Crisis and the Immortal World

"What's up?"

Ning Qi's words made the Holy Ancestor Hai Zu, who had just been immersed in joy, feel uneasy.

There was no way around it; the smile on that kid's face was just too eerie, and it didn't look like he was up to anything good.

Ning Qi and his two companions hovered beside the central peak.

Below the cliff they had seen earlier was a huge plaza, seemingly built specifically for people to contemplate and meditate below.

At that moment, Ning Qi pointed to the plaza in the mountains and said, "Let's talk there."

The Holy Ancestor Haizu could only follow him as he descended.

The three entered the plaza, which was covered with Dao Patterns. Upon entering, they felt their minds clear and it was very easy to fall into a state of enlightenment.

It seems that too many people have sought enlightenment here in the past, which has changed the environment. In addition, the presence of a magic array inscribed by immortals has caused this phenomenon.

Ning Qi was in no hurry to tell the two of them, but instead looked around the entire square.

The entire square was covered with some kind of jade, which was clearly not a product of the spirit world. Needless to say, it must have been brought from the fairy realm.

The Holy Ancestor laughed, "I'm afraid the jade slabs paving this plaza are more valuable than the life savings of many Dao Integration cultivators..."

Haizu nodded in deep agreement.

"To know the whole forest from a single leaf only shows how glorious this place was in the past. It's the only place that communicated with the Immortal Realm, so it's no wonder that it has so many celestial herbs and trees, and so many celestial jade stones."

Ning Qi snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, branches of the Enlightenment Tree reached in from the outside and appeared in the sky above the plaza, with a section of branch hanging down.

The entire square was immediately covered with greenery, which amplified the previous sense of enlightenment several times over.

"..."

The Holy Ancestor and the Sea Ancestor were startled. Even they felt their inspiration suddenly rise, and their minds were filled with increasing flashes of inspiration.

They knew that there was a huge boundary tree in Ning Qi's world, but they didn't know much about its function.

Now, Ning Qi has returned, and this is the first time he has shown them the true power of the Enlightenment Tree.

This feeling naturally made both of them show expressions of longing.

After all, at their level, they have cultivated almost all their abilities to the limit, and often seek a flash of inspiration to step into an even greater realm.

Therefore, it is common for them to sit in meditation for hundreds or thousands of years, hoping that their depleted spiritual light can flow out again like a clear spring.

But now, the two discovered that ever since the branch of the boundary tree appeared, their spiritual light had surged forth like a spring, showing no signs of waning.

"Isn't this the tree from the Mountain and Sea Realm?" Hai Zu asked first.

The Holy Ancestor also wore a curious expression; in his view, Ning Qi possessed far too many secrets.

Ning Qi shook his head.

Now that the two have become his Venerable Ones in the True Martial Spirit World, there is no need to hide it from them anymore.

Besides, if they don't experience the true benefits of the True Martial Spirit World, how can they so easily win their hearts?

"You may call it the Enlightenment Tree, while the tree in the Mountain and Sea Realm is called the Jianmu, which seems to have been a tree that once grew alongside Mount Buzhou."

Haizu gazed at the branches above; she had once been in contact with the sapling of the Jianmu tree.

That Jianmu seedling was incredibly powerful, capable of even being sealed by the will of the Mountain and Sea Realm, and it absorbed the power of the world to grow.

Now, she could clearly see the shadow of the Jianmu sapling on this tree, which made her even more puzzled.

Ning Qi noticed her question and continued:

"The Enlightenment Tree and the Jianmu seedling have become one. The Jianmu seedling possesses the ability to shield itself from the world's perception; it feeds on the world's power and can mend the world..."

Ning Qi explained the function of the Jianmu seedling.

"And what about your Enlightenment Tree?" the Holy Ancestor asked.

"As its name suggests, it can help people attain enlightenment, and it can benefit everyone regardless of their current level of understanding!"

Sensing the flash of inspiration in his mind, the Holy Ancestor finally realized, "No wonder your cultivation has improved so quickly, and you've so rapidly integrated our two Inheritance; it turns out you possess such a precious tree!"

He and Haizu exchanged a glance.

Ning Qi even told them such a secret, which definitely shows that he treats them as his own people.

While feeling deeply honored, the two also understood that their remaining lives would likely be completely bound to the True Martial Spirit World.

There was no other way; the cultivation environment within the True Martial Spirit World, the various Cultivation Method Divine Ability, coupled with the Enlightenment Realm Tree that had appeared before them, were simply too useful for their cultivation.

Even if they wanted to leave, they couldn't.

Moreover, setting aside the many benefits of the True Martial Spirit World, Ning Qi alone is worthy of their following and assistance.

Although Ning Qi showed them the benefits of the True Martial Spirit World, it seemed that his achievements were due to the various aspects of the True Martial Spirit World.

