Sovereign of the Ashes

The fact that the Magus Civilization had sent envoys to the Daoist faction of the Immortal Realm was impossible to hide from the other powers.

Among them, the Buddhist faction was the most eager.

While Chan Sect was still playing its cards close to its chest, hoping to squeeze more benefits out of the Magus Civilization’s war alliance, the Buddhist faction was practically throwing itself at them, just like the Dragon Clan!

Those baldies in the Buddhist faction were certainly cunning.

They had clearly seen the immense benefits hidden within the Magus Civilization’s war.

Although the Amenkha Empire was powerful, one must not forget what the Buddhist faction specialized in.

Aside from light-based attacks, the Buddhist faction was also among the best at countering creatures of darkness, death, and other negative attributes.

In other words, the Buddhist faction was practically the natural enemy of the Amenkha Empire.

Unfortunately, the Magus Civilization had not sent an envoy directly to the Buddhist faction.

Within the Great Thunderclap Monastery of the Western Paradise World, the majestic Thus-Come Buddha ultimately dispatched the Dragon-Subduing Arhat and the Tiger-Taming Arhat to take the initiative and approach the Magus Civilization’s envoys.[1]

Previously, it had been the Magus Civilization’s envoys who took the initiative to contact the Daoist sages.

Now, however, it was the Buddhist sage-level powerhouses who had come looking for the Magus Civilization’s envoys instead.

The stark contrast between the two situations made one thing clear—the rise of the Buddhist faction was no coincidence!

***

In Nuwa Palace of the Yao Clan...

Although the reputation of the Eight Great Sages had grown increasingly prominent within the Immortal Realm Civilization over the past hundred thousand years, the true orthodox representative of the Yao Clan in the Immortal Realm was still Nuwa Palace.

In the eyes of countless Yao Clan members throughout the Immortal Realm, Sage Nuwa held a status no one else could match.[2]

After learning that several Great Sages were preparing to intervene in the war, Sage Nuwa remained relatively calm.

While she also maintained an excellent relationship with the Magus Civilization, she had no intention of calling upon the Yao Clan forces under her command to join this war.

The Clash of Civilizations might bring enormous resource gains, but Sage Nuwa cared far more about the balance and stability of the Immortal Realm.

Inside Nuwa Palace, Sage Nuwa said to her attendant, Qingluan, “Joining the Magus Civilization’s war is an excellent way for our Immortal Realm to divert its internal conflicts. Senior Brother Zhunti and Senior Brother Yuanshi must have realized this as well.”[3]

“It is enough for Wukong and his group to represent part of the Yao Clan in this conflict. My duty remains to fulfill the Dao Ancestor’s mission and maintain the stability of Primordial Land and the Immortal Realm,” she concluded.[4]

Although Qingluan was Sage Nuwa’s attendant, she herself possessed Rank Seven strength. Moreover, as a member of the Phoenix Clan, she belonged to the same generation as the Golden Spirit Holy Mother.

Qingluan could not help but remark, “Ever since establishing the Celestial Demon Imperial Court, Dao Lord Luya has been eager to wage wars beyond our borders and expand the Yao Clan’s influence.”

“In this Magus Civilization war, Dao Lord Luya may have his own opinion,” she added.

“Luya wishes to restore the Ancient Yao Court to its former glory. It is a noble ambition, so let him do as he wishes. With the Chaos Bell by his side, he should be safe,” Sage Nuwa replied.

***

Nether Blood Sea World...

The surging sea of blood churned violently, raising waves tens of thousands of meters high.

At the very center of this world stood a cluster of towering palaces.

The Asura Clan, having migrated from Primordial World, now thrived and multiplied within this realm.

At the very heart of the Blood Sea, a striking Twelfth-Grade Karmic Fire Lotus stood out vividly.

Upon the lotus, a red-haired sage slowly opened his eyes.

“Ancestor, should the Asura Clan participate in the Magus Civilization’s war?” the Asura King stepped forward and asked.

The red-haired sage gazed beyond the Blood Sea World and remained silent for a long time.

***

Five Villages Temple.

Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi, the Ancestor of Earthly Immortals, was also discussing the Magus Civilization’s war with several renowned rogue cultivators from the Immortal Realm.

The war involving the Magus Civilization, the Gallant Federation, and the Amenkha Empire had drawn the attention of many civilizations and top-tier powerhouses.

With the arrival of the Magus Civilization’s diplomatic delegation in the Immortal Realm, powerful undercurrents had begun to stir beneath the surface of this seemingly peaceful civilization.

***

Outside Primordial World, within the Palace of Eight Views.

