The God of Heavens

Chapter 217 Cultivators Gather in the Central Plains

In the battle of the Snowfield, all five hundred Holy Knights perished. When this news reached the West, the entire cultivation world trembled.

The Temple in Jerusalem shook violently, and the Vatican bells rang by themselves. Deep within the Vatican, the sleeping ascetics awoke with a start, their cloudy eyes filled with disbelief.

"My God, the Eastern Expeditionary Army... wiped out?"

"Is that devil from the East invincible?!"

The Pope convened an emergency council of cardinals, and ancient parchment scrolls were unfurled by candlelight. They contained the names of some of the most powerful paladins since the Middle Ages, several of whom remain in secret slumber.

"This is no ordinary defeat." The cardinal's voice trembled. "Three Grand Knights of the Sendai Realm, five hundred elites of ancient bloodlines, and they didn't even leave behind a single fragment of armor."

Questions then arose:

"How could such a powerful being exist in the East during the Dharma-ending Age?"

"It must be that the Taoist sect used a forbidden formation left over from ancient times!"

"They must have discovered our plan to seize the ancestral artifact."

However, the results of the on-site investigation silenced all the doubters. The snowy battlefield was left with only scorched earth and dark red bloodstains; not even a single intact corpse could be found. That power to erase everything far surpassed any known formation.

In an instant, the entire West was in an uproar, and the cultivation world was in complete turmoil because this event was of such great importance.

This expedition includes not only three highly decorated knights, but also five hundred elite soldiers who have been tempered by blood and iron.

This team was originally meticulously prepared to seize the ancestral artifacts of the Central Plains and severely damage the powerful figures of the Daoist sect. Its annihilation shocked and bewildered the entire West.

"Enforcing the law and making a judgment against that heretic was just a side matter; I never imagined it would lead to my death and become the most terrifying thing ever!"

The Pope finally slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "Summon all the hermit paladins and awaken the sleeping divine knights. This time, we will assemble the strongest crusade ever!"

……

At the summit of Mount Tai, clouds and mist swirl around.

In the past few days, many unfamiliar faces have appeared on the mountain path. There are white-haired old men walking slowly with canes, young men in brocade robes walking on air, and even fairies with veils walking lightly on water.

They all exuded an ethereal, almost imperceptible aura, quite unlike ordinary tourists.

"Immortal! Please accept me as your disciple!" A young man carrying a hiking backpack suddenly knelt down on the stone steps and kowtowed repeatedly to a Taoist priest in a green robe in front of him.

The Taoist priest continued walking without turning his head and said, "Young man, you must believe in science."

"But I saw you come down from the clouds!" the young man persisted, chasing after him.

The Taoist sighed, and his figure suddenly became ethereal, disappearing into the vast sea of ​​clouds in the blink of an eye, leaving the young man standing there dumbfounded.

The young man rubbed his eyes, only to find that the Taoist priest had vanished without a trace. He shrugged, unconcerned, and turned to walk toward his next target.

"I'll eventually find someone willing to take me on as a disciple," he muttered to himself. "The books say that sincerity brings results."

Now that the world is parched, cultivators are far removed from the mortal world and mostly hide in blessed lands and grottoes.

In the secular world, legends of truly enlightened cultivators are extremely rare. Even when they are heard of, they are mostly the work of fraudsters. Now, the sudden appearance of a large number of cultivators has caused quite a stir.

"Master, I've heard that the senior who returned from the Big Dipper is respectfully called 'Jade Emperor' by his fellow disciples." Yan Xiaoyu parted her lips slightly, her voice flowing like a clear spring.

She has a slender figure, her black hair cascades down to her waist, and her slightly furrowed brows add to her ethereal beauty, truly deserving of the title "Fairy of Kunlun".

The senior disciple beside him, Yu Yingzi, exuded confidence and a sharp glint in his eyes: "Taoist texts record that only those who have attained enlightenment can be given the titles of 'Emperor' or 'King.' Isn't this senior going too far in referring to himself as such?"

"Be careful what you say." Sect Leader Xuechen stroked his long beard, his gaze deep and unfathomable. "This title is likely just a jest among fellow disciples. However..."

He paused, a complex look flashing in his eyes, "If the rumors are true, with the cultivation he has shown, he will deserve this title sooner or later."

The sect leader sighed inwardly, realizing that Lin Yu's cultivation level far exceeded their expectations, probably reaching the realm of ancient sages, or even surpassing it.

"Big fish, little fish," Xue Chen suddenly said seriously, "If you have the opportunity later, you must become disciples of Brother Lin. Such an opportunity is rare."

"I'm afraid this is inappropriate?" The two looked hesitant, their tone filled with doubt.

Sect Leader Xuechen stroked his long beard, shook his head, and chuckled, "Sending you to become disciples of Daoist Lin is not asking you to betray Kunlun. In this degenerate age, finding a powerful figure comparable to an ancient sect leader is already incredibly difficult, let alone..."

He gazed into the distance with a profound look: "If I can obtain this opportunity, not only will I gain the inheritance, but I will also receive an unparalleled talisman. In the future, when I walk through the cultivation world, who will dare to look down on me?"

The sect leader paused, then added meaningfully, "Forming a master-disciple relationship with such a person is itself a form of invisible deterrence." Mount Tai, the blessed land, opened its doors wide.

Lin Yu did not set up any restrictions, and gradually, more and more cultivators set up camp on the outskirts of the blessed land.

