This was not intentional pressure, but rather a field formed naturally by the intertwined and clashing dao rhymes and auras of nine Ascension to Immortality powerhouses gathered in one place.
An ordinary Undergoing Tribulation Cultivator would likely find it difficult to even stand here.
Empress Qingxuan still wore that lazy smile on her lips, as casual as if she were in her own home.
Empress Ling Shuang's expression was cold and aloof, her gaze calmly meeting the various lines of sight, lingering slightly on Arid God.
Gu Han's expression was as usual, her gaze calmly sweeping over the people in the hall.
Finally, her gaze landed on Emperor Lord Long Teng and Holy Master Yaoguang on the high platform, and she nodded slightly in greeting.
"Three Fellow Daoists have come from afar; I apologize for not greeting you sooner. Please forgive me."
Emperor Lord Long Teng spoke first, his voice warm and mellow, carrying a spring-breeze-like affinity, yet naturally exuding imperial majesty.
"Fellow Daoist Long Teng is too polite."
Empress Qingxuan responded with a light chuckle,
"It is my honor to be invited by the Emperor Lord."
Empress Ling Shuang also nodded slightly:
"When the Emperor Lord invites, one naturally attends."
Gu Han's expression was calm, neither humble nor overbearing:
"The Emperor Lord overpraises This Gu. It is This Gu's fortune to be able to participate in such a grand event."
"Three Fellow Daoists, please take your seats."
Emperor Lord Long Teng raised his hand, indicating the three empty jade seats.
Empress Qingxuan naturally walked to the right side and sat in the empty seat next to Venerable Bai Yun.
Empress Ling Shuang walked to the left side and sat in the empty seat above Arid God; that was her position.
Gu Han pondered for a moment, then walked to the last empty seat on the right and sat down next to Qingxuan.
At this point, all ten Ascension to Immortality powerhouses on the surface of the Azure Orchid Continent had gathered!
Central Region: Emperor Lord Long Teng, Holy Master Yaoguang, Old Man Tian Ji.
Eastern Region: Empress Qingxuan, Venerable Bai Yun.
Western Region: Buddha Lord Wu Fa, Demon Lord Wu Tian.
Northern Region: Empress Ling Shuang, Arid God.
Southern Region: Yaochi Empress.
Ten Ascension to Immortalitys gathered in the Central Region—such a sight was rare even over tens of thousands of years.
The atmosphere in the hall was solemn and heavy.
Everyone's gaze, intentionally or unintentionally, would linger on Gu Han for an extra moment.
This newly promoted Yaochi Empress had risen mysteriously.
Her strength was unfathomable, and there were even rumors that she possessed a supreme treasure suspected to be a quasi-immortal artifact.
"Since everyone has arrived, let us begin!"
Emperor Lord Long Teng slowly spoke, his voice echoing through the grand hall,
"As you all know, the Ascension path of our Azure Orchid Continent was severed as early as eight hundred thousand years ago."
"Over these many years, countless talented and brilliant individuals were trapped in the Ascension to Immortality Realm, eventually exhausting their Lifespan and dissipating into the Dao."
The atmosphere in the hall grew heavier with his words.
The severance of the immortal path was the biggest boulder weighing on the hearts of all Peak powerhouses in the Azure Orchid Continent.
No matter how magnificent and awe-inspiring you were, dominating a region, after ten thousand years, you would still turn into a handful of yellow earth, returning to heaven and earth.
Those who had reached this point were all individuals with top-tier talent, Opportunity, and Heart-Nature.
Yet, facing the ethereal 'immortal path,' they too felt powerless.
"This Monarch spent tens of thousands of years, perused countless ancient texts and secret tomes, and explored numerous ancient ruins, finally arriving at a deduction—"
Emperor Lord Long Teng's voice resounded again,
"The reason why the immortal path of our Azure Orchid Continent was severed is not due to other reasons."
"Rather, it is because the Great Dao Law of this Realm has suffered some kind of incompleteness, or perhaps the Heavenly Dao has fallen into slumber."
"This caused the final gate of Ascension to be unable to open normally, or rather... to be forcibly closed."
As soon as these words were spoken, shock appeared in everyone's eyes.
One must know that, according to ancient legends, the immortal path was severed by an unknown powerhouse in battle.
Now, Emperor Lord Long Teng claimed that there was a problem with the Heavenly Dao of this Realm?
This couldn't help but shock everyone!
"Great Dao incomplete? Heavenly Dao in slumber?"
Buddha Lord Wu Fa remained silent for a long time before being the first to ask:
"Emperor Lord, is there any basis for your statement?"
"There is indeed a basis."
Emperor Lord Long Teng nodded,
"Why don't you all recall, since the immortal path was severed, has there ever been a true 'Lightning Tribulation' in its original sense?"
Upon hearing this, everyone fell into contemplation.
Lightning Tribulation is a test and baptism sent down by the Heavenly Dao when Cultivators go against the heavens and Breakthrough their Realm.
But upon closer thought, aside from Cultivators above the Void Return Realm experiencing some Lightning Tribulations when Breaking through, Cultivators below the Void Return Realm generally do not experience Heavenly Tribulation.
