Vol 7 Chapter 7: The First Wave of Ascenders

"Face soldiers with generals, stop floods with earthworks."

Sensing the changes in the world's spiritual energy, Lin Jing felt it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Soon, Earth would be able to withstand the arrival of True Immortals, which also meant that his incarnation wouldn't need to remain below the Immortal Realm level for too long.

At the same time, the Five-Colored Immortal Stone, this Emperor Embryo Mother Stone, wouldn't remain idle for much longer either.

Lin Jing had brought the Five-Colored Immortal Stone from the Cultivation World to Earth. Actually, he would have preferred to exchange bodies in the Tianyuan Continent before coming, but unfortunately, the Five-Colored Immortal Stone was an object from the Immortal Realm, and could only nurture life forms within the Immortal Realm.

Therefore, for his incarnation to change vessels, he had to wait until Earth recovered to the level of the Immortal Realm.

"I need to hurry with my cultivation."

"Strive to break through to the Immortal Realm at the same time Earth can withstand True Immortals and the Demonic Race's True Immortals descend."

Lin Jing set three cultivation goals for himself.

The first was the Demonic Race bloodline - he needed to cultivate it to Royal level as soon as possible.

In the Heavenly Demon Realm, using demon pills and the Slaughter Immortal Physique to nourish his bloodline, and temporarily sensing the power of the Royal Demon Bloodline through the Heavenly Demon Physique, he had ultimately been killed by the Royal Demon Bloodline's power. Through this ordeal, Lin Jing had gained great confidence in reaching the threshold of the Royal Demon Bloodline.

The second was to break through to the True Immortal realm as Earth evolved.

His incarnation's cultivation had already reached the peak of Seeking the Dao in the Heavenly Demon Realm due to the Slaughter Immortal Physique. Later, although his incarnation's realm had dropped after using the Undying Rebirth Secret Technique to revive, he quickly restored it to its original state using abundant resources. Only by stepping into the Immortal Realm could he resist the enemies that would arrive next.

Using a Seeking the Dao body to oppose the Immortal Realm would be difficult for the incarnation alone to accomplish.

The third was to perform soul usurpation on the Five-Colored Immortal Stone after the Ancient Immortal Realm revived and he reached the Immortal Realm, exchanging for a body with emperor-level potential, then forging a cultivation path more suitable for himself based on the racial form that emerged.

Among these, Lin Jing was most worried about the third cultivation task. He feared that the Immortal Realm Demonic Race might suddenly descend while he was changing bodies.

If Demonic Race members below the Immortal Realm descended, that wouldn't be a problem - the Ice Soul Offspring Gu he left on Earth could handle them.

But Immortal Realm Demonic Race members weren't something the Ice Soul Offspring Gu could deal with.

If he was in the weakened state while changing vessels and couldn't fight back, it might give the enemy an opportunity.

"The power of one person is still too limited. I need a powerful Dharma Protector who can guard the Heavenly Emperor's Tomb for me during my cultivation, until... those pet beasts ascend."

"Earth's recovery process is accelerating. In theory, more ancient immortals should be awakening. I don't have high hopes for Earth's modern cultivators - there isn't even a single Nascent Soul Transformation cultivator. I wonder... if there are any suitable ancient immortals."

"If not, then I'll have to refine a few artifact spirits to make do."

When Lin Jing returned this time, he had brought the high-grade immortal sword and middle-grade Immortal Mirror, along with a pile of other treasures, prepared for a major battle. Among these, these two quality immortal artifacts had long lost their artifact spirits and were in a spiritless state.

If he could capture some powerful souls and refine them into artifact spirits, these two immortal artifacts would be quite useful.

............

After spiritually traveling around Earth and discovering that no immortal-level existences had awakened yet, Lin Jing chose to return to the Heavenly Emperor's Tomb and reported the Demonic Race's current ambitions to the Imperial Consort.

"Hmph, if they dare come, we'll make sure they regret it. Don't worry about cultivation matters - just cultivate within the Heavenly Emperor's Tomb. Even if invaders come, breaking into the Heavenly Emperor's Tomb won't be easily accomplished."

