I became an immortal in the mountains

Chapter 844 Stay safe
Li Chengyi stayed at the Lingxu Sect's residence for three days before bidding farewell to his mother and boarding the Escape Void Sky Boat to return to his transit point.

As a steward of the Demon Suppression Bureau, he had duties to perform, especially now that although the overall situation was stable, too many demons had invaded and could not be completely wiped out even after the evil forces had retreated.

As a transit point, he had the responsibility to protect and rescue the traveling airships. As one of the guards stationed there, he dared not leave for too long.

Although he had become the son of a Void Immortal, and if he revealed his identity, even the elders of the Tribulation Control Alliance would not dare to say anything to him, from his personal point of view, since he had come out to train and taken on this responsibility, he did not want to use his father's name.

Both parents are highly accomplished cultivators; one is the number one cultivator in the Spirit Realm, and the other is a Daoist disciple of the Spirit Ruins Sect, who may succeed as sect leader at any time.

As a son, he cannot disgrace his parents' reputation!
In fact, in Li Chengyi's mind, when he is mentioned in the cultivation world in the future, it would be best if he were referred to by his own name, rather than as the son of Gu Yuanqing or Li Miaoxuan.

Although he knew that it was not good for a practitioner to have such an obsession, it was his true nature, so he could only face it directly.

After confirming from his mother that his father had become a celestial being, he was initially excited, but his heart was filled with mixed emotions.

He achieved the Yin-Yang Void Breaking Realm at less than six hundred years old, making him an undisputed genius in the Spirit Realm. However, in terms of age, he was only twenty years younger than his father and mother, yet the difference in their cultivation levels was worlds apart.

His cultivation level was due to the many treasures his parents gave him to aid his cultivation, and the countless efforts they poured into it. His father even used his own divine soul to guide him in sensing the Great Dao. This was completely different from the fact that his parents rose to prominence in the resource-poor Qian Yuan Realm.

In comparison, he himself is quite ordinary. Perhaps anyone else could achieve what he has if given the same resources from childhood to adulthood.

This time, when his father was undergoing tribulation, many powerful evil cultivators from the spirit realm came to obstruct his path, but they did not inform him because his own cultivation level was still too low to help.

Thinking of his father bearing the safety of the Qian Yuan Realm alone, and the fact that the Taigu Divine Sect also had True God level experts, the pressure on him was immense. As his son, he could only watch helplessly from the sidelines, which made him feel as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart.

Standing at the bow of the Void-Escape Sky Boat, looking at the increasingly approaching transit point, I took a deep breath and wiped away all distracting thoughts.

"No matter what, I will strive to cultivate myself and not disappoint my father and mother! I will try my best to fight alongside my father as soon as possible, instead of always being sheltered under his wings."

The Void-Transcending Heavenly Boat stopped at the transfer station, and Li Chengyi went to the council hall.

Qin Baiyu looked up and said in surprise, "You're back after only seven days."

Li Chengyi smiled and said, "It's nothing important, I just paid my respects to an elder."

Qin Baiyu said, "It's good that you're back. The Sky Patrol Department sent word that there are Yin-Yang level Heavenly Demons wandering around 70,000 miles to the southwest. A demon-hunting team was attacked there, and only one person escaped back. There are no Yin-Yang Void Breaking level experts nearby right now, and I wouldn't dare to go out without your permission."

Li Chengyi said, "I'll go."

Qin Baiyu nodded: "That's exactly what I was thinking too. By the way, yesterday a senior from my sect happened to pass by, and I asked him about it. Can you guess who it was that achieved the status of a Void Immortal?"

Li Chengyi asked, "Senior Gu from Qingping Cave Heaven?"

Qin Baiyu clapped his hands, stood up, and laughed: "That's right, it's Elder Gu. It's said that he achieved the Undying Realm in just over a hundred years, which is truly amazing. Qingping Dao Palace is also powerful. In the past tens of thousands of years, only two Void Immortals have been born in my Spirit Realm, and they both came from here."

When Li Chengyi heard about it again, he had a hundred things to say but couldn't say them to others, so he just smiled and agreed, "That's true."

Seeing Li Chengyi's unsurprised expression, Qin Baiyu seemed to realize something and laughed, "I almost forgot, you've returned to the Xuanqiong Realm and met your elders, so naturally you've received the news."

……

The spirit world is in turmoil, and the situation is completely upside down, but the source of all this is still in seclusion and cultivation.

Having endured heavenly tribulations and attained the status of a nascent immortal, one can then observe the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. While it may not be accurate to say that one can see the patterns in the palm of one's hand, it is not far off.

As the Dao Source True Seed condenses, all kinds of power converge, and the original True Essence undergoes a tremendous transformation.

A faint, almost imperceptible aura was mixed within the true essence, giving the true essence itself a vibrant vitality.

The cultivators called this wisp of life force the Primordial Qi, the origin of heaven and earth, and the ancestral Qi of all things. It was obtained by the union of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth with the cultivator's origin after undergoing the tribulation of becoming a Void Immortal.

