At this time, Zhang Tianchen's cultivation level had reached twenty-two epochs, but his cultivation within the early Mythological stage had still not broken through significantly. The range for the initial stage of the Mythological True Immortal Realm spans from 5 to 500 epochs.
From 5 epochs to 100 epochs corresponds to the early Mythological True Immortal Realm, 100 to 200 epochs belongs to the mid Mythological True Immortal Realm, 200 to 300 epochs falls under the late Mythological True Immortal Realm, and 300 to 500 epochs represents the peak Mythological True Immortal Realm.
During this period, aside from cultivating his own techniques, Zhang Tianchen had also fully mastered all thirty-six major supernatural powers of Tiangang and seventy-two minor supernatural powers of Disha, though most of these powers were still at the initial or advanced levels; reaching a higher tier would require further insight into the true meaning of the laws.
"Keep a good watch on this dwelling, I am returning to Kunlun Mountain for a trip."
Zhang Tianchen sought out Susu and her two sisters, as the Three Teachings Assembly was about to begin, and he had to attend this grand gathering. After years of companionship, Susu and her two sisters had already learned that Zhang Tianchen was a disciple of Master Tongtian.
"Please set your mind at ease, Master of the Cave; we shall guard the dwelling and quietly await your return," Susu said.
Zhang Tianchen nodded gently in acknowledgment, his figure instantly transforming into a streak of light as he left the cave.
After eight hundred years of long-distance flight, Zhang Tianchen returned once again to the Kunlun Mountains.
Upon his return, he noticed an unusual atmosphere upon the mountain.
When he first left this place, although the interactions between the disciples of Jiejiao and Chanjiao were not overly warm, they could still coexist peacefully.
However, the situation had now changed—the relationship between the scholars of the two factions had grown quite tense, to the point that even when they crossed paths, they showed almost no friendly gestures, and arguments frequently occurred.
He sighed inwardly to himself, "It seems the separation of the Three Pure Ones is close at hand."
Before leaving the mountain, he had placed a stealth barrier around that humble wooden cottage and the peach grove.
At this moment, the barrier was still operating, indicating that no one had entered.
Zhang Tianchen withdrew the barrier; that small wooden cottage and the surrounding peach trees remained just as they had been.
Every peach tree branch bore thirty-six peaches that were already fully ripe.
Because the peaches had not been plucked, new fruits found it difficult to grow.
Zhang Tianchen harvested all the ripe fruits and put them away.
There were still two hundred years before the Three Teachings Assembly began, and he planned during this period to transform the thirty-six third-generation peach trees into the Immeasurable Sword.
As for the sole remaining second-generation peach tree, he intended to use it to propagate more new generations of peach saplings.
By the standards of Chaos cultivators, this span of more than two hundred years might simply be considered a brief closed-door meditation.
When he finished the process of transforming the thirty-six third-generation immortal peach trees into invincible blades, not much time had passed before he heard the drumbeats characteristic of Grandmaster Tongtian summoning the members of Jiejiao for a gathering.
Upon arriving at the designated assembly area, he found that most of the members of Jiejiao had already arrived; the students of Chanjiao were all present, standing off to one side; and the Human Sect had only a single participant, Xuandu, who stood quietly by.
When the attendance was largely assembled, above the clouds, three sacred apparitions appeared.
"Pay respects to the names of the sages!"
All the students from the three sects bowed together.
"This is an opportunity meant to promote the exchange and study of your achievements—you must respect one another and not damage each other's affection," Master Tongtian conveyed to the crowd of Jiejiao disciples.
"We shall keep this teaching in mind," the Jiejiao students said in unison.
"You have joined my sect for over an epoch, and today's task is to test the abilities you have acquired. Do not lose the reputation of Chanjiao," Yuanshi Tianzun said to the twelve golden immortals with a firm attitude and high expectations.
"We will certainly not fail your commission, and we take the propagation of our sect's spirit as our bounden duty!" Guangchengzi replied with an air of absolute confidence.
"The assembly is about to begin. Those who perform exceptionally well may choose one heritage from the Dao of Alchemy, the Dao of Artifacts, and the Dao of Formations to study."
