The eyes of Master Tianji were locked onto the far distance, watching the turbulent seas of clouds; his eyes twinkling with brilliance. The bronze coin at his fingertips was spinning rapidly. He paid no heed to the words of the Tianshi Pavilion Master as if he heard nothing at all.
Seeing this, the Tianshi Pavilion Master naturally understood that his Master was calculating the mysteries of fate and dared not disturb him in the slightest, quietly standing behind him and waiting.
Even as a strong practitioner at the Eightfold Spirit Realm, the Tianshi Pavilion Master wouldn't dare to neglect his manners or respect in front of his teacher.
Perhaps within the entire Sky Mechanism Pavilion, only the brother of Master Tianji, another powerful practitioner at the Nine Realms of Spirit, Gods' Calculator, could command an equal status with Master Tianji.
After an unknown amount of time, the brilliance in the eyes of Master Tianji gradually dissipated. The ancient bronze coin initially dancing at his fingertips also stopped and sank into his palm, disappearing without a trace, as if it had never appeared before.
"Let's go!" Master Tianji turned around and said to his disciple.
He did not mention his recent calculations of the celestial secrets, and the Tianshi Pavilion Master tactfully refrained from asking further.
Inside the Sky Mechanism Pavilion, there were many cultivators at the Eightfold Spirit Realm. Even among the disciples of Master Tianji, he was not the only one. His ability to reach this position was obvious proof of his wisdom.
"Yes!"
The Tianshi Pavilion Master escorted Master Tianji to another mountain peak, where the Heroes had already gathered.
The mountain peak was not far from them, and they arrived in an instant.
Today, those who could ascend to this mountain were all practitioners at the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm at the very least. Cultivators below this level simply had no place there, unable to linger for extended periods of time.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I have failed to greet you from afar today, I hope you all will forgive me…"
The moment Master Tianji stepped onto the mountain peak, many powerful figures had already sensed his presence. His voice reverberated throughout the entire mountain peak, and everyone heard his words.
The gaze of almost every practitioner fell upon him, and as he entered the peak, Master Tianji immediately understood the layout of the various forces on the mountain.
With the reputation of Master Tianji and his Sky Mechanism Pavilion, the news he disseminated was not confined within the human race, but also reached many within the Demon Race.
When Pei Xuanjing initially suppressed the Taixu Venerable, the Demon Race did not participate due to their many concerns about the human races' most powerful figures and fear of traps. Still, they immediately understood the significant event that had taken place in the ancestral land afterwards, and thus, they got a clear understanding of Pei Xuanjing's might.
This time, the practitioners from the Sky Wasteland wanted to use their return to the ancestral land to integrate the Sky Wasteland into the ancestral lands and gain even greater power. This could not be overlooked by the Demon Race either.
Throughout countless years of struggle between the human race and the Demon Race, both sides had consciously or unconsciously kept their skirmishes within a certain limit as both knew that the balance was maintained due to the negligible difference in power at the top levels, neither side had the surety of annihilating the other, fearing it would end up in a situation where both parties were decimated and hence, had been restraining themselves all along.
This time, if the human race's plan fails, it would be fine, but if it is successful, wouldn't it mean that the human race will have even more powerful practitioners? This would undoubtedly disrupt the balance between the human and demon races, an outcome which the demon race could not accept. Therefore, they tactlessly participated in this grand gathering.
The Demon Race's many powerful figures did not conceal nor did they need to hide their purpose for coming this time, as they understood that the human race was fully aware of their intention.
Their intention was to tell the Human Race not to try and take this opportunity to exclude the Demon race and hog all the benefits, they either share the Sky Wasteland or incorporate into the ancestral land together, and win the favor of the will of Heaven and Earth.
Therefore, on this mountain peak, many powerful figures from the Demon Race occupied one side. As for the Human race's cultivators, they understood this and did not rush up in fury, because they understood the importance of compromise. If the roles were reversed, they would have done the same.
It could be said that both parties wanted to disrupt the balance of the current situation, but none would allow the other to do so, or they would face the risk of annihilation.
