On the crystalline, translucent spaceship, the cultivators from the Xuanxian Continent were exchanging their critiques about everything in this world. They had grown accustod to being revered by mortals, so their arrogance had seeped into their very bones. They looked down upon the cultivators of the End of Dharma era with utter disdain.
"Silence, all of you! Straighten up your attitudes. We are here to demonstrate goodwill, not to cause trouble. If anyone dares to act recklessly, don’t bla for showing no rcy."
Listening to the incessant chatter of the cultivators aboard the spaceship, a middle-aged man in a Daoist robe approached with a stern expression and barked sharply.
"Have you all forgotten what happened a few days ago? A deity crossed realms with a single strike, slicing off a corner of the Xuanxian Continent. The Purple Cloud Sect, with a legacy spanning three thousand years, was obliterated in that one attack. And you still dare to talk about branding slave marks? If anyone acts recklessly and invites disaster, I doubt any of you will survive."
This middle-aged man was called Chongxu Taoist, tasked with monitoring every action of these people. He would show no leniency to anyone who dared to make trouble.
"Senior Chongxu, we were just talking, that’s all. Besides, there’s a formation aboard the spaceship that isolates everything; they can’t hear us." Soone replied with an awkward smile.
"If we truly intended to make a move, we would have done so already. We wouldn’t just sit here quietly, letting those locals size us up," a woman in pink snorted, curling her lips.
Chongxu Taoist cast a cold glance and said, "Now that the experts from the major sects of Xuanxian Continent have withdrawn from here, our mission is to investigate this place through friendly exchanges and to gather information about that deity. From what we’ve seen before, that deity isn’t actually of this world. It’s just that the Purple Cloud Sect, through their misfortune, suppressed soone they should never have suppressed, which led to that cross-realm strike."
"Moreover, based on our investigations over these past few days, it’s not just the cultivators from Xuanxian Continent causing trouble in this world. So demon beasts have crossed realms and clearly have no intention of returning. They’ve slaughtered quite a number of people in just a few days, yet that deity has not intervened. Similarly, after Sky Tipping, when floods poured in and subrged countless cities, that deity also did not step forward to calm the disaster... There have been many such instances."
"From this, it’s evident that minor disturbances are unlikely to draw that deity’s attention. That said, do not approach the city called Tianchang City, to avoid the misfortune of encountering the individual related to that deity."
Chongxu Taoist then proceeded to share more information and conclusions.
Although the people of Xuanxian Continent were intimidated and dared not invade on a large scale, sending a few representatives under the guise of friendly exchanges to scout the situation seed permissible.
After all, what deity would stick around so boringly, keeping watch over these insignificant cultivators day and night?
Besides, in terms of the magnitude of troublemaking, Xuanxian Continent wasn’t even close to the top of the list. If a deity were to step in and settle accounts, their turn wouldn’t co anyti soon.
"Yes, yes, yes, Chongxu Daoist is absolutely right. We are only here to exchange and learn, not to stir up trouble," the cultivators on the spaceship quickly nodded in agreent, humbly seeking guidance.
anwhile,
inside a eting hall within the Golden Academy,
the academy’s experts had gathered together to discuss the day’s events.
"These cultivators from the Xuanxian Continent, though arrogant in attitude, are still willing to engage in exchanges. While their intentions are impure, they are not enemies—at least for now. Moreover, gaining access to their cultivation techniques could benefit our Golden Academy. Overall, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks," said Tan Zhong, one of the adjudicators.
"That’s because, a few days ago, a deity crossed realms with a strike that nearly wiped out an entire continent of theirs. They believe that deity is from Earth or at least related to it. That’s why they’re humbly engaging under the guise of friendly exchanges and even offering us so spells to learn for free. But they don’t know, do they? We ourselves are clueless on the matter. That deity has nothing to do with Earth. It’s a powerhouse from another world. While they unintentionally helped intimidate a strong enemy for us, they disappeared imdiately afterward," said Wu Zuo Hua, the academy’s enforcer, with a grim look.
"So, it’s essentially a misunderstanding. Once they stay here long enough to figure things out, it’s inevitable we’ll face a major conflict. If that deity really supported us, they wouldn’t have vanished after a single strike. Instead, they’d have continued to manifest, perhaps sending a representative to establish dominance on Earth. But they didn’t. So, I’m inclined to believe the deity acted not out of a desire to protect Earth but because the Xuanxian Continent provoked them. That strike was likely a matter of personal distaste," Wu Zuo Hua concluded.
"That makes sense,"
Luo Tianyou nodded in agreent. "The immortals of Xuanxian Continent and the deity who acted across realms are all outsiders. Whether they carry a good or bad attitude, it doesn’t change Earth’s fundantal crisis. The key, ultimately, is that we can only rely on ourselves in critical monts."
"Still, the exchanges must proceed as usual. Stall as long as we can, buying ti to advance in cultivation and interdinsional travel. As for the future, we’ll take it one step at a ti."
From the perspective of the Golden Academy, both the Xuanxian Continent’s invasion and the deity’s interventional strike were fundantally the sa—they had reduced Earth to a battlefield.