It is precisely because of this wisp of energy that cultivators can easily unite with heaven and earth.

At the same time, this is also the foundation for moving from a virtual immortal to a true immortal.

If compared to the Dao, this is one of the things born from the Dao. By comprehending and growing stronger, grasping its essence, understanding creation, and proving oneself, one can attain the path to immortality!

After achieving the status of a Void Immortal, the amount of primordial energy one absorbs and exhales is enormous.

Fortunately, the existence of Beiquan Cave Heaven was enough to support Gu Yuanqing in fully comprehending the Great Dao and improving himself.

And so he sat there for more than ten years.

When Gu Yuanqing woke up again, his cultivation level had already stabilized. He felt the true essence flowing through his body, as if an unprecedented power was supporting him.

Achieving the status of a Void Immortal through one's own efforts is a completely different experience from reaching the Void Immortal level through the power of the Northern Spring Cave. When one's divine sense extends, one can feel the natural flow of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, and there is boundless power in the blink of an eye.

Although there is only one realm difference between the Void Immortal and the Undying Chaos Immortal, their application of the power of heaven and earth is completely incomparable.

The Dharma body that was separated before was only when Gu Yuanqing had just become a Void Immortal. His realm was not yet solid, and his use of the power of heaven and earth was somewhat unfamiliar. The difference between it and the present is also huge.

If it were now, and another Dharma body of equal power were created, the Evil Lord and the others could be easily subdued without even using the North Spring World-Suppressing Seal.

He got up and walked through the mountains, feeling the natural resonance of the power of Beiquan Cave Heaven. It seemed that his control over the power of the cave heaven had reached a new level.

As Gu Yuanqing's power increased, Beiquan Cave Heaven also accelerated its self-evolution.

He could sense that the nascent Yin and Yang energies had grown considerably, and perhaps in a few years, this grotto-heaven would be able to exist independently.

However... the demonic energy in the underground demonic realm seems to be unable to keep up with the transformation speed of the North Spring Cave Heaven, and the surrounding demonic energy has begun to gradually become thinner.

The spirit beasts inside the cave were overjoyed to see Gu Yuanqing, but they dared not get too close, for fear of disturbing him.

After a leisurely half-day stroll and some light activity, he used his Heavenly Fishing Technique to reconnect with Li Chengyi and Li Miaoxuan.

About an hour passed.

Li Chengyi was the first to reply, and Gu Yuanqing used the Heavenly Fishing Technique to pull him back.

In the small courtyard.

"Greetings, Father!" Li Chengyi bowed.

Gu Yuanqing helped him up, looked him over from head to toe, and nodded, saying, "Not bad, you've made considerable progress." Li Chengyi said, "Compared to Father, I am still far behind. I can only strive to break through the Yin-Yang cycle within a hundred years."

Gu Yuanqing laughed and said, "The path of cultivation cannot be slowed down or rushed. It is all about finding the right balance. Don't be too fixated on speed. After all, the path of cultivation is only just beginning. You must focus on the long term."

“I understand!” Li Chengyi said.

Gu Yuanqing nodded and was about to speak when he suddenly sensed a response from Li Miaoxuan, and pulled her back to Beiquan Cave.

Li Chengyi also quickly paid his respects, and the mother and son exchanged a few pleasantries.

Li Miaoxuan then looked at Gu Yuanqing: "Have you stabilized your realm?"

Gu Yuanqing nodded and asked, "What is the current situation in the Spirit Realm and the Xuanqiong Realm?"

Li Miaoxuan said, "All the experts from the heretical sect were killed by you. Even if their main bodies or clones still exist, they are severely injured and have no power to fight against the righteous path. They are afraid that you will settle accounts after your realm is stable, so they used the safety of the boundary city as a threat to force the Spirit Venerable to give up the passage and return to the Spirit Realm. After that, the heretical sects shrank their forces and guarded their sect bases. Overall, there is no major problem at the moment."

However, many troubles have occurred, especially with the severe damage to Dingyuan City, which has not yet been fully repaired. Many demons have also taken the opportunity to sneak into the spatial rifts guarded by other realm cities, and even the Spirit Realm has seen traces of demons, which may be related to evil sects.

They wanted to use the threat of the Heavenly Demon to tie down some of the righteous sects' forces, making it easier for them to act.

Gu Yuanqing nodded slightly: "It's not much different from what I expected."

“Yes, although the evil forces have suffered great losses, their sects have been operating for countless years. If they simply hold their ground and do not venture out…” Li Miaoxuan paused here, glanced at Gu Yuanqing, and continued, “Even a Void Immortal would find it difficult to break through! These sects may not have Void Immortal experts, but their foundation should not be underestimated. Under normal circumstances, it’s fine, but if the sect faces a life-or-death crisis, some of their methods are impossible to guard against.”

