Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 991 Three Thousand Weak Waters
Regardless of what the thousand-plus True Lords were thinking at that moment, not long afterward, auspicious clouds suddenly surged in the sky, and three indescribable Dharma bodies quietly descended.

There was no deliberate pressure emanating from him; instead, he was enveloped in a soft yet unbearable light, shining like the sun and the heavens, making it impossible to discern his appearance in the slightest. One could only feel a tremor in one's mind and a sense of insignificance, like dust.

Chen Mu's heart skipped a beat.

This vast, profound, and restrained aura instantly reminded him of the feeling he had when he met Immortal Lord Yunlan of the Azure Tide Pavilion.

The light gradually receded, like mercury receding, finally revealing the true appearances of the three immortal lords.

The two on the left and right, one with an ancient and simple face, wearing a dark yellow Taoist robe, exuded an aura as deep and solid as the earth.

The other was a female fairy with a cool and aloof temperament, surrounded by a subtle starlight.

However, the one in the center is the most eye-catching.

This man had a face like jade, and at first glance he looked no more than middle-aged, but the deep vicissitudes of time between his brows were so profound that they were breathtaking.

What's most peculiar is that although he was dressed as a Taoist priest and had a tall and straight posture like a pine tree, he had extremely beautiful and elegant features, delicate skin that was as white as snow, and lips as red as cinnabar.

If it weren't for the three meticulously trimmed black beards under her chin and the deep blue immortal robe embroidered with "Nine Peaks Cloud Pattern" that symbolized supreme authority, one would almost mistake her for a peerless female Taoist.

He wore a blue-green Taoist crown shaped like a budding crabapple blossom, with a wisp of ethereal light emanating from the flower's center, which further accentuated his handsome appearance, making it difficult to tell whether he was male or female.

This is the Immortal Lord Gantang—a being whose name and appearance are both strangely contradictory.

"It was actually Immortal Lord Gantang who came in person..."

He Zhiyun murmured, a complex and unreadable emotion flashing across his face, seemingly a mixture of embarrassment and awe.

Sun Daoist beside him clearly knew some of the inside story. He subconsciously glanced at He Zhiyun but said nothing. He simply joined all the disciples of the Nine Peaks Immortal Sect in bowing in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.
"Your Highness, disciples of the Nine Peaks Sect, greet the three Immortal Lords!"

For the sake of the continuation of the Golden Immortal lineage, dispatching three True Immortals to oversee the matter is indeed not considered a large-scale mobilization for a giant like the Nine Peaks Immortal Sect in the upper realm.

However, this does not mean that the Immortal Sect is indifferent to this matter. Otherwise, why would they expend so much effort to open up this Crossing Realm and recruit talents from the lower realms?

Ultimately, this was a selection process within the Immortal Sect. The presence of three True Immortals was enough to deter villains, set the tone, and ensure that the trial operated within a relatively fair framework, preventing chaos.

After the cultivators from the lower realms had paid their respects, the Immortal Lord Gantang, who stood in the center, moved his lips slightly, as if he were speaking.

Strangely, everyone felt that the clouds in front of them seemed to be slightly distorted due to the change in the shape of the lips, but they could not hear a single sound.

Chen Mu frowned slightly and glanced around calmly.

All the people from the Floating Cloud Realm, and even the cultivators from other realms who were assisting in the Dao, looked bewildered and surprised. They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with silent questions, clearly having encountered the same "deafness."

In contrast, He Zhiyun, Shen Liangcai, and other disciples of the Jiuyi Immortal Sect all looked focused, some listening intently, others nodding slightly as if they had gained some insight.

The meaning behind this clear-cut scene is self-evident.

After a moment of astonishment, everyone present, being seasoned veterans with sharp minds, suddenly understood.

At the same time, an indescribable feeling quietly spread. The pride and expectations that had arisen from attaching themselves to the Upper Realm Immortal Sect were instantly cooled and dissipated as if doused with a bucket of ice water by this silent declaration.

Assistance is ultimately just assistance.

This silent message is the clearest boundary and the most direct warning.

