In the Sect Master's Small Building, on the eve of the Immortals and Demons Disciple Recruitment Conference.

Wu Wang emerged from his cultivation state with a look of regret, pressing down layers of insights from the depths of his heart as he rose from his couch. A section of the soft cushion had been flattened by his weight.

Three feet of sunlight illuminated the finest dust particles, as the Daoist essence around Wu Wang gently rippled like flowing water.

There was no helping it. Being the Sect Master meant that since he enjoyed the respect of everyone in the Annihilation Sect, he also had to bear the responsibilities of the Sect Master.

They of the Annihilation Sect were unlike the Xuan Nu Sect, which could gather a large number of experts, each capable of holding their own.

The Grand Elder was likely still in secluded meditation; Elder Miao couldn't manage the situation alone, and Elder Mao was occupied with official duties. So, it fell to him, the Sect Master, to make an appearance.

Wu Wang began, "Su—"

Hmm? Engrossed in cultivation?

His Spiritual Sense swept over the second floor. He saw Lin Suqing enveloped in a layer of vibrant, seven-colored Spiritual Energy, with the faint silhouette of a divine phoenix hovering around her. Wu Wang smiled knowingly and stealthily left the small building.

To his regret, Zhang Moshan was standing guard in the pavilion in front of the small building.

Damn it, Yang Wudi managed to dodge this bullet.

"Sect Master!"

Zhang Moshan immediately bowed. "Do you have any instructions, Sect Master?"

Wu Wang said softly, "Nothing important. I'm just going out for a stroll. Has the Grand Elder emerged from his seclusion yet?"

"There were some unusual phenomena at the Grand Elder's seclusion spot a few days ago," Zhang Moshan reported happily. "It's possible that the Grand Elder will break through to the Transcendent Realm when he emerges this time!"

Wu Wang's eyes narrowed slightly as he smiled. He gestured for Zhang Moshan to continue standing guard, then strolled along the bottom of the Rift Valley himself.

Passing by Lin Qi's small cabin, he sensed that Lin Qi must be immersed in comprehending the Great Dao.

His Spiritual Sense reached out to the building ship outside the mountain gate; Dongfang Mumu's cocoon of immortal power was still the same as before.

Indeed, this is how cultivation is. The higher the realm and the deeper one's cultivation base, the longer each period of secluded cultivation becomes. The principles one needs to comprehend are often beyond verbal description.

To be precise, cultivators cultivate the self; this is fundamental for every practitioner.

The vast majority of cultivators, even if they understand this principle, find it difficult to comprehend the specific state required for each realm.

Someone like Wu Wang, who clearly focused on the ego as the core to control the Star Dao and the Dao of Fire, could gain many more benefits during cultivation.

The ego as the source, the stars as the guide—this was Wu Wang's current path of cultivation.

I should go and discuss the arrangements for the disciple recruitment conference with Elder Miao.

After walking a few dozen steps, thunder suddenly rumbled outside the mountain gate. An ominous cloud materialized out of thin air, and a solemn, tense atmosphere permeated the space between heaven and earth.

This scene looked familiar!

Tribulation Clouds?

Wu Wang felt a jolt of alertness. He turned to look at the cliff on one side of the Rift Valley, his gaze fixed on the Grand Elder's cave residence.

Suddenly, a flash of blood-red light shone! The entrance to the cave residence blasted apart, and the Grand Elder's figure shot skyward from the smoke and dust. His hair and beard flew wildly, his eyes bulged, and he exuded an unparalleled aura. His frame even seemed to have grown somewhat taller and more imposing.

Above Heavenly Immortal!

The Transcendent Realm!

The Grand Elder had stepped into it, but before he could even stabilize himself, the Heavenly Tribulation from the Heaven Palace had already descended.

Wu Wang's eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at the churning ominous clouds. Without any delay, he took out a longsword from his sleeve and a gourd of elixirs refined by his father-in-law, forcefully tossing them into the air.

That sword dazzled brilliantly!

