Chapter 1843: Chapter 1788–Chapter 1789 Spirit Official Venerable God_2

The current Pang Hong can stand alongside the opponent not only because of his own realm and combat power but also because of his master’s influence.

When the opponent certified as a True Immortal, Pang Hong was still trapped in the Strongest Realm, searching for the opportunity to certify as a Tao-Certifying True Immortal.

Originally, he believed that over the years, he had already stepped into the Sixth Heaven of the True Immortal Realm, touched the threshold of Taoist Monarch, and felt he could be on par with Bai Qicang, who was reputedly the number one under the True Immortal in the past but now the number one under the Taoist Monarch. However, the opponent’s move at this moment made Pang Hong absolutely feel this might not be the case.

Whether this person has not certified as a Taoist Monarch because of lacking the capability or due to other reasons requiring him not to certify at this moment is uncertain.

Pang Hong’s speculation is not without basis; there are some facts supporting it.

Every Sect, aside from the core disciple heritage, has entities similar to protector enforcers. These enforcers may vary in identity, possibly being cultivators proficient in combat or direct disciples possessing formidable strength.

After all, be it the Divine Dynasty Sacred Land or Religious Sect, they all have enforcers like red sticks of a gang, albeit not so explicitly.

In Buddhism School, there are Vajra Protectors, in the Taoist School, Spirit Official Venerable Gods, and in the Heavenly Court’s Fighting Department, these are entities specializing in combat. While their realms may differ, they are unmatched in combat within their respective realms.

Just like the Shenxiao Sect, aside from some highly cultivated beings, it houses specially trained disciples at each realm who specialize in combat, serving as a guarantee of Shenxiao Sect’s prowess. After all, not every situation can be resolved by having the Elders or Sect Leader intervene.

According to the current practices of various factions, they often cultivate supreme overlords within the Strongest Realm. These entities are capable of challenging True Immortals, thus when conflicts arise and need to be confined under the True Immortal level, these supreme overlords play a significant role.

And at the True Immortal level, the Shenxiao Sect also has such plans. However, due to the current scarcity of True Immortals in the Shenxiao Sect and even throughout the Divine Continent’s Realms of Heavenly Seas, this hasn’t been fully realized.

Nonetheless, everyone knows that within the Shenxiao Sect, apart from Pang Hong, the pivotal representative of True Immortals is Yu Zhenzi and the other four protector elders. Additionally, there are several subordinates under the Longevity Taoist Monarch, and those ancient returning Demon Gods, although serving in the Heavenly Court are only honorary.

Standing in the Taoist School level, as a once-equal to Emperor Wenchang and being the top under the True Immortal, it’s quite bizarre that True Monarch Bai Qicang has not certified as a Taoist Monarch, yet many Taoist Monarchs are not surprised.

Upon hearing about the possible action by Zhu Jiuyin Ancestor Witch of the Taoist Witch God Sect, Pang Hong originally intended to intervene himself. But unexpectedly, his master’s message was relayed through Uncle Master Yu Zhenzi for True Monarch Bai Qicang to come instead.

This had to reaffirm some of Pang Hong’s speculations- that True Monarch Bai Qicang’s remaining uncertified as a Taoist Monarch is probably due to some mutual understanding among the Taoist Monarchs, marking him as a hidden ace among the True Immortals, specifically the Spirit Official Venerable God of the Taoist School.

Regarding the Zhu Jiuyin Ancestor Witch of the Witch Deity Teaching, although Pang Hong hasn’t had much direct contact, he knows a lot about the opponent from his position, recognizing he is at least the pinnacle of the True Immortal Sixth Heaven.

Moreover, the Zhu Jiuyin Ancestor Witch has never lost in action over the years; every time, he easily subdues his opponents, showcasing terrifying power that intimidates many, marking him also as the pinnacle below a Taoist Monarch.

Rumor has it that the cultivation path of Zhu Jiuyin is different. Though seemingly in the Sixth Heaven of the True Immortal Realm, he actually possesses the combat strength of a Taoist Monarch.

