The Ancestor of All Demons

The Giant Wood God has already brought all the Yin spirits and spiritual bodies in the world to Taishan, guiding them to believe in the Taiyi Rescue Heavenly Venerate, transforming them into the Qinghua Changle Heavenly Realm.

This has already accrued immense merit, but it is still not enough for the Green Emperor.

The Green Emperor's ten incarnations of Heavenly Venerate have appeared throughout the heavens and myriad worlds, converting countless entities over innumerable years, immeasurably vast.

The Giant Wood God desires to go further; the conversion of non-living entities is nearly complete, though new deaths of humans and animals occur daily, it is still not numerous enough.

Next, the focus will be on converting the living!

Among the living, humans are prioritized.

The Daoists believe humans are the most respected and noble among all beings, most suitable for cultivation, of the highest quality.

The Giant Wood God sends his followers to the human world to spread the Dao.

However, the current mainstream belief in the human world is the "National Religion" of State Preceptor Shi Feiyang, endorsed wholeheartedly by the reigning Emperor, leaving only remnants of Buddhist beliefs and traditional Daoist beliefs, which are all rapidly dwindling. Across the lands, the Yuan Yang Venerable is the greatest; irrespective of whether it's a temple or a Daoist temple, even including nunneries and city god temples, the State Preceptor presides, the gods retreat, the largest courtyards, the grandest palaces, the central position of the Main God is invariably reserved for Shi Feiyang, or else one violates contemporary law and faces the destruction of altars and temples.

His people's mission in Shandong, Henan, and Jiangzhe encounters massive resistance immediately.

Firstly, their temple constructions are forbidden everywhere; the young Emperor has long decreed that outside the Yuan Yang Palace of the State Preceptor, no new temples may be built nationwide.

Existing temples, besides a few orthodox ones from Buddhism and Daoism, are labeled as obscene worship, either to be demolished or converted to Yuan Yang Palace.

Moreover, during their teachings, when preaching the Taiyi Rescue Scripture, nobody listens; everyone only loves to hear the tales and legends of the State Preceptor.

The missionaries face setbacks, return to Taishan to report to the Giant Wood God, who, after hearing them, is furious: "That Evil Dragon is clearly preparing to ascend with his followers to Spiritual Space, yet still arrogantly occupies the faith of Central Earth, outrageous! But he defies heaven, ultimately he will face calamity, along with the Outer Heaven Divine Mountain, all above it will turn to dust."

He ponders, then personally writes a letter, sending Lu Yu to deliver it to Shi Feiyang at the Outer Heaven Divine Mountain.

Lu Yu arrives at the Outer Heaven Divine Mountain, astonished at the mobilization efforts there, in the skies, on the ground, on mountains and in the seas, no matter if human, demon, immortal, or mortal, all are busily engaged; some are setting up arrays in the sky, some are cultivating and irrigating on the ground, even newly born merfolk infants are diligently spinning silk.

Moreover, she finds that the entire Outer Heaven Divine Mountain has changed; be it the mountains or people, everything is clearer, full of spiritual energy, fascinatingly smart and beautiful.

Shi Feiyang knows she has come, specifically makes time amidst his busy schedule to see her, receives the letter from the Giant Wood God, opens it to read.

Though the Giant Wood God's words cannot conceal arrogance, the tone is very polite, proposing a condition for Shi Feiyang to cede Central Earth's faith to him in exchange for his help in perfecting the Outer Heaven Divine Mountain for a swift ascension. Since he descended from the heavens, he understands the Spiritual Space Immortal Realm better, even if he contributes little effort, having him as an advisor can avoid many detours, even foresee future dangers in advance.

From the moment Lu Yu arrived, Shi Feiyang guessed his intention, internally prepared.

Though doing this brings him many benefits, forming ties with the Green Emperor, ensuring connections when he reaches the Immortal Realm, he doesn't wish to do so.

He does not want to trade the simple faith of all people in him for anything!

He courteously replies to the Giant Wood God, thanks him for his kindness, and states that he will find his own way for ascension, as for the belief of Central Earth's people, he will not compel them to change.

Moreover, he softly but firmly warns the Giant Wood God, as long as he is present for one day, he will protect the people of Central Plains for one day, normal missionary work to guide faith in the Taiyi Rescue Heavenly Venerate is okay, but if force or deception is used, he will not permit it!

Not only would he disapprove, but the Green Emperor likely wouldn't approve either.

He hands the letter to Lu Yu, then continues to busy himself setting up the Nine Heavens Divine Formation, leaving Shi Zhu to entertain Lu Yu.

The two were originally master and sister apprentices of Great Wilderness Elders for over a thousand years, had mutual support, also had mutual conflict and reconciliation, now Shi Zhu has reincarnated, Lu Yu has sided with the Giant Wood God.

Back then, Lu Yu assisted Shi Feiyang in trapping Elder Kuzhu, later intentionally sabotaged him during his reincarnation efforts, always hoping to see his misfortune.

She has always believed Shi Feiyang's ambition to ascend with the Outer Heaven Divine Mountain is a pipe dream, doomed for failure, thus came to be amused by Shi Zhu.

However, witnessing the various changes of the Outer Heaven Divine Mountain, alongside the united efforts of everyone aspiring to ascend, shocked her.

Unable to jest, she contemplated and decided to advise Shi Zhu: "Since ancient times, there have been those who ascend with their houses, and sects have ascended, but they only circulate in folklore, in our thousand years of cultivation, have you seen any succeed? Even for oneself to ascend to Spiritual Space is incredibly difficult! He intends to bring fish, turtles, crabs, and shrimps here along the ascension, how can there be a path to life?"

