The Otherworldly Gathering

Yan Qingcheng's jade-like face was filled with shock, her bright eyes shimmering with disbelief as she stared at Xiao Chen. Her long lashes trembled—she found it utterly insane.

"A mortal's life spans barely a century; this once-in-ten-thousand-years gathering is an opportunity not to be missed in a hundred lifetimes. How could I pass it up?" Xiao Chen sat serenely in the pavilion, divine power surging through him, a fierce battle intent piercing the heavens.

"That would be far too dangerous," the Undying Sect Leader advised, but he knew it would be difficult to change anything. Xiao Chen's power was such that he could look down upon the mortal world from on high, and he would not alter his decision because of another's opinion. Still, it was fortunate that he remained a being of flesh and blood, not so different from before.

"I'm afraid I must ask you both to suffer a little longer and accompany me to the Otherworld gathering."

The Undying Sect Leader and Yan Qingcheng had already prepared for the worst when they were captured earlier, so they were not afraid now.

"Qiu Tian, you will come with me to the Death World."

Using the name of Qiu Tian, Xiao Chen arranged for Yan Qingcheng and the Undying Sect Leader to be safely housed here. Then, taking Qiu Tian with him, he crossed the world barrier and returned to the Ancestral Lord Warship in the Death World.

The moment he manifested, the Ancient Ancestral Dragon and the others approached.

"It really is this fellow," the Old Farmer said, walking around Qiu Tian while gripping the Great Annihilation War Spear. "I dealt with him before. He wasn't exceptionally powerful, but he was an Ancestral God from a previous civilization era. To think he fell at your hands."

Mo Xiaowang, Yan Huang, and the Ancient Ancestral Dragon also came closer. They all recognized Qiu Tian and sighed with mixed emotions.

"If you're going to attend that gathering, you must master this fellow's techniques," the Old Farmer said. His aura suddenly shifted, as if Qiu Tian himself had been reborn. "Fortunately, we all know some of his methods. We'll pass them on to you now."

With their level of cultivation, imitating certain techniques came naturally; they didn't need to deliberately copy them.

Faced with Ancestral God-level divine principles and curse arts, Xiao Chen could only sigh in admiration. Fortunately, there were many physical combat techniques that his terrifying battle body could execute with ease.

"Moon Point Shattering Void!" the Old Farmer bellowed.

This was one of Qiu Tian's signature techniques. A single finger thrust pierced heaven and earth, shattering the cosmos. Finger-force radiated from that central point, annihilating everything—all tangible matter turned to nothingness.

"Sigh of Sorrow!"

Yan Huang also demonstrated a technique, one that combined curse art and physical combat. Hands formed seals, incantations were chanted. A gentle breeze swept past, and a wave of grief enveloped the world. A soft sigh nearly shattered one's divine consciousness.

Xiao Chen could only grasp the surface of this technique, as it involved curse arts requiring powerful spiritual strength—his mental cultivation had not yet touched the Ancestral God realm. However, using his formidable physical body, he could forcefully unleash something resembling divine power. By forming the Imperishable Eternal Seal and sounding any one of the Eight Origin Syllables, the effect was no worse than the Sigh of Sorrow, and might even be stronger.

It was easy to imagine how devastating the combination of the Origin Syllables and hand seals would be once his spiritual realm caught up—a peerless divine ability as worthy of anticipation as the Eight-Aspect Worlds.

Over the next few days, the group worked to transform Xiao Chen into a second Qiu Tian. The Ancient Ancestral Dragon looked at the Ancestral Dragon Drum with great sadness, sighing repeatedly, but in the end said nothing.

Through private information from the Old Farmer, Xiao Chen learned that the Ancestral Dragon refined into the drum was the ancestor of the current Ancient Ancestral Dragon's ancestor.

"This time, we must not only shake the three Supreme Ancestral Gods and kill more than three Otherworld Ancestral Gods, but also rescue all the cultivators of the Nine Provinces and the Four Worlds."

Yan Huang solemnly stated the mission of this expedition.

There was no doubt it would be extremely arduous. In terms of overall power, they were at a disadvantage. Even if they succeeded, it would mean having to abandon the Nine Provinces and the Four Worlds. All cultivators would retreat into the Death World, and no one knew how many years would pass before they could fight back.

Rather than destroying this gathering, it was better to say they were using it as an opportunity to carry out a full-scale strategic retreat.

Finally, the group made preparations for Xiao Chen to successfully infiltrate the gathering. Naturally, this meant using Qiu Tian's body. Xiao Chen possessed half a stone skull, which he could hide inside Qiu Tian's physical shell to avoid detection by any Ancestral God.

