Two Realms High Martial Arts: Gathering the Heavens to Become a Great Luo Immortal

Chapter 450 The Truth Behind the Rumors, The Real Origin, The Land of the Underworld

On the top floor of the Sutra Repository, the candlelight was dim, illuminating the ancient patterns on the dragon-patterned stone tablet and the slightly desolate bright yellow figure.

The old emperor, who stood with his hands behind his back, did not turn around immediately. He continued to gaze at the ancient characters and dragon patterns on the stone tablet that he knew by heart. His aged voice, filled with complex emotions, echoed softly in the silent top floor: "The Emperor's Dragon Fist—this national treasure, I sat in meditation before this tablet for ten years before I even began to grasp its essence. It took me another sixty years to finally condense the embryonic form of the true dragon."

He slowly turned around, his slightly cloudy but still sharp eyes looking at Li Xijun, his gaze filled with scrutiny and emotion.

A mixture of relief and even a hint of indescribable loneliness mingled together.

"I never imagined that the Great Xia would produce such an extraordinary talent as you."

The old emperor's gaze seemed to penetrate Li Xijun's composed and restrained aura, reaching a deeper source. "You have cultivated the 'Emperor's Dragon Fist' to a level that even I could not have imagined. No wonder, no wonder the 'Holy Emperor's Dragon Manifestation'—that extraordinary phenomenon of humanity—was so magnificent and awe-inspiring when you attained the Dao Body."

"When I sensed it in the secret realm, I felt that my own meager True Dragon Dao aura paled in comparison, and I was ashamed of my inferiority."

"I'm afraid that even the founding emperor of our Great Xia Dynasty back then, in terms of the purity and vastness of this fist intent alone, could not match it."

Li Xijun, his expression calm, slowly stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with the old emperor. He too gazed at the stone tablet bearing the supreme imperial legacy, his tone carrying a perfectly measured humility: "Your Majesty flatters me. My current state is indeed inseparable from the foundation laid by this supreme divine skill of the imperial family. If it weren't for the 'Emperor's Dragon Fist' allowing me to early comprehend the true meaning of human destiny and the flame of civilization, my 'Human Form' might not have grown to the point where it could rival the 'Heavenly Form' and the 'Earthly Form,' ultimately reaching the state of unity among the three."

His words were not unfounded. The Dharma Image of the Ziwei Heavenly Emperor benefited from the "Four Symbols of the Heavens and Stars Technique" to govern the star sea, the Dharma Image of the Fengdu Great Emperor was based on the "Three Lives and Tribulations Sword Manual" to delve into reincarnation, and the Dharma Image of the Fuxi Holy Emperor was able to carry civilization and evolve humanity. Its earliest and most important support was this "Emperor Dragon Fist".

Upon hearing this, Li Longhao's eyes showed even greater understanding. He nodded and stopped pressing the matter.

He has come here today, clearly on important business.

"The reason I have appeared here today is not only to see you, the new emperor, and to put an end to a matter on my mind, but more importantly, to tell you some news."

"Oh? Your Majesty, please speak." Li Xijun's eyes flickered slightly.

"It's about the White Tiger Saintess, Li Qinghan," the old emperor said slowly.

Li Xijun's eyes instantly became more focused.

Li Qinghan had left without saying goodbye for nearly a month. Although he vaguely sensed that she was alright, her exact whereabouts remained a mystery. Hearing the old emperor mention it now, he naturally asked with concern, "Does Your Majesty know where my sister is?"

"Hmm." Li Longhao nodded. "If I am not mistaken, she should be with the trapped Azure Dragon Venerable at this moment."

"Now that you have attained the Dharma Body and possess the supreme inheritance of the Sword Sect, the Three Lives Cycle Sword Manual, that place may no longer be a dead end for you, but rather a place of opportunity and responsibility."

"Where?" Li Xijun pressed.

"The Land of the Dead." When Li Longhao uttered these four words, a barely perceptible hint of embarrassment and regret flashed across his face.

He paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts, before explaining, "That place—is the remnant of the grotto-heaven of an ancient true immortal known as the 'Yellow Springs Ghost Immortal.'"

"In ancient times, the order of heaven and earth was not yet established, and reincarnation was not manifest. When all living beings died, their souls did not enter the cycle of reincarnation, but were instead led to the land of the Yellow Springs, where they were ruled and controlled by the ghosts and immortals of the Yellow Springs, never to be liberated. This was truly a great calamity for all living beings."

"Later, the exceptionally talented True Immortal Ancestor of the Sword Sect, moved by the cruelty of this calamity, and for the sake of all living beings, angrily drew his sword!"

Li Longhao's tone carried a hint of emotion, as if he had personally witnessed that earth-shattering sword strike that transcended countless ages. "He used his entire life's cultivation to unleash his supreme sword path—the very highest sword manual containing the true meaning of 'three lifetimes of reincarnation'—in the depths of the Nine Netherworlds, at the source of the Yellow Springs, to battle the Yellow Springs Ghost Immortal."

