A month flew by in the blink of an eye, and the day had finally arrived to set off for the pivotal location of the Dao Court.
During this time, under the assistance of Qing Muling's Light of Dao Enlightenment and the Dao Rhyme shared through dual cultivation, Xuebing Xuan and the other two Senior Sisters finally reached the mid-tier of the Elemental Immortal realm. Cheng Yulan and Luo Wanqing made slower progress, but the gap wasn't too significant, and there was still a chance for them to catch up in the future.
With such a level of strength, they undoubtedly belonged to the pinnacle of the new generation of elites in the Great Void. Even those monstrous geniuses cultivated by the ancient tribes, Buddhist sects, and the higher-ups of the Dao Court might not be able to hold a candle to them.
As for Qing Muling himself, there was no need to mention his prowess. His only drawback was his young age, which made him seem less impressive. Given enough time to grow, surpassing all monstrous genius seeds wouldn't be an issue.
"…Junior Brother, can't we start earlier?"
Luo Wanqing, clearly disgruntled, said, "Even just once would be fine, it shouldn't affect you."
Qing Muling deflected the request: "Go ask Senior Sister. If she agrees, I have no objections."
Xuebing Xuan decisively refused: "Absolutely not. Our master has spoken; there is no room for negotiation on this matter."
Luo Wanqing sighed in frustration. Seeing the Senior Sisters' cultivation progress at a faster rate, she too had thought about sharing some of the Dao Rhyme from Junior Brother to step into the mid-tier of the Elemental Immortal realm sooner, but Xuebing Xuan was unyielding.
Well, relenting was out of the question. After all, the cultivation experience that felt like floating in the clouds was indescribably delightful and addictive.
"Alright, let's continue our closed-door cultivation!"
Qi Yalan took Qing Muling's hand, her voice cheerful: "We still have some time before reaching the Dao Court, we can't waste it. We must focus on improving our cultivation."
"Okay, let's do it together."
Qing Muling agreed. Apart from his Senior Sisters, he also preferred not to have too much contact with outsiders.
Inside the cultivation chamber, the Senior Sister's combat prowess was as formidable as ever. In just a short time, she plunged Qing Muling into the vortex of blissful storms, from which he couldn't find his way out, helplessly succumbing after a struggle.
However, with the aid of the Harmony Spirit Seed, Qing Muling's combat strength was not to be underestimated. He could recover in no time, ready to battle again and again, much to the Senior Sister's surprise and admiration.
After a long and arduous contest, realizing a decisive victory was out of reach, both sides tacitly took a step back. After tidying up, they came out to enjoy the spiritual wine and delicacies prepared by the maids.
***
Among the new generation of disciples heading to the Dao Court, besides Xuebing Xuan and her group of five, seasoned core disciples like Qi Shuyu and Su Yunmo were also accompanying them, totaling over two hundred people. They were the most outstanding elites of the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace of this generation.
Of course, the number of participants from other Supreme Dao Lineages attending the assembly of immortals was even more staggering. Teams of over a thousand were commonplace, each led by monstrous genius seeds, with a host of high-level powerhouses for protection. Some top-tier sects and Supreme Divine Dynasties even had their highest authorities personally attending.
Through the dark and profound void, the magnificent fleet of giant heavenly boats sailed swiftly. After several days, they left the boundary of the Cloud Dream Immortal Domain and entered the vast expanse of the galaxy. Utilizing the ultra-long-distance space transfer Formation Arrays along the way, each teleportation covered the distance of dozens of large star domains.
After one and a half months of non-stop travel, crossing over a hundred immortal domains and the territories of tens of thousands of Dao Lineage powers, the seven heavenly boats finally entered the edge of the Dao Court's influence: the Tianhe Immortal Domain.
From here, reaching the pivotal location of the Dao Court, the Mirrored Immortal Realm, would take at least seven more days, even with the convenience of uninterrupted space transfer Formation Arrays, highlighting the vastness of the territory controlled by the Dao Court.
To avoid boredom on the journey, the five Senior Sisters spent most of their time cultivating with Qing Muling, seizing every moment to enhance their cultivation.
As a result, Qi Shuyu, Su Yunmo, and the other women had no chance to chat, discuss the Dao, or deepen their relationship with Qing Muling, leaving them frustrated and grinding their teeth in secret. They could only wait to find an opportunity after arriving at the Dao Court.
Several days later, as the fleet of heavenly boats entered the Mirrored Immortal Realm, they began to see more and more teams along the way, with all sorts of exotic heavenly boats, resplendent flying palaces, white jade mountains, colossal gourds, and giant flying swords everywhere.
