Dao Conference Festival (Conclusion)

Chiyan Battle Arena.

The numerous fights of the various heaven chosen contestants had ended and the top 100 were decided. That last batch of extraordinary geniuses all received their respective badge with a '100' inscribed on it as there was no particular ranking.

As everybody was contemplating their hard earned badge, Senior Tan's voice echoed through the central floating stone platform and silenced the cheers of the crowd.

"Normally there would be a third round of competition to establish a clear ranking of the final top 100 but this year's Dao Conference festival coincides with the opening of the Immortal Ascension Selection. This event is organised by a peak Immortal Emperor-ranked power so there is no need for useless bloodshed. All of you will have the honour to represent the Sky Pill World in the many year long event."

The few native geniuses were beyond shocked by the announcement whilst the many foreign geniuses were thrilled. Some of them missed the selections of their respective powers in the immortal realms because of various reasons or they simply lost to the more powerful during the selections yet they still were able to enter the event through a backdoor.

"Our Sky Pill World is a very high end particle world due to the five ancestors from the respective 'Two Sects, Two Clans and One Palace' being 9th Rank Immortal Foundation existences who all are infinitely close to the Immortal King realm. To put things in perspective for you, the countless particle worlds under the rule of the Darknorth Immortal Dynasty are 95% of the time only granted one spot where we were allowed a 100." Senior Tan explained.

At the same time as he was talking, Senior Tan waved his hands and numerous lights fled from his sleeves to each qualified contestant. The lights were in fact divine medallions with the characters for "Sky Pill" inscribed onto them.

"These are the medallions which will allow all of you to partake in the preliminaries of the 'Immortal Ascension Selection' in a year. I will personally accompany your group so be sure to not leave the Skyflame domain." Senior Tan said before he stopped talking for a breath of time to allow every participant to register his words before continuing.

"That will be all and for a final time, Congratulations." Senior Tan flat voice carried over one last time before he simply vanished.

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As Senior Tan disappeared, in the levitating VIP booth, the several peak ascendants were busy registering the faces and names of the various qualified geniuses.

The Golden Axe Sovereigness had a smug smile as her Ji Clan produced the most qualifiers. Yet the first one to break the silence was Lu Long;

"Among the hundred of geniuses awarded a Sky Pill Medallion, only about a third are natives of our Sky Pill World whilst the rest are all geniuses from the outside world. How disappointing!"

The one who followed him was Maiden Xue with her ancient yet subtle voice.

"To have secured a third of the available slots with disciples of Immortal King-ranked powers present is already an achievement in itself, Lu Long. It seems that from our various native geniuses, a couple of faces matched with your previously made predictions, Old Han."

Indeed, all of the geniuses that previously made an impressive clearance of the Immortal Ascension Pagoda had been successfully qualified alongside a few outliers.

First, there were the three young masters of the Ji Clan; Ji Meilin, Ji Yuan and Ji Bolin.

The youngest as well as oldest of the four young lunatics from the Skyflame Sect also successfully qualified; Zi Yan and Di Yan.

Then there were two young chosen ones from the Myriad Demon Palace; Lu Yanlong with his pure Jiao Dragon bloodline and Zou Xifeng who possessed a very pure Blue Luan bloodline.

Following them was the young vixen, only qualifier from the Gu Clan; Gu Qingge.

Surprisingly for the Northern Province, only two core disciples of the Giant Spirit Sect qualified; Xiao Da and Shi Bai.

The twins' alchemist from Medicine Mountain were the only notable non-top-5 superpower qualifiers; Yue Liling and her sister, Yue Liqin.

As the peak ascendants continued to screen the crowd of qualifiers, much to their surprise, there was also in this edition of the Dao Conference Festival several unexpected qualifiers and the most notable ones were not even from superpowers.

Among those outliers were the only three non-affiliated cultivators; Xi Wenling (N2 ranker), Wu Shuchun (N81 ranker) and Kang Tian (N999 ranker).

Yet again Blueflame abruptly put an end to the contemplation of the various peak ascendants with his overbearing attitude much to their displeasure.

"I have matters to handle therefore I shall take my leave. Be sure to carefully train these thirty or so qualifiers for the 'Immortal Ascension Selection'. Our Skyflame Sect will be more than happy to provide for resources if need be. Whether they shine or not in that event is up to themselves."

As soon as Blueflame soared through the skies before vanishing so did the various peak ascendants as they dispersed to meet up with their sect's respective juniors.

