Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

South Observance, Mount Longevity, Wuzhuang Temple.

The white clouds dispersed above the serene valley; peaks lined against the distant sky.

Rugged stone gates stood tall; misty incense smoke lingered in the air.

The temple's red remains, the steep pathways daringly suspended.

Scholars too found peace here, their virtuous selves detached from worldly ties.

If one could grasp the profound Tao, their actions would show no bias.

One's heart should align with what's revered; why should their steps refuse to be entangled?

"Tao emerges from formlessness, unnamed, soundless, colorless, tasteless, embracing nothingness as its principle, nature as its source, with the primordial breath of subtle and profound 'Yuan Qi' as its foundation. It possesses the power of 'Wuji', without surface or substance, neither high nor low, neither front nor rear. Quietude unifies all; existing before heaven and earth, its vast subtle mystery spreads far and wide, nameless, thus it is called Tao. When unified, it becomes 'Yuan Qi'; dispersed, it becomes heaven and earth. Every three hundred and sixty billion years it congregates, its numbers ending in three, five, seven, nine, until the lifespan of heaven and earth is exhausted..."

Inside the temple, the voice of Taoism loudly proclaimed, causing flowers to rain down and golden lotuses to spring forth from the earth.

The Taoist Monarch above, slowly waving a horsetail whisk, pearls and jade spewing forth, his voice thundering, shaking the nine heavens.

The practitioners below, skillfully discussing the three vehicles, their profound doctrines steady their restless hearts.

Some grinned with joy, some scratched their heads in confusion, some overwhelmed with excitement, others stricken with grief.

As if intoxicated or spellbound.

In this moment, the preaching stopped abruptly.

The flowers scattered, the golden lotuses vanished; people woke as if from a dream, gazing around in a daze.

Upon the high platform, the Taoist Monarch, his brow furrowed, silent.

The practitioners, confused, saw the surprise, and those close to him even dared to ask aloud,

"Taoist Master?"

"Brother?"

"Great Immortal?"

As the voices of inquiry arose, the Taoist Monarch shook his head and sighed, "Heaven's will, Heaven's will!"

After speaking, he swept a horsetail whisk, addressing the crowd, "The Celestial Court faces calamity; demon chaos breeds disaster. I depart for the Eastern Continent to assist; you all stay here and cultivate peacefully. Do not disrupt your concentration."

"This..."

The crowd, stunned, exchanged glances, their astonishment evident.

Yet before questions could be voiced, a beautiful cloud ascended, transforming into a rainbow that disappeared into the distance.

Leaving the people unsure and full of doubt.

"The Celestial Court faces calamity?"

"What sort of disaster could befall the Celestial Court?"

"Now, with the Heavenly Secret Realm wide open, all Immortals and Buddhas returning for restorative retreats, and the Four Auxiliary Imperial Lords all present in the court, what demon would dare to cause trouble?"

"Could it possibly be that the demons of the Demon Nation, desperate, are attacking the Celestial Court with all their might?"

"Yet, if desperate, wouldn't they clash with the Taoist Master at South Observance instead? Why attack the Celestial Court directly?"

"The Great Immortal has already transcended the Seven Layers of Immortal Tribulations, now at the Eight Leveled Realm, just one step away from achieving the True Immortal Meritorious Fruit. Entering the fray now, deepening the karma, seems unwise!"

"Given the Great Immortal's powers, this karmic disaster is minimal. It seems the sudden Demon Catastrophe at the Celestial Court holds more secrets."

The practitioners talked among themselves, their hearts laden with worry.

The Heavenly Secret Realm, open once every ten thousand years, a gap lasting a millennium.

Now, during this millennium-long gap, with three hundred years left until the realm closes again.

Before this, the Master of Ten Thousand Paths returned from the secret realm, leveraging ten thousand years of arduous cultivation, in seven hundred years transcending Seven Layers of Immortal Tribulations, shaking the Land Realm, stunning demons, proclaimed as "the first among Immortals, unparalleled," chasing the legacy of the Heavenly Venerate Taihuang.

However, the people knew that underneath such fame lie dangers magnified.

Though he bore the name of the foremost among Immortals, as a Calamity Immortal, he was yet to break through the last Heavenly Pass, with the Demon Nation always watching eagerly, unwilling to be dominated, always ready to strike in desperation.

At such a critical juncture, the plight of the Celestial Court inspired countless speculations.

"If only our cultivations were sufficient to ease our brother's burdens!"

"The path of immortality is arduous; since ancient times, how many have returned?"

"Those two, Great Wisdom and Great Virtue, after cultivating the Buddhist Law for a hundred thousand years and seizing the qi fortune of South Observance, achieving educational merits – even then, before the Ninefold Immortal Tribulation, one perished and one was injured, highlighting the perils of this path!"

"I've heard the Great Mercy Bodhisattva reached the last of the Eight Calamities; can she break through safely?"

"The Great Immortal heads to Celestial Court..."

The crowd murmured incessantly, anxiety unabated.

At this moment, a streak of Immortal Light soared and swiftly descended near the temple.

The Immortal Light fell, revealing a stunning figure – it was the Jade Pool Palace Master.

Without awaiting the doorkeeper's announcement, Lady Yao rushed in, appearing before everyone, her eyes searching, "Where is the Emperor?"

"Jade Pool Palace Master?"

The practitioners startled, hurried forward.

"The brother just went to the Celestial Court!"

"What brings the Palace Master here?"

"What's the matter with the Celestial Court?"

Hearing the crowd's words, Lady Yao breathed a sigh of relief, hastily replied, "There's trouble in the Celestial Court, a demon causing chaos. The Brother sent me to ask the Emperor to suppress the demon. Since the Emperor has already left, I shall not linger here any longer. Farewell!"

With that, without waiting for any reaction, she hurriedly left the temple.

"This..."

Watching the Jade Pool Palace Master arrive in haste and depart just as quickly, the crowd exchanged looks, their unease growing.

Meanwhile, on the East Victorious Divine Continent, in the Nine Heavens Immortal Court.

"Boom!!"

A thunderous sound shook heaven and earth; the palaces of the Ninth Heaven trembled, the sun, moon, and stars swayed.

In front of Taihuang Palace, all Immortals stepped aside, except for four majestic figures, each wielding a Heavy Weapon suppressing the Demon Flow.

They were the Four Extremes and Four Assistant Emperors!

Six Emperors and Four Ministers, Nine Tribulations True Immortals, needless to discuss their strength. Although they couldn't rival the likes of the Great Sun Tathagata or the Demon Emperor, they were not far behind, each holding a Nine-level Immortal Treasure in hand.

Now with the Four Emperors joining forces, activating the Heavy Weapons together, forming a quadrilateral formation, sealing and suppressing evil, even if the Demon Emperor himself approached, he would have to retreat considerably.

But within this palace... the demon shadow...

"Ah!!!"

A scream resounded, earth-shattering, accompanied by the clanking of chains.

Under the quadrilateral extremity formation, the demon shadow was trapped deep within Taihuang Palace, yet there was a turbulent undercurrent roiling, swallowing the radiant Immortal Light from all directions, fortifying itself against the suppression of the Four Emperors, creating a deadlock that prolonged indefinitely.