It is to make them realize their place, recognize their duty, and not harbor any thoughts of overstepping their bounds or attempting to seize the core Golden Immortal lineage.

Even with a predestined connection to the immortals, one must know how to choose and discern what is attainable and what is not...

"Hmph!" A muffled groan, suppressed with anger and humiliation, escaped from Lei Heng's throat. Though soft, it sounded particularly jarring in the otherwise deathly silence.

His face flushed red, and his chest heaved. Clearly, this blatant "differential treatment" and the sudden drop in status had deeply stung his proud and sensitive heart.

Although no one spoke, their eyes swept over Lei Heng, whether openly or secretly, their thoughts were self-evident.

About fifteen minutes later, Immortal Lord Gantang seemed to have finished speaking.

He Zhiyun and the other disciples of the Immortal Sect bowed in unison once again, their voices in perfect unison: "We disciples will remember the Immortal Lord's guidance and will certainly live up to the sect's high expectations!"

After speaking, He Zhiyun slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over the people of the Floating Cloud Realm behind him like cold lightning, especially lingering on Lei Heng's still indignant face for a few breaths.

He heard that cold snort clearly.

However, he did not offer any words of comfort or explanation.

He treated the people of the Floating Cloud Realm with great respect because they were important allies in his carefully planned scheme. However, the rules of the immortal sects, the hierarchy of superiors and inferiors, are fundamental.

By borrowing the power of the Immortal Lord, it might be a good thing to make these talented people from the lower realms realize reality and get rid of unnecessary delusions. This would be beneficial to themselves, others, and the overall situation of this mission.

Therefore, this silent gaze carries more weight than any words.

A solemn silence fell over the room once again.

Immortal Lord Gantang turned to the two immortal lords on his left and right, his voice clear and melodious, this time reaching everyone's ears clearly: "Fellow Daoists, do you have any further instructions?"

Both of them smiled and shook their heads: "Brother Gantang, you may preside over this; we will observe quietly."

Immortal Lord Gantang nodded slightly, said no more, and said in a loud voice: "The auspicious time has arrived, the road ahead has been opened, gentlemen, the Great Dao is ahead, each of you depends on your own destiny, I hope that you will all gain something."

The moment the words fell.

With a wave of his hand, the radiant light of the Transmission Realm shifted and dimmed countless times. A magnificent bell-like sound rang out, piercing through layers of celestial palaces and resounding throughout the entire Transmission Realm. All the cultivators participating in the trial felt it—the Myriad Manifestations Corridor had opened!

Before the bells had even stopped ringing, the once calm and turbulent sea of ​​colorful clouds in the center of the extradition zone suddenly began to boil violently.

The clouds danced wildly like dragons and snakes, and a huge, boundless vortex slowly formed in the center of the sea of ​​clouds.

The center of the vortex was not darkness, but rather a flowing, mesmerizing light, as if it were a crevice leading to countless shattered worlds, radiating an ancient, vast, and destructive pressure.

"The gates of the trial have been opened! Fellow Daoists, if you do not act now, when will you?!" It was an impatient disciple of an immortal sect who could not contain his excitement and raised his arm to shout.

"go!"

"rush!"

This sound was like a spark thrown into boiling oil, instantly igniting the long-accumulated fervor and desire of more than a thousand True Monarchs!

"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"

In an instant, countless streams of light shot into the sky, transforming into colorful rainbows, and relentlessly projected themselves towards the giant vortex portal of light.

The combined power of over a thousand True Monarchs was so immense that it nearly shook this stable space of the Transmission Realm!
At He Zhiyun's clear shout of "Follow me!", the people of the Floating Cloud Realm transformed into a dense stream of light, merging into the torrent of heroes who were heading together.

As Chen Mu found himself in the midst of it, he suddenly felt an overwhelming suction force pull him in. The scene before him was distorted and stretched into countless bizarre and colorful lines. His five senses and six perceptions were instantly stripped away, leaving only a chaotic sense of weightlessness and a deafening roar...

After an unknown amount of time, when the dizzying, distorted sensation receded like the tide and the feeling of solid ground returned, Chen Mu suddenly opened his eyes.

