I seek immortality by chance

Chapter 676 Spurring the Calamity Qi, Star-Seizing Ceremony (Bonus Chapter!)
"boom!"

The enormous star pillar rose into the sky, piercing through the void, and disappeared beyond the heavens.

This scene was felt by many cultivators in the Heavenly Star Palace, who opened their eyes from their caves. However, the star pillar disappeared in the blink of an eye, and everyone closed their eyes and stopped paying attention.

Although these Mahayana cultivators from the ancient Xuanhuang lands possessed considerable strength, they had no connection with them.

The most important thing is still spiritual practice.

However, Venerable Mingxiao frowned slightly, his figure transformed into a stream of light, and flew towards a bronze hall at the very top of the Heavenly Star Palace.

This bronze hall is ancient and imposing, with shimmering light flowing across it like thousands of stars, adding a touch of brilliance to the ancient palace.

Above the gray plaque are three large characters: "Strong and Vigorous".

Heavenly Star Palace!
This hall is the origin of the name of the entire Tianxing Palace, and it is also the residence of the successive Tianxing Palace masters. It is located at the highest position and has the most abundant spiritual energy. The hub of the grand formation of the Tianxing Palace's millions of miles of mountains and rivers is also located here.

However, the master of the Heavenly Star Palace has been living in seclusion for many years and rarely appears in public. He only cultivates in the palace, so the area in front of the palace is quiet and deserted, without even a young Taoist boy to guard it.

The Venerable Mingxiao arrived and finally stopped in front of the palace.

"Hall Master!"

Venerable Mingxiao bowed and called out softly from outside the hall.

Starlight flowed, the palace doors remained closed, yet the figure of Venerable Mingxiao had already entered the palace.

An elderly man with snow-white hair, eyebrows that reached past his ears, and a ruddy complexion like a baby looked at Venerable Mingxiao and asked calmly, "What is it?"

"Palace Master, all the Mahayana cultivators from the Xuanhuang Old Land have left Chenhui and returned to Xuanhuang."

Venerable Mingxiao considered his tone carefully, but then spoke frankly.

"I am aware of this matter."

The old man replied calmly that as the master of the Heavenly Star Palace, nothing that happened here could be hidden from him.

"Palace Master, the Xuanhuang Ancient Land is a force to be reckoned with. Over the years, they have exchanged for numerous rare and precious materials, especially from the Linchuan lineage, who have been extremely generous. Most of these are spiritual materials for refining magic seals, and many immortal scriptures have also been exchanged..."

Venerable Mingxiao's expression was slightly solemn as he slowly recounted what he had seen and heard over the past few years.

The old man remained calm and unmoved.

He knew all of these things.

Seeing this, Venerable Mingxiao could only grit his teeth and say, "Xuanhuang absorbed the essence of my Chenhui and obtained all the spiritual food, greatly increasing its strength. However, I observe that the people of this realm are ambitious. This time, they have returned to Xuanhuang, and I fear they have even greater schemes, which may be detrimental to the Palace Master!"

He had seen most of those Xuanhuang Mahayana practitioners.

Most of them were eyeing Chen Hui with predatory intent, their gazes like those of a patriarch's son eyeing the steward's property, a sense of self-righteous possessiveness in their eyes.

Those from the Crimson Cloud Dao Clan, in particular, had incredibly burning gazes.

Over the years, several factions have been attacked by the Xuanhuang Old Land.

They acted in an extremely domineering manner.

They always bring up the Heavenly Palace when they're talking about something.

These things don't affect Mahayana cultivators much, but they are not so friendly to lower-level cultivators.

Many low-level cultivators have been targeted by cultivators from several sects when they went out to search for treasures or explore the wilderness.

Although the cultivators of the Xuanhuang Old Land have left, he has a feeling that they will surely make a comeback.

Things might get even more complicated by then.

Upon hearing what Venerable Mingxiao said, the old man calmly replied, "All the immortal scriptures and seal materials obtained from the old land were traded for contribution points, which is perfectly reasonable. How can you say that it absorbed the foundation of my Chenhui? Let's not mention this again."

