Sixty years passed in the blink of an eye.

Six decades of peaceful years, coupled with abundant resources, led to a rapid population growth; in the blink of an eye, it had surpassed one billion.

The base of Kunlun Mountain bustled with activity.

A few cultivators rode clouds at the foot of the mountain, chasing and playing with endless laughter and joy, while immortal cranes circled around them, and wild winds swept their forms.

"Haha, off we go down the mountain!"

"This time, we'll have three months. Recruitment only takes one month, so we'll have two whole months to travel around."

"Where should we go? Let's visit Xia Capital, the most flourishing city in the Mortal World."

Swoosh!

Four cultivators, two men and two women, all at Core Formation Immortal cultivation level.

Soon, the group arrived at Xia Capital, eight thousand miles away.

This city, lying at the very center of Heaven and Earth, boasted a population of over ten million, its lights burning brightly throughout the night, making it the most prosperous city in the Mortal World.

The four disguised themselves and walked toward the city gate.

"Junior Brother Yanhang, isn't your family based here in Xia Capital?"

A youth in a green robe asked.

"Indeed, I left home at a young age, and it's been twenty-five years now."

The young man couldn't help but sigh.

During this time, he had corresponded with his parents by letter, but for the sake of cultivation, Yanhang had never returned home until now.

"It's a good opportunity to visit your family. After all, even those of us who have left worldly attachments should practice filial piety. Here, two pills as gifts for your father and mother."

Hearing this, Zhuo Lang was reminded of his own homeland, Yangming.

Yangming was not on the Ancestor Star but was instead one of the eighteen stars under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Court.

Unlike the other three, Zhuo Lang had a distinct marking on his brow—a symbol resembling an eye.

This was a unique aperture.

Indeed, he came from another star.

Yangming was a name given by the Heavenly Court to a newly discovered star, borrowing the name of a place from the Ancestor Star.

The Heavenly Court, as rulers, typically avoided using overly bizarre star names. Song Lin, for instance, had named stars things like True Qi Star and Three-Eyed Star—names so ludicrous no one wanted to say them aloud.

"Has the Heavenly Court not opened the Heaven and Earth Xuan Sect on Yangming Star?" someone asked.

"The passage is always open, but without official duties, one cannot traverse it at will. There is, however, a ten-year leave for visiting relatives."

Zhuo Hang shifted the topic, saying, "No matter, after this mission, I'll follow my master to Yangming Star to spread the Taoist teachings. I might be able to stay for a few centuries."

His master was Lus Yunqing, the Swordsmith Manor Owner of the Eight Sceneries World and the founder of the Artifact Refining lineage on the Cultivation Path.

The group entered the city.

Through the towering city gates surged streams of merchants and travelers, alongside strange mutant beasts laden with cargo and carriages soaring through the air.

At this moment, a small floating city descended from the skies and landed on the outskirts.

With their exceptional eyesight, the group could make out the plaque on the floating city, which read: Great Xia Heavenly City No. 85.

"What is this?" a woman asked.

"This is a Floating City crafted by my master. It absorbs the essence of the sun and moon for ten days, allowing it to cover fifty thousand miles a day for three days in a row. I never thought such a divine artifact would become accessible to ordinary citizens."

Watching the commoners alight from the floating city, Zhuo Lang couldn't help but sigh.

Atop the city hung a massive transparent glowing glazed glass mirror, at least ten zhang in diameter, aimed at the sky.

Facing the curiosity of the others, Zhuo Lang merely smiled without explanation.

The city bristled with bustling stalls selling all kinds of trinkets, toys, and jewelry, dazzling the group's eyes.

In merely an instant, their hands were laden with bags and parcels.

They also noticed that many of the elegantly dressed individuals wore identical glowing Jade Pendants at their waists, from which voices occasionally emanated.

"Have mortals now mastered the talismanic skill of Communication Jade Talismans?"

When they reached the vicinity of an inn, they saw a crowd gathered around a glazed glass wall, where images and sounds were displayed.

The images depicted a reenactment of the founding war of the country. However, the appearances of people and the exaggerated battle sequences were clearly staged by actors.

The crowd watched with rapt attention.

"Haha, remember that massive mirror at the city gate earlier?" Zhuo Lang laughed. "That's a divine artifact crafted by the Heavenly Craft Department of the Heavenly Court. Its name is Mystical Machine."

"The Mystical Machine can transmit light to another Mystical Machine within a thousand-mile radius."

"And then? The light becomes the visuals on this glazed glass wall?"

