Longevity Heavenly Dynasty, initiated by Tao Qian, was still sweeping through the seventy-two provinces.
The duration unexpectedly persisted, mixed with the prayers and fortune of All People, and rather than diminishing, the torrent grew more violent and concentrated.
In Qiantang Province, Tao Qian remained submerged in the Sea of Fortune, resonating with all Mortals of the Human Clan.
Maintaining such a state was indeed a great burden, demanding a heavy price.
One misstep, and he could be tormented into madness, spawning endless obsessions.
Fortunately, Tao Qian was somewhat special, holding a large number of Ancestor God Treasures and ruling over four provinces, supported by all Mortals, thus he could temporarily resist.
One day!
Two days!
Three days!
Nobody expected that the terrifying torrent would last a full three days.
Even Tao Qian, whose body and soul were both exhausted, was now in shock.
During these three days, numerous Sect forces starting with Primordial Sect, followed by Taishang Dao, Heavenly Talisman Sect, Shenxiao Sect, Shaoqing Sect, Pure Yang Sect, Canxuan Sect, Infant Sect, Heavenly Mechanism Building, Toad Sect... including Great Buddhist Sects like Free Temple, Dharma Cakra Temple, had declared their support or even sent Divine Treasures and Magical Treasures.
Compelled by the might of the Human Dao Torrent, they all had stood out.
And these forces, they all received rewards.
Even some Demon Sects, whose methods of cultivation were extremely cruel, as long as they declared their support for Master Tao in rebuilding the Forbidden Law Barrier at this time.
They also shared in plenty of fortune and received great blessings.
A large number of forces in the Mortal World, governing bodies, or some neutral warlords, for various reasons, expressed their support in a "nationwide broadcast" manner.
During these days, broadcasts filled the skies, each hour famous powers or people across the nation stood out, shouting their support for Master Tao, creating a tremendous momentum.
And the prayers of billions of the nation's people did not enter the state of "initial vigor depleting and weakening," but became even more tumultuous and magnificent.
Almost every province, every city, erupted in various marches and rebellious activities.
Be it Cultivators!
Or Mortals!
All became active, supporting Master Tao in Qiantang in various ways.
A magnificent collective force was churning, seemingly ready to crush any obstacles ahead.
"Hope!"
"By doing this, I have given all Mortals of the seventy-two provinces a hope."
"It might even be said to be the only hope, although they haven't embarked on the path of cultivation, under the resonance of fortune, they probably all have a vague feeling."
"The overt momentum I've created is the last chance."
"Once shattered, a century of warlord chaos and the ravages of God Demons will be unavoidable. It would require at least a dozen billion lives lost to select a new Human Emperor and establish a new dynasty, returning to peace."
"Nobody wishes to become expendable, so they all try to prevent it."
"This, is the unity of wills, a strong fortress of collective determination."
Tao Qian looked over the entire world, observing those still flashing Ancestor God Fragments, with a profound realization throbbing within him.
If he were alone, he would have fallen three days ago.
The current situation was the self-rescue of billions of people.
But what was quite ominous, was that they had indeed reached the limit.
If the Alchemists did not fall into the trap, the achievements obtained by Tao Qian would be the final outcome.
And after the doom was unleashed, it would be slowly consumed.
After all, on the Ancestor God Forbidden Technique, since the Alchemists inherited all of Ancestor Dragon's legacies, even though Tao Qian controlled the Nine Provinces' Twelve Treasures, as well as the Investiture of the Gods and other treasures, ultimately, it would be futile.
Nevertheless, even though he knew he was edging closer to failure, Tao Qian did not show the slightest panic.
During the process, he also received secret messages from the spies placed among the Alchemists, delivered by Qin Wuxiang:
"For three days, there have been countless disputes among the Alchemists."
"The twelve Emperors, along with their descendants, all due to being scorched and swept by the Human Dao Torrent, entered irritable states, often losing rationality, attacking each other, cannibalizing each other."
"If there could be one strong medicine, might the big plan succeed?"
...
It was knowing these that Tao Qian could hold on.
Although his own state wasn't much better, everything had a price.
He stirred up the Human Dao Torrent to roast that group of old monsters among the Alchemists, and he too was affected by the endless obsessions and prayers.
Additionally, when he obliterated the evil spirits and Demons within the four provinces, initially no price was needed.
Yet, pursuing absolute peace, once an evil spirit revived, or unexplainable strange phenomena reappeared, he immediately used Divine Skills to eliminate them.
As the occurrences increased, gradually a price was needed.
Within these three days, his mind incessantly roared with records.
From the initial "price can be exempted," to later "partially exempted," to recently "cannot be exempted"
Were it not for his peculiar Dharma Body, the Spirit Treasure Sublime Body, alongside his Abnormal Soul, he could have been utterly devoured, ending no better than Uncle Qin Jiao in the past.
Even so, Tao Qian still waited, waiting for the looming change.
He was certain, among them, there was one that could crush the Alchemists.
The fourth day finally arrived.
As the dark sky was melted by the morning's early sun, the first ray of Taiyang light fell on Tao Qian.
Now, Master Tao no longer looked like the "innate divine spirit" of the first day.
His hair was withered, his figure emaciated, his mana frail... anyone seeing him now would form a judgment.
Master Tao was exhausted!
Indeed, it was so.
Every pursuit of cultivation comes at a price!
This is an iron-clad law, inviolable.
Tao Qian's actions in these past few days have not only failed to distance him from cultivation; instead, they have drawn him deeper into it.
