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Chapter 1639: The Unforgiven Immortal of Mountain and Sea

A storm of conflicting emotions washed over Fairy Kongyou’s face when she learned that the late Dharma Transmitter Feng had many more "toys" just like her.

And that was just one man, Dharma Transmitter Feng. What about the other Dharma Transmitters in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance?

How many others in the Xuanhuang Realm, she wondered, were destined to live and die as mere playthings, never knowing freedom?

"Destroying it is for the best, then," Rinsing Moon Bai suddenly remarked, her words hanging cryptically in the air.

Shrouded by the power of the Infinite Dao, Dharma Transmitter Feng had died without a sound. The blood that had sprayed across the ground was already cold, yet none of the other Dharma Transmitters, not even their Heavenly Venerate, had sensed a thing.

However, the moment Rinsing Moon Bai retracted the power of the Infinite Dao, the headquarters of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance erupted into chaos.

"Time to go," Rinsing Moon Bai said, glancing at the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall.

An azure light enveloped the three of them, and just as they had arrived, they vanished without a trace.

The ensuing chaos within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance need not be detailed.

The Understanding Dao Infinite Wall was puzzled. "Didn't we already kill the one pulling the strings, Dharma Transmitter Feng? Why are you still so unhappy?"

"Besides," it added, "I honestly never thought you'd go out of your way for that young woman."

"The world of cultivation is one where the strong devour the weak; that's simply how it is," Rinsing Moon Bai began, her brow furrowed in thought. "Even I have taken my share of lives. But..."

"A clean kill is one thing," she continued. "This sadistic torment is another matter entirely."

"I don't know why, but seeing what Fairy Kongyou went through ignited a strange fury in my heart. It was as if..." Rinsing Moon Bai trailed off, carefully trying to dissect the feeling.

Though the initial storm of emotion had passed, the memory of that sudden, overwhelming impulse was so vivid that she felt herself sinking back into it.

Just as she seemed about to grasp something crucial, the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall suddenly cried out, shattering her train of thought.

"This is bad! Someone's coming after us!"

Before the words had even faded, a figure appeared before them.

He was a boy, delicate and scholarly in appearance, with a face that still held a trace of gentle beauty. But as he fixed his gaze on Rinsing Moon Bai and the Infinite Wall, a chilling killing intent bled through his otherwise placid expression.

The moment Rinsing Moon Bai saw him, she was inexplicably reminded of her nephew. The Understanding Dao Infinite Wall, meanwhile, felt as if it were meeting one of the other pillars of the Great Change Palace from days past.

In that instant, their guard simply melted away.

But soon, wisps of the Infinite Dao's power stirred, dispelling the strange force that had enveloped them.

"Hss—we were nearly fooled. What a bizarre power..." The Understanding Dao Infinite Wall moved to protect Rinsing Moon Bai, pulling back from the suddenly-arrived youth as it tried to identify the nature of his ability.

It had a faint recollection of encountering a similar power from an immortal artifact in the Immortal World. But from its high perch in the Great Change Palace, it had witnessed countless beings and treasures. The artifact in question hadn't been particularly remarkable, so the memory remained just out of reach.

"Damn it, my memory must be failing me!"

Compared to the Infinite Wall's racing thoughts, Rinsing Moon Bai was much calmer.

The jade pillar reappeared in her hand, pointing towards him. "Are you here to avenge Dharma Transmitter Feng?"

"That was my intention, but not anymore." The young man's reply took Rinsing Moon Bai by surprise.

He smiled and offered a respectful salute. "Seniors of your caliber would surely not act without cause. Feng must have committed some unforgivable act to meet such an end. He deserved to die, so why would I seek revenge on his behalf?"

Rinsing Moon Bai let out a soft huff, her expression softening slightly.

"However," he continued, "I am charged by the Heavenly Venerate with overseeing all matters of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance. Feng, as one of the Dharma Transmitters, has died under mysterious circumstances. While his death has no substantial impact on the Alliance's stability, should the Heavenly Venerate inquire, I must have an answer for him..." The young man bowed deeply to Rinsing Moon Bai and the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall.

"I humbly ask that you both enlighten me as to the full story."

Rinsing Moon Bai hesitated for a moment, feeling there was some truth to his words. So she recounted the events and then questioned him, "Is this how you manage the affairs of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance? Speaking of which, for you to have such a position, you must be..."

"Dharma Transmitter Jiang?"

Rinsing Moon Bai's eyes narrowed as she recalled the name of this particular Dharma Transmitter—one she had only ever heard of by reputation.

"Ah, I remember now! It's him!"

"No wonder we were still slightly affected, even with the protection of the Infinite Dao!" the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall cried out.

