Chapter 1879: Sky Patrol

The Mortal World

South Heaven Gate!

Qin Sang's heart lurched. During the Battle of the Altar, True Master Zuo had once revealed some Daoist sect secrets to him.

"The Divine Court! It's actually in the Moon Palace!"

Through the moonlight, past the South Heaven Gate, Qin Sang faintly perceived a vast expanse.

Below the South Heaven Gate, golden pillars supported the structure, adorned with coiling dragons and phoenixes, mystic turtles bearing the weight, and qilin arranged in a grand circle. Beyond the gate, it was like a world of immortals: clear light and misty clouds, the brilliant glow of the Celestial River—a panorama of ethereal beauty.

Numerous long bridges spanned a sea of clouds, some disappearing into the white mist, others connecting to divine mountains and cloud-shrouded peaks. On the divine mountains, clouds drifted like white blossoms, and spirit gardens and immortal orchards abounded.

The mountains were verdant, the waters azure, and the wind crisp. Pines were dark green, bamboos a vibrant jade, and the grass a brilliant emerald. Azure mist hung ethereal, strange flowers bloomed like embroidery, unfading for a millennium, and evergreen for ten thousand years. Amidst the cloudy peaks stood jade pavilions and celestial palaces, with multi-storied towers and grand halls. Golden halls stretched beyond golden halls, and immortal palaces lay beyond immortal palaces. They rose endlessly, piercing the cloud-streaked sky, adorned with constellations, mountains, and rivers—a scene of complete grandeur. Truly, it could be said: Amidst the floating cloud sea, the Heavenly Palace emerged; where starlight converged, a celestial raft drifted.

Qin Sang seemed to witness immortal beings treading on clouds, riding dragons and phoenixes, soaring through the air on wind, floating on leaves across water, partaking of divine dew, and collecting the purple qi from the east. Had he not known this was the Daoist Divine Court, Qin Sang might have, in that fleeting moment, believed he was about to achieve enlightenment and ascend to the true immortal realm. The immortal vista was lofty and magnificent.

Yet, these sights did not feel real to Qin Sang, akin to seeing flowers in a mirror or the moon in water. A profound stillness pervaded the immortal realm. Though the pines, cypresses, and green bamboos on the immortal mountains were lush, no vitality could be felt from them; they seemed to be mere illusions. Qin Sang even began to doubt whether this "immortal realm" truly existed, suspecting everything might be an illusion.

The bright moon hung high in the nine heavens. From the ground, not only was the glow of the Taiyi Star Chariot visible, but the moonlight also felt distinctly brighter, and the lunar halo was expanding.

Qin Sang pressed against the jade seat, hands tightly gripping the armrests, his gaze shifting from the moon to look down at the earth. The dragon soared skyward. Mountains and rivers, bathed in moonlight, rapidly diminished in his view. Qin Sang saw the island where Mo Xingdao had been in secluded cultivation, Jianxin Island, Huzhong Island, the north and south shores of Star Island Immortal Lake, and the great rivers to the east and west, along with the outlines of the mountains across the vast outer lands.

At this moment, his heart was filled with extreme tension. The spectacle caused by the Taiyi Star Chariot was immense, triggering an anomaly in the bright moon and shaking the entire realm. The instant the golden dragon manifested, Qin Sang sensed that something was amiss, but it was already too late to intervene. The Taiyi Star Chariot’s resonance with the bright moon meant that such a dramatic anomaly would not escape the spiritual perception of the powerful beings within this realm. Qin Sang already felt gazes fixed upon this location.

Regardless, his secret could no longer be kept. True Monarchs of the Daoist Court and Great Sages of the demon race would undoubtedly come seeking him. He naturally favored the Daoist Court, but this was not his decision to make. What appeared to be thousands of miles away might be but an instant for such mighty figures; no one knew which faction would arrive first. If both sides arrived at once, and he were drawn into a conflict between these formidable beings, his outcome would certainly not be favorable.

Qin Sang knew that his fortune was unpredictable and escape was impossible. He hardened his resolve, letting the Star Chariot rush towards the Moon Palace. If he could force his way into the Divine Court before the True Monarchs and Great Sages arrived, there might still be a chance. In truth, he was powerless to stop the golden dragon. Something within the Divine Court seemed to draw the golden dragon, which, eager to return home, furiously pulled the jade chariot towards the Moon Palace. Qin Sang attempted to control the Taiyi Star Chariot and communicate with the golden dragon, but the only response he received was a series of high-pitched dragon roars, making it utterly impossible to halt its progress.

