When Pei Xuanjing and the others entered the Spirit Realm Cave Heaven, a Heavenly Court Prototype refined by Zhu Houji, what came into their sights was a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
The colorful clouds like mist and smoke were scattered, the sun and moon shimmering. Thousands of ancient cypresses, wet with rain, dyed the mountains a lush green; countless bamboo segments, enshrouded by mist, displayed an endless grey. Exquisite flowers spread like a brocade, fragrant grass grew by the bridgeside. Red peaches on the ridge were splendid like brocade, and soft grasses by the cave door grew long like emerald silk.
At times, the cry of immortal cranes could be heard, and the auspicious phoenixes seen soaring. When the cranes called, their voices resonated far into the nine layers of sky; where the phoenixes soared, their feathers shone with the radiance of five-colored clouds. The White Deer and the mysterious apes appeared and disappeared, while the green lions and white elephants roamed freely.
"Is this a top-level Spirit Realm Cave Heaven?" Pang Hong murmured as he looked at the scenery around him.
It wasn't that Pang Hong's experiences were limited; as the Junior Leader of the Shenxiao Sect, he had visited many other forces and entered their Spirit Realm Cave Heavens. Not to mention others, even the Shenxiao World, a domain opened by the Shenxiao Sect's Pei Xuanjing, could also be considered a Spirit Realm Cave Heaven.
However, among so many Spirit Realm Cave Heavens, if we were to purely discuss the scenery, none could compare with this place.
Zhu Houji said with a smile, "Brother Pang, you may not be aware, but this Spirit Realm Cave Heaven was created when several Masters of the Ancient Human Race pooled the strength of the entire human race. It was an attempt to construct an Immortal Heavenly Court for the ultimate foundation of our race, and the resources expended in the process far exceed imagination."
The debate whether the ancient times were better than the present, or vice versa, is a never-ending topic within the Cultivation World between Heaven and Earth.
Some say that the ancient sages had paved the way with brambles and thorns, carving the path of cultivation from nothing. Their methods were both ancient and powerful.
Others believe the methods of the ancient sages were merely the foundation, and that later generations have been continuously perfecting them, naturally surpassing the old.
The debate continues on this matter, but there's a unified understanding regarding another fact: the further back in time you go, the more resources were available between Heaven and Earth.
Therefore, even if the Spirit Realm Cave Heavens were all top-level, those left by ever older powerhouses contained more abundant resources and Spiritual Materials.
Back in ancient times, when the Common Masters of the human race wielded command over the entire race, their decree to create a Spirit Realm Cave Heaven naturally garnered the support of many powerful individuals among the human race, and countless treasures and Spiritual Materials were brought into it.
Moreover, this was not the work of a single Common Master, but spanned the eras of several Masters. They continuously invested massive amounts of energy and resources, resulting in a Spirit Realm Cave Heaven that even the top forces that have existed for millions of years and the present-day immortal sects find difficult to match.
"If that were not the case, how could there be a plan to become the Heavenly Court in the hearts of many Common Masters of the human race?" Zhu Houji said with a sigh, remembering how astonished he was when he first entered.
At this moment, he had no intention of hiding the true purpose of this Spirit Realm Cave Heaven, for sooner or later, more people would come to know of it.
"Heavenly Court?" Pang Hong's expression changed slightly as he repeated.
He hadn't paid much attention when Zhu Houji first mentioned the Immortal Heavenly Court, but now, hearing Zhu Houji repeat it so earnestly, Pang Hong was somewhat shocked.
As a disciple of Pei Xuanjing, he was familiar with many of his master's thoughts, especially after the establishment of the Shenxiao World domain, and he was also aware of his master's plan to create a Heavenly world.
So, he couldn't help but look at Pei Xuanjing and say, "Master, does this not perfectly coincide with your plans?"
"Master Pei also has plans to create a Heavenly Court?" Zhu Houji was taken aback, as he had never heard Pei Xuanjing mention this information.
"Heavenly Court?" Wang Boan glanced at Pei Xuanjing, feeling admiration for the latter's grand ambition.
He had only learned about the concept of the Heavenly Court after entering this Spirit Realm Cave Heaven and from what the Emperor had said.
Now, he was surprised to find that the national advisor had already harbored such plans, aiming to enable all beings to achieve immortality.
"Heavenly Court." Wu Shijiu mulled over the term, lost in thought as to what else it could mean.
As for the Deer Elder, his reaction was the most ordinary; he was indifferent to whatever Pei Xuanjing wished to pursue. Whatever his lord endeavored to do, he would wholeheartedly follow.
"You could say that," Pei Xuanjing replied with a smile, nodding his head.
The group then directly entered the core area of this Spirit Realm Cave Heaven, before a vast and continuous expanse of palaces.
