As the cultivators on the Heaven Mending Platform marveled at Zuo Yijian's miraculous display, the Tai Xuan Sect detected an unusual disturbance. The overwhelming pressure enveloping the heavens and earth was intensifying rapidly.
The snowflakes that filled the sky were thinning, as if signaling the end of a harsh winter.
In the Third Medicine Valley, Shen Xin Zi, seated beneath an ancient tree, raised his gaze, his brows furrowing as he began calculating the unfolding events.
Ji Xiaoya stepped out of her chamber, her eyes fixed on the snowy heavens. Reflected in her pupils was the silhouette of a towering figure.
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor suddenly appeared beside her, his expression somber as he declared, "An Immortal King's aura!"
Ji Xiaoya turned her head toward him and asked, "What is an Immortal King?"
While she had recovered many memories of her past life, gaps remained. These fragments allowed her current self to retain its individuality and will.
"An Immortal King is a transcendent being who embodies the fate and fortune of the heavens and earth. Having endured countless tribulations of reincarnation, their power is immeasurable, reaching heights that defy comprehension," the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor replied, his tone grave as he looked upward.
He added, "However, there's something peculiar about this Immortal King's aura—it carries an intense deathly energy."
"What does that mean?" Ji Xiaoya asked with a frown.
"I'm uncertain," he admitted, taking a deep breath, "but one thing is clear: the Heavenly Spirirt World is on the brink of catastrophe."
Hearing this, Ji Xiaoya's gaze returned to the sky, focusing on the strange phenomena unfolding above.
The snow dissolved, the clouds churned, and the sky gradually darkened. The oppressive atmosphere blanketing heaven and earth grew heavier, stirring unease in countless beings.
Gu An watched for a moment before stepping toward the edge of the Heaven Mending Platform.
Meanwhile, Zuo Yijian remained immersed in the profound state of Dao comprehension induced by the sword intent of the Sword Master of the Dao, completely detached from external disturbances.
As Gu An descended the Heaven Mending Platform, disciples in the outer sect city finally noticed the strange phenomena occurring in the sky.
Simultaneously, far beyond the heavens, silhouettes knelt in reverence within the void, facing a massive whirlpool of reincarnation. The whirlpool had grown exponentially, and at its core, a radiant, towering figure loomed faintly within the darkness.
Compared to this figure, the powerful beings beneath the whirlpool seemed insignificant.
Cultivators arriving from the Immortal Dynasty and the Sacred Court were visibly shaken upon witnessing the figure within the Reincarnation Whirlpool.
"What is that?"
"What a terrifying aura! How strong is this being?"
"Everyone, stay vigilant! That figure is neither human nor demon. It must be a sinister force!"
"Could it be a Heavenly Demon? But why aren't they emerging from the Desolation Domain?"
"That figure seems strangely familiar, as if I've seen it somewhere before."
Both factions of beings speculated nervously, gripping their respective treasures and standing on high alert.
Beneath the Reincarnation Whirlpool, the kneeling figures stared intently at the silhouette within. Their gazes were filled with fervent reverence.
Suddenly, an Immortal Spirit from the Immortal Dynasty cried out, "The Primordial Immortal King!"
The words sent shockwaves through the Immortal Dynasty's ranks. The Immortal Spirits were aghast, their expressions betraying utter disbelief as they looked toward the Reincarnation Whirlpool.
On the Sacred Court's side, a few powerful cultivators who had heard of the Primordial Immortal King also displayed shocked expressions.
"All Heaven-ranked cultivators, return to the Sacred Domain!"
A commanding voice echoed through the void. Upon hearing it, the Sacred Court cultivators turned and retreated without hesitation. Within the span of three breaths, all Sacred Court cultivators had returned to the Heavenly Spirirt World.
The Immortal Spirits became increasingly excited as they observed the unfolding events.
"Is it truly the Primordial Immortal King? He's still alive!"
"So, Yuanxu Immortal Ancestor created the Reincarnation Whirlpool to welcome the Primordial Immortal King?"
