Starlit Path of the Mystic Forge

In the Preaching Platform, terrifying gales howled endlessly.

The birth of the <Great Luo Immortal Scripture> seemed to drain Lu's vitality in an instant.

The Eight Trigrams array words flickered ceaselessly throughout the Platform.

Yet Lu's eyes shone brilliantly. In that moment, his soul underwent a peculiar transformation—his primordial spirit strengthened considerably.

Exiting the Platform.

The world's clamor seemed isolated from Lu.

He sat upon the Thousand-Bladed Chair, eyes closed, ears filled only with gentle flowing water.

On Lake Heart Island, purple bamboo groves rustled in the wind.

Calming Lu's fervent heart completely.

"Human Immortal, True Immortal, Mystic Immortal, Golden Immortal, and Great Luo Immortal..."

Lu's brows furrowed slightly. "If the Five Phoenixes' Heavenly Humans all reach Mystic or Golden Immortal... and a Great Luo Immortal emerges—perhaps the Five Phoenixes could then be called an immortal martial world."

But soon, Lu smiled and shook his head.

"Difficult—too difficult... Mystic Immortal with river-like fortune rivals Saint Ancestors; Golden Immortal comparable to Nine Heavens Emperors. Great Luo Immortal... transcends Emperors? Transcending Emperors—how could it be easy?"

Lu leaned back in the Thousand-Bladed Chair, exhaling slowly.

He drew the Spiritual Pressure Chessboard—placing pieces, setting a game.

Fresh from deducing the <Great Luo Immortal Scripture>, his mind buzzed with excitement.

Primordial spirit utterly depleted—only chess restored him.

Insights from his mortal return aided state recovery immensely.

One game—primordial spirit recovered fifty percent.

But insufficient.

No rush refining the scripture further—instead, he traversed Lake Heart Island slowly, pondering fortune construction.

This deduction's <Great Luo Immortal Scripture> inextricably linked to fortune.

Fortune forging—crucial.

Lake Heart Island remained serene as ever.

Young Yinglong frolicked in the origin lake—emerging from time-reversed battlefield, increasingly unrestrained. Seeming to believe Dad couldn't handle him anymore.

Boom!

A massive explosion.

Ni Yu's pill cauldron burst—acrid stench billowed skyward.

Elsewhere, Ning Zhao's immortal energy cascaded—cultivation deepening.

Yi Yue honed Dao intent before the Dao stele.

Lu nodded satisfied—the three maids cultivated diligently. Excellent.

In contrast, the bubble-blowing, water-playing Young Yinglong displeased Lu.

So many examples—yet unchanged playfulness and laziness?

Lu disappointed.

Coincidentally—void rippled.

Time-reversed battlefield.

Azure Dragon emerged human-form—blood-bathed, murderous aura rolling, eyes crimson.

"Ahhh..."

Azure Dragon's voice hoarse.

Finally escaped—farmed fifty thousand points in reversed wars. Now capable of slaying Immortal Abode!

"Dad! I did it!"

Azure Dragon knelt on sea—tears streaming.

"Dad—I won't visit brothels again! Never order five at once!"

Azure Dragon sobbed—wiping tears.

Lake Heart Island—Lu seemed to hear cries; shook head sentimentally.

Without self-emergence—Lu nearly forgot him.

Primordial spirit surged—soothing war-left breakdown, joy.

Lu allowed island ascent.

Azure Dragon boarded—restrained.

No audacity before Lu.

Lu eyed Azure Dragon—then Young Yinglong; frowned slightly.

Heavenly dragon species strength—save Zhu Long—progressed slowly.

Not just them.

Lu's eyes lines shifted—saw Red Dragon, Mirage Dragon...

These species evolutions needed vast time—otherwise hard becoming mighty.

"After all—my, Lu Ping'an's creations... too weak—embarrassing."

Lu pondered.

Eight heavenly dragon species.

