Chapter 269: The Great Show Begins (Subscribe Please)

Go to the entrance of Shanhai Pass in Zhongzhou Shendu, just outside the Imperial City of Zhongzhou, on a massive five-colored altar.
This is a gigantic and awe-inspiring ancient altar that can accommodate tens of thousands of people gathered at the same time. Its design is simple and ancient, not flashy, but it exudes a breathtaking and majestic ancient imperial aura.
It serves as both an altar and the central defense of the Midstate Imperial City.
Legend has it that this enormous five-colored altar was built by the third human emperor in the mortal realm. Its purpose is to resist the "calamity of ten thousand tribulations" that descended upon the mortal realm for the first time.
In that ancient era, a sudden and devastating calamity emerged, vast and menacing, possessing a terrifying power that could almost overthrow the entire mortal realm.
After enduring a hundred years of bitter warfare, one group after another of mortal cultivators set forth from this rainbow-colored altar, headed towards the Three Thousand Spirit Pass, engaging in a brutal battle of life and death against the calamity.
The accumulation of countless bones and millions of heroic spirits has created the glory of human civilization till this day!
It is a grand and magnificent history!
Although in this era, it is difficult to face the catastrophic waves of ancient times and to witness the heroic sacrifice of our ancestors...
But today, when more than fifty thousand cultivators arrive at the Imperial City of Central Province, and one by one ascend the Five-Colored Altar and head towards the Divine Capital's Shanhaiguan Pass, their spirits are still high, eagerly anticipating the moment of breakthrough and advancement.
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Shanhaiguan.
This is a magnificent pass that has stood for tens of thousands of years. As one of the Three Great Passes and the final key to the Three Great Passes, Shanhaiguan can be regarded as the most impregnable foundation in the mortal world!
In Shanhaiguan, there is a prosperous city comparable to half of the central imperial city. Due to years of rooted operations, the authority of the central imperial family in Shanhaiguan has reached its peak.
Outside Shanhaiguan, however, is a war zone that spans thousands of miles. Over the past tens of thousands of years, various unknown dangers such as invasion, disturbance, assassination, and destruction have been occurring within the area beyond the pass throughout every moment.
Shanhaiguan is like a nail, firmly nailed to this land, protecting the "back" of billions of people, numerous sects' sacred mountains, millions of cultivators in secluded places, as well as the imperial palace in the central city of Zhongzhou, known as the Wuyang Palace.
If you go beyond Shanhaiguan and pass through the thousands of miles of dangerous and unpredictable war zone, the first place you will reach is the "Juque Pass" located in the middle of the route.
Juque Pass, in terms of area and the range of defense, is even more extensive than Shanhaiguan. However, compared to Shanhaiguan's final "nail" position, the task undertaken by Juque Pass is that of a strategic buffer zone.
Rumors say that whether it is the underworld or the heavenly realm, if one wants to cross the barriers between the three realms and reach the human realm, they must first face the Giant Queshan Pass. Only by breaking through the Giant Queshan Pass can one directly reach Shanhaiguan.
Of course, this is the way for the armies of the three realms to pass through. If it is only an individual act or a secret action related to cultivation, there is no need to pass through the Great Barrier, but to take another special route, which is the legendary "North Sea" and "Heavenly Deficiency".
After passing through Shanhaiguan and Juqueguan, and traversing a wider war-torn area, you will arrive at the summit of the Three Great Passes - Taia Pass!
If you compare Shanhaiguan as the "tail" and Juqueguan as the "waist", then Taia Pass is the "head". It is indeed at the forefront! Taia Pass bears the responsibility and faces the most special and dangerous challenges among the Three Great Passes!
Because Tai'a Pass is facing the most terrifying calamity in the mortal world for thousands of years - the catastrophe of ten thousand disasters!
Compared to Shanhaiguan, which is stable in the rear, and Juque Pass, which is a crucial pillar in the middle, Tai'a Pass is the "frontline position" of the mortal world.
Throughout the ages, in the tens of thousands of years, the areas where cultivators of human realm have perished, mostly is in the Tai'a Pass. It can also be said that since the establishment of the entire human realm, countless heroic souls have also mostly existed in the Tai'a Pass.
Because of the Three Realm War, a balance was established after the division of the realms. Minor clashes occasionally occur, but large-scale battles are rare. None of the three realms dares to easily declare war, for fear of upsetting the balance and causing unpredictable catastrophes and disasters.
And this catastrophe, which none of the three realms dare to bear, is called the Cataclysm of Eternity!
From ancient times until now, no one knows exactly where the Cataclysm of Eternity comes from. However, whether it's the human realm, the underworld, or the celestial realm, all are greatly harmed by it.
