The sands of time slipped through the hourglass, marking the passage of five decades!

Fifty years, a lifetime to mortals, yet a fleeting meditation for immortals. But upon the Immortal Continent, in these fifty years, a legend arose!

A tale whispered between the Eastern and Southern Realms, a saga of a Celestial Venerable, cloaked in white robes and crowned with silver hair, accompanied by a golden sea dragon.

He traversed the thirty-odd provinces between the two realms, seeking out Celestial Venerables to challenge!

The combined number of Celestial Venerables in the two realms, including those who spurned the Grand Celestial Venerables’ summons and those secluded from the world, neared a hundred. The Southern Realm, in particular, boasted a far greater number of Celestial Venerables than the Eastern Realm.

For while the Eastern Realm once held the second rank amongst the Immortal Continent’s five provinces, it had waned since the Twin Grand Celestial Venerable’s reincarnated soul splintered once more, becoming the realm with the fewest Celestial Venerables.

This white-clad Celestial Venerable challenged all his peers. Each clash echoed with the roar of creation, shaking the foundations of the realms and becoming known in every sect and clan.

At Nuoyun Province, he battled the ancestral patriarch of the Nuoyun Sect!

At Hailuo Province, he fought the ancestral patriarch of the Dao-Virtue Gate!

At the Nine-Demon Province, he clashed with the ancestral patriarch of the Demonic-Sky Dao!

At the Spirit Dragon Province, he faced Hangtao Celestial Venerable, a lieutenant of Grand Celestial Venerable Daoyi!

At Shanling Province, he fought the Crimson Peak Celestial Venerable, a lieutenant of Grand Celestial Venerable Wufeng!

Each battle, each cataclysmic encounter, etched his legend into the heavens and forged a name upon the lips of immortals!

The White-Haired Celestial Venerable! Few knew Wang Lin’s true name; it was not spread in these legends. Thus, from fragmented clues and whispers of his silvery mane, he was known to all as the White-Haired Celestial Venerable!

The whispers spoke of nearly a hundred challenges, with a score of defeats. Yet, his victories were countless, his fame echoing to the Northern and Western Realms, even to the heart of the Continent, the Central Realm!

Almost every Celestial Venerable in the Immortal Continent knew of the nameless White-Haired Celestial Venerable, possessed of formidable might!

Rumor had it that his final battle occurred in the Shan-Hai Province of the Southern Realm, against the Sea-Child Celestial Venerable. He was defeated! And for years thereafter, he was silent.

“They say the White-Haired Celestial Venerable fought the Sea-Child Celestial Venerable upon the Shan-Hai itself. The battle rent the seas asunder and threatened to collapse the very heavens! This old one was at the edge of the Shan-Hai at the time, witnessing the towering waves and catching glimpses of the White-Haired Celestial Venerable himself!” In a city within the Shan-Hai Province, a haven for cultivators of all sects to trade, an old man in a Daoist robe spoke over a cup of wine in a tavern.

Four or five other cultivators surrounded him, listening intently.

“Alas, the White-Haired Celestial Venerable lost that battle,” the old man sighed, as if he were a close friend of the defeated warrior.

“The Sea-Child Celestial Venerable is said to be on the verge of transcending into the legendary Leap-Celestial realm! Even an unmatched Celestial Venerable would fall before him!” A young cultivator scoffed.

“As everyone knows, the Southern Realm boasts many Celestial Venerables due to the presence of Grand Celestial Venerable Daoyi. He never forces Celestial Venerables into his service. But all Celestial Venerables in the Southern Realm, whether under his banner or not, are welcome to hear his sermons, given once a century at the Daoyi Sect. This is why many Celestial Venerables from the Eastern Realm have come to our Southern Realm.” A middle-aged man with a fan smiled knowingly. “I believe the White-Haired Celestial Venerable’s challenges these past decades were a ploy to attract the attention of Grand Celestial Venerable Daoyi, hoping to be recruited into his ranks.”

“How can you be so sure that Grand Celestial Venerable Daoyi hasn’t already sought out the White-Haired Celestial Venerable? I heard that Grand Celestial Venerable Daoyi offered him a position over fifty years ago, but was rejected.” A black-robed elder, who had been silent until now, glanced at the group and spoke slowly.

“Oh? Is that so!”

The tavern was small, catering solely to cultivators. It offered no food, only the finest wines, famous throughout the region. Its limited supply drew many a patron.

Amidst the murmurs of the cultivators, in a quiet corner of the tavern, a young man in white sat alone, gazing at the sky beyond the windows as he sipped his wine.

He wore silver hair. But in this tavern, he was not the only one. There were perhaps three or five others. The fame of the White-Haired Celestial Venerable had, it seemed, made white hair more fashionable.

Listening to the fragments of conversations around him, Wang Lin set down his cup, a frown creasing his brow. These fifty years had been spent battling numerous Celestial Venerables, building his reputation while gleaning enlightenment from each clash, familiarizing himself with their divine abilities, and striving to become stronger.

