Shrouding the Heavens: The Ultimate Daoist Venerable

Chapter 52 The Second Life

"Heavenly Venerable, it's been 20,000 years. How have you been?" The speaker was an old man dressed in white, with white hair and a youthful face, naturally exuding a faint aura of immortality.

Liang Yu rubbed his forehead and said, "Ying Shenxiao, the moment I saw you, I almost thought you had defied the heavens and attained enlightenment. Let me guess, have you lived a second life?"

Ying Shenxiao laughed and said, "To be able to surprise the Heavenly Venerable, it's worth the two thousand years I've endured."

After a closer look, Liang Yu discovered that Ying Shenxiao was still within the category of unorthodox enlightenment. Even if he possessed the strongest Kunlun Immortal Blood in history, his lifespan would be at most ten thousand years, and now it was twenty thousand years later. If he hadn't sealed himself away, then he could only have lived a second life.

However, the extra two thousand years must have been extended using other methods. Liang Yu learned from a familiar aura emanating from him that Ying Shenxiao had likely used Kunlun Immortal Elixir to extend his lifespan by another two thousand years.

However, thinking about it this way, it's only because Ying Shenxiao left Kunlun Immortal Mountain that he doesn't have the elixir of immortality and finds it difficult to obtain the Nine-Turn Immortal Pill. Otherwise, his lifespan of 10,000 years in one lifetime and over 40,000 years in four lifetimes would be too outrageous.

Even now, his lifespan of over 20,000 years is still longer than that of some short-lived emperors in later generations.

Looking at the rising fighting spirit in Ying Shenxiao's eyes, Liang Yu said, "Do you want to fight me one more time as the end of your life?"

Ying Shenxiao pondered for a long time, but ultimately did not make a move.

He sighed, "Seeing you again this time, I know that I am no longer qualified to fight you."

In fact, Ying Shenxiao's strength at this time was already astonishing. He achieved enlightenment in a completely different way several hundred years after establishing the new Kunlun clan.

In the years that followed, although his strength did not improve much, he came infinitely closer to becoming a true enlightened being.

At this point, even ordinary cultivators who had attained the Dao would have to fight a fierce battle to defeat him, and even if they won, they would pay a heavy price, with a considerable chance of losing their lives. But if he couldn't attain the Dao, his strength would stagnate at this level.

While this level of strength is considerable, it's still far too small to challenge Liang Yu.

Liang Yu glanced at the ancient star created by Ying Shenxiao in the distance and said, "Do you want to become an immortal?"

Ying Shenxiao was taken aback and said, "Why does the Heavenly Venerable say such a thing?"

Liang Yu said, "I see that the new Kunlun Star that you built is right next to the path to immortality more than 100,000 years from now. I thought you were going to give it a try."

Ying Shenxiao frowned, his body shimmering with immortal light as he used the divination technique created by Bai Ze, the supreme being of the Kunlun clan. He quickly calculated the special characteristics of this place.

In fact, when Ying Shenxiao left that day, he thought he had just randomly chosen a suitable place, but it was actually guided by the Kunlun Immortal Blood. Or rather, it was the path to immortality that would open more than 100,000 years later that attracted him to this place.

Looking at his changing expression, Liang Yu said, "It seems you came here by accident. I advise you to leave with your ancient star as soon as possible, lest those who sever their own supreme beings come to challenge the path to immortality and swallow your people whole."

Ying Shenxiao's expression was uncertain as he said, "Celestial Venerable, you..."

"Do you want to ask me when I'm going to deal with the Supreme Being of the Forbidden Zone?" Liang Yu looked at Ying Shenxiao, who was somewhat hesitant, and immediately smiled.

Ying Shenxiao nodded. Over these twenty thousand years, he had finally reconciled with himself. He would still not attack Kunlun, the land of his origin, but he would also not interfere with its inevitable demise. However, his resolve to eliminate the other supreme beings had indeed become even stronger.

Liang Yu said, "I dare not say for sure when, but it will end completely at the latest when the path to immortality opens."

Ying Shenxiao said with a wry smile, "Then it seems I won't be able to wait until then."

Liang Yu hesitated for a moment, then said, "I can send you to another world, where you can continue to cultivate and improve your strength, and you can even achieve immortality."

Ying Shenxiao was slightly taken aback and said, "You can't possibly open the gate to the Immortal Realm, can you?" Liang Yu said, "You've got a good idea. Of course, it can't be the Immortal Realm. I'll give you a choice: seal yourself away for over 100,000 years, leave this world now, or perhaps pass away and die a few hundred years later."