"Grand Elder! Catch the sword!"

The Grand Elder threw his head back and laughed. A bloodthirsty, giant python condensed around him, hissing and roaring at the ominous clouds in the sky. He grasped the star-mineral core sword, and his aura instantly surged!

He shouted loudly, "Thank you, Sect Master! Today, I shall shatter this Heavenly Tribulation and achieve the Transcendent Realm on the spot!"

Within the Rift Valley, figures flew out, all startled by the Grand Elder's Heavenly Tribulation.

As the might of heavens descended, strange phenomena occurred both inside and outside the valley. Birds and beasts within a thousand-mile radius scattered in terror, and many sects were alarmed by such a grand display.

From various locations within the Human Domain, especially along the northern border, numerous gazes turned towards the mountain gate of the Annihilation Sect.

Even Dongfang Mumu, who had been in continuous seclusion, was startled awake. She leaped to the prow of her building ship and, along with several Annihilation Sect Immortals guarding the area, looked up at the scene:

The elder with blood-red hair, clad in a blood-red robe, hovered in mid-air. He wielded the Sword of Stars and controlled surging waves of the Blood Sea. His presence was in no way inferior to the turbulent Tribulation Clouds roiling above him.

The last time, it was in this very place that the previous Sect Master of the Annihilation Sect had failed to overcome his Heavenly Tribulation, resulting in his death and the dissipation of his Dao.

And now, in this same place, the Annihilation Sect's Grand Elder was once again Crossing Tribulation.

But Wu Wang clearly sensed that the Grand Elder's foundation was much more profound than that of the previous Sect Master.

At this moment, the might of the Tribulation Clouds was even stronger. Below them, the forms of several hundred ferocious beasts' heads evolved, roaring soundlessly at the Grand Elder.

"I, the Blood Hand Demon Lord, welcome my Tribulation today."

The Grand Elder's calm voice spread slowly between heaven and earth. With a leap, the giant, bloodthirsty serpent around him transformed, its head taking on the likeness of an Azure Dragon's. It enveloped the Grand Elder as he charged into the Tribulation Clouds!

Thunder boomed, and lightning crashed relentlessly!

Within the Tribulation Clouds, it was as if dozens of ferocious beasts were battling and crashing into each other. The bloodthirsty serpent charged left and right, throwing the interior of the Tribulation Clouds into utter chaos.

Wu Wang waved his hand and shouted, "Beat the drums to cheer for the Grand Elder!"

The Demon Path cultivators of the Annihilation Sect brought out dozens of large drums, placing them before the various halls on the cliffs on either side, and began to beat them, producing a heaven-shaking rhythm.

Wu Wang flew beneath the Mountain Protection Array, and several figures appeared around him.

Elder Miao had shed her usual calm and carefree demeanor. She stared intently at the sky, her lips bitten so hard they were almost bleeding.

Several other Heavenly Immortal Realm Elders also wore grave expressions. After all, the seven-colored crystal tombstone of the old Sect Master still stood in the depths of the Rift Valley. To pass such a Heavenly Tribulation was by no means an easy feat.

Outside the Mountain Protection Array, streaks of light flew in. Dongfang Mumu, wearing an Immortal gown one size too small, hopped over. Her little round face had become a tad more pointed and slim, and her stature had noticeably grown by a foot.

She spoke, her voice still childlike but extremely serious, "Question-poser, how many years has your sect's Grand Elder remained in the Heavenly Immortal Realm?"

Wu Wang looked over at Elder Miao, who said, "It has been over ten thousand years."

"That's good, then," Immortal Mu said, her hands clasped behind her back as she observed the shifting ominous clouds above. "Back then, it was my insufficient accumulation and eagerness for quick success that led me to this state. If I had been able to endure for another three or four thousand years, I wouldn't have fallen to such a plight."

The few of them nodded in agreement, but no one was in the mood for conversation at that moment; all eyes were fixed on the situation where the Tribulation was taking place.

