A Glimmer of Hope

The Skull Wisdom Immortal didn't answer Bai Qiuran's question immediately, but instead asked, "Does your Qi Sea feel endless, yet you can still cultivate without letting your True Qi leak out?"

That's right.

Bai Qiuran paused for a moment before answering.

"Then you are undoubtedly the object of the Heaven's Envy."

Wisdom Immortal said with certainty.

"What? Is this kind of physique amazing?"

Since it concerned Foundation Establishment, Bai Qiuran's tone became cautious as he asked.

"Well... it's subtle."

Wisdom Immortal replied, "From all aspects, Heaven's Envy is indeed the most terrifying physique I know. Not only because those born with this physique have at least the talent of a genius at the Heavenly Spirit Root level, but more importantly, the talent of Heaven's Envy Jealousy will continue to grow with time and the advancement of cultivation. In the end, even the two strongest physiques and Book of Questions in the legendary Cultivation World, the Immortal Spirit Physique and the Heavenly Demon Physique, cannot compare to the talent of a fully grown Heaven's Envy Jealousy."

"Isn't that awesome?"

Bai Qiuran exclaimed in delight.

"From that perspective alone, yes, but there's another reason why I say it's subtle."

Wisdom Immortal said softly, "Heaven's Envy Heaven's Envy, heaven is jealous. The reason it is envied by heaven is because this kind of physique, which may only appear once every 100,000 years, has virtually unlimited potential. An unlimited Qi Sea, and unlimited growth in aptitude, but there is still one problem, and that is lifespan."

The green Soulfire in the Skull's eyes burned brighter, Bai Qiuran felt it was watching her.

"You should understand, right? While Cultivators believe that the larger the capacity of one's Qi Sea, the better. However, it's undeniable that whether it's compressing True Essence when breaking through from the Qi Refining Stage Foundation Establishment Stage, or condensing Golden Core when breaking through from the Foundation Establishment Stage to the Golden Core Stage, it's actually necessary to use the [wall] of the Qi Sea to reverse-compress and condense the energy within the body. So even if Heaven's Envy's True Qi eventually grows into energy with a higher quality than True Essence over time, True Qi is still True Qi. Without a limit to the Qi Sea, there is no limit to the wall of the Qi Sea. Therefore, Heaven's Envy can only remain in the Qi Refining Stage and won't live past two or three hundred years old. And when he reaches three hundred years old, the Heaven, filled with jealousy towards you, obviously won't show mercy. Once the Underworld Emissary takes away your Souls, even the best physique will be useless."

Bai Qiuran thought of Xue Ling and his gang of Underworld Emissary, and was immediately speechless.

"I once did a calculation: if Heaven's Envy can successfully survive the millennium, probably no one in heaven or earth will be able to control him, but... you know."

Wisdom Immortal continued, "In our time, there was also a Heaven's Envy. I practically watched him grow up, but in the end, he was taken away by the Underworld Emissary when he was 350 years old. Once his Souls left his body, all the characteristics of Heaven's Envy disappeared."

"So, after hearing what you're saying, it's impossible for me to break through to the Foundation Establishment in this lifetime?"

Bai Qiuran very discouraged, and even had the idea of "going back to her hometown to get married, live a secluded life, and have children".

But Wisdom Immortal immediately retorted, "When did I say you couldn't break through to the Foundation Establishment?"

You know?

Bai Qiuran overjoyed.

"I have no idea."

Wisdom Immortal immediately poured cold water on it again.

Bai Qiuran rested her chin on her hand and pondered for a moment, clenching her fists until they cracked.

"Are you kidding me?"

"No, no."

Wisdom Immortal quickly said, "Although I don't know how to help you break through to the Foundation Establishment, I do know a clue... and a very clear one at that—a clue proving that Heaven's Envy can break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

Tell me about it.

Bai Qiuran lowered her hand.

"Let me put it this way... do you know about the Immortal Emperor?"

"The Skull asked."

"I know, he even reserved a seat for me at the Ghost Emperor's table... What, is he also Heaven's Envy?"

Bai Qiuran asked.

"No, the Immortal Emperor is human, but not Heaven's Envy."

Wisdom Immortal said, "Although there are no records of it now, when I still had hands and feet, I once encountered a ruin in the Savage Lands —I mean the Savage Lands of the Eastern Azure Immortal Dynasty era. There, I discovered several Ruin, and through the Great Wisdom given to me by the Heavenly Dao, I learned many secrets."

What secret?

"Everyone knows that the Immortal Emperor was the first Immortals in history and the one who passed on the Immortals arts to the Human Race. But before the immortals, there was another race on this land called the gods."

The Skull Wisdom Immortal slowly said, "Then, according to the information I gleaned from that mural, during the same period as the Immortal Emperor, there was another Heaven's Envy. While the Immortal Emperor was transmitting the Dharma, he withstood the pressure from the God Realm, giving humanity a chance to breathe. And judging from the results shown in that mural, this first Heaven's Envy possessed True Essence."

Boom!

Upon hearing this news, Bai Qiuran's composure, which had remained undisturbed for over a thousand years, finally experienced a violent fluctuation.

He felt as if a crack had appeared in the pitch-black space, and warm light emanated from the crack, shining on him.

There is still hope in this world!

Bai Qiuran overjoyed, but unfortunately, the Earth Immortal who had been trying to Body Seizure him could only watch helplessly as this scene unfolded, Restraint by the black spikes.

How can I find him?

After his initial elation, Bai Qiuran quickly grabbed the Skull and pressed him for answers.

"Calm down first."

Wisdom Immortal said, "The First-Generation Heaven's Envy disappeared after that, and we haven't heard from him since. I guess he was killed in the battle with the gods. But if you still want to search, you can go to the Savage Lands and look for the Ruin left behind from the ancient Divine Age."

"Let's go! Where are the Ruin?"

Bai Qiuran trembled with excitement, wishing he could rush to the Savage Lands immediately to find clues to his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment. He looked around and found that he was still in the dark space, so he simply raised his hand and struck the Void.

With a deafening roar, his Palm Seal shattered a massive Spatial Rift, causing Wisdom Immortal's brow to twitch upon seeing this—if he still had eyebrows.

Seeing Bai Qiuran about to jump in headfirst, he quickly called out, "Wait! That's the Resentment and Hatred Trial Ground! Don't tear down this Cave Abode! It's very useful! If you want to get out, I'll teach you a Teleportation technique!"

Hearing his voice, Bai Qiuran finally calmed down a little. Seeing his expression and the Book of Questions, Wisdom Immortal paused before continuing, "Besides, you can't go to the Savage Lands now. My encounter with the Divine Age Ruin was just a coincidence. Tens of thousands of years of the Vast Sea have buried those Ruin deep underground."

So where should I go now?

Bai Qiuran countered with a question.

You know about the Demon Realm, right?

Wisdom Immortal said, "Go to the Demon Emperor Mausoleum; there are clues there about the Divine Age."

"I've been to the Demon Emperor Mausoleum."

Bai Qiuran thought to herself that she had even killed Monster Race Imperial Family there.

"There are no clues about the Divine Age there."

"Of course not. The place you mentioned is just a mausoleum for later Demon Emperor. What I want you to find is the tomb of the First Ancestor Demon Emperor."

Wisdom Immortal said, "The First Ancestor Demon Emperor, like the Immortal Emperor, was also a being who survived from the Divine Age."