Seeking Another Opportunity
More than three months have passed since the Battle of the Boundary Sealing Gate ended. Ren Xiaoyao stands alone Kunlun Summit, the fierce wind whipping his moon-white Daoist robes, revealing a pale golden scar on his chest that has not yet fully healed—a mark left by the aftershocks of the Devil Master's self-destruction when he used his divine soul as a catalyst to ignite the Nirvana Flame. Even now, a dull, tearing pain still emanates from the scar, each breath pulling at his Damaged Meridians, causing him to furrow his brow. The scene of purifying the Wu Gui Demon Lord is still vivid in his mind: the sizzling sound of the Nirvana Flame burning the Demonic Core... The shimmering starlight as countless wronged souls were released, and the Devil Master's unwilling roar... Although he protected the common people, he also suffered hidden injuries to his soul. The wisp of Emperor Fire deep within his dantian was like a candle flickering in the wind, with only a faint ember remaining dormant in the tide of spiritual energy. What was even more troublesome was that he had been stuck at the Late Heavenly Immortal Celestial Immortal realm for nearly a hundred years, already facing a bottleneck. After the battle, the flow of his spiritual energy became even more sluggish, as if an invisible layer of Mysterious Iron shackles was firmly binding his cultivation. Even the Emperor Dao Sword Art, which could previously draw upon the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, now felt stiff and sluggish when wielded, and the power of his sword moves was reduced by more than 30%.
The shadows lurking in the darkness were like leeches, keeping him constantly on his toes. Although the Wu Gui Demon Lord was annihilated, his three great Demon General — Blood Fang, Bone Erosion, and Shadow—had fled with their remaining forces into the deepest abyss of the Demon Realm. According to reports from scouts at the front, the three were sacrificing the Essence Blood 100,000 Devil Race to the Ancient Demon God "Taotie," attempting to use the Demon God Power to tear open the Boundary Sealing Gate. At that time, the demon tide would surge forth, and the Immortal Realm would be defenseless. Although the several-zhang-wide crack in the Boundary Sealing Gate had been temporarily reinforced by True Human Xuanyang and a hundred cultivators using spiritual power, more than half of the protective runes left by the Ancient Great Emperor had been destroyed. Those ancient characters that once shone with golden light were now ashen and lifeless. A fingertip brushing against the Stone Gate could only... Touching the remaining shattered spiritual energy, he could almost hear the mournful cries of the runes collapsing. Three days ago True Human Xuanyang came leaning on his broken whisk, his aged face filled with worry, his withered fingers tightly gripping his wrist. "Xiaoyao, you are the last hope of the Immortal Realm. The Boundary Sealing Gate will not last more than a hundred days. Only if you break through to the Heavenly Immortal Peak Emperor Dao Runes runes can you plug that gap and stop the Devil Race's calamity." His words struck his heart like a heavy hammer, making his already anxious heart even more tormented. When he sat quietly in the dead of night, the tragic cries of the cultivators who died on the front lines always echoed in his ears, and the scene of the Mortal Realm people being devoured by demonic energy appeared before his eyes. This made him even more eager to find an opportunity for a breakthrough.
But Ren Xiaoyao's eyes showed no sign of retreat. A burning flame of seeking the Dao flickered within his dark pupils, an Nirvana Flame, blazing fiercely within his chest. His fingertips caressed the Golden Long Sword at his waist. The Emperor Mark etched on its blade, though faded, remained clearly visible. This weapon, which had accompanied him through countless battles, witnessed his transformation from an unknown cultivator under the Qingcheng Sect to a powerful Guardians of the immortal Immortal Realm. He recalled his early days in the cultivation Immortal Realm, fighting to the death against Black Bear Spirit in the Demon Beast Valley for a healing herb. He recalled how he had single-handedly ventured into the Demon Realm lair to rescue the mortal boy kidnapped by the Devil Cultivator, narrowly escaping death; he remembered watching his senior brother, who had fought alongside him, fall under the Devil Master's claws at the Boundary Sealing Gate, the warm touch of his blood splattered on his face... These life-or-death trials were etched into his soul like a brand. How could he give up because of the predicament before him? "If even I retreat, who can the common people rely on?" he murmured to himself, his voice soft yet carrying immense weight. He raised his hand to wipe away the blood that had seeped from the corner of his mouth due to the reverse flow of spiritual energy, turned and leaped down from the mountain peak, his figure disappearing into the clouds.
