Chapter 1573: Dust and Labor Locked

The formidable pass collapsed, shattered by the seven Supremes. Immortal light surged into the sky, tearing through the nine heavens and ten earths, shaking the mortal realm!

The world was astonished! The magnificent ancient city before the Immortal Ascension Road was breached. Heavenly Venerates, Ancient Emperors, Great Emperors, and Holy Spirits exerted their power together, directly charging into the city.

A rain of light danced everywhere. The great rift and the Immortal Ascension Road were filled with light, brilliant and crystalline, yet terrifying. A single speck of this light was enough to pierce through Great Sages, leaving no chance of survival. This was a force of law specifically designed to hinder ancient Great Emperors; such fluctuations were invisible elsewhere in the world and were extremely dangerous.

"They've broken through, they're truly going to become immortals!" People gasped in awe and shock.

This could rewrite history, completely altering all past records of immortal ascension. This would be a new era, where becoming an immortal was no longer an illusion, as the seven Supremes had succeeded together.

However, upon closer thought, it seemed only natural. What could possibly stop them when seven of the most powerful beings throughout history joined forces? A single one appearing could suppress the universe and rule over all realms, let alone seven acting in concert!

It was a miracle, but upon careful consideration, it seemed only logical; indeed, it was destined to be so.

Many beyond the realm thought this, simultaneously filled with extreme excitement.

"They've truly become immortals! The seven Supremes have forged a path of hope, battling their way in, opening a new era!" Elderly cultivators trembled, witnessing it all as if they themselves were venturing into the immortal realm. Their lifespans were nearing their end, and they were about to pass away.

Beyond the realm, the atmosphere was fervent, filled with roars. All cultivators shouted, even if they were not the ones ascending. This was a hope, a tangible goal: becoming an immortal was no longer an empty dream.

"It's too early to rejoice. This is merely one immortal pass; others have breached it before. Perhaps the true path to ascension and immortality lies beyond this point."

Suddenly, a cold voice echoed, dampening the excitement and fervor of many. The fervent atmosphere quickly cooled, leaving everyone stunned.

A Quasi-Emperor spoke, making such a judgment: there might still be unforeseen changes on the path to ascension!

Who knew what lay ahead? Who knew the outcome of the Immortal Road? Everything depended on the upcoming battle on the Immortal Road. Perhaps the true brutality had only just begun.

"Boom!" In a most terrifying burst of light, the entire magnificent divine city shattered, torn apart by the seven Supremes from within. Endless immortal light surged forth.

Ultimately, the brilliance was intercepted by various Imperial Armaments, preventing it from spreading unchecked. Seven figures stood there, enveloped in golden, sacred light tinged with red, like the evening glow, casting a majestic yet somewhat melancholic aura upon them.

"Where is the path?!" someone roared.

The formidable pass was shattered, the colossal city leveled. These, formed by the laws of the immortal path, ceased to exist. Yet, there was no path ahead; the Immortal Ascension Road was broken!

Everyone fell silent. Was it all for nothing in the end? Logically, with the seven Supremes allied, nothing should have been unbreakable; all obstacles should have been swept aside.

But now, there was no obstruction. Ahead lay only void, nothing remained; there was nothing even to sweep away!

Possessing peerless cultivation, they had no place to use it. The Immortal Road had vanished, disappearing completely.

"Why is this happening?!"

"Was waiting for eons for nothing? Was so-called immortal ascension ultimately the greatest deception? How could this be? We are unwilling to accept this!"

No one could bear this outcome. All the waiting, all the painstaking effort, the most grievous prices paid, only for everything to turn to naught in the end. How could they not be filled with grief and indignation?

"Dong..." A bell tolled, its sound so clear and crisp, echoing across the Immortal Ascension Road and throughout the universe. All living beings heard it, but each felt it differently.

The seven Supremes trembled violently. Was this a death knell tolling for them? After a lifetime of glory, unmatched and ruling heaven and earth, were they to end like this? Unwillingness filled their hearts!

Suddenly, a ray of light soared, and at the end of the vast void, light unexpectedly appeared. The magnificent world that had vanished earlier now faintly reappeared. A force of longevity drew everyone in, yet it seemed as if an entire sea of worlds separated them.

The eyes of the seven Supremes instantly lit up, like brilliant flames illuminating the ages, causing all the Saints beyond the realm to close their eyes, not daring to gaze upon it.

"It's still there, but there's no path; it's just drifting in the ethereal unknown!"

"There's no path ahead. We shall forge our own, reconnecting with the Immortal Road!"

The seven Supremes acted again, one Imperial Armament after another flying forth, piercing through the way ahead, directly charging forward. They were pinpointing spatial coordinates, confirming the exact location of the Immortal Realm.

"Kill!"

This battle stirred the hearts of all, making them forget everything else. Almost everyone hoped for their success, for it represented hope, proving that immortal ascension was possible and not an illusion, thus setting a clear goal for future generations.

A brilliant grand path formed. The seven Supremes acted, constructing a supreme path from grand dao runes, leading directly into the distance, piercing towards that world.

The seven moved in concert, almost instantaneously calculating the precise location of the Immortal Realm.

It was a sea of worlds; crossing it might lead to immortality!

"What's in that sea?" At that moment, many exclaimed, fortunate enough to witness this scene.