"Thank you, Senior." Lin Jing began cultivating peacefully within the Heavenly Emperor's Tomb. There was another benefit to cultivating here - he could receive guidance from the Imperial Consorts and wouldn't need to worry about subsequent cultivation issues.

Time flowed by.

Earth, this Ancient Immortal Realm, was gradually recovering its former glory. The world's spiritual energy was transforming into immortal Dao power, and many places with concentrated spiritual energy had begun producing dim immortal stones.

Meanwhile, in the Cultivation World...

As time passed, the veteran Seeking the Dao cultivators of the Tianyuan Realm were gradually approaching their lifespan limits.

The previous generation Heavenly Secrets Tower leader, Old Man Heavenly Secrets who was the first to recognize Lin Jing's extraordinary nature, chose to ascend as his lifespan limit approached.

By this time, the various Immortal Realm powers had already reconstructed the ascension path. Tianyuan ascension cultivators would directly ascend to the Immortal Palace in the Immortal Realm.

For powerful cultivators nearing their lifespan limits, staying in the Lower Realm meant either finding lifespan-extending immortal medicines or quietly awaiting death. But ascending to the Immortal Realm, undergoing immortal energy baptism, and advancing to the True Immortal realm would cause their lifespan to dramatically increase, allowing continued cultivation.

For these veteran Seeking the Dao cultivators, there was no reason to use lifespan-extending immortal medicines to remain in the Lower Realm. Ascending to the Immortal Realm had always been their expectation.

Therefore, following the previous Heavenly Secrets Tower leader, many other veteran powerhouses ascended one after another.

The Buddha Master, Water Moon Immortal Isle Island Lord, Martial Emperor, Skyrend Sword Ancestor, Ling Daozi... even the Second Ancient Emperor, whose lifespan hadn't yet approached its limit, all chose to ascend.

In the blink of an eye, the Seeking the Dao cultivators who had stood at the Tianyuan peak before the Golden Age gradually dwindled to just one person.

To be precise, one demon.

Only the Demon Emperor remained in the Tianyuan Continent, not choosing to ascend.

These veteran Seeking the Dao cultivators chose to ascend for two reasons: first, to extend their lifespans and continue cultivation;

second, the Lower Realm no longer had positions that could accommodate them. The new generation of Seeking the Dao cultivators surpassed these old-timers in both talent and strength.

Leaving the Lower Realm stage to this new generation of Seeking the Dao cultivators also preserved their dignity, avoiding becoming stepping stones for them in the future.

The new generation of Seeking the Dao cultivators took over the positions of the veterans. The entire Tianyuan Continent radiated vibrant vitality, flourishing with prosperity.

"Your Majesty, why haven't you ascended?"

Demon Court.

Lin Jing curiously asked the Demon Emperor. All their old friends had left, and the Demon Emperor had only watched them depart with emotion, but showed no intention of ascending herself.

"I'm not going."

The Demon Emperor shook her head, speaking with an aged tone: "That broken Immortal Realm place - unfamiliar territory with unfamiliar people. I'll observe first, see how they're doing there. It's not like I'm going to die anytime soon."

"Besides, didn't you say the Ancient Immortal Realm might recover to Immortal Realm conditions in the future? I might as well ascend there when the time comes!"

Lin Jing felt suspicious - this didn't seem like the Demon Emperor's style.

"Last time when I discussed the Dao with that old Mo Pine of yours, that's what he suggested. Going to the Immortal Palace means starting from scratch, and taking orders from others is worse than being a loose cultivator."

"Moreover, he said you definitely have plenty of good stuff, like lifespan-extending immortal medicines, so no need to worry about dying in the Lower Realm. I can definitely hold out until Earth recovers to Immortal Realm power levels, then go pioneer the Ancient Immortal Realm. Isn't that better than becoming a disciple in the Immortal Palace?" The Demon Emperor revealed a look of wisdom.

Could other veteran Seeking the Dao cultivators have connections and relationships like hers?!

A few drops of blood from Lin Jing and Star Longevity Crane could easily let her and Old Mo Pine hold on for tens of thousands of years more!