Everlasting Immortal Firmament

Essence Genesis Hall’s plaza:

There were three seats on each of the two sides. Jiangchen sat on the frontmost seat in the left column, and he deserved it; no one dared to contend with him.

Jiangchen was unpretentious, appearing like an ordinary person, casually sipping tea and waiting leisurely without feeling ignored in the least.

The various faction leaders in the surroundings were whispering and pointing, occasionally glancing at Jiangchen, but no one dared to sit down.

There were five seats left, and many people knew that these were prepared for the leaders of the holy lands and the heavenly dynasties. Only when these people took their seats would the various faction leaders have the qualifications to vie for a seat.

“There are already a hundred faction leaders, and they all seem to be from the land of the living?” an imperial emperor wondered aloud.

“Only lifespan cultivators can easily traverse the nether realm and land of the living, so of course, those from the nether realm can’t come!” analyzed a sect master.

“Indeed, not a single person from the nether realm has come. Without lifespan cultivators to open a passageway between the nether realm and the land of the living, those imperial emperors from the nether realm are not qualified to participate in this United Rule Meet!” the crowd discussed.

They had originally thought that people would come from both the nether realm and the land of the living, but unexpectedly, only those from the land of the living had come thus far.

However, just as everyone confirmed that there was no one from the nether realm, a Myriad Age Daoist Sect disciple called out a name that surprised everyone.

“Announcing, the Nine Yin Sect’s sect master from the nether realm!”

After this loud cry, Essence Genesis Hall’s plaza sank into silence once more.

“The nether realm? People from the nether realm? Is that even possible?”

“Could it be that a lifespan cultivator is accompanying them?”

“The Nine Yin Sect? I’ve never heard of this name before. Lifespan cultivators have never mentioned it. It shouldn’t be a holy land; it’s probably just a mid-tier sect.”

“But how can a mid-tier sect come to the land of the living?”

…

Curious voices filled the air as everyone’s gaze turned towards the visitor from the Nine Yin Sect.

It was a dark carriage with four giant horses pulling it. These four horses were extremely peculiar, with the lower half being equine and the upper half, human—centaurs—a rare sight, indeed.

Strangely, on the deck of the black carriage that the four centaurs pulled was a lit candle with a faint blue flame.

The centaurs pulled the carriage to Essence Genesis Hall’s plaza. After the centaurs shrugged off the reins, one of them gently drew back the curtain of the carriage.

A man in magnificent black robes slowly stepped out of the carriage.

The man was quite handsome, but his complexion was somewhat pale as if he were seriously ill.

He exuded an extremely dignified air, much like a nobleman from an ancient clan.

The man was very careful as he stepped over the candle at the carriage’s entrance. One of the centaurs hunkered down to serve as a step for the man as he descended from the carriage.

After he stepped off the centaur, another centaur waved, pulling the carriage and storing it in its sleeve.

Swaying his magnificent black robes, the man swept his gaze over the surroundings.

“The imperial emperors and sect masters of the land of the living are all here? It truly is a grand event. It’s not in vain that I came from the nether realm!” the man said with satisfaction, smiling lightly.

He took a deep breath and looked at the sun in the sky. “The sun of the land of the living? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen it!”

Curious gazes were directed at this man from the crowd. The sect master of the Nine Yin Sect? Where did he come from? Moreover, he crossed over from the nether realm, which is extremely peculiar since he has no lifespan cultivator accompanying him.

The man looked at the sun as if he were reminiscing. With some reluctance, he shifted his gaze away from the sun and towards Jiangchen, who was not far away, offering a faint smile.

Jiangchen looked back at this man curiously. When he looked at me, there seemed to be a sense of familiarity in his eyes. Do I know him?

“The Nine Yin Sect? Where in the nether realm? How should I address you?” Jiangchen asked indifferently.

“The Nine Yin Sect is located in the southern region of the nether realm. I am Ming. It’s been a long time, Jiangchen!” The man smiled.

“Huh? Do you know me?” Jiangchen was puzzled.

“I met you many years ago, but you didn’t pay me any attention,” Ming replied with a faint smile.

Jiangchen furrowed his brows as he tried to recall, but he could not find any memory of a person named Ming.

Ming smiled and glanced at the six seats in the plaza.

Jiangchen had taken the frontmost seat on the left, and Ming walked directly to the frontmost seat on the right before everyone’s gaze.

“Doesn’t this sect master from the nether realm know his place? What is he doing over there? Does he want to sit down?” someone could not help but exclaim.

Swish!

Ming gently swung his robes around and sat down slowly.

Essence Genesis Hall’s plaza fell silent.

He really sat down? In the frontmost seat on the right? He dares to sit on an equal footing with Jiangchen?

After Ming took his seat, the four centaurs on the side respectfully presented him with fine wine and poured a glass for him.

Taking a sip of wine, Ming seemed quite relaxed and looked over at Jiangchen.

“Care for a drink?” Ming offered, smiling.

Jiangchen nodded. “Sure, why don’t you try my tea?”

One of the centaurs poured a glass of wine respectfully and handed it to Jiangchen.

All eyes were fixed on the glass of wine because a faint white light in the wine seemed like a white baby floating on the surface of the wine and breathing in the spiritual energy of the world. It looked extremely eerie.

Long Aotian also respectfully brought over a cup of tea, and as everyone saw it, they realized that inside the teacup, there was a blood-red lotus bud. As the cup was handed over, the lotus slowly blossomed into a blood-red lotus flower, looking extremely eerie.

