142: A meeting held in a cage reveals the true nature of people!

After speaking, he turned and walked out of the secret chamber, leading everyone toward another location on the back mountain, beneath the enlightenment ancient tea tree that stood hundreds of feet tall and towered into the clouds.

It was deep night, and the moonlight was like water.

The ancient tea tree was entirely wreathed in faint Dao charm; every leaf seemed to breathe, absorbing the essence of the moon and emitting a refreshing fragrance that calmed the mind.

Merely standing beneath the tree, everyone felt that some of the obscure and difficult-to-understand Bottlenecks in their Cultivation Techniques

were showing signs of loosening.

"This is... the enlightenment ancient tea tree!"

Daoist Yuqing, being knowledgeable, instantly recognized the origin of this divine object.

His beard trembled with excitement.

"Today, I shall make it bloom once more and bear fruit once more, for my Chen Clan!"

As Chen Xu finished speaking, he no longer hesitated.

He walked beneath the tea tree, extended his right hand, and gently pressed it onto the ancient, Dragon-like trunk.

Buzz!

The Primordial Chaos Nascent Soul inside him slowly rotated, and spiritual power once again flowed down his arm,

fiercely injecting itself into the ancient tea tree!

In an instant, a mysterious Dao charm, a hundred times richer than before, swept across the entire Chen Family Holy Land like a tsunami!

Inside the Holy Land, all clan members in secluded cultivation, regardless of their cultivation level,

were awakened at this moment!

They only felt an indescribable Great Dao Sound explode in their minds.

Countless difficulties in cultivation were instantly resolved!

"I... I have achieved Epiphany!"

A Chen Clan Deacon who had been stuck at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage for several years suddenly opened his eyes and let out a long roar toward the sky!

His aura rapidly climbed, and in a single step,

he actually triggered the Golden Core Heavenly Tribulation!

"The Heavenly Dao rewards diligence! I have been trapped by the Bottleneck for three years, and today I finally Break through!"

Elsewhere, a Chen Clan disciple's spiritual power ran rampant around him, clearly preparing to charge into the Nascent Soul Realm!

That night, strange phenomena appeared one after another above the Chen Family Holy Land, and the tribulation clouds never ceased!

Merely the residual Dao charm from the tea tree's eruption

caused the entire Chen Clan to experience an unprecedented collective Breakthrough!

And in the Forbidden Ground on the back mountain, the few individuals who felt it most clearly were utterly shocked beyond measure.

Chen Xu withdrew his hand, his face slightly pale,

but his eyes shone terrifyingly bright.

The next moment, he flicked his finger, and nine of the highest quality enlightenment divine tea leaves automatically detached,

lightly drifting into his palm.

Without even looking, he flipped his hand and took out a set of antique tea utensils, sitting down on the ground.

"Be seated, everyone."

As if waking from a dream, the crowd suppressed the stormy waves in their hearts and followed Chen Xu's example, sitting down cross-legged.

Chen Xu drew in Nine Heavens Spiritual Spring water and used his own Nascent Soul True Fire as a stove to begin brewing the tea.

His movements were smooth and flowing, every action seemingly containing some great truth of Heaven and Earth.

As the tea leaves entered the water, an indescribable tea fragrance instantly erupted.

That aroma seemed capable of cleansing the Soul.

When the tea water boiled, the steam spraying from the spout actually transformed into the shapes of various Auspicious Beasts, such as Dragons, Phoenixes, and Qilins, circling and dancing in the air, emitting bursts of Dao chants.

Soon, nine cups of tea, each a different color and seemingly holding a piece of the starry sky, were filled by him.

"Drink."

Chen Xu pushed the teacups toward everyone.

No one hesitated.

Chen Daoxuan raised his cup and drained it in one gulp.

Boom!

The instant the tea entered his stomach, he felt his Divine Soul dragged by an irresistible force into an ocean of the Great Dao!

He saw the origin of the Sword Dao and the creation and destruction of myriad laws.

The "Pseudo-Primordial Chaos Dao Infant" inside him, under the influence of the tea's power, frantically absorbed the surrounding Dao charm, becoming increasingly solid and increasingly powerful!

The barrier leading to the Middle Nascent Soul Stage was as thin as a cicada's wing before this power!

On the other side, Daoist Yuqing's body trembled violently.

He seemed to see his future path, seeing that the Soul Transformation path, which had been severed for ten thousand years, now had a faint glimmer of light appearing before his eyes!

In Bu Yifan's eyes, there was no Sword Light, no Dao laws.

