Chapter 223: The Disappeared Heavenly Feather Emperor! The Enlightenment Tea Gathering

"This is already the Great Saint Seventh Layer. It seems my plan was indeed correct,"

Wang Ping looked at the text-based simulation content and was very satisfied with the outcome.

"My cultivation has reached the Great Saint Seventh Layer, which means I've completely left my peers like Gu Xuan, Shi Yuyan, and Lei Wanqian behind. Next, it's time to aim for the Great Saint Rankings. However, the individuals on the Great Saint Rankings are all monsters, and I can't afford to be their enemy for now."

Wang Ping's eyes flickered as he contemplated.

In this Golden Age, it seemed that many major forces had anticipated something, prompting the emergence of self-proclaimed imperial progeny.

As a result, the Saint Rankings, Saint King Rankings, and Great Saint Rankings were filled with extraordinary talents.

Although there were more such talents on the current Saint King Rankings, that was because of him, Wang Ping, Gu Xuan, and Lei Wanqian, three individuals who surpassed other talents.

In reality, the talents on the Saint Rankings and Great Saint Rankings were no less impressive than those on the Saint King Rankings.

Most of these individuals had reached the level of Great Saint Perfection, and the top-ranked ones had even achieved the level of Semi-Transcendence.

With such cultivation levels, it was challenging to defeat them unless one's own cultivation surpassed theirs.

"Just cultivation alone, with my current rate of improvement, it won't be long before I reach the level of Great Saint Perfection. At that time, climbing the Great Saint Rankings will be a breeze."

Wang Ping chuckled to himself.

By that time, Gu Xuan, Shi Yuyan, Lei Wanqian, and others of his generation would all be left in his dust. Other cultivators, whether they were prodigies or old monsters, would be left dumbfounded.

After all, at the Great Saint level, even prodigies like Shi Yuyan would require several hundred years to advance by one small realm.

As for Wang Ping, in just over a hundred years, he had skyrocketed from the Great Saint Second Layer to the level of Great Saint Perfection. His foundation was extremely solid, far from being a result of simply relying on external means. It was truly abnormal.

Not to mention, cultivation required time to settle; even with external means, there was still a digestion process.

It was extremely difficult to elevate one's cultivation from the Great Saint Second Layer to the level of Great Saint Perfection in such a short time. It was practically impossible.

"Others may find it difficult, but who made me so awesome?"

Wang Ping muttered to himself, then continued to gaze at the screen.

"Next, you continue to have people transmit your techniques to improve your cultivation. Although the rate of improvement has significantly decreased at the Great Saint Seventh Layer, you are not greedy. After all, getting stronger while lying down is something no one would complain about."

"However, you don't plan to stay in the One Xuan Universe any longer and intend to let the transmission happen freely. At this point, you plan to return to the Immortal Land."

"After all, at this time, the self-proclaimed wild prodigy has already appeared, and it's time for you to gain his favor and find out where he emerged."

"Next, you prepare to summon the quasi-emperor and the Supreme Dao Protectors from the Taiyi Emperor's Palace."

"When the quasi-emperor and the Supreme Dao Protectors from the Taiyi Emperor's Palace arrive, they, as experts in the Three Realms, with tough minds and extensive knowledge, show expressions of shock. After all, they had only left for a short while, and you had already reached the level of Great Saint Seventh Layer. Your cultivation speed was truly abnormal."

"After the shock, they are delighted and burst into laughter, believing that you might be the true protagonist of this Golden Age, and everyone else is just there to support you. If you continue to maintain this cultivation advantage, you might really ascend to immortality and lead the Taiyi Emperor's Palace to transcendence."

"You listen to their laughter with a slight twitch in your expression, feeling that these two seniors are jinxing you, as if you are about to fall."

"Next, the quasi-emperor from the Taiyi Emperor's Palace takes you back to the Immortal Land. When you return to the Immortal Land, you are spotted by someone who is observant."

