"Boom—"
The gate deep within Kunlun had opened!
Vast amounts of spiritual energy surged forth. It was said that the Kunlun Gate connected to the most prosperous of the Nine Heavens—the "Central Jun Heaven," also known as the "Central Imperial Heaven."
Dense spiritual energy poured out, causing the withered trees nearby to instantly sprout green buds.
It was several times more concentrated than the spiritual energy sealed within the Jiang Family’s Spirit Gathering Array.
"Husband, what will you do this time? You’re not planning to lock away this spiritual energy with another array, are you? The resurgence of spiritual energy is an inevitable trend..." Mo Lianxing frowned, sensing something different this time.
The Kunlun Gate was unlike the South Sea Gate or the Jiang Family’s Gate. This resurgence clearly marked the beginning of a second phase.
"It doesn’t matter. I’ve already prepared the people of Dragon Country to accept the reality of spiritual energy resurgence. Even if it fully revives now... there won’t be too much chaos. Besides, danger comes with opportunity... With spiritual energy this dense, all sorts of spirit herbs and secret realms will likely emerge..."
"The pills and spirit stones from my Cultivator Association weren’t given away for free. It’s time to recoup some losses."
Mo Lianxing: "..."
"I should’ve known you wouldn’t make a losing deal..."
Earlier, Jiang Che had brought out high-efficiency alchemy furnaces, refining millions of pills daily—a massive loss. She had thought he was acting out of benevolence, for the sake of humanity’s greater good.
Turns out, he was playing the long game!
The resurgence of spiritual energy would undoubtedly bring forth countless spirit herbs and legacies of powerful cultivators. But there was no way millions of pills would just appear out of nowhere, right?
In the cultivation world, controlling pills was like controlling oil. After resources circulated... Jiang Che would still end up benefiting the most!
......
Jiang Yunhuang hovered mid-air, his brow furrowed.
As a Divine Passage Realm cultivator, he had developed powerful divine sense, which now spread hundreds of miles... allowing him to sense changes in the earth and mountains.
It almost felt like... they were expanding?
No way. He had just survived a tribulation!
Could a mere heavenly tribulation really alter the terrain?
At that moment, a dazzling radiance burst forth from the depths of Kunlun.
The altar gate at the very center underwent a strange transformation, and several figures slowly materialized.
All of them wore ancient white robes.
"We actually made it? It seems the mortal realm has truly entered an era of resurgence."
"But the gate between realms feels more stable now. That’s good news."
"Huh? I sense the aura of a heavenly tribulation... Someone is undergoing a tribulation? And it’s the Divine Passage Tribulation!"
The group quickly flew out from the altar gate—only to run straight into Jiang Yunhuang, who had just completed his tribulation.
Jiang Yunhuang’s gaze turned solemn.
Their attire clearly didn’t resemble natives of Earth. They were probably from the Nine Heavens.
Jiang Yunhuang had no goodwill toward those who descended from the Nine Heavens—they were all arrogant fools.
But when he discerned their cultivation levels, his tense expression relaxed.
They were just a bunch of half-step Divine Passage Realm (Ant Realm) nobodies!
"Do you have any last words?"
Jiang Yunhuang’s question left them stunned.
"Elder... have we done something so heinous that you’re asking for our last words right off the bat?"
But faced with a genuine Divine Passage Realm expert, they had no choice but to humble themselves.
"Esteemed Divine Passage Sovereign! We are envoys from the ‘Central Jun Heaven’ diplomatic corps. We bear no hostility—we come in peace!"
"Yes, yes! With spiritual energy resurging in the mortal realm, our motto is to create a brighter future for the immortal path together..."
Their words nearly short-circuited Jiang Yunhuang’s brain.
The Nine Heavens... had a diplomatic corps now?
Jiang Che soon arrived as well.
Having just obtained a thousand drops of tribulation lightning essence for free, he couldn’t suppress his grin.
The system points he’d spent customizing systems for Chu Yuan and the others had already been mostly replenished.
"Envoys from Central Jun Heaven? We are members of the Jiang Family of the Nine Heavens!"
Jiang Che introduced himself without hesitation—no reason not to borrow the Jiang Family’s prestige.
"What? The Jiang Family of the Nine Heavens?"
Instantly, the white-robed envoys’ eyes widened.
"Y-You mean... the Jiang Family of the Eastern Cang Heaven?"
Jiang Che nodded. "What do you think?"
They collectively gasped.
The Jiang Family was a transcendent force within the Nine Heavens, boasting no fewer than ten Emperor Realm experts. Who would dare disrespect them?
"So, what brings you here?" Jiang Che raised an eyebrow.
"We are special envoys. With Earth’s spiritual energy resurging, we’ve brought immortal techniques to spread the teachings of the immortal path..."
Jiang Che chuckled coldly.
First, there was the Robe of Theft technique, and now another faction wanted to spread their teachings?
Clearly... there was some incredibly tempting benefit to proselytizing in the mortal realm.
"No need. We already have our own cultivation techniques. Everyone here is practicing them."
"But ours are immortal-grade techniques..."
Jiang Che shot them a sidelong glance. "Are you doubting the Jiang Family of the Nine Heavens?"
The envoys immediately panicked, bowing repeatedly. "N-No, of course not!"
Jiang Yunhuang, who had been silent the whole time, couldn’t help but marvel at his grandson’s shamelessness—flaunting the Jiang Family’s name like it was his own.
"Honored guests, please rest at our Jiang Family for the next few days!"
Jiang Yunhuang stepped forward, wearing a disarmingly kind smile.
......
"Divine Passage Realm... He actually reached the Divine Passage Realm! And... he even condensed a King’s Martial Mark?"
Near Kunlun, after the heavenly tribulation dissipated, Zhou Fan remained frozen in shock.
He had witnessed Jiang Yunhuang’s entire tribulation.
As a former peak Divine Passage Ninth Revolution expert in his past life, he knew exactly what a King’s Martial Mark signified!
King’s Martial Mark, Emperor’s Martial Mark, Immortal’s Mark!
Condensing a King’s Martial Mark meant one had the potential to reach the Quasi-Emperor Realm!
In his past life... despite exhausting all means, he had failed to condense his own Martial Mark.
Now, reborn into this world, without the system’s assistance, he would likely be stuck at the Nirvana Realm at best—maybe barely scratching the threshold of the Creation Realm.
Zhou Fan had a clear understanding of his own limits.
"System..."
He silently called out in his mind, reflecting on how much the system had aided him recently. It had given him hope of reaching the pinnacle.
And his ambitions had grown accordingly.
The Nirvana Realm? The Creation Realm?
No! He refused to settle for that!
Emperor! Even... Immortality! That was his goal!
And to become an Emperor... he had no choice but to rely on the system.
"I’ve lived for thousands of years, struggled in the cultivation world for a millennium... I long ago lost the ability to trust. But system... I’m willing to place my faith in you one last time!"
Zhou Fan’s resolve solidified. He cast aside all caution, fully embracing the system’s power.