208: Your Majesty, we wish to ascend to heaven.

Two years later.

The Lower Realm, Azure Cloud Continent.

The continent of today has long since been transformed into a different world.

The major dynasties and Holy Lands that once carved up the land have all become history.

In their place is a unified Imperial Dynasty named "Great Chu."

The Imperial Dynasty's territory covers the entire continent; its national fate is flourishing, and its people live in peace and prosperity.

Everyone can practice cultivation; anyone with Aptitude can enter various academies to practice the foundational Cultivation Technique bestowed by the Myriad Dao Divine Sect, the "Myriad Dao Origin Returning Art."

The once-lofty Sects and aristocratic families must now honestly obey the Laws of the Imperial Dynasty.

No one dares to object.

Because everyone knows that standing behind this Great Chu Imperial Dynasty is that Myriad Dao Divine Sect, which has long since become a legend... The capital of Great Chu, the Forbidden City.

Inside the Golden Throne Hall, the atmosphere of the morning court session was somewhat unusual.

Civil and military officials were lined up on both sides, their auras heavy and condensed; the lowest among them had a Nascent Soul cultivation.

The young emperor sitting high upon the dragon throne wore a simple purple-gold Daoist robe instead of a nine-dragon imperial robe.

His name was Lin Tian, and he was once an Inner Sect Disciple of the Myriad Dao Divine Sect.

Because he had displayed extraordinary governing talent during the Sect competition, he was personally selected by Senior Brother Zhao Wuji before his Ascension to take over this mortal throne.

Now, his cultivation had reached Mahayana Perfection, making him the undisputed number one person in this Lower Realm.

Yet, there was not a hint of arrogance between his brows.

There was only the steadiness and efficiency belonging to a Disciple of the Myriad Dao Divine Sect.

“Your Majesty.”

An official stepped forward to report.

“The leaders of thirty-six top-tier forces, including the Heavenly Sword Holy Land of the Eastern Wasteland, the Wang Family of the Northern Profundity, and the Hundred Flowers Valley of the Southern Border... are jointly requesting an audience outside the hall.”

As the words fell.

The entire hall fell silent for a moment.

Two years ago, any one of these names would have been enough to shake a region.

Now they had come together, maintaining an extremely low posture.

Lin Tian's eyes were calm, showing no sign of joy or anger.

“Summon them.”

A single word, indifferent yet full of majesty.

Soon.

A group of white-haired Elders, led by the inner attendants, walked into the hall.

They were once Sacred Masters, once Family Heads, once figures who could command the winds and clouds on this continent.

At this moment, each of them had complex expressions—reverence, trepidation, and a hint of irrepressible longing.

They walked into this hall, which had been personally established by a Disciple of the Myriad Dao Divine Sect.

They felt that magnificent national fate Dragon Qi that harmonized with heaven and earth.

Finally, their gazes converged on the young figure on the dragon throne.

“We, your subjects, pay our respects to Your Majesty!”

Led by the Heavenly Sword Sacred Master, the thirty-six veteran powerhouses bowed in unison, performing a flawless formal salute.

“My dear ministers, you may rise.”

Lin Tian's voice was very gentle.

“Today is not a grand court session. For what matter have you all come together?”

The Heavenly Sword Sacred Master took a deep breath and bowed again.

“We have come to seek the Dao!”

His voice carried a hint of trembling.

“To seek a... path to the heavens!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall became so quiet that a falling needle could be heard.

Lin Tian lightly tapped his finger on the armrest of the dragon throne, not saying a word.

Seeing this, the Heavenly Sword Sacred Master gritted his teeth and continued.

“Your Majesty is wise. Since the Sect Master of your noble Sect led the collective Ascension of the immortals and gods two years ago, that divine miracle has remained a scene that still shocks us in our midnight dreams.”

“Since then, although the Myriad Dao Divine Sect has remained hidden from the world, the Disciples walking the world have ever more profound Magic Treasures and ever higher cultivation.”

“Even the Myriad Dao Merchant Guild has begun to sell Immortal Realm treasures that we have never even heard of.”

He looked up, a flame burning in his aged eyes.

“We know that the Myriad Dao Divine Sect must have also established an unprecedented legacy in the Upper Realm!”

“But we... we are trapped in this world, restricted by its Laws. Even if our cultivation reaches the heavens, there is no hope for the path of Ascension!”

