CHAPTER 531: CHAPTER 431: YEARS [VOTE FOR MONTHLY PASS!]

Time flows like water.

In the blink of an eye, another two years have passed.

Since the end of the battle at the ’Virtual Arena,’ the entire Divine Throne Continent has been speculating whether the ’Tyrant’ would take further action. For someone of the ’Tyrant’s’ caliber, emerging from seclusion to seize merely three key strongholds seemed almost too modest.

Many were eagerly anticipating his next move. Especially the major organizations of the West Continent and North Continent, who hoped for more opportunities to study and analyze the ’Tyrant.’

But after two years,

The results left some disappointed, while others breathed a sigh of relief.

The ’Tyrant’ did not continue.

Over these two years, the ’Summoning Cottage’ was bustling with activity, working fervently to consolidate the newly acquired three strongholds, especially the ’Virtual Arena.’

As for the ’Tyrant,’ he once again returned to ’Valgrion,’ seemingly retreating back into hibernation.

"The Tyrant!"

"Who could possibly challenge him?"

The hearts of the people across the continent were restless.

An undercurrent of tension brewed beneath the surface.

Many spent sleepless nights analyzing the battle at the ’Virtual Arena,’ the confrontation at the ’Star Cluster Graveyard,’ and the overwhelming might of this peerless ’Tyrant.’

They hoped to uncover the ’Tyrant’s’ weaknesses, so they could be better prepared in the future.

...

"Lately, many legends and immortals have disguised themselves and infiltrated the Undead Realm, trying to investigate why those Ancestors of Undead are so loyal to you, Daoist."

"Some have even resorted to outright violence."

"Scholars and wise sages have been poring over ancient texts, seeking the source of your seemingly infinite magic power."

"Your performance during the battle at the ’Virtual Arena’ has utterly terrified them. Until they uncover the truth, they won’t feel at ease."

Within the Nine Heavens, Fierce Bird Mountain.

Yu Ming Immortal Venerable sat across from Chen Jichuan and Wang Yan, smiling as he discussed the widespread aftermath of that battle in the Immortal Gate Realm.

As he spoke, his heart was filled with awe.

When Yu Ming Immortal Venerable first heard of the incident, he found it hard to believe.

One person standing against the entire ’Coastline Alliance’?

One person summoning an undead army of tens of millions?

Such feats were unprecedented in the history of the Immortal Gate Realm.

The Tyrant!

The name of the ’Tyrant’ resounded throughout the Immortal Gate Realm. No longer merely the scourge of an era, he had become an invincible emperor whose prowess loomed over both past and present!

It’s not that no one wanted to confront Chen Jichuan.

But firstly, Chen Jichuan was low-key and adhered to rules; his only two recorded actions thus far had been entirely within the bounds of accepted regulations.

Secondly, from the perspective of the Immortal Gate Realm, the ’Tyrant’ was at least an immortal existence—utterly unkillable. Attempting to suppress the ’Summoning Cottage’? Against someone whose strength rivaled that of entire armies and nations, it was a futile endeavor.

There were simply no viable countermeasures.

All was silent.

This only further fueled the ’Tyrant’s’ fearsome reputation.

But compared to Chen Jichuan’s renown in the Immortal Gate Realm, Yu Ming Immortal Venerable was more concerned about the 520 Holy Artifacts that the former had taken from the ’Coastline Alliance’ as compensation.

"Five hundred and twenty Holy Artifacts."

"At least five hundred Holy Marks."

With the addition of his previous collection of Holy Artifacts, could it be enough to open the Immortal Gate?

Yu Ming Immortal Venerable was deeply unsettled.

"It was all mere fortune."

"I was lucky. Back then, I was gravely injured by Little Yan and fell into the Immortal Gate Realm, where I happened to encounter a fateful opportunity."

Chen Jichuan replied with a lighthearted smile.

The human heart is a complex labyrinth.

Even though Yu Ming Immortal Venerable had already expressed his friendly intentions, Chen Jichuan remained cautious.

"Indeed."

"On the Immortal Cultivation Path, opportunities are everything."

Yu Ming Immortal Venerable nodded in agreement, though his thoughts were clearly elsewhere.

Chen Jichuan knew what he was contemplating and shook his head as he said, "But the Immortal Gate is exceedingly difficult to open. In that battle, I acquired 520 Holy Artifacts and later amassed more than ten additional ones, collecting a total of one thousand Holy Marks. Yet even then, I could not open the Immortal Gate."

Yu Ming Immortal Venerable, being well aware of Chen Jichuan’s gains in the Immortal Gate Realm, could estimate the current tally of Holy Artifacts and Holy Marks in his possession.

There was no need for deception.

What he stated was indeed the truth.

In that battle, he secured over 500 Holy Artifacts and immediately returned to the Nine Heavens with Wang Yan, channeling the Holy Marks from these artifacts into the ’Seven Emotions and Six Desires Map.’

Depleting his reserves in the process, he still managed to gather a thousand Holy Marks.

And yet, it was still insufficient to open the Immortal Gate.

"A thousand?"

"Even a thousand Holy Marks isn’t enough?"

Yu Ming Immortal Venerable was initially stunned, then filled with a profound sense of disappointment.

He himself had less than 300 Holy Marks at the moment—far too short of the mark.

The gap was overwhelming.

"Perhaps it’s no surprise."

"Bixia Immortal Venerable and Xuanming Immortal Venerable are seasoned veterans with sizable collections of Holy Artifacts and Holy Marks. If a thousand Holy Marks were enough to open the Immortal Gate, they would have done so long ago."

Yu Ming Immortal Venerable experienced only a fleeting disappointment before quickly regaining composure.

Shifting away from this heavy topic, he engaged in a bout of Daoist discussion with the couple. A few days later, he took his leave.

...

After Yu Ming Immortal Venerable departed,

Wang Yan sighed deeply, "A hundred Holy Marks, two hundred Holy Marks, three hundred Holy Marks. Yu Ming Immortal Venerable has been accumulating piece by piece, making countless attempts, only to fail again and again. To endure such long years without the slightest glimpse of hope is pure torment."

After hearing the news that even a thousand Holy Marks were insufficient, Yu Ming Immortal Venerable seemed noticeably more at ease on his way back.

At the very least, until he managed to gather a thousand Holy Marks, he wouldn’t have to endure such torment again.

Wang Yan could imagine that feeling.

She herself had experienced it twice—twice she had failed—and even that brief taste of defeat and uncertainty left her somewhat disheartened.

What, then, of Yu Ming Immortal Venerable?

But in truth, breaking through the Immortal Gate was not the only challenge. Wasn’t the pursuit of the Immortal Dao itself equally so?

Progressing step by step, yet with so little assurance about what lay ahead.

Take Yu Ming Immortal Venerable, for instance.

Even if he were to break past the Immortal Gate, the next hurdle—breaking through from the Fourth-order to the Fifth-order—would be an equally formidable gate. Crossing it might prove no easier than leaving the Immortal Gate itself.

"The pursuit of the Immortal Dao was never meant to be easy."