The sound of thunder grew even more deafening, and the tide of Spiritual Energy surged like ocean waves crashing against the shore.

Wu Wang faintly sensed that within those Tribulation Clouds, several Great Daos were clashing and colliding.

There was the Dao of Heavenly Punishment, which seemed capable of annihilating everything. Its Daoist Essence was obscure and mysterious, seemingly not a native Great Dao of this heaven and earth, yet its power was no less than that of a top-tier Innate Dao.

The Grand Elder's Blood Killing Dao was like a Demon Lord emerging from a Blood Sea, a mountain of white bones and corpses at his back, facing an endless horde of ferocious demons before him, battling through blood, unyielding and never retreating.

Wu Wang could only vaguely sense the other Great Daos, which seemed to be components of the Heavenly Tribulation.

Suddenly, he felt the Daoist Essence of the Blood Killing Dao being blasted apart! The Dao of Heavenly Tribulation grew even more violent. Boundless lightning overflowed from the Tribulation Clouds, which had transformed into a thick, inverted trapezoidal layer—wider at the bottom and narrower at the top.

Wu Wang and the few Heavenly Immortal Realm experts present all felt their hearts tighten. The Heavenly Immortal Elders positioned Wu Wang behind them to shield him from any stray attacks.

Elder Miao almost rushed out of the Mountain Protection Array, her beautiful eyes filled with tears.

But then they heard Immortal Mu say softly, "He passed."

Her voice had barely faded when the Grand Elder's laughter erupted from within the Tribulation Clouds. His laughter was full of vigor, signaling that victory was already in his grasp!

The Blood Killing Dao suddenly surged in power, and a blood-red Azure Dragon burst through the cloud layer!

The Grand Elder, with a longsword in his left hand, severed Heaven and Earth, and with his right hand raised high, covered the sky with that single hand!

The Tribulation Clouds instantly dispersed. The several Great Daos within them vanished simultaneously. It was as if a cold sneer lingered between heaven and earth, while the figure of the Grand Elder, the Blood Hand Demon Lord, shot straight up into the high heavens.

His blood-red hair turned a deep black, and his aged face reverted to that of a middle-aged man. Gripping the star-mineral core sword, he threw back his head and let out a long howl. Immediately, responding howls echoed from all directions.

A new Transcendent expert has been added to the Human Domain!

The Demise Dark Desire Wind Great Demon Sect has gained another Transcendent!

On the ranking list of Demon Path experts, the name 'Blood Hand Demon Lord' will no longer be found!

Wu Wang truly breathed a sigh of relief. Continuous howls echoed from all parts of the mountain gate, startling demonic cultivators for hundreds of miles around. Streaks of light were already flying in from various sects, heading towards the Annihilation Sect to offer congratulations and gifts!

"What are you all standing around for?" Wu Wang said.

"Elder Miao, go and welcome the Grand Elder back! All other Elders, prepare to receive our guests! Have Floating Jade City send over several boatloads of ingredients and fine wine! Starting today, the Annihilation Sect will hold a grand feast for all guests!"

"Yes!" The demonic cultivators roared in unison, and the entire sect burst into bustling activity.

With a Transcendent expert now overseeing the sect, this disciple recruitment conference would pose no difficulties.

…

The Annihilation Sect was bustling with activity inside and out for half a month, so much so that they almost missed the disciple recruitment conference.

After stepping into the Transcendent Realm, the Grand Elder entered seclusion for several days to stabilize his new realm. Afterwards, he went out to continuously thank the fellow cultivators who had come to offer their congratulations.

At the same time, the Grand Elder also received an invitation from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, requesting him to find time within the next three years to register with them. The specific timing was left to his own discretion.

Transcendent experts could regularly receive generous stipends from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, which was also a sign of respect shown by the Human Domain to this group of top-tier experts.

When the number of guests was at its peak, the Grand Elder held a public lecture on the Dao. He recounted the cultivation difficulties he had encountered on his journey and shared these experiences with his fellow Demonic Cultivators.

