Chapter 1044: The Unbroken Past 13

The Celestial Realm’s Four Heavenly Gates were divine portals created through the collective wisdom of numerous high-ranking immortals.

Initially, only those who had truly mastered Jiyuan’s Heaven and Earth Scripture could harness the Celestial Realm’s shifting powers to ascend in a single step; otherwise, an escort was required to reach the Celestial Realm. The Four Heavenly Gates, however, were forged over twelve years through the combined efforts of various high-ranking immortals, the myriad gods of the heavens, and the assistance of the venerable figures from Yunshan Monastery. They were then suspended in the four cardinal directions of the world.

The existence of the Heavenly Gates significantly stabilized the connection between heaven and earth and was a crucial factor in the Celestial Realm’s steady growth and expansion.

On the fourth day after Jiyuan returned home, the yaksha dispatched by the Tongtian River to inform the Old Dragon finally arrived at one of the Heavenly Gates.

The majestic East Heavenly Gate stood a hundred zhang tall. Its seemingly sculpted jade pillars were, in fact, intricate formations. A shimmering golden plaque at the top bore the three characters “East Heavenly Gate,” radiating continuous divine power. Guarding the gate were two burly divine generals.

These two generals, ten zhang tall, were clad in golden armor, their faces like red jade. Bright yellow sashes floated around them. One carried twin halberds on his back, while the other wielded a dark-handled, gleaming guandao. Both stood with solemn expressions, gazing straight ahead.

Anyone beholding the East Heavenly Gate would be filled with awe, and the river-patrolling yaksha was no exception. Among the older generation of Tongtian River yakshas, some had reached the end of their lifespan, while others had achieved breakthroughs. Those who passed away are self-explanatory, but many of the breakthrough cultivators were sent by the Old Dragon to manage various waterways.

Thus, the yaksha who came to deliver the message, although he had heard of Jiyuan’s great name from being near Madam Ying, knew little about the specific circumstances of “Mr. Ji” or “Uncle Ji.” Facing the two fierce-faced divine generals, his heart tightened.

“Halt! This is the gateway to the Celestial Realm. State your purpose for coming here.”

One of the divine generals glanced sideways down at him, his head still held high, inquiring about the yaksha’s purpose. His gaze, tinged with a hint of disdain yet full of majesty, exerted immense pressure on the yaksha.

“I am a yaksha from the Tongtian River, sent by the River Goddess with an urgent matter to inform the Dragon Lord. This is the jade tablet.”

Upon hearing that the visitor was from the Tongtian River, the yaksha wondered if it was his imagination, but the faces of the two immensely stern divine generals seemed to soften ever so slightly. Yet, on closer inspection, they appeared unchanged. He dared not look too long; a single stare would make his heart clench.

One of the generals took the jade tablet, which floated in mid-air. After scanning it with his divine eye, both generals slightly shifted to the side, clearing the path.

“It is indeed a Tongtian River decree. Enter.”

The yaksha cupped his hands in greeting and stepped through the East Heavenly Gate. Passing through, he was instantly struck by a sense of vast openness. A celestial realm, shrouded in clouds and bathed in starlight, appeared before him. The distant galaxy was even more magnificent and grand, seemingly desolate yet profoundly awe-inspiring, often leaving first-time beholders stunned.

While the Celestial Realm was certainly not as vast as the mortal lands, it was by no means small now. Naturally, it wasn't immediately filled with pavilions and towers everywhere. At its center was the Heavenly Court, and various great deities each held their responsibilities and resided in their own domains, with numerous mountains, rivers, and lakes also having evolved.

The yaksha collected himself, immediately conjured a streak of light, and took flight again. Following the information provided by the River Goddess, he flew towards the distant location where the Dragon Lord was attending a banquet. The journey from the East Heavenly Gate to that place would take many days.

Not long after the yaksha took off, faint thunder rumbled from the direction of the East Heavenly Gate. He looked back to see two Thunder Department Deities returning.

The Thunder Department Deities, wreathed in lightning, flew through the air with incredible speed, quickly catching up to the yaksha. As it was his first time in the Celestial Realm, the yaksha dared not be negligent and quickly bowed. The Thunder Department Deities swept their gaze over him, nodded, and then flew off on their way.