Shi Zhu was unconvinced: "For all these years, hasn't the Son of the Green Emperor also sent those insignificant souls up to Changle Heaven?"

Lu Yu laughed after hearing this: "Although Fellow Daoist Shi has extraordinary mana, you ultimately gained the Dao through an unusual path. How can you compare to the Taiyi Rescue Heavenly Venerate? Besides, that Changle Heaven is a Mixed World, similar to Buddhism's Nirvana. Although it's incredibly remarkable, it contains both Heaven Immortals and mortals. After those creatures go there, although they can reincarnate as humans, they are still just ordinary folks. If Fellow Daoist Shi were to take these fish, turtles, shrimp, and crabs up there, although they would still be in animal bodies, they would transform into heavenly creatures like dragons and phoenixes, an auspicious beast. How could this be possible?"

Shi Zhu didn't want to argue with her because he himself lacked confidence, feeling that success was improbable. Even Shi Feiyang himself said the likelihood of success was too small, but it must be tried. Without this optimal strategy, the subsequent less favorable plans are also bound to fail.

The two were at odds; Shi Zhu refused to seek refuge with the Giant Wood God, and Lu Yu no longer persuaded, leaving with Shi Feiyang's letter.

Upon reaching Taishan, the Giant Wood God was furious upon reading the letter: "This vile creature, facing death yet still guarding its food!"

He intended to directly bring disaster to Central Earth, then manifest himself to demand worship from the people, but worried about the consequences of clashing with Shi Feiyang.

Currently, those at the Golden Immortal level in this world are few and far between. He is one, Shi Feiyang is another, and Master Chi Zhang is also one.

Of course, they are all in the Human World, especially Shi Feiyang and Master Chi Zhang, who have not been nurtured by Heaven and Earth, their positions can only be considered as Earth Immortals, but their mana is no less than that of a Golden Immortal.

Shi Feiyang even possesses the Heavenly Mirror, an exquisite treasure, which is indeed difficult to confront.

Besides the two of them, there are Shi Zhu, Elder Shi Pi, and a host of other Heavenly Immortal-level experts. If they were to join forces to attack, he would genuinely be unable to withstand it.

Additionally, there is the troublesome Deng Yin. Though Deng Yin follows the Demon Path and not the immortal business, his technique divine power is also an extremely difficult opponent.

From ancient times, demons have not been distinguishable, Shi Feiyang, this Dragon Demon, and Deng Yin, the Blood Demon, always have unclear relations. If a real fight broke out, they might join forces to besiege him...

The Giant Wood God calculated again and again, but dared not act.

Ultimately, he decided to wait until Shi Feiyang's ascension attempt failed before making his way to the Central Plains to change the faith of the people.

He also prepared to observe closely at that time, preserving Shi Feiyang's dragon bone to bring back to Central Earth. In the future, he planned to build a Fulong Palace specifically to display to everyone how Shi Feiyang, this dragon spirit, step by step disguised himself to become a State Preceptor.

He remained inactive, while Deng Yin and the Princess of Stone God urgently cultivated the "Blood Buddha Scripture."

Both sides settled down, and the entire world fell into a peculiar quiet.

Only the ordinary people on Central Earth remained oblivious, going about their daily routines, unaware that a massive event deciding their future fate was brewing, with relentless undercurrents.

Shi Feiyang spent three years and nine months completing all the preparations.

Atop the Outer Heaven Divine Mountain, the Nine Layers Immortal Array was set up, with 360 magic wells established around it, each housing nine Secret Demon Divine Shuttles from the Heavenly Stars.

Within the mountain, Qiantian Pure Yang Fire served as the Earth Core Divine Flame, while outside, a magnetic field formed by Two-Pole Primordial Magnetic True Energy.

Over the years, the Qiankun Furnace had been continuously working, extracting countless star debris from space, refining and collecting the useful Five Elements Energy, Nine Heavens Pure Spirit Qi, and other essential elements for various engineering constructions, leaving the impurities to build nine island mountains in Antarctica, almost filling an expanse of sea.

Finally, Shi Feiyang chose an auspicious day from the Yellow Path, ready to ascend!

He sent someone to call Elder Shi Pi back, as he also had to ascend together.

Lin Han remained in Central Earth.

Since Lin Han remained the most excellent disciple under Shi Feiyang, his Yang God was exceptionally pure, second only to the original Shi Sheng, with deeper nurturing skills and higher mana, he was the easiest to ascend.

Central Earth still needed someone to guard it. Shi Feiyang left him there, so that if he and his sect successfully ascended to the Spiritual Space Immortal Realm, Lin Han could ascend on his own and reunite with Shi Feiyang in heaven.

If Shi Feiyang's ascension failed and he was knocked down, naturally, they would reunite. If he directly turned to dust in space, Lin Han, as his legacy bearer, could remain in the Human World or ascend to Heaven alone. In any case, this was the safest and most prudent way.

When the day arrived, Lin Han wanted to come to Antarctica to send him off. Shi Feiyang knew that once he left, Central Earth would undergo changes, so he instructed Lin Han to remain stationed in the Capital, not to go anywhere. Lin Han could only calculate the date and tearfully offer his farewell remotely from the Capital, knowing that if Shi Feiyang succeeded, they would soon reunite in Heaven, but he also knew that the possibility of success was exceedingly low, almost nonexistent!

Nearly everyone held this view, including the Emei Sect and Kunlun Sect, along with the Wudang Sect. They did not join the Outer Heaven Divine Mountain, instead expressing their regrets, feeling that Shi Feiyang cultivated too diversely. If he had chosen an area early on for secluded cultivation, discarding all the chaos and focused solely on the Pure Yang Heavenly Immortal Position, he would have ascended early on, without needing to take such a great risk.