Chapter 1468: One Epoch, One Immortal Emperor

Falling from the space where the phantom image of the Immortal Hill Guardian resided, Li Buren entered directly from the outside. What he saw within this circular hall was also different.

It seemed that the hall had sensed the traces of the Immortal Hill Guardian's transmission of the Dao that had yet to completely disappear from Li Buren's body. The scene on the walls of the hall changed once again.

Apart from the countless squares representing the innumerable monitored star seas, as well as the large white circle surrounding the empty void, there was also a figure that looked extremely similar to the Immortal Hill Guardian.

The figure stood with its hands behind its back, gazing out over the star sea below.

Li Buren's spirit stirred. He attempted to sense it with his divine sense.

After a moment, he understood.

"It is not that Immortal Hill Guardian. Rather, it is someone like me who obtained the inheritance of the [Hill Guardian’s Miscellaneous Notes], which is why his aura is so similar."

"However, judging from the degree to which the state of 'Hill Guardian' has manifested on this figure..."

"This person probably obtained the complete inheritance of the Miscellaneous Notes while already at the Nameless True Immortal realm, rather than relying on a shortcut like I did."

But the image left behind by this Nameless True Immortal before him was not meant for transmitting the Dao.

It seemed to merely be a recording of a scene.

It had remained hidden within this experimental space inside the High Wall until it sensed the similar Hill Guardian aura on Li Buren, at which point it was activated.

"Immortal Emperor Zhaiyang, the ruler of this epoch, passed away not long ago."

"It has already been a full epoch since the establishment of the [Lanke Dao Field]..."

"What an extraordinarily long stretch of time. So long that even with my immortal body, the memories of the past have already become somewhat blurred."

...

The voice did not come from the figure before Li Buren. Instead, it originated from the distant heavens beyond, as if conversing with the figure across the boundary between worlds.

"When Immortal Emperor Zhaiyang first ascended the throne, I was still an immortal servant in the Lietu Star Domain. After seven million six hundred and twenty-four thousand six hundred and thirty-eight years, I have already risen to the Nameless realm."

The figure spoke with deep emotion. It did not look toward the direction from which the voice beyond the heavens came, continuing to gaze at the numerous star seas within the experimental site.

"You remember it remarkably clearly. As expected of someone who obtained Lord Hill Guardian's inheritance..."

The voice beyond the heavens carried a strange mixture of envy and schadenfreude.

"Not long after Lord Hill Guardian departed, you already knew about it. It seems this place truly is not clean..."

The figure gave a cold snort.

"But that was Lord Hill Guardian!"

The voice from beyond the heavens suddenly became somewhat shrill.

"Back then, the Great Tide of Dao Annihilation surged forth with overwhelming force. Tens of thousands of star domains were swallowed in an instant, and the number of those who died unjustly was beyond counting. The ruling Immortal Emperor personally led the Nameless True Immortals of the various domains to confront it, yet they ultimately had no choice but to retreat again and again. Fortunately, Lord Hill Guardian descended from the heavens and, through his own power alone, forced back the world annihilating tide..."

"How magnificent was that! Even Immortal Emperor Zhaiyang had to show the courtesy of a junior before Lord Hill Guardian! Not to mention the countless True Immortals who were saved by him, who regarded Lord Hill Guardian as their parents reborn. Even though he disliked being disturbed, how could the actions of that old senior possibly escape the notice of the countless immortals throughout the heavens? If the Lanke Dao Field were not a hidden place, I am afraid that by now, the fact that you obtained Lord Hill Guardian's inheritance would already be known throughout the world!"

Listening to the other's somewhat mocking words, the figure did not refute him.

The voice from beyond the heavens continued.

"Immortal Emperor Zhaiyang lived for seven million years. That cannot be considered a long lifespan. Yet it is already the limit for beings like us. But Lord Hill Guardian lived for more than a hundred epoch and experienced a hundred Immortal Emperors!"

