Profound Mystery Grotto-Heaven boasted over twenty to thirty Elders, among whom the most senior, renowned, and influential were undoubtedly the Nine Immortals of Profound Mystery.
After the Desolate Ancient Era ended, the Three Thousand Great Daos either fell into slumber or vanished entirely. The Great Dao Elders of the various major powers from the Thirty-Six Grotto Heavens and Seventy-Two Blessed Lands also disappeared along with the era's conclusion.
The Nine Immortals of Profound Mystery could be considered the first batch of Immortal Dao experts to shake the Myriad Heavens and Worlds of the Great Desolation after the Desolate Ancient Era and at the dawn of the Primordial Era. In a sense, the later ascension of Profound Mystery Grotto-Heaven to replace Shangqing Grotto-Heaven as the leader of the Thirty-Six Grotto Heavens, and even the Immortal Dao's rise to become the foremost among the Three Thousand Great Daos, were all achievements of the Nine Immortals of Profound Mystery.
Surveying the Great Desolation, in terms of seniority after the Desolate Ancient Era, it's likely no one could compare to the Nine Immortals of Profound Mystery.
When they rose to fame, not only had Miao Rulai not yet been born, but even Demon Emperor Blood River and the Great Sun Radiant Emperor had not come into existence. Even Old Master Black Mountain and Ghost Emperor Green Lantern would have to respectfully address them as 'Senior'.
In the early Primordial Era, the Nine Immortals of Profound Mystery could be said to have dominated the Myriad Heavens and Worlds, unmatched by any.
Later, as Profound Mystery Grotto-Heaven reached its zenith, the Nine Immortals of Profound Mystery began to seclude themselves in closed-door cultivation and never emerged again.
Consider this.
The Nine Immortals of Profound Mystery had already dominated the Myriad Heavens and Worlds in the Primordial Era, and then cultivated in seclusion within the Immortal Dao Source for countless eons. It was truly unimaginable how profound their cultivation must be today.
However.
The Great Dao experts of Profound Mystery Grotto-Heaven were not limited to just the Nine Immortals of Profound Mystery.
Legend had it.
Profound Mystery Grotto-Heaven also had Great Dao experts from the Desolate Ancient Era standing guard.
That's right.
From the Desolate Ancient Era.
Although most of Profound Mystery Grotto-Heaven's Great Dao experts disappeared when the Desolate Ancient Era ended, it was only most of them, not all.
It was said that a few did not vanish with the era's conclusion.
There was the Tai Xuan Immortal Elder, and also the Tai Miao Immortal Elder.
They were both Immortal Dao seniors who had cultivated for countless eons, and moreover, they were Immortal Dao seniors who had survived from the Desolate Ancient Era. The cultivation and strength of each were unfathomably deep; even in the Desolate Ancient Era, they were renowned Immortal Dao experts.
It was said that the Nine Immortals of Profound Mystery, who dominated the Primordial Era, were personally nurtured by them. Furthermore, legend held that it was they who had always guarded the Immortal Dao Source.
Was that all?
No.
Besides the Tai Xuan Immortal Elder and the Tai Miao Immortal Elder, it was also rumored that a Xuan Tian Immortal Elder had survived.
In the Desolate Ancient Era, whether it was the Tai Xuan Immortal Elder, the Tai Miao Immortal Elder, or the Xuan Tian Immortal Elder, each was a renowned Great Dao expert. Especially the Xuan Tian Immortal Elder—these four characters themselves represented a type of Great Dao Elder in that ancient time.
Exactly how the Tai Xuan Immortal Elder, Tai Miao Immortal Elder, and Xuan Tian Immortal Elder of Profound Mystery Grotto-Heaven survived the end of the Desolate Ancient Era was unknown to anyone and remained a mystery to this day.
As was well known.
After the Nine Immortals of Profound Mystery entered seclusion, the Great Sun Radiant Emperor began his rise. By the end of the Primordial Era, after ascending to become the Immortal Dao Emperor, he was the undisputed overlord of the Immortal Dao.
After the Primordial Era, eight or nine out of ten rising experts of the Immortal Dao pledged allegiance under him. Examples included the Five Peaks Emperors, the Eight Directions Thrones, the Big Dipper Seven Stars, and most of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Champions.
Everyone knew the Great Sun Radiant Emperor had long coveted the position of Immortal Dao Lord.
