none of them were fools.

The greater the calamity, the more likely one is to survive by gathering around oneself.

It's like Mu Yang arranging for his disciples to enter the Heavenly Realm Heavenly Court, but he himself doesn't leave.

That's what makes a smart person.

On the contrary, we should be wary of those tribal forces that have been secretly making underhanded moves in the past.

"The Immortal Fate Assembly is still several months away, and I will personally preside over it this time," Xia Emperor announced.

"You shall issue a message to all the lords, sects, and religious groups throughout the world: I am paying close attention to this Immortal Fate Assembly. Not only will I personally preside over it, but I will also increase the rewards tenfold or a hundredfold. The most outstanding disciples from each lord, sect, and religious group must be arranged to participate in this Immortal Fate Assembly."

Is His Majesty going to preside over the event personally?

They also want to increase the rewards tenfold or a hundredfold, and order all factions to send their top disciples to participate?

The Left King and the King Qi were astonished.

In the past, participation in the Immortal Fate Assembly was entirely voluntary.

But the Xia Emperor's orders were golden words, supreme decrees, and naturally, the two of them would not question them.

"We will issue the order immediately," both the Left King and the King Qi responded.

"Yes, the Immortal Fate Assembly will begin on the sixteenth day of the first month." The black-robed emperor's gaze was deep and mysterious, as if the capital of the Great Xia Royal Capital, and even the entire Great World's three thousand six hundred counties and the vast lands of the four seas, were all under his observation.

In normal times, we could govern by doing nothing.

As calamity approaches, it is time to proclaim to the world... This great world belongs to my Xia Mangyun's Xia Clan Great World!

soon.

Centered on the capital of the Great Xia Royal Capital, the news that "His Majesty the Xia Emperor is personally presiding over the Immortal Destiny Immortal Fate Assembly and has ordered the most outstanding disciples of all feudal lords, sects, and religious groups to participate in the Immortal Fate Assembly" quickly spread throughout this vast world.

All the great lords on the endless land, and even the powerful beings in the endless oceans, have received His Majesty the Emperor's orders.

"His Majesty the Emperor personally presided over the ceremony?"

"The last time His Majesty the Emperor presided over the Immortal Fate Assembly was to annihilate the rebellious Dong'e Clan and other tribes, which was hundreds of millions of years ago. The time before that, His Majesty the Emperor personally presided over it, was the first Immortal Fate Assembly when the world was unified. Why is His Majesty the Emperor going to preside over the Immortal Fate Assembly again this time?"

For a time, all the major lords, sects, and religious groups were filled with unease.

They didn't care about the lives of their Myriad Phenomena disciples. Even if they all died, it would only create a gap for a few hundred years. After a few hundred years, new geniuses would be born under their tutelage.

What they were worried about was the thoughts of the Great Xia Emperor.

That's an emperor who truly controls the fate of an entire world. He's going to preside over it personally and has ordered all the major powers to participate... This is of extraordinary significance.

"Give the order that the top five disciples among the ten disciples must participate in this Immortal Fate Assembly. I will also be present in person."

"Yes, Ancestor."

"Recall the three true disciples to prepare for the Immortal Fate Assembly."

"Yes, my lord."

... Inside a hidden space in the South Sea.

In the void, crimson ripples spread outwards in concentric circles. At the core of the endless crimson ripples, the rich crimson color had even turned into an eerie black, and a huge black lotus with a diameter of ten thousand feet floated there.

If one were to look at this enormous black lotus, it would be as if one were to see an endless ocean of blood.

When the crimson color is concentrated to its extreme, it becomes black. This is not a black lotus, but clearly a Blood Lotus.

"Holy Lord."

At the end of the crimson ripples, a middle-aged man dressed in a long golden robe embroidered with Red Lotus knelt, his voice reaching directly into the endless ripples.

"News has arrived from the Great Xia Royal Capital that Xia Mangyun will personally preside over this Immortal Fate Assembly, and has ordered all tribes and forces to send their most outstanding disciples to participate. The last time Xia Mangyun personally presided over the Immortal Fate Assembly was after the Dong'e Clan's rebellion was annihilated. This time, he's suddenly going to preside over it again, and it happens right when we're preparing for something important. Could it be that he knows about our plans...?"

"The chaos in the Three Realms is an inevitable trend. So what if Xia Mangyun knows about it?" A voice, indistinguishable in gender and seemingly not even uttered by a living being, emanated from the giant Blood Lotus.

When the sound rang out, the originally calm crimson ripples suddenly turned into black waves, and the entire space began to tremble.

"That old fellow simply wants to crawl out of his palace to demonstrate his power, and incidentally, to see if any future powerful figures with gathered fortune will emerge amidst the impending calamity, so he can subdue them in advance..."

"Go, make sure that the top ten young Myriad Phenomena True Person of the sect participate in the Immortal Fate Assembly. I will also have Lin'er return from the Void Radiance Great World to participate."

"The Holy Son is also coming back to participate?" The middle-aged man in the golden robe was astonished.

"The fortune that Xia Mangyun has cultivated in the Xia Clan Great World is among the strongest in the Three Thousand Great Worlds. This Immortal Fate Assembly is a place where fortune gathers. If Lin'er kills those peerless geniuses, he will not only receive more fortune, but also ruin Xia Mangyun's plans!"

"It's almost here! The day we stand at the top of the world is not far off!"

The voice echoed from within the giant Blood Lotus. The middle-aged man in the golden robe bowed respectfully and then vanished into thin air.

Profound Heaven Realm, Yueying Peak.