Within the Luxuan Cloud Sea, which bordered the galaxy, lay a spiritual retreat called ‘Heavenly Waters,’ the residence of the Northern Heavenly Mother, Black Spirit Heavenly Venerable. She was one of the Celestial Realm’s reigning Sovereign, Four Emperors, and Five Directions, responsible for suppressing the Celestial Realm’s water veins. Her status was exalted, her cultivation profound, and her disposition extremely peaceful, earning her great respect.

The Northern Heavenly Mother hosted a grand spiritual assembly every thirty years, inviting deities and cultivators from across the world. This primarily included gods who governed lands and protected living beings: widespread earth gods, renowned mountain gods, and various water deity lords. Even dragons, though not strictly relying on divine paths, often oversaw a body of water, so they were frequently invited as well.

Later, as the assembly’s reputation grew, various cultivation paths, including the Immortal Dao, also became interested. The Heavenly Mother simply went with the flow, extending invitations to major cultivation holy lands. Esteemed figures from the myriad schools of thought in the mortal realm were not overlooked, and even some enlightened demon cultivators were courteously invited, making the assembly vibrant and lively.

It must be said that these various Celestial Realm grand events made indelible contributions to the Celestial Realm’s integration into the order of heaven and earth. The Northern Heavenly Mother was undoubtedly a leader and an outstanding figure among them.

The assembly lasted anywhere from one to three months, depending on the specific circumstances. During the gathering, spiritual energy was dense, and celestial stellar power converged, greatly benefiting cultivation. It also served as a disguised venue for discussions on the Dao. However, compared to the former Immortal Wanderer’s Gatherings, the Heavenly Mother’s assembly was richer: it allowed for the sharing of insights on the flow of the world’s spiritual veins, provided knowledge of matters concerning the Celestial Realm’s operations, featured divine maidens leading dances, and offered opportunities to observe various cultivators sparring.

Within the Luxuan Cloud Sea, pavilions now stood amidst swirling clouds and radiant constellations, accompanied by colorful auspicious clouds. Immortal light shimmered, and divine radiance sparkled.

It was just the season of old-new transition, and the assembly had only recently begun, a time when attendees were highly enthusiastic. Many were eagerly anticipating how wonderful this year’s assembly would be.

As a true dragon who had cultivated for countless years, Ying Hong was a distinguished guest wherever he went. At the Northern Heavenly Mother’s assembly, his seat was very prominent on the main platform of the central water pavilion, with celestial maidens attending to him.

Three of the Celestial Realm’s Four Emperors were present, and all Five Directions had arrived. The Divine Sovereign had not appeared for three hundred years, so his seat, of course, remained symbolically empty.

The entire assembly was bustling yet not noisy. It was hardly different from the mortal realm’s New Year celebrations, with a continuous stream of New Year incense offerings from the human world flowing in, making the Luxuan Cloud Sea at this moment even more spectacular.

The Heavenly Mother appeared as a kind-faced, benevolent old woman. She needed no adornment of jewels; her divine charm was inherent. At this moment, she was smiling kindly as she observed various parts of the assembly, where everyone was exchanging greetings.

The Heavenly Mother’s gaze turned to the seats of the various great mountain deities. More had come this year; four of the Five Sacred Mountains’ proper gods were present, and many renowned river deities had also arrived. Her gaze then passed over one spot where no table had been set, the space reserved. Apart from the great deities of the Celestial Realm, if invited guests did not arrive, their place was generally reserved but no seat was set, as it was quick to conjure a table and seat with a spell if they arrived mid-assembly.

The Heavenly Mother knew that her attendants would certainly not make any oversights, but she still turned her face slightly to ask those around her.

“Have emissaries been sent to invite the Great God Lu Wu and the Great God of Southern Marchmount?”

“Responding to the Heavenly Mother, yes, they were invited. Great God Lu Wu was not seen, and the Great God of Southern Marchmount said he would not be attending this year.”

“Hmm.”

The Heavenly Mother then looked towards the Old Dragon, who seemed to be studying the refreshments, and asked with a smile.

“Dragon Lord Ying, I haven’t seen your esteemed daughter, Lady Ying, in a long time. Next time, Dragon Lord, you must help me invite her. If she comes, the number of water spirits and cultivators from all over the world attending the assembly would increase by half.”

