Be the Hardest Working Demon Cultivator!

The one handling the black pieces was Ning Shuqi. The black pieces moved first, but they were still relentlessly pursued by the white pieces, causing Ning Shuqi's forehead to be covered in cold sweat. However, this hidden battle of wits within the game of slaughter was abruptly interrupted by the appearance of Heaven's Will.

"Heaven's Will?" Ning Shuqi exclaimed in shock.

For it was his first time perceiving Heaven's Will so clearly, and it resonated with him from afar.

"Someone is welcoming Heaven's Will, seeking to prove themselves," explained the person sitting opposite Ning Shuqi, who was holding the white pieces, his tone light. He was known as Jun Zimo, hailed by Western Tuo Mountain as the Present-Day Buddha's Son and esteemed by the Upper Pure Sanctuary as having an Innate Taoist Body before Ning Shuqi's arrival.

After Ning Shuqi's arrival, the past accolades of this man had all gained an additional suffix, "one of".

In contrast to Ning Shuqi's unclear perceptions, Jun Zimo perceived it much more clearly, even sensing the "anger" hidden within Heaven's Will.

Thus, Jun Zimo, smiling, said, "Brother Ning, how about we make a bet?"

"Betting on whether this elder welcoming Heaven's Will will succeed? Forget it, the outcome of welcoming Heaven's Will is well-known to both of us, and many scriptures from both factions also record much about it," Ning Shuqi shook his head and declined directly.

"No, I'm betting on how this fool who welcomes Heaven's Will is going to die!" Jun Zimo's smile contained a trace of mockery.

"Brother Jun, isn't this inappropriate? Regardless, this elder is still a hero of our times," Ning Shuqi shook his head in refusal.

Ning Shuqi could feel some animosity from Jun Zimo, which made him wary that the bet was a trap. Besides, for some reason, he had a strange premonition that the one welcoming Heaven's Will might actually succeed!

Because this feeling was so baseless and absurd, Ning Shuqi dared not speak it aloud.

"A hero? More like a fool! Not to mention some ignorant Loose Cultivator who, after a lucky century of cultivation, gained some insight and is now foolishly trying to break through," Jun Zimo scoffed disdainfully.

Listening to Jun Zimo's words, Ning Shuqi felt somewhat displeased, but he couldn't contradict him on this matter, as all disciples of the Immortal Sect knew that now was not the time to welcome Heaven's Will. Thus, Ning Shuqi changed the topic and asked, "Then, Brother Jun, what is your view on the current Demon Lord Tan?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"You mean Tan Shuchang..."

Jun Zimo raised his eyebrows, and then with a cold snort, he said, "He's nothing but a jumping clown; once the Ancestor descends, the only use for him will be to fuel the Fourth Sword."

This Fourth Sword referred to the yet unborn fourth mighty sword-type spirit treasure.

The first and second were in the hands of the Ancestor of Sword Disciple Mountain, and because of the Ancestor's three proofs, detailed information about these two swords had vanished from the Jiawu Realm, with only a few ancient records remaining.

And the third sword was in the hands of a young girl from the Heavenly Sword Mansion.

"Brother Jun, aren't your words a bit too absolute? I don't deny that when the Ancestor descends, Demon Lord Tan will certainly be no match. But if Demon Lord Tan is just a jumping clown, then what about all the cultivators who must pay respects upon seeing him?" Ning Shuqi sighed lightly, a wry smile on his face.

He didn't like to force a smile, but whenever he mentioned Tan Shuchang, he couldn't help but make that expression.

To not show respect before the Demon Lord meant suffering the torment of being possessed by a demon seed. This might sound trivial, but anyone who has been possessed by a demon seed even once would know the excruciating pain involved.

Upon hearing this, Jun Zimo was momentarily at a loss for words.

After thinking for a moment, he then declared, "If one day I preside over the Heavenly Mandate, I will slay Tan Shuchang to elevate the prestige of the righteous path!"

Meanwhile, in the Heavenly Sword Mansion, Luoja Mountain, Terrestrial Immortal Cave Mansion, Jinglong Cave Heaven, and other locations, reactions varied.

The response from the Heavenly Sword Mansion was the most direct and they were also the fastest to know the exact news.

Because after a young girl spotted this unusual phenomenon, she pondered for a moment with her head tilted, then took out the flattened medicinal-looking substance to ask, and received a very simple two-word answer—It's me.

The reactions of Luoja Mountain, the Terrestrial Immortal Cave Mansion, and others were largely similar to the former Sect Leader Su Huan'an of the Ancestor of Sword Disciple Mountain, though they considered the challenger doomed, they still referred to him as a brave warrior.

Touching the threshold of proving oneself is one thing, daring to break through is another.

After all, they themselves didn't dare.