The most troublesome problem was how to carry the great killing weapon—the Dead City.

Initially, the several Ancestral Gods had intended to forcibly refine the Primordial Demonic City and seal it within Xiao Chen's acupoint space. But now that they knew the city was not completely dead and silent—that there were still faint life fluctuations—they hesitated. Continuing would put Xiao Chen in great danger. If the sleeping life form within the Dead City suddenly awakened and devoured him, it would be too late for regrets!

"It's fine. I think it's nearly devoid of life. Otherwise, how could it have allowed us to capture the demonic city?" Xiao Chen decided to take the risk. "I possess half a stone skull and two Heavenly Marks, plus thirty War Swords and the formation diagram. Even if it awakens, I can escape in an instant."

The several Ancestral Gods joined forces to refine the Primordial Demonic City. Dazzling divine light illuminated the outer regions of the Death World that day, piercing the death clouds that shrouded the sky and revealing the stars above.

Several Ancestral Gods all sensed divine thoughts probing from the depths of the Death World. Clearly, supremely terrifying beings had sensed what was happening here. However, those thoughts did not move to interfere; they all withdrew silently.

"The Death World is no simple place—it seems to have no end!" the Ancient Ancestral Dragon and the others sighed.

Even at their current power, they had not truly walked into its deepest reaches.

After several days of refinement, the Primordial Demonic City was forged into Xiao Chen's acupoint space.

During those days, Xiao Chen's many acupoint spaces all connected, just to accommodate this demonic city. It wasn't a matter of insufficient space, but that the Dead City's power was too terrifying. Even though it had been sealed by several Ancestral Gods, it still nearly burst Xiao Chen's divine acupoints and shattered his physical body.

When he finally succeeded in containing the Dead City, divine light surged from his entire body. His acupoints connected, and oceanic divine power flowed within him.

And at that moment, the Primordial Demonic City trembled slightly within his acupoint space, unleashing destructive power. The Ancient Ancestral Dragon and Yan Huang immediately changed color. If the Dead City quaked now, Xiao Chen risked being torn apart. Even if he could reform his physical body, under such a great killing weapon, he would surely suffer severe damage to his vital energy.

But the Primordial Demonic City eventually quieted down again, not unleashing its destructive force. Everyone breathed a long sigh of relief.

At the same time, within Xiao Chen's acupoint space, misty vapor gathered. In each acupoint, blurry figures emerged, eventually surrounding the Dead City and sitting cross-legged—as if ancient War Ancestors were meditating and guarding here. Even Yan Huang, the Ancient Ancestral Dragon, and the others looked at each other in confusion, unable to fully explain it.

"The Heavenly Stele Profound Art is truly wondrous."

"Indeed, it is very mysterious."

With a flash of light, Xiao Chen hid himself within Qiu Tian's physical shell, and the Primordial Demonic City was naturally concealed even deeper.

From this moment on, Qiu Tian was Xiao Chen.

Soon, Xiao Chen returned to the South Sea of the Nine Provinces, leading Qiu Tian's forces and the specially dispatched Divine Emissary to set out for the Otherworld gathering.

The Divine Emissary used a special sacred scroll to break through the great world barrier, piercing the shackles of heaven and earth's power, arriving at a misty, chaotic place where primal chaos surged and everything radiated the power of origins.

This was not the final destination. Here, there were several spatial passages leading to a mysterious region.

Otherworld Ancestral Gods had already entered. Xiao Chen looked around and began to traverse the passage.

It was a lifeless space, one of desolation and decay—like an endless great Gobi, bleak and dead. The space was very limited. There was no starry sky, only this silent continent floating peacefully.

Arriving here, Xiao Chen soon learned what kind of place this was. Some Otherworld Ancestral Gods were explaining the background to their younger generations.

This was actually the birthplace of the Otherworld cultivators. Their ancestors originated here. Later, after a heaven-rending, earth-shattering war of annihilation, this world had completely collapsed—the starry sky destroyed, the cosmos returned to primal chaos, all reverted to primordial chaos. Only this remnant continent where they had once lived was preserved by Otherworld powerhouses, sealed here with their divine might as a memorial. The ten-thousand-year gathering was almost always held here.

Now, this originally solitary, broken fragment of a continent gradually became lively as many Otherworld cultivators gathered.

Soon, territories were divided. Xiao Chen and Qiu Tian's forces were in the fifteenth domain, meaning at least fifteen Otherworld Ancestral Gods had come to this gathering.

