In the blink of an eye, the vast sea of merit clouds had completely vanished. At this moment of ascension, that boundless merit was one of the strongest foundations for the True Dragon of Destiny to survive the tribulation. The power of merit could shield the True Dragon of Destiny from sinking irretrievably into the Bitter Sea, from being devoured and drowned by it, forever unable to transcend. Instead, it resisted the power of the Bitter Sea, granting the True Dragon of Destiny the ability to roam freely within it.
ROAR!!
Just then, from within Xuanhuang Immortal City, another dragon's roar rang out, filled with an ancient, boundless aura. With it appeared a True Dragon less than three thousand zhang in length, exuding the aura of Xuanhuang. It was none other than the first Supreme Ancestral Vein of Great Yi—the Xuanhuang Ancestral Vein.
Over the years, under constant nurturing, coupled with its own absorption of chaotic qi to condense its origin, it had already grown to nearly three thousand zhang.
Do not underestimate three thousand zhang as insignificant—it was a Supreme Ancestral Vein. Every additional zhang of growth represented an astonishing feat. Great Yi had expended an immeasurable amount of resources to allow the Xuanhuang Ancestral Vein to grow to this stage.
Of course, compared to its peak length of 129,600 zhang, this was still but a child, yet its very existence was enough to drive countless destiny dynasties into madness, to make them shed rivers of blood and fight desperately to seize it.
The Xuanhuang Ancestral Vein suddenly soared into the air, rushing toward the seven-clawed golden dragon.
The golden dragon did not dodge. Instead, it eagerly awaited the arrival of the vein. When they touched, a wondrous transformation occurred—the Xuanhuang Ancestral Vein directly merged into the body of the seven-clawed golden dragon. Instantly, wisps of Xuanhuang aura coiled around it, divine radiance flowing, as if the True Dragon of Destiny had suddenly gained an indescribable sense of reality, heavier, more complete.
Having done this, the seven-clawed golden dragon no longer hesitated. With a roar that shook the heavens, its body moved, leaving behind a trail of divine dragon light across the void before plunging directly into the vast Bitter Sea.
The moment it entered, the pitch-black waters surged forth, tendrils of dark qi winding themselves toward the True Dragon of Destiny. In the Bitter Sea, countless eerie skulls emerged, extending bony, withered hands to grasp at the dragon.
"Don't go…"
"Stay here…"
The Bitter Sea carried endless terrifying obsessions, voices calling, summoning, trying to invade the dragon's body, to merge into it, and turn it into part of the Bitter Sea itself.
Yet, as the black qi touched, golden radiance naturally burst forth from the golden dragon, dispersing the corruption. Wisps of Xuanhuang aura shielded its body, making infiltration ever more difficult.
At the same time, the dragon sensed that, through the ancestral vein within it, a mysterious connection had formed with some hidden existence in the Bitter Sea—
The Gate of Immortality.
The reason an Immortal Court required a Supreme Ancestral Vein during ascension was that, with it fused into the True Spirit of Destiny, one could establish a mystical link with the Gate of Immortality. Following that link, one could chase it down and find the gate.
Without a Supreme Ancestral Vein, the True Spirit of Destiny could never sense it. To enter the Bitter Sea without such guidance was no different from suicide. Finding the Gate of Immortality would be nearly impossible—unless one's fate defied the heavens so much that the gate itself slammed right into them, a chance one in billions, if not less. Dreaming would be easier.
Thus, this was why an Immortal Court must have a Supreme Ancestral Vein as a prerequisite. And of course, its purpose was not limited to just this. It was also the foundation needed to suppress and extend the longevity of a dynasty's fortune.
Now sensing the Gate of Immortality, the golden dragon realized it was not fixed in place. It constantly shifted positions—one moment ahead, the next behind. Each time, it would remain in one spot for only a quarter of an hour. If it could not be reached in time, it would vanish and reappear elsewhere. Whether or not it could be caught depended entirely on ability and luck.
At this moment, the True Dragon of Destiny twisted its body and sped toward the direction it sensed.
Within the Bitter Sea, endless obsessions transformed into obstacles, desperately hindering its advance, slowing its passage. Yet with the merit and Xuanhuang aura shielding it, the dragon moved like lightning, charging recklessly. Still, the merit and ancestral energy consumed ceaselessly, and even the dragon itself began to weaken, shrinking bit by bit.