What was the connection between the Taiyi Star Chariot and the Divine Court? And what was the origin of the Seven Kill Hall's connection to the Daoist sect? Qin Sang had countless questions, but at this moment, he had no leisure to ponder them. He withdrew his gaze and nervously fixed his attention on the bright moon above. During the Battle of the Altar, the True Monarchs and Great Sages had displayed only a fraction of their divine abilities, capable of striking targets thousands of miles away. The bright moon hung high in the nine heavens, and Qin Sang worried he might not reach it in time, having no opportunity to enter the Divine Court.

However, Qin Sang's anxieties were soon allayed. Not only was the golden dragon moving faster than anticipated, but as Qin Sang sped towards the Moon Palace, the bright moon was also drawing closer to him. The moon at the center seemed like a direct passage to the Divine Court, exerting an immense pull on the golden dragon, and it magnified in his sight at an astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, Qin Sang felt enveloped by the lunar halo, bathed in cool moonlight, experiencing a sensation akin to spatial traversal. In such a short time, it was impossible for him to have flown to the moon; he hadn't even felt the impact of the fierce winds.

And the South Heaven Gate was directly ahead!

At the Zhongmao Prefecture Altar, the Daoist priest had appeared above the Golden Hall at some unknown point, gazing up at the horizon with a solemn expression. With a flash of insight in his eyes, the Daoist priest raised his right hand, his fingers moving to form a seal. Before he could complete it, he saw the golden dragon, pulling the jade chariot, vanish into the lunar halo.

'Boom!'

The mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas of the land all vibrated in resonance with the bright moon.

Somewhere in Jushan Prefecture, on a main road, a convoy of carriages sped under the moonlight, their wheels leaving clear tracks on the ground, indicating they were heavily laden with goods. Guards on horseback constantly moved along both sides of the convoy, alert to the dense forests bordering the road. In the lead was a lighter carriage, where two people were conversing in low tones.

"The intelligence is reliable. If we reach Linyincheng within three days, the value of the goods will multiply tenfold..."

Their conversation was abruptly cut short by exclamations from outside. Their expressions shifted slightly as they felt the ground tremble, as if thousands of horses were galloping. One of them hastily pulled back a corner of the curtain, only to see all the guards gazing skyward, with no signs of bandits.

"What are you doing?"

The man frowned, let out a sharp rebuke, then poked his head out to look at the sky, and instantly froze.

On a beautiful peak of a spiritual mountain, the door to a stone cave was ajar, and in front, a stone table laden with celestial wine and fruits was set. Three Daoists sat around it: one drank and sang, while the other two tapped jade bowls with chopsticks in accompaniment. Just as their revelry peaked, the singing abruptly ceased. The three rose abruptly, oblivious to the overturned stone table, and simultaneously ascended into the air. Gazing at the familiar bright moon, expressions of shock spread across their faces. As cultivators, they perceived more than mere mortals.

On the Abyssal Plain, roars rose and fell, creating extraordinary chaos. The changes in the bright moon were also visible here. The ferocious beasts in the Abyssal Plain were agitated by the lunar anomaly, becoming restless, and soon, skirmishes broke out in many areas. In the depths of the Abyssal Plain, powerful auras stirred restlessly.

On the Abyssal Sea, 'Whish...whoosh...' Despite the absence of a storm, towering waves surged across the sea. After each wave crested, mysterious dark figures could be seen swimming beneath the surface. Chaos silently spread across the sea. In some areas, the seawater was stained blood-red, gradually merging into a horrifying, continuous expanse. Even more, colossal waves, as if intent on shattering the sea, emanated an aura that struck terror into other fierce beasts.

The tranquility of the Altar was shattered. Figures flew out of the Golden Hall; the immortal officials, startled by the anomaly and witnessing the celestial phenomenon, were left dumbfounded and incredulous. Similar scenes unfolded in Jingtan and Dutian Altars, among various Daoist sects, in the royal and marquis residences of the Ghostfang Kingdom, and in the sects and rogue cultivator caves of Jushan Prefecture.

