The Great Ruler: Starting from the Dark Ages

Chapter 112 Invitation to Immortality

Connecting everything, it is indeed quite possible. After all, Lingbao Tianzun left behind many bronze artifacts and the "Scripture of Salvation" in his later years. It is likely that he was worried not only about the remaining immortal corpses, but also about the Emperor.

As for why Lingbao Tianzun was not corrupted in the battle against the immortal corpse under the corruption of darkness, while Dizun was corrupted when he transformed into his second life, it is probably because Dizun was too arrogant.

Even when corrupted, they refuse to seek help from the Heavenly Venerable of Tribulation Crossing, or rather, they cannot find him.

"However, the grudges of the Mythical Era have come to an end, and the Corpse Calamity has not yet befallen us, so everything is already the best outcome." Lingbao Tianzun's expression showed neither joy nor sorrow.

For some unknown reason, he suddenly asked, "Heavenly Emperor, do you think the Immortal Realm truly exists?"

He was born in the mythological era. Although he had indeed seen many things related to immortals and had even killed an immortal corpse, the immortal realm was truly ethereal and elusive.

In addition, he had another suspicion:
"Do true immortals exist? If immortals truly roam freely throughout the world and have endless lifespans, why would they be confined to the immortal realm and almost impossible to find in the mortal world?"

"Is it a state of being or a form of immortality?"

Lingbao Tianzun has lived for far too long, and he has truly witnessed the confusion of countless cultivators throughout the ages. This loneliness and powerlessness are something that even those who have ascended to the highest divine position cannot overcome.

Unlike Xu He, who did not come from this world, Xu He lived several lifetimes in reverse, which was extremely dangerous, but he always had a clear main storyline.

However, most supreme beings are powerless and can only wait in a daze for the years to pass like knives.

Whether it's discontent, confusion, setbacks, or glory, it's all there is to it.

Becoming an immortal is ultimately an obsession.

But now, Lingbao Tianzun has asked the most fundamental question.

Is becoming an immortal a state of being or a form of eternal life?

Xu He narrowed his eyes slightly, knowing that today's discussion on Tao was destined to be long. He raised his hand and sent out the Enlightenment Tea Leaves and the teapot.

At the same time, the secret was revealed:
"The Immortal Realm does exist, but today it is in utter ruin."

Xu He took a sip of tea and said:
"After the Chaotic Ancient Era, the Immortal Gate was closed, separating the immortals from the mortals. The mortal realm was in decline, and the Immortal Realm had also reached its end, with only a few remnant immortals remaining in the world."

"If people like you and me were to enter the Immortal Realm, we would be just as carefree as if we were in the mortal world."

Lingbao Tianzun's expression stiffened; instead of showing any joy, a look of vigilance appeared on his face.

"Could the immortal corpse slain by the old Taoist priest in the Mythical Era be related to the remnant immortals of the Immortal Realm?"

Xu He pondered for a long time before finally nodding.

The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths had already entered the Dharma-ending Age at the end of the Chaotic Ancient Era, a situation that has remained unchanged since Shi Hao became Emperor. The immortal corpse was corrupted by darkness, suggesting that it had fought against the forces of darkness in its previous life.

The answer is obvious.

Before the Mythical Era, the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths were indeed less powerful than the Otherworld and the Immortal Realm, serving as a buffer zone between the two. However, the Immortal Realm and the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths were extremely divided, each fearing the emergence of an unparalleled genius that would hinder their rule.

The Immortal Realm is too far from this world, and many things there have not been recorded. Moreover, most cultivators in the Immortal Realm are arrogant and have the ability to betray the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Because they fear that the alien realm will truly dominate the heavens and the earth, they will only intervene in the most critical moment.

This approach serves both to thwart foreign attacks and to maintain the Immortal Realm's lofty status.

However, it is undeniable that the Immortal Realm has always been a mainstay in the fight against darkness.

Now, the Immortal Realm is shattered, like a mirror broken into several pieces. One can imagine that one of the fragments, a true immortal who fought against the darkness, perished and fell into the nine heavens and ten earths. Thus, the immortal corpse was born.

This is the corpse calamity that Lingbao Tianzun was worried about.

Xu He told Lingbao Tianzun some inside information and speculations. He had been fighting alone all along, but now he had a powerful "comrade-in-arms" who also knew a lot about the truth. It was indeed possible to plan for the future.

"Therefore, within the Immortal Realm, there may very well be Corpse Immortals, or even a Corpse Calamity may have already occurred. Perhaps the Immortal Realm is no longer the true Immortal Realm." Lingbao Tianzun absorbed the secrets Xu He had revealed without any doubt, but spoke solemnly based on the existing information.

“No.” Xu He shook his head: “It’s not that simple. The situation in the Immortal Realm is much more complicated.”

Perhaps there are immortal corpses within the Immortal Realm that have been corrupted and resurrected against all odds, but the Immortal Realm will certainly continue to exist.

Because Ye Fan later sent Ji Ziyue and her daughter to the Immortal Realm, and both of them became immortals, nothing happened until Ye Fan conquered the Immortal Realm.

Perhaps this shows that this fragmented immortal realm is still peaceful.

Of course, it is also possible that only this fragment of the immortal realm is peaceful and stable, while other fragments of the immortal realm have truly experienced the calamity of immortal corpses, to the point that even peerless geniuses have been corrupted.

Perhaps, this seemingly peaceful immortal realm was also struck by a calamity of immortal corpses, but a powerful being quelled it all.

For a long time, this powerful being served as the backbone of the fight against the Immortal Corpse and even the darkness.

Xu He shared some of his conjectures with Lingbao Tianzun, and finally spoke, expressing his last remaining doubt: "Actually, there is another possibility, that is, the calamity of the immortal corpses has not yet erupted within this immortal realm."

"The Emperor is actually still alive, but he is neither in this realm nor in the Immortal Realm. He is in a strange space on the path to immortality."

As soon as Xu He finished speaking, Lingbao Tianzun's pupils suddenly contracted, and he immediately stood up.

The Emperor is still alive—this is a shocking secret. Lingbao Tianzun had long suspected where the Dark Emperor had disappeared to, but when he actually heard this news, he was still startled.

Why would an emperor corrupted by darkness insist on refining the two realms? He has already become a mortal immortal, and to use the lives of all beings in the two realms as a foundation to achieve the ultimate leap is undoubtedly a pipe dream.

To break into the Immortal Realm from the strange dimension, at least three Mortal Immortals need to work together.

Perhaps the Dark Emperor knew he had no allies, so he wanted to use the beings of both realms as thorns to break through the barrier of the Immortal Realm.

Then he entered the Immortal Realm, unleashed the Corpse Calamity, and began to corrupt the land.

So organized, and so clear.

"Perhaps the master behind that darkness is aware of all this and has been controlling the Emperor's actions all along."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lingbao Tianzun fell silent again.

Even though it has been revived, the future situation is still not optimistic.

Finally, he just said:
"When soldiers come, we will block them; when water comes, we will dam it. If we encounter the Emperor in the future, we will have no choice but to fight him."

Xu He was quite satisfied with Lingbao Tianzun:
"Let's go back to the original question."

"You asked me whether becoming an immortal is a state of being or a long life. I think it depends on whether you regard long life as a goal or a starting point."

"Whether it is true or not, I may not be able to say for sure, but fellow Daoist, would you be willing to fight alongside me up to the Immortal Realm to find out?"

Lingbao Tianzun's eyes flickered with indescribable thoughts, but he finally smiled freely, stood up, and said:
"The old Taoist priest went with the Heavenly Emperor."

(End of this chapter)