Chapter 169: The Heavenly Gate Opens

The key of the void felt heavy in his palm, its silvery-white halo pulsing like a breath.

Su Yun gripped it tightly, able to feel the entire power of an ancient behemoth before its death sealed within.

It was the crystallization of the Lianxu Peak Stage, cold, hard, and carrying a loneliness that spanned ten thousand years.

He did not stay long in Qinghe City.

At dawn the next day, before the morning mist had dissipated, he left with the Void Beast and the Third Demon General.

Hongxiu and the Fourth Demon General stayed in the city to help Valley Master Su Yao reorganize the newly recruited female Disciples.

Fairy Jianyun and Zi Wuji stood on the city wall to see him off, while Zhao Lanxin stood at the city gate, clutching the embroidered belt in her hand; she did not chase after him, but just watched quietly as his back disappeared into the grayish-white horizon.

The Void Beast shrank to the size of a calf and began to run through the air, each step creating a ripple of silvery-white light.

Its speed was faster than Su Yun's wind-riding, its fluffy body shining with a soft luster in the morning light.

The Third Demon General followed behind, her Void Refining Early Stage movement speed left far behind, forcing Su Yun to slow down and wait for her.

Three days later, the grayish-white land of the Northern Wasteland spread out beneath their feet.

The cold wind whistled along the ground, whipping up fine ice shards that cut like knives against the face.

After flying for another three days, the black soil of the Devilish Abyss appeared.

The air was filled with thick Devilish Qi, making one's throat bitter with every breath.

The Void Beast sneezed, exhaling a silvery-white breath that caused the Devilish Qi to melt like snow meeting fire.

That Void Realm rift spanned the horizon, wider than when Su Yun had last seen it.

Silvery-white light gushed from the depths of the rift, illuminating the entire black land like an inverted galaxy hanging in the sky.

The power of the Void Realm at the edge of the rift surged, emitting a low hum, as if something was sleeping inside.

Su Yun landed in front of the rift and took the key of the void from his Storage Ring.

The silvery-white key rotated slowly in his palm, and upon sensing the aura of the rift, it began to tremble.

The light on the surface of the key grew brighter and more blinding, finally emitting a clear, resonant hum.

He gripped the key tightly and stepped into the rift.

Silvery-white light engulfed him; in the Void Realm, there was no direction, no time, only endless Chaos flowing.

The Void Beast followed by his feet, its silvery-white fur drifting in the Void Realm like a mass of flowing moonlight.

The Third Demon General followed closely behind, her face pale; her Void Refining Early Stage cultivation seemed exceptionally insignificant in this Void Realm.

Su Yun flew toward the direction of the Immortal Realm gate.

There was no sense of distance in the Void Realm, and he did not know how long he had flown—perhaps an hour, perhaps a day.

A light gate appeared ahead, about a hundred zhang high, with ancient runes carved all over the door frame.

Those runes were dense, like countless eyes, blinking within the silvery-white light.

He landed in front of the gate and reached out to touch the door.

A cold sensation spread from his palm to his shoulder, as if he were touching ten-thousand-year-old ice.

He aligned the key of the void with the keyhole in the center of the door and slowly inserted it.

The key went in halfway and got stuck.

He pushed hard, but the key did not budge.

Su Yun frowned, pressed his palm against the end of the key, and poured out his Void Refining Late Stage Spiritual Qi.

The Spiritual Qi flowed along the key into the door, and the runes on the door began to flicker—bright and dim, like a beating heart.

The key of the void emitted a low hum, and the entire gate began to tremble.

The trembling became more and more intense, and the runes on the door frame seemed to come alive, moving along the frame.

With a loud boom, the door cracked open.

Rich Spiritual Qi surged from the gap, more than ten times denser than in the Central Region.

Su Yun took a deep breath, feeling every pore on his body open up.

He braced his hands against the crack in the door and pushed hard to both sides.

The door slowly opened, and silvery-white light surged from behind it, stinging his eyes so he couldn't keep them open.

When the light dissipated, he saw the world behind the door clearly.

A boundless green plain spread out beneath his feet.

The sky was very high, blue as if washed clean, with a few white clouds drifting by.

There were mountains in the distance, with waterfalls on them, falling from high places and crashing against the rocks, splashing up white mist.

The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and grass, mixed with the scent of soil and dew.

The Spiritual Qi was so thick it couldn't be dispersed; taking a breath was like drinking a sip of sweet spring water.

The Immortal Realm.

Su Yun stepped inside the door, his feet landing on the soft grass, the blades of grass brushing against his boots and making a rustling sound.

The Void Beast followed by his feet, its silvery-white fur shining in the sunlight; it tilted its head, took a deep breath, narrowed its eyes, and let out a satisfied purr.

The Third Demon General was the last to enter; she stood by the door and looked back, the light gate behind her slowly closing.

Su Yun did not look back.

He gazed at this unfamiliar land and took a deep breath.

The air was sweet and fresh, carrying a faint floral scent.

In the distance, a white spirit crane flew up from the mountains, tracing a graceful arc across the blue sky and white clouds.

He stepped forward and began to walk.

The grass was very soft, like stepping on cotton wool.

Not long after walking, a small stream appeared ahead, the water crystal clear, revealing the pebbles and small fish swimming at the bottom.

Su Yun crouched down, cupped a handful of water, and took a sip.

The water was very sweet, carrying a faint trace of Spiritual Qi, purer even than the best spirit spring water in the Central Region.

He stood up and continued walking forward.

