NOVEL WEB Chapter 462: Title
"Indeed, without Integrating Dao, aspiring to become a Human Immortal is almost an impossible feat," Alkaid remarked.
The supreme Dao Artifacts had already transcended ordinary Dao Artifacts and Superior Dao Artifacts, equating to a projection of the Great Dao.
However, the power of just the Great Dao projection was clearly not enough.
To tread the path of a Human Immortal successfully, one must possess the Power of the Great Dao that belongs entirely to oneself.
Relying on a path sculpted from such projections is akin to the moon's reflection in a mirror or the ephemeral blossom in water, a castle in the air that's utterly impractical.
So much so that even attempting to pour all his essence, energy, and spirit into the three supreme Dao Artifacts was an unattainable endeavor.
At best, he could utilize the three supreme Dao Artifacts and the unique traits of the Human Immortal's path to significantly enhance his essence, energy, and spirit.
"One cannot ascend to the heavens in a single step, but this is within expectations. Furthermore, the method by which my essence, energy, and spirit are augmented by the three supreme Dao Artifacts involves integrating them into the Great Dao projection, allowing me almost the same ease as Integrating Dao when mobilizing the Power of the Great Dao... Although it's merely the power of a projection, the manner of controlling the Great Dao has already become utterly different..."
Alkaid reflected on his own changes and the three radiantly shining supreme Dao Artifacts within his body, feeling touched.
Previously, when Cultivators wished to evoke the Power of the Great Dao, they completely relied on Dao Techniques to do so.
But now...
They could make direct contact.
This difference was like that between text messaging and video chatting.
Moving up...
Would be meeting the True Person.
Lost in thought, Alkaid took out a Jade Talisman and conveyed a message, "It's about time."
Soon, a reply came from Penglai Dao Lord, "I estimate that in another half a year, Jun Tian Dao Lord will arrive. You should send your message now, otherwise it will be too late."
Alkaid smiled, "Next, we'll proceed according to the plan. The supreme Dao Artifact I'm helping you refine is reaching a critical phase; it cannot be disturbed by any force. And to minimize such disturbances, you plan to strike at every force that might attack Heavenly Dao Sect..."
"Let's go with Hei Yue Demon Venerable," Penglai Dao Lord chose a collaborator. "The reason your Southern Region ceased its assault on the Yin Moon Sect was due to the fear of this Demon Venerable's power and the concern that he might unscrupulously target you. And not long ago, this Demon Venerable also participated in my attempted encirclement, making him the most suitable opponent."
Speaking of which, her divine sense waved with ease, "Of course, the Hei Yue Demon Venerable is adept at preserving life. He won't botch the play, and similarly, this Demon Venerable isn't skilled in direct combat. So when Unforbidden Dao Lord shows up and I need to withdraw, it'll be a breeze."
"Good."
Alkaid nodded, "Do as you see fit, Dao Lord."
As he spoke, he added with a chuckle, "Want to test my current level and see if I can withstand Unforbidden Dao Lord for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea?"
"Forget it, I still have some faith in you. After all, the greatest risk in this matter lies with you. At most, I am doing something I had planned to do anyway. Even if something goes wrong on your end, it would only be a wasted effort for me," Penglai Dao Lord didn't insist.
Though they got along well, a sense of boundaries was still necessary.
"Then I appreciate your trust, Dao Lord. I'll now adjust my state and get ready for the final moment," Alkaid said.
"Alright."
Penglai Dao Lord replied with a single word, then vanished.
Alkaid sent a message to Zhen Xuanyuan, who had returned to Heavenly Dao Sect, "Is everything ready for the arrival of Jun Tian Dao Lord?"
"All preparations have been made. Once Dao Lord arrives, everything will be set in motion. We will certainly show Dao Lord the respect and support of Heavenly Dao Sect," Zhen Xuanyuan immediately responded.
"Then that's settled. We will set off when the time comes," Alkaid said.
"Yes."
Zhen Xuanyuan replied again.
However, as he sensed Alkaid was about to end the communication, he said with some worry, "Sect Leader, are we really going to meet him in the Extraterritorial Starry Sky?"
"The other major powers are all holding corresponding welcome ceremonies. Some forces are going even further than Heavenly Dao Sect. If we don't show our stance, what will Dao Lord think of us? How will other forces perceive us?" Alkaid replied, issuing a direct command, "Carry it out."
"Sect Leader, your situation is somewhat different..."
"I know what you want to say, but you're overthinking it," Alkaid said confidently. "The precedent of Abyssal Ruins Dao Lord's downfall is before our eyes. Who would dare act recklessly without considering the possibility of following in Abyssal Ruins Dao Lord's footsteps? Moreover, the journey to welcome him is actually less than half an hour, especially with the presence of the other four great Dao Lords. Which miscreant would be audacious enough to target me at such a moment? Wouldn't that be a direct affront to the five great Dao Lords?"
Upon hearing this, Zhen Xuanyuan felt reassured.
Thinking it over carefully, he felt he might have placed too much importance on Alkaid.
Even if a Dao Lord did decide to take action, it would be against the Artifact Sage behind Alkaid. Alkaid himself...
...didn't have the significance to provoke a Dao Lord to offend the other five great Dao Lords at a critical juncture in the Dao conflict!
As for Alkaid's prodigious talents, the future possibility of becoming a Void Dao Lord...
That was a matter for the future.
Even the most prodigiously talented Shattered Void individuals faced death nine times out of ten on their road to Integrating Dao.
