There is a progress bar in my cultivation of immortality

A century has quietly passed.

Beyond the vast cosmic barrier, a magnificent star ring, intended to envelop the entire star system, is nearing completion.

At this moment, the final merging process is underway at the farthest points on this massive ring. Xiaoshan of the Taiyan Sect and Ao Yi of the Linshui Prefecture are each suspended at the end of their respective star ring segments.

"Begin closing!"

Xiaoshan's voice was clearly transmitted to the docking command center through the communication array. He then cast a spell to stabilize the surrounding starry sky and prevent the frozen space caused by the vibration from hindering the final assembly.

Then, look at the end of the star ring, which was under the responsibility of the Taiyan Sect. The heavy dark gold structure began to emit a deep hum, and the pre-set docking latches and rune interfaces slowly lit up with spiritual light, adjusting their final posture.

Almost simultaneously, Ao Yi also initiated the docking procedure for the Linshui Mansion Star Ring. The interface with the same structure at the end of the Star Ring shone brightly, and under precise control, it steadily approached the interface controlled by the Taiyan Sect.

The two colossal structures slowly approached each other in the void, their enormous shadows overlapping. When the distance between them shrank to within a hundred miles, subtle gravitational disturbances began to appear, and the star ring structure emitted a faint metallic sound.

The disciples on both sides immediately activated the stabilizing force field array that had been set up beforehand. Countless soft beams of light intertwined to form a net, offsetting the disturbance of gravity and guiding the end of the star ring to remain stable.

"Slightly adjust to the left for three quarters of an hour, then sink half a mile!" came the command from the docking command center.

Xiao Shan and Ao Yi were completely focused, precisely controlling their respective sections to perform the final calibration. Under their guidance, the massive star ring structure moved subtly, like embroidery.

Finally, under the watchful eyes of countless people, the docking structures at the ends of the two star rings touched each other perfectly!
"Boom~"

A dull metallic clanging sound, accompanied by the roar of spiritual energy converging, reverberated through the vacuum. The pre-set latches locked in place, and the light from the rune interface instantly merged into one. A surge of powerful spiritual energy rushed along the newly formed connection without any further obstruction.

Immediately afterwards, a dazzling ripple of spiritual light spread rapidly to both sides from the point of convergence along the connecting star rings at a speed exceeding the speed of light, as if an invisible shackle had been completely tightened.

Then thousands of second-realm disciples landed at the interface and, as quickly as possible, sketched out the magic array runes they had studied for years on both sides of the interface.

Xiao Shan and Ao Yi watched everyone's movements to make sure the magic circle runes they were drawing were correct.

Half an hour later, when all the runes were drawn, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

It was a success!

The successful merging of the sections under the jurisdiction of Taiyan Sect and Linshui Prefecture was like igniting a signal. On the huge star ring surrounding the star system, the other pre-set merging points also started the final docking process almost at the same time.

In an instant, several brilliant ripples of light lit up along different sections of the star ring around the entire outer edge of the star system, eventually connecting to form a complete and magnificent halo.

"Om~"

As the last ripple of light completed its cycle, the entire star ring emitted a deep and magnificent overall resonance, and the spatial stability and energy isolation effects it emitted suddenly increased to the design peak.

All the cultivators from the sects involved in the construction, regardless of which section they were in, clearly felt the power originating from the star ring at this moment, and many were immersed in the awe of the birth of this great creation.

Just as the various points where the Star Ring converged were illuminated with radiant light, celebrating the successful completion of the project, a fierce battle raged in the vast buffer zone between the Star Ring and the Star Barrier.

About sixty years ago, demonic cultivators from beyond the realm drove an endless stream of low-level demons, which, like a turbid tide, seeped through the cracks in the barrier and surged into this starry sky. Most of them were of low intelligence, knowing only how to destroy and devour, but their numbers seemed endless and could not be killed.

The True Lords are required to oversee the key nodes of the Star Ring to ensure the success of this project that concerns the future of the starry sky. They cannot easily leave their posts. Therefore, the heavy responsibility of eliminating these infiltrated demons falls on the shoulders of many unorthodox cultivators.

At this moment, on a battlefield where shattered star debris floats, tens of thousands of cultivators form battle formations of various sizes. In front of them, the light of various magical treasures and the spiritual light of spells collide wildly with the corrosive energy spewed by demons and the claws and bone blades they wield.

"Hold on! The star ring has just closed. Once it's fully activated, it will completely isolate us from the outside world. These infiltrated demons are like trees without roots!"

