A Loose Immortal's Obstruction

The instant the spear tip pierced the Thunder Beasts's head, a torrent of purplish-black lightning surged forth, causing Ren Xiaoyao's meridians to swell instantly. Every blood vessel throbbed violently, and faint purple arcs of lightning could be seen writhing beneath his skin like trapped Flood Dragon, threatening to burst through his flesh at any moment. Just as the excruciating pain was about to spread through his limbs and bones, the "Immortal" runes on the Creation Spear suddenly lit up. Seven-Colored Rosy Clouds, like living beings, coursed along the shaft—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple bands of light intertwined and entwined, like a woven brocade, unleashing the raging... Lei Li disintegrated into strands of pure energy. This energy seeped into his dantian like spring rain nourishing the fields. In the hands of the miniature figure within the Immortal Embryo, the micro- Creation Spear simultaneously shone with a dazzling golden light. The spear tip even displayed the same four-patterned phantom of "Life-Annihilation-Devour Immortal" as the original body, resonating with the spear in his hand and emitting a hum that pierced the clouds. This hum was like the sound of High Antiquity bells and tripods, deep and clear, even shaking the clouds on the mountaintop to scatter, revealing the clear blue sky behind them. Even the birds perched on the pine branches in the distance were startled and took flight, leaving behind a few falling feathers.

The dark clouds atop the mountain slowly dispersed with a humming sound, revealing a golden Heaven's Gate, about ten feet wide, emerging from the gaps in the clouds. The Heaven's Gate's frame was woven from countless tiny Golden Patterns, flowing with a faint Immortal Sheen, seemingly writhing as if alive. Carved with mythical creatures such as Qilin treading on clouds, a crane carrying Immortal Crane mushroom, and Spirit Deer carrying flowers, the Qilin's scales shimmered with fragmented golden light, as if about to leap from the gate; the Immortal Crane's feathers were clearly defined, their tips still clinging to ethereal cloud-like mist; the Spirit Deer's eyes gleamed with a warm, gentle light, its antlers entwined with tiny rays of light, each Dao Patterns radiating a warm golden glow, as if forged from Nine Heavens Gold Crystal. Even from several feet away, one could feel the pure celestial power contained within, soothing the mind and spirit. Behind the Heaven's Gate, rays of light cascaded down like a waterfall, the crimson-golden streams dyeing the mountaintop a golden-red hue. Faintly visible were the upturned eaves of Jade Towers and Pavilions, their glazed Glazed Ice reflecting a rainbow of colors in the rosy light. Copper bells hanging from the eaves tinkled softly in the breeze, their clear sounds mingling with the distant celestial music, creating a captivating melody. Immortal Crane spread their snow-white wings, circling among the clouds, uttering melodious cries. Occasionally, a few feathers would drift down, touching the rosy light and dissipating into golden specks in the air. Even more ethereal music drifted over, its sound like the refined elegance of a string and wind instrument ensemble, yet also like the crisp sound of jade striking jade. The cultivators below trembled with awe, kneeling on the ground, their foreheads pressed tightly to the earth, barely daring to breathe, their eyes filled with reverence and longing—this was the sign of ascension to the celestial Immortal Domain that Mortal Realm cultivators yearned for their entire lives, a rare occurrence, a testament to centuries of arduous cultivation, the depletion of their life's blood, and even the sacrifice of their lives, yet they still could not witness the opening of the Heaven's Gate.

Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath, the Immortal Embryo within his dantian trembling slightly. A shimmering white halo rose and fell with his breath, like dancing stars, seemingly responding to the call of the Heaven's Gate. Just as he was about to gather his remaining Immortal Essence, preparing to leap into the Heaven's Gate, a chilling aura suddenly swept over his back. This chill was different from the sinister Sha Qi of Ink Nightmare; it carried the sharp edge unique to Immortal Essence, yet also contained a hint of venom, like the fangs of a viper pressed against his neck. It made his hair stand on end, even his soul trembling, as if locked onto by some terrifying being. He instinctively turned to the side, and a jet-black bone blade grazed his shoulder, its sharp wind... With a stench of decay, the blade ripped a foot-long gash in his robes, revealing skin and flesh that gleamed with a pale golden sheen—a sign of the initial formation of the "Indestructible Foundation." Beneath the flesh, faint golden meridians, like dragons, could be seen coiling, yet they were also scratched red by the blade's force, oozing fine beads of blood. The moment the blood beads touched the air, they were corroded into black mist by the residual black energy of the bone blade. The remaining force of the bone blade struck the bluestone behind him, cleaving a half-foot-deep crack. Black corrosion marks remained in the crack, and pebbles tumbled down the cliff, falling into the sea of clouds below, disappearing without a sound.

