"This era is the Eternal Era. What virtue or merit does the Lingxiao Heavenly Court have to claim the highest position of the Heavenly Court? I'm afraid the title doesn't match the reality," Yi Tianxing said decisively after a brief pause."Why should the Lingxiao Heavenly Court automatically occupy the supreme status just because it has carried over from the previous era? What merit have they earned? What qualifications do they possess?"
"Just because they survived from the last epoch? I absolutely do not accept that."
"Indeed," said Queen Mother of the West slowly, "the Heavenly Court is one of the highest authorities of the Eternal Era. Even the Lingxiao Heavenly Court is merely the Heavenly Court of the ancient era. According to what I know, once the Heavenly Court reemerges, it will be downgraded to the Lingxiao Immortal Court. In name, it will govern the Central Heaven Territory ( Zhongyu Tianzhou) among the Nine Heaven Province. From there, it will expand its influence to the rest of the realms, attempting once more to attain the position of the Heavenly Court."
In the Eternal World, there are only nine Heaven Province . For the ancient Heavenly Court to claim one of them — even as a downgraded Immortal Court — shows it still retains enough might to suppress all corners of the world.
"May I ask, Fellow Daoist, what is the mystery behind all this?" Yi Tianxing asked solemnly. He could sense this matter held extraordinary significance.
Queen Mother of the West gave a calm smile. "Since we meet today, I will hold nothing back. While I may not know much about the Path of Destiny Courts (Yunchao), some things I've come to understand from fellow Daoists.From what we deduce: a Destiny Court can ascend naturally from a village to a Sacred Court, provided it accumulates enough strength and fortune and is recognized by Heaven and Earth.But once a court reaches the Sacred Court level, ascending beyond that becomes far more difficult."
"You need not only vast fortune — you must also possess an Ancestral Vein. Without an Ancestral Vein as your foundation, you cannot ascend to become an Immortal Court."
"What? An Ancestral Vein is required to ascend?"Yi Tianxing's expression darkened."In the Eternal World, only the Nine Heaven Province contain Ancestral Veins. That means only those who seize one of those territories are even eligible to become an Immortal Court.In other words, only nine such courts can exist — an extremely brutal limitation."
"Wait. Doesn't Kunlun Mountain contain one too?" Yi Tianxing asked.
"Indeed. Kunlun contains the Myriad Spirits Ancestral Vein.If a court can harness Kunlun's vein, it could also ascend. However, Ancestral Veins cannot be claimed by just anyone.Moreover, they are not limited to the Nine Heaven Province. If you can find another Ancestral Vein through fate or fortune, then even without seizing a Heaven Territory, you can still ascend to an Immortal Court."
"Whether Immortal Courts can be born depends on the capabilities of each Destiny Court.Even if the general belief is that only nine can exist, it's not necessarily the final limit. More could rise."
Still, Yi Tianxing could already envision a future bathed in blood. Many Destiny Courts would fight to the death to obtain the qualifications to become an Immortal Court. Entire nations may collapse in the struggle.
This is what it means to walk the Great Dao: either you die, or I do. There is no third path.
"And if becoming an Immortal Court is that hard — how unimaginably difficult must it be to ascend to the Heavenly Court itself?"
Yi Tianxing took a deep breath and looked toward the Queen Mother of the West.
"That, I'm afraid, is unclear," she replied."Rumors say it's related to the Ancient Everlasting Continent (Henggu Dalu). To become a Heavenly Court, one may need to enter it, or fulfill some other condition. The specifics are only known to the court itself.At the very least, the current Lingxiao Immortal Court does not meet the requirements."
"Fellow Daoist, is there any other way to create an Ancestral Vein?" Yi Tianxing asked, eyes shining.
"An Ancestral Vein is formed from the essence of Heaven and Earth, a product of supreme fortune.In essence, it is an evolved form of a Innate Spiritual Vein. While a spiritual vein produces innate spiritual energy, an Ancestral Vein contains an entirely different level of origin essence.
For example:
The Myriad Spirits Ancestral Vein in Kunlun contains the Origin of All Living Beings.
The Clear Spirit Heavenly Vein in the Central Heaven Territory contains the Essence of Clear Spirit.
The Longevity Ancestral Vein in the Dongsheng Shenzhout holds the Essence of Longevity.
