After receiving confirmation from Niu Chang, Da Jiu immediately left the place.
Utilizing the holy power that he had gathered during the conversation, he was able to increase his speed faster than before.
With that increased speed, it didn't take Da Jiu long to reach the continent.
However, before he could enter the aerial territory of the continent, he felt that something was amiss. He came to a halt where he was.
"Show yourself!" Da Jiu shouted into the void.
He could sense that something was watching him not too far away; he thought, 'There must be a saint observing me right now.'
Several seconds passed, but nothing changed.
Da Jiu then attempted to probe this unknown saint. "Friend, we share no karma between us. Why attempt to create one?"
As before, there was no response.
Just as Da Jiu was about to make his move, a large shadow engulfed his body. A hand formed from air materialized and seized his body.
Da Jiu was shocked to find that he couldn't resist this grip.
He was terrified to realize that all of his holy power had been sealed, and his body was instantly captured.
After gripping Da Jiu, the hand began to fade, leaving only the sealed Da Jiu suspended in the air.
Not far away, a figure revealed itself. He was a young man in his mid-twenties, exuding a blend of innocent youth and maturity. He wore a pristine, long-sleeved daoist robe without a speck of dust. His eyebrows were long, and his eyes possessed a sharpness that seemed to harbor endless stars. A mark of good fortune rested between his eyebrows.
He waved his hand, drawing Da Jiu closer to him, before departing toward the continent.
In the Central Region,
Within the sacred ground of the Dao Clan,
A dignified man was seated cross-legged on a cultivation mat woven from clouds and dew. His presence was ethereal, as if he were not truly there but a mere illusion.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes.
A clear voice blossomed directly inside his mind; the voice was gender-neutral and loud like thunder.
"The path of immortality is long; the dao is endless. If you wish to continue, you need someone to guide you. Come to this place if you want to proceed."
The man frowned for a moment before he disappeared.
Still in the Central Region, on a beautiful mountain where the air is rich with spiritual energy and various creatures live happily.
A man was taking a stroll in his backyard, accompanied by the loud sound of a waterfall. He suddenly halted his steps.
"What is wrong with my husband?" Behind him stood a group of women, each unique in her own right.
If Niu Chang were here, he would approve of this man's taste.
From small to big, from young to mature, from gentle to strong, he had every kind of woman in his backyard.
And each of them was looking at the man with endless love; some were pure, while others were filled with lust.
He too suddenly heard that thunderous voice blossoming inside his mind. Then he followed suit, and his figure disappeared from the spot.
"Ah?"
"Where is my husband?"
"Sister Ying! Our husband is leaving again!"
"Is he going to bring another sister here?"
"Is he some kind of collector? Aren't we enough for him?"
Various women were chirping in confusion about their husband's sudden disappearance.
The so-called Sister Ying, the woman with the highest cultivation level, remained cool-headed and didn't say anything as she entered her house and began to meditate.
In the Western Region,
In the grand temple of monks,
The head monk, who had already retreated from the world, experienced the same event.
This was followed by another hidden monk in a smaller temple.
Located in the North Region,
Within the building of a grand tutor,
A handsome man was engrossed in his task of reading and addressing various issues presented to him.
At that moment, he heard the same thunderous voice and left his place. He arrived in front of a grand gate and announced his arrival.
"Your Majesty, your loyal servant Tu Nong, requests an audience with you."
It didn't take long before a soft voice responded, "Go."
Having received the answer he sought, Tu Nong no longer lingered around the grand gate and immediately departed.
In the Eastern Region,
Which was the harshest place to live due to its mostly desert terrain,
Within the sacred ground of the Green Sun Sect,
An old man with white hair and a long beard opened his eyes.
Without uttering a single word, he promptly left his sect.
In another sacred ground belonging to the Blue Star Sect,
A woman was busy studying her celestial board, which was filled with diagrams and intricate lines. She heard the same thunderous voice but ignored it, as she was engrossed in her calculations.
Three seconds later, the same thunderous voice echoed in her mind once again. However, this time, its tone had changed, saying: "Come, or let your dao dissipate."
The woman possessed an enchanting figure, with hair that was navy blue but reaching the ends, it shone like the star in the night sky. She wore a long dress that enhanced her attractiveness, as it tightly hugged her body.
She let out a soft yet audible groan to express her dissatisfaction before leaving her room. Her celestial board, which she had been working with, also disappeared with her.
In the southeast direction of the continent,
A small island floated not far away, but no one could find it as it remained concealed from the world. This small island was known as Flower Fruit Island.
Seven individuals who had received an invitation or a threat arrived shortly after, finally discovering the small island they had only heard rumors of.
"Tsk," an old man adorned in monk attire grumbled, his clothing consisting of a simple piece of cloth across his chest and another covering his bottom. As the sea wind blew strongly, his lower cloth swayed, inadvertently revealing more than intended.
"Wow," the second man from the Central Region exclaimed, capturing this in his perception. "As expected from the monk from the west."
"What unsightly behavior," remarked the man from the north, his attire being the most proper and mortal friendly among them.
"Shut your nonsense. I won't take criticism from a dog who does nothing but bark and lick its owner's feet," the old monk retorted without hesitation.
"I won't argue with you," the man from the north replied shortly, no longer engaging with the old monk.
"Oh, to meet Miss Lan Xin here. This trip is indeed worth it," the old monk said, shifting his gaze toward the last person to arrive.
Lan Xin, the ancestor of the Blue Star Sect, had been the last to arrive due to her single-minded focus on her work. Upon hearing her name, Lan Xin raised her head to look, she could use her saintly perception, but due to her concentration, she relied on her own eyes.
Observing the old monk's attire and his unintentional exposure, Lan Xin lost interest and returned her focus to her celestial board.
The elderly representative from the Green Sun Sect cleared his throat. "Friend from the west, you are a saint. The sea breeze shouldn't affect your clothes. Why do it intentionally?"
The old monk was momentarily stunned before rubbing his bald head and laughing. "Ah, you're right! With old age comes forgetfulness. Hahaha." However, the perverted blush on his face betrayed his words.
The first man from the Central Region, who had been silent, turned his gaze to the other monk from the west. This monk was younger, but still advanced in years. He wore the proper monk attire, covering most of his body, and had pants instead of a single cloth. Additionally, he had not shaved his head.
The monk smiled at the man and said, "Long time no see, Dao Jin Dan."
Upon hearing the name, everyone instinctively turned to observe Dao Jin Dan, including the elderly representative from the Green Sun Sect.
"You really exist? Pah! I mean, you are still alive?" the man from the Central Region with multiple wives bluntly inquired.
The age of martial artists was lengthy, yet the Golden Core era remained youthful when tracing back through history. The first individual to achieve the Golden Core did so merely seven hundred years ago, hailing from the Central Continent.
Numerous theories existed regarding the nomenclature of the Golden Core Realm; one such theory speculated that it earned its name due to the initial golden core that condensed, bearing the yellow hue of gold.
Additionally, a rumor circulated that the inaugural person who accomplished this feat was named "Golden Core."
Dao Jin Dan observed the second man from the Central Region, choosing not to respond.
"Why are you all still waiting here?" the busy Lan Xin interjected, taking the lead by flying toward Flower Fruit Island. The others followed suit, trailing behind her.