In particular, the mortal realm, due to its vast population, far exceeds the underworld and sky realm. And more cultivators give rise to more negative thoughts, distractions, and impurities… thereby generating more "calamities" and creating an unavoidable chaotic vortex.
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Tai'a Gate outside.
Endless fog and ruins abound, whether far or near, there are countless mountain ranges, countless holes like stars, sinkholes, dark swamps, ancient forests, and so on. Everything seems like the road to the netherworld, full of dangers.
At this moment.
Standing with his hands behind his back on a steep hilltop in the midst of a thick fog, Chen Fusheng gazed calmly into the distance, his blue Taoist robe fluttering in the wind.
This was his fifth day after arriving at Shanhaiguan, just before the three major passes were fully opened. Chen Fusheng made the firm decision to leave Shanhaiguan and pass through Juque Pass, heading directly to the final Tai'a Pass and exiting it.
The reason for choosing Taiga Pass is because Chen Fusheng has already made up his mind to complete the promotion of the Small Vehicle Venerable to perfection in this place, and according to opportunities or the current situation, to explore the possibility of the existence of immortals on the Eight Territories mainland.
"To sacrifice oneself to save others" is a highly anticipated event in the mortal realm! Setting aside concerns for Gu Junlin and disregarding the scheming of Emperor Yinshang, at this moment, Chen Fusheng must seize this opportunity to successfully complete his promotion.
After all, in this three realms, strength is still what matters!
No matter what Chen Fusheng's thoughts are, only strong power can support him in realizing his own ideals and ambitions, and can protect himself and his loved ones.
"The sacrificial ceremony to honor the closing of the pass should be about to begin..."
An impish river fairy emerges, floating on Chen Fusheng's shoulder, also gazing into the distance.
According to rumors from the cultivators who have reached Shanhaiguan, the magnificent brilliance of the sacrificial ceremony will illuminate both inside and outside the three great passes, and even standing here, one can catch a glimpse of that awe-inspiring afterglow.
Chen Fusheng is also waiting for that moment to come.
After the sacrificial ceremony is completed, the three great passes will open with a bang. The vast and terrifying ancient imperial qi accumulated over five hundred years will penetrate both inside and outside the three great passes, nourishing the passes and also rewarding all the practitioners who have arrived.
At the same time, practitioners can also choose to cultivate within the borders or venture outside in search of opportunities. Whether it is Shanhaiguan, Juque Pass, or Tai'a Pass, countless heroes and spirits will emerge and roam in the hidden corners beyond the borders.
Of course, the vast majority of practitioners come to the Three Great Passes in search of the opportunity to break through and advance. This is a once-in-a-century, once-in-a-thousand-years critical moment, the final moment when every struggling practitioner rises up!
If successful, it is a venerable elder of Mahayana and an immortal on land.
If failed, everything turns to ashes, the body dies and the path is extinguished.
Success or failure lies in this one move, every participant is filled with emotions...
"Why did you come to Taia Pass? Why not gather with Yong Zhou and Jing Wuji?" the kappa asked curiously.
"This place is the most dangerous, but the rewards are also the greatest," Chen Fusheng said lightly.
The kappa nodded. It was well aware of Chen Fusheng's nature and simply asked out of curiosity. After leaping off his shoulder, the kappa quickly surveyed the mysterious and dim areas around him, then returned and licked its lips, saying:
"Tut tut tut, scarier than the road to the Underworld... Who knows how many 'disasters' are hidden here! And those witch descendants or divine beasts, they might also find another way to cause trouble from here!"
The kappa spoke and giggled, "However, others do not have your ability to resist the 'calamity'. This place is dangerous, but for you, the rewards are indeed bountiful!"
Chen Fusheng also glanced around at the obscure mist that enveloped the surroundings, and slowly said:
"But I hope to come into contact with more ancient battlefield spirits. Most of these spirits are esteemed small vehicle practitioners and land immortals. They provide crucial support and compensation for my divine powers and preaching."
"Yes..." The kappa sighed, "The human realm was truly powerful thousands of years ago. And those who could die in this crucial battle were all highly skilled individuals with strong determination!"
"Unlike now, the people from the human realm are all so sparse... Sigh, your human realm has indeed declined, far inferior to its prosperous years..."
Chen Fusheng nodded, saying, "During the ancient era, when the three realms were just established, the human realm was the most vibrant and ambitious. Numerous powerful beings and great talents emerged. Only by doing so can we protect the newly built human realm."
