A nation founded marks the beginning of its demise. Do they really think that I must consider the major powers of the Central Plains and am forced to rule the world alongside the vassal kings from the Immortal Sect? Ridiculous.

As long as I wish, the Thirteen States can be unified just as easily. But I can't, for the Dharma Decree of the Immortal Domain Venerate forbids the unification of the human world."

"So, you're just a pawn?"

"What's wrong with being a pawn? Without the assistance of the Immortal Domain, how could I shake the eight-hundred-year-old royal family of the Xiang Family? How could I suppress all the major sects with just one clan?

And how could I have the chance to enter the Immortal Domain and enjoy immortality?"

Sima Yuande smiled faintly, not feeling it a disgrace, but rather an honor.

"Immortality?"

"The Immortal Domain has secret techniques from the Immortal Sect, capable of granting immortality. Coming to Shuzhou City this time is also in hopes that you won't start any more wars. Compared to immortality, what are wealth and power worth?"

"Did the Immortal Domain send you?"

"Yes and no."

Sima Yuande nodded first, then shook his head.

"If you have something to say, make it clear."

"The Immortal Domain gave no decree. It was me who thought I should come. It's not that I care about your life or death, but I wish to do one last thing at the time when I complete my merits and ascend to the Immortal Domain, hoping to gain the Heavenly Venerate's attention."

"You don't want to be the leader of the human world, yet you insist on bowing and scraping in the Immortal Domain."

Chen Yuan shook his head, his eyes showing a trace of contempt.

"Youngsters always overestimate themselves. You've already taken half of the world, which is already your limit. The remaining half was cut by the Immortal Domain with the Buddhist.

The grasslands, overseas, Western Regions, Central Earth, Southern Border... the Immortal Domain will not allow these places to unify. If you're wise, you should quit while you're ahead and let it go."

"What if I'm not wise?"

"Then you'll just end up like the ancestors of the Xiang Family, falling. This time I came, firstly to advise, and secondly to warn. If you truly dare to lead your iron cavalry across the Central State,

Immortals from the Nine Heavens will come down to punish the evil.

If you know when to stop and disband the forces you've gathered, I might still help you plead for a qualification for immortality in the Immortal Domain. Thus... it won't be in vain of the Great Chu's late emperor's kindness to our Sima Family."

Chen Yuan chuckled and asked:

"Finished?"

"Finished."

"Do you know my answer?"

"Go ahead, I'm all ears."

"I, Chen Yuan, have reached this point not by crawling on my knees but through fighting every step of the way. What even is the Immortal Domain,

and what position do you, Sima Yuande, have to teach me what to do? You were born to kneel and live. How unfortunate, I was born with sturdy bones and can only stand and die.

Don't use the Immortal Domain to intimidate me. If they're able to come down right now, I will await them in the human world to see if any of these Immortal Domain immortals dare to come here.

The Central Plains are mine; any decree from the Heavenly Venerate is nonsense. If the Grand Ancestor of the Xiang Family could make the Immortal Domain fearful for hundreds of years, I, Chen Yuan, can do the same."

"Arrogant and self-conceited, just like your father, Xiang Qianqiu, who treated the Immortal Domain as nothing. But now he is dead, and if you're not afraid of death, feel free to try."

Sima Yuande chuckled, somewhat unsurprised by Chen Yuan's response, as if expecting such an answer.

"I assassinated the emperor and killed my father; I'd quite like to ascend to the heavens to kill, too. Otherwise... how can I demonstrate my prowess?"

"Very well, then I shall await you in the Central State and prepare a coffin for you in advance."

"No need, I've already prepared your coffin. Returning to the Central State would just seem like poor hospitality on my part. Better to stay here and save future trouble."

Chen Yuan snapped his fingers, and suddenly, their positions changed drastically, having moved out of Shuzhou City. The surroundings were sealed with rule power that locked the void.

Moluo sat cross-legged on a white lotus platform, gazing calmly at Sima Yuande, and said:

"Sima benefactor, transcend now."

