In the perception of ordinary people, and even those with lower cultivation, this was an unremarkable day.
But for powerful individuals like Chen Jiuyang, sensing the return of numerous strong figures, he knew the final game was about to begin.
"Dong! Dong! Dong!"
Supreme, radiant Dao sounds resonated.
Falling into Chen Jiuyang's ears, they transformed into two words: "Return!"
Chen Jiuyang hesitated for a moment before heading towards the Crippled Old Village.
His figure flickered, and he appeared outside the Crippled Old Village, then crossed the river to enter.
The familiar village appeared.
Chen Jiuyang saw the old village chief 'Eight Difficulties', the armless old Sword Emperor, the blind old woman, the Butcher, the Cripple, Kunwu, the Cook, and the Fortune Teller.
Chen Jiuyang's heart suddenly trembled: "Where are the others?"
When they had attacked the Immortal Realm back then, hundreds of exceptionally powerful beings had flown out from the Crippled Old Village.
Why were only these seven returning from the Immortal Realm now?
The Fortune Teller gave a wry smile: "They are all dead. Only we seven cripples survived."
The Cook said, "To bring about the final game and force the Heavenly Court to comply, all the Immortal Emperors in the heavens and this realm have perished, leaving only one in each major faction to control the game."
The seven individuals before him were even stronger than Chen Jiuyang.
The old village chief 'Eight Difficulties' asked, "When will the final game begin?"
The blind old woman said, "Once both sides have prepared eighty-one chess pieces, the chessboard can be activated."
Chen Jiuyang frowned and pondered, "In other words, if there are eighty-one powerful beings with Dao Fruits in the world, the final chessboard will automatically open?"
The armless old Sword Emperor slowly shook his head and said, "It's not calculated that way."
"Having a Dao Fruit doesn't necessarily make one a chess piece."
"The final game, firstly, is to contend for the Book of Life and Death, and secondly, it is the path to transcendence, heading to the Heavenly Realm."
"These eighty-one spots are not something anyone can contend for if they wish."
"Only those with sufficient destiny to battle the Immortal Realm and who are recognized by this world can become chess pieces."
"As it appears now, this world has a total of nine major factions that meet this condition. Before returning, we had already agreed that each faction could put forth nine chess pieces."
"The Crippled Old Village, we seven cripples plus 'Eight Difficulties', Jiuyang, and you make exactly nine."
"I am very pleased that your cultivation has progressed rapidly during this time. You already possess Dao power, and only need to refine a Dao Fruit to achieve an alternative path to enlightenment."
"Thus, you will be qualified to participate in the final game with us."
The Butcher said to Chen Jiuyang, "You kid had better extinguish any thoughts of becoming an Emperor. The Immortal Realm and we have reached a consensus this time: no one is allowed to become an Emperor in this era, to interfere with the final game."
"Indeed." The Cripple nodded slowly, looking at Chen Jiuyang, "Chen kid, we know you ultimately want to become an Emperor, to dominate an era, but this path is not feasible."
"This era is destined to have no one become an Emperor; anyone attempting to will face the combined wrath of all things."
Chen Jiuyang sighed, slowly shook his head, and said with a bitter smile, "I know. Otherwise, I would have already undergone the Emperor's tribulation months ago."
The Cook chuckled, "Then it depends on what Dao Fruit you refine and how many Dao tribulations you face."
Chen Jiuyang asked, "Are there any secrets involved?"
The armless old Sword Emperor said, "Dao Fruits are also divided into nine grades: three tribulations, six tribulations, nine tribulations, then eighteen Dao tribulations, thirty-six Dao tribulations, fifty-four Dao tribulations, sixty-three Dao tribulations, seventy-two Dao tribulations, and eighty-one Dao tribulations!"
"Above nine tribulations is the realm of Martial Dao Red Dust Immortal."
"From thirty-six Dao tribulations onwards, one possesses the combat power of an Immortal King."
"Eighty-one Dao tribulations represent the combat power of an Immortal Emperor."
"However, the moment you refine a Dao Fruit, you will know how many Dao tribulations you have."
