Chen Jiuyang watched as his sealed and slumbering kin were taken to the forbidden grounds of the Canyou Village. At this moment, a glint of moisture appeared in his eyes.
This parting, when would they meet again? Perhaps in a hundred years, a thousand years, or an eternity. The world's vicissitudes would eventually change.
However, he was not one to be overly sentimental. The Canyou Village's forbidden grounds held the legacies of human emperors from countless eras, all predecessors on Chen Jiuyang's path. Chen Jiuyang had seen their outcomes and their journeys; how could he repeat their mistakes and knowingly push his kin into a fiery pit?
He now occupied a high position, with no one to support him from behind. One wrong step would mean utter defeat.
Kunwu Di's voice echoed, "I will await your delivery of the Xianwu Fa within the village."
"Thank you for your patience, senior. I will bring it over shortly."
Following that, the spatial rift closed.
Chen Jiuyang turned his head, the moisture in his eyes vanishing, replaced by an icy calm. Behind him stood Deng Zun, Fang Bahua, Feng Hanhou, Feng Zhuizhou, and other veteran subordinates who had followed him for years. They all knelt on one knee.
Chen Jiuyang, with his hands behind his back, declared, "From now on, all of you shall cultivate immortal arts. There is no need to continue practicing martial arts!"
"The world will be different from now on; immortal cultivation and longevity are your best paths."
"We obey the Sect Master's sacred decree."
Deng Zun, Fang Bahua, and the others had no idea what had transpired. They had only witnessed an ancestor-level being take away Chen Jiuyang's sealed kin, and for the first time, they saw Chen Jiuyang on the verge of tears, their hearts deeply shaken.
Their strength was not great, far from being able to comprehend the secrets at Chen Jiuyang's level. However, over the years, they had followed Chen Jiuyang, who had never mistreated them, nor had he ever asked them to do anything dangerous. They had enjoyed extremely high benefits.
Chen Jiuyang continued, "The former Palace King, the King of the South, and the King of the Sea are all in seclusion in Qingzhu Town. I have transferred the shares of the former pharmaceutical company to them, and you will also hold shares in this company."
"From today onwards, you will follow my command and return to Qingzhu Town to cultivate the immortal path. The spiritual energy in the Qingzhu Spirit Domain is abundant, perfect for your cultivation."
The crowd was once again shaken. What had happened that Chen Jiuyang wanted them to return to the Qingzhu Spirit Domain to cultivate?
Only Feng Hanhou could not help but ask, "Jiuyang, what exactly has happened?"
Chen Jiuyang turned and slowly ascended into the air, "Just believe that I will not harm you. Exchange all your merits for resources, return to the Qingzhu Spirit Domain, and do not return to the Sacred Sect again."
The crowd's hearts grew heavy. This time, even Han Shaofa was unaware; those who had not followed Chen Jiuyang from his humble beginnings did not know about this matter.
Chen Jiuyang returned to the Sect Master's grand hall, "Summon the Holy Son."
"Yes, Sect Master."
Bie Huan's voice sounded.
Not long after, Zhu Zhaoming arrived at the Sect Master's grand hall. He was dressed in the Holy Son's attire. Years had passed, and he had reached the peak of the Heavenly Realm, only half a step away from the Venerable Realm. His combat power was good, and he could break through to the Venerable Realm at any time, but it was likely that, like other prodigies, he was deliberately suppressing his cultivation, pursuing the emergence of his foundation.
"Greetings, Master."
Zhu Zhaoming bowed respectfully to Chen Jiuyang, clasping his fists. His gaze fell upon Chen Jiuyang, who was clad in the nine-dragon imperial robe on the dragon throne, exuding an aura as divine as a demon.
"Hmm."
Chen Jiuyang looked at his nominal disciple. For years, they had only had the title, and Chen Jiuyang had not taught him much, as Zhu Zhaoming had once inherited the legacy of a Martial Saint in Fengcheng. Chen Jiuyang had not yet reached the Martial Saint realm.
