In the summer of the year 2432 of the Wuguo calendar, half a year had passed since the end of the Mūhuá Alchemist's tomb in Wūhuí Ridge.
For half a year, the entire Wuguo had been enveloped in a tranquil calm. The disciples of the Tiāngāng Sect and the Jiàn Sect, who once roamed freely, had long since vanished. Even the mountain gates of the two sects were tightly shut.
It was as if they had evaporated from the mortal realm, leaving the bustling cities overnight.
Ji Fa, the Regent Prince of Wuguo, had delegated his authority to the Grand Tutor, who now held the reins of power. Ji Fa himself had entered secluded cultivation, clutching a brownish-red Ascending Origin Pill in his palm.
Currently, all factions holding the Ascending Origin Pills had temporarily suppressed their ambitions. They were exerting all their might to break through to the Grandmaster realm, secretly planning for development!
As for Yang Hao, he had been in this world for a year. Not only had he defended Hanjiā, but he had also led his Yang family clansmen back to Shǔjùn.
Furthermore, he had suppressed the three commanderies with an iron fist. The Yang family's reputation soared like a dragon, and Yang Hao became an idol eagerly pursued by the youths of the three commanderies.
After half a year of recuperation, the livelihoods of the people in Hánzhōng and Guǎnghàn commanderies had significantly improved.
The three commanderies gradually merged into an impenetrable fortress.
In the imperial garden of the Prefectural Governor's mansion, sword light flashed and swordsmen's cries echoed.
"Ding! Summoned a worldly hero, Liào Huà, successfully promoted to Innate Layer Five!"
Liào Huà, who had turned the tide, had crossed the river of time at Yang Hao's most perilous moment, his blade defending Hanjiā City.
In battles fraught with bloodshed, he was the first to improve his cultivation through his own strength.
Everything was developing in the direction Yang Hao had envisioned!
*Hum!*
*Rumble!*
A nine-story pagoda adjacent to the Prefectural Governor's mansion emitted a rumbling sound!
The nine-story pagoda was built by Yang Hao, imitating the Reincarnation Black and Yellow Pagoda. Upon its completion, it was gifted to Wàn Mìzhāi for his daily use in refining pills and practicing cultivation.
Yang Hao stopped practicing his sword and hurried over.
At this moment, in front of the pagoda, Gāo Shùn had already led the Vanguard Camp to guard the surroundings.
Shortly after, Wàn Mìzhāi, clad in tattered clothes and with a disheveled beard, emerged weakly from the pagoda.
"How is it?"
Yang Hao asked anxiously.
Wàn Mìzhāi bowed his head and said, "I have not disgraced my mission!"
As he spoke, he opened his palm, and three brownish-red pill capsules, emitting a faint fragrance, lay on his palm!
Ascending Origin Pills!
Yang Hao looked at the pills, which contained immense energy fluctuations, and involuntarily picked one up, placing it in his palm.
The Ascending Origin Pills, the pills that drove all martial artists in Wuguo to madness, even to the point of willing death, were now in his hand.
As long as he wished, he could refine them continuously!
Yang Hao turned to look at Wàn Mìzhāi, "In that case, I will trouble Mr. Wàn!"
Wuguo was now rampant with Grandmasters. Although the Great Virtuous Teacher, Zhāng Jiǎo, had acted to subdue some scoundrels a while ago,
if time passed and other Grandmaster experts discovered the implications, it would inevitably lead to disaster.
Currently, there was an urgent need for a top-tier expert to be stationed there.
It was the opportune moment for Wàn Mìzhāi to consume the Ascending Origin Pills!
He placed the Ascending Origin Pills back into Wàn Mìzhāi's hand. Everyone watched with excitement as Wàn Mìzhāi slowly walked towards the pagoda and sealed the hall door!
"Gāo Shùn, heed my command!"
Yang Hao said, looking at the tightly closed pagoda door.
"Your subordinate is here!"
Gāo Shùn, clad in armor and exuding extraordinary bravery, knelt down with a resounding thud!
"Transmit my order! The Vanguard Camp shall guard this place starting today. Anyone who approaches within a hundred zhang shall be executed!"
Yang Hao said coldly, without turning his head.
