Chapter 159 - 159
Chapter 159: Breakthroughs to the Immortal Stage, One After Another
Inside the Body-Melding Immortal Cave.
With but a thought, Lu Xunxian arrived before the golden orb of light.
The Immortal Source Power radiating from the golden orb had grown increasingly terrifying--to the point where even the Body-Melding Immortal Cave was beginning to falter, on the verge of collapse.
"At this rate, if the Dao Spirit emerges, its terrifying power will destroy the Tiansheng Continent in an instant."
Lu Xunxian murmured after glimpsing the future.
But this wasn't unexpected.
After all, if the Dao Spirit matured normally, it would be a terrifying entity with strength rivaling the Peak of the Immortal Emperor Realm. It was perfectly natural for the force of its emergence to obliterate an entire Lower Realm.
After a moment of thought, Lu Xunxian swept a hand through the air and placed a Restriction Seal within the Body-Melding Immortal Cave. When the time came, the Dao Spirit's emergence would not spill its destructive power across the Tiansheng Continent.
"It looks like the Dao Spirit will emerge after the Tiansheng Grand Tournament concludes. When that happens, I'll inevitably have to step in and put those Immortal Emperors in their place. But doing so will likely draw the attention of that Lu Family member."
"Well, so be it. I'll just make thorough preparations."
Lu Xunxian murmured, not particularly concerned.
He then departed from the Body-Melding Immortal Cave, returning to the Ancient Wood Sacred Land to prepare for the upcoming Tiansheng Grand Tournament.
As for Luo Qianxue, after leaving the Ancient Wood Sacred Land, she had flown back to the Myriad Dao Academy at top speed.
Even after returning to the academy, her cheeks were still flushed pink. It took her quite some effort to calm her racing heart.
"Master, I've returned."
She cupped her fists before Xu Ruoshan's Cave Dwelling.
Shortly after she spoke, the Cave Dwelling's Restriction Seal opened.
"Come in."
Xu Ruoshan's voice came from within. Luo Qianxue hurried inside.
Within the Cave Dwelling, Xu Ruoshan sat cross-legged with his eyes shut. The aura emanating from him had already surpassed the Saint Emperor level, reaching the Immortal stage.
"Master, have you... broken through to the Immortal Stage?"
Luo Qianxue keenly detected the shift in Xu Ruoshan's aura, her heart surging with excitement.
Xu Ruoshan slowly opened his eyes.
"Mm. Sudden clarity struck, and then the breakthrough just happened. All that's left now is to undergo the Immortal Tribulation and ascend to the Immortal Realm."
Within the Tiansheng Continent, breaking through to the Immortal Stage didn't force an immediate ascension to the Immortal Realm. One simply couldn't use their power openly. As long as one concealed oneself well enough, one could linger on the Tiansheng Continent for a while longer.
Xu Ruoshan planned to watch the Tiansheng Grand Tournament before ascending.
He then turned to Luo Qianxue, about to say something, when his eyes went wide.
"Qianxue, you've broken through to the Peak of the Saint Emperor Realm?"
If he remembered correctly, before his Seclusion, Qianxue had only just barely broken through to the Saint Monarch Realm. Yet in under ten years, she had reached the Peak of the Saint Emperor Realm?
This was absolutely monstrous.
"Mm. Master took me to the Immortal Realm for training twice, and I was fortunate enough to break through to the Peak of the Saint Emperor Realm."
Luo Qianxue wore an expression of humble modesty, but in Xu Ruoshan's eyes, it was a shameless humblebrag. His emotions roiled so violently that he nearly lost control of his Immortal Stage aura.
After letting out a long breath, Xu Ruoshan finally composed himself. He looked at Luo Qianxue with an expression full of grievance.
Something this good, and she hadn't even told her master about it. What a waste of all the care he'd lavished on this disciple.
"Since you're back, I assume it's for the Tiansheng Grand Tournament."
