Xianye

Chapter 518 Imperial Altar Map
At that time, the sun was rising, the clouds were rising and the sky was rosy, and the scene was magnificent and colorful.

As the clouds and mist were slowly blown away by the breeze, the world was completely clear and bright, with light and purity everywhere!

At this moment, in a vast plain surrounded by mountains and water in Yingjichuan, where one could not see the end of the field, cultivators from all directions who came to watch the ceremony had gathered like clouds and rain, creating a magnificent and awe-inspiring sight.

Not only can you see densely packed human figures on the vast plains, but also flying boats and towers of various shapes and sizes appear in the blue sky, in a grand and magnificent manner.

If a person with profound spiritual cultivation were to use their divine eyes, they could see floating islands and jade palaces appearing and disappearing in the depths of the heavens, vaguely and hazily, seemingly on par with the sun and the sky.

The Grand Gathering of Xudu, the Great Danyuan Competition—

A rough count reveals that the number of cultivators who personally went to Yingjichuan to attend the ceremony was no less than several hundred thousand.

Not to mention that among them are truly powerful individuals like Juwu Shanren and Zhenwu Tianqi Shang.

Even though they suppressed their immense aura and did not activate it, their sheer number still caused a subtle interaction between heaven and earth.

Auspicious clouds swirled around it, and countless layers of auspicious colors shone upon it, creating a magnificent and grand spectacle!

"The Imperial Map of the State and the Land, so this Dan Yuan Assembly is being held here?"

At this moment, Chen Heng saw that the point of light that Pei Shuyang pointed out suddenly shattered as it rose into the vast sky, its brilliance spreading outwards.

Then a huge painting suddenly appeared, slowly unfolding with the force of clouds and sea, covering hundreds of miles of sky in the blink of an eye, and continuing to spread east and west, with a thunderous momentum, seemingly able to easily encompass Yingjichuan, and then take over Luzhou and invade the North Sea!
This sight caused the cultivators below the clouds to exclaim in surprise, as if they had seen something incredible, their faces mostly showing disbelief.

Chen Heng's eyes narrowed as he saw that the painting depicted seas and lands, mountains and rivers, with the sun, moon, and stars traversing the void, and flocks of birds and beasts running through the heavens and earth.

The so-called Yin and Yang as the framework, the four seasons as the order, and the nine qi in order, govern the myriad transformations of heaven and earth.

The picture clearly depicts a vast and real world, brimming with spiritual energy, a place worthy of creation!

Chen Heng knew that the Imperial Map of the State was a great treasure of the Nine Truths Sect.

If this map were fully unfolded, it wouldn't be difficult to cover not only Ying Jichuan, but even the entire vast Beihao Prefecture.

What we see before us is by no means the complete Huanglao Sheji Map; it is merely a corner of the scroll borrowed by Pei Shuyang. The true Huanglao Sheji Map still lies dormant deep within the mountain gates of the Jiuzhen Sect.

Unless it is a critical moment, the masters of the Nine Truths Sect will not reveal this map to the world in its entirety.

Besides this Imperial Altar Map, the Jiuzhen Sect also has five other scrolls, which outsiders collectively refer to as the Six Scenes of Jiuzhen.

However, as everyone knows, among the Nine Realms and Six Sceneries, the most famous is not the Imperial State, but the Ten Continents Heavenly Map.

This map was painstakingly created by the two founding masters of the Jiuzhen Sect who personally measured the ten states and four seas of Xudu Heaven with their own feet over an endless period of time.

Legend has it that the map of the ten states was originally a small universe with its own rules and regulations. It was named so because it was made in Xudu Heaven and the images of the mountains and rivers of the ten states were used as the basis.

Chen Heng once heard Tong Xuan mention in a casual conversation that the founder of the Jiuzhen Sect created this map with the intention that if one day all laws were to fall into ruin and the universe were to become desolate, the disciples of the Jiuzhen Sect could temporarily hide in the Ten Continents Heaven and Earth Map to avoid disaster and ensure that the foundation of the Jiuzhen Sect would not be lost.

When chaos is divided again and the universe is reopened in the future, the disciples of the Nine Truths Sect depicted in the painting can calmly emerge again and secure a place in the new era.

