Lu looked toward Buzhou Peak with mild surprise, watching Zhu Long's aura fluctuate continuously. A trace of astonishment appeared in his eyes.
"Refining her body with the power of the Heavenly Dao born from the Dao Source?"
Lu set aside
Though Candle Dragon was one of the eight heavenly dragon species, her uniqueness far surpassed the others.
Now, creating another Candle Dragon via the Preaching Platform would be exceedingly difficult—if not impossible.
Thus, Lu had always paid close attention to Zhu Long's growth.
"Cultivating with the Heavenly Dao..."
Lu sat upon the Thousand-Bladed Chair, fingers tapping lightly as he watched terrifying energy cascade from the Dao Source, flooding Zhu Long's body. Her aura strengthened, even her innate divine abilities evolving. He fell into thought.
"As expected... for the Five Phoenixes to accelerate development, the birth of a Heavenly Dao is essential."
"With a Heavenly Dao, the Five Phoenixes' growth will be much faster."
Lu observed Zhu Long inhaling and exhaling Heavenly Dao essence, undergoing transformation. He neither stopped nor had reason to.
Little Zhu Long was the cub he favored most—he wished for her strength to grow, so why interfere?
Legend said saints cultivated by tempering themselves with Heavenly Dao power.
Could... little Zhu Long already be assaulting the saint realm?
"The current Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao is still tender... but perfect for Zhu Long to draw upon for cultivation. If it were the Nine Heavens' Heavenly Dao—with full consciousness—daring to inhale and exhale it would invite world-ending tribulation."
Lu shook his head.
Gazing beyond the Five Phoenixes, his eyes grew solemn.
The Nine Heavens' Heavenly Dao—since the Five Phoenixes had birthed its own, Lu needed to consider how to face it in the future.
The day of confrontation would come.
Without countermeasures, the Five Phoenixes' Heavenly Dao might be crushed and destroyed by the Nine Heavens'!
Then, the entire Five Phoenixes would suffer calamity.
The Five Phoenixes was the foundation of Lu's Qi Refinement.
Destroying it was akin to killing him, Lu Ping'an...
Thus, intolerable.
His gaze returned to
...
Heavenly Dao Tree.
Now the sacred ground of the Five Phoenixes—not only for bearing Dao Intent Fruits that easily birthed Dao intents upon consumption.
But because the tree's Dao essence clarified cultivation.
Thus, many cultivation forces built sect gates near the Heavenly Dao Tree.
To listen to its diffusing Dao essence.
Around the tree, cultivators sat in meditation daily—vast numbers.
From Yang God experts to Body Storage novices—all listening.
Boom!
Suddenly, many looked up toward Buzhou Peak.
"What is that?"
Cultivators gasped in horror.
They seemed to see massive stars descending, a colossal human-headed serpent figure inhaling and exhaling those falling stars.
The vision—like a myth reborn!
Buzhou Peak was the Five Phoenixes' forbidden land. Legend spoke of a demoness atop—eyes closed, fond of killing.
Any fool entering died mercilessly.
Many thought the Buzhou Peak demoness had transcended, ascending to the Heavenly Gate.
But this vision suggested... she hadn't!
Rustle!
The Heavenly Dao Tree swayed.
As if resonating with the Dao essence Zhu Long inhaled and exhaled.
Bells seemed to ring, zither strings to strum.
Manifestation of Dao essence.
Countless cultivators trembled—excitement in their eyes. Great opportunity!
All sat cross-legged, comprehending.
This session flowed like gentle streams—many gained insights.
Some even broke through under the fluctuations.
...
Lu ignored Buzhou Peak's changes.
Though he guessed—after this Heavenly Dao resonance, Zhu Long's strength might surge terrifyingly.
Boom!
Half a month later, Lu sensed heaven and earth's shift.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
The Five Phoenixes' sky darkened abruptly.
Then brightened just as suddenly.
Lu set aside his book, feeling divine ability power in the dark-to-light shift.
"Eyes open—day; closed—night..."
"Little Zhu Long's ability grows stronger."
Lu smiled.
He stowed
Drew the Phoenix Feather Sword.
Once flame-like—now dull and gray, cracks spiderwebbing.
"Old companion..."
Lu sighed.
Chaos power surged, origin and Heavenly Dao essence roiling.
Interweaving—they fused into the sword.
Blazing flames rolled. The sword melted into liquid metal, coiling in fire, finally forming a metallic sphere.
Like an egg.
"Nirvana."
Lu formed seals. Vast primordial spirit surged; spiritual energy cascaded like a waterfall, slamming down.