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Skyflame Domain, Barren Peak.

This was the night right after the conclusion of the Dao Conference Festival and Ji Bolin was already about to attempt to condense his fifth astral soul. He was aiming for a constellation from deep within the 8th layer as they are surely much more powerful than the ones at the forefront.

Ji Bolin's perception soared in the vast starry skies, staring at the resplendent constellations here as terrifying waves assaulted his heart. He could have chosen a constellation from that layer very early on in his cultivation journey but his choice back then would have been restricted to a very few ones so he chose otherwise.

Ji Bolin instead carefully choose constellations from those at the peak of the 7th layer following the sayings that suitable was at times more beneficial than more powerful.

But now his senses were powerful enough to bear roaming in the 8th layer.

The vast majority of the constellations in the 8th layer were completely different. Not only was the aura they exuded tyrannical and terrifying, the unique appearances of the constellations in this layer also gave him an intense visual impact.

"Is that a gigantic ape?" Ji Bolin stared at a constellation not far away from him. It was a demonic beast-type constellation in the shape of a giant ape so large that it could blot out the skies. It lies on its side horizontally across this astral river, incomparably vast. And for some reason, the tail of this ape was in the form of a snake, and there even seemed to be a pair of eyes that were staring right at him, as it emanated an overbearing battle aura.

"This isn't a giant ape but a Stone Ape instead." Ji Bolin's heart trembled. If he formed an innate connection with this constellation, he should be able to summon a battle ape similar to those of the Battle Saint clan from the original work and possess terrifying strength and defence. But he already possessed an astral soul that provided something quite similar so he continued his journey.

A surge of pain threatened to rip his mind into pieces. Ji Bolin furrowed his brows, the pressure here in the 8th layer was many times more intense compared to the 7th layer. His willpower allowed him to step into here, yet he had no way to remain here for too long.

Ji Bolin would enter the starry skies for a small amount of time everyday for a month to explore the various constellations of the 8th layer. He could go deeper and deeper after each new entry. In the blink of an eye, it was already three months since the Dao Conference Festival ended.

Once more, Ji Bolin was floating among the 8th layer, roaming around looking for the perfect constellation. He had decided to finish this today and thus had to quickly find a constellation he wanted to form an innate connection with and condense his astral soul. He already had a short list in mind but was still searching for better.

His perception then swiftly moved away, roaming this layer. Ji Bolin then saw a particular constellation which left an incomparable impact on him. This constellation resembled a gigantic mountain with its peak extending past the dome of heaven, akin to a primordial divine mountain of ancient times. It was unknown how heavy it was exactly.

The mountain exuded an aura of suppression as if it wanted to suppress the entire Astral Universe. Just from staring at it from afar, Ji Bolin felt as though he would be crushed or collapse at any moment.

Ji Bolin's heart thumped rapidly as he felt a sudden impulse to send his perception into it. But eventually, he still curbed the impulse and continued roaming the 8th heavenly layer, staring at these bizarre constellations.

He even saw a pair of massive eyes located inside a black hole, able to engulf and devour everything. There were no other constellations near this, it was alone in its area, the absolute hegemon, not allowing other things to exist together in the same space with it.

"Each and every constellation here contains inconceivable power." Ji Bolin's heart pounded, but still, he continued his search.

He hoped that the astral soul he condensed would be able to complement the innate techniques and arts he cultivated. Only then would he be able to unleash the greatest amount of might that his innate techniques or arts were capable of unleashing.

And the three main most important arts he was cultivating now, were the immortal-ranked arts; The Hundred Beast Refinement Sutra, the Sword Transformation Manual and most importantly, the Celestial Forging Tome.

There was no need to doubt the power of these three immortal arts, as their attacking might was exceedingly terrifying.

The Hundred Beast Refinement Sutra practised in conjunction with the Sword Transformation Manual would enable one to refine their body into a physique possessing the might of a hundred demonic beasts with the durability of divine weapons, using the defence of their bare flesh to fight against the immortals, gods and devils. What a terrifying concept was this?

The Celestial Forging Tome was an exoteric art that allowed to imbue every technique or arts with the various insights and comprehension obtain throughout one's cultivation journey. Ji Bolin had used it when he clashed with Yu Xue in the Dao Conference Festival to hide his devouring-type energy with his sword attack.

Astral souls were able to augment the strength of Stellar Martial Cultivators' attacks, but in the end, they were better used to support the cultivator's path to the peak. Ji Bolin, who read the original work plus had years of experience of his own cultivating, naturally understood that he should choose wisely.

