Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
The fifth layer of the Treasure-snatching Rock!
A palace, one that Zhou Bao was familiar with yet still found foreign.
The Purple Heaven Palace!
It was The Purple Heaven Palace!
When Zhou Bao stood in front of the ancient yet majestic palace, his gaze lit up with amazement.
The Purple Heaven Palace, this was The Purple Heaven Palace!
This was The legendary Purple Heaven Palace, where all myths originated!
Standing in front of the old palaceâs door, Zhou Bao closed his eyes sightly, as if wanting to feel the legendary Great Ways. However, not only did he feel none, a cold wind greeted him instead.
âHey, donât stand in front of the door, the wind blows through there!â
The wind blows through here!
Zhou Baoâs heart froze, immediately realizing what was wrong. He was a practitioner who practiced all the ways to the Immortal Realm and possessed immunity to warm and cold weather. So why did the small gust chill him?
In that instant, he understood what occurred. He raised his head and looked up at the ancient palace with a suspicious gaze.
âDonât be nervous or afraid. This is the Purple Heaven Palace, the starting and ending point of all things. All living creatures that come here will return to their essence form. Even the Celestial Immortals lose all their powers here, so itâs only naturally for you to too!â
âReturn to their essence form?â A sharp sensation tugged at Zhou Baoâs heart and a divine thought formed from beginning to end. Zhou Bao ascertained what went on. The fifth layer of the Treasure-snatching Rock was actually a virtual space, and so was the Purple Heaven Palace. Seemingly, only his thought reached the fifth layer, but his real body remained in the fourth.
For a practitioner of Zhou Baoâs level, even a thought possessed endless power. However, he was helpless when standing in front of the Purple Heaven Palace. The Palace instantiated this thought of his into a body, but that was about it. A body of an ordinary human.
Under such circumstances, Zhou Bao fretted not. He too, knew that worrying prove meaningless. He also thought of the famous line, âAs long as you come into my territory, even a dragon will kneel before me!â
Dragons were plentiful in this world. On the other hand, Celestial Immortals stood at the tip of the pyramid of existence. But even they knelt in front of the Purple Heaven Palace.
âI understand you have many questions, but come in first.â
Zhou Bao nodded and walked into the Purple Heave Palace slowly.
Initially, he was still keen on finding out just what this legendary place stood for. Strangely enough, once he stepped into the Palace, his soul wandered off. When he finally regained consciousness, he already walked into the Palace.
âWelcome back! I couldnât even name you when before you left.â The voice said, both soft and gentle. A sense of happiness, as if a lost son returning home permeated from the voice.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
A grey-clothed Taoist stood the center of the big hall. He looked at Zhou Bao with a big smile and loving gaze. However, all Zhou Baoâs hairs stood up because of this âlovingâ gaze.
It had been years since Zhou Bao last felt something like this, and he did not like it. Although the unlikelihood that this man gave him his first thought, that was about all. If it really happened, then, of course, it could be faked as well. Zhou Bao was no longer the rookie defined by others. If it really was the case, then Zhou Bao mind not giving the Treasure-snatching Rock a little push. But he would never treat it as his parents. Relationships are meant to develop with time. Zhou Bao doubted the Treasure-snatching Rock had much influence over him.
Therefore, Zhou Bao narrowed his eyes slightly as a response to the old Taoistâs loving gaze. âNames are just a code name, I have more than one now.â
âNot bad, other than the original one, the rest are all not bad.â The Taoist in grey smiled and something appeared between his lines.
âStop trying to make me curious! Since you know all about me, then youâll naturally know what my other names mean!â
âYes, Cundi and Bodhi, theyâre such ancient names. I almost forgot about them. Why not choose other names? For example...â
âHongjun?â Zhou Bao looked at this Taoist in grey who was dressed like Hongjun the Taoist. âIâm not so full of myself yet, I still have basic respect. But as for you, senior...â
âWhat is there to fear? That old Taoist has been deep-sleeping for several centuries, God knows if he will ever wake up.â After hearing Zhou Baoâs words, the grey-clothed Taoist understood what Zhou Bao said. He blew his mustache and continued speaking, unbothered. âBut as for you, I have never thought that you would progress this far! It has only been a few years since you were born and youâre already on the same level as some of the strongest Heavenly Fairy Weapons, truly a surprise!â
âWas it an accident, or on purpose?â Since he was already here, Zhou Bao pressed sternly for his answer. âI want to know the truth!â
âI donât know the truth either.â The Taoist in grey, or rather, the Treasure-snatching Rockâs device spirit, was very helpless. âAlthough you were bred in the Treasure-snatching Rock, there exists many strong characters that can cause huge changes in the space here. I am incapable of stopping this. If not, I wouldnât have thought of asking for your help.â
âOld monsters like you have lived for countless eras, and now you need my help? If thatâs the case, then I suspect you are the one that put me in this situation!â
âI donât have that ability. If not, I wouldnât be trapped in this god-damned Immortal Realm.â The Taoist in grey heard what Zhou Bao said and immediately denied. âThe power of a Celestial Immortal is enough to send you from the Treasure-snatching Rock to incarnate in the human world. But to achieve what youâve completed thus far, to nurse you to become a Tribulation Taker and the strongest and luckiest one at that, now, thatâs not something an ordinary Celestial Immortal can achieve. It will require a capability that is almost the same as Taoist Jinâs. Only ancient Celestial Immortals ever achieve that. Youâre their chess piece, not mine.â
âWell then, do you have their clues?â
âNone whatsoever. God knows which old man got bored and selected you.â As the Taoist in grey spoke, a nearly undetectable strange flash appeared in the deepest part of his eyes. This strange glow Zhou Bao usually caught, but now, Zhou Bao was just an Original Spirit in its essence form. He lost all his powers and could not detect it.
