Aspiring to the Immortal Path

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

The two groups of cultivators Tang Jie spotted were the largest so far, each consisting of a hundred Violet Palace cultivators, enough to make one's blood run cold. Not only that, there were at least ten Immortal Platform cultivators in each of these groups. Two of them in each group were escorted by the others, and while they had the auras of mortals, that only made them more unusual. From how respectfully the other cultivators treated them, it was clear that they were True Immortals.

"Are those the Heaven's Equal Sect and the Stellar Net Gate?" Xu Miaoran whispered to Tang Jie.

In the last few days, she had been able to grasp the situation in the Vast Wilderness Continent.

Tang Jie nodded.

It was clear that the remaining spots had been left for the two major sects.

Xu Miaoran said in surprise, "Don't the two major sects have Boundless Gold Immortals? Why do I only see two True Immortals?"

Tang Jie considered the question and replied, "There's only one explanation. Those Gold Immortals don't care about the treasures in the court."

Xu Miaoran made a face upon hearing this. If even the wealth of the Court of Myriad Domains couldn't tempt them, what exactly could tempt Boundless Gold Immortals?

But she realized that this was probably right.

The Court of Myriad Domains had been ruled by the Immortal Emperor and his Four Sages. Immortal Emperor Yu Cheng had been a Dao-Proving Saint Immortal, and the Four Sages had been Boundless Gold Immortals. In other words, Boundless Gold Immortals were the top-level strength of the Court of Myriad Domains, so for cultivators of the same level, there really might not be anything in the court worth their attention.

Of course, they couldn't completely ignore it. It was said that when news of the Court of Myriad Domains first spread, the Gold Immortals of the two major sects had paid a visit, so they had already taken anything that was worth their time. What was left were things that they couldn't be bothered to take and had left for their juniors to vie over.

The behavior of cultivators, especially those Gold Immortals, emphasized the world and the heavens, never doing anything to the extreme and only taking what one needed. If one took everything for oneself, then there would be nothing left for one's descendants. Such behavior was severing the path behind them, forbidden by both man and the heavens, and the wise knew not to conduct themselves in such a way.

Tang Jie himself had once plundered everything he could for the sake of getting stronger, but after he reached Violet Palace, his attitude had slowly changed, and he had begun to understand how to hold back.

Even if Gold Immortals weren't here, nobody dared to underestimate the Heaven's Equal Sect and Stellar Net Gate. Even when those two sects weren't here, everyone else still left a place for them.

These two sects were also rather interesting, seemingly having agreed to come at the same time with around the same number of people and the same ratio of experts: two True Immortals and eight Earth Immortals. Upon arrival, they glanced at each other before silently going to their own sides.

Xu Miaoran whispered, "Are these two sects not on good terms?"

Tang Jie chuckled. "What would be weird is if the two big sects of the north and south were on good terms. These two sects probably got here ages ago and were just watching each other, only coming out at the very end. That they've appeared now means that the court is probably about to open."

As if to prove his words, a rumbling came from above.

The rainbow Astral Winds began to spiral into a massive vortex that led to the court.

"It's open!" Tang Jie said.

This was a sign of the court's defensive formation weakening. The weakening of the formation allowed the Domain Astral Winds to assail the court, which created this vortex.

This vortex was a passage into the court!

As the passage to the court appeared, the Heaven's Equal Sect and Stellar Net Gate immediately flew upward, their bodies flashing with barriers as they charged at the Astral Winds. The clash of the winds against the barriers created dazzling displays of color and a rain of blazing light.

But those cultivators ignored all this splendor, charging straight ahead.

They had all cultivated for many years and had a tough mindset, and they were also confident in their strength. They were like fish swimming against the current of rainbow light, seeking to leap through the dragon gate.

The cultivators behind didn't immediately follow, instead waiting for the two sects to gain some distance before charging upward. The cultivators of the several dozen state sects were numerous, but not disorderly. They had seemingly decided on an order beforehand, charging into the Astral Wind in batches, maintaining a distance so that they didn't conflict with each other.

But after the state sects had gone, things got a little messy with the country sects. The Vast Wilderness Continent had several hundred countries, and the distances involved were so vast that some sects had never even heard of each other. Thus, there were no arrangements, and sometimes, three to five sects would rush in together.

But these people were all rather powerful, so while there was some chaos, there were no major incidents.

When it came time for the prefecture sects, city sects, and wandering cultivator alliances to go in, things fell into utter chaos.

These groups weren't on the same level of strength, nor did they have similar numbers of people, and since they were last in order, they were all impatient to go. As a result, they all flew up together as if they would be missing out on their big chance if they were just a little late. In truth, the Court of Myriad Domains had been here for ten thousand years already and had been explored by countless cultivators, the best treasures already claimed. But this was simply human nature. Nobody was willing to fall behind. Although they would yield to those who were stronger, they didn't dare to show weakness against their peers, and they rushed forward.