Zhu Long strongest—now inhaling/exhaling Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao; borrowing for cultivation. Strength—Five Phoenixes' third after him and Gu Mangran.

Even Lu Jiulian—no match.

Others ordinary.

Young Yinglong gluttonous lazy; Azure Dragon dramatic, brothel-frequenting...

Red Dragon single-minded—slow growth.

Lu forehead-palmed—what had he created?

"Dragon qi and fortune similar in principle."

"In time—perhaps let heavenly dragons bridge three realms' fortune."

Lu shook head—dismissed Azure Dragon.

Azure Dragon thrilled—vowed no more tarnishing Dad's name; became sky-spanning azure dragon—winding vanished over vast sea, returning mortal realm.

Young Yinglong lake-seated—watched departing Azure Dragon; boredly reclined.

Salted fish dragon life—so dull.

Lu ignored—returned White Jade Pavilion; mind immersed Platform.

In Platform—spent time perfecting <Great Luo Immortal Scripture>; researched fortune—converting Heavenly Dao essence.

Complex.

Lu exerted—via Five Phoenixes Heavenly Dao constructing fortune.

Clueless.

Recalled immortal martial dream tour—gained innate purple qi strand.

Thus—studied strand; etched essence onto Five Phoenixes origin—via Heavenly Dao converting similar profound energy: fortune.

Ultimately—fortune raw material: Dao essence.

Lu's eyes lit.

Fortune power created—merely start.

Spreading to three realms—vast project; more effort, deduction.

Time ticked.

Lu ceaselessly perfected via Platform.

Far harder than Six Paths Reincarnation.

Boom!

Finally—one day; completed.

Opened aged eyes.

"All prepared... now lacks trigger. Like transmitting Six Paths—how disseminate Great Luo Immortal Scripture."

Lu on Thousand-Bladed Chair—tapped slowly.

Deep thought.

Wall murals again?

Lu eyes brightened—idea sparked.

Just dream-toured immortal martial?

Per its grandeur—transmit scripture: foolproof.

For Lu—forging transmission realm simpler than deducing scripture.

Via Platform—quickly built.

Wall murals again.

This time... Lu needed complete story.

Building realm—not long.

About half month—complete.

Lake Heart Island.

White Jade Pavilion atop.

Lu seated—Spiritual Pressure Chessboard before; gleaming.

Held piece—eyes lines interwoven suddenly.

Rolled sleeve—slowly placed.

Terrifying gale erupted.

Lu's robes billowed!

"Realm opens—fortune rises."

Piece fell.

Faint voice resounded from Lu.

...

Ascension ground.

Moon bright, stars sparse.

Meditating Lu Jiulian abruptly opened eyes—heart palpitation.

Rose—action vast; startled distant cultivating Tang Guo.

"Master—what?"

Tang Guo astonished.

"Seems... extraordinary event."

Lu Jiulian inhaled deeply.

"Go."

No excess words—lotus bloomed air. Stepped—lotus-borne, streaked instantly.

Tang Guo reacted—God King Body pursued.

"Master—wait!"

Not just Lu Jiulian.

Entire ascension ground—ascenders opened eyes!

Boom!

Vault—myriad auspicious lights; seven-colored streams curtain-like veiling all.

Earth neon-flickered under shifting lights.

"Heaven-born anomaly—great event!"

"Shaking entire ascension ground—anomaly extraordinary!"

"Perhaps... Ancient Emperors returning?"

Lower Three Heavens ascenders marveled.

Recalled Void Heaven's uniqueness—assumed vanished Emperors manifesting; thrilled one by one.

Five Phoenixes Heavenly Humans rose.

Heavenly Court ruins.

Overlord, Tang Yimo, Du Longyang, Ye Shoudao—and persuaded by Lu, ascended Empress Ni Chunqiu—gazed shifting vault.

Boom!

Suddenly—ground quaked.

"Emperor weapon fall site!"

