What is an immortal?

Chapter 1089 - 1054: The Frontline

"Of course I know, you want to ask me about the Three Immortal Islands, right? Yes, that was indeed my doing back in the day." Daoist Mu smiled, as if he had predicted what Yuan Ming was thinking.

"Senior, you already knew that I came from Yunhuang Continent?" Yuan Ming was somewhat surprised, but then found it reasonable upon reflection.

"I realized it from the first time I saw you." Daoist Mu smiled and said.

"Then could Senior tell me what exactly the existence of Yunhuang Continent is all about? Why is it situated within the Death Abyss, isolated from the outside world?" Yuan Ming hurriedly asked.

"This is a long story. Yunhuang Continent is actually an experiment from my younger days. You should also know that within the Death Abyss lies the corpse of a six-winged Heavenly Cicada. It contains a trace of Chaos Bloodline, which in legend, is the key to advancing to the True Immortal Realm." Daoist Mu recalled the past.

Yuan Ming and Xi Ying listened particularly attentively, and Ancestor Bing Lan also showed a curious expression, evidently hearing about this for the first time.

"After I advanced to Mahayana, I have been searching for a path to the True Immortal Realm, naturally focusing on that trace of Chaos Bloodline. Unfortunately, the Chaos Bloodline was born of nature, and no method can transplant it into another body. The only way to obtain it is to nurture life within its aura, waiting for someone to acquire its essence and awaken the Chaos True Intent." Daoist Mu slowly explained.

"So you employed means to move Yunhuang Continent into the Death Abyss." Yuan Ming said with sudden clarity.

"That's right. Back then, I employed methods to carve out a safe area within the Death Abyss and relocated parts of land from various places in the Chuyun Realm, ultimately forming what Yunhuang Continent looks like today. At the same time, to allow the people inside to come out, I also left the Three Immortal Islands as a transit point, leaving opportunities and trials on the islands. Only those who pass them can qualify to venture into the outside world." Daoist Mu explained one by one.

"Senior probably hasn't paid attention to the situation of Yunhuang for a long time, right?" Yuan Ming immediately smiled bitterly.

"After setting everything up, I specifically sent a clone to live in Yunhuang for a long time but never discovered anyone awakening the Chaos True Intent. Later, with various upheavals in the Chuyun Realm, I recalled the clone and put the matter behind me until I saw you and remembered these things." Daoist Mu nodded, with a few indescribable expressions, seemingly unsure why Yuan Ming would ask this question.

Yuan Ming had no choice but to briefly recount the events on the Three Immortal Islands from the past.

"You say Little Hui turned the Three Immortal Islands into a dead land? That shouldn't be; I remember it was quite well-behaved and close to me back then." Daoist Mu was suddenly very surprised.

Yuan Ming also hadn't expected that the once-imposing Undying Tree would have such a cute name as "Little Hui." Thinking of the time he used Nightmare, where the Undying Tree saw Daoist Mu's figure, the words "close" and "well-behaved" from Daoist Mu didn't seem baseless.

However, that figure's appearance seemed different from Daoist Mu's, likely due to Daoist Mu changing the clone's appearance, which is why Yuan Ming hadn't recognized it.

"Senior, your arrangements back then caused me a lot of trouble! But without you, there wouldn't be the Yuan Ming of today. This kindness, I will never forget." Yuan Ming said, bowing deeply to Daoist Mu.

"You're too kind. Your accomplishments come from your own efforts, little by little. I didn't partake in much of it. After all, until the battle of the Three Realms Immortal Boat, I still didn't know your identity." Daoist Mu shook his head and helped Yuan Ming to his feet.

"This reminds me of something. When I was returning to the Void, I also had an encounter in a secret realm, acquiring a secret technique. Later, when I achieved Mahayana, I realized it was also an opportunity inadvertently arranged by fellow Daoist Mu. He has lived so long; throughout the Chuyun Realm, there are countless hidden places with his presence. He probably can't count them all himself." Ancestor Bing Lan smiled as well.

"Alright, alright, enough small talk; time is getting late. Bing Lan, you stay here and help Sima Changqin evaluate the gains from the Wentian Secret Realm. As for me, I'll take Yuan Ming to the seclusion cave." Daoist Mu flicked his sleeve and led Yuan Ming out of the underground palace.

…

Four months later.

While cultivating in seclusion, Yuan Ming suddenly moved, summoning the Stealing Heaven Tripod to connect with Wang Fulong.

"What matter do you seek me for?" His voice echoed in Wang Fulong's Sea of Consciousness.

Wang Fulong was at the time praying in a sunless underground palace. Upon hearing Yuan Ming's response, he pointed to a pile of items before him.

"My Lord, according to the clues you provided, I found Gongshu Lingren's legacy. Here are my discoveries; please see if there's anything you need." Wang Fulong respectfully replied.

Yuan Ming's Divine Sense probed forward, seeing the diverse array of items in front of Wang Fulong. Not only were there cultivation techniques and magic treasures but also elixirs and spiritual materials, all of which were precious.

