Those words didn't seem to be directed solely at the Supreme Ancestral Vein—there was clearly a deeper meaning. In the void, several strands of willpower circled continuously, exuding a formless anger. These wills were naturally from the Nine Heavens Dao Venerables.
With such a major event happening in Great Yi and no attempt made to conceal it, how could they not be aware? Their gazes had already locked onto Great Yi, watching with their own eyes the entire process of a Innate spirit vein transforming into a Supreme Ancestral Vein. Yet, they did not interfere—this was a trial from the Heavenly Dao, and they had no authority to intervene.
They could only make a move after the transformation was complete.
They understood all too well just how important a Supreme Ancestral Vein was to a Destiny Dynasty—it was a ladder, a key to ascend to the Immortal Court. With such a key, and considering Great Yi's current foundation and momentum, ascending to the Immortal Court was no longer a question of possibility—it was a matter of when, not if.
None of the Nine Heavens Dao Venerables wanted to see a scenario where Great Yi became an Immortal Court. That outcome would seriously undermine all their plans.
The best course of action was to seize the Supreme Ancestral Vein from Great Yi, cutting off their path to ascension.
However—none of them dared to be the first to make a move.
The earlier words from the Heavenly Dao Venerable had been a warning to all. Acting now would not only draw the eyes of countless powerful beings across the realms—but even their fellow Dao Venerables would scrutinize them. Invisible rifts had already formed between them.
Whoever struck first… would be immediately labeled as a Dark fiend.
And that label couldn't be taken lightly.
Being identified as a fiend meant facing the wrath of the entire Eternal World.
They would be struck down on the spot.
Yet at this very moment, Yi Tianxing's actions were nothing less than a blatant provocation—not just in words, but in deliberate, defiant behavior. He completely disregarded their presence, openly scorning their authority.
That alone nearly made them lose control in fury.
At this moment, countless gazes fell upon the Xuanhuang Ancestral Vein, and countless others scanned the void above.
The entire world fell silent. It was as if everything held its breath, awaiting the moment some dramatic change might occur.
But… a quarter of an hour passed, and nothing happened in the void.
It was as if the Nine Heavens Dao Venerables no longer existed.
"They won't act," Yi Tianxing said calmly, a faint smile on his face. He already understood—they would not move.
The words he spoke earlier were not only a provocation, but also a warning to the Nine Heavens Dao Venerables.
His goal wasn't to expose which of them was a Dark infiltrator—his priority was to fully and flawlessly bring the Xuanhuang Ancestral Vein under control, securing it firmly in the hands of Great Yi. That required eliminating every potential variable.
"Return."
With that single word, the Xuanhuang Ancestral Vein in the sky immediately pierced through space, descending toward Xuanhuang Immortal City.
After its transformation, the once enormous ancestral vein—previously 90,000 zhang long—had shrunk drastically to just a few dozen zhang. Its size diminished, but in terms of essence and origin, it had undergone a complete metamorphosis. It was no longer a mere primeval spirit vein, but a true Supreme Ancestral Vein.
Without hesitation, the ancestral vein drilled directly into the statue of the Celestial Dragon, returning to its original position. Once again, it began to absorb and exhale Heaven and Earth energy, now connected to the endless void and vast chaos beyond.
The innate energy it released now contained a distinct Dao rhythm, imbued with the mystical essence of Xuanhuang Qi.
Xuanhuang Qi was extraordinarily wondrous. Once absorbed and refined, it could enhance the physical body and dramatically accelerate body refinement. It tempered the flesh and bones, allowing physical cultivation to soar by leaps and bounds.
This was, without question, the most ideal energy for body refinement.
With the Xuanhuang Ancestral Vein in place, Xuanhuang Immortal City would now become the supreme holy land for body cultivation. The need for rare refining materials would be drastically reduced—or even eliminated—because the Xuanhuang Qi alone could replace nearly all other refining treasures.
As the vein settled into place, a mysterious power naturally emerged from the Celestial Dragon statue, sealing the aura of the ancestral vein completely within its own space.
Currently, the vein was still weak. Though it had reached the ancestral level, it required immense resources to nourish and grow stronger. The peak of a Supreme Ancestral Vein would reach 129,600 zhang, and each additional zhang would demand astronomical amounts of energy. It was a true gold-devouring monster.
