In the starry cosmos, streams of light swiftly passed by as cultivators from various sects and forces arrived from all directions.
Numerous figures traversed the cold, deep cosmos, stirring up ripples in space-time. Their imposing aura was enough to make one tremble with fear even from a great distance.
In the various ancient domains of the Imperial Immortal Palace, disciples and elders who had received instructions were already waiting to greet and guide guests from different sects and forces.
At the Xianyun Dao Hall, a graceful and elegant middle-aged woman, accompanied by many disciples, was welcoming guests.
"Elder Xianyun, it's been a long time. Your beauty remains as radiant as ever, and your cultivation has grown even more profound."
From afar, a hearty voice could be heard.
A tall and burly middle-aged man, dressed in a purple robe and wearing a vertical crown, arrived with a group of young disciples and elders.
Elder Xianyun looked over and smiled slightly, "Mountain Lord of Tuoyang Mountain, it's been a long time. I didn't expect you to personally lead your people here this time. It's been tens of millions of years since we last met."
As she spoke, a hint of nostalgia appeared in her eyes. It was clear that she and the Mountain Lord were old acquaintances.
Tuoyang Mountain was a reclusive sect within the Prime-Origin Civilization. Although it wasn't as prominent as the immortal-level sects like the Imperial Immortal Palace, its foundation was not to be underestimated.
The sect had many ancient Dao Realm existences overseeing it, and it was said that there was even an ancient ancestor who had nearly stepped into the Ancestral Dao Realm.
"The emergence of the Imperial Immortal Palace's ancestor has truly shocked us all. If it weren't for our ancient ancestor traveling the world and currently wandering in some unknown space-time, he would have surely returned to personally pay his respects to this venerable senior," the burly middle-aged man said with a hearty laugh.
Elder Xianyun nodded slightly, "The ancient ancestor of Tuoyang Mountain has long been rumored to be on the verge of stepping into the Ancestral Dao Realm. This journey of his is likely to seek that opportunity. Perhaps the next time we meet, he will already be an Ancestral Dao Realm existence, and Tuoyang Mountain's strength will rise to a new level."
"Haha, may your words come true, Elder Xianyun," the middle-aged man laughed.
Soon, the group chatted and reminisced as they made their way deeper into the Imperial Immortal Palace.
However, during the journey, when the topic turned to the Imperial Immortal Palace's ancestor, the middle-aged man's expression grew troubled.
"Elder Xianyun, we've known each other for a long time. Although it might be presumptuous to ask this now, I still want to know—what is the reason for the Imperial Immortal Palace's ancestor's emergence this time? Is it because of the Heavenly Tribulation?"
The middle-aged man lowered his voice as he asked.
Elder Xianyun hesitated for a moment upon hearing this question, then shook her head and said, "This matter is unknown even to us elders. However, the ancestor's emergence this time is likely to discuss major matters with the various sects and forces."
The rapid development of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was something she had witnessed, and it was indeed somewhat unbelievable.
Moreover, Gu Changge had once impersonated the senior disciple of the Xianyun Dao Hall, infiltrating the Imperial Immortal Palace.
Although Gu Changge had not paid her any attention since then, the memories of that time were still vivid in Elder Xianyun's mind.
"Sigh, Elder Xianyun, you know that our Tuoyang Mountain's territory is very close to the former Immortal Chu Dynasty, which has now been completely occupied by the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. Given its expansion, it won't be long before it reaches Tuoyang Mountain."
"I'm truly worried. The Heaven-Slaying Alliance seems to have some kind of magic that even makes immortal-level sects like Purple Mist Mountain and the Demon Court willingly submit. Now, in Tuoyang Mountain's territory, many Heaven-Slaying shrines have appeared."
"We don't dare to drive them away or stop them, fearing it might bring trouble. But if this isn't dealt with, Tuoyang Mountain might follow in the footsteps of other sects and forces, being devoured by the Heaven-Slaying Alliance."
The middle-aged man spoke with great concern.
As the Mountain Lord of Tuoyang Mountain, he had personally led a group of elders and disciples to the Imperial Immortal Palace this time to seek alliances and find a solution to this problem.
Elder Xianyun sighed almost imperceptibly upon hearing this.
She had already noticed that the elders and disciples of Tuoyang Mountain were all wearing worried expressions, forcing smiles when facing her, clearly burdened with heavy thoughts.
In fact, many of the guests she had received in recent days shared similar concerns and troubles.