However, both of them knew perfectly well that it was not the world that created Ning Qi, but Ning Qi who created the True Martial Spirit World before them.

In other words, Ning Qi is the source of all change. The power of the True Martial Spirit World is built on Ning Qi alone. Ning Qi is more valuable than the True Martial Spirit World!

The Holy Ancestor let out a soft breath.

"Speak," said the man. "We are so grateful for your kindness. You treat us like yourself, so we should naturally reciprocate. If you have any further requests, we will certainly do our best to fulfill them."

Hai Zu nodded his delicate chin, his icy eyes fixed intently on Ning Qi.

Ning Qi laughed and said, "It's nothing serious. I received some news from the Mountain Ancestor's Immortal Soul, concerning this Mount Buzhou..."

The Holy Ancestor's eyes flickered as he speculated, "Could it be that the divine mountain he summoned has attracted the attention of some beings deep within the Boundary Sea?"

Although he had never left the Boundary Sea, he had learned a lot about the outside world from the Inheritance of the Ancient Dao Sacred Map.

Ning Qi clapped his hands, "As expected of the Holy Venerable."

Hai Zu frowned and said, "No wonder Hao Shan always held back when he fought us before, and kept glancing into the depths of the Boundary Sea. It turns out he already knew he would attract trouble."

"However, he probably believes that once he becomes an immortal, he can solve all his problems. If his enemies are similar to him, then it doesn't really matter, right?"

The two looked at Ning Qi.

Ning Qi defeated the Mountain Ancestor who had become an immortal. Even if the newcomer is an immortal, Ning Qi should be able to handle him. There's no need to mention it to the two of them so solemnly.

Ning Qi smiled and said:

"Your guesses are correct, but what worries me is that the newcomer may have also obtained the remains of Mount Buzhou."

"Um?"

Upon hearing this, the two men's expressions changed instantly.

They immediately realized that things might not be as simple as they had imagined.

"Does the other side also possess the remnants of Mount Buzhou?"

Ning Qi nodded. "Only someone who possesses the same thing can sense this broken body."

"That would be troublesome!"

The Holy Ancestor's expression became more solemn.

"If the opponent already possessed the crippled body, then they are at least a figure akin to a mountain patriarch..."

Hai Zu shook his head and said:

"No, we've also seen what the inside of this sacred mountain looks like. It's a separate realm, and even its remnants possess the potential to establish a powerful force."

"Therefore, if the opponent's remains are also like the world within these remains, and if the opponent has been cultivating within another remains for many years, then that opponent is definitely stronger than the Mountain Ancestor!"

After all, the Mountain Ancestor had only received the Inheritance of Mount Buzhou before, and had not obtained this fragment.

Looking at the increasingly serious expressions on their faces.

Ning Qi chuckled and said, "You don't need to be so nervous. I'm telling you this so you can prepare in advance."

The Holy Ancestor smiled wryly, "How could we not be nervous? Our world was just destroyed by the Mountain Ancestor, and we don't want to see the True Martial Spirit World suffer the same fate."

Haizu gazed at the entire world, his pupils gleaming with a captivating light.

She really didn't want to experience the same thing again.

"We still have time to prepare. With such a favorable environment for practice, I believe we have ample time to improve ourselves and meet all challenges."

"Yes!" The two nodded emphatically.

The three continued their discussion.

"The enemy is both a danger and an opportunity for us. If we can obtain the remnants of Mount Buzhou in their hands, we can further strengthen our world."

The Holy Ancestor and the Sea Ancestor deeply agreed.

Inside the Wanzun Mountain before us, there are lush immortal herbs and forests of immortal trees, as well as numerous murals and the incomplete and mysterious solitary peak at its center.

"If the remnants of Mount Buzhou are already so powerful, what would happen if they were completely collected?" the Holy Ancestor suddenly asked curiously.

Are the enemy's remains the same as those before us?

"They should be different."

Ning Qi pondered deeply and said:

"Since I extracted energy from the Boundary Sea and restored the life force within it, do you think this space is more like any other place?"

He then gave another analogy.

"Just as our sect divides its territory into different areas, don't you think this world only has a limited function?"

Their faces showed surprise before they realized what was happening.

The Holy Ancestor glanced at the entire inner world once more and said, "You've reminded me that this world is more like a medicinal herb field, a place for comprehending Cultivation Method, rather than a core area."

Haizu gazed at the cliff face before him and the seemingly endless ruins of the peaks above.

"Yes, almost everywhere in the world, you can find immortal herbs and trees, clearly indicating that Mount Buzhou once planned this area as a medicinal garden and immortal forest."

"The only difference is this broken peak. If it weren't incomplete, it would seem like part of the core area... Realm Lord, have you fully explored the broken peak?"

