Undying Life

Chapter 890: The Realm of Samsara

The attitude of the three Saints was perplexing; today's events were not to be mentioned by anyone?

Curiosity was inevitable. Four people went to retrieve Nuwa's relics, a Saint intervened midway, yet the other two Saints did not enter. Everything seemed extraordinarily bizarre.

Did the three obtain the relics? How did they end up coming out with a Saint? Why did the Saint lower himself to protect these three?

Everything was shrouded in mystery, but no one dared to defy the Saints. Saints were the most powerful beings in the world. Offending three Saints at once? Even if you obtained the Saint's relics, what then? It would still be a death wish!

The ancient immortals took a deep breath and said, "We obey the Saints' decree!"

No one dared to object; everyone complied unanimously.

Zhong Shan observed the entire situation calmly. The way of the heavens? The ultimate existence in the world?

The three Saints looked down at the vast expanse of the Ao Lai Sea below.

"Return to where you came from!" Mozi said calmly to those below.

His words didn't just reach their ears but seemed to resonate in their hearts. The people at the Ao Lai Sea immediately bowed in reverence.

At some point, the mysterious Magu had vanished from the sea below, disappearing as mysteriously as she had appeared.

The three Saints exchanged a glance, and then, enveloped in a white light, they shot up into the sky and disappeared from sight.

The three ancient immortals, whose bodies had been taken over by the Saints' divine sense, fainted immediately and were caught by others as they fell.

"Let's go back!" said the Holy King of Taichu.

"Yes!" everyone responded.

The Holy King of Taichu led Princess Nine-Tails, while Chess Saint Chimei led Zhong Shan and Su Afo downwards.

The other three kings of Taichu returned separately, one carrying Sima Qing.

The Master of the Purple Firmament looked in the direction Sima Qing was taken, frowned slightly, but said nothing, and then disappeared.

The battle at the Ao Lai Sea had ended. However, it left an endless fog of mystery. Only Zhong Shan and the other two knew the whole story, and of course, they wouldn't divulge it. They understood that speaking about what they saw in the Celestial Hall meant courting death.

Even the Saints were cautious about it, so how could they speak carelessly?

Zhong Shan would undoubtedly remain untouchable for a long time.

Elsewhere, back at Qingqiu.

Sima Qing lay at home for six months before slowly waking up.

When he awoke, he sat alone in a small courtyard, all the servants dismissed.

In the courtyard, Sima Qing furrowed his brows deeply.

"Nuwa defied the way of the heavens? So, the way of the heavens can indeed be defied!" Sima Qing kept pondering this thought.

Suddenly, Sima Qing took out a jade pendant he always wore at his waist.

With a flick of his hand, some patterns began to appear on the surface of the pendant. The pendant acted like a memory crystal, recording everything that happened in the Celestial Hall that day.

As he looked at the scenes within, Sima Qing's frown deepened.

"Zhong Shan? Unfortunately, I cannot use him!" Sima Qing murmured.

After viewing everything, Sima Qing crushed the pendant in his hand.

"Crack!" The jade pendant shattered instantly.

Closing his eyes, Sima Qing leaned back in his chair, remaining silent for a long time.

"The Realm of Fengzong? Fengzong? The tomb of Feng Lixi? The tomb of Nuwa?" Sima Qing muttered with a frown.

Sima Qing did not open his eyes. He pondered, tapping the table rhythmically.

"The Supreme Saint mentioned that those who guard Nuwa's tomb are incredibly loyal. To guard Nuwa's tomb, they must be a significant power. In the Fengzong Territory, there are six major powers: the Three Holy Courts of Taichu, Taiyi, and Taiji, and the three Daoist Sects of Zixiao, Randeng, and the Serpent Queen! Among these, only three are ancient: Taichu, Randeng, and the Serpent Queen! Taichu is impossible, Randeng is just a group of monks, leaving only the Serpent Queen's sect."

"The Serpent Queen's sect? It's said that Nuwa had a human head and a snake's body. A snake's body? The Serpent Queen? Indeed, this territory has been known as the Fengzong Territory ever since the Serpent Queen's sect appeared. Has the Serpent Queen's sect been guarding Nuwa's tomb all this time?" Sima Qing's eyes flashed with realization.

He stood and paced the courtyard.

"Nuwa's tomb? Could it contain Nuwa's treasures?"

"The Serpent Queen's sect in the Fengzong Territory seems to have immense reserves," Sima Qing continued to analyze.

Meanwhile, in the underworld, within the Realm of Samsara, the Great Zheng Holy Court!

The main forces of Great Zheng were almost entirely concentrated in the underworld, with most capable ministers brought by Zhong Shan. The Holy Court in the mortal realm was nearly entirely supported by Zhong Shan alone, while in the underworld, his ministers maneuvered freely, allowing Zhong Shan to remain exceedingly calm.

There had been attacks from powerful immortals, but not as many as in the mortal realm. These attackers came individually. From start to finish, Zhong Shan only needed to issue commands.

The soldiers and ministers of Great Zheng were no lambs to be slaughtered; they were wolves that devoured their enemies without mercy.

The ministers of Great Zheng were unruly figures subdued only by Zhong Shan. These unruly figures naturally had their own strengths.

In their respective fields, they were all at the peak.

Those who emerged from the small worlds might not have the cultivation of those from the grand worlds, but their expertise was on par with any empire.

