357: The Road to Heaven

A series of swift and decisive rectifications finally stabilized the order in the Seventh Mining District.

Those who had plundered food voluntarily returned the supplies, and those who had occupied homes moved out, making way for others. Hundreds enthusiastically signed up to become Red Officers.

Chi Yao personally assessed and selected the first batch of three hundred Red Officers, who, wearing red copper armbands, became the cornerstone of the new order.

Months later, the Red Flame Fields yielded a bountiful harvest, public grain was plentiful, and the injured received treatment.

Moreover, the Iron Lady also had literate artisan slaves establish schools to teach everyone how to read.

Everything seemed to be developing in a positive direction... In the Spirit Realm, the Heavenly Venerable Palace, the residence of the Five Great Heavenly Venerables, was surrounded by swirling galaxies and surging thunderclouds, like a supreme Holy Land existing independently outside of heaven and earth.

This was the true core of power in the Spirit Realm.

At this moment, within the main hall of the Heavenly Venerable Palace, the “Taichu Hall,” immortal light flowed and the Dao rhythm hummed softly.

In the hall, a middle-aged man with an emperor's aura faintly visible between his brows was Emperor Qin, who hailed from another world.

He possessed a composed demeanor, and his words carried an undeniable air of dominance.

Taichu Heavenly Venerate’s gaze was fervent, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:

“Young friend Zhao, you mean to say that the ‘Ascension Realm’ must be divided into ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine Heaven Ranks before one can Breakthrough to the Heaven-Reaching Realm?!”

Emperor Qin smiled faintly, standing with his hands behind his back:

“Precisely. The great qin civilization world where I come from indeed divides it this way, and my Cultivation Technique is also designed for this purpose.”

“If the Ascension Realm is forcibly compressed into the four Realms of Half-Immortal, True Immortal, Golden Immortal, and Saint Immortal, it may seem concise, but in reality, each step is as difficult as ascending to heaven, making progress once in ten thousand years. However, if it is subdivided into ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine ranks, the difference between each rank is minuscule, allowing for gradual progress, like climbing a mountain. Ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine steps are always more stable than a single leap of a thousand zhang.”

Upon hearing this, Taichu Heavenly Venerate’s eyes lit up, as if a mist had cleared, revealing a light of the Dao he had never seen before!

He suddenly rose, flicking his long sleeve, and the entire grand hall vibrated with a rumble:

“Wonderful! Wonderful! This method is simply Heaven-Defying! The Immortal Realm has rigidly defined the four Realms of Ascension, trapping countless Geniuses in a Bottleneck, preventing them from making any progress in their entire lives! But your ‘ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine Heaven Ranks’ method, breaking the whole into parts, step by step, is simply a path to heaven!”

The two harbored their own intentions but temporarily cooperated due to mutual benefit.

In just one month, Emperor Qin’s Cultivation soared from the Nascent Soul all the way to the Late Stage of Undergoing Tribulation, merely a step away from Ascension!

Seeing this, Taichu Heavenly Venerate became even more convinced of the method’s validity, and his attitude towards Emperor Qin shifted from “courtesy” to “almost humble flattery.”

He personally opened a secluded cultivation chamber for Emperor Qin, gathering the purest Spiritual Qi from the Spirit Realm.

“Young friend Zhao, whatever you need, be it Spirit Medicine, Magic Treasure, or formation diagrams, you may ask! As long as the Cultivation Technique is perfected, I am willing to enthrone you as the Sixth Heavenly Venerate of the Spirit Realm!”

Emperor Qin laughed heartily: “Heavenly Venerate is too polite! This is the improved Cultivation Technique I have, it should be helpful for your current Cultivation. Give it a try.”

Emperor Qin did not hold back, imparting the entire Cultivation system, Mind-Cultivation Technique chants, and Breakthrough essentials of the “nine tripods Cultivation Technique.”

The two spent almost twenty-four hours together, jointly deducing, testing, and refining the Cultivation Technique.

Meanwhile, the other Four Great Heavenly Venerables—

Fairy Zi Ming, Old Ancestor Ming He, The Celestial Venerable Taiyan, and Great Evolution Heavenly Venerate—could only wait in the outer hall, not even allowed to enter the main hall.

Their hearts were burning with anxiety, yet they were helpless.

The four exchanged glances and eventually had to settle for the next best option, turning to another person who had mastered the “Heaven-Reaching Realm” for guidance—Shen Wuya.

Unexpectedly, Shen Wuya did not hide anything; instead, he openly shared his insights into the Heaven-Reaching Dao with the Four Great Heavenly Venerables without reservation.

