"Here are eight mid-grade immortal artifacts. Choose two for self-defense, and I have other uses for the rest."
"Yes, thank you, Master." Ronald no longer refused. He picked out a celestial sword and a pagoda and put them into his possession. These celestial artifacts were all ownerless items whose marks had been erased. As long as he communicated with them in his spare time, they would recognize him as their master.
Patting Ronaldo on the shoulder, Xiao Wenbing swept his sleeve and pocketed the remaining immortal artifacts. Then he turned around and solemnly addressed the many experts from the Flame Realm: "Everyone, there is something I am reluctant to say, but I must say it."
"Fellow Daoist Xiao, please speak."
"Does anyone know what this is?" Xiao Wenbing reached out and touched the Heavenly Void Ring. Instantly, a shiny rod appeared.
Quini stared intently and said, "This is one of the calamities that has plagued our Flame Realm for hundreds of thousands of years. If this thing had not blocked the source of life, our ancestor would not have become so weak."
Elder Yan and the others then learned of this item. They whispered among themselves for a moment, and everyone's face showed anger.
"That's right, this is part of the outer shell of the Golden Spirit. It was this that blocked the entrance to the source of life, causing the Divine Tree Ancestor to fall into a coma." Xiao Wenbing suddenly raised his voice and said, "Then do you all know why such a mere outer shell of the Golden Spirit has such great energy?"
“This…” Quini frowned. Although metal can overcome wood, it’s too exaggerated to think that a mere remnant of the Metal Spirit could sever the Tree of Life of an entire realm.
"Alas..." Xiao Wenbing sighed deeply, his tone filled with sorrow and compassion: "What you all may not know is that this wreckage is bound by the magical spells of thousands of immortals. It is the combined efforts of so many immortals that have increased the power of this wreckage a hundredfold, reaching its current level."
"A thousand immortals?" Two flames flickered in Quini's eyes, clearly indicating extreme anger: "Why would they do that?"
"I don't know, but from what I've been observing just now, I've discovered something terrible."
"What's up?"
"There is another seal on this stick. Once the Divine Tree Ancestor recovers his health, this seal will automatically break and notify the immortal who sealed it." Xiao Wenbing never mentioned the fact that the seal was actually broken by the Mirror God.
Quinni's mind raced, and he immediately asked, "You mean they'll return to the Flame Realm?"
"That's right."
"Fine, good that they've come." Quini said through gritted teeth, "If the murderers who have plagued my Flame Realm for hundreds of thousands of years have come, I will grind them to dust and condemn them to eternal damnation before I can quell the hatred in my heart."
"Is that so? Queenie, your ambition is indeed remarkable. Confidence is a good thing, but are you absolutely certain of victory?"
He paused, hesitated, then shook his head with a wry smile and remained silent.
"That's right, you can't beat them. There are over a thousand immortals, and their cultivation has lasted for at least hundreds of thousands of years. Even if only one of them comes, it will be enough for everyone to see."
"Even if we can't win, we have to fight. We can't let the Flame Realm fall into crisis again," Shabir murmured.
"Heh heh...you've really disappointed me." Xiao Wenbing let out a long sigh and said, "Don't you all know that the best defense is offense?"
"Attack?" Shabir was taken aback. He asked, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, are you saying we should take the initiative?"
“That’s right. There’s no such thing as a place to be a thief for a thousand days, let alone a place to guard against thieves for a thousand days.” Xiao Wenbing’s face hardened, and he said with righteous indignation, “Rather than sitting and waiting for death, we might as well take a gamble. If we cut off the source of the trouble, we might still be able to find a way out for the Yan Realm.”
Everyone was shocked upon hearing this, and flames flickered in Quinni's body. Clearly, he was overwhelmed with emotion and unable to control himself: "Fellow Daoist Xiao, what do you suggest we do?"
"Gather everyone and head to the Immortal Realm."
Everyone stared in disbelief, never expecting such a wildly imaginative idea to come from Xiao Wenbing's mouth. But after a moment, they looked at each other, all of them intrigued.
Xiao Wenbing took in their performance, secretly pleased, and decided to strike while the iron was hot. This was an opportunity not to be missed...