If the Xuanxian World were destroyed, their surviving cultivators would likely flee to Earth for refuge. Similarly, if the deity’s world were shattered, its survivors might also cross over.
Despite the Golden Academy’s assembled strength, whether in the Spirit Power Realm or Spirit God Realm, they remained the backbone at best, incapable of deciding the fate of entire worlds.
This was the consequence of a shallow foundation.
"Knowing the ill intentions of our visitors yet having no choice but to graciously host them, with no room for refusal—it’s truly pathetic. In my view, we should abandon Earth and each cross into another realm for survival," Ouyang Bing sneered self-deprecatingly, clearly pessimistic about this world’s future, believing its demise a matter of ti.
"What a spineless coward. At the first sign of trouble, you’re talking about escape. Even fish eggs have more backbone than you," retorted Wang Hu, a towering, brawny man with a square face, sitting upright and solemn.
Ouyang Bing glared at him. "Wang Hu, you just broke through to the Spirit Power Realm. You don’t have the right to speak here."
"Street rat, you’re only fit to lick my boots," Wang Hu scoffed heavily.
"You’re asking for death."
Ouyang Bing erupted in anger, flas instantly surging around him. The fire, comprised of four colors, burned fiercely, radiating heat capable of lting tal at its first appearance.
"Enough." Suddenly, a low and thunderous voice echoed, shaking the room.
The surrounding cosmic energy abruptly dissipated, snuffing out the rising flas in an instant.
Sitting at the head of the table was a middle-aged man around fifty years old, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, with a stern expression on his face.
His na was Sun Boxiu, Golden Academy’s vice-chancellor, a highly formidable Spirit God Realm powerhouse. He was personally responsible for overseeing the interactions with the Xuanxian Continent’s cultivators.
The mont Vice-Chancellor Sun’s fury beca evident, the entire room fell silent.
"What you’ve all said makes sense. Whether immortals or deities, neither belong to Earth. Addressing the calamity of Sky Tipping will still require our concerted effort," Vice-Chancellor Sun remarked calmly. "For now, thanks to that deity’s terrifying strike, the enemy has been cowed. Our task is to take full advantage of this rare, fleeting peace and focus on our responsibilities."
"We cannot refuse their visit, or it will seem like a guilty conscience. Instead, let’s borrow the tiger’s authority to stabilize the situation. Since they’re willing to offer us spells and discuss cultivation, we may as well reciprocate by trading our Evolution thods for their cultivation techniques. After all, it’s a fair exchange."
"Additionally, the threats from other worlds are no less significant than those from Xuanxian Continent. In conclusion, we must face whatever cos one step at a ti; there’s always hope for the future."
"The Vice-Chancellor is absolutely right," everyone echoed in agreent.
Sun Boxiu continued, "Make your preparations. It’s almost ti to receive our interdinsional visitors. No matter how they plan to test us, we must hold our ground. If we can’t handle their initial probing, they’re bound to grow more unrestrained. You all know how troubleso little ghosts can be."
When the most powerful immortals and deities exchanged blows amid the Sky Tipping disaster, they would inevitably withdraw from the stage for so ti. After all, their actions could easily shatter worlds. What followed would be battles between the lower ranks of their troops.
Thankfully, these Xuanxian cultivators had shown restraint. Otherwise, if their elite forces had descended en masse, the Golden Academy wouldn’t even need to bother resisting—they might as well surrender on the spot.
After a brief discussion,
Sun Boxiu led a group of key experts from the Golden Academy out of the eting room and toward the Golden Hall to et the cultivators from the Xuanxian Continent.
The Xuanxian cultivators, in turn, had appointed an elder of great virtue and prestige to handle this eting.
As celestial music played, female cultivators descended from the spaceship, holding parasols, playing zithers, striking jade bells, and dancing. They moved along a luminous staircase. Male cultivators followed, wielding jade axes, blowing conch shells, beating massive drums, and performing sword dances. Spirit beasts pulling carriages filled with jade scrolls and treasures emitted multicolored radiance.
Clearly, this was a ceremonial gesture unique to the Xuanxian Continent.
Leading them was an elderly man with crane-like hair and youthful features, his beard and hair as white as snow. His kind, benevolent expression, paired with the purple jade scroll in his hand, gave him the aura of an immortal. Each step he took sprouted golden flowers and silver leaves beneath his feet, making him appear divinely transcendent.
Nearby,
a crowd of onlookers had gathered.
Li Yi mingled unnoticed among them, blending seamlessly into the background.
"Not many people, but quite the ostentatious display," he thought to himself, unable to suppress a silent chuckle.
He had to admit, the cultivation world was truly sothing else, having developed elaborate rituals like these. Without deep heritage, such traditions would be impossible, much like how only nations with long histories possess intricate customs, ceremonies, and protocols. In contrast, nations with shallow foundations could only greet one another with a simple "hello."
Though fully aware of their ulterior motives, the Golden Academy had no reason to refuse such formal visits.
After all, they couldn’t mimic Daqing by adopting a policy of seclusion.
Besides, with carriages loaded with gifts, even soone like Yang Wei would be hard-pressed to find fault with their approach.
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