Chapter 617

Chapter 617: Opposing the Immortals

As one reaches the late stage of the Traveling Realm, who hasn’t gained vast opportunities and exceptional skills, standing at the pinnacle of the same tier?

The three leaders before Li Hui would be formidable figures in the Nine-Mystic Continent, almost at the brink of entering the Void Riding stage, on par with the ancestors of the great families. The secrets they casually shared were enough for Li Hui to ponder for half a day.

Xu Ri Shangren began, "From my observation, long ago, the Demonic Essence World invaded. At that time, the Heavenly Realm was very powerful, with countless practitioners of its own and many formidable practitioners ascending from the lower realms. It should have been comparable to the Demonic Essence World. However, besides the Demonic Essence World, other vast worlds eyed it greedily. To resolve the troubles once and for all, the practitioners of that time must have made extremely dangerous attempts to summon the Chaotic Mirage to ensnare the Heavenly Realm and the lower realms. During that process, something surely went wrong, leading to an irreversible predicament."

"Where did the Chaotic Mirage come from? After all these years, haven’t any Void Riding Cultivators thought about blocking its source?" Li Hui reflected on the ancient setup; the lower realms and the Heavenly Realm were interconnected by a vast defensive formation. If this formation succeeded, it could protect all beings for thousands of years.

Xu Ri Shangren replied while regulating his spirit, "It should be at the end of the East Sea, but getting close is very difficult. A thousand years ago, when we explored the Heavenly Realm, the East Sea was already nearly dried up, and the seawater had gone who knows where. Countless monsters appeared in the muddy seabed, and Void Riding Cultivators could not enter the Heavenly Realm. Even we, late-stage Traveling Realm cultivators, find it difficult to penetrate."

"Void Riding can’t enter the Heavenly Realm?" Li Hui realized: "Is it because of the Dark Energy? They resemble the Dream Incarnations of Void Riding Cultivators."

"Haha, little brother, you figured it out!" Xuan Ye said. "That’s precisely the reason. You see those Dark Energies taking form; normally, they seem dazed and foolish. However, if a Void Riding Cultivator enters the Heavenly Realm, they would swarm like hungry wolves to fight over a delicious lamb, battling for the Void Riding Cultivator’s body, soul, and spiritual sense to regain a fragment of consciousness."

Xuan Cheng Shangren nodded, saying, "Yes, these Dark Energies are very much like the departed immortals who want to enter the present world, continuously struggling and entangled. Yet, they are far inferior, much weaker than the departed immortals."

"Oh?" Li Hui rarely heard practitioners speak so plainly about immortals, so he couldn’t help but ask, "Could the esteemed leaders clarify for me? Do we practitioners have a chance to cultivate into immortals?"

Upon hearing his question, Xu Ri Shangren, Xuan Cheng Shangren, and Xuan Ye all laughed together.

"Hahaha, young friend, your realm is truly remarkable; you are so close to the path of immortality! According to accounts before the calamity of immortals, the transformation of the body into a Pure Yang Body is indeed becoming an immortal. But remember, we do not pursue immortality; there are no true immortals in this world, and those dark immortals who have managed to escape the river of time are our formidable foes."

"This… opposing the immortals?"

"Sigh!" Xu Ri Shangren lamented, "They are dark immortals, not true immortals. They attempt to upend every vast world and reshape the Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind. We have cultivated to the Void Riding stage, already bearing the semblance of immortals. But the immortal realm is long shattered; where can we go to become immortals? Protecting our homeland and blocking the dark immortals’ sinister hands is the true goal."

Li Hui felt bewildered, recalling the understanding gained from the Dai Character Stele, realizing that the concept of not pursuing immortality and patrolling on behalf of the heavens was indeed the case. Many vast worlds were assembling for self-protection, with immortals becoming the bandits attacking these strongholds.

"What? Unable to accept this?" Xuan Cheng Shangren laughed, "When I first heard such things, I didn’t feel great about it either. Facing the once-revered figures of history, it felt like defiling their glory! But looking at it from another perspective is not bad; if one truly encounters a dark immortal in the future and personally sends them to their end, wouldn’t that serve as a cultivation against the heavens?"

"Haha, that’s wishful thinking." Xuan Ye scoffed, "Anyone capable of crossing the river of time is no nameless individual before the calamity of immortals. They could eradicate many Traveling Realm cultivators with a single blow. You think you can bury an immortal yourself? You’re just blowing hot air!"

Xuan Cheng Shangren slapped his forehead, saying, "How tragic! We seek opportunities to enter the Void Riding Realm, knowing that once we do, we lose our freedom. In the lower realm, we become prime targets for those departed immortals, forced to cultivate outside as Dream Incarnations and comprehend the path to becoming celestial lords. Entering the Heavenly Realm will also invite attacks from the Dark Energies. It’s truly a torment to be trapped in the Traveling Realm and sorrowful for the ascension to Void Riding."

Li Hui realized that the root of the issue lay with those ancient existences. Today, all Void Riding Cultivators could not reveal their true forms, and although he couldn’t fully comprehend their state, he could imagine how immensely difficult it was.

"Young friend, the Heavenly Realm changes constantly, so you cannot fully trust the map we provided. Furthermore…"

Xu Ri Shangren frowned, "Also, the East Sea is very peculiar; you must be cautious. It seems some people from the Heavenly Realm are still alive, and we have seen some signs. The scary thing isn’t the ghost itself, but those who survive at any cost. You can’t imagine how they might change in such an environment."

"People?" Li Hui found it hard to believe there were still living souls in the Heavenly Realm.

"We must leave!" Xuan Cheng Shangren said, "Young friend, this journey is fraught with danger; remember to be cautious and careful. Haha, it’s fate that we meet in this twilight of life!"

"Esteemed leaders…" Li Hui said, startled, as he saw the three leaders’ bodies dissolve into fragments that blew away with the wind. Tianyi and Tian Zhu pushed his body hard, calling out loudly, "Master, wake up! We should leave the Western Kunlun territory!"

Suddenly, Li Hui opened his eyes, breathing heavily, "I… have I been meditating and cultivating all this time? Did you… did you see three people come by?"

"Master, we’ve been blocking the attack of the Time Claws and flying in the air; we haven’t seen anyone come by! Even if someone came, with everyone on guard, how could they break through our formation?"

"No one?" Li Hui looked back, realizing, "So they already ascended; it was a strand of spirit leading me into a dream to meet them. For the great kindness of the three seniors, Xu Ri Shangren, Xuan Cheng Shangren, and Xuan Ye Shangren, let me bow three times!"

He hurriedly got up and bowed three times behind him. In his mind appeared a map, along with deductions about the Heavenly Realm and explanations about the dark immortals. These three practitioners, who regarded life and death lightly, came swiftly and departed freely, providing him guidance on his cultivation path, which was truly a great kindness.

"Opposing the immortals, huh?" Li Hui felt his understanding expand greatly, realizing that the fate of today’s high-level practitioners was indeed to oppose the immortals.

"Boom!" At that moment, a sound echoed as a faint blue light appeared in the distance.

As everyone wondered what to do, Li Hui quickly called to the team, "Quick, fly north and veer away from the blue light at top speed!"

Tianyi curiously asked, "Master, do you know what that blue light is?"

"That is the blue magnetic flame of the Heavenly Realm, born from the reversal of the Earth’s magnetic field over time; it nearly devours everything. If we run too slowly, it will catch up and engulf us." The team quickly adjusted their course to rush north, narrowly avoiding this peril as they continued toward the East Sea.