The group returned with the intelligence they had gathered.

Song Lin said to Mao Gu: "The grand gathering has concluded successfully. Now we only need to wait for Taoist Mao Ying to awaken. This will take time—another Jiazi, perhaps. By then, when the Immortal Pill furnace opens, it might coincide with Taoist Mao Ying's awakening."

"Thank you, Heavenly Emperor." Mao Gu cupped his hands in gratitude, then took out a miniature and intricate pagoda from his sleeve.

"This is the Qiankun Treasure Tower, divided into nine layers and nine realms: Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Sun, Moon, Yin, and Yang."

Used individually, it functions as dharma powers. Combined, it carries the weight equivalent to a Small Thousand World.

It is a genuine True Immortal-level Immortal Artifact. Generally, only True Immortals can resist its power. It can even suppress an entire realm, preventing its escape.

Even the Great Sun World Venerable is rendered powerless against this treasure. In his own domain, he cannot unleash his full strength.

If the confrontation had lasted longer previously, Mao Gu could have defeated the Great Sun World Venerable outright.

Mao Gu handed the treasure over to Song Lin.

"What's the meaning of this?" Song Lin asked as he took the item, puzzled.

"You should use it first for now. There's nothing significant happening as of late, and I temporarily have no use for it," Mao Gu said.

Mao Gu had heard from others about Song Lin's journeys across worlds.

If someone is traversing worlds, they would likely need superior weapons.

Sensing no current need for the treasure, Mao Gu figured it would be better to give it to Song Lin.

"Alright, I'll gladly accept." Song Lin took possession of the item, knowing that with this artifact, dealing with True Immortals in story worlds would become much simpler.

Currently, the Star System is nearing completion, with only the lineage of Emperor Zhenwu remaining.

After finishing matters in this realm, Song Lin returned to the story world.

The North Pole Emperor Star had reached its first millennium.

Liu Changsheng was reborn as Crown Prince Xuanming. Later, he encountered Miao Le Heavenly Venerate and Master Xuandu, who guided him to cultivate in Penglai. Dedicated to his daily cultivation, he eventually succumbed to mortal desires, broke his vows, and wasted half a lifetime before being reincarnated.

The North Pole Emperor Star reached one thousand four hundred years.

Xuanming was reborn as Crown Prince Xuanhuang, who in this life was promptly led by Miao Le Heavenly Venerate to cultivate on Lingjiu Mountain, practicing the Xuantian Eight Techniques.

Lingjiu Mountain.

A valiant-looking man with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes meditated by the lakeside, refining Sun and Moon Essence with his breath. Above, the North Pole Star Domain twinkled in rhythm with his inhalations and exhalations.

"A protagonist favored by Heaven and Earth indeed," Song Lin remarked.

No surprise—it was the incarnation of the Jade Emperor. After three lifetimes of cultivation, Xuanhuang's Taoist Realm had already advanced to the Heavenly Immortal Realm.

This was perhaps also influenced by the Jade Emperor's soul.

Song Lin pondered.

Previously, Song Lin had such concerns. But after encountering Zhenwu, he realized this person's character was worth fostering; across three lifetimes, he consistently showed a fierce hatred for evil.

Perhaps this stemmed from the benevolent aspect of the Jade Emperor's soul.

Kindness to Zhenwu is repaid by Zhenwu tenfold.

No wonder people later revered him as the Patron Saint of Gratitude.

"With the God-beating Whip in my hand, I'll deal with the Jade Emperor's influence later," Song Lin thought.

For now, there was no rush.

At this moment, a burly Great General with a soldier's belly approached.

The General walked up to Song Lin, observing Xuanhuang deep in meditation. Chuckling, he said, "So quick—already reached the Heavenly Immortal Realm?"

The General couldn't help but marvel.

Only three years—three years to reach the Heavenly Immortal Realm.

"Unprecedented, with none to follow," he muttered.

"No need to despair; you're talented yourself." Song Lin patted the man's shoulder.

This man was the Heavenly Immortal Zhang Shouzhen of Zhongnan Mountain, who was enlightened by Song Lin and became the General Black Evil, one of the Four Saints of the North Pole, known as Yisheng True Monarch.

Nearby, Zhenwu loitered within the vicinity of a three-headed, four-armed Evil God.

With indigo skin and eyes like copper bells, black evil qi transformed into incarnations of various Ghost Kings and demons.

This was Vice Marshal Tianyou, another one of the North Pole Four Saints. Judging from his appearance, he bore some resemblance to the legendary Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy.

Now, three out of the North Pole Four Saints were found.

Only the Heavenly Canopy Marshal remained missing.