With a wave of Laozi's sleeve, three jade slips appeared before him. These three jade slips respectively recorded Laozi's heritage of alchemy, Yuanshi's heritage of artifacts, and Tongtian's heritage of formations.
These three inheritances were precisely the rewards prepared by the Three Pure Ones.
Seeing these heritage jade slips, Zhang Tianchen's gaze flickered.
Zhang Tianchen had already obtained Master Tongtian's heritage of formations, and now he longed to acquire Laozi's heritage of alchemy and Yuanshi Tianzun's heritage of artifacts.
"Gao Youqian of Jiejiao has come to challenge all you fellow daoists."
After Laozi announced the start, an outer disciple of Jiejiao quickly flew onto the arena platform.
This Jiejiao disciple was over sixteen feet tall, wore his hair in double topknots, was dressed in bright red robes, had a greenish complexion, hair as brightly red as cinnabar, and grew tusks—he was none other than Gao Youqian, later known as one of the Four Saints of Jiulong Island.
"Yuding of Chanjiao has come for a spar."
Seeing that Jiejiao had seized the initiative, the members of Chanjiao were thoroughly unconvinced, so Yuding Zhenren took the lead and flew onto the stage.
Gao Youqian cast out his Hunyuan Pearl, hurling it straight toward Yuding Zhenren.
The Hunyuan Pearl was a middle-grade Xiantian spiritual treasure, which, together with Wang Mo's Kaitian Pearl and Yang Sen's Pidi Pearl, was collectively known as the Three Xiantian Spiritual Treasures. Although renowned, its power was ordinary and fell far short of the twenty-four Sea-Calming Pearls held by Zhao Gongming.Having practiced the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art, Yuding Zhenren possessed a formidable physique and met Gao Youqian's hurled Hunyuan Pearl directly with his bare body.
Even though the Hunyuan Pearl struck him repeatedly, Yuding Zhenren remained completely uninjured.
Seeing the astonished look on his opponent's face, Yuding Zhenren felt boundless joy and effortlessly blasted Gao Youqian flying off the stage.
"Wang Mo of Jiejiao asks for your instruction."
Seeing his close friend defeated, Wang Mo refused to accept failure and flew onto the stage, eager to win back some dignity for Gao Youqian.
Yet the two were evenly matched in strength, and before long Yuding Zhenren defeated him once again.
Following that, Yang Sen and Li Xingba stepped forward one after another to challenge Yuding, and all were defeated in turn.
By this point, Yuding had achieved four consecutive victories, which could not help but make all the present members of Chanjiao cheer with excitement, and even Yuanshi Tianzun could not help revealing a faint smile.
Conversely, the members of Jiejiao all felt quite humiliated.
"Zhang Tianchen of Jiejiao specifically comes to seek instruction."
At this moment, Zhang Tianchen leaped onto the arena stage.
Seeing Yuding defeat four Jiejiao experts in a row, Zhang Tianchen believed that defeating him now would surely allow him to display his abilities before Master Tongtian.
"Please!"
Faced with Zhang Tianchen, who was merely at the initial stage of the True Immortal Realm, Yuding Zhenren felt disdain in his heart and decided to first display the unique demeanor of a Chanjiao daoist, magnanimously yielding the first attack to him.
And so, without much hesitation, with a single point of his finger, Yuding summoned a bolt of lightning to strike the latter.
Among the participants from the three sects, excluding deputy sect leaders like Randeng and Daoist Duobao who had reached the Daluo Golden Immortal level, the highest cultivation was no greater than the peak Golden Immortal stage.
Yuding himself was currently at the mid Golden Immortal Realm.
Even though Zhang Tianchen appeared to be at the entry level of the True Immortal Realm, his actual combat power had already reached the late stage of the Golden Immortal Realm, putting him slightly ahead of Yuding Zhenren.
Yuding Zhenren let down his guard, never expecting that Zhang Tianchen had actually mastered [Mastery of Five Thunders] and possessed such profound cultivation; he was struck squarely by a bolt of lightning, causing his internal organs to vibrate violently and leaving him with severe internal injuries.
Pressing his advantage, Zhang Tianchen unleashed another bolt of lightning.
Yuding Zhenren transformed into a soaring eagle, taking to the air to dodge the attack.
