The Demonic Way and Brahma Gate are inherently opposed. Although trying to practice the skills of both paths simultaneously seems easy, reaching an incredibly advanced level is no simple feat.
Moreover, the skills of the two paths are like water and fire. If one cannot maintain the balance and allows one side to suppress the other, it's very easy to be backlashe. Countless masters have tried but failed in the end because of this.
No one expected that Empress Wu could achieve this.
And even though she practiced two paths, her real foundation was different. She chose to control both paths with the Imperial Path, forcefully turning them into a balance; an unthinkable approach.
"Such an idea is audacious, but it isn't necessarily a new way of thinking," praised Pei Xuanjing silently.
Yin and Yang opposed each other. Apart from the Tai Chi fusion, this method could also be used to achieve balance.
Rumble…
Who knows how many rounds these two had gone through, with countless moves unleashed in the blink of an eye.
All kinds of martial studies were used by both sides, whether it was exquisite skills or ordinary moves; both sides had the terrifying power to destroy Heaven and Earth at their fingertips.
The purple-gold sword in Empress Wu's hand had vanished and reformed countless times. But with the aid of the Heavenly Earthly Force, her body's Primordial Qi didn't diminish in the slightest.
In contrast, Pei Xuanjing was somewhat overshadowed. After all, he was just a Half-Step Heavenly Being and the Heavenly Earthly Force he could use was inferior to Empress Wu.
The tiny difference was a significant weak point for these two mighty fighters. Empress Wu had been suppressing Pei Xuanjing all this time and if it were not for his robust physical strength, he wouldn't have lasted this long.
Pei Xuanjing had never faced such an opponent, and what troubled him the most was this Heavenly Earthly Force. He had never felt it before, but during his showdown with Empress Wu, he seemed to feel a faint but detectable repellent force from it.
Any ordinary person might neglect this minute repulsion, but with Pei Xuanjing's sensitive Yin Spirit, it was impossible for him to overlook this.
"Logically, the battle power that Empress Wu has displayed is closer to that of a Heavenly Being than mine, so the Heavenly Earthly Force should be repelling her, not me." This was the greatest mystery in Pei Xuanjing's mind.
'Martial Generation Li Xing is destined by Heaven!'
The phrase from the monk named Huiming that he had just killed came to mind. He had said that it was destined for Empress Wu, Gen Li Xing, to ascend the throne and take over the Great Tang.
Pei Xuanjing had initially dismissed these prophetic words and deemed them as nonsense. But the way their fight was progressing was hinting that it might be true.
"Are you wondering why Heaven and Earth shun you?" Empress Wu asked him.
Pei Xuanjing frowned and looked at her without hiding his confusion: "Yes."
Empress Wu arrogantly said: "Because I am the Child of Destiny in this world. 'Gen Li Xing of the Martial Generation' is preordained by Heaven, you outsider!"
Boom!
Upon hearing the word 'outsider,' Pei Xuanjing felt as if his heart was hit by stormy waves. He looked at Empress Wu in shock.
It would be impossible for her to know that he is not of this world.
Ever since the simulator appeared, no one has ever been able to discern the reality of the simulator.
Empress Wu's voice continued to ring in his ears, "I don't know how you came to the World of Myriad Manifestations, but you made the mistake of opposing me."
Although Pei Xuanjing didn't respond, she seemed certain about his identity.
At the start of their fight, she didn't manage to figure out his identity, but she is now sure of it.
"Outsider?" Pei Xuanjing asked tentatively, "You don't seem surprised about the so-called outsider."
From what Empress Wu said, it seemed like she knew everything, that she wasn't surprised about Pei Xuanjing being a 'transmigrator,' like it was a common occurrence.
Could it be that Empress Wu is also not from this world, or has she encountered more than one 'transmigrator'?
This was Pei Xuanjing's most intense curiosity, which was why he decided to test the waters.
Unfortunately, upon hearing Pei Xuanjing's question, a hint of disappointment sparked in Empress Wu's eyes, "So you stumbled into this world. What a letdown."