The Heaven-Slaying Alliance's rapid growth was like an invasive species, quickly absorbing the resources and nutrients of the Prime-Origin Civilization, flourishing and expanding, seizing territories and resources that originally belonged to various sects and forces of the Prime-Origin Civilization, and using them as nourishment for its own growth.
This had already alarmed many sects and forces, making them wary and concerned, believing that the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was too sinister.
Although it claimed to uphold humanity and protect all living beings, it lacked any semblance of true righteousness.
"Don't worry, everyone. There will surely be a solution to this matter," Elder Xianyun reassured them.
The people from Tuoyang Mountain felt slightly relieved upon hearing this, but their worries were still evident.
Whoosh!
At this moment, a surge of Buddhist light appeared from the northwest.
The figures of countless Buddhas and Bodhisattvas materialized, and faintly, the sound of ancient sutras being chanted by ten thousand Buddhas could be heard. A Buddha held a flower and smiled, while a Bodhisattva sat in meditation. Auspicious clouds rolled in like tides.
Elder Xianyun and the others looked over and saw many ancient monks and arhats from the Tathagata Buddha Kingdom arriving, led by other elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace.
From other directions, beams of light and divine auras flickered, and ripples of space-time spread as more forces arrived.
Groups like the Divine Cavern, the Temple of Light and Darkness, and the Lake of Eternal Life had already arrived earlier.
Looking around, the surroundings were filled with dazzling starlight and the resonance of Dao techniques. Ancient ships and flying vessels cut through the heavens, carrying prominent figures from the Prime-Origin Civilization.
Deep within the Imperial Immortal Palace, guests who had already arrived were being led by the palace's disciples and elders toward the mist-shrouded, radiant immortal mountains and divine islands.
The air was filled with the brilliance of immortal auras and Dao rhythms. Towers and bridges connected various starfields, revealing vast stars and endless galaxies, a truly magnificent sight.
The Imperial Immortal Palace lived up to its reputation as one of the oldest and most ancient sects in the Prime-Origin Civilization. The territory it governed was unimaginably vast, and even the great universes within its depths left the guests in awe.
Stars shrouded in chaotic energy rumbled as they rotated, with pavilions and palaces built upon them.
Waterfalls of silver cascaded down, as if falling from the Nine Heavens, their roaring echoes reverberating throughout the cosmos.
The arriving guests greeted one another, and among them were many ancient-looking figures with rustic appearances, dressed in archaic attire, exuding an aura that made one's heart tremble with fear and awe.
These existences seemed to have just emerged from various ancient tombs, still carrying the fragrance of soil, as if they had slept for countless epochs.
Their eyes moved as if great universes were colliding within them.
The mere aura they exuded made ordinary Dao Realm existences feel their blood boil, their throats sweetening, and they nearly spat out blood.
Apart from these obviously ancient figures, there were also some unremarkable individuals who drew attention.
Among them was a man of average appearance, medium height, dressed in a plain gray robe. His presence caused the expressions of those ancient existences to change slightly, as if they were wary of him.
"That senior is the Eternal Illumination Dao Lord. Wasn't it said that he perished while attempting to overcome the Eighth Heavenly Decline Tribulation? I never expected to see him again after hundreds of epochs…"
A Dao Realm cultivator whispered, recognizing the gray-robed man's identity, his voice filled with admiration.
"The Eternal Illumination Dao Lord is a role model for all of us cultivators. Each time he faced the Heavenly Decline Tribulation, he paid a heavy price. It's said that an even more ancient senior once declared that the Eternal Illumination Dao Lord would never reach the Dao Realm in this lifetime, yet he stubbornly pushed forward to this point."
"Now it seems that the Eternal Illumination Dao Lord has likely overcome the Eighth Heavenly Decline Tribulation."
Apart from the Eternal Illumination Dao Lord, there were many other ancient cultivators with extraordinary backgrounds and astonishing seniority present, figures who had not appeared for hundreds of epochs.
Even the sects they belonged to were unaware that they still existed in the world, let alone that they would appear on such an occasion.
Clearly, the news of the Imperial Immortal Palace's ancestor's emergence had shocked everyone, including these existences, who had returned from the depths of distant space-time.
In addition to the ancient existences from the Immortal Dao Civilization, there were also several figures shrouded in divine light, accompanied by attendants.
Their faces were blurred, their eyes calm, and their auras were sacred. Faintly, one could hear the sounds of rituals and the resonance of worlds.
