Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 807 - 790: True Immortal Enigma
With the support of Zhouyang as a powerful external ally, Yin Hanguang once again became the victor in the internal power struggle of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace.
Elder Lin, who wielded the Tier Seven Immortal Artifact "Eye of Light," was suppressed, and those elders who sided with him had to concede in the face of the absolute advantage held by Yin Hanguang's side.
No one wanted to be dragged down by Yin Hanguang, whose lifespan was nearing its end.
After all, the position of Palace Master was never going to fall into their hands, and they had already fulfilled their promises to Elder Lin in the previous voting process.
Therefore, when the next Palace Master, appointed by Yin Hanguang, publicly swore not to hold anyone accountable for today's events, the elders of the Immortal Palace could only reluctantly pledge their allegiance to this new Palace Master.
Once the matter was settled, Zhouyang released Elder Lin, who had been suppressed within the Qianyang Golden Tower, to be dealt with by Yin Hanguang.
At this point, Zhouyang's goals for coming to the Westernmost Cultivation Realm were essentially all achieved.
After receiving Elder Lin, Yin Hanguang also took out a Jade Book and handed it to him: "This is an alliance book with the signatures of myself and Fellow Daoist Deng. Once Fellow Daoist Deng takes office, the contents will be communicated throughout the Westernmost Cultivation Realm, so Fellow Daoist Zhou can rest assured!"
"Fellow Daoist Yin is thoughtful, and I thank you in advance."
Zhouyang accepted the Jade Book, expressing his thanks with satisfaction.
Seeing this, Yin Hanguang's eyes flashed, and he suddenly said: "My end is near, and in two or three years, I may pass away. This may be the last time we meet, Fellow Daoist Zhou. Before parting, I have a few words I wish to say to you, would you be willing to listen?"
Hearing this, Zhouyang looked at him in surprise, then thought for a moment before solemnly replying: "I am willing to hear Fellow Daoist Yin's insights."
"I have lived for more than two thousand years and encountered many talents and geniuses. Among all the cultivators I have met, without a doubt, Fellow Daoist Zhou is the brightest. Not to mention other aspects, just in terms of cultivation speed, I dare to say Fellow Daoist Zhou is the foremost in this realm for ten thousand years!"
"Those unaware may think Fellow Daoist Zhou possesses extraordinary cultivation talent, but we both know that your ability to advance so swiftly and grow from a small clan cultivator to a dominant figure today is truly the result of surviving one life-and-death crisis after another."
"Honestly, the many adventure experiences of Fellow Daoist Zhou that I know of always leave me in awe. If I were in your place, I would have no confidence or assurance of surviving!"
"For Fellow Daoist Zhou to survive these life-and-death crises, luck, strength, and wisdom are all indispensable. Looking at the history of the Cultivation Realm, anyone who embodies these three powers has unlimited potential, with many achieving Immortal Ascension."
"If any human has the potential for Immortal Ascension in the last two thousand years, I would recommend Fellow Daoist Zhou first!"
Yin Hanguang looked at Zhouyang with eyes full of appreciation and praise, his tone almost too flattering to Zhouyang's ears; it had been a long time since anyone had praised him this much.
He couldn't help waving his hands repeatedly: "Fellow Daoist Yin praises too highly, I'm undeserving, I'm undeserving!"
"There's no need for modesty, Fellow Daoist; the facts are as such, and why fear praise? Moreover, with your current cultivation strength, are you still worried about attracting unwanted attention?"
Yin Hanguang shook his head, not quite agreeing with Zhouyang's humility.
But that was a minor detail, and he didn't mind much about it.
Then he continued: "If someday Fellow Daoist Zhou ascends to Immortality, our human race will have one more Tribulation Crossing True Immortal, which is a great benefit, a joyous occasion worth celebrating!"
"But has Fellow Daoist Zhou ever considered the matters following Immortal Ascension? If you truly achieve the status of True Immortal, do you wish to, like existing human True Immortals, hide and seek seclusion, or would you descend to rule the Cultivation Realm?"
This question indeed took Zhouyang by surprise.
Initially, Zhouyang displayed astonishment and confusion, curious why Yin Hanguang would ask such a question and uncertain how he would act when the time came.