"Do not forget, among them was even the [Wuji Immortal Emperor], whose lifespan was ninety-nine million nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand years! The might of Lord Hill Guardian is simply unimaginable! Qing Yin, now that you have attained the Nameless realm and obtained his inheritance, I will not say that you can experience a hundred Immortal Emperors and remain undying like Lord Hill Guardian. But at the very least, matching the lifespan of the Wuji Immortal Emperor should absolutely be within your reach..."

The Nameless True Immortal named, or perhaps titled, [Qing Yin] interrupted the voice from beyond the heavens.

"Lord Hill Guardian left behind a phantom image for transmitting the Dao within the Dao Field. If you are truly envious, why not personally descend to the lower realm? Although it cannot compare with being personally taught by Lord Hill Guardian, it should be nearly the same."

The incessant voice from beyond the heavens abruptly fell silent.

After a long while, it finally gave a strange laugh.

"Just how easy is it to become Lord Hill Guardian's disciple? We True Immortals have lifespans equal to the Dao. We come from the Dao and return to the Dao. When the Dao flourishes, we flourish. When the Dao declines, we decline. Following the will of Heaven and conforming to the principles of Heaven and Earth is only natural."

"Living for millions of years is already long enough. Someone like Lord Hill Guardian..."

"Hehehe, having someone like you, Brother Qing Yin, is already enough."

Qing Yin said coldly, "Enough. Just say what you came here to say. Ever since Lord Hill Guardian departed, I have had no idea where he went. If you are hoping to obtain information about him from me, you can forget about it."

The voice from beyond the heavens changed its tone just as quickly and went straight to the point.

"Since Immortal Emperor Zhaiyang has fallen and Immortal Emperor Tianluo has newly ascended, some arrangements from the previous epoch will probably be abolished. This Lanke Dao Field is likely to be among those that will be abandoned. Brother Qing Yin, you should make preparations early."

Qing Yin seemed to be stunned for a moment before asking solemnly, "That matter... after pursuing it for so long, are they really going to abandon it just like that? Although it did not appear within the predicted period, there is no guarantee that if we wait a little longer, it might still appear."

"...This matter is complicated. It cannot be explained clearly in a short while. In brief, apart from the reason behind the change of rule between Immortal Emperor Zhaiyang and Immortal Emperor Tianluo, it is also related to Lord Hill Guardian."

"Lord Hill Guardian displayed his divine might and forced back the Great Tide of Dao Annihilation. This caused the overall attitude of the immortals of the Immortal Realm to undergo a subtle change. During the Zhaiyang Epoch, Dao Annihilation wreaked havoc everywhere, and countless True Immortals died or were injured. From top to bottom, the immortals of the Immortal Realm were generally pessimistic about whether they could withstand the great calamity. Thus, they could only seek help from external objects."

"But their search yielded no results for a very long time. Then, at the moment when the Immortal Realm was facing its greatest difficulties, Lord Hill Guardian performed an earth shaking feat before everyone, turning the tide through his own strength. He made all the immortals understand that perhaps Dao Annihilation was not truly unstoppable."

"Moreover, it is said that Lord Hill Guardian left behind several inheritances in the Immortal Realm. Anyone who enters the Nameless realm has a chance to become Lord Hill Guardian's disciple. Qing Yin, tell me, when one's own strength is already sufficient, why would one continue seeking help from external objects?"

Qing Yin remained silent for a long time after hearing this.

Only after quite some time did he finally speak in a faint voice.

"During the Zhaiyang Epoch, all living beings were pessimistic and dispirited. The Immortal Realm was filled with gloom, and people had grown weary of life. I do not know how many True Immortals chose to end their own lives."

"But now, during the Tianluo Epoch, the overall trend has completely reversed..."

"However, with all the True Immortals throughout the heavens being so confident, I fear that this may not be a good thing."

The voice from beyond the heavens was clearly somewhat dismissive. It laughed lightly.

"Then let us wait and see. I was merely kindly reminding you."

"Of course, if you insist on preserving this Lanke Dao Field, it is not impossible. I can also lend you a little assistance. However, from now on, you will have to conceal it even more carefully, so that the other True Immortals do not discover it. Hehe, if something happens in the future, do not involve me. This newly ascended Immortal Emperor Tianluo is not as benevolent as Zhaiyang."

