From a martial arts disciple to a god through countless trials and tribulations

Chapter 312 The Real Villains
“Thump, thump…” The ancient beings with three sides and one arm guarding the Dao Palace were terrified. The sound of their hearts beating was like the beating of drums, making their eardrums tremble. Their blood was like a flood bursting through their bodies. They felt palpitations and their vision went black. Disaster was coming!

On the earth, many young geniuses who had no chance of entering the Dao Palace lay limp on the ground, their faces pale, as if someone had choked them and they were on the verge of suffocation.

The distant sky was dark and gloomy, and the Great Ruins appeared. Terrifying mythical creatures were approaching, and many people's souls seemed to be sinking into hell.

"How could this be? How could the celestial palace on the ancestral land have found this place!" In the eyes of the Candle Dragon, some figures trembled, unable to believe what they were seeing.

"Could they just be passing by?" someone guessed instinctively.

The pitch-black Taixu expanded and emerged, and a colossal object rapidly approached, surrounded by colorful light. Broken immortal magic chains were on the tower's body, and divine lightning struck one after another, as if the nine heavens were about to explode.

Brilliant points of light, a calamity of transformation, scattered across the Great Void, accompanied by the wailing cries of immortals and ghosts, echoing throughout the heavens and the earth, as if the entire world had reached its end.

"Long..."

At this moment, whether they were extraterrestrial beings or young people from their ancestral land, everyone was terrified, never having felt such fear before.

The supreme celestial palace.

This is the greatest shadow hanging over the five directions of the earth, suspended in the sky. Many great beings with long lifespans may never witness the descent of the celestial palace in their lifetime.

The last recorded glimpse of the Celestial Palace was a thousand years ago when the Southern Region's Tai Xuan Zhenjun sought immortality.

At this moment, the fluctuations from the Immortal Palace have already reached the Great Wilderness. Even if it was just passing by, it must have discovered this place.

"Corpses! The corpses of True Lords are hanging below the Celestial Palace!" a latecomer, a Divine Prodigy, exclaimed. He summoned a divine mirror, which hung high in the sky, reflecting the clear scene in the distance.

The various mysterious and powerful figures within the Candle Dragon's Eyes were also using mysterious methods to glean the Celestial Palace's intentions in advance.

A tower-shaped celestial palace, as vast as a city, bears ancient and mottled marks of time. Many parts are broken, and its surface is entangled with large patches of blood-red shadows.

The blood-stained corpses of True Lords were suspended below the Immortal Palace by bronze chains. The corpses were all mutilated and in a miserable and ferocious state. Some had lost both arms, and some only had a head left. Their eyes were still open in anger. They had all experienced terrible battles before they fell.

The scene was exceptionally terrifying. Blood was still flowing from the wounds of the True Lords' remains. Some of the True Lords' blood flowed like fire from the sky, covering the Great Ruins. Others resembled tens of thousands of magnificent waterfalls cascading down, roaring and thundering.

"A Sword True Lord from the Sword Inquiry Dojo!" a cultivator from the Southern Region exclaimed, recognizing one of the white-robed True Lords, who was holding a broken True Lord sword in his hand.

"Master, Ancestor!!" A demon genius cried out in grief, kneeling on the ground with tears streaming down his face.

"Amitabha... The Bodhisattva of the Fuhu Temple lineage has passed away." The Immortal Ksitigarbha of Xiaoling Mountain, who had just arrived in the Dao Palace area, put his hands together and recited a compassionate Buddhist chant.

"How tragic." Chen Xuan's gaze traveled through the Heart-Cleansing Hall and across the Dao Palace, witnessing this bloody and tragic scene. He felt a heavy weight in his heart as well.

About a month ago, the celestial palace descended to the mortal world, and many True Lords pursued it relentlessly, probably numbering in the dozens.

But at this moment, it seems like throwing an egg against a rock. More than a dozen True Lords are hanging dead beneath the Immortal Palace, a truly tragic sight. Is this a stern warning?
"The celestial palace is in the heavens; we cultivators of Qi will never have a chance to rise above it." Many voices trembled with fear and unease.
Over the years, countless geniuses have emerged, but what good is becoming a True Lord? What good is a perfect path? Without immortality, one cannot escape the relentless passage of time!

But what's wrong with the True Lords of this world who only want to become immortals? Yet now, more than a dozen powerful True Lords have died prematurely, their story ending prematurely.

