The Sims: I Open the Immortal Path for All Beings Chapter 2295 - 2240–2241: Aftermath – Golden Core Perfection 2

The convergence of numerous Taoist Monarchs from the Demonic Way is an ominous omen, threatening not only the Buddhism School but the Taoist School as well.

One must recognize that within the triad of the Taoist School, the Buddhism School, and the Demonic Way, the latter’s perceived weakness doesn't stem from a lack of raw power or a shortage of Taoist Monarchs. In fact, their numbers exceed those of the Buddhism School. Why, then, do they remain the least influential?

The core issue lies in the Demonic Way's inherent fragmentation. The various Taoist Monarchs of this path struggle to form a genuine union; even when the desire is there, they are plagued by a profound lack of mutual trust.

While the Taoist Monarchs of the Taoist and Buddhism Schools may harbor conflicting wills and opinions, they maintain a level of mutual respect and can tolerate differences for the greater good.

In contrast, the experts of the Demonic Way are products of a different mold. Their origins are rooted in a brutal environment defined by relentless schemes and cold calculations against one another.

Without ironclad guarantees, no one is willing to extend trust easily. To show one's back to a peer is to invite a backstab that could result in catastrophic loss.

Because trust is such a rare commodity among these demonic powerhouses, their alliances are superficial. They rarely commit their full strength, always keeping a reserve out of suspicion.

Against average foes, this guarded cooperation suffices. However, when clashing with formidable entities like the Buddhism School or the Taoist School, the inability to fight with total conviction—hampered by the fear of internal betrayal—prevents them from reaching their true combat potential.

Under such circumstances, isolation often seems preferable to a hollow alliance.

Yet, the recent coordinated strike by two Demon Monarchs against Mahasthamaprapta and Medicine Master Glaze Bodhisattva signaled a shift. Other Demon Monarchs joined the fray as if bound by a silent pact; though they didn't engage the arriving Bodhisattvas in a death match, their actions to intercept them sent a resounding message.

This gesture served as a signal to the two active Demon Monarchs and a promise to others: they were prepared to respect their agreements. In moments of peril, they would no longer be mere spectators but would offer tangible support.

Establishing trust is an arduous journey, and making that first step is the hardest part. However, once a solid foundation is laid, the momentum builds rapidly.

Currently, various factions are visibly coalescing. It is becoming clear to all that standing alone provides no security. Even seasoned Taoist Monarchs recognize that in these increasingly dangerous times, unity is the superior strategy.

New alliances are surfacing, each boasting several Taoist Monarchs. Even if these are merely newly ascended Dao Lords, they present a formidable threat to veteran Taoist Monarchs, making cooperation a necessity.

The sudden unification of the Demonic Way's elite has already dealt a heavy blow to the Buddhism School, which is a troubling development for all observers.

Pang Hong frowned as he processed this news, yet he felt powerless to disrupt the consolidation of the Demonic Way; these were the choices of supreme beings far beyond his reach.

“Do not be troubled; the unification of the Demonic Way was bound to happen. Those old monsters, each possessed of profound cunning, would naturally lean toward cooperation eventually,” Pei Xuanjing said, shaking his head slightly to dismiss the concern.

The present era cannot be navigated through solitary effort. Every Taoist Monarch of the Demonic Way has ascended by treading over mountains of corpses and through seas of blood; they are survivors who will not let stubbornness lead to their downfall.

In the past, these Demon Monarchs avoided unity because they believed their individual might was absolute. Now that the world has shifted, their survival instinct drives them toward collective action.

Trust aside, when a crisis looms, failing to huddle together for warmth is simply foolish.

“True strength lies in the Righteous Path. You must now focus on preparing for your ascension to the Taoist Monarch rank,” Pei Xuanjing instructed Pang Hong.

“This disciple requests the Master’s protection!” Pang Hong said, bowing respectfully to Pei Xuanjing.

Having brought his Golden Core Dao to its current peak, the time had come to ascend to the Taoist Monarch rank. With his Golden Core perfected, any further Fortuitous Opportunities would be redundant, as he had reached the absolute ceiling of his current state.

Compared to the standard Mana of a True Immortal, Pang Hong’s cultivation through the Golden Core Dao had granted him reserves several times greater than a typical True Immortal Sixth Layer. In terms of sheer Mana volume, he was already on par with some newly minted Taoist Monarchs.

Of course, for a Taoist Monarch, Mana volume is often secondary, as these beings command Heavenly Authority to draw infinite power from the heavens and chaos, provided they aren't suppressed.

Nevertheless, as a Quasi-Taoist at the True Immortal Sixth Layer Heaven with such immense Mana, Pang Hong’s foundation was incredibly deep. His progress was a natural flow; there was no reason to delay any longer.

While the heavenly tribulations of reaching the Taoist Monarch rank might be manageable, the 'man-made' tribulations were far more treacherous, necessitating his teacher’s oversight.

“There is no need for such formality. Protecting you is my responsibility as your teacher,” Pei Xuanjing replied with a smile.

......

Deep within the chaos, violent Gang winds scream. A single blast of this wind can dissolve a Divine Soul and erase the physical body, crushing all defiance. Surges of chaotic tides move like the breath of the universe, inhaling and exhaling limitless Primordial Qi. A single thread of Chaos Qi falling to the world is something even the most powerful cannot endure.

Chaos serves as the source of the Realms of Heavenly Seas, birthing all worlds yet devoid of the Laws of Heaven and Earth. Only the eternal Great Tao exists here, manifested through the rules of chaos, which differ fundamentally from the laws found within a standard world. This is the primal law of the void.

Legend says that chaos birthed the Three Thousand Great Paths. Any Law or Great Dao, when mastered to its zenith, allows one to step into the Taoist Monarch level and claim the Dao Authority of chaos. This is the ultimate goal of a Taoist Monarch: transcendence and merging with the chaos. So long as chaos exists, their form remains eternal.

On this day, a figure clad in purple emerged from the Divine Land World, leaping through space. Crossing through layer after layer of barriers, he reached the Outer Heaven. He stood before the Land of Chaos with unwavering resolve, purple and azure lightning flickering beneath his feet to ward off the encroaching void.

“The world barrier is what keeps this chaotic Qi from flooding the Divine Land World!” Pang Hong remarked, his dark hair whipping in the wind. His heart was filled with complex emotions.

Though he was born in the Divine Land World and had traveled to many realms, it was only now—having finally grasped the threshold of the Taoist Monarch rank—that he truly understood the sheer scale and majesty of his home world.

With his robes fluttering and hair loose, Pang Hong dove into the chaos, his eyes burning with resolve.

The Golden Core Dao requires one to follow their true heart to reach the summit of the Great Tao. With lightning crackling underfoot, Pang Hong’s form descended into the swirling chaos, where currents capable of shredding any barrier surged around him.

In an instant, his surrounding lightning vaporized the chaotic Qi. With his Essence, Qi, and Spirit in perfect harmony, a formless Golden Core glowed within him like an eternal beacon. He drifted through the chaos, suspended in the void, remaining unshaken by the violent impacts of the chaotic currents.

Pang Hong stood in the center of the turmoil, his expression as calm as a Demon God’s. Each strand of his drifting hair seemed to carry a lethal intent, ready to pierce through any obstacle.

As he opened his eyes, a terrifying Divine Light erupted, and a massive, surging aura radiated from him. This pulse pushed back the layers of chaotic Qi, carving out a void. He stood there, a world unto himself, defying the crushing weight of the chaos.