Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 590 Blood Pool Tiger of the Heavenly Emperor's Ranch!
[With everyone taking turns on duty, Fu Dongcheng and you begin to deduce the appropriate Bagua positions based on the daily cycle of the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury.]

This is no easy task.

[Qi Ling and the others initially tried to assist, but found the deduction method you used to be profound and difficult to understand. At first, they could barely follow your train of thought, but later they were completely unable to comprehend it.]

Three days passed, and even Yuan Shujian, who had been assisting in calculating the changing times, gradually began to feel strained. His calculations could no longer keep up with the changes, and he eventually had to step aside and observe quietly.

[By reversing the eight trigrams, sixty-four variations arise; further, by continuing the cycle with the twenty-four constellations, the resulting numbers are vast and boundless, far exceeding the limits of mental calculation.]

Fu Dongcheng also gradually felt he couldn't hold on any longer, until he took the Fate Star Compass from Sun Miao. Only with this magical artifact in hand could he barely steady himself and keep up with your deductions.

[Yet you grew increasingly clear-headed. Long ago, in the library, you stumbled upon a fragment of the *Plum Blossom Divination*. This text is widely circulated, not considered a secret, and is included in almost every school of thought. Although it only covers the most basic divination techniques, its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages.]

Legend has it that three incomplete pages of the *Plum Blossom Divination* remain hidden deep within the Western Kunlun Mountains, but no one has ever seen them.

[If we were to discuss the most renowned divination techniques in this world, the "Heavenly Heart Arithmetic" and the "Purple Star Heavenly Book" of the Destiny Star Sect would undoubtedly be among them.]

Both originate from the ancient secret art "Lianshan Yi," which was later developed into a unique sect's martial art.

Fangcun Mountain does not possess such profound deductive traditions; you can only rely on your own efforts to piece together the fragments of Yijing (Book of Changes) scattered throughout various schools.

Unexpectedly, the scattered knowledge I acquired in the past has come in handy today.

Because they lack a systematic approach, these complex divination methods often fail to correspond with contemporary celestial phenomena and timing, remaining perpetually obscure and difficult to understand. However, amidst this continuous process of deduction, a sudden flash of insight occurs, like sunlight breaking through the clouds, finally revealing a clear trajectory.

Perhaps the ancient methods of divination are fundamentally different from those used in modern times.

Even with the help of the compass, Fu Dongcheng is gradually finding it difficult to keep up with your deductive speed.

Your mind grew increasingly focused, and for a moment you even forgot that there were other people around you.

Half a day passed in the blink of an eye.

When you suddenly come to your senses, you see the Compass of Destiny in Fu Dongcheng's hand shimmering with an uncertain light.

You extend your finger and gently tap the air; the porcelain spoon handle spins on its own, eventually pointing steadily in a certain direction.

Fu Dongcheng immediately re-deduce based on this, and after a moment, a glint flashed in his eyes:

"When the light and shadow of tomorrow's daytime pass, the Gate of Life will appear here."

The crowd gradually calmed down and awaited the next day.

[Within the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury, day and night also alternate; though there is no interaction of stars and moon, night still descends upon the surrounding land as scheduled.]

You gaze alone at the vast sky, only to find the grasslands silent, devoid of the sounds of insects and birds; in this stillness, a unique tranquility prevails.

Such a state of mind is truly rare. You haven't even used your internal energy for cultivation; you only feel as if this place is separated from the four great continents by another world.

Beside a bonfire, fueled by sacred herbs, the flickering flames illuminated the faces of the people.

[The night passed in silence; the world was still.]

[The next day, at the appointed time, you and Fu Dongcheng simultaneously channeled your magical power, striking a specific point in the void.]

[A moment later, a hazy glow rose from the void, and a portal suddenly opened.]

[A gigantic clam shell, the size of a small boat, emerged from within, its surface shimmering with spiritual energy.]

Sun Miao's gaze sharpened, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes—this door wasn't opened by the two of you with force; it actually came in response to a summons.

[It turns out that by simply channeling one's magical power at specific times and in specific locations, one can summon the portal before them.]

The crowd didn't rush forward, but their gazes all turned to you and Fu Miaocheng.

Upon seeing the clam shell emerge, a flicker of joy flashed in Fu Miaocheng's eyes.

"This is an ancient spiritual object called the 'Zhou Spirit Clam,' which is naturally capable of traversing the void. Simply by residing within it, one can cross the void."

Without further hesitation, everyone approached the clam. The giant clam, as if possessing sentience, slowly opened its two shells, releasing a misty, ethereal aura.

What's even more astonishing is that there was no flesh or blood inside the clam; instead, tables, chairs, and couches were neatly arranged, resembling an elegant room prepared for guests.

The crowd looked surprised, but they still went forward.

Yuan Shujian suddenly spoke up: "It seems that within this Heavenly Emperor's Treasury, anyone skilled in divination and calculation can summon this item."