"The more Dao tribulations, the stronger the Dao power."
"The greater the chance of transcendence."
Chen Jiuyang nodded slowly, taking it in, his eyes showing curiosity: "Senior Qin, what Dao tribulation levels are you all?"
The armless old Sword Emperor said, "I am sixty-three Dao tribulations. These few others are all fifty-four Dao tribulations."
His heart suddenly stirred. No wonder no one dared to trespass into the Crippled Old Village. Damn it, so many martial Dao Immortals at the Immortal King combat power level.
Chen Jiuyang took a deep breath: "Then, who are the nine major factions in the final game?"
The blind old woman said, "Our Crippled Old Village, Bitter Nightmare Town, Chongming Sea, Wuming Palace, Buried Emperor Mountain, Qitian Sect, East Desolation Sect, and Jiuguang Sect."
"Once each family gathers nine top-tier chess pieces, they will collectively proceed to the Realm of Myriad Things Floating Life to commence the final game."
Chen Jiuyang took a deep breath: "In that case, there isn't much time left."
"Indeed so," said the Fortune Teller.
Kunwu looked at Chen Jiuyang and said, "Chen kid, have you chosen your Dao Fruit?"
Chen Jiuyang nodded slowly, "I have chosen it. Next, I will prepare to refine the Dao Fruit."
Qin Shujian said, "The danger of refining a Dao Fruit is second only to the Realm of Myriad Things Floating Life. This is a grand scheme of the epoch."
Chen Jiuyang's eyelids twitched: "Is refining a Dao Fruit that perilous?"
Qin Shujian said, "By refining a Dao Fruit, you will gain access to the secrets related to the Realm of Myriad Things Floating Life. The Dao Fruit Secret Realm is located beneath the Realm of Myriad Things Floating Life. Dao Fruits fell from the Immortal Realm, settled in the Spiritual Realm, and were then tempered by the Realm of Myriad Things Floating Life before finally descending to this world, forming the Dao Fruit Secret Realm."
"Although Dao Fruits are scattered in different places, the process of refining them leads to the same destination."
"Beneath the Realm of Myriad Things Revival... and that place is extremely perilous."
"However, with your talent and aptitude, it should not be a problem. The only remaining factor is how many Dao tribulations you will face."
"Now that we have returned, you will likely refine your Dao Fruit along with other factions and meet in the Dao Fruit Secret Realm."
"Refining a Dao Fruit can take as little as three to five months, or as long as one to two thousand years. You must remember this and seize the time."
Chen Jiuyang nodded solemnly and said, "I understand. I have something I wish to ask Senior Qin about: the 'Shile' Princess imprisoned at Immortal Falling Cliff, what is her purpose?"
Qin Shujian pondered, "'Shile' Princess is a Fallen Immortal. She is a born Immortal King. She is not from this world but from the Heavenly Realm. Her father is a supreme being in the Heavenly Realm. She wishes to transcend by using the Realm of Myriad Things Floating Life to return to the Heavenly Realm. The heretical divine abilities that we currently control in this world were basically circulated through her."
Chen Jiuyang frowned and asked, "What is the relationship between the Immortal Realm and the Heavenly Realm?"
Qin Shujian said, "One epoch is 12.58 million years. At the end of each epoch, all things dissipate, and the heavens and earth are reopened. Even the Immortal Realm cannot escape this."
"The Heavenly Realm is eternal. The Heavenly Court in the Immortal Realm is where the Heavenly Realm oversees the creatures of the epoch."
"And the Heavenly Realm governs all things in the myriad sand worlds."
"Moreover, you have already come into contact with the Heavenly Realm."
Chen Jiuyang looked confused: "I have come into contact with the Heavenly Realm?"
His mind was filled with fog.
Qin Shujian smiled slightly and said, "Heavenly Tribulation."
"Heavenly Tribulation is not sent down by the heavens and earth, but is manipulated by the Heavenly Realm to descend."
"It is a violation of the Heavenly Laws, the regulations of the Heavenly Realm, not the Immortal Realm."