"Hmph, you, a Mortal Realm, dare to set foot in the Immortal Domain?"

A chilling voice echoed from Heaven's Gate, like ice scraping against a stone wall or withered bones striking the ground, carrying a thick layer of resentment that sent shivers down one's spine. A figure in grey robes stepped out into the air, his feet resting on a wisp of pale black mist. Within the mist, tiny black shadows darted about; upon closer inspection, they turned out to be countless miniature Bone Worm. The Immortal Essence was mixed with wisps of black energy, clashing sharply with the golden light of the Heaven's Gate, like an ink stain on a blank sheet of paper. He stained the entire sunset glow. His body was emaciated, his shoulders high like a hawk's, the skin on his neck hanging loosely, wrinkled like old tree bark, his cheeks deeply sunken, and two eerie green lights flickering in his eye sockets, like will-o'-the-wisps burning in a grave, their brightness fluctuating with his breath, and occasionally black mist would spill from his eye sockets. In his hand he held a White Bone Staff, the staff made of several thick vertebrae strung together, the joints connected by black chains. A small skull still hung from the chain, black bloodstains remaining between the joints, as if just pulled from a corpse, exuding a strong stench of blood and decay, nauseating to behold. A dim immortal Immortal Crystal was inlaid at the head of the staff, within which black energy faintly swirled, like a trapped, wronged soul struggling. His gaze fixed on Ren Xiaoyao was like a hungry wolf eyeing a wounded lamb, greedy to the point of almost dripping with malice. His lips twitched, revealing two yellowed fangs, as if calculating how to dismantle his prey. "I've been stuck in the Loose Immortal Realm for three thousand years, attempting to break through to the Earth Immortal Realm three times, only to perish in the final Heavenly Tribulation! You're just a mortal who has just attained the Immortal Embryo, untouched by the trials of the Immortal Domain, unbound by the Immortal Rules. What makes you think you can ascend to the heavens in one step? Why not leave your Immortal Embryo and this Creation Spear behind, and perhaps I can grant you a complete corpse, so that when your soul returns to the cycle of reincarnation, you'll still remember the 'favor' I bestowed upon you today!"

Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat—this was actually Loose Immortal from the Immortal Realm! Although Loose Immortal had not officially entered the Immortal Registry and had not received an official title from the Heavenly Court the Immortal Domain, he had still survived a Lesser Heavenly Tribulation, condensing true Immortal Essence within his body. Every move he made carried the pressure of immortal power, and his strength far surpassed that of a "Dao Fusion Realm" cultivator in the Mortal Realm. Moreover, he had just survived the Nine Heavens Tribulation, and his meridians were already covered with tiny cracks, like Glazed Ice about to shatter. Even the slightest exertion would cause him excruciating pain. He had consumed seventy or eighty percent of Immortal Essence immortal essence, and his aura was still slightly disordered. He even needed the Creation Spear to support himself while standing. Faced with this sudden attack, he was caught off guard and could not even prepare a counterattack in time. He could only gather his remaining strength to protect his vital points.