This was a custom in the Human Domain, and also the main reason why so many had come to offer congratulations.

After the Grand Elder finished expounding on his Dao, tranquility returned to the valley. Wu Wang then pulled the Grand Elder aside and began asking him all sorts of questions.

At this point, the Grand Elder himself didn't know the specifics of the realm beyond Transcendence. He only vaguely felt that his Blood Killing Dao was not yet truly perfected. For now, this Dao had merely matured and was capable of standing firm in the Great Wilderness World.

"The higher the cultivation, the more one realizes how high the sky is, how thick the earth is, and can appreciate the difficulties our Human Domain ancestors faced in their pioneering efforts."

Wu Wang laughed. "Grand Elder, you are now a precious asset to the Human Domain's combat strength."

"Alas, this is all thanks to the Sect Master's blessings," the Grand Elder said, filled with emotion. "I originally thought I had no hope of ever stepping into such a wondrous realm in this lifetime. That sword truly helped a great deal."

Wu Wang took out the star-mineral core sword. He flicked it with his finger, and the blade emitted only a faint hum.

The Grand Elder said, "This sword has only been crudely forged into its current shape. If a Master of Refining could work on it in the future, perhaps it could be crafted into a true divine-grade treasure. Sect Master, why not request assistance from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion?"

"Are you sure that if I entrust this sword to the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, it will be returned intact, without anything missing?" Wu Wang's lips twitched slightly. He put the sword away and chuckled. "Let's talk about this after I become an Immortal."

"Sect Master, you don't need to go to the disciple recruitment conference this time. I will go with Little Miao," the newly emerged Grand Elder advised, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

"That place will be crowded and chaotic; who knows what kinds of unsavory characters might show up. We also need to recruit many disciples this time, so it will undoubtedly take a considerable amount of time. Now that our Annihilation Sect has gained fame several times thanks to you, Sect Master, and has made a name for itself in the Human Domain, recruiting disciples should not be difficult."

Wu Wang smiled. "In that case, I shall continue my secluded cultivation and strive to reach the Immortal Realm as soon as possible."

The Grand Elder smiled and nodded. He then sent a voice transmission: "Sect Master, I will request permission from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion not to go into reclusive cultivation, but to stay and protect you on your path."

Wu Wang's expression turned serious. "Grand Elder, you should still prioritize your own cultivation. Every Great Dao has the potential to turn the tide when the Human Domain is in peril."

"It's different," the Grand Elder sighed softly, his hands clasped behind his back. "Innate Daos are generally stronger than the Daos cultivated by us practitioners. To achieve what The Ancient Emperor of the Suiren Clan did—battling the Ancient Fire God with his own Dao—is far easier said than done. My Blood Killing Dao is based on the three Innate Daos of spirit, death, and soul. Even pushed to its extreme, it's far inferior to any single one of those three. Right now, I can vaguely sense an incredibly profound Dao on you, Sect Master. This Dao is very close to an Innate Dao and seems to be related to the stars..."

Wu Wang smiled. "It is indeed the Star Dao."

"Just as I thought," the Grand Elder whispered. "If I can use my own Dao to protect you, Sect Master, as you ascend to the pinnacle of heaven and earth, allowing you to recreate the majesty of the ancient emperors, I would die ten thousand times without regret. I would have absolutely no regrets."

This is really putting a lot of pressure on me.

My life goal is actually just to successfully hold hands.

Forget it. The Grand Elder just had a breakthrough and is full of enthusiasm. Let him be.

Thus, the composition of the Annihilation Sect's disciple recruitment team was decided: The Grand Elder would lead, accompanied by Elder Miao and the Elders from the Technique Teaching Hall. The Demise, Black District, and Lin Feng Branches would each contribute over twenty members who wished to take on disciples; their cultivation had to be at or above the Immortal Realm.

Wu Wang had intended to let Ji Mo go along to network and socialize. However, when the Sect Master's order reached Floating Jade City, the reply stated that Ji Mo was in secluded cultivation. It was a deep state of Dao comprehension triggered by an enlightenment, and waking him would likely cause him to miss a great opportunity.

