Though it was merely a branch sect in a relatively weak immortal world, the Infinite Dao Sect's branch headquarters exuded grandeur and magnificence. After all, as a major sect's extension in an immortal world, it could not be anything but extraordinary.
Shen Zhaomei, the supreme elder leading the branch sect, took on the responsibility of welcoming Wu Jian, the newly appointed immortal ancestor. An old woman of considerable experience, Shen Zhaomei was well-versed in the intricacies of sect politics. She led Wu Jian through the sect grounds, introducing her to the supreme elders and familiarizing her with the inner workings of the branch. She handed over the keys to the sect treasury and provided all relevant information about the sect's operations and obligations.
As someone who had spent centuries honing her skills and intuition, Shen Zhaomei was no fool. She understood the vast gap in status between herself and Wu Jian. As an immortal, Wu Jian stood on a level Shen Zhaomei could not hope to contest anytime soon. Fully aware of this disparity, she relinquished authority without hesitation or reservation. Her approach was pragmatic—any resistance would be futile.
Once Wu Jian settled into her new role, she delved into the responsibilities laid before her. However, it did not take long for a headache to set in. The task assigned by the sect was daunting: to negotiate with the three immortal dynasties that held sway over the Fire Spirit World and secure at least one-sixth of the territory and resources for the Infinite Dao Sect. Each of the three dynasties had powerful backers in the higher Golden Immortal World, making them formidable opponents at the negotiating table. The sheer complexity of the task was staggering—it would require years of careful planning, countless meetings, and delicate maneuvering to determine the distribution of resources. Simply put, the negotiations were going to be arduous and mentally taxing.
Nonetheless, Wu Jian understood her duty. The mission from the sect was not optional. She had to grit her teeth and endure the initial challenges. Once the negotiations were complete and a settlement reached, she could finally relax and enjoy her time as she pleased. But for now, the path ahead was clear: hard work and perseverance were her only options.
...
Over the next five centuries, negotiations began between the four factions—the three dynasties and the Infinite Dao Sect, represented by Wu Jian. The process was grueling. Despite being relatively weak for an immortal world, the Fire Spirit World was still unimaginably vast, with an abundance of resources, land, and even oceans of molten lava. Disputes arose over valuable resource points, and the dynasties were adamant about holding onto their territories. It fell to Wu Jian to secure as many rights and advantages for the sect as possible. The more favorable the terms she secured, the more contribution points she would earn—a key incentive for her efforts.
The sect's approach to mandatory tasks was calculated. Wu Jian's base responsibility was to remain in the Fire Spirit World and protect the branch sect for a set duration. However, her performance in negotiations was assessed and rewarded separately. This system motivated members like Wu Jian to excel. If there were no rewards tied to negotiation outcomes, she could have simply agreed to a mediocre deal and fulfilled her obligations indifferently. By incentivizing competence and results, the sect ensured its representatives worked diligently to achieve the best outcomes.
Determined to earn substantial contribution points, Wu Jian threw herself into her work. Her efforts bore fruit as she managed to secure several key resource points for the sect. She claimed the Northern Lavaland, an area covered in liquified fire, a Rank 10 resource vital for fire-path immortals. She also won rights to the Mingyan Volcano, the third-largest in the world, renowned for producing precious resources such as Immortal Ash. Additionally, she gained control of the Yanqin Desert, teeming with fire-elemental beasts.
After 2,000 years of negotiations, an agreement was finally signed by all four parties. Though none of the factions were completely satisfied with the outcome, neither were they entirely dissatisfied. The settlement struck a delicate balance, reflecting the effort and tenacity that had gone into the process.
The Infinite Dao Sect ultimately secured one-sixth of the entire land area of the Fire Spirit World, while the three dynasties retained the remaining five-sixths. However, the value of the sect's portion was far greater than its size suggested. The allocated territory included numerous valuable immortal resource points, making it a significant acquisition. Wu Jian was pleasantly surprised by the outcome; the deal exceeded her expectations. She had anticipated fierce resistance from the dynasties but found them surprisingly cooperative. This led her to suspect she might have underestimated the deterrent power of the Infinite Dao Sect's reputation.
While the results of the negotiations were promising, Wu Jian knew the rewards of her hard work—her contribution points—could not yet be claimed. The sect's rules were clear: only after completing the base task of protecting the branch sect for the required time could she officially receive the rewards associated with dependent tasks, such as the negotiations.
...
