Candidate for Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm! White-Haired Person Sends Off Black-Haired Person

Time flies by like an arrow, and years pass by in the blink of an eye.

The monotonous yet fulfilling years of cultivating immortality quickly passed by, more than forty years in total.

Forty years is neither a short nor a long time, but for Chen Dengming, it felt like just the blink of an eye in the Cultivation World.

Everything seemed like it had just happened yesterday, such as Xu Wei's death, and the passing of his son Chen Jing thirty-nine years ago. He went south again to search for him, a white-haired man sending off a black-haired man.

There is not much difference between the lives of ordinary people and low-level cultivators.

They came in a hurry, and they left in a hurry.

No matter how rich and powerful one was in life, when one leaves this world one is nothing more than a mound of yellow earth, not occupying much of the land.

All of this happened as vividly as if it had just occurred recently in Chen Dengming's memory, giving him a sense of unease, like a time warp after a long period of seclusion.

Ultimately, it was because his first thirty-odd years in the Cultivation World were filled with such rich and exciting experiences.

This long period of seclusion, spanning over forty years, was monotonous and low-key, yet it felt as if one had entered a Heavenly Timing environment to cultivate oneself, creating a sense of difference between yesterday and tonight. It was as if decades of time had been compressed into an extremely short period of time.

This year marked the forty-third year.

Chen Dengming is only a few months away from breaking through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage.

At this point, the four regions were already in turmoil, with various competitions and frictions involving resources constantly occurring.

However, these competitive frictions have gradually diminished in intensity over the past two years.

The news that the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm would reopen its Immortal Sect spread throughout the Four Seas Four Regions.

Just as Chen Dengming had predicted, the increasingly acute internal conflicts that had accumulated in the Four Seas Four Regions began to be effectively transferred as news of the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm spread.

All the major immortal sects Immortal Sect shifted their attention to the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm, and surprisingly, they tolerated their almost unbearable adversary.

At this moment, even the exiled lands, which had been dormant for many years, became active again, as if the treaty signed back then, which banished them to the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm, was not punishment, but a form of redemption.

The Four Seas Immortal Sect and many other sects in the Four Regions began to contact the Tiandao Sect and the Longevity Sect through various means and connections, hoping to enter the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm.

This turbulent time also marked the moment when Chen Dengming had to end his decades-long seclusion and frequently emerge from it.

"My Husband, breaking news! The Seven-eyed True Lord of the Eight-Armed Immortal Sect and the Sect Master of the Iron Armor Sect have both applied to enter the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm. I hope you can give them a ride."

Longevity Hall on Longevity Peak, He Yingyu, dressed in a magnificent purple-black Dao Child robe embroidered with gold thread, reported the sect affairs she had organized to Chen Dengming's avatar.

Chen Dengming, who was cultivating in his cave abode, the Unseen something and, after waking up, sent a message through his mind.

"It's one thing for that old corpse from the Iron Armor Sect Lou Zhen, to be restless, but he's also nearing the end of his life. He probably wants to find a High Antiquity feng shui treasure land in the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm to bury himself, hoping to live a third life through that treasure land."

However, the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm was already on the verge of collapse, so his idea was likely to fail.

Why would Seven Eyes enter the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm?

"What else could it be? It's mainly to collect some ancient spiritual materials that have long been extinct... This True Lord spoke highly of the Thunder Star Stone you gave him last time, my husband. If he knew the location of the Shattered Celestial Realm, I think he would have gone to collect it..."

Chen Dengming understood, "Thirty-nine years ago, my clone ended the collection of Thunder Star Stones. This kind of Spiritual Material can only be collected in large quantities in the outer heavens closest to the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm. In the Spirit Thunder Layer, only fragments can be collected."

More than 20 years ago, he and Liu Mei joined forces to use this stone to optimize my Divine Transformation Stone and Earth Immortal Earth Tablet, and they left some as payment. It seems they've tasted the sweetness of success."

"Then, my Husband, will you agree to take him with you?"

"If Seven Eyes is willing to give you the secrets and insights into refining fourth-tier Law Treasure, I will consider his conditions."

"Thank you, my Husband. But aren't there too many people? In the past few years, in order to resolve the internal conflicts of the four Inner Domain, you have deliberately joined forces with the Tiandao Sect to spread the news that the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm is about to open."

The internal conflicts have gradually shifted as a result, but in the past few years, you've promised many sects that you'd take them to the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm. Isn't that already too many people?"

Inside the cave abode, Chen Dengming pondered and replied, "Giving one of the spots I've reserved to Seven Eyes is nothing, as long as he agrees to this condition."

