Chapter 593: First Visit To The Immutable Land (2)
"Confidential information, seal the news?"
"Which super powerhouse from the Autumn Lake Hall is his master?" In the core region of the Longstar Immortal Sect, an elderly man in cyan robes frowned as he looked at the report in his hand.
The moment he had received High Immortal Nie Qing's message, he began investigating the matter, but found no relevant clues.
Without a choice, he inquired directly with the Autumn Lake Hall. They only replied with — confidential information, seal the news!
Clearly, this involved a certain super powerhouse.
Forget it! If the death of an Earth Immortal is enough to save us some trouble, so be it. This Archimmortal gently closed his eyes, thinking no more of it.
He believed that his faction’s attitude was humble enough, giving enough face to the other side.
…
The Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, Blood Shadow Plane, Wu Yuan’s private space.
"Sir, the trouble has been taken care of. The Blood Shadow Plane has mobilized the appropriate resources and resolved everything." The blood-robed figure reported with utmost respect: "An Archimmortal from the Longstar Immortal Sect made inquiries, but the aftermath has been dealt with. Please rest assured, Sir.""Oh?" A trace of surprise flashed through Wu Yuan's eyes.
From the moment he discovered that the attacker was merely Earth Immortal Qi He's mana body, Wu Yuan was worried it might lead to future trouble, so while hurrying to the Immutable Land’s coordinates, he immediately notified the Blood Shadow Plane.
The Blood Shadow Plane didn't disappoint him, bringing back news and resolving the problem in no time. Such efficiency left Wu Yuan astonished.
"You need not be too surprised, Sir. Our eldritch world and the Voltari Temple are mortal enemies, but we are not mortal enemies with the Greenridge Immortal World." The blood-robed figure smiled.
"The vast Eldritch Court is backing our eldritch world. Many super powerhouses in the Greenridge Immortal World have their own interests."
Wu Yuan instantly understood.
Within the Greenridge Immortal World, many super powerhouses likely contacted the eldritch world privately, fearing that if the Eldritch Court defeated the Immortal Court in the future, there would be a reckoning.
They were playing both sides!
It was even possible that there were factions within the Greenridge Immortal World hoping to side with the eldritch world.
This was a situation that could occur in any faction.
For major events, these super powerhouses might not dare to go against the will of the Greenridge Immortal World's highest echelons. But for minor matters like killing the mana body of an Earth Immortal from an immortal continent’s sect? For Astral Monarchs and even many Astral Lords, resolving such issues was quite simple.
"Of course, resolving such troubles will consume your resource quota." The blood-robed figure continued. "After our assessment, a total of five hundred eldritch merits will be deducted from your quota, Sir."
"Five hundred?" Wu Yuan nodded slightly.
The resources of the Blood Shadow Plane could not be used without limit, after all, the resources of the entire eldritch world were finite.
As a disciple of an Eldritch Sovereign, Wu Yuan was granted a quota of ten thousand eldritch merits.
Small matters were typically free of charge. But big matters, like fabricating his identity as a disciple of the Autumn Lake Hall, cost one hundred eldritch merits. An Archimmortal was involved in this particular incident, so even more eldritch merits were deducted.
Once he used up his eldritch merits, things wouldn't be so convenient for Wu Yuan anymore.
Of course, Wu Yuan could also earn more eldritch merits by trading divine crystals for them, or completing some missions issued by the Blood Shadow Plane.
All kinds of bizarre missions were available. For example, helping a certain immortal cultivator receive guidance from an Astral Monarch, or exchanging some treasures, and so on.
The Blood Shadow Plane probably accumulates vast resources through the eldritch merit system, profiting from the price difference. Wu Yuan thought to himself. These resources allow the Blood Shadow Plane to extend its branches deep into every corner of the macrocosm.
Fighting battles, training disciples, rewarding subordinates, and so on all required resources. These resources didn't appear out of thin air. Various systems were needed to encourage its members, as well as collect resources to maintain the efficient operation of the entire eldritch world.
In short, make money. Without divine crystals and treasures, even an Eldritch Sovereign would find it hard to motivate the many Astral Monarchs under them. Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.
He left the Blood Shadow Plane.
…
Having resolved the aftermath of killing Qi He, Wu Yuan's body refiner self continued to venture through the Thunder Marsh World, his mind at ease.