The grey-robed Loose Immortal gave Ren Xiaoyao no chance to breathe. With a sudden swing of his White Bone Staff, the Immortal Crystal at the staff's tip erupted with dense black energy. This black energy swirled in the air like a living thing, emitting a hissing sound, and quickly condensed into dozens of pitch-black Immortal Essence Blade. Each blade gleamed with a ghostly green light, its edges wrapped in black energy capable of corroding the soul. Faint wails could be heard within the black energy, like countless wronged souls struggling within, shaking the very soul of anyone who heard them. The Immortal Essence Blade shot towards Ren Xiaoyao like a torrential rain, even cutting through the air with a hissing sound, forming tiny black streaks that lingered for a long time. Wherever these streaks passed, even the weeds on the mountaintop withered and turned black instantly. Ren Xiaoyao dared not be negligent and hurriedly swung his spear to block. The "Extinction" pattern on the Creation Spear instantly lit up, and silver-white Sword Qi burst forth from the spear tip, blocking in front of him like a peacock spreading its tail. The moment the Sword Qi collided with the Immortal Essence Blade, a dense shower of sparks was formed, mixed with black mist. But as soon as the Sword Qi touched the black mist, it emitted a "sizzling" corrosive sound, and the silver-white light dimmed at a visible speed, like white paper soaked in ink. Even the golden light on the spear body weakened, and tiny black spots even appeared on the shaft—those were the black mist corroding the Spirit Patterns on the spear body. If it was not stopped in time, even the foundation of the Creation Spear would be damaged, and he would completely lose the ability to resist.

"What a fine spear imbued with the three runes of 'Life and Death Devouring,' its material is actually a mixture of ancient black iron and immortal gold, and the staff is also engraved with ancient spiritual runes, full of spiritual power. It's a pity it fell into the hands of a mere brat like you, what a waste!" The rogue immortal sneered, a strange arc forming at the corner of his mouth, revealing two yellowed fangs, the tips of which were still covered with black grime, the source of which was unknown. His figure suddenly accelerated, the black mist beneath his feet surging, carrying him forward like a tide, his entire body flashing like a ghost in front of Ren Xiaoyao, leaving behind a series of black afterimages, the white bone staff thrusting straight at Ren Xiaoyao. The dantian—the location of the immortal embryo, and also the most vulnerable part of a cultivator. Once damaged, at best, one's cultivation will be completely destroyed; at worst, one's soul will be annihilated, leaving no chance for reincarnation. The immortal crystal at the tip of the staff erupted with a strange suction force. Ren Xiaoyao felt a violent tremor in his dantian, and the immortal embryo was pulled slightly off course by the suction force, as if it were being forcibly ripped out of his dantian. The intense pain overwhelmed his limbs and bones like a tidal wave, causing his vision to go black and his ears to ring. Even the surrounding scenery began to distort, with the golden light of the Heavenly Gate and the black aura of the scattered immortals intertwining into a chaotic mix of colors in his vision.

He gritted his teeth, pressed his tongue against his palate, and forced out a mouthful of Essence Blood, spitting it onto the spear shaft. The Essence Blood, like a red stream, flowed along the Spirit Patterns on the shaft, seeping deep into the spear. The previously dull spear instantly glowed red. The four patterns of "Life and Death Life-Annihilation-Devour Immortal" simultaneously erupted with dazzling light, piercing through the black mist and illuminating the entire mountain peak: the "Life" pattern condensed into a Golden Lotus over ten feet in size outside his dantian, its petals layered upon each other, as if carved from Glazed Ice. Each petal shimmered with fine golden light, radiating a rich vitality, like a sturdy shield firmly protecting the Immortal Embryo. As the lotus rotated, it absorbed the surrounding rosy light, continuously strengthening its defenses. Tiny runes even appeared on the petals, resisting the erosion of the black mist; the "Devouring" pattern opened a pitch-black vortex in front of him, the vortex spinning like an abyss, generating a strong reverse suction force, actually drawing the suction force of the White Bone Staff towards itself. After the black energy that corroded the soul was swallowed by the vortex, it instantly transformed into strands of pure energy, flowing into Ren Xiaoyao's meridians like streams, relieving the pain in his meridians, repairing the minor cracks, and slightly stabilizing his originally chaotic aura; the "Immortal" pattern drew upon the rosy light near the Heaven's Gate, transforming into several seven-colored chains, covered with tiny Immortal Pattern, which coiled around the White Bone Staff like serpents. The golden light on the chains collided with the black energy on the staff, producing a "crackling" sound and sparks flying, rendering the White Bone Staff immobile. The Immortal Crystal at the staff's head even began to tremble slightly, and the black energy flowing within the crystal slowed down; the "Extinction" pattern condensed into a light blade several feet long, its edges flashing with fragmented arcs of lightning—the residual Heavenly Tribulation Power, carrying the might to destroy everything. Wherever the light blade passed, the air was scorched and distorted, forming transparent waves of air that slashed towards the head of the Loose Immortal.

