Xiuxian: When you do things to the extreme

Chapter 722 Restricted Area
"Conquering the Six Paths?"

"Follow the law!!"

Everyone's eyes narrowed, their faces showing surprise and doubt, but they dared not say anything. The cultivators leading the academy immediately got up and left as ordered.

Some retainers who had not yet pledged allegiance, or cultivators who were not even from the Dao Domain, were left sitting on the ground, bewildered and unsure of what to do.

Xu Yang remained silent: "Let things come and go as they will."

Having said that, he waved his sleeve, and before the princes and the others could react, they felt themselves being transported to another place. When they came to, they were already in the mountains and fields, on the outskirts of Wandao City.

"this……!?"

Everyone was startled. Before they could react, a loud bang was heard in front of them, and billions of rays of light shot into the sky. The Myriad Dao Palace above and the Myriad Dao City below both started to move.

"Boom!"

Lightning flashed and thunder roared, winds rose and clouds surged, war drums beat, and celestial warships ascended into the sky, followed by troop of heavenly soldiers and generals. Incense burned to the heavens and the earth at the altar, as a grand sacrificial ceremony was performed.

All the palaces, courtyards, departments, and the entire Wandao Academy sprang into action, like a giant war machine, with every link and every component operating and exerting its power.

With their inherent strengths revealed and their potential unleashed, the entire academy, the entire Dao Domain, billions of cultivators, and countless living beings have all been mobilized for war, about to unleash a magnificent war that will sweep across the entire land.

The sight shocked everyone present, leaving them both terrified and somewhat lost.

"The Myriad Paths Academy..."

"Are you really going to attack the restricted area?"

"The turmoil has just subsided, and now war has broken out again?"

"Lord Dao, why are you excluding us?"

"Although we have not formally entered the academy, we still serve as guest elders. This time, we have listened to the teachings in the palace and have been deeply enlightened over the past thousand years. If the academy summons us, we will certainly not refuse. Why..."

"Does this mean you no longer trust us?"

"The turmoil has only been quelled for a little over five hundred years. The wounds on all sides have not yet healed, and the world's vitality has not yet recovered. If war were to break out again..."

"Those six forbidden zones contain great terrors that have raged for a thousand years before finally falling silent. If they are touched and awakened, it may cause chaos again and bring darkness once more..."

"In the past, after several great emperors attained enlightenment, they also joined forces with the three major sects to explore the forbidden zones of the Six Paths, and even launched military campaigns. However, they either returned empty-handed or suffered a crushing defeat, and some even caused calamities, bringing suffering to the world..."

"Return immediately and defend our ancestral land to avoid calamity!"

Seeing the Myriad Paths Academy fully mobilized and on high alert, the reactions varied. Some were disappointed and regretful, some frowned and were worried, and some even took flight and flew away.

Needless to say, those who felt lost and disappointed were all former guest elders of the True Immortals who had not joined the academy and remained outside its core. Even when the Humanist School was established, they chose to observe, which led to their current exclusion.

There's no way around it; if loyalty isn't absolute, then it's absolutely disloyal!
This attack on the forbidden zone is a battle against the root of the turmoil, a war for the establishment of the Humanist Church.

War is both a calamity and an opportunity. It concerns the fate of the religion and naturally cannot tolerate outsiders interfering or becoming destabilizing factors. During the war, it affects the situation, and after the war, it determines the distribution of the spoils.

Therefore, we can only exclude them.

Although everyone was aware of this and could understand and accept it, they still felt a sense of loss, as if they had missed an extremely valuable opportunity.

This is a Daoist cultivator, a guest elder of the academy.

The others, who came from outside the region, had no such thoughts, only a sense of worry.

Six forbidden zones!

Although there are many dangerous places in the land of China, forbidden areas that even True Immortals and Earth Immortals dare not set foot in, the most dangerous of them all are these six forbidden zones.