"Imperial might dispersed! Perhaps... weapon remnant?"

Cultivators uncertain.

Decades post-shatter—ignored usually. Now anomaly—courage to approach.

Closer—greater oppression.

Lower Three Heavens ascenders and Five Phoenixes Heavenly Humans—vast soul pressure.

Lu Jiulian and Tang Guo earliest at site.

Overlord etc. saw—hurried.

"Weapon fall—I passed; empty save lingering imperial might. Unexpected anomaly... I missed."

Lu Jiulian said.

Overlord etc. speechless.

Boom!

Gazing soaring seven-colored immortal lights—this lasted near half month.

Dense immortal energy shrouded fall area.

But none relaxed—unknown bred fear, vigilance.

As lights faded—vault clouded.

Heavy rain poured.

Unprecedented—washing heaven earth.

Fall site's lights converged—under rain; vast imperial might melted like snow.

Earth cracked—as if something emerged from depths.

Boom!

Earth like pulled carpet—quaked ceaselessly.

Soon—shattered, parting sides.

Vast wall corner—ancient, time-laden—extended from depths.

As if pushed out.

Not one wall.

One after another—from deep earth.

"Look! Murals on walls!"

Suddenly.

Sharp-eyed exclaimed surprise.

Lu Jiulian, Overlord etc. gazes sharpened.

"Walls time-laden—sealed ascension ground depths at least ten million years. Surely weapon fall triggered..."

"Wall emergence—due to weapon?"

Many horrified.

Shattering one triggered walls—what treasure?

Murals' secrets—what profundity!

Cultivators disregarded danger—streaked forth.

But murals' diffusing pressure oppressed ascension ground cultivators vastly.

Approaching walls—immensely difficult.

Lu Jiulian, Overlord—Five Phoenixes Heavenly Humans moved.

Boom!

Many terrified looked up.

Entire ascension ground quaked.

Vault—interwoven Dao essences surged; faintly uneasy.

As approached.

Gazes on walls.

Boom!

Gaze-falling cultivators—primordial spirits seized by powerful force. Below three immortal energies fused Immortal Abode—nose-mouth bled instantly; staggered, spirits damaged.

Above three—stupefied.

Primordial spirits pulled into vast world—mightier aura than Nine Heavens.

As if scroll slowly unfurled.

Even strongest Lu Jiulian—entranced.

Overlord, Du Longyang etc.

Many Lower Three Heavens Immortal Abode ancestors.

All blankly stared walls.

Sensed—epoch-sealed secret emerging.

Epic scroll.

Scroll: humanity primitive—fleeing countless giant, ferocious beasts; barely surviving.

Humanity proliferated—tribes formed; heavenly fire drawn; Human Emperor founded—leading primitive humanity against beasts; survived harshness.

But barely—countless beasts earth-destroying; strange abilities—easily slaughtering masses.

Human Emperor unwilling—debated heavens.

Created cultivation method—seized Heavenly Dao power; humanity cultivable—gradually contending beasts.

Heavenly Dao enraged at seizure—endless thunder punishment. Human Emperor contended; withstood bombardment undying; seized essence—converted human fortune; humanity flourished. Human Emperor created method—birthing mighty beings: sky-soaring, earth-fleeing, heaven-earth destroying supremes.

Beasts suppressed; humanity established world—proliferating generations; eternal flame.

Wall-recorded events—epic impacting viewers' hearts.

Human Emperor's method: <Great Luo Immortal Scripture>. Murals' demonstration—breath-quickening.

Saw fortune path's might.

Human, True, Mystic, Golden Immortals composing magnificent world—shocking souls.

When wills fell last wall—sealed <Great Luo Immortal Scripture>; thick dust veiled.

Lower Three Heavens Immortal Abode ancestor impatient—released primordial spirit; hoped brush dust; scripture reemerge.

But spirit touched—shocked bleeding nose-mouth; flung back.

Crowd horrified.