To overcome these formidable difficulties, Ren Xiaoyao embarked on a near-self-torturous period of arduous training. He ventured deep into the abyss, a place known as a place of "nine deaths and one life," where miasma permeated the air, and dark green poisonous gas coiled around his limbs like venomous snakes. Every breath felt like a knife cutting into his lungs, and his skin was covered in bluish-purple spots. At the Bottom of the Abyss dwelled various ferocious Demon Beast: a ten-zhang-long venomous python flicked its forked tongue, and the venom dripping from its scales could corrode Mysterious Iron; swarms of blood bats with wings on their backs blotted out the sky, and their sharp teeth were coated with nerve-numbing toxins. Undeterred, he fought the Demon Beast with his longsword, honing his combat skills on the edge of life and death—when the python's tail whipped, he used the "Whirlwind Phantom Steps" to dodge to the side, simultaneously thrusting his sword at the seven-inch mark; when the swarm of blood bats attacked, he spun around and swung his sword, the Emperor Dao Sword Energy transforming into Golden Storm. He annihilated the swarm of bats. At the Bottom of the Abyss, he found a "Spirit Spring Cave" rich in Spiritual Qi. Spiritual liquid seeping from the cave walls dripped onto a stone platform, gathering into a clear spring. He secluded himself there for months, sitting cross-legged in the center of the spring, circulating the <Emperor Dao Heart Sutra>, attempting to draw upon the power of the Spirit Spring to break through his bottleneck. However, whenever his spiritual energy reached his dantian, the invisible shackles would buzz, rebounding the energy back, causing him excruciating pain in his meridians and blood constantly trickling from the corners of his mouth. Every time he felt he was about to give up, his senior brother's dying smile, True Human Xuanyang's instructions, and the expectations of the Mortal Realm people would appear before his eyes. His belief in the Dao was like a warm current, supporting him to continue circulating the Cultivation Method. He firmly believed that as long as he persevered, he would eventually break through the shackles and usher in a transformation.
Having failed to achieve his goal of seclusion in the Spirit Spring Cave, he changed his approach, traversing the ruins of his past battles with the Devil Race —from the blood-stained "Fallen Immortal Slope" to the collapsed "Demon Suppression Pagoda"—attempting to glean profound insights from the remaining Dao Marks. On this day, following a faint yet familiar fluctuation of Emperor Power west of the Boundary Sealing Gate, he stepped into a misty valley never before visited by anyone. The mist in the valley was as thick as milk, so thick that one could not see their own hand in front of their face. A faint mixture of demonic and Immortal Spiritual Qi mingled in the air, the two energies intertwining to form a peculiar Energy Turbulence that tingled and itched against his skin. Scattered on the ground were rusty remnants of weapons, fragments of cultivators' immortal swords and broken Bone Saber of Devil Race, clearly indicating that this was once a battleground between High Antiquity cultivators and Devil Race. He circulated his spiritual power to protect himself, pushing aside the dense fog... He traversed the thick fog, walking for about half an incense stick's time, when suddenly the view opened up before him—a colossal Stone Gate, about a hundred feet tall, stood prominently in the center of the valley. The Stone Gate was crafted from an unknown, dark rock, its surface engraved with Demon Totems: scenes of cultivators piercing Demonic Core with longswords, and immortal formations trapping countless Demon Soldiers. At the very top, the four ancient characters "Demon Suppressing Inheritance" were written with powerful strokes, radiating a faint golden light. As he approached the Stone Gate, the remaining Nirvana Emperor Fire within him suddenly stirred, its flame leaping in his dantian, resonating with the runes on the Stone Gate. The instant his fingertips touched the Stone Gate, a warm Emperor Power flowed into his body, as if he had heard a call that transcended eternity—this was the glimmer of hope that allowed him to break free from the shadow of the Wu Gui Demon Lord and protect the Immortal Realm.
