Chapter 995
Fang Qing, Immortal General Fang!
Having arranged everything and left behind sufficient resources, cultivation techniques, and backup plans, Fang Qing chose the summit of a mountain with the richest spiritual energy, preparing to initiate his ascension.
He looked up at the sky, his eyes firm and sharp, and with a swift movement, he vanished.
Ascension is not simply a spatial leap, but a leap in the level of life, a process of breaking free from the constraints of the laws of the lower realm and entering a higher level of the immortal realm.
As for Fang Qing, he only needs to step onto the Ascension Rainbow Bridge to directly reach the Immortal Realm.
This is within his authority as the Supreme Head of the Royal Academy of Thailand.
The rainbow bridge shone brightly, enveloping Fang Qing's body, then instantly shrank and disappeared into the void.
In the lower realm, countless beings gazed in the direction where the rainbow bridge had vanished, their hearts filled with complex emotions. They knew that an era had ended, but the story of that legendary lord might only be beginning in a higher world.
……
The Celestial Realm of the Thai King.
This is a boundless world far more vast than any star field in the lower realm. Here, the laws are perfect, and the immortal energy is so dense that it transforms into clouds and mist.
The mountains stand majestically like giant dragons, the rivers rush like celestial ribbons, countless celestial islands and palaces float in the sky, and celestial birds and beasts fly by from time to time, with rays of light and auspicious clouds.
In a special area of the Immortal Realm, there exists an enormous Reception Pool composed entirely of pure "Immortal Transformation Pool" water.
At this moment, a flash of seven-colored light appeared in the Reception Pool, and Fang Qing's figure slowly solidified, appearing in the center of the pool.
The pure immortal energy and transformative power contained in the pool water automatically flowed into Fang Qing's body.
But Fang Qing only needed to think for a moment, and with a slight turn of his chaotic true energy, he easily accepted and refined these powers.
His physique had already been transformed to near perfection when he was in the lower realm, and this was merely icing on the cake, making him even more compatible with the laws of the immortal realm.
He opened his eyes and looked around.
Outside the Reception Pool was a plaza paved with white jade. At the edge of the plaza stood two rows of soldiers dressed in standard silver immortal armor, holding immortal spears, and exuding a chilling aura.
These soldiers were all at around the first level of the Shattered Realm, but their auras were refined, clearly indicating that they were a well-trained, regular immortal army, far superior to the rogue cultivators of the same level in the lower realm.
The immortal realm is indeed extraordinary.
Even if one is born a Great Sage, reaching the Heavenly Rank is still just ordinary. Only when one reaches the Shattered Realm can one truly step into the threshold of cultivation.
Fang Qing's appearance immediately attracted the attention of the guards at the Reception Pool. One of the immortal soldiers, who seemed to be the leader, stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over Fang Qing, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Ordinary ascensionists, upon first entering the Immortal Transformation Pool, usually need a period of time to adapt, and may even appear weak due to the impact of the Immortal Realm's laws. But the one before him not only had a steady aura and clear eyes, but also exuded a profound aura that made even him feel uneasy.
"New ascendants, state your names and which realm you come from."
The leader of the immortal soldiers asked in a businesslike manner.
"Fang Qing is from the Thai Emperor's Academy, under the command of the Thai Emperor."
Fang Qing said calmly, while subtly manifesting his own merits and rewards with the Taihuang Heavenly Immortal Realm.
The celestial soldier leader sensed the connection and his expression immediately became solemn, his attitude becoming more respectful: "So you are an ascendant from my Taihuang Heaven. Please wait a moment, we will report to our superiors immediately."
He turned around and whispered a few instructions to a celestial soldier behind him. The soldier immediately transformed into a streak of light and flew towards a majestic celestial palace in the distance.
Soon, an even stronger aura rapidly approached. A middle-aged general, clad in pale gold immortal armor and possessing an aura that clearly reached the fourth level of the Shattered Realm, landed beside the Reception Pool with several personal guards.