The Heavenly Canopy Marshal is the incarnation of the Po Jun Star. Song Lin had searched countless souls bearing Po Jun's fate but still found no suitable candidate.

The Heavenly Canopy Marshal was not Zhu Bajie of Journey to the West; Zhu Bajie was the Western Imperial Chariot General.

The Heavenly Canopy Marshal held far more prominence within the Taoist pantheon and carried the title of Cangtian God, one of the two emperors among the North Pole Four Saints.

"Cang" signifies blue-black, representing spring.

Blue and black reflect the traits of the Heavenly Canopy Marshal.

Life and destruction.

He commanded the Six Palace Demons as their leader, far surpassing the Demons in strength yet distinct from ordinary Great Demons. On the other hand, he served as a powerful force of suppression, holding the Demons at bay. Although surrounded by Demonic Qi, he harbored a heart of justice.

In short, the Heavenly Canopy Marshal appeared fearsome but was a god of righteousness.

Such a person was difficult to find, but once located, they were highly trustworthy allies.

Song Lin continued cultivating on Lingjiu Mountain while instructing Star Lords across the realms to seek a matching candidate.

The North Pole Four Saints were close to completion, with only one remaining.

Song Lin's activities did not escape the notice of those with vested interests.

Using spies embedded within the ranks of Star Lords, the opposition was also searching for individuals with Po Jun's fate.

The Thirty-second Small Thousand World.

Currently, it was experiencing its once-in-ten-thousand-years Demon Tribulation.

The Thirty-eighth Upper Pure Demon Tribulation.

In the Mortal World, black clouds loomed like ink, covering the cities below. Countless grotesque demons and ghosts surrounded the mortal cities.

The Demon Tribulation had escalated to such a high tier that even the Heavenly Court could not spare concern for less critical regions.

Demons breached the cities, turning the lands beneath into a living hell.

In these dire moments, brave heroes of the Human Clan rose in revolt.

"Soldiers, follow me!"

The defending Great General wielded double axes, leading his troops. He swung an axe, cleaving a demon in front of him. Green demon blood splattered upon him.

Behind him were his soldiers, along with elderly, women, and children fleeing alongside them.

Despite his valor, the Great General was still flesh and blood; two fists could hardly match four hands. Soon, he was surrounded by demons.

The demons drove the group into a corner.

Just then, Heavenly Soldiers and Generals descended from the skies.

"We're saved!!"

"The Heavenly Army is here!"

The crowd erupted in cheers.

The next moment, they froze. They had thought the Heavenly Soldiers would rescue them, but instead, they flew past from above, seemingly ignoring the dire situation below in the mortal city.

"Why?" The Great General grabbed a Taoist elder nearby.

"Underworld elder, didn't you say the Heavenly Army would come to our aid?"

Terrified, the old man trembled, unable to speak from the sheer aura of the mortal's fury.

"I don't know. I clearly sent the rescue order. Why did they choose to distance themselves, heading to Jiang City instead?"

The elderly Taoist was just as perplexed; he had no idea why the Heavenly Army opted to bypass them.

"Ah, that's right—Jiang City's Song Family patriarch is said to be a Mountain God of the Heavenly Realm. Could they have prioritized rescuing the descendants of the Mountain God first?"

Boom!

The demons broke through the soldiers' defenses, slaughtered the civilians, and unleashed another wave of bloodshed.

The Great General's wife and children were killed instantly by the demons.

"I'll fight you to the death!"

Blinded by rage, the Great General charged madly into the demon's formation, disregarding his own safety.

His family had been killed—he no longer wished to live. His sole aim was to slay as many demons as possible.

Given the chance, he would even kill the Heavenly Army who had turned a blind eye.

Flesh and blood could never overcome demons.

The soldiers fell; the mortals perished. Only the Great General remained.

He stopped, using his axe to prop himself up from collapsing.

Covered in wounds, his cloak soaked in blood, it was impossible to distinguish whose blood it was anymore.

The Great General, named Bian Zhuang, was renowned for his exceptional bravery.

Even in death, he refused to kneel.

The demons growled lowly, creeping cautiously toward this formidable mortal.

Bian Zhuang caught their foul stench; he raised his head, his bloodshot eyes locked onto the demons, spitting out saliva as he sneered: "Come at me, you little bastards!"

Roar!

All the demons charged forward, devouring his flesh.

Bian Zhuang grabbed the neck of a crow-headed demon and sank his teeth into its blood vessel.

"Heh heh, you eat my flesh—I drink your blood."

The blood coursing down Bian Zhuang's throat seemed to activate some sort of switch.

At this moment, the top-tier Great Demon, whose mere existence would tremble Heaven, Earth, mortals, ghosts, and gods alike, had been born.

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