“The Great Dao is severed, and there is no hope for the path ahead. How cruel this is for Cultivators like us!”

By the end, this Sacred Master who once suppressed the Eastern Wasteland with his sword actually had a hint of a sob in his voice.

The group of old monsters behind him all had red eyes, feeling the same way.

They were the strongest in this world.

Yet they were also a group of prisoners locked in a cage.

They could only watch helplessly as the Disciples of the Myriad Dao Divine Sect broke the cage batch after batch to go to that wider world.

“So, what do you want to do?”

Lin Tian finally spoke.

With a "thud," the Heavenly Sword Sacred Master actually knelt straight down!

The thirty-five people behind him also didn't hesitate to kneel in unison!

If this scene were to spread, it would be enough to subvert the entire continent.

“We implore Your Majesty, we implore the Myriad Dao Divine Sect!”

The Heavenly Sword Sacred Master struck his head against the ground, his voice hoarse.

“Grant us a path of Ascension!”

“We are willing to offer everything! Sect records, ten-thousand-year treasuries, and even our entire Sects and families!”

“We only ask... only ask to give our descendants a chance to go to the Upper Realm and see it!”

“Even if it's just to join the Divine Sect as a Utility Disciple, we are completely willing!”

They buried their heads deep against the cold golden bricks.

They had cast aside all their dignity.

All for a single, illusory hope.

Lin Tian looked at them and remained silent for a long time.

He slowly stood up and walked down from the dragon throne.

He did not go to help them up.

He merely stated a fact calmly.

“Currently, the Utility Disciples guarding the mountain gates of my Myriad Dao Divine Sect are at minimum in the Soul Transformation Realm.”

A single sentence made the bodies of the people kneeling on the ground tremble violently.

Lin Tian did not stop.

“Senior Brother Lin Yi and Senior Brother Xiao Han, who were once hailed as Prodigies, have recently ascended to Earth Immortal.”

“Even Ye Chengshan, who once had mediocre Aptitude and was taken as a Disciple by Great Master Ye Chenfeng, is now at the Mahayana Early Stage.”

Every name, every Realm.

They were like heavy hammers, smashing fiercely into the hearts of these old fellows.

The cultivation they were so proud of was actually so laughable in front of the Myriad Dao Divine Sect.

The Heavenly Sword Sacred Master's face was deathly pale.

He understood.

This was telling them.

You are not worthy.

The atmosphere in the hall was oppressive to the extreme.

Just as everyone's hearts were like dead ashes, thinking there was no more hope.

Lin Tian's voice rang out again.

“I have heard your request.”

Everyone looked up sharply, their eyes bursting with unbelievable light.

“This matter has exceeded the scope of my authority.”

Lin Tian looked at them, his tone still indifferent.

“However, I can report this matter to the Sect for you.”

“As for what the result will be—whether it is permission, rejection, a trial, or an Opportunity.”

He turned around and walked back toward the dragon throne.

“That will depend on the intentions of the Sect Master and the Elders.”

“You all, go back and wait for news.”

After saying that, he sat down again and closed his eyes.

It was as if he had merely handled a trivial, insignificant matter.

The Heavenly Sword Sacred Master and the others were stunned for a long while.

Then, a massive wave of wild joy surged into their hearts!

There was hope!

They had gained a hope of being "seen!"

“Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you for your heavenly grace!”

“We shall await the Divine Sect's decree!”

They were so excited they were incoherent, kowtowing repeatedly before finally withdrawing from the hall with trembling steps.

The civil and military officials looked at their retreating figures with various expressions.

Once upon a time, they were just like these people.

Now, they had long since tightly bound their destinies to the Myriad Dao Divine Sect.

They were very fortunate.

Fortunate that they had boarded the right ship.

After everyone had withdrawn.

Lin Tian slowly opened his eyes.

He opened his palm, and a purple-gold disciple token lay quietly in his hand.

He looked at the token, his gaze somewhat distant.

He wondered how the Sect Master and the Senior Brothers and Sisters were doing in the Immortal Realm.

He sent a strand of Divine Thought into the token.

He transformed today's events into a message and sent it up.

After doing all this.

He put away the token and looked out of the hall.

The ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains that he had governed so orderly seemed like a magnificent cage in his eyes.

He, too, wanted to go to heaven...