CHAPTER 660: CHAPTER 489: IS SHENZHOU CHAOTIC OR NOT? ZHOU YAN DECIDES!

With such conditions, and since he just happened to have ’Enlightenment’, he couldn’t help but lend a hand.

Therefore, starting with Meng Qing, followed by Liu Hechuan, Chen Jichuan simply closed his eyes, steeled his heart, and discarded all scruples, consecutively ’Enlightening’ Xuee Gu and eight others, achieving the success of eight True Immortals.

Now, with the final proving of Shi Ze, disciples and fellow members in Dongqi Palace and East River Palace have all succeeded in proving the Dao.

"If you’re going to help, help them all!"

This was already a case of breaking the pot and dropping it.

Chen Jichuan didn’t think too much about it.

But being able to help people like Xuee Gu and Shen Qingyi succeed in proving the Dao brought him joy.

The joy was twofold.

Firstly, that everyone could be like him, and after proving the True Immortal Dao, gain everlasting longevity, which made Chen Jichuan quite happy.

Secondly,

No matter how far ’Enlightenment’ reached the True Immortal Realm, it remained effective, bringing delight.

Over these forty thousand years, every single one he had ’Enlightened’ succeeded in proving the Dao.

Although this also included factors such as Liu Hechuan and Xuee Gu being exceptionally talented themselves, being top-notch within the Daoist sect, and among the most elite under True Immortals in all of Shenzhou Heaven and Earth, one could not deny the sharpness of ’Enlightenment’.

"With ’Enlightenment’ in my hands, I can completely mass-produce True Immortals in the future!"

With more experience, helping Chen Shaohu cultivate and prove the Dao in reality would be even more handy, ensuring more guarantees in reality as well.

"But not now."

For now, with Meng Qing and Liu Hechuan consecutively proving the Dao, the string inside and outside the Daoist sect, as well as throughout vast Shenzhou, has already been stretched to the extreme by this time.

"It’s time to take a break."

"At least the identity of ’Zhou Yan’ cannot be used to cultivate more True Immortals anytime soon."

Chen Jichuan casually ’Enlightened’ one True Immortal after another, helping fellow members and disciples escape their sea of suffering, appearing carefree and expressive, but the pressure on his shoulders was not small.

Thinking negatively,

If he provoked various tens of millions years worth of deeply buried contradictions in Shenzhou by quickly creating many True Immortals, causing the cosmic calamity to descend early, let’s not even mention the devastation it would cause, for the conflicts among Shenzhou parties run deep, and the calamity’s arrival is only a matter of time.

The Daoist sect would especially welcome this.

But for Chen Jichuan himself, it wasn’t beneficial.

With his current strength, he was far from being able to preserve his life amidst a cosmic calamity sweeping through Shenzhou or assured of rapid growth and profit in such an event.

"At least two hundred thousand years."

"A million years would be best."

Even if calamity is inevitable, Chen Jichuan aims to gain at least two hundred thousand years to strive forward.

Preferably the outbreak would come after a million years.

By then,

Based on Chen Jichuan’s estimates, his Daoist cultivation, Divine Skills, and insights would have reached a new height and arrived at a bottleneck. Facing the calamity then, on one hand, he’d have greater means for self-preservation, and on the other, he’d be able to grow better and faster amidst the variables of the calamity.

"Calamity."

Chen Jichuan’s hand rested within his sleeve as he looked up at the sky.

To the ordinary eye, it appeared as a clear blue sky, but to Chen Jichuan, it was dark and dim, on the verge of collapse.

Whether it’s the increasingly refined ’Dayan Divination Method’ predicting future celestial mechanisms, the circumstances Chen Jichuan learned about through the One Origin Dao Sect and various Avatars, or the seemingly intentional information Master Fu Danzi just revealed, all imply Shenzhou is approaching a monumental change unparalleled in history.

"Shenzhou Heaven and Earth, where good and evil clash, with thousands of True Immortals, yet the pond too shallow and fish too many, is one of the roots of the great chaos."

"Secondly, the top sequence on the ’Qingshi List’, like Yiyuan Ancestor Master, Vermilion Blood Ancestor, and other ancient True Immortals, having endured calamities and aged without progressing further. As the calamities intensify, standing still equals death. Under such a life-and-death crisis, whether the Daoist sect’s Ancestors fall prey first to the calamities and the Dao diminishes or whether the great powers of demon monsters edge into desperate realms, grow desperate and frenzied, a calamity is inevitable."

Chen Jichuan had sat in meditation at the mountain gate for forty thousand years, his eyes seeing through Shenzhou’s chaos.

But when this calamity arrives mostly depends on the Peak True Immortals like Yiyuan Ancestor Master and Vermilion Blood Ancestor.

Given Chen Jichuan’s Daoist cultivation, intervening was beyond him.