The pressure he was withstanding grew increasingly stronger, but Ji Bolin tried his best to ascend further. Every constellation that appeared in his field of vision was so powerful that they left a sense of trepidation within his heart. But still, he continued enduring the pressure as he searched on. Right now, his tolerance had already reached the verge of snapping.

If he failed in his attempt this time, he could only wait until his next attempt to condense an astral soul. But still, he would not give up until absolutely necessary.

In an extremely far location from him, Ji Bolin noticed a beam of astral light shooting his way. An overwhelming might bore down, causing his perception's projection to turn even fainter.

But even so, at this moment, his projection continued to make its way towards that direction.

Boundless astral light radiated from the constellation, it was an absurdly gargantuan lotus that was rooted deep in the starry sky. This constellation was in the form of a huge worldly lotus and had its root deeply sunk into the heavens, it exudes an aura of absolute surrealism.

This lotus-form constellation was incomparably resplendent, and in similar fashion to the black hole constellation, there were no other constellations near it. In each leaf of the lotus it was as if a world was present. This was that they meant in Buddhist sayings that an entire world could fit into a mustard seed.

Surrealism was a high level attribute that had mystical capabilities and Ji Bolin remembered that those punks from the Skymist Immortal Empire were proficient with it. It was exactly the unique type of constellation he sought.

"If I pair my devouring-type attribute with surrealism attribute then I would be able to construct another dimensions where my enemies' attacks or themselves could be swallowed and refined. There are also so many other ways I could use it too. This surrealism-type constellation is a perfect match for me." Ji Bolin hesitated no longer, his perception instantly gushing forth, seemingly in a frenzy as it dashed towards the constellation.

The nearer he was to the constellation, the farther he felt he was.

This surreal sensation continued on for a few moments until the point where Ji Bolin's perception projection successfully crossed the perpetually changing distance. At last his astral projection began exuding a similar aura and was able to step across the fluctuating boundary, directly into the towering worldly lotus constellation.

At this instant, in the 8th heavenly layer, beams of astral light pierced down from the sky, descending onto the silhouette currently cultivating on a barren peak in the Skyflame Domain. The body of that cultivator trembled violently but he still maintained consciousness, drawing energy from the boundless astral light that was falling over him to condense his astral soul — A Worldly Lotus.

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Skyflame Domain, Nature Peak, Immortal Tan residence.

A year had already gone by since the conclusion of the Dao Conference Festival and thirty or so heaven chosen were assembled in the yard of Daoist Tan residence on his personal peak.

Ji Bolin was now a nineteen year old young man and his cultivation base could be perceived to be at the peak of the 2nd level of the Celestial Phenomenon realm. In fact, a majority of the thirty or so individuals had already broken through the second level to prepare for the fights coming.

They were all comfortably seated around a magnificent round table, busy eating. This was a mini-banquet organised in their honour. Even Daoist Tan was with them, he slurped his noodles the loudest like your average mortal grandpa.

At last everybody had finished their meal and was ready to depart. Senior Tan waved his hands and a magnificent flying boat appeared, it was obvious that this was an immortal foundation-ranked weapon from the aura it emitted.

"Everybody is ready so let's go." Senior was the first to embark and soon everybody followed him.

In the air, Ji Bolin and the others sat on the flying boat as it shuttled through the skies at blinding speed.

"Is there a boundary to these skies?" Kang Tian, one of the many heavens chosen, already couldn't see the silhouettes far below him.

"In particle worlds, there would usually be a formless restrictive force enveloping it. For people of particle worlds who want to leave it, they need an immortal-ranked expert outside to connect the passageway, breaking through the layer of restrictive force before they can exit." Senior Tan explained as Kang Tian nodded his head.

Since they could sense the existences of constellations in the nine heavenly layers and some people like Ji Bolin could even summon astral war beasts, this already proved that the restrictive layer was made from formless energy and it wasn't corporeal.

After a long period of time, the various geniuses already didn't know how high an altitude they were at. They could already faintly sense that invisible layer of restrictive force. Even the speed of their flying boat had perceptibly slowed.

"Okay, I'm going to break apart the restriction layer now. Prepare yourselves." Senior Tan spoke.

After which, he brought the various juniors as he abruptly shuttled forward. At this moment, Immortal Tan was akin to a blazing meteor, immortal light circulated around them as a curtain of divine flames scorched through the invisible formless pressure above. An intense fluctuation trembled the space as a light sound echoed out.

