Invincible Starts From Dao Fruit

"Hmm?"

"Someone else came in!"

"Nineteen people? From the same sect?"

"Mobilizing nineteen Upper Immortals in one go—such an extravagant move. I wonder which sect or sacred land they hail from."

...

Chen Jichuan and the other eighteen entered the Treasure Tower. The world transformed, and they found themselves inside a grand hall under a sky full of stars. Within the hall, there were already around twenty individuals. Judging from their auras, all were Upper Immortals. Among them, a few exuded unfathomable energy; their cultivation was inscrutable, likely no weaker than the strongest among the Eight-Armed Immortal of the Eight Extremes Holy Hall.

"Kanli Immortal Xu Yuantong!"

"Seven-Tailed Immortal Fox Su Yazi!"

"Lonely Lamp Immortal Yizhenzi!"

...

Upon entering the hall, Chen Jichuan scanned the crowd, observing the gathered immortals. Most of their backgrounds unraveled before his Insight-laden eyes.

By combining the information gleaned with the intelligence he had gathered from across the Four Directions Heaven over the past twenty thousand years, Chen Jichuan had already discerned the identities and backgrounds of fourteen out of the twenty-three Upper Immortals who had arrived first.

"Brother Eight-Armed, Sister Golden Line, do you recognize anyone in this hall?"

Immortal Wan Ming, after discreetly observing the immortals present, looked towards the Eight-Armed Immortal and the Golden Line Divine Lady. Though his voice was restrained, he did not obscure it from the other Upper Immortals of the Eight Extremes Holy Hall, so even Chen Jichuan could hear it clearly.

"I don't recognize them."

"Not a single one."

Golden Line Divine Lady shook her head and said, "Although I've roamed the Four Directions Heaven, the Chongming Realm is vast, and the Four Directions Heaven is teeming with strong figures. There are also many low-key Upper Immortals across the Ten Heavens. These twenty-three individuals seem unfamiliar to me; I've never encountered them before."

The vastness of the Chongming Realm was beyond mortal imagination.

The Ten Heavens.

The Four Directions Heaven.

The Four Directions Heaven itself was divided into nine layers, and when including the Ninth Layer Heaven, it formed the Thirty-Three Heavens—a scope truly immense.

Even someone like the Golden Line Divine Lady, an experienced Upper Immortal, was far from traversing every mountain and river in the world. Many Upper Immortals cultivated in seclusion within these terrains. With the old stepping back and the new rising to lead in turn, naturally, not every Upper Immortal was acquainted.

Take the Golden Line Divine Lady, for instance.

Though branded as an experienced Upper Immortal, she did not recognize a single one among the twenty-three present.

However, the Eight-Armed Immortal furrowed his brows slightly and remarked, "The one ahead in white robes and silver hair is the Golden Peak Immortal Chen Lan from the Wanlu Sect."

"The Wanlu Sect?"

"It's said the Wanlu Sect was founded by five Upper Immortals. If this person is the Golden Peak Immortal, then those beside him should be the Wood Peak, Water Peak, Fire Peak, and Earth Peak Immortals."

Immortal Wan Ming was somewhat startled at this and glanced at the white-robed, silver-haired 'Golden Peak Immortal' Chen Lan, then at the four people flanking him. His eyebrows twitched subtly.

The Golden Line Divine Lady also appeared surprised, her brows likewise furrowing.

"The Wanlu Sect."

"The Five Peak Immortals."

Chen Jichuan, observing the trio's grave expressions, understood the reason in his heart.

The Wanlu Sect was not particularly renowned, and the reputation of the Five Peak Immortals was not illustrious—a negligible presence in the vast Chongming Realm.

However, this was in comparison to the entirety of the Chongming Realm, even including the Nine Heavens Venerable figures.

Compared to the Nine Heavens Venerable, the Five Peak Immortals were naturally insignificant.

However, when measured against ordinary Upper Immortals, the Five Peak Immortals—each being Six-Pattern Upper Immortals with close ties—were certainly no trifling opponents.

"Somewhat troublesome!"

Chen Jichuan regarded Chen Lan and his four companions, thoughts swirling in his mind.

He then turned his focus to the other immortals in the hall, his gaze lingering momentarily on two men and one woman as he sharpened his vigilance.

Although he had often been in seclusion on Mishen Island over the years, he kept himself informed of worldly affairs and had a general understanding of the many Upper Immortals across the Chongming Realm. Most were of ordinary standard, like himself. However, some were exceptional, standing out even among the Fourth-order Upper Immortals.

