Among the nine domains, this was the only one capable of receiving the Spirit Gods descending from the Celestial Spirit Continent; this domain was the very heart of the entire Tai Zun Spirit Realm.
“This is it.” As the first rays of dawn broke, two figures suddenly materialized at the edge of the domain.
They were none other than Nie Kong and the Seven-Colored Tai Zun.
It had been exactly one month since Nie Kong had stepped out of the ‘Seven-Colored Immortal Domain.’
After a quick sweep of the surroundings, a glimmer of understanding dawned in Nie Kong’s eyes.
The Central Domain was indeed unique. In the other eight domains, there were only two colossal pillars of snowy white jade, with a vortex-like Gate of the Domain situated between them. However, in this Central Domain, four massive pillars stood side-by-side, framing two vortex Gates of the Domain. Currently, both gates remained static and sealed.
Before setting out, Nie Kong had already heard the Seven-Colored Tai Zun explain.
The gate on the left led to the Outer Heaven; it opened only once every ten years. The gate on the right led to the Celestial Spirit Continent, which had been sealed by the Wood Ancestor after operating for ten thousand years.
“They are here!”
Suddenly, the brow of the Seven-Colored Tai Zun twitched slightly, and he cautioned in a low voice, “Remember what your master told you: you need not force the acquisition of the ‘Primal God Crystal.’ The ‘Chaotic Immortal Qi’ within the Grotto-Heaven is what truly matters.”
“Yes, Master.” Nie Kong solemnly nodded. The Primal God Crystal was elusive, a faint hope to find, but for him, the ‘Chaotic Immortal Qi’ was the key.
Tens of seconds later, two figures drifted down successively outside the domain.
The first to arrive was a woman, her snow-white skirt trailing on the ground, her features exquisitely drawn. Her skin was tender and soft, and a charming smile played on her face, making her appear like a girl of sixteen or seventeen.
Following behind her was a burly old man, his circle of patchy, white stubble around his jaw particularly striking.
As the two appeared, their gazes immediately settled upon Nie Kong.
“Oh?”
The smile on the corner of the maiden’s lips receded slightly, showing a hint of surprise.
The old man who walked up beside her also paused, but the strange expression on both their faces vanished swiftly. Their eyes shifted toward the Seven-Colored Tai Zun, and they bowed in reverence: “Zi Bi (Yi Yang) pays respects to the Tai Zun!”
“That woman is Zi Bi Divine Venerable, the foremost among the Five Great Divine Venerables…” Nie Kong’s eyes flickered as his gaze moved to the burly old man. Within the memories he had absorbed, there were fragments concerning Yi Yang as well. He too was a Ninth-Grade Spirit God, second only to Zi Bi Divine Venerable in power at the Grand Beginning Celestial Mansion.
“Hmm!”
The Seven-Colored Tai Zun nodded slightly, his expression calm. “For the opening of the Outer Heaven this time, will Senior Brother Chong Xu still not come?” Chong Xu, Thunder Dragon, and Seven-Colored—these three supreme powerhouses among the Spirit God faction—always addressed each other as martial brothers based on the time of their promotion to the Tai Zun realm, regardless of seniority.
Zi Bi Divine Venerable replied with a smile, “Reporting to the Tai Zun, the Ancestor is still immersed in comprehending the Grand Unity Great Dao and cannot spare the time. When I left Grand Beginning Mountain, the Ancestor mentioned that with Senior Seven-Colored, Senior Thunder Dragon, and the two Tai Zuns of the Star-Coiling Clan presiding over the opening of the Outer Heaven, it would be sufficient.”
“…”
The Seven-Colored Tai Zun nodded and said no more.
Zi Bi Divine Venerable’s gaze then shifted back to Nie Kong, her smile blossoming like a flower, “This must be Brother Nie Kong? A year ago, when Brother Nie Kong entered the Tai Zun Spirit Realm, he was only a Sixth-Grade Spirit God. I never expected that in just one short year, he would already be a Ninth-Grade Spirit God. Truly cause for celebration.”
As she spoke, Zi Bi Divine Venerable’s face was sincere, seemingly unconcerned with the events that transpired in the Divine Void Realm back then.
“Just a bit of luck,” Nie Kong replied with a perfunctory smile. Hearing her words, it sounded like genuine congratulations for his rapid cultivation leap, but if he took it seriously, he would be a fool.