Ji Bolin and the others only saw stars in their eyes as a terrifying force flung them outwards to a boundlessly vast space.

"This…" Kang Tian's heart trembled deeply. He stared ahead as he saw stretches of resplendent twinkling lights that enveloped the boundless starry skies within.

"Wow! Where is our Sky Pill World, senior?" Kang Tian's heart thumped.

Kang Tian grew up alone and cultivated as a lone wolf all his life so he was a full-fledged opportunist, not at all shy to ask questions. Plus, Daoist Tan was an easy-going senior so he would always respond as best as he could.

"Over there, we were pushed out. It's only a particle from our point of view now." Senior Tan's immortal corona enveloped the flying boat as well. He pointed to a pinpoint of light somewhere around. The Sky Pill World was merely a pinpoint of light amidst countless others albeit a bit brighter.

"That's…?" Kang Tian's heart trembled intensely.

He lacked the knowledge of the various young prodigies of the various superpowers so he couldn't help but be more shocked than the others. Over there, countless pinpoints of light flickered. Could it be that each dot of light was a particle world?

"Yes, that stretch of space where our Sky Pill World is situated, around it are all particle worlds as well. Right now, we are already very far from them, that's why they appear so small. However when you go near, you will discover that each particle world is also boundlessly vast. But of course, in comparison to the immortal realms, it's merely a drop of water in the ocean." Senior Tan smiled as he explained.

Kang Tian stared somewhere toward the horizon in the immortal realm that was radiating scintillating light. It was as though the light emanating from the particle worlds were merely a reflection of that from the immortal realms. His gaze darted left and right but no matter where he looked, it would still be within the radius of the immortal realms.

Ji Bolin was just as marvelled as Kang Tian but for obvious different reasons. He who originated from another universe could not comprehend how the cycle of day and night existed if this was how the world was. His world view once more shattered as he told himself that this universe is surely mysterious.

"Where is our particle world from the immortal realms, senior?" Kang Tian mused.

"Funny brat. In the boundless void how could there be directions like up and down or left and right. Up and down or left and right are merely points that are opposites." Senior Tan smiled.

The other geniuses were happy Kang Tian was here to ask all those questions as they would be too ashamed to do so themselves. It is always good to have such a carefree fellow around.

Everybody stared at the boundless space before nodding their head. In the void, where would there be true directions? If two people were drifting in the void in opposite directions, who would be the one on the main way and who would be the one drifting in reverse?

"Actually, our particle world as well as the other pinpoints of light over there are all the particle worlds around the Azure Mystic Immortal Region." Senior Tan explained.

"Azure Mystic Immortal Realm? I heard that there are a total of thirty three heavenly realms all together, where are those?" Kang Tian stared at that stretch of astral region. A particle world when viewed from so far away, was truly akin to a particle. Some worlds were even so small that one couldn't see it with the naked eyes.

"Don't think too far. Just this stretch of worlds alone is already considered very, very vast for all of you. Let's be on our way." Senior Tan brought them and headed towards the direction of the Azure Mystic Immortal Realms.

At the same time, he also reminded, "I have immortal energy, hence I have no problem resisting the suction force from the immortal realms. But those who are not yet immortal would succumb to the gravity in the atmosphere and be drawn towards the ground."

"I understand." Kang Tian replied with gratitude.

"Prepare yourselves well, the area we will be landing in should be a city under the rule of the Darknorth Immortal Dynasty of the Azure Mystic Immortal Realm. But we have no way to precisely determine which city we will appear in. Let's go." Senior Tan spoke, driving the flying boat as he sped towards the immortal region.

Everybody stared at the boundlessly vast immortal realms, situated within an astral region in space and felt like one of the heavenly layers they had perceived through their perception.

A smile painted their faces as their hearts were filled with an endless yearning.

Not too long later, they felt a terrifying suction force pulling them into that world. The closer they got, the more intense the suction force became. Senior Tan immortal light intensified around the flying boat to protect them from any inadvertent fall.

A dazzling trail formed from their trajectory but of a somewhat negligible brilliance when compared to the light radiating from the immortal realms.

At this moment, no one in the immortal realm knew what kind of waves a certain someone and his companions on the flying boat causing this blazing trail would cause in the future.

Finally, Ji Bolin was about to set foot in a truly challenging environment. The start of his legend begun with the 'Immortal Ascension Selection' and its myriad geniuses.