"For millennia, the world has enjoyed peace and prosperity, leading to a neglect of spiritual cultivation, and a forgetting of the indomitable spirit of our predecessors. Therefore, it is only natural that decline has set in as time goes by."
The kappa suddenly said, "Now that you mention it, I actually admire Gu Junlin. He sacrificed his own life to bring about another rising power in the human realm."
"Amongst all the cultivators in the world, if they were to have the same power and position as Gu Junlin, who would be willing to die? Seeking immortality and spiritual enlightenment is all about seeking longevity and freedom. I'm afraid no one would be willing to sacrifice themselves to exchange it for someone else's freedom."
Chen Fusheng remained silent for a moment, then turned to stare at the kappa, and asked:
"Do you have any way to give Gu Junlin a glimmer of hope? No matter the cost, I am willing to take a risk!"
The kappa sighed and shook his head decisively: "I am not familiar with sacrificing oneself to close the pass. And even if I were familiar, there would be no way. As Yong Zhou said, this matter affects the overall situation of the world. It is precisely because Gu Junlun has this determination to die that he made such a resolute decision!"
"He must have died without a trace... You should know this truth, so you must not worry about this matter anymore, to avoid disturbing your Dao heart."
Chen Fusheng's face darkened slightly, but he quickly calmed his emotions, sitting cross-legged on the ground, unmoving, gazing into the distance, waiting for the moment to "sacrifice himself to close the passage!"
After a few hours.
Suddenly!
The kappa jumped up and shouted, "Look!"
Chen Fusheng felt something, and his eyes suddenly shone with a different color as he looked into the distance.
At this moment.
A magnificent, resplendent, and grand spectacle, resembling an endless shimmering golden radiance, rises gradually from the distant direction of Shanhaiguan, dazzling and unattainable!
After a moment, this resplendent and grand golden radiance becomes even more prominent, slowly forming a mysterious and majestic image resembling a "crown".
Majestic and magnificent, towering and unyielding, boundless!
Rumble~~~
Rumble~~~
From all directions, as if bowing, the thunderous sound reverberates like war drums, shaking and resounding throughout the heavens and earth, as if the sky is collapsing and the earth is turning upside down, unstoppable and mighty surging.
The dim sky cracked open, and the boundless ancient imperial qi, shining brightly, surged fiercely and never returned, all rushing together towards the majestic crown.
The misty and obscure earth trembled like a violent tide. A large amount of condensed and frost-like accumulation of spiritual energy from past years, as well as the qi from all directions, all responded and surged along with the ancient imperial qi, spreading out towards the vast territories within and beyond the three major passes.
At this moment.
Between heaven and earth, there is only the majestic and magnificent coronation above. And the ancient imperial aura, spiritual aura, and qi of the heavens and the earth, rushing and bowing in homage, vast and immeasurable, unstoppable.
The kappa couldn't help but marvel and exclaim:
"Oh my, this is the divine might of the human emperor! Although he is just a crown prince sacrificing himself at the Shimen Gate, the ancient imperial aura and momentum he generates would surely make even the saintly king and lord bow in reverence, unwilling to defy it."
With the admiration and praising words of the kappa, Chen Fusheng's gaze suddenly froze and his heart pounded, unable to control himself.
Because, in the midst of that lofty and majestic crown.
Tenth Prince Gu Junlin, like a dust particle blooming, shines brightly around him, like an ancient "sacrifice", rising and elevating, vaguely among the magnificent crown.
Even though separated by thousands of miles, in Chen Fusheng's eyes, only the Tenth Prince Gu Junlin, who was determined to die, remained in front of him...
At the same time, Chen Fusheng could also perceive that there was a faint "dissipation" within the majestic appearance of Gu Junlin.
Like a speck of dust in the candlelight, burning itself, gradually entering into extinction.
Chen Fusheng witnessed this scene with his own eyes.
He had no idea that his face was contorted, his fists clenched to the point of breaking bones, waves of unbearable pain repeatedly washing over his heart.
The "imperial aura golden flame" hidden deep in his forehead was jumping restlessly. It felt like it was going to explode, stimulating Chen Fusheng and making his blood boil uncontrollably.
“You...”
The kappa felt a tremor and turned to look at Chen Fusheng's terrified expression, unable to help but exclaim, "What are you doing?? Quickly suppress your emotions!!"
Suddenly, Suihun noticed something wrong with Chen Fusheng and quickly escaped, spraying a burst of "Ancient Emperor Qi" towards him.
Since both Suihun and Chen Fusheng possessed fragments of the Shan Hai Jing, the Ancient Emperor Qi, affected by their sacrificial ceremony, also came rushing in, eroding Chen Fusheng's body and mind.
