Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 1015 - 438: Immortal Door Ranks (2)

The Sea Ancestor mused about his own inheritance but kept silent about it, only stating that once the Immortal Door materialized, passing through it would grant immortality.

As for the Saint Ancestor, he had received the Ancient Saint’s inheritance, which did touch upon the subject, though not in extensive detail.

Ning Qi recollected the inheritance from the Master of the Starry Sky, previously obtained via the Ancient Road Sacred Map, and promptly consulted it again.

The Master of the Starry Sky had also alluded to the Immortal Door, yet his own attainment of immortality back then was achieved by opening a Starry Sky Gate.

The discrepancies across these three inheritances regarding the Immortal Door that the Mountain Ancestor was currently opening before them only deepened the confusion surrounding ascension.

Nevertheless, considering that all matters in existence adhered to a hierarchy and that individuals pursued varied paths of cultivation, it stood to reason that the gateway to ascension would follow a similar principle.

They could not help but continue their observation.

Abruptly, the Mountain Ancestor fixed his gaze upon the physical form of Buzhou Mountain resting in his palm.

In the ensuing moment, he began a low, murmuring chant, reciting a series of arcane, indecipherable syllables, concluding with the single word, "Collect."

"Collect!"

The Dharma Body of the Mountain Ancestor opened his enormous maw, and the physical Buzhou Mountain immediately commenced a rapid rotation, hurtling towards the void within his mouth.

Gulp!

With a swift devouring action, the Mountain Ancestor had already ingested the physical Buzhou Mountain.

Instantly, the dense Immortal Dao Aura surrounding the Mountain Ancestor intensified significantly.

Following his act of summoning the phantom of Buzhou Mountain, sacrificing numerous cultivators, and absorbing a substantial amount of energy from the War Realm and the adjacent two realms…

And then, summoning the legendary remnant body of Buzhou Mountain from the Sea of Realms and integrating it.

The accumulated spiritual power from these endeavors alone was conceivably sufficient to propel an ordinary mortal from initial cultivation all the way to the pinnacle of Harmonization.

Moreover, the Mountain Ancestor retained his own profound cultivation insights, coupled with the enigmatic Buzhou Mountain inheritance; it could be asserted that his path to ascension was now irrevocably set.

Ning Qi and the remaining two grasped this reality.

The expressions of the Saint Ancestor and Sea Ancestor were fraught with complexity.

On one hand, they harbored a profound fear that should the Mountain Ancestor successfully pass through the Immortal Door and achieve True Immortality, their own demise would be certain, and they were utterly incapable of intervening.

On the other hand, a glimmer of anticipation began to bloom as they beheld the unfolding spectacle.

Even if personal ascension remained beyond their reach, the opportunity to witness an ascension event, unseen in this Sea of Realms for eons, was a momentous cosmic encounter in itself.

Ning Qi harbored sentiments remarkably similar to theirs.

Fortunately, he could discern that his connection to the True Martial Spirit Realm remained intact; it was merely that the enigmatic Immortal Gate’s appearance had created a spatial rift, precluding his immediate return.

And the Mountain Ancestor, fully engrossed in his present endeavor, no longer paid them any mind, ensuring their present safety.

Even if the Mountain Ancestor ultimately attained immortality, Ning Qi felt a possibility for escape would still exist.

While directing the True Martial Spirit Realm to gradually increase its distance, he simultaneously contemplated methods to escort the Saint Ancestor and Sea Ancestor away from this perilous location.

Leveraging his unique connection to the Sea of Realms, Ning Qi could fully integrate the Saint Ancestor and Sea Ancestor into more remote expanses of the Sea of Realms, such as the Chaotic Flow Area.

Ning Qi possessed a remarkably keen perception; he had previously observed that before the Mountain Ancestor initiated the opening of the Immortal Door, he seemed to cast a glance towards the deeper regions of the Sea of Realms, and the Mountain Ancestor had, throughout his journey, proceeded with utmost circumspection across the Sea of Realms, consistently mitigating the spatial disturbances he generated.

Ning Qi firmly believed that the Mountain Ancestor's actions were not without significant implication.

It was probable that the Mountain Ancestor possessed knowledge, drawn from his Buzhou Mountain inheritance, that they lacked.

Furthermore, this very knowledge instilled a sense of dread within the Mountain Ancestor himself, compelling him to temporarily abandon the subjugation of the trio and the destruction of the True Martial Spirit Realm, in favor of prioritizing his ascension.

Synthesizing all this information, Ning Qi concluded that they were unlikely to face immediate peril, and thus resolved to witness the grand spectacle of the Mountain Ancestor's ascension.

Naturally, Ning Qi would not cease his efforts to uncover a means of countering the Mountain Ancestor.

He had previously employed the Root of the Enlightenment Realm Tree to siphon a portion of the Mountain Ancestor's power, and the analysis was currently ongoing.

Furthermore, some residual elements remained within the Buzhou Mountain phantom.

Ning Qi’s gaze fell upon the colossal Dharma Aspect of the Mountain Ancestor, and he subtly adjusted the frequency of his internal power, aligning it more closely with that of the Mountain Ancestor.

Surrounding the Mountain Ancestor, after his assimilation of the physical Buzhou Mountain, the seven-colored luminescence on his skin pulsed once. Then, like spring blossoms unfurling, it erupted outwards; the myriad colors proliferated, transforming into thousands upon thousands of hues that filled the cosmos.

These colors resembled flowing ribbons of light dancing in the void, encircling the Mountain Ancestor’s Dharma Body.

Each ribbon symbolized a unique cultivation method mastered by the Mountain Ancestor, imbued with the world’s fundamental Rules, encompassing the threads of time – past, present, and future – and embodying the very essence of the Mountain Ancestor himself.

