Chapter 1468: One Epoch, One Immortal Emperor
Falling from the space where Shou Qiu's phantom resided was different from breaking in directly from the outside. The sights within the circular hall varied accordingly.
Perhaps sensing the lingering traces of Shou Qiu's teachings on Li Buren, the scene on the hall's circular walls shifted once more.
Beyond the squares representing countless monitored star seas and the great white circle of the void, a new figure appeared—one that bore a striking resemblance to Shou Qiu.
He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed upon the star seas below.
Li Buren's spirit jolted, and he reached out with his divine sense to probe the figure.
A moment later, he understood. "This isn't Shou Qiu himself. It's someone like me, who received the legacy of the [Shou Qiu Prose], which is why their auras are so similar."
"However, judging by the degree of the 'Shou Qiu' state manifested in this figure..."
"I suspect this person reached the realm of a Nameless True Immortal and received the entire legacy, unlike me, who took a shortcut."
But the silhouette left by this Nameless True Immortal wasn't meant for bearing the Dao. It seemed to be merely a recording, hidden away in this experimental space within the high wall, only activated now because it sensed the similar "Shou Qiu" aura emanating from Li Buren.
"An entire epoch has passed since the founding of the [Rotten Axe Dojo]..."
"What a long stretch of time. So long that even with my immortal body, memories of the past have begun to blur."
...
This voice did not come from the figure before Li Buren, but from the distant heavens, as if conversing with the silhouette across realms.
"When the Zhaiyang Immortal Emperor first ascended to his throne, I was but an immortal servant in the Lietu Star Domain. Seven million, six hundred twenty-four thousand, six hundred and thirty-eight years have passed, and I have risen to the realm of the Nameless." The figure spoke, filled with emotion. He didn't turn toward the source of the heavenly voice, his gaze remaining fixed on the many star seas within the experimental field.
"You remember it so clearly. Truly worthy of one who received Shou Qiu Gong's legacy..." The tone of the heavenly voice was peculiar, a mixture of envy and schadenfreude.
"You knew not long after Shou Qiu Gong departed. It seems this place is not as clean as it should be..." the figure snorted coldly.
"But that's Shou Qiu Gong we're talking about!" The voice from the heavens suddenly grew shrill.
"Back then, the Dao Annihilation tide was a boundless, surging flood, swallowing thousands of star domains in an instant. The number of those who perished is beyond count. The reigning Immortal Emperor led the Nameless of every domain to the front lines, but they were helpless, forced to retreat again and again. It was only by the grace of Shou Qiu Gong's descent that the tide of world-ending destruction was pushed back by his power alone...
"What a magnificent sight that was! Even the Zhaiyang Immortal Emperor had to bow to Shou Qiu Gong as a junior! Not to mention the countless True Immortals he saved, who regarded him as their second parent. Even if he disliked being disturbed, how could his every move escape the notice of the heavens' myriad immortals? If the Rotten Axe Dojo weren't such a secret place, the fact that you received his legacy would have long been known to the entire world!"
Hearing the other's mocking words, the figure offered no rebuttal.
The voice from the heavens continued, "The Zhaiyang Immortal Emperor reigned for seven million years, which isn't considered a long life, yet it's already the limit for beings like us. But Shou Qiu Gong lived for more than a hundred epochs, witnessing the reign of a hundred Immortal Emperors!"
"And don't forget, among them was the [Wuji Immortal Emperor], who lived for ninety-nine million, nine hundred and ninety thousand years! The power of Shou Qiu Gong is simply unimaginable! Qing Yin, now that you've reached the Nameless realm and received his legacy, even if you can't be immortal through a hundred emperors like him, living as long as Wuji should be no problem at all..."
The Nameless True Immortal, whose name or title was [Qing Yin], interrupted the heavenly voice. "Shou Qiu Gong left a phantom in the dojo to bear the Dao. If you are truly so envious, why not come down and take the trial yourself? It may not be a personal lesson from him, but it's the next best thing."
The incessant heavenly voice fell silent. After a long pause, it let out a dry laugh. "A disciple of Shou Qiu Gong is not such an easy role to play. We True Immortals live as long as the Dao. We come from the Dao and return to the Dao. The Dao waxes and wanes, following the rhythm of the heavens. This accords with the supreme principles of the universe."
"A lifespan of several million years is long enough. As for living like Shou Qiu Gong..."
"Heh heh heh, having someone like you, Brother Qing Yin, is more than sufficient."
Qing Yin's voice turned cold. "Enough. Speak plainly. I don't know Shou Qiu Gong's whereabouts after his departure. If you're trying to get information from me, you can forget it."
