A beam of divine light shot out from Emperor Venerable's Heavenly Court and flew into the Tyrant Body Ancestral Star.
Emperor Venerable traveled upon a golden road of light, surrounded by phantom figures of immortals. Rain of light filled the sky, and the Great Dao roared.
The Immortal Ascension Cauldron hovered above his head.
He had made quite a commotion, just as he would on a formal visit to the Heavenly Pillar Mountain Forbidden Zone.
Almost in the blink of an eye, Emperor Venerable descended upon the Tyrant Body Ancestral Star.
"Emperor Venerable!"
"Emperor Venerable is here!"
Countless powerful figures on the Tyrant Body Ancestral Star cheered.
Emperor Venerable nodded, then entered the Heavenly Pillar Mountain Ancient Cave.
The man who arrived in the Heavenly Pillar Mountain Ancient Cave was tall, heroic, and extraordinary. A distinctive bearing emanated from him, Chaos Qi swirled around him, and he radiated a rich breath of life.
He looked around at everything in the ancient cave before turning his gaze to Xiao Ping'an.
Xiao Ping'an immediately felt that Emperor Venerable seemed to have transformed into a blazing sun. His vitality was so abundant that he clearly had plenty of life remaining, and his Great Dao was incomparably powerful.
That little bit of Heavenly Venerable pressure meant nothing to Xiao Ping'an, who dispersed it with a wave of his hand.
This was the first time Xiao Ping'an had met Emperor Venerable face to face.
Emperor Venerable had once quietly visited when Xiao Ping'an had transformed into a ball of flesh and was undergoing his nirvana transformation.
But after watching for a while, Emperor Venerable had left without communicating with the sleeping Xiao Ping'an.
Now Xiao Ping'an looked at Emperor Venerable, one of the few Red Dust Immortals in the original story.
By now, Emperor Venerable had clearly lived a third life, perhaps even a fourth, and his strength far surpassed those Supremes.
Even among the Heavenly Venerables, he was second to none. After defeating Netherworld Venerable, he had come to be known as the foremost expert.
However, ever since Xiao Ping'an had lived a third life, the question of who was stronger among the Ten Great Heavenly Venerables had become a popular topic of idle conversation among those intelligence organizations.
That was because Emperor Venerable and Overlord Heavenly Venerable had never clashed.
Xiao Ping'an had long suspected why Emperor Venerable had come. Most likely, he had come to invite Xiao Ping'an out of seclusion to join the grand undertaking, open the Road to Immortality, and enter the Immortal Domain.
Thus, as Xiao Ping'an looked at Emperor Venerable, he showed no particular excitement or any other emotion. Instead, he appeared perfectly calm.
"So it's Emperor Venerable. I've long admired your great name!"
The two had said almost exactly the same thing, both declaring that they had long admired the other's name.
Both had once been invincible experts who dominated an era. The moment they met, their presences began to clash, neither yielding an inch.
Fortunately, there were Dao patterns here at the True Immortal level, and even at the Immortal King level, that could withstand the clash of their presences. Otherwise, the place would have collapsed outright.
After the two had struggled against each other for a while, Emperor Venerable's face flushed red, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Xiao Ping'an felt he still had strength to spare and was about to increase his output when Emperor Venerable immediately withdrew his presence.
"How can you be so strong?" Emperor Venerable was stunned.
"I heard you challenged Netherworld Venerable again and defeated him, wiping away your former humiliation. You truly live up to the name of Emperor Venerable," Xiao Ping'an said admiringly.
"Overlord Heavenly Venerable's strength is truly unfathomable. I am impressed."
"Netherworld Venerable and I have a rather special relationship. We have discussed mysteries and debated the Dao, and exchanged pointers. The world claims I challenged Netherworld Venerable, but that is not actually true," Emperor Venerable said.
"I heard long ago that Netherworld Venerable was a very unusual person. He was once the legendary Tribulation Crossing Heavenly Venerable. After his death, his corpse gained sentience, and after proving the Dao again, he became Netherworld Venerable."
"For such a figure to fall at your hands, Emperor Venerable, your divine might truly overshadows the world."
"Did you come looking for me today to exchange pointers as well?" Xiao Ping'an asked with a smile.