"This may seem like a good thing, but in reality, it is a manifestation of the Heavenly Dao's slumber, where the Laws of heaven and earth operate sluggishly and their power diminishes."
Emperor Lord Long Teng said solemnly, "This is the first point."
"Secondly,"
he continued,
"This Monarch once found a half-fragmented stele in an ancient Secret Realm, on which it was vaguely recorded..."
"It spoke of this Realm having suffered a 'Great Dao Calamity,' which is why the immortal path disappeared."
"Great Dao Calamity?"
Venerable Bai Yun frowned slightly,
"Emperor Lord, where is that stele now? Can you let us take a look?"
Emperor Lord Long Teng shook his head:
"The stele weathered away on its own after appearing for a brief moment. This Monarch only had time to jot down a few words."
This explanation caused some people's eyes to flash with doubt.
"Long Teng,"
Demon Lord Wu Tian's scarlet eyes flickered with light, his voice hoarse,
"You've beaten around the bush for so long, what exactly do you want to say?"
"Could it be that you've found a way to reopen the immortal path?"
Everyone's gazes once again focused on Emperor Lord Long Teng.
Emperor Lord Long Teng met their gazes, slowly nodded, and his voice was resolute:
"Exactly!"
"This Monarch believes that since the Heavenly Dao of this Realm suffered trauma, leading to the closing of the immortal path."
"Then, to reopen the immortal path, we can only collectively 'mend the heavens'!"
"Mend the heavens?!"
Arid God's voice was like a great bell, filled with disbelief,
"How to mend? With what to mend? Long Teng, are you perhaps joking?"
"Naturally, I am not joking."
Emperor Lord Long Teng's expression was incredibly serious,
"We Cultivators cultivate ourselves and comprehend the Laws of heaven and earth."
"If the ten of us each employ our methods to mend that indistinct 'Great Dao flaw,' there might not be a glimmer of hope to reopen the 'immortal path' for this world!"
"At that time, we will be able to travel through the immortal path to the legendary Immortal Realm and glimpse the Realm beyond Ascension to Immortality."
As Emperor Lord Long Teng's voice fell.
The hall fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone was digesting this astonishing information, weighing the possibilities and risks.
Collectively "mending the heavens" to reopen the immortal gate?
How crazy that sounded! How... perilous!
If it were truly as Emperor Lord Long Teng said, that the Heavenly Dao was forced to close the immortal gate.
Then if the Heavenly Dao were to become enraged, even their combined ten would not necessarily be able to withstand its wrath!
"Fellow Daoist Long Teng,"
Empress Qingxuan's lazy voice broke the silence. She toyed with a strand of hair, her eyes holding a probing smile,
"Your 'mending the heavens' method sounds grand and magnificent. But what are the risks? Have you considered the consequences?"
"Don't let us become moths drawn to a flame."
Her words were direct, but they also voiced everyone's inner thoughts.
Emperor Lord Long Teng looked at Qingxuan, his expression solemn:
"Risks naturally exist, and they are not small."
"But this Monarch has deduced for a long time that if the ten of us work together wholeheartedly, cooperate properly, and are supplemented by a supreme treasure capable of harmonizing the Laws as the core, the chance of success should be over fifty percent!"
Fifty percent!
This probability, for beings at their level, was enough to stir their hearts, and also enough to make them wary.
"Supreme treasure?"
Old Man Tian Ji slowly opened his eyes, his voice ethereal,
"Is the Emperor Lord referring to your dragon soul sword?"
"Precisely."
Emperor Lord Long Teng admitted frankly,
"The dragon soul sword is a quasi-immortal artifact of this Realm, connected to this Realm's Luck, and is most effective at stabilizing; it can serve as the core of the formation."
"Heh,"
Demon Lord Wu Tian sneered,
"After all that, it still comes down to you, Long Teng, being in charge. Who knows if you'll secretly play any tricks?"
"Fellow Daoist Wu Tian worries too much."
Emperor Lord Long Teng's expression remained unchanged,
"This endeavor concerns the future of the Azure Orchid Continent, and even more so our Dao paths and safety. How could this Monarch do such a thing?"
"At that time, all procedures can be made public, to be jointly supervised by all of you."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his tone becoming sincere and infectious:
"Fellow Daoists, are you truly content to stop here, allowing your Lifespan to run out in a few tens of thousands of years and return to nothingness?"
"Do you not wish to see what the legendary immortal path looks like, and what kind of scenery the Immortal Realm holds?"
"This 'mending the heavens' endeavor, though perilous, is also the greatest Opportunity for our Azure Orchid Continent in nearly a hundred thousand years!"
"If successful, not only can the immortal path be opened, but our Dao paths will also expand, potentially even benefiting countless Cultivators of future generations!"
"This is an achievement for the present, and a benefit for a thousand generations!"
"I hope all Fellow Daoists will consider this carefully!"
His words, like a giant stone thrown into a calm lake, stirred immense waves in the heart of every Ascension to Immortality.
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