The Loose Immortal was astonished that Ren Xiaoyao, despite his severe injuries, could still unleash such formidable power. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, and he hastily retreated as if he'd seen a ghost. But the light blade was incredibly fast, flashing through the air like lightning, and still grazed his shoulder—his gray robe was instantly torn apart, revealing withered, brittle skin clinging tightly to his bones, the outline of which clearly visible. The blood vessels beneath the skin bulged like dark purple earthworms, covered in tiny cracks, as if they would shatter at the slightest touch—a horrifying sight. Even more terrifying, the lightning energy from the light blade seeped into his body through his skin, causing his body to twitch slightly, and the black aura dimmed slightly. He was both shocked and enraged, muttering incantations. The obscure spells sounded like the wailing of ghosts and the weeping of vengeful spirits, shaking the very soul and thickening the air on the mountaintop. The black aura on the White Bone Staff suddenly surged, enveloping half the mountaintop like a dark cloud. The rosy light that obscured the Heaven's Gate transformed into a ten-zhang-tall Bone Dragon in the air. The Bone Dragon's body was pieced together from countless massive white bones, each bone scale inscribed with eerie runes that shimmered with a ghostly green light, emanating an evil aura. Its claws were sharp as knives, gleaming with a cold light, seemingly capable of easily tearing through steel. Black viscous fluid dripped continuously from its mouth, instantly corroding small pits into the bluestone. Ghostly green flames flickered in its eye sockets, within which one could vaguely see a ferocious face, seemingly the remnant soul of a devoured cultivator. The Bone Dragon, as soon as it took shape, let out a deafening roar, the sound causing the bluestone on the mountaintop to tremble slightly, and pebbles to fall from the cracks in the rocks. It raised its massive claws, carrying an aura of annihilation, and slammed them down towards Ren Xiaoyao. The force of the claws even distorted the surrounding air, forming invisible walls of energy that blocked Ren Xiaoyao's evasion, leaving him with no way to avoid it.

Ren Xiaoyao was now at his limit, his meridians throbbing with excruciating pain. Each breath strained the wound in his dantian, causing him to groan involuntarily, his voice filled with suppressed agony. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, staining his robes and even his blood-soaked hair plastered to his cheeks, obscuring the light in his eyes, yet unable to conceal the unwavering determination within them. He gazed at the Heaven's Gate, so close at hand, Heaven's Gate golden light gradually fading, the celestial beast patterns on its frame blurring as if about to vanish at any moment. Below, on the battlefield, the surviving cultivators still looked up at him, their eyes filled with anticipation and worry; some even... He gripped his weapon tightly, wanting to rush to the mountain peak but hesitant to act rashly, fearing he might cause trouble for Ren Xiaoyao. In the distance, new green shoots swayed in the wind, carrying the sweet scent of grass and trees, a stark contrast to the bloody, decaying stench of the mountain peak. If he died today, though Ink Nightmare would be destroyed, this Loose Immortal immortal could descend to the Immortal Domain. Without anyone capable of resisting immortal power, this newly revived continent would likely be plunged into catastrophe again. The sacrifices of the cultivators who had died protecting the continent, the comrades who had fallen on the battlefield—their sacrifices would be meaningless, something he absolutely could not accept.

"If you want to take my things, if you want to destroy this land, you'll have to ask the Creation Spear in my hand first!"