"You have now begun to form your Nascent Soul. After that, you can start learning how to refine fourth-tier Law Treasure. This is a great thing for the sect, since even Master Ge of our Longevity Sect cannot refine fourth-tier Law Treasure."

Hearing Chen Dengming say this, He Yingyu was moved but had no choice but to obey.

If it were only for her personal matters, she would feel uncomfortable and object.

It was a good thing for the sect, but it was hard to refuse.

If a sect has Artifact Refining Grandmaster can refine fourth-tier Law Treasure, it can indeed bring many benefits to the sect.

However, this is contingent on Seven-eyed True Lord's consent.

This is no simple condition; it's practically asking for the moon. For any Artifact Refining Grandmaster, the fourth-order treasure-refining techniques involving the Nascent Soul stage are things they only pass on to their direct disciples.

After finishing his conversation with He Yingyu, Chen Dengming took out the list recorded on the Jade Slip from his Storage Bag and browsed it.

To date, he has agreed to go to the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm with seventeen sects, bringing nineteen people with him.

On the day the Immortal Sect of the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm opened, such a thing would not be difficult for him, who possessed the Longevity Jade Seal and inherited the Immortal Celestial Lineage.

Bringing these many Nascent Soul experts to the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm was actually part of the First Ancestor's plan, with the aim of jointly resisting the invasion of the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm by Outer Domain Evil Cultivator.

Regardless of the purpose of the powerful individuals from Four Seas Four Regions who enter, eliminating external threats is something they will all inevitably do together before achieving their goals.

"I wonder how many spots the Tiandao Sect has accumulated by now."

Chen Dengming pondered as he put away the Jade Slip, when he suddenly noticed a Sound Transmission Jade Talisman shaped like a koi fish flashing in another Storage Bag.

This jade talisman seems to have been used to send a message for some time.

"Qiangzi."

Chen Dengming's expression changed slightly.

This koi-shaped Sound Transmission Jade Talisman was prepared by him for Jiang Qiang and other people who were once closest to him.

If there is nothing wrong, this talisman will not send a message.

Jiang Qiang has been spending time with his daughter Chen Yiran and Heizi for more than a decade.

Chen Dengming quickly took out the jade talisman and sent it through his Divine Sense.

After a moment, Chen Dengming looked solemn and sorrowful, took a deep breath, and put away the jade talisman.

"Fortunately, the news came two days ago. There's still time."

He stood up.

The moment a powerful aura spread, the dust on their bodies was shaken off.

The mustache on his chin and lips also fell out on its own.

He originally planned to go into seclusion for several more months in one go, and then break through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage.

But now he had to go out. After thinking for a while, he decided to go first and then inform He Yingyu.

Fifteen minutes later.

Chen Dengming's figure appeared in the air more than 6,000 miles away.

Below lay an unremarkable mortal city on the plain, bathed in the quiet twilight.

Outside the city, during the autumn harvest season, a vast field stretches as far as the eye can see, its air filled with the fragrance of wheat.

There was a large flow of people in the city. In the west of the city, there was a famous pharmacy. The doctor there had been saving lives for more than 20 years, and often treated many poor people without charging much for his services. The people of the city praised the doctor as a reincarnation of a medicine god.

Chen Dengming landed and strolled through the streets like an ordinary mortal, watching the bustling scene of the town, feeling as if he were in another world.

Before long, he arrived at the pharmacy.

The pharmacy has a small storefront, with the three large characters "Anxin Hall" written on a colorful wooden plaque.

A terrazzo bonsai stands in front of the door, containing a robust Chinese fir with several green vines intertwined in shades of blue and purple, bringing a Life Force and refreshing feeling to passersby.

At this moment, a sign indicating that the pharmacy was not open for business hung in front of the door, but a group of ordinary people gathered outside, whispering among themselves, their faces filled with worry and reluctance to leave.

Upon seeing this scene, even without listening to the surrounding discussions, Chen Dengming already knew what had happened, and the sorrow in his usually calm eyes deepened.

He continued on his way, seemingly invisible to the ordinary people around him.

Pushing open the peach wood door and entering the pharmacy, a long, narrow medicine cabinet comes into view.

The medicine cabinet was filled with all sorts of small white porcelain bottles, containing pills, medicated tablets, and tinctures of various colors, shapes, tastes, and effects, as well as some instruments and secret medicinal ingredients needed for acupuncture and massage.

A brown wooden bookcase sits to the right of the medicine cabinet, neatly filled with hundreds of ancient medical books, including some obscure and difficult-to-understand medical texts concerning the treatment of cultivators.