There was no need for an immortal monument to guard the borders. Eight powerful immortals had come in total, relying on their strength to terrorize and plunder Zhong Shan's artifacts.

But could mere rogue cultivators challenge Zhong Shan? Zhong Shan hadn't even needed to act.

All eight were captured by the ministers of Great Zheng.

Eight powerful immortals and dozens of celestial beings—what of it? Besides those already dead, the rest were imprisoned in Great Zheng's dungeon.

Their powers were sealed, and they were interrogated by Jinyiwei's commander, Liu Wushuang, personally.

They were forced to surrender their techniques, and the most suitable ones were distributed among the army to strengthen the foundation of the Great Zheng Holy Court.

Great Zheng needed strength, and sometimes, extreme measures were necessary.

In this era of new beginnings, Great Zheng quickly established itself firmly in the Realm of Samsara.

In the royal court, Zhong Shan sat on the Nine-Dragon Throne, watching his ministers discuss state affairs.

"Your Majesty!" Yi Yan stepped forward.

"Speak!"

"In the past two years, there have been nineteen large-scale invasions by eight neighboring celestial dynasties. All invading forces have been annihilated!" Yi Yan reported.

"Good!" Zhong Shan nodded.

"During these two years, I dispatched numerous scouts to survey the entire Realm of Samsara. Their findings match the information gathered from our captives," Yi Yan continued.

"Let's hear it," Zhong Shan said calmly.

"Yes, the Realm of Samsara can be viewed as divided into northern and southern parts. We are in the north. The only real threat to our court in the north is the Spacetime Dojo, led by its master 'Luo Xingchen.' His power is unfathomable, and he possesses the divine ability of 'time.' He is the primary enemy in the Realm of Samsara. While other celestial dynasties and holy lands in the north are strong, they remain within our court's capacity to handle," Yi Yan analyzed.

"What about the south?" Zhong Shan asked calmly.

"In the south, there is another powerful force that could threaten our court: the Wuxiang Holy Court. The ruler of this court was the number one person in our small world tens of thousands of years ago, the Wuxiang Holy King. He is also the ancestor of True Monarch Nian Youyou from the past Longevity Realm," Yi Yan reported.

"The ancestor of Nian Youyou?" Zhong Shan frowned slightly.

Seeing Zhong Shan's reaction, Yi Yan nodded and continued, "The Wuxiang Holy King is a man of great ambition and talent. His domain is vast. A small half of the territory south of the Samsara Region belongs to the Wuxiang Holy Court. Additionally, the Wuxiang Region, across the sea from the Samsara Region, is entirely under his control. The Wuxiang Holy Court wields considerable influence!"

Zhong Shan tapped his fingers lightly on the dragon throne, contemplating the situation in the Samsara Region.

At that moment, Mud Buddha stepped forward.

"Your Majesty!" Mud Buddha said respectfully.

"Speak!"

"Yes, my lineage entered the small world later. My grandmaster originally presided over the Wheel Hall. As long as Your Majesty can take control of the Wheel Hall, I only need a few years to study its mechanisms. I can guarantee that once I control the formations of the Wheel Hall, I can fend off a hundred ancient immortals without defeat!" Mud Buddha said respectfully.

"Fend off a hundred ancient immortals without defeat? The Wheel Hall?" Zhong Shan's expression grew serious.

"Yes, the Wheel Hall is currently within the domain of the Spacetime Dojo. Due to its intense malevolent aura, no one has been able to control it, but I can," Mud Buddha said with a bow.

Zhong Shan looked at Mud Buddha with a frown. The Samsara Region was famous for the Wheel Hall, but it had been abandoned for hundreds of thousands of years. Mud Buddha claimed he could control it?

"Very well, I will take the Wheel Hall and leave it under your command!" Zhong Shan affirmed.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Mud Buddha said respectfully.

"Your Majesty, if we decide to seize the Wheel Hall, we will be directly opposing the Spacetime Dojo. We should avoid a direct confrontation for now, especially with the eight celestial dynasties around us," Yi Yan advised.

"The eight celestial dynasties are a hindrance? Then we will pacify them first. It's been two years since they attacked us nineteen times. It's time for a counterattack!" Zhong Shan said resolutely.

"Yes, I have devised a strategy to deal with the eight celestial dynasties. It will require cooperation from our various military commanders. I request Your Majesty's approval," Yi Yan said, presenting a jade slip.

The ministers were astonished. Yi Yan, as expected, was the most valued military strategist of the Holy King. He had planned the entire strategy before the battle even began, relieving the Holy King of his worries!

Zhong Shan took the jade slip and scanned it with his divine sense. He closed his eyes and thought for a moment.

"Approved!" Zhong Shan affirmed.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Yi Yan replied.

"Yan Chongzhi!" Zhong Shan commanded.

"I am here!" Yan Chongzhi stepped forward.

"Yi Yan will handle the eight celestial dynasties. I now assign you to eliminate the four major holy lands around us within two years. The masters of Daming Temple and other hidden experts will follow your orders. You may also mobilize three million elite troops of Great Zheng! Make sure it's done cleanly and efficiently!" Zhong Shan ordered solemnly.

"As you command!" Yan Chongzhi responded.

At that moment, Zhong Shan frowned and looked into the distance.

The ministers followed his gaze to a distant hall.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! The Celestial Immortal has broken through to the Grand Celestial realm!" Mud Buddha said respectfully.