In the sky, a black storm cloud seemed to gather, lightning crackling and flashing across the heavens, unleashing a terrifying pressure.
But in the end… it dissipated swiftly.
The Nine Heavens Dao Venerables never acted. And as they departed, the hidden powers observing from the shadows also faded away.
They all understood: this attempt to expose the infiltrator among the Dao Venerables by baiting them into action… had failed. No one took the bait.
But there was no disappointment. This was merely a test. If it succeeded, all the better. If not, no harm done.
When Great Yi truly ascended to the Immortal Court, the Nine Heavens Dao Venerables would have no choice but to show their hand.
That would be the real final battle.
"Congratulations, Husband. With this Supreme Ancestral Vein, Great Yi's path to ascension is now wide open—free of obstacles," Cai Yan said with a radiant smile.
"The Xuanhuang Ancestral Vein is still too weak. We still need time to build our strength. Ascending to the Immortal Court doesn't depend on the vein alone—it depends on our true power," Yi Tianxing replied calmly.
This was merely the natural unfolding of fate.
Time passed quietly.
The birth of the Supreme Ancestral Vein stirred excitement across Great Yi. Countless people were elated. Talents and elites from all walks of life pledged themselves entirely to the dynasty. With an ancestral vein, they now had true eligibility to ascend to the Immortal Court—a future that could be seen and believed in.
More and more powerful cultivators joined Tongtian Pavilion, becoming Great Yi's official retainers.
The people's trust soared.
Great Yi's national fortune surged once again, the people's hearts flowing to the dynasty like an endless tide.
Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
Great Yi thrived, everything progressing smoothly and orderly.
Eternal Year 52, Fourth Month, Third Day.
That day, an urgent report arrived from the Calamity Hall, landing directly on Yi Tianxing's desk.
"Holy King, something has happened in the Dark Realm. A major upheaval."
Emperor Tong approached Yi Tianxing and quickly handed over the secret report.
"A Dark uprising? The Dark Realm is experiencing a full-blown uprising?"
After reading it, Yi Tianxing's eyes showed a flicker of intrigue.
The Dark Realm… that was a place he remembered vividly.
It was the first realm he arrived at during a celestial voyage. The realm was filled with eerie, chaotic energy that twisted people's hearts, inciting madness, slaughter, war, and death. Suffering ran rampant there.
It was also where he first met Nannan. If not for that voyage, perhaps their fate would never have intertwined.
The Dark Altar, the Divine Source, even the lingering mystery of that land had left a deep mark on his memory.
Unfortunately, back then, he was too weak to uncover the deeper secrets of that realm. He only vaguely suspected that some top-tier Dark fiends from the Eternal Night World were hidden within it.
Later, once Great Yi expanded and inter-realm trade was established, Shen Wansan personally led a trade delegation into the Dark Realm. While conducting business, they gathered more intelligence, which was funneled back to Calamity Hall.
Their spies reported that the Dark Realm contained numerous forbidden zones, each one utterly lethal. Within those zones, powerful forbidden beings dwelled, and each one harbored Divine Source mineral veins.
Their infamy alone was enough to silence crying infants.
The Dark Realm clearly held many secrets.
"How interesting… I had originally planned to wait until Great Yi's territory bordered the Dark Realm directly before investigating. I didn't expect a Dark uprising to break out now. That makes things… quite intriguing. I wonder if that White Lotus Celestial Maiden I encountered in the Divine Crystal Mine has emerged yet?"
The figure of a stunning celestial maiden flashed through Yi Tianxing's mind.
He still remembered how she left a lotus imprint on him back then. But when he returned through the Star Gate, the mark had vanished. After all, what had traveled through was only a celestial avatar, and upon returning to his true body, all impurities—including the imprint—were discarded. Only the essence had been retained.
Still, Yi Tianxing had never forgotten her.
His impression of her was etched deeply in his soul.
"Nannan will probably be interested in the Dark Realm."
Yi Tianxing smiled slightly.
With Great Yi currently in a period of recovery and peace, and no major events on the horizon aside from an upcoming imperial examination, this was the perfect time to visit the Dark Realm.
After all… a Dark uprising?
That certainly warranted investigation.
And if he could take Nannan along for a stroll… even better.