Crossing a small hill, a sea of flowers appeared before his eyes.

Colorful spirit flowers swayed in the wind—red, yellow, purple, white—like a giant piece of brocade spread across the land.

Among the flowers, butterflies were dancing, their wings transparent and shimmering with seven-colored light.

Su Yun stopped and released his Divine Sense.

His Void Refining Late Stage Divine Sense could only probe ten miles in the Immortal Realm, ten times less than in the Central Region.

But it was enough.

He sensed Spiritual Qi fluctuations five miles ahead; it was strong, at least at the Void Refining Stage.

There was more than one, several in fact, and they were flying toward him.

He stood where he was and waited.

A moment later, five figures flew over from the end of the flower sea.

The leader was a young woman wearing a light cyan dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders, her face cold and detached, and her aura deep.

Void Refining Late Stage.

Behind her followed four women, all at the Void Refining Middle Stage, wearing uniform cyan dresses and holding long swords.

They landed in front of Su Yun, and the leading woman scanned him, her brows slightly furrowed.

"Which Immortal Sect are you from? How did you come up from the Lower Realm?"

Su Yun looked into her eyes. "Qinghe Sect, Su Yun. Just arrived."

The woman's brows furrowed even tighter. "Qinghe Sect? Never heard of it. A Sect from the Lower Realm?"

Su Yun nodded.

The woman sneered. "A Void Refining Late Stage from the Lower Realm is rare. However, the Immortal Realm is not the Lower Realm; the rules are different. You've just arrived and don't understand anything, so come with me. I will take you to register and assign you a residence."

Su Yun looked at her. "Which Immortal Sect are you from?"

The woman said, "Qingyun Palace, Outer Sect Deacon, Liu Qingyao."

Su Yun asked how many female Disciples Qingyun Palace had.

Outer Sect Deacon Liu Qingyao was stunned for a moment, then said that Qingyun Palace was one of the Seven Great Immortal Sects of the Immortal Realm, with thirty thousand Disciples, forty percent of whom were female Cultivators, totaling about twelve thousand people.

Su Yun nodded and asked what the cultivation level of the Palace Master of Qingyun Palace was.

Outer Sect Deacon Liu Qingyao said the Palace Master was at the Mahayana Initial Stage, and that the Palace Masters of all Seven Great Immortal Sects in the Immortal Realm were at the Mahayana Stage.

Su Yun was silent for a moment. "Lead the way."

Outer Sect Deacon Liu Qingyao turned and led him to fly deeper into the sea of flowers.

The four Void Refining Middle Stage female Cultivators followed behind, their gazes fixed vigilantly on Su Yun.

The Void Beast followed by Su Yun's feet, its silvery-white fur shining in the sunlight.

The Third Demon General followed at the very back, her face pale; her Void Refining Early Stage cultivation seemed exceptionally weak among this group.

After flying for about half an hour, a huge city appeared ahead.

The city walls towered into the clouds, built entirely of white jade, shining with a dazzling light in the sunlight.

The city walls were covered with runes, exuding the aura of the Mahayana Stage.

Two rows of female Cultivators stood at the city gate, wearing uniform cyan dresses, holding long swords, and all of them were outstanding in appearance.

Su Yun followed behind Outer Sect Deacon Liu Qingyao and walked into the city gate.

The streets inside the city were wide, lined with shops, and crowded with pedestrians.

The cultivation levels of the Cultivators here were generally higher than in the Lower Realm; the Foundation Establishment Stage was the lowest existence here, the Golden Core Stage could be seen everywhere, the Nascent Soul Stage was considered average, only the Soul Transformation Stage could barely hold their heads up, and only the Void Refining Stage was considered an expert.

Outer Sect Deacon Liu Qingyao led him through several streets and arrived in front of a tall palace.

A plaque hung on the palace door, with the three large characters "Reception Hall" written on it.

She pushed the door open and went in; the hall was very spacious, with only one long table, and an old woman sat behind the table.

The old woman had white hair and a white beard, a kind face, and her aura was as deep as the sea. Mahayana Initial Stage.

The old woman raised her head and glanced at Su Yun. "From the Lower Realm?"

Su Yun nodded.

The old woman took a Jade Slip from under the table and placed it on the table. "Drop a drop of blood on it to register your identity. Then go to the Outer Sect to report, and you will be assigned a residence and duties. The rule of the Immortal Realm is that Cultivators from the Lower Realm must first serve as miscellaneous laborers in the Outer Sect for three years before they can become full members."

Su Yun looked at the Jade Slip and did not move. "I will not serve as a miscellaneous laborer. I have my own Sect."

The old woman raised an eyebrow. "Your own Sect? Sects from the Lower Realm do not count in the Immortal Realm."

Su Yun looked at her and suddenly smiled. The smile was very gentle, but the moment the old woman saw that smile, her heart tightened.

She wanted to say something, but Su Yun had already raised his hand and pointed a finger at the center of her eyebrows. A golden light flashed.

The old woman's body stiffened, and the kindness in her eyes gradually turned into submission. She lowered her head. "Master."

Outer Sect Deacon Liu Qingyao and the four Void Refining Middle Stage female Cultivators' expressions changed drastically, and they turned to flee.

Su Yun raised his hand, and five golden rays of light shot out, accurately sinking into the center of their eyebrows.

[ Enslavement successful × 5 ] [ Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining partial Spiritual Qi feedback from Enslavement; cultivation stabilized. ]

The five figures stiffened simultaneously, and the horror in their eyes gradually turned into submission. They knelt on the ground in unison. "Master."