Other than the Demon Race occupying one side, the Human race's Righteous Path occupied one side, the Demonic Way occupied one side, and the remaining side was occupied by the Independent Practitioner.
These four forces occupied four directions of the mountain peak, leaving the center vacant for Master Tianji and the Sky Mechanism Pavilion as the hosts.
Master Tianji chuckled, without saying much, he strode forward to the center of the mountain peak and announced loudly, "Ladies and Gentlemen…"
...
"I didn't expect you would come to Shenxiao Mountain at this time, Pei Xuanjing is indeed curious."
On Shenxiao Mountain, Pei Xuanjing, who was originally in seclusion refining the Taoyun to suppress the Taixu Mirror and eradicate the Taixu Venerable, did not expect to be disrupted by a visitor, and this visitor turned out to be Bai Xiaosheng, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
After Bai Xiaosheng handed over many matters to Pang Hong, he left Tiandu under the excuse of closing himself off to the world, where he went, no one knew. After all, having managed the Bai Xiaosheng organization for many years, he could easily have more than 30 hideouts, and there would be no issues regarding his hiding place unless a powerful practitioner like Pei Xuanjing intentionally sought him.
Pei Xuanjing chose to respect his decision on this matter. Even though many things had the appearance of knowing attitude, unless you are the one involved, no one can truly empathize.
Initially, Pei Xuanjing assumed Bai Xiaosheng would commit himself completely to his seclusion and would not break it until he reached a certain cultivation level. However, to his surprise, Bai Xiaosheng reappeared after a few short years and came to him directly.
"If I had known your strength had reached this point, Brother Pei, I wouldn't have ended up in this state," Bai Xiaosheng said with a bitter smile.
His decision to hand over many things to Pang Hong was also a last resort. The situation at the time did not allow him to continue to stand out and he had to retreat.
As the revival of Heaven and Earth drew ever closer, more and more cultivators from Sky Wasteland descended, and Bai Xiaosheng's understanding of the Sky Mechanism Pavilion also deepened. He became more aware of the terrifying power of the forces he was up against.
Originally, he thought that among these top forces, the Sky Mechanism Pavilion was the youngest force apart from the Taixu Path. It should only have Master Tianji, a powerful practitioner at the Nine Realms of Spirit. With Pei Xuanjing and the Great Ming Divine Dynasty as his supporters and some other means, he might be able to break through the situation with alliances.
However, when he learned that besides Master Tianji, the Sky Mechanism Pavilion also had Gods' Calculator, another powerful practitioner at the Nine Realms of Spirit, this undoubtedly nearly shattered the heart of Bai Xiaosheng, who until recently had thought he was holding the winning hand.
At the time, before Pei Xuanjing had demonstrated his strength as a powerful practitioner of the Nine Realms of Spirit, Bai Xiaosheng had no choice but to retreat temporarily and avoid the limelight.
"So, do you have a plan now? " Pei Xuanjing asked.
Pei Xuanjing watched Bai Xiaosheng, who was standing before him, and asked, "Since you are here now, I suppose you are confident?"
Given Bai Xiaosheng's circumstances, he would not have appeared with such boldness had he not been fully confident.
With a light chuckle, Bai Xiaosheng said, "To be honest, the reason I withdrew earlier was because I was worried that the power of Sky Mechanism Pavilion was too great and I would bring trouble to you, brother Pei, so…"
Before he could finish his sentence, Pei Xuanjing understood that Bai Xiaosheng had retreated because he knew that there were two cultivators from the Nine Realms of Spirit in the Sky Mechanism Pavilion, and he felt that he could not compete with them, hence he chose to step back.
It was only when he heard that Pei Xuanjing had suppressed the Taixu Venerable that he realised that Xuanjing could protect him, and that was why he chose to appear now.
Upon understanding this, Pei Xuanjing was unfazed. He believed that it was human instinct to seek benefits and avoid risks, so he didn't mind Bai Xiaosheng's explanation at all. After all, if he were in the same situation, he probably would have made the same choice.