"If in ancient times a race truly inhabited this place, I wonder what it must have been like."

Fu Dongcheng pondered for a moment, then continued, "Perhaps in that era, all living things were knowledgeable in astronomy and the Siddhi calendar; the natural order of the seasons was simply a part of their lives."

As they spoke, the giant clam slowly closed its shell. The group felt as if they were traversing through the void, moving with lightning speed, while the clam swayed slightly, as if propelled through an endless torrent.

Within half a quarter of an hour, the turmoil subsided, and all sound from outside ceased.

The giant clam opened again, and when everyone looked up, the vast grassland before them was no longer the same as before—

The surrounding area was a desolate forest of yellow leaves, and the climate seemed quite different from before; it was late autumn, and a chilling, somber atmosphere permeated the woods.

Before the group could even step out of the giant clam, its shell had already silently turned to ash, vanishing with the wind without a trace.

The group was not surprised by this unusual occurrence; they simply looked around again.

[Before them stood a towering altar of black iron, its branches laden with withered leaves, a deep autumnal hue. The altar itself was dark and imposing, with a stone staircase winding upwards.]

Xie Mosheng frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "This place... doesn't seem to be recorded in the geomantic maps of Master Jiuyang and the others."

Feng Qingge gazed at the stone tablet standing before her, upon which was inscribed ancient and simple characters, vigorous yet unfamiliar and difficult to decipher.

"What...is written on this?" she asked softly.

Sun Miao and the others also shook their heads, their gazes unanimously turning to Fu Dongcheng and you.

Only now did everyone realize that since entering the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury, your importance and that of Fu Dongcheng had become far greater than when you first entered the treasury, and they admired the Sect Master's foresight even more.

Fu Dongcheng examined the inscription for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "The inscription reads—Tiger Spirit Valley."

"Tiger Spirit Valley?" Qi Ling repeated, finding the name rather strange.

She then asked the question everyone was most concerned about: "Is there a teleportation array here?"

After reading the inscription, Fu Dongcheng nodded in confirmation: "This is indeed the ancient teleportation array leading to the Heavenly Emperor's Garden."

Xie Mosheng smiled and said, "The Heavenly Emperor's Garden is at least better than here."

"If we reach the Heavenly Emperor's Garden, we might be able to find the ancient teleportation array leading to Mount Ascension." His gaze fell on the altar, a hint of hesitation in his eyes. "Could it be... that array?"

You, however, walked directly to another stone tablet beside the steps—its inscription was even more ancient and damaged, almost illegible.

Qi Ling asked, "What does the inscription on this stele say?"

Fu Dongcheng stepped closer for a closer look, then shook his head and said, "The damage is too severe; it's difficult to read through."

[You did not answer, but your magic subtly condensed, and a beam of clear light covered the surface of the stele. In an instant, characters appeared like scales, radiating a faint light from the stone, seemingly alive.] [Everyone stared intently at the inscription, but none could decipher its meaning.]

Ji Heng spoke first: "Junior Brother Fu, what does it say on this?"

Fu Dongcheng looked at it again, but could only make out a few words. He said apologetically, "Senior brother, I'm afraid... I'll have to ask junior brother Zhou Jing for help."

Ji Heng's tone turned cold, "Zhou Jing, what exactly is written on it? You're not trying to hide it from everyone, are you?"

You calmly read through the inscription, but remained silent for the time being.

Ji Heng's expression was grim, and the atmosphere became tense for a moment.

Sun Miao smiled and said, "In that case, please let Junior Brother Zhou explain it to everyone."

You made no attempt to conceal anything, calmly stating, "This place is called 'Heavenly Emperor's Ranch,' a place where the Heavenly Emperor raised horses in ancient times."

"Of course... we also raise exotic beasts, some of which are even true spirits."

[It really works! ?]

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes flashed with surprise, but then they realized it made perfect sense.

The Heavenly Emperor is a supreme being in ancient legends, so it is not surprising that he would raise true spirit beasts.

You continued, "This altar is where the teleportation array is located, but to activate the array, you must first defeat the strange beast guarding this place—the Blood Tiger."

"Originally, the cultivators residing in this Heavenly Emperor's Treasury were all restricted by a restriction, unable to leave their respective territories without authorization. Only by defeating the guardian beasts of the teleportation array could they gain the right to pass."

Feng Qingge frowned and asked, "This Blood Tiger guardian... could it be a true spirit?"

Everyone gasped. If that were true, there was no need to defeat them; going up would only mean certain death. Yet, they also felt it was impossible.

[The message delivered by the Nine Yang Immortal into the Heavenly Treasure Vault was that all living beings within had perished, leaving only an empty "treasure mountain."]

You shook your head and explained, "The Blood Tiger Guardian is a weapon spirit; its cultivation level adjusts automatically according to the challenger's realm, always remaining equal to the newcomer."