"Your combat power is good. Do not suppress your cultivation; break through to the Venerable Realm as soon as possible," Chen Jiuyang said.
A hint of confusion flickered in Zhu Zhaoming's eyes.
Chen Jiuyang said, "Dismiss everyone else."
Then, Chen Jiuyang flicked a finger, and immense magical power and immortal light appeared, enveloping the hall, preventing any external probing.
Zhu Zhaoming asked, "Master, is there something you need to impart to your disciple?"
Chen Jiuyang looked at him and said, "Zhaoming, you are very good. You are the Son of Destiny for this Golden Age."
"I have summoned you because there is indeed something important."
"In less than two years, or at most seven or eight years, I will pass on my position to you."
Zhu Zhaoming's expression changed from joy to apprehension. He quickly knelt on one knee and said, "Master, what are you saying? Master is only in his thirties and has already entered the Imperial Realm. You still have a thousand years of peak prosperity. Passing the position to me makes me tremble with fear!"
Chen Jiuyang replied, "Zhaoming, you need not be like this. This is my own personal matter. After the Sacred Pseudo War ends, I will step down from the position of Sect Master."
"At that time, you must have sufficient strength to command the entire sect. I have summoned you today to inform you of these two matters."
A storm of shock raged within Zhu Zhaoming. His master had truly decided to pass on the position of Sect Master to him. What had happened? Master was hailed as the most exceptionally talented martial prodigy below the Yan Emperor; even he could not catch up to his master in terms of cultivation speed. An Imperial Realm cultivator in his thirties.
Chen Jiuyang said, "Go, focus on improving your cultivation. You do not have much time left."
"Yes, your disciple obeys Master's command." Zhu Zhaoming took a deep breath.
After Zhu Zhaoming retreated, Chen Jiuyang sat alone in silence on the dragon throne, a sense of bewilderment and emptiness washing over him. With his kin sealed away, how many people were left in this world with whom he could converse? Only Zi Xuan remained in the distant Lesser Immortal Realm. It would not be long now.
Chen Jiuyang sat quietly on the Sect Master's dragon throne, waiting for time to pass. Simultaneously, he took out the bamboo slips prepared by the armless old Sword Emperor and began to study them.
"The inheritors of the Human Emperor's path ascend to the Immortal Platform..."
Chen Jiuyang carefully read the subsequent Immortal Platform Fa. To refine a single Immortal Platform to its utmost, to nourish it with divine liquid, to raise this stage to the height of the next stage, and then to step into the next Immortal Platform as if treading on level ground.
Divine liquid... Nourishing the spirit of the Immortal Platform, when the Dao God overflows, it naturally generates divine liquid, which then nourishes the Immortal Platform.
Seeing this Immortal Platform Fa, Chen Jiuyang fell into deep thought. This required painstaking effort, circulating the Immortal Platform God for a long time, its essence rumbling, to produce divine liquid. Martial Dao divine liquid, the Demon Race's Emperor Flowing Sap could seal humans, preventing them from being eroded by the passage of time. It was indeed unique...
As for now, he was not in a hurry to ascend to the Immortal Platform.
"The Pure Yang Cave Mansion beneath the Qingzhu River, if no inheritor like me goes there, even outsiders will not be able to detect the true cave mansion ruins..."
That cave mansion contained numerous immortal artifacts and related materials, cultivation techniques, and a vast medicinal field... Now, thinking about it carefully, there was something strange. The Pure Yang Immortal Doctor was a cultivator at the Tribulation Crossing stage; where did he get so many immortal artifacts? These might become the foundation for his revival after his slumber.
His confidants and the Palace Kings had all settled and begun cultivating in Qingzhu Town...
"I hope you can achieve longevity. When I awaken from my slumber in the future, perhaps we can meet again..."
"Heh, once one enters the martial world, time relentlessly ages people, and I am no exception."