In the era when the Mortal Emperor bore the Heaven's Will, the Celestial Sage was just born.
From a young age, he had an extraordinary physique and remarkable talent.
At that time, the Mortal Emperor had not yet ascended, and he had personally guided the Celestial Sage several times.
Because of that, the current Heaven Ascension Holy Mountain maintained a good relationship with the Immortal Mortal Sacred Ground.
As the Celestial Sage grew more powerful, he led the Holy Mountain to greater and greater heights.
Eventually, the sect was renamed Heaven Ascension Holy Mountain and gained enough strength to rival the ordinary imperial lineages.
A massive mountain stood towering between heaven and earth.
It was forged from more than a dozen mountains joined together.
Someone once shifted mountains and stars, using supreme divine power to fuse multiple great peaks into one.
This act is likely the proudest achievement of those from the Heaven Ascension Holy Mountain, because this mountain was assembled by the Mortal Emperor himself before he ascended.
The mountain was shrouded in immortal mist. Standing at its base, one could not see its peak.
Its grandeur and magnificence were only a fragment of its full splendor.
Xu Zimo muttered softly to himself: "Who holds up the northwest sky? This mountain stands as the pillar. Once, I looked down from its peak, the vast energies linked to the lands of the Immortals."
Then, with spiritforce surging around him, he leapt into the air and soared toward the mountaintop.
The higher he flew, the more imposing the mountain felt.
Perhaps in all of the Holyflower Region, there were only a few peaks that could rival this one.
When Xu Zimo finally reached the summit white clouds curled around him, the scenery was tranquil and pleasant.
A gentle breeze carried the scent of incense, brushing past the immortal trees atop the peak.
On a smooth boulder at the summit sat two elderly men with white beards and an air of immortal dignity.
The wind stirred their robes, and then even the breeze and the very air seemed to freeze, as though time itself had stopped.
As Xu Zimo approached, the two men opened their eyes in unison.
A faint divine pressure emanated from their bodies.
"So, you were expecting me," Xu Zimo said calmly.
“We’ve awaited your presence for quite some time,” said the elder in white as he rose.
“Oh?” Xu Zimo asked lightly.
“I am the Celestial Sage, the founder of this Holy Mountain,” said the elder on the left.
“And this is Elder Mortal Cloud of the Immortal Mortal Sacred Ground.”
Xu Zimo glanced at the old man on the right. He hadn’t expected the Immortal Mortal Sacred Ground to be so invested in the Heaven Ascension Holy Mountain.
Even though the Immortal Mortal Sacred Ground only had one Grand Emperor, because the Mortal Emperor had ascended not long ago, the generals he left behind were still young.
They were still in their prime and full of untapped potential.
So no one truly knew how powerful the lineage was.
Even in the Holyflower Region, the famed Heaven-Severing Sacred Ground didn’t hold as much weight as the Immortal Mortal Sacred Ground.
“What now? Trying to pressure me? Or do you two really think you can keep me here?” Xu Zimo asked with composure.
“You misunderstand us, sir. I am merely here to mediate this situation,” Elder Mortal Cloud quickly replied.
“Mediation?” Xu Zimo smiled. “Let’s hear it.”
“We of the Holy Mountain have no intention of becoming your enemies,” said the Celestial Sage. “We are willing to apologize for what happened and hope to reconcile.”
“Reconciliation is possible. But I have two conditions,” Xu Zimo replied.
“Please speak. Your friends from the Martial Zenith Sacred Ground have already been released,” the Celestial Sage said.
Xu Zimo nodded. “First, the one who started all this, Yin Cai’er, must die.”
“That can be arranged,” the Celestial Sage nodded slightly, clearly prepared for that condition.
“Second,” Xu Zimo paused before continuing, “I want your Heaven-Derivation Astrolabe.”
“That’s impossible,” the Sage’s expression shifted the moment the words left Xu Zimo’s mouth, and he immediately refused.
“Sir, aren’t you pushing us too far?”
“You need to understand something,” Xu Zimo replied coldly. “I’m not negotiating with you. I’m giving you an order. Even if you refuse, I’ll just wipe out your sect and take it myself. Or, you can hand it over willingly and spare yourself. The only difference is how much trouble I want to go through.”
“You’re that confident?” the Sage narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flashing within them.
“The last sect to ask me that,” Xu Zimo said calmly, “was the Yin-Yang Sect. The grass on their graves is already a meter tall.”
“You…” The Sage’s face darkened as he took a deep breath.
“Let’s not argue,” Elder Mortal Cloud stepped in to defuse the situation. He looked at Xu Zimo and said, “It’s not that we’re unwilling. But the Heaven-Derivation Astrolabe is too important to my old friend. Perhaps you’d consider another condition?”
“Do you have the right to bargain?” Xu Zimo responded coldly.
“Are you speaking for yourself, or for the Immortal Mortal Sacred Ground?”
“I only speak for myself,” Elder Mortal Cloud quickly replied.
He turned and exchanged glances with the Sage. The two began communicating through spiritual voice transmission. Xu Zimo didn’t interfere.
After a while, the Celestial Sage stepped forward and said, “Sir, I can accept your conditions. But I have one small request, if you would consider it?”
“Let’s hear it,” Xu Zimo nodded slightly.
“Our Heaven Ascension Holy Mountain happens to have a vacant guest elder position. Would you be interested?” the Sage asked tentatively.
“Trying to recruit me, huh? Interesting,” Xu Zimo laughed.
“But let me be clear with you up front.
Back in Heaven-Severing City, I killed the Sacred Buddha and seriously wounded the Ghost Demon Prince and Luo He. So, I’ve pretty much made enemies of the three major imperial lineages backing them. If you want me as a guest elder, you’d better be sure.”
“Well…” the Sage hesitated at Xu Zimo’s words.
“Brother, think carefully. No one walks the path to becoming a Grand Emperor without risks,” Elder Mortal Cloud advised.
“Your Holy Mountain is clearly not fated for the Heaven's Will in this generation. If you don’t seize opportunities , your sect will be left behind.”
“But if those three major sects come after us, we can’t bear the consequences,” the Sage said, clearly torn.
“Brother, you’ve grown too cautious,” Mortal Cloud replied. “Remember when you came alone to our Immortal Mortal Sacred Ground to seek teachings from our Mortal Emperor? Where’s that boldness now? Now everything you do is hesitant and fearful.”
The Celestial Sage froze at Mortal Cloud’s words.
Then he chuckled at himself and said, “I’ve entered the game now. I can’t be as carefree as I once was.”
“In the end, ten thousand years from now, we’ll both be nothing but dust beneath our feet. Why not use what little time we have to do something great? Take a gamble, you might just find a new path,” Mortal Cloud said with a smile.
The Celestial Sage fell into deep thought, then finally nodded.
He looked at Xu Zimo and asked, “Sir, would you be willing? Our Heaven Ascension Holy Mountain is ready to take the gamble.”