She initially thought that Pei Xuanjing was sent here by one of her enemies. But by asking such a question, he confirmed that he was simply an accidental outsider, not sent by any particular person.
Looking coldly at Pei Xuanjing, Empress Wu said, "The Generation of Martial Li Xing is a destiny, it is ordained. Although there may be ups and downs in the process, the result will absolutely not change."
"Is that so!" Pei Xuanjing's eyes were ice-cold. Her confidence of already having victory in her hands was really disgusting.
"You've been restraining your power, not daring to exceed the limit. It's probably because you're afraid of attracting the arrival of the Door of Celestial, isn't it!" He guessed, coldly.
"What?" Empress Wu's expression changed, clearly having her thoughts exposed.
Indeed, even though she was favored by Heaven and Earth and was assisted by the Heavenly Earthly Force in her Cultivation, she couldn't break the rules of Heaven and Earth. Hence, even though she had the power to rival a Heavenly Being, she still held back, not daring to release her full power.
"Ha-ha, as expected!" said Pei Xuanjing, a smile creeping across his face.
Empress Wu had been fighting him all this while without using full strength, which meant that she had something to worry about.
His suspicion was now confirmed. The constraint of Heaven and Earth was that if exceeded, the Door of Celestial would be inevitably drawn.
When that happens, even if she could defeat him, facing the Door of Celestial, she would only have the option of ascending, and would not be able to continue with her plan.
"Today, please ascend, Empress Dowager!" Pei Xuanjing said, his voice firm.
The projection symbolizing Pei Xuanjing's Great Tao foundation was illuminating, its multicolored rays twinkling and exuding a mystical atmosphere harmonized with Pei Xuanjing.
At this moment, Pei Xuanjing was no longer holding back. He revealed all his power.
Rumble…
When Pei Xuanjing's Yin Spirit power was unleashed, everyone within dozens of miles felt a terrifying pressure appear out of nowhere, as if it were directly targeting their souls.
Even the Empress Wu, who had already advanced to the Heavenly Being stage, couldn't help but be shocked when she felt this formidable mental power.
She wanted to stop what Pei Xuanjing was about to do, but it was already too late.
"You…" Empress Wu was shocked. Was the plan she had been scheming for so long about to fall apart?
Pei Xuanjing slowly raised his sword, his actions slow, his swordsmanship plain and unremarkable, yet his aura was constantly increasing. The Shenxiao Origin Qi filled the four corners, in blue, red, yellow, white, black, and purple. These colors dyed the entire sky and enveloped dozens of miles around.
Under this sword move, one could feel not only the bright sword intent, comparable to the great sun, but also the vitality of spring, the heat of summer, the bleakness of autumn, and the chill of winter.
The Four Seasons Rotation was unpredictable, endlessly generating life. It seemed as if there was no beginning and no end, a cycle that went on forever.
Pei Xuanjing stood there, his body moving with his sword, his sword following his heart. At this moment, he seemed to merge with heaven and earth, resonating an indescribable rhythm.
At this moment, Pei Xuanjing's essence, energy, and spirit combined as one, the power generated had already reached its zenith, surpassing the power of this world.
If he were to strike with this sword, it will surely shake the heavens and earth.
At this moment, heaven and earth were no longer assisting Pei Xuanjing, but rather, they were hindering him. The will of the heavens and earth was now fixated on him.
"The Door of Celestial has appeared!"
Ye Daoyuan and others gasped in surprise from a distance.
High in the sky, a door appeared, with intricately etched patterns, radiating an immortal aura.
Their faces were filled with horror, they didn't understand why this was happening, why the Door of Celestial would appear at Pei Min's call.
Didn't they say that when Empress Wu ascends to the Celestial Human Realm, the Door of Celestial would open?
Why was it Pei Min, a being who was merely at the Half-Step Heavenly Being stage not long ago?
However, the two who understood the situation the best didn't offer any explanations.