What came into view was a deathly and eerie space.

Beneath their feet lay not mud and gravel, but a boundless expanse of dark, heavy water that seemed to freeze the very soul.

The water was extremely strange; it was calm and still, smooth as a mirror, yet it exuded a suffocating, deathly aura that devoured all life and spirit.

Even a goose feather cannot float, and a bird cannot cross it...

Chen Mu's heart stirred, and he felt that the water in front of him resembled the Weak Water described in ancient books.

On this desolate, vast ocean, scattered among the rocks appear to be solidified black crystals, serving as the only footholds in this desolate water. At this moment, over a thousand figures, like randomly tossed chess pieces, landed on these lonely black rocks.

Whether they were high-ranking disciples of immortal sects or Dao-assisting True Lords from the lower realms, they all looked around this strange and desolate world with blank and wary expressions, trying to understand their current situation.

Chen Mu's gaze swept across the area, and he quickly spotted familiar figures such as He Zhiyun and Murong Xi on several nearby rocks.

He Zhiyun frowned, also quickly observing his surroundings, his eyes showing no confidence or composure.

"It seems that even these disciples of the immortal sects were unaware of the specific details of the trial beforehand..."

Chen Muxin understood.

Only in this way can it be considered truly fair to all participants.

Otherwise, if those who know the inside story prepare in advance and have too great an advantage, the selection of the Golden Immortal lineage will lose its meaning.

"Fellow Daoist He, look over there!" In the group, a True Monarch from the Chongxiao Sect, with sharp eyes, suddenly changed his expression and exclaimed, pointing to the far distance of the water.

Everyone looked intently in the direction he pointed.

At the end of that seemingly frozen, black, stagnant water, where the water meets the sky in a hazy distance, a majestic white jade platform is suspended in mid-air.

The platform was pure white and flawless, neither gold nor jade, its material as warm and smooth as the finest mutton fat jade, yet it also subtly revealed a crystal-like translucency.

The platform is perfectly round with smooth edges and no superfluous carvings. Only at the center of the platform are there naturally engraved circles of intricate and mysterious golden runes that exude a faint sense of purification.

The entire platform is pure and holy, untouched by any dust or filth, forming an extreme and stunning contrast with the surrounding stagnant and murky Weak Water—the Immaculate Platform truly lives up to its name!
Between the black reef where everyone stands and the unreachable Immaculate Terrace, there are thousands of narrow "waterways".

These waterways are not naturally formed; rather, they are paths forcibly carved out by an invisible force within the weak water, each barely wide enough for one person to pass through.

They meander and twist, seemingly extending haphazardly towards the Immaculate Platform. At first glance, their shapes and widths are almost identical.

However, in Chen Mu's vision, which was quietly activated by the "Eastern Bright Candle Illumination" supernatural power, these thousands of seemingly identical tributaries presented completely different scenes.

Deep within each tributary, a distinct and unique Daoist rhythm surges forth.

Some are as fiery as molten lava undercurrents, some are as cold as ice, freezing one's soul; some contain sharp, turbulent currents that can tear space apart; and some are viscous, heavy magnetic forces capable of crushing mountains...

It was as if each tributary was connected to a small fragment of a realm whose laws were shattered and which was filled with destructive power...

"Of the three thousand rivers, I only drink from one? This is water that will destroy all!"

Dong Yi's voice was solemn like never before. Purple lightning crackled around him, forming a solid lightning net that kept out the weak water death energy that was trying to silently erode the edge of the reef. When the death energy came into contact with the lightning, it made a faint "sizzling" sound of dissipation.

"The destination is conspicuous. It seems that the first test is for us to... cross this tributary of the Weak Water and reach the Immaculate Terrace."

He Zhiyun gazed at the distant white jade platform and murmured to himself, expressing the common guess in everyone's hearts.

Chen Mu nodded slowly, his sharp gaze sweeping over his surroundings.

The other cultivators on the reefs had also recovered from their initial bewilderment and understood their current situation.

Strangely, no one is making any rash moves to try crossing the water.

