Fairy Qing Yao glanced at the Female Immortal beside her and smiled.
"What, Qiu Feng Shimei, do you also wish to be close to this Emperor?"
The Female Immortal called Qiu Feng, however, stood with her chest heaving and said.
"Shijie, who wouldn’t want to? I heard from our master that Ling Yuan Emperor has already achieved a Divine Body, and it’s almost certain he will become a Daoist Monarch in the future. Moreover, for anyone divine, their future prospects are surely significant. If we could serve this Emperor and gain his favor, we wouldn’t need to painstakingly climb upward like other Shixiongdi, and even Immortal Gods from other Immortal Sect Dao Lineages!"
She spoke as if it were only natural.
Fairy Qing Yao’s mouth curled slightly, yet she was indeed tempted.
The longer she had been immortal, the more confused she became about her own path.
The journey of the Immortal Dao is too long; without an influential benefactor, one might remain at the lowest level of the Celestial Realm even after becoming immortal.
Furthermore, with Donghua Realm about to ascend entirely, like many Little Immortals, they might have to start anew in that vast environment.
...
Above the Pure Yang Hall, Daoist Monarch Chunyang and several other Daoist Monarchs were holding a grand assembly of Immortals.
When Zhang Jian and others arrived, there were already many Ancient Immortals and Ancient Gods present.
A multitude of voices converged, a grand gathering.
There were so many Immortal Gods here, each emitting divine light and aura; even with Zhang Jian’s divine body, he appeared quite inconspicuous among the immortals.
Zhang Jian cast his gaze upwards, remembering some of the names of the participating Daoist Monarchs.
The Pure Yang Daoist Monarch, Daoist Monarch Zhengyang, Daoist Monarch Ningyang, and Daoist Monarch Chang Mei of the Taiqing Celestial Lineage, Zhang Jian was familiar with.
Besides, there was a relatively unfamiliar Daoist Monarch, dressed in a purple-black Daoist Robe, holding a Duster, with the appearance of a Daoist; that was the Seven Cultivators Daoist Monarch.
There were also several renowned Daoist Monarchs from the Celestial Court, such as the Celestial Master’s Mansion’s Ziyang Daoist Monarch, Daoist Monarch Taixu from the Jasper Pool Celestial Realm, Wuqu Star Monarch from the Dou Division Legion.
Beside him, the Star Monarchs Greedy Wolf, Po Jun, Seven Kills were also there.
These Three Stars were all powerful Star Gods in the Taiyi Great Perfection Realm.
They also seemed eager to seize the opportunity with the windfall of the Donghua Realm.
Among the other Immortal Gods in the Taiyi Great Perfection Realm, Zhang Jian noticed many, like He Xian’gu and Zhang Guolao among the Eight Immortals, who were both in the Taiyi Great Perfection Realm.
"Deep within the Celestial Court, there truly are countless powerful beings. Fortunately, most of them weren’t born in this Inference Era..."
Zhang Jian glanced around and mused to himself.
But he did not become complacent because of this.
In these thousands of years, after mingling with other immortals and attending many gatherings, he hadn’t been idle.
He learned many secrets from these experiences.
For instance, within each Inference Era, the number of Daoist Monarchs a major Celestial Realm could produce was limited.
It wasn’t because the Celestial Origin was limited, but because the Sovereign of each Celestial Realm would only allocate part of their Destiny to support the Taiyi Great Perfection Realm’s Immortal Gods to charge into the Daoist Monarch Realm.
Destiny could only go so far, and using too much would influence the balanced development of major Celestial Realms.
Interests of numerous Immortal Venerables and Emperors would also be threatened.
In addition, Zhang Jian also knew that Immortal Gods who weren’t born in this particular Inference Era had restrictions on charging into the Daoist Monarch Realm. They would have to wait until later in the Era, when the Sea of Chaos Origin opened, to have a chance to attempt charging.
However, this Celestial Dao Iron Law wasn’t entirely unavoidable.
Many Immortal Gods would find ways to reincarnate using the supreme power of the Netherworld, to regain the support of Destiny in the current Era, etc.
Most Immortal Gods with connections would use this method to start anew and regain qualifications.
It’s likely many Ancient Immortals and Ancient Gods present have already found ways to regain the support of the Inference Era.
Many thoughts flashed through Zhang Jian’s mind.
"I don’t even know if when I achieve Enlightenment, there will still be enough spots in the Three Emperors Celestial Realm and Central Celestial Realm...!"
He pondered inwardly.
Zhang Jian felt a vague worry, but it quickly faded away.
Currently, he was only just entering Taiyi Great Perfection; though his cultivation was rapid, he was still far from the Daoist Monarch Realm.
He had merely completed the first step of gathering Ancestral Qi.
The second step of severing fate had not yet formed a strategy.
As for fighting for the Daoist Monarch spots, at the very least, that wouldn’t be considered until after completing seven steps.
Whether or not it happens, they would talk about that later.
At this moment, after a morale-boosting speech, Daoist Monarch Chunyang continued.
"For those who could enter this place and participate in the trans-dimensional ascension of Donghua Realm, my humble self is deeply grateful. However, let me put forth an ugly warning: many positions you friends are to guard are central hubs within a realm; if any of you fear difficulty, you may withdraw now. However, if anyone flees in the heat of the moment, sowing discord, don’t blame my humble self’s Celestial Escape Sword for showing no mercy!"
"Anyone who hampers this grand event of Donghua Realm will surely die!"
The Immortal Sword behind him hummed, an aura of Formless Sword Qi pressed towards the immortals, the sword energy evoking the manifestation of endless Pure Yang radiance, cutting down all Dao Fruits, causing the faces of many immortals to change.
A terrifying chill arose from the depths of Zhang Jian’s Earth Emperor Primordial Spirit, seemingly inescapable.
Despite the looming major event, although the expressions of the immortals were varied, none of them withdrew.
Seeing this, Daoist Monarch Chunyang withdrew his Longsword and softly said.
"Good, since no friends are backing out, my humble self will presume you all agree to adhere to the directives of the Pure Yang Immortal Sect, and act accordingly!"
"May you all remember the pledge made today!"
He then mentioned some details before saying further.
"You friends also ought to know that the ascension of Donghua Realm will surely attract the prying of Demon Fiends. Presumably, you’ve all done some prior preparations, but my humble self must remind you that Demon Fiends have endless cunning methods, do not underestimate them!"