Emperor Venerable smiled and shook his head. "Overlord Heavenly Venerable's cultivation is truly incomparably powerful. You are worthy of taking 'Overlord' as your venerable title."
"I am very confident in my cultivation and believe I have already reached the pinnacle of this realm. As for all this fighting and killing, I no longer care much about it."
"I came here today to invite Overlord Heavenly Venerable to join the Heavenly Court, take part in the grand undertaking, and ascend to immortality with the entire organization."
Emperor Venerable was truly direct. After arriving, he stated his purpose outright.
Xiao Ping'an smiled and said, "I, Overlord Heavenly Venerable, have roamed unhindered all my life, invincible under heaven. I have never stood beneath another. If I joined the Heavenly Court, wouldn't I become your subordinate?"
Emperor Venerable smiled and said, "Overlord Heavenly Venerable, you worry too much. I am inviting you into the Heavenly Court, not treating you as a subordinate. Rather, we would lead the Heavenly Court together, open the Road to Immortality together, and become immortals."
"I thought your strength and mine were about equal, fellow Daoist, but I didn't expect you to be even stronger. Perhaps you could take charge of the Heavenly Court?" Emperor Venerable said with a smile.
Xiao Ping'an shook his head. He had no interest in becoming Lord of the Heavenly Court.
After thinking for a while, he said, "To tell the truth, I am not optimistic about this attempt to bring the entire organization to immortality."
"The secrets of heaven are chaotic and obscure, impossible to deduce. Clearly, a great upheaval is bound to occur when the Road to Immortality opens this time."
"Besides, our Mythological Era is about to end. Heaven and earth will undergo tremendous changes, and a new era will begin."
"You are stirring up such a commotion. Aren't you afraid of provoking some unseen karma?"
"Though I bear the name of Overlord, I don't have so many schemes in mind. I only want to devote myself to studying the method of Red Dust Immortal Ascension and become an immortal in this mortal world."
That was indeed what Xiao Ping'an thought, because he knew that Emperor Venerable's attempt to bring the entire organization to immortality would start like a tiger and end like a snake.
He refined the Nine-Turn Immortal Pill, invited numerous Dark Supremes out of seclusion, and established the Ancient Heavenly Court, only for it all to end like drawing water with a bamboo basket. He was ambushed by numerous Dark Supremes wielding the Kunlun Immortal Bell, and in the end, whether he lived or died was unknown.
Although he had seized the opportunity to fake his death, the entire Heavenly Court had become his sacrifice.
His heart was truly ruthless.
If Xiao Ping'an joined his Heavenly Court, he might not even get a share of the spoils when the time came. Instead, he might be besieged by numerous Dark Supremes, trapped between advancing and retreating.
The best course should be to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, or quietly observe how events unfolded.
He would wait for the Heavenly Court to collapse, then seize the humanoid Immortal Medicine and the White Tiger Immortal Medicine, as well as the Ninety-Nine Dragon Mountains in the Kunlun reversal realm.
Emperor Venerable seemed to have anticipated Overlord Heavenly Venerable's indifference and continued, "I didn't expect Overlord Heavenly Venerable to have such lofty ambitions, actually seeking Red Dust Immortal Ascension. I am impressed."
"But becoming a Red Dust Immortal is an unprecedented undertaking, and the time involved is measured in millions of years. Though your cultivation reaches the heights of creation, can you truly live that long without cutting yourself down?"
"Entering the Immortal Domain is different. There, one can possess a nearly limitless lifespan and study the Great Dao. That is the true shortcut to immortality."
"I have now gathered the fruits of many Immortal Divine Medicines and intend to refine Nine-Turn Immortal Pills according to an ancient formula. They can let those Dark Supremes who cut themselves down live for more than two thousand years at their Supreme peak. That is the assurance behind my invitation to the many Dark Supremes to open the Road to Immortality together. If you take part, I can give you a pill as well."
"Furthermore, my Immortal Ascension Cauldron has become a genuine immortal artifact, and I have already refined all Nine Great Divine Metals into it."
"I still have a block of Heaven's Mandate Orange Gold. If you are willing to join the Heavenly Court, I can give it to you."
Emperor Venerable spoke with a smile.
"What? You actually have that much Heaven's Mandate Orange Gold?" Xiao Ping'an asked, greatly excited.
