Chapter 860 - 595: The Transcendent Ferry of the Other Shore

Above the Mother River.

Chen Sheng slowly lifted his eyes.

His gaze penetrated layers of chaos, landing upon the many worlds floating within the Mother River.

Over these years, he used the power of a Daoist Monarch capable of creation to gently manipulate destiny, sowing anomalies among ten thousand worlds, stirring ripples in the Great Dao.

Countless cultivators, due to this strand of anomaly, broke their shackles, rose defiantly against the heavens, and eventually grew into Great Powers in their respective worlds.

Their insights on the Dao, cultivation trajectories, and methods of breaking realms all transformed into subtle Dao patterns, drifting into the Mother River.

Quietly absorbed by Chen Sheng.

Providing him with endless inspiration to create his own cultivation system and interpret his own path.

Yet Chen Sheng furrowed his brows, still dissatisfied.

He murmured to himself:

"Still too slow!"

"Not intense enough."

In an instant.

He recalled when he faced the epoch calamity set by a Dao Monarch of the Illusion Heart lineage during the Middle Thousand Integration in his past life.

That catastrophe swept across the heavens, annihilating myriad Daos!

He suddenly grasped the thoughts of that Daoist Monarch back then, understanding him somewhat.

In Chen Sheng’s eyes, a clear light flashed.

"Only through extreme oppression and extreme explosion can the most brilliant Dao rhyme be born."

"The more challenging, the more in dire straits one seeks survival, the more it can inspire a cultivator’s potential, the more miracles can be born."

He gently nodded, his fingertips moving slightly, subtly altering the parameters of many worlds within the Mother River.

...

Time passed swiftly, countless eras slipped by unnoticed.

Earth Immortal Realm!

Above the nine heavens, clouds rising, rosy hues vibrant, immortal light steaming.

Below the ten earths, the Netherworld deep and profound, Dragon Veins lying dormant.

The nine heavens and ten earths intertwined and intersected, constructing this vast, boundless cultivation great world, both sacred and ethereal, yet cruel and merciless.

Lingxiao Immortal Pavilion.

Inside the ethereal palace, immortal music floated gently, auspicious qi ten thousand strands.

Numerous immortals gathered, seated around the Jade Table, their cups filled with millennia-old Immortal Brew, shimmering with an amber glow.

Yet at this moment, none had the heart to taste.

The expressions of the immortals all carried gravity and concern.

A female immortal in a purple robe, with an immortal crown upon her head, raised her cup, then gently set it down:

"Fellow Daoists, I believe you all know by now that the Heavenly Dao has changed."

"Besides the Longevity Tribulation granted by the Great Dao, we immortals now face an additional shackle."

"Every three thousand years, a thunder tribulation descends from the heavens."

Another male immortal, dressed in white and with a lean face, slowly spoke:

"From the current examples, this thunder tribulation does not discern origins, does not ask good or evil, only follows the depths of cultivation."

"The higher the cultivation, the more terrifying the thunder tribulation."

"Even a Immortal King, if not careful, will have their soul scattered."

An old immortal, his face full of traces of time, sighed:

"Alas."

"Since the thunder tribulation descended upon the world, many immortals from the Celestial Dao Alliance have fallen under its wrath..."

"Among them, several Immortal Monarchs have all turned to ashes."

Someone echoed, their tone full of helplessness.

"Indeed."

"We have cultivated for tens of thousands of years, overcoming countless hardships and crossing innumerable tribulations, only to achieve longevity and escape mortal chains."

"Yet unexpectedly, it leads to facing such layered tribulations, where life and death are uncertain."

"What can be done!"

"The changes in the Heavenly Dao are vast and unstoppable. Even the supreme Immortal Emperor cannot alter this predetermined fate."

The immortals in the hall fell silent, their brow full of worries growing deeper.

Little did they know, atop the Earth Immortal Realm’s powers, unseen by them, a deeper panic had already taken root.

