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

Chapter 617 The Heavenly Emperor's Heart Sutra: Each Player Displays Their Skills!

The wide steps wind upwards, as if caressed by a gentle breeze, exuding a serene solemnity.

You ascend the steps, heading towards the Heavenly Emperor's abode, known as the "Tranquility Meditation Hall."

The three forces that had been subtly at odds—the Dao Ling Sect, the Chao Yin Sect, and the various sects of the Shen Ji Sect—now all concealed their auras and appeared wary.

After each encountering crises within the Heavenly Emperor's palace, no one dared to underestimate the dangers there.

Even Cao An of Dao Ling Sect, who harbored resentment, had to concentrate and dared not be careless in the slightest.

[If the restrictions on the Meditation Hall hadn't been activated ahead of time, he would have waited for Senior Brother Wuji to arrive together.]

However, fearing that other sects might get there first, they had no choice but to enter first.

As you look as far as the eye can see, there are no fewer than a thousand steps, each one exceptionally wide, easily accommodating a hundred people.

Beneath the grand hall at the top of the steps, the heavy door slowly opened, revealing a dimly lit and unfathomably deep interior.

Even with your keen eyesight, you cannot see through the illusion within.

For some reason, a sense of foreboding crept into my mind.

You paused slightly, slowed your pace subtly, and fell a few points behind from your original position.

[Fairy Zhuang Xiuyin of Yaotai noticed your slight pause in your steps, and your gaze shifted, also turning towards this tranquil temple.]

The group climbed the steps without vying for a turn, leaving only a stifling silence.

Upon reaching the 800th step, everyone stopped in unison.

An invisible pressure suddenly descended, like a stone slab weighing on one's shoulder, but for a cultivator who had already achieved an impenetrable golden body, it was still minor.

As they ascended the steps again, the pressure seemed to intensify, increasing with each step.

Looking up, you see 243 steps remaining before the main hall. With each step you ascend, the pressure intensifies; considering this, the pressure ahead is truly terrifying.

Everyone frowned at this thought.

After a brief pause, the group took another step forward.

Half an hour later, they had climbed another hundred or so steps with great difficulty.

At this moment, some disciples from various sects were already sweating profusely, their steps growing increasingly heavy. Within the Heavenly Emperor's palace, magical power was suppressed, forcing them to rely entirely on their physical bodies to withstand the strain.

[Among them, the disciples of the Chaoyin Sect mainly cultivate the soul and primordial spirit. Although their physical strength also increases with their cultivation level, it is ultimately not as good as other sects that specialize in this area, and they are now clearly lagging behind.]

[Because the Ziyang Academy's "Book of Sages" encompasses the Six Arts of a Gentleman, and it has a long-standing tradition of physical training, its disciples generally appear quite composed.]

Both the Dao Ling Sect and the Western Kunlun Sect are ancient and profound sects with deep foundations. Their profound cultivation techniques are comprehensive and flawless, and no obvious weaknesses were observed under this immense pressure.

The disciples of the Divine Mechanism Sect remained silent and acted in unison, seemingly unaware of the pressure surrounding them.

However, the most composed person on the steps was none other than the Holy Son of All Beings, Tian Jingxu. He ascended the steps with a leisurely air, as if strolling along a flower-lined path.

[Lu Beiyou, a successor of the Three True Ones, and Zhuang Xiuyin, the Fairy of the Jade Terrace, also remained calm and composed.]

As for the leading figures of various sects such as Ziyang Cao An, Daoling Gu Yu, Chaoyin Yan Jiuyin, and Shenjimen Xie, their auras remained calm and collected, slightly weaker than the previous few.

The group continued climbing, taking several dozen more steps.

The invisible weight pressing down on me intensified once more, as if I were carrying an entire building on my back.

Such immense pressure, if it were to fall upon an ordinary person, would have already crushed them into a pulp.

Some of the Chaoyin Sect disciples were already panting heavily. Although no sweat seeped from their withered bodies, the yellow talismans affixed to their skin were trembling violently, clearly indicating they were nearing their limit.

Seeing this, Yan Jiuyin ordered the disciples who were struggling to continue to stay where they were, while he led those who still had the strength to continue climbing the steps.

[After ascending another ten steps, some disciples of Ziyang Academy began to find it difficult to continue and had to stop on the steps to watch their fellow disciples depart.]

One by one, disciples from various sects, exhausted, stopped and scattered along the long, winding staircase.

The group climbed another ten or so steps. Even Cao An and the others had to circulate their qi and blood, their steps becoming noticeably heavy.

Just then, someone finally noticed that there was one person in the crowd who walked calmly and with a serene expression, seemingly unaffected by the immense pressure—

[It was that disciple from the righteous Fangcun Mountain who had just clashed with Ziyang Academy and Daoling Sect.]

[His name seems to be Zhou Jing!]

Gu Yu also noticed this, his brows furrowed, and his face immediately darkened.

Lu Beiyou's gaze swept over them, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Only ten steps remained, but the group's pace slowed considerably, making progress almost impossible.