Whether they were disciples of powerful immortal sects or experienced mortal beings from the lower realms, they all stood on their respective reefs like meditating monks, their eyes gleaming as they warily surveyed the thousands of lifeless black tributaries, while secretly observing the reactions of their other "neighbors."

More than a thousand True Lords, each with their own unique characteristics, have reached a silent consensus: to observe the situation and wait for the first "trial and error taker" to appear.

After all, the road ahead is fraught with danger, and taking the lead could very well mean becoming cannon fodder for those who come later, bearing the unknown and deadly crisis for them.

"Tsk!" Seeing this, Sun Daoren couldn't help but spit under his breath, his face full of annoyance. "They're all cunning old foxes! They're all waiting for others to test the waters first!"

Those who can cultivate to the level of a True Monarch of the Dao are naturally not fools.

Although many people had eager eyes and longed for the Immaculate Platform, they all restrained themselves and waited patiently from the sidelines.

For a moment, on this desolate and vast Weak Water Ocean, a strange and oppressive stalemate emerged, with more than a thousand True Lords gazing at each other across the water, surrounded by reefs, yet no one moved.

Only the deathly stillness of the Weak Water silently permeated the air, eroding everyone's protective aura and their patience for waiting.

Fortunately, this suffocating stalemate did not last long.

"Ha! A bunch of cowardly rats! Opportunity is right in front of them, yet they cower like this! Have they not heard the saying, 'He who strikes first gains the upper hand, and he who strikes later gains the upper hand'?!"

A sneer, thick with sarcasm, suddenly rang out from a nearby rock, breaking the stagnant silence.

The voice was loud and clear, filled with disdain and arrogance.

All eyes turned to each other instantly.

A streak of crimson light shot into the sky, revealing a young cultivator in a crimson-gold brocade robe with an arrogant expression.

He surveyed the entire scene with a disdainful look, as if he regarded the thousand-plus True Lords as nothing.

"Who is this……?"

Fu Danian's heart stirred slightly as he watched. The young man's arrogant and fearless aura made him feel that it was somewhat similar to his own temperament, and he couldn't help but ask in a low voice out of curiosity.

“This man’s name is Li Mang,” He Zhiyun’s voice came, carrying a hint of coldness that was hard to detect. “His father is the master of the Pill Pavilion of our Jiuyi Immortal Sect. He holds a prestigious position and has a wealthy family.”

The implication is that this person has a powerful background and the right to be arrogant.

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes flashed.

No wonder they're so assertive; they have powerful backers and are very confident.

No one responded to Li Mang's sarcasm, but everyone's eyes were fixed on him, holding their breath.

Li Mang glanced at the thousands of waterways, seemingly without making a specific choice, and randomly pointed to one, declaring loudly, "Let this road pave the way for you cowards!"

Before he finished speaking, a brilliant crimson light emanated from his body, and the void behind him twisted violently, revealing a gigantic, crimson, pot-shaped phantom inscribed with countless flame runes.
Flames surged from the spout of the kettle, radiating a terrifying heat wave that seemed to scorch the heavens and boil the seas! This was the manifestation of the Fire Kettle Dao Fruit that made him famous.

"Go!" Li Mang shouted softly, stepping on the mysterious steps, his whole body transformed into a crimson meteor, and he rushed into the waterway he had chosen.

A strange thing happened!

The seemingly all-consuming Weak Water, when approached by Li Mang's incomparably blazing Fire Path Fruit power, seemed to have encountered its nemesis, emitting a hissing sound and violently tumbling and retreating.

Wherever Li Mang passed, the Weak Water on both sides of the waterway collapsed and retreated, forming a vacuum-like path of flames, and not a single drop of Weak Water could touch him!

In just a dozen or so breaths, under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Li Mang's figure traversed the long waterway with ease, landing steadily on the sacred and immaculate platform.

He turned around proudly, his red robe fluttering in the wind, and cast a mocking glance at the Weak Water.

"hiss--!"

"It's...it's that simple?!"

In an instant, exclamations and discussions erupted on the Weak Water.

Witnessing Li Mang reach the summit so easily, countless people's minds were stirred once again...

……

(End of this chapter)