Sweeping across the heavens, starting with the first emperor of the ancient times.

Jiang Hao nodded slightly, an approving look on his face: "Not bad, untainted by bloodshed, very good."

He could certainly tell that the primordial spirit of a supreme being who had instigated the Dark Turmoil would be entangled with indelible resentment and bloodlust from all living beings, unlike the normal one.

"How should I address you?"

The radiance around the middle-aged Supreme Being completely subsided, revealing a clear face. He cupped his hands and said, "My name is Shangyang. In the ancient times when I attained enlightenment, I was known as Emperor Shangyang."

"Emperor Shangyang..." Jiang Hao uttered the name once, and related memories naturally surfaced in his mind.

In the mid-primordial era, an ancient race emperor reigned during a time of peace among all races, and his imperial weapon, the Shangyang Wheel, once illuminated the starry sky.

It is said that he died in his later years due to a Taoist injury, but it seems that the rumor was wrong and he had entered a forbidden area.

Many supreme beings in forbidden zones are like this; their recorded fall is actually due to entering forbidden zones.

Rumors are just rumors and may not be true.

Emperor Shangyang cautiously inquired, "May I ask, Heavenly Emperor, what do I need to pay to enter the passage between the two realms?"

Jiang Hao stopped tapping, as if he was thinking, and then said, "Since you have not done any evil, let's keep the conditions simple. Just two: First, leave behind the complete imperial scripture you created."

Secondly, one can contribute treasures, such as immortal gold and divine materials, or elixirs of immortality. Meeting either of these conditions will secure one spot.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Shangyang breathed a sigh of relief.

These conditions don't sound too demanding.

The Imperial Scripture is indeed precious, but if one goes to a world more suitable for longevity, it is nothing. Moreover, leaving the Imperial Scripture behind can be considered as continuing the lineage.

Compared to waiting for the unattainable path to immortality to open and the risk of being purged at any time, this price is completely acceptable.

But then, a touch of sadness welled up in his heart, because most of his divine gold and materials had been taken away by alms when the Heavenly Court was established last time, and now only a little remained.

He didn't have an elixir of immortality either.

Emperor Shangyang subconsciously began to calculate.

Jiang Hao took in all the changes in his expression, but didn't urge him; he simply waited quietly.

No immortal elixir? No problem.

Jiang Hao knew the other party would find a way.

You can go find it, you can borrow it, you can exchange it.

Actually, Jiang Hao could have destroyed the restricted area and taken the items there.

But there's no need for that. Emperor Jiang has always won people over with virtue and prefers to have people willingly give things to him. He doesn't bully others by abusing his power.

As expected, Emperor Shangyang remained silent for a moment, a resolute glint in his eyes, and then looked up and said:

"The Heavenly Emperor's conditions are fair. I can present my 'Shangyang Ancient Scripture' immediately. However, regarding that treasure... could you allow me some time to prepare it? I will certainly not disappoint the Heavenly Emperor when the time comes."

Several names had already flashed through Emperor Shangyang's mind.

"Those old guys next door seem to have some good stuff hidden away. For the sake of my path to immortality, I'll have to ask them to make do for a bit."

Jiang Hao readily agreed: "You can leave the scriptures here first. I'll give you time to prepare the treasures. You can come back whenever you have them ready."

"Yes, thank you, Heavenly Emperor!" Emperor Shangyang's face lit up with joy, and he immediately stopped hesitating.

A crimson-gold rune flew out from between his brows, containing profound scriptures and insights into the Great Dao, representing the complete inheritance of the "Shangyang Ancient Scripture".

He respectfully presented the rune.

Jiang Hao accepted the rune and waved his hand, "Go."

The projection of Emperor Shangyang bowed again and then disappeared into the hall.

Jiang Hao played with the crimson gold rune before returning to the back garden.

Lingbao Tianzun placed a white piece and sighed, "These conditions are very good, not too difficult, not too easy either. In this way, those with clean hands will probably rush to apply."

