After ensuring the world was developing peacefully, Xu Zimo returned to the real world.
He was preparing to comprehend the Heaven-Shattering God-Scripture he had learned earlier. It might come in handy when he reached the Outer Heavens.
This Heaven-Shattering God-Scripture had several levels. The first step was learning how to use one’s own strength.
Even the smallest amount of power needed to be mastered with precision. This was what they called “micro-control.”
Once you could fully control your own power, the next step was learning to borrow strength from others.
Using force to counter force followed the same logic. Borrowing power was the second level of the Heaven-Shattering God-Scripture.
Once mastered, it could even allow one to harness the power of heaven and earth. This was incredibly profound.
This level alone was enough for many to spend their entire lives trying to understand.
As for the final level, it was the core and most powerful part of the Heaven-Shattering God-Scripture.
All the power under heaven could be used by oneself.
Using oneself as the starting point, one could move the entire world. This involved a deep understanding of many great principles.
Especially to learn this technique, one had to form something called a "Power Vortex."
This Power Vortex could store the Dao of Strength. The more Power Vortexes one condensed, the stronger the force one could unleash.
Training in the Heaven-Shattering God-Scripture allowed for a certain number of vortexes to be formed, representing some small achievement on the Dao of Strength.
Of course, beyond that was the level of creating worlds, which wasn't something Xu Zimo needed to think about at this stage.
Xu Zimo didn’t rush into training. He first skimmed through the divine technique and then focused on comprehending the experience passed to him by the Heavenly Emperor.
The insights were very profound. Even by the next morning, with daylight already shining, Xu Zimo still hadn’t fully understood them.
After tidying up a little, the two of them had breakfast at the inn and headed for the teleportation formation in the city.
When they arrived at the teleportation formation, many people had already gathered.
The lines for formations going to other places were long, like dragons.
But the formation to Blueksy City only had a few people in line.
When Xu Zimo got there, he surprisingly found three people from Heavenly Dao Academy, Wu Yunshan and two others.
"Young Master Xu," Wu Yunshan greeted him first.
The other two looked Xu Zimo over and introduced themselves: "I am Wo Feiyan."
"I am Qing Yanzi."
After hearing their introductions, Xu Zimo nodded slightly and replied, "Xu Zimo of the True Martial Sacred Ground. This is my friend."
The God Emperor nodded slightly too. His identity wasn't suitable to be revealed, or it might cause a bigger stir.
Xu Zimo looked at the elegant woman named Qing Yanzi. Her noble appearance didn’t quite match her name.
"So, Young Master Xu is the current Holy Son of the True Martial Sacred Ground," Wo Feiyan said with a smile, suddenly realizing something.
"Are you also going to the Blueksy City Demon-Slaying Banquet?"
"Demon-Slaying Banquet?" Xu Zimo frowned slightly.
"You probably haven’t heard," Wu Yunshan chuckled at the side.
"It’s said that recently, the Lan Clan of Blueksy City captured a rare and powerful demon. They’ve invited people from all over the world to witness its execution. Almost all major powers in the Middle Continent have received the invitation."
"Paimon," Xu Zimo murmured.
He then smiled and said to the people from Heavenly Dao Academy, "The Lan Clan didn’t invite me. I’m just going along for the ride and to see some old friends."
"Then let’s go together," Wu Yunshan suggested.
Xu Zimo nodded and didn’t object.
The five of them soon entered the teleportation formation and traveled for about seven days.
During the journey, Wu Yunshan kept inviting Xu Zimo to study at Heavenly Dao Academy and gave him a token.
He said he could recommend Xu Zimo and get him in without any entrance tests.
Xu Zimo understood their intentions. Although Heavenly Dao Academy was the most famous and powerful academy on the continent, they still tried to improve their reputation and influence by recruiting young geniuses.
It was a kind of long-term investment. Once these geniuses grew up, the academy would be seen as their alma mater.
To be fair, the academy’s resources and teaching methods were top-notch.
It echoed the saying: "The world bustles for profit, and all go their separate ways for gain."
Xu Zimo didn’t directly refuse. He gave a vague answer since he was genuinely curious about the academy too.
…………
Seven days later, the five of them stepped out of the teleportation formation in Blueksy City.
The ruined buildings in the city had already been cleaned up, and it looked renewed.
As they walked out, they saw Lan Clan disciples stationed around the formation to receive guests.
"You must be instructors from Heavenly Dao Academy," one of the disciples recognized Wu Yunshan and the others from their outfits.
Wu Yunshan nodded slightly.
"Our patriarch sent us to welcome you. He’s been waiting for a while," the disciple said quickly.
"Thank you," Wu Yunshan replied, and the group followed the disciple toward the Lan Clan residence at the city center.
Xu Zimo looked north into the distance. Deep in the skies, he sensed a strong energy wave.
In the depths of the clouds, golden light and demonic energy seemed to intertwine, faintly visible.
As the group made their way to the Lan Estate, they passed many others along the way.
Wu Yunshan greeted some of them and introduced them to Xu Zimo.
Although the Lan Clan invited all the imperial and immortal sects of the Middle Continent, only a small number actually came.
"That’s an elder from the Myriad Immortals Sacred Ground of the Evercloud Region. That’s one from Sovereign Order Valley in the Ninelands Region."
Xu Zimo observed the various factions attending. Most of them were from the local Skyluan Region, with only a few from other regions.
When the group arrived at the Lan residence, the place was already bustling with people. Representatives from all sorts of powerful sects and top factions were everywhere.
The Lan Clan had prepared a banquet for everyone and scheduled the Demon-Slaying Banquet for the next day.
The seven ancestors of the Lan Clan didn’t show up. The host was the Patriarch, Lan Juntian.
The layout of the Lan residence wasn’t luxurious but was quiet and refined.
There were artificial mountains and streams, pavilions and towers.
The red main gate had an ancient charm. Fallen yellow petals were scattered across the white jade steps.
Vines and creepers climbed around various trees, even stretching over the walls, blending with the colored bricks and green tiles.
Xu Zimo estimated that several dozen people would participate in the tournament.
By looking at their clothes and styles, one could pretty much tell which sect or force they came from.
The Lan Clan had already set up the banquet and invited the guests to be seated.
When the time was right, Lan Juntian appeared in a red robe, walking with the grace of a dragon and the strength of a tiger.