During these days, Lin Yu had been secretly observing. He discovered that the cultivators gathered here were a mixed bag, each with their own agenda: some sincerely sought the Dao, some wanted to find a powerful backer, and many more were there to explore the ancient starry path leading to the outer realms.

Through their conversation, Lin Yu gradually grasped the current landscape of the cultivation world in the Central Plains:

The Taoist lineage has flourished, with sects such as Maoshan, Longhushan, Lingbao, Taiyi, and Shenxiao continuing to this day and remaining the mainstay of the cultivation world.

Among them, the sword cultivators of Mount Shu are the most outstanding. This lineage of cultivators is elusive, their swordsmanship is profound, and ordinary cultivators find it difficult to even locate their mountain sect.

Kunlun is even more transcendent. Although most of its territory is sealed off, the mere amount of spiritual energy that leaks out is enough to make Kunlun cultivators stand out from the crowd. The cultivators who emerge from there are all highly skilled, and no one dares to underestimate them.

As for Buddhism, although it enjoys great popularity and numerous famous temples in the secular world, it has declined in the true realm of spiritual practice. Its lineage is shallow, and in the eyes of cultivators, it is like a barren land, rarely attracting attention.

Besides, the power of the demon race should not be underestimated. The bloodlines of the three great demon gods of the Great Xia Dynasty—Dragon Sparrow, Heavenly Scale, and Vermilion Phoenix—have been passed down to this day, and their reputations are formidable.

As a sacred place for the demon race, the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons possesses a profound foundation that even subtly surpasses the other three races, making it arguably the fourth largest power among the demon race.

……

During this time, Lin Yu organized his cultivation, created new methods, and studied scriptures. His understanding of the Great Dao deepened day by day, and his mind became increasingly clear. He began to touch the threshold of the Dao-Slaying Realm.

His temperament became increasingly extraordinary, and every gesture he made carried an indescribable Taoist charm. He was often surrounded by celestial light, and with each breath he seemed to resonate with heaven and earth.

Just as his cultivation was progressing, the day for this grand conference arrived.

This gathering was originally a grand event held regularly by various major Daoist sects. In the Dharma-ending Age, spiritual energy is depleted, making it extremely difficult for cultivators to break through. The older generation of cultivators used this opportunity to gather, allowing their disciples to exchange skills and old friends to reminisce.

Over time, this conference became a source of comfort for those who faced difficulties in their pursuit of the Way.

"If you can't improve your cultivation, you have to find some fun," an old cultivator said self-deprecatingly.

Originally, this conference was scheduled to be held at Longhu Mountain, but now that Lin Yu has extended an invitation, all the factions have naturally changed their routes to come instead.

After all, being able to get up close and personal with this powerful being who has returned from beyond the realm is far more meaningful than a simple gathering.

Cultivators from various sects arrived one after another. Some were dressed in modern clothes, while others wore traditional Taoist robes, but the pure aura surrounding them all revealed their identities as cultivators.

Among the crowd, young cultivators gathered in twos and threes, excitedly exchanging rumors about the cultivation world.

"Do you know that the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow has produced a genius named Long Xiaoque? Anyone in this clan whose name contains the characters for dragon and sparrow is an amazing person. Otherwise, they would not allow such a name. He is very likely to become the number one expert of the demon race in the future."

"Don't underestimate other races. Don't you know? The Zhu Huang lineage has produced a Phoenix Celestial Maiden. Not only has her cultivation reached the Dragon Transformation Realm, but she is also incredibly beautiful. I heard that she has vowed to follow in the footsteps of the ancient demon god and embark on the ancient starry road!"

"Such a favored daughter of heaven, perhaps only a human king's body or a celestial demon's body is worthy of her?" someone said half-jokingly, eliciting a burst of laughter.

Suddenly, a commotion arose in the crowd. A young man and several old Taoist priests rode the wind and descended in front of a Taoist temple, then went inside.

"It's Zhang Qingyang, the young Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain!" someone exclaimed. "One of the most outstanding geniuses of the younger generation!"

"The young Celestial Master from Longhu Mountain, the birthplace of Taoism, has never made a move, but his strength must be extraordinary."

Everyone turned to look, whispering and speculating about his cultivation level.

At this moment, an old cultivator with white hair stroked his beard and sighed, "Speaking of talent, the brother and sister from Kunlun are truly exceptional. If they hadn't been born in the Dharma-ending Age, with their two children, Wei Yu and Yan Xiaoyu, they would surely have achieved the status of saints!"

Before he finished speaking, amidst a flurry of petals and glistening dewdrops, a jade boat swept across the sky and landed on a distant fairy peak, from which emerged a dozen or so men and women.

"Those are people from the Kunlun lineage, they've come too!"

The appearance of these people quickly caused a sensation, because the people of Kunlun are extremely powerful. Kunlun is blessed with unique advantages. The ancient dragon vein is dormant and the spiritual energy has not been completely exhausted. The cultivators who come out are awe-inspiring.

The leader was the sect leader of Kunlun, named Xue Chen, whose cultivation was unfathomable. This time, he actually came in person, which shocked some of the older generation who recognized him.

"The Sect Leader Xuechen was once renowned throughout the world, and now he has reappeared. Are the young couple behind him... the now world-famous Pisces?" Someone exclaimed in surprise.

Behind Sect Leader Xuechen were two figures. The man was dashing and the woman had cascading black hair; they were none other than Kunlun's esteemed disciples, Youwei Yu and Yan Xiaoyu.

The two arrived riding on clouds, their robes fluttering, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

(End of this chapter)