There were only countless golden abacuses and ledgers flying, forming a golden river—that was the Dao of Wealth, the Dao of Commerce!

Sun Xiaoyue, meanwhile, saw the growth and decay of thousands of Spirit Medicines—that was the Dao of Life, the Dao of Creation.

Everyone, in this cup of tea, saw the Great Dao they most desired and were most compatible with!

What a Heaven-Defying Opportunity this was!

The next moment, they simultaneously closed their eyes,

collectively entering a profound and mysterious state of Deep Epiphany!

Different Dao charm auras began to emanate from each person.

Above Chen Daoxuan's head,

a faint purple Nascent Soul phantom emerged, surrounded by crisscrossing Sword Qi!

Dao Patterns flowed around Chen Daochu's body!

Daoist Yuqing's hair and beard stood on end, and Pure Qi surged around him, as if he were about to Ascend and become an Immortal.

Chu Xuan was even more direct; his entire person transformed into an incomparably sharp sword, his sky-rocketing Sword Intent

nearly powerful enough to sever the stars in the sky!

The one who changed the most was Murong Zhuyun!

She was originally at the Peak of the Middle Nascent Soul Stage, only one step away from the Late Stage.

At this moment, under the cleansing of this majestic Dao charm, the Bottleneck within her body

was instantly washed away as if it were made of paper!

Boom!

An aura far stronger than before shot up from her body!

Late Nascent Soul Stage!

Success!

Murong Zhuyun suddenly opened her eyes, her beautiful gaze filled with shock and ecstasy!

The Bottleneck that had troubled her for hundreds of years

was broken just by the effort of drinking a cup of tea?

This was even more outrageous than a dream!

Immediately afterward, Bu Yifan, Sun Xiaoxiao, Qin Rouer, and several other wives and concubines also shone with the light of Breakthrough, their cultivation levels advancing significantly.

A single tea banquet allowed the strength of the Chen Clan's core upper echelon to complete a collective leap!

Chen Xu watched this scene, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

He also picked up his cup of tea and drank it down.

The majestic Dao charm washed over his four limbs and hundred bones, making his already flawless Magical Power even more solid and pure.

Every move he made seemed to align with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.

However, his cultivation remained stagnant, like a pool of dead water, showing no growth whatsoever.

Late Nascent Soul Stage Peak Great Perfection.

He was already standing at the mouth of the well.

Above his head was that hard stone slab.

Until that slab was broken, his cultivation would not advance even an inch.

Chen Xu put down the teacup, without the slightest hint of discouragement in his eyes.

Instead, it further solidified his determination to head to the Guixu Demon Eye!

...Although only a handful of people attended the enlightenment tea banquet, and it was held in the Forbidden Ground,

the commotion caused by Murong Zhuyun's Breakthrough to the Late Nascent Soul Stage was simply too great.

That powerful aura could not be completely concealed.

"Someone in the Chen Clan... has Broken through again?"

"This aura is so strong! It must be a mighty expert at the Late Nascent Soul Stage!"

"What exactly is going on? Could the Chen Clan possess a secret method for mass-producing Nascent Souls?"

The entire Cultivation World of Zhongzhou was shaken once more.

The news that "the Chen Clan possesses a Heaven-Defying divine tea that aids in Epiphany" spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every corner.

For a time, countless Sects, Aristocratic Families, and Loose Cultivators drooled over the legendary enlightenment divine tea, their eyes turning red.

That was a divine object that could help people Break through Realms!

If one could obtain a single tea leaf, wouldn't that mean the birth of a Nascent Soul Ancestor?

However, while they coveted it,

not a single person dared to harbor the slightest intention of seizing it.

Are you kidding?

Trying to snatch something from the Chen Clan?

Wasn't that like the God of Longevity hanging himself—tired of living?

Hadn't they seen the vast assets of the Four Demonic Sects, which were divided up as spoils of war by the Chen Clan?

Hadn't they seen their Patriarch cleave a Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation in mid-air?

Everyone could only howl impotently in their hearts, filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred.

The image of the Chen Clan in the hearts of all Cultivators became even more profound and unfathomable, like a true Divine Dynasty—unshakeable and impossible to gauge.

Having completed all this, Chen Xu felt the time was ripe.

The strength of his core team was sufficient.

The Chen Clan's own defenses were also impregnable.

It was time to proceed with the next plan.

He stood atop the Holy Land, overlooking the ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains in Zhongzhou, a look of determination flashing in his eyes.