He stepped forward abruptly, head held high, eyes blazing, his voice resounding through the heavens: "To defend our homeland, to sacrifice ourselves for righteousness, now is the time! Today... I, Xiao, am willing to go to the Immortal Realm, to gather fellow immortals, to slay demons and eliminate evil, to forever rid the Flame Realm of future troubles." His gaze swept across the faces of the crowd, then he suddenly gathered his spiritual energy and shouted: "Even if I die ten thousand times, I will not regret it! Are you all... willing to accompany me?"
Time seemed to stand still for a moment. The next instant, a roar like a landslide and a tsunami erupted from the main hall: "I am willing to follow you, fellow Daoist..."
Behind the temple. Xiao Wenbing stood with his hands behind his back, facing the wind, exuding an imposing aura without anger.
Beside him, Ronald gazed at his master with eyes full of reverence; in his heart, Xiao Wenbing's image was magnified infinitely.
"Ronal, you've accepted me as your apprentice, don't you regret it?"
“Master, this is the greatest blessing of my life. Of course I will not regret it.”
"Yes, you know. I am the successor of the Secret Talisman Sect in the cultivation world. Since you are my disciple, come with me back to the cultivation world to see our grandmaster."
"yes."
Sensing a hint of hesitation in his voice, Xiao Wenbing asked curiously, "You've changed your mind?"
“No.” Ronald quickly explained, “Master, your disciple wishes to follow you to the Immortal Realm.”
Xiao Wenbing chuckled and said, "Nonsense! With your skill, you haven't even formed a Nascent Soul yet, and you still dream of going to the Immortal Realm? What are you doing? Don't be so impatient to die."
Ronald blushed and said softly, "This disciple only wishes to serve by Master's side."
“Alas…” Xiao Wenbing sighed, “I know your character is excellent, but those who cultivate the Dao should avoid being overly ambitious. Your talent is extremely high. As long as you work steadily and surely, you will naturally be able to come to the Immortal Realm to meet me in a few hundred years.”
"yes."
Xiao Wenbing felt a strange sensation welling up inside him. These were clearly the words his master and several senior brothers had always said to him. He never imagined that it would be his turn to lecture others so soon.
"Also, you should keep those immortal artifacts in your possession safe. In your spare time, you can try to make them your own and see if you have the opportunity." He paused, then added, "However, you must not touch that immortal sword."
"Why?"
"Because that immortal sword is a weapon, and weapons are also instruments of violence. Other protective gear, even if you fail to claim it as your master, it's not a big deal. At most, you'll just have to expend some energy and start over. But it's different with weapons of violence. If you fail, then you'll most likely lose your life there."
"Yes, Master, I have remembered it." Ronald said respectfully, "I will never forget Master's teachings for the rest of my life."
"Hmm..." Xiao Wenbing nodded in satisfaction. This guy was good in every way, but he was a bit too respectful of his teacher. No matter what Xiao Wenbing said, his most frequent answer was just "yes," which was rather boring.
After thinking for a moment, Xiao Wenbing still earnestly advised, "Of course, if you survive the Heavenly Tribulation and comprehend the power of immortal spirits in the future, then there will be no danger of backlash when you subdue that immortal sword."
"Yes, thank you, Master." After a long pause, Ronald asked softly, "Master, are you going to the Immortal Realm?"
“Yes,” Xiao Wenbing said with a smile, “Back then, under the energy conversion array, I was responsible for operating the array eye and also absorbed a portion of its power. Now I have reached the tribulation stage and will soon face the test of heavenly tribulation. Alas… after I go to the Immortal Realm, your grandmaster and uncles will have to rely on you to serve them.”
"Yes." Ronald's expression darkened, and he suddenly bowed to Xiao Wenbing, saying, "Master, you have worked so hard for the Flame Realm, and now you are going to the Immortal Realm to slay demons and monsters. Although I am incompetent, I will certainly not disgrace you."
"Okay, okay." Xiao Wenbing smiled, but his heart was filled with bitterness. He had no choice. If he wasn't sure that someone would come looking for trouble, he would never have gotten involved in such a thing.
Looking at the Heavenly Void Ring in his hand, he truly hated the Mirror God for his foolish and reckless actions!