"That may be true, but the people of the old territory are quite ambitious. I fear they want to seize the position of Palace Master of the Heavenly Star Palace!"

Venerable Mingxiao bowed, but his expression remained solemn.

All positions in the Heavenly Star Palace can be obtained by exchanging contribution points.

This has been the rule since ancient times.

However, nothing is absolute.

We still need to consider our capabilities.

If someone truly lacks the strength, no one would dare to forcibly exchange contribution points for something else; they would exchange them for something else.

After all, the Heavenly Star Palace Master controls the core of the great formation and needs to suppress all directions. If he is not strong enough, it is tantamount to courting death.

The power structure in the Chenhui Realm is relatively stable. The Palace Master is in the late stage of the Mahayana stage, holds the Immortal Seal, and has the potential to become an Immortal. Naturally, no one would want to seize the position of Palace Master for no reason.

But for the people from the old place... well, that's hard to say.

The key to the grand formation, and all the countless imperial edicts, are issued by the Palace Master.

Even connecting with the Heavenly Palace to obtain celestial materials requires the Palace Master to preside over a ceremony.

These few points alone are enough to constitute authority, not to mention the many other rights.

"Want to sit in the seat below me...?"

Upon hearing Venerable Mingxiao's words, a ripple finally appeared in the old man's eyes, but his expression remained calm.

"To sit beneath me, one must expand territory and civilize the barbarians; this is no easy task..."

"What I fear most is that those people from the old lands will unite. Their foundation, built up over tens of thousands of years, is not to be underestimated. And our Eight Realms are not unified; I fear we will find it difficult to resist them!"

"I am worried," said Venerable Mingxiao.

"If he can truly expand the territory and civilize the barbarians, why not give this position to him?"

The old man shook his head slightly, his eyes as calm as still water.

"Hall Master!"

Venerable Mingxiao was immediately shocked: "How can we just hand over the Chenhui New Realm?"

“If they can truly conquer this world and subdue all sides, then this position should rightfully belong to them.”

The old man remained calm.

"Hall Master!"

The Supreme Lord Mingxiao raised the volume of sound.

"Never forget the tenets of my Heavenly Star Palace; this is the decree of the Heavenly Palace."

The old man calmly said something, then closed his eyes and continued his cultivation, saying no more.

Seeing this, Venerable Mingxiao was unwilling, but he could only bow and leave the main hall.

After Venerable Mingxiao left the hall, the old man suddenly opened his eyes again, and a ripple seemed to rise in his eyes.

"Expanding territory, you know..."

He muttered something to himself, made a hand gesture as if he were deducing something, and then closed his eyes again, and the hall fell silent.

……

……

In the vast starry sky, at an unknown distance, there stands a circular altar.

The altar was ancient and desolate, covered with a layer of gray mist.

The clouds arose from nowhere, vast and boundless, like chaos and stillness, obscuring all deductive forces.

Amidst the vast expanse of clouds, eight dragons of indescribable power swam ceaselessly, circling the altar and chanting ancient words.

The clouds surged, as if some terrifying being was about to rise, carrying an aura that terrified heaven and earth.

Just as this being was about to be born, a true dragon suddenly stopped moving.

"So you really intend to do this..."

"Once the calamity is unleashed, no living being can escape it, and the dragon race will be the first to bear the brunt..."

A grand voice resounded above the altar, carrying a solemn tone.

"One wrong step leads to another, and there aren't many choices left..."

A similarly grand voice resounded, ancient and weathered.

"The Heavenly Palace, with its profound and mysterious foundation, opened up the Eight Realms, gaining the advantage of favorable timing and location, and has already surpassed our race..."

"If we drag this out any longer, things will only get worse..."

A tremendous voice filled with sighs.

"With the pillar of heaven collapsing, the immortal realm is unlikely to be formed, and there may still be unforeseen circumstances..."