His gaze fell on Fang Qing, and he scrutinized her for a moment, a hint of surprise and seriousness flashing in his eyes.
With his cultivation level and eyesight as a celestial general, he actually couldn't quite see through the depths of this newly ascended being! The restrained yet vast aura emanating from the other party made him feel a faint sense of pressure.
"You're Fang Qing?"
The golden-armored celestial general spoke, his voice steady, "I am Wang Gang, the celestial general guarding the South Heavenly Gate of the Heavenly Court of the Taihuang Heaven. Your information is already on file in the Heavenly Court."
He paused, then continued, "You made unparalleled contributions in the 'Battlefield of Immortals' in the lower realm, achieving the highest merit and upholding the might of my Taihuang Heaven. Later, you also integrated the lower realm star fields, making outstanding contributions. According to the laws of my Taihuang Heavenly Court and the preferential treatment given to outstanding ascendants, although you have just entered the Immortal Realm, you can be directly granted the title of 'Immortal General,' commanding 800,000 heavenly soldiers, with the right to establish your own government and independent army!"
This treatment is undeniably generous.
Ordinary ascendants, even if they were overlords in the lower realm, must start as the lowest-ranking celestial soldiers after ascending, and slowly accumulate merits before they can advance.
Fang Qing, on the other hand, arrived as a Celestial General with 800,000 Heavenly Soldiers under his command. This was not only an affirmation of his achievements, but also because his own strength was unfathomable, making him worthy of the Heavenly Court's investment.
"also."
With a wave of his hand, Wang Gangxian sent a storage ring and an ancient jade slip flying toward Fang Qing. “This is a gift personally bestowed upon you by His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor. Inside the ring are a million high-grade immortal stones, as well as some immortal armor and immortal mansion tokens that are standard for immortal generals. This jade slip contains the first three levels of a divine-level qi cultivation technique—the Nine Heavens Thunder Control True Technique.”
A million high-grade immortal stones is a huge sum of money in the immortal realm, enough to support the cultivation needs of an immortal general-level cultivator for a long time.
Even the first three levels of a divine-level qi cultivation technique are priceless; ordinary immortal generals simply don't have the qualifications to cultivate them.
Fang Qing accepted the immortal ring and jade slip, and after a quick scan with his divine sense, he understood. He bowed slightly to General Wang Gang and said, "Thank you, General Wang, and thank you for the Heavenly Emperor's gift."
"No need for such formalities."
Wang Gangxian's expression softened somewhat. "You're new here and not yet familiar with the rules of the Immortal Realm and the Heavenly Court. According to procedure, I need to take you to a side hall of the Lingxiao Palace to meet the Silu Immortal Lord, complete the formal registration and conferment ceremony, and receive your 800,000 Heavenly Soldier Tiger Talisman and Garrison Order. After that, you can go to your garrison, the 'Tianxuan Star Region,' to form your Tianxuan Army."
"Thank you for leading the way, General Wang."
Fang Qing nodded.
Led by Immortal General Wang Gang, Fang Qing left the Reception Pool and boarded a magnificent celestial palace flying boat, heading towards the core area of the Heavenly Court.
Along the way, he saw the vastness and prosperity of the celestial realm, as well as the majesty and order of the Heavenly Court.
Countless powerful auras appeared and disappeared in various immortal mountains and palaces, and well-organized heavenly soldiers and generals patrolled the sky from time to time, with strict discipline.
Soon, the flying boat landed in front of a huge palace, second only in grandeur to the central "Lingxiao Palace," which was the "Silu Palace."
Inside the hall, an elderly man with a gaunt face, dressed in a purple celestial official's robe, was already waiting behind the table. He was none other than the Immortal Lord of Fortune.
Upon seeing Fang Qing, a glint of light flashed in Si Lu Xianjun's eyes, clearly indicating that he had also sensed Fang Qing's extraordinary nature.