Tang Jie was rather composed and felt like there was nothing wrong with going last. But to his surprise, the others from the Jadestone Alliance all charged in, Kun Wu even shouting at Tang Jie, "Brother Tang, let's go!"

His kind gesture meant that Tang Jie and Xu Miaoran had no choice but to follow, but this vast crowd of people rushing into the Astral Winds was no different from moths to a flame.

The moment he entered the Astral Wind region, Tang Jie felt a powerful wind blasting his defensive barrier. Tang Jie's defensive barriers consisted of the Frostshield Barrier and the Godhead Divine Armor, both obtained from Godhead Palace, and now that he was at Violet Palace, he could stack his barriers, applying several dozen barriers with a single breath. But to his surprise, a single gust had these layers of defense cracking like egg shells. It was no wonder Violet Palace was the minimum cultivation level for entering this place. Even defensive barriers of this level couldn't hold for long.

He turned to look back at Xu Miaoran, who had already protected herself with the Autumn Dew Glow and the Vast Frostmist Barrier. Her cultivation was inferior to Tang Jie's, so she also held a pearl that created a protective sphere of light around her, allowing her to fly alongside Tang Jie as gracefully as a fairy.

Tang Jie was relieved to see that Xu Miaoran was fine, and he grabbed her hand and flew up with her.

At this moment, as a cultivator was flying, a sinister black wind silently blew past. It didn't seem particularly strong, so that cultivator paid it no mind. But when that gust reached his body, it penetrated through his barrier and touched him. A moment later, his body rapidly began to rot away. The cultivator cried out in terror, but struggle only made his body crumble faster, and in an instant, he dissipated into powder.

The other cultivators were all aghast. Only now did they understand that there were still winds in this region that could threaten them, and they began to avoid those dancing gusts of rainbow wind.

The consequences of chaos now made themselves apparent.

A golden gust of Astral Wind appeared in the distance, rushing at a cultivator. This cultivator immediately turned to run, but it just so happened that there was a cultivator flying right behind him. Unable to get out of each other's way in time, they ran into each other, and that brief pause brought about by the collision caused the golden Astral Wind to devour them both. The two cultivators wailed within the Astral Wind as their bodies were gruesomely disintegrated.

Xu Miaoran's heart shivered at the sight.

Tang Jie held her fast. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

Looking into Tang Jie's eyes filled her with confidence.

Meanwhile, the crowd was falling into even greater disarray.

All sorts of bizarre winds were ripping through the area, and everyone finally understood why the previous groups had all gone in orderly batches. These prefecture and city lords had only reached their current positions within the last one thousand years, and this was their first time here. Their lack of experience inevitably led to errors.

But some people had been here before, like Reverend Whitestone. Why hadn't he tried to warn them?

Realizing this, Tang Jie looked back and found that Reverend Whitestone was flying through the Astral Winds with an emotionless look on his face. As an Earth Immortal, he naturally had nothing to fear from the Astral Wind region, and even if one of those winds actually reached him, he wouldn't immediately die. And when Tang Jie looked at the path he was taking, he found that he was following the trail of deceased cultivators. Whenever a cultivator died, he would reach out and take the Mustard Seed Bags of the deceased.

Tang Jie now understood why this old Whitestone hadn't given any warning. He was using this opportunity to get rich from the dead.

There were many who had the same idea. Those who understood this trick were all plenty strong. They just wanted to make some money on the side.

Tang Jie immediately turned to Xu Miaoran and said a few words.

Xu Miaoran's eyes lit up, and she lightly nodded.

At this time, another cultivator died, unluckily ground to death by a yellow wind. Reverend Whitestone saw this and was just about to take the Mustard Seed Bag when an elegant hand suddenly appeared out of nowhere, grabbing the bag and vanishing.

Reverend Whitestone was startled, but he simply thought that another Earth Immortal like him had taken action.

But when another cultivator died, that small hand once again appeared and took the Mustard Seed Bag. Reverend Whitestone found that he wasn't able to get another Mustard Seed Bag, and the other nearby Earth Immortals were also as unfortunate.

Just who was able to move so quickly?

Reverend Whitestone was furious, but there was nothing he could do to this person that could steal without any regard for distance.

Xu Miaoran's Limitless spatial ability was a Great Dao ability and couldn't be seen through by just any Immortal. Even someone as powerful as Reverend Whitestone, who could kill Xu Miaoran with a single slap, couldn't see through it until he had reached the appropriate level.

Meanwhile, Xu Miaoran was having a grand time swiping Mustard Seed Bags. She was so focused on this effort that she was neglecting her defense. Fortunately, Tang Jie was there. Hugging Xu Miaoran, he activated the Infinite Palace.

A splendid palace complex appeared in the Astral Wind region.

Seated at the highest point of this palace, Tang Jie and Xu Miaoran flew through the Astral Winds, up toward that Immortal palace in the sky.