A voice resounded through the starry sky.

The moment his words fell, the magnificent resonance and sudden increase in stability after the star ring fully closed were clearly transmitted to the battlefield, invigorating the spirits of all the cultivators fighting.

"The star ring is complete! Fellow Daoists, let's put in more effort and thoroughly clean up these filthy things!" A cultivator who looked like a general shouted, boosting morale.

Just then, a blinding emerald light suddenly shone.

It was the light of the magnificent star rings that surrounded the entire star system. Suddenly, countless complex and mysterious emerald green runes lit up on their dark golden surface. These runes formed a huge network covering the entire ring, imprinting the Wood Spirit Rule Network onto the star rings.

The next moment, countless soft yet vibrant emerald rays burst forth from these runes, instantly covering the entire buffer zone between the star ring and the star barrier like mercury spilling onto the ground.

The light carried a comforting warmth, but to those extraterrestrial monsters, this emerald light was like the most deadly poison and the most scorching flames.

Wherever the light reached, the endless low-level demons seemed to be thrown into the scorching sun like ice and snow. They couldn't even let out a wail before they quickly melted away in the emerald light, turning into the most primitive turbid demonic energy, which was then assimilated by the boundless vitality contained in the light.

In the blink of an eye, the vast battlefield, which had been filled with shouts of battle, suddenly became deathly silent, and the surging army of demons had vanished without a trace.

All the surviving cultivators were stunned. They stared at the miraculous scene before them, feeling the warm and vibrant green light around them, their hearts filled with shock and bewilderment at surviving such a catastrophe.

This was not a defensive function pre-set by the Star Ring itself, but rather Wang Ping, sitting in the Primordial Palace, who, upon sensing the complete closure of the Star Ring, used his absolute control over the rules of the starry sky to instantly imprint the Wood Spirit Runes onto the entire ring, triggering this comprehensive purge.

Before the purifying emerald light of the wood spirit above the star ring had completely dissipated, new changes had already begun. Beside the network of emerald wood spirit runes that covered the ring, streams of azure water spirit runes rapidly emerged, intertwining and generating with the wood spirit runes.

At the same time, strands of golden spirit runes were also imprinted on it. They were intricately structured and their edges shimmered with a cold light. In the next moment, three networks of rules intertwined under the starry sky and instantly spread throughout the entire starry sky.

“Geography, Rongyang…”

Wang Ping's cold voice rang in the ears of the True Lords, carrying an unquestionable will.

Upon hearing this, the Earthly True Lord of the Underground Gate and the Glory True Lord of the True Yang Sect immediately understood and released their restraints on the spiritual bodies within their bodies without hesitation.

Then, the Earthly True Lord shone with a bright yellow light, and the thick and powerful spiritual energy of the earth surged out, as if drawing upon the fundamental power of all the stars in the sky; the Glory Sun True Lord transformed into a golden crow, and the blazing and pure Yang Flame rose and burned, illuminating the dark void.

A few breaths later, the starry sky's rule network illuminated the Fire Spirit Rule and the Earth Spirit Rule.

At this moment, Wang Ping, who was sitting in the Taichu Palace, stole the two forces that belonged to the Five Elements by peering into the network of rules.

Then there's the ring above the star, where the network of wood, water, and metal runes is interwoven, with thick, solid earth-yellow runes and fiery, unrestrained crimson runes simultaneously imprinted around it!
The earth-yellow runes, imbued with the meaning of bearing all things, made the foundation of the entire star ring even more unbreakable, while the crimson runes pulsed with the power to burn away filth and illuminate all darkness.

"Om~"

Five-colored light shot into the sky, forming a five-elemental halo that covered the entire star system!
"Bai Yan, Xuan Qing..."

Wang Ping's voice rang in the ears of the True Lords once again, calm yet carrying a rhythm that seemed to guide them to the Great Dao.

Bai Yan and Xuanqing Zhenjun of the Yuqing Sect, who had been preparing for a long time, moved upon hearing the sound.

Bai Yan's aura suddenly became deep and unfathomable, as if he had transformed into the source of the darkest universe. Pure Yin energy spread out like a tide, dimming the starlight and plunging everything into silence.

Xuanqing Zhenjun, on the contrary, had his Daoist robes fluttering without wind, his body radiating a pure and flawless yang energy that subtly complemented Bai Yan's yin energy, together forming the two aspects of yin and yang.

The next moment, the Yin-Yang energy rules on the rule network lit up.

