Rumbling!!!
Above the endless, dark Chongming Sea, numerous ominous clouds exuded terrifying auras.
Boundless soul lamps floated on the sea's surface.
"Splash!"
The sea surged, and the figure of Patriarch 'Wumian' emerged from beneath the waves.
He was the rotating patriarch responsible for guarding Chongming Sea in this generation. Due to Chen Jiuyang, he had previously exchanged with a certain lineage's sacred artifact, allowing him to leave Chongming Sea.
Now that Sect Master Chen Jiuyang had obtained the Renhuang Sword, the few patriarchs who had previously interacted with Chen Jiuyang had been revived. This was the benefit of karma; otherwise, they would have remained in slumber like other patriarchs.
At this moment, Patriarch 'Wumian' returned to Chongming Sea to meet the revived patriarchs.
Among the patriarchs, there were naturally ranks and hierarchies, divided by cultivation and combat power.
Martial arts ranked above immortal arts.
Several patriarchs, exuding terrifying demonic energy, had awakened: 'Baan', 'Chengyun', 'Mingti', 'Xuanxing', and 'Jiudu'. As for Patriarch Qingjue, his true body was in the Immortal Realm; if his clone, left in the forbidden area, were to awaken rashly, it would be too easy for the Heavenly Court's Heavenly Law to detect it and locate Chongming Sea.
'Chengyun', with his terrifying eyes, looked at 'Wumian' and asked, "What is the current situation of 'Qianyang'?"
'Wumian' replied, "Reporting to Patriarch 'Chengyun', Sect Master 'Qianyang' has now forged the unprecedented Five Great Origin Furnaces, and is only a step away from reaching the Emperor Realm."
"But..."
Patriarch 'Wumian' explained the predicament Chen Jiuyang was facing.
'Baan', 'Chengyun', 'Mingti', 'Xuanxing', and 'Jiudu' quickly exchanged words:
"'Qianyang' has peerless talent. The Human Emperor's path has three calamities and nine tribulations. It is likely that the second calamity will descend when he attempts to reach the Emperor Realm."
"'Qianyang' is a person of deep sentiment and righteousness, rarely seen in our Sacred Dao for ten thousand years. We absolutely cannot allow him to suffer any further setbacks. The great era has begun, and it is an excellent choice to eliminate the five pseudo-daos in this era."
"How can we resolve 'Qianyang's' calamity and ensure his smooth ascent to the Emperor Realm?"
"Those old antiques from the secluded village have karma with him; how can they watch him suffer again?"
"It's hard to say. The calamities and tribulations on the Human Emperor's path must be borne by oneself. Those old antiques can at most help him clean up afterward."
"What we need to do is clear away the calamities and tribulations that hinder 'Qianyang's' ascent to the Emperor Realm."
"His karma, even we cannot fathom. The Human Emperor's path created by the ancient Emperor is too unique..."
"'Wumian' has already served as his Dao protector. We cannot alter this karma. To seize... but his Tribulation Crossing stage cultivation is truly a bit weak."
After some deliberation, Patriarch 'Jiudu' looked at 'Wumian' and said, "'Wumian', you must ensure 'Qianyang's' promotion to the Emperor Realm at all costs. If he encounters danger, you must protect him even at the cost of your life."
"If 'Qianyang' successfully ascends to the Emperor Realm, sweeps through the five pseudo-dao inheritance lands, and devours their destiny, the Sacred Dao can be completely revived. At that time, you will be reborn and granted the cultivation of a Martial Saint, living another life."
After the five patriarchs deliberated, they instructed Patriarch 'Wumian', a Tribulation Crossing stage great cultivator, to act as Chen Jiuyang's human shield or even scapegoat.
Such a move could only be made by the demonic path. A Tribulation Crossing stage cultivator was a foundational existence for any power; many immortal cultivators toiled their entire lives without being able to reach this realm.
However, in the demonic path, they could be sacrificed as pawns.