These six forbidden zones are named after the six cycles of reincarnation. They are said to have been formed after ancient times and are closely related to the demonic star at the end of ancient times, which is the result of its fall into the land and its subsequent fragmentation.

Rumors have long circulated that these six forbidden zones are the root of the turmoil, harboring immense terror that even the most powerful emperors could only barely repel, not suppress.

Therefore, although supreme emperors have emerged in China since ancient times and have attempted to conquer these six forbidden zones, they have never been able to pacify them. At most, they have managed to restrain them and temporarily stop the chaos.

Even worse, excessive attacks provoked a backlash from the forbidden zones, causing further turmoil and calamity. Several dynasties were even destroyed as a result, and the rulers of those dynasties who had reached the pinnacle of enlightenment disappeared without a trace, leaving a huge shadow over the world.

Therefore, at this moment, seeing that the Myriad Paths Academy had activated its war preparations and was about to attack the Six Forbidden Zones, these cultivators from outside the realm and the True Immortals from all directions were worried, fearing that if the city gates caught fire, the innocent bystanders would be affected.

This wasn't because they were short-sighted and unaware of the principle that "to die now is to die, and to launch a great plan is to die," but rather because the shadow of turmoil was too deep, and the painful lessons of several previous failures forced them to prioritize self-preservation.

This is human nature. Even knowing that allowing hidden dangers to grow will inevitably lead to destruction, some people are greedy for the present and would rather drink poison to quench their thirst and prolong their lives than take risks.

The cultivators withdrew, and the surrounding clouds and waves became unpredictable.

In the Wandao Palace, Xu Yang sat high above, taking in everything, but remained completely unmoved.

A thousand years ago, when he became an Earth Immortal, the Supreme Being of the Underworld Sect interfered with the Heavenly Tribulation, attempting to sever his path to immortality. However, he was defeated by the Supreme Being and suffered considerable hardship, possibly even sustaining severe damage to his vital energy.

Having suffered such a backlash, he should logically increase his efforts to devour more living beings in order to heal his injuries and restore his vitality.

But he did not. Instead, he gradually restrained himself and finally stopped his actions five hundred years later, thus quelling the greatest turmoil in the history of China that had raged for nearly two thousand years.

Why is this?

Was the injury too severe for him to continue?
Of course not!

His restraint and cessation of the unrest were a strategic retreat aimed at weakening Xu Yang and suppressing the power of the Human Sect.

Even a rabbit will bite when cornered, let alone a cultivator who has transcended the mortal realm.
If he doesn't restrain himself and instead intensifies his actions, driving the cultivators and countless lives of the Divine Land into a desperate situation, then what awaits him is a counterattack from the brink of defeat.

In the face of life and death, in dire straits, all parties will surely put aside their differences, unite as one, and stand together. At this time, the establishment of a moral order and the establishment of a people-oriented religion will gain more support and become the pillar of China, supporting the collapsing edifice and turning the tide.

In this way, the fortunes of the People's Education System will surely rise greatly.

As the leader of the Human Sect, if the sect's fortune rises, Xu Yang's strength will definitely increase. Even cultivators inside and outside the Human Sect will receive the help of the fortune, their cultivation will skyrocket, their realms will rise, and they will make rapid progress.

This was clearly not a good thing for the Supreme Being of the Underworld Cult.

Therefore, he used a strategy of retreating to advance, quelling the turmoil, eliminating the disaster, and restoring peace to the ravaged land of China, giving it a chance to recuperate.

The world, after a long period of division, tends to unite; after a long period of unity, tends to divide.

This turmoil has raged for nearly two thousand years, causing the deaths of hundreds of millions of cultivators and countless lives. All sides have suffered heavy losses, almost to the point of extinction. Now that the turmoil has finally been quelled and the calamity has been averted, it is a time when people yearn for peace. Who would want to reignite the flames of war and endure more slaughter?
At this time, Xu Yang's dispatch of troops to attack various forbidden zones is going against the will of the people and the general trend. Although it may not cause a nationwide uproar, it will inevitably lead to isolation and indifference from all sides.