Though small, over time, the toll was staggering.
Whoosh!!
Time was impossible to grasp within the Bitter Sea, only the relentless chase of the gate. Suddenly, before the dragon appeared a massive bronze ancient gate, immortal light cascading like an ocean, transforming into divine beasts and spirits.
Yet just as it neared, the next second, the Gate of Immortality vanished.
When the connection reappeared, it was already to the south.
The dragon had no choice but to turn again, resuming the chase.
Whether it stopped or pressed forward, the Bitter Sea constantly sought to assimilate it. This pursuit was a test of both power and fortune.
"That's the Gate of Immortality. Such a swift True Dragon of Destiny—but the gate lingers far too briefly. Without great luck, capturing it is nearly impossible. Truly difficult."
"Yes. The True Spirit of Destiny constantly burns its essence within the Bitter Sea. If it cannot reach the gate and enter before exhaustion sets in, disaster will be inevitable. The ascension from Sacred Court to Immortal Court is indeed not so simple."
Many mighty beings sighed in awe.
Even Haotian felt a trace of relief. His Lingxiao Immortal Court did not need to endure this. By inheriting the remnants of the last epoch, it had directly begun as an Immortal Court. Otherwise, he could not be sure whether he could have succeeded in seizing the Gate.
CRACK!!
RUMBLE!!
Suddenly, terrifying thunder resounded through the void. Looking up, one could see the skies above Great Yi tear open, vast fissures splitting the heavens. Behind those rifts were glimpses of dreadful worlds—blood seas raging, pitch darkness boiling, horrors beyond comprehension.
An invisible pressure surged forth like a tide.
"Look, the sky—it has cracked!"
"What's happening? Wasn't the trial supposed to be the Bitter Sea? Why has this change suddenly appeared? Is the ascension trial this harsh? I feel unspeakable dread from those fissures. Something is wrong—terribly wrong!"
"Don't be afraid. Even if the heavens crack, we can mend them—with our flesh and blood, we will patch the sky."
"Wait—what's that? Why does it feel so familiar? Demons—those are countless demons!"
The countless citizens of Great Yi gazed at the sky, their vigilance rising as they felt the oppressive force descend.
From many fissures, endless demonic clouds poured out, carrying horrific devilish chants.
"Not good, danger indeed—heaven's tribulation and man's calamity arrive together!"
"That aura—it's the Nine Heavens Dao Venerables. They've truly acted!"
"Send word to all Immortal Cities! Follow the emergency defense plan. All garrisons to the walls. Battle-soul war realms—prepare for combat at once!"
Liu Bowen and the others paled. Though expected, witnessing it unfold was another matter entirely. The Nine Heavens Dao Venerables again targeted Great Yi, shameless beyond measure. To interfere at such a time, without the slightest regard for dignity—truly a pack of despicable frauds!
"The Nine Heavens Dao Venerables have struck together. These fissures connect directly to their Nine Heavens Worlds!"
Yi Tianxing's eyes gleamed with icy fire, rage burning within as he coldly declared:
"Citizens of Great Yi, a great calamity is upon us. For Great Yi, for our homeland, for our brothers and families—take up your weapons! Fight! Slay all enemies! Let the Eternal World know this: the people of Great Yi will die standing, never live kneeling! The human race is strong—we will never be slaves!!"
His voice spread across every realm of Great Yi.
Then, a cold decree echoed from the void:
"Yi Tianxing, Saint King of Great Yi, defies Heaven's mandate. By law, he must be slain. Today is the day of retribution. Great Yi is a nation of sin, its people sinners. Kneel and submit to the Nine Heavens Dao Venerables, and you may live. Resist, and you shall be destroyed."
With that, countless terrifying streams of light burst from the fissures like a rain of meteors, plunging toward Great Yi. The very sun was blotted out.
"Hmph! Then fight!!"
Yi Tianxing's snort rang like thunder, his gaze sharp as blades, his voice a chilling war cry.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
From the rifts, enormous beastly claws emerged, terrifying and grotesque—some pitch black as ink, some bright blood-red, dripping as if with gore, some vast as oceans. Each claw towered heaven and earth, slamming down toward the Immortal Cities of Great Yi without mercy.