Chapter 1549: Old Friends Almost All Gone
Jiang Ding sat on the throne.
He quietly watched the empty palace.
Behind him, the shadowy vortices of six worlds slowly ebbed and flowed. This palace known as the Dark Demon Palace was once called the Six Dao Reincarnation Palace, built by the Ancestor Master of the Liudao Sect, a great Diabolism sect of the previous Northern Plains era.
Back then, after Jiang Ding captured this central palace of Northern Plains, he renamed the Six Dao Reincarnation Palace to the Dark Demon Palace, feeling that a small Nascent Soul Sect claiming the title of Six Dao Reincarnation was too arrogant and unrealistic.
Perhaps now, it could again revert to its original name?
In the Endless Starry Sky, perhaps what he now holds of the Six Dao Reincarnation has captured its essence, living up to the name?
Jiang Ding fell into contemplation.
After a long time, he slowly shook his head.
Not enough, far from enough.
Still way too far off.
In the Endless Universe Starry Sky, the achievements he holds now are akin to those of an ant.
The higher the realm ascends, the more he feels his insignificance, clearly seeing that almost despairing chasm barring generation after generation of cosmic elites, True Immortal's Child, Dragon Phoenix's Son, unable to cross that threshold.
His current achievements, what do they amount to?
To hold the name of Six Dao is to tread the path of destruction, even more dangerous than the Northern Plains Six Paths Sect of the past.
"Like a naive child playing house, speaking nonsensical words like 'I am a general' or 'I am an emperor', who would pay it any mind?"
"Even the most tyrannical monarch wouldn't act upon it, for it would be too shameful to lower oneself to the level of such a child, tarnishing one's reputation pointlessly."
Jiang Ding pondered quietly: "But if one who nears the True Immortal self-aligns thus... The probability of disaster far exceeds that of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, by thousands and tens of thousands of times."
"The Endless Universe Starry Sky hides too many secrets."
"I must learn humility."
The green-clothed youth on the throne was lost in contemplation.
This scene seemed eternal, persisting through thousands and tens of thousands of years, and it would continue forever, unchanged until the seas dried up, the stones decayed, and humanity faded.
This is an ancient presence, one that will endure time.
From the horizon, an Escape Light arrived, a bunny-tailed woman with slightly gray hair, adorable and childlike in her appearance, yet carrying the heavy air of dusk.
She is one of this world's strongest and oldest beings, the distant ancestor of countless souls.
Today, she entered the palace cautiously like a bewildered, naive child, her big eyes flickered upwards for a glance, and she quickly moved to a familiar position near the last row of the palace, standing upright and focused, reminiscent of earlier days in the classroom of Tushan Immortal City.
The arrival of this rabbit warrior signaled a beginning.
Soon, a human-shaped spirit ginseng, still in the form of a child of three to four years, arrived, his eyes filled with endless antiquity. He respectfully saluted and stood aside.
Moments later, a girl approximately one and a half meters tall arrived there.
She was not quite restrained, casting a gentle glance upward before standing at the forefront, closest to the throne, waiting quietly.
Lastly, a gracefully stunning Female Cultivator, adorned with Gentle Wind Wings, stepped inside, respectfully saluted, and then stood behind the one and a half meters tall girl.
The palace sank into silence.
One day, two days, three days.
A month, two months...
The green-clothed youth on the throne was still pondering; his perception of time was vastly different from mortals and low-ranking cultivators, such periods for him were extremely brief, only sufficient to think a small thought, solve a minor puzzle, or lightly cultivate.
The four powerful beings in the palace also waited quietly, uttering no sound.
Until three years later.
"Sigh..."
"No one will come again."
The green-clothed youth on the throne opened his eyes and sighed lightly: "Throughout the years, are old friends of the world reduced to just you four?"
There are still several Nascent Soul Cultivators in Tushan Central Court.
Unfortunately, they are all young lives, not old friends.
"Yes, my Lord."
The voice of the one and a half meters tall girl was crisp, saying: "Over five thousand years ago, Great Love Heavenly Monarch and Qingyun Heavenly Monarch ascended; over two thousand years ago, Lieyang Heavenly Monarch ascended; one thousand five hundred years ago, Ice Snow Heavenly Monarch ascended."
"Now, among the family alliance North Field of that time, only we four mediocre people remain."
"Mediocre?"
"Not exactly, for in the Upper Realm, you each have void refinement potential."
Jiang Ding's gaze swept over the four, comforting them.
Gong Caiyu, Late Truth-Transforming Stage, Hei Louxi, Late Truth-Transforming Stage, that rabbit, Late Truth-Transforming Stage, only Nine Elemental Spirit Ginseng Spring Third Babe is mid-stage of Spirit Transformation.
It was related to Jiang Ding's late-stage distribution policy.
Long ago, Jiang Ding no longer needed the resources of the Beiyuan Small Realm, as they were meager, so he casually bestowed them upon these old friends, allowing their cultivation base to gradually ascend.
"Old friends,"
"I shall not waste more words."
Jiang Ding sighed and said: "You haven't committed any mortal sins over the years, which is good, and for sentiment's sake, I will grant you an opportunity to ascend to the Upper Realm, a Void Refinement Technique, and offer discussion with fellow Daoists, promoting mutual growth."
"Long-lasting friendship must give hope to fellow Daoists, right?"
"Thank you, my Lord!"
Hei Louxi and the others took a deep breath, suppressing their excitement as they spoke.
Opportunity for ascension to the Upper Realm!
Void Refinement Technique!
And the opportunity named discussion, which is actually instruction, is what they, who shared childhood days with True Venerate of Tushan, could obtain.
Subsequent Nascent Soul Cultivators, no matter how exceptionally talented they may be, could no longer catch the eye of True Venerate of Tushan for gifts exceeding merit.
"The Upper Realm is also not peaceful and could be dangerous."
"The trouble I've stirred is no small matter, you must remember."
Jiang Ding admonished.
Over the long years, only these old friends could remind him of past youthful days, a feeling he quite liked, prompting him to grant them gifts.
Moreover, if he were to rule the Upper Realm someday, he would certainly reorganize his Tushan Maiden Corps, completing his dominion over the Upper Realm, these maidens would become seeds of future troops, sparing the effort and toil of cultivation.
Therefore, Jiang Ding hoped they would continue to grow.
"Yes, my Lord!"
Hei Louxi and the others firmly remembered.
"Very good."
Jiang Ding nodded slightly.
He waved his hand, one by one bestowing the prepared elixirs, cultivation methods, and talismans, then meticulously explained his Refining Void Path to the four Nascent Soul Cultivators based on their cultivation methods, meridians, and Divine Soul aspects, detailing modifications, remedies, and refining mana and Divine Sense... covering every detail.
This was an indescribable opportunity.
One might even say it resembled the undertaking by a leading figure in Immortal Path education, ranked among the top in the World Community of Thousand Worlds, personally lecturing a cultivator, an honor seldom granted even to Immortal Sect Citizens.
This was a chance capable of triggering transformative changes for a Nascent Soul Cultivator!
Such immense opportunities, casually bestowed without any cost, could only be given to those old friends acquainted since youthful times.
This powerful entity hopes his old friends survive.