Later on, Qing Muling, who was enjoying the view on the front deck, spotted twelve terrifying skulls, each over six thousand zhang in diameter, wrapped in thick layers of green flames, forming a formation as they raced through the void. Wherever they passed, chilling winds and deathly auras spread, with harrowing screams echoing in the spiritual sense.
Atop each skull stood a bizarre palace, also constructed from countless bones, emanating a daunting pressure that spread in all directions, making it difficult for lower-level cultivators to look directly at it.
"That's the team from the Jiuyou Senluo Hall,"
Xuebing Xuan volunteered an explanation: "These ghostly characters always love to deal with the dead, and they don't have a good reputation, recognized as a heretical force. Yet, they are willing to obey the Dao Court, setting themselves apart from other evil forces."
"…See that over there? The nine golden Vairocana lotus cloud platforms? That's the team from the Great Brahma Temple. This Supreme Dao Lineage has always had a good relationship with the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, but in essence, they belong to the Buddhist sect and don't completely obey the Dao Court."
On the three thousand zhang wide golden Vairocana lotus cloud platforms, a large group of monks and nuns, both young and old, sat. Some were bald and robed, while others were lay practitioners in secular attire. Amidst the bright golden light, the continuous sound of the Great Dao's Brahma chant echoed in the void.
"…That largest fleet of heavenly boats belongs to the Ji family, one of the most ancient super-families in the Great Void, known for producing many sages and capable individuals in the Ancient times, with a continuous stream of stunning genius seeds. Even now, there are peak Quasi Holy Emperors presiding over the family."
Nearly a hundred heavenly boats, protected by bright red light shields and over a thousand zhang long, sailed in formation. The family's fiery red emblem was engraved on the bow of each boat. On the front decks of some boats, many gorgeously dressed young men and women were seen drinking and laughing, all appearing quite powerful, with many at the Destiny Realm level.
At that moment, three giant flower baskets, each ten thousand zhang wide and wrapped in rainbow light, appeared gracefully from the end of the horizon, quickly overtaking the numerous teams on the route and accelerating into the distance.
"…That's the team from the Goddess Sect. Like our Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, they are a Supreme Dao Lineage composed entirely of female cultivators. Currently, not only is their influence at an unprecedented peak, but they are also one of Qinghuan Emperor's staunchest supporting forces. Moreover, their Sect Master, Tongying Emperor, is the latest Quasi Holy Emperor to emerge in the Great Void, having attained the Dao less than a hundred years ago."
Xuebing Xuan spoke with a solemn expression. It was rare to see a Quasi Holy Emperor still serving as a Sect Master, and Tongying Emperor was one of them. Of course, the master of the Calamity Fate Palace was also an Emperor, but his abilities were not geared towards combat.
Qing Muling thought for a moment and asked, "There are rumors that Qinghuan Emperor was once a Saintess of the Goddess Sect, but left the sect for various reasons to join the Dao Court. Later, she obtained some kind of heaven-defying opportunity, which allowed her to attain the Dao and eventually establish her own lineage. Is that true?"
Luo Wanqing chuckled, "The rumor is true, but these days, few people mention that history. Anyway, the current relationship between the Goddess Sect and that Emperor is indeed good. It's said that Qinghuan Emperor contributed significantly to Tongying Emperor's attainment of the Dao, although there's no way to verify it."
Qing Muling nodded, understanding that the other two Emperors must also have their own close supporting forces.
It seemed that the Dao Court's influence was indeed significant. If the current trend continued, would it be possible in the future to push aside all opposing forces and unify the entire Great Void? Although that day would be very far off.
Just then, as a swath of powdery light filled the vast void, six enormous beds flew in, scattering a sea of pink petals along their path. Amidst the ambiguous sweet fragrance, the sounds of countless women's seductive gasps and playful laughter were incessant.
The beds, over a thousand zhang long, were adorned with countless pearls and gems on their bases, with luxurious drapes and tassels hanging down. The beds were decorated with countless indescribable hot and spicy beauties, the extravagance reaching its peak.
Through the pink curtains, one could see hundreds of enchanting beauties clad in transparent light gauze, mingling with handsome male cultivators, drinking and reveling with brazen and uninhibited behavior, drawing the attention of the surrounding cultivator teams.
Instantly, the faces of the Senior Sisters turned cold.
"Pah! Bad luck!"