In this way, the fortunes of the human religion will inevitably be weakened!
This is the purpose of the Supreme Being of the Underworld Cult.

As the Celestial Immortal Dao Master and the Supreme Being of the Underworld Sect, he possessed a profound understanding of the principles of heaven and earth, the rules of the world, and the workings of all things. Naturally, he knew how to weaken the sect's power. This move, cutting off the source of the problem, was extremely powerful, directly eliminating Xu Yang's chance for a "last-ditch counterattack." With people's hearts set on peace and unwilling to fight any longer, how could he, as the leader of the Human Sect, be invincible without the support of a powerful force?
Xu Yang knew he was plotting something, but he didn't care at all and still wanted to fight him.

Human nature, morality, and teachings!

It can be governed by benevolent rule, or it can be suppressed by tyranny.

With the unrest temporarily quelled and people yearning for stability, the power of various factions may no longer be of his use.

But he still has the Dao Domain, the Academy, and countless disciples and billions of followers.

This is the way of the king, and also the way of the tyrant. The academy's achievements in governing the world and the fruits of humanistic education have deeply penetrated people's hearts with its legal system. No one can defy its decrees, nor will anyone dare to defy them.

Therefore, although the Supreme Lord of the Underworld Sect had taken a decisive step, he could at most cut off his external forces, but could not sever his foundation. He still had the ability to fight against him.

So what else is there to say?
war! ! !
……

"Boom!"

The heavens and earth trembled, and time and space shook.

A ray of celestial light burst forth, transcending time and space.

The celestial light was dazzling, earth-shattering, and unparalleled throughout history.

Amidst the radiance, a myriad of magnificent sights unfolded, the most striking of which was a celestial palace, its radiant light like a sword piercing through the nine heavens. Millions of warships soared into the sky, and countless divine weapons stood majestically, resembling an ancient heavenly court reappearing in the mortal realm.

"This……"

"It's finally here!"

"Does it really have to come to this?"

"This Lord of Ten Thousand Paths attained the Dao at the pinnacle, a feat that has shaken the ages. He also established a sect and lineage as an Earth Immortal. He can be considered the most heaven-defying figure in history."

"Such powerful individuals naturally look down upon the Nine Heavens and dominate the world. It is only natural that they would attack the Six Forbidden Zones."

"Although there have been painful lessons in the past, and several great dynasties have perished because of this, it is clear that this has not deterred him."

"He is the supreme leader of the teachings. Although he has established his path, it is only in its initial stages. He has not yet achieved any substantial accomplishments. He must start by cracking down on this forbidden zone and completely quell the turmoil and calamity before he can truly live up to his name and take another step forward!"

"I just don't know if it will work out!"

"..."

Although Ming Zhe wanted to protect himself and was unwilling to participate in the war, he still had the courage to observe. Divine thoughts from all sides came, looking at that celestial light in the distance as it pierced into the Six Forbidden Zones.

The Six Forbidden Zones are named after the six realms: the Celestial Realm, the Human Realm, the Asura Realm, the Hell Realm, the Ghost Realm, and the Animal Realm.

Among them, the Celestial Immortal Path is the most terrifying. It is said to be the landing point of that demonic star that fell back then. After the end of the ancient times, it has been a forbidden area of ​​the Divine Land. There is no human habitation within a radius of millions of miles. It is said that a great emperor once went deep into it, but he died tragically and never returned.

The Human Path and the Asura Path, which follow the Celestial Immortal Path, are also terrifying forbidden zones. The three major sects and successive imperial dynasties have all attempted to explore them, but the results were either fruitless or disastrous, with heavy casualties, and they have become taboo.

The final three paths of hell, though slightly inferior to those of the Devas and Asuras, are still extremely dangerous and terrifying. It is said that some people have seen terrifying undead creatures lurking within them, exuding an ominous and eerie atmosphere.

