Chapter 160: Huaqing Immortal, A Cut Above (3/4)

Unless the Huaqing Temple changes its core cultivation technique in the future, once their identity is exposed and they engage in battle with others, they are bound to be at a disadvantage.

The waters of the Primordial World are unfathomably deep. Once one's trump cards and flaws are exposed, how far could death possibly be?

A shroud of haze rose in the hearts of the immortals of Huaqing Temple, born from a deep confusion about the future.

Under the patriarch's angry bellow, they operated the grotto-heaven grand array with all their might.

This was the only thing they could do right now: to power the grotto-heaven grand array to its absolute limit, providing support to the Huaqing Patriarch like a healer in battle, and then secretly praying that their patriarch would pull through and survive this ordeal.

As for helping in the fight? Stop joking.

Support units rushing forward to throw their lives away would simply anger the struggling patriarch to death!

Just as the Golden-Winged Phoenix had said, if mere numbers were useful, why cultivate immortals, and why seek the Dao?

There are indeed gaps between Celestials.

Currently, there are only nine tiers of Celestials, corresponding to the nine heavens of the celestial realm: the central heaven is called Jun Tian, the eastern heaven Cang Tian, the northeastern heaven Bian Tian, the northern heaven Xuan Tian, the northwestern heaven You Tian, the western heaven Hao Tian, the southwestern heaven Zhu Tian, the southern heaven Yan Tian, and the southeastern heaven Yang Tian.

"I point to the Nine Heavens as my standard, solely for the sake of the spiritual cultivation within."

Only by cultivating the Nine Heavens to a state of great perfection can one be called a consummate Celestial, and thus become qualified to attain the Dao of a Golden Immortal.

Moreover, the gap between Celestials goes far beyond this. The nine tiers of Celestials exist because there are currently nine heavens. If they were to expand to thirty-three heavens or thirty-six heavens in the future, Celestials could likewise be divided into thirty-six tiers, each tier distinct and separated by a chasm as vast as heaven and earth.

If we say the current Golden-Winged Phoenix is at the thirty-fourth heaven, and Huaqing Patriarch is at the thirty-fifth heaven, both are now within the thirty-six heavens.

Yet the Celestials of the Huaqing Temple faction probably haven't even climbed past the thirtieth heaven.

When two high-damage dealers are fighting, sending in a super minion is just feeding gold to the enemy!

Not only would they be unable to help, but they would also force the Huaqing Patriarch, currently in mortal peril, to divide his focus and protect them.

A single whistle shook the nine firmaments, and twin golden wings cut across the horizon.

"Hua Sanigeng! Today, you shall surely die!"

Swooping down from the skies, the Golden-Winged Phoenix revealed its true form, bursting with golden divine light. Driven by the absolute resolve that Sanigeng must die, it launched a fatal strike.

The spectator immortals prepared to disperse, the compassionate immortals chanted the names of heavenly lords, close friends wept in sorrow, and the immortals of Huaqing Temple wore faces of sheer terror, running about to beg fellow Daoists to take in their disciples and pass down their lineage.

Just as everyone thought the dust had settled, the place where the Huaqing Patriarch had fallen and the peak where the Golden-Winged Phoenix had charged suddenly fell into absolute silence.

The immortals looked at each other in dismay, unaware of what had happened within.

Only the Grand-Er Immortal and Luofeng wore strange expressions. After a long while, they let out a synchronized sigh.

"The waters of the Primordial World are far too deep!"

Surprises lurk everywhere. Can you still let us little newbies play in peace?

It's getting too dangerous to even step out of our doors.

In the distant battlefield, a gigantic blue lotus flower had manifested. Beneath the lotus stood the Golden-Winged Phoenix and the Huaqing Patriarch. This realm was completely sealed off from the outside world; all sounds, laws, and divine senses were entirely isolated.

Controlled solely by the Huaqing Patriarch.

The Golden-Winged Phoenix collapsed onto the ground, breathing its last, and cried out in resentment and horror, "Old Ghost Huaqing, how... how are you completely unharmed?"

"Impossible! I studied this for ten thousand years, how could I have made a mistake?"

The Huaqing Patriarch maintained a serene expression and slowly uttered, "Did you ever forbid me from acting?"

"Acting?!" The Golden-Winged Phoenix was momentarily stunned, then its expression twisted hideously as it cursed aloud, "You were clearly stronger than me, why did you have to put on an act?!"

"To kill you, of course!"

The Huaqing Patriarch looked at the Golden-Winged Phoenix with a trace of pity and sneered, "If I hadn't acted, how would you have come knocking? If I hadn't acted, how would you have fallen into this peak? If I hadn't acted, how could you have fallen into my hands?!"

Within the Primordial World, among the three thousand Great Paths, acting and performance reigned supreme as the Dao of sovereignty.

