Almighty Sealer

Almighty Sealer . . .

In the heart of the Royal Sacred City, an ancient palace of staggering proportions stood in solemn vigil. Its origins were shrouded in the mists of time, a relic that had withstood the vicissitudes of the Royal Sacred Sect's history. In fact, this enigmatic edifice predated the very name of the Royal Sacred Region itself, having stood sentinel before the world bore that august title. It was here, in the wake of the first-generation Sacred Emperor's dominion, that the world's nomenclature had shifted to the Royal Sacred Region. Countless powers had risen and fallen, transforming or vanishing, but this sprawling palace endured. Even the inaugural Sacred Emperor had not dared to obliterate it.

This venerable structure was none other than the central command of the Star River Association. Today, emissaries from the Grand Xia branches arrived, bearing grave tidings.

The branches of the Star River Association in Grand Xia lay in ruins. Qin Wentian, the sovereign of Grand Xia, had unilaterally decreed the prohibition of Star River Association branches within the nation's borders.

The Star River Association's members in the headquarters, upon hearing this news, were engulfed by an anger more intense than anything they had ever experienced—even more so than the Royal Sacred Sect itself.

The Star River Association, existing for untold ages, had spread its tendrils throughout the world, its operations shrouded in darkness. It boasted the most extensive information network in the Royal Sacred Region, capable of uncovering the deepest secrets. No detail could escape its omniscient gaze. Whether one's talent ranked among the celestial elite, the extent of their lineage, or the strength of their background, none could elude the meticulous scrutiny of the Star River Association. The association had even repeatedly updated its intelligence dossier on Qin Wentian, the name that had shaken the Royal Sacred Region. His information was preserved in a transparent scroll, blending seamlessly among the records of the association's highest echelon.

The characters featured in this special document were illustrious figures indeed, including the Sacred Emperor, the vice sect leaders of the Royal Sacred Sect, and the heads of the nine great sects. Now, Qin Wentian had ascended to the same pantheon, an indelible testament to the importance attached to him by the Star River Association.

Within the headquarters, one man was engrossed in studying this comprehensive dossier on Qin Wentian.

The report chronicled Qin Wentian's journey, from his early days in Sky Harmony City to his clashes with Murin, culminating in the Darkshadow Sovereign's failed assassination attempt. It elucidated the roots of Qin Wentian's animosity toward the association and his subsequent decree banning its presence in Grand Xia.

Notably, the document provided exhaustive insights into Qin Wentian's martial prowess. It described his ability to invoke the Demonic Divinity Sacrificial Transformation Art, morphing into a primordial great roc. It detailed his proficiency in executing the Immortal Vanquishing Swordplay—a formidable martial technique.

However, a veil of mystery cloaked Qin Wentian's origins. He hailed from the Qin Residence in Chu, under the guardianship of Qin Chuan—a background deemed unremarkable. But his second foster father, Ye Qingyun, was the ancient Ye's Human Emperor, a fact that raised eyebrows. His wife, Mo Qingcheng, was the personal disciple of the Medicine Sovereign. Yet, Qin Wentian's own birth remained shrouded in obscurity.

Attachments to the dossier added intrigue. They recounted mysterious figures who had appeared at Qin Wentian's grand wedding, veiled by masks. These enigmatic guests had introduced an element of uncertainty regarding their strength. Furthermore, the document noted a shadowy rescue in the Moon Continent, where Qin Wentian had brandished the demon sword to sunder the Pill Emperor Hall. These veiled protectors had thwarted certain doom, their identities a mystery.

Lastly, the dossier left unanswered the question of who had imparted the immortal-ranked sword art to Qin Wentian.

All these factors hinted at a potentially extraordinary background for Qin Wentian. Even with the Star River Association's vast reach, they remained unable to penetrate the shroud of mystery enveloping him. They could only speculate, suspecting that he might descend from a powerful lineage, even as an orphan. Yet, regardless of his lineage, could it truly surpass the influence of the Star River Association?

As the Star River Lord of the Royal Sacred Region headquarters, he understood the scope of their power intimately. He was keenly aware that challenging the Star River Association was no trifling matter, even for an orphan of formidable ancestry.

In the realm of the Royal Sacred Region, where authority carried weight and missions were sacred duties, Di Tian, the Star River Lord, found himself at a crossroads. His role mandated him to transmit vital resources and nurture a cadre of divine inscriptionists, sent back to their world every hundred years. This duty, unquestionably essential, tethered him to the Royal Sacred Region. Yet, the looming presence of an invincible adversary threatened to undermine his work. The enigmatic Star River Association, despite its remarkable heritage, remained an enigma in the world, opting for obscurity rather than power struggles. They silently executed their missions, the directives of the unseen higher powers.

In this pivotal moment, Di Tian grasped a pen with determination, etching the ink onto parchment before sealing it with the authority of his position. With a commanding tone, he ordered, "Send this to Qin Wentian."

"Roger that," his loyal subordinates replied, the echoes of their footsteps fading into the distance as they left to fulfill his request.

...

Within the hallowed halls of the Royal Sacred Region's immortal palace, Di Tian stood, his gaze unwavering upon the red-haired elder before him. The elder, now panting for breath, fixed his gaze on Di Tian. After an intense moment, he burst into laughter, his joviality filling the chamber. "Impressive, impressive! Who would have thought that you could dispatch all of us so swiftly, especially after such a short period of training? Forge ahead, young one, and discover what trials await you."