...

Primordial Heaven, Ancient Immortal Realm.

This place is the highest Immortal Cave Mansion of the Earth Immortal Realm.

Ancient Immortal Mountains hovering in the void, their cliffs engraved with ancient Dao patterns, emanating an aura of dominion over ages.

Primordial Hall.

Many Immortal Emperors crossed the nine heavens and ten earths to gather here.

On the highest Jade Throne at the hall’s forefront sat the Primordial Immortal Emperor.

He was dressed in a simple dark robe, his face like warm jade, his eyes like deep pools, harboring the vicissitudes of ages, surrounded by Emperor’s Might, profound and unmatched.

He slowly opened his mouth:

"Fellow Daoists, I believe you have also perceived it."

No sooner had he spoken than an Immortal Emperor in the hall gently nodded, his tone heavy:

"Yes, perceived it—the infinite catastrophe is coming!"

The Primordial Immortal Emperor spoke:

"Indeed, it is precisely the infinite catastrophe."

"This is the final great calamity; it is the ultimate reckoning of all causality, all laws, all timespaces across the nine heavens and ten earths."

"When the calamity descends, all living beings, regardless of cultivation, will return their souls to heaven and earth, revert to chaos, and restart the beginning."

"There are thirty thousand years remaining."

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

All the Immortal Emperors were speechless.

For a long while.

An Immortal Emperor in a red robe slowly spoke, his voice hoarse:

"Primordial Daoist, in such times, what are we to do?"

"In such a calamity, even we Immortal Emperors can only turn to dust."

Yuanshi Immortal Emperor slightly raised his hand:

"I have already inquired with the blood sun friend in the starry world, this calamity is not unique to our Earth Immortal Realm."

"Within the Mother River, countless worlds like grains of sand all face this calamity. This is a communal disaster for all the heavens and realms."

"Three thousand years later, the calamity will fully unfold, and no one can stay out of it. Don’t think about avoiding it, there is nowhere to hide."

An Elder Immortal Emperor spoke slowly, his tone carrying a hint of bitter relief:

"Compared to those small worlds, we are somewhat fortunate."

"Those cultivators of small realms, lacking in cultivation, live in ignorance, not knowing the calamity is approaching."

"Until the end of the era, returning their souls to heaven and earth, they remain clueless, dying a meaningless death."

Yuanshi Immortal Emperor’s voice sounded again:

"And we, able to foresee the calamity and know where the crisis lies, still have a slim chance."

An Immortal Emperor chuckled bitterly, his tone full of helplessness:

"A slim chance?"

"Friend Yuanshi, such words are easier said than done."

"This ultimate great calamity is the inevitable cycle of the Heavenly Dao. Even we Immortal Emperors, in the face of calamity, are as insignificant as ants..."

Another Immortal Emperor said in a deep voice:

"To endure this calamity, I fear only by integrating with the Dao, existing with it, can one transcend the calamity and achieve immortality."

"Integration with the Dao..."

These two words were like a basin of cold water poured over the hearts of the Immortal Emperors.

The hall fell into dead silence once more.

Despair lingered in the air.

As the top of the Earth Immortal Realm, they understood better than anyone.

Integrating with the Dao has always been just a legend.

Throughout history, no cultivator has truly broken through the Immortal Emperor realm and stepped into integration with the Dao.

This realm was established by the Emperor of the Cold Heaven, who nearly unified the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, and was acclaimed as the greatest emperor ever, during a banquet at the Jade Pool with many Immortal Emperors at that time.

Emperor of the Cold Heaven, with supreme talent, unparalleled brilliance, created nine techniques called the "Nine Secrets" to slay Immortal Emperors.

After enduring countless hardships, overcoming twelve layers of longevity immortal tribulations, he ultimately achieved transcendental sublimation, forcibly attempting to reach the legendary realm of integration with the Dao.

Yet in the end, he still failed, turning to ash, leaving behind a story full of regret.