"I never expected that deities from the Divine Dao Civilization would also descend. I wonder if they've come in their true forms or as mere projections…"
"The Divine Dao Civilization has been in seclusion for countless years. Their presence is rarely seen in the current Vast Expanse."
Many cultivators whispered and discussed, their voices filled with awe.
"Hehe, today is truly lively. I thought the Prime-Origin Civilization wasn't as strong as imagined, but it seems we can't underestimate it. Just the Ancestral Dao Realm figures who have appeared already exceed seven, not to mention those old things hiding in the shadows…"
"I told you not to act recklessly, to observe and wait. If we had acted rashly, we would have suffered greatly."
"The Heavenly Faction has always known that the Mirror of Reincarnation is in the Prime-Origin Civilization, yet they've never made a move. They know that the Prime-Origin Civilization is a tough nut to crack, a hard bone to chew."
"Hehe, but today's situation is also good for us. It'll be easier for us to blend in. Before, it wouldn't have been so easy, and we might have been discovered."
On a desolate star, two figures appeared, standing on a hill and gazing toward the depths of the vast Imperial Immortal Palace.
The two were the old Taoist from the Heavenly Decline Faction and Old Man Cold Crow from the Lesser Yin Faction.
As they spoke, their figures moved, transforming into two streams of light that chased after a moon-white flying vessel shrouded in immortal mist ahead.
"Who's behind us?"
On the moon-white flying vessel, a transcendent woman sitting at the bow, enveloped in moonlight and mist, opened her eyes. Her brows furrowed slightly, and with a wave of her hand, the moonlight condensed into an ancient, crystalline mirror, reflecting the two figures following behind the vessel.
"I can't see their cultivation levels. Could they be concealing them with some treasure? It seems some truly remarkable figures have come to the Imperial Immortal Palace this time."
A stunningly beautiful woman beside her also gazed into the mirror, her voice tinged with surprise.
The flying vessel belonged to the Xiyuan Sacred Hall.
They hadn't expected to be followed while within the territory of the Imperial Immortal Palace.
"Sneaky and suspicious, with ill intentions."
The Saintess of Xiyuan retracted her gaze and waved her jade hand, causing the ancient mirror to vanish.
At the same time, she pointed toward the void behind her, and several ethereal ribbons, as light as moonlight, shot out, tearing through space-time with terrifying force.
"Oh? Fellow Daoist ahead, please don't misunderstand. We mean no harm. We're just lost and thought we'd follow along."
The old Taoist following the vessel showed a look of surprise, not expecting that the vessel he had casually followed would contain such a formidable existence.
Just this single move was extraordinary. An ordinary Ancestral Dao Realm existence probably wouldn't be able to block it.
As he spoke, he flicked his wide sleeve, and a sea of starlight spilled out, evolving into a vast universe. Within it, the Great Dao manifested like blades, slashing down and cutting the incoming ribbons into fragments.
Old Man Cold Crow had wanted to make a move but was stopped by the old Taoist. He could only let out a cold snort, clearly dissatisfied.
"An ordinary Ancestral Dao Realm existence isn't their match. Since when did the Prime-Origin Civilization have so many existences surpassing the Ancestral Dao Realm?"
The Saintess of Xiyuan was somewhat surprised. She had only made a probing move and didn't intend to cause trouble in the Imperial Immortal Palace's territory, so she quickly ceased her attack.
"Perhaps they're from another civilization," Xiyin also speculated.
"You must be the renowned Saintess of Xiyuan. To possess such unfathomable strength at such a young age is truly enviable."
Soon, the old Taoist and Old Man Cold Crow were invited onto the flying vessel by several female disciples of the Xiyuan Sacred Hall.
The two examined the veiled Saintess of Xiyuan before them and immediately guessed her identity.
In the entire Prime-Origin Civilization, there was likely no other woman with her transcendent aura and strength.
"May I ask where the two seniors are from?"
The Saintess of Xiyuan nodded slightly, also observing the two.
She didn't pay much attention to Old Man Cold Crow, whose aura was cold and gloomy.
However, the old Taoist, who reeked of decay and bore the signs of Heavenly Decline, made her frown slightly.
The signs of the Five Decays of Heaven and Man—clothes becoming filthy, flowers withering, sweat emitting a foul odor, and the body exuding a stench—were all signs of the impending Heavenly Decline Tribulation.
Yet, this old Taoist before her showed no signs of triggering the Heavenly Decline Tribulation, nor did his cultivation seem to be dissipating. However, his eye sockets were hollow, with no eyeballs, and pus and blood flowed from them, making him look horrifying…