Chapter 00248: The Ascension Platform
# The Ascension Platform
Chapter 248
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 248: The Ascension Platform
Lu Yuan's tone was grave as he spoke:
"Everyone, the Purple Abode Mountain Range has been completely sealed off by a protective formation. All the trial participants who entered the Purple Abode Mountain Range earlier have likely been killed. I believe everyone knows who is behind this—Ding Huan, the sect master of the Blue Star Sect. This man is ruthless and has a bloodthirsty reputation."
He Quan, upon hearing this, couldn't help but find it amusing.
While others might describe Ding Huan as ruthless and bloodthirsty, it was somewhat ironic coming from Lu Yuan.
After all, in the world of cultivators, who could rival Lu Yuan in terms of ruthlessness and bloodlust?
Lu Yuan paused for a moment, hoping that the others would suggest breaking through the protective formation of the Purple Abode Mountain Range.
If they did, he would naturally join forces with them to do so.
However, after a long silence from the others, Lu Yuan had no choice but to continue:
"The Purple Abode Mountain Range was a joint effort by our five sects. Now that the Nine Sound Sect is gone, only the four of us remain to manage it. This is the time when we should be reaping the benefits, yet the Blue Star Sect has sealed off the mountain range without even consulting us. They've also slaughtered all the trial participants inside, showing complete disregard for us."
Still, no one spoke up.
Lu Yuan had no choice but to address He Quan directly:
"Sect Master He, what is your opinion?"
He Quan stood up.
Lu Yuan waved his hand:
"Sect Master He, we're all familiar with each other. There's no need to stand. Please, speak while seated."
He Quan, however, remained standing and clasped his hands in a salute:
"My sect, the Moon Veil Sect, has recently suffered the unfortunate loss of our sect master, and there have been other complications as well. While I am reluctant to give up the resources of the Purple Abode Mountain Range, the Moon Veil Sect is currently unable to manage both ends. Therefore, I have no choice but to relinquish our share of the benefits and withdraw from Purple Abode City..."
As He Quan spoke of withdrawing from Purple Abode City, a glint of killing intent flashed in Lu Yuan's eyes.
Back when the profits were being divided, the Moon Veil Sect had been quick to claim their share.
Now that the Blue Star Sect had taken over the Purple Abode Mountain Range, just when they should be uniting against a common enemy, the Moon Veil Sect wanted to withdraw? That was not going to happen.
He Quan, as if oblivious to Lu Yuan's murderous intent, continued:
"Originally, I wouldn't have had time to attend today's meeting. The reason I'm here is that a True God Realm elder from the Desolate God Sect of the Ascension Realm, Qi Long, has come to the Moon Veil Sect. I had to apologize to Elder Qi to make time for this meeting. Therefore, I must hurry back to attend to him. Although the elder from the Desolate God Sect won't hold it against me, as a sect from the lower realm, we must still maintain proper decorum."
After saying this, He Quan bowed to the other three:
"I will take my leave now. As for the Moon Veil Sect's share of the Purple Abode Mountain Range's benefits, the three of you may handle it as you see fit."
As He Quan left the meeting hall, Lu Yuan remained deep in thought.
He didn't dare act against He Quan because if a True God Realm expert from the Desolate God Sect was indeed at the Moon Veil Sect, any move against them would be suicidal.
Qiu Kujin shifted his spherical body slightly:
"He Quan is telling the truth. A True God Realm expert from the Desolate God Sect did visit the Moon Veil Sect."
Lu Yuan nodded:
"Since the Moon Veil Sect is withdrawing, what are your thoughts?"
Wu Changgong, the sect master of the Five Pillars Dao Sect, sighed inwardly.
He, too, wanted to withdraw from the alliance in Purple Abode City, but his sect's strength didn't allow it.
The Five Pillars Dao Sect didn't have a True God Realm expert to rely on.
If he dared to suggest withdrawing now, Lu Yuan would surely kill him on the spot.
"Sect Master Wu, what is your opinion?" Lu Yuan turned to Wu Changgong.
Wu Changgong pondered for a moment before speaking:
"I will follow Sect Master Lu's lead. Our five sects established Purple Abode City together, and I will stand firm to the end. Even if only three of us remain, a mere Ding Huan won't be able to do anything to us."
"Good. My idea is that we jointly issue a proclamation. One month from now, the Purple Abode Mountain Range will be fully opened to the public. We will give away ten thousand trial spots for free, first come, first served."
Lu Yuan was pleased with Wu Changgong's response.
As for Qiu Kujin, Lu Yuan didn't have the authority to demand his stance.
The city lord of True Essence Dao City, Mo Zheng, was stronger than Lu Yuan, nearly at the mid-stage of the Virtual God Realm.
Lu Yuan was confident that True Essence Dao City would never give up the lucrative Purple Abode Mountain Range.
In fact, Mo Zheng had considered abandoning the Purple Abode Mountain Range, but Qiu Kujin was reluctant.
Before Qiu Kujin left, Mo Zheng had advised him to give up the mountain range.
However, Qiu Kujin believed that no matter how strong the Blue Star Sect was, it couldn't compare to several Virtual God Realm experts.
Moreover, the Purple Abode Mushrooms from the mountain range were crucial to him.
So, he decided to wait and see.
As expected, when Lu Yuan made his proposal, Qiu Kujin didn't object.
"Sect Master Lu, are you suggesting that after gathering these people, we attack the protective formation of the Purple Abode Mountain Range together?" Wu Changgong understood Lu Yuan's plan.