However, for the current Yuan Ming, the items within were either not immediately useful or could be obtained through other means. As for those cultivation techniques and artifact refining legacies, he had no time to train them.

But soon, his gaze settled on a broken sword hilt.

The hilt's exterior was identical to the black sword previously held by Su Wu, and the fierce aura it emitted reminded Yuan Ming of his own Soul Destroying Sword.

There is no doubt that this is the last fragment of the Great Freedom Sky Demon Sword.

Beside the sword hilt, there is a palm-sized light gray token. This token is rather peculiar, slightly transparent all over, looking ethereal and illusory, like mist. In the center of the token, the words "Three Realms" float, rippling slowly like flowing ink.

"Offer up the sword hilt, the token, and the artifact refining inheritance; as for the rest, keep them for your own cultivation. I don't need them for now," Yuan Ming said.

"As you command, my lord." Wang Fulong had no objections, of course.

Before long, Yuan Ming managed to obtain all three items through the Stealing Heaven Tripod.

The Three Realms Immortal Order felt very light in hand, holding it felt like cradling a pool of clear water. Yuan Ming played with the immortal order for a moment but did not immediately refine it. Instead, he summoned Xi Hezi.

Xi Hezi didn't like battles. Upon learning that Xi Ying would drive the Shura Palace towards the Returning Ruins, he voluntarily moved out to join Yuan Ming, staying in the cave mansion on Evergreen Island, leveraging the power of the Great Array of Time to continue exploring the art of artifact refining.

"Here is the artifact refining inheritance left by Gongshu Lingren; see if it helps you," Yuan Ming said, handing over the jade scroll that recorded the inheritance.

"Not bad, this Gongshu Lingren indeed has some skills; this is useful to me, thanks." Xi Hezi took a look at the jade scroll, immediately showing a joyful smile.

"Glad you like it. Please, help me see if there are any hidden tricks left in this token, and help refine this sword hilt along with Su Wu's Black Sword into my Soul Destroying Sword," Yuan Ming smiled and immediately instructed.

Xi Hezi was pleased and didn't find it troublesome. He waved his hand: "No problem! Leave it all to me; I'll make sure you're satisfied."

Yuan Ming smiled, reminded Xi Hezi to handle it as soon as possible, and then promptly immersed himself back into cultivation.

...

A year later, at the Returning Ruins.

As the frontline of the conflict between Chuyun Realm and the Demon World, cultivators from Chuyun Realm had built thirty-six border towns and seventy-two fortresses here. All walls and barriers were connected, encircling the entire Returning Ruins, forming two impregnable defensive lines, leaving no gaps.

At this moment, within Beiwang City.

On the city wall, two cultivators were casually chatting.

"How long has it been since we've had such peace here?" said the young male cultivator wearing dark armor.

"Heh, when has this wretched place ever been peaceful? Only in these past few years, since Master Xi Yue came, harnessing the might of the Shura Palace, have we had some respite." The long-bearded male cultivator beside him spoke and raised his hand reverently towards the sky.

"Indeed! The demon clan used to attack almost daily, with people dying every day. I heard several fortresses nearly fell more than once, saved by sacrificing lives. I don't even know where the demon clan gets so many people, their high-level cultivators almost seem to outnumber ours two to one." The young male cultivator looked fearful, seemingly recalling the battles back then.

"It's said that the Demon World's area is larger than Chuyun; many die every day, but even more stay behind. Once the space passage opens, they send troops over here in droves. Last demon invasion caught us when the space in Returning Ruins was at its weakest. The Demon World forcibly broke open a massive space corridor, allowing even Mahayana to enter, leading to the outburst," the long-bearded cultivator also showed signs of lingering fear.

"Not anymore, as soon as the demon clan's space corridor appears, Master Xi Yue, harnessing the Shura Palace, crushes them. Their reinforcement is diminishing, resulting in our current ease." The young cultivator showed a look of sincere reverence.

"But I've heard that several Great Mahayana Ancestors are still actively preparing for war; fearing the demon clan will still launch a major invasion sooner or later." The long-bearded cultivator said with concern.

"Perhaps! But at least we've gotten through this time; with Returning Ruins' spatial strength gradually recovering, the weakest time has passed. Whatever plans the Demon World has, they'll have to wait for the next weak moment to arrive. By then, at least you and I won't have to keep watch on this city wall," the young cultivator stretched, filled with relief in his words.

Just then, they suddenly heard a rumbling sound, and the sky above suddenly darkened.

They looked up in surprise, only to see ten massive, ink-black fingers suddenly appearing without warning in the sky, each as large as a pillar reaching the heavens.

As these ten fingers pulled firmly to the sides, a black-red rift stretching tens of thousands of miles abruptly appeared and was slowly torn open.

In an instant, boundless demonic qi surged from the fissure, and with it, countless demon clan cultivators emerged. Among them, several terrifying figures appeared, triggering changes in heaven and earth, resulting in various strange phenomena.