Although this place was desolate, whenever an Ancestral God descended, the territory they claimed would instantly burst into bloom with flowers and fragrant grass, transformed into a paradise. Such was the supreme power of an Ancestral God—to create life and divine soil at a wave of their hand.

Flowers clustered and flourished. Over the next few days, this ancient continent was restored to life, lush and verdant everywhere. Dried springs began to flow sweetly again, filled with sacred light.

Xiao Chen wanted to investigate how many Otherworld Ancestral Gods were present, but this continent was strangely able to block the spiritual power of Ancestral Gods.

He could not learn exactly how many Ancestral Gods had come. He only saw a few familiar faces in neighboring domains: the Otherworld Ancestral Gods Lan Yufeng, Lulupesi, and Eir.

"Qiu Tian, long time no see. The last incident was truly a misunderstanding." Eir, in his own domain, greeted Xiao Chen. Though they were far apart, distance was merely a symbol before Ancestral God-level power.

Xiao Chen only gave a cold snort in reply. He had to play the role of Qiu Tian well, and to avoid revealing himself, it was best to minimize contact with other Ancestral Gods.

Ancestral Gods rarely moved about, all sitting within their divine domains. But their disciples and followers were not bound by this restriction. At this moment, the ancient continent was bustling with activity—cultivators below Ancestral God level flying everywhere.

"The three Supreme Ancestral Gods cannot descend in person, as they have important duties and cannot leave," a powerful Otherworld Ancestral God presiding over the gathering announced clearly, his voice reaching every corner of the ancient continent. "Furthermore, several of our clan's old ancestors are unable to come in person for certain reasons."

As soon as these words were spoken, murmurs of discussion arose, and even some Otherworld Ancestral Gods began talking softly.

"This gathering has far fewer powerful figures than before. Could something significant be happening in our realm?"

"Several powerful acquaintances of mine have all been recalled. I wonder what change has occurred."

"Indeed, a major event must be brewing."

Just then, the powerful Otherworld Ancestral God presiding over the assembly spoke in a majestic voice: "Everyone, there is no need to worry. No power can shake our realm." Though he revealed nothing, his words radiated a powerful confidence that reassured many.

"I heard recently that someone in our clan has taken that critical step. Could this be related?"

"Very likely. Taking that true final step cannot be smooth sailing. It seems the work is not yet complete, which is why so many strong experts have been summoned back to protect him."

"If that is truly the case, perhaps one day we really can break into the Celestial Realm."

Xiao Chen's heart jolted at this news. Someone in the Otherworld was about to take that final step? This could not be worse news.

At that moment, someone whispered: "I've heard there are problems in the Celestial Realm. It seems some powerful figure is trying to force open the sealed main passage and descend. I wonder if our realm's current mobilization is related to this."

"Something is indeed happening in the Celestial Realm. Perhaps in the near future, a fearsome figure will appear in this world."

This news was not entirely bad for Xiao Chen. Though he did not know the Celestial Realm's clear stance, it offered a glimmer of hope.

The powerful Ancestral God presiding over the assembly spoke slowly, shaking all directions with his voice: "This gathering of ours is mainly to discuss a major issue. I think many have already received word."

"Is it about opening a new battlefield?" an Ancestral God asked.

"Exactly. Where there is light, there is darkness; where there is reality, there is illusion. Everything has its opposite. Beyond the various worlds we can reach, there exists a singular Death World. In truth, the strongest of our clan discovered that world long ago, but we never acted rashly. In a distant age, one of our Supreme Ancestral Gods ventured into that world at his own risk and never returned. It was not until recently that his bones appeared in the Nine Provinces in the form of a warship."

The Otherworld cultivators erupted in commotion. Many below the Ancestral God level were deeply shocked.

"That deceased Supreme Ancestral God was my father!" The presiding Ancestral God spoke these words in a suddenly elevated tone. "Though he perished, he left us very valuable information. We have not yet entered that world, but we have a general understanding of what kind of place it is!"

Rumble! At that moment, the ancient continent trembled violently—it was some kind of terrifying fluctuation coming from the deepest part of the chaos.

"Someone in our realm has begun the final step!" a powerful Otherworld Ancestral God exclaimed.

"He is charging that most critical step!" Every Ancestral God who understood this step was an ancient being, a pinnacle among Ancestral Gods.

That indescribable, ineffable aura shook the heavens and myriad worlds, slamming into everyone's souls. From Ancestral Gods down to the smallest ants, all felt an inexplicable oppression.

The ancient continent quaked; all heavens trembled.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The myriad worlds shook violently!

"No! Someone is blocking our clan's expert from taking that final step!"