Xie Mosheng interjected, "Then wouldn't we be at the Heavenly Gate Realm right now?"

Without further hesitation, everyone stepped onto the black iron altar.

At the center of the altar stand eight stone pillars, in which lies a pool of blood, its surface bubbling and churning, exuding a faint, metallic stench.

As soon as everyone stepped onto the altar, the blood pool suddenly rippled, and the gushing blood gathered and took shape, transforming into a fierce tiger with piercing eyes and a white forehead—

[Looking no different from a common tiger, only taller, it stood upright, carrying an ancient longsword on its back, its gaze sharp as lightning, coldly staring at the crowd.]

Even more astonishingly, the tiger could speak human language, though its pronunciation was ancient and obscure, quite different from modern speech.

Everyone was bewildered; it was clearly an ancient saying.

All eyes turned to Fu Dongcheng, but he also shook his head and remained silent. They then turned to Zhou Jing.

You can only shake your head—although ancient books contain some texts, they cannot record the ancient language that has long been lost.

Before anyone could react, the tiger's aura suddenly surged, confirming Zhou Jing's prediction that its cultivation was indeed stuck at the Heavenly Gate Realm.

With a roar, it pounced. The eleven men scattered instantly, retreating swiftly to counter.

[You seem unburdened by being protected by everyone, after all, your cultivation is the weakest.]

The tiger moved with lightning speed, and in the blink of an eye, it had pounced on Ziwei, who was at the forefront.

This girl from Five-Colored Peak, when not using her sword, is just a shy and timid junior sister.

But once he wields the sword, he seems to undergo a complete transformation; his gaze turns cold, his sword aura becomes chilling, and he transforms into a ruthless and merciless swordsman.

Seeing the tiger charging, Ziwei's eyes turned cold. She stepped to the side to meet it, her sword blade transforming into a streak of light as she thrust it forward.

At the same time, fiery lotuses bloomed in Qi Ling's palm, descending upon the fierce tiger with scorching heat—

[Yuan Shujian's "Yang Dragon Finger" has solidified into a golden dragon head, roaring as it hurtles through the air!]

The spiritual energy within the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury was abundant and rich, making the power of everyone's magic three times stronger than outside.

Unfortunately, the tiger was so fast that it left only a blur, suddenly leaping into the air.

[He stood upright and brandished his sword; a flash of cold light appeared, and an incomparably sharp wind blade slashed down from the sky, carrying the force to tear through the air!]

Everyone scattered, but Ziwei had already circled behind the tiger without anyone noticing, and thrust out a sharp sword.

The True Martial Sword Embryo, a divine weapon, failed to pierce the Blood Tiger's golden-glowing hide. Instead, it was thrown back by a tremendous force and stumbled towards the blood pool.

Xie Mosheng lashed out with his lightning whip, which coiled around the tiger's body like a serpent, while blue lightning surged down!

[Sun Miao attacked simultaneously, and seventeen Yin-Yang Jade stones struck the tiger's body like stardust.]

[Qi Ling's fiery phoenix cried out, spread its wings, and soared towards its target, its flames blazing!]

[Feng Qingge drew her sword, her Heaven-Slaying Sword Technique soaring upwards like a whirlwind.]

The group launched a relentless and coordinated attack, yet despite the tiger's swaying body under the onslaught of the combined assault, it showed no signs of injury!

【"roar--!"】

With a deafening roar, the tiger broke free from the lightning whip's restraints and plunged into the pool of blood.

It stood silently amidst the blood, its gaze sweeping over the crowd, seemingly revealing a hint of human mockery.

[Ziwei took the opportunity to retreat back into the formation and rejoin the others.]

Although the combined attack was incredibly fierce, it failed to leave even the slightest mark on the Blood Tiger.

[Your eyes softened slightly as you subtly activated your Qi Observation Technique, scrutinizing the strange beast closely.]

From beginning to end, this Blood Tiger was merely testing the strength of everyone; his feigned submission was simply to ascertain their true power.

The combined attack had already wounded the Blood Tiger, but since it couldn't be killed in one blow, it remained at its peak, making it difficult to inflict effective damage.

Several people attacked in succession, their spells and sword lights weaving towards the tiger's body, but they were unable to truly break through its impenetrable defense.

[It seems that even if this Blood Tiger isn't a true spirit, it's still a rare beast with extremely pure bloodline; otherwise, how could its innate talent and blood essence have reached such a level at the Heavenly Gate Realm?]

The entire altar was a battlefield, and the pool of blood covered almost the entire area.

The blood in the pool seemed inexhaustible; as long as one stood in the blood pool, the Blood Tiger's injuries would quickly heal completely.

Despite their fierce battle, the group had exhausted much of their magical power, yet they had failed to inflict any real damage on the Blood Tiger, whose ferocity only intensified.

(End of this chapter)