Acting recklessly might indeed cause the calamity to descend earlier if he mass-produced True Immortals. But this would inevitably make him a target of demon monsters and other Daoist sects, longing to eliminate him.

Thus, it would be disadvantageous for him.

Therefore, what he could do now was only to delay ’Enlightenment’, at least avoiding exaggerated actions such as producing seven or eight True Immortals in forty thousand years.

Then strive to cultivate, work hard on enhancing personal strength, and prepare decisively.

...

Shenzhou Void.

In an unknown place.

Three figures, blood red, golden light, and gray, gather here.

The ’Vermilion Blood Ancestor’ surrounded by blood red, middle-aged in appearance, authoritative and stern.

The ’Golden Silkworm Ancestor’ with golden hair, child-like appearance, smiling and welcoming.

The ’Heavenly Defect Saint Master’ dressed in a Daoist robe, youthful in appearance, ordinary.

The gathering of three powerful demon monsters with ’Golden Silkworm Ancestor’ grinning while the other two showed no expression.

Golden Silkworm Ancestor looked at Vermilion Blood Ancestor and initiated the conversation: "Congratulations Fellow Daoist Vermilion Blood for crossing another calamity, Ancient Immortal in sight."

"True Immortal enduring countless tribulations becomes Ancient Immortal, Ancient Immortal Immortal."

"How difficult is that."

Sounding vibrant, Vermilion Blood Ancestor shook his head: "Ordinary True Immortal endures one tribulation per Primordial Unity, still able to breathe. But once we step into Fourth Realm Thunder Tribulation, tribulations become increasingly fierce, with one arriving every three thousand years, each surpassing the last. Immortal transformation after thousands of tribulations? It’s just a painting of cake, visible but never consumable."

Everybody believes True Immortality is good, never knowing True Immortals face calamities, with a sword hanging above their heads at all times, one careless moment leading to death.

And for potent figures like Vermilion Blood Ancestor, their Divine Skills grow more vast, yet the calamities they face grow equally potent.

More powerful is one aspect.

Higher frequency is another.

True Immortal Fourth Realm, termed ’Thunder Tribulation’. Once crossed into this level, a tribulation descends every three thousand years.

Whether Yiyuan Ancestor Master among Daoist leaders or Vermilion Blood Ancestor in demon monster powerhouses, anyone in this realm, all are occupied with the Thunder Tribulations, living in haste.

Improve Daoist cultivation.

Search for treasures.

Comprehend Divine Skills.

...

The majority of their time is spent preparing for rounds of calamities.

Thus, it’s not difficult to see Second and Third Realm True Immortals within Shenzhou Heaven and Earth, or outside the heavens. However, Fourth Realm True Immortals are elusive, hard to meet.

They rarely concern themselves with mundane matters.

Though all are True Immortals, because the frequency of Fourth Realm Thunder Tribulation True Immortal calamity’s descent is higher, it creates a vast gap between them and the first three Realm True Immortals.

Proving Dao is laborious.

The path of True Immortals is dangerous.

Fourth Realm True Immortals face difficulty every step, like walking by a cliff, able to see the end, even count how many steps remain.

But the storm, rain, and thunder roiling from the cliff anytime could sweep them over the edge, smashing them to pieces.

"Immortal after enduring countless tribulations becomes Ancient Immortal."

"I have proved the Dao for over two million years, traversing nearly seven thousand tribulations, with three thousand left to cross beyond."

"Treasures of heaven and earth in Shenzhou, aiding us tremendously."

"Yet to plot Shenzhou, one can never bypass the Daoist sect."

Vermilion Blood Ancestor expressed despair but then shifted tone, finally touching on the main topic.

"Does Fellow Daoist still not give up?"

Golden Silkworm Ancestor understood immediately, shaking his head: "The Four Great Daoist Sects established Immortal Court, occupied Four Continents, numerous True Immortals. Yiyuan, those old ghosts, have also attracted outer realm stars, forged treasures to suppress the source. Currently, Shenzhou’s geographical advantage lies in the hands of the Daoist sects, we stand no chance."

If looking back several million years when Immortal Court and Divine Court coexisted, they stood equal to the Daoist sects.

But as Divine Court disintegrated, Daoist sects pressured, several million years passed, when magic dwindled as Dao thrives. If a fight broke out, demon monsters wouldn’t stand a chance against Daoist sects.

Golden Silkworm Ancestor wasn’t optimistic.

"Can’t know if victory is possible without trying?"

"Calamity like a suspended sword, any chance must be seized."

"If able to break Shenzhou, seize parts of the source, not saying Ancient Immortal is attainable, but at least gain hundreds of calamities, a chance to breathe for over one million years."

"Moreover, the ancient nature of this realm, surely hides treasures deep within."

...