Chapter 1407 - 281: Meeting Defender Shen

Chapter 1407: Chapter 281: Meeting Defender Shen

"Checkmate!"

Shen Changqing placed a piece, declaring the end of the chess match.

"I have lost!"

Qiushui’s exquisite face was full of helplessness.

Lost!

The two had been engaged in this chess match for several days, and it ended with her losing by one move.

For normal people, it would be impossible for a single chess game to last several days.

But at their realm, each move they made could predict countless possibilities, making it truly difficult to determine the outcome.

Unfortunately.

Qiushui ultimately faltered by one move. Despite being at the Seventh Grade Dao Arms, her calculative abilities didn’t match Shen Changqing’s, so her defeat was inevitable.

"The time is about right; when we have time again, let’s have another game!"

Shen Changqing calculated the time—it happened to be the last day of the three months, the day of his sermon.

After finishing a game of chess.

He felt much better in his entire state of being.

Such a state was perfectly suited for giving a sermon.

As his words fell.

Shen Changqing disappeared from Qiushui’s sight.

...

Dragon Head Mountain.

Several days prior, many cultivators were already waiting here, but the Imperial Court’s powerhouses stopped them from rushing in impulsively.

Only today did the Imperial Court lift restrictions, allowing others to ascend the mountain.

However.

Every time a cultivator tried to Yukong, a force would directly knock them down.

"No flying is allowed on Dragon Head Mountain. This is the first warning; any further violations will lead to immediate expulsion from the mountain."

A stern, icy voice sounded, leaving those who attempted to fly somewhat shocked, and they dared not act presumptuously but followed the crowd into the mountain peacefully.

"Such a spectacle is truly magnificent. In my long life, I’ve never seen such a pilgrimage-like scene."

Ji Quan looked at the cultivators heading to Dragon Head Mountain, an indescribable expression on his aged face.

Although cultivation was prevalent in the Central Profound Realm, far beyond what the Imperial Court could compare, everyone in the Central Profound Realm cherished their own secrets, making it impossible for powerhouses to selflessly preach.

Therefore.

The only events that might attract various cultivators were the Five Sects and Twelve Palaces opening their gates to recruit disciples.

But such situations are not comparable to the present one.

With warnings from the Imperial Court’s powerhouses, everyone followed the crowd and set foot on Dragon Head Mountain.

At the foot of the mountain.

A young boy watched the scene ahead, his somewhat immature face filled with shock: "Master, can you discern the realms of these cultivators?"

The person asked was an old man.

Hearing this, the old man shook his head: "Those eligible to enter Dragon Head Mountain are at least figures at the Grandmaster or Great Grandmaster level; such powerhouses are not so easily discernible."

Grandmaster!

Great Grandmaster!

The boy couldn’t help but draw a breath of cold air.

In his sect, the strongest was merely an Innate Realm powerhouse, while a Grandmaster powerhouse was an overlord in a hundred-mile radius.

But looking at the current scene, Grandmasters crowded like ants truly opened his eyes.

"Do you understand now that there are always people stronger than you and an outer heaven?"

Seeing the boy’s expression, the old man chuckled.

He didn’t harbor hopes of entering Dragon Head Mountain; coming to the Capital City was solely to broaden the greatest disciple’s horizons, to show him the vastness of heaven and earth, incomparable to his own small world.

"Strong individuals in the world are as numerous as the stars; even Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters are insignificant before the true strong. It’s rumored that this time’s sermon by Defender Shen is the mightiest among the Human Clan, and even Divine Realm powerhouses are like ants before him."

"Divine Realm?"

The boy looked puzzled.

"What kind of realm is the Divine Realm?" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

In his memory, he had never heard of the existence of a Divine King.

The old man pondered and gave an example: "In our sect, a Divine Realm powerhouse need only blow gently to turn us into dust, with one finger, they could easily crush a Great Grandmaster.

"Excluding Defender Shen, Divine Realm is the pinnacle among the Human Clan; a few of the Four Emperors are at this level."

"Hiss!"

Hearing this, the boy’s heart trembled.

While he was in shock, the old man shook his head reluctantly: "Alas, we have no opportunity to enter Dragon Head Mountain and listen to this Great Dao, or we would surely benefit endlessly."

The weakest to enter the mountain were Grandmaster powerhouses; those below Grandmaster had no chance to access Dragon Head Mountain.

There’s no way around it.

The aura naturally emitted by these numerous powerhouses was enough to overwhelm anyone below Grandmaster.

Not to mention listening to the Dao, even stepping in was impossible.

——

At the mountaintop square, a large number of prayer mats had already been placed, and each entering cultivator would choose a prayer mat and sit down.

Those who arrived first generally occupied the foremost prayer mats.

Less than two hours, all the mats were already occupied by cultivators, with latecomers unable to find a place and thus had to stand on the outermost part.

Despite this, no one turned around to leave.

"The foundation of the Imperial Court accumulated over these years is indeed substantial!"

Wen Qiu pondered silently.

Among the powerful cultivators who had arrived, merely those above the Grandmaster level numbered in the tens of thousands.