A resolute glint flashed in Ren Xiaoyao's eyes, like a flame reignited in burnt-out charcoal, growing ever stronger. He completely fused his remaining divine soul power with his martial arts qi, a layer of crimson light emanating from his body, interspersed with faint golden light—a sign of the fusion of his "Undying Foundation" and divine soul power. The light possessed both the unwavering resilience of a mortal cultivator and the sharp edge of immortal energy, making it exceptionally dazzling. Even the surrounding air was tinged with a pale red, forming a crimson light shield that protected him. Tiny runes appeared on the shield, resisting the erosion of the black qi. The tip of the Creation Spear in his hand was also stained with a trace of crimson; the originally gentle seven-colored light now possessed a more murderous aura, and the "immortal" mark on the spear... "The faint sound of a dragon's roar could even be heard from the pattern, clashing with the distant howls of the bone dragon, forming two completely different sound waves. He leaped up, ignoring the giant claws that the bone dragon slammed down on him—the dragon claws grazed the hem of his clothes, the force of the wind tearing his robes open, revealing more of the golden flesh beneath, the pale golden veins on the flesh clearly visible, yet they did not harm him in the slightest. Like a blood-soaked war god, his body surged with crimson light, dispelling the surrounding black mist, and he charged straight at the Loose Immortal, the tip of his spear pointing directly at his brow. His unstoppable momentum was like a surging river, so powerful that the Loose Immortal subconsciously took a half step back, a trace of fear flashing in his eyes, an emotion he had never felt in three thousand years."

The Loose Immortal immortal was intimidated by his aura, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes. Like a startled rabbit, he hastily raised his staff to block. The instant the White Bone Staff collided with the Creation Spear, the "Immortal" runes suddenly erupted, and a seven-colored lightning bolt cleaved out from the spear tip. The thunder was like the collapse of heaven and earth, shaking the mountaintop, causing rocks to tumble and clouds to churn, flowing into the rogue immortal's body through the Loose Immortal White Bone Staff. The Loose Immortal Essence trembled all over, as if his bones had been removed, his body went limp, and his Loose Immortal Origin instantly became chaotic. A heart-wrenching pain came from his dantian—his rogue immortal origin had been severely damaged by this lightning bolt. His already dim Immortal Essence now flickered like a candle in the wind, on the verge of being extinguished at any moment. The blood vessels under his skin began to rupture, seeping out Black Blood. The blood fell to the ground, instantly corroding small pits in the bluestone.

"No! I'm not reconciled! Three thousand years! I've waited three thousand years, just one step away from entering the Immortal Registry, how can I be defeated by a Mortal Realm brat like you!" The Loose Immortal immortal let out a shrill roar, his voice filled with despair and madness, like a trapped beast struggling. The black aura around him instantly surged, enveloping his entire body and forming a black cocoon. The eerie green flames in his eyes flared up, instantly covering his entire face, even turning his hair as black as ink, as he was about to detonate his Loose Immortal Origin —the power of Loose Immortal Origin self-destruction was enough to level the entire Cang Xuan Mountain, turning the surrounding hundred miles into scorched earth, and even the cultivators below would not be spared. But Ren Xiaoyao was prepared. With a flick of his wrist, the tip of his spear pierced through the gap in the White Bone Staff, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, accurately piercing the rogue immortal's brow, pouring in all the power of the "Extinction" rune, completely blocking the process of him detonating his essence.

The Loose Immortal froze on the spot, the madness in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by endless resentment and despair. The eerie green flames slowly died down, leaving only empty eye sockets, as if devoid of all life. Then his body began to turn to ash, from toes to head, dissipating little by little into the air, accompanied by faint wails, as if the wronged souls he had devoured had been released. Not a trace was left, only the lingering stench of decay in the air proved that he had once existed. Only a dim immortal Immortal Crystal and the White Bone Staff landed on the bluestone on the mountaintop, making a dull sound, rolling a few times before coming to rest. The black energy within the Immortal Crystal gradually dissipated, becoming as dull as an ordinary stone, and the Bone Worm on the White Bone Staff instantly lost their life, turning into black powder.

Ren Xiaoyao staggered to the ground, one hand clutching his dantian, his fingertips stained with warm blood that dripped from between his fingers, staining his robes and forming large dark red patches. His other hand gripped the Creation Spear, its shaft trembling slightly, its light dimming, barely keeping him from collapsing. He knelt on one knee, the sound of his knee striking the bluestone echoing across the empty mountaintop, like a hammer blow to the heart. Blood dripped from between his fingers, staining his body... Before him, dark red flowers bloomed on the bluestone, like blossoming Manjushaka, poignant and despairing. Faint black mist lingered at the edges of the flowers, but was quickly dispersed by the mountain wind. He looked up at the Heaven's Gate, only to see it slowly closing. The golden light on the gate Heaven's Gate gradually faded, and the Jade Towers and Pavilions and celestial music behind it also disappeared, finally vanishing completely into the clouds, leaving only an empty sky, as if everything just now was an illusion—this opportunity for ascension, so close at hand, had ultimately been missed.

