Chapter 892 - 619: Aim High, Achieve Mediocrity!

Time passes quietly, a flicker of fifty thousand years.

Celestial Brilliance Immortal Mountain, eighty-eight peaks, surrounded by clear air!

The Immortal Ranking hangs high at the peak of the main mountain, engraved with ancient Dao Patterns, faint cosmic Dao sounds humming, bearing the marks of countless Cultivators.

On this day, a name on the Immortal Ranking suddenly lit up, a white light piercing through the clouds, climbing upward relentlessly.

Buzz—

Brilliant golden light suddenly surged, like the sun at dawn, enveloping that name.

"Zhang Xingdao!"

Throughout the Immortal Mountain, Dharma Masters and Great Powers who were cultivating and training raised their eyes, their gazes penetrating through the layers of mountain peaks, landing on the Immortal Ranking.

Immortal Mountain Named Disciple!

The expressions of the crowd were filled with astonishment, their discussions rising and falling:

"This Fellow Daoist Zhang, having just attained Dao for fifty thousand years, has consecutively broken realms, entering the Destructive Tribulation realm, and ranking among the Immortal Mountain Named Disciples!"

A Dharma Master in azure robes stroked his beard and stood, his gaze distant, his tone full of admiration:

"Only fifty thousand years, and already reached such a stage, truly terrifying!"

"Indeed!"

Another Dharma Master nodded, his Dao Rhyme ethereal, his tone carrying a hint of melancholy:

"For us, cultivation often takes tens of Primordial Assemblies to arduously break through a realm, with every step sinking deeply, treading on thin ice, while Fellow Daoist Zhang soars like a great roc!"

"In my view, Fellow Daoist Zhang, truly has the makings of a Loose Immortal!"

...

Meanwhile, in the Three Extremes Domain, Antarctic Immortal Mansion.

In the depths of the Cloud Sea.

Qin Jihai sat on a Jade Couch, above his head, Yin Yang Clouds evolved, his aura unfathomable, vast as the universe.

Suddenly, his eyes abruptly opened, Yin Yang Qi interweaving in his pupils, a complexity flashing through them, followed by a helpless smile:

"In the blink of an eye, the disciple is gone!"

A strand of Dao Power condensed in his hand, revealing the message of Celestial Brilliance Immortal Mountain — Zhang Xingdao cultivated to the Third Step of Unity, ranked as a Named Disciple!

At that time, when Chen Sheng had just broken through to Dharma Master, he personally met him, bestowing upon him insights from the Dao of Taiyin, with thoughts of accepting him as a disciple long forming.

At that time, seeing Chen Sheng’s extraordinary talent and his direct lineage from the Panwu sect, he intended to test him, honing his Dao Heart.

When the time was ripe, he planned to take him as a Direct Disciple, teaching him meticulously, and perhaps in the future, he could become his right-hand, or even surpass him.

But he never expected that after Chen Sheng broke through to Integration and touched the inheritance of the Immortal Mountain, his cultivation speed would become terrifyingly rapid.

In just fifty thousand years, he rose like a hidden dragon emerging and a great roc spreading its wings, leaping into the heavens, ranking among the Immortal Mountain Named Disciples.

Qin Jihai gently shook his head, his eyes full of helplessness: He himself was still just a declining Daoist Monarch, two stages away from being an Immortal Mountain Named Disciple.

To mention accepting a disciple now was nothing more than wishful thinking!

Qin Jihai sighed softly, his brows filled with a sense of regret:

"In the end, I was a step too slow."

...

In the depths of the Immortal Domain, Xiaoqi Mansion.

This was an Immortal Palace of celestial level exclusively for the Immortal Mountain Named Disciples.

Besides that, the Named Disciples’ privileges also included Loose Immortal inheritances and the Heaven and Earth Sword Order, all of which Chen Sheng was intimately familiar with.

At this moment.

He held an immaculate white Jade Order, draped in a dark celestial robe, his sleeves fluttering lightly, stepping into the mansion, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding layout.

Pavilions and towers scattered, Spiritual Springs murmuring...

Chen Sheng mused to himself:

"The layout here is quite similar to the Eight Treasures Palace of my previous life."

His gaze slightly focused, he looked towards the core of Xiaoqi Mansion, where clouds and mist hovered, with a hint of purple glow spreading out, permeating the air.