"Fetus Transformation and Shape Shifting—I am also proficient in it." A cold sneer played at the corners of Zhang Tianchen's mouth as he instantly transformed into a golden giant eagle, engaging Yuding Zhenren in an aerial battle.
After exchanging a few blows, Yuding Zhenren fell into a disadvantageous position, landed on the ground, and transformed into a mighty lion.
Zhang Tianchen then transformed into a fierce tiger, unsheathing his sharp claws and pressing straight toward Yuding Zhenren.
After a brief tussle, Yuding Zhenren's body was already covered in blood.
He knew that his mastery of [Fetus Transformation and Shape Shifting] fell far short of Zhang Tianchen's, and that continuing to fight would undoubtedly result in defeat.
"Grow, grow, grow..."
Yuding Zhenren restored his human form and rapidly increased in height, instantly reaching several dozen zhang tall.
"As You Will with Size—I am also skilled in it." Zhang Tianchen immediately grew his physical form as well, surpassing even Yuding Zhenren in height.
Within the field of vision of Yuding Zhenren's transformed state, he could no longer find a trace of Zhang Tianchen. In reality, Zhang Tianchen was already right behind him, while Yuding barely reached his knees.
Zhang Tianchen raised his leg and swept Yuding Zhenren right off the arena platform.
Falling heavily to the ground, Yuding Zhenren resumed his original size.
Having defeated Yuding Zhenren, Zhang Tianchen won the heartfelt adoration of the Jiejiao multitude; conversely, this made the expressions of the Chanjiao disciples quite solemn.
Master Tongtian nodded slightly—not merely because of the outcome of Zhang Tianchen's victory, but rather feeling deeply gratified by his profound mastery of spells such as [Mastery of Five Thunders], [Fetus Transformation and Shape Shifting], and [As You Will with Size].
"Taiyi Zhenren of Chanjiao requests a bout."
Taiyi Zhenren leaped onto the stage, ready to retrieve this lost match.
"Please enlighten me."
Zhang Tianchen made a gesture inviting his opponent to go first, asking Taiyi Zhenren to execute his arts first.
Taiyi Zhenren opened his mouth and spewed raging flames, employing the spell [Spitting Flames] from the seventy-two earthly spells.
Zhang Tianchen waved his hand gently, and the flames were instantly extinguished. This gesture was no ordinary one; he was executing [Returning Wind and Reversing Fire] from the thirty-six heavenly arts.
Realizing the vast supernatural powers of Zhang Tianchen, Taiyi Zhenren abandoned any further attempts to match spells with him and directly cast out his precious Nine Dragons Fire Shield.
This item was a top-grade Xiantian spiritual treasure, which would play a major role in the future Battle of the Gods, incinerating countless living beings.
Having summoned this divine artifact, the Nine Dragons Fire Shield instantly transformed into nine fire dragons that tightly trapped Zhang Tianchen within.
Although there was nowhere to escape, Zhang Tianchen still appeared calm and composed.
The nine dragons sprayed Samadhi True Fire simultaneously to burn him. However, this was no ordinary flame; it possessed nine layers of destructive power, equivalent to nine times the strength of normal flames.
Zhang Tianchen activated the skill [Standing Upright Without a Shadow] to enter an etherealized mode, ignoring the threat of the raging true fire's incineration.
"If you wish to preserve your life, surrender quickly!"
Taiyi Zhenren urged Zhang Tianchen to yield fast, as he worried that Zhang Tianchen might be burned to death, in which case he would find it hard to answer to Master Tongtian.
Zhang Tianchen employed the fire escape technique from the [Five Elements Great Escape] and slipped right out of the Nine Dragons Fire Shield.
Following that, Zhang Tianchen closed his right hand into a grip, and an Immeasurable Sword instantly appeared in his palm.
"Immeasurable Sword, Immeasurable Calamity; those who fall into this calamity shall suffer ten thousand kalpas of doom generation after generation."
Zhang Tianchen raised the Immeasurable Sword high and used the [Clone] secret art, causing the single Immeasurable Sword to multiply—one into two, two into four, four into eight, eight into sixteen...
Soon, Immeasurable Swords filled the space all around Zhang Tianchen.
"Go!"
He pointed a finger at Taiyi Zhenren, and all those clones of the Immeasurable Sword rushed forward toward his opponent at full speed.