My Cultivation Starting from Archery-Chapter 1405 - 510: Ascension (Part 2)

"A thousand years have passed."

Chen Sansi sat on the Dragon Chair, sighing, "Unknowingly, it's been so long since I ascended the throne. It's time for me to step down. I must go, but the Han dynasty remains. In the future, all of you must assist the new emperor, govern the world well, and maintain the balance between cultivators and mortals. Do not let down the fortune given to us by the countless citizens."

The ministers all urged him to stay.

This was not unexpected.

What surprised Chen Sansi was...

Chen Duhe approached him after the court session.

"Father!"

"I refuse!"

Chen Duhe strode confidently into the hall: "I still want to continue developing the Incense Fire Martial Arts, and plan to ascend to the upper realm after my accumulation is complete, to see the end of the Immortal Road. I have no intention of staying to be emperor."

"Hehe~"

Chen Sansi chuckled with a hint of helplessness: "Do you remember how much you wanted to be Crown Prince and inherit the throne when you were young? But your unruly nature required honing and refinement. Now, you are finally capable of standing alone, yet you refuse to bear this responsibility."

"I still refuse!"

Chen Duhe sat down on the ground, acting out: "Choose whoever you want to succeed the throne, it's not my concern."

"That is not up to you."

Chen Sansi stood up and said solemnly: "The demon and fiend races are only weaker than before, but their foundations and ambitions remain. If no one leads humanity after I leave, it won't take five hundred years for us to return to the old state.

"In these years, your cultivation benefited from the Incense Fire tributor of humanity and the Spirit Plants from the Emperor's Breath Soil in Sky Wall City. How can you take the benefits but shirk the responsibilities?"

"..."

Faced with this, Chen Duhe was rendered speechless: "Father, if you put it that way, I'll do it, but for how long? I can't do this forever, I too wish to ascend!"

"How long you do it depends on when you cultivate a suitable successor."

Chen Sansi said, "When one of my grandsons stands out as the world's top cultivator, that will be the day you ascend."

Seven hundred years ago, Chen Duhe married Yan Xiangshuang as the Crown Princess Consort.

Today, his grandsons' grandson count has grown substantially.

The Chen Family.

Has already become a large family.

"Alright."

Chen Duhe didn't refute any further: "Then, Father, when do you leave?"

"This time, when the Ascension Platform opens, I'll leave."

Chen Sansi stated: "Begin preparations for the succession soon, so I can prepare for my ascension without worries."

"Alright then."

Chen Duhe glanced at the Dragon Chair: "I'll reluctantly manage a few years for you. But mark my words, if one day communication is restored between the upper and mortal realms, you should come back and do it yourself."

"If that day comes, we'll talk then."

Deep down, Chen Sansi knew very well.

Even now, his son's vision differed from his own.

Chen Duhe's current friendliness toward mortals stemmed more from relying on Incense Fire for cultivation, feeling inherently indebted to the populace.

But in his innermost being, he never truly cared about the lives of those unrelated to himself.

Yet, the saying still stands…

Chen Sansi couldn't waste his lifespan in the mortal realm; in the end, he would still leave this world. Better to ascend to the upper realm, tread further on the path of the great Dao, and achieve true immortality.

By that time.

Even if he didn't return to be emperor, he could still oversee those who were.

"Your Majesty!"

Amidst father and son's discussion, Qi Cheng came seeking an audience.

He hurried over, reporting: "Your Majesty, there's movement at the Heavenly Destiny Platform."

The Heavenly Destiny Platform.

Is the communication point between the mortal and upper realms.

All Immortal Decrees from the upper realm are transmitted through the Heavenly Destiny Platform.

Since Chen Sansi occupied Kunxu, the platform had been silent for a thousand years. Now there was finally a stir, though it was unclear what the immortals above intended.

"Let's take a look."

His figure vanished.

Sky Wall City of the Han dynasty had long been moved to Kunxu, thus, with a mere blink employing a cultivation technique, he arrived at the Heavenly Destiny Platform located at Heavenly Extremity Peak.

The peak stood steeply isolated, piercing the sea of clouds. The summit, instead of lush vegetation, was a vast stone terrace polished smooth as a mirror by ages and invisible mighty forces.