If it were placed decades ago, any Grandmaster level powerhouse counted as a rare existence.

Not counting the Demon-Subduing Division, those in the Jianghu who could enter the Grandmaster Realm numbered merely hundreds at most.

Look at it now.

The number of Grandmasters across the world is no less than tens of thousands, and among these tens of thousands, not all are Grandmaster level; many are Great Grandmasters, Extreme Realm cultivators, and even Heaven Being level powerhouses.

In the past, although it could be known that the Imperial Court had developed rapidly over the years, how rapidly exactly, no one had accurate information.

Now it is different.

The majority of the world’s powerhouses have gathered here, tens of thousands of individuals above the Grandmaster level, and there are some powerhouses of this level who could not attend, which if included, would further increase the count.

Here, one can intuitively see how significant the transformation of the Imperial Court truly is.

The person surprised is not only Wen Qiu; others who arrived were all secretly awestruck upon encountering so many powerhouses present.

Yet now, despite the large number of strong individuals present, not a single one spoke, as the scene was silent to the extreme.

"Ji Quan!"

Among the crowd, Ji Ying saw that familiar face.

Just as he suspected, people from the Transference Divine Palace had also come here to listen to the teachings.

Only from Ji Quan’s body did he sense a dense decaying aura, as though the other might sit in meditation at any moment.

This scene.

Gave Ji Ying a rough conjecture.

The conflict between the Immortal Dao and Divine Path; Ji Quan obviously pursued the Immortal Dao, affecting his own divine path, leading to a significant drop in lifespan.

After all, having achieved the Divine Path for hundreds of thousands of years, Ji Quan’s lifespan was already severely taxed, and under such circumstances, attempting to convert to the Immortal Dao would make the situation much more dire.

He shook his head slightly.

Then withdrew his gaze.

How Ji Quan fares has nothing to do with him; Ji Ying is very clear about his own purpose here, which is to listen to the Immortal Dao teachings, hence allowing himself to step into the Immortal Golden Body Realm, laying a foundation for future achievements in the Cave Heaven Realm.

As long as he can enter the Cave Heaven Realm, it would approximately match his original Divine Path Realm.

Thus.

Would make abandoning the Divine Path to cultivate the Immortal Dao worthwhile.

Suddenly.

An extremely terrifying aura pressed down from the firmament, a force as daunting as heavenly might, causing all present to have a profound shock to their hearts.

At this moment.

Whether a Grandmaster or Great Grandmaster, be it an Extreme Realm Heaven Being, all before that force felt as insignificant as ants.

At the Transference Divine Palace site, Ji Quan had his heart equally shaken.

"His strength has advanced further!"

From this force, the Divine King of the Transference Divine Palace could feel that compared to the time in the Central Profound Realm, Shen Changqing’s power seemed to have increased once more.

It’s hard to imagine.

In the opponent’s realm, merely a few years’ time could achieve such growth.

If it were replacing other Divine King level powerhouses, a few years would be like taking a nap, with virtually no possibility of increasing strength.

While everyone was in shock, atop a nine-zhang high platform, unseen before, there was someone sitting cross-legged.

"Greetings Defender Shen!"

Upon seeing the newcomer, everyone rose, faces full of reverence, voices resonating with Qingming.

Shen Changqing’s expression was calm: "Everyone, no need for formalities."

With just a glance, he had all the power of those present fully appraised.

Since establishing martial supremacy over the world, the Human Clan has developed extremely rapidly these decades, especially after the Imperial Court established ancestral vein revival, the Human Clan has entered a phase of explosive growth.

Tens of thousands of figures above the Grandmaster level, about half being newly joined cultivators.

Thus it can be seen.

The revival of spiritual energy is immensely important for the Human Clan.

"Since establishing martial supremacy, over twenty years have passed; now human cultivation is flourishing, from the great sect strong to the lowly peddlers and porters, all are beneficiaries.

However, the Immortal Dao has been handed down since ancient times, through countless ages, this path is mysterious and unfathomable, beyond what ordinary people can comprehend thoroughly.

In my fortune of obtaining the Immortal Dao heritage, I have some understanding, hence offering teachings to the world today, hoping all gentlemen will gain something, wishing for human resurgence!"

Shen Changqing’s majestic voice transmitted, seeming to directly pierce Qingming, making the void violently tremble.

Some cultivators who had not entered Dragon Head Mountain at the moment clearly heard what the speaker said.

Human resurgence!

Quite a few assumed solemn expressions.

They understood very well, this simple fourth wording carries immense responsibility and pressure.

Achieving this goal will encounter immense difficulties and obstacles.

Ji Quan was secretly filled with emotions.

Within the Central Profound Realm, all the powerhouses know only conflict and slaughter, entirely disregarding the righteousness of the Human Clan, compared to the outside world where human righteousness is held dear, actions are for the continuation of humanity; this aspect is beyond comparison to the Central Profound Realm.

"The Human Clan has been dormant for countless years; to rise again, it is precisely such individuals that are needed!"