Qing Yin cupped his hands.

"Brother Ling, rest assured."

Time and space seemed to freeze at this moment.

After the light and shadows shifted, who knew how many years had passed.

On this day, the True Immortal surnamed Ling met Qing Yin once again.

This time, however, it was no longer a voice transmitted from beyond the heavens. He had personally come to the Lanke Dao Field.

The recorded image of the True Immortal surnamed Ling continuously twisted and fluctuated, even affecting Qing Yin's body.

"Fuck, the people of the Immortal Realm have truly gone mad. And Immortal Emperor Tianluo is the craziest of them all!"

"I sensed that something was wrong, so I decisively fled down here first. But I estimate that the lower realm star sea will not remain safe for long either. The two of us brothers need to make preparations early."

The True Immortal surnamed Ling paced back and forth repeatedly, seemingly extremely anxious.

Qing Yin, however, remained as calm as ever.

However, compared to the previous recorded scene, he now carried several more traces of mystery and transcendence, becoming increasingly similar to Lord Hill Guardian.

“I am Lord Hill Guardian’s disciple and have inherited his legacy, so I cannot simply leave.”

“However, I have a feeling that Lord Hill Guardian, he, may have already left this world. Perhaps I can follow in his footsteps and leave with him.”

Hearing this, the True Immortal surnamed Ling could not help glancing sideways. He stared intently at Qing Yin, his expression suddenly filled with shock.

“You mean... that legend is actually true?”

He grew increasingly agitated, his steps becoming more hurried as he muttered, “Crossing the sea by boat, heading toward other possible worlds. In the end, traversing the endless mortal realms, achieving complete and utter transcendence and freedom. The sea may be annihilated, yet I remain. The mountains may collapse, yet I still stand upon their summit...”

“Qing Yin, you must take me with you!”

Qing Yin said calmly, “You and I have been life and death friends since we were both insignificant. If I can achieve a [Small Transcendence], how could I possibly leave you behind? However, I inherited Hill Guardian’s legacy. If I wish to leave, I must first give Lord Hill Guardian an explanation.”

“An explanation?” The True Immortal surnamed Ling was somewhat puzzled.

“Lord Hill Guardian transmitted his Dharma so that we could leave behind phantom projections to bear the Dao and resist the Dao Annihilation Calamity. In the past, there was nothing wrong with doing so. But time has passed, and things are no longer the same. The great tide is surging violently, and it is several times more ferocious than in the previous Epoch. With Lord Hill Guardian’s profound attainment, perhaps he can withstand it through his phantom projection. But as for us juniors...”

“It would merely be a futile effort. We might even be caught up in the Great Tide of Dao Annihilation and suffer damage to ourselves. Even if there are those who disregard their own safety and sacrifice themselves to condense projections, that would still be nothing more than a drop in the ocean against the current great tide of Dao Annihilation.”

The True Immortal surnamed Ling nodded in agreement. “That Tianluo Immortal Emperor has already gone mad. He is determined to either succeed or die trying. Yet he has somehow managed to attract a large group of people to go mad with him. Sigh, it is actually all Lord Hill Guardian’s fault. He gave them the wrong impression!”

Qing Yin neither agreed nor disagreed, and did not mention Lord Hill Guardian. Instead, he continued explaining his own predicament.

“Although I am unwilling to condense a projection to bear the Dao, the responsibility still falls upon me. It is not something I can simply cast aside by saying that I refuse.”

“Although Lord Hill Guardian has already departed, the restrictions he left behind are still not something we can ignore.”

“This is the price of accepting Lord Hill Guardian’s inheritance. When Lord Hill Guardian transmitted his cultivation method to me back then, he actually made this clear to me. Unfortunately, the method of transcendence was simply too tempting. At that time, the Dao Annihilation Calamity seemed to have been completely suppressed, so I readily agreed.” Qing Yin appeared somewhat helpless.

“Heh, indeed, things change with the times.” The True Immortal surnamed Ling casually commented before seriously pondering the matter.