"Ksitigarbha... Moluo... I've heard of you long ago. It's a pity that when you were suppressed in the Capital, I had been asleep for years.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have been imprisoned and destroyed."

"Benefactor, please proceed to the next path."

Moluo brought hands together in prayer, unmoved.

Sima Yuande looked at him and then at Chen Yuan:

"Do you think I'm really so foolish to come in person? I just slept for too long, and the Capital was too dull, so I thought of coming out for a walk, to see your devil-like growth trajectory.

As for the owner of this physical body, he has long since fallen, and here is just a split soul of mine. Even if it's obliterated, it matters not."

"With this attitude, you're making me despise the Sima Clan even more. Couldn't say later on, this incident alone might lead to the clan's extinction."

"No harm, no foul. If you have the ability, do as you wish. Now... I'm leaving."

Sima Yuande smiled lightly as Zhou Zhong's body rapidly faded into nothingness, reducing to dust, as only a strand of split consciousness remained, attempting to vanish into the void.

But Chen Yuan calmly extended a finger, gradually obliterating it with rule power.

"First, I'll destroy this strand of consciousness. Later, I'll thoroughly torture you."

"Hahaha... Fine, then I'll await the day you come to the Capital to see how you kill me..." Sima Yuande's voice gradually diminished until it disappeared without a trace.

Chen Yuan looked a bit somber. Although he didn't think he'd easily kill that person, he just wanted to try. But witnessing such an arrogant attitude, he couldn't help but want to eliminate him.

It's just a pity that the time is not right.

He'll meet again when both his physical body and primordial spirit step into the Six Realms. For now, the grudges between Zhou Zhong's father and daughter had to be postponed for a while.

"It seems... the Immortal Domain is about to show itself."

Moluo, on the side, said gravely, as he had heard every bit of the conversation between Sima Yuande and Chen Yuan, thus forming some judgments.

"Soldiers will block it, water will carry earth; it's just another battle. Sima Yuande warned today on behalf of the Immortal Domain; in fact, I'm not overly worried."

"Oh?"

Chen Yuan stared calmly into the distant north, saying:

"If the Immortal Domain were truly that terrifying, Sima Yuande wouldn't have come to warn me, trying to dissolve my forces. The Immortal Domain... must harbor fears of their own.

At least for now, they can't descend, trying instead to buy time. But this plays right into our hands, facing the Immortal Domain openly on the table. They need time.

And I... also need time!" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Ascend to the Immortal Domain... remember this phrase."

Moluo suddenly said.

"What do you mean, senior?"

Moluo raised an eyebrow, saying solemnly:

"I only worry that, if the Immortal Domain truly opens and permits human strongmen entry to enjoy immortality, whether humans from all quarters can endure this temptation.

In the future... we might not just be facing the Immortal Domain...."

"Just words of deception; you don't actually believe it, right? Didn't you once say the Immortal Domain is most likely just a super large secret realm?

In essence, it's not a new Boundary Domain, and if so, its resources must be limited. How could they allow so many people to partake? Truly being the case,

The world wouldn't fall into chaos but would have long since unified under peace. Even, the Chu Great Ancestor wouldn't have slaughtered saints in the Immortal Domain. They want chaos for their own plans.

Human strongmen are no fools; they can't be made to abandon everything for ascension with mere words. If it's a deception, whoever ascends might be the one to fall."

"There's some reason in these words." Moluo nodded, agreeing with Chen Yuan's perspective. Being somewhat knowledgeable about the Immortal Domain and its approach, they clearly aim to turn the human world into a purgatory, viewing everyone as mere pawns, at the mercy of so-called immortals.

That's why a heart of resistance arises.

"Now is perhaps a bit early to think about these things. I still need to address the Seven Killings Hall hidden peril soon, to avoid it being a pesky fly disturbing everyone."

Chen Yuan waved his hand to tear open the void, stepping inside.

...