"This is the core of this Spirit Realm Cave Heaven, the Heavenly Palace constructed by the great efforts and resources of many Human Race Common Masters," Zhu Houji introduced to the others.
A Heavenly Palace arranged according to the Celestial Arrays, continuous and uninterrupted palatial jade buildings, pavilions, terraces, and towers. Even though it wasn't their first time seeing it, the shock and awe in the eyes of Zhu Houji's companions were hard to diminish too much.
Zhu Houji had once thought that his Divine Dynasty's Forbidden City was a grand architectural wonder rarely seen in the world, but it paled in comparison to this Heavenly Palace.
"Vast and majestic, magnificent…" Pang Hong's eyes were filled with amazement.
Bright dawn lights reflected the heaven's glow, and the bluish mist clouded the Big Dipper.
"The Common Masters of the Ancient Human Race were indeed formidable," Pei Xuanjing said, looking at the palaces in front of him that resembled a fantastical realm of jade towers, almost resembling a prototype of the Heavenly Court in his own imagination.
As the group approached a palace shrouded in an ancient and mystic aura, Zhu Houji said, "Master Pei, this is the core palace of this Spirit Realm Cave Heaven."
After the group stepped into the palace, it was as if they had entered another realm. Pei Xuanjing suddenly frowned and said, "This palace itself is another Spirit Realm Cave Heaven?"
As one who had opened up a Small Thousand World and once again recreated a Mystical Land of Blessings within a life simulation, ascending it to a Cave Heaven, Pei Xuanjing was extremely knowledgeable about the characteristics of both the Blessed Land and the Cave Heaven.
Therefore, the moment he stepped into this palace, he immediately sensed a change in the space, as if he had entered an independent space.
"Master Pei indeed has a discerning eye and noticed the subtlety in an instant. It took me much longer after entering this place to realize it," Zhu Houji said with uncontrollable excitement, speaking eagerly, "That's right, this is an independent Spirit Realm Cave Heaven."
A top-level Spirit Realm Cave Heaven harboring another within it was unimaginable. Thus, Zhu Houji instantly understood the great advantage he held and was why he persistently refused to yield and dared not expose this secret.
Pei Xuanjing, seeing the other's expression, made a guess in his heart. Considering the other palaces he had seen earlier, he inquired, "What about the rest of the palaces? Are they the same?"
Seeing so many Heavenly Palace halls here, even without counting deliberately, one could tell there were well over a hundred. This was the core area of the Spirit Realm Cave Heaven, forming a new Spirit Realm Cave Sky. If this was not accidental, then it likely meant the other palaces could be in the same situation.
"Indeed!" As Zhu Houji spoke,
Everyone present wore expressions of shock, whether it was Wang Boan and Wu Shijiu, who were already in the know, or Pang Hong and Deer Elder, who had only just understood, they all found it hard to hide the astonishment in their hearts.
Pei Xuanjing also showed a look of surprise, realizing just how extensive the legacy and gift left behind by the Ancient Human Race Common Master were.
Not to mention the rest, if each of these hundred-plus palaces was a Spirit Realm Cave Heaven, it meant that over a hundred Supreme Strong could refine the Spirit Realm Cave Heavens and embark on the Earth Immortal Path of Becoming Immortal.
Even if one were to use the current popular method of the "Pinduoduo" alliance to achieve the Dao, the number of Supreme Strong who could have a chance to become immortal might increase several times over.
"It's not as Master Pei thinks, there aren't that many," Zhu Houji hurriedly said.
Here, there were a total of one hundred and eight main halls, laid out according to the cosmic positions of the 36 Heavenly Gangs and the 72 Earthly Fiends. According to the information he controlled, only the 36 Heavenly Seal halls were Spirit Realm Cave Heavens, while the other 72 Earthly Fiend halls were Mystical Lands of Blessings.
One should know that crafting a Spirit Realm Cave Heaven was no easy feat, even in the Ancient times when the Human Race Common Master had the aid of the entire human race, creating a Spirit Realm Cave Heaven was still not easy.
Moreover, the intentions of these Human Race Common Masters were grand, wishing to build a Heavenly Palace, naturally striving for perfection. Hence, they preferred quality over quantity, resulting in such a sturdy construction.
"Thirty-six small Cave Heavens, though numerous, the figure is not too provocative to attract prying eyes," Pei Xuanjing's face softened a bit.
Just now, when he thought there might be over a hundred Spirit Realm Cave Heavens, he was genuinely so stunned that he almost couldn't cope. Even with Pei Xuanjing's current invincible status, having mastered the Immortal Path, he knew very well that this interest was too great, so great that he couldn't possibly protect Zhu Houji.
There are so many Supreme Strong in this world, and they have a tremendous desire for becoming immortal. Once they learn of the existence of so many Spirit Realm Cave Heavens here, they will inevitably swarm here.
