Chapter 1933: A Dual Breakthrough—Perfection of the Golden Immortal Realm (Part 2)

Perhaps for other Golden Immortals, several thousand years wouldn’t mean much in terms of growth.

But for Jiang Chengxuan, things were different. He had access to opportunities on a whole other level: the Nine-Wonder Bodhi Lantern, the power of merit and faith, and even the heaven-defying existence of the System!

“Hu–!”

At that moment, as his aura gradually stabilized, Jiang Chengxuan let out a long breath of turbid air.

Instantly, the entire universe within his Golden Immortal domain trembled, and even the surrounding world shook in resonance!

He slowly opened his eyes–within them, a deep ancient calmness mingled with a faint trace of joy.

Now, Jiang Chengxuan’s strength was no weaker than the former master of this ancient Golden Immortal grotto-heaven.

“What a wondrous land…”

With the celestial phenomena of the Golden Immortal Universe now withdrawn, Jiang Chengxuan rose slowly, full of emotion.

Strangely, he could even understand the longing of that ancient Golden Immortal who had tried to live another life.

At this level of cultivation, he was but one step away from the Great Luo Golden Immortal Realm–just a step away from true eternity, freedom, and immortality.

To die of old age at such a height–what a bitter fate that would be.

Of course, Jiang Chengxuan didn’t believe he would meet such an end. He was at his peak now.

He had already stepped into the perfection of the Golden Immortal Realm, and with the System assisting him on the path to the heavens, his confidence and determination toward the Immortal Dao far surpassed that of others.

He would not fade away into the endless river of time.

“It’s time to leave.”

After a moment, Jiang Chengxuan no longer lingered. He had fully explored this Golden Immortal grotto-heaven.

With a wave of his hand, he lifted the restrictions and opened the exit of the sacrificial realm.

Soaring upward, he suddenly sensed a familiar presence.

“Cloud Ancestor?”

Jiang Chengxuan was slightly surprised to sense the arrival of Elder Yunshi (Cloud Ancestor). He hadn’t expected him to follow him here.

Just as he exited, the elder clearly sensed his presence too and immediately came to greet him.

Beaming, full of warmth and laughter, he exclaimed:

“Hahaha! I’ve been waiting for you a long time. Congratulations, Daoist Chengxuan! Congratulations on obtaining yet another great fortune and stepping into a realm of grand creation!”

Hearing this, Jiang Chengxuan also smiled, his face radiant with joy. He cupped his hands in return and replied:

“Thank you for the kind words, Cloud Ancestor.”

Then, Jiang Chengxuan also noticed that Yunshi Elder’s aura was different from before–stronger and more profound.

Immediately, he deduced something and offered his own congratulations:

“It seems Cloud Ancestor has also gained great benefit here, breaking through a bottleneck. Congratulations indeed!”

“Hahaha!”

This naturally delighted Elder Yunshi even more, and he laughed heartily.

He had indeed used the remnants of the ancient Golden Immortal’s insights to smoothly break through to the mid-stage of the Golden Immortal Realm.

After all, the dispersed insights left behind were quite substantial–more than enough to help him shatter his bottleneck.

“This time, I truly owe it to you, young friend!”

“I originally came here intending to support you, but never expected you to have already handled everything!”

Smiling, Elder Yunshi recounted all that had happened since he arrived.

In his words, there was a tone of gratitude and fortune–that he had ignored Elder Tianjian’s decision to leave and ventured in alone.

Had he missed this opportunity, he didn’t know how many more years–if ever–it would take to break through.

At the same time, he was glad Tianjian didn’t follow. Otherwise, the two might have ended up fighting over the spoils.

“Many thanks for your concern, Cloud Ancestor. It seems the heavens had their own designs.”

Hearing this, Jiang Chengxuan was genuinely touched and acknowledged Elder Yunshi’s goodwill.

After all, in a place like this ancient Golden Immortal grotto-heaven, even Golden Immortals might face life-or-death trials.

To have a friend who genuinely worried for him in such times was a rare treasure, no matter the motivations.

“What lies beneath that ancient Golden Immortal grotto-heaven? Can you tell me, young friend?”

Now curious about the world beneath the bronze coffin, Elder Yunshi couldn’t help but ask Jiang Chengxuan.

