Above the Great Dao

Chapter 1227 572: Ascending to the Heavenly Court, Becoming a Heavenly Soldier

From afar, they sensed the abundant Immortal Energy rushing towards them, invigorating their spirits and dispelling any unease about arriving in the Exotic Realm.

Suddenly, they felt a variety of sacred auras as immense and magnificent buildings flew towards them. They flew past these towering palaces, passing through majestic portals and by enormous Divine presences.

The Divine beings were solemn and austere, staring blankly, seemingly unaware of their presence.

Their speed gradually slowed as they arrived between five jade gates, each landing in different portals.

In the portal with Chen Shi were three others, all looking around curiously.

"I am Xiao Dululu from Mangzhou. May I ask how to address you, young brother?" said a young Immortal beside him, bowing slightly.

"Chen Shi from West Bull New Continent." Chen Shi returned the courtesy.

He was puzzled: "This Xiao Dululu from Mangzhou is also speaking the official language of the Great Ming!"

Before he could figure out the reason, another woman smiled and said, "My name is Bai Fangfang, from Yuanzhou."

Chen Shi felt even more puzzled, as Bai Fangfang was also speaking the official language of the Great Ming, though with a slight accent.

Moreover, observing the attire of these two, although not the same as the Great Ming, it was evident that they were from the same lineage of the Huaxia Divine Continent.

"Could Mangzhou and Yuanzhou both originate from the lineage of the Huaxia Divine Continent?"

He voiced his doubts, and Bai Fangfang replied with a smile: "Are you referring to the Ancestor Continent?"

"Ancestor Continent?"

Bai Fangfang saw his confusion and explained, "The Earth Immortal Realm governs many worlds, large and small, most of which are populated by people from the Ancestor Continent. They ascended with the Haotian Heavenly Court, migrating from the Ancestor Continent and flourishing everywhere. Naturally, they speak the same language and write the same characters."

Chen Shi suddenly understood, and immediately felt much closer to these people.

"What a magnificent black dog!"

Xiao Dululu squatted beside Black Pot, looking up and asking, "It doesn't bite, does it?"

Chen Shi explained, "This is my brother, Black Pot. It doesn't bite."

Xiao Dululu extended his finger, waving it near Black Pot's mouth, poking its snout, and said with a laugh, "Indeed, it doesn't bite... Bite! Bite!"

Black Pot caught his finger and refused to let go. The more Xiao Dululu struggled, the harder it bit.

Chen Shi advised, "Brother Xiao, if you don't provoke it, it won't bite. But if you provoke it further, it can stand up and hit too."

Black Pot released its grip, and Xiao Dululu quickly retrieved his finger, relieved to find his skin unbroken.

Bai Fangfang laughed and remarked, "Mr. Chen, your cultivation is impressive, being able to take such a large black dog with you during ascension. For other Immortals, once they ascend near the Earth Immortal Realm, the power of the Ascending Rosy Clouds would be exhausted."

Chen Shi humbly replied, "It's not me who's formidable, it's my brother Black Pot. It has already crossed the Heavenly Tribulation, and it was it who brought me to the Earth Immortal Realm this time."

Both of them were startled, looking incredulous.

At this moment, an Immortal Official approached and said, "Newly ascended Immortals, although you have ascended from the Lower Realm and achieved the Immortal Dao, your bodies still bear the filth of the Lower Realm, and your Dao Hearts have not yet been cleansed of motes. You cannot yet be considered free of dust and dirt. You must first bathe in the Yao Guang Pool to wash away the mundane filth! Follow me."

As he spoke, he suddenly froze, staring blankly at Black Pot beside Chen Shi, mumbling, "It looks alike, very much alike... like the black dog on the list, without a single hair out of color."

Black Pot smiled and wagged its tail at him.

The Immortal Official calmed his racing heart, convincing himself, "Dogs look alike. The dog on the Immortal Slaying List is a rogue rampant in the Earth Immortal Realm; this one is newly ascended to the Upper Realm, so they can't be the same dog. Its outfit and style being identical to the one on the list are likely just coincidences."

Despite his surprise, he didn't dwell on it. There were quite a few Immortals who ascended with cats and dogs; as long as their cultivation was strong, even taking a whole household in ascension wasn't impossible.

He led these Immortals to the Yao Guang Pool, which was formed by condensed Immortal Energy. Although called a pool, it was larger than a lake and could be described as a vast sea!

As they stepped into the Yao Guang Pool, they immediately felt the Immortal Energy permeate, drilling into their bodies, nourishing their hair, skin, and internal organs. Even their Primordial Spirits felt as though they were soaking in a mother's womb, indescribably comfortable.

Bai Fangfang murmured, "Before I ascended, I saved up three years worth of Immortal Light and Immortal Energy, reluctant to use it. Who would have thought that in the Earth Immortal Realm, it's used for bathing."

Xiao Dululu was also helpless, saying, "The Immortal Light and Immortal Energy I gained after crossing the tribulation is less than what I consumed in the pool today!"

"The Mortal World and the Earth Immortal Realm are naturally very different."

