Overlord and Lu Jiulian simultaneously forced open the Heavenly Gate with brute strength—achieving ascension.

  The entire Five Phoenixes quaked; countless cultivators soared skyward—watching the massive gate reappear in the mortal world, spewing immortal energies as it slowly closed.

  Countless cultivators yearned deeply.

  Southern Commandery.

  Tang Yimo stood atop a roof—gazing at the enormous Heavenly Gate; brilliance flickered in his eyes.

  “Wait for me—I’ll open the Heavenly Gate sooner or later!”

  Tang Yimo’s black robes whipped; vigorous hair flew.

  Post-prosperity night market—left in disarray.

  Kong Nanfei in scholar robes—reeking of alcohol. Mortals couldn’t see the Heavenly Gate—but he was no mortal.

  Squinting, Kong Nanfei gazed at the gate—laughing.

  Across Five Phoenixes land.

  Cultivators everywhere—heroic aura soaring.

  Entering Heavenly Gate—became many cultivators’ pursuit.

  Once entered—called Heavenly Human; Five Phoenixes cultivators—all took becoming Heavenly Human as glory.

  …

  Ascension land.

  Suddenly terrifying energy swept.

  Overlord bloodied—landed on ground; immortal energies surged—like coiling dragons.

  Overlord stood—surveying entire ascension land; saw undulating mountains; rushing rivers.

  But uninhabited—Overlord’s heart sank.

  Whooshing void-breaking sounds rang swiftly.

  A fire phoenix.

  “Bai Qingniao’s raised chicks?”

  Overlord saw Little Phoenix One—slightly surprised.

  Little Phoenix One glanced at Overlord—arrogantly turned head; flapped wings fleeing.

  Overlord understood—followed.

  Bai Qingniao naturally sensed someone pushing open Heavenly Gate entering ascension land.

  Cultivating cross-legged in small courtyard—Bai Qingniao’s gaze focused; saw Overlord and Lu Jiulian approaching under phoenix guidance.

  Now Bai Qingniao—coiled in dense immortal energy; appearance ever more ethereal.

  “As expected—you two entered ascension land.”

  Bai Qingniao surprised—but not unexpected.

  Overlord and Lu Jiulian long Heavenly Humans—but hadn’t triggered Heavenly Gate then.

  When she triggered and ascended—Overlord and Lu Jiulian feared gate unstable; forcing breakthrough might collapse it.

  Waited long—feeling gate stable—simultaneously forced open.

  “As you see—ascension land… very cold; uninhabited.”

  Bai Qingniao gazed at Overlord and Lu Jiulian—slowly said.

  “But a world full of years and memories—you can spend time wandering.”

  “Remember—do not enter forbidden zones deeply.”

  Bai Qingniao said.

  Overlord and Lu Jiulian nodded—both departed.

  Too many doubts; too much confusion.

  Companions—arrived Heavenly Court ruins; gazing pressure-filled plaque; remnant structures—if restored, surely magnificent halls.

  Faintly sensed time’s aura.

  Contacted forbidden zones.

  Saw world-suppressing terrifying backs within.

  Overlord and Lu Jiulian horrified—immediately withdrew.

  Wandering ascension land—most exciting: heaven-earth immortal energies; allowed cultivation. In Five Phoenixes continent—hard-advanced cultivation—here rapidly progressed!

  “Indeed… due to energy lack…”

  Overlord focused.

  “This is immortal energy?”

  Immortal Ascension refined immortal energies; Heavenly Human to extreme—similarly refined them.

  Lu Jiulian and Overlord returned to Bai Qingniao’s courtyard.

  Exchanged exploration insights—then bid farewell; parted ways.

  Overlord found rushing riverbank—refined immortal energies cultivating on shore.

  Lu Jiulian wandered while cultivating—constantly absorbing heaven-earth immortal energies; tempering.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  With their appearance—this ancient silent place gradually gained vitality. Of course—three cultivators relative to vast ascension land—still too few.

  …

  Little Thunderclap Buddha Realm—utterly shaken.

  Mysterious gate—wreathed in immortal energies—appeared in skies.

  Etched myriad rare beasts—seeming alive; writhing on gate.

  Faintly—hearing terrifying roars!

  “This… what exactly?!”

  Great Venerable stood pagoda summit—facing thousand-zhang gate; felt suddenly minuscule.

  Little Thunderclap many experts sensed gate.

  Venerables streaked over—robes billowing; incredulously staring.

  “This… could it be… Ascension Gate?!”