So, for those who dared to attempt the breakthrough, even if unacquainted and likely not having any formidable inheritances, they still regarded these brave souls with admiration.

Among the five from the Sword Temple, three had not returned from the Path of the Ancient Yin, while the other two, after a mere glance, disregarded it entirely.

After all, they only cared about the plan that affected their interests.

Jinglong Cave Heaven, a sect that had acted bizarrely for many years and even disregarded their own ancestors, had the strangest reaction upon seeing this scene.

With Sect Leader Nangong Tianshuang at the forefront, a group of Jinglong Cave Heaven disciples appeared very excited.

"Soon, very soon, we will all achieve immortality!" Continue your journey on empire

Nangong Tianshuang said excitedly, and though she was already in her forties, her appearance and figure still resembled that of a young girl.

While Nangong Tianshuang's cultivation level wasn't very high, even with the full support of resources from Jinglong Cave Heaven, it amounted to only eighty years of cultivated power.

This level of aptitude was indeed inferior.

However, Nangong Tianshuang was already extremely satisfied with this, as she was well aware of her own lack of talent. Furthermore, the eighty years of cultivated power was solely a concept from the Jiawu Realm.

Nangong Tianshuang was not originally from the Jiawu Realm; she had arrived there accidentally, along with a Heavenly Book that only she could open.

This Heavenly Book had no capabilities for slaughter or might, only the ability for prophecy and divination. Additionally, it would vanish if she were to die or lose consciousness.

Thus, upon her accidental arrival at the Jiawu Realm, Nangong Tianshuang directly offered the Heavenly Book when she entered Jinglong Cave Heaven.

After confirming the uses of the Heavenly Book, Jinglong Cave Heaven accepted Nangong Tianshuang and supported her ascension to the position of Sect Leader.

From then on, Nangong Tianshuang, who initially had some hidden intentions, had no choice but to start planning for Jinglong Cave Heaven.

Because Jinglong Cave Heaven truly regarded her as their Sect Leader!

Years ago, when she had initiated contact with the Zi Xuan Dynasty and facilitated the evacuation of the citizens of Vast Cold State, it was the Heavenly Book that informed her there would be a fierce battle involving the Son of the Heavenly Mandate in Vast Cold State, which would trigger the emergence of the fourth Demon Sword.

The appearance of the fourth Demon Sword would allow the Secluded Spring Blood Demon to fully recover, causing the living beings of the Jiawu Realm to fall prey to this demon.

The self-sacrifice of her Purple-Gold Immortal master's Dao would also be in vain.

Therefore, Nangong Tianshuang cut off the possibility of this event from the root. After all, with no citizens in Vast Cold State and not many cultivators around, and with Mountain-Sea Beasts not meeting the requirements for the birth of the fourth Demon Sword, even if the fourth Demon Sword was powerful, it surely couldn't emerge from nothing, right?

The cultivators of Jinglong Cave Heaven were so excited now because the Heavenly Book had prophesied that once a cultivator bathes in the red heavenly lights and confirms it, the opportunity for ascension that comes with the advancement of the Jiawu Realm would descend once again!

This time, the opportunity for ascension doesn't even require high cultivation levels.

When that time comes, the cultivators of Jinglong Cave Heaven would ascend as a sect, and Nangong Tianshuang would finally be able to go home!

...

"Cross Calamity Immortal Scripture," Volume Five, Wu Tian.

This was the fifth volume that gathered all of Tan Shuchang's learning, and it was his self-created method for self-verification.

He sought immortality.

He upheld the proprieties.

He witnessed the vastness of the heavens and the earth.

He wished for a world without calamities.

This Wu Tian doesn't mean lawlessness or heavenlessness but implies that heaven doesn't inherently exist; it is endowed by humanity.

The Rage of Heaven's Will is not a rage of living beings.

After all, Heaven's Will lacks self-consciousness and intelligence, and all of its actions originate from the most instinctive reactions of heaven and earth.

The Rage of Heaven's Will arose three hundred years ago when the Jiawu Realm advanced to Heaven Jia and was granted the fifth rank, but the calculation was spoiled, leading to others benefiting from its efforts—rage born of such betrayal!

This rage could be called the hatred of heaven!

Hence, to succeed in ascension, one needs to first appease the rage of heaven.

And how to appease it?

Tan Shuchang's millennium of cultivated power was dissipating, but in the process, he began to develop a power for immortality.

His appearance seemed to be fixed in an instant, never to age again.

The mundane essence in his blood also washed away. His originally red blood started showing traces of gold, hinting at a transformation toward becoming golden.

This was immortal blood.

However, not all beings with confirmed immortality could possess such immortal blood; in many cases, it could only be present in triple-verified cultivators.

As the immortal blood appeared, the power in Tan Shuchang that had been dissipating also began its final transformation.

From power to spiritual attainment.