"A group of immortals in the tomb have blocked the void, not only controlling the twelve paths to immortality, but also strictly controlling the number of True Monarchs. They have committed countless evils and deserve to die!" A figure in the Candle Dragon's Eyes said angrily.

"If we want to return to our ancestral land in the future, it seems we will have to have a fierce battle with the Celestial Palace."

A True Monarch-level being from beyond the heavens spoke up: "The Immortal Palace is strict and cold. My family is a Sage-level lineage, but in the last million years, our ancestral land has been bullied terribly. Not a single True Monarch has emerged from it. We can only close our mountain gates and live in utter desolation!"

"Yes, there were no heroes on our ancestral land, so some scoundrels became famous." A demonic sword cultivator of extraordinary origins responded angrily.

For example, the Sword Inquiry Dojo in Yunmeng, a mere half-sage lineage, has seized and usurped the positions of True Monarchs in many sword-wielding traditions over the past 100,000 years, even overshadowing the White Emperor's Little Sword Pavilion in the Central Plains.

"Stop chatting, everyone! Let's quickly find a way to avoid this calamity!" someone shouted anxiously.

As the celestial palace descended, terrifying streaks of blood-red lightning even struck the edge of the Great Wilderness. Various immortal chains intertwined, causing mountains and rivers to collapse and plunge into the dark void.

Unlike the Empress who came to cause trouble, the Immortal Palace is likely targeting everyone. After all, the Immortal Palace wants to suppress all talented cultivators, while the Mountain and Sea Banquet is secretly nurturing young people to rise to prominence.

One wrong move and the entire banquet will be ruined.

"Summon all the ancient immortals here," a powerful figure said, unleashing his immortal-level techniques.

“The ancient immortal who founded our sect went to seek out the remnants of the hidden mountains and seas, and there has been no news of him for many years… I fear it is difficult to call him back.”

"Summon them first, then we'll talk!"

At this moment, the eyes of the Candle Dragon were boiling, with all kinds of divine light surging, and all the figures were urging on boundless wonderful techniques.

The figures appearing here are all related to ancient traditions, and their strength is unfathomable. If one or two corrupt immortals were to attack, they would not need to panic too much, because some great true lords have brought immortal-level methods.

But the problem is, there were once twelve Golden Elixir Immortals in the Immortal Palace. What if there are now more than one or two Immortals in the Tomb?
"Long!"

Suddenly, the celestial palace emitted boundless celestial light.

Immediately, it seemed as if countless immortals and ghosts were wailing and howling in the world, and even roars like those of gods and demons echoed throughout the chaotic void.

"The Celestial Palace...has stopped?"

Many True Lord-level beings were astonished to find that the edge of the Immortal Palace near the Great Wilderness had ceased all activity.

"Long..."

The next instant, the celestial palace trembled violently, and a hazy figure in an earth-yellow Taoist robe appeared and disappeared, as if about to descend upon the desolate wilderness. But in an instant, a giant figure with bull horns pulled it back.

A terrifying war broke out, and endless divine light engulfed that region.

"Hiss!" Chen Xuan's vision went completely white, and he could barely see the scene even at the First Level of the Heart Sutra. He could only vaguely see that the Immortal Palace was shaking violently and cracked open with terrifying fissures, crisscrossing each other, from which streams of bright red blood poured down.

Are the Golden Core Immortals within the Celestial Palace embroiled in conflict and engaging in a bloody battle?
In an instant, chaos erupted within the Great Ruins. Golden blood, speckled with crimson, burned like celestial fire across the Great Ruins. The Celestial Palace seemed on the verge of shattering. Colossal shadows, stained with blood, shattered the Great Ruins and plummeted into a deep, mysterious world.

Was that the flesh and blood of the immortals?

"boom……"

The celestial palace trembled violently, and ripples of boundless celestial power spread outwards. Some of these ripples reached the Great Wilderness, causing even more terrifying earthquakes. Many mountains collapsed, and the remaining battlefield ruins were pierced and disintegrated.

Furthermore, some geniuses who attended the banquet were unable to escape in time and were reduced to ashes, dying instantly.

"Buzz!"

The next instant, the celestial palace seemed unwilling to damage the Great Wilderness and quickly disappeared from its spot, all the terrifying scenes vanishing completely.

"This... the immortals within the Immortal Palace, who have always been of one mind, actually have conflicts?" someone asked in surprise.

Could it be that there are immortals inside the Celestial Palace who wish for the Mountain and Sea Banquet to proceed as planned?
"Let's go first!" After the celestial palace disappeared, the nine ancient beings with three faces and one arm immediately activated ancient immortal techniques, causing the Great Wilderness to change its location and escape into other safe areas.