Seeing Pei Xuanjing's composed expression, Bai Xiaosheng knew that he had let the matter go. Not wanting to dwell on it, he changed the subject: "Brother Pei, do you know that something big is happening in the Sky Wasteland?"
By this point, with the emergence of many cultivators in the Sky Wasteland, all its veils had been completely lifted and were fully exposed to everyone.
Gauging by Bai Xiaosheng's thought process, even though he temporarily retreated and relinquished his information network, he didn't abandon his interest in the Sky Wasteland. The occurrence in the Sky Wasteland where forces were converging from all sides, immediately made him realize that this could be a good opportunity.
Before Bai Xiaosheng was finished sharing his views, Pei Xuanjing interrupted him with a smile, "Are you referring to the current situation where the forces in the Sky Wasteland are gathering in the Sky Mechanism Pavilion to discuss the partitioning of the Sky Wasteland and its incorporation into the Ancestral Land?"
At Pei Xuanjing's level, every move he made could significantly impact the tide of events in the world. Furthermore, as a newly risen powerhouse, he naturally attracted many factions who wished to form alliances. Therefore, even if Pei Xuanjing didn't pay special attention and remained solitary on Shenxiao Mountain, people would still deliver information to him, hoping to earn his favor.
Moreover, the factions bringing him news were not one-sided. If the information from all these factions were combined, Pei Xuanjing's grasp of the inside story of the gathering at the Sky Mechanism Pavilion would be no less than Bai Xiaosheng's, if not more extensive.
"So, Brother Pei, what do you think?" Bai Xiaosheng asked.
Bai Xiaosheng had his own plans when he came here. He saw this as a great opportunity not only for himself but also for many powers of the Daming World.
Pei Xuanjing asked with a smile, "I wonder, Brother Bai, what do you intend to do?"
Bai Xiaosheng replied, "We can't get involved in the affairs of the Sky Wasteland, but Brother Pei, it's different for you. At your current position, events in the world are closely related to you. If you choose not to participate, some people might get some ideas that they shouldn't have."
Form should follow substance. Once you acquire the power, you should gain the corresponding reputation. Otherwise, if your name is illegitimate, it's inevitable that you'll be looked down upon by many.
Although there was a hint of manipulation in Bai Xiaosheng's words, Pei Xuanjing had to admit that he had a point. As a newly risen power, Pei Xuanjing, having subdued the Taixu Venerable and proven his might, needed to make his voice heard and announce his existence to the world.
"Haha, Brother Bai, you are overthinking. I don't need such things to prove myself," Pei Xuanjing said with a light chuckle, seemingly unaffected.
If it was anyone else in this situation, they would naturally declare their existence loudly and instantly undertake phenomenal acts to establish their authority.
However, for Pei Xuanjing, there was no need to do so.
The mere act of subduing the Taixu Venerable was equivalent to every action taken by a normal supreme cultivator from the Nine Realms of Spirit after breaking through. After all, although powerhouses from the Nine Realms of Spirit often clashed and fought fiercely, few of them had a record of subduing a fellow cultivator of their realm.
That's why after subduing the Taixu Venerable, Pei Xuanjing shocked countless people, because it was extremely rare for cultivators from the Nine Realms of Spirit to be defeated, even in the thousands of years of the Sky Wasteland, let alone the countless years since the advent of cultivation.
Therefore, Pei Xuanjing had made his might fully known and earned the reverence of countless powers between heaven and earth. No one dared to underestimate or belittle him.
Additionally, as the strongest being in the Ancestral Land, anyone who came to the Ancestral Land had to be aware of Xuanjing's existence. There was no need for him to intentionally propagate his reputation.
As far as Pei Xuanjing was concerned, he didn't need to ponder too much at the moment. Because after subduing the Taixu Venerable, no one would dare to test him again. What he needed now was to continue refining and understanding the Dao, and to simulate life once again, thus enabling him to break through and advance to the Nine Realms of Spirit.
He believed that by then, his power would increase exponentially, and he would be confident enough to suppress even the strongest beings within the Nine Realms of Spirit, such as the Witch Deity Sect Leader.
As for Bai Xiaosheng's suggestions, he didn't really pay much attention to them or care at all.
