Everlasting Immortal Firmament

The nether realm:

Five days had passed since Essence Genesis’s image appeared in the blessings cloud seas of the various factions.

The nether realm had heard about the land of the living’s Myriad Age Daoist Sect. However, the nether realm and the land of the living were separated, so most of the experts there could not go. After feeling depressed for five days, they had forgotten about this matter.

However, who would have thought that just when all the experts had forgotten everything, the blessings cloud seas would surge once more?

“Huh?” The faces of all the sovereigns and sect leaders changed.

All the golden blessings dragons instantly roared ferociously.

However, Essence Genesis’s incarnation appeared before the golden blessings dragons and gently touched the center of their brows.

Buzz!

Everything that happened in Essence Genesis Hall’s plaza in the land of the living, including the scenes of Essence Genesis slaughtering the major factions’ leaders who had not attended, flowed into the minds of the golden blessings dragons.

As they watched everything in the images, everyone’s face changed, as if they had forgotten to resist.

After a while, all the sovereigns and sect leaders suddenly came to their senses, looking at Essence Genesis’s incarnation above their respective blessings cloud seas with shock.

Essence Genesis’s incarnation said coldly, “I have already said what I should. I have given the land of the living ten days. As for the nether realm, I will give you one month. If any blessings cloud sea exists besides the Nine Yin Sect’s, the Heavenly Demon Holy Land’s, and the Han Heavenly Dynasty’s, I will destroy those remaining sects or nations I see!”

Essence Genesis’s tone was chilling, sending shivers down the spines of all the sovereigns and sect leaders, especially after witnessing the events in the land of the living; those images were still vivid in their minds. Did he have to be this ruthless?

Buzz!

Essence Genesis’s incarnation disappeared with a flash. However, at this point, all the sovereigns and middle-tier sect leaders had already panicked.

Essence Genesis’s threat was too direct: submit to Gu Hai, Bai Zizai, or Ming, or face death!

Death?

How direct, yet how effective!

It was not Gu Hai, Bai Zizai, or Ming who would kill them, but Essence Genesis himself.

This left the experts torn between wanting to resist and struggling to maintain their dignity.

Why was it like this?

The nether realm was enveloped in sorrow.

------

Essence Genesis Hall, the land of the living:

Through the small golden dragon coiled around his left arm, Essence Genesis informed the leaders of the various factions in the nether realm. Then he relayed the same message to Gu Hai and the others.

Bai Zizai was momentarily taken aback, Gu Hai nodded in understanding, and Ming found it intriguing and did not decline the offer.

“Pass on my words to the royal dynasties and lower-tier sects. Such factions are weak. I believe it would be easy for you all to subdue them.” Essence Genesis looked at Gu Hai and the others.

“With the cooperation of several imperial dynasties and middle-tier sects, those royal dynasties shouldn’t be too challenging,” Gu Hai responded with a shake of his head.

Essence Genesis concurred with a nod.

“The Six Paths Immortal will awaken two years from now and regain his peak. I will officially hunt the Six Paths Immortal a year and a half from now. Over this year and a half, the five of you will have a lot of work ahead,” Essence Genesis told the five of them.

Gu Hai, Ba, Jiangchen, Bai Zizai, and Ming nodded in acknowledgment.

One and a half years might seem like a long time, but considering the vastness of the world, this was an immense workload.

“Now that you’ve all agreed, I need to request one more thing from the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon.” Essence Genesis turned to Bai Zizai.

“Me?” Bai Zizai appeared surprised.

“Yes, I need one of your hairs,” Essence Genesis stated solemnly.

“Why?” Bai Zizai inquired, puzzled.

“Although you all have agreed to this, I cannot be certain whether you will keep your promise in a year and a half. However, just a single strand of hair will suffice. If you betray me then, I can find you immediately and spare no effort to end you,” Essence Genesis stated calmly.

Bai Zizai’s face contorted in response. “To prevent us from betraying you? Why just me alone?”