With the help of SuHong and the suppression of the ancient emperor's aura, Chen Fusheng gradually regained his consciousness and obtained a moment of relief.
Suddenly.
The long-silent "Yufei" mark also emitted a distant voice, sending it into Chen Fusheng's heart:
"To sacrifice oneself for a cause, to die without being reborn. You have a blood connection with that offering, affected by the forces of destiny and unable to restrain your emotions. This is to be expected. However, if you do not calm your mind and allow anger and resentment to invade your thoughts, it will undoubtedly affect your spiritual path and lead to unpredictable consequences..."
With the help of the vigilant Hekou, Sunhou, and Yufei, Chen Fusheng took a deep breath and used the perfect Ling Shan in his body to continuously wash away the resentment and hatred in his heart, gradually restoring his true self. His face became calm and peaceful.
The kappa immediately breathed a sigh of relief and said seriously:
"Fortunately, Sukuna intervened, otherwise I would not be able to help you. At this moment, you may have already fallen into madness..."
Chen Fusheng nodded and thanked, calming his mind and no longer looking into the air for the magnificent appearance. He closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, continuing to stabilize his body and mind.
It's unknown how long it passed.
Chen Fusheng sensed the surrounding environment gradually becoming calm and slowly opened his eyes.
The grand and magnificent figure in the sky has vanished into thin air.
And within that grand and magnificent figure, Gu Junlin has also burned out and no longer exists.
All the ancient imperial aura, spiritual energy, and qi luck that covered the heavens and earth have now begun to encompass the Three Great Barrier Passes, nourishing and replenishing all cultivators...
This moment.
The three major passes are opening with a bang!
Fifty thousand practitioners on the mortal realm, with mixed feelings of anxiety, excitement and great ambition, are emerging from the passes like fish crossing a river, surging and turbulent!
Perhaps in just a few days, the entire Three Great Passes area will be filled with cultivators, as well as emerging heroes, opportunities, and relics...
"Sacrificing oneself to close the passes" has become a reality!
The curtain has been lifted!
Everyone has started chasing their own path of breakthrough and advancement, chasing every opportunity that can be obtained, chasing every rare insight in this lifetime...
......
......
Outside the Great Gate.
On a high rock, Zhao Yinzhen looked far into the sky, where the majestic figure had already vanished. Within the figure's crown, the tenth prince, Gu Junlin, also burned to ashes and then dissipated into thin air...
"Is he dead..."
Zhao YinZhen muttered to himself.
Until this moment, he still couldn't understand why Gu Junlin asked for death.
But at the same time, he was also clear that Gu Junlin had indeed perished, never to exist again. As a royal prince, connected by bloodline, he could sense it.
"Fourth Prince, it's time for us to set off!"
Sanqiu Luo and the young girl Xuanji behind Zhao Yinzhen also looked into the distance, retracting their sorrowful gazes.
"Once I find the 'Imperial Shadow', I can complete the Human Emperor's Mountain and Sea Scriptures!" Zhao Yinzhen regained his stern expression and turned away.
......
Tai'a Gate outside.
In the midst of the misty and rugged mountains.
One after another, from the dim and hidden caves, emerges a variety of "offspring of witches". These are the elites of the Witch Clan, descendants of the twelve ancestral witches, and the vanguard of the upcoming battle at the three major passes.
Chao Kui carried the bow with goat horns on his back and strode out of the mountain nest. He glanced at the gloomy sky and spat out:
"Damn it! Why change your mind at the last minute? Wasn't it supposed to go to Shanhaiguan?"
Behind Chao Kui, a senior-looking witch smiled and said,
"Do you dare to question the divination results of the Feng Xuan tribe? Let's go, our plan can only be implemented at the Tai'a Pass..."
Chao Kui hummed, silently following along, but kept thinking to himself: "Fortune telling and divination? Is there anything more powerful than great opportunities and kappa?"
......
It is still a hidden and unknown mountain top.
The magnificent and extraordinary Haotian Qilin clan's pure-blood descendant "Tianlu" stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sky as a majestic figure disappeared.
He withdrew his gaze and whispered:
"The prince who has such determination in the mortal realm, yet fails to cherish it... The decline is already inevitable, and now there is little that can be changed."
A few armored generals stood respectfully behind Tianluo, waiting silently for orders.
"Let's go..."
Tianluo took the lead and casually commanded, "First, contact the other spirit auspicious tribes and inquire about their movements. I heard that this time the divination is mainly done by the witch descendants of the Fengxing Tribe. We don't need to take the initiative to fight, just remain vigilant at all times."
"Obey the order!" Several armored generals immediately followed the command.
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