He seriously doubted how a Golden-Winged Phoenix devoid of acting skills had managed to survive in the Primordial World until now, let alone dare to oppose him.

Could it simply be because he was a member of the second generation? Ah, right, reincarnation truly is the most important skill in the Primordial World.

"I don't believe it!"

The Golden-Winged Phoenix let out a fierce roar, mustering every ounce of its remaining strength for a desperate final struggle, as if wanting to tear a piece of flesh from its enemy before dying.

The Huaqing Patriarch shook his head and tapped lightly with his finger. The Golden-Winged Phoenix was knocked back into its original form.

"The baleful Qi is useless against you..."

"You really are uninjured!"

For the first time, despair washed over the Golden-Winged Phoenix. The one who understands you best is neither family nor friends, neither disciple nor spouse, but your enemy.

As adversaries of many years, he was naturally well-acquainted with the mechanics of Huaqing Patriarch's cultivation technique.

With death imminent, the Golden-Winged Phoenix muttered in bitter reluctance, "How can this be... How can this be..."

The Huaqing Patriarch returning completely unscathed was the ultimate denial of his ten thousand years of painstaking effort.

He could accept death, but he refused to die in such a pathetic manner, unable to inflict even the slightest scratch upon his adversary!

"Because the Gold-Mystery Earth Baleful Qi was given to you by me."

The Huaqing Patriarch stated calmly.

The eyes of the Golden-Winged Phoenix widened to their absolute limit, filled entirely with shock, terror, and a lingering trace of incomprehension!

The Huaqing Patriarch paused, then smiled and said, "If I hadn't given it to you, how would you have been willing to come?"

"Ascending to the Dao of a Golden Immortal is one of the three great tribulations of cultivation. If I didn't deal with you first, this old Daoist would never rest assured enough to take that final step."

"Very well, you know enough now."

The Huaqing Patriarch said no more. With a single finger, he pierced the spirit platform of the Golden-Winged Phoenix, sending its soul returning to the Nine Netherworlds.

Within the span of a single incense stick, the Huaqing Patriarch stepped out from the mountain peak.

Beneath his feet lay a Golden-Winged Peng, its true form stretching across tens of thousands of miles.

In an instant, an uproar broke out across the Huaqing Grotto-Heaven.

The Huaqing Patriarch had actually staged a comeback and counter-killed!

All the immortals, whether acquainted with him or not, stepped forward one after another to offer their congratulations.

The Huaqing Patriarch returned every greeting with a warm smile on his face.

Finally, he stepped onto the lotus, ascended the high seat, and made a Daoist obeisance: "This grand assembly has startled all my fellow Daoists."

On the platform, the Daoist seated upon the lotus possessed an ethereal immortal air, a face as handsome as jade, an absolute mastery of wits, and an arresting presence.

The immortals below hastily replied that they dared not take offense. This was a ruthless figure, someone with bright prospects of becoming a Golden Immortal in the future.

Furthermore, he possessed formidable methods and unmatched strategy, having just slain a powerful adversary who was a consummate Celestial.

The Huaqing Patriarch nodded and continued, "Since my fellow Daoists do not mind, let us continue the grand assembly. Thank you all for coming to witness my ascension to the Golden Immortal Dao!"

The venue instantly erupted into an uproar.

Ascending the Dao is no trifling matter; it demands the right timing, favorable terrain, and harmony among people. Because the Golden-Winged Phoenix had caused such a massive disturbance, all favorable timing, terrain, and serenity of mind had been utterly destroyed.

How could one possibly ascend the Dao now?

The immortals of Huaqing Temple also hurriedly advised him: "Patriarch, you should choose another day. The grand matter of Dao ascension must not be treated lightly."

The Huaqing Patriarch smiled indifferently: "One knows one's own state best. Having slain a long-standing enemy, this very moment is when my state of mind is at its absolute peak!"

"Say no more."

With the Huaqing Patriarch's Dao-heart firmly set, nothing could obstruct him. The master of Huaqing Temple sighed, knowing that stepping forward now would only agitate the Patriarch's Dao-heart and produce the opposite of the desired effect.

Thus, he set about maintaining order.

After a quiet stillness settled over the scene, watched intently by the numerous assembled immortals, the Huaqing Patriarch suddenly opened his eyes and chanted a verse:

"Converging the three origins and five breaths into the Yellow Court, the golden elixir is forged. Operating the fires of refinement has its appointed season. The ocean tide rises, alongside the moon in the sky. With each ascent and descent, it becomes whole once more, then wanes anew. Ten months of unbroken effort, a single wondrous spirit surpassing birth and extinction. If you ask me further what lies beyond, there are no words to tell."

The wondrous manifestation of harmonizing with the Dao burst forth!

[There is still one more chapter, counting as yesterday's]
(End of this chapter)