Take my Lingxu Sect, for example. For nearly two thousand years, no master of the Chaos Realm has existed, yet no evil cultivator has dared to truly attack our gates. We possess this blessed land and treasure mountain, and this isn't solely because the alliance between good and evil can withstand us.”

Gu Yuanqing chuckled: "Don't worry, I'm not that impulsive; however, some causes and effects still need to be resolved. Since they've taken action, they naturally have to pay the price. They also need to change some of their rules; if they don't, then we'll teach them a lesson."

Li Miaoxuan covered her mouth and smiled: "It's good that you understand."

The family of three chatted for a long time.

Li Chengyi took his leave. He had been away for many years, and naturally wanted to see his wife and children upon his return.

Gu Yuanqing then brought up the main matter with Li Miao: "The last time I entered the Nine Domains Divine Continent was more than forty years ago, when the situation was already dangerous. Now that I have achieved the Void Immortal realm, I want to go and take a look. After all, I am a human cultivator, and I will help if I can. You have been the Undying Chaos Realm for thirty years, and your realm has long been stable. Would you like to come with me?"

Li Miaoxuan naturally understood Gu Yuanqing's meaning. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "I'm afraid it will take seven days. There are still some matters to attend to in the Xuanqiong Realm."

At this point, she explained further: "Some methods can only be performed by the true self. Only by unifying the soul and spirit can one avoid leaving any future troubles. Leaving behind a wisp of divine thought is not a problem."

Gu Yuanqing smiled and said, "It's alright. I'll go take a look first. So many years have passed, I don't know how many of the methods left behind still exist. Perhaps the only way to get in is through the outer space. Contact me again after you've dealt with your matter."

……

Li Miaoxuan wanted to see Li Haotian, but since Li Haotian was in seclusion at the time, she had no choice but to ask Gu Yuanqing to send her back to the Xuanqiong Realm first.

Gu Yuanqing then created a clone and sent it to the world where the Nine Realms Divine Continent was located.

The place they landed was outside Wangxiang City. To Gu Yuanqing's surprise, this arrangement had not been destroyed by the Heavenly Demon.

This time, he did not wait there, but headed towards Wangxiang City.

Upon arriving in this realm, the feeling of seamless integration with heaven and earth vanishes, and it seems as if a thin veil separates one from the great Dao of this world.

This is not surprising, as he did not attain enlightenment in this realm. Although the Great Daos share the same origin, there are ultimately differences.

He moved forward, adapting to the differences between the two realms.

More than forty years later, the area outside the human defense line is quite different from the past, with traces of battle visible in many places.

The once vibrant mountains and forests are now scarred and devastated.

In some places, the earth is as if it has been turned over by a giant plow, with deep pits and ravines everywhere. Many once majestic mountains have been flattened or broken in the middle.

In addition, the aura of the Heavenly Demons had become even stronger. There were quite a few Heavenly Demons wandering outside, but most of them were relatively weak, so Gu Yuanqing had no interest in making a move.

He concealed his aura, as if strolling leisurely, yet each step he took covered hundreds of miles.

Compared to the past, Gu Yuanqing's mastery of spatial manipulation is now even more refined. He can traverse space without even causing a ripple.

In just a short while, he arrived outside the city wall of Wangxiang.

Among the cultivators stationed on the city wall, many wore a lingering weariness on their faces, and their eyes, though wary, also held a hint of numbness.

Some cultivators were surrounded by a strong aura of blood and killing intent, and even had a faint air of restlessness and malevolence.

This is not a good thing for someone who has been fighting against the Heavenly Demons for many years.

The Heavenly Demon is most adept at spying on, provoking, and amplifying the negative emotions and psychological vulnerabilities within living beings.

While an excessively intense killing intent can temporarily enhance combat power, it is also easily sensed and corrupted by the Heavenly Demon. It may even lead to disaster due to loss of emotional control during a fierce battle, or cause one to fall into madness when exploited by inner demons.

This is a consequence of years of fierce battles. Even though cultivators in the Nine Realms Divine Continent are skilled in methods of purifying the mind, it is difficult to completely eliminate these effects.

In this protracted battle, I have witnessed too many life-and-death separations. Former close friends, comrades, and relatives may vanish overnight.

Cultivators are also human beings, with seven emotions and six desires. Under various stimuli, how can they achieve a state of perfect tranquility?
Throughout history, demonic calamities have always been like this: the Heavenly Demon constantly tempts and intensifies the cultivators' emotions in battle, finally reaping them when they are at their most intense and turning them into resources for its own evolution.

"Who goes there? Halt!"

The sudden appearance of the figure sharpened the eyes of the soldiers on the city wall, and one of the generals shouted.

Gu Yuanqing looked up and saw a person flying from the city and landing on the city wall.

He clasped his hands in greeting and said, "General Di, it's been a long time! How have you been?"

Di Feng stared intently, then asked in astonishment, "Fellow Daoist Gu?"

(End of this chapter)