On the historical list of Dao Lord candidates, even those ranked first had at most a one in ten chance of becoming a Dao Lord, let alone those ranked second or third.
While Dao Lords who envied talents wouldn't hesitate to eliminate an exceptionally gifted Shattered Void individual if it were convenient, they wouldn't risk immense danger to attack such an individual...
Nine out of ten would halt and not proceed.
At that moment, Zhen Xuanyuan dismissed the excess worry in his heart and immediately said, "I'll make the final preparations. I won't let anything go wrong with this reception."
"Proceed," Alkaid commanded with a single word, ending the communication.
Sitting in Abandoned Heaven Valley, he looked around at his surroundings.
And at the same time...
...he examined himself.
"Unknowingly, I've reached the age of two hundred," he mused softly.
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Despite spending at least half of these two hundred years forging several top-tier Dao Artifacts, nevertheless...
the fact remains that he had been cultivating for over two hundred years.
It took Penglai Dao Lord two hundred years to reach the Shattered Void Realm.
And him...
still in the Shattered Void Realm after two hundred years.
In this regard, while his talent may be superior to Penglai Dao Lord's, he yet remained on the same level.
Fortunately...
"Finally... the last moment is approaching, whether I can step into a more vast world depends on this time,"
Alkaid said softly.
After a while, he uttered, "Fenghua, Yaoxue."
"Sect Leader."
The figures of Tang Fenghua and Su Yaoxue appeared one after another.
Alkaid's gaze fell upon the two.
With Alkaid's casual help over the years, Tang Fenghua had also broken through to the Hollow Void Realm.
However, he had never joined the Heavenly Dao Sect, nor had he become a True Disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect, so he couldn't enjoy the treatment of a Junior Sect Leader.
As for Su Yaoxue...
Alkaid looked her over carefully and nodded slightly, "Not bad, your Refining Void Realm has stabilized."
"All thanks to the teachings of the Sect Leader and the Dao Lord."
Su Yaoxue bowed.
As soon as Su Yaoxue broke through to the Hollow Void Realm, Alkaid began to instruct her in her cultivation personally.
During the previous period, when he and Penglai Dao Lord were forging the two top-tier Dao Artifacts, the Eight Desolates Mirror and the Ends of the Earth Map, this Dao Lord also spared no effort in giving her guidance.
Thus, six years after advancing to the Hollow Void Realm, she stepped into the Void Refinement Realm again after eighty-two years.
Alkaid accepted the bow from Su Yaoxue.
After all...
Without his and Penglai Dao Lord's guidance, with her talents and comprehension, she truly wouldn't have been able to break through to the Void Refinement Realm in such a short time.
Even with an abundance of resources, this time would need to increase tenfold.
If she had to earn resources like other cultivators in the Refining Void...
It would be questionable whether she could break through to the Void Refinement Realm in her lifetime.
"The leap from the Refining Void Realm to the Shattered Void Realm demands less in terms of realm comprehension but more in resources. In terms of resources, I have prepared everything for you, Yaoyu will hand them over to you when the time comes, for other aspects, you'll have to rely on yourself,"
Alkaid instructed.
"Thank you, Sect Leader."
Su Yaoxue bowed again.
"Sect Leader..."
On hearing this title,
Alkaid mused for a moment and then said, "You can, like Yaoyu, call me by my name."
Su Yaoxue was startled, as a surge of intense emotional fluctuation emerged in her calm and rational eyes.
Tang Fenghua, standing aside, glanced at her, his eyes brimming with envy.
In the current era, with Alkaid's continuously rising status, only two people remained entitled to call him by his name.
One was Su Yaoyu.
The other was Li Hanqiu.
Even to preserve Alkaid's dignity as the leader of the Heavenly Dao Sect, in many public settings, Li Hanqiu referred to Alkaid as "Sect Leader."
The fact that Su Yaoxue had earned the right to address Alkaid by name undoubtedly proved...
she had completely gained Alkaid's recognition.
After her emotions fluctuated for a good while, Su Yaoxue finally said, "Alkaid."
"Mhm."
Alkaid nodded, "After so many years of cultivation, you haven't slackened for a moment and might be overworking yourself. I'll give you a year's leave, go and spend quality time with Yaoyu, as well as Yaoshuang and Yaoqin."
Yet Su Yaoxue immediately asked, "Are you going too?"
Alkaid instinctively wanted to refuse.
However, upon seeing a hint of longing in Su Yaoxue's eyes, he hesitated.
After a while, Alkaid said, "It seems I haven't been back to the Southern Capital for a while..."
He looked up, "Then let's go and see how the Nine Cauldrons Sect has developed."
As he said this, he chuckled lightly, "I remember that over the recent decades, several of the core seeds of the Nine Cauldrons Sect have broken through to the Hollow Void Realm, right?"
"Yes, Lin Xia, Xu Nianhua, Shen Qinglian, and Sect Leader Li..."
Su Yaoxue responded.
Where some succeed, others fail.
Leng Jun, Huang Tianhao, and Lou Yuyu all fell on their path to achieving the Hollow Void Realm.
Lou Yuyu was fortunate enough to switch to cultivating as a Hollow Void War Immortal, getting a chance to recover, but Leng Jun and Huang Tianhao were utterly annihilated.
Even with the best cultivation techniques from Alkaid and resources enough to let each of them accumulate to the peak of the Deep Blue Golden Core, failure and death were still inevitable.
"Let's go, let's visit the Nine Cauldrons Sect and those old acquaintances."
Alkaid said.
After this meeting, the status of each party...
shall be as different as heaven and earth.
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