Clang!
Soon, the Phoenix Feather Sword broke shell—reborn in nirvana.
Its sword soul soared winged, bathing in world-ending flames.
Buzz...
All converged.
Lu raised his hand—the sword hovered, ringing as it split into nine segments. Each stronger than before.
"Nine Phoenix Feathers—one top-grade heavenly; united... saint soldier."
Lu smiled.
United, it faintly communed with the Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao—exuding its might.
One slash—myriad sword rays spanned the stars.
Each ray seeming to gestate Dao essence.
Far more powerful than before.
Repairing Phoenix Feather Sword and Thousand-Bladed Chair took time.
But with accelerated Five Phoenixes time—Lu could afford it.
A month later.
Both repaired.
Lu pondered. Repairing them sparked new ideas.
"Perhaps... attempt the Emperor weapons."
Lu sat on the Thousand-Bladed Chair, Phoenix Feather Sword hovering before him thoughtfully.
"But before that—other matters."
Thought entered Preaching Platform.
"Underworld and Heavenly Gate—my creations. Underworld cultivates soul power; Gate—diluted chaos power, called immortal energy."
In the Platform, Lu wreathed in Eight Trigrams array words.
"Underworld soul power—from Lower Three Heavens influx. Without method—as Tan Taixuan said—they risk will erosion, becoming power-dominated monsters."
"Thus... forge a soul-specific cultivation method."
Lu's loose robes billowed.
Eyes gleamed, as if gazing distant starry seas.
Then closed slowly—becoming a minor yin messenger in the Nine Prisons Underworld.
Countless wailing souls.
Yellow Springs overflowed; Bitter Sea expansion uncontrollable.
Soul power overflowed; many yin messengers—over-refined—lost control, becoming mad ghosts rampaging energy.
Lu's yin messenger walked unhurriedly.
Gradually, excess soul power bloated the body—monstrous.
Soul squeezed by foreign forces—myriad thoughts gathering.
Chaotic.
Twisted chaos bred growing mania.
Lu deduced—evolving method to calm mania without wasting influx soul power.
Unlike ordinary methods.
Lu's yin messenger repeatedly devolved into chaos monsters.
Failure after failure.
"Harder than imagined."
Lu frowned—unexpected consecutive failures.
He had experience creating methods.
This one—obstacles abound.
Yet...
Intuition: success might yield unimaginable benefits.
Making underworld immensely powerful.
Attempt after attempt.
Lu faintly grasped something.
"Underworld... chaotic soul power—mostly death obsessions. Obsession-born will—terrifying, causing chaos."
"Hmm... purify obsessions—making power controllable?"
Lu stroked chin, pondering.
Mind spun like a vast wheel.
Again yin messenger—sat in Bitter Sea. Raised head—reflected scroll.
Scroll unfolded: Lu's mortal life.
Slow exhale.
"This... Human Path."
Lu deduced with Eight Trigrams.
Scrolls unfolded one by one.
Some peaceful, radiant; others evil, dark; death, slaughter.
He embodied—building on Human Path, creating five more scrolls. Purifying chaotic soul power into strength.
Cultivate path—bear fruit; Heavenly Gate welcomes as Heavenly Human—radiant. Heavenly Human Path.
Others: Asura Path, Animal Path, Hungry Ghost Path, Hell Path.
Six scrolls' powers extraordinary—purifying most soul obsessions.
Yielding pure power.
"This power... Karma."
Lu said.
Eyes opened—seeing thick soul power over Nine Prisons Underworld.
Lu didn't personally intervene transmitting "Six Paths Reincarnation Method" to underworld.
World believed underworld tied to Ancient Emperors—Lu made it convincing.
Those vanished Ancient Emperors—perfect scapegoats.
"Six Paths Reincarnation... visualization method. Cultivate karma, strengthen primordial spirit. Visualize all six—primordial spirit transforms."
Lu's eyes gleamed.
Mind exited Platform.
Dizzy spell.
Spiritual energy depleted; primordial spirit near dry.
This visualization—extraordinary; vast consumption.
"Eighth-layer Qi Refinement now—this drain exceeds creating ascension ground..."
"This method... could breed many underworld powerhouses—greatly boosting Five Phoenixes."
Lu's eyes shone.
Anticipation rose.
"But... underworld strengthened—mortal realm and immortal realm can't lag. Mortal has Five Emperors Scripture—manageable. Main issue: Heavenly Gate ascension ground."
Lu tapped renewed Thousand-Bladed Chair armrest slowly.