Despite Pei Xuanjing's strength, these Supreme Strong wouldn't pose any threat to him, but they would threaten the disciples of the Shenxiao Sect–he wasn't alone.
Moreover, these Supreme Strong weren't isolated individuals; they had more or less connections with numerous True Immortals, and True Immortals weren't loners; they had descendants and kin who also needed these Spirit Realm Cave Heavens.
Even if Pei Xuanjing's power was peerless, capable of defeating any True Immortal, it was utterly impossible for him to face so many at once.
Luckily, there were only thirty-six Spirit Realm Cave Heavens. Though not a small number, with Pei Xuanjing's suppression, it definitely wouldn't make him a target for all, at least it wouldn't trigger a mass assault.
"However, even so, your majesty cannot monopolize thirty-six Spirit Realm Cave Heavens," Pei Xuanjing said to Zhu Houji, "If you truly wish to avoid any jealousy and prying eyes, you must be willing to part with some."
Pei Xuanjing could certainly help Zhu Houji retain the thirty-six Spirit Realm Cave Heavens if he were willing, but in truth, this was meaningless.
Because not only was there no need for Pei Xuanjing to do so, but more importantly, with the power and resources of the entire Great Ming Divine Dynasty, let alone thirty-six Spirit Realm Cave Heavens, even supporting one such Cave Heaven was not easy.
The Earth Immortal Path is, without a doubt, the most resource-intensive route among the methods of Becoming Immortal, and even those top forces with thousands of years of accumulation could support only a few Spirit Realm Cave Heavens.
Even though the Great Ming Divine Dynasty now has vast territories and resources as vast as seas and mountains, compared to what is needed to support the Spirit Realm Cave Heavens, they are but a drop in the ocean.
Moreover, if he wanted to fully develop this Spirit Realm Cave Heaven into a Small Thousand World, the resources needed are beyond measure.
"Master Pei need not do this, I have long been prepared for all this," said Zhu Houji, his face showing no displeasure but rather as if he had long been prepared.
In fact, at the beginning, when Zhu Houji discovered the secret of this Heavenly Court Prototype, he was delighted by the prospect of owning so many Spirit Realm Cave Heavens, and even imagined the Great Ming Divine Dynasty turning into the Great Ming Heavenly Court, with dozens of True Immortals commanding Heaven and Earth, eternal and unchanging.
However, this joy and longing were quickly dispelled, and he came to his senses in an instant, all because of a single sentence from Wang Boan.
"Your Majesty, do you wish to bring about the downfall of the entire Great Ming Divine Dynasty?" Wang Boan's voice woke Zhu Houji from his reverie.
As one who had taken a unique path and achieved a state of complete equanimity, where material things could hardly disturb his steadfast Dao Heart.
Upon seeing these Spirit Realm Cave Heavens, Wang Boan was also very shocked, but in fact, he also saw the hidden perils behind them in an instant.
Setting aside whether the Great Ming Divine Dynasty could support the promotion of the Spirit Realm Cave Heavens, the covetousness drawn by so many Cave Heavens, even with the protection of Pei Xuanjing, a True Immortal, would be too much for the dynasty to bear.
Once he had regained his clarity, Zhu Houji also understood the situation he faced: possessing one Spirit Realm Cave Heaven, even as an inheritance from the Ancient Human Race Common Master, protected by Pei Xuanjing, was a stroke of fortune that he could keep.
But so many Spirit Realm Cave Heavens in his hands were a hazard, a death warrant, too much for even the Great Ming Divine Dynasty to bear, and only Pei Xuanjing, a True Immortal, was qualified to possess them.
So, with his mind already made up, Zhu Houji showed no surprise or resistance when he heard Pei Xuanjing's words, but readily agreed instead.
"It's for the best that Your Majesty think this way," Pei Xuanjing nodded.
He didn't mind protecting Zhu Houji, who had a sort of mentor-student relationship with him, but this was under the premise that the other party knew when to advance or retreat.
If Zhu Houji still clung to greed and refused to let go, wanting to possess everything and unable to discern what's most important, Pei Xuanjing would definitely not say another word, and would simply let him proceed on his path, stepping in to protect the Great Ming Divine Dynasty at most.
Now that the other party was willing to heed his sword intent, Pei Xuanjing would wholeheartedly plan for him.
He said with a smile, "Actually, Your Majesty could think of it in another way, don't feel upset about losing these Spirit Realm Cave Heavens, perhaps this is also an opportunity to strengthen the Great Ming Divine Dynasty."
Although Zhu Houji had already made a decision due to reality, it's definitely untrue to say there was no dissatisfaction in his heart, after all, anyone who gives up great interests due to their strength would feel discontent.
Hearing Pei Xuanjing's persuasion, Zhu Houji couldn't help but turn his gaze to Master Pei and humbly asked for guidance, "I invite Master Pei to illuminate the path."