Di Tian's expression bore an air of determination. While Qin Wentian had experienced a breakthrough, Di Tian had yet to condense his constellation, his cultivation still at the peak of Heavenly Dipper. However, he had his own mastery, his proficiency in melding true intents, fortified by his Illusory Demonforce, the strength of the Fiend Transformation Art, the might of his bloodline, the protective abilities granted by his lineage, and the power of the Heavenly Fiendgod Suppression Art. These factors combined had enabled him to conquer the immortals whose powers had been sealed.

"I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for guiding me during this period. If I successfully obtain the inheritance of this immortal palace, I shall ensure your freedom," Di Tian declared with a deep bow, his respect palpable.

"Forge ahead," the red-haired elder gestured with a dismissive wave. Di Tian nodded and, in an instant, his form blurred as he surged onward. Everywhere he ventured, sealed immortals observed with warm smiles, their hopes riding on his success.

"Well done, young one. You'll undoubtedly surpass the old-timer from years gone by," a robust figure grinned. Even the maiden in the lake regained a glimmer of vitality in her eyes. Di Tian had emerged victorious against the challenges set before him, yet what lay ahead remained a mystery to all.

Di Tian moved like lightning, covering vast distances until a slanted mountain came into view. At its summit, two figures awaited. One was seated, while the other stood tall. Behind them stood a simple-looking hut.

The seated figure, an old man, acknowledged Di Tian with a friendly smile as his robes fluttered in the wind.

The standing figure, a young man draped in cold, black attire, exuded an aura of icy detachment. His piercing gaze bore into Di Tian, seemingly capable of peering into his very soul.

"What a cold demeanor," Di Tian mused, his eyes fixed on the young man. The chill emanating from him was unlike anything Di Tian had ever encountered, an aura that discouraged anyone from approaching.

"Come closer," the old man beckoned with a smile.

Di Tian ascended the slanted mountain, each step taking him closer to the old man and the enigmatic young figure.

"To defeat those sealed immortals at the peak of Heavenly Dipper is a testament to your exceptional potential. Yet, had they not chosen to go easy on you initially, your survival would have been improbable," the old man observed, his eyes narrowing as they bore into Di Tian.

Di Tian nodded, fully aware of this fact. His entry into this realm, contrary to defeating the buried immortals outside, had been facilitated by a key granted to him by the founder of Grand Xia. At that time, his strength paled in comparison to his current prowess, rendering those immortals capable of ending him with a mere gesture.

"Nevertheless, your rapid growth within this short span is a rarity. Henceforth, you may begin comprehending this unique art. If you can master it entirely within a year, I will deem you worthy of passing this ultimate trial. In that event, you shall become the master of this immortal palace, inheriting powers beyond your wildest imagination," the old man declared, his voice laced with solemnity. With a wave of his hand, the frosty young man vanished, replaced by an expansive, unfurling scroll depicting myriad images that conveyed the truths of the Great Dao.

Di Tian's gaze swept over the intricate scroll. Inexplicably, he detected an overwhelming surge of sealing energy emanating from it. A brilliant flash followed as the sealing energy surged towards him.

"Bzz!"

Di Tian recoiled explosively, his eyes snapping shut as he gasped for breath. When he finally reopened his eyes, a sense of trepidation had taken root within him, deterring him from gazing upon the scroll again.

In the wake of that penetrating gaze, it was as if Di Tian had glimpsed the very essence of sealing power—an omnipotent force capable of imprisoning the boundless cosmos itself.

"Not bad," the voice of the venerable old man wafted through the ether like a gentle breeze. "I would advise you to achieve a breakthrough before delving deeper into this understanding. With your current strength, the ensuing backlash might prove too much to bear. Keep in mind, you've got a mere year to grasp this. Should you falter in comprehension beyond that timeframe, I shall erase the memories of your sojourn within this immortal palace."

Di Tian's frame quivered slightly, and then, his eyes ignited with a brilliant fervor.

Meanwhile, in the realm of the outside world, deep within the ancient kingdom of Grand Xia, Qin Wentian was immersed in meditation. He opened his eyes, and they gleamed with newfound resolve as he gazed upon the star-studded heavens.

"The Almighty Sealer... it was he who interred the immortals and consigned their power to the abyss of sealing. When a Sealer's might reaches its zenith, there is naught they cannot confine." Qin Wentian whispered, an inkling of the master's colossal power dawning upon him. The inheritor of this immortal palace held the key to unraveling the restraining wards placed upon the myriad immortals and receiving a legacy of sealing mastery beyond imagination.

"Di Tian's fifth astral soul undoubtedly bears the mark of a Sealer. But what destiny awaits my own?" With renewed determination, Qin Wentian fixed his gaze upon the starry expanse, his eyes narrowing as he closed them. His perception surged upward, reaching out to the celestial rivers coursing through the heavenly strata.

His formidable perception surged ever higher, shattering celestial boundaries, and in an instant, he transcended the Fifth Heavenly Layer. Yet, Qin Wentian harbored no intent to halt his ascent, pushing onward, breaching the Sixth Layer. With each step upward, the oppressive backlash intensified, and the projection of his consciousness began to waver, teetering on the precipice of dissolution.

"If I can transcend this crushing pressure and pierce into the next stratum, I shall arrive at the Seventh Heavenly Layer—a true qualitative leap." With unwavering determination, Qin Wentian steeled his heart, allowing his perception to surge ever upward in a frenzy. Despite the crushing weight of the celestial mountain, his perception refused to be extinguished. Finally, he overcame the barrier of the Sixth Heavenly Layer, venturing into the hallowed Seventh.

Here, a breathtaking spectacle unfolded before him—a realm markedly distinct from the preceding six heavenly layers.