Gāo Shùn, standing behind Yang Hao, his eyes blazing fiercely, replied, "Your subordinate obeys!"
...
...
*Dong~~ Dong~~*
The sound of bells reverberated through the capital, sweeping across a thousand miles!
Ji Fa, the Regent Prince, who had been in seclusion for half a year, had broken through to the Grandmaster realm. News of this spread throughout Wuguo. Ji Fa's formidable strength suppressed the court, and overnight his prestige rivaled that of the current King of Wuguo.
He displayed the demeanor of a king with every move!
All the civil and military officials saw the future of Wuguo in him!
At this moment, everyone believed that Wuguo was about to prosper. Never in a thousand years had there been four Grandmasters simultaneously guarding the capital!
For a time, the prestige of the imperial court reached its zenith in a millennium!
A month after Ji Fa broke through to the Grandmaster realm, the mountain gate of the Tiāngāng Sect was opened wide. Amidst the howling mountain winds, the Supreme Elder, Liú Jì, successfully advanced to the Grandmaster position.
On the night of the same day, the Sect Master of the Jiàn Sect, Lán Fèng, visited the Tiāngāng Sect and discussed matters for a long time before leaving three days later.
Soon after, the Tiāngāng Sect issued invitations to various sects and clans to celebrate!
With two Grandmaster experts stationed at the Tiāngāng Sect, its position as an unshakeable local overlord was once again solidified!
As Ji Fa and Liú Jì advanced to the Grandmaster realm, all eyes turned to Jī Shū, the Prefect of Yìzhōu.
Month after month passed, yet Yìzhōu remained calm and undisturbed!
The entire Yìzhōu was like a dead sea, silent and without a ripple.
...
...
Shǔjùn Commandery City.
The sealed pagoda door was covered in a thin layer of dust. It was now autumn, and golden leaves scattered throughout the entire courtyard!
*Ceng!*
Suddenly, golden light diffused outwards, and the entire pagoda seemed bathed in Buddha's radiance. The golden leaves filling the courtyard fluttered, shining under the illumination of the pagoda's golden light.
In this dark weather, the light enveloped the entire Shǔjùn Commandery City.
It felt as warm as a spring breeze!
Suddenly, a thick scroll slowly materialized and stood atop the nine-story pagoda, flipping up and down, stirring the winds and clouds!
Within the scroll, it was as if there was a world with mountains, water, flying birds and beasts, flowers, birds, insects, and fish, all vividly real.
A golden river flowed from the void, slowly coursing into the thick scroll, vast and mighty!
The Yuan Qi flowed like liquid, boundless and immeasurable, and the end of the golden river was unknown!
For a time, all cultivators in Shǔjùn Commandery City stopped their practice. The Yuan power of the entire commandery seemed to be completely drained by some mysterious force!
The Yuan power of the entire Shǔjùn Commandery City vanished completely.
After an unknown period, the golden river, whose origin was unseen, poured madly into the scroll.
It splashed up golden waves.
*Hum!*
The river dissipated, and the scroll slowly closed, its patterns flashing with light.
Waves of qi scattered!
The Yuan power, which had long disappeared from Shǔjùn Commandery City, instantly became abundant again, and its concentration was purer than before!
*Kā kā kā!*
The pagoda door, sealed for months, slowly opened.
Waves of qi rushed towards the sky from within the pagoda, and the aroma of pills spread far and wide.
A white-bearded elder, clad in white robes, walked on air. With every step he took, faint circles of Yuan power scattered like ripples from a dragonfly's touch.
*Hum!*
Wàn Mìzhāi hovered in the courtyard. With a wave of his right hand, the thick scroll atop the nine-story pagoda slowly descended.
With his left fist, he punched the void. The dark clouds that obscured the sky for miles cracked open, allowing a sliver of golden sunlight to scatter through!
"Congratulations on advancing to Grandmaster, Mr. Wàn!"
Gāo Shùn, leaning on his long saber, marveled at the mighty power of a Grandmaster.
"I trouble General Gāo for guarding this place; this old man thanks you."
Although he was in seclusion within the pagoda, he was aware of everything that had happened outside.
"You jest, sir. This is my duty."
Gāo Shùn quickly returned the bow!