The Sims: I Open the Immortal Path for All Beings Chapter 2321 - 2266–2267: Transcendence Attempts, Perspectives from All Sides (2)

I've encountered countless geniuses, but they all hail me as the true genius.

That had been the initial mindset of the Witch God Sect Leader, yet upon actually encountering Pei Xuanjing, he discovered he'd shifted into that lesser role, compelled to label the other as a genuine genius.

"Transcendence, merely a single step removed, this pace of cultivation defies all imagination." The Witch God Sect Leader uttered with profound feeling.

"Certain individuals seem destined for cultivation from birth, arriving in this realm to spearhead the era's advancement and steer its transformations." A hint of intricacy flickered in the Witch God Sect Leader's gaze.

The legendary Heavenly Mandate amounted to little more than that.

Ancient prophecies foretold that within the Divine Continent's Ancestral Land, a bearer of Heavenly Mandate would arise, ushering in a Golden Age where the Immortal Path's gates would swing wide, rendering immortality no longer a mere fantasy.

Folks in the past often believed this prophecy simply pointed to attaining True Immortal status for extended life, or perhaps driving out the Demon Race and establishing the Heavenly Court, viewing that as the ultimate pinnacle. Beyond it lay a fresh era.

Nevertheless, observing Pei Xuanjing's relentless rise, forever perched at the world's zenith, directing the era's evolution and shifts across the Realms of Heavenly Seas, the Witch God Sect Leader now conceded that the man had never forsaken his Heavenly Mandate.

Maybe their earlier perspectives and scopes fell short. The promised Golden Age of renewal wasn't limited to unlocking the Immortal Path; it promised a genuine shot at transcendence.

Not a soul comprehends it, not even these mighty Taoist Monarchs can fully grasp or foresee the Future in this era.

To True Immortals and ultimate powerhouses, Taoist Monarchs appear as grand strategists, ruling the Divine Land World, overawing the Realms of Heavenly Seas, their decrees shaking the cosmos, with none daring to defy them.

Yet against authentic destiny, the real Will of Heaven and Earth, they hold just a handful of extra options, lacking true freedom in the end.

All of us tread the cultivation path as ascendants, battling through this vast sea of bitterness in pursuit of real transcendence.

This surging great calamity reflects Pei Xuanjing's resolve and echoes the consensus among numerous seasoned Daoist Monarchs.

Along the cultivation journey, they've neared their boundaries, yet even now, they lack full mastery over their fates or the assurance to break free and transcend.

Hence, they resolved to test the waters, igniting this great calamity not just to forge the Divine Continent's Great Thousand Worlds but also to uncover if transcendence's opening might emerge.

Regardless, transcendence's feasibility stays unknown. The Divine Continent serves as their bedrock; its ongoing strengthening bolsters their roots, granting extra Time and prospects.

It's a daring venture that could engulf millions of lives, but for these Taoist Monarchs, they've exhausted their alternatives.

Such is the merciless nature of the mighty; they shield these beings under normal circumstances, yet when personal stakes clash with the masses', the strong choose without a moment's pause.

The Dao-seeking heart stands unyielding as steel, unbreakable. These powerhouses, having advanced this far, have trampled skeletal peaks, slaying endless foes without pity.

Compassion might linger, but it fails to sway their pursuit of the Dao.

Beyond the beings entangled in this, they themselves wager it all on this high-stakes game, ready to serve as the price paid.

Fair or unfair, the world's cruelty runs deep; the feeble lack voice in such matters, all scrambling for existence, evading dominance, and shattering chains.

"In this ordeal, he'll hold the greatest odds." Zhu Jiuyin declared with tangled sentiments.

Without doubt, amid this great calamity, motives vary widely; fresh Daoists scramble for power and fresh chances, but they lack the caliber to chase transcendence outright.

The real contenders for immortality's breakthrough hail from the ranks of veteran Daoist Monarchs. These figures have hit the Daoist Monarch ceiling, poised to leap beyond.

Even Zhu Jiuyin, the Ancestor Witch, backed by her prior Demon God heritage, lingers one stride from her utmost peak. Had the calamity delayed slightly, letting her advance within it, hope might persist.

Should she falter in grasping this moment, with fortune falling short, she could forfeit her final stake in the contest.

"Whatever the final count of slots, he'll claim one for sure—that's precisely why every faction eyes him with such dread." The Witch God Sect Leader murmured softly.

As a long-standing Daoist Monarch, he's brushed his own limits and holds a shot at transcendence's trial, vying for that ultimate position.

That's why, despite alliances with Pei Xuanjing—where the latter secured an Ancestral Witch Venerable Position—their core interests diverge, sparking fierce clashes in the endgame struggles.

This instance serves as a mere trial run; no transcendent being has ever surfaced, leaving unknown the number of transcendence slots or chances this calamity might yield.

Should ample chances arise, tensions among veteran Daoist Monarchs would ease; at minimum, the top tiers wouldn't clash intensely.

But with spots in flux and potentially scarce, the finale will ignite brutal rivalry for transcendence; surrender comes hard to any.

The Witch God Sect Leader counts as Pei Xuanjing's partner, yet the latter bonds tighter with select Taoist School figures, their ties surpassing his own and forming an unassailable bloc.

Taoist Monarch Xuantian, Ancestor Celestial Master, and Longevity Taoist Monarch share deep bonds, while Taisu Yuanjun from the same school maintains some distance due to her Demon God roots, barring full entry into their inner group.

Still, those three united could dominate veteran Daoist Monarchs. Only a Buddhist School alliance might offset them; the Witch God Sect Leader alone stands no chance.

The Sword Emperor, Witch God Sect Leader, Taoist Monarch Xuantian, Blood Fiend Ancestor, Ten Thousand Spirits Demon Monarch, Xuanyin Primordial Monarch, and Master Tianji—all supreme titans, unmatched in solo prowess by any peer.

Yet fractures abound among them, rendering complete unity impossible, particularly in the transcendence scramble.

This dynamic fuels the quiet curbs on Shenxiao Sect and Taoist School growth from all quarters; they aim to dilute rivals, forging balances to hinder unchecked advances.

Calculations across factions have escalated wariness to extremes. Else, why, during Pei Xuanjing's overhaul of the Gods Sealing List, did they contest its control, denying him total sway?

As the Divine Continent swells and Heavenly Court sway grows, reforging the Gods Sealing List feels inevitable. Still, these forces preferred inaction, holding back to curb Pei Xuanjing's mounting power.

Regrettably, their efforts proved futile; despite meddling, they failed to halt him, and he forged ahead to finalize the Gods Sealing List's refinement.

No one can tell if this move carries hidden repercussions or sows a deadly weakness for the Future.

Thus, factions now interfere in the Jade Emperor-Human Race Five Emperors rivalry, plotting a power shift to embed deeper influence in the Heavenly Court, blocking Pei Xuanjing from emerging as an unchallenged force.