"Precisely." Zhuo Lang took out a hollowed metallic sphere. "This is a Sound Storage Pearl. It can store sound as light. Similarly, Image Keeping Walls and Text Storage Books can convert images and texts into light, which can then be transmitted to the Mystical Machine."

Receiving Mystical Machines, in turn, retransmit it to other smaller Jade Pendants or other treasures.

"However, such tools are quite expensive as they require flawless jade stones internally. Right now, only high-ranking officials and nobles can afford them. The Heavenly Craft Department is researching ways to lower the cost. Maybe one day, everyone will have one, haha."

The group wandered for two months, traveling through various Heroic Cities, during which they discovered promising young talents.

Recruitment, in mundane terms, was referred to as enlightenment.

It wasn't done by waving a giant banner that read "Heavenly Court Recruitment" like a martial arts academy; that would be too inelegant.

Usually, local deities and City Gods would report their recommendations, after which cultivators would secretly conduct assessments.

Or, they would "enlighten" people they randomly encountered on the road, testing them to see if they were qualified, and if so, taking them up the mountain.

And so, the annual recruitment ended uneventfully once again.

Yangming Star.

A Taoist sat cross-legged in midair, surrounded by disciples, all listening intently.

The Taoist's eyes carried a purple hue, and the Primordial Energy radiating from him seemed to form white feathered wings.

With green eyes and square pupils, garbed in feathers and down,

He embodied the image of the immortal.

"The Cultivation Path lies in the mastery of energy; the immortal thrives on consuming qi to achieve eternal life…"

Guu Yuchan expounded on the Cultivation Path to the people of the stars.

The inhabitants of this star displayed an extraordinary talent for the Cultivation Path, and thus Song Lin, with a sweeping gesture, incorporated their star into the Eight Sceneries World.

The lecture lasted three days and nights before dispersing.

"Dismissed!"

"Thank you, Purple Cloud Supreme God!"

This was the title of Guu Yuchan in this realm.

In the sky loomed a palace; Guu Yuchan returned to it for rest, where a pitch-black withered tree was planted in the rear garden.

At this moment, the withered tree sprouted green buds.

Guu Yuchan sensed something and instantly flashed to its side.

"Excellent, the branch of the Mother Tree of All Things has indeed taken root." Guu Yuchan's gaze turned profound as he looked into the void.

The void fractured, and a group of figures emerged from beyond.

"Greetings, Patriarch!"

...

In the Palace of the Polestar, the dharma images of countless immortals stood solemn, their ethereal radiance dazzling.

At the rear center throne sat a miniature sun.

At that moment, the sun condensed into a human form.

Song Lin's avatar opened its eyes.

"Ninety percent complete."

He thought silently.

In this seclusion, sixty years had passed once again.

The green flame in the sky had also burned for a Jiazi.

Much had occurred during this time. Emperor Wu Yi of Xia Country abdicated and was consecrated as Hua Gai Star Lord.

Indeed, in sixty years, the Heavenly Court had refined a significant number of stars, with more stars steadily appearing.

Some stars were claimed by the Heavenly Court's upper echelons as places of cultivation.

Yan Jiuge achieved a breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit, sensed the stern Gold Dao, and was proclaimed Star Lord Taibai (Venus).

Zhengxin achieved a breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit, comprehended the Great Dao of Calamity and Auspice, and was proclaimed Yinghuo Star Lord (Mars).

Taihua became the True Monarch of Chen (Water) Star, Mei Hua ascended as the Star Lord of Jupiter, Lingying was enfeoffed as Zhen Star (Saturn) Star Lord.

The Deity of the Moon was Qingyu, who would soon achieve a breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit herself.

The Deity of the Sun was Wu Chen, the only one in a Jiazi to break through Harmonization and grasp the Innate Dao.

All of the above reached the Primordial Spirit level or higher. Besides them, many True Monarchs from the various departments, including Gu, Wang, Lu, and Shi, also made breakthroughs to the Primordial Spirit. With the expanding territories, the Mountain Gods and Earth Spirits also experienced their own breakthroughs.

The size of the Ghost Gate expanded twofold, and its guards tripled in number.

Apart from this, the Heavenly Court smoothly entered a new phase.

However, the grand celebration had yet to be held, though Song Lin had already distributed rewards in advance.

"The Ghost Gate cannot be eradicated; holding the grand celebration now would feel incomplete."

Song Lin made up his mind. He would wait until Harmonization Perfection was complete before mounting a decisive assault. As for the Heavenly Water Dao, that would have to be dealt with in the future.

"Divine Lord." At that moment, the dharma image of Shi Yinhua opened its eyes. "I've discovered a clue in the celestial myths of Guangyuan Star. The Beidou Star Domain might hold what we are searching for."

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