Chapter 1817: Chapter 1463: One Era, One Immortal Emperor_2

Qing Yin heard this and remained silent for a long time. After a while, he spoke in a wistful tone: “During the Zhai Yang era, living beings were pessimistic and despondent, the Immortal World appeared somber, and people’s hearts were weary. Countless true immortals chose to end their own lives.”

“But now, in the Tianluo era, it is a major shift… Yet, the countless true immortals are so confident, which I fear might not be a good thing.”

The voice from beyond the heavens seemed somewhat dismissive, chuckled, and said: “Then let’s wait and see! I am just kindly reminding you.”

“Of course, if you insist on staying here at the Rotten Stump Dojo, you can do so. I can offer a small help. But in the future, you need to be more discreet, so as not to be discovered by other true immortals. Haha, if something happens later, don’t drag me into it. The newly ascended Tianluo Immortal Emperor is not as merciful as Zhai Yang.”

Qing Yin cupped his hands: “Rest assured, Brother Ling.”

Time and space seemed to freeze at this moment.

After the light and shadows shifted, countless years passed.

On this day, the true immortal surnamed Ling met Qing Yin again. This time, it was not a voice from beyond the heavens, but he personally came to the Rotten Stump Dojo.

The recorded light and shadow of the true immortal surnamed Ling twisted continuously, fluctuating, and even affected Qing Yin’s body.

“Damn it, the people of the Immortal World are truly crazy now. The Tianluo Immortal Emperor is the craziest of them all!”

“I felt something was amiss, so I decisively fled. But I reckon the Lower Realm Star Sea won’t be safe for long either. We brothers should plan early.” The true immortal surnamed Ling paced around, seeming very anxious.

Qing Yin, in contrast, remained as calm as ever.

But compared to the previous recorded light and shadow, he exuded more of a mysterious, transcendent aura, increasingly resembling the Lord Guardian Hill.

“I am a disciple of the Lord Guardian Hill, having received his legacy, and thus cannot easily leave.”

“However, I have a feeling that the Lord Guardian Hill may have already departed from this realm. I might be able to follow his footsteps.”

Upon hearing this, the true immortal surnamed Ling looked sideways, staring closely at Qing Yin, and said in shock: “You mean… the rumor is true?”

He appeared more urgent, his pacing increased, muttering: “Crossing the sea by boat, to another possible world. Ultimately, thoroughly transcending through endless mortal realms. Even as the sea is annihilated, I remain unscathed; even as mountains crumble, I still stand atop the peak…”

“Qing Yin, you must take me!”

Qing Yin said calmly: “You and I have been life-and-death friends since our humble beginnings. If I could achieve [Minor Transcendence], how could I not bring you along? But, I have received the legacy of the Guardian Hill, and if I wish to leave, I must first give an account to the Lord Guardian Hill.”

“An account?” The true immortal surnamed Ling seemed puzzled.

“The Lord Guardian Hill imparted the law, requiring us to leave an inheritor’s illusion to resist the path-obliterating calamity. Previously, doing so was feasible. But as time passes, it’s not the same as before. The tide of calamity is several times fiercer than before. The Lord Guardian Hill, with his profound creation, might be able to withstand it using an illusion. But for us juniors…”

“Nothing but futile efforts. Moreover, those who dare to risk their lives to condense an illusion might still be harmed by the Tao Yan Tide. Even for those who sacrifice themselves to create illusions, it’s akin to a drop in the ocean against the current Tao Yan Tide.”

The true immortal surnamed Ling nodded in agreement: “That Tianluo Immortal Emperor has gone mad, doing things that are either successful or lead to death. He even attracts a large group to follow him in madness. Alas, it’s all the Lord Guardian Hill’s fault for giving them such an illusion!”

Qing Yin neither agreed nor disagreed, not mentioning the Lord Guardian Hill, but continued speaking about his own situation: “Although I am unwilling about the task of condensing an inheritor’s illusion, I still bear the duty. It isn’t something I can completely discard just by saying it’s impossible.”