Moreover, everyone knew the Great Sun Radiant Emperor had the qualifications and the capability to claim the title of Immortal Dao Lord. At the very least, since the Desolate Ancient Era, no so-called heaven-defying genius of the Immortal Dao could be mentioned in the same breath as the Great Sun Radiant Emperor. Whether in terms of innate talent and fortune, cultivation and strength, prestige or influence, surveying the entire Immortal Dao, the Great Sun Radiant Emperor was undoubtedly the greatest, with no one able to match him.
Yet, just, the Nine Immortals of Profound Mystery refused to acknowledge him, leaving the Great Sun Radiant Emperor helpless.
After all, the Nine Immortals of Profound Mystery guarded the Immortal Dao Source. As long as they did not give their nod for a single day, the Great Sun Radiant Emperor could never claim the title of Immortal Dao Lord.
Regarding this.
Although the Great Sun Radiant Emperor was unwilling, he could only remain unwilling.
Even though Profound Mystery Grotto-Heaven lacked worthy successors, the Nine Immortals of Profound Mystery who guarded the Immortal Dao Source forced the Great Sun Radiant Emperor to be wary of them.
Furthermore, besides the Nine Immortals of Profound Mystery, Profound Mystery Grotto-Heaven also had the Tai Xuan Immortal Elder, the Tai Miao Immortal Elder, and the one the Great Sun Radiant Emperor feared most—the Xuan Tian Immortal Elder.
If Profound Mystery Grotto-Heaven did not have these old fogies standing guard, the Great Sun Radiant Emperor would have likely long since razed Profound Mystery Grotto-Heaven and seized the Immortal Dao Source.
What the Great Dao experts hiding within the Desolate Ancient ruins could not understand was this: even the Great Sun Radiant Emperor was wary of the old seniors of Profound Mystery Grotto-Heaven, so why did Demon Emperor Blood River dare to publicly refine Warrior Emperor Wuzang's Divine Sense, challenge Profound Mystery Grotto-Heaven, and even attempt to force out its old seniors?
The Great Sun Radiant Emperor and Demon Emperor Blood River were one the overlord of the Immortal Dao, the other the overlord of the Demonic Dao.
Even if there was a gap in their cultivation and strength, it wouldn't be too large; they should be roughly on par.
What puzzled them most was this: if the many Great Dao experts of Profound Mystery Grotto-Heaven were truly secretly guarding Warrior Emperor Wuzang, why hadn't they shown themselves even now, when his Divine Sense was on the verge of being completely refined?
Was it that they simply didn't care about this External Incarnation of Warrior Emperor Wuzang, or were they afraid of Demon Emperor Blood River?
This was merely one of Demon Emperor Blood River's External Incarnations.
The Nine Immortals of Profound Mystery had cultivated within the Immortal Dao Source for countless eons. Any one of them descending should be able to deal with Demon Emperor Blood River. Even if their true bodies, guarding the Immortal Dao Source, could not appear, manifesting an incarnation to deal with Demon Emperor Blood River shouldn't be difficult, right?
And what about the so-called Tai Xuan Immortal Elder, Tai Miao Immortal Elder, and even the Xuan Tian Immortal Elder? If they weren't showing themselves now, when did they plan to appear?
If they didn't appear, Profound Mystery Grotto-Heaven still had twenty to thirty Elders. They might not compare to the Nine Immortals of Profound Mystery, but having cultivated within the Immortal Dao Source for so many years, their cultivation and strength were absolutely profound and unfathomable.
Why, exactly?
No one knew.
The void was still enveloped by the boundless darkness.
This darkness was calm, serene, and silent—so silent it made one dare not speak, dare not move, for fear of shattering this darkness, breaking this deathly stillness.
Demon Emperor Blood River still stood in the void.
His long hair danced wildly, his sleeves fluttered.
The ruthless him, at some unknown time, had closed his eyes, as if waiting for something.
He stood.
His straight figure was like a dark sword piercing heaven and earth, his majestic figure like a solitary peak supporting the sky.
Amidst this boundless darkness, he was like the master of darkness, the Lord of the Night.
"Heh heh!"
Laughter rang out.
It was none other than Miao Rulai.
Seated cross-legged on the palm of the Sacred Great Buddha, turning his prayer beads, a mysterious and eerie smile remained on the corner of his mouth, he said, "I must say, those old fellows from Profound Mystery Grotto-Heaven really know how to keep their composure. This seat originally thought they would intervene to stop you when you began refining the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor. Never did I expect that even now, with Warrior Emperor Wuzang's Divine Sense almost completely refined, they still haven't shown themselves."
"No wonder people often say the older you live, the smaller your courage becomes. Those old fellows from Profound Mystery Grotto-Heaven have lived for so many years; by now, they've probably long since become turtles retracting into their shells."