The truth of this world was too cruel.

It was too tiring for him to bear alone.

Moreover, to break the cage, relying only on himself and the power of the Chen Clan was not enough.

He needed helpers.

He needed to unite all the top forces in Zhongzhou into a single entity!

"Someone!"

Chen Xu spoke lightly.

"Pass on my Alliance Leader Order!"

"Three days from now, summon all Cultivators above the Nascent Soul Realm in Zhongzhou to my Chen Family Holy Land for a discussion!"

"There must be no mistakes!"

"Yes!"

Streams of Communication Spiritual Light flew out from the Chen Family Holy Land, cutting through the sky and heading toward various parts of Zhongzhou... With the Alliance Leader Order issued, Zhongzhou was shaken.

Three days later, in the Council Hall of the Chen Family Holy Land.

The atmosphere was solemn and serious.

One could even say it was oppressive.

Inside the hall, all the mighty experts above the Nascent Soul Realm in the entirety of Zhongzhou were gathered.

The Sect Master of the Hegemon Blade Sect, Liu Ruyan of the Illusory Sound Immortal Sect, the Valley Master of Ten Thousand Beasts Valley... these old core members of Chen Xu stood in the front row.

Behind them were the Sect Masters of the various Sects who had surrendered after the Righteous-Demonic War, as well as some reclusive Old Monsters.

There were fully a hundred Nascent Soul Ancestors!

This force was enough to sweep across any corner of this world.

Yet at this moment, these great figures, who were usually high and mighty and could shake a region with a stomp of their foot,

were all sitting upright, not daring to even breathe heavily.

All eyes were fixed with reverence and confusion upon the man seated in the position of honor.

Chen Xu.

He was not wearing his signature blue robe today, but a simple black robe, his face as calm as still water.

It was impossible to discern his emotions.

He merely sat there quietly, without saying a word.

But the invisible pressure he exerted was like a great mountain,

weighing down on the hearts of everyone present.

"Why did the Alliance Leader urgently summon us this time?"

"I don't know, is it perhaps to completely settle accounts with the Demonic Path Remnants?"

"I think it's likely to redraw the Sphere of Influence in Zhongzhou. After all, Zhongzhou is now unified, so there must be a new charter."

Everyone cautiously communicated using Divine Thought, each calculating their own thoughts.

They assumed that Chen Xu had just established his clan, his Foundation was initially stable, and summoning everyone now was simply to distribute rewards based on merit and establish the Chen Immortal Clan's eternal Dominator status.

They had no objection to this.

The victor is king, the loser is bandit—that was natural law.

Chen Xu had the strength and the qualification.

Just as everyone was lost in various thoughts,

Chen Xu finally moved from his seat of honor.

He slowly raised his eyelids, his faint golden gaze sweeping over every person below.

Inside the main hall, silence instantly fell.

“I have gathered everyone here today for only one matter.”

Chen Xu spoke, his voice entering the ears of everyone present.

Everyone's spirits lifted, and they all pricked up their ears.

However, Chen Xu's subsequent words caused everyone present to freeze slightly.

“Have you ever considered why, for thousands of years, the path to Soul Transformation has been severed, and no one has been able to take that step?”

“Have you ever considered that the world beneath our feet might... just be a cage?”

A cage?!

These two words caused the complexions of the hundreds of Nascent Soul Ancestors present to change drastically!

“What?!”

“A cage? What does the Alliance Leader mean by this?”

“What kind of joke is this! Our world is vast and boundless, how could it possibly be a cage!”

Inside the main hall, chaos instantly erupted!

Everyone was stunned dizzy by Chen Xu's earth-shattering remarks, their Dao Hearts unstable.

Beyond the world?

This concept, for Cultivators who were born and raised here,

the impact was simply too great!

It was utterly unheard of, completely overturning their knowledge of the past millennia!

Even the Sect Master of the Hegemon Blade Sect and Liu Ruyan looked bewildered and shocked.

Although they trusted Chen Xu unconditionally... these words were truly too bizarre.

Looking at the shocked and terrified expressions of the crowd below, Chen Xu's face remained completely calm.

He did not give the crowd much time to think, throwing out an even heavier bombshell.

“This Seat will depart soon, heading to the Forbidden Ground in the Sea of the Extreme North—the Guixu Demon Eye.”

“I will personally go and see how thick that so-called cage barrier truly is.”

“I will personally explore whether the path leading outside the world truly exists!”

Boom!

