Chapter 693 - 510: Celestial Radiance True Immortal (2)
"The first batch of innate sacred beings born in this realm, extraordinary in talent, mostly succeeded in passing through the Sky-reaching Tower and left the Panwu Realm."
"Those Void Refining cultivators remaining today are all new to the Void Refining stage and have yet to succeed in passing through the tower."
"The Martial Country is now divided into seven great kingdoms, each presided over by a prince at the Void Refining Realm..."
Suddenly!
"Buzz——!"
The fishing rod suddenly shook violently, a vibration resounding continuously, the fishing line pulled taut, a tremendous force coming from the sea floor.
Qi Mang came to his senses, looked towards the sea surface, and a playful smile appeared at the corner of his lips:
"I didn’t even set a hook."
"And it’s a big one!"
He gently tugged the fishing line.
"Splash——!"
The vast azure waves suddenly churned, a gigantic silhouette surged up from the sea floor, water splashing everywhere, like a cascade of stars falling from the sky.
This was an enormous whale, tens of thousands of feet in length, deep blue all over, its scales smooth as jade, its eyes flickering with lively golden light, its cultivation already reaching late-stage Golden Core.
After the whale burst through the sea surface, it didn’t struggle a bit, slowly gathered itself, transforming into the form of a tall young boy.
In blue attire, with a handsome face, there was a hint of agility between his brows, a faint mist lingering around him.
"Thud——!"
The youth knelt on both knees, his expression extremely respectful, bowing his head deeply.
"Junior Canglan, pays respect to senior!"
"Junior belongs to the Jade Whale clan, awakened intelligence for eight hundred years, diligently cultivated till now, fortunately reaching late-stage Golden Core, but has no further inheritance..."
"Today I encountered the senior fishing without a hook... daring to bite the line."
"I beg senior’s mercy, accept junior as a disciple, and impart the Great Dao techniques."
Qi Mang sat upon the reef, looked at the kneeling Canglan, slightly stunned at first, then burst into laughter:
"What a clever little fellow, dared to voluntarily bite the line, shows some courage, and indeed a bit of destiny."
"As you seek the Dao with sincerity, and there’s a bit of fate between us, I’ll take you as a disciple."
"From now on, you shall be my named disciple, Qi Mang."
Upon hearing this, Canglan’s eyes instantly shone with brilliant light, his face filled with joy and excitement, he kneeled again and knocked his head three times heavily:
"Thank you, Master!"
"Disciple Canglan, greets Master! From now on, disciple will follow Master unwaveringly, diligently cultivating, never slacking or being lazy."
"Rise."
Qi Mang gently raised his hand to lift Canglan again, his eyes brimmed with a deeper smile, as if seeing his younger self.
"Now, I have important matters to attend, need to head to the Martial Country, stay by my side temporarily, cultivating and training..."
"Disciple obeys!"
Canglan respectfully responded, retreated slightly, standing silently by Qi Mang’s side, his expression reverent.
...
Within the Martial Country imperial palace, once lofty and solemn, upon the great hall of the imperial palace.
Qi Mang sat upon the dragon throne, his posture upright like a solitary peak of Kunlun, he slightly unfolded his five fingers.
In his palm, seven exquisite tigers lay quietly curled up, an aura of Dao Domain faintly emanating from them.
On one side of the great hall, Canglan stood respectfully with head bowed.
His eyes were fixed on Qi Mang’s figure, filled with undisguised admiration and awe, his heart pounding ceaselessly.
Scenes of following his master to the seven great kingdoms played repeatedly in his mind, filled with gratitude and shock:
"I’ve indeed struck incredible luck!"
"Back when I apprenticed by the East Sea, I speculated secretly about what realm my master was?"
"If he were a Venerable of Divinity Transformation, being able to become his disciple would be a fortune accrued over multiple lifetimes."
"But never did I expect that my master was so overwhelmingly powerful."
"The seven Refining Void Great Powers, in front of the master, didn’t even have the slightest power to resist."
"Master with a casual grab, captured them all, imprisoned in his palm, as easily as catching little chicks."
Canglan grew even more thankful for his initial rashness and boldness.
If he hadn’t actively bitten the hook to test, if he hadn’t knelt to become a disciple, he might never have seen such a peerless powerhouse, let alone become his disciple.
Qi Mang sat upon the dragon throne, his expression indifferent, his gaze sweeping over the seven tigers in his palm, unfazed.
"Buzz——!"
He flipped his palm over, the seven White Tigers in his palm instantly transformed into seven streams of light, landing in the great hall, manifesting into seven robust figures.
These seven were clad in royal robes, their aura in disarray, looking at Qi Mang with eyes full of wariness.