Ming took the cup of tea that Long Aotian handed to him and sniffed it gently. “Rebirth Lotus Tea? To think this tea still exists in this world? Today, I can finally savor it again!”

“This is from my collection! There’s only this one left in the world!” Jiangchen said with a hint of emotion.

Jiangchen seemed to understand the meaning behind Ming’s words: he could finally savor it again, indicating that Ming had tasted it before. This kind of tea was from before the battle between the shamans and the animal spirits, and besides the one plant in Jiangchen’s collection, the rebirth lotus had become extinct in the world. This Ming seemed to have a significant background.

Jiangchen took a sip of the wine that looked like it had a snow-white baby inside.

“Herbal Restoration Elixir Wine? You are quite extravagant yourself,” Jiangchen sighed.

“The last ginseng fruit tree in the world just happens to grow in my garden!” Ming chuckled.

“Excellent wine!” Jiangchen praised.

“Fine tea!” Ming smiled faintly.

The two exchanged knowing looks, and around them, the various faction leaders fell silent. They might not understand what Jiangchen and Ming were talking about, but Jiangchen’s attitude seemed to imply approval of Ming.

To earn Jiangchen’s approval, Ming had to be more than just an ordinary person, likely someone they could not afford to offend.

Everyone watched Ming curiously, wondering about his origins. Just as the confusion settled in, a Myriad Age Daoist Sect disciple shouted once more.

“Announcing, the Yan Heavenly Dynasty’s sovereign from the land of the living!”

With this proclamation, all eyes turned to Ba, a prominent figure from the land of the living.

Ba’s carriage, pulled by nine phoenixes, descended slowly onto Essence Genesis Hall’s plaza.

The grandeur of these nine phoenixes, while without a large entourage, overshadowed everyone else’s vehicle. This was the rightful fanfare of a heavenly emperor.

Coo! Coo!

The nine phoenixes cried out in unison as the carriage’s curtains slowly opened.

Dressed in fiery-red imperial robes, Ba gracefully stepped down from the carriage. Following her was Jingwei.

“Elder Sister, there are so many people!” Jingwei exclaimed with surprise.

“Phoenixes, return!” Ba ordered calmly.

Coo! Coo!

The nine phoenixes cried out once more before swiftly departing Essence Genesis Hall’s plaza, leaving Ba and Jingwei behind.

Jingwei now had the appearance of a middle-aged woman resembling Zhu Qiqi; however, her addressing Ba as Elder Sister left no doubt about her identity.

Jiangchen and Ming both focused their attention on Ba, apparently examining her.

Ba scanned the assembly of people. Eventually, her eyes settled on Jiangchen and Ming, who had already claimed the left and right front seats, respectively.

Although Ba did not recognize Ming, she showed no intention of contesting for his seat. Instead, she gracefully moved towards Jiangchen, taking the second seat on the left.

Ba took her seat, and in the eyes of everyone present, this was only natural. After all, she was a heavenly emperor, and not long ago, she had defeated Ji Dihong and sent him fleeing. If she did not have the right to sit, then who did?

Ba settled into the second seat on the left, and Jingwei contemplated taking the third seat next to her elder sister.

“Jingwei, stand behind me,” Ba instructed calmly.

“Huh? Oh!” Jingwei hesitated but eventually positioned herself behind Ba.

While Jingwei remained oblivious, Ba saw the big picture clearly. These six conspicuous seats were more than mere chairs; they represented six storms, the positions that leaders of the major factions from all over the world would vie for.

Essence Genesis had placed these six seats for a purpose. Although that purpose remained shrouded in mystery, one thing was certain: Essence Genesis would treat the occupants of these seats with equal regard. Others would not even have the privilege of sitting.

While Ba occupied one seat, it was evident that unsettling events would unfold soon.

Ba’s demeanor heightened the tension in the atmosphere, making everyone acutely aware of the impending uncertainty. Three seats were still unclaimed, and the question remained: who would prove worthy of them?

------

At the same time, on Heavenly Access Peak, Gu Hai concluded his conversation with Sha. Accompanied by Lin Waner, they left Heavenly Access Hall.

“It seems like many have arrived. Shall we proceed?” Gu Hai said with a smile.

“Sure.” Lin Waner nodded in agreement.

Gu Hai, Lin Waner, and Sha flew towards the entrance of Essence Genesis Hall.

Sha’s four recently recruited disciples remained behind in closed-door cultivation in Heavenly Access Hall.

“Announcing, the Han Heavenly Dynasty’s sovereign from the land of the living!”

A Myriad Age Daoist Sect disciple shouted once more.

All eyes immediately turned to the recent sensation, the Han Heavenly Emperor, all showing solemn expressions.

“Gu Hai only brought two people?”

“No, wait, isn’t that Sha, the leader of the Heavenly Access’s line of inheritance?”

“And the other one, isn’t she Fairy Waner? No, it’s Lin Waner, the leader of the Supreme Ascendant faction’s line of inheritance?”

The Myriad Age Daoist Sect had three major lines of inheritance: Essence Genesis, Supreme Ascendant, and Heavenly Access. Now, the leaders of two lines of inheritance escorted Gu Hai.

Despite their small number, their presence outshone even the grandeur of the nine phoenixes from earlier.

“Waner, stand behind me later,” Gu Hai whispered to Lin Waner.

Lin Waner nodded in agreement.