Chapter 194

Chapter 194: Attaining Immortality Was Only the Beginning

"Young Daoist friend."

Emperor Venerable Mi Luo’s eyes brightened at the sight, and he approached Nangong Zhandao with a smile. "I too wish to befriend you. Might you be open to it?"

He took out a purple-gold divine talisman, mimicking what others had done earlier.

Nangong Zhandao nodded. "Naturally, I’m willing."

He calmly accepted the purple-gold divine talisman.

Emperor Venerable Mi Luo stepped into the Transformation Immortal Pool with a cheerful grin.

The various Emperor Venerables stirred restlessly.

Dao King and Emperor Venerable Yama stood with faces stern as charcoal; the two of them had once attacked Nangong Zhandao publicly, so the approaches used by Emperor Venerable Mi Luo and Su Miao Zhen evidently didn’t apply to them.

"Young friend Nangong…"

The Palace Master of the Holy Mother Palace spoke up. "If you allow me to enter the Transformation Immortal Pool, my Holy Mother Palace will become your ally. Whoever dares oppose you will face the Holy Mother Palace’s wrath."

"I am the sect master of Mystic Law Sect and can also forge an alliance pact with you."

"Amitabha. This old monk speaks for Little West Heaven Temple and wishes to form a covenant with you."

One after another, the Emperor Venerable leaders voiced their desire to make alliances with Nangong Zhandao.

Nangong Zhandao remained impassive like an ancient well. He knew their intentions clear as day—all sought to use the Transformation Immortal Pool to temper their bodies in preparation for ascension to the Immortal Realm.

Boom!

Suddenly, the Immortal spirit liquid within the Transformation Immortal Pool churned violently. Immortal spirit energy overflowed while Immortal Path symbols flickered unpredictably, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.

Ye Xu looked awkward.

He had only released Tai Sui, never expecting it to gulp the Immortal spirit liquid like a whale devouring water. Tai Sui’s power surged frantically.

The creature’s appetite seemed boundless until it could swallow no more. The power of the Immortal spirit liquid recoiled, shattering Tai Sui into countless fragments and finally ending the chaos.

"Brother, was Tai Sui… overstuffed to death?" Great Emperor Ziwei asked with a strange expression.

Ye Xu shook his head. Tai Sui possessed an indomitable, undying nature, capable of splitting into thousands of pieces. It was nearly impossible to kill.

Though fractured into countless pieces, it could still reassemble.

Moreover, once Tai Sui fully digested the power of the Immortal spirit liquid, its strength would grow even more formidable.

Ye Xu collected the fragments of Tai Sui into his Purple Palace.

"I never imagined you could tame a Tai Sui," Duobao Daoist remarked as his gaze fell upon the creature. "But nurturing it to its peak would require unimaginable resources."

"These Primordial beings each possess an unbelievably insatiable appetite."

Ye Xu naturally understood.

He had tamed Tai Sui barely ten days ago. During this brief period, the chaotic energy and Immortal spirit liquid it consumed likely equaled the resources of a first-rate sect.

However, since none of it came from Ye Xu’s own reserves, he felt no regret.

Lin Qianmo sat deep in meditation, undisturbed by external matters. She absorbed the Immortal spirit liquid steadily, consolidating her own cultivation.

Su Miao Zhen absorbed at the fastest speed.

Sitting in lotus position, her domain of the Great Dao unfurled, matching the pace at which Tai Sui devoured the Immortal spirit liquid without any sign of falling behind. Still, she didn’t explode like Tai Sui did.

Duobao Daoist watched with a focused gaze.

"This girl’s technique is truly formidable," Duobao Daoist thought to himself. "The Lower Realm does not possess such aggressive practices; she must be another descendant of the immortal way."

Even to his discerning eyes, the training method of Su Miao Zhen remained inscrutable.

This proved that her cultivation technique was no weaker than his Book of All Mysteries.

Emperor Venerable Mi Luo sat cross-legged, the Mi Luo Heavenly Tower hovering above his head. It formed a domain of the Great Dao, drawing in the Immortal spirit liquid to stabilize his own foundational cultivation and refine his physical body.

On the shore, the various Emperor Venerables watched with eyes red with envy, each urging Nangong Zhandao in succession.

"Young friend, with our backing, who in the vast world would dare lay a finger on you?" Emperor Venerable Miao Fa solemnly pressed. "Do not linger over this decision."

Anxiety gripped the onlookers, fearing any further delay would see the Immortal spirit liquid utterly consumed by the others.

Nangong Zhandao shook his head slowly.

"Hmm?"

Emperor Venerable Miao Fa frowned, his sharp gaze hardening. "Young friend, are you rejecting us?"

"Amitābha."

White-browed Buddha appeared puzzled. "We hope the young friend might explain himself."

"You are all too weak," Nangong Zhandao said lightly. "You come seeking immortality. Once you enter the Immortal Realm, your sects’ strength will invariably decline. Granting your request brings me little advantage."

"Even if I agreed, once you ascended to immortality, you likely wouldn’t return to this lower realm."

"This business deal holds no profit for me."

Nangong Zhandao’s reasoning was crystal clear.