With the negotiations successfully concluded, Wu Jian decided to take a break. Although as an immortal she had no physical need for rest, and her mental state could be instantly rejuvenated with a simple spell, she opted to spend a few decades in relaxation. As an immortal, time was no longer a pressing concern. Her journey toward the next major cultivation realm, the realm of Cosmic Entity, was bound to take an unfathomable span of time—likely trillions of years. There was no need for haste.
Her current cultivation realm, True Immortality, had been achieved with the blessing of the world, granting her a single complete law. However, she lacked the experience of independently creating or discovering a complete law. This gap in her foundation loomed as a major hurdle. The next significant step in her cultivation required mastery over multiple complete laws. Unlike her first, bestowed upon her by the world, her subsequent laws could not be so easily obtained. She had two options: purchase them from the sect or create them herself.
The cost of a complete law was staggering. It required a vast number of contribution points, which would take countless years of dedicated effort to accumulate. Even if Wu Jian managed to save enough to purchase one, relying on a law not invented by herself would significantly weaken her potential combat power. Her first complete law had already been gifted, and if her second one also lacked her personal imprint, she would struggle to stand against other cultivators in the Cosmic Entity realm. Worse, her combat strength might be inferior to particularly powerful True Immortals.
The realms of True Immortality and Cosmic Entity were close regarding battle strength. The difference between them was quantitative rather than qualitative. Given the right circumstances and preparation, a powerful True Immortal could potentially defeat a weaker Cosmic Entity cultivator. This dynamic was unlike earlier cultivation realms, where the disparity was insurmountable. For example, even the most accomplished Transcendent being realm cultivator had no chance of defeating even the weakest True Immortal. The difference between these two realms was qualitative, creating an unbridgeable gap.
The same principle applied to the transition from Cosmic Entity to Eternal Ascendant. Once again, the difference between these realms was qualitative, not quantitative. Even the strongest Cosmic Entity cultivator, wielding countless complete laws, could not hope to challenge the weakest Eternal Ascendant. A single universal law, wielded by an Eternal Ascendant, would effortlessly suppress all the complete laws in existence. The two realms were fundamentally distinct, existing in entirely different leagues of power.
Wu Jian was far from reaching the higher realms, but with her infinite lifespan, it was highly probable that she would eventually ascend to the Cosmic Entity realm—provided nothing catastrophic interrupted her path. For immortal beings, time was the greatest ally, and as long as they persisted, advancement was almost inevitable.
Interestingly, the number of True Immortality cultivators was far smaller than that of Cosmic Entity cultivators. This was due to the transitory nature of the True Immortality realm. Nearly all immortal beings eventually broke through to become Cosmic Entities. For instance, in the Infinite Dao Sect, there were only tens of thousands of True Immortality cultivators, while the number of Cosmic Entity cultivators exceeded billions. The stark difference in numbers arose because True Immortality, though a vital step, was not a long-term resting point for most.
True Immortals, as their title suggested, were effectively immortal. Regardless of talent or aptitude, even those unable to create their own unique complete law would eventually amass enough contribution points to purchase one. Given the near-zero death rate among True Immortals and Cosmic Entities, those who reached True Immortality almost always advanced further. Once a cultivator became a Cosmic Entity, survival was virtually guaranteed, barring exceptional circumstances.
In the Golden Immortal World, Cosmic Entity cultivators were a common sight. Large cities were bustling with these beings, and seeing them walking down the streets was entirely ordinary.
However, the next realm, Eternal Ascendant, was a completely different story.
Eternal Ascendant cultivators were exceedingly rare and stood apart as the absolute elite of the cultivation world. While Cosmic Entity cultivators could also be considered elite, they were far more numerous and thus less extraordinary in comparison. To ascend to the Eternal Ascendant realm required not only mastery over multiple complete laws but also the inheritance of a universal law. This level of achievement was beyond the reach of most Cosmic Entities, no matter how long they cultivated or how many resources they acquired.
Wu Jian's most significant hurdle had already been overcome—she had reached immortality. From here, her path to the Cosmic Entity realm was clear and unimpeded. Yet, the journey beyond that realm was shrouded in uncertainty. Becoming a Cosmic Entity was a natural progression, but ascending to Eternal Ascendant would require extraordinary talent, luck, and opportunities.
The fate of most Cosmic Entities in the Golden Immortal World was to exist among the countless others, striving for that glimmer of hope—the possibility of inheriting or mastering a universal law. Wu Jian would likely join their ranks, residing among the billions of Cosmic Entity cultivators, chasing the faintest hope of ascending to the next stage.