Pei Xuanjing was indifferent to the urging from the heaven and earth. His gaze was fixed on Empress Wu, he declared loudly: "This sword, Shenxiao Heaven's Intention, I ask the Empress to appreciate."
With one strike of the sword, the divine power was prison-like, slicing through life. The path of the sword glow turned into a vacuum, it was as if the sword of heaven had descended, like a white rainbow piercing the sun.
"You…"
Seeing this sword coming head-on, the countenance of Empress Wu turned chill, a sense of urgency filled her heart.
At this moment, she faced this predicament, having caught a tiger by its tail.
For her to face a sword strike from one who had attained the Celestial Human Realm, it was not too terrifying, as long as she used the power of the Celestial Human Realm, she would definitely easily withstand this sword.
But if she were to employ the power of the Celestial Human Realm, she would inevitably attract the attention of the will of heaven and earth, especially with the Door of Celestial nearby. It would be immediately locked and forced her to ascend.
But if she were to ascend, regardless if she became a celestial being, it would be considered a failure to her. All her painstaking schemes would be in vain.
Yet, if she didn't employ the power of the Celestial Human Realm, she simply couldn't resist. Against this sword, it would be difficult for those below the Celestial Human Realm to resist, the chances of survival were slim.
Moreover, even if by chance she survived under this sword, she would definitely be severely injured. However, the current situation wouldn't allow her to be injured.
Therefore, the situation was a stalemate at this moment.
However, Empress Wu was no ordinary person after all. She resentfully glared at Pei Min, a hint of refusal flashed in her eyes.
Boom!
An intimidating aura exploded from her, a genuine Celestial being's aura. She lightly swung her palm, blocking the strike of that sword.
However, similarly, her aura was also noticed by the will of heaven and earth, and enveloped by the Door of Celestial.
"You have ruined my plan, and you have to pay the price!" Killing intent appeared on Empress Wu's face as she attempted to kill Pei Xuanjing.
Her plan failed again at this moment, causing her to seethe with resentment.
If that's the case, she definitely couldn't let the other party have it easy. She would kill this guy first, then contemplate if she could deceive the Door of Celestial and test if there was any chance of recovery.
"Hmm?"
Pei Xuanjing saw that Empress Wu was approaching with murderous intent, causing his hair to stand on end.
As expected, Heavenly Ascender is terrifying. Once they no longer hold back, the strength they display is frightening.
He knew if there were to be a battle, he would surely die.
His eyes swept towards the Door of Celestial beside him, Pei Xuanjing immediately made a decision. He decisively struck the Longevity Sword in his hand downward at the Door of Celestial.
Bang!
The tremendous shock almost made his hands numb. Even with his robust body, it was hard to bear such a terrifying counter-shock. His Longevity Sword was even knocked out of his hand.
But Pei Xuanjing achieved his goal. At this moment, the Door of Celestial trembled and produced a great suction force towards Pei Xuanjing.
Just then, Empress Wu's palm strike landed on Pei Xuanjing's body.
With a wisp of a smile at the corner of his mouth, Pei Xuanjing said, "I request Your Majesty, rise with me!"
He didn't dodge Empress Wu's palm, but instead operated the mysterious Universe Shift to borrow her strength. The energy of Empress Wu was adhered, and both were enveloped by the Door of Celestial and went inside.
"Taoist Friend Ye, the matters afterwards are left to you…"
Everything happened in the time of a snap. Ye Daoyuan and others were dumbfounded, gazing at the gradually disappearing Door of Celestial.
"Celestial beings…"
Looking at the two rising figures, Ye Daoyuan couldn't help but murmur.
"Yes, it's the first time in thousands of years for someone to ascend to become a Celestial again!"
"The realm we have been dreaming of…"
The four of them sighed with diverse expressions.
Ye Daoyuan looked at the two remaining and said to them: "Do the two Taoist friends still want to continue?"
Master Zhiyuan and the Sect Master of the Demonic Cult, Ying Tian Sheng, looked at each other, silent.
