Lu’s consciousness sank into the Preaching Platform.

  Ever since the system upgrade, he had barely touched it. There had been free time, but he wasn’t in a rush—he’d use it naturally when the moment called for it.

  Now inside, he glanced around.

  The platform had changed.

  The foundation was still the same Eight Trigrams array, the runes unchanged. Yet the endless spiritual energy that once flooded the space had vanished entirely.

  The array now floated atop a mirror-smooth sea.

  The water lay perfectly still, reflecting the heavens like polished glass.

  Lu sat cross-legged on the array, suspended above the boundless ocean, feeling strangely connected to the world itself—like a lone fisherman in a tiny boat, one with the cosmos.

  He dipped a hand into the sea. The liquid was pure condensed spiritual energy—immeasurably refined.

  He slowly closed his eyes.

  Hum…

  When he opened them again, he seemed to be seated in the void of the universe.

  Pitch-black darkness surrounded him, dotted with countless stars glittering like scattered diamonds across the firmament.

  Lu inhaled deeply. The Preaching Platform’s capabilities had grown terrifyingly powerful.

  Whatever he envisioned now manifested far more easily than before.

  In the old days, even though he felt godlike inside the platform, conjuring an entire starry cosmos with a single thought had been nearly impossible.

  Now? He merely had to blink.

  Simply put—the hardware had received a massive upgrade, like jumping several generations of processors.

  Lu smiled and began experimenting. The spiritual sea churned as he shaped a realm of earthly paradise around himself.

  White robes fluttering, his sleeves fell across the array like blooming pear blossoms.

  Black hair dancing in the wind, brows furrowed in thought.

  With the Five Phoenixes now a high martial world, the old cultivation system he had designed was no longer sufficient.

  The Three Gods Realm, Yin God Dao Lotus, Yang God Nine Turns, Primordial Spirit Unity…

  Those three stages corresponded to Spirit Severing, Soul Projection, and Unity—perfectly suited for Five Phoenixes cultivators when he created them.

  Reaching Primordial Spirit Unity made one a Great Power.

  From what Lu understood, Great Powers were further divided.

  Those he had turned into primordial spirit platforms were first-realm Great Powers—Unity stage.

  Second-realm Great Powers were Venerables, the Tribulation-Transcending realm that surpassed the Three Gods.

  Above that lay a third realm—its name unknown to Lu.

  He wasn’t sure if the Great Venerable of Little Thunder Sound Buddhist Realm had reached that stage.

  He raised a hand and began deducing within the Preaching Platform.

  His gaze flickered.

  Above the spiritual sea, a figure materialized—Lu Jiulian.

  To craft a cultivation system unique to the Five Phoenixes—one that extended beyond Primordial Spirit Unity—Lu needed to understand the differences and transformations of the later realms.

  Tribulation-Transcending Venerable—the name itself implied a realm on the verge of transcending tribulation.

  Lu’s brow arched.

  “After transcending tribulation… ascension?”

  “And after ascension… immortality?”

  “Do immortals truly exist in this world?”

  He pondered.

  Could the realm above Great Power simply be “Immortal”?

  The thought intrigued him, but he quickly dismissed it. No matter what others called it, he would forge the Five Phoenixes’ own path—especially now that they had rejected the High Martial Registry.

  First question: what exactly separated a Tribulation-Transcending Venerable from a Unity-stage Great Power?

  Lu himself cultivated Qi Refinement, so he wasn’t entirely clear.

  Moreover, every Great Power he had fought had been utterly crushed, giving him little chance to study the gap.

  With a thought, he flicked his finger.

  A droplet exploded from the spiritual sea, coalescing into a figure—Qi Liujia, a Unity-stage Great Power.

  Another flick.

  Another droplet burst, forming the Black-and-White Holy Lord—the one Lu had slain and nailed to a frozen continent.

  Lu’s eyes traced glowing lines as he compared the two.

  Soon he discovered the difference: Tribulation-Transcending Venerables were not only stronger in primordial spirit but also vastly superior in body.

  In the Tribulation realm, bones underwent further refinement—similar to the Heavenly Lock realm’s spine forging, but far more arduous. At completion, the bones turned golden: the Venerable Golden Body.

  Only with a sufficiently powerful primordial spirit and golden body could one face heavenly tribulation.

  Hence the name—Tribulation-Transcending.

  Now, what should this realm be called in the Five Phoenixes system?

  Lu’s hair danced as he spoke softly.

  “Let’s call it the Fortune realm—Fortune Venerables.”

  Thanks to the Dao stele, Five Phoenixes cultivators could more easily comprehend Dao intents.

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  Thus, Lu added Dao intent amplification to the Fortune realm.

  Normal Tribulation Venerables focused solely on primordial spirit and golden body.

  Five Phoenixes Fortune Venerables, however, required the fusion of three elements: primordial spirit, golden body, and Dao intent—each blooming into a flower: Primordial Spirit Flower, Golden Body Flower, Dao Intent Flower.

