Elder He appeared in the Battle Spirit World, and just as he quietly left, no one knew or detected his return. Without pause, he went to see the Three Elder Council.
“Ancestor, how did it go?” hurriedly asked Patriarch He.
“The mission failed,” Elder He replied calmly.
“Even you could not break through their protective array?”
“I didn’t get a chance. It appeared the upper dimension intervened and helped the Dao Opening Sect acquires Eternal Strength as protection.”
“What?” Patriarch He did not expect this outcome. Meanwhile, Patriarch Jia sighed softly,” Isn’t this the reason we never directly destroy them during their weakened state? Fear of their ancestors in the upper dimension.”
“Maybe we should have been bolder and more direct when the lower dimension was sealed,” added the Disciplinary,
Elder He listened to these people’s conversation and could not help secretly shake his head.
‘This generation’s leader is a little mediocre.’ He agreed the sect needed to interfere with the Myriad Emperor World and the Dao Opening Sect, but he would never agree with a direct Emperor Dao War.
The Spirit Genesis Sect would definitely win the war, but the injury they would suffer in the process would be severe. And if the Dao Opening Sect decides to destroy all their resources before they are eradicated, then the victory would not even be worth it.
“What should we do now? Ask Ancestor Jia?” asked Patriarch He.
“Leave him to heal his injuries,” disagreed Elder He.
Then, we can ask other factions to send Immortal Sovereigns.”
“We may have to pay a steep price, but now, the Dao Opening Sect is a genuine threat, so let’s not hesitate,” stated Patriarch Jia.
“I agree.”
“We can’t,” said Elder He.
“Why?”
“Our actions are already a direct interference of the Heaven Will Battle, and if not for its protection, even the lower dimension sealing would protect us from True Heavenly Dao. Any more direct attack will have severe consequences.”
“That’s true. The other factions do not have protections and won’t be willing to take the risk, no matter the price we offer.”
“Is there anything we can do? I don’t want to leave things like this,” stated Patriarch He, looking at his ancestor for guidance.
“Our only option is to use the Four Symbol Mirror.”
The three squinted their eyes after hearing this. “Isn’t this going too far?”
“It is, so you need to determine whether it is worth it,” replied Elder He. The Four Symbol Mirror is one the greatest foundations of the Spirit Genesis Sect, and it is a broken Empyrean Artifact.
Anything related to Empyreans will not be left in the lower dimension as True Heavenly Dao would remove them–even a broken weapon. However, Emperor Jia found one and created a way to leave it in the lower dimension for the sect. Although it is only a broken one, the power of the mirror is something even Elder He has awe and fear for.
“The price for using it alone might not be worth it,” said Patriarch He, who suddenly appeared reasonable.
“Indeed.”
‘It seems these people are not as bad as I thought,’ thought Elder He. No matter the sect, there will be generations where their leaders are not on par. As long as they are not stupid to the point of ruining the sect’s foundation, the old Ancestors will not interfere and will wait for the next generation.
“You have to be smart about how to use it.”
“Ancestor, what do you mean?”
“Direct use of the mirror is also a form of intervention, and I just warned you of this. So, you need to use it in a way that is not interfering.”
The three frowned, confused by the Ancestor’s meaning.
“Ancestor, please guide us.”
Elder He did not immediately give them the answer but patiently said: “What is the last information you received from the Myriad Emperor World?”
“The Clean Up was happening soon after more people reached the Supreme Realm,” commented Disciplinary Head.
“Now, use this information in combination with the mirror.” The group frowned while pondering. A few minutes later, Patriarch He’s eyes lit up. “The Heaven Chosens should now be in the Devil World for the Clean Up. We can use the mirror there.”
“Exactly. Empress Wu’s seal is nothing compared to the Protective Array. And luckily, it has been weakened by someone or something.” Elder He went to check after his battle with Sword One.
“Remember: this is an issue of the younger generation and has nothing to do with us, old geezers.”
“I understand,” bowed Patriarch He before the others followed him. Elder He nodded before disappearing.
‘These people are too stupid. Let me check on this He Lanying. I heard he’s extremely talented and uninterested in political power, but hopefully, he did not inherit his father’s stupidity.’
The elder went to check on the sect’s future Emperor and chatted with him. When he returned to his seclusion, he was satisfied: the apple felt far from the tree.
After this event, he would not see the light of day until after the Heaven Will Battle. True Heavenly Dao does not like the presence of Immortal Sovereigns in the lower dimension and often plots their forced ascension or, even worse, their death.