Lu Yuan sneered:
"Of course. Do you think we should break the formation and let these people enter and cultivate for free? There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. If they want to enter for free, they'll have to break the formation first."
...
Meanwhile, at Hidden Sword Mountain.
The first thing Ding Huan did upon arriving was to set up a teleportation formation.
He placed it a few miles away from the entrance to the cosmic vortex.
In the future, this area would become a trial ground for the sect, so it was necessary to build a trial hall.
After setting up the teleportation formation, Ding Huan returned to the entrance of the cosmic vortex and placed a mid-grade starry sky spirit vein on the ground.
In addition to this, he also took out two high-grade spirit veins and implanted them.
Last time, he had managed to advance his Great Cosmic Art with just a low-grade starry sky spirit vein.
This time, with a mid-grade starry sky spirit vein and two high-grade spirit veins, Ding Huan believed he could quickly break through the Star Realm and advance to the next level.
After one cycle of the Great Cosmic Art, Ding Huan felt a cosmic bridge form between the galaxy in his sea of consciousness and the cosmic vortex.
Endless spiritual energy surged from the spirit veins, and Ding Huan could feel his power skyrocketing.
The galaxy in his sea of consciousness, under the influence of the Great Cosmic Art, drew in the vast energy from the cosmic vortex, forming a new cycle.
The stars at the center of the galaxy grew brighter, and the twelve smaller stars orbiting the main star became clearer and more substantial.
Even the outermost twelve star particles began to evolve into smaller stars.
The once vague and indistinct galaxy gradually took on a more tangible form.
Ding Huan's true essence continued to strengthen, gathering in the stars within his dantian.
Despite being in the midst of cultivation, Ding Huan was filled with excitement.
He knew he had forged a unique path for himself.
With the galaxy in his sea of consciousness, his Dao had no limits and could expand endlessly with his insights.
With the stars in his dantian, he could accumulate enough stellar energy.
In theory, as long as he had enough stellar energy, he could handle any battle, no matter how chaotic or large-scale.
The Great Cosmic Art was truly extraordinary, and Ding Huan grew more satisfied with it.
At that moment, a sudden surge of information about a technique appeared in his mind.
The Great Cosmic Art!
Ding Huan was stunned.
He had already created the Great Cosmic Art and was currently cultivating it.
How could there be another Great Cosmic Art?
"All life force can be absorbed by the Great Cosmic Art?"
As Ding Huan absorbed the contents of this new Great Cosmic Art, he realized it was vastly different from the one he had created.
This... could this even be called the Great Cosmic Art?
This technique involved devouring the life force of planets, galaxies, the fortunes of entire realms, and even the life force and fortunes of the entire universe...
Cultivating this Great Cosmic Art would plunge the vast cosmos into one calamity after another, allowing the cultivator to advance repeatedly through these calamities.
This was nothing short of the Great Evil Art.
Ding Huan knew this had to be the Great Cosmic Art recorded in the ancient scroll.
This harmful technique was something he would never cultivate.
Thankfully, he had obtained the scroll.
If it had fallen into the hands of someone evil, wouldn't that lead to chaos across the universe?
If the person who created this technique had gained enlightenment on Earth, would the first step have been to devour Earth?
If they had gained enlightenment on the Three Heavens Star Continent, would they have devoured the Three Heavens Star Continent?
The person who left this scroll was likely no saint.
In their eyes, only the Dao mattered.
All moral and ethical constraints were irrelevant.
This despicable Great Evil Art would end with him.
It would not be passed on.
He hoped that the person who possessed this Great Cosmic Art would not reincarnate with their memories intact.
From this day forward, Ding Huan's Great Cosmic Art would be the true orthodox version.
All others were garbage.
Without hesitation, Ding Huan set aside the newly acquired Great Cosmic Art and continued to cultivate his own version, connecting with the vast cosmic void, absorbing endless spiritual energy, and enhancing his power.
While Ding Huan was engrossed in his cultivation at Hidden Sword Mountain, nearly everyone in the cultivation world was preparing to head to the Ascension Realm.
The reason was that the powerful beings of the Ascension Realm had established a challenge platform at the border between the cultivation world and the Ascension Realm.
This platform was called the Ascension Platform.
Any cultivator from the cultivation world who could pass nine challenges and reach the Ascension Platform would receive an Ascension Token, granting them entry into the Ascension Realm.
This news was like dropping several depth charges into the calm waters of the cultivation world, stirring up all the cultivators who aspired to advance further on the path of the Dao.
The Ascension Realm's spiritual energy and natural laws were far superior to those of the cultivation world.
Unless one was a fool, who wouldn't want to go to the Ascension Realm given such an opportunity?
Previously, the Ascension Realm had strictly controlled the number of cultivators allowed to enter, so even if people wanted to go, they couldn't.
Now that there was a chance, no one wanted to stay behind and struggle in the cultivation world.
Almost every cultivator with any qualifications rushed to the Ascension Platform, eager to challenge their way into the Ascension Realm.
Even the disciples of the Blue Star Sect, upon hearing the news, couldn't help but feel the urge to try their luck.
The Blue Star Sect had recruited some new disciples, but their numbers were still fewer than two hundred.
Liu Yinzhu, upon learning that many disciples wanted to go to the Ascension Platform, immediately sent a message to Ding Huan.
However, Ding Huan was in seclusion and didn't receive the message.
Unable to get a response from Ding Huan, Liu Yinzhu decided to let the disciples try their luck.
If they obtained an Ascension Token, they could wait for the sect master's instructions before deciding whether to enter the Ascension Realm.
(End of Chapter)