That sea was the mortal world, the past, the future, each person's individual experiences... It was too bizarre. Gazing at that sea of worlds, myriad thoughts and endless distractions flooded their minds.

"Is it tempering the Dao with the mortal world, or tempering the heart? This is but a minor path!"

"What is the past? All things in heaven and earth, every blade of grass and tree, are within my heart. What has passed lies beneath my feet!"

"As for the future, what does it matter? Even if all the heavens and myriad realms press down upon me, I shall not fear!"

The seven Supremes each spoke, displaying unmatched demeanor, possessing an aura of supreme dominance. It seemed nothing could impede them even half a step.

Such were the Ancient Supremes. Those paths, those scenes, which to Great Sages might seem inescapable throughout an entire lifetime, requiring their very lives to comprehend, experience, and fully grasp, were simply stepped over by the Supremes, who advanced without hesitation.

Heavenly Venerates of the Mythological Era, Emperors of the Primordial Era, Great Emperors of the Desolate Ancient Era—each one possessed astonishing talent. For them, the myriad paths of the heavens, all sorts of trials and tribulations, were like worthless chickens and dogs.

The only true peril was the Immortal Realm itself; all other myriad paths and scenes could not shake their resolve or hinder them even for an instant.

They battled their way forward, finally reaching a vast ancient path bathed in points of light rain. It appeared to be made of stone, but having witnessed various immortal spirits, who could say if it was truly stone or merely formed by the laws of the immortal path?

The seven Supremes simply didn't care about these details, whether it was real or illusory. Their eyes were fixed solely on the magnificent Immortal Realm ahead!

Light rain filled the sky, and crystalline petals fluttered. A sweet fragrance permeated the air. Here, they saw a monument, towering into the firmament, standing beside the path ahead.

The ancient monument was awe-inspiring, inscribed with only a single symbol unknown and unidentifiable to the common world. However, the eyes of the seven Supremes shone with piercing insight. This was an immortal symbol that only they could approach and comprehend, or it could be called the Immortal Dao itself.

Simple and direct, the ancient monument bore only this single character.

"We believed it was right, so we came. Those few who thought it was wrong are still in slumber. The final outcome will soon be revealed!"

An Ancient Supreme uttered these words, astonishing everyone. It was clear that some had not yet arrived; a few individual Supremes had still not emerged.

"In this very era, let us see the final conclusion!"

With a great roar, the Qilin Staff, forged from eternal azure gold, struck out first, charging forward. It pierced through this ancient path, causing countless gods, devils, and immortal spirits to fall. Various light rains exploded.

At the end of the ancient path stood a pair of gates, bearing large, blood-stained characters. It was unmistakably Imperial blood, still flowing, as if freshly inscribed.

On one gate was written: Past!

On the other gate was written: Future!

Above them, a plaque bore two more characters: Present!

"Dust and toil, locks and chains; clarify the Dao, behold the Immortal!" An ancient imprint appeared. The passage of time was so immense that even mighty Ancient Supremes could barely perceive this fading message.

In the end, they only vaguely discerned it.

Around them, mist surged, creating a hazy atmosphere, while chaotic energy spread, making the place even more mysterious. The blood-stained characters were shocking to behold.

Behind this gate, the Immortal Realm seemed within reach. Faintly, the roars of true dragons and the cries of immortal phoenixes could be heard, as if a vast immortal world lay beyond.

The seven Supremes charged inward; crossing through might just lead to immortality!

With a thunderous boom, a violent force blasted all seven of them back, preventing their passage. Immortal Dao laws intertwined, rendering the gate unshakeable.

All seven Supremes launched attacks, but something terrifying happened: all their offensive power was blocked and redirected back at each of them.

Joint efforts were useless!

Ascending through the radiant light and transforming into immortals required their individual strength, not a combined attack from all seven Supremes!

Earth-shattering assaults occurred in this place; their brilliance illuminated the ages. Had their power not been intentionally controlled, the Big Dipper starfield would surely have been reduced to ashes!

Their attacks were entirely focused on that gate, each impacting it individually, seeking to validate their own immortal path and ascend to immortality.

How could they give up? This was the final trial; if they could overcome it, they might become immortals, setting an unprecedented precedent and creating a miracle!

So close, all the Supremes unleashed their full power, fighting furiously. This place became a nexus where Imperial Dao laws intertwined, fiercely clashing against the immortal light laws.

"Activate the formation, merge the myriad Daos into one, and assault this gate!" the Longevity Heavenly Venerate roared.

The other six Ancient Supremes also nodded, their roars shaking mountains and rivers. Their aura was felt even in the remote reaches of the universe, causing the entire starfield to tremble.

The five continents—Central Province, Northern Plains, Southern Ridge, Western Desert, and Eastern Wasteland—all began to glow, transforming into five-colored altars, which then evolved into a colossal grand formation. It drew power from all the heavens and myriad realms, converging brilliant strands of light!

Everyone was astonished. How was the Big Dipper starfield formed? Was it arranged by human hands, existing solely for this era?!

At this moment, all the heavens and myriad realms trembled, and every region of the universe quaked. Simultaneously, the Holy Cliff also began to glow, and the Bell of Wu Shi roared.

Furthermore, at the same time, the Great Thunderclap Temple in the Western Desert was illuminated by pervasive Buddhist light, shining upon the past, present, and future, illuminating reincarnation!