Black Dog

Immortal Ancient Era, Nine Heavens Ten Earths, Willow God Dojo.

Willow God emerged from her seclusion and gazed solemnly at the Chat Group bound to her.

Whether she examined her Primordial Spirit or her physical body, she could not detect any trace of the Chat Group. Yet she could sense that it was upon her, that they shared an exceedingly mysterious connection.

Even with her methods, she could not pry into it in the slightest. This showed just how formidable the Chat Group was. Then what realm had its Group Owner reached?

"An opportunity sufficient to break through to the Immortal Emperor Realm... it is hard not to be tempted."

Willow God sighed. At her realm, ordinary external things could no longer move her.

Aside from the Great Dao, fame, profit, and power were not worth mentioning.

But breaking through the Immortal King Realm was simply too difficult.

This was no longer a bottleneck that talent alone could resolve. It required luck, foundations, and a fortuitous opportunity capable of changing heaven and earth.

The Immortal Emperor Realm had always been a legend. No one knew how many tens of thousands of years had passed since one last appeared.

Given Willow God's nature, she disdained using other methods to forcibly raise her realm. She had always believed that she could break through to become an Immortal Emperor. Though it was difficult, she would reach it one day.

It was simply that this era did not leave her much time. The battle between the Foreign Land and the Nine Heavens Ten Earths was deadlocked, and the gap between their top-level forces was enormous. Even if she could take on several Immortal Kings of the same realm by herself, she could not change the outcome.

Furthermore, Immortal Kings were already extremely difficult to kill. In a sense, they were undying and indestructible; with a single thought, they could revive within the River of Time.

If the final war of the era began, the Nine Heavens Ten Earths would likely collapse. Countless living beings would bleed and die, suffering near-total annihilation.

At such a time, an Immortal Emperor could change the outcome of the war of the era, perhaps even directly destroy the Foreign Land.

Or perhaps a Quasi-Immortal Emperor would suffice.

That was why Willow God had begun to consider the Immortal Emperor opportunity offered by the Chat Group.

"Fellow Daoist Willow God!"

At that moment, a voice came from outside the dojo. Willow God vanished in an instant.

Within a grove formed entirely from Willow Trees, lush greenery stretched as far as the eye could see, brimming with vitality.

Several figures stood beneath the trees. All of them were among the foremost powers of the Nine Heavens Ten Earths.

They were Willow God's friends: Six Paths Reincarnation Immortal King, No End Immortal King, Nine Leaf Sword Grass, Thunder Emperor, and Gu.

"You are here."

Willow God's expression was calm. A faint glow veiled her face, obscuring her true appearance, but her slender figure and white robes were incomparably elegant.

"Willow God, have you truly decided to go to the Foreign Land?" Six Paths Reincarnation Immortal King asked.

At present, several peak experts of the Nine Heavens Ten Earths had devised a plan to buy time. They would have one top expert infiltrate deep into enemy territory and stir up chaos in the Foreign Land, though this might provoke the siege of several Kings of Immortality.

Willow God was the key to carrying out this plan. She intended to challenge the Kings of Immortality in the Foreign Land, but the outcome would likely be certain death.

Even with them providing cover, the risk was still far too great.

The Nine Heavens Ten Earths could not afford to lose an Immortal King-level expert.

"Mm." Willow God nodded.

"Impressive."

No End Immortal King stood with his back to the group and gave a thumbs-up.

His silhouette conveyed the lonely chill of standing at great heights, his bearing peerless.

Only, beside him crouched a huge Black Dog as tall as a man. What was more, the Black Dog wore a loose Daoist robe, looking absurdly like a man.

"Willow God, do you have a legacy? Why not leave some behind? This Emperor will inherit it for you." The Black Dog spoke, its eyes blazing.

The corners of its dog mouth curled upward. Though it was covered in immortal aura, it radiated a trace of slyness.

Smack!

Willow God's eyes flashed. A Willow Branch appeared out of thin air in the Void and viciously lashed the Black Dog's backside.