Yet, this confusion lasted only a moment before his eyes turned thoughtful.
Soon, he composed himself, seriously looking at Yin Hanguang and saying: "Fellow Daoist Yin unexpectedly brings up such a topic; you surely have some guidance in mind. Why not speak fully, and I will be attentive!"
Yin Hanguang promptly waved his hands modestly: "Guidance is too much; even if I don't say these things, once you ascend, someone will naturally inform you. I mention them to earn some goodwill so you won't be an enemy to the Immortal Palace."
Zhouyang had already anticipated his intention, and to reassure him, immediately pledged: "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Yin, with my character, as long as others don't offend me, I will never overpower or oppress them!"
"With those words, I can now die without regrets!"
Yin Hanguang's eyes shone brightly, filled with joy at his heart's fulfillment; his complexion even appeared younger.
Without further queries from Zhouyang, he revealed the previously untold reasons.
"Fellow Daoist Zhou, do you know why human True Immortals, after achieving the Dao, are only known by name and rarely seen, even having some with unremarkable reputations?"
"Do you know why demon True Spirits vanish without a trace after achieving the Dao?"
The reasons are not complex. The True Immortals and True Spirits choose to hide because, at their level of cultivation, all external matters of this realm mean nothing to them, removing any personal interests from contention, similar to how we cultivators don't bother with ordinary mortals' valuables.
Secondly, at their level, their actions are subtly observed by the Heavenly Dao Will. Frequent appearances affecting this realm's natural order lead to aversion and exclusion by the Heavenly Dao Will.
For example, absorbing no Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi while meditating, being struck by lightning upon leaving, having enemies interrupt deep secluded cultivation, and other misfortunes!
However, actions like Master Chongyang, where interventions are for defeating invading True Demons and calming chaos, gain the Heavenly Dao Will's favor and special benefits instead of disdain.
Succumbing to the Heavenly Dao ensures prosperity, opposing it leads to demise; there's practical truth in following heavenly principles, the absolute truth of the Heavenly Dao!
After Yin Hanguang finished speaking, Zhouyang felt a sudden enlightenment, as if a great realization had dawned upon him, and he instantly understood many things.
He couldn't help but recall what Lu Xuanji had said to him when inviting him to the Dome Heaven Immortal Realm; back then, Lu Xuanji mentioned that if they succeeded in slaying the Heaven-Sundering True Demon, celestial favor and fortune would surely aid his future refining pill and forming infant efforts and even reduce the power of the celestial tribulation during immortal ascension.
Previously, he was unaware of the truth and did not pay much attention to these words.
But now, it was clear that Lu Xuanji was evidently privy to secrets only accessible to Tribulation Crossing True Immortals.
Judging from this, Lu Xuanji's initial intention to leverage the abundant spiritual Qi within the Dome Heaven Immortal Realm for attacking the Tribulation Crossing Stage was true, but his greater desire was likely to slay the Heaven-Sundering True Demon and gain celestial favor and fortune to aid his assault on the Tribulation Crossing Stage.
From this, it could also be inferred that the eventual demise of the Heaven-Sundering True Demon and the Holy Demon Avatar from the Beiting Continent Cultivation Realm was perhaps due to their being targeted by the world's Heavenly Dao Will, resulting in all manner of misfortunes leading to their eventual ruin.
Simultaneously, Zhouyang finally understood why those who became Tribulation Crossing True Immortals chose to withdraw from the world rather than attempt to unify the Cultivation Realm and establish an unprecedented empire!
"So that's how it is, truly so!"
He muttered to himself, bearing the look of one who had achieved profound enlightenment, nodding repeatedly.
These matters, were it not for Yin Hanguang pointing them out to him today, he truly would not have known.
These are the highest secrets of the Cultivation Realm, information impossible for those outside ancient, longstanding powers to comprehend.
For the vast majority of cultivators, this sort of secret may merely serve as an interesting story to listen to.
But if one lacks foreknowledge of such secrets, the struggles after immortal ascension could be formidable.
Although Yin Hanguang previously spoke so eloquently, suggesting that Zhouyang would be informed of these matters if he truly ascended to immortality,
the premise is that news of his immortal ascension would be known.
