Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 1017 - 439: Golden Immortal Sect (Part 2)

At last, Sea Ancestor’s turbulent emotions began to quiet down.

Her emotional state proved exceptionally challenging to manage, prone to lapsing into madness far more readily than others.

This volatility stemmed directly from the consequences of forcibly merging with the Sea of Realms’ essence.

The trio turned their attention once more toward Mountain Ancestor.

As Mountain Ancestor’s Dharma Aspect advanced towards the Golden Immortal Sect, an immediate transformation occurred.

Golden pathways materialized before the Golden Immortal Sect, extending to meet Mountain Ancestor’s position.

Mountain Ancestor had already set foot upon the initial golden step.

*Rustle!*

Curiously, the moment the golden steps emerged, the Sea of Realms’ essence could no longer encroach upon the Golden Immortal Sect, receding significantly from both the structure and Mountain Ancestor.

A complete ten-foot radius surrounding the entirety of the Golden Immortal Sect was purged of the Sea of Realms’ essence.

Observing this spectacle, the nascent thoughts that had stirred within Ning Qi and Sea Ancestor’s minds seemed to instantaneously recede back into the depths of their consciousness.

It appeared that Saint Ancestor's preceding words were indeed factual!

Ascending the golden steps one by one, Mountain Ancestor finally reached the threshold of the Golden Immortal Sect.

A radiant, pale golden Immortal Radiance completely enveloped him, bestowing an even more transcendent aura.

Mountain Ancestor’s two colossal hands made contact with the sect’s entrance.

At this precise moment, his countenance was etched with profound solemnity.

A sense of unease seemed to grip Mountain Ancestor; he cast a furtive glance towards Ning Qi and the others, noting their continued observation of his transcendent feat before withdrawing his gaze.

He then directed his attention backward, towards the receding waves of the Sea of Realms, which now presented a tranquil, lake-like vista.

Turning back, Mountain Ancestor bellowed with exertion, "Open for me!"

His arms strained, muscles bulging, while golden radiance bathed him, transforming him into a figure akin to a colossal golden statue.

*Crack!*

A groaning sound emanated from the Golden Immortal Sect as it began to slowly part along its central golden pillars, widening the gap in the entrance.

Subsequently, intensified golden Immortal Radiance streamed forth from within the sect, illuminating Mountain Ancestor.

The Immortal Dao Aura emanating from Mountain Ancestor nearly solidified, his entire being trembling subtly as every cell seemed to yearn for greater absorption of the golden Immortal Radiance and Immortal Dao Aura.

Ning Qi and the others watched the Golden Immortal Sect's gradual opening, their gazes probing the entrance, yet unable to discern any details of the interior.

Before them lay only an overwhelmingly brilliant golden hue, reminiscent of cascading sunlight.

*Crack!*

Mountain Ancestor had succeeded in pushing the Golden Immortal Sect open by half, allowing him to slip through by turning sideways.

Naturally, by diminishing the size of his Dharma Aspect, he could have forced his way directly inside.

However, Mountain Ancestor chose not to; he firmly planted his feet on the golden stairs below, channeling all his might into further propelling the sect, determined to unveil it completely.

*Crack!*

Precisely as Mountain Ancestor had forced the sect open by two-thirds, an unforeseen event transpired.

A substantial volume of dark mist unexpectedly erupted from within Mountain Ancestor himself!

"Cough!"

Mountain Ancestor involuntarily coughed, expelling a large quantity of black mist.

"Is this... the failure to transcend from mortal to Immortal?"

Mountain Ancestor intensified his efforts, persisting in his attempt to push open the sect.

Meanwhile, his coughing fits grew more frequent, each expulsion releasing a significant plume of black mist that was promptly dispersed by the surrounding golden light.

Ning Qi and the others fixed their intense focus upon his retreating form.

Initially, they observed dark wisps amidst the golden illumination being expelled from Mountain Ancestor's mouth; gradually, black mist began to emanate from his seven facial orifices.

Eventually, black mist spewed forth from every pore of Mountain Ancestor’s body, proving so potent that even the pervasive golden light struggled to cleanse it.

Within the golden radiance cocooning Mountain Ancestor, a dark halo had materialized, casting its shadow over him.

*Crack!*

At this juncture, inexplicably, the Golden Immortal Sect, which Mountain Ancestor was prying open, partially receded.

"What is occurring?"

The sect's partial closure forcefully shoved Mountain Ancestor back several steps, and he instantly grasped that something was amiss.

"Open for me!"

He roared again, his magical power surging like a torrent towards the Golden Immortal Sect.