The heavenly voice shifted its tone quickly, getting straight to the point. "Since the Zhaiyang Immortal Emperor has fallen and the Heavenly Net Emperor has newly ascended, some things from the last epoch will likely be discarded. This Rotten Axe Dojo will probably be among them. Brother Qing Yin, you should prepare yourself."
Qing Yin seemed stunned for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "That thing... after searching for so long, they're just going to abandon it? It may not have appeared within the projected timeframe, but who's to say it won't if we wait a little longer?"
"...It's complicated, not something that can be explained in a few words. In short, besides the change in policy between the Zhaiyang and Heavenly Net Emperors, it also has to do with Shou Qiu Gong. His divine might in repelling the Dao Annihilation tide caused a subtle shift in the collective consciousness of the Immortal Realm. During the Zhaiyang epoch, the tide was rampant, and True Immortals died in droves. From top to bottom, most immortals were pessimistic about surviving the great calamity. That's why they had to seek external help."
"But the search yielded no results for a long time. Then, at the Immortal Realm's most desperate hour, Shou Qiu Gong staged a grand performance of turning the tide before the eyes of the world. It made the immortals realize that the Dao Annihilation might not be unstoppable after all. Moreover, it's said that Shou Qiu Gong left several legacies in the Immortal Realm. Anyone who enters the Nameless realm has a chance to become his disciple. So, Qing Yin, tell me: when one's own power is sufficient, why would one still seek help from an external source?"
Upon hearing this, Qing Yin fell silent for a long time. After a good while, he finally spoke, his tone somber. "During the Zhaiyang epoch, beings were pessimistic and negative. The Immortal Realm was shrouded in gloom, a truly depressing sight. So many True Immortals chose to end their own lives."
"And now, in the Heavenly Net epoch, the momentum has completely reversed... But with every immortal in the heavens being so confident, I fear it is not a good omen."
The voice from the heavens was clearly unconvinced, chuckling. "Then let's just wait and see! I'm only giving you a friendly reminder."
"Of course, if you insist on keeping this Rotten Axe Dojo, it's not impossible. I can lend a small hand. But you'll have to be even more discreet in the future, so as not to be discovered by other True Immortals. Heh heh, and if things go south later, don't drag me into it. This newly ascended Heavenly Net Emperor is not as merciful as Zhaiyang."
Qing Yin cupped his hands. "Rest assured, Brother Ling."
Time and space seemed to freeze in that moment.
When the light and shadows shifted again, an unknown number of years had passed.
On this day, the True Immortal named Ling met with Qing Yin once more. But it was no longer a voice from the heavens; he had come to the Rotten Axe Dojo in person.
The recorded image of the True Immortal Ling constantly distorted and fluctuated, its instability even affecting Qing Yin's own form.
"Damn it, the people in the Immortal Realm have gone completely mad. And the Heavenly Net Emperor is the maddest of them all!"
"I sensed something was wrong and decided to flee here first. But I estimate the star seas below won't be safe for much longer. We two brothers need to make plans, and soon." The True Immortal Ling paced back and forth, clearly agitated.
Qing Yin, however, was as calm as ever.
But compared to the previous recording, his aura had gained an additional layer of mystery and transcendence, making him seem even more like Shou Qiu Gong.
"I am a disciple of Shou Qiu Gong. Having received his legacy, I cannot leave so easily."
"However, I have a feeling that Shou Qiu Gong—He—may have already left this world. Perhaps I can follow in His footsteps."
Hearing this, the True Immortal Ling turned his head sharply. He stared intently at Qing Yin, utterly horrified. "You mean... that rumor is actually true?"
He grew even more frantic, his pacing quickening as he muttered to himself, "Crossing the sea by boat to another possible world... ultimately roaming the endless dust-like worlds, achieving complete and utter transcendence. The sea may be annihilated, but I will not; the mountains may collapse, but I will remain at the peak..."
"Qing Yin, you have to take me with you!"
Qing Yin replied calmly, "You and I have been friends through life and death since our humble beginnings. If I can achieve this 'minor transcendence,' how could I not bring you along? However, I received Shou Qiu's legacy. If I wish to leave, I must first give him an accounting."
"An accounting?" The True Immortal Ling was confused.
"Shou Qiu Gong passed on his teachings so that we would leave phantoms to bear the Dao and resist the Dao Annihilation calamity. In the past, this might have been feasible. But times have changed. The tide now is ferocious, several times more violent than in the last epoch. Shou Qiu Gong, with his supreme cultivation, might be able to resist it with a phantom. But as for us juniors..."
"It would be a futile effort. We might even be caught in the tide and harm ourselves. And even if there were those willing to disregard their own safety and condense a phantom, it would be but a drop in the bucket against the current Dao Annihilation tide."