“Although the Lord Guardian Hill has fled, the restrictions he left behind are not ones we can disregard.”

“This is the price of accepting the Lord Guardian Hill’s legacy. He clearly told me during the transmission of this power. However, the method of transcendence was too alluring. At that time, it seemed the path-obliterating calamity was entirely suppressed, so I wholeheartedly agreed.” Qing Yin sounded a bit helpless.

“Ha, truly is a moment in time, a moment out of time.” The true immortal surnamed Ling casually commented and then started to ponder seriously.

“Is it still necessary to fulfill the duty of bearing the Dao? Let me think.”

After a while, he suddenly clapped his hands: “I have a plan!”

At this critical juncture, the light and sound suddenly dimmed together.

What Li Buren witnessed again froze for a while.

Once it started operating again, the last segment of recorded imagery was played.

Qing Yin himself and the inheritor’s illusion he had condensed stood opposite each other.

The true immortal surnamed Ling said with a sense of pride: “Qing Yin, how is my plan of substituting concepts? Since we cannot endure the genuine path-obliterating calamity, let’s create a miniature one that your strength can withstand. Anyway, the situation is already riddled with holes, one more won’t matter!”

“Plug that gap, then you’ve given the Lord Guardian Hill an account and have left an inheritor’s illusion!”

Qing Yin looked silently at his own illusion before him and sighed: “Two star domains, countless living beings, all dying because of us… Not my intention.”

“Why worry so much! If these people don’t escape, they’ll die sooner or later. By fulfilling our minor transcendence, we’ve done something useful before dying!” The true immortal surnamed Ling said indifferently.

Qing Yin silently nodded.

He lightly pointed at the inheritor’s illusion before him, and the illusion soared into the sky and disappeared without a trace.

Qing Yin was briefly lost in thought. Shortly after, he raised his head, gazing in a particular direction, and spoke again with a hint of joy: “Having cut all ties, I can leave now.”

For some unknown reason, Qing Yin took one last look in the direction Li Buren was watching.

After completing this cross-time gaze, the recorded figure faded away entirely.

…

After a long time, Li Buren finally regained his senses.

This recorded imagery from the experimental field, a dialogue between presumably nameless immortals, contained a lot of cryptic information.

“Epoch. Zhai Yang Immortal Emperor, Tianluo Immortal Emperor.”

Li Buren did not expect that the epochs of the Immortal World were not fixed in years.

The length of an epoch was determined by the specific time the ruling Immortal Emperor was in power.

“Seven million years is not longevity. True immortals, indeed, are a different species from mortals.”

“And that Immortal of the Guarded Hill, or rather Lord Guardian Hill, actually lived through one hundred twenty-three epochs…”

A rough calculation derived an intimidating number.

“Besides, what the true immortal surnamed Ling spoke, life and dao are one. Yet later, he mentioned that living for millions of years was already more than enough. What does this mean? Could it be that the lifespan of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth is only million years? How is this possible?”

Li Fan, now having divine sense resonating with the Dao Network, never perceived a lifespan limit regarding the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.

“The recorded imagery from the experimental field wouldn’t fabricate such details.”

“Could it be…”

Li Fan suddenly had a thought.

He recalled his previous speculation that Tao Yan and Infinite Sea belonged to the same source.

“Tao obliterates Tao, while the surviving Tao’s inherent limitations gradually disappear.”

“Has the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth become stronger under the baptism of the path-obliterating calamity than in ancient times?” Li Fan was uncertain.

It might be possible that the fluctuation of Tao is simply an inherent attribute of Tao.

Simply with the added threat of the path-obliterating calamity, Tao slowly underwent changes over time.

However, regardless, the limit of true immortals, and even nameless immortals, is at most tens of millions of years. Still, it caused a small disappointment for Li Fan.

The distance to Li Fan’s true goal of longevity remained far away.

“But the Lord Guardian Hill, having experienced a hundred calamities, hundreds of Immortal Emperors, and unfading, already approaches the ultimate I seek.”