Without much small talk, he immediately began processing the formalities, verifying identities and achievements, registering records, and issuing the "Tianxuan General" seal, tiger tally, and jurisdictional token for the "Tianxuan Star Region," representing the status of a Celestial General.
The entire process was efficient and solemn.
"General Fang Qing,"
After the formalities were completed, the Immortal Lord Silu revealed a rare smile. "Welcome to the Heavenly Court of the Taihuang Emperor. I have heard of your deeds; indeed, a hero emerges from among the young. Although the Tianxuan Star Region is not the core and prosperous area of the Heavenly Court, it is still a strategic location, bordering the 'Ten Thousand Demon Mountains' and the 'Dark Demon Realm,' where there are frequent conflicts. I hope you can live up to His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor's high expectations, guard this region, and establish great achievements."
"I will do my best."
Fang Qing took the seal and tiger tally and spoke.
"it is good."
Si Lu Xianjun nodded. "General Wang Gang will arrange for celestial officials to escort you to your post in the Tianxuan Star Region. There, 800,000 celestial soldiers have been assembled and are awaiting your inspection and reorganization. In addition, you have the authority to recruit a certain number of celestial officials and advisors within the Tianxuan Star Region, as well as to bring in a small number of trusted confidants from the lower realms. For specific details, please refer to the information in the general's seal. Go."
"Thank you, Immortal Lord."
Fang Qing bowed again, and then left the Silu Hall under the guidance of a celestial official arranged by Wang Gangxian.
Outside the hall, another smaller and faster celestial shuttle, specifically designed for military mobilization, was already waiting.
The celestial official invited Fang Qing to ascend the shuttle, and then activated the formation.
Instantly, the celestial shuttle transformed into a silver streak, tearing apart the stable space of the celestial realm and hurtling towards the Tianxuan Starfield at an astonishing speed.
The interior of the Fairy Shuttle is spacious and comfortable, with a simple layout.
The guiding celestial official was a young man named Zhao Ming, whose cultivation was at the second level of the Shattered Realm. He was quite talkative and introduced Fang Qing to the basic situation of the Immortal Realm and the Heavenly Court, the distribution of various forces, and the general situation of the Tianxuan Star Region along the way.
Fang Qing listened quietly, and combined with the scattered information he had obtained from the lower realm, he gained a clearer understanding of the Taihuang Heavenly Immortal Realm.
The Thai Heavenly Realm is vast and boundless, with the main power being the Thai Heavenly Court, ruled by the Thai Heavenly Emperor. Below the Heavenly Court are various palaces, departments, and offices, each responsible for military and political affairs.
Besides the core Heavenly Palace region, the Heavenly Court also governs tens of thousands of peripheral star regions, such as the Tianxuan Star Region, to protect the center, extract resources, train troops, and garrison troops.
Zhao Ming also gave a detailed introduction to the cultivation levels in the Immortal Realm, which were largely the same as what Fang Qing had previously known.
From the first level of Shattered Heaven to the ninth level of Heavenly Emperor, each level is an insurmountable chasm.
It is extremely rare for someone like Fang Qing to be granted the title of "Immortal General" upon entering the Immortal Realm. Usually, only those peerless geniuses who have made tremendous contributions in the lower realm, or who have a special mission, or who have an extraordinary background, receive this treatment.
The Tianxuan Star Region, located on the southwestern border of the Heavenly Court's territory, is one of the front-line war zones and is often turbulent.
Being stationed here is both a responsibility and an opportunity.
This means more battles, more military achievements, and of course, higher risks.
General Fang,
Zhao Ming concluded by reminding everyone, "Although the Tianxuan Army nominally numbers 800,000, they are constantly stationed on the border and engage in small-scale conflicts with demons, inevitably resulting in troop losses and a need to boost morale. Moreover... the factions within the army may be somewhat complex, and some veteran deputy generals and commanders may not immediately submit to a parachuted, young commander. General, you must be careful."