It’s only because of the sect’s protection, his luck, and cunningness he survived so long without any injuries or being sealed.
Myriad Emperor World, Dao Opening Sect:
“I didn’t like there was a sect more powerful than us, but now, I don’t like them even more, knowing how threatening they are,” said Turtle One.
“We only recently found out we were ranked second, so why are you mad?” rebutted Desolate. “Be that as it may, we must prepare in case we are forced to fight them.”
Turtle One said: “This statement is more than truth–especially considering the possibility they have more than one Immortal Sovereign.”
Everyone finally realized this possibility.
“Did the Empress leave something that we could use?” asked the Steward, which is the name of the voice that used to communicate with Wang Wucheng. Over the years, all the Insurgents–especially the top ones–have been in retreat and do not interfere in the sect’s affairs unless summoned or required.
Meanwhile, the Steward was in charge of keeping the sect working correctly and ensuring the descendants do not ruin everything with their incompetence; he’s the one who stepped up and dealt with the situation when the Shadow Ruler proved to be more worthy of the sect master position in that generation. He’s also the one who set up the rule that Shadows can challenge their Lords for the sect master position.
“She only left a Dao Will Artifact and a protective talisman,” replied Sword One. “She said she could not leave a talisman with her power since some people might use it to track her.”
“It’s a shame we cannot help the founders, but we have our own situation to deal with,” said Origin One. “I would really feel more secure if we had another Eternal Strength in our midst, but there is nothing we can do.” He sighed out loud.
“So, there is nothing we can do?” asked Turtle One.
“Except leave it for the sect master to deal with in the future.”
“I don’t like the idea of leaving everything to the kid,” commented Sword One. “We should be the ones protecting him until he grows, not keep piling burden onto him.”
“As much as I agree with you, there is nothing we can do,” sighed Origin One, who felt old and a little dejected.
“There might be a way.”
Everyone looked at Desolate One with hope in their eyes.
“The Desolate Emperor suggested I underwent Foundation Reestablishment and cultivating the sect mater’s Black Hole Acupoints and his Eight Heterogeneity Foundation.”
No one was happy with his statement but frowned instead. The foundation of a cultivator before becoming Immortal in any of the Three Paths will affect their strength, and it is the same for Insurgents.
With the importance of foundation, some Immortals can reforge their foundation by sealing their strength and return to a mortal. Then, they re-cultivated the mortal realm before absorbing their Immortal Essence or Powers.
However, things are not so simple. Sealing their Immortal Power is exceptionally complicated and delicate and could easily lead to losing it or even dying. On top of everything, they have to experience a horrifying Heavenly Tribulation and Dao Heart Tribulation.
Unfortunately, things are not finished after surviving all these things. Cultivators will undergo a period of weakness and experience immense pain after sealing their power; it is the price of once again becoming a mortal after ascending to immortality, the price of reducing their status as higher dimensional creatures.
And in that period, they will not have their infinite lifespan, and they can be killed. If someone attacks them, they cannot remove the seal in their powers to fight back. Many people
The majority of people will not reforge their foundation because of the tribulation. Others refuse to partake because they fear something might happen to them during that period of weakness. Of course, these people with such fear or fear of aging would die during the Dao Heart Trial.
All these steps are for Dao Ancestors and Immortal Venerables who wish to reforge their foundations. Emperors who also want to do this have to undergo another terrifying tribulation once they have to reabsorb their power. Furthermore, their process also involves merit and other complicated things.
Most do not bother with this method because Foundation Reestablishment will not allow a Second-Class to become First Class or a Pseudo Emperor to become Eternal–It will only let them have the battle strength but not the means.
“Are you sure about this?” asked Origin One. “If you fail, you will die.”
“I know, and I’m prepared.”
Origin One nodded. “If someone has a chance to succeed, it would be you. Ask If you need anything.”
“And I will be your protector during your time of weakness,” added Sword One.
“I will be in your care.”
“I feel like I can breathe now,” said Turtle One with a smile. “By the way, do we need to tell the sect master about the Spirit Genesis Sect? The Heaven Will Battle is coming, so it might be best to wait afterward not to distract him.”
“No, he needs to know in advance since they will probably be one of the greatest obstacles to his plans,” said Miscelleneaous One.
“It’s best for him to know and prepare,” added Origin One. “But we can wait until the Clean Up finishes.”