“We still have to fulfill the responsibility of bearing the Dao... Let me think.”

After a long while, he suddenly slapped his palm.

“I have a plan!”

At this crucial moment, however, both the light and the sound suddenly dimmed together.

The scene before Li Buren once again froze for a while.

When it resumed playing, what followed was the final recorded scene.

Qing Yin stood facing the phantom projection of himself that he had condensed to bear the Dao.

The True Immortal surnamed Ling spoke with considerable pride in his voice. “Qing Yin, what do you think of my scheme of substituting one thing for another? Since you cannot withstand the true calamity of Dao Annihilation, let us first create a miniature Dao Annihilation Calamity that your strength can endure. The situation is already riddled with holes anyway. What difference would adding one more make?”

“Plug that hole, and you can consider yourself to have given Lord Hill Guardian an explanation by leaving behind a projection to bear the Dao!”

Qing Yin silently gazed at the projection of himself before him and sighed. “Two star regions and countless living beings will all die because of you and me... This is truly not what I wish for.”

“Why bother worrying about so much! If these people do not flee, they will die sooner or later anyway. Helping you and me achieve a minor Transcendence can also be considered doing something useful before they die!” The True Immortal surnamed Ling said indifferently.

Qing Yin silently nodded.

He lightly pointed toward the projection before him. The projection immediately tore through the void and flew away, disappearing without a trace.

Qing Yin was momentarily dazed. Not long afterward, he raised his head and gazed into a certain direction before speaking once more. There was a hint of joy in his voice.

“With all my bonds severed, I can leave now.”

For some unknown reason, Qing Yin inexplicably glanced once more toward the direction from which Li Buren was observing.

After completing this gaze across the passage of time and space, the recorded figure completely dissipated.

...

A long while later, Li Buren finally returned to his senses.

The recorded images left behind in this experimental site, as well as the conversation between these two Immortal who were seemingly Nameless True Immortals, contained far too much obscure information.

“Epoch. Zhaiyang Immortal Emperor. Tianluo Immortal Emperor.”

Li Buren had never expected that the Epochs of the Immortal Realm were not fixed periods of time.

Rather, the length of each Epoch was determined by the specific duration of the reigning Immortal Emperor.

“Seven million years is not particularly long either. True Immortals truly are no longer the same species as mortals.”

“And that Immortal Hill Guardian, or rather Lord Hill Guardian, actually lived through one hundred and twenty-three Epochs...”

A rough calculation alone produced a number that made his scalp tingle.

“Also, the True Immortal surnamed Ling said that one’s lifespan was equal to that of the Dao. Yet later, he said that having lived for several million years was already more than enough. What exactly does that mean? Could it be that the existence of the Great Dao between heaven and earth only lasts for several million years? How is that possible?”

Li Fan had now projected his divine sense onto the Dao Net, yet he had never sensed that the Great Dao of heaven and earth possessed any limitation on its lifespan.

“The recorded images in the experimental site should not fabricate nonsense in this regard either.”

“Could it be...”

Li Fan suddenly had a thought.

He recalled his previous speculation that Dao Annihilation and the Infinite Ocean originated from the same source.

“Dao Annihilation destroys the Dao, while the restrictions originally existing within the surviving Dao gradually disappear as well.”

“Could it be that the Great Dao of heaven and earth becomes stronger than it was in ancient times after being tempered by the Calamity of Dao Annihilation?” Li Fan could not be certain.

It was also possible that the rise and decline of the Dao were simply inherent properties of the Dao itself.

It was merely that after the threat of the Dao Annihilation Calamity appeared, the Dao itself had gradually changed with the passage of time.

Regardless, the fact that even True Immortals, and even Nameless True Immortals, had a maximum lifespan of only ten million years left Li Fan somewhat disappointed.

It was just as he had imagined in the illusions before he had formally begun cultivating.

He was still a long way from achieving his true goal of eternal life and longevity.

“Lord Hill Guardian, on the other hand, endured countless calamities and more than a hundred Immortal Emperors without being worn away. He is already approaching the ultimate state I desire.”