Fang Qing nodded slightly: "Thank you for the reminder, Immortal Official Zhao. I understand."
Several days later, the Radiant Shuttle traversed the vast void, and ahead appeared a vast star field surrounded by pale silver nebulae.
Within the star field, the stars are arranged to form a kind of formation. At the core, a huge military planet, Tianxuan Star, stands majestically. On the surface of the planet, one can see dense military camps, watchtowers, and the light of a massive defensive formation.
This is the core of the Tianxuan Starfield and the location of the "Tianxuan Army's" headquarters.
The celestial shuttle landed directly in front of the largest military square on Tianxuan Star—the Commander's Platform.
The square was filled with a dense, dark mass of people, with banners waving and soldiers in gleaming armor.
The 800,000 heavenly soldiers had already formed their ranks in different formations. Although they did not utter a sound, a chilling, iron-blooded, and faintly bloody aura of military might swept over them.
These heavenly soldiers were at least at the first level of the Shattered Immortal Soldier realm. Among them, the officers, such as squad leaders, platoon leaders, centurions, chiliarchs, and commanders, had progressively higher cultivation levels. The auras of the several deputy generals at the forefront had all reached the third level of the Shattered Immortal Soldier realm, the level of the Shattered Thought Immortal Lord!
When Fang Qing, dressed in casual clothes, stepped off the celestial shuttle accompanied by the celestial official Zhao Ming, eight hundred thousand eyes were immediately focused on him.
In their eyes, there was curiosity, scrutiny, indifference, and also... a few deeply hidden hints of disdain and provocation.
Clearly, Zhao Ming's warning was not unfounded.
These veteran soldiers who have been fighting on the border for years may not be convinced by such a young commander who was parachuted in.
"We, your humble servants, respectfully welcome General Tianxuan!"
The three deputy generals standing at the front of the line, along with a group of senior commanders behind them, clasped their hands in salute, their voices loud and clear, but the formality lacked genuine enthusiasm.
Fang Qing's gaze swept calmly across the entire area, lingering briefly on the three deputy generals.
The man in the center was a burly man, nine feet tall, with a leopard-like head and piercing eyes. His cultivation was at the mid-stage of the Shattered Thought Realm, and he was probably one of the previous leaders of the Tianxuan Army.
The man on the left is a middle-aged scholar with a delicate face and sharp, eagle-like eyes. His cultivation level is also at the mid-stage of the Shattered Thought realm.
The female general on the right is dressed in red armor, with a tall and straight figure, a beautiful face but a cold and aloof demeanor, and eyes that exude a chilling aura that keeps people at a distance. Her cultivation level is at the early stage of the Shattered Thought Realm.
"Gentlemen, you may dispense with the formalities."
Fang Qing's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every soldier, carrying a strange penetrating power and a calming effect, which inexplicably calmed the somewhat restless morale of the troops.
He walked slowly toward the center of the command platform, where the general's platform was set up.
"I, Fang Qing, have come to the Tianxuan Star Region to take command of the Tianxuan Army by order of His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor and the Silu Hall."
His voice remained calm, yet carried an undeniable authority: "As a newcomer, I am still unfamiliar with military affairs and the enemy situation on the border. In the coming period, I will need to rely on my comrades to work together to defend the frontier."
These words were spoken in a proper and respectful manner, both indicating his status and adopting a humble attitude.
However, the deputy general in the center, with his leopard-like head and piercing eyes, suddenly spoke up, his voice booming like a bell: "General Fang! This humble general is Lei Bao, and I have been appointed as the deputy general of the Tianxuan Army! May I ask, General, you were appointed as a Celestial General and command an army so soon after entering the Celestial Realm? What are your extraordinary qualities that have earned the respect and willingness of our 800,000 brothers to follow you?"
The question was quite direct, even carrying a hint of provocation, clearly intended to give Fang Qing a hard time and test his background and temperament.