The first voice spoke again, like a thunderclap.

"Even the true Demon City cannot influence the thoughts of the immortals in the Heavenly Palace. We can no longer glimpse this realm. Continuing to delay is not a good strategy..."

The dragon swam about, and the clouds surged, carrying a sense of urgency.

"But... to generate calamity energy, too many living beings need to be sacrificed, and I can't bear to do that."

A true dragon spoke, its eyes seemingly filled with pity. "Is it out of compassion, or concern that the calamity's aura will spread and affect the Great Luo Immortals?"

Within the clouds, a hidden dragon opened its mouth.

Upon hearing this, the clouds seemed to freeze, and the void fell silent.

"The calamity never materialized, yet my brother still died..."

A deafening sound, like thunder, dispelled the silence.

"Perhaps the primordial calamity has already permeated the air, but it's beyond our comprehension..."

"The collapse of the pillar of heaven may not be entirely our fault..."

"If one wishes to ascend to the heavens and isolate the primordial chaos, it depends on whether this world is suited to it."

The clouds churned and thunder rumbled.

But the altar fell silent once more.

"Time is running out. Those eight, with the help of the Eight Realms, have already surpassed the strength of ordinary Great Luo Immortals. With the assistance of the immortals, this realm cannot remain hidden for long. Whether to fight or flee, a decision must be made today..."

A voice urged.

"I fear that today's actions may have played right into the hands of those eight..."

"With the aura of calamity upon us, the Seal of Longevity is likely to truly manifest in the world..."

"Ascension across the entire realm may just be a smokescreen..."

Some voices hesitated, finding it difficult to make a decision for a long time.

If we do what we do today, it will be a true calamity. Even those with the bloodline of a dragon prince, comparable to a Great Luo Immortal, will have to enter the calamity to fight for it.

"Didn't you make up your mind after your brother died that day?"

Why the hesitation today?

"Our defeat today is not without reason..."

The clouds churned, and majestic dragon horns floated, as if they were about to tear the sky apart.

"Let's have a fight and see who comes out on top!"

After a moment of silence, the previously hesitant voice finally spoke again, its tone cold.

Ancient and mysterious dragon sounds echoed above the altar, and the previously stagnant energy surged forth again, falling from the vast sky, its destination unknown.

In the universe, nothing has changed; only the vast expanse of stars, their twinkling light seeming increasingly cold and distant.

……

……

"boom!"

The dazzling starlight shone brightly within the Linchuan Mountain Gate, slowly transforming into a golden boat.

Gu Yuan stepped off the golden boat and gazed into the distance. He could see through the cave from thousands of miles away and see the two women he missed.

"Primordial Form, Dao Embryo, so-so..."

Gu Yuan glanced at it briefly before turning his gaze away and, together with several Mahayana practitioners, entered the Golden Hall.

Inside the golden hall, five Mahayana practitioners were already waiting.

Among them, the First Venerable One sat in the center, smiling as he looked at Gu Yuan and the others.

"Brother!"

Golden Light Venerable was the first to bow and address Zhengyi Venerable.

Gu Yuan and the others bowed in unison.

Ning Xubai ascended to the Heavenly Palace, and the Linchuan lineage master was already a Supreme Being of the Zhengyi Sect. Holding a celestial treasure, he naturally deserved to be worshipped by everyone.

"No need for formalities, please take a seat."

The Venerable Zhengyi returned the greeting and gestured for everyone to sit down.

Everyone sat down on their respective prayer mats, and then Venerable Zhengyi, without wasting any words, said directly: "I presume you all already know the reason for summoning all of you here today."

"There is only one matter: the Chenhui Realm."

"This world is rich and prosperous, with a small portion still being wild and untamed, offering numerous opportunities and a considerable amount of immortal materials."

"The ancient land of Xuanhuang is no longer what it once was. We must eventually leave it, but we still need to discuss how to do so."

After speaking, he glanced around and looked at Venerable Jiuchuan and Venerable Jinguang.