Soaring mythical Divine Beast, mysterious Rune Formation, and scenes seemingly telling ancient tales— Ren Xiaoyao stepped forward, carefully observing these patterns, trying to find a way to open the Stone Gate. He cautiously explored ahead, the ground beneath his feet bearing the marks of time, ancient runes faintly visible, seemingly recounting past glories. Suddenly, a massive Stone Gate appeared before him, carved with various strange patterns—a figure clad in Emperor Robe Stone Gate a long sword to fight demonic energy, Totems of Nirvana Flame purifying darkness, subtly echoing the scene of his previous suppression of the Wu Gui Demon Lord. What startled him even more was the faint fluctuation of Emperor Power remaining at the edge of the Stone Gate, subtly resonating with the lingering Nirvana Emperor Fire within him; he could even feel the ancient summons emanating from the runes at his fingertips.
He raised his hand and lightly touched the Stone Gate. The Emperor Mark on his palm suddenly lit up, reflecting the runes on the door. The dormant patterns seemed to be awakened, and the flowing spiritual light outlined a magnificent scene of High Antiquity cultivators fighting against the Devil Race: celestial soldiers lined up to guard the Boundary Sealing Gate, Great Emperor burned their divine souls to activate forbidden techniques, and countless cultivators rushed forward to resist the invasion of demonic energy. The scene finally settled on a blurry imperial figure, and the hand seal formed by the imperial figure's hands was seven parts similar to the Nirvana Seal he had previously condensed.
Just as he was intently studying the Stone Gate, a gentle breeze blew by, causing the mist to drift and revealing a hidden groove beside the Stone Gate. Ren Xiaoyao's eyes lit up; he realized that this groove might be the key. He rummaged through his Storage Ring and quickly found a jade pendant whose shape perfectly matched the groove. He had obtained this jade pendant by chance during an exploration of ruins, and at the time, he hadn't noticed anything special about it. He never expected it to come in handy now.
"This is... the place of inheritance of Ancient Heavenly Immortal?" Ren Xiaoyao was shocked and instantly realized that this was no accident. Although the Wu Gui Demon Lord was destroyed, the remnants of the Demon Realm realm still existed, the cracks in the Boundary Sealing Gate had not been fully repaired, and his own Emperor Power was depleted and his realm was stuck at the Late Heavenly Immortal immortal. He was at a critical moment that urgently needed to break through. The inheritance behind this Stone Gate was perhaps the confidence that the heavens had given him to Protecting All Living Beings beings.
As Ren Xiaoyao stepped into the land of inheritance, an ancient and weathered aura washed over him, as if the river of time had frozen in place. He cautiously surveyed his surroundings. The cave was deep and dark, with strange lights shimmering on the walls. These lights were made of gemstones that emitted a faint glow, but they could only illuminate a small area, leaving the rest of the darkness hidden in the unknown. The ground was uneven and covered with mysterious runes, seemingly telling ancient stories.
He hadn't gone far when Ren Xiaoyao triggered the first trap. In an instant, countless sharp arrows whistled out from both sides of the cave walls, moving at incredible speed, accompanied by the sound of wind being cut. The arrowheads gleamed coldly, clearly coated with deadly poison; a hit would have unimaginable consequences. Ren Xiaoyao's eyes sharpened, and his figure moved like lightning, instantly unleashing the "Whirlwind Phantom Steps." This footwork was something he had acquired during a fortuitous encounter; when cultivated to a high level, it allowed him to transform into a gentle breeze, agile and graceful. His figure darted swiftly among the arrows, like a ghost, each turn and leap perfectly timed, skillfully dodging wave after wave of arrow attacks.
While dodging the arrows, Ren Xiaoyao noticed a pattern in their firing frequency and angle. He observed carefully as he dodged, calculating in his mind. Finally, he found an opening and, taking advantage of a lull in the arrows, leaped forward, unleashing a "Chasing Stars and Pursuing the Moon Palm" technique. The palm strike whistled out, carrying immense power, deflecting all the arrows and successfully breaking through the first barrier.