The effeminate scholar-general beside him also spoke slowly, his voice high-pitched: "Vice General Lei's words are a bit blunt, but they make sense. The Tianxuan Star Region is adjacent to demons and monsters, and wars break out frequently. It is no ordinary place. If the commander is not strong enough or does not command properly, I fear it will harm the army and jeopardize His Majesty's important affairs."
Although the red-armored female general did not speak, her cold gaze fell on Fang Qing, clearly waiting for his answer.
Below the command platform, 800,000 heavenly soldiers held their breath, eager to see how this excessively young new commander would respond to the greetings from some of the army's strongest lieutenants.
The celestial official Zhao Ming secretly broke out in a cold sweat.
Lei Bao and Yin Yuanhua were veterans of the Tianxuan Army, highly skilled and with numerous battle achievements. They were notoriously difficult to manage, and previous commanders had struggled to deal with them. Unexpectedly, they launched an attack as soon as Fang Qing arrived.
Faced with this almost coercive questioning, Fang Qing showed no anger whatsoever, but instead revealed a faint smile.
"Vice General Lei, that's a good question." Fang Qing looked at Lei Bao. "My extraordinary qualities are that I can overpower all the heavens on the battlefield of immortals, achieving the highest merit, causing the elite of the Great Luo Academy to be wiped out and lose face! I can integrate all the realms in the lower world and establish a divine dynasty, and upon entering the immortal realm, I was personally bestowed the position of immortal general by His Majesty!"
Fang Qing's aura surged with each word. A vastness like the starry sky, a weight like an ancient divine mountain, and a terrifying pressure—the will of a holy king surpassing all living beings—exploded from him with a deafening roar.
This oppressive aura contained the supreme majesty he had accumulated from ruling over all living beings in the lower realm, as well as the domineering intent of the Ancient Serpent Talisman of the Supreme Emperor.
Lei Bao, Yin Yuanhua, and Leng Yue, who were the first to be hit, felt as if they were suddenly in the midst of a raging storm, or as if they were being oppressed by a towering, insurmountable mountain.
Despite their cultivation at the Shattered Mind Realm, they felt a tremor and a sense of insignificance emanating from their very souls in the face of this oppressive force, and even the flow of their internal energy became sluggish.
The 800,000 heavenly soldiers behind him felt as if they were having difficulty breathing, as if a huge rock was pressing on their hearts. Some of the weaker ones even trembled slightly.
The entire command platform square was completely silent, with only Fang Qing's voice, which sounded like an imperial decree, echoing through the air.
As for…
Fang Qing's gaze was like a sharp sword, piercing Lei Bao. "Will you be convinced and willing to follow me?"
A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.
"I don't need your immediate submission. There's only one thing needed in the army—obedience!"
"His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor bestowed upon me the Tiger Tally, ordering me to command this army and guard this region! This is a military order, and also a divine decree!"
"From this day forward, in the Tianxuan Army, my words are law! Anyone who disobeys will be punished according to military law!"
He took a sudden step forward, and the pressure emanating from his body surged once more, vaguely forming a majestic phantom behind him, as if a holy king had descended upon the world, looking down upon all living beings.
"Did you three hear me clearly?!"
This final shout was like a thunderclap.
"Your humble servant... Lei Bao, will obey the general's orders!"
"This humble general, Yin Yuanhua, is ready to serve the general!"
"This humble general, Leng Yue, pays his respects to the general!"
The three of them dared not obey and immediately knelt down.
With the three strongest deputy generals kneeling, the commanders and officers behind them, as well as the 800,000 heavenly soldiers, knelt down on one knee without the slightest hesitation, their voices like a mountain roaring and a tsunami echoing through the sky.
"Greetings, General! I am ready to obey your orders! I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"
The cheers were like a surging tide, and the morale of the troops was initially stabilized.
"My ascension to the Immortal Realm this time is truly different from before."
Fang Qing clicked his tongue in amazement. (End of Chapter)