Attempting to Usurp the Heavenly Dao Authority, the Sole True World

The grand Ceremony of Immortal Ascension finally came to an end, with eight Celestial Realm existences receiving their investiture.

Although the various lineages and clans afterward offered up many of their foundational treasures as sacrifices, they could no longer stir the Sealing Immortals Tome in the slightest.

Those existences who had been invested into the Sealing Immortals Tome were all trembling with excitement. Blessed by the incense offerings of the Divine Empire, they could wield the might of the Immortal Dao—this was simply a heaven-sent fortune that raised one from mortal to immortal, ascending to immortality in a single step.

Their figures were like hazy deities, reflected upon the Sealing Immortals Tome, immortal light swirling around them, sacred and towering. They could easily look down upon all races, incomparably powerful.

Yet all of them knelt in utmost reverence before Gu Changge, Yue Mingkong, and the others, knowing full well who had bestowed all of this upon them.

Moreover, because a portion of their Source True Souls was entrusted to the Sealing Immortals Tome, in the eyes of these invested cultivators, Gu Changge’s existence was no different from the Lord of Heaven and Earth of the most ancient era, ruling over all immortals.

Though they now possessed the power of the Immortal Dao, in Gu Changge’s eyes, they were still no different from ants.

With this matter concluded, the many forces that had missed this opportunity felt deep heartache and regret. They knew that now that the Ceremony of Immortal Ascension had ended, if they wished to stir the Sealing Immortals Tome again, the price they would have to pay would likely be far from simple.

Even for an Immortal Lineage, it was estimated that even bankrupting themselves and mobilizing the entire clan’s strength would make it hard to say whether they could obtain a single Immortal Ascension Token.

Because during the later stages of this grand ceremony, several Immortal Grade Artifacts were thrown into the altar, yet they received not the slightest response. The Heavenly Dao Steles did not respond, and the Sealing Immortals Tome did not shed any immortal radiance.

This made those forces and lineages that had been the first to demonstrate their loyalty secretly rejoice. Fortunately, they had been among the first to offer sacrifices; otherwise, who knew how difficult it would have been to obtain an Immortal Ascension Token.

Of course, Gu Changge still gave them a chance. Every hundred years, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Sealing Immortals Tome would manifest once more, and the investiture would be conducted again.

During these hundred years, all clans and all paths could prepare for the next Ceremony of Immortal Ascension.

Compared to painstaking cultivation toward immortality, enduring countless tribulations, and in the end still not necessarily reaching that step—entering the Sealing Immortals Tome, receiving investiture, wielding the power of the Immortal Dao, and enjoying endless lifespan—

This was an unimaginably great temptation for all clans, all lineages, and indeed all living beings across All of Heaven and Its Thousand Worlds. No one could be immune to it.

Even after the event, quite a few foundation-level figures still appeared outside the Imperial Palace, seeking an audience with Gu Changge, wishing to obtain an Immortal Ascension Token no matter the cost.

They too yearned to become immortals. From ancient times to now, even though they had used all manner of secret arts and forbidden techniques to extend their lifespans, there would ultimately come a day of exhaustion.

In this era, Gu Changge ruled the Divine Empire, and even those Demonic Immortals that emerged from the River of Time were annihilated with a raise of his palm.

Which of these foundation-level existences with dried-up lifespans would dare to launch a Dark Turmoil?

However, facing the pleas of these foundation-level figures, Gu Changge paid them no heed, stating directly that the next Ceremony of Immortal Ascension would be held a hundred years from now.

If they wished to receive investiture, then within these hundred years they had to find suitable objects that could stir the Heavenly Dao Steles and gain the recognition of the Sealing Immortals Tome.

All of Heaven and Its Thousand Worlds was incomparably vast, and many regions had yet to be explored. Within them there were absolutely no few ancient relics or immortal treasures buried within the chaos.

If these foundation-level figures wanted to obtain an Immortal Ascension Token, then they would inevitably have to find a way, braving mortal danger, to explore those places for wonders.

Ordinary cultivation techniques and divine abilities could no longer gain the recognition of the Heavenly Dao Steles.