However, just then, a streak of light appeared suddenly on Shenxiao Mountain, where Pei Xuanjing was. With a flick of his sleeve, Pei Xuanjing caught the light, and some information appeared instantly in his mind.
Having quickly assimilated the information, Pei Xuanjing suddenly changed his attitude. He smiled at Bai Xiaosheng and said, "Since you have ideas, Brother Bai, feel free to proceed. I will take care of everything afterwards. You don't need to worry about anything."
Bai Xiaosheng looked surprised. His motive for involving Pei Xuanjing was strategic — aside from desiring benefits for Pei Xuanjing, he had his own plans. He wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance his own strength.
Pei Xuanjing's mastery of the Heavenly Divine Position and the subsequent increase in his power was well-known. Bai Xiaosheng was one of the key supporters of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty's rise to power, and the Heavenly Divine Position he had acquired was second only to Pei Xuanjing and the Jade Purity True Monarch.
If Pei Xuanjing could gain more favor from the will of heaven and earth and acquire more rights to strengthen himself, then he could do the same. This was undoubtedly a method for Bai Xiaosheng, who was stuck at a plateau of strength, to swiftly enhance his power and protect himself.
Initially, he was puzzled about how to earn the favor of the will of heaven and earth and enhance the power of his Divine Position. But when the news of the gathering of forces in the Sky Wasteland reached him, he saw a glimmer of hope.
It has to be said that the idea proposed by the Sky Wasteland sounds fanciful, but it is not impossible, especially considering the current situation.
In the past, even if they knew this could strengthen countless cultivators, they would not consider this method unless necessary. But the times have changed; the Ancestral Land has revived.
For many forces in the Sky Wasteland, they may have survived thousands of years, but the Ancestral Land is what they truly care about. Now that the Ancestral Land has been completely revived, the Sky Wasteland has essentially become redundant to them.
Now that the Sky Wasteland has lost its function, if it could be merged into the Ancestral Land, making the Ancestral Land stronger, this is undoubtedly a win-win situation.
And for many powerhouses that are looking forward to strengthening the Ancestral Land, it is good news.
For people like the Ancestor Celestial Master, Qingxu Taoist, Zhao Baiyang, Xue Wuheng, and Bai Xiaosheng, their previous accumulation has basically been digested with the advantage of the revival of heaven and earth. It's true that it has saved them countless time and pushed them to the Spirit Realm Sixth Level. But compared with the current Great World, that's still not quite enough.
Especially after Pei Xuanjing took consecutive actions, killing several Spirit Realm Eightfold cultivators and suppressing the strongest in the Nine Realms of Spirit. The ceiling for power clashes in this world has been raised, a stark contrast to the slow development of the Great World that many people have learned from the classics.
Therefore, people like the Ancestor Celestial Master, who should have shone brightly in the early stage of this Great World, are completely overshadowed by Pei Xuanjing's might.
There's nothing anyone can say about this situation. They can only withstand it in silence.
Now that the news from the Sky Wasteland has arrived, Bai Xiaosheng contacted these parties in silence after receiving it. He clearly knew that beings who had once stood at the apex like them would absolutely not be willing to slip back into the sea of mediocrity. If there was even a sliver of a chance to become stronger, they would never let it pass.
As expected, all of these people decisively agreed. After all, they all held a Divine Position. If they can make this happen, they would undoubtedly reap great benefits, just like the Great Ming Divine Dynasty did when it ascended.
Even the Ancestor Celestial Master, who had received all the legacy of the Ancestor Celestial Master, showed no hesitation at this moment. An old fox like him understood that the Sky Wasteland's Dragon Tiger Mountain, with its years of heritage, contains who knows how many powerful beings. The favor he currently drew would inevitably arouse countless people's jealousy and dissatisfaction. As long as this matter did not involve life or death, even the Ancestor Celestial Master could not intervene.
Therefore, the Ancestor Celestial Master, seasoned by countless struggles, knew only by becoming stronger could he still have a say when the Dragon Tiger Mountain of the Sky Wasteland descended, preventing himself from becoming a vassal.