However, this incident sparked numerous speculations, suggesting that the Celestial Palace was indeed utterly corrupt.

"No wonder the True Lords of our ancestral land dared to join forces to rebel against the Immortal Palace!"

Within the Candle Dragon's Eyes, someone spoke in a sinister tone, laughing, "Why don't we just stop the Mountain and Sea Banquet and have a direct battle with the Immortal Palace? Instead of bestowing the Supreme Creation upon the young people of our ancestral land, why not use it ourselves?"

Many figures looked at each other, speechless for a moment, but their eyes burned with restless fire. "Everything... as usual." Suddenly, a distant voice came from afar, accompanied by the aura of immortals, with rays of light and auspicious colors rising.

"Yes." The Candle Dragon's eyes fell silent.

Inside the Dao Palace, Chen Xuan looked up at the sky. Was that a real scene? The Immortal Palace was fighting among itself, and even the Immortal Palace and Taixu seemed to be collapsing into a large area.

He closed his mental cultivation technique, turned around, and told the imperial princess what he had seen.

“That’s normal. The benevolent immortals naturally want to ruin the Mountain and Sea Banquet, while the evil immortals want to protect it and ensure its smooth running.” The Empress spoke softly, and added, “It was the Immortal in the Tomb in the Candle Dragon’s Eye who intervened and stopped the Immortal Palace.”

The ripples from the battle in the Immortal Palace shook the Dao Palace. She sensed some of the auras that had been dissipated, half of which belonged to the Immortal in the Tomb who was lurking in the Candle Dragon's Eye.

"The Celestial Palace has infiltrated the outer forces!"

Chen Xuan was taken aback by these words. At the same time, he asked in surprise, "Why are the immortals who protect the Mountain and Sea Banquet the evil ones?"

This immortal in the tomb was clearly on everyone's side, but in the Empress's words, he became an evil immortal.

"It must be a wicked immortal with ulterior motives. Although this trace of mine did not experience the era of the Immortal Palace, through the clues of each Mountain and Sea Banquet, I know that only the Immortal Palace has always been doing the right thing."

As she spoke, the Empress pointed at Chen Xuan with her finger and chuckled, "You young seekers of immortality are the greatest evil in the world, the biggest villains who bring calamity to the mortal realm."

Chen Xuan frowned and asked, "What makes you say that, Your Highness?"

The Empress smiled and explained, "If the Immortal Palace hadn't locked up the Great Ruins for millions of years and established the strict laws of the Twelve Golden Cores and Twenty-Four True Monarchs, the five directions of the land would probably have been devoured by the True Monarchs and Immortals long ago, turning into dust and merging into the Great Ruins."

Immortal Qi energy does not arise out of thin air; it can only be transferred. The rise of a great cultivator will inevitably lead to many more beings suffering the consequences behind the scenes.

True Lords, like True Lord Ziyang, would travel to distant lands via the Great Void, while the Immortals would ascend to immortality and disappear. Each great being that departs would take away a large amount of the essence of the five directions of the land, leaving it riddled with holes.

The goddess, with a calm expression, gazed at the starry sky and continued:
"But the Golden Core Immortal is not cold-hearted or ruthless enough. He left a glimmer of hope. If the gods were to control the Immortal Palace, all laws would be empty on these five lands. Not to mention becoming an immortal, not even a True Monarch would appear. Anyone who dares to dream of becoming a True Monarch will surely die without a burial place."

This was an extremely cold tone; in the end times of chaos, cruel methods are inevitable, and the Celestial Palace's approach was far too lenient.

Of course, the era when gods ruled the world is gone forever.

“This…” Chen Xuan stared at the princess’s crystal-clear yet indifferent profile, speechless for a moment.

Under the starry sky, the cold wind howled like a knife, as if trying to extinguish one's soul.

Could it be that all Qi practitioners in the world are actually villains, while the Immortal Palace is the only righteous one, condemned by the world and subjected to endless infamy, yet still steadfastly upholding justice amidst the chaos of the world?

"After a True Lord in the world becomes an immortal, and replaces the previous Golden Core Immortal, will he really do a better job than the former? I'm afraid not."

People say that the celestial palace is austere and cold-hearted place.

Indeed, no true lord or great figure has ever uttered a single word about the Celestial Palace being "bad".

……

Inside the celestial pavilion at the top of a sky-reaching corridor, someone finished a discussion with an ancient immortal, Hen Nian. He stepped out of the pavilion and looked around at the now quiet world.