Wang Ping once again used the "Heaven-Stealing Technique," causing the Five Elements Halo above the Star Ring, which had just stabilized, to undergo another transformation.

Beyond the five-colored radiance, the darkness representing Yin and the brilliance representing Yang spread out like ink wash, merging into the base of the five-element halo to form a seven-colored ray of light covering the entire starry sky.

However, the seven-colored light only flashed by and then returned to the star ring. At this moment, Wang Ping of the Primordial Palace had already appeared above the Heavenly Palace with Yu Lian. His eyes reflected the Five Elements Yin-Yang rules that filled the starry sky. He used the star ring to guide the Five Elements Yin-Yang energy and turned his gaze to two other dim rule networks, which represented the rule networks of the demon race and spirit beasts.

He planned to use the Five Elements and Yin-Yang currently manifested to illuminate the remaining two rule networks. Then, with a slight thought, the star ring emitted a deep resonance. Using it as a hub, he gathered the power of the Five Elements and Yin-Yang, transforming it into two mysterious and inexplicable streams of light, which were then projected onto the two still dim rule networks in the starry sky.

One of the streaks of light was dark red, carrying a wild yet resilient aura. This was the power of the demon race's bloodline rules. The moment the streak of light rushed into it, the originally dim network instantly lit up as if it had been injected with molten lava.

Under the starry sky, all beings with demon bloodlines, regardless of their cultivation level, felt a surge of emotion. Their bloodlines seemed to boil, as if some ancient shackles had been broken, and the path ahead became clearer.

Another network of rules appeared lively and pure; this was the network of rules representing spirit beasts. When this network was lit up, it emitted a soft and warm silver-white glow.

"A strange feeling, I suddenly feel like I can enter a world of inspiration!"

Yu Lian's voice rang in Wang Ping's ears.

Wang Ping seemed not to hear, and with a change of hand seals, he drew upon the power of the two networks of rules to imprint new rune lines on the star ring once again.

The next moment, the rules of the entire starry sky reached an unprecedented level of completeness and harmony. A perfect and flawless Daoist rhythm, with the star ring as its core, gently and firmly spread to every corner of the starry sky.

Wang Ping gazed at the core of the rule network. As the light of all the rule networks intertwined in the starry sky to form a perfect and harmonious picture, at the very core of that rule network, a point of extreme darkness quietly emerged.

The darkness quickly expanded upon its appearance, transforming into a jet-black stone monument that silently floated in the center of the network of rules. It was not tall, yet it seemed to be the fulcrum of the entire starry sky; it was not dazzling, yet it attracted all eyes and consciousness that glimpsed its existence.

The stone tablet is made of neither stone nor jade. Its surface is as smooth as a mirror, yet it seems to contain countless scenes of the birth and death of stars. Upon closer inspection, countless tiny colored light points are slowly flowing within it, corresponding to all the rules and patterns that have been illuminated, such as the Five Elements, Yin and Yang, demons, and spirits.

It exudes a contradictory yet unified aura, both ancient and vast, yet intimate and gentle. Any creature belonging to this starry sky, upon sensing it, will feel a sense of peace and joy, like a wanderer returning home, deep within its soul—a resonance originating from the very source of life.

However, beneath this intimacy and tranquility lies an awe-inspiring majesty; it is close to all that follows the rules, and will indifferently crush any that attempts to defy them.

The existence of this black stone tablet is beyond reason. It seems to be suspended in the far depths of the core of the network of rules, as if separated by an endless sea of ​​stars. However, any living being that gazes at it will have the illusion that it is right in front of them and within reach. Therefore, all living beings that look at it will subconsciously reach out to touch it.

The space surrounding the stone tablet presents an indescribable state. It "exists" because it is indeed the source of the convergence of rules and the core of the manifestation of the Way of Heaven; yet it "does not exist" because that space has no past or future time flow, and even lacks the sense of distance and physicality that space itself should have.

Ordinary beings, even True Monarchs, would only feel emptiness if their consciousness tried to explore that area, as if they were staring at an ultimate mystery that devours everything.

However, Wang Ping's gaze pierced through these layers of illusion and felt a strange sense of closeness, but he resisted this closeness because he knew it stemmed from the lingering aura of Qingchen or Yaoxi in his consciousness.

The feeling was like the unspoken understanding between long-lost friends, allowing him to vaguely hear echoes flowing through that space. However, his subconscious told Wang Ping that he couldn't respond to these echoes; he could only refine them. (End of Chapter)