Three years ago, he had arrived at the Shan-Hai Province, and challenged the strongest of this place, the Sea-Child Celestial Venerable. Wang Lin had lost that battle! He had unleashed all his avatars, yet still failed.

“The Sea-Child Celestial Venerable can fuse seventy divine abilities into a single finger strike! I am no match for him unless I don the Soul Armor… but if I wear the Soul Armor, I cannot temper myself,” Wang Lin muttered, downing another gulp of wine.

“In these fifty years, after my two avatars fully emerged, I can compress my nine most powerful divine abilities nearly three times! Achieving an effect akin to thirty-six!

“And besides the continuous battles, I have also searched for objects of gold and wood essence. Once these two essences are obtained, my avatars will reach the point where they can condense into true bodies. After the Five Elements true bodies fully merge, my main body can merge eighteen divine abilities into a single fist! Given time to compress, I can become a Celestial Venerable capable of wielding seventy-two divine abilities! Then, I can fight the Sea-Child once more!”

*The legend continues on the next page…*

“The Crimson Peak Celestial Venerable said that at the very bottom of the Shan-Hai lies a Shan-Hai Tree. The entire Shan-Hai is supported by this colossal tree, and the entire Shan-Hai Province is sealed by its soul!”
This ancient tree pulsed with immense power, sealed away by the Celestial Ancestor himself. The act wounded even the Ancestor, yet ages have passed, and the tree’s soul has long since withered, leaving only its immense husk. Within that husk, however, lies a wealth of primordial wood essence. Should I claim it, I could solidify my own wood essence and, at last, manifest my true form!” Wang Lin mused, a thoughtful glint in his eyes as he sipped his wine.

“Since my battle with Hai Zi, the Celestial Sovereign, I have observed this Shanhai Continent. What Red Peak Sovereign spoke of rings true. It seems I must don my Soul Armor, overcome Hai Zi’s guardian, and enter the heart of the tree to absorb its power!” He set down his cup, a resolute fire burning in his gaze, and leaving a scattering of spirit stones, he strode from the tavern.

The city, crafted by cultivators, teemed with their kind. Beyond the myriad shops, stalls were erected, displaying treasures gathered from across the realms.

Wang Lin walked among them, then, in a flicker, vanished. He reappeared high above, preparing to soar onward when his senses stirred. He turned, facing the space behind him.

The air shimmered, reality itself twisting as a towering figure materialized. Ten yards high, draped in a purple robe that concealed all, its face hidden behind a golden mask. An overwhelming pressure emanated from the masked being, rippling through the void like a stone dropped in a still lake.

“Ah, Red Peak Sovereign, herald of the Great Celestial Wufeng!” Wang Lin spoke, his voice calm.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, years have passed. I trust you have considered my offer?” The golden-masked figure seemed to smile, its gaze fixed upon Wang Lin.

Years prior, Wang Lin had clashed with Red Peak Sovereign. Without the aid of his Soul Armor, the battle ended in a draw. Afterwards, Red Peak had sought him out, bearing a message from the Great Celestial Wufeng.

An invitation to join his ranks!

This was the second Great Celestial, after Dao Yi, to express such interest. Wang Lin knew of Wufeng, and he was indeed as the ancient Dao Devil Sect Ancestor had described – transcendent, rarely taking notice of mere Celestial Sovereigns. Only those who could leap beyond that level were worthy of his attention. Those Celestial Sovereigns who did serve Wufeng were exceptional, like Red Peak, who clearly held back during their duel.

‘On that first encounter, Red Peak bore Wufeng’s message, but the Great Celestial did not appear, not even as a wisp of divine sense. He believes my strength is only worthy of a second-hand invitation… In this, he pales compared to Dao Yi, who appeared after witnessing my power in the Soul Armor.’ After a moment’s contemplation, Wang Lin bowed respectfully towards Red Peak.

“Daoist Red Peak, I require more time. I have yet to decide.”

Red Peak showed no surprise at Wang Lin’s polite rejection, but a hint of regret flickered in his eyes. He offered a wry smile.

“Daoist Wang, as Celestial Sovereigns, our status within the Immortal Clan is high. A Great Celestial must offer an invitation in person, I understand this. Before I came, Wufeng instructed me: if you conquer the ninth level of the Celestial Sovereign Nirvana, he will come in person, not as a mere divine avatar! If you have the time, visit that place. If you can overcome the ninth level, any of the five Great Celestials would eagerly seek your allegiance.” Red Peak bowed once more, then his form blurred, fading into nothingness.

Wang Lin stood in silence, gazing at the sky.

“The Celestial Sovereign Nirvana… Dao Yi said he would return if I conquered the ninth level, and Wufeng says the same. What secrets lie within that final trial?”

In the past five decades, Wang Lin had discovered numerous ways to enter the Celestial Sovereign Nirvana, yet he never had. Now, a spark ignited in his eyes.

“I should see what it holds!” (To be continued!)