They could clearly feel, the figure before them seated on the dragon throne, his immense pressure akin to the heavens collapsing.
Far beyond any innate divine presence they had ever encountered, utterly unchallengeable.
The seven exchanged glances, seeing fear and bewilderment in each other’s eyes.
They didn’t know who this mysterious entity before them was, nor when they had offended such a terrifying existence.
They could only muster their waning strength, forcing a fawning smile, speaking obsequiously in hopes of pleading:
"May we ask the noble name of the senior?"
"Unaware of where we have offended the senior, we humbly ask for guidance, and assure our utmost repentance without the slightest neglect!"
They did not forget to mention the backing of the Qi family:
"Senior, please calm your anger! Our family ancestor is a direct disciple of the Dao Ancestor."
"Currently, the Golden Saint Princess and Yuanji Celestial Monarch are also overseeing the Panwu Realm. We beseech senior’s consideration..."
Upon hearing this, Qi Mang, seated solemnly upon the dragon throne, finally stirred slightly. He slowly lifted his gaze, his eyes suddenly turning severe, with a cold snort:
"Humph—!"
The sound was not loud, yet carried overwhelming authority and piercing chill, like thunder reverberating through the grand hall, making them shudder all over.
"See clearly who I am?"
Upon speaking, behind him, immediately appeared a phantom of an imperial figure roaring like a tiger across mountains and rivers, with the aura of calamity overturning heaven and earth.
The seven stared intently at the phantom behind Qi Mang, then lifted their gaze to look at Qi Mang’s face, their pupils contracting sharply, their minds blank:
"Ancestor, Ancestor?!"
"You’ve returned?!"
Never did they expect that the mysterious entity with overwhelmingly powerful might, despairing to them, would actually be their greatest support.
Ancestor Qi Mang of the Qi family—the Martial Emperor Qi Mang!
"Thud—!"
The seven simultaneously kneeled on both knees, calling out loudly:
"Greetings, Ancestor!"
Qi Mang, seated upon the dragon throne, coldly swept his gaze over the kneeling seven:
"You all have great audacity!"
"Pursue not advancement, divide the clan, sow discord internally, attack each other, fracturing the Martial Country into pieces..."
Facing Qi Mang’s reprimand, the seven obediently lowered their heads, trembling all over, not daring to utter a word of defense.
Beside them, Cang Lan watched his master reprimand the seven Refining Void Great Powers, his eyes filled with admiration, growing ever stronger, nearly overflowing.
"Your death sentences may be waived, but for the living, mercy is beyond reach!"
"I decree that you go to the punitive ore star of the Immortal Mansion and mine for five thousand years, extracting the ore vein essence, absolving your own sins!"
With a flick of his finger, seven black shackles accurately fastened around their necks, suppressing their cultivation forcibly.
Should there be any disturbance, it would trigger calamity backlash, making them wish for death.
After speaking, the pressure around Qi Mang surged violently, like overturning heaven and earth, enveloping the seven again, his tone carrying undisputable intimidation, sternly questioning:
"Do you concede?!"
"We concede! We pledge to abide by Ancestor’s command, proceeding to the punitive ore star to mine and atone, without the slightest negligence."
Qi Mang looked at their submissive demeanor, tugging at the shackles on their necks, coldly saying:
"Rise! I shall send you to the punitive ore star now, where you shall commence atoning today!"
...
Meanwhile, deep in the Source Sea, the chaotic airflow surged, a vast valley stood silently.
At the valley’s center, Chen Sheng held in his hand a crystal-clear glazed bottle, its surface glimmering with seven-colored radiance, refining the essence of the lunar.
"Buzz—!"
The glazed bottle slightly trembled, its radiance growing ever brilliant, the purified lunar essence flowing like liquid glass inside.
At this moment, an ethereal and void-like sound of the Dao suddenly reverberated throughout the valley.
As if from the dawn of heaven and earth, or perhaps from the depths of the chaotic void, distinctly reaching the ears of Chen Sheng and Dharma Master Hong Jue.
"Celestial Radiance Mountain opens—!"
"Deep within the Source Sea, no matter where, just silently recite the name of Celestial Radiance True Immortal to enter the Immortal Mountain."
"Swish—!"
Chen Sheng’s hand holding the glazed bottle paused abruptly, he swiftly opened his eyes, pupils contracting:
"Immortal Mountain?"
Beside him, Dharma Master Hong Jue similarly showed an expression of shock, his previously solemn face now filled with disbelief:
"Friend! Did you hear that sound just now?"
"You guard the scripture pavilion, browse the Dao Domain, knowledgeable and insightful, have you ever heard of these two names?"
Hearing this, Chen Sheng looked at Dharma Master Hong Jue and slowly shook his head:
"Never heard before!"