In his internal shambhala, vital ether surged, gradually crushing the two thousand second-grade Thunder Beast Stones he had just acquired. After some time, two thousand fragments of Dao pattern diagrams appeared.
Combine. With a thought from Wu Yuan, these two thousand Dao pattern diagram fragments immediately began combining with the remaining seven hundred or so diagram fragments from before. A complete Thunder Beast Diagram was formed by correctly matching three hundred diagram fragments.
Gradually, a full five complete Thunder Beast Diagrams appeared beside the Creation Essence Diagram.
These five were all Thunder Beast Diagrams were specifically chosen as their spiritual resonance and artistic conception suited Wu Yuan relatively well.
Compared to the real Thunder Beast Diagrams on the stone wall, these five Thunder Beast Diagrams are far inferior. The spiritual resonance and artistic conception they contain are only one-tenth of the original, and perhaps only one-hundredth of the Creation Essence Diagram. There is no comparison at all. Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.
Still, something is better than nothing, I suppose. Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.
Without the Thunder Marsh Spirit, these Thunder Beast Diagrams couldn't be transformed to the same level.
The sudden pressure from heaven and earth's essence came to Wu Yuan’s mind. If another Essence Diagram was created, would the black pagoda intervene again? There was no way to confirm it.
In the end, all things considered, Wu Yuan felt he had made a loss from this incident with Qi He. It wasn’t just the divine crystals lost, but more importantly, resolving the aftermath had cost five hundred eldritch merits.
The Shadow Moon is indeed a great weapon for my current self. Even a Golden Core cultivator could easily kill an Earth Immortal by controlling her. How heaven-defying is that?
But the price was also exorbitant. Of course, Wu Yuan felt such a life-saving item was worth the high cost.
I hope I’ll be able to hunt more thunder beast elites and gather more Thunder Beast Diagrams along the way. Wu Yuan muttered to himself.
…
After referring to the map and double checking the coordinates indicated by the Immutable Token, Wu Yuan continued his journey.
Three-tenths of Wu Yuan’s mental energy was focused maintaining his Soul Will perception range at twenty thousand li.
Keeping this up for a long time was very draining. However, after being at the receiving end of Earth Immortal Qi He's sudden attack, Wu Yuan came to this decision after some reflection. Although it would lower his cultivation efficiency, it was safer. Staying alive was the top priority.
Three-tenths of his mental energy continued to comprehend the Creation Essence Diagram, as well as the five newly formed Thunder Beast Diagrams.
Although he had crossed the initiate threshold of the Law of Life, Wu Yuan had not truly grasped the spiritual resonance and artistic conception of the Creation Essence Diagram.
The remaining four-tenths of his mental energy was fully devoted to fusing the three Intermediate Laws and comprehending the Law of Life.
Temporarily abandon comprehending Celestial Body True Intent.
My qi refiner self will stay in the Immortal Belvedere, comprehending the Law of Space, especially the Law of True Domain; my body refiner self will fully focus on fusing the profundities of the Laws. Wu Yuan thought to himself.
Matching an Archimmortal’s level of Dao comprehension with any single Intermediate Law was too difficult; one had to reach the Dao Field stage to match a fully comprehended Lesser Law. Wu Yuan wasn’t sure he could reach that level even after cultivating for over a thousand years.
But the Law of Life was different.
Once I comprehend the True Intent stage of Life, it will be enough to match an Archimmortal’s level of comprehension. Wu Yuan's heart was full of longing.
I have considerable aptitude for the Daos of Celestial Body, Longevity, and True Domain. With the Creation Essence Diagram and silver sphere as references, I have hope of reaching this level within a few hundred years, during the Void Refiner/Elysian Field phase.
To possess an Archimmortal’s level of Dao comprehension at the Void Refiner/Elysian Field phase?
As far as Wu Yuan knew, among Master Kua Chi's disciples, only two out of over a thousand senior brothers and sisters had achieved this. At least, according to public intelligence.
For the last hundred million years, no one had been able to achieve this feat in the entire eldritch world.
…
The straight-line distance between the Dao diagrams in Area 1 and the coordinates indicated by the Immutable Token was over a hundred million li.