The Golden Immortal Sect yielded once more, its opening widening anew.

Just as Mountain Ancestor began to dismiss the event as a mere anomaly, the entire Golden Immortal Sect reacted with even greater force, rebounding.

*Squeak!*

This time, Mountain Ancestor was propelled a considerable distance backward, his feet leaving two distinct imprints on the golden steps.

"What is happening? Why is the sect barring my entry?"

Mountain Ancestor barely managed to regain his footing, his facade of calm shattered, replaced by sheer bewilderment.

From their considerable vantage point, Ning Qi and the onlookers mirrored his confusion, their expressions equally perplexed.

Ning Qi's mind couldn't help but drift back to the Saint Ancestor's earlier pronouncements.

The black mist swirling within Mountain Ancestor's resplendent golden Immortal Radiance was evidently the energy from the Sea of Realms, concealed within him.

It appeared that the golden Immortal Radiance safeguarding the sect had been actively purging the Sea of Realms' energy from Mountain Ancestor's being, yet paradoxically, the energy continued to accumulate within him.

Logically, Mountain Ancestor should possess minimal Sea of Realms energy, primarily residing within the Mountain and Sea Realm previously, and even journeys to the Vast Realm wouldn't expose him to significant amounts of such energy.

Therefore, it was improbable for Mountain Ancestor to harbor such a vast quantity of Sea of Realms energy internally.

"Something is amiss..."

Suddenly, Ning Qi recalled the fragments of Buzhou Mountain that had previously drifted from the Sea of Realms. Mountain Ancestor had summoned these fragments, which clarified matters considerably.

It was possible that Mountain Ancestor didn't inherently possess much Sea of Realms energy, but rather, he had absorbed the remnants of Buzhou Mountain into himself.

These fragments of Buzhou Mountain showed no signs of life, nor any inhabitants.

Having been left in a secluded part of the Sea of Realms, these remnants, over countless eons, would inevitably be corrupted by the Sea of Realms' pervasive energy.

This alone accounted for the immense concentration of Sea of Realms energy within Mountain Ancestor!

What Ning Qi had discerned, the Saint Ancestor and Sea Ancestor also grasped, and Mountain Ancestor, as the central figure, naturally sensed it as well.

"Buzhou Mountain is the very path to transcending into immortality; why would you obstruct its entry?" Mountain Ancestor inquired, his hands still pushing against the Golden Immortal Sect, though one finger now tapped against its surface.

However, Mountain Ancestor's exertion this time was even more profound, yet instead of widening the Golden Immortal Sect, the force rebounded, causing the sect to close further.

"No!" Mountain Ancestor cried out in panic. He had been on the verge of fully opening the Golden Immortal Sect, only for it to now seal itself, rejecting his advance.

"Who granted you the authority to reject a descendant of Buzhou Mountain?" Mountain Ancestor's voice grew somewhat hysterical, finding the unfolding events almost unbelievable.

In the ensuing moment, he attempted to force his way into the Golden Immortal Sect.

But the sect offered no such opportunity, shrinking relentlessly and preventing his formidable Magic Body from entering.

"No, how can this be?" Mountain Ancestor reacted with astonishing speed, attempting to retract his Magic Body, only to find the Golden Immortal Sect shrinking in tandem.

Crack!

Furthermore, even the golden steps that had materialized moments before were being withdrawn, seemingly to force Mountain Ancestor back down.

Horrified, Mountain Ancestor ceased his attempts to shrink his Magic Body or to squeeze through sideways.

His stance became awkward, wedging his feet against the Golden Immortal Sect, his back pressed against one side of the entrance, while one hand pushed against the other.

With his free hand, he battered against the Golden Immortal Sect, shouting, "Have you forgotten the Immortal Mortal Crossing pact?"

More black mist erupted from his body, nearly matching the surrounding golden Immortal Radiance, and continuing its rapid expansion.

A mountain-shaped emblem reappeared on Mountain Ancestor's forehead, projecting itself towards the Golden Immortal Sect.

The emblem struck the sect's lintel, producing a resounding clang, unlike its previous interactions.

Nevertheless, a stalemate ensued; the sect appeared to halt its closing motion.

Simultaneously, Mountain Ancestor's efforts to widen the entrance proved entirely fruitless!

The mountain-shaped emblem, imprinted upon the sect's lintel, transformed into black mist, seeping into the sect and suddenly igniting its complex Immortal patterns.

The two entities seemed to engage in a silent communication, referencing ancient pacts.

Then, remarkably, the golden radiance emanating from the Golden Immortal Sect began to wane, its hue shifting from brilliant gold to a more subdued silver.