The Sims: I Open the Immortal Path for All Beings

This apostate, the first to successfully defect from the Witch Deity Teaching in thousands of years, has had a relentless pursuit mounted against him, uninterrupted even when the most powerful entity of the Nine Realms of Spirit personally chased and knocked him into a spatial rift, knowing full well his chances of survival were slim.

Yet, until it was decisively confirmed that Wu Shijiu was indeed dead, not a single sign of their relentless tracking operations halted.

And as prophesied by the Leader of the Witch Deity Teaching, the traitor did not die after all, and by an uncanny coincidence had found his way into the Ancestral Land.

The young man in the sacrificial robe stood there respectfully without saying a word, awaiting the leader’s orders.

The position of the Leader of the Witch Deity Teaching within its ranks could not be ignored. Unlike other top powers, the Leader himself was the most powerful entity of the Nine Realms of Spirit, possessing immense strength. Even the many revered elders would not easily contradict his decisions.

“Is there any news about this traitor? Is he alone or…?” The voice of the leader of the Witch Deity Teaching roused the young man in the sacrificial robe.

Respectfully, the young man answered, “According to the information sent back, the traitor seemed to emerge when the National Master of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty and the Canglang Palace took action. He appears to be well-acquainted with the National Master’s disciple and their relationship appears to be close.”

In the past, the young man in the sacrificial robe would refer to Pei Xuanjing by name, showing no particular reverence. However, now that Pei Xuanjing had demonstrated his strength, respect for him naturally followed. It was a dignity afforded to the powerful and could not be casually slighted.

The Leader of the Witch Deity Teaching naturally noticed the attitude in his subordinate’s words and saw nothing wrong with it. That was to be expected.

It was still unknown whether they were friends or foes with Pei Xuanjing. Even so, ordinary cultivators should pay proper respect to a formidable entity that was teetering at the brink of surpassing them.

While other powers might consider their enemies unworthy of respect, the Witch Deity Teaching, a lineage handed down since the ancient times, subscribed to rules and etiquette very different from the many present-day seats of power. After all, in ancient times, although there might have been conflicts among different clans and tribes, powerful entities protected the human race and thus deserved respect. This rule persisted to the present day.

“It seems that the traitor has colluded with the Divine Dynasty and this Pei National Master,” murmured the Leader of the Witch Deity Teaching to himself, a flash of ruthlessness appearing in his eyes. “Upon receiving all the information you could lay your hands on, did you plan to rely on the power of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty to resist the Witch Deity Teaching? You’re too arrogant.”

Even with the limited intelligence that Wu Shijiu surfaced alongside the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, he could almost guess Wu Shijiu’s intentions.

However, the leader of the Witch Deity Teaching had no reservations. Wu Shijiu’s defection from the Witch Deity Teaching was not as sensational as Wu Shijiu had imagined; the information and assets he stole might seem precious and important to him, but they meant little to the leader.

In the initial pursuit, compared to the intelligence and items in question, what mattered more was that Wu Shijiu had violated the rules of the Witch Deity Teaching and set a precedent. That was the real issue.

“You are too arrogant to understand the core secret of the Witch Deity Teaching without reaching the ninth realm of Spirit Realm,” sneered the leader of the Witch Deity Teaching, mocking Wu Shijiu.

Although Wu Shijiu held a high rank within the teaching and was exposed to many secrets in consideration of his potential to break through to the Spirit Realm’s ninth layer, he was never part of the core.

“Dispatch someone to go to the Great Ming Divine Dynasty to face this traitor and ask if he’s aware of his crime. Then, pay a visit to the Pei National Master,” the leader of the Witch Deity Teaching instructed the young man in the sacrificial robe.

He could not return to the Ancestral Land just yet and had to survey the situation first to gauge Pei National Master’s reaction and attitude.

“Yes, Master,” the young man in the sacrificial robe responded and left to carry out the orders.

After his subordinate left, the Witch Deity Teaching’s Master turned and his gaze lingered over the sacrificial altar. His mind seemed to wander, as if he was reminiscing about something. In a voice just above a whisper, he began to murmur something in a label that wasn’t used in the Sky Wasteland. Instead, it was an old and mysterious language used in witch rituals to communicate the special prayers recited to Heaven and Earth.

……

At the capital of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, in the Daming World, Wu Shijiu was discussing something with the Jiajing Emperor, oblivious to everything happening in the Sky Wasteland.

However, Wu Shijiu was well prepared for this. Regardless of the Witch Deity Teaching’s reaction or next move, it would still be within his expectations.

“With the National Master here, the Great Ming Divine Dynasty should have no worries,” Wu Shijiu told Zhu Houjiu.

After witnessing Pei Xuanjing’s actions, especially the manifestation of the Heavenly Divine Position with a single command, which slew the incarnation of the Taixu Venerable, the extent of Pei Xuanjing’s power was undeniable.

If Pei Xuanjing were to personally take action and gain deeper endorsement from the Heavenly Divine Position, as long as he could obtain more divine endorsement and the Power of Faith, he would be able, in Wu Shijiu’s opinion, to hold his ground against the most powerful entity in the Nine Realms of Spirit.

That was enough; as a new era dawned, when Pei Xuanjing possessed power that threatened them, these individuals, without sufficient incentives, would not oppose Pei Xuanjing to the death.

“So our adversary is this Taixu Sect?” Zhu Houjiu asked Wu Shijiu.

After listening to Wu Shijiu’s analysis, he understood that as long as they could suppress the Taixu Sect or at least keep them in check, they would effectively deter every other party.

The Great Ming Divine Dynasty is currently perceived as being tied to Pei Xuanjing. Regardless of their actual views, in the eyes of outsiders, Pei Xuanjing is the National Master of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty and the primary force driving the Great Ming Empire’s ascension to Divinity. They are then considered a union.

Thus, if Pei Xuanjing were to lose, it would imply that the Great Ming Divine Dynasty was also without a fallback. Hence, they must assist Pei Xuanjing this time, which in turn would be beneficial to the Great Ming Divine Dynasty.

“Indeed, as long as we can confront the Taixu Sect and not end up at a disadvantage, we need not fear anyone else,” Wu Shijiu affirmed.

Neither man mentioned the Canglang Palace, not for forgetting, but because even as a master among top-tier powers, the Palace paled in contrast to the Taixu Sect.

Besides, Pei Xuanjing’s recent actions were a clear display of his mighty strength, and their primary concern at the moment was not they, but the Canglang Palace.