The words "Purgatory of Death" were uttered, and a chorus of wails rose from below.
Just as the Living Mountain had its Living Purgatory, the Dead Mountain had its Purgatory of Death.
It was extremely dangerous.
In the past year and more, many had perished within.
Though the purgatory was perilous, the rewards were immense.
To emerge from the brink of death was to gain immeasurable benefits.
Fu Yu returned to the grand hall, occupied by only himself, yet his divine sense constantly drifted towards the Living Mountain.
"Ascending to heaven."
He truly envied them.
Once someone succeeded in ascending from the Living Mountain, their standing in the Realm Master's heart would undoubtedly increase.
Alas…
"Sigh."
Fu Yu sighed.
Qi'er was a promising talent, exceptionally gifted.
Unfortunately, she had been snatched away by that old scoundrel, Bi Tian, and today… was the day Qi'er would ascend.
…
The entire lower realm was focused on Qi'er's ascension.
Everyone knew that the Heavenly Realm was the abode of gods, where gods truly resided.
When these billions of beings were transported here by divine means in ages past, no one had forgotten. The event was etched deeply in their hearts like a brand.
Qi'er stepped onto the Cloud Ladder.
"Da da da."
Her footsteps were crisp and incredibly firm.
She ascended step by step towards heaven.
…
Meanwhile, in the so-called Heavenly Realm.
In Sword City, the Immortal Emperor opened his eyes.
This city was the sole passage between the upper and lower realms.
Only through Sword City could one enter the upper realm, the Great Dao Universe.
"Interesting."
The Immortal Emperor's lips curled upwards.
With nothing else to do, it was good to have someone ascending.
Chen Fan also sensed the appearance of the Heavenly Ladder but did not open his eyes.
After a moment of contemplation, he transmitted a message: "Huo Xing, go and see…"
Huo Xing, formerly a lone cultivator from the Eastern Continent of the Immortal Realm.
He had been ordered by the City Lord to enter the Mad Realm to search for news of the Spatial Boots.
Later, he entered the Life and Death Realm, and in these years, he had finally reached the Emperor Venerable realm.
Though only a first-tier Emperor Venerable, his status in the Life and Death Realm was not low.
"Yes."
Huo Xing exited the great star and entered Sword City.
He cupped his fists and bowed to the Immortal Emperor: "Senior."
The Immortal Emperor did not respond at all.
…
On the other side.
The Heavenly Ladder was filled with surging winds and clouds.
Boundless pressure spread, suppressing the Cloud Ladder.
Ninety-nine steps, each leading upwards towards the heavens.
Every moment, one had to endure immense pressure.
Not the pressure of Emperor Venerables, but the pressure of life and death.
"Wow."
At the ninety-first step, Qi'er coughed up blood.
The steps ahead seemed like the gaping maw of a demon.
A sense of crisis, inexplicably surfacing in her heart, made her feel the aura of death.
Yet, Qi'er did not stop.
She continued upwards…
Ninety-nine steps.
By the time she stepped onto the final step, she was already covered in wounds.
The boundless sea of clouds dispersed, revealing a city filled with ancient and weathered charm.
"We've arrived, finally arrived."
Qi'er felt like crying.
Finally, she would see her benefactor.
The city was solemn, its towering walls bearing numerous scars.
Above the ancient city gate, the words "Sword City" were carved.
Creak.
Suddenly, the city gate swung open outwards.
Qi'er dared not blink, fearing she might miss something.
"Da."
Footsteps sounded from within the city.
Into Qi'er's sight, a figure radiating infinite pressure slowly emerged.
"A woman?" Qi'er blinked in surprise.
Huo Xing also had a smile on his face, her smile blooming: "Welcome to the ascension."
There was no grand welcoming ceremony; there was only… tranquility.
But the pervasive aura of the Great Dao made Qi'er feel as if she were in paradise.
She was already a Half-Emperor and could sense the pervasive Great Dao all around.
