Lan Qingyang's gaze remained fixed on Zuo Ling, harboring deep respect for the fortunate individual who had risen so swiftly.
This was a vivid portrayal of great fortune at play.
Originally an obscure cultivator in the practice world, Zuo Ling had chanced upon an inheritance in the quasi-emperor's secret realm, instantly leaping to heights others couldn't reach in centuries.
Not to mention.
The serendipity Zuo Ling gained from the secret realm paved a clear path towards becoming a sage, even elevating to quasi-emperor, a feat others could only dream of achieving even after countless lifetimes.
However, achieving the throne of a Great Emperor required more than mere luck.
Watching Zuo Ling wield the quasi-emperor artifact against Gu Tian, both ending up wounded, Lan Qingyang was not surprised.
Even though Lan Qingyang could now easily defeat Gu Tian, he acknowledged the latter as a formidable opponent, his Ancient Wilderness physique not easily matched.
Despite Zuo Ling's quasi-emperor bloodline, he had yet to fully master its power—how could he face head-on someone like Gu Tian, with his Ancient Wilderness sanctified body?
Even if.
Assuming Zuo Ling truly mastered the quasi-emperor bloodline's power, whether he could suppress the Ancient Wilderness sanctified body remained uncertain; after all, this unique physique's power was no less formidable than that of a quasi-emperor bloodline.
"Unfortunately, Zuo Ling just recently broke through to the complete Sixth Stage, his foundation still unstable. Otherwise, with the might of the quasi-emperor artifact, defeating Gu Tian would be a trivial matter."
Seeing Gu Tian severely wounded, Lan Qingyang couldn't help but lament.
Just one step more.
And Zuo Ling could completely defeat Gu Tian.
If Gu Tian were to fall here, the strength of the Ancient Wilderness sanctified body would greatly diminish, reducing the threat to the Qingyang Realm.
However.
Lan Qingyang didn't dwell too much on this.
In his eyes, the three major celestial realms were now insignificant; if he wished, he could lead the Qingyang Realm cultivators to uproot them entirely.
Even if a sage slumbered within those realms, Lan Qingyang harbored no fear.
Against ordinary sages, his avatar alone could overpower; if faced with an exceptional sage, he could retreat to the Qingyang Realm and await the moment to teach them a lesson.
Lan Qingyang refrained from attacking the three celestial realms mainly due to considerations of power dynamics in the Celestial Desolate Central Province and other regions.
Moreover.
Through the perspective of his disciples, witnessing Zuo Ling's desperate struggle and subsequent retreat after severely injuring Gu Tian, finally finding a secluded place to recuperate, Lan Qingyang withdrew his attention.
Zuo Ling's aura of great fortune protected him; Lan Qingyang wasn't worried he would easily lose his life. It was Zuo Ling's quasi-emperor artifact that truly fascinated him.
With Lan Qingyang's current strength, he couldn't fully unleash the artifact's power, but he could manage about fifty to sixty percent.
If he condensed his avatar and wielded the quasi-emperor artifact, Lan Qingyang was confident he could dominate among the Seventh Stage cultivators, barring the emergence of true imperial weapons.
It was regrettable.
Zuo Ling showed no intention of offering the quasi-emperor artifact, a fact Lan Qingyang understood well.
"The rapid growth of disciples has strained the resources of the Sixth Stage Heavenly Market; we must quickly establish a Seventh Stage Heavenly Market."
"In the Seventh Stage Market lie treasures and elixirs of sage-level quality, capable of drawing countless cultivators even in a Golden Age."
"However, establishing the Seventh Stage Market requires a trillion merit values. With my current annual income of less than two hundred billion, it will take at least fifty years. Patience is essential; this must be pursued steadily!"
Fifty years, a long time?
In the context of a Golden Age spanning five thousand years, it was indeed brief.
For Lan Qingyang, now in his immortal and timeless life, fifty years were fleeting and inconsequential.
Within a century, the Heavenly Court would ascend to the Seventh Stage!
Within a millennium, to the Eighth Stage!
Before the end of the Golden Age, to the Ninth Stage! These were Lan Qingyang's self-set goals.
Considering this, Lan Qingyang ceased thinking about the Heavenly Court; advancement was merely a matter of time.
If he could find new sources of merit, the time to ascend would be significantly shortened.
Thinking of this.
Lan Qingyang glanced at his avatar traversing the cosmos.
It continued its solitary journey through the vast starry sea, devoid of any signs of life.
Seeing this.
Lan Qingyang ceased worrying about his avatar's condition.
Finally.
Lan Qingyang shifted his focus to the two supreme techniques sacrificed by Zuo Ling.
The Astonishing Immortal Dao Scripture!
The Divine Sword Technique of Transformation!
"Both are Eighth Stage superior techniques, the highest-tier techniques I've obtained so far!"
With a sigh, Lan Qingyang began contemplating the Astonishing Immortal Dao Scripture and the Divine Sword Technique of Transformation.
The insights gained from studying the True Scripture of the Celestial Heavens last time had subtly improved his cultivation. Now, with these two Eighth Stage techniques in hand, Lan Qingyang was confident of significant gains.
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