In truth, Pang Hong holds more belief in this aspect than many, not due to any direct information from his master but because the Golden Core Dao he follows is essentially a similar situation.

Even though the Golden Core Dao is a creation by his master and can indeed be classified among the Five Immortal Paths of the Heaven, Earth, Man, God, and Ghost, it still carries distinct characteristics.

Every strong one who walks the Golden Core Dao condenses a unique Golden Core, and their subsequent paths differ, with each turn of the Golden Core raising being distinct.

The so-called Nine Turns of the Golden Core doesn’t mean the Golden Core can only be refined and transformed nine times; nine is just a figurative number. Some people’s Golden Core may be refined and transformed dozens of times before certifying as a True Immortal, whereas for some, it may only take seven times.

Just like Pang Hong himself, he certified as a True Immortal with the Golden Core Seventh Turn, and waiting for his Golden Core’s Eighth Turn, he had already stepped into the Fourth Heaven of the True Immortal Realm. When he truly reaches the Golden Core Ninth Turn, it would inevitably mean stepping into the Taoist Monarch realm.

Thus, relying solely on the True Immortal Realm for classification is not entirely accurate; it’s just a figurative label, so Zhu Jiuyin seemingly at True Immortal Sixth Heaven yet certifying as a Taoist Monarch is actually no surprise.

“Perhaps only by truly certifying as a Taoist Monarch can one know everything.” Pang Hong thought silently.

Once it was about not being a True Immortal meant remaining an ant; now, not reaching a Taoist Monarch means staying an ant. The measure has never truly been about True Immortals or Taoist Monarchs, but whether you are the strongest, standing at the highest level.

Even if his current status in the Taoist School is not low, many matters are not hidden from him. However, regarding Taoist Monarch level schemes, Pang Hong can only glimpse bits and pieces, never fully knowing.

Even his own master wouldn’t reveal everything about Taoist Monarch matters to him in full because it’s against the rules.

Pang Hong isn’t dissatisfied with this; it’s something he can accept.

In truth, there is a lingering doubt in Pang Hong’s mind about whether there are paths to certify as a Taoist Monarch beyond collecting shares of the Daoist Rules’ origin.

His position and being a direct disciple of a Taoist Monarch afford him great advantages, regardless of which path he chooses. Even if he wants to follow the Great Path of Thunder, his master probably wouldn’t mind and would help him gather authority shares.

Yet Pang Hong, focusing solely on the Golden Core Dao, continually explores and studies his own Golden Core, feeling his transformations. He can’t help but wonder whether certification as a Taoist Monarch truly has only this path, or could there be other ways?

He once wanted to ask his master, but Pang Hong felt that his cultivation hadn’t reached its limit and lacked more evidence, thus hesitating and wanting to wait for the right moment.

However, witnessing the battle between Bai Qicang and Zhu Jiuyin displaying Taoist Monarch-level combat power this time, his doubts only deepened.

Of course, these matters are not the primary concern right now; they await resolution with everything currently transpiring.

Once the affairs in the Myriad Laws Realm are concluded and the next Sect Leader of Shenxiao Sect is selected, it would be his time to retreat and ascend to a Taoist Monarch. Perhaps only after certifying as a Taoist Monarch can he truly comprehend everything.

Suppressing his thoughts, he turned his gaze once again toward the distant duel between Zhu Jiuyin and Bai Qicang. This battle was on a scale many times greater than the earlier clash between the Five Old Lords, Ju Mang Ancestor Witch, and the Wood Virtue Star Lord, comparable to the combat among Taoist Monarchs in the Chaos Void.

Time Laws are mysterious and profound. As a cultivator of the Time Dao, Zhu Jiuyin’s every move, though seemingly delayed, was actually preemptive—genuinely terrifying.

Yet True Monarch Bai Qicang was no ordinary mortal; his magic sword unmatched, with sword Qi prevailing in all directions, his power truly extraordinary.

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