  Once the Three Flowers Gather Atop the Head, one would step into the next realm Lu had designed—the Heavenly Human realm.

  Within the Preaching Platform, Lu sat like a buddha holding a flower. The spiritual sea surged like a roaring river, pouring into Lu Jiulian seated upon a blooming lotus.

  Lu Jiulian’s aura evolved rapidly under Lu’s gaze, as though centuries of cultivation passed in moments.

  Three radiant flowers blossomed above his head.

  BOOM!

  For an instant, terrifying regulatory power seemed to surge, as if trying to slash into the platform itself.

  Lu erased the projection.

  “Three Flowers Gather Atop the Head to enter the Fortune Venerable realm—face heavenly tribulation, be baptized by thunder, and achieve unity with heaven and man.”

  Lu was satisfied. This would be the path for all future Five Phoenixes cultivators.

  “Without guidance, groping forward alone would be impossibly difficult.”

  His eyes gleamed.

  He formed seals; runes swirled around him like a vortex.

  “It is time to create a cultivation method exclusive to Five Phoenixes cultivators—something akin to the ancient scriptures in the tomb.”

  His gaze deepened.

  He began deducing the method within the Preaching Platform.

  With proper guidance, cultivation speed and efficiency would skyrocket.

  Even better—this method would aid Dao intent comprehension. Truly heaven-defying.

  Most importantly…

  Only those baptized by the Five Phoenixes origin could cultivate it!

  Origin Lake, Lake Heart Island.

  BOOM!

  Aromatic essence exploded from the black cauldron.

  Ni Yu beamed with joy.

  Tribulation clouds gathered overhead—pill tribulation.

  “Fifth-grade Origin Fusion Pills… finally done!”

  She was ecstatic.

  Inside the cauldron, glassy pellets glimmered with flowing light.

  Outside, Ni Yu held a porcelain bowl, rapidly stirring syrup with chopsticks—ready to coat the pills in sugar the moment they emerged.

  “Little Yellow! Block the pill tribulation!”

  “Two pills for you when we’re done!”

  Ni Yu’s chubby cheeks glowed with excitement.

  The little Yinglong lazing in the lake instantly perked up.

  With a triumphant roar, he shot into the sky, expanding to mountain size. Dark-golden dragon scales gleamed coldly.

  After soaking in the Ancient Tomb’s dragon blood pool, his Heavenly Dragon bloodline had awakened another layer—he was far stronger now.

  BOOM!

  A thunderbolt crashed down.

  Little Yinglong’s eyes sharpened. Wings beat once; a claw lashed out.

  He shattered the lightning with his bare talons!

  “Beautiful!”

  Ni Yu whooped, stirring the syrup even faster.

  Inside the cauldron, the pills began to jump, slamming against the walls as if trying to break free.

  Ni Yu’s heart raced—this was the thrill of alchemy!

  BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

  Fifth-grade pill tribulation was ferocious—far beyond the Body Tempering Pills of old.

  But Little Yinglong, whose combat strength now rivaled Yang God realm, feared nothing.

  Finally, he crushed the last wisp of tribulation cloud.

  The sky cleared.

  Little Yinglong spread his wings, blotting out the sun, hovering proudly—job complete, waiting for his two-pill paycheck.

  Ni Yu flung the syrup outward. Golden rain of sugar fell under the sunlight, scent intoxicating.

  Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

  The leaping Origin Fusion Pills were perfectly coated.

  With practiced ease, she flicked a jade bottle and collected them all.

  Suddenly, she froze.

  She looked up—the sky had turned pitch black again. Her baby-fat cheeks twitched.

  “Huh? Why hasn’t the tribulation dispersed?”

  She glared at Little Yinglong.

  Bad job blocking. Pay docked.

  Little Yinglong was utterly baffled.

  He had definitely destroyed the tribulation!

  Why was there still cloud?!

  BOOM!

  A colossal thunderbolt—thick as an ancient tree—smashed down.

  Every scale on Little Yinglong’s body stood on end.

  Bone-chilling terror flooded him!

  Crack!

  The lightning struck true.

  Scales shattered; he let out a miserable wail.

  What the hell was going on?!

  Why had the tribulation suddenly become so terrifying?!

  Was Ni Yu refining immortal pills instead of fifth-grade ones?!

  Little Yinglong crashed into Origin Lake.

  Even the giant whale of Immortal Island looked horrified.

  Across the entire Five Phoenixes continent, every cultivator felt suffocating pressure.

  What kind of powerhouse was transcending tribulation?!

  The whole sea seemed shrouded in black clouds.

  Ni Yu’s fifth-grade pill tribulation looked like a child’s plaything in comparison.

  When the second bolt descended, Little Yinglong didn’t dare block it.

  He flapped desperately and scrambled away.

  The tribulation cloud ignored him entirely and slammed straight into White Jade Capital’s tower.

  A resounding phoenix cry pierced the heavens.

  The Phoenix Plume Sword flashed crimson, slicing through the cloud.

  Pfft!

  The cloud dispersed.