  Joyful Venerable’s jovial face—filled with shock.

  “Impossible… ascension path ruthlessly severed by Upper Realm—how ascend?”

  Someone immediately refuted.

  “Could Upper Realm sever one path—yet open another gate for Lower Realms?”

  “Upper Realm couldn’t be so kind—if severed path, why open gate?”

  “Upper Realm receives Immortal Transformation and Ascension—not through gate, but directly tearing void!”

  Little Thunderclap venerables—buzzing discussions.

  Great Venerable still atop pagoda.

  Body trembling.

  Trembling facing dreadful pressure—this no ordinary gate.

  Great Venerable heart fear and hope.

  Gazing gate—heart couldn’t help excitement; fearing all… illusion.

  Boom!

  Step by step ascended.

  Buddhist light illuminated all; kasaya billowed.

  Upper Realm left this gate?

  Any purpose?

  Great Venerable pondered much—but ascension severed; only hope perhaps within gate.

  Gate triggered by him—naturally wouldn’t abandon easily.

  Ascending steps—Great Venerable soon reached massive thousand-zhang gate.

  Tidied kasaya.

  Long after—smiled.

  Palms against gate—pushed in!

  Boom!

  Pushed slight crack—vast immortal energies surged out.

  Great Venerable felt cultivation loosening signs!

  Ecstatic.

  Behind gate… surely path beyond Immortal Transformation!

  Thus—Great Venerable no hesitation; pushed wide.

  Streaked into light—amid countless chanting Sanskrit; entered within.

  Heavenly Gate closed.

  Great Venerable felt connection to Little Thunderclap—seemed severed by dreadful force.

  Opened eyes.

  Found himself before pitch-black mountain.

  Slowly turned—body quaked abruptly.

  Tilted body—gazing black mountain; horrified discovering—it collapsed giant Buddha statue!

  Terrifying crisscrossing auras; seeming sky-soaring Sanskrit—Great Venerable body and mind trembled.

  “This… where?”

  Great Venerable horrified.

  As Pingyang Heaven’s sole Yan Six high-martial Holy Lord—knew much past history.

  Thus clearly knew—what existence back in forbidden zone!

  “Amitabha… this a living ancient Great Emperor!”

  Great Venerable knelt—constantly chanting.

  Five Phoenixes ascension land had living ancient Great Emperor—how chilling.

  “In primordial era—ancient Great Emperors guarded; Nihility Heaven immensely vast—even Yan One high-martial. But after Emperor War—Nihility Heaven seemed severed much; only small region left—thus Nihility Heaven declined to weakest of Nine Heavens…”

  “Now seems—this ascension land perhaps primordial Nihility Heaven severed corner!”

  Great Venerable trembled—more secrets known; greater fear.

  Suddenly—Great Venerable seemed recall something.

  Left ancient Emperor forbidden zone—returned first entered forbidden zone.

  Gazed collapsed giant Buddha statue—heart quaked.

  “Perhaps this forbidden zone… fated with my Buddha; even—living Buddha ancient Emperor within!”

  Great Venerable hopeful—but dared not enter.

  Thus sat outside forbidden zone—cultivating.

  Dense immortal energies coiled; Great Venerable felt fulfillment wreathed in them—heart satisfied.

  Of course—if Overlord didn’t occasionally find excuses to fight him—he’d be more satisfied.

  …

  White Jade Pavilion.

  Lu eyes closed—deep thought.

  “Forbidden zone has living Buddha ancient Emperor… Great Venerable truly imaginative.”

  Lu opened eyes—somewhat speechless; shook head.

  Besides ancient Great Emperor “Hao” back—Lu personally witnessed; simulated some aura. Other forbidden zone existences—Lu’s random creations.

  Drawing Great Venerable into ascension land—small experiment; see if he found flaws or detected fabrication.

  If truly discovered ascension land fabricated—Lu could only reluctantly send Great Venerable to meet Buddha.

  “Hm… effect quite good.”

  “But as ascenders increase—Five Phoenixes cultivators unknown if conflict with Lower Three Heavens ascenders.”

  Lu pondered.

  Soon carefree smile.

  “Conflict good—drives harder cultivation.”

  Lu smiled.

  “Next—begin large-scale Lower Three Heavens ascensions.”

  Lu narrowed eyes.

  Leaned Thousand-Bladed Chair; lifted cup warm Heavenly Immortal Brew—downed.