For example, the Five Peak Immortals.

The eldest among the five was merely thirty-three thousand years old but already possessed Six-Pattern cultivation. When the five joined forces, they were virtually invincible.

Then there was the Kanli Immortal.

This individual, named Xu Yuantong, traveled across the Four Directions Heaven and mastered the 'Kanli Incarnation Method,' excelling in manipulating flames and fire. Though slightly over thirty thousand years old, he too was a Six-Pattern cultivator.

Or the Seven-Tailed Immortal Fox.

This Fox Immortal had mastered a Secret Technique, enabling the cultivation of seven tails. Whether for combat or for severing a tail in escape, the technique had profound applications, making her exceedingly difficult to handle.

And the Lonely Lamp Immortal.

This middle-aged Daoist, known as 'Yizhenzi,' was a prodigy. Two thousand years younger than Chen Jichuan, he had already reached the Six-Pattern level of cultivation. Known for his solitary demeanor, he was described as 'the Lonely Lamp wielding a single blade, adrift but proud,' emanating a concealed sharpness and resolute power.

...

"The others in the hall are of little concern, but those three and the Five Peak Immortals…"

Chen Jichuan carefully analyzed and deduced strategies for dueling or contending with these eight prominent figures by combining his insights with the intelligence he had gathered over the years.

Meanwhile—

As Chen Jichuan and his companions entered the hall, Xu Yuantong and others also surveyed them. However, though the Eight Extremes Holy Hall wielded some influence within the Star Constellation Sea, they ranked far lower when viewed across the Ten Heavens—a negligible presence in the vastness of the Four Directions Heaven.

Even the most powerful among them, the Eight-Armed Immortal, merely had Five-Pattern cultivation.

Among the twenty or so present in the hall, not a single one recognized their origin; they simply observed silently, remaining on guard.

The Eight-Armed Immortal and his peers refrained from initiating conversation. Instead, they gathered together within the hall. Shifting their attention from the assembled immortals, they eventually noted the intricately carved dragon-and-phoenix columns adorned with divine generals. The pillars supported the great hall, stretching up into the celestial void.

"This is—"

Chen Jichuan focused his gaze for a moment. Without activating the Insight Skill, a deep, majestic voice emanated directly from the pillars into his mind—

"To claim the Treasure Tower, first enter the Chengtian Realm!"

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

Chen Jichuan's mind roared as though a Heavenly God bearing a tower had manifested. A divine dragon coiled beneath his feet, a phoenix perched upon his shoulders, and countless Immortal Soldiers and Divine Generals surrounded him. His aura was incomparably awe-inspiring.

With just a voice and a phantom vision, Chen Jichuan felt utterly suppressed, nearly suffocating under its weight.

"Fourth-order Fourth Realm!"

"Heavenly Ladder Venerate!"

Chen Jichuan's astonishment was evident in his gaze.

Only now did he truly glimpse a fragment of the terror that came with ranking in the Heavenly Ladder Realm of the Fourth Realm.

"To ascend the Heavenly Ladder is to enter the Immortal Realm and achieve eternal life."

"Truly extraordinary."

The divine grandeur of the Tuota Venerable lingered endlessly in Chen Jichuan's mind. His interest in the Tuota Venerable's treasure—the 'Nine Treasures Glazed Tower'—and its associated legacies grew even deeper.

Struggling free from the crushing divine power, he turned to gaze at the Eight-Armed Immortal and the other three. Coincidentally, they also cast their gazes toward him.

"The Tuota Venerable left behind this Nine Treasures Glazed Tower for future generations, but also imposed a trial."

"The eighty-one Chengtian Pillars each contain a barbaric domain with ancient dragons, phoenixes, Immortal Soldiers, and Divine Generals. To acquire the Venerate's legacy, all must traverse its trials left behind by the Tuota Venerable."

Golden Line Divine Lady's eyes shifted as she looked toward the Eight-Armed, Wan Ming, Tian Sha, Wulou, and Chen Jichuan among the Upper Immortals, becoming the first to speak.

Clearly, the information she received from the Chengtian Pillars was identical to Chen Jichuan's.

Chen Jichuan stayed silent.

Through the divine power, he too heard clearly. The Tuota Venerable had constructed the Chengtian Realm, leaving its trials behind like a crucible. Groups of five immortals—forming a hundred in total across twenty cohorts—would activate the Chengtian Realm.