The Immortal Official laughed, "In the Mortal World, people find Immortal Energy hard to come by, but for cultivators in the Earth Immortal Realm, it's merely essential Spiritual Energy for cultivation. However, this Yao Guang Pool is a Heavenly Dao Treasure, the Immortal Qi Spirit Liquid within is extraordinary, containing the Heavenly Dao. Other Immortals cannot have the opportunity to bathe in Immortal Qi Spirit Liquid. Only newly ascended Immortals get this chance, which is the Jade Emperor's grace."

Chen Shi soaked in the Yao Guang Pool for a while with the black pot and found no effect, looking at each other helplessly.

Over the past two years, they had taken various Immortal Elixirs, and their bodies were already free of impurities. Their physical bodies were filled with the powers of various Immortal Pills, making them walking human-shaped and dog-shaped Immortal Pills.

The black pot lifted up some Immortal Qi Spirit Liquid, rubbing its body, intending to wash a bit.

Xiao Dululu was about to drink the Immortal Qi Spirit Liquid, but when he saw this, he hesitated, not daring to drink anymore.

Bai Fangfang took out a White Jade Cup, filled it with Immortal Qi Spirit Liquid, and was sipping lightly from it. Seeing this, she almost spat out the Immortal Qi Spirit Liquid.

Chen Shi also knew it was inappropriate, and quietly nudged the black pot. The black pot understood and came behind him, planning to rub his back.

Chen Shi stopped it quickly, whispering, "Others want to drink too."

The black pot realized, casting an apologetic look at Xiao, Bai, and the others. The Immortals glanced at it and forgave it.

Once the Yao Guang Pool's refining was done, they came ashore, and the Immortal Official said, "After using the Yao Guang Pool, according to the Heavenly Court's rules, you must serve as Heavenly Soldiers for ten years before you can retire."

Everyone looked bewildered, serving as Heavenly Soldiers after ascending?

The Immortal Official laughed, "Being Heavenly Soldiers in the Heavenly Court has many benefits: there's a monthly salary, as well as Immortal Spirit Pills and Immortal Qi Spirit Liquid. Additionally, you can receive Immortal Artifacts and cultivation technique inheritances. Other Immortals also support each other, isn't it wonderful? If you leave the Heavenly Court, you'll be alone and can only rely on those Immortal Monarchs who govern the Immortal Realm; otherwise, you'll be Independent Immortals without a place to stand."

Bai Fangfang asked, "Can we not do it?"

The Immortal Official's face darkened slightly, and mighty Divine beings leaned downwards, letting out a hum, the divine power shook their Qi-Blood.

The Immortal Official smiled, "Serving as Heavenly Soldiers is at least a public position; many Independent Immortals outside envy your good origins. If you choose not to serve, you can simply repay the Heavenly Court for polluting the Immortal Qi Spirit Liquid, and we can be even."

Chen Shi glanced around, considering the possibility of escaping the Heavenly Court. Suddenly, a newly ascended Immortal called out from afar, transformed into a stream of Immortal Light, and escaped. However, he hadn't flown far when suddenly a Divine spread five fingers open, generating an immense space in the palm, Sun, Moon, and Stars rapidly forming, enveloping that Immortal.

The Immortal flew within his hand for half a while, exhausted and gasping, but couldn't fly out of the coverage of the five fingers.

The Divine tossed him downwards, Five Elements Qi suppressed him motionlessly, he could only cry out, "I am willing to serve as a Heavenly Soldier!"

Chen Shi gave up the idea of escaping, knowing he might avoid the suppression of Five Elements Qi, but couldn't escape the world in the Divine's palm.

"Staying in the Heavenly Court isn't bad; with the identity of a Heavenly Court Heavenly Soldier, finding grandpa and Chen Tang will be easier," he thought to himself.

At this time, an Immortal who ascended with Chen Shi stepped forward and said, "My ancestor is Ba Zhenru, Ba Immortal Monarch."

"Ah, so you're the descendant of Ba Immortal Monarch."

The Immortal Official politely said, "Sorry to trouble Ba Young Master to stay in the Heavenly Court for a few days, wait until Ba Immortal Monarch sends someone to greet you, then it's not too late to leave. Ba Young Master, this way please!"

Ba Young Master followed him away.

"Others, come this way to receive your Immortal Artifacts, Armor, and Cultivation Techniques," an Immortal Official called.

Chen Shi and the others followed the Immortal Official, whispering, "Sister Bai, coming to the Heavenly Court to be Heavenly Soldiers, can we ride high and act mighty?"

Ruling over the people governed by the Heavenly Court seems not bad.

"Act mighty?"

Bai Fangfang sneered, "That's daydreaming! We Heavenly Soldiers and Generals are just small fry. When encountering rebellious Demon Kings and Demon Monarchs, we're the cannon fodder leading the charge. Once there was a Demon King claiming to be the Great Sage Equalling Heaven who rebelled, the Heavenly Court sent out a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals to quell him, most of whom were ascenders like us."

Xiao Dululu leaned over and said, "I've heard that a few years ago, a Demon Monarch near the Dark Sea encountered the Heavenly Court, swallowing a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers in one gulp!"