“Among the five of you, I understand Gu Hai, Ba, and Jiangchen quite well. They keep their word, and I trust them,” Essence Genesis replied nonchalantly.

“What about Ming? You haven’t interacted with him much,” Bai Zizai asked, his expression darkening.

“This is the first time I met him, but I believe he will keep his word,” Essence Genesis reiterated.

Bai Zizai’s face stiffened. “You don’t trust me?”

“That’s correct,” Essence Genesis affirmed firmly.

Bai Zizai: “…”

“The White Tiger Prime? You are flexible, knowing when to stand your ground and when to bow. During the war between the shamans and animal spirits, you faked your death in order to hide and protect yourself, regardless of the life and death of billions of animal spirits. There’s no guarantee you won’t flee in the future. If you keep your word, I will be grateful to you after the matter is over. However, since I do not trust you to keep your word, I can only take this precaution,” Essence Genesis explained solemnly.

Bai Zizai’s face soured as he looked at Essence Genesis.

It was clear that Bai Zizai’s notoriety dated back to ancient times.

“What if I refuse?” Bai Zizai retorted coldly.

“If you refuse, then only one of us will leave here alive today,” Essence Genesis said in a chilling tone.

Bai Zizai: “…”

Snap!

Bai Zizai decisively plucked a hair and tossed it to Essence Genesis.

Whoosh!

Essence Genesis deftly caught the strand of hair and carefully stored it.

“Humph!”

With a disdainful snort, Bai Zizai swept his sleeves and vanished, accompanied by the Divine Scorpion Heavenly Demon and the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon.

With the strand of hair secured, Essence Genesis paid no further attention to Bai Zizai and turned to the remaining four.

“I’ll have to trouble the four of you for the next year and a half!” Essence Genesis stated solemnly.

Gu Hai, Ba, Jiangchen, and Ming nodded.

Turning around, Essence Genesis glanced at Lin Waner, who stood behind Gu Hai with some trepidation.

“Leader of the Supreme Ascendant’s line of inheritance? Lin Waner?” Essence Genesis said with a frown.

“Yes!” Lin Waner nodded.

“Heavenly Access made a mistake. Since you are the Supreme Ascendant, you should inherit the Supreme Ascendant’s inheritance. However, the Taiji Diagram serves an important purpose for me, so I won’t give it to you for now,” Essence Genesis said gravely.

“Alright, I understand,” Lin Waner replied, not contesting the decision.

However, Gu Hai noticed that Essence Genesis seemed to have a somewhat different attitude towards Sha compared to his attitude towards Lin Waner.

“Sha, entertain the others,” Essence Genesis instructed Sha.

“Yes, Sect Master,” Sha replied promptly.

After speaking, Essence Genesis reentered Essence Genesis Hall.

Thud!

The hall’s doors slammed shut. Paying no heed to the others, Essence Genesis went into seclusion.

In the plaza, Gu Hai, Jiangchen, Ba, and Ming exchanged glances. It seemed they all understood that expecting Essence Genesis to host a banquet was impossible; it simply was not in his nature.

The various faction leaders nearby reluctantly approached.

“Deity Seizing Hall Master, our sect is willing to pledge allegiance to the Deity Seizing Hall and seek the protection of Veritable Lord!” one sect leader said cautiously.

Many sovereigns and sect leaders quickly made up their minds. Since resistance was futile, they had no choice but to submit. Jiangchen was the obvious first choice due to his ancient heritage, and he ranked first among the seats.

“There’s no need. For the land of the living, you should seek Gu Hai or Ba. My Deity Seizing Hall has two thousand cities; that is enough,” Jiangchen said, shaking his head.

“Huh?” The various faction leaders’ expressions congealed.

“Alright, we should be on our way. We’ll look forward to the show a year and a half from now!” Jiangchen chuckled.

“Understood!” Long Aotian nodded.