Even though Yunrong by his side tirelessly fed him various treasure medicines and spiritual drugs, it was like trying to extinguish a cartload of burning wood with a cup of water—entirely futile.
The two shared a mutual understanding, and she knew she couldn't stop her beloved husband and brother.
Duobao's avatar and the hidden Master Yuan were also aware and could only constantly sigh, "Foolish child, stupid disciple, dumb brother..."
His appearance before the people only intensified the indignation of the mortals across the Seventy-two provinces, yet they also vaguely guessed, "Could this be coming to an end?"
"It's over, even Master Tao has failed, it's been a long time since any Ancestor God Treasure has responded to him to aid him."
"One man's power can never defy a great calamity; Master Tao is indeed a prodigy ordained by heaven, but alone, he could never restore the Ancestor God Forbidden Technique and the Longevity Barrier."
"Is it really going to end like this? Aren't those Divine Treasures supposed to protect the Human Clan? Everyone says Divine Treasures have spirits, so why are they indifferent when the Human Clan calls for help?"
"Master Tao is likely to perish along with his Dao."
"If even such an immortal being can't save the world, who else can?"
"Alas, should the true master perish, we must erect a Longevity Tablet for him and worship for a hundred years."
…
Apart from inciting pity and fury among the people of the Seventy-two provinces with his pitiful state,
Tao Qian's situation also attracted mockery from numerous Demon warlords and the twelve old monsters among the alchemists.
Especially the twelve Emperors, who, amidst their disputes, still had the leisure to insert whispers that polluted the body and soul into Tao Qian's mind.
It seemed an attempt to eliminate this troublesome Spirit Treasure Daoist from afar.
"Little thing... since you came from the Spirit Treasure Sect, how have you not heard of Qin Jiao? He too was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, quickly defeated and met a miserable end."
"Tao Qian, you do have more courage and means than Qin Jiao, at least you knew to coerce us with the momentum... but unfortunately, not only can you not afford the price, it is impossible for one person to gain the recognition of all Ancestor God Treasures. You cannot rebuild the Forbidden Law Barrier, you will only exhaust yourself to death."
"What a pitiful little thief, too deep in his obsession. Just a fool, doomed to throw away his life for nothing."
"I must say, you truly deserve to be the first Talent of the Daoist Sects, considering the price you've paid, you should have died long ago, it really is strange and astonishing."
"Tao Qian, my offer still stands; as long as you submit to me, not only will I grant you marriage, but I will also support you to sit on the Dragon Court throne. If you dislike the imperial system, you can change it as you wish."
These voices, when he was by their side, could not harm him at all as he could exempt himself from all pollutions.
But just now, these filthy imperial tones seemed to transform into millions of tiny ants burrowing into Tao Qian's brain, gnawing wildly.
In a daze, he even vaguely saw parts of these twelve monsters' true forms, greatly intensifying the pollution.
Under Tao Qian's clothes, scales, pustules, rotten flesh, gills, tentacles, bloody mouths, Demon Eyes… appeared in various abnormalities.
Duobao, Master Yuan, and even Yunrong sensed something.
Unfortunately, they couldn't help.
The reason is simple; these voices and pollution were conveyed from within the Human Dao Torrent by the twelve old monsters.
Tao Qian had to endure them, and nobody else could help.
When the twelve monsters saw Tao Qian begin to mutate, knowing he was about to die, they all increased their efforts.
But just at that moment, Tao Qian, now extremely old, suddenly displayed a brilliant smile on his face.
The whole world witnessed this moment.
Then the next moment, they all saw the heavens split open above Master Tao's head.
Accompanied by an incredibly clear cry of the Heavenly Phoenix, a cascade of rosy light spilled across the sky, and countless auspicious clouds drifted by, fully manifesting as the Primordial Heavenly Phoenix personified by Yuann Mingzhen.
From the Outer Realm, she reentered the world.
And revolved around Tao Qian, beginning to dance and cry.
At first, the people of the world thought it was the Devil Concubine, unable to bear seeing her dear brother about to die, artificially creating a "miraculous" Immortal Land.
But soon, each of the spirit mirror crystal balls reflected the book carried in Yuann Mingzhen's mouth.
That book!
Or rather, that ancient Imperial Edict when it appeared.
There was no need for the Divine Ear Sect or the Ting Di Sect to relay it.
Whether it was the mortals from the Seventy-two provinces or the monsters of the Outer Realm.
At that moment, a set of grand divine voices, as if coming from the Ancient Era, echoed in their minds.
They all realized what was happening.
"Phoenix Call in Qiantang! Virtue throughout the world!"
"Master Tao... has he received recognition from the Ancient Three Saint Emperors?"
Without corroborating evidence, the old monsters might have thought it was an illusion.
But soon, they realized it might be true.
Before this, Tao Qian had received artifacts like the Nine State's Twelve Treasures and fragments of the Investiture of the Gods.
But what was truly important, scattered across the Seventy-two provinces, the countless "Star Dust Fragments," had no_NOTICE.htm to Tao Qian.
Obviously because his foundation and strength were insufficient.
But at this moment, as the Heavenly Phoenix carrying the book arrived, and the will of the Three Saint Emperors resounded,
In various provinces, divine lights shone brightly, generating a pulling sensation from each other, and the fragmented forbidden net that Tao Qian had long observed finally showed signs of reassembly.
And the previously triumphant alchemist old monsters were at last completely panicked.
It was also at this time that the second crucially important oppression arrived.
On another side, the Void also suddenly split open a portal.
Missing for several days, "Sui Chaozi," carrying a Divine Mechanism, came from the Outer Realm.