"In the end, the Sword Immortal Ancestor struck with his sword, nearly annihilating the Yellow Spring Ghost Immortal in both body and soul. His grotto-heaven dojo also collapsed in large part, the remnants becoming the Yellow Spring Dead Land we see today."

"Since then, the Yellow Springs' forceful attraction of the souls of all living beings has greatly diminished, and the spontaneously generated order of reincarnation between heaven and earth has gradually become apparent and perfected. It can be said that the sword strike of the Sword Sect's founder cleaved a path to rebirth for future generations."

Li Xijun listened quietly, understanding the situation.

It turns out that the "Three Lives Tribulation Sword Manual" has such a glorious record and origin, and is specifically designed to counter the ways of the Yellow Springs Ghost Immortals.

If what the old emperor said is true, and the Azure Dragon Venerable and Li Qinghan are trapped in the Yellow Springs, then for him, a newly ascended Dharma Body who possesses the orthodox sword sect's inheritance and has integrated the essence of the sword manual into his own Great Dao, the danger there is indeed greatly reduced. There might even be some kind of opportunity due to the attraction of the same origin of the cultivation method.

But a hint of doubt immediately arose in his eyes as he looked at Li Longhao: "Since Your Majesty knows of this place and has mentioned that the Azure Dragon Venerable is trapped—now that the world has undergone great changes and spiritual energy has been restored, and Your Majesty's injuries seem to have mostly recovered, why not go to the rescue yourself instead of just informing me?"

Upon hearing this, Li Longhao's embarrassment deepened. He coughed dryly and waved his hand, saying, "The Azure Dragon Venerable and I—cough cough—those rumors from the outside world are mostly fabrications and speculations. In all my centuries of life, my only desire has been to become an immortal. Romantic desires have long since faded."

"Back then, my collaboration with her was mostly about exploring ancient secret realms and seeking immortality together; it was simply a matter of each getting what they needed."

"This time in the land of the Yellow Springs—alas, I was a bit too arrogant. Relying on my knowledge of some ancient secrets, I acted too recklessly and inadvertently triggered the restriction and resentment left in a finger bone of a Yellow Springs ghost immortal."

"Although that finger bone was just a remnant, it originated from a true immortal and possessed terrifying power. I was lucky to escape despite being severely injured. Although the Azure Dragon Venerable was ranked first on the Earth Ranking at the time, he was still not a Dharma Body and his reaction speed could not match my explosive escape speed. He was suppressed and imprisoned by the residual power of that finger bone."

"Although I have recovered most of my injuries and my strength has greatly increased after the celestial upheaval, I also feel that I can hardly accomplish anything on my own. Furthermore, I sensed that Qinghan, that girl, seems to have been drawn into the Yellow Springs by some kind of power due to her special bloodline, so I—"

The old emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear:

In the face of danger, he ran away first, and he did so with a clear conscience.

After all, they weren't Daoist partners, but merely adventurers. When disaster struck, they would each go their separate ways. To this old monster, who was single-mindedly pursuing immortality and indifferent to human relationships, there was little psychological burden.

Li Xijun's eyes twitched slightly as he listened, gaining a new understanding of the pragmatism of this "former emperor".

But then another question popped into his head: "If His Majesty and the Azure Dragon Venerable are not in that kind of relationship, then what about my sister—"

"The origin of poverty —"

Li Longhao hesitated for a moment, but finally said, "I promised the Azure Dragon Venerable that I would not reveal the truth to outsiders. However, I can tell you that Qinghan's birth was indeed quite special, not an ordinary birth."

"Back then, I collaborated with the Azure Dragon Venerable to explore an ancient ruin. We stumbled upon a secret from antiquity and a strange object. To verify a certain hypothesis, and also to—well, to settle a karmic debt, we each sacrificed a portion of our primordial essence and decades of arduous cultivation, using a special secret method to activate that strange object, ultimately helping 'her' to manifest and be born."

"Therefore, Qinghan can be said to possess some of our bloodline traits and power origins. He is naturally intelligent and has exceptional talent. Moreover, he is connected to the aura of the Azure Dragon Venerable. It is not surprising that he can cultivate the 'Emperor's Aura Observation Technique' and sense its location."

Li Xijun suddenly realized.

So that's how it is. This explains why Li Qinghan was in a place like Beiman when she was young, and why she was able to naturally enter the Palace of Stars and be chosen as the White Tiger Saintess when she grew up. She was a special existence who combined the strengths of the royal family and the Azure Dragon Venerable, with extraordinary talent and good fortune.

"So my sister's background is extraordinary."

Li Xijun sighed softly, feeling even more pity and understanding for Li Qinghan.

This manner of birth destined her to remain a mystery, burdened with a unique karmic debt.

"but,"

Li Longhao changed the subject, looking at Li Xijun with a calm expression, "Since I have no children and aspire to the path of immortality, worldly power and the continuation of bloodlines are nothing to me. Whether Qinghan is my biological daughter or not has no impact on your consolidation of the throne. I am telling you this today not to coerce or beg you."