After the grand ceremony concluded, this matter undoubtedly shook all the heavens. Although the square that day had gathered nearly all the experts and leaders of every clan and force,

These heavens were so vast and boundless that many clans had not been present in person, let alone witnessed this magnificent ceremony with their own eyes.

Of course, news of the event still spread throughout the various regions, and some scenes were recorded in Photographic Stones and ancient texts for later generations to behold.

During this period, Divine Lord temples rose from the ground everywhere. Many cultivators and living beings spontaneously built temples for Gu Changge, within which incense burned endlessly day after day, with multitudes of cultivators and beings coming to worship every day.

Throughout All of Heaven and Its Thousand Worlds, the sounds of sacrifice and prayer were everywhere. Not long after the Resplendence Universe Incident had passed, the former prosperity and peace had already been restored, with all clans multiplying and growing ever stronger.

After the Ceremony of Immortal Ascension ended, in each of the ancient sacred cities, Heavenly Dao Steles rose from the ground one after another, ancient and weathered, forged from inconceivable materials.

Starting from the Physique Realm, they listed the supreme prodigies of each realm throughout the ages. Those ranked upon these steles could gain the recognition of the Heavenly Steles and receive supreme rewards.

Before ordinary cultivators even drew near, they would feel a mighty and terrifying pressure, as if it would bend their legs and make their bodies burst apart.

Facing a Heavenly Dao Stele was simply like facing an ancient True God of primordial times. Even cultivators at the Supreme Realm felt their hearts palpitate, able only to watch from afar, not daring to approach.

As soon as the Heavenly Dao Steles appeared, they immediately triggered a tremendous sensation throughout All of Heaven and Its Thousand Worlds.

This was a feat even more shocking than the Sealing Immortals Tome.

After all, these listed the supreme prodigies since time immemorial. Just how long ago was that, from ancient times until now? No one could say. Even those existences who had once achieved immortal status would not dare claim to know and comprehend all these secrets.

Yet after Gu Changge established and took control of the Divine Empire, he first erected the Sealing Immortals Tome, breaking the rules of cultivation, and then listed the supreme prodigies of the ages to erect the Heavenly Dao Steles.

Many forces and lineages realized that Gu Changge’s ambitions in this move were enormous. He was likely truly planning to completely usurp the Heavenly Dao Authority.

If he truly succeeded, then All of Heaven and Its Thousand Worlds would become his personal back garden.

But for the younger generation, this was an unimaginable opportunity. Not only could they clearly know how great the gap was between themselves and the many supreme prodigies throughout the ages,

Moreover, those who could enter the Heavenly Dao Steles could obtain supreme fortunes, allowing their cultivation to advance even further beyond its limits.

However, judging from the current situation, the Heavenly Dao Steles had only just revealed an outline and had not yet truly evolved their mysteries, let alone listed all the prodigies of the ages.

Gu Changge’s move was merely equivalent to throwing out a preview for the people of the world and all living beings.

It was also to make them clearly understand that in the near future, the Heavenly Dao Steles would, like the Sealing Immortals Tome, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠appear throughout All of Heaven and Its Thousand Worlds, triggering tremendous changes.

Besides this, Gu Changge was also planning the matter of the False World.

He personally evolved a wisp of a Dharma Body, commanding a vast and mighty army to sweep clean all the broken great worlds that had remained in the deepest reaches of the various universes since the Forbidden Epoch.

Then he took the Sources of those broken great worlds and smelted them into a single furnace, intending to fuse and refine them into the False World, to guide the Six Paths of Reincarnation, the souls of the dead and the spirits of the departed, the cycle of all beings.

The False World corresponded to the underworld and Neraka of mythology, the Nine Nethers. If the False World were born, it would inevitably affect the operation of the laws of heaven and earth.

Because since time immemorial, the operation of heaven and earth had formed a self-contained whole. Whether the reincarnation of all beings truly existed was still another matter.

But Gu Changge’s move was equivalent to seizing the Heavenly Dao Authority, incorporating what he envisioned into the operational ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠trajectory of the universe and all heavens.

Once the False World completely replaced the legendary Nine Nethers, then the reincarnation of all beings in this world, their life or death, would in fact all lie within a single thought of Gu Changge’s.