Continuing deeper into the cave, a narrow passage appeared ahead. Suddenly, a large amount of sticky Black Liquid gushed out from the walls on both sides of the passage, rapidly converging towards the center and instantly forming huge black Slime Monsters. These Slime Monsters had soft bodies and extremely elastic bodies; Ren Xiaoyao's attacks hit them as if hitting cotton, easily bouncing back.
The Slime Monsters opened its gaping maw and lunged at Ren Xiaoyao. Ren Xiaoyao remained calm, knowing that this monster's weakness lay in its relatively slow movement. He swiftly gathered his spiritual energy, forming a Spiritual Energy Longsword in his hand. This longsword radiated a dazzling light, its blade surrounded by Sword Qi. Ren Xiaoyao wielded the Spiritual Energy Longsword, unleashing a set of exquisite Swordsmanship. The sword flashed, each strike precisely aimed at the Slime Monsters's core. With each slash of Sword Qi, the Slime Monsters's body was torn apart, Black Liquid splattering everywhere, emitting a pungent odor.
Having dealt with the Slime Monsters, Ren Xiaoyao continued onward. When he reached an open area of the cave, a colossal Guardian Beast appeared before him. This Guardian Beast was as large as a mountain, its entire body covered in hard scales that shimmered with golden light, as if cast from pure gold. A pair of enormous, incredibly sharp horns protruded from its head, seemingly capable of Sky-Rending Strike. The Guardian Beast's eyes, like lanterns, emitted a red glow, radiating an awe-inspiring power.
The Guardian Beast let out a deafening roar and pounced on Ren Xiaoyao with incredible speed, creating a gust of wind. Ren Xiaoyao quickly dodged to the side, the Guardian Beast's attack grazing his clothes and leaving a deep trench in the ground. Ren Xiaoyao knew this Guardian Beast was powerful and he couldn't fight it head-on; he had to outsmart it. He moved swiftly around the Guardian Beast, searching for its weakness. Enraged by Ren Xiaoyao's Movement Method, the Guardian Beast launched a relentless attack, causing dust to fly and the ground to shake.
During his struggle with the Guardian Beast, Ren Xiaoyao noticed that it would slightly lower its head before each attack, a prelude to its attack. Ren Xiaoyao was delighted and awaited the Guardian Beast's next strike. Just as the Guardian Beast lowered its head again, preparing to attack, Ren Xiaoyao leaped up and unleashed the "Nine Heavens Thunder Art." This Cultivation Method, which he had learned from a senior, allowed him to draw upon the power of Nine Heavens Thunder heavens at a high level. Suddenly, dark clouds filled the sky, and bolts of lightning descended from the heavens, striking the Guardian Beast. Struck by the lightning, the Guardian Beast roared in pain, its body trembling uncontrollably. Ren Xiaoyao seized the opportunity to attack, his Spiritual Energy Longsword imbued with the Thunder Force, stabbing fiercely at the Guardian Beast's weak point. The Guardian Beast struggled for a few moments before collapsing to the ground with a thud, disappearing in a flash of light.
After overcoming numerous trials, Ren Xiaoyao finally arrived at the deepest part of the cave. There stood an ancient Altar, radiating a mysterious light that seemed to beckon him. Ren Xiaoyao slowly stepped forward Altar, his heart filled with anticipation and nervousness. He knew that the key to breaking through to the peak of the Heavenly Immortal Peak realm might lie on this very Altar.
Ren Xiaoyao stood before the ancient Altar, took a deep breath, and slowly extended his hands, gently picking up the ancient book radiating a soft light and the spirit pearl containing the Ancient Heavenly Immortal. As soon as the book touched his hands, a warm and powerful force flowed into his body through his palms. The words on the book seemed to come alive, automatically flooding into his mind and merging with his consciousness. The information about the cultivation insights and unique Cultivation Method of Ancient Heavenly Immortal was like a series of keys, opening a door for him to a higher realm.