Hearing this, Rinsing Moon Bai was startled into realization.

She had been far too forthcoming with this stranger.

One moment, they were adversaries on the verge of conflict; the next, a few simple words from him had completely disarmed her. She had agreed to his request with barely a moment's thought...

The Understanding Dao Infinite Wall quickly explained the origin of Dharma Transmitter Jiang's peculiar ability.

"Long ago," it began, "there was an immortal in the Immortal World known as the All Knowing Immortal. He claimed to know every secret, past and present, even those of the Immortal Emperors and Sage Lords. At first, everyone thought he was merely boasting. But then he wrote a sweeping tome—the *Secret Records of the Immortal Emperors*—and after that, not a single soul in the Immortal World doubted him!"

"Secret Records of the Immortal Emperors? What's that!"

"If I knew, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to rest so peacefully on the roof of the Great Change Palace! It was likely forbidden content concerning the private affairs of past Immortal Emperors. Once it was published, it enraged the reigning Immortal Emperor, who ordered the capture of the All Knowing Immortal at all costs."

"The All Knowing Immortal's actions even angered a reclusive Emperor who had been in seclusion for many years. He personally took action to forcibly erase the already widespread Secret Records from the memories of all immortals..."

"What happened after that?" Rinsing Moon Bai asked.

"What do you think happened? His outrageous act even managed to provoke a Sage Lord. Naturally, he was captured and suppressed. It was only then that the world understood the true source of his 'all-knowing' power."

"It was not because of the Dao he cultivated, but because he had forged an immortal artifact: As One Wishes."

"Living beings are naturally guarded around others, but they lower all defenses when it comes to themselves. Exploiting this very principle, the All Knowing Immortal spent half a lifetime and countless treasures to forge the heaven-defying immortal artifact known as As One Wishes."

"We who walk the path of the Great Dao are like shadows cast by it. As One Wishes was able to use a shadow to mimic a shadow, becoming a shadow of the Dao's shadow itself! Anyone who saw it would feel an instinctual affinity, to the point of mistaking it for their very own self... It was so insidious that not even Immortal Emperors were immune. The influence of As One Wishes spread like a shadow across the entire Immortal World, allowing him to peer into the hearts of all. It was such a heinous crime that he became universally despised. When he was finally suppressed, not a single soul spoke in his defense. In time, his story was all but erased from memory."

"If I weren't so well-versed in ancient lore, I'd have forgotten all about it myself."

So the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall concluded its tale.

Rinsing Moon Bai, however, frowned as she listened.

"Are you sure you're not misremembering?"

"Misremembering? How could I? Don't you dare question my memory!" the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall snapped, its pride stung by her doubt, finally reverting to its imperious tone.

"But I can't shake the feeling that your story has several inconsistencies. Some parts don't even add up..." Rinsing Moon Bai muttered.

"You're imagining things! It's definitely just your imagination!" the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall insisted.

Rinsing Moon Bai, however, held firm to her intuition. "The shadow of a Dao shadow, making all see you as themselves... that ability is indeed unfathomable. But what does it have to do with the name As One Wishes? And you say he angered a Sage Lord? I've never met one, but I know their power is supreme. They wouldn't bat an eye at the destruction of entire possibilities. Why would a mere violation of privacy be enough to incur a Sage Lord's wrath? And another thing..."

"Careful now! Watch what you say." Rinsing Moon Bai's words made the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall realize the holes in its own recollection. But a sudden, dawning horror struck it. It shuddered and quickly cut her off.

"I understand now! The All Knowing Immortal... he is one of the Unforgiven of Mountain and Sea!"

"Unforgiven of Mountain and Sea?"

"They are criminals so heinous they cannot be pardoned, even after the Dao Annihilation crisis ends and the Mountain and Sea is restored! Legend says they are eternally imprisoned in the depths of the Other Shore, denied freedom for all time..." the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall whispered.

"My word... how did a fragment of a weapon forged by such a monster end up in the Xuanhuang Realm? This is bad. Very bad. It makes me wonder... why did I flee to the Xuanhuang Realm back then? Was it truly by chance?" A look of horror crossed the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall as it began to mutter to itself.

Rinsing Moon Bai, however, was still lost in thought, unable to reconcile the artifact, As One Wishes, with a crime so grave it warranted eternal damnation.

Meanwhile, Dharma Transmitter Jiang watched their expressions shift and their gazes sweep over him, and for reasons he couldn't explain, a chill of apprehension crept into his heart.

He adopted a solemn tone. "Seniors, please be at ease. I now understand the situation. Feng's death was well-deserved; he brought shame to the title of Dharma Transmitter. The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance will not pursue this matter. On the contrary, we should thank you for helping us eliminate this cancer in our ranks!"