  “Wonder—if Upper Realm learns they sealed ascension path—yet suddenly Five Phoenixes ascension land emerges… will they spit blood in rage?”

  Lu narrowed eyes.

  Upper Realm sealed temporarily—largely prevent divine herbs flowing Lower Realms for Gu Mangran.

  Dared not permanent—after all Lower Three Heavens Immortal Transformation and Ascension—considerable force.

  Many ants bite elephant dead.

  Ascensions numerous—unignorable power.

  Suddenly—Lu discovered unexpected joy.

  Great Venerable cultivating accumulated immortal energies in ascension land—convertible to his spiritual energy!

  One immortal energy—one million spiritual energy strands!

  What harvest.

  Lu’s eyes instantly lit!

  “No wall corner undiggable—only lazy hoe!”

  Lu narrowed eyes—smiled.

  Rolled sleeves—pinched piece; placed on board.

  …

  Yuan Magnetic Heaven.

  Lost all origin—gradually declining Yan Five high-martial Black Magnetic Minor World.

  Black Magnetic continent—Immortal Transformation beings lost souls.

  Black Magnetic ancestor—sole Immortal Ascension—clutched head; despair; unwillingness.

  “What fine Upper Realm—ruthless Upper Realm!”

  Black Magnetic ancestor fury attacked heart.

  Though stripped all Dao reserves by Five Phoenixes—Black Magnetic ancestor and Immortal Transformation actually unhurried.

  Because—hope remained. Once Immortal Transformation—unlike ordinary cultivators; extra choice—ascend Upper Realm.

  Thus escape world origin interference.

  Yet Upper Realm sealed ascension path.

  How despairing.

  As Black Magnetic ancestor ashen,

  news suddenly arrived.

  “Pingyang Heaven—Little Thunderclap Buddha Realm’s Buddha Great Venerable… ascended!”

  Reading news.

  Black Magnetic ancestor incredulous.

  “Impossible!”

  “Yuan Magnetic Heaven closest Upper Realm—if he ascended—why we sense nothing?”

  “Moreover—Upper Realm severed ascension path; even Immortal Ascension cannot—mere Immortal Transformation how breakthrough ascend?”

  Black Magnetic ancestor disbelieved.

  Yet he disbelieved—Black Magnetic other Immortal Transformation had to believe.

  Black Magnetic continent—desperate Immortal Transformation unleashed mighty auras.

  Boom!

  Suddenly!

  Heaven-earth changed.

  Rolling dark clouds swept.

  Black Magnetic Immortal Transformation stunned—actually not only them; all Lower Three Heavens Immortal Transformation and Ascension horrified.

  “What that?!”

  Rolling thunder sea.

  Thousand-zhang gate emerged; terrifying thunder coiled around; immortal energies rolling.

  “This gate immortal energies coiled—behind truly immortal energies?!”

  Black Magnetic ancestor eyes flickered.

  Heart heated eagerly.

  Yet cautious—now hated Upper Realm thoroughly.

  Thus thought… all Upper Realm conspiracy?

  Like before—letting Five Phoenixes strip their Dao reserves.

  In his view—Upper Realm bunch hypocrites!

  Boom boom boom!

  Immortal Transformation seemed ascending.

  Reached massive gate.

  Pushed open crack.

  Some glimpsed magnificent corner behind.

  Terrifying aura spread; black mountain below—seemed ancient Emperor seated!

  “That…”

  Lower Three Heavens many cultivators shocked.

  Then Immortal Transformation—like moths to flame—entered Heavenly Gate.

  Ten consecutive!

  Heavenly Gate behind—dragon-coiling immortal energies; deep attraction.

  “This real! Real ascension land!”

  Black Magnetic ancestor ecstatic.

  Could no longer hold back.

  …

  White Jade Pavilion.

  Lu eyes lines dancing.

  “Too easily obtained—you won’t cherish…”

  Lu lips curled slightly.

  Tap tap tap!

  Consecutive placements.

  Seemed stars shifting.

  Faintly—thunder seemed erupt on placement instants.

  …

  Yuan Magnetic Heaven.

  Heavenly Gate spanned.

  Black Magnetic ancestor charged with mad emotion.

  “Heavenly Gate newly opened—penalty exemption exhausted.”

  Seemed vast voice exploded.

  Next.

  Black Magnetic ancestor pupils contracted sharply.

  Saw—Heavenly Gate surroundings; countless thunder boiled.

  Finally—formed azure thunder dragon coiling Heavenly Gate!

  Wreathed world-ending might—charging him!