The distance only increased once the paths through the canyons and mountain ranges were taken into account. Wu Yuan didn't know the exact route, so he could only travel in a general direction.
Along the way, he experienced no small amount of bloodshed. The vast majority involved battling thunder beasts, and he gradually pieced together the sixth and seventh Thunder Beast Diagrams. These could be considered unexpected surprises.
Finally, after sixteen days, Wu Yuan arrived at the location indicated by the coordinates. This place was extremely close to the Core Region of the Thunder Marsh World.
Nothing extraordinary, just a very ordinary canyon. Wu Yuan's gaze swept over the unremarkable canyon before him. It wasn't much different from the countless canyons he had experienced before.
Whoosh! Wu Yuan flipped his palm, and the Immutable Token appeared, floating above it.
Just as he was wondering when something would happen, rays of light burst forth from the token's surface.
Hmm? A flicker of surprise flashed in Wu Yuan's eyes, and his expression changed slightly. Not good!
But it was too late for him to resist.
Hum! With the Immutable Token as a medium, an invisible force instantly enveloped Wu Yuan, plunging him into an unconscious state.
Following that, a mysterious power seemingly descended from an infinitely distant place, wrapping around Wu Yuan. Then he vanished on the spot.
This mysterious power carried Wu Yuan, transporting him directly to a mysterious place far away—the Immutable Land.
…
Hmm? I can’t sense him anymore? Has my disciple finally departed for the Immutable Land?
In the core region of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, a realm teeming with countless demonic beasts, Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi, who had been in the midst of his research, suddenly raised his head.
He had left a trace of his aura signature on Wu Yuan. As long as Wu Yuan was within the range of the macrocosm, he could always sense his presence. The only exceptions were if Wu Yuan entered certain special places.
The Immutable Land? I wonder if my disciple will be able to unravel some of its mysteries. Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi pondered.
The Immutable Land was a land of opportunity. But not everyone who went there found great fortune. The vast majority of Immutable Token holders returned with limited achievements in the end.
Opportunity was merely an external factor; ultimately, it depended on the individual.
Some even perished in the Immutable Land.
…
In the Bei You Realm, within the Immortal Belvedere, in the meditation chamber of Wu Yuan's qi refiner self.
Hmm? Wu Yuan's qi refiner self, who had been studying the Law of Space, suddenly opened his eyes. His gaze held a hint of shock.
Has my body refiner self gone to the Immutable Land? The Immutable Land can actually block the connection between my two true selves?
At this moment, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self could only sense that his body refiner self was still alive. He still had strong vitality and was in no mortal danger.
But what exactly was he experiencing? What did he obtain? It was as if some invisible force had blocked everything, preventing his qi refiner self from prying.
I hope my body refiner self is alright. Wu Yuan's qi refiner self shook his head slightly.
He continued to meditate quietly, attempting to deduce the True Domain Dao to the True Intent stage as soon as possible.
…
Rumble~ Wu Yuan's body refiner self felt his head buzzing, then grow muddled. Even his connection with his qi refiner self gradually blurred.
Following that, a flood of information began to pour into his mind.
After the creation of Huanggu, the eldritch race was born from the great earth, constantly striving for strength. The demon race occupied the Heavenly Pillar Mountain, created a new realm, and called themselves the Immortal Court.
After obtaining the Creation Divine Artifacts, they sealed off the four directions, intending to conquer the land.
The eldritch race refused to submit, leading great armies in resistance. Thus the eldritch-immortal struggle for supremacy began.
You are an ordinary eldritch warrior of the eldritch race.
A fleeting lifespan of a thousand years. If you die in Huanggu, you die a true death. This is the Immutable opportunity. It could also be a great crisis.
Countless pieces of information rapidly flooded into Wu Yuan's mind, leaving him deep in thought.
The eldritch-immortal struggle for supremacy?
The Immortal Court?
Is this Immutable Land sending me to a world in the primordial ages? Wu Yuan hazily sensed. [1]
At the same time, more information about the world and details about his identity poured in.
After a long time, everything finally settled down.
"Senior, may I ask which tribe you are from?" A respectful voice asked.
1. 洪荒 refers to the state of chaos and ignorance, especially in ancient times. ☜
Whysee's Thoughts
Hohoho this arc begins! It’s one of my favourites after the Cloudstride arc. Hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do.