"No, don't you think his aura seems off?"
"That's the Primordial Immortal King! No matter how he appears, he will always be the eternal Immortal King of our Immortal Dynasty!"
"It has been countless years since the Sacred Court's rise, and no true Immortal King has unified the Immortal Dynasty."
The Immortal Spirits' voices were filled with exhilaration, though a rare few wore expressions of concern.
At that moment, the figure within the Reincarnation Whirlpool began to move. Slowly stepping out of the darkness, he exuded an overwhelming aura, akin to a primordial demon god. The terrifying energy surged like a breached river, unstoppable and all-encompassing.
The Immortal Spirits in the void fell silent, staring at him in stunned awe.
In the Sacred Court, within a grand and majestic hall.
The Sacred Minister stood before the sacred throne, gazing at the starry sky. His brows furrowed deeply, and his expression was grim.
Ten or so figures stood within the hall, all of them second-tier Heavenly Positions—Sacred Gods.
Each was a Divine Thought True Immortal, radiating boundless power.
An elderly woman, cloaked in robes of radiant white light, spoke first:
"Sacred Minister, the arrival of the Primordial Immortal King must be aimed at us. Regardless of how or why he has returned, we must devise a strategy."
The other Sacred Gods voiced their agreement. Although their tones were calm and composed, their words betrayed a clear apprehension toward the Primordial Immortal King.
With the Primordial Immortal King's revival, the Immortal Dynasty now had three Free Immortals within its ranks.
In terms of supreme power, the Sacred Court was no longer a match for the Immortal Dynasty, and this discrepancy filled them with unease.
For years, the Sacred Court had managed to hold off the Immortal Dynasty's advances, but it was evident to all that the Sacred Court was unable to turn the tide decisively or crush the Immortal Dynasty in a short time.
Now, with the appearance of the Primordial Immortal King, the future was fraught with peril.
The Sacred Minister's face remained cold as he said, "If anyone has a plan, feel free to share."
His words silenced the Sacred Gods.
Against a Free Immortal, schemes and tactics were meaningless. Only another Free Immortal could contend with them.
One of the Sacred Gods turned to the Sacred Minister and asked, "When will you begin your breakthrough?"
The Sacred Minister had long been preparing to ascend to the realm of Free Immortal, but the process required extensive preparation. The tribulation he faced would be one of life and death, and he dared not rush into it recklessly.
The Sacred Minister fixed his gaze on the Sacred God and replied,
"If not for certain individuals shirking their responsibilities, I might have already succeeded in my breakthrough. Everyone here contributes to the Sacred Court, yet some hoard the court's fate, locking it away tightly. Some claim to be in seclusion, unable to act rashly, while others have just released some fate and dare not reclaim it immediately."
He intended to use the collective fate of the Sacred Court to aid his breakthrough. However, fate bound to individuals could not be forcibly extracted. Stripping someone of their fate would destabilize their spirit and invite misfortune. The process required careful negotiation and consensus, lest the Sacred Court itself collapse.
Moreover, the Sacred Court was still locked in conflict with the Immortal Dynasty.
Faced with the Sacred Minister's accusation, the questioned Sacred God's face turned ashen, but he remained silent.
Another Sacred God spoke up:
"Even if the Sacred Minister begins his breakthrough now, it would be too late. What we need is a Free Immortal who can immediately join the fray."
An elderly man holding a wooden staff stroked his beard and asked,
"Are you referring to the Sword Master of the Dao?"
Silence fell over the hall as the Sacred Gods turned their eyes toward the Sacred Minister, their gazes filled with anticipation.
The Sacred Minister frowned deeply, inwardly cursing.
If the Sword Master of the Dao were so easily persuaded, he would have joined the Sacred Court long ago!
Upon learning that the Sword Master of the Dao might have attained the realm of Free Immortal, the Sacred Minister had been both overjoyed and apprehensive. The existence of an unaligned Free Immortal, unwilling to reveal their true identity, was a source of endless speculation and unease.