Yuanshi Tianzun stroked his beard and laughed: "Not only that, Fellow Daoist Jiang's conditions seem simple, but in fact they contain hidden tricks. Immortal gold and the elixir of immortality are not easy to obtain, especially for a Supreme Being who has been lying dormant for a long time and has consumed a great deal of energy."

"If they want to achieve their goal, they will inevitably have to stir up some trouble within the forbidden zone. Fellow Daoist Jiang Hao, you have gained practical benefits, made them suspicious of each other, and shown those with ulterior motives a clear path. You have achieved several goals at once. Brilliant!"

The Primordial Celestial Venerable sighed in admiration. This Fellow Daoist Jiang was incredibly quick-witted, able to come up with all sorts of solutions. If he were in this situation, he certainly wouldn't have been able to devise such a method in his entire life.

Jiang Hao sat down, picked up his still-warm teacup, took a sip, and smiled:

"You two are too kind. It was just a matter of guiding the situation and giving them hope. We can't let them sit idle."

Jiang Hao, however, felt that what he did was nothing special.

Compared to those online talents who had mastered all sorts of ingenious schemes in his previous life, he could only be considered simple and unpretentious.

A month later, Emperor Shangyang came again, and he brought something good that surprised Jiang Hao.

Because he brought with him an elixir of immortality, the Peaches of Immortality.

Upon arriving, Emperor Shangyang solemnly took out an object—a strange plant, no more than three feet tall, yet shrouded in a misty, auspicious aura.

The plant resembles a peach tree, with gnarled branches like a dragon and lush green leaves that exude a rich life force.

The most amazing thing is that at its top, there are three fist-sized, pink and white fruits.

The fruit peel is crystal clear, with subtle veins, and its fragrance instantly fills the entire hall; a single breath is enough to refresh the mind and body.

This is the anomaly among the elixirs of immortality: the Peaches of Immortality!

Jiang Hao was both surprised and happy; this was a good thing.

The peach tree is a special one among the many elixirs of immortality, and its whereabouts are elusive.

The fact that Emperor Shangyang was able to acquire such a valuable item suggests that these old guys in the forbidden zones do indeed possess some good things.

Jiang Hao was once again convinced of the correctness and potential of the waste utilization policy, and that it must continue to be exploited.

"Heavenly Emperor, this is the Immortal Peach." Emperor Shangyang pushed the divine medicine, along with the piece of Chaos Soil from which it was rooted, toward Jiang Hao.

"It meets your requirement for the elixir of immortality. I have already presented the scriptures last time. I wonder if this time, the agreement can be considered fulfilled?"

Jiang Hao reached out and took it. The peach tree seemed to be sentient, its branches and leaves trembling slightly, emanating a hazy feeling of both dependence and unease.

But enveloped by Jiang Hao's peaceful yet supreme aura, they quickly calmed down.

"Natural arithmetic".

Jiang Hao would never lie.

Upon receiving Jiang Hao's reply, Emperor Shangyang was finally relieved and overjoyed, for he was finally about to become an immortal.

He gave everything to obtain this elixir of immortality, even swindling several old men.

He doesn't dare go back to the restricted area now, but thankfully it was all worth it.

"It was worth it to become an immortal. I will remember you all!"

Jiang Hao temporarily placed the peach tree beside him and looked at Emperor Shangyang.

"The opening of this passage involves the barrier between the two realms and cannot be opened frequently. Maintaining this passage consumes a great deal of energy. The next time it can be opened will be a hundred years later."

Jiang Hao knew that Shangyang Emperor would definitely be there, and there would be others as well, so he would have to wait a while before sending them off together.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Shangyang's expression remained unchanged, but his mind raced with thoughts.

A century of buffer? Although it's a long time, it's worth it compared to the hopeless torment in the forbidden zone. He also needs time to further adjust his condition in order to face the unknown Little Immortal Realm.

Emperor Shangyang cupped his hands and said, "I understand. Thank you for your trouble, Heavenly Emperor. I will definitely come on time a hundred years from now. I will wait patiently for the next hundred years."

"Good." Jiang Hao nodded.

Emperor Shangyang said no more. After bowing, his figure slowly disappeared, and he began to make final preparations for his ascension a hundred years later.