"Indeed, there is a secret treasure here as well!"

His form flickered slightly, and in an instant, he arrived at the core of the mansion, clearing the mist, revealing a small Grotto Heaven.

Purple Heaven Grotto Heaven!

Within the Grotto Heaven, purple glow flowed, and the primordial energy surged like a river, with dense Power of Origin surging forth.

"The grade of this Purple Heaven Qi is similar to the Empty Bright Fountain from my previous life’s Eight Treasures Palace."

"It offers considerable benefit to my current Destructive Tribulation realm."

Chen Sheng’s lips held a faint smile as he looked at the surging Purple Heaven Qi in the Purple Heaven Grotto Heaven.

He slightly raised his chin, inhaling lightly—

Whoosh whoosh!!

A strand of dense purple glow, like a roaming dragon, surged out from the Purple Heaven Grotto Heaven, directly entering his nostrils.

In an instant, purple Qi surrounded him, with the Taiyin Dao Rhyme around him interweaving with the Purple Heaven Qi, emanating a faint purple glow.

Chen Sheng no longer hesitated, his form landing, sitting cross-legged on the Jade Mat beside the Purple Heaven Grotto Heaven, his eyes gently closing, with Dao Patterns around him automatically lighting up, instantly entering a state of cultivation.

In just a moment, a faint purple haze gradually appeared on his face, his complexion glowing, Dao Rhyme flowing, with his aura becoming more condensed and distant as it was nourished by the Purple Heaven Qi.

His Heart Spirit sank into his sea of consciousness, refining the Purple Heaven Qi while pondering in his heart:

"First, borrow this Purple Heaven Qi to hone my Dao Foundation, and once refined, I will proceed to Heaven and Earth Sword Mountain to attain Enlightenment, ascending to the realm of a Daoist Monarch with the utmost speed."

...

Another ten thousand years passed.

In the depths of Beiji Immortal Mansion.

In a confined Fire Chamber, flames surged, with Taiyang Power collected into a sea, at temperatures high enough to warp space.

Suddenly, within the Fire Chamber, an anomaly occurred!

Chaos roiled, faintly carrying the roaring sound of Taiyang Origin.

Bang—

A loud sound penetrated the barriers of the Fire Chamber, with Taiyang Power frantically gushing forth, transforming into a crimson beam of light, dyeing the Cloud Sea red.

Countless Spiritual Qi converged wildly, causing the laws of heaven and earth to tremble.

Outside the Fire Chamber.

A streak of light descended, transforming into a Daoist; it was none other than Dharma Master Yanxuan!

He stood with his hands behind his back, surrounded by a flowing, fiery red glow, his eyes fixed intently on the direction of the Fire Chamber, unable to hide the anticipation in his eyes.

His disciple Liu Chengyu, after achieving the Void Refining Fifteenth Tribulation, has been in this place in seclusion.

Dharma Master Yanxuan murmured:

"Seeing that he’s reaching the end of his lifespan, this brat finally begins!"

...

Inside the Fire Chamber, the surrounding space was entirely burned into a pure world of fire!

The flames roared, and the heat waves were overwhelming!

A Dharma Seed, entirely crimson and densely covered with Dao Patterns, was being thoroughly refined at the core of the flames!

Each Dao Pattern flowed like a living creature, emanating an immense, unparalleled power of the Taiyang Origin.

The residual charm spread out, transforming into crystalline, transparent Taiyang Spiritual Materials, some like flame crystals, some like red-gold flowing light, scattered all around.

Even a single one is a treasure that ordinary cultivators would find it impossible to acquire throughout their lives.

"It’s done!"

A fiery brilliance erupted in the eyes of Dharma Master Yanxuan, his fiery red glow surged in excitement, and he couldn’t conceal his joy and excitement in his tone.

Soon after.

Boom——

The stone door of the Fire Chamber shattered violently under the immense Taiyang Power, rubble flew, and red firelight poured out.

A figure in a fiery robe walked out slowly, his posture as tall and straight as a pine, surrounded by fiery red glow; it was Liu Chengyu.

All his Dao Power was retracted, and he respectfully bowed deeply to Dharma Master Yanxuan:

"Master, your disciple was fortunate not to disappoint you, successfully refining the Dharma Seed. I’ve made Master worry for so long, and this disciple is anxious."