He endured the excruciating pain and examined his dantian. Although the Immortal Embryo had not been detached, it had lost its previous radiant white luster, becoming somewhat dull, like a pearl covered in dust, trembling slightly as if it might extinguish at any moment. Faint black energy remained around the Immortal Embryo Immortal Embryo, slowly eroding its vitality. His meridians were covered with spiderweb-like cracks, each crack containing residual black energy and lightning power. The two forces intertwined, constantly damaging his meridians. Every time he circulated a Immortal Essence of immortal energy, it felt as if countless fine needles were piercing his meridians. The pain caused cold sweat to break out on his forehead, the sweat mixed with blood, sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto the bluestone with a "drip-drip" sound. Breathing became difficult; each inhale pulled at the wound in his chest, causing him to frown and his face to turn as pale as paper.

The cultivators at the foot of the mountain finally reacted, rising to their feet and rushing towards the summit, their steps hurried yet cautious. The leading old cultivator, with white hair and beard, his face grave, gripped a broken sword tightly in his hand. Traces of the evil power of the Ink Nightmare remained on the blade, which trembled slightly, seemingly still shaken by the battle just now. The younger cultivators behind him were filled with worry, some even with tears in their eyes. They hurried yet cautiously, afraid of disturbing Ren Xiaoyao. Some took out healing Pills from their robes, the Pills emitting a strong medicinal fragrance. They wanted to offer them but dared not approach, standing anxiously to the side. They surrounded Ren Xiaoyao, forming a human wall to block the cold mountain wind, but no one dared to approach rashly to disturb him—they all knew that Ren Xiaoyao needed to rest at this moment, and any disturbance could worsen his injuries, or even cause him to suffer a qi deviation, ruining all his previous efforts.

Ren Xiaoyao slowly closed his eyes, enduring the excruciating pain in his meridians. He circulated the last Immortal Essence of immortal energy, following the repair methods recorded in the "Creation Immortal Art," to slowly mend the Damaged Meridians. The Immortal Essence flowed slowly through the meridians like a small stream, bringing a faint repairing force to each crack it passed through, clearing away the black energy and lightning power at the edges of the cracks. Although the process was slow and painful, it gave him hope. Although he had not successfully ascended, he had annihilated the rogue Loose Immortal, protected this continent that had just recovered its vitality, and safeguarded the cultivators below. He could consider it a... He would not fail the legacy of his Senior Cang Xuan, nor the lives of those cultivators who sacrificed themselves to protect the continent. Yet, he knew in his heart that today's events were no accident— Loose Immortal immortal from the Immortal Realm dared to descend to the mortal realm without permission, and even managed to launch a surprise attack precisely at the moment of his ascension. Clearly, it was premeditated, and there must be a greater secret hidden behind it. Perhaps the Immortal Domain was no longer as peaceful and tranquil as legend had it; undercurrents were already surging, and there might even be a conspiracy against the Mortal Realm cultivators, preventing them from ascending in order to maintain the Mortal Realm Immortal Domain's rule and prevent Mortal Realm cultivators from threatening their position.

"Once I recover from my injuries, I will definitely seek the path to ascension again. At that time, I will uncover the secrets of the Immortal Domain, see what those high and mighty immortals are plotting, and see why they are trying to prevent Mortal Realm cultivators from ascending!"

Ren Xiaoyao gripped the Creation Spear tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. The bloodstains on the shaft were blurred by his grip, and the spear trembled slightly, as if responding to his resolve. The "Immortal" runes on the spear shimmered faintly, resonating with his aura and forming a weak yet unwavering power. The mountain wind continued to blow, carrying the sweet scent of mountain grass and trees, and also the expectation for the future. It brushed against his Blood-Stained Robe, ruffled the hair on his forehead, and revealed his bloodshot but still resolute eyes, which shone with an indomitable light, like stars in the night, illuminating the entire mountaintop and his future path.