Of course, he couldn't be woken.

The reply also specifically mentioned the 'prelude' that had triggered Ji Mo's enlightenment, leaving a certain Sect Master speechless for a long while.

Enlightenment in a brothel.

How could this guy not ascend to the heavens!

However, from the perspective of Ji Mo's good friend, Wu Wang was still happy for Ji Mo.

That fellow is from a renowned family and bears a great deal of pressure. If this period of cultivation could change his temperament and make him more composed, it would be of extraordinary significance to the Ji Family.

Of course, this is just a hypothetical. If Ji Mo wanted to change his personality, he'd probably have to change his name first.

Wu Wang no longer needed to worry about the disciple recruitment. He took Dongfang Mumu back to his small building and continued his secluded cultivation to comprehend the Dao.

Dongfang Mumu still had some residual insights from her previous session that she hadn't fully digested. After saying hello to Wu Wang, she went to Lin Suqing's room to cultivate.

Wu Wang had originally intended to rest for a few days. However, with no one around to talk to, he simply had his mother project the Shadow of the Star God into his Spirit Platform. His Nascent Soul then quietly visualized it, contemplating and seeking to understand the Star Dao.

There isn't just one Dao related to the stars, but the most fundamental and original Star Dao is indeed governed by this Goddess.

As the saying goes: "Years pass by without notice in the mountains, as cultivators lose track of age."

The Grand Elder's successful advancement allowed Wu Wang to temporarily disregard sect affairs.

Several months passed during Wu Wang's second period of secluded cultivation. When the disciple recruitment team returned, they had only brought back just over two hundred new disciples.

This was less than half the number of disciples they had initially expected to recruit.

It wasn't that few disciples wished to join the Annihilation Sect to cultivate. Rather, the Grand Elder, having advanced to the Transcendent Realm, had become exceedingly picky, raising the recruitment standards by two entire grades.

"We prioritize quality over quantity. Does our Annihilation Sect need to worry about a lack of people wanting to become disciples now?" —So said the Grand Elder, who had once again dyed his long hair blood-red.

Wu Wang naturally had no objections to this. When the new disciples were formally inducted, he made an appearance to offer them a few words of encouragement. The various other matters were handled by the Elders.

In this way, several more months passed. Xing Tian visited the Annihilation Sect once again, this time having returned from the Northern Wilderness.

He brought several hundred Crystal Balls that Wu Wang had requested, dozens of Treasure Sacks filled to the brim with treasure mines, and a handwritten letter from Wu Wang's father.

[Son: Eat more, get strong.]

Just... very touching.

Xing Tian didn't stay for long. After a night of heavy drinking with Wu Wang, he departed with that sturdy old man from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion.

He too had his own path to follow.

Thus, more than another year passed. Wu Wang, worried that his cultivation progress was too rapid, had been continuously suppressing his realm. Ultimately, however, he failed to keep it in check and unintentionally broke through to the mid-stage of the Jumping God Realm.

Just as he was agonizing over whether to continue his secluded cultivation, two communication Jade Talismans arrived simultaneously at the Annihilation Sect's mountain gate. One was delivered by an Elder to the Annihilation Sect's Small Building, and the other was sent to Lin Qi's residence.

The communication Jade Talisman Wu Wang received was from the Xuan Nu Sect. It stated that Ling Xiaolan had successfully overcome her Immortal Ascension Tribulation and entered the Immortal Realm, and they were specially informing Sect Master Wuwang to share the good news.

Before Wu Wang could even laugh a few times, Lin Qi arrived in a hurry.

"Teacher, Father has urgently summoned me back! The defensive line that our Lin Family is responsible for guarding has detected the aura of an Evil God! A large Beast Tide is re-forming, and it might be related to the descent of a Divine Child! Father wants me to go and slay a Divine Child to earn merit and fame, and I would like to request you, Teacher, to accompany me!"

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