At the same time, Ren Xiaoyao placed the Spirit Pearl between his brows. The pearl instantly transformed into a stream of light, merging into his sea of consciousness. In that instant, he felt his soul being pulled by a powerful force, entering a mysterious space. Within this space, countless threads of spiritual energy surged towards him like a tide, attempting to merge with his soul and body. Ren Xiaoyao knew this was the crucial moment for fusing with the power of inheritance, and also the most dangerous. If the fusion failed, he would not only be unable to break through to the peak of the Heavenly Immortal Peak realm, but he might even be devoured by this powerful force, ending up with his soul scattered.
But Ren Xiaoyao showed no sign of backing down. He gritted his teeth, circulated his spiritual energy, and resisted the impact of this powerful force with all his might. His body began to tremble violently, his forehead was covered in sweat, and every nerve was enduring immense pain. His soul felt as if it were being roasted on a fire, on the verge of being burned to ashes. But his belief remained unwavering. He continuously recited the cultivation Mnemonic from ancient texts, guiding this power to orderly integrate into his body and soul.
During the fusion process, Ren Xiaoyao encountered numerous difficulties. The power contained within the spiritual energy threads was far too great for his body to withstand; cracks began to appear on his skin, and blood seeped out. His soul also became blurred under the impact of this power, and his consciousness gradually dissipated. However, with his indomitable willpower, he struggled back from the brink of collapse time and time again. He constantly adjusted his state, searching for the balance point of the power, allowing this inherited power to gradually resonate with his body and soul.
After an unknown amount of time, Ren Xiaoyao finally felt this power begin to obey his commands, perfectly merging with his body and soul. His body underwent a tremendous transformation; his bones became stronger, his muscles brimming with power, and every cell radiated powerful vitality. His soul also underwent a great sublimation, becoming purer and stronger, and his understanding of the Heaven and Earth Laws deepened. He knew that he had successfully merged with the inherited power, and was only one step away from the Heavenly Immortal Peak realm.
At the crucial moment of merging the power of inheritance, Ren Xiaoyao felt a powerful force surging within his body, as if it were about to burst him. His skin turned red from the strain, his veins were clearly visible, and each vein throbbed as if it would explode at any moment. His hair flew wildly, emitting Dazzling Light, and he was like a sun about to erupt.
The surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi seemed to be summoned, frantically converging towards Ren Xiaoyao. The once clear sky instantly became covered with dark clouds, with purple lightning flashing within them. These lightning bolts intertwined, forming a huge vortex that enveloped Ren Xiaoyao. Powerful Thunder Force continuously struck Ren Xiaoyao, producing deafening roars, as if trying to completely destroy him.
But Ren Xiaoyao was fearless. He circulated his spiritual power to form a powerful defensive barrier, resisting the attack of the Thunder Force. At the same time, he continuously guided the inherited power within his body, breaking through the final barrier of the Heavenly Immortal Peak realm. His eyes were firm and determined, as if they could see through all difficulties and reach the Beyond the Shore of success.
With Ren Xiaoyao's efforts, fine cracks began to appear on the barrier, each crack accompanied by a powerful fluctuation of energy. Ren Xiaoyao felt his connection with heaven and earth growing stronger, and his understanding of the Heaven and Earth Laws becoming more profound. He seemed to be able to hear the whispers of heaven and earth and comprehend the Mysteries of the Universe.
Finally, with a deafening roar, the barrier shattered completely. Ren Xiaoyao broke through to the peak of the Heavenly Immortal Peak realm, and a powerful aura erupted from his body, instantly sweeping across the entire world. This aura contained boundless majesty and power, causing everything around him to tremble. The originally surging Thunder Force gradually dissipated under the suppression of this aura, the dark clouds slowly dispersed, and the sky became clear again.
After his breakthrough, Ren Xiaoyao's body underwent a tremendous transformation. His skin became crystal clear, radiating a faint golden light, as if carved from the finest jade. His eyes became more profound, seemingly containing boundless wisdom and power, capable of seeing through the essence of all things in the world. Every movement he made was full of Divine Charm, as if he were one with heaven and earth, able to draw upon the power of heaven and earth with every gesture.
Ren Xiaoyao slowly opened his eyes, a hint of joy and satisfaction flashing within them. He felt the surging power within him, his heart filled with confidence. He knew that from this moment on, he had stood at the pinnacle of the cultivation Immortal Realm, becoming a true peerless powerhouse.