If you have great fortune and the right opportunity, you could evolve an Innate Spiritual Vein into an Ancestral Vein.In that case, even without a Heaven Territory, you could ascend to an Immortal Court."
What sounds simple in theory is unimaginably difficult in reality. It requires endless rare treasures, vast karmic fortune, and the will of Heaven itself. You cannot force it — only grasp it when it comes.
Still, Yi Tianxing was thrilled.
He remembered: in Xuanhuang Immortal City, the twelve zodiac beings are each tied to an Innate Spiritual Vein — twelve in total.
If fate allows it, they may evolve into true Ancestral Veins.
While the Nine Province are worth fighting for, cultivating your own Ancestral Vein is not impossible.
You must prepare on both fronts — and fortune may favor you.
The Queen Mother glanced at Yi Tianxing. She knew what he was thinking.Her avatar had visited Xuanhuang Immortal City before and could sense the presence of Innate Spiritual Veins there. That alone was worth risking everything for.
Especially as an Emperor — even a sliver of possibility could not be ignored.
But she said nothing more.
"Fellow Daoist," Yi Tianxing asked suddenly, "did Hao Tian participate in the previous era's war?"
"Yes," she replied."Back then, the Primordial Continent and Eternal Night were at all-out war. Led by Martial Ancestor and the Eternal Ark, we launched counterattacks into Eternal Night.At the same time, Eternal Night struck at the Primordial Continent."
"The Heavenly Court was one of the main forces resisting their invasion. Countless immortals and gods died. The Immortal Transformation Pools ran endlessly, drawing souls from the underworld to forge new celestial bodies — all to form divine soldiers for the war."
The Queen Mother of the West took a deep breath. Her eyes turned solemn.
That war lasted for eons.
It was unimaginably brutal.
All kinds of killing formations — the Twelve Divine Fiend Array, Grand Stellar Formation, Immortal-Slaying Formation, Ninefold Yellow River Array — were unleashed.
In the end, even the outer defense systems of the Primordial Continent were shattered. The war raged into the stars, into the chaos itself. Deaths were uncountable.
Even Hao Tian perished in that battle.
If not for preparations made beforehand — merging all realms, borrowing illusion and fate — Hao Tian, the Three Pure Ones, and even the Queen Mother herself would not exist today.
This era… is the final chance.
There will be no more do-overs.
Either Eternal triumphs, or Eternal Night swallows all.
And once dead, there's no coming back.
Thus, every powerhouse is fighting desperately to grow stronger. All peoples, all races, are striving with everything they have.
"Hao Tian remaining in charge of the Lingxiao Immortal Court is likely a result of the legacy he left behind in the previous era," Yi Tianxing admitted.He had nothing to say to that.They had bled for Eternity. They had slain its enemies.With that merit and their remaining foundation, Hao Tian's ascension was well deserved.
But that didn't mean he would give up.Though Dayi lacked such deep roots, he believed — someday — he would catch up, even surpass Hao Tian.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist. Without this conversation, I might've gone through many hardships before uncovering these truths."
Yi Tianxing bowed sincerely.
"No need to thank me," said the Queen Mother with a faint smile. "In truth, I invited you here today to ask a favor.One that may trouble you."
Yi Tianxing's heart skipped a beat. He had sensed there was more to this meeting than idle chat. These secrets of Heaven wouldn't be shared freely otherwise.
Still, there was no backing out now.
"Please speak, Fellow Daoist. If it is within my power, I will assist."
He smiled calmly, then asked, "Does it concern Donghuang Taiyi?"
The Queen Mother replied:
"Donghuang Taiyi — the Eastern Emperor, ruler of the demon race, one of the two emperors of the ancient Demon Court, alongside his brother Dijun. A peerless powerhouse. Of course you know of him."
Indeed, no one could not know his name.
Donghuang Taiyi was one of the founding patriarchs of the demon race, revered even today. When the demon race recently reemerged, they brought with them a divine blessing — a vast wave of Imperial Nectar, which caused a great resurgence.
Their fortune has grown rapidly ever since — a force not to be underestimated.
"Not long ago, Donghuang Taiyi invited Nuwa to visit, and then sent her to me — to propose marriage. He wishes to take me as his empress."
Her expression was unreadable, but her voice carried a trace of coldness.