"If the ’Nine Deaths Immortal Heavenly Skill’ could truly achieve the cycle of Nine Deaths Reincarnation, theoretically, it could indeed reach the state of immortality where one is untouched by any catastrophe. But the difficulty of this has beco so exaggerated that it’s sowhat bizarre. It’s not sothing human strength can accomplish."
Having personally cultivated the ’Nine Deaths Immortal Heavenly Skill,’ Gao Tianxiong knew very well the difficulty of practicing this great to. He had only managed to resurrect once, and it had cost the sacrifice of fourteen Outer Realm Evil Gods and countless Demonic Evil Cultivators throughout the province. With each resurrection, the ’Nine Deaths Immortal Heavenly Skill’ requires double the power. The power needed for the ninth resurrection would probably not be enough even if all beings in this Ho Realm were sacrificed.
If that person had indeed relied on the ’Nine Deaths Immortal Heavenly Skill’ to live until now, there must have been a trendous catastrophe that affected the whole world in history. But in reality, such an event had never occurred.
"The ans of that person are difficult to estimate. Perhaps, apart from the ’Nine Deaths Immortal Heavenly Skill,’ he had other thods for extending his life. No matter what, this matter should be noted. It’s always good to be more cautious in the future."
After briefly discussing, Zhu Shanhe and Li Huangliang nodded to Gao Tianxiong, then transford into divine beams of light that shot into the sky, and in the blink of an eye, they departed.
「」
In the year 1757 of the Great Xuan Calendar, during the Rainwater solar term.
After decades, the monuntal catastrophe caused by Demons and evil cultivators was brought to an end by the combined efforts of three Directives Enforcers and various sects and noble families of Dianchuan Province.
After this calamity, Dianchuan Province was left with nine out of ten hos empty. The province’s population plumted to one ten-thousandth of what it was before the calamity, greatly diminishing its vitality and leaving a dense atmosphere of desolation throughout the province. This was compounded by the major Sect Aristocracies that had previously evacuated or fled the province. Eventually, Dianchuan Province nearly beca an empty province. Sotis, within thousands of miles, not a single sign of human habitation could be seen.
However, facing such a dire situation, the County Yan, having welcod back its Holder of authority, showed no signs of panic. The military forces, which had a very low profile during the entire demonic catastrophe, suddenly erged from seemingly nowhere, gathering the disaster victims and rebuilding the towns. At the sa ti, Xiangchu and Nanyue provinces also began to actively relocate a portion of their population to settle in Dianchuan Province.
Through the combined efforts of these various parties, the scarred and desolate Dianchuan Province gradually began to show signs of life once more.
At the sa ti, Gao Tianxiong, having reclaid his position as the Dianchuan Festival Envoy, issued his first edict since his reinstatent.
The Wu Family of Dianchuan, by colluding with the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, triggered the monstrous demonic calamity, causing severe damage to the province. With heaven enraged and the people resentful, their cris warranted execution. Now, they shall be branded as a traitorous clan, and three generations of their kin shall suffer the consequences!
With this single edict, the Wu Family, who were on the verge of becoming the new rulers of Dianchuan, instantly fell from heaven into hell.
Originally, based on the Wu Family’s contributions during the demonic catastrophe—actively saving lives and providing disaster relief—even if Gao Tianxiong had wanted to brand them as traitors, it would have sparked imnse public outrage. But now, the population of Dianchuan Province was reduced to a re handful of survivors. Those survivors, still imrsed in the unspeakable horror of their experiences, hardly had the leisure or energy to protest on behalf of the Wu Family.
Instantly, without even a chance to argue their case, the Wu Family beca known as a traitorous clan and began to be hunted by the entire County Yan. All their previously, painstakingly earned achievents were dismissively erased by a few casual words from that Dianchuan Festival Envoy.
「」
anwhile, in Shangjing City, the capital of Great Xuan.
There, towering atop the pri Dragon Vein of the land, stood an imnse Imperial City, like a brilliant pearl. In its center was an imposing palace exuding supre imperial Dao authority.
In the ancient halls of the Imperial Court, ti seed frozen; darkness enveloped every corner, swallowing the splendid gold and jade magnificence into invisibility. Only through the sparse grilles of doors and windows did a few weak streams of light penetrate, like intermittent candles flickering in the endless gloom. These faint lights danced between stone pillars and decorated beams, casting long shadows and creating an oppressive, mystical atmosphere.
In the very center, seated high upon the throne, a majestic figure sat quietly, wearing a glittering crown, its pearls and jewels twinkling with a cold light in the dim illumination. Even though his face could not be seen, the authority emanating from the figure was so intense that even the air seed to beco heavy. It was a soul-deep intimidation that made one dare not look directly, as if any attempt at scrutiny would invoke the wrath of thunder.
This figure sat on the Dragon Throne without a word. Yet, the aura he emitted was powerful enough to make the heavens and earth lose their color and the sun and moon sink. All of Qiankun and its myriad things would have to prostrate themselves at his feet, kowtowing in submission.
Below in the vast, cold hall, another figure knelt respectfully, dressed in a dark green, high-nobility python robe, which glead faintly as the light swept over it.
Ti ticked by, second by second, minute by minute. The atmosphere in the hall was so heavy it felt suffocating.
"Qian."
After an unknown amount of ti, the being on the Dragon Throne slowly spoke. His simple call caused the kneeling man to involuntarily shiver.
"Your son is present."
The Crown Prince of Great Xuan, once so lofty and influential in Dianchuan Province, stirring up chaos and even masterminding the demonic invasion, now humbled himself as if willing to sink into the very earth. Even his response was controlled with utmost precision, terrified of provoking the Supre Venerable above him.