With the Creation spiritual embryo guarding his path, ordinary Emperor Venerables offered him no aid. Yet Su Miao Zhen and Emperor Venerable Mi Luo stood as the pinnacle of their kind.

They would journey much farther even after attaining immortality.

The group before him, even if they ascended to the Immortal Realm via the Jianmu divine tree, would likely stagnate at the True Immortal Realm.

Emperor Venerable Zi Zai clenched his fists, feeling a sting of humiliation.

For an Emperor Venerable to be stifled to this degree…

"Young friend truly calculates ruthlessly," Emperor Venerable Miao Fa scoffed coldly. "In that case, we dare not impose further."

"Dear friends, the path to immortality awaits. Let us hasten onward."

Having spoken, Emperor Venerable Miao Fa led Mystic Law Sect’s Emperor Venerables toward the apex of the Jianmu divine tree.

"Mountains and rivers may yet reunite us. Until we meet again."

One by one, the Emperor Venerables departed.

"So-called ‘child of fortune’? Doesn’t seem particularly admirable," Emperor Venerable Yama scoffed. "Such a prime opportunity to win hearts, yet discarded outright, sowing bitter enmity instead."

"In my opinion, after today, no sect will likely tolerate him."

"With their strength, can they breach the defense of the Creation spiritual embryo?" Dao King sneered contemptuously. "Just a bunch of trash. Were I him, I wouldn’t bother with them either."

"Dao King," Emperor Venerable Yama’s gaze flickered as he inquired, "do you truly not wish to enter the Immortal Realm?"

Dao King regarded him with an enigmatic half-smile.

"I know your intentions."

Emperor Venerable Yama stated, "Should we step into the Immortal Realm, a vast majority of the peak powerful beings in the lower realm would vanish. You could seize the opportunity to swallow up all the major sects."

"Even… including my Yama Court."

"That is your plan."

Rather than hurrying to the end of the Jianmu divine tree, Emperor Venerable Yama lingered, conversing with Dao King.

"Daoist friend, you are truly astute."

Dao King spoke lightly, "I do indeed hold such thoughts."

Emperor Venerable Yama’s pupils constricted.

"Dao King," he began, voice tinged with perplexity, "for us cultivators, the first half of life is spent pursuing the Dao, attaining the Dao and becoming an emperor. The latter half is spent seeking freedom through attaining immortality." "This is a once-in-a-thousand-years chance. Do you truly not wish to take this shortcut?"

"Do you realize, since the Primordial Era, almost no one in the world has attained immortality?"

"The only recorded instance is merely a legend from the Tian Huang Realm – the Empress of the Heavenly Edict."

"Attaining immortality… is harder than ascending to heaven."

Emperor Venerable Yama’s expression grew increasingly agitated, yet his tone dripped with deepening futility. Even as one of the lower realm’s top powerful beings, he faced the prospect of immortality with unknown fear and a courage he found wanting.

Dao King tilted his head, his gaze boring straight into Emperor Venerable Yama.

"Daoist friend Yama, your goal is attaining immortality."

Dao King paused, a profound, unwavering confidence radiating from his entire being. "But for me, attaining immortality is merely another beginning. It is never the end."

Boom!

Emperor Venerable Yama’s Dao heart thundered, his mind blank.

Only at this moment did he finally grasp the chasm separating him from Dao King.

From the very start, he had been inferior.

He lacked Dao King’s fearless heart.

"Regarding your earlier remark," Dao King stated plainly, hiding nothing, "should you all ascend to the Immortal Realm, I naturally wouldn’t let the opportunity pass." "At that time, the Taihao Heavenly Sect will sweep across all realms, ruling over myriad worlds."

Ever since the opening of the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest, Dao King had been scheming.

Now that Emperor Venerable Yama had perceived his ambition, Dao King saw no need for concealment.

"Do you not fear," Emperor Venerable Yama inhaled deeply, "that I might unite the sects to destroy you first?"

"You will not."

Dao King’s eyes shifted forward, observing the figures of Emperor Venerables rushing towards the distant end – all top experts of the lower realm, now scrambling in their illicit quest for immortality.

"Nor will they either."

As an old rival, Dao King understood Emperor Venerable Yama perfectly.

He lived solely for the sake of attaining immortality, yet lacked the courage to attain it through genuine cultivation. The shortcut was his only path.

Now, the moment had arrived.

Emperor Venerable Yama couldn’t pass it up.

And the fate of the Yama Court? To an Emperor Venerable Yama in the Immortal Realm, it would mean nothing.

That group of Emperor Venerables? Even less.

Dao King had seen through it all.

"Hahaha…"

Emperor Venerable Yama threw his head back and laughed, an expression of release washing over his eyes, as if shedding a burden long carried. His entire demeanor became untroubled and free.

"Di Wuyou," he said, "for so many years, we have contended openly and in secret. Ultimately, it is I who lost."

"Still, I am utterly convinced in my defeat."

"The only regret," he added, "is not being able to cross paths with you one final time upon parting."

Emperor Venerable Yama walked further and further away.

Leaving Dao King alone, his gaze sharp as lightning and cold as a blade.

In this moment, all restraints fell away.