Once inside, countless perils awaited. Upper Immortals would also battle among themselves.

As time passed, the Chengtian Realm would continually collapse, shrinking its boundaries. Those unable to pass the trials or escape the collapsing regions in time would not perish, but they would be severely wounded and exiled into the boundless void.

The vast and infinite void spanned so far that escaping back to the Four Directions Heaven could take centuries, if not millennia, wasting precious time. For Upper Immortals, this might mean losing their chance to step into the Fourth-order Fourth Realm or even the Fifth-order.

For weaker or lower-ranked Upper Immortals, long-term exile in the void could even bring fatal peril.

The Chengtian Realm was anything but simple.

The process involved constant expulsion and elimination, continuing until only a tiny fragment of land remained. Only then, when just one cohort of five Upper Immortals remained, could the Tuota Venerable's legacy be revealed.

Whether the final five would share the legacy or if only one would claim it all, the Tuota Venerable had not disclosed. For now, such concerns were premature.

"Five per cohort, battling each other."

"It seems our advantage in numbers is rendered moot."

The Eight-Armed Immortal shook his head, somewhat regretful.

The Eight Extremes Holy Hall had brought nineteen Upper Immortals for this endeavor, the most of any faction present in the hall. However, the Tuota Venerable's arrangement rendered numeric superiority costly.

They could form three or four cohorts, sending all into the Chengtian Realm.

Alternatively, they could select the five strongest to participate and have them contend against nineteen other cohorts and ninety-five Upper Immortals.

"How should we choose?"

The group exchanged glances. Golden Line Divine Lady broke the silence first, "Once we enter the Chengtian Realm, failure means exile to the void. The weaker one's cultivation, the more dangerous it becomes. I propose we select only five to enter."

"I agree."

Immortal Wan Ming echoed her suggestion.

Seeing both the Golden Line Divine Lady and Immortal Wan Ming express their stance, the weaker Upper Immortals such as Chi Shou and Qiao Zhouzhao reacted with mixed expressions.

Some silently sighed in relief; others felt a surge of frustration.

Choosing only five to enter meant that weaker members like them stood no chance. While this removed the risks of exile in the void, it also excluded them from any opportunity to gain the Tuota Venerable's legacy.

The balance of gains and losses was clear to each individual.

Once the Golden Line Divine Lady and Immortal Wan Ming had spoken, the Eight-Armed Immortal also voiced his agreement. Chen Jichuan remained silent, and the decision was set.

As for the chosen participants—

Golden Line Divine Lady, Immortal Wan Ming, and the Eight-Armed Immortal were the strongest and most senior among them, securing their places without question.

Chen Jichuan, with his numerous disciples and cultivation second only to the three, was the inevitable fourth choice.

The fifth spot, however, proved contentious.

Both Tian Sha and Wulou were Three-Pattern Immortals with roughly equal qualifications and strength, making it difficult to decide.

Ultimately, Immortal Wan Ming made the call, granting the fifth spot to Tian Sha.

...

"Wan Ming cultivates the 'Immortal Sword Preaching Map.'"

"Tian Sha also cultivates the 'Immortal Sword Preaching Map.'"

Chen Jichuan glanced at Wulou Immortal, noting his faint dissatisfaction but subdued silence. Clearly, Wulou Immortal understood that he had lost due to his cultivation art. Tian Sha shared the same cultivation art as Immortal Wan Ming, and if Tian Sha fortuitously obtained the legacy, it could significantly benefit Immortal Wan Ming as well.

Conversely, Wulou Immortal, who cultivated the 'Mountain River Wind and Rain Map,' lacked this advantage.

"The Eight Extremes Holy Hall is ultimately a loose alliance. Not all of its Upper Immortals share deep bonds; distances exist, and personal interests prevail."

Witnessing the scene, Chen Jichuan considered the nuances, refraining from comment.

The chosen five were set. The next step was to imprint their intent onto the eighty-one Chengtian Pillars. Four imprints already adorned the columns; Chen Jichuan's team would become the fifth.

As time passed, more Upper Immortals arrived in the hall.

Some were obscure, others moderately renowned.

Gradually, the Chengtian Pillars filled with imprints—

Six teams.

Seven teams.

Eight teams.

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day—

Boom!

The Chengtian Pillars blazed with light. As twenty teams comprising a hundred Upper Immortals finally assembled, the Chengtian Realm officially opened!

...