The Old Dragon grimaced, thinking to himself that this was precisely why Ruoli didn't bother to come. Nevertheless, he replied courteously.

“Hahaha, I will certainly relay your message.”

The Old Dragon glanced at the main seat in the center; Qin Zizhou’s place was still empty. He couldn't help but grumble inwardly, ‘Old Qin is even better at avoiding affairs than Ruoli.’

After completing her inquiries and fulfilling her courtesies, the Heavenly Mother clapped her hands, sending the sound throughout the assembly. Then, she opened her mouth with a smile.

“I invite the stellar light of the Nine Heavens to cascade down, forming the Silver River!”

The next moment, the Celestial Realm’s starlight converged. Amidst the infinite starlight, a brilliant Silver River materialized before them, incredibly beautiful and dreamlike. Many who had seen it before praised it endlessly, while first-time observers were utterly astonished.

Holding the assembly in such an environment was indeed splendid.

The Old Dragon raised his wine cup, gazed at the beautiful surrounding galaxy, savored the celestial nectar, and offered a faint smile.

‘Heh, what Jiyuan has already done and discarded!’

But at the thought of Jiyuan, the Old Dragon felt a touch of melancholy. Recalling it, while this assembly had its attractions, it was not as interesting as sitting with Jiyuan around the old table at the mountain monastery, eating fish heads and discussing the Dao. The sparring at this assembly could not compare to the beautiful, heart-stirring collision of sea and sky when Jiyuan sparred with his daughter in the dream realm of the Traveling Dream Scroll.

Just like his previous attendances, the Old Dragon mostly just drank wine and watched the ‘performances.’ If someone spoke to him, he would respond, but he rarely initiated conversation.

Just as he was drinking and feeling slightly tipsy, a celestial maiden, leading a yaksha, slowly glided on a flowing cloud from the outer perimeter towards the center, quickly locating the Old Dragon’s seat.

The Old Dragon narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at the yaksha, who quickly approached and bowed to him.

“Greetings, Dragon Lord. The River Goddess has sent me with an urgent message for you, Dragon Lord...”

The latter half of the yaksha’s sentence was whispered into the Old Dragon’s ear. The Old Dragon, who had been somewhat languid, suddenly stiffened upon hearing a name, then quickly turned his head to look at the yaksha.

“Is that true?”

“Absolutely true. It was a message conveyed by an ink-light, and within that light was a ‘small’ character that could move and speak. Its divine essence was remarkable, truly rare!”

A sword-affixed word-spirit! It truly is Jiyuan!

In his excitement, the Old Dragon slapped the table fiercely.

“Thud!”

The surroundings instantly fell silent. Everyone looked at the Old Dragon in astonishment, and then, as if by contagion, the lively atmosphere in large sections of the area cooled down. The Heavenly Mother, in particular, was extremely concerned.

“Dragon Lord Ying, has something happened?”

Even with the Old Dragon’s thick skin, he felt a slight sense of social mortification at that moment. He quickly pointed to the distance ahead and laughed.

“Wonderful! The celestial maidens’ graceful dance is truly spectacular!”

Those nearby exchanged bewildered glances, wondering, ‘Is it really that good?’

“Uh, hahahaha, indeed spectacular!” “Absolutely, absolutely!”

Not long after, the assembly’s atmosphere recovered, remaining bustling and vibrant. It was then that the Old Dragon spoke softly to the Heavenly Mother.

“Venerable Heavenly Mother, my wife has sent a message. I have an urgent matter and must depart first!”

“Naturally, if it’s Dragon Lord Ying’s matter, do you require any assistance?”

“Thank you for your concern, Heavenly Mother. I shall go by myself.”

“In that case, Dragon Lord Ying, please go ahead. Once your matter is settled, you are welcome to return at any time and rejoin the assembly.”

The Old Dragon cupped his hands in a gesture of respect. Since the other party’s courtesy was impeccable, he naturally reciprocated with respect. He then rose and, under the gaze of a few attendees, departed hastily with the yaksha.

No sooner had they left the assembly than the Old Dragon seized the yaksha.

“Your escape speed is too slow. I’ll take you.”

With a whoosh, in the yaksha’s perception, it was like being swept away by lightning-fast wind.