Even if one’s lifespan ran dry and one’s life was exhausted, he would have ways to send them back into reincarnation, to live another life, or even achieve eternal life.

It was just that doing so might require paying an unimaginable price.

Therefore, the birth of the False World was far too difficult. In Gu Changge’s view, its difficulty was no different from reopening the Celestial Domain and dividing the chaos anew.

Merely fusing and refining the World Sources had already encountered unprecedented enormous trouble.

If the False World were to be established, the Six Paths of Reincarnation, the Yellow Springs and Nine Nethers, would also have to be incorporated into it.

This was a colossal project, impossible to complete in a short time.

Gu Changge’s true body sat cross-legged at the end of the boundless void. Before him, divine light shone brilliantly, with a hazy mass of radiance spreading out.

Around him floated pieces of ancient world Source fragments, each the size of a fist and glittering in five colors.

He was smelting these Sources, attempting to refine the False World. But in this process, not only did no so-called merit gestate between heaven and earth,

Nor did any omens appear. Instead, from the unseen depths, countless bolts of Chaos Lightning descended, striking toward his direction.

The Six Paths of Reincarnation itself operated within the Heavenly Dao Authority. Gu Changge’s current actions were no different from attempting to completely usurp the will of these heavens.

That he would suffer such backlash did not surprise him. It was just that in the unseen depths, a premonition of something amiss arose.

“This endeavor is too difficult. With my current strength, if I forcibly push it further, my body will likely split apart.”

Gu Changge noticed that at some unknown point, a crack had appeared between his brows.

Accompanying it, the Dharma Body he had reflected across the heavens also developed a crack.

Within the Divine Lord temples, incense smoke curled upward. Many cultivators and beings were worshipping the statue of the Divine Lord when they suddenly saw a crack appear upon it, and they were instantly horrified and shaken.

However, that crack lasted only an instant before recovering, making many people think they had hallucinated.

Deep within the void, Gu Changge put away the World Sources that were being fused and refined, and the crack between his brows slowly healed, vanishing in an instant.

Yet he fell into contemplation.

This backlash was truly inconceivable. It had occurred without him even noticing, without the slightest warning.

If he continued, his Dharma Body would likely shatter.

Was it that the timing was not yet ripe, or was this act against heaven, beyond what his current cultivation could bear?

Gu Changge pondered. His soul realm was extremely powerful, far exceeding his current strength, but his present Physique had not yet undergone the baptism of a true Immortal Tribulation, so it was hard to avoid triggering anomalies.

Having thought this through, Gu Changge decided to set this matter aside for the time being.

His accumulation during this period was about sufficient. It was time to guide the descent of the true Celestial Domain and step into the Immortal Realm himself.

And just as Gu Changge was about to guide the Celestial Domain’s descent to connect with the Beyond—

Honglonglong—

Within a boundless, vast Sea of Worlds, heaven-shaking waves suddenly arose. With a single slap, the layers of ancient worlds before them all collapsed and shattered in unison, turning into dust filling the sky.

Within this boundless Sea of Worlds, hazy boats were crossing over. But the Storms of Great Dao here were incomparably terrifying; even the true lightning that split down carried horrifying destructiveness.

Heaven and earth were a vast expanse of gray, mist heavy and sinking, strand after strand winding through every place. One could see ancient worlds and Great Universes rising and sinking. And at the place where heaven and earth touched, a hazy mirror surface emerged.

Beyond the mirror surface, there were impressively corresponding ancient worlds and Great Universes rising, sinking, and reflecting, overlapping above and below, as if coexisting as one.

But now, the worlds inside the mirror and outside the mirror were slowly making contact, undergoing some unknowable, eerie transformation. Where they touched, there was collapse and disintegration, and also fusion and usurpation.

At the instant of collapse, the world barriers vanished, while at the moment of usurpation, the meaning of new life gestated—profoundly mysterious and miraculous beyond compare.

All of this appeared very slow, yet it proceeded in perfect order, colliding with one another and then melting away.

The birth of the Sole True World—it would be soon, truly very soon.

Upon those hazy boats, the whispers of ancient gods sounded, and gazes as cold as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠those of innate deities watched on, eternal and ice-cold.