However, while those immortals were powerful, there were also quite a few who ascended from the Flame Realm. If they could be used properly, they might be able to put up a fight. And that was the real reason why I was working so hard.
Volume 6, Chapter 19: Guarantee
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Wenbing, are you really planning to go to the Immortal Realm with so many people?
"Yes, it is my duty to protect the future of the Flame Realm."
"Really?"
Yes, really.
"…………"
"Well, most of it is true... Okay, okay, stop looking at me like that. I swear, there is some truth to it."
Feng and Zhang exchanged a knowing look and then stopped asking questions. Xiao Wenbing waited for a long time, but they still didn't make a move, so he couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you going to ask why?"
Zhang Yaqi smiled tactfully and said, "If you want to play, I'll play with you."
Feng Baiyi nodded slightly, remaining silent, but her eyes held a familiar calm. Xiao Wenbing felt a surge of excitement. He knew the two women were silent because they trusted him completely. Whatever choice he made, or why he did it, it made no difference to them, for they had already decided to stand by him through thick and thin. "Yaqi, Baiyi..." Xiao Wenbing took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Just now, when I was examining that metal staff, I accidentally touched the restrictions on it. Those who placed the restrictions should have sensed my presence. These people possess profound magical power; none of them are easy to deal with. Even if the three of us join forces, we might not be able to save our lives. That's why I brought these experts from the Flame Realm onto the chariot."
"Are they even useful?"
“It will work,” Xiao Wenbing said confidently. “I have a way to combine the power of tens of thousands of people into one point within a certain range. As long as I drag along ten thousand cannon fodder… no, ten thousand friends to ascend to the Immortal Realm together, then with our combined strength, unless a god appears in the world, no immortal can stop us.”
"Is there such a spell?" Zhang Yaqi asked in great surprise. "Yes, but only I can do it, because only the power of the Creator God can transform all elemental energies into the same element."
"Good idea," Zhang Yaqi said with a half-smile. Xiao Wenbing blushed and said, "You can't relax either; you need to cultivate diligently. Those people are not kind."
"Are you worried about us?" Zhang Yaqi smiled sweetly, her gentle beauty indescribable. Xiao Wenbing's gaze swept over her stunning face. Although his self-control had greatly increased, he still couldn't restrain himself in front of his beloved. "Yes, compared to her, I'm more worried about you." Staring intently at Zhang Yaqi, Xiao Wenbing said helplessly, "Baiyi is, after all, a successor of the Heavenly Thunder lineage. Anyone who wants to cause trouble for her will definitely think twice. But you're different. Although the Qiankun Ring is powerful, it only has the Earth and Wood elements to protect it. You can fight against ordinary immortals, but you're helpless against those above the avatar level."
"Hmm." Zhang Yaqi responded softly, smiling at him, and said gently, "Then what should I do?"
Xiao Wenbing swallowed hard, glancing at Feng Baiyi beside him. He was truly helpless…
"It's alright. Once I comprehend the Immortal Spirit's energy, I can infuse the power of creation into that dead Golden Spirit. Once the Golden Spirit is resurrected and sent into the Universe Ring, the three spirits will unite, unlocking some of the Universe Ring's defensive functions. Even if the enemy is strong, you can protect yourself," Xiao Wenbing explained. "As long as the Ring of Order truly begins to exert its power, apart from true gods, there will be very few who can harm you."
Since obtaining the Golden Spirit, Xiao Wenbing had attempted to channel his Primordial Power into it, but had repeatedly failed. Later, under the guidance of the Mirror God, a conclusion was reached: his Primordial Power was currently insufficient; he needed to at least comprehend Immortal Spirit Power before he could possibly reawaken the Golden Spirit's life energy. Zhang Yaqi was taken aback and asked, "Has the Qiankun Ring not yet taken effect?"
"No, the power of the Qiankun Encirclement is determined by the number of Five Elements spirits within the enclosure, and only with three or more Five Elements spirits can its true power be unleashed." Xiao Wenbing said with a wry smile, "But how easy is it to collect three or more Five Elements spirits?"
"How much power can be unleashed by the fusion of the three spirits?"
"About a third," Xiao Wenbing glanced at Feng Baiyi and smiled, "Don't worry, a third of the energy is enough for Yaqi to contend with a Grand Luo Golden Immortal."
