Starting with Proficiency Panel-Chapter 690 - 686: Strange Thoughts

This is well-known, the Jade Emperor and Tathagata are also superficially cordial yet internally at odds, clearly understanding that in the end, the two of them are bound to clash. The World Honored One's Heart Sutra created by Lu Ren, they have also seen, and with their ability to alter their own constitution at will, they are entirely capable of cultivating the World Honored One's Heart Sutra.

But to cultivate the World Honored One's Heart Sutra, one must first disperse their skill and start anew, which Lu Ren does not mind.

To be honest, when establishing these countless Tuo'e Temples, it was already foreseen that the World Honored One's Heart Sutra would be revealed, but Lu Ren had no notion of keeping scriptures and cultivation methods secret.

Those who cultivate the World Honored One's Heart Sutra will certainly practice within the scope of the Tuo'e Temples with cultivation support points. With sincerity, wish power will naturally be collected — a win-win situation; Lu Ren couldn't be happier.

The only pity for Lu Ren is that the Jade Emperor and Tathagata are exceptionally steadfast in their pursuit of the Dao, with the World Honored One's Heart Sutra before them, and even the most supremely appropriate cultivation method of this era cannot sway their determined hearts.

After all, at their level, what they desire, what path to walk, is already clear. Any wavering would not only cause their Dao heart to crumble but lead them to sink into oblivion, never able to recover.

Even though the path of Taoism Fruit is presently extremely difficult, for beings like the Jade Emperor and Tathagata at such a profound level, they naturally can offset negative effects.

The Jade Emperor and Tathagata also know Lu Ren's current thoughts, but they have no choice but to continuously confront each other, trying to expedite the arrival of the Immortal Mechanism.

Having lingered for nearly a million years in the unknown, the lifespan of the Jade Emperor and Tathagata has already been worn to near exhaustion. No matter what longevity secret technique or elixir of longevity they use, their lifespan can only be extended so far, ultimately meeting its limits. To this day, they have long awaited this opportunity.

This is their last chance; there's no way they would let it slip by.

Lu Ren also understands that the Ascension Platform is the final threshold for the Jade Emperor and Tathagata; everything else they can tolerate, but if Lu Ren were to indeed collapse the Celestial Platform before them, the Jade Emperor and Tathagata would truly spiral into madness.

If they find there are no opportunities for breakthrough, only waiting as their lifespans wither, at that final moment, these two would certainly go mad, willing to drag Lu Ren down at any cost.

The Jade Emperor spoke softly, "Fellow Taoist Lu, your Witchcraft Path doesn't align with this one, why wade into these waters?"

Tathagata nodded slightly, saying, "This is the last opportunity on my path to Taoism Fruit."

With words spoken thus far, the intentions of Tathagata and the Jade Emperor are clear; if Lu Ren insists on proceeding with insensitivity, even if they can't kill him, they would certainly make him suffer.

What surprised Lu Ren was that the Jade Emperor and Tathagata were actually backing down at this moment.

Lu Ren's gaze condensed, scanning the Celestial Platform for a while before retracting his gaze, looking at the Jade Emperor and Tathagata preparing before him.

"Then let's talk again once we've ascended to the Celestial Immortal Realm."

Seeing Lu Ren depart, the Jade Emperor and Tathagata's hearts instantly relaxed; they exchanged a glance, fully aware of the Witchcraft Path's pure destructive power. Back during the Primordial Era, at the South Celestial Gate, Thick Earth single-handedly dragged four peak combat Earth Immortal experts down with him.

To crush the Witchcraft Path, one must reach the Celestial Immortal Realm, evolving life form to a new state to suppress it.

After all, in terms of combat power, the Path of Taoism Fruit is innately weaker compared to the Witchcraft Path, which arose during the Primordial Chaos Era as the Human Race fought against the heavens for survival, naturally emphasizing combat power and destructive capability.

It's said that those from the Witchcraft Path reaching Earth Immortal level, and walking Ancestral Witch's way, have already poured countless blood and tears, and persevered through a dark era to open the Inner Heaven and Earth Cosmos, hence elevating their body's treasure to approach Ancestral Witch Realm comparable to Earth Immortal Realm.

To further advance, those renowned in history, influential within the Witchcraft Path, all seek to break their shackles and attain the Celestial Immortal Realm.

Both the Jade Emperor and Tathagata understand this, for now, Tathagata's expression has long turned cold, gazing fixedly in the direction Lu Ren departed, snorting lightly.

"When my Primordial Qi reaches fullness, and the flaws of my Taoism Fruit completely converge again, once in the Celestial Immortal Realm, I will definitely prioritize striking down Lu Ren."

The Jade Emperor, however, felt no such animosity, turning back to observe the well managed, gradually forming Celestial Platform, calm-faced: "Lu Ren walks not the pure Martial Path; the aura in his body at least consolidates three cultivation systems, blending the Path of Taoism Fruit, Martial Path, Witchcraft Path, and others from beyond, a person like this, how could they be restrained by a single Celestial Immortal boundary."

It's indeed astonishing how within less than a century he's reached this point.

Besides...

The Jade Emperor paused, face showing concern as he said, "In merely decades, from first sight while at early-stage Earth Immortal, now he has reached late-stage Earth Immortal, even touching the Celestial threshold. Tathagata, this guy still has a long lifespan, this is also our last chance, if missed both your Buddhist Sect and my Celestial Palace would enter a point of no return."

Tathagata's expression changed unpredictably, finally taking a deep breath, showing not the compassionate treasure aspect of the Buddhist Sect, but endless fury and fierceness.

"Before my nirvana, if I can't grasp any opportunity, I certainly won't let him live peacefully."

With that, Tathagata cast an intentional glance at the Jade Emperor, then bowed and departed.

As Tathagata disappeared, the Jade Emperor's face also cleared of worry, his demeanor shifting from detached coldness, as if everything conducted earlier was mere illusion.

The Jade Emperor's thoughts were clear, utterly aware of Tathagata's private intentions; none are fools, how could they not understand each other's plans.

Suddenly, the Jade Emperor's face revealed a strange smile, and in a moment, amidst a sudden breeze, disappeared without a trace.

After everything settled, a stiff, unexpected figure appeared mid-air, overlooking the Celestial Platform below, with sword brows and starry eyes, standing tall and pure in aura, none other than the long-missing Tongtian.

He pinched his chin, eyes subtle, an invisible wave silently spreading from him, slowly merging into the Celestial Platform.

Discovering no defense or attack mechanism within the Celestial Platform, only functions akin to those used by human lighthouses and priests, his face showed a contemplative look.

"Could the opportunity worth pursuing lie here?"

Tongtian's eyes flashed, amazed upon arriving in this world, finding indeed there a chance to break through Celestial Venerable constraints and achieve an ancient unique attainment, though such chances are fleeting, he now sees the Jade Emperor and Tathagata jointly building the Celestial Platform in this world.