He paused, his gaze becoming distant, but his tone was exceptionally earnest: "However, if possible—I hope that in the future you will become engaged to Qinghan, and ideally, that your children will inherit the Great Xia dynasty. This is not my obsession, but—I have a feeling that this might resolve some karmic ties, and it might not be a bad thing for Qinghan, for you, or even for the fate of this dynasty. Of course, this is only my opinion; the final decision rests entirely with you two."

Li Xijun remained silent for a moment, then met the old emperor's gaze and slowly nodded: "Qinghan and I have been companions since childhood, and our bond is deep. If she is willing, I will naturally marry her. As for the matter of having offspring—"

Just go with the flow. Now that I sit in this position, I will protect her and treat this vast land with kindness.

He readily agreed, partly out of his feelings for Li Qinghan, and partly because it aligned with his interests and emotional orientation.

In a way, the old emperor's "suggestion" actually helped him clear away some potential criticisms and obstacles.

Upon hearing this, Li Longhao's face revealed a faint smile of relief, as if a long-held worry had been lifted. He looked deeply at Li Xijun again, then cupped his hands and said, "In that case, I am at ease. The Land of the Yellow Springs is located west of the Western Regions, beyond the Ancient Desert of Burial Souls. There is a secluded valley where yin energy gathers year-round, and all living beings are extinct. The entrance is in the Nine Nether Rift at the deepest part of the valley. With your current cultivation and the ability to sense the Sword Codex, you will be able to find it yourself. That is all I have to say."

After saying this, his figure began to slowly fade, as if blending into the candlelight and shadows, with only his last words remaining: "The world is undergoing dramatic changes, and many ancient ruins and lost grottoes will appear in the world. This is the time for us to seek immortals and cultivate ourselves diligently."

"Now that my frail body has recovered, it is time for me to continue my journey. I entrust the Great Xia empire to you. I hope that one day on the path to immortality, we will meet again."

As the voice faded away, the old emperor was no longer seen on the top floor of the Sutra Repository. Only the dragon-patterned stone tablet remained standing quietly, along with a faint trace of the Daoist aura of a true dragon that had not yet completely dissipated in the air.

Li Xijun stood alone, gazing in the direction where the old emperor had disappeared, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

The Land of the Underworld, the remains of the Underworld Immortal, the trapped Azure Dragon Venerable, and Li Qinghan who has gone in pursuit —

"It seems I need to make a trip to the 'Yellow Springs' (the underworld)."

"But this is fine too. I need a suitable partner to break through to the Yang God realm, and it's a good opportunity to go and see the Yellow Springs."

"If the remains of the Yellow Spring Ghost Immortal are removed by then, and the environment is suitable, this kind of True Immortal's Grotto-heaven would be a good choice."

Having confirmed that the situation in the Great Xia Dynasty was not in any major danger during his absence, and after spending several nights in the rooms of Mu Wanqiu and Su Manniang respectively, Li Xijun did not delay any longer and quietly left the capital, heading west.

Soon after, Li Xijun entered the Western Regions.

This dramatic change in the world has caused a surge of spiritual energy to sweep across the land. The changes are particularly noticeable in the vast and mysterious Western Regions, which have even taken on a bizarre and fantastical quality.

What were once scattered and struggling small oases have now sprung up like mushrooms after rain.

Many ancient riverbeds that had been dry for countless years have begun to seep clear springs again, and stubborn green shoots have emerged from the turbid saline-alkali land. In some low-lying areas, even sparkling new lakes have formed, with water vapor nourishing the rapidly growing poplar, tamarisk, and sea buckthorn forests around them.

Following the directions given by the old emperor Li Longhao, Li Xijun headed west, passing through several large oasis city-states that were thriving due to the revival of spiritual energy, traversing a Gobi Desert adorned with newly formed lakes and strange luminous plants, and finally arriving at a desolate place known as the "Ancient Desert of Burial Souls".

The place here is completely different from the vibrant surroundings. The sky seems perpetually shrouded in a hazy gloom, making it difficult for sunlight to penetrate.

The ground was a deathly black gravel, barren of any vegetation, and even the most tenacious sand scorpions and venomous insects had vanished without a trace.

A chilling, deathly stillness permeated the air, as if it could freeze one's blood and extinguish life.

Ordinary martial artists who stay in this place for too long will die from exhaustion of life force and weakened spirit without any external attack.

Li Xijun hovered at the edge of the ancient desert, his brows slightly furrowed.

The heavy yin energy and intense sense of death in this place are truly extraordinary, faintly connected to some yin vein deep within the earth.

He unleashed his divine sense, which swept across the entire ancient desert like invisible ripples.

A moment later, at the very center of the ancient desert, at the edge of a massive, bottomless fissure in the Nine Netherworld Rift that constantly emanated grayish-white cold air, he sensed an unusual spatial fluctuation.

The fluctuation was extremely subtle. If he hadn't already become a Dharma Body, with a divine sense far surpassing that of a Grandmaster, and possessed sword dao insights involving time, space, and causality, he would have found it almost impossible to detect.

"This is it."

Li Xijun flashed and appeared above the Nine Nether Rift.