There was definitely no way they could continue to fight, and there was no point either.
The Empress they supported had already ascended and become a celestial being. There was no one left who could replace the Empress's position.
Therefore, there was already no significance for them to continue fighting to the death. Even if they won, what then? Could they expect to replace the Empress to seize power?
Impossible!
Ying Tian Sheng was the most decisive, he said to Ye Daoyuan: "I need a guarantee, I need the emperor's guarantee, to let this matter end here and never pursue it again."
Master Zhiyuan also had the same demand.
Ye Daoyuan understood that compromise was the most suitable solution at this moment. After all, the two in front of him were also on the Half-Step Heavenly Being level. If they were truly desperate, the final result would be mutual destruction.
Thus, he agreed.
At this point, everything was already settled. Even if there were still conflicts, the intensity would never be as severe as before, and it would not affect the succession of the emperor.
As the Empress ascended, there was no longer any hindrance to the emperor. He smoothly cleared the court, then implemented his own political strategies.
When the news of Pei Xuanjing's confrontation with the Empress, and their summoning of the Door of Celestial to ascend reached all around the world, it caused a great upheaval.
Especially when the news spread, that Pei Xuanjing's Longevity Sword, the Ten Thousand-Forged Divine Weapon, did not ascend with him, but was left behind, it drove countless people into a frenzy, all wanting to seize this divine weapon left by a celestial being, in order to probe the secrets of the Celestials.
Decades later, the son of a wealthy merchant acquired the sword by chance, henceforth, he rose all the way, creating a name for himself with his poetry and swordsmanship.
[This projection simulation of life has ended. Would the host like to inherit the cultivation realms and other rewards earned in this projection simulation?]
"Yes!"
Pei Xuanjing chose to inherit without hesitation.
After a long time, he slowly opened his eyes, feeling the strength of his body at this moment, a satisfied smile surfaced at the corner of his mouth.
"However, I didn't expect this life simulation to end like this." Pei Xuanjing thought to himself.
In this life simulation, he summoned the heavenly gate with a sword at his last confrontation with Empress Wu, which consequently allowed his dao of Qi refinement to step into the Heavenly Realm, also known as the Fourth Level of the Spiritual Realm.
Although Pei Xuanjing cultivated three ways simultaneously, the Dao of Qi refinement progressed too quickly, while the Way of Essence Refinement and Spirit Refinement were just at the Heavenly Rank, which is the perfected Mortal Realm, so the added combat power was limited.
Empress Wu, although she only cultivated the Dao of Qi refinement, she mastered three ultimate arts: Emperor, Demon, and Sacred. Her power was far superior to others.
Inside the heavenly gate, Pei Xuanjing had another fierce battle with Empress Wu. They fought for an unknown amount of time, but they were always evenly matched and it was hard to declare a winner.
Finally, a light curtain fell, separating their fight, making it impossible for them to strike at each other. Then Pei Xuanjing entered a mysterious realm, as if the principles of heaven and earth were laid out before his eyes.
Upon waking up, he found that his life simulation had inexplicably ended.
"However, the gains from this round far exceeded my expectations." He exclaimed quietly.
Initially, his Dao of Qi Refinement had stepped into the Fourth Level of the Spiritual Realm with the aid of the Door of Celestial. But the Way of Essence Refinement and Spirit Refinement remained in the first level of the Spirit Realm.
However, that last retreat into a state of transcendent meditation to perceive the laws of heaven and earth allowed him to inadvertently condense his twelfth energy core, pushing his physical body into the Second Layer of the Spirit Realm. Also, his Yin Spirit refined itself once more. After passing through another thunder tribulation, he would step into the Second Layer of the Spirit Realm.
"Outsider!" Pei Xuanjing reminisced about this life simulation, specifically the word spoken by Empress Wu during their last encounter.
Despite Pei Xuanjing's repeated probes in their subsequent encounters, Empress Wu refused to reveal any information. However, her resolute attitude made it clear to Pei Xuanjing that Empress Wu had definitely met 'outsiders' like him before.