“Brother Nie Kong is joking,” Zi Bi Divine Venerable chuckled lightly upon hearing this. “With Brother Nie Kong joining this time, the competition for that final spot will surely be much more thrilling.”
“…”
After a few exchanges of empty pleasantries, the edge of the domain finally settled into silence.
The Spirit God faction was allotted six slots to enter the Primal Grotto-Heaven. The Five Great Divine Venerables occupied five of those spots, leaving the remaining Ninth-Grade Spirit Gods to vie for the last one.
Only the ultimate victor would earn the qualification to enter the ‘Primal Grotto-Heaven.’
Calculating this, Yi Yang was one of Nie Kong’s rivals.
Nie Kong narrowed his eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching his lips. He had long noticed that although Yi Yang had remained silent, he had been subtly observing Nie Kong all along.
Encountering him here, Yi Yang must be utterly shocked.
Prior to this day, Yi Yang could never have imagined that Nie Kong could advance from a Sixth-Grade Spirit God to a Ninth-Grade Spirit God within a single year.
“Whoosh!”
A moment later, a dark silhouette flashed into existence from thin air.
This person was clad in a black robe, with a young and handsome appearance, but his skin was as pale as paper, as if he had just crawled out of a coffin, utterly devoid of color.
“Dark Night Divine Venerable!”
Nie Kong inwardly smiled. As this fellow appeared, the surrounding sky seemed to dim slightly.
“Paying respects to the Tai Zun.”
Upon seeing the Seven-Colored Tai Zun, Dark Night Divine Venerable started slightly, seeming very surprised. But when his gaze landed upon Nie Kong, his deep pupils suddenly rippled, and two plumes of black mist churned violently within them, looking as if they could erupt at any moment, turning the daylight into night.
However, in just an instant…
Dark Night Divine Venerable’s eyes returned to calm. He nodded to Zi Bi Divine Venerable and Yi Yang beside him before moving to the side and sitting down cross-legged.
Nie Kong was surprised that Dark Night Divine Venerable had managed to quell his anger so quickly, and he couldn't help but feel a touch of emotion.
Back on the Celestial Spirit Continent, Nie Kong had thwarted Dark Night Divine Venerable’s schemes. To delay retribution, Nie Kong had even tracked Kou Xi Lai and others into the Divine Void Realm… Who could have predicted then that only a year or two later, the immense gap between Nie Kong and Dark Night Divine Venerable would be completely erased?
Now, they stood on equal footing, not just in strength but also in status.
Yet, Nie Kong knew clearly that if it weren't for concern for his Master, Dark Night Divine Venerable would surely have engaged him already. Of course, even if his Master were absent, Nie Kong would not fear him.
Nie Kong withdrew his gaze, a mocking smile curving his lips.
Subtly, Nie Kong caught the sight of Dark Night Divine Venerable’s chest visibly rising and falling several times before his composure settled again, as if he were struggling to suppress something intense.
“Whoosh!”
“Whoosh!”
“…”
Subtle fluctuations occasionally rippled through the void as figures appeared one after another.
After about fifteen minutes, four more figures joined Nie Kong, the Seven-Colored Tai Zun, Zi Bi Divine Venerable, Yi Yang, and Dark Night Divine Venerable outside the Central Domain.
One of them was gaunt, his scalp completely bald, and a long, dark-red scar ran diagonally from his left cheek down to his collarbone, resembling a thick earthworm, extremely conspicuous.
This was Dan Tian Divine Venerable of the Pill Immortal Sect.
There was also a man in white robes, four to five meters tall, with sharply defined features, long hair cascading to his waist, and a small azure dragon coiled around his arm.
This man was Hai Long Divine Venerable of the Sea Clan.
“Swoosh!”
Another figure stepped out of the void. This was a portly middle-aged man with kind features and an ever-present, benevolent smile, looking exactly like the Maitreya Buddha from Nie Kong’s past life.
“Le Shan pays respects to the Tai Zun.”
Like the other Ninth-Grade Spirit Gods before him, he first bowed to the Seven-Colored Tai Zun upon arrival, then nodded to Zi Bi Divine Venerable and the others.
“Le Shan?”
Nie Kong’s heart skipped a beat; this person was Le Shan Divine Venerable…
With his arrival, all five great Divine Venerables of the Tai Zun Spirit Realm were finally assembled.