"Your earlier words were a valuable lesson, Senior. I have been far too lenient with the other Dharma Transmitters. Perhaps a thorough house-cleaning is in order..."

With that, Dharma Transmitter Jiang prepared to make a hasty departure.

"Hold on!" the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall called out, stopping him.

"Let me take a good look first!"

Dharma Transmitter Jiang didn't know what the wall wanted to see.

But he guessed it had something to do with the special ability he'd been born with.

Though his instincts screamed at him to refuse, an azure light had already enveloped him.

Alarmed, he tried to resist.

But it was like being trapped in a mire; he couldn't muster an ounce of his power.

He could only allow the entity to peer into his very being.

Dharma Transmitter Jiang felt a bitter humiliation, but he was helpless.

His only recourse was to push his innate "all things are like me" ability to its absolute limit, hoping it would offer some protection.

"What are you looking for?" Rinsing Moon Bai asked, watching the wall's strange actions.

"I'm trying to see if I can find this boy's memories of his arrival in the Xuanhuang Realm," the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall replied, the azure light on its surface pulsing.

Its tone had become more serious than ever before.

"I always thought it was a coincidence that my little master and I both ended up in the Xuanhuang Realm. But after scouring this place with you, I've found traces of so many unthinkable powers..."

"And this is just the tip of the iceberg! It's hard to imagine what other secrets this tiny Xuanhuang Realm is hiding. That's why I'm scared. I have to be sure."

The azure light flowed, and images from Dharma Transmitter Jiang's life flickered across its surface.

From his thousands of years in control of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, back to his time as an ordinary mortal under his master's tutelage, and further still, to his days as a bewildered child. His past, though not shown in every minute detail, was almost entirely laid bare before Rinsing Moon Bai and the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall.

Though he couldn't move, Dharma Transmitter Jiang's face flushed crimson with shame and fury.

However, the instigator, the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall, had no interest in these facts.

The azure light continued to shine, attempting to probe even further back in time.

This time, the search took far longer than all the previous moments combined.

For a long while, the surface of the Infinite Wall showed only darkness.

After an unknown amount of time, the wall seemed to have "thinned" from the immense exertion.

Finally, there was a change.

The tide of Dao Annihilation, swallowing the Mountain and Sea; the shattering of the Immortal World, where immortals died like ants.

The terrifying scene seemed to transport the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall back to the moment the great calamity descended.

The body of the Infinite Wall began to tremble uncontrollably with fear.

As the Immortal World shattered, a sliver of light broke free, escaping from its cage.

It streaked like a meteor through the disintegrating realm, desperately dodging the encroaching waves of the Dao Annihilation tide.

After endless travel, it finally escaped the Immortal World and arrived in the star seas of the lower realms.

However, as if it sensed something—or was drawn by some unseen force—it abruptly changed course in the middle of its flight.

It turned and headed straight for the Xuanhuang Realm!

During this journey, as if to evade pursuit, the stream of light began to inexplicably change its own form.

Until at last, it merged completely with the tiny Xuanhuang Realm.

...

With a hum, the azure light shattered.

A nearly invisible crack appeared on the wall's body as the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall was wrenched from its deep probe into the past.

Freed, Dharma Transmitter Jiang immediately fled in a pathetic state.

Rinsing Moon Bai was about to give chase, but the wall’s frantic voice stopped her.

"Never mind him, we have to run!"

"Run? From what?" Rinsing Moon Bai froze.

"Disaster! I peeked at the destruction of the Immortal World and attracted the attention of the Dao Annihilation! The world-ending tide is coming!"

As if to confirm the wall's words, in that very instant, the Xuanhuang Realm, the Darkest Star Sea, and the entire Primal Possibility fell into a brief, deathly silence.

A moment later, a colossal roar, like a tsunami crashing through the heavens, echoed from beyond the sky.

Like a storm front rolling in, the firmament turned an eerie, pitch black.

And every living being was gripped by the chilling sensation of impending doom.

"This feeling, this feeling..."

"Run!" the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall screamed.

But it was too late.

For some reason, the Dao Annihilation triggered by the wall's probe into Dharma Transmitter Jiang's past was unprecedentedly powerful.

It even surpassed most of those Li Fan had caused.

So much so that the shadow left by Shou Qiu could not hold it back.

And it came so swiftly.

The High Wall shattered, and the Primal Possibility collapsed.

Every living being in the Primal Possibility, including Rinsing Moon Bai and the Understanding Dao Infinite Wall, was devoured in an instant.

Only the figure of Li Fan managed to escape in the nick of time.