Fu Province, Naihe Mountain.
Amidst the rugged mountains, there was a narrow winding path. Upon it, a grey shadow with billowing sleeves flickered and leaped across several hundred meters of ravine, arriving at a mid-mountain Daoist temple.
The temple bore a hanging plaque: Gongshu Temple.
The grey shadow halted, gazing up at the plaque.
"Brother Dao, now that the Great Spirit has unified the world and all submit, the Spirit Emperor has proclaimed to seek Grandmaster experts to venture beyond the heavens. You and I have been in seclusion for years, long having disregarded worldly affairs. Now this beyond the heavens, it is truly a release from our previous shackles."
"What? Do you wish to go?" Inside the temple, a tall, thin figure suddenly appeared at the main entrance, with a flash.
This was a tall, thin elder with pale yellow eyes.
However, his aura was entirely different from other Grandmasters.
If other Grandmasters were strong, powerful, and dominant,
then his presence was cold, sinister, giving an implicit sense of discomfort.
"Naturally, I wish to go. Having lived for hundreds of years, we didn’t move when Meng Qian founded the Reverse Time Society. Wasn’t it all for the scene beyond the heavens?" the gray shadow sighed.
"Gods and Buddhas have harvested several times, great battles, the Reverse Time Society plotted for years, now finally achieved. The Blood Immortal Dao Master Qiankun Zi was indeed a rare talent, unparalleled through time, single-handedly establishing the path to the heavens."
Now with such an exceptionally powerful Imperial Tutor in charge, I heard the Great Spirit has begun to explore the lands beyond the heavens," the gray shadow expressed a hint of longing.
They were among the first Celestial Lighters to be enlightened, now learning that the Spirit Court, supported by Blood Immortal Dao, is sending numerous people to explore beyond the heavens.
Time and again, during the battles of gods and buddhas, they did not act.
With Spirit Flying Heaven controlling everything and battling the Reverse Time Society, they did not act.
With the Spirit Emperor changing the throne repeatedly with new rulers, they did not act.
But now.... having an established path directly to the heavens, they finally were moved.
"Back then, my family of thirty-seven people, apart from me, all tragically died under the celestial light. All along, my only wish was to understand what that celestial light truly was. And now.... the Imperial Tutor has given me this opportunity," the gray shadow said solemnly.
The temple’s master remained silent for a moment.
The matter of the celestial path, he actually knew.
That terrifying blood-colored path, extending hundreds of thousands of meters, directly to the heavens, even the dullest person should have seen it.
After a long while....
He looked at the old friend before him.
"Let’s go together."
"You’re agreeing!?" The gray shadow was taken aback, then overjoyed.
"Continuing to live like this serves no purpose. Immortal and undying, if this is the fate of us first-generation Celestial Lighters, then I too want to find out the root of this fate," the master replied calmly.
"Just like you! The Heavenly Sea like a jade bow, had the world’s number one bow ever reappeared in the martial world, the Spirit Court and Blood Immortal Dao would definitely give it immense importance. Thus, the significance of our alignment would be entirely different," the gray shadow said with joy.
"Perhaps...." The master slightly shook his head.
Meanwhile, in the Great Capital, Blood Rainbow Pavilion subdivision.
The lake’s water stirred, creating gentle ripples.
Meng Qian sat quietly with a fishing rod, poised on a bamboo raft. Gazing at the mirror-like lake, he too seemed a bit lost.
"What are you thinking about?" A red shadow suddenly flashed, appearing beside him.
It was Emperor Jiang.
He didn’t know when he had donned a woman’s red dress, with make-up, neither male nor female, his goatee smeared with blush, looking rather odd.
"Did you see Qiankun Zi’s invitation?" Meng Qian asked softly without turning his head.
"Yes, I’m planning to go," Emperor Jiang nodded. "The matters beyond the heavens cannot always be shouldered by a mere junior alone. You and I are still alive; we must contribute to this world."
"Since when have you been so inclined to justice?" Meng Qian asked in surprise.
"Alright, the truth is, I’m simply curious, wanting to go out and see what it’s like beyond the heavens," Emperor Jiang laughed. "I suppose many others in the society share this thought."
"The successful instances of Extreme Realm transforming into Bloodlines include Tang Xinyi; she no longer forgets, the bloodline is healing her, restoring everything. Therefore, if you want to venture out, you must transform into a Bloodline," Meng Qian replied seriously.
"Why not?" Emperor Jiang raised an eyebrow. "Actually, not just me, many elders in the society, before I came, were already willing to transform into Bloodlines.
After all, with the great enemy gone, what’s the point in continuing this insanity? Being able to recover is naturally best."
".....Qiankun Zi...Truly remarkable," Meng Qian sighed. "Since you all plan to go, then... I shall go as well."
"You want to transform into a Bloodline?" Emperor Jiang asked, puzzled.
"Why not? I’ve borne everything for too long, now having someone to help me, sometimes, being protected by others feels quite nice," Meng Qian smiled slightly.
"Damir has also decided to go," Emperor Jiang laughed.
"It seems everyone has made their decision...." Meng Qian put down his fishing rod and gently stood up.
"Yes..." Emperor Jiang looked at the buoy that already had fish hooked, and fell silent.
Whoosh!
In an instant, the two disappeared from where they stood. Only the struggling little fish, frantically twisting on the fishing line, remained.
*
*
*
Human Immortal Cave.
Zhang Rongfang sat cross-legged by the Blood Pool, eyes slightly closed, focused intently on the new ability in the attribute column.