However, while this idea is good, there is still no definitive answer as to how it will actually be implemented.

Moreover, one of the two founding patriarchs of the Nine Truths Sect died in the great calamity of the collapse of the Dao Court, destined never to see what the end of time would bring.

in this case.

It really is the cruel twist of fate...

At this moment, after bringing out a corner of the Imperial Altar Map, Pei Shuyang did not return to his carriage. Instead, he straightened his expression and solemnly walked towards an altar under the clouds.

There was only an incense table on the altar, and the presiding elders of the eight sects and six schools had all gathered below the altar.

Among them was a face that Chen Heng had seen in the sect before: Elder Xun Bing, who was on good terms with Yu Chen and Jun Yao.

Upon seeing Pei Shuyang descend from the clouds, all fourteen presiding elders bowed in unison, paying their respects to Pei Shuyang.

There is an unwritten rule at the Danyuan Conference.

Those who serve as judges at the conference must be among the most promising individuals from the eight schools and six sects who are destined to achieve true communion with the Dao.

Therefore, these fourteen presiding elders respected not only Pei Shuyang's status and position, but also his future great achievements!
Logically speaking, Chen Yushu should also be included in this list, and undoubtedly ranked first.

However, this person is currently trapped by the Pure Yang Thunder Calamity, which is a punishment from the Heavenly Tribulation. He can only confine himself to the cave within the Innate Demon Sect and find it difficult to appear in the world easily. Moreover, even if Chen Yushu is willing to step forward, several ruling Dao Lords of the Qian Yuan Si Chen Palace would probably not allow him to take charge of the overall situation.

After returning the greeting, Pei Shuyang took three sticks of incense from the boy, and then, with a flick of his sleeve, walked step by step toward the altar.

With each step he took, the ancient characters and tadpole-like patterns on the tall altar seemed to come alive, flying out from the altar and swirling around Pei Shuyang.

In the end, it all merged into a mighty torrent, impenetrable by wind or rain!
"Is this the destiny of Xudu? Truly awe-inspiring and terrifying..."

Inside a bronze chariot pulled by six celestial horses, Zhenwu Tianqi Shang murmured a sigh and inexplicably clapped his hands and laughed.

At this moment, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Pei Shuyang had already inserted three sticks of incense into the golden censer on the table.

As the wisps of smoke slowly rose from the furnace, forming a straight line, even a great cultivator like Qi Shang could sense a subtle change arising in this world.

In the dark.

Something indescribable and elusive seems to be quietly stirring within...

"You come from Xiangjin Mountain in the Zhenwu Tiankun Domain, which is also a Great Heavenly origin. Moreover, you are an elder in Xiangjin Mountain. Why do you say such things?"

Not far from Qi Shang, Ancestor Fu Can was squatting next to a wine jar.

He seemed extremely satisfied with the jar of fine wine that Qi Shang had brought from Zhenwu Heaven. After smacking his lips carefully, he smiled and said:
"Since the collapse of the ancient times, the Dao Court has been powerless to restrain the fate of Heaven and Earth, and the Book of Fortune of the Upper Realm is not as good as before."

"Yuan Zaitian cultivated the Golden Shield of the Sun, and the Boundless Light Heaven refined the Sage of Wisdom... Such acts would have been capital offenses in ancient times! Your comments about this Pill Yuan Assembly are truly perplexing to me. Has Zhenwu Heaven not yet forged the Martial Fortune Gourd?"

Qi Shang glanced at Ancestor Fu Can:
"This Dragon Bone Treasure Yang Wine is what I use for cultivation. Because I have been consuming the turbid Yin of the Abyss year after year, it is inevitable that it will be invaded by the foul air. Who would have thought that I brought a thousand jars here, but I only drank less than a hundred myself, and the rest all ended up in your stomach."

"Hey, we're all fellow cultivators, why bring up these things? It just creates unnecessary distance..."

Ancestor Fu Can gave an awkward smile, then quickly added a flattering remark:
"However, you have made great progress in your cultivation by borrowing the Earth Abyss and have successfully broken through the barrier. How could a little bit of turbid Yin and filth harm your martial arts true body!"

