Cultivating immortality relies on spatial abilities; defying fate to become the protagonist.

Chapter 227

Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, a young man in white slowly approached from afar. His face was stern, but his eyes revealed a solemnity.

"Do you think this will stop the forces of darkness?" the young man said quietly.

Gu Shihan stepped forward and said, "We know it won't be that easy. After all, the dark forces have been deeply entrenched for a long time, and it's too early to expect things to return to normal. But, who are you, sir? Are you friend or foe?"

The young man smiled slightly. "My name is Ling Xu. I have come to help you at the request of an immortal from the upper realm. The source of this dark power is not limited to the few places you have destroyed. Your path is still long and arduous."

Everyone looked worried. Gu Jiahui said, "We know that if we can't do it in one day, we'll do it in two days; if we can't do it in one year, we'll do it in ten years. In short, we will not give up."

Ling Xu nodded slightly. "Your determination is admirable, but courage alone is not enough. There is a place ahead that has been sealed by darkness, where dark power is awakening. We must seal it again when it awakens and breaks free."

Gu Shihan's gaze was firm: "We will set off immediately for the place sealed by darkness." Ling Xu nodded and led the group forward.

Along the way, the group felt an increasingly oppressive dark aura. Upon arriving at their destination, they saw a huge dark vortex in the center of a desolate land, with faint sealing runes flickering around it.

Just as everyone was about to reinforce the seal, countless black tentacles suddenly emerged from the dark vortex, attacking them. Ling Xu was the first to act, unleashing several beams of spiritual light to sever some of the tentacles. Gu Shihan and the others also cast spells to defend themselves.

However, the dark forces grew stronger and were on the verge of breaking the seal. Gu Shihan, in a moment of inspiration, joined forces with Wen Xin and Gu Jiahui, fusing the power of their three guardian rings and then infusing it into the Purifying Pearl. The Purifying Pearl's light surged, transforming into a curtain of light that pressed down on the dark vortex.

Seeing this, everyone transferred their power to it. With everyone working together, the dark vortex gradually shrank, and the surrounding dark runes stabilized again.

Finally, the dark vortex ceased its surging and was completely sealed. Ling Xu looked at everyone with satisfaction and said, "Seeing what you have done, I, Ling Xu, am also moved by you. Here is a suggestion for you: if you want to completely suppress the excess darkness, you must find the world heart of this world, because it is the one that has a problem."

"The Heart of the World, what happened to it?" A look of surprise flashed across Gu Jiahui's eyes. In his memory, he had indeed heard of the term "Heart of the World".

Ling Xu looked at the group and said calmly, "In each level of my Immortal Realm, there is a small World Heart, and they revolve around the largest World Heart."

"Senior Lingxu, this Immortal Realm has nine heavens. Are there nine World Hearts?" Wenxin asked.

"No, there are ten. The largest World Heart is the Universe Heart of the entire Immortal Realm. However, hundreds of thousands of years ago, the World Heart of the First Heaven developed a flaw, and it seems that dark threads from other realms infiltrated and eroded the World Heart of this world. Because the strength of the First Heaven was not as great as other places, it was too late when it was discovered."

Alas, the infiltration over hundreds of thousands of years is not so easy to contain, and there is nothing to replace the corrupted core of the world; purification is far too difficult.

Later, the powerful figures of the heavens could only place their hopes on the cultivators themselves. Everyone started from various places, selecting suitable people and waiting for the perfect moment when the time, place, and people were all in sync to lend a helping hand.

"You? You must be one of them. Today, I, Lingxu, am revealing this information to you as a small assistance. However, I, Lingxu, am a native of the Immortal Realm, and excessive interference would alert the dark forces and accelerate the corruption of the World's Heart. Therefore, you must discover everything for yourselves."

Gu Shihan hurriedly asked, "Senior Lingxu, where is the Heart of the World?"

Ling Xu shook his head. "I don't know the exact location either, but it must be in the purest yang or the most yin place in this world. Farewell!"

Gu Shihan could only watch helplessly as the white-robed youth vanished into thin air. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "Then let's first search for the Land of Ultimate Yang. I've heard that the Yang energy is extremely abundant where the sun rises in the east; perhaps the Heart of the World is there." Everyone nodded in agreement, and so they headed east. Halfway there, they encountered a labyrinthine illusion. Within the illusion, illusions abounded, and as soon as they stepped inside, various beautiful past scenes appeared before their eyes.

Wen Xin almost succumbed to the illusion, but Gu Jia Hui pulled her back in time. Gu Shi Han summoned the Purifying Pearl, which emitted a soft light, gradually dispelling the illusion.

After finally getting through the maze, the group felt they were getting closer and closer to the sunrise in the east, as the surrounding yang energy became increasingly intense.

Suddenly, a gigantic golden crow blocked their path. The golden crow was wreathed in flames and exuded a menacing aura.

Gu Jiahui stepped forward to explain their purpose, but Jinwu didn't seem to believe them, thinking they were there to covet the treasures of this place.

Gu Shihan stated that he only wanted to save the First Heaven Immortal Realm. After thinking for a long time, Jinwu said that he could let them in to check, but if they had any bad intentions, he would not let them off easily.

The group carefully walked past the golden crow, heading towards the most dazzling spot, wondering if they could truly find the heart of the world.

"Shi Han, I feel something is strange here. The Heart of the World might really be here, but with just the few of us, I'm afraid we can't do anything!" Wen Xin whispered.

“I know that all we need to do is determine the location and wait for the others to arrive. We must purify the Heart of this World, but I don’t know if this Purification Pearl will be useful.”

Guided by the Golden Crow, the three vaguely saw a heart-shaped object, but around it, wisps of black energy were moving about, trying to enter it.

"Back off! If you go any further, those black threads will sense something is wrong!" Without another word, the Golden Crow flapped its wings, and Gu Shihan and the others were carried away from there.

"Jinwu, we haven't even investigated properly yet, why did you bring us out like this?!" Wenxin exclaimed in dissatisfaction.

"Idiots, look carefully. If you wait another second, you'll become nourishment for those black stockings."

"Hanhan, let me out!" Xingbai transmitted his voice in the space.

Xingbai exited the space, and Yutong followed him out. As Xingbai landed, a flash of white light appeared, and a handsome young man in a white robe appeared before everyone's eyes.

The boy was born with rosy lips and white teeth, and was very handsome. As expected of the Celestial Fox Clan, his appearance was outstanding, without a single flaw, and he was absolutely perfect.

Jinwu stared wide-eyed, circled Xingbai once, and said incredulously, "Nine-tailed Celestial Fox? You're a nine-tailed celestial fox? Aren't all nine-tailed celestial foxes extinct? Am I seeing things?"

"Golden Crow, what nonsense are you talking about? What do you mean by extinct?" Yu Tong's face instantly darkened, and she said with displeasure.

"Hey, Fire Phoenix, don't be angry. I'm telling the truth. Not only has the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox clan been wiped out in the Immortal Realm, but your Fire Phoenix clan is also dwindling in number, with fewer than a hundred remaining, and your bloodline is no longer pure."

(End of this chapter)