After Ren Xiaoyao broke through to the peak of the Heavenly Immortal Peak realm, the aura emanating from his body became increasingly powerful and mysterious, as if he had become the master of heaven and earth. His originally clear eyes were now as deep as an abyss, and the wisdom and power contained within them made people feel awe. Every subtle movement of his seemed to be able to draw upon the power of heaven and earth, and the surrounding space trembled slightly with his every move.
Not long after, upon hearing the news of Ren Xiaoyao's breakthrough, his former rival, filled with resentment, gathered a group of equally powerful cultivators and came to challenge him menacingly. They stood before Ren Xiaoyao's cave, clamoring for him to come out and face his death, their words filled with provocation and disdain. However, what they did not know was that the current Ren Xiaoyao was no longer the same as before.
Hearing the commotion, Ren Xiaoyao slowly emerged from his cave. His expression was calm, but a hint of disdain shone in his eyes. Looking at the group of so-called powerful enemies before him, he lightly flicked his sleeve, and an Invisible Power instantly spread out. This force, like a surging tide, instantly enveloped the cultivators. The cultivators felt an immense pressure bearing down on them, making it almost impossible for them to breathe, and their bodies began to tremble involuntarily.
The formidable enemy leader was startled upon seeing this, but he was unwilling to admit defeat. He roared and unleashed his strongest Cultivation Method, a layer of black light emanating from his body, and the magical Law Treasure in his hand shimmered with an eerie glow as he launched a fierce attack on Ren Xiaoyao. The black light, like countless sharp blades, slashed through the sky, accompanied by a piercing whistling sound, as it hurtled towards Ren Xiaoyao.
Ren Xiaoyao remained calm and composed. He gently raised his hand and made a grasping motion in front of him. In an instant, a golden Spiritual Energy Shield appeared before him. This shield emitted a soft yet powerful light, resembling an indestructible fortress. The black lights that struck the shield vanished without a trace, as if they had been thrown into the sea.
Then, Ren Xiaoyao flashed forward like lightning, charging towards the group of powerful enemies. He unleashed a set of exquisite fist techniques, each punch containing Infinite Power, seemingly capable of shattering the boundaries of heaven and earth. His figure swiftly weaved through the enemy ranks, and wherever he went, enemies fell to the ground, letting out painful screams. In just a few breaths, those once invincible foes were all defeated by Ren Xiaoyao, collapsing to the ground, incapacitated.
In this battle, Ren Xiaoyao crushed his enemy with absolute strength, showing everyone the terrifying power of Heavenly Immortal Peak. The news quickly spread throughout the entire cultivation Immortal Realm, causing a huge uproar. Countless cultivators both revered and envied Ren Xiaoyao, knowing that from this moment on, Ren Xiaoyao had become the true overlord of the cultivation Immortal Realm, and no one could rival him.
Ren Xiaoyao placed the jade pendant into the groove, and instantly, the Stone Gate emitted a deep rumble and slowly opened. A powerful ancient aura rushed out, containing a rich Immortal Spiritual Qi, which invigorated Ren Xiaoyao. He took a deep breath and steadily stepped through the Stone Gate.
Inside the door was a vast cavern, its walls inlaid with glittering gems, illuminating the entire cavern as bright as day. In the center of the cavern floated an ancient stone platform, upon which rested a softly glowing ancient book and a crystal-clear bead. Ren Xiaoyao slowly approached the platform. The text on the ancient book automatically appeared before his eyes, recording the cultivation insights and unique Cultivation Method of an Ancient Heavenly Immortal. The explanation of breaking through to the peak of the Heavenly Immortal Peak realm particularly enlightened Ren Xiaoyao. The bead, containing the powerful spiritual energy of the Ancient Heavenly Immortal immortal, was an excellent aid for breaking through realms. Ren Xiaoyao knew that the breakthrough fortuitous opportunity he had been searching for had finally arrived. Without hesitation, he sat cross-legged before the stone platform and began to use this inheritance and the power of the bead to attempt to break through to the Heavenly Immortal Peak realm.