In those eyes seemed to flicker a trace of unique rhythm, one not inferior to any other. The Heavenly Dao is impartial, without selfishness. Since the founding of Great Yi, its countless achievements are beyond number. In the wars against Eternal Night, never once had it shrunk back—every time, it charged forward. Blood was shed for Eternity, enemies were slain, and Great Yi had even directly entered the battlefield of Eternal Night. Now, in the Netherworld it suppressed a demon Abyss, and in the Yang Realm, within the Dark realm, it guarded the Abyssal Demon Domain, keeping it from stepping out of the Abyssal Battlefield even half a step. All of this—no one could surpass.
For Great Yi to advance, the Heavenly Dao could not possibly obstruct it.
These merits were visible to all.
The vast sea of merit-clouds was no illusion.
If one claimed that Great Yi would ascend, the Heavenly Dao would never disagree.
Great Yi had rendered great service to Heaven and Earth—this was undeniable fact.
Yet at this moment, in the eyes of Heaven's Will, a strange light flickered. The gaze it cast upon Yi Tianxing was peculiarly different. It was not the gaze of Heaven toward a subject beneath it, but rather the look of one supreme existence toward another of equal standing.
If Heaven had emotions, they would surely be extremely complicated.
Crack!!
After a long moment, a strange light flashed within the golden Eye of Heaven, and in the void, without the slightest warning, a clear thunderous boom resounded.
"Permitted!!"
It was as if a voice of approval was heard from the Heavenly Dao itself, as if the Great Dao had responded.
At that instant, Yi Tianxing instinctively felt that the shackles binding Great Yi's Holy Court had been broken, the invisible chains of rank shattered.
"From this day, my Great Yi shall ascend to become an Immortal Court."
Yi Tianxing's heart surged with joy, unable to restrain his excitement. This was the Immortal Court—once ascended, it would step into an entirely new realm. At present, the only Immortal Court remaining in Heaven and Earth was the Lingxiao Immortal Court, inherited from the previous epoch. If Great Yi succeeded, it would be the first Immortal Court of this era. Such renown, even Lingxiao Immortal Court could not rival. Its significance was immeasurable, destined to be engraved upon the annals of the Eternal World for all ages to come.
To be passed down for eternity.
Standing upon the Heaven-Sacrificing Altar, he raised his voice in proclamation.
The invisible shackles were already shattered—this meant Great Yi could proceed further, the gate to Immortal Court ascension had been opened. Of course, whether it could truly succeed still depended on passing Heaven's trial.
What that trial might be, not even Yi Tianxing knew. There was no precedent to follow—it depended entirely on Great Yi carving its own path. Everything ahead was unknown, but Yi Tianxing was confident: no matter what lay before them, with Great Yi's foundation, even if there was no road, they would cut one open by force.
"Advance from Holy Court to Immortal Court. We shall become the true supreme Immortal Dynasty!"
Hearing Yi Tianxing's proclamation, throughout the realm of Great Yi, in every domain, countless citizens erupted with joy. They raised their heads to the sky and shouted, unleashing their innermost happiness. Smiles of endless delight spread across faces—the shackles restraining Great Yi's ascension had been broken.
"Though the Heavenly Dao will not obstruct, the true trials of ascending to Immortal Court will now begin. Let us see if Great Yi can endure. The Nine Dao Venerables will certainly not sit idly by."
Ming He and other mighty figures looked on with strange expressions.
Great Yi's path to ascension had, in truth, been allowed under their indulgence. Otherwise, it could not have reached this point so quickly. But now, what trial would come in ascending to Immortal Court—no one knew. This was the first time since the dawn of Heaven and Earth.
Even Haotian, master of the Lingxiao Immortal Court, did not know—he had never experienced it.
"How interesting. Now we will see what foundation Great Yi truly possesses to overcome this trial."
Haotian watched coldly.
At this moment he could not obstruct it, but that did not prevent him from standing aside to observe.
"The tribulation is coming."
Almost as soon as Heaven's shackles lifted, Yi Tianxing felt the presence of calamity condense above Xuanhuang Sacred City. A thick tribulation cloud appeared out of nothingness, lightning flashing within, firestorms surging, scenes of terror unfolding within it as though the end of days was descending. Its oppressive might was terrifying, as if it would crush everything beneath. Heaven's Eye was now hidden within the tribulation clouds.
"What tribulation is this to be—Dragon Gate or Heavenly Tribulation?"
"No matter. Whatever trial may come, however great the calamity, Great Yi fears nothing. In Great Yi there are no cowards—even should we die standing, we shall never live kneeling! For the sake of ascending to Immortal Court, even if it costs us our lives—so be it!"
Countless citizens and cultivators of Great Yi looked to the void with anticipation and yearning.