"However, because you have a treasure from the Taiyi Emperor's Palace that conceals your true cultivation, your real strength is not revealed, and your external appearance still appears to be only at the Great Saint Second Layer."

"Soon, you return to the Taiyi Emperor's Palace. After returning, you are puzzled to find that the Heavenly Feather Emperor has not yet returned, which is quite strange. After all, this is something you never encountered in your previous simulations."

"This makes you feel an inexplicable sense of unease, and you start to inquire with Yu Daohong about the whereabouts of his father, the Heavenly Feather Emperor."

"In response to your inquiry, Yu Daohong shakes his head, indicating that he doesn't know. This disappoints you."

"In response to Yu Daohong's confusion, he asks why you want to know the whereabouts of his father, the Heavenly Feather Emperor. You don't reveal your worries about the Heavenly Feather Emperor's safety because it would sound absurd."

"Next, you plan to leave the Taiyi Emperor's Palace and search for the self-proclaimed prodigy

, Bu Jinghuan. However, before you can leave, Yu Daohong stops you and suggests a duel."

"You are quite surprised by this and wonder why Yu Daohong is seeking a beating. Given his personality, he shouldn't be acting this way. However, you have no intention of refusing the challenge and decide to go ahead with the duel."

"Soon, the two of you engage in a battle. What surprises you is that, since you left the Immortal Land, Yu Daohong has broken through to the level of a Great Saint. However, even though he has reached the level of a Great Saint, he is still no match for you and is easily defeated."

"You are not affected by this outcome, but Yu Daohong calmly says, 'My battle with you is just to remind you that, under the pressure you bring, many prodigies have chosen to break through to the level of Great Saint in advance. If you don't make progress in the next hundred years, you'll be surpassed by Gu Xuan and those newly emerged prodigies.'"

"Hearing Yu Daohong's words, you are quite surprised and feel that this kid has a good personality. He used himself as a punching bag to remind you of this matter."

"Then, you lightly laugh and say, 'Those who are surpassed by me can only look up to my back until they can't see it anymore.' After saying this, you leave."

"Seeing this, Yu Daohong is speechless and thinks that you are quite pretentious and will probably get beaten up by someone sooner or later."

"Next, you leave the Taiyi Emperor's Palace and go in search of Bu Jinghuan. After Bu Jinghuan's emergence, he was taken away by another imperial-level power, the Hengyu Emperor's Palace, and became a prominent figure there."

"For this reason, finding him is not a difficult task. You just need to visit the Hengyu Emperor's Palace directly."

"Not long after, you arrive at the Hengyu Emperor's Palace. The arrival of a guest surprises the Palace Lord of the Hengyu Emperor's Palace, but he warmly welcomes you."

"When you reveal that you've come to see Bu Jinghuan, the Palace Lord of the Hengyu Emperor's Palace is somewhat surprised and curious, not understanding why you want to see Bu Jinghuan."

"Although Bu Jinghuan has good talent, he hasn't truly grown and is still far from your level. However, despite the many questions in the Palace Lord's mind, he doesn't inquire further and arranges for you to meet Bu Jinghuan."

"After meeting Bu Jinghuan, you engage in a discussion with him, earning his admiration. As your relationship becomes more familiar, you start asking him some questions. Bu Jinghuan is initially puzzled by your inquiries but doesn't see any reason to hide his past and provides you with the information."

"You silently take note of the information and feel that you and Bu Jinghuan are fated to meet, perhaps one day you will enter the Immortal Mansion together and embark on the path to immortality."

Chapter 224: Unexpected Challenge from Shi Yuyan

Your words left Bu Jinghuan both surprised and puzzled. He couldn't quite grasp what you were thinking and responded politely. You didn't intend to stay at the Hengyu Emperor's Palace for long. Instead, you extended an invitation to Bu Jinghuan, suggesting that he visit the Taiyi Emperor's Palace when he had some free time, and then you left the palace.