With each step he took, he felt his body sway, as if the invisible weight on his body had increased several degrees.

Cao An, Gu Yu, and the others were taut, with veins bulging on their arms and foreheads, clearly having exerted all their strength.

Surprisingly, while all the other sects had lost some disciples, the twelve disciples of the Divine Mechanism Sect remained intact, standing together before the steps.

Even Tian Jingxu's eyes flashed with surprise.

Only ten steps remain ahead; the palace gate is just a stone's throw away.

You gaze intently, yet still cannot discern the interior of the hall. It is dark and gloomy, with a chilling aura emanating from within, like stepping into an abandoned ancient house in the height of summer—a bone-chilling cold.

The group continued their ascent; those still able to stand here were all disciples at least at the mid-stage of the Dragon Court realm.

Upon reaching the last three steps, the group finally came to a complete stop.

Many disciples were unwilling to give up. They calmly observed that the supreme manual passed down by the Heavenly Emperor was within reach; how could they so easily abandon it?

However, despite their reluctance, they had no choice.

They looked at the few who were still able to move forward, their eyes filled with undisguised envy.

Such is the path of cultivation; there will always be those who take the first step.

A single step can make all the difference, and the watershed moment in life is often quietly drawn.

At this moment, only the leaders of each sect remain standing on the steps.

[And Zhou Jing from Fangcun Mountain.]

Seeing your composed demeanor and unhurried pace, as if unaffected by this immense pressure, Cao An's eyes narrowed slightly.

Everyone stopped before the last three steps, and did not proceed further.

Zhuang Xiuyin looked up at the palace gate and said softly, "This Tranquility Hall... something's not right."

Tian Jingxu nodded slightly: "There must be something fishy about this. I also encountered living beings, or rather, strange beasts, in the North Garden of the Heavenly Emperor's Garden. I wonder how they have survived to this day."

He paused, his voice deep and serious: "The Heavenly Emperor's residence will never be peaceful."

Upon hearing this, everyone stopped and stared intently.

The depths of the main hall were as dark as an abyss, swallowing the surrounding light like a black hole. Even Gu Yu, known for his impulsive nature, restrained himself at this moment.

The twelve members of the Shenji Sect stood silently on the steps, their uniform black robes and bamboo hats completely obscuring their figures, making them indistinguishable from each other, their silence as enigmatic as a mystery.

[The leader of the Divine Mechanism Sect, Scorpion, spoke indifferently, his body frozen in place, his voice deliberate and clear: "I can scout ahead first."]

Cao An frowned upon hearing this. Although this action relieved everyone's immediate crisis, what if there was no danger inside the hall, but instead, it contained that supreme martial arts technique? Wouldn't that allow them to obtain it for nothing?

The rest of the group remained silent, each lost in thought.

Scorpion spoke again, his tone still flat: "I only sent out puppet beasts to scout ahead, so you can all rest assured."

"I cannot take all the treasures within for myself."

Zhuang Xiuyin was the first to respond, "Then I'll have to trouble Fellow Daoist Scorpion."

Tian Jingxu nodded slightly.

Seeing that both men had expressed their opinions, Cao An and Gu Yu exchanged a glance and said no more.

[The scorpion unfurled its wide sleeves, and a square wooden box fell to the ground with a thud. Accompanied by the sound of fine, intricate mechanisms, the box extended and transformed on its own, becoming a mechanical snake only a foot long, its scales clearly defined and lifelike.]

The mechanical snake suddenly raised its head, as if it possessed sentience, and surveyed the group.

Lu Beiyou couldn't help but exclaim, "The Divine Mechanism Sect truly deserves its reputation as the foremost school of mechanical arts in this world; even inanimate objects can be imbued with spirit."

The mechanical snake slowly slithered up the steps, strangely seemingly unaffected by the weight of the steps, leisurely winding its way towards the main hall.

[Tian Jingxu witnessed this scene, his gaze sweeping over the group of Shenji Sect disciples, a thoughtful look in his eyes.]

You can't help but marvel; even the most unorthodox sects possess unique and wondrous techniques. It's rumored that the Divine Mechanism Sect's puppetry is unparalleled, and its supreme martial art, the "Heavenly Heart Technique," is the ultimate method for cultivating the primordial spirit in this world.

[Furthermore, there are rumors that the Shenji Sect seems to have glimpsed the secret of immortality through puppetry, creating the "Puppet Innate" technique, and that all the sect leaders throughout history have actually been the same person. Whether this is true or not, no one knows!]

Everyone's eyes followed the mechanical snake as it slowly slithered deeper into the hall.

At that very moment—

Suddenly, a layer of soft, mysterious light illuminated the hall, its color resembling the primordial yellow energy of the beginning of time.

【"Um!?"】

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, a radiant ball of light slowly rose from the hall. Though its exact shape was obscured, countless golden runes floated around it, swirling like a river of stars.

Bathed in the mystical light, the originally dim hall became noticeably brighter.