Qi Shang couldn't help but chuckle when he saw that Ancestor Fu Shen was hurriedly putting away the remaining half jar of wine, looking as if he was afraid of being robbed.

"Zhenwu's Martial Fortune Gourd and Xudu's Elixir Gathering are both acts of casting and utilizing the fortune of the Great Heaven in the mortal world, but they are not entirely the same. For an individual, the latter is naturally superior."

After a moment of silence, Qi Shang shook his head:

"At this moment, I am thinking, what if I were one of the eight sects and six factions of Xudu, and I obtained the Xudu Great Elixir at the Dan Yuan Conference?"

Will my path... be a little smoother before then?

"That's true. Zhenwu's Martial Luck Gourd brings blessings to the entire region. Although it's hard to say whether it's better or worse than the Dan Yuan Conference, for an individual, the latter is ultimately more useful."

Upon hearing this, Ancestor Fu shrugged, then, as if struck by a sudden thought, chuckled and said:

"But in your opinion, who will emerge victorious in this Dan Yuan Tournament? How about we make a bet?"

"I have never been a gambler in my life."

Qi Shang shook his head:

"However... that junior from the Demonic Sect is quite interesting. He gives me a rather unusual feeling, which reminds me of a certain old friend."

Upon hearing the words "Demon Sect," Ancestor Fu Shen knew it wasn't Chen Heng. Just as the name Yin Wuji surfaced in his mind, he saw Qi Shang's gaze fall upon Lü Rong. "Lü Rong of the Blood River?"

Ancestor Fu Can was surprised.

However, before Ancestor Fucan could ask further questions, the great cultivators in the room suddenly sensed something amiss.

They felt the boundless earth beneath them tremble deeply, and a massive pillar of light, barely perceptible to the naked eye, shot out from the ground and flew straight up to the top of the sky!

At that very moment, the incense in the golden censer had burned more than halfway!
Not only the great cultivators in Yingjichuan, but also many powerful cultivators in Beihaozhou were alarmed and looked up at the sky.

First came Beihao and Beilu, then Dongmi, Donghuan and Donghun, then Nantu, and finally the two western regions!
In the blink of an eye, towering pillars of light shot into the sky across the entire land of China and the four seas.

As wind and thunder resonate and yin and yang clash, it signifies the intention to illuminate the pure and empty heavens and meet the mysterious morning!
Such a rare spectacle not only attracted the attention of the cultivators in Xudu, but also drew the gazes of powerful figures in several nearby celestial realms, who displayed varying expressions.

"Penetrating heaven and earth, blurring the universe, shattering the Milky Way, breaking through the Dipper, heroes of the nine provinces, wish to know the profound truth of the origin."

"To vie for supremacy, display divine power, reveal all my skills, and seize heavenly authority!"

In the Forty-Nine Palaces of Prosperity and Longevity, the Old Ancestor of the North Pole clapped his hands and chanted softly, shaking his head and swaying his body in the main hall.

At this moment, the three incense sticks in the golden censer were still burning fiercely, and the smoke gradually emitted a penetrating fragrance that was refreshing and seemed to spread for miles.

"The Dan Yuan Tournament is truly a spectacular battle of titans!"

The old man from the Arctic looked up at the distance with a sigh, and a smile slowly appeared on his face.

……

The abyss, the Golden Drum Cave.

Qiao Yubi suddenly stopped his cultivation. He glanced at the sky and knew what had happened. A glint of light flashed in his eyes, causing the divine swords around him to gently bounce up and emit a sword cry that shook the void, startling all the ghosts!

……

In a desolate mountain in Donghuan Prefecture, Du Ao and Liang Wenxian, feeling a sense of connection, suddenly exchanged a glance.

The former chuckled, a hint of mockery in his eyes, while the latter remained expressionless.

……

As dawn broke over the vast marshland, Master Huolong emerged from the Daolu Hall, followed by Zhang Taichu, who held a golden scroll in his hands.

After gazing at the sky for a moment, the Fire Dragon Master's gaze inexplicably turned towards Mount Xiyi, his expression unusually complex, and he remained silent for a while.

……

And all the great powers of Kyushu were feeling something.

In Nanchan Prefecture, in a Taoist temple that is neither new nor old.