The Venerable Jiuchuan, a senior figure in the later period of Mahayana Buddhism, spoke with maturity and advocated a gradual approach.

Venerable Jin Guang, in the middle stage of Mahayana Buddhism, was ambitious and enterprising. He advocated replacing the Tianxing Palace and launched a large-scale campaign to conquer Chenhui.

Although there is a difference in their cultivation levels, this meeting was held because his own intentions were unclear, and he even seemed to be leaning towards Venerable Golden Light.

"Brother!"

The Venerable Jin Guang first bowed to the two of them, and then said, "In just a few years, the five of us have all formed an Immortal Seal."

"This matter is indeed a blessing from the Ancestral Master, but without the materials and immortal scriptures of the Chenhui Realm, it would be extremely difficult to accomplish."

"If Linchuan does not take this land, it would truly be a waste of resources."

"The patriarch must have had this thought as well, otherwise he would not have bestowed the golden boat!"

"We are the true heirs of the Heavenly Palace, disciples of the Great Luo Sect. How can we be subservient to others? Putting aside everything else, we must seize the position of Palace Master of the Heavenly Star Palace!"

"By taking this seat, one can open the gates of the realm, receive numerous disciples, and obtain unparalleled opportunities."

"The eight major meridians are currently evenly matched in strength, but if we act slowly, the situation will be different thousands of years from now!"

"In the long run, this is for the benefit of future generations; in the short run, how can we not hold onto this channel for obtaining celestial materials from the Heavenly Palace?"

The Venerable Jin Guang had sharp eyes and a powerful, resonant voice.

"How could I not know what you're saying, junior brother?"

"If one wants to sit in the position of the Heavenly Star Palace Master, one must expand one's territory. The forces within that Chenhui are complex, and there are quite a few Mahayana cultivators. Unless one uses a celestial treasure to suppress them, there will definitely be losses."

"There might even be Mahayana practitioners who perish."

Why the rush?

"Once we obtain the materials for the seal and our strength greatly increases, we can then slowly seize the throne using legal means."

The Venerable Jiuchuan spoke in a calm and unhurried manner.

This is a mature and insightful statement, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.

However, obtaining printing materials is far from simple.

No one can be rich without windfall!

Without expanding your territory, where would you find so many unclaimed immortal materials that perfectly match your immortal seal?
How long will it take to clear the land?
Even in the wilderness, powerful demons roam freely.

These people, refining the immortal seal at lightning speed, each of them had blood on their hands.

However, it's not appropriate to say this directly.

After all, Venerable Jin Guang is only in the mid-stage of the Mahayana realm. If he wants to expand his territory, he must have someone in the late-stage of the Mahayana realm who holds a Celestial Seal to oversee the expansion, so that everything will be foolproof.

This is the biggest weakness of the radicals.

That's why Venerable Jin Guang invited Gu Yuan and others to offer their advice, hoping to persuade Venerable Zhengyi.

What gives the major Daoist lineages their greatest confidence is their celestial treasures!
Without the celestial treasure, Venerable Golden Light would not have been so radical.

I already have such a powerful weapon, why should I bother with your slow training?

Slay the demons and monsters!
However, since the celestial treasure is the last resort to suppress the mountain gate, we must proceed with caution.

After all, no one can be sure if there is anything extraordinary within the radiance of the sun. If such a treasure is lost, the person in question will be a sinner for all eternity.

But at that moment, Venerable Zhengyi suddenly spoke.

"It's no use talking more."

"In the end, everything depends on strength."

"My lineage is not the only one that wants to seize the Heavenly Star Palace; the other lineages also share this ambition."

"In order to avoid damaging the harmony, and also to test which family has the strength to plan for this world, I have discussed with several factions to hold a 'Star-Seizing Ceremony'."

"Whoever wins will be able to compete for the position of Palace Master."

"If we lose, we will seek another realm to plan our strategy. After all, there can only be one palace master in a realm."

Dharma Assembly?

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall seemed to be deep in thought.

(End of this chapter)