After your departure, the Palace Lord of the Hengyu Emperor's Palace appeared and asked Bu Jinghuan some questions. In the end, even the Palace Lord couldn't fathom your true purpose for coming here. Perhaps, they thought, you were trying to win over Bu Jinghuan to prepare for future competition for Immortal Fortune. After all, major forces like theirs had inside information that the Immortal Mansion would soon open, and they knew that no one could go it alone when it came to seizing opportunities like Immortal Fortune. It was essential to establish alliances with individuals and factions. However, they were puzzled as to why you had chosen Bu Jinghuan over their own First Imperial Child.

After leaving the Hengyu Emperor's Palace, you prepared to return to the Taiyi Emperor's Palace. Your plan was to focus on enlightenment and Dao comprehension. To break through to the Semi-Transcendent level, there were three conditions to meet. First, you needed to refine your Transcendent Body, causing a qualitative change within your inner world. Second, you had to undergo a transformation in your own mana, making it undergo a qualitative change as well. Third, you needed to comprehend the Dao, condensing the illusory Dao patterns of your chosen path.

The third condition was the most challenging one. Dao patterns were a manifestation of the profound forces of the Heavenly Dao, far beyond the scope of ordinary laws. Achieving a breakthrough to the Semi-Transcendent level required condensing complete Dao patterns, transforming them into Transcendent Dao Fruits, gaining recognition from the Heavenly Dao, a process known as Dao Confirmation, and stepping into the initial stages of the three Dao Realms, obtaining power far superior to the Saint Realm.

For this reason, you decided to focus on Dao comprehension, starting by attempting to grasp illusory Dao patterns. The other two conditions were currently beyond your reach. Regarding the laws, you had been stuck at the Great Perfection level for a long time, and further progress would require intense Dao comprehension.

However, this advancement was also incredibly difficult. Many geniuses on the Saint King Rankings had achieved Great Perfection in laws while at the Semi-Transcendent level. Yet, when they reached the complete Transcendent level, they still only understood the Great Perfection laws, struggling to make further progress.

Understanding Dao patterns, which involved touching the majestic powers of the Heavenly Dao, was equally challenging. That's why many geniuses remained stuck at the Saint level, unable to advance further.

To enter the Semi-Transcendent and Transcendent realms, both talent and luck were necessary. For true prodigies, even without special luck, they could eventually comprehend the required principles with enough time, representing a steady and stable path of cultivation.

However, for geniuses at your level, time was of the essence. Falling behind by even a step could lead to setbacks, especially when it came to Immortal Fortune. Immortal Fortune was not only sought after by talented individuals of your generation but also coveted by Semi-Transcendents, quasi-emperors, and even emperors. They wouldn't hesitate to suppress younger talents and seize the opportunity.

Therefore, you needed to become stronger as quickly as possible. You didn't need to push yourself as others did; you had your life simulator and ample time. Your progress was already rapid enough, and there was no need to rush.

"Other geniuses might be in a hurry, but I don't need to be," you thought, looking at the simulated text.

You had the Life Simulator, which gave you more time and allowed for much faster progress. You didn't need to be as frantic as the others; you had no sense of urgency.

Even if you missed one chance at Immortal Fortune, it would only be in the simulation. You had countless more opportunities ahead of you. After all, in reality, the time when Immortal Fortune would appear was still far off!

As you contemplated these thoughts, the simulation continued.

However, just as you were about to begin your intensive Dao comprehension, something unexpected happened. Due to your constantly advancing cultivation, you found it impossible to enter the state of Dao comprehension. This frustrated you and made you realize that even the method of transmitting techniques had its drawbacks, which you couldn't disable.

You sighed in disappointment, giving up on the idea of Dao comprehension. Trying to grasp the Dao under such circumstances would be dangerous, as sudden breakthroughs in your cultivation could lead to deviations or even possession.