Xiao Ping'an wasn't particularly interested in the immortality plan because he knew how it ended. It was, in fact, a trap.
The Nine-Turn Immortal Pill could indeed extend one's life, but it was no longer so tempting to an expert like Xiao Ping'an, who had embarked on the path of a Red Dust Immortal. That block of Heaven's Mandate Orange Gold, on the other hand, could be used to forge an immortal artifact, and it made it hard for Xiao Ping'an to sit still.
"Could you give me the Heaven's Mandate Orange Gold now?" Xiao Ping'an said. "Give it to me, and I'll come out of seclusion at once and join you in the grand undertaking."
Though his attitude had changed so quickly, Xiao Ping'an felt not the slightest shame.
He coveted the Heaven's Mandate Orange Gold, and there was no need to hide it.
Emperor Venerable saw through Xiao Ping'an's thoughts at a glance. Naturally, it would take treasures of sufficient value to move an unparalleled expert like Xiao Ping'an.
Without hesitation, Emperor Venerable took out the block of Heaven's Mandate Orange Gold and tossed it to Xiao Ping'an.
Xiao Ping'an was very excited as he looked at the block of Heaven's Mandate Orange Gold.
He had searched the starry skies without finding this divine metal. He hadn't expected to obtain it so easily now.
There wasn't much description of Heaven's Mandate Orange Gold in the original story. It was only briefly mentioned that Ye Fan had used the Nine Great Divine Metals to forge nine Immortal Artifact Immortal Gold cauldrons, then fused them into one with the Cauldron of All-Things Mother Qi.
Xiao Ping'an had also read some fan fiction. Now that he saw it with his own eyes, he felt it was much as he had imagined.
The Heaven's Mandate Orange Gold was orange throughout and shone brilliantly. Mysterious divine patterns of the Great Dao interwove across its surface, as though it contained a mysterious power.
Chaos Qi also emanated from around it, and streaks of orange immortal light flashed from time to time.
Emperor Venerable was truly generous to part with such a top-grade material for forging Extreme Dao Weapons.
Legend had it that this object was related to the so-called mysteries of heaven's mandate and could carry the laws of the Immortal Dao.
Xiao Ping'an briefly examined it, then put it away.
His relationship with Emperor Venerable immediately grew warmer.
"In that case, I'll join the Heavenly Court and become one of its members," Xiao Ping'an said with a smile.
Emperor Venerable smiled as well. "Welcome, Overlord Heavenly Venerable. Your joining us is truly a blessing for our Heavenly Court."
After they had exchanged compliments, Xiao Ping'an asked with a smile, "When do you plan to refine the Nine-Turn Immortal Pills, Emperor Venerable? I still have quite a few Ginseng Fruits in storage. I can give you a few."
Emperor Venerable smiled and said, "The Nine-Turn Immortal Pill can only extend an emperor's life at its peak by two thousand years. We must wait until the Road to Immortality is about to open before refining it. Then we will invite the many Dark Supremes out of seclusion to join the grand undertaking."
"Ginseng Fruits are indeed in short supply. I don't have a single one at the moment, so give them to me now," Emperor Venerable said with a smile.
Xiao Ping'an smiled, casually took out five from his stores, and handed them to Emperor Venerable.
He had indeed obtained a considerable stock when he had pacified the Beast God Mountain Forbidden Zone.
Xiao Ping'an had consumed nearly twenty Ginseng Fruits alone. Adding the other kinds of Immortal Divine Medicine he had taken, even the Nine-Turn Immortal Pill might not let him live another two thousand years.
But Xiao Ping'an had only just begun his third life and had plenty of life remaining, so he had no need for the Nine-Turn Immortal Pill.
Even so, he still wanted to ask for one or a few to keep as part of his family's reserves.
His faith body, Yongsheng, in particular, was rather too weak.
He only had the strength of an ordinary Supreme, and he could not live a second life by consuming Immortal Divine Medicine.
If he took a Nine-Turn Immortal Pill, perhaps he could live another two or three thousand years.
In any case, the longer he lived, the more likely he was to live a new life.
Xiao Ping'an also had another reason for intending to join the Heavenly Court.
He remembered that in the original story, Netherworld Venerable had mysteriously disappeared after exchanging pointers with Emperor Venerable.