And these people, all grew step by step from the ruins of the Cold Abyss Immortal Court, compared to the many Immortal Emperors of old, are somewhat inferior!

The strongest among them, Yuanshi Immortal Emperor, is only an Immortal Emperor of the eleventh layer.

The height of the Cold Heaven Emperor back then is vastly different, let alone the ethereal realm of integration with the Dao.

The other Immortal Emperors fall short of Yuanshi Immortal Emperor; to break through to integration with the Dao within three thousand years is like a madman’s dream.

After a long silence, an Immortal Emperor clad in a green robe slowly spoke, his tone resolute, breaking the gloom:

"Even if integrating with the Dao seems elusive, even if the calamity is difficult to overcome, we must not give up!"

"We are Immortal Emperors, how can we sit and wait for death, surrendering without a fight?"

"Friend Qingxuan speaks truly!"

Another Immortal Emperor echoed:

"We have cultivated to the realm of Immortal Emperor, overcoming countless tribulations, how can we easily admit defeat?"

"Even if there’s only one in billions of hope, we must strive with all our might!"

All who have become Immortal Emperors have emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Now with the calamity approaching, even though hope is slim, they surely will not give up.

Everyone turned their heads, their gazes directed at Yuanshi Immortal Emperor at the head of the hall.

He is the oldest and strongest Immortal Emperor among them.

Also the one who convened them this time.

At this moment, everyone waited for him to make a decision and provide guidance.

Yuanshi Immortal Emperor felt the gaze of everyone, slowly stood up, his tone steady and determined:

"My fellow friends speak truly, we absolutely must not give up."

He paused for a moment, then continued:

"Back then, before the Emperor of the Cold Heaven attempted to integrate with the Dao, he actually had a conception."

"How to overcome the thirteenth layer of immortal tribulation, how to break the shackles of Immortal Emperor, and seek a chance for survival."

Upon hearing the words "Cold Heaven Emperor," all the Immortal Emperors perked up their ears, eyes full of expectation.

"The conception of the Cold Heaven Emperor was to gather all the power of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths."

"Converge the essence of heaven and earth, law traces, rare treasures, to forge a ’Dao-grade’ transnational immortal boat, to break out of the calamity!"

Yuanshi Immortal Emperor’s voice slowly sounded, with a touch of longing:

"Thinking about it now, compared to the thirteenth longevity tribulation, this immortal boat seems more fitting for us, to weather the era’s great calamity."

"Transnational immortal boat, carrying life, traversing chaos, crossing the Mother River, resisting the impact of calamity..."

"After the calamity, it can carry all beings to find new heavens and earth, to restart civilization."

"Transnational immortal boat..."

A glimmer of light flickered in the eyes of the Immortal Emperors, perhaps this is truly their only chance.

"Although nowadays, we do not have someone like the Cold Heaven Emperor, with such world-defying talent and power."

"But in terms of forging the immortal boat, we are in a better position than the Cold Heaven Emperor was then."

Yuanshi Immortal Emperor smiled slightly:

"Perhaps as the era’s calamity approaches, the Heavenly Dao shows many flaws, the world’s barriers have become thin."

"Allowing us to roam many worlds, seeking the necessary resources and law traces."

"During the era of the Cold Heaven Emperor, the celestial barriers were strict, cultivators found it difficult to cross realms, many rare treasures and earth’s essence were hard to obtain."

"Yet now, as the barriers amongst all realms loosen, we can traverse the heavens, collection all needed to forge the transnational immortal boat."

"This is our greatest advantage."

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the Immortal Emperors brightened, the heaviness on their faces gradually dissipated, replaced by hope.

Indeed!

They may not have talents like those of the Cold Heaven Emperor.

But they have more resources, more opportunities.

As long as they unite, gather all power of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, even coerce other worlds!

They might still be able to forge the transnational immortal boat, might still weather this ultimate great calamity.