Divine Dao!

When the pale blue light touched the thick and mysterious invisible barrier of the [Lingyong] Great Realm, it was like a drop of water merging into the ocean, stirring up a tiny ripple.

These ripples are the most basic "verification" of the identity of those entering and leaving the realm.

Just as Qi Yun's figure completely disappeared into the boundary -

A vast, indifferent, and supreme "gaze," seemingly encompassing all time and space in this world and understanding the causes and effects of all living beings.

It arrived silently.

He was "scanned" from head to toe, from body to soul.

This gaze is devoid of any emotion, carrying only the pure scrutiny of rules.

It needs to verify whether the entrant is a native creature of [Lingyong].

Does its soul originate from a place imprinted with a "Realm Mark" unique to this realm?

Does its existence conform to the operating principles of this world?

The will of Heaven's Will!

Pressure, like the slightest crushing weight of the entire world.

Ordinary Beyond-Domain Heaven or stowaways would have been exposed in their true forms under this gaze, triggering heavenly thunder and earthly fire, and even being strangled by the rules.

However, within Qi Yun's body, the physical body, aura, Law Power fluctuations, and even the "Zhou Zimo seal" deep within his soul that resonated subtly with the Heavenly Dao of [Lingyong], evolved from the supreme divine Divine Ability [Primordial True Body Realm Mark], flowed perfectly without any flaws.

Furthermore, because Qi Yun's own foundation far surpasses that of the original owner, the simulated "Zhou Zimo" is even more refined and concentrated in terms of aura and vigorous in terms of vitality than the original.

In the eyes of Heaven's Will, he appeared to be an outstanding local cultivator with advanced skills and a solid foundation.

That vast "gaze" lingered on Qi Yun for less than a fraction of a billionth of a second before receding like a tide and disappearing without a trace.

The will of Heaven's Will has shifted elsewhere.

"Call----"

As the omnipresent sense of rule and scrutiny completely vanished, Qi Yun felt no ripples in his heart, only a smile of complete control curling at the corner of his mouth.

The first step, deceiving everyone, was successful.

He didn't linger. After determining the direction, the pale blue light suddenly accelerated, tearing through the clear and vibrant sky of the [Lingyong] realm, rushing towards the territory he remembered.

The mountains and rivers below rushed past rapidly, a scene quite different from the Xuanhuang Home Realm.

The mountains and rivers are even more beautiful and rugged, with glimpses of light among the trees and dragons playing in the rivers.

Cultivators could be seen frequently piloting various flying magical Law Artifact in the air.

Or cultivators who travel by riding mythical birds and beasts.

A scene of flourishing spiritual practice.

What's even more unique is that many famous mountains, rivers, cities, and villages are faintly shrouded in a golden or blue halo, some thick and some thin.

That is the manifestation of the fundamental Incense and Fire Prayer Power cultivation in this world.

Before long, a magnificent mountain range appeared ahead, stretching endlessly and displaying ever-changing scenery.

A thousand peaks vie in beauty, and ten thousand valleys are shrouded in clouds.

Spiritual springs and waterfalls dot the landscape, while auspicious beasts and rare birds appear and disappear.

Deep within the mountains, atop the main peak, stands a magnificent palace, seemingly cast entirely from white jade and lapis lazuli, appearing and disappearing amidst the swirling clouds.

The palaces stand tall and imposing, their eaves soaring high, exuding a majestic aura and a profound divine presence.

That place is the Thousand Peaks Divine Palace, the Divine Dao foundation of "Zhou Zimo".

It governs 1,365 sacred peaks.

Its territory is vast, and it is home to hundreds of millions of living beings.

Qi Yun's escape light made no attempt to conceal itself, landing directly on the huge plaza in front of the main hall of the divine palace.

The light faded, revealing his true form.

Almost the instant his feet touched the white jade ground of the plaza, which was engraved with intricate divine patterns, there was a loud "thump! thump! thump!"