If the word 'cage' only shocked them, then the four characters "Guixu Demon Eye" instantly caused more than half of the Old Monsters present to leap up from their seats in terror!

“The Guixu Demon Eye?!”

A Late Nascent Soul Stage Ancestor, whose hair and beard were completely white and who hailed from an Ancient Aristocratic Family, had a face full of shock.

“Alliance Leader! You absolutely must not!”

“Ancient records state that the Guixu Demon Eye is the end of the world, an abyss that swallows everything! Forget about Nascent Souls, even the legendary Deity Transformation Dao Monarchs who went there never returned—it is a place of absolute death!”

“That's right, Alliance Leader! Please think twice! You are now the Lord of Central State, why take such an extreme risk?”

For a time, most of the Old Ancestors in the hall looked terrified and spoke up one after another to dissuade him.

In their view, Chen Xu's decision was utterly insane!

Giving up the position of "Lord of the World" to go and court death in that Forbidden Ground where survival is impossible?

However, amidst this wave of opposition,

a rough and hearty laugh abruptly rang out.

“Hahahaha! Good! What a 'Beyond the World'! What a 'Cage'!”

The Sect Master of the Hegemon Blade Sect suddenly slapped his thigh and stepped forward, his face flushed red as he looked at Chen Xu: “Alliance Leader! I have been stuck in the Middle Nascent Soul Stage for eight hundred years! Eight hundred years!”

“I thought I would grow old and die here, never progressing another inch!”

“No hope for Soul Transformation, no path to longevity! How is this any different from waiting to die inside a cage?!”

“Hearing the Alliance Leader's words today, I suddenly realized! It turns out there is a heaven beyond this heaven!”

He turned sharply, glancing around at the terrified old fellows, his face full of disdain.

“A bunch of gutless old things! Afraid of wolves ahead and tigers behind, guarding your meager Foundation, do you really intend to wait peacefully for death?”

“I, Hegemon Blade, refuse!”

After speaking, he knelt on one knee before Chen Xu, his voice like a great bell!

“Alliance Leader! Just give the word! My entire Badao Sect is willing to be your vanguard, exploring the Guixu together and opening up a new heaven!”

The words of the Sect Master of the Hegemon Blade Sect were like pouring a ladle of cold water into boiling oil.

Instantly igniting the emotions of another segment of the crowd.

“Well said! Brother Hegemon Blade! We Cultivators are meant to fight against Heaven for our Destiny! Now that the path is broken, if we don't fight and seize the Opportunity, are we truly going to sit here and await death?”

The Valley Master of Ten Thousand Beasts Valley also stepped forward, his eyes burning brightly.

“Giggle, giggle... This servant also feels that instead of slowly aging in this cage and turning into a handful of dust, it's better to follow the Alliance Leader outside to see the world. Even if we die, at least we lived spectacularly.”

Liu Ruyan's seductive eyes narrowed into slits; although her tone was frivolous, her stance was incredibly firm.

For a moment, inside the main hall, a group of younger, stronger figures, led by the Sect Master of the Hegemon Blade Sect,

spoke up one after another in agreement.

They were all people who had been stuck at their respective Realms for hundreds or even thousands of years.

For them... Chen Xu's words were not madness, but hope!

It was the only dawn that could shatter despair and lead to a higher Realm!

“Insane! You are all insane!”

The Old Ancestor from the Ancient Aristocratic Family trembled with rage, pointing at the Sect Master of the Hegemon Blade Sect and the others, rebuking them angrily.

“You are gambling with the safety of the entire Central State! If you anger that unknown existence and bring about a catastrophe, can you bear the responsibility?”

“Hmph! Cowards! I think you've lived in comfort for too long, losing even the fighting spirit of a Cultivator!” the Sect Master of the Hegemon Blade Sect retorted impolitely.

“You... how dare you!”

“You are the one being presumptuous! The Alliance Leader is here; how dare you point fingers and criticize!”

Inside the main hall, two distinctly opposing factions instantly formed.

One faction supported, the other opposed.

Both sides cited scriptures and argued logically, and the verbal disagreement quickly escalated into a confrontation of Magical Power.

Terrifying pressure collided within the hall, causing the entire main hall to hum.

A conference that could decide the future of the entire Central State,

had surprisingly devolved into a farce.

Sitting high upon the main seat,

Chen Xu watched everything with cold detachment.

He took in everyone's reactions.

Who was truly following him, who was feigning obedience, and who was a complete and utter hardliner.

At this moment, it was clear at a glance.