Ning Qi pointed to a jade staircase on one side of the cliffside plaza.

"This peak contains an aura of immortality. There is a broken staircase on it that winds around the peak and finally breaks off on this side of the cliff. There are no more immortal staircases or anything else special about it."

The Holy Ancestor gazed up at the solitary peak.

"That's strange. This solitary peak is clearly located at the center of the world, so how come it only has this one function?"

Ning Qi also looked up, a searching look in his eyes.

"Yes, I think only by collecting all the remains of Mount Buzhou can we unlock this secret."

"Legend has it that it is the only path to the heavens; I wonder if this solitary peak is related to that..."

Upon hearing this, both the Holy Ancestor and the Sea Ancestor were taken aback.

According to unofficial historical records, Mount Buzhou collapsed in the past, and its remains were scattered throughout the Boundary Sea.

As a result, the path to immortality was almost cut off, and very few people were able to achieve it.

Just like the Vast Realm and the Mountain and Sea Realm, which have existed for so many years, only one Mountain Ancestor has truly become an immortal. There is no record of anyone else becoming an immortal in the history of either realm.

Even more terrifying rumors circulated.

It is said that the original Immortal Realm realm was shattered along with Mount Buzhou, scattering into fragmented and broken celestial lands.

So even if we could gather the entire Mount Buzhou, the former Immortal Realm would have been shattered, so what Heavenly Realm would remain?

The group fell silent for a moment, each thinking of many things.

"Cough!"

Ning Qi coughed, and the two of them immediately came to their senses.

"How about we cultivate here from now on, try to find out the true strength of that immortal sect as soon as possible, and prepare to meet any potential enemies?"

After saying that, he moved the jade coffin containing the immortal body of the Mountain Ancestor to this square.

"Are we really going to explore the Immortal Sect?" The Holy Ancestor licked his somewhat dry lips.

He kept this matter in mind and never forgot it, after all, it was too shocking!

"Of course, even if we were to forge a new path to immortality, we would still need to traverse the existing paths first; otherwise, how could we seek knowledge and truth?"

Hai Zu's red lips curled slightly; she seemed quite interested in this matter.

"Alright, this old man will go all out with you two young people for something big! But how exactly should we do it?"

Ning Qi was speechless when he saw the two of them looking at him.

So these two old ancestors have completely stopped thinking things through themselves, and now they're relying on this young man to figure everything out?

"Holy Venerable One, you are the only one among the three who is most likely to follow the traditional path to immortality, so naturally it will be you who will unite the immortal sect..."

The Holy Ancestor nodded.

"However, before that, you should try to improve the level of the immortal gate you condensed when you became an immortal. As you have seen, when the Mountain Ancestor became an immortal, he condensed a total of three immortal gates: bronze, silver, Golden Immortal."

"These three gates seem to correspond to the different energies that those who become immortals will receive, thus achieving different immortal bodies. The Mountain Ancestor's immortal body is the Full Moon Immortal Body. Holy Venerable, you should at least try to condense a Silver Immortal Gate."

Upon hearing Ning Qi's words, the Holy Ancestor shook his head.

"You overestimate me. The Mountain Ancestor inherited the Inheritance Mount Buzhou, possesses unparalleled combat power, and is also a successor of Mount Buzhou. Yet he barely managed to condense a Silver Immortal Gate. How can you expect me to compare with him?"

Haizu remained silent; she also felt it was unlikely to be possible.

It's not that they lack confidence, but rather that the gap between reality and expectations makes them feel that it's impossible for them to achieve it.

"Where there's a will, there's a way. With me here, with the immortal body of the Mountain Ancestor, with so many Cultivation Method, even immortal herbs and trees, and with such a suitable environment for cultivation and enlightenment, I believe it's even possible for you to condense Golden Immortal Gate!"

Ning Qi then offered encouragement.

The Holy Ancestor's eyes swept over everything around him, and he was moved.

Indeed, what he was seeing before him was something he had never dared to imagine before.

With so many resources at his disposal, he shouldn't have lost to the Mountain Ancestor.

"Alright, I will do my best!"

He spoke with absolute certainty, then looked at the two of them again and asked, "So what are you planning to do?"

Ning Qi glanced at Hai Zu, who was becoming restless again.

"We will naturally do everything we can to help you become an immortal. Aren't you touched? In the history of cultivation, there probably hasn't been anyone generous enough to help another person become an immortal, especially a cultivator of similar cultivation level?"

The Holy Ancestor remained silent.

He wanted to argue back, but he felt that Ning Qi was absolutely right, leaving him no room for rebuttal.

Didn't you see that the Mountain Ancestor was prepared to kill them all, and even sacrifice all living beings from both realms, all in order to become an immortal?