Three deep, resonant chimes echoed from the depths of the shrine, their sound carrying for miles, heralding the master's return.

Immediately afterwards, the two massive bronze doors of the main hall, each ten feet high and carved with totems of thousands of mountains and peaks, slowly opened inward.

Inside the door, two rows of figures were already standing solemnly.

On the left are a dozen or so subordinate deities dressed in uniform light blue robes, their auras varying in strength. Most of them are "spiritual officials" or "wandering deities" in the [Lingyong] cultivation system.

Equivalent to the Xuanhuang level of Qi Refining, they are responsible for assisting in the management of various specific divine affairs of the Thousand Peaks Mountain Range.

On the right side, there were dozens of attendants, warriors, and spirit maidens, whose auras were more mixed but all carried the pure scent of incense.

They are low-ranking Divine Dao cultivators or spirits who attach themselves to the divine palace and serve the mountain deity.

At this moment, whether they were gods or their servants, everyone wore solemn expressions and their eyes were filled with reverence.

Upon seeing the pale blue figure standing with his hands behind his back in the center of the square, exuding a profound and imposing aura, everyone bowed in unison, then knelt on one knee, heads bowed, their movements perfectly synchronized, clearly demonstrating their well-trained nature.

A roar of shouts, like a surging tide, echoed before the majestic temple, filled with pure faith and reverence. "Welcome, Thousand Peaks Mountain Venerable!"

The roaring sound stirred up the surrounding clouds and mist, and seemed to echo among the mountain peaks.

Qi Yun could clearly feel that with this bow, pure Incense and Fire Prayer Power, filled with reverence and reliance, gathered from the prayers of these gods, divine servants, and even countless creatures in the distant mountains, and merged into his "divine body" at this moment and the "divine position" that was connected to the mountains in the the Unseen.

A gentle yet majestic pale golden divine light emanated from his body.

This is the unique cultivation system of the [Lingyong] Great Realm - the Path to Divine Dao through Incense Offerings!

They do not value personal arduous cultivation and enlightenment, nor do they draw upon the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to refine themselves.

Instead, it is to unite the faith and aspirations of all beings, to create an immortal golden body, and to receive the divine position bestowed by Heaven and Earth.

The higher the divine position, the wider the territory, and the more believers, the stronger the divine power, the closer the connection with the rules of heaven and earth, and the more powerful and vast the power of heaven and earth that can be mobilized.

Zhou Zimo, who was refined by Qi Yun, was given the divine title of Thousand Peaks Mountain Venerable.

It is a mid-level deity who governs these 1,365 mountain peaks and receives incense offerings from millions of living beings.

Qi Yun remained calm as he accepted the crowd's adoration. He slightly raised his hand, and a gentle yet undeniable divine power swept across the entire area. "Rise."

"Thank you, Shanzun!"

The crowd bowed again before respectfully rising, standing with their hands at their sides, awaiting instructions.

"I have gained some insights from this trip and need to go into seclusion for a while to cultivate myself."

"All matters concerning the Divine Palace will be handled jointly by the Left and Right Spirit Officials for the time being. They shall not be disturbed unless it is an urgent matter." Qi Yun's voice was calm, yet it carried a mountain-like pressure, the majesty inherent in a divine position.

"We humbly obey the decree of the Mountain Lord!" The two most powerful subordinate deities on the left and right immediately bowed and accepted the order.

Without another word, Qi Yun waved his sleeve, and his figure transformed into a golden light, disappearing straight into the depths of the divine palace.

That is the core forbidden area belonging to "Thousand Peaks Mountain Venerable" - the Mountain Venerable's Divine Palace.

Inside the shrine, the space is vast, with carved beams and painted rafters, extremely magnificent, and filled with the rich and pure fragrance of incense and the spiritual energy of the mountains and rivers.

In the center stands a high platform, upon which sits a colossal throne carved from a single piece of "Mountain-Subduing Jade."