Unfortunately, you couldn't shut off your Seven-Colored Talent - Apprenticeship Mode. It was a blessing and a curse.

There was no choice but to give up on the idea of enlightenment for now.

To you, there were two options. You could either wait until you reached the peak of the Great Saint Seventh Layer and hope that your cultivation method didn't spread to some wild prodigy who would then become your apprentice. In that case, you could safely enter seclusion. Alternatively, you could advance to the Great Saint Complete Realm first.

In your view, the former option offered little security. Many geniuses capable of helping you break through the bottleneck to the Great Saint Eighth Layer existed. The probability of such a genius learning your technique was high. On the other hand, advancing to the Great Saint Complete Realm was a surer path.

However, finding disciples like that on your own was challenging. Even though you knew a few candidates, they were either born with extraordinary talents and were quickly taken away by stronger individuals or were like Bu Jinghuan, self-proclaimed geniuses who practiced their own imperial techniques and wouldn't readily accept a master.

As for those who followed less traditional paths but had the potential to rival the offspring of the Three Realms' Supreme Beings, they were extremely rare. It was doubtful that even someone like Yechen could surpass them.

[Her purpose in doing this is undoubtedly clear. She wants to defeat you once, regain her confidence, and find inner peace.]

[Seeing your refusal to her challenge, Shi Yuyan frowned and questioned whether you dared not to fight her.]

[In response, you were quite speechless but revealed a portion of your cultivation. In an instant, the aura of a Great Saint Sixth Layer swept over, silencing Shi Yuyan. She didn't expect you to have elevated your cultivation by four minor realms in such a short time.]

[You chuckled lightly, asking if she still wanted to have another battle.]

[Hearing this, Shi Yuyan didn't say anything; she just turned and walked away. She had initially wanted to learn from you and attempt to defeat you with her higher cultivation. However, with such a vast difference in power, it was pointless. After all, they both belonged to the same realm and she couldn't beat someone with a much higher cultivation level.]

[Seeing Shi Yuyan about to leave, you laughed and jokingly suggested that next time she challenges you, she should bring some stakes, like whoever loses has to become the other's disciple.]

[Upon hearing your words, Shi Yuyan's expression darkened, and she gave you an irritated look before quickly disappearing. Her Dao Protector, on the other hand, looked at you with a strange expression. Even though it was a joke, it was quite unusual to boldly suggest accepting the Emperor's own daughter as your disciple.]

[Afterward, Shi Yuyan's Dao Protector shook his head and also prepared to leave.]

[However, at this moment, Shi Yuyan suddenly returned, which surprised you. You teased her, asking if she really wanted to have another battle.]

[Shi Yuyan, with an annoyed expression, stared at you and said that this time, she didn't just want to challenge you but also invited you to attend the Enlightenment Tea Gathering on the Common Immortal Continent.]

[You were quite surprised and didn't understand what the Enlightenment Tea Gathering was all about. So, you curiously inquired.]

[In response to your question, Shi Yuyan provided an answer. The Enlightenment Tea Gathering was hosted by Qin Yue, the top-ranked individual on the Great Saint Rankings. During this gathering, Qin Yue would serve her Qin family's most precious Enlightenment Tea to various young talents. It was worth noting that the Qin family's Enlightenment Tea came from ancient tea trees of enlightenment, possessing miraculous effects that could aid in one's enlightenment. If fortunate enough to enter a special state of enlightenment through this tea, it could greatly benefit one's cultivation, possibly allowing them to comprehend the mysteries of Dao patterns.]

[Hearing Shi Yuyan's explanation, you were quite surprised. The Qin family was also one of the upper realm's immortal families, with an Emperor presiding over it. However, the Qin family was not of human origin but belonged to a unique race known as the Celestial-Human race. Their lifespans far exceeded those of humans, making them a true long-lived imperial family.]