"This is the Karma Substitute Talisman, a forbidden Dao talisman that defies the Heavenly Law. If 'Qianyang' encounters danger, you shall use this talisman to substitute for his death. Your soul lamp is in the Sacred Land, and you can be reincarnated at any time."
Patriarch 'Wumian's' expression stiffened, but as one of the demonic path patriarchs, how could he dare to disobey the orders of higher-ranking patriarchs? He obediently accepted the Karma Substitute Talisman and said, "'Wumian' obeys."
...
True Demon Sect.
Chen Jiuyang was clad in the Nine Dragon Robe. Without the suppression of the Renhuang Sword, the six true dragon phantoms on the robe began to stir again, constantly moving and absorbing the destiny of the True Demon Sect.
However, standing on the snow mountain outside the Sect Master's Hall, Chen Jiuyang appeared like an ordinary mortal.
"When forging the furnaces, because Princess 'Shile's' dream world was present, the second calamity did not descend..."
"So, this second calamity is very likely to descend when I cross into the Emperor Realm..."
"The number of calamities will not repeat. I can rest assured about Zi Xuan..."
"Currently, what makes me uneasy and what I worry about are Rouyu, Jingbai... and old friends like Ye Tiannan."
Although Yun Jingbai, Yao Zixuan's best friend, and he had not met in recent years, they had kept in touch through messages. This girl was now openly in love with him. Yun Tiancheng was also of age and had retired.
"Someone."
The graceful figure of 'Bie Huan' appeared, kneeling on one knee. Her exquisitely beautiful face was veiled, and her enchanting eyes were almost soul-stirring. She respectfully said, "Sect Master!"
Chen Jiuyang instructed, "Go to Fengcheng and safely bring the mortal Yun Jingbai and Yun Tiancheng back to the Sacred Sect. Settle them in my clan's territory."
"Yes, Sect Master." 'Bie Huan' replied respectfully, and then her figure vanished.
Yet, even so, Chen Jiuyang felt a faint unease, a strange restlessness, much like years ago when Yao Zixuan was abducted during the Martial Ranking World Competition, he had felt a premonition of unease.
Chen Jiuyang said in a deep voice, "Someone." The robe on his body vibrated.
Then Deng Zun, Fang Bahua, Han Shaofa, and 'Wumian' appeared before Chen Jiuyang one after another.
"Greetings, Sect Master!"
Within the True Demon Sect, Chen Jiuyang was heaven and supreme. Even patriarchs could not defy his orders.
Chen Jiuyang asked, "What is the progress of the Sacred-Pseudo War?"
Han Shaofa replied, "Reporting to the Sect Master, the Sacred-Pseudo War is currently at its peak. No advantage has been gained on any front."
Chen Jiuyang then asked Fang Bahua, "Uncle Fang, how is the Qingzhu Spiritual Domain arranged?"
"Coordinated with the young master's guard team and Han family personnel, everything has been handled from top to bottom."
Chen Jiuyang tapped his fingers, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, "I am a little uneasy..."
"Deng Zun, are there any movements from the fifty-four lineage families within the sect?"
Deng Zun replied, "Reporting to Young Master, there are no movements from the fifty-four lineage families within the sect. All are fully engaged in the Sacred-Pseudo War."
"No movements?" Chen Jiuyang said, "I don't believe it."
He felt uneasy, with internal and external threats.
Chen Jiuyang looked at Han Shaofa, "If anyone in the sect intends to harm my wife, children, and elders while I am breaking through to the Emperor Realm, can the Han family's forbidden area withstand an attack from within the Sacred Sect?"
Han Shaofa nodded, "Sect Master, please rest assured. Among the one hundred and eight families of the demonic path, only our Han family, due to the Celestial Charm Physique, possesses a unique forbidden area, built by successive patriarchs."
Chen Jiuyang frowned. The Renhuang Sword was with Emperor Yan, and he could not recall it.