His words were clear, and his explanations of the principles were thorough; every sentence directly addressed the Cultivation Bottleneck.

Seeing his generosity and lack of reservation, the Four Great Heavenly Venerables gradually lowered their guard.

To seek the true understanding of the Great Dao, they met all of Shen Wuya's requests—whether for rare Spirit Medicine, ancient formation diagrams, or secluded Holy Land and Heaven And Earth Treasure—without hesitation.

Seizing this Opportunity, Shen Wuya was able to gather a vast amount of resources, and his Cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. In just a few months, he had already reached the Peak of Undergoing Tribulation, a mere half-step away from Ascension.

At the same time, Ling Tian sat cross-legged in the side hall, observing everything with cold eyes.

He had clearly once been an overlord of a civilized world, yet he was ignored by the Five Great Heavenly Venerables.

Apparently, they saw Ling Tian as too young and inexperienced, and his highest Cultivation was only Ascension, not reaching the Heaven-Reaching Realm.

Ling Tian said coldly: “Perfect, since they’re not bothering me, I’ll just Cultivate! It’s a pity that Liu Lanyan, that bastard, is still imprisoned by the Realm Master of the Spirit World. If she were to die, I could just kill her and take her Phoenix body. No choice, for now I can only Cultivate the Three Forms.”

Lin Fei was also diligently Cultivating. With the abundant Spiritual Qi in the Spirit Realm, his Cultivation had reached the Nascent Soul in just one month... In the Tianshu Grand Hall of the Spirit Realm, thirty-six “Realm Source Spirit Lamps” hung from the ceiling, burning day and night, illuminating the entire core of the Spirit Realm.

Realm Master Ling Xiaozai sat on a dragon-patterned throne, clad in a purple-gold Daoist robe, wearing a heavenly light crown. His Face was majestic, yet a hint of gloom was hard to conceal between his brows.

In his hand, he held a Jade Slip—news about Emperor Qin and Taichu Heavenly Venerate secluding themselves to deduce a new Cultivation Technique.

“It’s been months!! The Five Great Heavenly Venerables don’t give this Realm Master any Face at all. They’ve clearly figured out the Heaven-Reaching Cultivation Technique, yet they won’t reveal even a shred of information to me. Do they really think I’m just a decoration?”

He snorted coldly, raising his eyes to look at Department Director Fairy Meng Li of the Dharma Transmission Department below the hall.

She wore a plain white long dress, her Face was beautiful, but her expression was slightly nervous.

“Has that Mortal named Liu Lanyan confessed or not?” Realm Master Ling Xiaozai’s voice was low, devoid of any emotion.

Fairy Meng Li stepped forward half a pace, bowing her head as she reported:

“Reporting to Realm Master... That woman is strong-willed. Whether it was Divine Soul torture, cold prison torment, or illusionary inducement, she always gritted her teeth and refused to utter a single word related to Lu Chen. She only said... Lu Chen is dead, you don’t need to ask anymore.”

A flicker of anger crossed Realm Master Ling Xiaozai’s eyes, then transformed into a chilling coldness:

“There is indeed nothing to ask a dead person. What about the Cultivation Technique? Does she know anything about a Heaven-Reaching Cultivation Technique?!”

Fairy Meng Li shook her head: “I performed a Divine Soul examination on her and confirmed she was not lying. She knows nothing about it.”

Realm Master Ling Xiaozai shook his head helplessly.

“The most crucial thing now is to find a way to obtain a Cultivation Technique from Emperor Qin, Shen Wuya, and Ling Tian. You, go there and say you wish to observe it.”

Fairy Meng Li’s Face turned pale, and she almost staggered backward:

“I... I go? The Five Great Heavenly Venerables have already issued an order—outsiders are not allowed near the secluded cultivation area. Violators will be killed without mercy... If I go rashly, I’m afraid... I might not even be able to enter the door, and instead provoke the Heavenly Venerates...”

Realm Master Ling Xiaozai sneered, a fierce light bursting in his eyes:

“Could it be... that I, the dignified Realm Master of the Spirit World, must personally beg them for a Cultivation Technique? You, as the Department Director of the Dharma Transmission Department, can’t even handle this small matter? I’ll give you one month. No matter what method you use, I only want one Cultivation Technique! If you can’t get it... then your position as Department Director of the Dharma Transmission Department will be given to someone else.”

Fairy Meng Li trembled all over, falling to her knees with a thud, her forehead touching the ground, her voice trembling:

“Yes! Your subordinate... will do everything in her power not to fail the Realm Master’s trust!”