He initially thought his desire to confront the Celestial Light would bring a new targeted ability.
But now... this ability seems completely unrelated.
’Special Trait — Dark Spring.’
’Dark Spring — Any individual possessed of your bloodline and soul will experience doubled recovery from injuries when close to you. The range is determined by your total life points. (Currently 500 meters)’
"Dark Spring? This ability... doesn’t seem to help much against Celestial Light..." Zhang Rongfang was slightly surprised.
This seems more like a range recovery ability, but his bloodline followers lack nothing in recovery capabilities. What he most wanted was flame resistance or ice-related abilities, but now.....
This Dark Spring ability doesn’t seem to be of much use.
After all, he couldn’t just stay in one spot forever for the sake of his followers’ quick recovery.
However, as doubt crept into his heart, suddenly beneath this ability.
The Soul Reaping belonging to the Blood Ancestor and the Soul and Flesh Unity of the Ultimate Creature, these two abilities suddenly light up together.
Dark Spring, Soul Reaping, Soul and Flesh Unity, all three abilities began to glow with a faint blue light.
From behind, roots seemed to grow, extending out large dotted lines, spawning new abilities required.
A mass of dense abilities quickly converged, shrinking to a point, finally halting.
"What is this!?" Zhang Rongfang’s eyes widened as he looked towards that final point.
It was a new bloodline!
Finally.... a new bloodline has appeared.
’Ancestral Nine Phoenix Bloodline: Combine all abilities to acquire the complete Nine Phoenix Bloodline. Nine Phoenix, also known as Ghost Chariot, with ten necks and nine heads, possesses the ability to control souls. Initially a nine-headed phoenix bird, later stigmatized and reduced to a nine-headed fierce bird.’
Of the Nine Phoenix mythological creature, Zhang Rongfang had heard, just.... he was unsure how this ancient beast could help against the Celestial Light.
’Could it be that I’m supposed to package everyone’s souls and lead them to a new world?’ Zhang Rongfang speculated in his heart.
The only thing this new ability might achieve could be this.
But beyond the celestial screen, there was no essence of souls; even the Heart-Burning Furnace is fundamentally a combination of biotech and technology from the Celestial Spirit Eye Race.
Those martial arts moves are truly tangible energy, not supernatural.
Essentially, from the beginning until now, the only supernatural Zhang Rongfang has ever seen is himself.
Even Long was actually the strongest physical body crafted by the Spirit Eye Race. It’s the pinnacle masterpiece of biotech.
Though it seems it was just a case of the cuckoo occupying the nest.
Calming himself, Zhang Rongfang carefully observed the various ability talents required for the Nine Phoenix.
’Soul-Wailing, Nine Heads, Communicating with the Underworld, Ghost Mansion, Erosion of Yin Soil, Extreme Cold Blood, Transformation into Underworld, Ying-Yang Passage, Soul Devouring, Nine Phoenix Primordial Form.’ What is needed isn’t much, altogether just ten more.
But seeing the latter parts, Zhang Rongfang seemed to understand, the Extreme Cold Blood is likely the key for the Nine Phoenix bloodline to counter the Celestial Light.
He pondered for a moment, suddenly reacting swiftly.
’Wait! I can now reshape anyone’s body with flesh and blood, and if the Nine Phoenix comes into full fruition, controlling soul healing, using the soul to aid in remodeling the flesh, this would entirely be a perfect resurrection — a range-based immortality!’
He suddenly comprehended.
Perhaps this is the crux of this ability.
Sitting cross-legged in the Human Immortal Cave, he carefully experienced the newly acquired ability, Dark Spring.
He doesn’t just rely on gifted abilities; each ability he carefully thinks and understands its essence, thereby maximizing its potency.
Moreover, he is also attempting to combine various abilities for use.
Now, the talents acquired are increasing, but not all may be helpful to himself; quite a few are purely filler.
’Just right, a new ability needs verification and testing. While waiting for a reply, I can fully integrate the entire Great Spirit Interactive Area’s power.’
"Dao Lord, the reverse-time assembly of Blood Rainbow Pavilion members have come together, and they seem to have important matters to discuss." Suddenly, the voice of a Blood Immortal Dao disciple came from outside the cave.
"Blood Rainbow Pavilion?" Zhang Rongfang’s mind flashed with thoughts of the current composition of the Blood Rainbow Pavilion.
Whether it’s Meng Qian, or Emperor Jiang, or the Celestial Maiden, all are now members of Blood Rainbow Pavilion.
"Invite them here then." He replied audibly.
"Yes." The disciple answered respectfully and quickly retreated.
Not long after, Zhang Rongfang stood up, patted his robes, and waved his hand.
The entire interior of the Human Immortal Cave instantly saw countless blood writhe, beginning to exert the simulative abilities of the Ultimate Creature.
Soon, throughout the cave, patches of pale red flowers grew, and several blood-colored butterflies gently emerged from the bloodwater and fluttered around.
All the seemingly bloody and eerie places were now entirely covered.
Before long, three figures suddenly appeared outside the Human Immortal Cave.
Leading was none other than Meng Qian, with an eye of purple crystal.
He looked up at the plaque of the cave, silently sighed.
"Let’s go."
He slightly turned his body, looking at the ones behind him.
Behind him were Emperor Jiang and Liehu.
Initially, he was apprehensive about the influence of the bloodline, but now, the whole empire’s massive populace has been transformed by the bloodline, leaving only them, few old-timers of the reverse-time assembly, still unconverted.
"I wonder what attitude the Imperial Tutor will have when we meet him again." He spoke softly.