[A look of surprise flashed in Cao An's eyes: "This is... the Heavenly Emperor's Heart Sutra!"]

Within the ball of light, golden seal script intertwined to form a diagram of the human body's meridians, within which sat a small, humanoid figure, slowly breathing and circulating energy, appearing almost lifelike.

Lu Beiyou and the others were also taken aback. The method of meridian circulation flowing on the light screen seemed unfathomably profound to them at a glance. Although it shared similarities with various family traditions, the differences lay only in the flow of energy through a few acupoints in the Dao Embryo Realm. Yet, this alone had given everyone present a profound understanding and they had benefited greatly.

"It really is... that profound martial art!"

The mechanical snake had already silently slithered across the threshold of the main hall and was slowly approaching the ball of mysterious light.

The hall was silent; there seemed to be no danger.

In that very instant—

Gu Yu moved abruptly, taking a sudden step onto the last three steps. Though his steps suddenly felt heavy, he still forced himself to take the final step.

Seeing this, Cao An was not to be outdone, and immediately leaped forward to follow closely behind.

Tian Jingxu's gaze remained fixed on the mechanical snake, which had now completely approached the ball of light. The snake's body transformed again, shrinking back into a wooden box.

With a soft click of a mechanism, the wooden box transformed into a mechanical toad, its long tongue darting out to instantly engulf the ball of light within its belly, which itself began to radiate a mysterious yellow light.

Gu Yu's expression changed drastically upon seeing this: "Scorpion, how dare you!"

He once again channeled his energy, his bones and muscles cracking as he struggled to cross the last step.

After swallowing the ball of light, the mechanical toad nimbly leaped away, turning and bounding back.

Cao An turned to the Shenji Sect members, his voice turning cold: "Fellow Daoist Scorpion, wasn't this not the agreement made earlier? Why did you take the treasure for yourself?"

[Scorpion's voice was calm and even: "Of course not..."]

Before the words were even finished, Scorpion, the leader of the Divine Mechanism Sect, suddenly sprang up, seemingly unaffected by the heavy pressure of the steps, and like a ghost, instantly overtook Cao An and Gu Yu!

Just as the mechanical toad was about to leap into his hand...

A figure moved even faster than him, passing Cao An and his companion like a gust of wind, and had already touched the mechanical toad.

Gu Yu's expression turned grim. "Tian Jingxu!"

The one who made the move was naturally Tian Jingxu, the Holy Son of All Beings. Seeing that the toad had finally brought the "precious skill" out of the main hall, he could no longer hold back and made a ruthless attack.

Several silver threads suddenly shot out from the scorpion's sleeve, weaving into a net in mid-air, and disappeared into the void.

[Tian Jingxu glanced at the large net, then leaped into the air to dodge it. He shifted his position again, reaching for the mechanical toad, but was a fraction of a second slower than the scorpion.]

At this moment, another figure, enveloped in golden light, cleaved through the net like a sharp sword, reaching the mechanical toad before the scorpion could.

[Tian Jingxu flicked his finger, and a flying knife, accompanied by a sharp whistle, shot through the air, heading straight for the golden figure.]

[The person covered in golden light was none other than Lu Beiyou, a disciple of the Three True Ones.]

She had no choice but to withdraw her attack and defend, dodging the fierce blow by turning to the side.

In a flash, a figure moved with a gentle force, pushing the scorpion aside, while a suction force pulled directly at the mechanical toad.

[Tian Jingxu took a deep breath, exhaled to condense a sword, and a sword of energy shot out, instantly severing the soft force!]

The one who used the soft force was none other than Zhuang Xiuyin from West Kunlun. Seeing the situation, she changed from soft to hard, lightly raising her jade hand and sending the mechanical toad flying high into the air.

Everyone looked up in unison, and saw that the toad's belly was filled with a mysterious yellow light, which could no longer be concealed.

At this moment, Cao An, Gu Yu, and Yan Jiuyin finally stepped onto the last step, and the pressure around them suddenly eased. It turned out that once they reached the last step, the pressure was gone.

Cao An and his two companions were also keenly aware of the gap in strength between themselves and Tian Jingxu, Lu Beiyou, and Zhuang Xiuyin.

To everyone's surprise, Scorpion from the Divine Mechanism Sect was actually able to fight against the three of them.

[A mechanical toad falls from mid-air, yet no one can approach it—]

[Tian Jingxu, Xie, Lu Beiyou, and Zhuang Xiuyin took turns attacking, and whenever someone tried to seize it, the other three would force them back together.]

Gradually, Lu Beiyou and Zhuang Xiuyin intertwined their figures, subtly forming a united front; Tianjingxu and Xie, though not explicitly stating it, also silently supported each other.

As for Cao An and the other two, they wanted to intervene, but the four of them, including Tian Jingxu, were gradually converging their power. If they joined in, they feared they would be killed instantly by the combined forces of the four. They were instead filled with anxiety.

You remained at the bottom of the steps, watching the fight unfold, yet your gaze remained fixed on the dimly lit hall.

(End of this chapter)