Xuebing Xuan spat out, cursing bitterly, and quickly covered Qing Muling's eyes with her jade hand: "Junior Brother, don't look. Those vixens from the Huaqing Divine Palace are no good. Stay away from them in the future, and if you encounter them in the wild, just kill them on sight!"
"So that's how it is!"
Qing Muling realized, since they were disciples of the Huaqing Divine Palace, such an extravagant display was not surprising. After all, they relied on seducing men to enhance their own cultivation, naturally maintaining their true colors wherever they went.
"Let's change direction, we don't want to bump into them."
Qing Muling suggested, knowing that the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace and the Huaqing Divine Palace were mortal enemies, an irreconcilable kind, especially after the last gambling duel. The Huaqing Divine Palace's Sect Master, Yuli Immortal Venerable, personally took action and still suffered a great loss. It was impossible for them not to harbor thoughts of revenge.
"Alright."
Xuebing Xuan agreed, about to give the order, when the disciples of the Huaqing Divine Palace had already noticed the heavenly boats of the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. Like sharks smelling blood, they quickly approached.
"…It's the Senior Sisters and Junior Sisters from the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace,"
A clear and sweet voice called out from afar: "What a rare encounter. Meeting is fate, why not come over for a chat and a drink?"
"No need!"
Xuebing Xuan responded coldly, directing the fleet of heavenly boats to change direction and speed away.
Thousands of pink starlights swiftly crossed the void, intertwining in front of the heavenly boats to form the silhouette of a slender and graceful woman, which then rapidly solidified and slowly opened its eyes.
"Senior Sister Xuebing Xuan, why reject someone from a thousand miles away?"
The coquettish voice sounded, belonging to an extremely beautiful girl with hair cascading past her round hips, a mix of naivety and cunning, purity and seduction, as if she were a noble goddess from a fairyland, untouchable and dignified. Yet upon closer inspection, she exuded the allure of a peerless demoness.
Immediately, the Senior Sisters on the front deck tensed up, with Qi Yalan pulling Qing Muling behind her for protection, and Luo Wanqing, Cheng Yulan, and the other women instinctively surrounding him.
Xuebing Xuan's expression was indifferent, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword at her waist, speaking coolly: "So it's the Saintess Miaoyu herself. What advice do you have? Our two sects have never been on good terms, so spare us the insincere pleasantries!"
The newly appeared enchanting beauty was the chief Saintess of the Huaqing Divine Palace: Miaoyu, the direct disciple of Yuli Immortal Venerable, and the internally designated successor and future Supreme Sect Master.
Miaoyu Saintess smiled radiantly, her eyes sweeping over the women, with a hint of surprise that was hard to notice, especially when she saw Qing Muling, the shock in her eyes almost impossible to conceal.
"Senior Sister Xue, I heard that you were injured in the foundation during the last bet with the three Junior Sisters, with no hope for your Dao path, and have been in closed-door healing ever since. How come after a short period, you've recovered as before and even broken through to the Elemental Immortal realm? It really surprises me!"
"And you other Senior Sisters and Junior Sisters, each one of you is already an Elemental Immortal, and all at the level of monstrous genius seeds. That's truly astonishing! Since when did the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace produce so many talented individuals?"
Saintess Miaoyu spoke, her waist swaying as she approached step by step.
"Stop right there!"
Xuebing Xuan shouted coldly: "Saintess Miaoyu, you've only just advanced to the Elemental Immortal realm, and your state is not yet stable. Who knows how many male cultivators' essence you've drained to achieve your cultivation. I advise you not to harbor any ill intentions, or don't blame me for being ruthless under my sword!"
Saintess Miaoyu's face changed slightly, then she quickly realized that with Xuebing Xuan's current level of cultivation, in a one-on-one fight, she might not be her match, let alone the other few together.
"Senior Sister Xue, you misunderstand, I just came to talk, no harm intended!"
Saintess Miaoyu's smile remained unchanged: "By the way, who is this handsome young man? Truly a celestial figure, quite captivating! But I heard the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace never accepts male disciples, so where did you find this pretty boy? Since you also enjoy this taste, why not give him to me to play with?"
"Miaoyu, do you want to die?"
Seeing this shameless woman speak disrespectfully towards Junior Brother, Xuebing Xuan was instantly enraged, her aura rising sharply, with the phantom of a large cauldron faintly visible behind her.
Cheng Yulan took out a plain-colored cloud brocade banner, waving it lightly to raise a fog that concealed their figures.
Proofreader & Editor:Peter Pan