Dharma Master Yanxuan stepped forward quickly, his eyes fixed on Liu Chengyu, filled with almost overflowing approval. He patted Liu Chengyu’s shoulder heavily, full of pride:

"Good! Good! Good!"

"As expected of my disciple!"

His entire being lightened up, his tone carrying a bit of bragging and pride:

"Across the entire Three Extremes Domain, how many Great Powers in the Third and Fourth Steps of Unity have spent their lives and still never nurtured a Dharma Master."

"Though I am only in the Second Step of Unity, I have nurtured you, ha ha!"

As he spoke, Dharma Master Yanxuan raised his hand to condense a Communication Jade Talisman, Dao Power injected from his fingertips. The talisman transformed into a crimson stream of light and disappeared into the void instantly.

He wanted to share this news with his close friends and boast a little.

"Ha ha ha, old friend, look at this! My disciple Liu Chengyu has today refined the Dharma Seed and broken through to the realm of Dharma Master! I, Yanxuan, haven’t embarrassed you!"

In the communication, Dharma Master Yanxuan’s laughter was hearty, overflowing with pride, without hiding his joy at all.

Liu Chengyu stood aside, watching his master so happy, and cooperated very well.

After Dharma Master Yanxuan finished sending the message, he retracted his smile, patted Liu Chengyu’s arm, and spoke in a gentle tone:

"Chengyu, come with me into the hall. Today, let’s talk about your insights from these years of seclusion."

"Yes, Master."

Liu Chengyu bowed in response and followed closely behind Dharma Master Yanxuan into the main hall.

The master and disciple took their seats, one as host and one as guest.

Dharma Master Yanxuan:

"You’ve been in seclusion for a full thirty thousand years. Many things have happened in the outside world. You’ve just broken through, so I imagine you’d also like to know a thing or two..."

He recounted slowly.

Liu Chengyu picked up the Spirit Tea, listened for a while, and couldn’t help feeling as if he were in a different world.

After a moment of silence, he asked the question he was most concerned about—Zhang Xingdao’s situation.

Upon hearing this, the smile on Dharma Master Yanxuan’s face faded instantly, his expression becoming somewhat complicated.

He did not answer directly, just slowly raised his hand and took out a white Jade Scroll from his Storage Ring.

Dao Patterns flowed on the Jade Scroll, containing vast amounts of information, and with a gentle push, it floated before Liu Chengyu.

"See for yourself, his information is all in this Jade Scroll."

Liu Chengyu took the Jade Scroll, and with a mere moment’s glance, his figure abruptly froze.

His entire being seemed as if struck by lightning, directly stunned!

"Third Step of Unity, becoming a Named Disciple of the Immortal Mountain! That’s a treatment only top Daoist Monarchs have! And he obtained it prematurely!"

He thought he had finally closed some of the gap after enduring deadly seclusion and refining the Dharma Seed, but he never expected that the other had already left him far behind.

Liu Chengyu smiled bitterly, harboring only one thought: "I actually thought I could catch up to such a monster?"

Dharma Master Yanxuan watched Liu Chengyu’s stiff posture, gradually stood up, gently patted his shoulder, but remained silent.

To be in the same era as someone like Zhang Xingdao was unfortunate, destined to endure the despair of being "unreachable."

Liu Chengyu stood still for a long time, the shock and confusion in his eyes gradually faded away, replaced by an unprecedented sense of relief.

"Master, I understand now."

"To share an era with such a monster might be despair, but for me, it’s an opportunity."

"Without him as a target, pushing me day and night, perhaps I would have long halted before the bottleneck of the Void Refining Fifteenth Tribulation and never could have gritted my teeth to survive seclusion and refine the Dharma Seed."

He paused, the smile at the corner of his lips becoming clearer:

"As the ancient saying goes, ’Aim for the pinnacle, and you may achieve the middle; aim for the middle, and you may achieve the lower.’

"By setting someone like him as a target, even if I can’t catch up, I can still continuously break through myself on the path of pursuit."

"From now on, he remains my target."

Liu Chengyu’s voice was not loud, yet it carried an undeniable determination, and his Dao Heart transformed along with it. No longer obsessed with "surpassing," he would nonetheless strive with all his might to "chase."

Dharma Master Yanxuan looked at his disciple with approval, patting his shoulder once more, his tone filled with comfort:

"Good! Good! Having such a mindset, you truly are my disciple!"