Behind the throne, on the wall, a huge "Thousand Peaks Paying Homage to the Ancestor Diagram shines brightly, as if connected to the actual mountain ranges and their aura in the outside world.

Qi Yun did not sit on the throne that symbolized power.

He casually sat cross-legged on a futon in the shrine.

With her eyes slightly closed, her mind became completely calm.

His Divine Sense spread out silently, like mercury spilling onto the ground.

First, one must completely merge with and perceive this "divine body" and the "Thousand Peaks Mountain Venerable" divine position hidden deep in the the Unseen.

In an instant, countless streams of information flooded my mind:

The undulating rhythm of the mountain ranges, the rushing flow of the rivers, and the prayers of countless living beings within its jurisdiction (for favorable weather, for peace and health, for successful spiritual practice)...

The incense smoke emitted by the gods and their servants as they perform their duties, and even higher still, permeating the entire [Lingyong] through the divine position.

An invisible yet tightly-knit "net" of laws, subtly interconnected with the Principle of the Great Realm.

The sense of power is indeed abundant.

As long as he is within the territory of the Thousand Peaks Mountain Range, he can mobilize the power of the mountains and rivers with a single thought, bringing down sweet dew or causing earthquakes. He can also use the Incense and Fire Prayer Power to unleash various Divine Ability, making him far more powerful than Xuanhuang Foundation Establishment cultivators of the same level.

But this power— Qi Yun carefully comprehended it, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

"Without cultivating oneself, relying entirely on the mandate of heaven and the faith of all beings to sustain one's life—" he thought to himself, "Though the power is strong, it is like a tree without roots, water without a source."

He "saw" that this divine power was closely bound to the mountains beneath his feet and to the incense offerings of all living beings.

If the mountain range and the earth's veins are damaged, the divine power will be diminished; if the faith of believers wavers or even collapses, the divine position will be shaken, and the golden body will dim.

More importantly, the "legal net" that is connected to heaven and earth in the the Unseen not only grants divine authority, but also serves as a form of restraint and surveillance.

If Heaven's Will is displeased, or if one violates Heaven's laws, the divine position bestowed by imperial decree can be revoked.

At that time, this seemingly powerful divine power will vanish in an instant, returning to its original form, and may even backfire on itself.

"The foundation is entirely dependent on external things; it may seem to be infinitely glorious, but in reality, it is like walking on thin ice."

"With faith shattered and Heaven's Will will stripped away, one becomes a lamb to the slaughter, utterly vulnerable." Qi Yun slowly opened his eyes, a hint of understanding and a faint detachment flashing in them.

The Divine Dao system of [Lingyong] is convenient and quick to learn, and its potential seems quite high.

However, the flaws are too obvious. It completely entrusts one's own Dao Path to external things and the Heaven's Will, which is not what the Great Way should do.

He gently shook his head, having thoroughly understood the advantages and disadvantages of this world's unique traditions.

"However—" After shaking his head, Qi Yun's eyes showed not disappointment, but rather a glint of shrewdness.

"This kind of system is just what I need!"

The obvious flaws mean that the loopholes in the rules may be even greater.

Relying on faith and Heaven's Will?

This gave him an opportunity!

He flipped his palm, a faint light flashed, and a scroll—neither silk nor leather, neither gold nor jade, its material indistinguishable—suddenly appeared in his hand.

The scroll is entirely golden, with countless Daoist patterns flowing across its surface. It seems as if countless tiny runes are born and die within it, exuding an ancient, majestic, supreme aura that signifies the investiture of gods and the establishment of the universe.

[Investiture of the Gods]!

"There is no True Lord level being in charge of this realm." Qi Yun's fingertips traced the cold surface of the scroll.

"As long as I can suppress the Heaven's Will, my Investiture of the Gods the Gods scroll might be able to achieve some success through this opportunity!!"

A glint of divine light flashed in his eyes. With a slight thought, Qi Yun's Law Technique Panel appeared, revealing a Law Technique name that had been pushed to the bottom by a series of Divine Ability Art.