Whoosh!

Jiangchen swept his sleeves, and he and Long Aotian vanished.

The various faction leaders were left bewildered; then they turned to Gu Hai and Ba.

“Greetings, Han Heavenly Emperor!”

“Greetings, Yan Heavenly Emperor!”

The various faction leaders gave polite bows.

Gu Hai and Ba exchanged glances. Among this group, some were still reluctant, but most had come to terms with the situation.

The world was entering a chaotic era, and imperial dynasties and middle-tier sects were becoming obsolete.

“Here’s how it shall be. Those who wish to join the Han Heavenly Dynasty should proceed to Borderless Heavenly Capital as soon as possible. Those who wish to join the Yan Heavenly Dynasty should head to Great Desolation City. The Yan Heavenly Emperor and we won’t force anyone,” Gu Hai stated.

Ba nodded in agreement.

The faction leaders’ feelings were complicated. Indeed, you are not forcing us. However, Essence Genesis is forcing us. How frustrating!

“Alright!” The faction leaders could only leave with downcast expressions.

“Yan Heavenly Emperor, Nine Yin Sect Master, Sha, we shall take our leave now,” Gu Hai said.

Sha and Ba nodded.

Ming merely showed a faint smile.

Gu Hai flung out his sleeves and left with Lin Waner.

Just as Ba was about to leave, Ming suddenly spoke up. “Yan Heavenly Emperor? You’ve already gained the recognition of the sun’s core flames, right?”

Ba paused and eyed Ming with suspicion. Eventually, she nodded. “That’s right.”

“It has been a long time since I last visited the land of the living. Since I have some free time, I wonder if the Yan Heavenly Dynasty would welcome a guest?” Ming asked, his tone casual.

Ba looked at Ming in surprise. What is Ming planning to do in Great Desolation City?

“If the Nine Yin Sect Master doesn’t mind, you are most welcome!” Ba agreed, nodding.

“In that case, I won’t stand on ceremony. Lead the way!” Ming grinned.

Ba nodded again.

Then Ba waved her hand.

Her carriage and the nine phoenixes flew over from a distance.

Ming’s four centaur subordinates swiftly brought out the bizarre carriage, and he climbed aboard.

The two carriages sped off towards Great Desolation City.

------

Gu Hai quickly returned to Borderless Heavenly Capital with Lin Waner. At this moment, the officials were waiting at Soaring Palace Hall’s plaza.

The news of the sudden collapse of forty-two sects and imperial dynasties had shaken everyone. The four crown princes, in particular, were deeply concerned. Only when Gu Hai returned with Lin Waner did the people finally find some relief.

“Eminent Father, did everything go smoothly?” Gu Qin inquired as they approached.

“It went fairly smoothly. However, I now owe Ba a favor. Hah!” Gu Hai replied, glancing in the direction of Great Desolation City.

------

The East Spiritual Fire Sea, the nether realm:

Essence Genesis had conveyed a warning to the factions across the nether realm, including the blessings cloud sea in the East Spiritual Fire Sea.

Four Essence Genesis incarnations tapped the foreheads of four Vermilion Bird incarnations.

Buzz!

Images were transmitted one after another.

Zhu Yiyi, Zhu Sansan, Zhu Sisi, and Zhu Wuwu watched the images in silence.

“Essence Genesis killed Second Younger Brother and Sixth Younger Brother?” Zhu Yiyi’s face darkened.

“Eldest Brother, what should we do about this grudge?” Zhu Sansan exclaimed in anger.

“What can we do? Do you want to seek revenge? You can go!” Zhu Yiyi retorted.

“I…!” The others fell silent.

Essence Genesis’s overwhelming strength sent shivers down their spines. Just one move had sufficed to annihilate Zhu Erer and Zhu Liuliu. To seek revenge would be to walk to their own deaths.

“When Master returns, the entire world will bow down!” Zhu Yiyi declared coldly.

“Yes!”