"Regarding the matter of Dianchuan, do you have anything to say?"
From beneath the shadowed crown, two heavy and majestic gazes slowly descended upon Yang Qian, like two towering mountains pressing him firmly against the ground. Instantly, beads of sweat appeared on the tip of the Crown Prince of Great Xuan’s nose and forehead. He forcibly suppressed the panic and nervousness in his heart and spoke, word by word, "The matter of Dianchuan... it was due to your son’s incompetence, foolishness, and shortsightedness. I failed to discover Gao Tianxiong’s feigned death in ti, thereby ruining Father Emperor’s plans. Please, Father Emperor, deliver your judgnt!"
Knowing full well that his Father Emperor despised nothing more than failures who made excuses, Yang Qian took a deep breath. He offered no further explanations, instead straightforwardly admitting his fault and requesting punishnt.
Hearing the answer, the person on the Dragon Throne did not imdiately speak. The imposing gaze only grew heavier, pressuring Yang Qian as if his entire body were being filled with countless streams of molten iron, about to be crushed to death.
"Gao Tianxiong is cunning by nature and full of tricks; among the Twelve Directives Enforcers, his mind is the sharpest. It has long been rumored that he and Zhu Shanhe are at odds, constantly targeting each other. But this ti, Zhu Shanhe personally acted to assist him, as did that old fox, Li Huangliang. This shows their sche was not planned overnight. Your defeat at their hands is, to so extent, understandable."
As the heavy gaze lifted from him, Yang Qian inwardly sighed in relief upon hearing that his Father Emperor did not intend to bla him.
"Father Emperor, then Dianchuan..."
"Set it aside for now. Although Gao Tianxiong has stabilized the situation in Dianchuan, the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains suffered a huge loss this ti and will not let it go easily. Chaotic days lie ahead. That place has already beco a land of contention. Even if we took it, it would be too hot to handle. It’s better to leave it in Gao Tianxiong’s hands to cool off for a while."
Hearing that his Father Emperor intended to temporarily give up on Dianchuan, a hint of reluctance surfaced deep in Yang Qian’s eyes. He had invested a great deal of effort to regain control of Dianchuan Province. Now that the fruit had finally ripened, it had been snatched away by the supposedly dead Gao Tianxiong. How could he not be resentful?
"The matter of Dianchuan is settled. No more need be said."
Noticing the hesitation in Yang Qian’s heart, the Lord of the Imperial Court’s tone grew slightly heavier. In an instant, the entire palace seed to shake as majestic imperial might surged forth, countless grand and supre visions materializing in the void.
Feeling the change in his Father Emperor’s tone, Yang Qian quickly bowed his head in assent, hastily reining in even the thoughts in his heart.
"Half a year ago, an uprising began in the Northwest. I ordered Guo Chun, the Minister of War, to dispatch five armies for its suppression, with King Wu as the commander-in-chief. But just ten days ago, Guo Chun reported that my five armies were routed by those northwestern barbarians, losing twenty-four cities. They have now retreated to Thousand Geese Pass. Qian, I now appoint you as Imperial Commissioner with full powers. Carry the imperial decree and proceed to the Northwest imdiately to investigate this suppression campaign. You are granted the authority to act at your discretion; you may execute first and report later."
Upon hearing his Father Emperor’s words, Yang Qian’s expression shifted slightly, then he imdiately bowed to accept the order.
Having left the Central Palace Hall, Yang Qian tilted his head slightly, gazing up at the bright sun in the Sky Do.
"This sky... why has it grown so much colder..."
「」
In Dianchuan Province, within the Shenxiao Sect Gate.
The great catastrophe had ended, and the dust was settling. Everything was gradually returning to normal. As if due to so entanglent of interests, ever since the day Gao Tianxiong successfully resurrected, Dongfang Qing had imrsed himself in the affairs of the County Yan. Only after two months did he return to the Shenxiao Sect, a satisfied smile on his face.
The first thing he did upon his return was to summon Qi Xiu, who had just awakened on Yunti Peak after sleeping for two long months.
"I hear you’ve been asleep for two months?"
Within a boundless Immortal Realm, filled with brilliant Golden Lotuses and soaring cranes, Dongfang Qing surveyed with great interest the Sect mber before him, who seed to hold countless secrets.
According to what he knew, during the battle at Ten Thousand Caves Mountain, this junior, with his gentle and scholarly appearance, had played a pivotal role. First, he fought one against seven, slaying seven Vine Demons at the Blood-Stained Peak stage. Then he suppressed the Four Desires Vine King, a being ford from the Seven Vines Union and possessing half the power of the Dao Body Realm. Finally, using so unknown thod, he even managed to kill a Spirit of Night Travel.
Such a battle record had surprised even Dongfang Qing when he learned of it. After all, if Qi Xiu hadn’t eliminated that Spirit of Night Travel, the simultaneous descent of sixteen Spirits of Night Travel could have plunged the entire Dianchuan Province into an Eternal Night, leaving no chance of survival. In that case, even if Gao Tianxiong’s plan could have ultimately succeeded, it likely wouldn’t have been so smooth, and the price paid would certainly not have been small.
"Mm, I just kept feeling very tired. It’s only been a bit better these past few days."
Qi Xiu nodded in affirmation. Free of burdens since returning to Yunti Peak after the incident, he had felt an indescribable fatigue. The weariness was so profound it made him wish he could just keep sleeping. Only in the last few days had this drowsiness begun to subside sowhat.
Dongfang Qing’s gaze shifted slightly. Seeming to understand, he nodded subtly and stated calmly, "No wonder you could sleep so much. You’re not tired; you’re about to die."
"Ah?"
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