Chapter 587 - 491: On the Eve of War, the Mysteries of the Golden Lotus

"Fellow Daoists, please proceed according to the plan!"

In the void, Taoist Xuanji smiled amiably and clasped his hands in salute.

True Monarch Wuwang, Blood-Eyed Bear Demon, and Insect Immortal Teng Ming said nothing more, their expressions sullen as they clasped hands and departed.

After they left, Dark God nodded slightly, "Well done. If this mission succeeds, I will help you condense the Cosmic Membrane."

The three Taoists were overjoyed and clasped their hands, "Thank you, Divine Venerable!"

With that, Dark God transformed into rolling black evil and flew into the ancient cauldron held by Xuanji, while the three Taoists also performed Star Shift and disappeared.

In no time, the three had returned to the Celestial Craft Immortal Realm.

Unlike the seven-layered continent of the Celestial Essence Star Realm, the Celestial Craft Immortal Realm was a vast basin made of countless star reefs, stretching out of sight.

Below, white Spiritual Qi gathered and surged like a sea of clouds. Majestic immortal peaks pierced through the clouds, with ancient pine forests and palaces layered upon them, spirit beasts soared in the cloud sea, and sword-shaped starships broke through the void.

Since the time of the Immortal Dynasty, the Celestial Craft Immortal Realm had appeared, constantly gathering forces to grow stronger after the chaos, with extremely prosperous trade. Each mountain and cloud island had markets, bustling with people even in deep peril, and groups of spiritual ships came and went.

Outside the great hall on the central highest peak, the three elders descended slowly. Countless cultivators busy with their tasks immediately clasped their hands, "Welcome, esteemed elders!"

On the massive white jade plaza, a thousand-meter diameter star disc had been forged. Stars, moons, and divine material-built tracks rotated slowly on it, faintly emitting weak spatial fluctuations.

Upon inspection, Xuanji showed a satisfied expression, "Good. Complete the Cosmic Star Disc as soon as possible. I have contacted the other two factions; in one month, we will invade the Immortal King Cave Heaven. Countless divine materials will be at your disposal!"

"Elder Xuanji is wise!"

Numerous cultivators shouted in unison, their eyes filled with fervor.

Though the Celestial Craft Immortal Realm was a hidden move by Dark God, few knew of it, and it walked a path of plunder from its inception.

However, as the realm grew, the needed resources became terrifying. Raiding and annexing common star realms could no longer sustain it. Thus, despite significant losses recently, most still longed for the secrets of the Immortal King Cave Heaven.

Looking at the fervent crowd below, the three elders exchanged glances, their eyes especially sinister.

Elsewhere, True Monarch Wuwang and Bear Demon Insect Immortal also returned to their domains, issuing orders to prepare for battle with all their might.

The grand commotion naturally drew Yuan Huang Cyan Flood Dragon's attention.

The Cyan Flood Dragon stared into the distance, golden light swirling at his fingertips, "The killing intent over there is strong. Fellow Daoist, they are likely to act. It is unclear what their backup plan is."

Yuan Huang continued to fiddle with the Star Shell, his brows knitted tighter, "This Star Shell, a cosmic wonder found by the Sect Leader, should even sense from afar. Why no response?"

The two exchanged glances, finally sensing something amiss.

"Let's leave this place first!"

Subsequently, the Chaos Heaven instantly leaped into the Underworld Starry Sky. However, just after leaving the vast Meteorite Sea, a chill rose in their hearts.

"How could this be?"

In the Underworld Starry Sky, above, below, left, and right, there were gigantic star discs of the Colorless Star Realm everywhere, bizarre enough to drive one mad.

......

Celestial Essence Star Realm, Kaiyuan Divine Dynasty North Pole Hall.

With the development of the Divine Dynasty over the years, many things have undergone earth-shaking changes.

Originally, the great hall was built according to the old system of the previous dynasty, complete with Coiled Dragon Pillars and Jinluan Hall, but was soon adjusted since the Divine Dynasty had no monarch or ministers gathering noisily.

Now, after several major renovations, it is unrecognizable.

In the center is a circular array, displaying the seven-layered image of the Celestial Essence Star Realm, comprehensive data of various Spirit Mountains, and the positions of the Divine Dynasty Fleet and the surrounding satellites, vividly depicted.

Hundreds of Star Officials operate around the array, either writing vigorously or manipulating images before them, communicating with Star Officials in various locations.

This is the management hub of the Divine Dynasty.

"No news yet?"

Great Venerate Toad strode in from outside the hall, looking worried.

Helian Boxiong, standing before the array, shook his head helplessly, "Contact was made while on the road, but after entering the Colorless Star Realm, there's been no word since."

Great Venerate Toad's expression flickered, "Even the Star Shell can't send messages; something must have happened there. I must go and assist!"

Though he often bickered with Yuan Huang, he was among the best-related in the Divine Dynasty's upper echelons and was already anxious.

"Dao brother, please don't be impulsive!"

Helian Boxiong was startled and quickly stopped him, "It's a critical moment now. Besides, you can't leave the Celestial Essence Star Realm during its transformation. Let's wait for the Sect Leader to make a decision."

"Well... alright."

The Great Venerate Toad looked at the Array Map with a bitter expression.