And according to his usual methods, the first thing he'd do after a breakthrough in cultivation wouldn't be to announce it to the world, but to destroy enemies he couldn't vanquish before.
If he were ignorant of this secret and truly attempted such things, it would certainly lead to considerable trouble.
Considering this, Zhouyang's expression suddenly changed, and he said rather unhappily: "According to Fellow Daoist Yin, if after ascending to immortality, one can no longer easily intervene in Cultivation Realm matters or act against ordinary cultivators, then apart from gaining a longer lifespan, isn't it as if one has lost the freedom and leisure they currently enjoy, and is rather like an immortal prisoner in shackles?"
"Indeed, this is the situation! Therefore, it's the greatest desire of those ancient seniors who ascended to immortality to be able to ascend to the Upper Realm!"
"It is not only because the Upper Realm allows the pursuit of the Celestial Immortal Dao, but also because only in the Upper Realm can they truly become carefree True Immortals, no longer restricted by the world's Heavenly Dao Will!"
After Yin Hanguang finished speaking, a slight hint of sarcasm appeared on his face, uncertain if he mocked the Tribulation Crossing True Immortals or this phenomenon, or perhaps both.
Zhouyang was momentarily speechless.
This rather ironic reality starkly contradicted his previous beautiful fantasies about becoming a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal, making it somewhat hard to accept.
Despite being still separated from immortal ascension by the Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul bottleneck, just thinking about losing his current freedom after ascending and becoming constrained, gave rise to the idea of enjoying a thousand years of leisure before continuing cultivation.
Yet, this thought only lingered for a moment before he decisively quashed it.
The time waits for no one, and achieving immortal ascension is already extraordinarily challenging; indulging in leisure and letting time slip away on this path would certainly lead to the same fate as Yin Hanguang—helplessly waiting for dissolution with white hair.
Moreover…
Zhouyang couldn't help but recall the legacy left to him by his teacher, True Monarch Donglai.
If he could ascend to immortality, ascending to the Upper Realm wouldn't be impossible, and then all his previous beautiful fantasies about becoming a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal could naturally be realized.
"However, this means that before I ascend to immortality, all grievances and karmic ties should be settled, otherwise it would be difficult to manage later!"
With some understanding, Zhouyang nodded slightly, his expression gradually returning to normal.
He clasped his hands together and offered a salute to Yin Hanguang, saying: "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Yin, for revealing these secrets to Zhou, enlightening me to many mysteries I previously hadn't understood."
Then a curious gleam flashed in his eyes as he looked at Yin Hanguang with a face full of inquiry and asked: "I still have a question I'd like Fellow Daoist Yin to help me with. Do you know if my Human Race currently has any hidden True Immortals other than Immortal Venerable Chongyang? What are their revered titles?"
This query arose in Zhouyang's mind as he witnessed the Thunder Feather True Spirit achieve success in the celestial tribulation.
Although he personally didn't believe the Thunder Feather True Spirit would assist the demon race against the human race, there ought to be preparations on that front.
Now that he was aware that Tribulation Crossing True Immortals and demon race True Spirits cannot easily intervene in Cultivation Realm affairs, his concerns on this matter were largely alleviated.
But now having the rare chance of Yin Hanguang sharing top-tier secrets with him, he naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity to resolve this inquiry.
However, upon hearing his question, Yin Hanguang chuckled with a hint of bitterness, saying: "Fellow Daoist Zhou's question has truly stumped me. Having secluded myself with the Great Brightness Immortal Palace in the Land of the Far West for so long, I've been out of touch with other Cultivation Realms for ages. Now you ask me how many True Immortals the Human Race possesses, and I truly cannot answer!"
Hearing this, Zhouyang thought that the resolution of this inquiry would have to wait until his immortal ascension.
But quickly, Yin Hanguang added: "Although I don't know the current count of True Immortals among the Human Race in the Cultivation Realm, I do know that six to seven thousand years ago, the Human Race had three notable True Immortals, apart from Immortal Venerable Chongyang that Fellow Daoist Zhou is aware of, there were Master Withered Wood and Zhenren Jiuyuan, originating respectively from the Celestial South Continent Cultivation Realm and the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm!"