Though none knew what calamity it would be, not a shred of fear showed.
"It begins… Great Yi is truly ascending to Immortal Court."
At this moment, throughout the Eternal World, rulers of various Fate Dynasties lifted their gaze to the void, toward the location of Great Yi. The vision of its ascension reflected across all realms, visible to all.
All the mighty Fate Dynasties bore witness.
That Great Yi had reached this step shocked them, yet was not unexpected. Great Yi's destiny was extraordinary—one step ahead, and step by step it surged forward. But still, it was far too fast. From Holy Court to Immortal Court usually required millennia upon millennia of accumulation. Some never reached it, never even touched the threshold. Yet Great Yi had accomplished it—in such a short time.
"Great Yi must be cheating the heavens…"
Many Heaven's Favored muttered to themselves in shock.
Still, their eyes remained fixed on the void.
This was the best opportunity to glimpse the Dao of Fate Dynasties.
Rumble!!!
Suddenly, the vast tribulation clouds in the void shifted, without warning transforming into a boundless sea.
That sea was black.
One glance at it, and instinctively one knew—the waters of this sea were bitter. Covering the heavens, spreading through the void, it seemed like a mirage, like a phantom projection of the void itself.
"The Bitter Sea!!"
Yi Tianxing lifted his gaze, and at first sight, he instinctively understood what it was. This was the Bitter Sea.
"The mundane world rises high, the Bitter Sea is hard to cross."
The Bitter Sea exists and does not exist. It represents the mortal world of red dust, the seven emotions and six desires, the entanglement of cause and effect.
The Buddhist sects say: The Bitter Sea has no end—turn back and you will find the shore.
Yet who can truly cross it?
To the common folk, poverty is the Bitter Sea, wealth is the other shore.
To the wealthy and powerful, restraint is the Bitter Sea, eternal riches are the other shore.
To emperors, the end of life is the Bitter Sea, immortality is the other shore.
The Bitter Sea is nowhere in the world, yet everywhere in it.
And now, the Bitter Sea manifested in the void.
"Cross the Bitter Sea, step into the Gate of Immortality, and the ascension to Immortal Court shall be complete."
An unseen will echoed within the minds of all in Great Yi.
This trial required the True Dragon of Fate to enter the Bitter Sea, cross it, and seek out the Gate of Immortality, hidden within and always shifting. Only by finding and breaking open the Gate and entering within could the final transformation succeed. Fail to find it, and it was Heaven's decree—ascension would fail.
If a dynasty's fortune was strong, perhaps the Gate would appear at once. That would be true great luck.
But if fortune failed, the Gate could never be found.
And within the Bitter Sea, the True Dragon of Fate would be corroded, its nation's fortune consumed—an irreversible loss. Should the True Dragon perish, the dynasty's fate would collapse. Not only would Immortal Court be out of reach, even the position of Holy Court would crumble. Once entering the Bitter Sea, if the Gate could not be found—there was no leaving. One-way only.
There was no retreat.
Of course, one could choose to forfeit—but if forfeited, then naturally, never again would ascension to Immortal Court be possible.
This was the Dao of Fate Dynasties: every moment, a choice. Each choice leading to utterly different futures.
"A harsh Dao of Dynasties indeed—no retreat, only advance."
Countless mighty cultivators were inwardly shaken.
This was a battle with the river at their back. No other path remained. Advance, or perish. Success, or annihilation. Nothing else. Too cruel.
"He… what will he choose?"
All eyes fell upon Yi Tianxing.
This choice only he could make. None could replace or interfere.
For such matters of fate, no one else could bear the responsibility.
"The Dao of Dynasties is advance without retreat. My Great Yi—either ascends to Immortal Court, or collapses here and now!"
Yi Tianxing stood proud, declaring without the slightest hesitation.
Great Yi would never retreat.
ROAR!!
From the sea of merit-clouds above Xuanhuang City, a mighty dragon's roar resounded. Suddenly, a seven-clawed golden dragon unfurled its body completely, its colossal form stretching one million seven hundred thousand zhang long, filling the heavens.
The overwhelming oppression of its vast body radiated in all directions.
"What!? The True Dragon of Fate—it's not a million zhang, but one million seven hundred thousand! How could Great Yi have such immense fortune?"
"Impossible! Even with ten more realms added to its domain, Great Yi could not accumulate so much fate. How? Does Great Yi have other hidden sources of destiny—or some means unknown to us?"
Ming He and the others trembled in shock at the sight.
The True Dragon of Fate's size was beyond anything they had known.
ROAR!!
Without hesitation, the seven-clawed golden dragon opened its mouth wide and inhaled the entire sea of merit-clouds, drawing it in like a whale swallowing the ocean.