For a long time, no one managed the Underworld Forbidden Zone. Emperor Venerable did not trust the Dark Supremes of the Underworld to manage it either, so he invited Longevity Heavenly Venerable to take charge of the Underworld for a few thousand years.
Xiao Ping'an thought that, when the time came, he would volunteer to manage the Underworld.
The Underworld had accumulated countless corpses and bones over who knew how many epochs and tens of millions of years.
Xiao Ping'an and Yongsheng had now joined forces to make deductions based on the descriptions in the original story, and had already devised a cultivation art and secret technique similar to the Heaven Devouring Demonic Art.
Combining the original story's descriptions of the Heaven Devouring Demonic Art and the Indestructible Heavenly Art, they had incorporated basically all of their characteristics.
This era was already a golden age with many geniuses.
Xiao Ping'an had originally planned to have Yongsheng quietly play the villain, devour all the peerless prodigies of an era like the Ruthless Great Emperor, and cultivate an Acquired Chaos Body, artificially making his strength soar.
But now that he had the opportunity to join the Underworld, Xiao Ping'an suddenly decided to change his mind.
Since the Underworld contained countless corpses from different ages, so many incomparably powerful corpses should still have plenty of origin power remaining.
If Yongsheng entered the Underworld with Xiao Ping'an, wouldn't he be like a mouse in a rice jar?
Then he could keep devouring those corpses, refining even the bone fragments into energy, eating and squeezing everything out of them until nothing remained.
If he still couldn't cultivate an Acquired Chaos Body with so many corpses, then Xiao Ping'an would have nothing to say.
Then he would eat people when he had to.
For the sake of becoming a Red Dust Immortal and saving more people, was sacrificing the peerless prodigies of a golden age worth it? Everyone had their own answer.
If he really did have to eat people, he would have to keep that alternate identity well hidden and prevent anyone from connecting it to Xiao Ping'an. He didn't want to bear that infamy; he only wanted the benefits.
Peerless prodigies through the belly, the Buddha in the heart. As long as he kept a kind heart and maintained the bottom line of his own kindness, what did it matter if he devoured a few peerless prodigies? In any case, the peerless prodigies at the end of the Mythological Era had basically all died, and hardly any had left their names to later generations.
At worst, he could kill more Dark Supremes who had instigated Dark Turmoils in the future, making up for the immoral things he had done back then.
If that really didn't work, he could sneak into the Buddhist Sect and stay there from the Mythological Era until Ye Fan's time. Surely he could at least become a Buddhist Sect patriarch, then use the goodwill of the Buddhist Sect to cleanse the sins he had once committed. He refused to believe they couldn't be washed away.
Naturally, Yongsheng would change his appearance when he went out to do bad things. He couldn't let his looks or presence make anyone think of Xiao Ping'an.
Xiao Ping'an had already sent Yongsheng out to rob graves and tombs on the major planets across the universe.
Of course, from time to time he also devoured some of those so-called peerless prodigies and experts.
He had recently reached the Big Dipper, and had already traveled to the Ziwei Star, Heaven-Reaching Ancient Star, Flying Immortal Star, and Ancient Fire Mulberry Star, those famous Life Source Lands, to rob graves and tombs.
He had quietly paid a visit to nearly every family or holy land in history that possessed a special constitution.
Other Dark Supremes might look down on such underhanded, sneaking behavior, thinking that if they wanted something, they could simply storm the place and kill the whole family.
But Yongsheng was different from other Dark Supremes. Although Xiao Ping'an had granted him an independent life, his general way of thinking remained exactly the same as Xiao Ping'an's. Like Xiao Ping'an, he also knew the trilogy. Thus, for Red Dust Immortal Ascension and for the sake of staying alive, he really could resort to any means.
Of course, he also had to maintain his basic moral bottom line first. If he could devour corpses, he wouldn't devour living people. If it really became necessary, however, he would devour them when he had to.
He wasn't like other transmigrators, overflowing with saintly compassion and always talking about saving the world or saving the human race of the Shrouding the Heavens World.
Xiao Ping'an and Yongsheng thought alike. Saving people was something to do after they had enough strength. Now was the time to keep their heads down and develop; before becoming Red Dust Immortals, it was better to keep a low profile.
Of course, if someone really did come along without knowing better, they could be chopped into pieces and, after being killed, have their origin power devoured.
(End of chapter)