The Daoist priest lowered his hands, averted his gaze, and then looked eastward, towards the Baishi Prefecture Altar. At that very moment, a female Daoist, her lotus feet resting on a bamboo leaf, also turned her gaze. Their two gazes met across the void, seemingly able to perceive each other's solemn expressions. The anomaly was too sudden, utterly without warning. No one had anticipated the Divine Court emerging at this precise moment; the Daoist Court was completely unprepared. Two centuries of meticulous planning, ruined in an instant! The individual who activated the Divine Court was also someone they had not foreseen. Unexpected, yet, in hindsight, logical.

The two True Monarchs seemed to have concluded their exchange, and both shifted their gazes towards Jushan Prefecture. The direction they looked was precisely Star Island Immortal Lake, Jianxin Island!

On Jianxin Island, True Master Sword-Wielder hovered above the island, gazing up at the bright moon, the surprise in his eyes still lingering. His gaze was profound and imbued with spiritual essence; through the lunar halo, he perceived the Divine Court, the jade chariot, and the figure aboard it. At this moment, True Master Sword-Wielder sensed a gaze from afar, glanced westward, and crushed a spiritual talisman.

"Fellow Daoist Sword-Wielder?"

The Daoist's voice echoed in his ear, a questioning tone imbued with a hint of reproach. True Master Sword-Wielder sighed softly and said apologetically, "This matter was also beyond my expectations; it was my oversight."

The distant Daoist opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly his mind was shaken. He activated his spiritual vision, his gaze sweeping past Jushan Prefecture towards the Ghostfang Kingdom. He saw that the Gongshan Prefecture Altar, also known as the Great Sage's Residence of the Ghostfang Kingdom, was now shrouded in demonic clouds and teeming with overwhelming demonic energy.

'Dong!'

A single drum beat, shaking heaven and earth!

The Daoist's expression abruptly shifted, and he pressed with urgency, "Does the agreement between you and us still hold, fellow Daoist?"

The Six Heavens' Old Qi permeated this entire realm. The Daoist sect was confined to this realm; Daoist cultivators could only practice by relying on the Divine Court, their cultivation intrinsically linked to the Ducal Seal. It was precisely due to the limitations of the Ducal Seal that Daoist cultivators faced various restrictions in their practice and actions, yet they were unable to depart this realm. It should be known that this realm was not a naturally formed minor thousand world. Rather, it was created by Daoist ancestors who, at a critical juncture, used the Divine Court to segment it from the Great Thousand World, sealing off a single realm to preserve the Daoist lineage. Without locating the Divine Court, a return to the Great Thousand World was impossible. If all four separate Prefectures remained, and the four seals could be unified, the Daoist Court might still give rise to a new Celestial Master, reactivate the Divine Court, and revitalize the Daoist sect.

Alas, circumstances are unpredictable. The Jushan Prefecture Altar was destroyed, the ghost generals rebelled, and the situation has festered ever since. Daoist True Masters and True Monarchs ceaselessly followed one another, attempting various methods to break the deadlock, but all failed due to the inherent environmental limitations of this realm. Then, two centuries ago, a turning point emerged. The Jushan Prefecture Altar inexplicably vibrated, and the two True Monarchs faintly detected fluctuations from the Divine Court. Concurrently, an individual from outside this realm approached the Daoist Court—it was True Master Sword-Wielder. Both parties swore an oath to cooperatively assist the Daoist Court in its return.

However, once the Divine Court manifested, it would inevitably shake the Great Thousand World, potentially even attracting other powerhouses of the Celestial Master level. The Daoist Court's Talisman Gods were the ultimate culmination of developing the Dao of Talismans to its extreme. Talisman Gods of the Cavernous Truth rank and above, like the Nine Heavens Responding to Primordial Thunder, Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable, were considered priceless treasures of the Talisman Dao by all. Even if the Daoist Court's past enemies were no longer present, other powerful beings would certainly not hesitate to seize a Talisman God.

Returning to the Great Thousand World would entail both external threats and internal concerns. The internal concern was the Ghostfang Kingdom; as anticipated, the Great Sage of the demon race unhesitatingly struck the Demon-Summoning Drum. In their original plan, the Daoist Court was simultaneously preparing to reactivate the Divine Court and using the Divine Path as bait to draw demons into a trap, proactively distributing fragments of the Twenty-Four Heavenly Prisons map. Once the Great Sage of the Ghostfang Kingdom truly unified with a deity, stepping onto the Divine Path and becoming a Ghost God, the Daoist Court, upon gaining control of the Divine Court, could then easily subdue the Ghostfang Kingdom through the Divine Court's inherent suppression of Ghost Gods, thus resolving their internal concerns and focusing solely on external threats.