On it bloomed a gigantic golden lotus, with the All Heaven Star Array slowly rotating as a luminous halo, accompanied by the cycle of the sun and moon, indescribably marvelous.

Outside, many Divine Dynasty citizens and cultivators were also looking towards the sky; the originally azure sky was constantly turning golden before slowly disappearing.

At this time, if someone were observing from hundreds of thousands of miles away, they would see a gigantic golden lotus radiating brilliant divine light in the void, first turning from virtual to real, then from real to virtual, as if illusory, as if true...

...

In the core of the Star Realm, it was also a critical moment.

Zhang Kui had long performed Dharma Aspect Heaven and Earth, transforming into a giant over a hundred feet tall, his hands changing spells so rapidly that they were just a blur, his expression extremely serious.

In front of him, the core of the gigantic Merit Golden Lotus had completely turned into substance, looking like gold, like jade, and shining with a radiant luster like a real lotus flower.

As Zhang Kui inscribed the many Immortal Arrays of the Six Jia Strange Skill one by one, the golden lotus seemed to gain spirituality, constantly bouncing and leaping, fortunately, the Immortal King Tower above manifested its true form to suppress it.

To say it was Zhang Kui's meddling.

Originally, this refining was a qualitative change, with the Star Realm, Reincarnation, the All Heaven Star Array, the Star Shining Thunderfire Shuttle, the Divine Path, the Immortal Path... everything merged into one to create a new world.

In simple terms, there were a few benefits.

Firstly, the Celestial Essence Star Realm and the Merit Golden Lotus merged into one, becoming an unprecedented supreme treasure, with the All Heaven Star Array and Star Shining Thunderfire Shuttle and other arrangements becoming the golden lotus's divine power, used more flexibly.

Secondly, the Immortal Path and Divine Path merged, the Celestial Essence Star Realm itself would transform into something akin to the Buddhist Sect's Paradise Realm, completing the system, and doubling the power, from then on, even if the Divine Dynasty cultivators couldn't fully master the Earth Demon 72 Techniques, they could still draw talismans to borrow the power of the Divine Path to perform.

Of course, it required enough incense faith.

More importantly, as the Merit Golden Lotus absorbed the Cosmic Membrane, it itself became something similar to a Starry Sky Dominator, from then on able to perform the Lotus Planting Skill, transforming other Life Stars' reincarnation into golden lotus avatars.

This was Zhang Kui's plan: using the Merit Golden Lotus to gather enough Life Stars, continuously growing stronger to expel all the backstage manipulators' law power and ultimately create a new cosmos, overturning this heavenly game board!

Everything was originally calculated; the Cosmic Membrane was just a coincidence, even without it, he would find something else to replace it, but obtaining it allowed this step to be realized earlier.

However, just as Zhang Kui was about to complete it, a strong longing surged in his heart as he looked at the nearly perfect Merit Golden Lotus.

He had already learned many Celestial Gang Immortal Skills, the golden lotus at Starry Sky Dominator level should be able to bear it, so impulsively, he inscribed the Wishful Size Immortal Skill into the core of the Merit Golden Lotus.

This created trouble; the Merit Golden Lotus instantly went berserk, the people inside the Celestial Essence Star Realm didn't feel anything, but Zhang Kui almost had his Immortal Body shattered, fortunately, in his urgency, he used the Immortal King Tower to suppress it.

Inside the main hall of the Immortal King Tower, Luo Changsheng was also silently watching all this, his eyes filled with confusion but more with shock.

"What exactly is this thing...?"

Half a month later, the core of the Merit Golden Lotus finally stabilized, Zhang Kui breathed a sigh of relief, a trace of joy in his eyes.

Unexpectedly, it really succeeded in inscribing the Wishful Size Celestial Gang Immortal Skill, although with the current Merit Golden Lotus, it could only bear one, but the golden lotus had infinite possibilities, as his Tao Cultivation deepened, he would eventually be able to inscribe all the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends 108 Skills.

"Senior, thank you."

Zhang Kui slightly cupped his hands towards Luo Changsheng, then put away the Immortal King Tower, and with a flash, appeared outside the Void Star Realm.

Before him, a vast golden lotus slowly rotated in the dark void, the power of the All Heaven Star Array transformed into silver halos entwining.

The current Merit Golden Lotus had merged with the Star Realm, creating a cosmos within the lotus, with all beings of the Divine Dynasty performing their respective duties, even the starship fleet guarding the grand array was enveloped within.

On the lotus platform, the Sunfall Star Realm and Star Shining Thunderfire Shuttle hovered in the air like lotus seeds, one wrapped in Yin Yang True Fire, the other covered in rolling thunder.

"Wonderful, wonderful!"

Zhang Kui was satisfied in his heart, in the future if he refines similar star-level offensive supreme treasures like the Sunfall Star Realm, they could easily integrate into the golden lotus, and by then, the power would be unimaginably mighty.

Of course, the Merit Golden Lotus's wonders didn't stop there, Zhang Kui hadn't forgotten the inscribed Wishful Size Immortal Skill.

Thinking of this, Zhang Kui slowly extended his right hand.

"Small, small, small!"

As soon as the spell was uttered, the Merit Golden Lotus, resembling a star, suddenly radiated golden light, transforming into the size of a sea bowl, slowly floating above Zhang Kui's palm...