Clearly, he did not fully trust Song Lin either and continued to have someone keep a close watch.

"Understood."

Then, he summoned another Buddha and instructed him to lead a group to search for the whereabouts of the Sanmao Heavenly Court.

As for the Great Sun World Venerable himself, he ascended to the Lotus Throne, his figure flashing before vanishing, leaving no trace of which realm he entered.

In the depths of a dark and desolate world, a corpse floated in the void.

"Just a bit more, just a tiny bit more…" The Great Sun World Venerable's gaze was filled with greed.

The unification of the Five Realms was within reach.

Donghua Underworld

Beneath a pure, flowing river, a corpse was being ceaselessly washed downstream.

Standing on the riverbank, the Divine Phoenix watched intently.

"It will probably take more than five hundred years before there's a chance for awakening," the Divine Phoenix said to Mao Zhong.

"But..." Mao Zhong had not finished speaking before the Divine Phoenix interjected, "The Heavenly Emperor is refining an Immortal Pill. Once it's completed, one pill will be given to Mao Gu True Monarch, which should accelerate the awakening."

...

Middle Realm.

Song Lin slowly awakened from within a Taoist sanctuary deep in the mountains.

He had been journeying across the world for over a hundred years.

Song Lin had uncovered numerous contradictions, especially within the Human World.

He stood, his figure disappearing from where he was, reappearing in a mortal city.

This city, though massive, was nine-tenths empty of its people.

The towering city walls, standing over ten zhang high, were reduced to broken ruins. Along the roadsides, corpses of living beings lay everywhere.

Some had long since decomposed, maggots crawling within, while others clung weakly to life, barely breathing their final breaths.

Clearly, this place had just endured the ravages of war.

And the source of that warfare? None other than the countless Immortals and Buddhas in the sky.

Mountain Gods and Earth Spirits waged incessant battles in the mortal world, committing numerous atrocities, leaving mortals to suffer immeasurably.

On one hand, the Heavenly Court Generals were a mixed bag; many Great Demons, Evil Demons, and adherents of the Demon Path had infiltrated their ranks.

Should such individuals ascend to positions of power, the devastation they could wreak was obvious.

The more lenient ones might merely extort a bit more tribute, or punish mortals whimsically when in a bad mood—this was what they called "Good Gods."

The crueler ones, emulating demons, would occasionally descend mountains to devour a few mortals or lead armies to attack mortal cities.

At the root of it all was the Jade Emperor.

As the Heavenly Court Master, he neglected setting regulations, arbitrarily bestowing titles and rewards, failing to discipline the divinities, and implementing no effective supervisory systems.

Some even brandished the Jade Emperor's banner while committing their deeds.

The demons tormenting the inhabitants of this very city were such individuals.

"The mortal dynasty is ruled by a foolish tyrant, compounded by the anarchy caused by the Jade Emperor's Generals across the Middle Realm, leading to the rise of demonic energy and the breeding of evil demons,"

Song Lin thought. Such was the layout of this realm.

BOOM!

A chaotic clatter erupted.

A group of flame-cloaked Fire Ghosts descended from the sky, spreading rumors as they came.

Along with them was an all-encompassing inferno, its flames seemingly intent on burning the entire city to ashes.

Song Lin frowned, preparing to take action.

At that moment, a thunderous shout rang out.

A youthful Taoist of noble bearing descended, sword-riding, forming a hand gesture to summon a thousand-zhang Water Dragon.

The Water Dragon doused the raging flames.

"Hmm? Li Changsheng?" Song Lin instantly recognized him—it was none other than the Jade Emperor's reincarnation, Li Changsheng.

He had briefly glimpsed Li Changsheng from afar years ago but had refrained from interfering in his subsequent development.

He hadn't expected the young man to possess such a strong sense of righteousness.

However, it seemed that Li Changsheng bore no memories of his identity as the Jade Emperor.

Song Lin decided not to step in, preferring to observe this Li Changsheng's abilities firsthand...

"This… wait a moment!"

Li Changsheng charged into the ranks of the Fire Ghosts, only to have his hair singed by the flames and then be struck in the chest by a trident.

Why was he so weak!

Song Lin was utterly perplexed.

Seeing Li Changsheng wounded, Song Lin immediately took to the skies, his sword cutting down over a dozen Fire Ghosts, before grabbing Li Changsheng by the shoulder and bringing him safely to the ground.

"Don't move."

Laying Li Changsheng flat on the ground, Song Lin channeled a bit of True Yuan to evaluate him. His vitality had been severed, though swift treatment might save his life. As for how long he might live, that depended on his own capabilities.