Now, with celestial light shining brightly and the Heavenly Palace descending, the first battle will be against the Path of Hell.

The Path of Hell, the Forbidden Zone of Death, shrouds the surrounding million-mile territory in darkness, deathly haze, black mountains and black waters, black sky and black earth, truly as if hell has reappeared, and Fengdu has descended.

This world is a realm of its own, where the principles and laws have changed. Ordinary beings who enter will inevitably suffer misfortune. It is said that even true immortals cannot escape their fate and are reduced to being like walking corpses within it.

But now...

"boom!!!"

A beam of celestial light pierced through, as if someone had drawn a sword to cleave the heavens, crashing into this forbidden zone. The dark sky and the boundary of hell were both cleaved open by this beam of celestial light.

The distorted principles of heaven and earth, and the twisted laws of the world, were all shattered and destroyed by this sword. The dark sky was split in two, leaving an extremely conspicuous and irreparable scar.

This is a clash between principles and principles, between laws and laws!

With a single sword strike, the forbidden zone was cleaved open, and the Heavenly Palace followed, crashing into this hellish land. A Daoist chant resounded, manifesting numerous wondrous phenomena: celestial flowers rained down, golden lotuses sprang from the earth, dragons and phoenixes danced, and the sun and moon shone brightly in the sky…

Each of these strange phenomena possesses astonishing power, representing the tangible manifestation of the principles of heaven and earth and the laws of the world. They penetrate this forbidden zone, suppress this evil land, and fiercely confront the hellish power of the six realms, engaging in a life-or-death struggle.

"Boom!"

Amidst the celestial light, a shadowy haze appeared, but it was not eerie darkness; rather, it was dense, accumulating clouds. Altars stood tall, and with the sound of drums, ten thousand bolts of heavenly thunder descended, striking the hellish land, the black mountains and black waters.

The Capital Heaven Altar, the Divine Firmament Grand Formation!
Thunder roared down with tremendous force, unleashing a series of nine layers of lightning, each layer containing nine layers of thunder, repeating endlessly in a cycle, seemingly intent on blasting this hellish forbidden zone into dust.

Under such bombardment, the Black Mountain and Black Water were reduced to ashes, and even within the forbidden zone, terrifying sounds arose, like the roar of beasts, the cry of birds, and the shrieking of human voices.

Then, the earth trembled, the restricted area shifted, and the black mountains and black soil collapsed, as if yin and yang were converging, and the netherworld was entering the world, revealing a scene of hell.

One after another, walking corpses emerged from it. Although they had already met their demise and become corpses, they still exuded an astonishing aura. There were even many beings that were not human in form, and powerful creatures from ancient times.

"hold head high!!!"

With a loud roar, a dragon's cry arose, soaring into the sky from the depths of hell. It was a dragon corpse, with prominent horns and majestic five claws. However, the golden light was gone, the vitality was gone, and the bright golden scales had turned bluish-black, filled with the deathly aura of the underworld.

"This is……"

"Real dragon?"

"An ancient dragon?"

"An ancient dragon comparable to an emperor?"

"Such beings have become walking corpses, buried in this forbidden zone!"

"Ancient dragons are born with divine abilities. Even if they are reduced to walking corpses, they are still comparable to supreme imperial weapons!"

Upon witnessing this scene, the crowd watching from afar outside the restricted area gasped in astonishment.

Although they knew the forbidden zone was terrifying, they did not expect it to be this terrifying. The battle just now had revealed an ancient dragon corpse comparable to an ultimate imperial weapon.

"Amitabha!"

The dragon corpse raised its head, defying the heavens, staring at the divine lightning that filled the sky, as if it wanted to perish together with the dragon. But then, in the Heavenly Palace, the golden light of Brahma shone brightly, and a sword of wisdom suddenly appeared, like the sun in the sky, fiercely suppressing the dragon corpse.

(End of this chapter)