"Yes, Master. I plan to ascend to the Immortal Realm after the Tiansheng Grand Tournament."
Luo Qianxue nodded.
Xu Ruoshan waved his hand. "Go on, then. Your master has high expectations for your performance at the Tiansheng Grand Tournament."
"Yes, Master!"
Luo Qianxue nodded and took her leave.
Meanwhile, Xu Ruoshan was far from the only one to break through to the Immortal Stage.
Within Chengtian Province.
Below the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, in the Cave Dwelling that Chen Wangu had personally constructed, faint tremors were running through the walls as if it were on the verge of shattering.
And the cause of it all was Chen Wangu himself, seated at its center.
Chen Wangu slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath.
"Finally. I've finally broken through to the Immortal Stage."
By the end, even Chen Wangu himself was somewhat taken aback. By his original estimate, breaking through to the Immortal Stage within a century would have been considered fast. He hadn't expected it to happen this quickly.
He took out a time-keeping Spirit Artifact. It showed that fewer than ten years had passed.
"Does this mean I can still watch the Tiansheng Grand Tournament? Well then, I'll ascend to the Immortal Realm after the tournament."
Chen Wangu thought to himself.
He then suppressed his aura until it was indistinguishable from an ordinary mortal's before stepping out of the Cave Dwelling.
The instant he emerged, the two Saint King Realm servants who had been standing guard outside were the first to react. They bowed deeply.
"Pavilion Master!"
"Mm. At ease. From today on, there's no need to stand guard beside me."
After all, he was about to ascend to the Immortal Realm. He wouldn't need them anymore.
Hearing Chen Wangu's words, the two Saint King servants quickly realized what had happened, their voices trembling with excitement.
"Pavilion Master, have you broken through to the Immortal Stage?"
"Mm. A fortunate breakthrough. As for the fact that I've broken through, keep it to yourselves for now."
Chen Wangu saw no point in denying it. The Tiansheng Grand Tournament was fast approaching, and once he ascended afterward, there would be no hiding it.
The two Saint Kings nodded in acknowledgment.
Then one of them gritted his teeth and spoke up.
"Pavilion Master, if--if we also ascend someday, could we continue to serve by your side?"
"Pavilion Master, I would also like to continue serving you after ascending."
The other Saint King quickly followed suit.
Before they had begun cultivating, the two of them had been children from a small mountain village. When Demonic Cultivators had massacred their village, it was Chen Wangu who happened to pass by and casually wiped out the Demonic Cultivators, saving their lives.
Because of that, once they began cultivating, they had chosen to remain at Chen Wangu's side--all to repay the debt of gratitude they owed him.
Chen Wangu paused for a moment, then smiled.
"Sure. If you manage to ascend, then stay with me."
He wasn't just saying it to be polite. These two had exceptional talent. One day, they might truly ascend, and taking them under his wing at that point wouldn't be a bad thing at all.
After giving his final instructions, Chen Wangu summoned the upper echelons of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, announced his plan to ascend after the Tiansheng Grand Tournament, and entrusted the Myriad Treasures Pavilion to a trusted senior member.
"Pavilion Master, rest assured. I will absolutely not disappoint your expectations. I will keep the Myriad Treasures Pavilion great!"
"Just do your best. No need to push yourself too hard."
Chen Wangu didn't demand too much. After all, once he ascended, he likely wouldn't be able to intervene in the Myriad Treasures Pavilion's affairs for a very long time.
To meddle in the affairs of a Lower Realm, one had to reach at minimum the True Immortal Realm--and that was only indirectly.
To intervene in a Lower Realm directly, one would need to be at least an Immortal King.
Though Chen Wangu was extremely confident in his own talent, reaching the Immortal King Realm would still take at least close to a hundred thousand years.
Just then, one of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion's senior members inquired cautiously.
"So, Pavilion Master, do you plan to bring the Myriad Treasures Pavilion's name to glory in the Immortal Realm?"