"Yow yow yow—"

Black Empress Clan rolled all over the ground, yelping miserably.

"Well struck! Little Black, you are just a dog, yet you want to lay your paws on Willow God's legacy?" No End Immortal King said, still with his back to everyone.

"No End, this Emperor is doing it so Willow God's legacy will not be cut off. Perhaps it could produce another peak Immortal King." The Black Dog barked loudly.

"Willow God's Dao cannot be replicated," Six Paths Reincarnation Immortal King said.

"Willow God, go and fight without worry. If you truly meet with misfortune and fall, I will kill a few more Kings of Immortality for you," Thunder Emperor said.

Thunder Emperor was a being born from the Thunder Pool. He was innately in command of the laws of lightning, capable of destroying all things. Even Kings of Immortality greatly feared his Thunder Technique.

At this time, Thunder Emperor had not yet entered the Immortal King Realm. He merely possessed an Immortal King body, yet even so, he could kill Immortal Kings with the power of lightning laws.

Moreover, his talent was monstrous. Among all the Immortal Kings, he was the one most likely to break through into that realm.

"Thunder Emperor, protect yourself well. Do not perish too early. If both your physical body and Primordial Spirit enter the Immortal King Realm, your strength will be no less than mine, perhaps even surpassing it," Willow God said.

"What a pity. I also want to go to the Foreign Land." Nine Leaf Sword Grass yawned, looking lazy and listless, but in truth, it was a terrifyingly murderous figure, fiercer even than a King of Immortality.

Gu wore black robes and remained silent throughout. He did not say much, as though he were contemplating something.

Afterward, they brewed tea and discussed the Dao at Willow God Dojo, exchanging insights on Immortal Arts, the strengths and weaknesses of the Immortal King Realm, and the direction of their next steps.

Throughout the Immortal Ancient Era, the word "immortal" ran through all of antiquity. If not for the Dark Turmoil of the Foreign Land, perhaps it would have been the most perfect era.

The cultivators of this age were peaceful, kind, gentle, and courteous.

"Now that I think about it, No End has already sat down. Why are you still facing away from us? What are you hiding?"

"Exactly, exactly!"

"You do not understand. This is a kind of Dao!"

"Bah, he is just showing off to attract the admiration of those immortal maidens."

Black Empress Clan spoke with a look of contempt.

Only because the man and dog were so close did the Black Dog dare provoke an Immortal King.

"Willow God, to see you off, we are having immortal-grade dog meat today!"

"True Immortal-level dog meat is no worse than true dragon meat!"

Nine Leaf Sword Grass's eyes gleamed with a sinister light as it drooled.

"No End, if you die in battle someday, you would not want no one to see you off, would you?" the Black Dog roared.

"Stew him!"

Shrouding the Heavens World, modern era, a villa district in a certain city.

"The four directions above and below are called space; from ancient times to the present is called time."

In the study, Ye Fan put down the yellowed Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine and pondered the Chat Group, unable to stop ripples from stirring in his heart.

"Immortals... can I cultivate too? What a world to long for," Ye Fan murmured.

Since childhood, he had been fascinated by tales of ancient qi refinement. He had read countless ancient and modern texts, even memorizing them backward and forward. But they had ultimately been nothing more than legends. In this age of declining Dharma, where could immortals possibly exist? The Group Owner said I can cultivate. He seems to know something about my world, but how am I supposed to cultivate? Could it be through transmigration?

Ye Fan had read some web novels and was particularly interested in the primordial chaos genre. After all, they mentioned many mythological figures and spun fantastical tales about them; there were also books about transmigrating into those worlds.

As far as he was concerned, cultivating in the modern age was simply impossible. There were no cultivation techniques and no spiritual energy. Transmigration was the only path.

"Could it be that I need to find a car to run me over, or get electrocuted by a leaking socket?" Ye Fan shook his head slightly, finding the idea too ridiculous.