The True Immortal Ling nodded in agreement. "That Heavenly Net Emperor is obsessed, bent on a path of all or nothing. And he's managed to attract a whole crowd of madmen to follow him. Sigh, it's all Shou Qiu Gong's fault for giving them a false sense of hope!"
Qing Yin remained noncommittal, not mentioning Shou Qiu Gong. He continued to explain his own situation. "As for the matter of condensing a phantom to bear the Dao, though I am unwilling, the responsibility remains. It's not something I can simply dismiss by saying it won't work."
"Even though Shou Qiu Gong has departed, the restrictions he left behind are not something we can ignore."
"This is the price of accepting his legacy. When he imparted his art back then, he actually made it clear to me. Alas, the allure of transcendence was too great. And at that time, the Dao Annihilation calamity seemed to have been completely suppressed, so I readily agreed." Qing Yin sounded somewhat helpless.
"Hah, how times change," the True Immortal Ling remarked casually, before sinking into serious thought.
"So you still have to fulfill the duty of bearing the Dao... Let me think."
After a while, he suddenly clapped his hands. "I have a plan!"
But just as he reached the crucial point, both the light and sound abruptly faded.
The scene before Li Buren fell still once more.
When it resumed, it was the final segment of the recording.
Qing Yin stood face to face with the Bearing the Dao Phantom he had condensed.
The True Immortal Ling's voice was filled with self-satisfaction. "Qing Yin, what do you think of my plan to sacrifice one for the other? Since it can't withstand the real Dao Annihilation calamity, just create a miniature one that you can handle. The current situation is already a tattered mess; one more hole won't make a difference!"
"By plugging that hole, you can say you've given Shou Qiu Gong his accounting and left a phantom to bear the Dao!"
Qing Yin silently gazed at his own phantom and sighed. "Two star domains, countless lives, all dead because of us... This was not my wish."
"Why worry so much! If those people didn't flee, they were doomed to die sooner or later anyway. Helping us achieve minor transcendence is a useful thing to do before their deaths!" the True Immortal Ling declared, completely unconcerned.
Qing Yin nodded silently.
He pointed a finger at the phantom before him, and it immediately tore through space and vanished without a trace.
Qing Yin seemed lost for a moment. Soon after, he raised his head to gaze in a certain direction and spoke again, his voice tinged with joy. "My ties have been severed. I can leave now."
For some unknown reason, Qing Yin inexplicably glanced in the direction of Li Buren's prying gaze.
After this final gaze across the gulf of time, the recorded figure completely dissipated.
...
A long time passed before Li Buren came back to his senses.
The recorded conversation between two suspected Nameless True Immortals contained an overwhelming amount of cryptic information.
"Epochs. The Zhaiyang Immortal Emperor, the Heavenly Net Emperor."
Li Buren had never imagined that an epoch in the Immortal Realm was not a fixed number of years. Instead, its length was determined by the reign of the ruling Immortal Emperor.
"Seven million years, and that's not considered a long life. True Immortals are truly a different species from mortals."
"And that Shou Qiu, or Shou Qiu Gong, actually lived for one hundred and twenty-three epochs..." A rough calculation yielded a number that made his scalp tingle.
"Also, what the True Immortal Ling said about living as long as the Dao... but then he claimed that a lifespan of millions of years was long enough. What did that mean? Could it be that the Great Daos of heaven and earth only exist for millions of years? How is that possible?"
Li Fan's divine sense was already mirroring the Dao Net, yet he had never perceived any kind of lifespan limit on the Great Daos.
"But a recording in this experimental field wouldn't just make things up."
"Could it be..."
A thought suddenly struck Li Fan.
He recalled his earlier speculation that the Dao Annihilation and the Infinite Sea shared a common origin.
"The Dao Annihilation destroys the Dao, and the surviving Daos have their original limitations gradually removed."
"Could the Great Daos of heaven and earth have grown stronger than in ancient times, tempered by the baptism of the Dao Annihilation calamity?" Li Fan couldn't be certain.
It was also possible that the waxing and waning of the Dao was one of its inherent properties. Perhaps the Dao itself had slowly changed over time due to the external threat of the calamity.
Regardless, the fact that even True Immortals, Nameless True Immortals, had a lifespan limit of at most ten million years was a small disappointment to Li Fan.
It was a far cry from the fantasies of true eternity he'd entertained in illusions before he had even begun to formally cultivate.
His goal of true, unending life was still a distant dream.
"But Shou Qiu Gong's state—enduring through a hundred calamities and over a hundred Immortal Emperors without perishing—that is close to the ultimate goal I seek."
(End of this chapter)
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