The world undergoes great changes, and the Immortal Kingdom trembles.
The ruler of the Qingyang Immortal Kingdom, Lu Qingyang, had long anticipated the uproar caused by the announcement of the "Immortal Kingdom Grand Competition."
Originally, the competition was to be held earlier, but considering the incense offerings still fell short by ninety-nine billion, he decided to wait a year. By then, they might accumulate ten billion more incense offerings, ensuring a smoother reward distribution.
Meanwhile, Lu Qingyang sent an incarnation to the Northern Territory.
The current Northern Territory was vastly different from thirty years ago. Several newly established immortal cities stood tall, each with its unique features.
These five cities were extraordinary, each centered around an ancient tree. The cities were constructed in an ancient style, exuding a rustic charm, distinct from the more luxurious cities in the Qingyang Immortal Kingdom.
In these five cities, ancient trees towered, their canopies like clouds, protecting the cities from the elements.
Each city was named after an ancient tree: Wanqing, Tiangang, Tiansha, Tianshu, and Tianguang, collectively known as the Five Cities of the Northern Territory.
The construction of these cities was not on a whim. Lu Qingyang had previously acquired a fourth-tier formation, delegating the layout to Gu Fang and others.
Hence, these five cities served as the foundation of the formation!
Should an external enemy invade, the formation would activate, transforming into a formidable fourth-tier defensive array.
When the Heavenly Court ascended to the fifth tier, Lu Qingyang used incense offerings to enhance the formation, bringing it to the fifth tier.
However, the Qingyang Realm lacked abundant spiritual energy. Despite the formation's maintenance, the five cities required a significant amount of spirit stones for energy, leading to enormous expenses.
Even so, the five cities formed a defensive barrier around the foreign passage. If invaders attacked, the fully activated formation would buy the Immortal Kingdom precious response time.
"Wanqing Ancient City."
Lu Qingyang stepped into the city, seeing a vast expanse of pavilions, yet devoid of the typical bustling noise, only garrisoned armies.
Without disturbing anyone, Lu Qingyang walked straight to the city center to face the Wanqing Ancient Tree.
The ancient tree seemed to sense his presence, gently swaying its branches as if responding uniquely.
When Lu Qingyang revealed his true form, a deep voice echoed in his mind, "Father!"
"You have guarded this ancient city for thirty years. Your efforts are not unrecognized."
"Today, I grant you the 'Yi Wood Wanqing Art,' hoping you will diligently study it, quickly condensing your divided spirit, and entering the fifth rank of a True Immortal."
Lu Qingyang spoke calmly.
With that, a divine light shot from his forehead, instantly merging into the Wanqing Ancient Tree.
The "Yi Wood Wanqing Art" was a fifth-tier top-grade cultivation technique created by Lu Qingyang. Achieving mastery in it could lead to reaching the fifth-tier perfection.
However, the technique's cultivation threshold was extremely high, suitable only for those with wood-attribute spiritual roots, with better quality roots yielding better results.
The Wanqing Ancient Tree, with its exceptional wood spiritual root, was an ideal candidate for cultivating this technique.
Cultivators who reached the fifth tier could transcend tribulations and transform. Whether demon, beast, or plant spirit, passing the fifth-tier heavenly tribulation granted them human form.
Lu Qingyang himself hadn't transformed due to his extraordinary roots and bones, but he didn't mind.
After imparting the technique, Lu Qingyang visited the other four cities, bestowing the "Yi Wood Wanqing Art" on each of the ancient trees.
No one noticed or knew that the legendary ruler had visited the Northern Territory and the five cities.
...
"The 'Yi Wood Wanqing Art' has been passed on. Whether they can break through to the fifth tier depends on their fortune."
"Unfortunately, the Qingyang Realm's spiritual energy is sparse, with the fourth tier as the limit. Without external assistance, breaking through to the fifth tier is as difficult as ascending to heaven."
Within the Ten Thousand Heavenly Courts, Lu Qingyang sensed the sparse spiritual energy around him and sighed.
The spiritual energy in the Qingyang Realm, though better than in the late Dharma era, barely nourished fourth-tier cultivators.
Breaking into the fifth tier required exceptional talent; otherwise, it was almost impossible.
However, Lu Qingyang's belief remained unshaken.
"The Qingyang Realm's spiritual energy may be sparse, but the Wu Xian Realm is abundant. If we can extract the essence of their heavenly way, the Qingyang Realm could be restored to its ancient glory and even surpass it."
He glanced at the Ten Thousand Heavenly Courts, where a formation concealed three small spiritual veins.
This made the mountain range rich in spiritual energy, allowing many plants to develop intelligence, classifying them as demons in the cultivation world.
Lu Qingyang didn't interfere, letting them grow as long as they didn't disturb him.
...
Time passed, and seasons changed, half a year went by.
One day, as Lu Qingyang was immersed in the cultivation of the heavenly way, he sensed a subtle fluctuation, pulling him out of his meditation.
Upon investigation, he saw a small green grass absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in a profound way.
This fluctuation emanated from the grass.
Lu Qingyang was intrigued: "Interesting!"
The grass's method of absorbing spiritual energy resembled his own.
Though immature, it seemed to be deliberately imitating.
As a heavenly tree, Lu Qingyang understood this imitation.
The grass was attempting to break into the second tier.
Suddenly, the grass trembled.
Its slender blades stood upright like swords, cutting through the air and releasing a significant fluctuation.
"It broke through!"
Lu Qingyang's mind stirred.
Indeed, the grass had successfully advanced from the first tier to the second tier.
At this moment, the heavenly tree surged with spiritual energy, and a young man in green robes emerged from the tree, walking towards the newly advanced second-tier grass.
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