Jiang Chengxuan merely smiled, having no intention to hide anything, and began recounting the entire story.

“Hiss–! So that’s what it was! No wonder this place felt so strange!”

“These ancient Golden Immortals… none of them were simple. Each one was terrifying beyond belief…”

“If not for you, young friend, with your unmatched strength, that peril might have ended in disaster!”

Now understanding the dark secrets of the grotto-heaven, Elder Yunshi was stunned, gasping in disbelief.

A being nearly equal to a Great Luo Golden Immortal had plotted to live a second life, laying out a scheme for millions of years, using Golden Immortals as sacrificial pawns–truly staggering!

It wasn’t hard to imagine what might have happened had they been drawn into that sacrificial realm…

“Yes. In the Immortal Realm, things are always this way–fortune and danger go hand in hand.”

Jiang Chengxuan agreed, which was precisely why he always treaded carefully.

And truthfully, that battle had indeed been extremely dangerous–even he had nearly been caught off guard and suffered a loss.

“There are no more secrets left in this grotto-heaven. Let’s return to the sect.”

“Very well! I’ll follow your lead, young friend–let’s go.”

With that, the two no longer lingered.

Satisfied and invigorated, they turned into brilliant streaks of light and soared into the sky.

…

For the Ancient Realm, five thousand years wasn’t an especially long time.

Thus, when Jiang Chengxuan returned to the Haoran Immortal Sect, aside from its increased prosperity, not much had changed.

And once back, the first person he wished to see–of course–was Shen Ruyan.

When he found her, she was seated in a grand hall, handling sect affairs,

Sitting alone behind a jade desk, her elegant brows slightly furrowed, a faint trace of worry on her face.

“My lady, I’ve returned.”

At the sound of his voice at the hall’s entrance, Shen Ruyan looked up, her face instantly lighting up with brilliance.

Without a moment of hesitation, she put down her work, tapped her foot lightly,

Her white robes fluttered, and in a flash she flew into Jiang Chengxuan’s arms like a swallow returning to its nest.

“My husband! You’ve returned!”

To Shen Ruyan, nothing brought her more joy and peace than seeing Jiang Chengxuan return safely.

All her worries disappeared like dust the moment she saw him.

“Mm. Some unexpected events occurred… I made you wait.”

Holding her gently in his arms, Jiang Chengxuan’s voice was soft and warm.

Originally, he had planned to obtain the Golden Immortal insights and return to the sect before breaking through.

But plans couldn’t keep up with change, and five thousand years had slipped by.

Emotions welling, Jiang Chengxuan lifted Shen Ruyan in his arms, and the two sat together behind the jade desk, leaning close without speaking for a long while.

Only after a long time, once their emotions had calmed, did Jiang Chengxuan begin to tell her everything that had happened in the ancient Golden Immortal grotto-heaven.

Of course, compared to what he told Elder Yunshi, he omitted the most dangerous parts.

Through it all, Shen Ruyan rested in his embrace, listening more intently than even during her own cultivation,

Often gasping in surprise or exclaiming in awe, completely immersed in his tale.

“These two Golden Immortal treasures–I want you to have them. They suit you perfectly.”

When recounting the part about slaying the ancient Golden Immortal, Jiang Chengxuan smiled and produced two treasures,

Suspending them in the air.

Instantly, the entire hall was filled with majestic immortal energy. Divine light shimmered in layers, profound and radiant.

They were none other than the treasures taken from the ancient Golden Immortal: a treasure vase and an unnamed sacrificial curved dagger.

“This… how could I accept this…? You often enter perilous battles against powerful enemies. These treasures–”

Seeing them, Shen Ruyan was stunned, her whole body trembling. Instead of accepting them, she tried to persuade him otherwise.

To her, cultivation resources given by Jiang Chengxuan could be accepted with gratitude,

Since they weren’t especially useful to him and served their shared goal.

But these two treasures clearly had far greater value in Jiang Chengxuan’s hands. Accepting them would go against her principles.

However, Jiang Chengxuan had already anticipated this.

With gentle reasoning, he eventually convinced her to accept both treasures.

At his level, what mattered was not the quantity of treasures, but their quality.

And the many treasures he already possessed were more than enough to shake the heavens.