He speculated that since reaching a certain limit in the World of Myriad Manifestations allows one to break through the void, transform into a celestial being, and ascend, this indicated that once power reaches a certain limit, one might be able to break free of the bonds of the original world, leave this world, and go to another one.
So, if there are people in worlds where the power limit is lower than the Myriad Manifestations Realm who have reached the limit of their world, can they ascend into the World of Myriad Manifestations?
Those who enter the Myriad Manifestations Realm, wouldn't they be considered outsiders to this realm as well?
"And perhaps Empress Wu is not ordinary. Knowing so much and confidently declaring that Li Xing of the Martial Generation is fated raises my suspicion. If it hadn't been for my appearance messing everything up, the conclusion might have indeed progressed as smoothly as fate." Pei Xuanjing contemplated.
In fact, his speculation enlightened him on a matter which had troubled him for a long time.
The information Pei Xuanjing found in the Page of the Netherworld's Book stated that before the Tang Dynasty, Heaven and Earth weren't silent, the Daming World was still in a cultivation golden age. Countless powerful and ancient cultivators coexisted in the world, and there were countless strong beings residing in this world.
These mighty beings possessed divine skills such as moving mountains and seas and travelling through clouds and mists. They could travel from the North Sea to the Southern Wastes in a single day, traverse the limitless azure skies and the yellow springs. They had incredibly long lives and the ability to alter the world.
However, they were still constrained by the limitation of their status as mortals. The Sword of Mortality, the fear of their finite lives, was always hanging over their heads, causing constant fear.
In the end, for the pursuit of Becoming Immortal and truly living forever, they launched a great war that caused rivers to dry up and mountains to collapse. Eventually, even Heaven and Earth shattered and could no longer sustain them.
"I originally conjectured that some powerful old cultivators might have survived in those remaining Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands, barely surviving, awaiting the right opportunity." A gleam flashed in Pei Xuanjing's deep eyes as he spoke solemnly: "Perhaps, there's more to it. Since this world is no longer worth living in for them, those mighty cultivators might have the ability to leave and seek a world suitable for their existence."
However!
Pei Xuanjing had a concern: those people had to leave because of the world's silence and Daming World was no longer suitable for their existence. Now that the world has revived, would those people come back?
This is crucial!
"In the golden age of cultivation, ordinary Martial Artists in the Mortal Realm were not considered cultivators. Only those who stepped into the Spirit Realm were worthy of being called cultivators. That implies those who can leave and return are definitely not weak. I'm afraid that there are not many in the Daming martial world who can resist!"
Moreover, there was something else worrying Pei Xuanjing.
After putting in so much effort and colluding with various forces of the Taoist School, he had only managed to seize a part of the imperial court's power, made the emperor his named disciple, and broke the shackles of Heaven and Earth to establish an earthly imperial court.
If those people returned, his plans would undoubtedly be disrupted.
Those major powers that hadn't gained any benefits were only submissive under the joint suppression of him and the Taoist School because they didn't have the strength to confront him, not because they were willing to yield willingly.
Especially those major powers with ancient heritage, if they colluded with the returning beings, their combined external and internal offensive would create great trouble for him and could possibly destroy his plans.
He must be on his guard!
Would those people really return?
Although it was just a guess, Pei Xuanjing felt strangely confident in his own hunch.
Considering the information from the Page of the Netherworld's Book, how powerful and terrifying those people were, Pei Xuanjing did not believe that they would have all passed away.
Therefore, he would rather believe that those people would return, as it's always better to believe you're at risk when in actual fact, you're not.
Heaven and Earth have begun to revive, and the strengths of the mighty beings they can accommodate are getting higher and higher. Therefore, when those people return, it's certain that the world's situation will once again be reshaped. This is beyond doubt.
And with the Daming Empire now controlling the situation in the Daming World, Pei Xuanjing and his allies who have gained a lot will necessarily become the vanguard faced with these people.
A clash and conflict is inevitable!