  Little Yinglong lay scorched and bleeding, utterly aggrieved.

  So…

  He had accidentally tanked a tribulation meant for Dad!

  One after another, thunderbolts rained down.

  Lu, white robes untouched by dust, deflected them effortlessly.

  Qi Liujia, freshly returned to the Five Phoenixes, watched in awe.

  What was the Young Master up to now?

  On the primordial spirit platforms, Du Longyang, Ye Shoudao, and the others felt their souls tremble.

  Empress Ni Chunqiu’s pretty face flushed with excitement. “It must be Brother Lu! Only he could trigger tribulation like this!”

  Inside the Ancient Tomb.

  Four skeletons’ ghostly flames danced.

  From the dim stone coffin came a surprised murmur.

  “This tribulation… wasn’t triggered by a breakthrough.”

  BOOM!

  The punishment lasted half a day—eighteen bolts of varying size—before finally dissipating.

  When the clouds cleared, the entire Five Phoenixes seemed brighter, purer.

  Atop White Jade Capital’s tower,

  Lu sat in his Thousand-Bladed Chair, smiled faintly, and flicked a finger.

  Golden characters blossomed across the sky, hanging like celestial script.

  In that instant, the whole world blazed with golden light, as though bathed in radiant sunlight!

  “Heavens! This is a cultivation method!”

  “Scripture! A scripture that can guide cultivation!”

  “Immortals are preaching to the mortal world?!”

  Every cultivator stared in stunned reverence.

  Anyone with cultivation could clearly see the golden text.

  Mortals, however, saw nothing at all.

  …

  Northern County.

  Mount Tai Ridge.

  Dantai Xuan paced barefoot through the palace halls.

  The Xuanwu Guards around him gazed dumbstruck at the sky, as did Jiang Li—who had received inheritance in the tomb.

  Dantai Xuan glanced upward curiously.

  Nothing there?

  What were they all freaking out about?

  He asked repeatedly, but no one answered—everyone was frantically memorizing something, as if possessed.

  He suddenly felt abandoned by the world, anxious and scratching his head.

  What the hell was in the sky?!

  Was Minister Jiang conspiring with the Xuanwu Guards to prank their king?

  After a long while…

  Jiang Li finally lowered his gaze, sighing deeply.

  “Immortals preach to the world… the peerless scripture 《Northern Emperor Scripture》 has descended. A grand era of cultivation is coming.”

  The Xuanwu Guards echoed in awe.

  “Northern Emperor what-now?”

  Dantai Xuan blinked.

  “Huh?”

  “Your Majesty didn’t see it? Golden scripture appeared in the heavens—titled 《Northern Emperor Scripture》, an unparalleled cultivation method.”

  “A gift of immortal fate bestowed upon the entire world!”

  Jiang Li explained.

  But the moment the words left his mouth, he understood.

  Dantai Xuan’s emotions crashed like waves.

  Hands clasped behind his back, he paced the long corridor. A forlorn wind blew, fluttering his robes.

  “So… they really weren’t messing with me.”

  “The whole world awakens… and only this king remains drunk.”

  …

  Lu returned to the Preaching Platform.

  On a sheet of golden paper, mysterious characters glowed—this was the cultivation method he had deduced: the incomplete 《Northern Emperor Scripture》.

  There were four more volumes: 《Southern Emperor》, 《Western Emperor》, 《Eastern Emperor》, and 《Origin Emperor》—corresponding to the five directions of the continent.

  Together, they formed the Five Emperor Scriptures.

  Lu was quite pleased with them.

  Their emergence had even provoked the regulatory tribulation of the Void Heaven—proof enough of their extraordinary nature.

  For now, he would release only the 《Northern Emperor Scripture》. It was sufficient to carry cultivators all the way to the Three Gods Realm.

  Every century, he would release the next volume.

  Cultivating all five together would yield even greater results.

  Though perhaps not as profound as the legacies of ancient emperors or supreme beings, the Five Emperor Scriptures were perfectly tailored for Five Phoenixes cultivators—created by Lu specifically for them.

  Within the Preaching Platform,

  the five golden pages dissolved into radiant light.

  Lu closed his eyes, calming his mind.

  After a long while, he opened them again—gravity in his gaze.

  “Now… it is time to deduce whether, with my current strength, I can wield the ‘Lin’ profound word and envelop the entire Five Phoenixes—accelerating our flow of time.”

  He was extremely cautious with the Nine Profound Words.

  Better to test inside the platform first.

  These words were tied to the ancient emperors—he had no absolute confidence.

  If covering the whole world failed, at least he would be mentally prepared.

  Hum…

  Lu formed seals. The scene around him shifted abruptly.

  He sat in the void, facing the Five Phoenixes shrouded beneath the Heaven-Covering Array.

  The next moment—

  vast spiritual energy surged.

  The ‘Lin’ profound word emerged, hovering above his head.

  White robes fluttered wildly, black hair whipped like blades, eyes sharp as swords.

  As the word appeared,

  a gray river of time suddenly roared into existence within the Preaching Platform.