Qi'er bowed her waist, performing a deep bow: "Lu Qi from the lower realm, greets Senior…"
Respectfully.
"So well-behaved."
Huo Xing smiled heartily.
She welcomed Lu Qi into the vast and empty Sword City.
At a glance, it was desolate and uninhabited.
"Senior, why is no one here…"
What Lu Qi wanted to see most was the Lord of this realm.
The term "Realm Master" occasionally heard from Dao Master Bi Tian.
Huo Xing looked up at the great stars suspended on the Dao Net and said, "They are all cultivating there."
Lu Qi was shocked.
Huo Xing smiled calmly: "As a Half-Emperor, you are also qualified to choose a star that resonates with your Great Dao and cultivate within…"
"I want to see…"
"No hurry."
Huo Xing waved her hand: "You will have the chance to see them. What you need to do now is connect to the Dao Star."
Whoosh.
Hearing this, Lu Qi no longer insisted.
"Come."
They reached the central area of Sword City, where simple thatched huts were located.
Huo Xing pointed to the huts: "Choose any one, enter, and cultivate in seclusion. When the Dao rhyme appears, you will naturally be able to connect to the great star…"
Lu Qi did not hesitate and walked directly inside.
Huo Xing did not leave…
Moments later!
"Boom."
From the depths of the Dao Net, a gray great star flew out.
The dim great star did not fall. After flying out from the depths, it settled onto the Dao Net, a single thread connecting to the thatched hut.
Inside the hut, Huo Xing's eyes snapped open.
"Rise."
Without a word, his intent was clear.
Lu Qi instantly understood what to do.
Following the thread, she walked step by step towards the great star and entered it.
Swish.
Within the Dao Net, Chen Fan's eyes suddenly opened.
His gaze fell upon the newly appeared star.
The next moment, his figure vanished and reappeared before the star.
Inside the star, Lu Qi was about to cultivate when the sudden appearance of a figure startled her.
The figure appearing suddenly made Lu Qi jump.
But immediately, she knelt down: "Lu Qi, greets Benefactor…"
Her thoughts had not yet caught up.
Guided by the Great Dao, she immediately understood the identity of the person who had arrived.
"No need for this."
Chen Fan raised his hand, preventing her from kneeling.
Then he spoke: "What is your Dao?"
This was the primary reason for his appearance.
"Assimilation."
This was the Great Dao Lu Qi had named herself.
In the lower realm, no one else had cultivated this path.
It was known that there were thousands of Great Daos, varying in strength.
Each person's constitution was different, and their cultivation process varied, leading to different Great Daos they could comprehend.
In the beginning, Lu Qi did not understand her own Dao. It was only when she connected to the great star that she understood.
Assimilation.
This Great Dao, simply put, was one that could fuse with other Great Daos.
Every Great Dao was independent, especially the Great Daos of Yin and Yang.
This was why Chen Fan, a practitioner of the Life and Death two extremes Great Dao, was so powerful.
Because this path was incredibly difficult to tread.
But Lu Qi's path was interesting; it could attach itself to other Great Daos and gradually fuse.
"Assimilation?"
Chen Fan pondered and said, "A very good Dao."
He also felt a touch of emotion, Assimilation… perhaps more suitable than Mimicry.
"As expected…"
Chen Fan couldn't help but sigh, "Whatever I need, it comes. Tsk tsk… I'm really lucky."
After all, Zhao Kai had been searching outside for a year.
Not only Zhao Kai, but in this period, many Emperor Venerables from the Life and Death Realm had left their territories, venturing out to search for the Mimicry Great Dao.
There was no alternative; the Life and Death Realm desperately needed this Great Dao. Since they did not possess it themselves, they could only hope others did.
Over the past year, several small worlds had been discovered, and even… many Emperor Palaces.
Unfortunately, none of them were the Path of Mimicry.
Zhao Kai and the others also had no intention of conquering worlds once they found them.
They were all humans, with no enmity, and truly could not bring themselves to do it.