At the stone terrace's center stood the Heavenly Destiny Platform, a bridge between the two realms, bearing utmost majesty.

"Buzz——"

At present.

A low buzzing emanated from within the Heavenly Destiny Platform.

Soon after, a point of azure light burst forth, illuminating the stone terrace with countless runes swirling like shifting stars.

At the very center, the void suddenly tore open as if slashed by swords, revealing a scroll slowly emerging from the rift.

Once the scroll appeared, all unusual phenomena quickly receded, leaving calm in their wake.

This scroll was...

The Immortal Decree!

Chen Sansi gently beckoned, pulling the Immortal Decree before him with a spell, opening it to reveal golden ancient script inscribed upon it.

"Daoist Tian Wu, I am Mr. Mei's old acquaintance, Ding Xiu, Supreme Elder of Luoxiao Sect. Today, I issue this Immortal Decree without any ill intent, hoping Daoist Tian Wu will visit Luoxiao Sect after your ascension."

Before coming.

Chen Sansi had mentally prepared, expecting the upper realm immortals to use the Heavenly Destiny Platform to threaten him.

Unexpectedly, the message was so courteous.

Moreover...

Brief as it was, it contained immense information.

The Luoxiao Sect indeed still existed!

The immortal named Ding Xiu also mentioned Mr. Mei!

It was Mr. Mei who once bestowed upon him the forbidden technique of Ten Thousand Laws!

The other claimed to be an old acquaintance of Mr. Mei.

That wasn't the crux.

The key was...

How did Ding Xiu know of his interactions with Mr. Mei?

Otherwise, he wouldn't specifically mention being Mr. Mei's old acquaintance!

The immortal also mentioned they bore no malice and invited him to the Luoxiao Sect, never mentioning the "Demon Seed" or the extermination of Kunxu.

Of course.

It could just be a trap.

Chen Sansi naturally wouldn't place a shred of trust in the upper realm immortals.

The only certainty.

Was that he had already caught their attention.

Chen Sansi expressionlessly took the Immortal Decree away, then summoned Zhang Huaiqing and Zhao Zhenyi, allowing them to view its contents.

"I rather think it's not a trap."

Zhang Huaiqing said, "Our conflict with the upper realm immortals runs deep, yet this Immortal Decree doesn't mention any of it, as if none of it occurred."

"Meaning..."

Chen Sansi asked, "They're not of one mind?"

"Yes."

Zhang Huaiqing nodded: "The mortal realm alone has countless sects large and small. Presumably, the upper realm immortals may not all be united."

"There's another matter Tian Wu Daoist might not know."

Zhao Zhenyi spoke: "There are significant ties between the Exorcism Gate and the Luoxiao Sect. Ancient texts vaguely record that the Exorcism Gate might be a branch of the Luoxiao Sect."

"Is there such a thing?"

Chen Sansi was slightly surprised.

"Yes."

Zhao Zhenyi continued: "But the records are vague, so it's never been propagated within our sect. Since the Luoxiao Sect still exists in the upper realm, it might be an ally of our Exorcism Gate."

In the upper realm, there's also an Exorcism Gate.

Li Guanfu ascended ahead of time, providing Chen Sansi with support in the future.

After much discussion.

Zhang Huaiqing and Zhao Zhenyi both maintained an optimistic view of the Immortal Decree but reminded Chen Sansi to be cautious, since vigilance against others was necessary.

After this interlude with the Immortal Decree, Chen Sansi began dealing with the Crown Prince's succession.

In the year 1022 of Tian Wu.

Emperor Tianwu passed the throne to Crown Prince Chen Duhe, changing the era name to "Yuan Guang."

Following his ascension.

Emperor Yuan Guang implemented a policy of non-intervention, largely adhering to the previous dynasty's systems without major changes, maintaining a peaceful era for the Han Immortal Dynasty.

After lingering fifty more years in the mortal world, Chen Sansi, confident the human realm would remain stable for a millennium, finally set his mind at ease, shifting focus to formally preparing for ascension.

After a millennium of cultivation, surmounting countless trials and tribulations, he was finally about to, ascend to the legendary upper realm.