However, an Immortal Pill would be necessary—his Divine Soul was damaged, and both his Spirit Platform and inner core were shattered.

Pondering for a moment, Song Lin decided to abandon treatment altogether. Perhaps letting Li Changsheng reincarnate sooner would actually hasten the process.

"Elder, do I have any hope?" Li Changsheng asked.

"Rest and recuperate," Song Lin evaded the question directly.

From Song Lin's expression, Li Changsheng seemed to comprehend his fate. With a bitter smile, he murmured, "What a shame—not being able to personally slay those beasts."

Truly a prelude to Emperor Zhenwu. Even at death's door, this man cared not for his injuries but only lamented the failure to exterminate evil demons.

"What exactly happened here?"

"The Demon King wreaking havoc here goes by the name Fire Department Red Marshal. He proclaims himself a Jade Emperor's General, committing vile deeds in the mortal world. Every year, he demands ten pairs of boys and girls as tribute, and within South Yong State, any family hosting a wedding must send the bride to spend one night in his cave mansion by the volcano."

Because he was an Immortal and claimed to be under the Jade Emperor's banner, not even the mortal court dared to object—on the contrary, officials organized these rituals.

Of course, the world was never short of courageous, righteous officials. A certain official, upon taking office, immediately prohibited these sacrificial rites. In retaliation, Red Marshal unleashed the Fire Ghosts, leading to the city's destruction.

"The heavens are blind. How can such a being become a god!"

Li Changsheng sighed bitterly.

Song Lin found this statement odd—Li Changsheng was the Jade Emperor's split soul. In cursing the heavens, wasn't he in essence cursing himself?

At this thought, an idea surfaced in Song Lin's mind.

If this incarnation of the Jade Emperor took such a form, why not use it to forge the legend of Emperor Zhenwu—a god of righteousness, separate from merely a fragment of the Jade Emperor?

This matter, however, required careful orchestration.

"Rest assured. I'll see to it that justice is served."

Whoosh!

Just as he spoke, an immense blaze engulfed the sky, and above the Fire Cloud stood a god with a red ram's head.

The god held a massive halberd, sulfurous fumes spewing from his nostrils, his demeanor utterly arrogant.

"Who dares kill my soldiers?"

Red Marshal's voice reverberated throughout the land.

"To be so brazen, yet only at the level of Harmonization."

At this moment, Song Lin spoke.

Red Marshal traced the sound and locked eyes with Song Lin, standing on the ground.

"It was you who killed my subordinates?"

"Indeed, it was I."

Song Lin smiled.

Seeing Song Lin's unbothered demeanor, Red Marshal replied with a smirk, "You've got quite the gall. State your name—this marshal spares none who remain nameless."

Considering his opponent was skilled enough to silently eliminate his subordinates, this must be no ordinary master.

The timing was ripe to make an example of this upstart, dissuading all the meddlesome righteous crusaders from targeting him.

Everything he had done was par for the course by Heavenly Court standards.

The Buddha Country's practices were even harsher—they bred Great Demons capable of devouring entire cities at once. Dissatisfied? Leave this land for the Buddha Country's rule.

"Are you sure you wish to know my name?" Song Lin began to slowly polish the Pure Yang Sword in his hand.

As he caught sight of Song Lin's treasure sword, a sense of unease crept into Red Marshal's mind. Yet, he couldn't pinpoint why.

"I am the Heavenly Court's Miaole Venerable, also known as Master Xuandu, or the unparalleled Sword Immortal of the Three Realms."

As he spoke, a streak of sword light descended, swift and unrelenting.

Upon hearing the identity of this figure, Red Marshal's heart sank in terror.

"Mercy, O Great Immortal… I am but the seventh descendant of the Fire Ancestor from the Thunder Department. Please spare..."

Before Red Marshal could finish his plea, his body was already reduced to ashes.

With that single strike, Li Changsheng closed his eyes in contentment, his soul returning to the Netherworld.

Overhead in the Heavenly Court, the Jade Emperor, witnessing the scene, had a sudden epiphany.

He had been wondering who might be a fitting candidate to nurture and awaken the divine soul—was Song Lin not the perfect choice?

In time, Song Lin could very well replace him.

The Jade Emperor summoned the Fire Ancestor, quelling any thoughts of vengeance. Thus, the crisis silently passed.

As time flowed onward, on one particular day within the Real World, the Palace of the Polestar radiated divine brilliance, its aroma intoxicatingly fragrant.

The Immortal Pill was complete.

PS: Recommend the book "Marrying for Longevity in the World of Immortal Cultivation."

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