The old man denied the whole thing and Zhou Bao lost his expectations of gaining some clues from this sly fox. He sighed, âFine, since you donât know, then thereâs nothing we can do. Surely you didnât bring me here to meet the Jade Emperor Sage.â
âThe Jade Emperor Sage successfully practiced the Advanced Level of the Way of the Emperor. I would never jest with you about such matters!â The Taoist in grey was stern for a change.
âThe Way of the Emperor reached the Advanced Level? What logic is this!â
âThis is my logic, and also one of the simplest ones passed down for numerous eras.â The Taoist in grey continued, âNumerous eras ago, a mighty character who successfully practiced the Way of the Emperor stirred up a huge calamity here. Not only did he rule the main universe, but he also destroyed numerous Celestial Immortal territories in the Extraterritorial Area. He was eventually defeated by a group of united Celestial Immortals. Since then, the Way of the Emperor has become a forbidden power. For many eras, there hasnât been a character like the Jade Emperor Sage who could practice the Way of the Emperor until the Celestial Heaven Realm. However, this is also the tolerance limit of the group of ancient Celestial Immortals.â
âThen what else must I do?â
âWhat Iâm saying is itâs reaching their tolerance limit; itâs not there yet.â The Taoist in grey laughed bitterly. âTheyâre all waiting, waiting for a suitable reason. Occupying the Treasure-snatching Rock is their best excuse. But, Iâm going to be extremely unlucky.â
âIf my guess is correct, then you must be the device spirit of the Treasure-snatching Rock. Even if he gained the Rock, he wouldnât destroy it, no?â
âHe will not destroy it, but he will destroy me, the device spirit! He will then create a new one to control the Rock in all forms and manners!â
âThis is actually quite alike the Emperorâs character.â The corners of Zhou Baoâs mouth twitched a little. He understood what the elder was concerned about. âBut how can you be so sure I can assist you? My combat capability is indeed not mediocre, seeing as I can defeat most of the Earthly Immortals. But a Celestial Immortal and Earthly Immortal should never be compared.â
âYouâre too full of yourself. Your combat capability is indeed above proficient, but its impossible for you to defeat most of the Earthly Immortals. Maybe yes, if theyâre ordinary Earthly Immortal, but youâll never defeat those that have entered the Celestial Immortalâs Way! It is already difficult enough to escape from their hands!â
The Taoist in grey deflated Zhou Baoâs confidence without holding back. âDonât think that your Supreme Fairy Weapon is so powerful. All Earthly Immortals who enter the Celestial Immortalâs Way own one just like yours. These Supreme Fairy Weapons have the debris of the three ancient holy cities integrated into them, their powers are comparable to your Black Pearl!â
âSince thatâs the case, why do you still want me to fight the Celestial Immortals?â
âWe still have time, not an excessive amount but enough to help you become an Earthly Immortal!â The Taoist in grey looked at Zhou Bao as he spoke, âThereâs also the foundation of the Heaven and Earth Secret Technique and the Seven Wonderful Techniques. The man whom you stole the Taoist name from used this Seven Wonderful Techniques to become a Sage!â
âSeven Wonderful Techniques?â Zhou Baoâs eyes bulged. âI heard that this technique is carved on top of the Treasure-snatching Rockâs real body!â
âBased on your power, youâll be unable to see the real body. However, we can tell you what this technique is all about!â As he spoke, a willpower coursed through Zhou Baoâs spirit. âHowever, while the Seven Wonderful Techniques may be strong enough to help you become an Earthly Immortal using the least amount of time, youâll still have to rely on your own way to enter the Celestial Immortalâs Way.â