When even someone as well-backed as the Ancestor Celestial Master is like this, the other parties with no backing are even more eager. Zhao Baiyang's Outsider Alliance, Xue Wuheng of the Demonic Cult, and the Qingxu Taoist from the True Martial Sect all share similar thoughts.
Among these people, Qingxu Taoist is the most supportive of the plan, because the Zhenwu Plan that the True Martial Sect is secretly carrying out actually aligns well with this. If they can take this opportunity to garner more approval from the will of heaven and earth, the Divine Positions obtained by the True Martial Sect will become even stronger, inevitably making the deities deriving from the Zhenwu Plan more powerful.
Therefore, after receiving the support of these people, Bai Xiaosheng personally came to Shenxiao Mountain to meet Pei Xuanjing, hoping to gain Pei Xuanjing's support.
Originally, when he saw that Pei Xuanjing was unmoved, he was a bit disappointed, but he had already decided to carry out the plan by himself.
Now, although Bai Xiaosheng doesn't know why Pei Xuanjing changed his mind, it couldn't be better for him. He didn't delve into it, and left with a smile of satisfaction.
Watching Bai Xiaosheng's retreating figure, Pei Xuanjing's mouth curled into a subtle smile and he murmured a name, "Great River Ancient Country."
The Great River Ancient Country, Bai Xiaosheng would certainly be surprised if he heard this name. He would wonder why Pei Xuanjing suddenly mentioned the Great River Ancient Country.
It should be known that during the coronation of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, it was the Great River Ancient Country that had impudently tried to snatch the divine mandate during the ceremony. After they were suppressed by Pei Xuanjing, it could be said that a feud had formed between the two sides.
Later, even though Heaven and Earth revived, due to Pei Xuanjing's gradual strengthening, the Great River Ancient Country kept retreating and didn't have any thoughts of confronting Pei Xuanjing. As a result, the two sides temporarily set their conflicts aside and tacitly let the matter rest. After all, they knew that compared to Pei Xuanjing, the geniuses who died were insignificant and not worth the Great River Ancient Country fighting against Pei Xuanjing.
Could it be that that streak of light came from the Great River Ancient Country, and they sent the message to Pei Xuanjing?
Yes, that streak of light indeed came from the Great River Ancient Country. It would come as a surprise to everyone that the Great River Ancient Country would take the initiative to send a message to Pei Xuanjing, and it was a highly confidential message, too.
The Sky Wasteland, the Great River Ancient Country, as the descendents of Emperor Zhuanxu, who was the ruler of all under heaven in ancient times, and the offspring of Bo Yi and the same lineage as Pre-Qin, one of the vassal ancient countries inherited from the Heavenly Zhou era, has unimaginable resources.
With the national guardian deity, the Honghu Divine Bird, the Great River Ancient Country is the true overlord among these forces and is by no means comparable to the Canglang Palace.
This time, the council in the Sky Mechanism Pavilion was personally attended by the ancestor of the Great River Ancient Country, and the ruler of the Great River Ancient Country guarded the ancient country, preparing for some matters.
Even though he was only dressed in ordinary clothes today, without wearing the crown and robe with the Honghu Divine Bird, the ruler of the Great River Ancient Country was still majestic, and no one dared to belittle his presence.
He stood on a terrace, with an old man following behind him. This was Li Zhongshan, Marquis Lixian, who had pushed for Ying Zhong to return to the Ancestral Land and subsequently had a conflict with Pei Xuanjing.
"Marquis Lixian, are you curious why I sent this message to Pei Xuanjing?" The ruler of the Great River Ancient Country, Ying Lie, spoke with his hands behind his back.
Hearing the ruler's question, Marquis Lixian immediately replied respectfully, "Your servant is indeed curious!"
If it were anyone else, they would instinctively deny it. But as Marquis Lixian, who has served the ruler for thousands of years, he clearly understood how formidable the ruler was, and didn't dare to hide anything.
Ying Lie said, "I won't elaborate on the reasons. Actually, you should understand. More importantly, this is not only my opinion but also the will of our ancestor."