Previously on The Sims: I Open the Immortal Path for All Beings...
Amidst the chaos of the Divine Land, Pang Hong achieves the immortal Golden Core, honing his formidable abilities as he prepares for a confrontation. The Jade Emperor, recognizing Pang Hong's growth and destiny, steps in as his human tribulation, asserting his will with a powerful Imperial Divine Fist. As their titanic clash unfolds, each showcases their incredible strength, with Pang Hong countering the Emperor's might while unleashing the devastating Mastery of Five Thunders. The battle intensifies, echoing the stakes of their confrontation, as both strive to assert their dominance within the chaotic realm.
Each divine ability within the Heavenly Stem Divine Power is formidable, granting unimaginable effects to the user. This is precisely why these techniques, despite being classified as top-tier divine abilities, can occasionally rival supreme divine powers in effectiveness.
Consider the Five Thunder Divine Ability; at first glance, it appears to be a standard thunder method. However, the Five Thunder Method is distinct from the techniques of Dragon Tiger Mountain or the Shenxiao Sect. Its true lethality lies not just in the Thunder God's ability to shatter a foe's physical form, but in its capacity to strike directly at the opponent’s Divine Soul.
The Jade Emperor’s expression shifted slightly upon seeing Pang Hong unleash the Five Thunder Divine Ability. Ordinary thunder methods, regardless of their intensity, did not frighten him, as he possessed a divine body that could withstand such forces. However, he could not afford to underestimate a technique capable of a direct assault on the Divine Soul. If he were to lower his guard, he might suffer a catastrophic setback.
After all, his current actions were merely to align with the Will of Heaven and Earth. He had no intention of engaging in a life-and-death struggle or a grueling war of attrition at this moment. For him, the price of such a conflict was simply too high. Even a victory that left Pang Hong severely injured would not advance his ultimate plan, for Pang Hong was not his true adversary.
Consequently, when the Five Thunder Method was unleashed, the Jade Emperor chose defense over a forceful counteroffensive, taking a measured step back and withdrawing his fist intent. To maintain an unassailable position was the most prudent strategy.
The Jade Emperor raised his hand, and a divine sword materialized in his palm. As he slashed outward, the four corners of the world seemed to submit, as if the supreme ruler of all existence was gazing down upon the realms. The strike manifested a five-clawed Golden Dragon that roared as it soared through the chaos, its voice vibrating through the void. This divine dragon swung its tail, causing the entire Chaos Void to churn violently.
The Golden Dragon howled, spiraling through the sea of lightning. Its massive form tumbled through the storm, claws shattering bolts of lightning while its tail swayed through the thunder with grace. Above the Jade Emperor, the Supreme Emperor Tower appeared, casting down a dim light that acted as a shield, intercepting countless lightning strikes and protecting him.
Yet, the Jade Emperor was not one to merely defend. He swung his sword once more, the blade sweeping through the void and carving fissures into space itself. The destructive energy concentrated on the edge was enough to annihilate anything in its path. In that instant, the Jade Emperor appeared as the sole pillar between heaven and earth—the pinnacle of the Sword Path, as majestic as a Divine Mountain and as vast as the ocean.
As the overwhelming sword intent blanketed the Chaos, the surging power finally caused Pang Hong to feel a spark of danger. Despite having watched the Jade Emperor’s battles many times as a spectator, facing the reality of his power in person was an entirely different experience.
Only by standing directly against the Jade Emperor's terrifying assault could Pang Hong truly grasp the man's horror. This Emperor of Heaven had accumulated power for a thousand years to reach his current state, and his confidence was well-founded. Furthermore, Pang Hong realized that the Jade Emperor had yet to reveal his full strength; many of his ultimate trump cards remained hidden.
However, even sensing this threat did not spark fear in Pang Hong. Instead, a look of joy crossed his face as he eagerly caressed the Sanbao Jade Ruyi in his hand. As a newly ascended Taoist Monarch, he did not fear clashing with powerful rivals. On the contrary, he relished such encounters, intending to use them to temper his spirit and gauge the limits of his own Cultivation.
The transition from a True Immortal to a Quasi-Taoist Monarch is a total transformation for any cultivator—a profound metamorphosis where combat power swells to an incredible degree, demanding validation through battle.
Channeling his power into the Sanbao Jade Ruyi, Pang Hong struck again. His boundless mana flooded the artifact, causing it to glow with a vibrant purple-blue light as it gathered countless thunders into a spiraling, howling Thunder Dragon.
While Pang Hong’s artifact was also named the Sanbao Jade Ruyi and appeared to be an imitation of Pei Xuanjing’s treasure, their internal mechanisms were fundamentally different. The Sanbao Jade Ruyi held by Pei Xuanjing carried his divine authority and functioned like a scepter of the gods, rooted in the Divine Tao. In contrast, the core of Pang Hong’s Sanbao Jade Ruyi was fueled by his own Essence, Qi, and Spirit, serving as a medium to command the Thunder Path he cultivated.
A bolt of lightning tore through the firmament, crashing down toward the ancient mountain. In that moment, Pang Hong stood as the master of billions of thunders, wielding the lightning of the heavens as the very incarnation of the thunder's origin. The nature of thunder is destruction, possessing the power to wipe out all living things; this specific bolt felt like a heavenly calamity sent to test the world.
He harnessed the primal power of the Thunder Origin, directing it straight at the Jade Emperor.
"Thunder Origin Power! I never imagined the teacher would bestow all of this upon you!" The Jade Emperor’s eyes widened with profound shock at the sight.
The Thunder Origin represented the absolute core authority of the Thunder Path. The Shenxiao Sect was famous throughout the Realms of Heavenly Seas for its mastery of the Thunder Path, particularly Pei Xuanjing’s divine incarnation as the Emperor of the South Pole Eternal Life. Everyone was aware of that Taoist Monarch’s dominion over the Thunderbolt Law and the Shenxiao House of Jade Purity.
Thus, all masters of the Thunder Path in the Divine Land and the Realms of Heavenly Seas knew that the Longevity Taoist Monarch was the undisputed peak of that Great Path. He was an insurmountable mountain; unless he chose to relinquish his authority, no one could ever hope to challenge his position as the Master of the Thunder Path.