Yet unwilling abandon—many tried reemerging scripture.

Failures sank hearts.

Even toughest Overlord—coughed blood.

Even Lu Jiulian wounded.

Unbelieving—suddenly Lu Jiulian recalled mural: humanity facing peril—united.

Inspired.

All cultivators united—released primordial spirits. Vast influx shattered dust.

First shattered—soon second.

Epoch-dusted <Great Luo Immortal Scripture>—under joint effort—slowly shed dust; reemerged!

Scripture ancient—seemed aged figure carving word by word.

"That's aged Human Emperor!"

Overlord spoke.

"Human Emperor seized Heavenly Dao fortune—stripped longevity by Heavenly Dao!"

"Indeed! Indeed... no wonder Young Master Lu said Human Emperor denied longevity—cause here!"

Not just Overlord—Five Phoenixes Heavenly Humans enlightened.

Gazed mural—faces moved.

Buzz...

Suddenly.

Wall characters... alive!

Boom!

Characters detached—soared vault.

Countless essences surged—<Great Luo Immortal Scripture> vast; soon flooded all minds.

A method—cultivating fortune!

"Look! Essences... became fortune!"

Recalled mural humanity surging fortune—someone horrified.

Then—under myriad gazes.

Thousand-zhang gate emerged.

Heavenly Gate!

Once welcomed ascension!

Now reappeared—not for ascension. Gate beasts revived—reflecting in sea-surge fortune.

Gate fortune-rushed open.

Countless fortune rushed out—vast sea vent; madly into mortal earth!

Ascension ground.

All cultivators faces stiffened.

"This... what's happening? Essences to fortune—why surge mortal earth?"

Lower Three Heavens Immortal Abode ancestor soared—fearlessly blocked gate; absorb fortune.

But fortune pierced body—untouched.

Conversely—much fortune threaded.

Coiled Five Phoenixes Heavenly Humans.

Overlord fortune-wreathed; Lu Jiulian, Du Longyang, Ni Chunqiu etc.—similar; fortune reflecting contributions, blood for Five Phoenixes against foes.

Five Phoenixes cultivators—sublimated this moment.

Lower Three Heavens ascenders—eyes instantly reddened!

Lu Jiulian opened eyes.

Gaze brilliant.

Inspired.

Not just him—Five Phoenixes Heavenly Humans faces rippled.

Sima Qingshan, Kong Nanfei etc.—laughed greatly; toward fortune-surging gate.

Five Phoenixes Heavenly Humans—stood before gate; stepped out—leapt gate; returned mortal realm.

...

Five Phoenixes Continent.

Cultivating practitioners horrified opened eyes.

Once night vault—now day-bright.

Vault above.

Thousand-zhang Heavenly Gate emerged.

Countless practitioners thrilled rose.

Current Five Phoenixes cultivators—aimed Heavenly Gate ascension. Gate now—someone ascending?

Yet...

World horrified: gate figures numerous; vast laughter echoed.

Legendary Heavenly Humans—immortal energy-wreathed; exited gate.

Even mortals beheld anomaly.

Great Xuan Calendar Year 428.

Immortal Gate opens—Heavenly Humans descend mortal dust.

...

Origin Lake, Lake Heart Island.

Lu before—Spiritual Pressure Chessboard gleamed.

Gazed vault—Five Phoenixes Heavenly Humans exiting gate; returning Heavenly Humans—lips curved smile.

Foreseeable—next Five Phoenixes cultivation fervor; returning Heavenly Humans transmitting—prairie fire blazing red.

Countless breakthroughs—spiritual energy soar!

Suddenly.

Lu eyes sharpened—face astonished.

System prompts rapidly flowed before eyes.

"Congratulations, Host, on creating <Five Emperors Scripture>, <Six Paths Reincarnation Visualization>, <Great Luo Immortal Scripture>; sustaining three realms; forging Five Phoenixes small world's immortal martial foundation..."