A golden light flashed in Ning Qi’s eyes. While maintaining his focus on the Immortal Door, he extended a hand, seeking to interact with the vibrant ribbons adorning the Mountain Ancestor’s form.

However, following the Mountain Ancestor’s absorption of the physical Buzhou Mountain, his power underwent continuous flux, making it increasingly challenging even for Ning Qi, despite his profound Enlightenment, to fully comprehend.

That fragment of Buzhou Mountain, having journeyed from the profound depths of the Sea of Realms, carried untold amounts of power and unfathomable secrets. It was now integrating into the Mountain Ancestor’s being, fundamentally reshaping his existence.

Rumble!

Within the Sea of Realms, the Immortal Gate steadily solidified. Its pillars, initially resembling Han Baiyu and intricately adorned with countless immortal patterns, began a transformation.

As the power of Buzhou Mountain flowed from the Mountain Ancestor, these two pillars started to change.

The swirling ribbons of Immortal Dao Aura surrounding the Mountain Ancestor’s form began to entwine themselves around the pillars, merging seamlessly with the existing immortal patterns.

The Han Baiyu pillars gradually emanated a cool, subtle radiance, their substance becoming denser and more robust.

Abruptly, the Immortal Gate confronting the Mountain Ancestor’s Dharma Body underwent a complete metamorphosis. Its Han Baiyu pillars were replaced by two pillars of a bronzed hue.

Between these pillars, two ancient, immeasurably archaic bronze doors faintly materialized.

"A Bronze Gate?"

Ning Qi and the others present were stunned; none had ever conceived that the Immortal Gate could undergo such a dramatic alteration.

They immediately grasped that the caliber of this Bronze Gate far surpassed that of the Han Baiyu Gate; otherwise, why would the Mountain Ancestor initiate such a change?

The Sea Ancestor felt a surge of apprehension grip her heart. She sensed that should she ever achieve ascension, her utmost potential might allow her to manifest a Han Baiyu Gate, and possibly not even that.

The stark contrast between herself and the Mountain Ancestor left her feeling utterly inadequate.

She pondered whether any level even below a Han Baiyu Immortal Door might exist.

As for the Saint Ancestor, his eyes narrowed, his thoughts remaining an enigma.

A profound silence descended upon the three, mirroring the stillness of the Mountain Ancestor. All stood within the Sea of Realms, their gazes fixed upon the Bronze Immortal Sect.

The Bronze Gate emanated a faint, verdant luminescence, with layers of immortal halos blooming upon its surface. From these halos, ethereal immortal mist ascended, shrouding the gate in an indistinct haze, rendering clear observation difficult.

Creaaak!

Suddenly, the leaves of the Bronze Gate parted just enough to reveal a narrow aperture. Through this gap, a solitary beam of immortal light pierced through, illuminating the Mountain Ancestor who stood resolutely before it.

It seemed that with a single step forward, the Mountain Ancestor could push open the Bronze Immortal Sect and enter its hallowed interior.

Yet, despite his Dharma Body being bathed in that radiant immortal light, the Mountain Ancestor remained motionless.

"You believe a mere Bronze Immortal Sect can usher me on my path? What a jest," the Mountain Ancestor declared with palpable resentment.

Ning Qi and the others could only discern his words as he continued:

"In ages past, my Buzhou Mountain served as the sole conduit to the Celestial Realm, the very foundation upon which your ascension system was built. Even the lowliest servants of Buzhou Mountain could pass through the Immortal Door, receiving at minimum the treatment of a Han Baiyu Gate!"

"And now you present me, a descendant who has inherited the legacy of Buzhou Mountain, with a Bronze Immortal Sect? Have you entirely forgotten the Immortal Mortal Crossing accord established in antiquity?"

Upon hearing this, the three, including Ning Qi, exchanged bewildered glances, their faces etched with confusion.

Servants of Buzhou Mountain granted Han Baiyu Gate status?

Ascension system? Immortal Mortal Crossing?

While the former concepts were somewhat comprehensible, the latter terms rendered them utterly clueless.

It could only be inferred that the inheritance from Buzhou Mountain, which the Mountain Ancestor had acquired, represented an opportunity vastly superior to anything they had previously imagined.

Even more tempestuous was the aura encircling the Mountain Ancestor, with innumerable streams of Immortal Dao Power cascading forth and smashing against the Bronze Immortal Sect. The Bronze Immortal Sect groaned under the assault, yet remained sealed. Ning Qi and the others observed as the Mountain Ancestor's power intensified, battering the Immortal Door. Astonishingly, flakes of bronze began to peel away from the Bronze Immortal Sect. Presently, a silver luminescence flickered through the bronze; subsequently, the entire Immortal Door expanded by three zhang and grew in height by five zhang, before finally attaining stability. A Silver Immortal Sect materialized before the Mountain Ancestor's Dharma Aspect, bathing his Dharma Body in its silvery effulgence. Ning Qi distinctly perceived that the light particles within this silver radiance were more concentrated and substantial than those of the bronze, each particle approximately double the intensity of its bronze counterpart. Confronting the Silver Immortal Sect, the Mountain Ancestor frowned. "A Silver Immortal Sect? Still insufficient!" he declared. With that pronouncement, his internal power surged anew, unleashing boundless Immortal Dao Auras. The corporeal Buzhou Mountain residing within his being almost instantaneously projected a phantasm, enveloping the Mountain Ancestor's Dharma Aspect. A brand shaped like a 'mountain' materialized upon the Mountain Ancestor's brow. This 'mountain' seal emanated a strand of spectral light, which was then directed back towards the portal of the Silver Gate.