[As a result, they had more time for cultivation and enlightenment, leading to generally strong combat power among the living members of the Qin family.]

[Of course, nothing in this world was perfect. While the Qin family's members had long lifespans and extraordinary combat abilities for their realms, they faced difficulties in producing offspring, making them one of the smallest imperial families in terms of numbers.]

[With that in mind, you questioned Shi Yuyan, wondering why Qin Yue, a Qin family princess, suddenly hosted an Enlightenment Tea Gathering and offered such precious Enlightenment Tea to young talents.]

[In response to your question, Shi Yuyan shook her head, indicating that she didn't know either. However, she believed that this was a rare opportunity to drink such valuable Enlightenment Tea and naturally wanted to join in. As for whether Qin Yue would harm the talented individuals, as long as Qin Yue wasn't suddenly acting foolish, she wouldn't do such a thing.]

[After all, although the Qin family was powerful, everyone attending the Enlightenment Tea Gathering had substantial backgrounds. If any harm were to befall them, not just one but even two Qin families could face destruction.]

[With some thoughts, you found the Enlightenment Tea Gathering quite intriguing and decided to accompany Shi Yuyan to it. Perhaps, during this gathering, you might encounter some interesting things.]

[Seeing you agree to go, Shi Yuyan snorted lightly and then disappeared as a divine rainbow, showing no intention of going with you. You couldn't help but feel that this woman, Shi Yuyan, had a somewhat proud attitude.]

[Next, you chose to go to the Qin family with your Dao Protector. When you arrived at the Qin family, you found that a large number of young talents had already gathered here.]

[These young talents were not simple individuals; all of them had previously reached the top ranks of the Three Great Saint Rankings. Among them were figures like Lei Wanqian, Youming Mozi, and Yudao Hong. However, Gu Xuan did not show up, which surprised you.]

[After your arrival, all these young talents looked at you, calculating what realm your current strength was in. At this moment, Qin Yue, seated at the head, smiled and invited you to take a seat.]

[You looked at Qin Yue and realized that this woman was indeed extraordinary. But that was normal. After all, to secure the first place on the Great Saint Rankings, her cultivation must have already reached the Semi-Transcendent level.]

[Such cultivation, not to mention the younger generation, even some old monsters couldn't help but feel inferior. Perhaps Qin Yue couldn't be considered part of the younger generation anymore. Having reached the Semi-Transcendent realm, even though her age was relatively small compared to the lifespan of those at the Semi-Transcendent realm, she had, in a way, transcended the category of the younger generation.]

[Various thoughts crossed your mind, and with a smile, you nodded to Qin Yue, the host of the event. You took a seat at her guidance. After you sat down, many people greeted you, and you responded to all of them with utmost courtesy.]

[After a while, Qin Yue announced that most of the people had arrived, and she officially declared the beginning of the Enlightenment Tea Gathering. As she spoke, Qin family maids brought the already steeped Enlightenment Tea to the prominent young talents for tasting.]

[You smelled the fragrant aroma of the Enlightenment Tea and couldn't help but admire it. Without hesitation, you drank it all. Surprisingly, after drinking the Enlightenment Tea, you weren't affected by the constant cultivation improvements. Instead, you entered a marvelous state, getting closer to the Dao.]

[Other young talents experienced the same phenomenon. Moments later, some of them had Dao visions in the sky, representing their paths. As for you, your vision was a gray temporal vortex.]

[It was unclear how much time had passed before you finally snapped out of that amazing state, and your mind was still in turmoil. This time, you gained something valuable. While you couldn't claim to have fully comprehended your Illusory Dao Patterns, you had gained some insights, saving you a considerable amount of time on your enlightenment journey.]

[You couldn't help but feel impressed; indeed, the Enlightenment Tea was truly extraordinary. The Qin family's possession of the Enlightenment Tea was enviable. Although every faction had its secrets that made others envious, the Qin family's Enlightenment Tea, which could help with enlightenment, was the kind of treasure that most cultivators coveted.]