Feng Baiyi finally felt relieved, but suddenly someone outside shouted, "Is Fellow Daoist Xiao here? Quini requests an audience."
The three exchanged glances and nodded slightly. Xiao Wenbing went out to welcome him in. Quini wasn't surprised by the presence of Feng and Zhang, but he seemed hesitant, as if he had something difficult to say. "Quini, what's wrong?" Xiao Wenbing asked curiously. Quini was skilled with fire and had a rather volatile temper; why was he being so indecisive today? After a moment's hesitation, Quini finally said, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, as you instructed, the summons has been issued."
"Great!" Xiao Wenbing clapped his hands and laughed, surprised that he had acted so quickly. "But..."
"Quinnie, our relationship is more than just ordinary, so let's just say what's on your mind."
Xiao Wenbing spoke with a smile. His relationship with the immortals, including Quini, was indeed extraordinary, as those four were about to acknowledge him as their master. "Yes. Fellow Daoist Xiao, do you know how many immortals there are in the Immortal Realm?"
"I don't know," Xiao Wenbing honestly replied. "The Immortal Realm is just like the Lower Realm, with countless places. Let alone me, even the Creator God probably wouldn't know."
Guinee shook his head and said, "That's right, there are countless immortal realms, so how can we find these thieves among so many immortal realms?"
"It's simple. Once we ascend to the Immortal Realm, we'll summon a large number of immortals who have ascended from the Flame Realm. If we reach a certain scale, it will definitely cause a sensation. Then, they won't need us to search; they'll come to us on their own," Xiao Wenbing explained with a smile. Actually, he had his own compelling reasons. After ascending to the Immortal Realm, he naturally wanted to unite all available forces. Only in this way could he have the resources to contend with so many terrifying immortals. Since the senior experts who ascended from the Flame Realm were in the Immortal Realm, they should naturally make good use of them. Quini was slightly taken aback. He had never considered this method before. But suddenly hearing it, it seemed to make some sense. After a moment, Quini continued, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, when cultivators at the Great Completion stage ascend, no one can say for sure which Immortal Realm they will go to. Even if Heaven is merciful, it's impossible to send tens of thousands of people to the same Immortal Realm. Moreover, companions who are no longer in the same Immortal Realm cannot travel between each other unless they have cultivated to the Upper Immortal Realm. So… how will we reunite?"
"Haha, don't worry, I've already prepared for this. I guarantee I can make everyone ascend to a celestial realm." Xiao Wenbing patted his chest, speaking with absolute certainty. Quini looked at Xiao Wenbing suspiciously; even if Xiao Wenbing made such a promise, he couldn't completely trust it. "Sigh..." Xiao Wenbing sighed helplessly. He pretended to think for a moment, then pointed to the sky and whispered, "My precious god."
Quini immediately understood. So it was through divine power! No wonder. Relieved, Quini stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Then I entrust everything to you, fellow Daoist. I will make the arrangements now, and make sure to gather ten thousand Great Completion stage experts within a year."
Having said that, he cupped his hands in farewell and was about to leave. Xiao Wenbing grabbed him and asked, "How do you plan to make up the numbers?"
"Arrange for experts in their tribulation-transcending stage to actively summon the heavenly tribulation."
Will there be any casualties?
“That’s natural.” Quini paused, then said, “However, with so many immortal artifacts this time, the failure rate should be kept below half.”
Xiao Wenbing frowned and said, "No. If we were to lose ten thousand experts at the Tribulation Transcending stage, plus the ten thousand who ascended with me, the impact on the Flame Realm's future would be far too great."
Quini shook his head firmly, saying, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, this is the price we must pay." After a moment's hesitation, he added, "If Fellow Daoist Xiao is willing to bestow all the Earth Immortal artifacts, then the success rate can increase by thirty percent."
"Haha..." Xiao Wenbing laughed loudly, "Those immortal artifacts are nothing to me, let everyone divide them up."
"Yes, thank you, Fellow Daoist Xiao." Quini was overjoyed and bowed in gratitude. "However, I have a suggestion. After you gather ten thousand top-tier cultivators who have undergone tribulation, do not actively trigger the heavenly tribulation for the time being."