While the outside world was in turmoil, Zhou Hao, Liu Yu, and Yun Yuchan were enjoying a rare moment of relaxation together, drinking celestial wine, eating delicious food, and relaxing.

"Senior Brother has been in seclusion for nearly four months this time, and he seems to be in a very good mood," Liu Yu whispered to Yun Yuchan beside her.

"You must have mastered that secret technique you've been cultivating," Yun Yuchan said with a smile.

Zhou Hao and Liu Yu already knew all the secrets of their past lives, and the three of them had gotten along well together over the years, making Yun Yuchan even more cheerful.

"Senior brother, is that so?" Liu Yu's eyes sparkled like stars.

She had successfully cultivated her Second Primordial Spirit, making her soul even stronger and her temperament increasingly ethereal, like a banished immortal.

"I've mastered it." Zhou Hao smiled and waved.

Wow~~~

A dazzling, multicolored light flashed and streaked towards the waterfall gushing down from the spring at the summit.

The waterfall appeared to have been abruptly cut off by a swaying motion, with icy mist still clinging to its edges. After a few moments of pause, it resumed its flow.

"What a beautiful secret technique!" Liu Yu exclaimed.

The highest level of the ' Great Five Elements Extinction Divine Light ' is a ball of five-colored light. Putting aside its power, its appearance alone is worthy of being a top secret technique in the Dao Sect's supreme secret art, the ' Great Five Elements Escape '.

In fact, among the three secret techniques that Zhou Hao Lord Master during these three years, the "Great Five Elements Extinction Divine Light" was much simpler than the "Wave-Stacking Secret Art" and the Taiji Fist Art he created.

It's just that the quality of the evil energy veins he just acquired in the Purple Mansion Origin Sea is not high enough, and the five elements are not balanced, which is why he has not been able to cultivate it.

Now that the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth have all been nurtured to the highest level, and the five elements are in balance, the great task is complete.

As for the next level beyond the first rank, which is the Heavenly Fire and Heavenly Water stage, the nurturing time required is even longer, so we'll leave that for later.

At this time--

"Haha, there's something delicious to eat."

Brush!

A figure appeared out of thin air, grabbed the meat on the table, and began to devour it.

"Master," Zhou Hao said with a smile, "What brings you here?"

The one who arrived was none other than Kong Fang.

"I'm destined to be a busybody in this life. Not only will I have to refine magical treasures for you, but I'll also have to deliver them to you once they're finished." Kong Fang Tianxian stuffed food into his mouth with both hands, which didn't affect his speech at all. He even took the time to toss a Storage Bracelet over.

"Just tell me, and I'll go get it myself," Zhou Hao said with a smile.

He knew that his master had been very busy for the past three years.

Not only must they forge Five Elements treasures to match their own Weiyang Palace, but they must also forge magical artifacts for the Mystic Turtle Immortal to use in his tribulation.

I still have time to rest and relax every now and then, but judging from how ravenously my master is eating, I know he hasn't had a proper meal in a long time.

He refined the Storage Bracelet in his hand and scanned it with his mind. He saw a huge golden archway, shaped like five gate towers, floating inside the bracelet's space.

Each gate tower was filled with starlight, faintly radiating a terrifying and powerful aura. Zhou Hao even felt that this had surpassed the limit of a celestial-grade magic treasure and was more like a pure yang magic treasure.

"I don't know who crafted that Weiyang Palace of yours before. It used up countless precious materials to barely reach the top grade of immortals. It was a real waste of resources," Kong Fang Fangtianxian said vaguely.

Zhou Hao blinked.

The Loose Immortal Hongchen is, after all, a rogue cultivator without a sect. His strength may not be too weak, but in the art of refining treasures, which requires not only talent but also countless resources and energy to practice extensively, he certainly cannot compare with his master.

"You'll inevitably be fighting against powerful cultivators who God-Devil Body Refining in the future, so you'll need a treasure to suppress them. Since you're refining treasures anyway, I've even refined and modified that Weiyang Palace item for you."

"I've named this new set of magical artifacts ' Godfall Workshop.' Each gate tower is the pinnacle of the Immortal-grade level, comparable to a low-grade Pure Yang magical artifact."

"Not only does it retain the Great Five Elements Extinction Divine Light from the previous Weiyang Palace, but it also combines the original Zhou Tian Star Array secret patterns on the Star Mountain Stones, enabling the five gate towers to be activated and able to set up the Five Elements Constellation Grand Formation, and unleash Windfire, thunder, flying forks, and golden blades... Even gods and demons would be trapped inside and refined to death."

Kong Fang Fangtianxian shook his head, extremely proud of himself, which made Zhou Hao secretly click his tongue in amazement, wanting to test its power right now.

However, since the original body of the immortal-grade magic weapon could not refine it, and his Second Primordial Spirit clone was still in the Red Dust Immortal Mansion, Zhou Hao could not abandon his master and go to test the magic weapon on his own.

He subtly gave Liu Yu and Yun Yuchan a signal, and the three of them exclaimed in amazement and admiration.

Regardless of whether it's really that amazing or not, since my master has said so, I should just flatter him first.

"Oh, right." Kong Fang, her eyes crinkling with laughter, remembered something else. "The start date for this year's Immortal Fate Assembly has been set for the sixteenth day of the first lunar month. That's only a little over three months away. When do you plan to go to the capital?"

Call!

Liu Yu and Yun Yuchan also turned to look at Zhou Hao.

"No rush." Zhou Hao smiled and shook his head. "Good things come to those who wait. We'll wait until after the first month of the lunar calendar."