During the Daoist sect's self-imposed isolation, the external Divine Path had continuously evolved, diverging significantly from the Divine Path deduced by the Daoist sect, which was based on the Dao of Talismans. True Master Sword-Wielder brought external Divine Path secret scriptures into this realm. After the Daoist Court modified them, they were discreetly sent to the Ghostfang Kingdom, offering new revelations to the demons. For countless years, both the Daoist sect and the Ghostfang Kingdom had tirelessly sought a way out, willing to try any glimmer of hope. Once the Great Sage derived inspiration from it, he would undoubtedly attempt to deduce a new Divine Path, thereby falling into their trap. Simultaneously, to avoid alerting the demons, the True Monarchs could not act carelessly, and the task of locating the Divine Court fell upon True Master Sword-Wielder. As a true sword cultivator, singularly devoted to his sword, his Dao foundation lay in the sword itself, not in the Divine Court. Maintaining a steadfast focus on his sword, he was surprisingly able to enter the Jushan Prefecture Altar. True Master Sword-Wielder had entered and exited the Jushan Prefecture Altar multiple times, gradually gathering clues, and successfully lured the Ghostfang Kingdom into the trap.

Everything had been progressing favorably, until an unforeseen event transpired. The manifestation of the Divine Court was triggered by the divine chariot under Qin Sang, and the Daoist Court's preparations were far from complete. Without a Celestial Master's decree, even though the South Heaven Gate had been found, not even a True Monarch could immediately enter the Divine Court. Yet, there was one exception: the fragments of the Twenty-Four Heavenly Prisons map! The Fengdu Ghost Mansion was once connected to the Divine Court, effectively becoming a part of it. As long as one knew the Divine Court's location, the map fragments could be used to send demon cultivators, already transformed into Ghost Gods, directly into the Divine Court. Furthermore, even if the Great Sage of the demon race had not yet fully entered the Divine Path, he could still use the map fragments to force his way into the Divine Court! If the demons were to seize the Divine Court, the consequences would be unthinkable, and the fragments of the Twenty-Four Heavenly Prisons map they had distributed would become a death warrant.

These concerns were secondary. The Daoist gazed into the deep void, his brow furrowed. The Divine Court's unexpected emergence meant its vibrations had already reached the Great Thousand World, impossible to conceal. If True Master Sword-Wielder were to break the pact and abandon the Daoist sect, the Daoist sect, currently unable to resolve its internal and external crises, would face utter annihilation!

True Master Sword-Wielder threw his head back and laughed heartily, "We sword cultivators prefer the direct path, not convoluted schemes! How could I possibly break my word? I would rather die than compromise my integrity!"

His laughter was clear and resonant. True Master Sword-Wielder stepped forth, treading the void, and ascended into the sky. Jiannu stood on the island, his face filled with worry, when he suddenly heard True Master Sword-Wielder's shout: "Tonight is the moment for you to slay your enemies and achieve breakthroughs! Go quickly!" Jiannu's heart jolted. He bowed respectfully, summoned his spiritual sword, and flew northward on it towards the Abyssal Plain.

Inside the Divine Court, Qin Sang arrived on the dragon, vaguely sensing that he had crossed an invisible barrier, effortlessly flying past the South Heaven Gate without the slightest obstruction. Just as he passed through the South Heaven Gate, Qin Sang's vision suddenly blurred, and a figure appeared, blocking his path.

"Fellow Daoist Sword-Wielder?"

Qin Sang's face was etched with shock. The person before him was indeed True Master Sword-Wielder, but his form was ethereal, seemingly a phantom condensed from primordial spirit energy.

"I am Tianyue!" True Master Sword-Wielder stated in a deep voice. At this moment, his aura was starkly different from the True Master Sword-Wielder Qin Sang knew.

Tianyue? Venerable Tianyue of the Northern Star Realm?

"You..." Qin Sang's expression drastically shifted.

"I was entrusted by someone to help you achieve the Void Refinement stage in this realm." Venerable Tianyue gazed at the divine chariot beneath Qin Sang, his eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions. "I had originally thought it was the doing of the Phoenix Feather. So, the Daoist Court's Sky-Patrolling Divine Chariot is in your hands. No wonder you were able to break through the barrier and enter this realm!"

(End of chapter)