As the current strongest being of Primordial World and the guardian of its civilizational heritage, Laozi stood before the Eight Trigrams Array, gazing at the civilizational treasure before him—the Heavenly Dao Sword.

His brow was deeply furrowed as he fell into long contemplation.

“Over the past hundred thousand years, the overall concentration of elements in the Astral Realm has risen, and the laws have loosened. The Immortal Realm has also entered an era of unprecedented prosperity. But behind this flourishing prosperity, could it mean that a crisis is approaching?” he wondered aloud.

“The unprecedented great calamity that Master mentioned before leaving the Astral Realm...” Laozi murmured.

Before long, he summoned his only direct disciple, Xuandu.

Xuandu had inherited Laozi’s most orthodox Daoist lineage. Whether in temperament or in the immortal arts he cultivated, he was almost identical to Laozi, as though he were the very embodiment of Laozi’s will.

In appearance, both Laozi and Xuandu were white-haired old men.

Both also carried an ethereal, otherworldly aura.

Within the Immortal Realm Civilization, they were mysterious beings who might not appear even once in a hundred thousand years.

“Have there been any unusual rumors or abnormal events among the major factions of the Immortal Realm recently?” Laozi asked.

“Aside from the Magus Civilization seeking aid from our Immortal Realm, this disciple has not heard of anything unusual,” Xuandu replied respectfully.

Upon hearing this, Laozi’s brow furrowed even more deeply.

With a wave of his sleeve, he dismissed Xuandu and made his way to the meditation room within the Palace of Eight Views.

A dark gray, ancient-looking geomantic compass appeared in front of Laozi.

He was about to perform a divination.

The divination arts of the Immortal Realm Civilization were no less profound than the astrology of the Magus Civilization.

However, for divination of such an obscure nature, not only would the process take an extremely long time, but the price paid could also be immense, depending on the result.

A long while later, Laozi looked at the divination result before him.

The wrinkles on his forehead deepened.

***

The Kales Star Domain...

The conquest of this small star domain went just as smoothly as Sein had expected.

The Rank Five God of Black Mist was no match for Sein and his forces.

In fact, the guy could not even flee.

Faced with the overwhelming might of Sein’s army, the God of Black Mist quickly realized he could not hold out. So, with remarkable decisiveness, he chose to surrender.

Due to his extensive dealings with the Gallant Federation across various sectors, as well as the many second and third-rate federal factories located within the Kales Star Domain, the God of Black Mist and his followers had not been implanted with many of the federation’s restrictive technological devices.

In a way, this had already laid the groundwork for the God of Black Mist and his followers to turn against the federation.

“What? I only took out one Rank Four being, and they are already shaking in their boots?” Belphane muttered in frustration, her maces still smeared with thick brain matter and blood.

This Rank Six knight was truly fierce and formidable.

After Sein broke through the planar barrier of Black Mist World, Belphane charged ahead. In just a few moments, she had already slain a Rank Four deity of the Kales Star Domain.

Originally, the God of Black Mist and his followers had only planned to put on a show of resistance before quickly retreating.

However, they had never expected the hostile legion invading the Kales Star Domain this time to include two Rank Six beings!

Even Sein, who had breached Black Mist World’s planar barrier with a forbidden spell from beyond the plane, brought immense pressure and shock to the God of Black Mist!

What exactly has our Black Mist World done to deserve such an outrageously powerful enemy force? The God of Black Mist thought bitterly.

Translator’s Notes:

1. The "Western Paradise" (Sukhavati) is a blissful heavenly realm in Mahayana Buddhism presided over by Amitabha Buddha. Devotees aspire to be reborn there to achieve ultimate peace, enlightenment, and freedom from suffering.

In Buddhism, a Luohan or Arhat is one who has gained insight into the nature of existence, has achieved nirvana, and has been liberated from the endless cycle of rebirth. The Dragon-Subduing Arhat and the Tiger-Taming Arhat are two of the most revered figures among the Eighteen Arhats in Chinese Buddhism. They represent the mastery of spiritual strength over chaotic forces and symbolize protection, inner discipline, and the harmony between humanity and nature. ☜

2. Nuwa is a mother goddess in Chinese folk religion, Chinese Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. She is credited with creating humanity by molding humans individually by hand with yellow clay and repairing the Pillar of Heaven. ☜

3. Fun Fact: Qingluan, often translated as the Azure Phoenix or Green Luan, is a divine, mythical bird in Chinese mythology. Closely related to the Phoenix, it is known for its shimmering, iridescent blue-green plumage. ☜

4. Sun Wukong (The Monkey King) is a legendary Chinese mythological figure from the 16th-century epic Journey to the West. Known for his superhuman strength, shapeshifting abilities, and magic staff. ☜

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