[Because of the Enlightenment Tea, the Qin family continued to flourish. In the later stages of cultivation, enlightenment became increasingly important, and a treasure like the Enlightenment Tea, capable of aiding in one's enlightenment, could continuously produce strong individuals, making it extremely precious, even tempting to emperors.]

[Unfortunately, the Qin family had deep roots, and nobody knew just how strong they were. Therefore, even other emperor-level factions were cautious about making any moves against the Qin family. To be precise, unless it touched upon a major grudge, they wouldn't easily start a full-scale war with them.]

[This was because there were too many uncertainties in battles between major factions. Nobody knew what kind of background or trump cards the opposing faction had hidden. If, by any chance, another emperor or a large number of quasi-emperors suddenly appeared, it would lead to complete despair.]

[There were precedents for this. Once, a major faction thought it could take advantage of another long-dormant emperor-level faction and initiated a war. As a result, the dormant faction unleashed another dormant emperor and a large number of quasi-emperors, wiping out the aggressor completely.]

[Apart from that, nobody knew if there were any cultivators hiding within the Source of Darkness who had secretly advanced to the level of emperors or quasi-emperors. In battles between major forces, there were simply too many uncertainties. Unless it was an irreconcilable vendetta, the option of war was usually avoided.]

[Soon, other young talents gradually came back to their senses from the state of enlightenment, praising the remarkable nature of the Enlightenment Tea. Their gazes toward Qin Yue became more fervent. Some even expressed a desire to buy some Enlightenment Tea leaves, hoping Qin Yue would agree.]

[In response to this request, Qin Yue politely declined, explaining that Enlightenment Tea leaves were extremely precious, and the Qin family didn't have too many of them.]

[Hearing this, some young talents looked at her strangely, wondering why Qin Yue was so generous with hundreds of pieces of Enlightenment Tea leaves.]

[When someone asked, Qin Yue smiled and said that they had gathered here for a reason. However, the time hadn't come yet. Before she revealed this matter, they could take advantage of this rare gathering to exchange special items or engage in friendly competitions.]

[The words of Qin Yue left the cultivators in attendance quite puzzled, not understanding what she was up to. However, since Qin Yue didn't explain further, they didn't press the matter and began exchanging special items.]

[The young talents present were the cream of the crop from the Common Immortal Continent, and their backgrounds were not simple. They all had their own fortunes and treasures to offer.]

[The items they brought out left you surprised and envious. You couldn't help but think that you had obtained some opportunities through simulations, but these people were lucky to have higher destinies and more opportunities. Although you had defeated many young talents and accumulated some destiny, bringing your destiny from near-negative values to surpassing most cultivators, you still couldn't compare to these individuals.]

[Next, you thought about what valuable items you could offer in exchange with this group of people. While you had many valuable possessions, most of them couldn't be traded. For example, your personal Supreme-Transcendent Weapon, the quasi-emperor-grade life-saving artifact given by the Divine Emperor, and some other treasures. As for divine source energy, while it wasn't something you couldn't part with, it wasn't suitable for trade in this setting.]

[Ultimately, you realized that you could only offer the Ice of Heavenly Cold, which seemed to be the only item you could bring out. The value of the Ice of Heavenly Cold was quite high, and it should be able to exchange for some valuable items that would be beneficial to you.]

[Thinking about this, you felt even more convinced that your decision not to give this item to Ji Bingyan or engage in a trade with the Ji family was the right choice. If you had traded it away, you would have been left empty-handed in this situation, unable to make deals with anyone.]

[Next, in the amazed eyes of many cultivators, you took out the Ice of Heavenly Cold. Terrifying coldness emanated from it but was suppressed by you. At the same time, you casually noticed an object in the hands of another cultivator, which made you reveal a surprised expression!]

[End of this chapter]