One bite at a time.
Just forged underworld visualization—exhausted. No rush deducing.
Next days—Lu played chess, recovering energy.
Ning Zhao and Yi Yue awoke from cultivation—paid respects.
Island time—Yi's progress vast; entered Heavenly Human realm—though no immortal energy fused, far stronger.
Ni Yu backpacked black pot—drooping, weary.
Eighth-grade pills—still too hard.
Lu guided Ni Yu—she enlightened, rushed back refining.
Energy recovered.
Lu secluded.
Reentered Platform—building secret realm.
In Nine Prisons Underworld.
Not complex—Lu experienced in realms.
Array words roiled.
"Furnace flames burn, underworld melts; Bitter Sea pours, imperial might clashes... Six Paths emerge, Reincarnation arises."
Lu eyed completed realm—smiled.
Mind returned.
White robes fluttering, hair dancing in wind.
Spiritual Pressure Chessboard hovered. Lu rolled sleeves, picked piece.
Clack!
Piece straight to center—heavenly yuan. Mysterious fluctuation spread.
...
Nine Prisons Secret Realm.
Ten necropolis cities.
Tan Taixuan sat solemnly; Beigong Holy Lord beside—brows knit, worried.
"Tan City Lord—daily new souls influx: millions. Just portion diverted from Nine Heavens Heavenly Dao..."
"Soul energy floods every corner; yin messengers' refinement can't keep pace. Over-refinement assaults will—many already slaughter monsters."
Beigong gravely concerned.
Long in underworld—heart fused with it.
At this rate...
Underworld doomed to collapse.
Unacceptable.
"Other nine city lords striving refinement. We do our best... This king won't see underworld wasteland."
"Its existence bolsters Five Phoenixes—if collapses, vital injury; millennium stagnation at least."
Tan Taixuan deeply worried.
But helpless—influx not just Five Phoenixes'; Lower Three Heavens worlds too.
Upper conquests destroyed many Level 8-9 high-martial worlds—countless perished as souls.
Drawn to underworld—uncontrollable.
"Last resort... this king ventures abyss!"
Tan Taixuan's eyes sharpened suddenly.
"Abyss likely holds clues from underworld-creating Ancient Emperor. Aid would ease soul handling."
Beigong paled: "No! Furnace fell—imperial might weaves; death zone. Wave erases all."
"Only way."
Tan shook head.
Beigong disagreed—argument ensued.
Suddenly!
Underworld quaked—earth cracking.
Both changed expressions—glanced, vanished.
Underworld sky black—but now fire-cloud like.
Nine city lords emerged—aura unstable, near collapse.
Over-refined souls—verge of rampage.
"What anomaly?"
Tan condensed gaze.
Nine unclear.
Soon—abyss thundered terror!
Stunned—they sped down, abyss edge.
Abyss flames soared high—nearly escaping.
Underworld earth melted under furnace flames—crumbling stones tumbling.
"This..."
Tan and nine paled!
Bitter Sea swayed—heavy, threatening land collapse as earth melted.
Crack...
Stones fractured.
Finally!
Abyss sank; Bitter Sea tilted.
Waters surged—pouring into abyss.
As if dousing furnace flames.
"What?!"
Suddenly!
Beigong sharp-eyed—stared Bitter Sea, horrified.
"Stone wall? Sunk in Bitter Sea bed?"
"Bitter Sea's corrosion immeasurable—souls, flesh dissolve instantly. What wall endures?"
A city lord boomed.
Walls bore strange scrolls—curious contents. But now—amid pour, rolled toward abyss.
Soon—out Bitter Sea, mud-sand wrapped—plunged abyss.
"Six walls total..."
Tan murmured.
Brows knit—heart pounding. Felt... great secrets on walls.
Boom!
Bitter Sea waters clashed furnace flames.
Waters reversed—flowing back to Bitter Sea.
Like upside-down waterfall—shocking.
Disappointing those thinking Bitter Sea could extinguish flames.
Buzz... buzz...
Suddenly—chanting echoed.
Abyss wall's flame-shrouded Buddha seemed alive. Cradled silhouette exuded terrifying oppression; sky-pointing arm rumbled, turning—finally pointing abyss bottom.
Imperial might spread.
Next.
Abyss trembled—stones cascaded.
Furnace roared.
As if challenged.
Above—six walls hovered. Ancient aura released supreme might—clashing imperial against furnace, waves rolling!
Tan and others marveled—captivated.
But shifting gaze to walls...
Bodies froze.