The Imperial Immortal exhaled a breath of cold air, pushed up the Azure Heaven Crown on his head with his palm, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.

"The darkest age is coming."

He muttered to himself, "But one must first become an immortal before a minor Taoist can have any chance to achieve anything..."

"The top-tier resources of Xiaoqingtian are all enjoyed by the Dao Master, who has two different approaches. I am only worthy of using second-rate things... Ha, there are just too many outstanding people in the world who are worthy of the title."

The immortal withdrew his gaze, then rode away on a cloud, chuckling softly, "Ah Xuan, you must rise quickly, kill them all, and fulfill your destiny..."

On another skywalk.

The enchantress Feiyue, dressed in a bright red dress, had a slightly pale face. The Great Luo Heaven spun rapidly between her fingertips, scattering specks of primordial light.

"The Celestial Palace is chasing after me? Ha, they don't care about any old friendships."

She muttered to herself, a hint of solemnity appearing on her alluring face: "The chief is not in the palace. It seems that you all... have been suffering under the chief for a long time, and are itching to make a move, wanting to turn the world upside down."

At this moment, in the corridors leading to the heavens, many people and demons, including Wan Shizun, Yu Tianzi, and Liushuang, were experiencing different levels of sensation.

The Immortal Palace's proximity to the Great Wilderness caused a great stir, with countless people feeling uneasy and speculating about its deeper meaning.

"Attend the banquet! Compete for the supreme destiny!"

Outside the Taoist Palace, more people held firm to their beliefs. The Mountain and Sea Banquet had entered its final stage. After going through arduous trials, the day to reap the rewards had finally arrived.

"Can you contend for the supreme fortune? If you can successfully attend the banquet and receive the gifts from beyond the heavens, then you should consider it a blessing from your ancestors!"

On the earth, the last group of guests who arrived for the banquet poured into the majestic Dao Palace. Many passionate young talents shouted: "Attend the Mountain and Sea Banquet, ascend the Ascension Platform, and seize the immortal destiny from beyond the heavens!"

……

The sky above the Dao Palace was filled with countless stars, and the night sky was as black as ink.

"If the various gifts and rewards of the Mountain and Sea Banquet were not prepared by the extraterrestrial forces themselves, they probably wouldn't even be able to hold the first Mountain and Sea Banquet."

The Empress, her green robes fluttering, continued, "The Great Wilderness, a hiding place, can conceal the secrets of other immortals, but it may not be able to deceive the immortals of the Taiyin, Taiyang, and Shuide Yushi lineages."

"Hmm." Chen Xuan nodded silently. Yes, there might be immortals of the Taiyin Dao in the Immortal Palace. How could there be any secret in the world that could be hidden from the divination of the Taiyin immortals?
Each cultivator follows a different path of immortal energy. Some are exceptionally skilled in combat, while others shine in other areas. The great Dao they practice is different.

While strong in combat, one cannot handle all situations.

The concept of "no distinction between high and low among True Lords" does not refer to their combat strength. Some True Lords are not naturally suited for combat due to their path of cultivation. However, their Yin and Yang complement each other, and even if they lack combat strength, they can make up for it in other aspects. In certain aspects, they will inevitably be far ahead of others.

For example, Taiyin is skilled in divination and can turn bad luck into good, so she almost never encounters the worst situation that requires a magical duel.

For example, the Wood Virtue True Lord is a man of longevity, with a lifespan that can extend to ten thousand years, while the Sword Martial True Lord, who is skilled in battle, can live to be five or six thousand years old, which is considered a long life.

"Your Majesty, there's no time left." Chen Xuan said. After a brief turmoil in the Immortal Palace, the oil in the bronze lamp was about to burn out. He urged, "Quickly tell me the story of the Xinzhai throughout the ages!"

He learned from Hua Liuli and the fox of Qingqiu that there had been eight generations of Xinzhai who reached the level of Tao Hongchen, and thus they were recorded in ancient history books or local myths and legends.

The first three generations of immortal-level Xinzhai (a type of spiritual practice) belonged to the period of the Great War between the Mountains and Seas.

The three generations of Xinzai in the middle period originated from the medieval era.

"After the fall of the fourth generation Xinzhai, who was hailed as the first demon of Taixu, the fifth generation Xinzhai was born soon."

The princess pondered for a couple of breaths, then continued, "But she only lived for a few decades before quickly perishing."

"Why did you perish?" Chen Xuan pressed.

(End of this chapter)