A handsome young man with long eyebrows and bright eyes, who had been idly teasing a few tiger cubs, suddenly stopped and looked towards Ying Jichuan with a keen interest.

Just as the young man was pondering for a moment, the wooden door not far away was suddenly kicked open from the inside, and a disheveled old Taoist priest walked out of the room cursing.

"After you visited the Plague Sect and then went to the Innate Demon Sect, you've been lingering in Xu County, eating for free in my little shabby temple for a long time, all for this scene?"

The disheveled old Taoist kicked away the several tiger cubs that were trying to cajole him, then looked at the young Taoist and said with a sneer:
"Given your status, why should you care so much about this?"

Yin Wuji.

The young Taoist smiled slightly:
"Since I have nothing else to do, I might as well join in the fun."

The disheveled old Taoist priest remained noncommittal upon hearing this. He merely glanced in Ying Jichuan's direction, his gaze lingering deliberately on the Ninth Prince Ji Xiu for a moment before he spoke:
"You believe that young man surnamed Yin is destined to win the Dan Yuan competition?"

“Now that he has obtained that true method, I should, both morally and logically, assess his character.”

The young man deliberately sighed: "Besides, we've been friends for many years. Now that I know you're being pursued by the Dao Court, it's only right and proper for me to come and see you."

The disheveled old Taoist spat on the ground, clearly disdainful of this explanation.

"But you know what, this Dan Yuan Conference was quite interesting to watch. I never expected that the young man would have some connection with my casual move from many years ago. It's quite interesting..." The old Taoist raised his eyebrows.

"Oh? Who is it?" the young man asked with a smile.

The old Taoist priest didn't answer, but instead pretended to be profound and kept everyone in suspense.

Right now, in Yingjichuan, the incense in the censer has burned out, and all preparations are complete.

Upon seeing this, Pei Shuyang took another imperial edict from the boy's hand. It already contained the names and origins of forty-two Dan Yuan Zhenren, and also had magical imprints left on it.

After verifying that everything was correct, Pei Shuyang laid out the imperial edict in his hand, took out his private seal, and placed it on top.

At that instant, a dazzling radiance suddenly appeared at the altar, shining brightly into the sky and echoing the imperial map of the land in the corner of the heavens, illuminating Yingjichuan with a magnificent and glorious light!
"coming!"

Lü Rong stepped out of the chariot.

He sensed that the Dan Yuan Talisman in his sleeve suddenly became active and emitted a pulling force, as if it couldn't wait to send him to that corner of the Imperial Map.

Lu Rong clenched his fists, his heart burning with intense fighting spirit, his eyes turning bloodshot.

Chen Heng, Yin Wuji, Zhou Fujia, Wei Lingjiang, Gu Yi...

Lu Rong slowly surveyed the scene, and all the Dan Yuan True Persons present had slightly solemn expressions.

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room became tense and slowly spread, affecting many of the cultivators who had come to watch the ceremony, who also became tense.

At that moment, Pei Shuyang's voice rang out again. He pointed to the sky and smiled kindly:

"This map shows the venue for the Dan Yuan Grand Competition. As for the rules and regulations, you will find out once you enter. Everyone, please stop here."

Not long after these words were spoken, a sharp sword rainbow suddenly cleaved through the clouds and disappeared into the painting, its momentum immense!

“Zhou Fujia…”

Lu Rong sneered, and a river of pus and blood surged and churned beneath his feet, following closely behind.

"..."

Lu Tingyun and Shen Xingcui exchanged a glance, then spurred their swords and caught up.

As each Dan Yuan True Person unleashed their supernatural powers and entered the drawing, Chen Heng was about to get up when he suddenly sensed something and met a chilling gaze.

He was a handsome man with his hair tied up with a jade hairpin and wearing a dark blue linen robe.

His eyebrows were like ink paintings and his eyes were like black lacquer; he was indeed a handsome man. At this moment, in addition to undisguised hostility, there was also a hint of hidden fear on his face that was hard to shake off.

"A clown, not worth a second glance."

Chen Heng shook his head slightly upon seeing this.

He didn't even glance at Chen Bai; with a flick of his sleeve, he vanished in the blink of an eye, turning into a streak of light.

(End of this chapter)