He knew this was the inevitable outcome.

To break an old order and awaken a group of slumbering people, one would inevitably face the most stubborn resistance.

Just as the quarrel in the main hall intensified and was about to turn violent,

a voice, calm yet carrying a hint of arrogance, suddenly rang out.

“Everyone, please calm yourselves.”

A middle-aged Daoist, dressed in an Eight Trigrams Daoist Robe, holding a Horsetail Whisk, and possessing an immortal demeanor,

slowly walked out from the crowd.

The moment he appeared, the noisy clamor in the hall quieted significantly.

Many Old Ancestors looked at him with a degree of reverence.

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion, Pavilion Master, Mysterious Mechanism.

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion is a very special Sect; they are not skilled in combat, yet their status in Central State is transcendent.

This is because they claim to be able to peer into the Heavenly Secrets and foresee the future.

Although they are often ambiguous in their predictions, a few accurate prophecies now and then

have earned them the faith of countless people.

Mysterious Mechanism walked to the center of the main hall and first bowed respectfully to Chen Xu.

“Alliance Leader.”

Then, he straightened up, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and slowly spoke: “Regarding the cage and the world outside mentioned by the Alliance Leader, there are also fragmented records in the ancient texts of my Heavenly Secret Pavilion.”

The moment these words came out, everyone was startled.

Could it be that everything Chen Xu said was true?

Mysterious Mechanism ignored the crowd's shock, changing the subject and looking back at Chen Xu, a look of profound compassion on his face.

“However, the ancient texts also record that the Heavenly Dao operates in order, and all things have their Destiny. We were born in this world, and thus this is our Destiny. Only by remaining content and dutiful can we endure.”

“Forcibly breaking the boundary is a Heaven-Defying act; it is the path to self-destruction!”

He paused, and his voice suddenly rose as he spoke again.

“Alliance Leader, three days ago, This poor Daoist performed a divination for Central State. The reading showed that Central State would enjoy peace and prosperity for the next hundred years.”

“But if... someone rashly moves to break the boundary, the Divination Reading will instantly turn to Great Omen of Disaster! Blood light will soar to the heavens, and all spirits will perish! That will be the end of the entire world!”

“Therefore, This poor Daoist implores the Alliance Leader to withdraw your command! Do not drag the entire Central State into an abyss of eternal damnation for personal ambition!”

His speech was sincere and resonant.

The Old Ancestors who were already opposed, upon hearing this,

felt as though they had found their backbone.

“Did you hear that! Even the Heavenly Secret Pavilion' Divination Reading shows a Great Omen of Disaster!”

“Alliance Leader! This is the Will of Heaven! The Will of Heaven cannot be defied!”

“We implore the Alliance Leader to consider the Common People and withdraw your command!”

Immediately, the wave of opposition in the hall reached its climax.

Even the supporters showed a hint of hesitation on their faces at this moment.

After all, the reputation of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion was simply too great.

They might not believe in ghosts and gods, but regarding the "Will of Heaven" and "Destiny,"

they held the attitude of 'better safe than sorry.'

The pressure of the entire main hall, in this single instant,

all converged upon Chen Xu alone.

Everyone watched him, awaiting Chen Xu's final decision.

A slight smile appeared on Mysterious Mechanism's face.

In his view, by bringing out the two great mountains of the "Will of Heaven" and the "Common People,"

even Chen Xu would have to compromise.

After all, who would dare risk universal condemnation?

However.

He was wrong.

The person he faced was fundamentally not a normal superior.

Amidst this mountain-shaking, tsunami-like opposition,

Chen Xu, seated high upon the Throne, smiled.

It was a smile that was utterly cold and filled with endless mockery.

The next moment.

He slowly stood up.

Boom!

The instant he stood up!

An indescribably terrifying pressure, like an Immemorial Vicious Beast that had slept for eons, suddenly awakened with a roar!

That pressure was so overbearing, so pure... so unreasonable!

Late Nascent Soul Stage Peak Great Perfection!

The true apex of this world!

The pressure was like the Heavenly River pouring down, instantly filling the entire main hall!

Crack! Snap!

Inside the main hall, the Mysterious Crystal Stone Chairs beneath the slightly weaker Early Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators could not withstand the pressure for even a breath, shattering into dust on the spot!

Their faces turned pale, and they felt as though their Nascent Souls were trembling under this pressure.

As if they were about to be crushed alive the next second!

Everyone raised their heads in horror.

Staring at the black-robed figure who had slowly stood up.