Ying Shenxiao said, "My wish is not yet fulfilled, and of course I will not leave this world if I have the chance. However, no one who has attained enlightenment throughout history has lived for more than 100,000 years. How can I believe you can? You can't possibly cut yourself off, can you? Do you intend to enter the world you mentioned?"

Liang Yu shook his head: "There are some things I shouldn't tell you, but out of consideration for our past friendship, I'll reveal a little. Do you think you're the only one who can live a second life? I can live a second life right now, without the elixir of immortality or the Nine-Turn Immortal Pill."

Ying Shenxiao silently calculated that Liang Yu's current life spanned 22,000 years. If he were to live a reversed life, his lifespan would definitely exceed 25,000 years. With the addition of the immortal elixir and the Nine-Turn Immortal Pill, living to 100,000 years later was indeed not impossible.

Even over such a long period, he should be able to find a way to reverse his lifespan, which would extend it even further. As Liang Yu's greatest rival in the past, he had great confidence in this Celestial Venerable's talent.

Ying Shenxiao did not hesitate at all: "I choose to seal myself. Heavenly Venerable, I hope that more than 100,000 years from now, you can really achieve the extinction of the forbidden zone. I just want to participate in it and make my own contribution."

Ying Shenxiao wasn't interested in the suggestion to leave this world; he was only slightly curious about what kind of world it was.

Liang Yu said, "Then we'll meet again in the future. At that time, I will grant you immortality. After all, I don't have many old friends left."

Ying Shenxiao turned to leave, but suddenly stopped and struck out with his palm. Although there was no aura involved, it subtly affected the phenomena of heaven and earth and the void of the universe.

This is his self-created forbidden secret technique—the Myriad Realms King Seal, a method that allows one to coexist with heaven and earth, be the sole entity of all things, and transform into the ruler of heaven and earth to control everything.

Liang Yu had anticipated this, and his Kunlun Immortal Seal collided with the supernatural power. Vast stretches of starry sky collapsed silently, without revealing any of its power; only after the collision could one feel its terrifying force.

This Kunlun Immortal Seal comes from Kunlun Immortal Mountain. Although Liang Yu only simulated it using the Douzi Secret Technique based on his experience in combat and his understanding of Kunlun Immortal Mountain, it is still extremely miraculous.

Looking at his twisted and deformed arm and Liang Yu's unharmed appearance, Ying Shenxiao sighed, "It seems the difference is indeed huge."

Liang Yu laughed and said, "You really can't resist. If you want to go further, then wait until I awaken you. At that time, you will be reborn."

Ying Shenxiao departed, casually holding the Kunlun Star he had created in his palm, and disappeared into the end of the universe.

Liang Yu returned to Wuji Immortal Mountain and released the Desolate Tower, concealing all heavenly secrets. This was also to prevent interference from others.

Liang Yu mobilized his divine blood, slowly decomposing his own divine blood essence. The resulting divine power, under his control, combined with some of the immortal essence he had accumulated, to help him complete a great transformation.

In an instant, his blood and qi surged to the sky, and an even more immense aura arose, overwhelming the entire universe with its impenetrable pressure.

Liang Yu lived a second life. He did not sever the source of his divine blood, but instead transformed and decomposed it to promote the generation of immortal essence, thus transforming himself.

During this process, the Divine Emperor's phenomenal form merged with his physical body, and the Eternal Divine Kingdom also entered his body, becoming one with the Five Great Secret Realms and the Divine Laws.

Returning to simplicity and authenticity, becoming reserved and introspective – this is Liang Yu's current state. He no longer resembles a supreme ruler or emperor who controls life and death, but rather someone who has returned to the ordinary, serene, and natural.

After another leap in combat power, Liang Yu is now practically invincible. Unless Lingbao Tianzun completes his fifth incarnation, there is no one in the universe who can rival him.

Now that we've reached this point, it's time to set off for the ancient, primordial star.

Liang Yu had long wanted to go to this place, but because the Celestial Venerable of Morality had set up a great formation to hide its whereabouts, Liang Yu did not want to spend time searching for it, so he temporarily put it aside.

Even if the Celestial Venerable of Morality were to be resurrected, he might not be a match for him, so finding the ancient primordial star would not be difficult for him.

(End of this chapter)