Upon seeing these medical books, Chen Dengming couldn't help but recall his daughter Chen Yiran's request to the sect to purchase them. The sorrow in his eyes lessened, and a smile appeared.

At this moment, he had already sensed several presences in the backyard.

Passing through the front hall, you'll see a pile of medicinal herbs in a corner of the backyard, emitting a rich herbal fragrance.

Several people sat around a rattan chair in the courtyard, the atmosphere heavy with sadness. Only the giggling laughter of a child being teased eased the sorrow somewhat.

Upon seeing Chen Dengming approaching, the group of people all shuddered.

"Brother Chen!"

"Grandfather!"

"Father!"

Chen Dengming nodded slightly, his gaze first falling on his daughter Chen Yiran, who was sitting back in a rattan chair, looking old and exuding an air of aging.

A flash of azure light appeared in his eyes, and he immediately saw that the aura of time's passage around Chen Yiran was extremely strong, and that her remaining lifespan was rapidly slipping away.

Chen Yiran is already 124 years old this year. Logically speaking, given her physical condition, she should have lived to be over 130.

But as a mortal, Chen Yiran not only traveled to various places in her early years to help others, but also founded Anxin Hall in her later years when she was a hundred years old. She worked day and night to save lives and heal the wounded. Her weak mortal body caused her to lose a lot of vitality over the years, and now she is nearing her end.

"Father"

Chen Yiran tried to get up, but Chen Dengming stopped her, saying with emotion, "Yiran, I have warned you before not to overwork yourself."

A satisfied smile appeared on Chen Yiran's aged face, marked with age spots. She said in a hoarse voice, "Father! Even now, I have no regrets. You always taught us that we should be down-to-earth and strive for a clear conscience."

"Yiran, Yiran, you still do things the same way, you just won't listen to advice. The name Yiran wasn't a mistake, was it?"

Chen Dengming shook his head, then looked at Jiang Qiang's face, which was clearly much older, nodded slightly, and patted Jiang Qiang's shoulder.

"Qiangzi, keep trying! With each breakthrough in the Longevity Merit, your lifespan will increase. If you encounter any difficulties, just tell Brother Chen."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qiang's eyes reddened slightly, and he nodded excitedly, repeatedly saying, "Yes."

He is already 160 years old this year, but he is only at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage. Even if the Longevity Merit can extend his lifespan, he will only live to be 230 years old when he breaks through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

The hope of breaking through to the Golden Core stage in the future is extremely slim.

I'm afraid that in another Jiazi, Brother Chen will come to see him off. This has become the thing he hopes for most in his heart. I'm just afraid that Brother Chen will be in seclusion for too long and we'll miss him in the blink of an eye.

These were thoughts that Jiang Qiang sometimes kept to himself, and naturally, he wouldn't say them aloud.

Chen Dengming looked at his grandson Chen Feilin, who was thin and handsome, with a broad back and a very imposing figure, and smiled.

"Feilin, it's been almost forty years. The last time you came to the Eastern Region was when you were seeing off your father. Now you've already Foundation Establishment."

Chen Feilin's eyes reddened with excitement as he gazed at Chen Dengming's unchanging face and said respectfully, "Grandpa, I am of dull talent and only Foundation Establishment thirty-seven years ago."

Chen Dengming laughed heartily, with a hint of wistfulness, and said, "Your aptitude is not dull at all. You're only almost sixty years old this year, and you're already at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. Reaching the Golden Core stage in the future is a given."

Upon hearing this, a beautiful and virtuous woman standing next to Chen Feilin also became excited.

She knew her grandfather's strength very well; since he had spoken up, Chen Feilin would definitely be able to reach the Golden Core stage in the future.

"Grandpa, this is Xiao Lan, my second wife whom I took in twenty years ago. This is our child Pei Yi!"

Chen Feilin then introduced the woman who greeted him and the child nestled in Chen Yiran's arms.

"Pei Yi? What a good name! His Spirit Root is also quite good, at the upper-middle grade. He won't be bad in the future."

Chen Dengming nodded, a hint of joy in his eyes, and looked at the chubby-faced boy who seemed a little timid and refused to call him "great-grandfather" when Chen Feilin called him. He smiled.

"Feilin, let the child go! This is my first meeting as the great-grandfather, so I'd like to give the child and Xiao Lan a small gift."

After saying this, he flicked his finger, and a ball of light flew out, landing between the eyebrows of the child Pei Yi, turning into a faint glow before quickly disappearing.

Another glittering medicine bottle flew towards her granddaughter-in-law, Xiao Lan. The words "Foundation Establishment" on the bottle immediately brought joy to her beautiful eyes.

"You all go ahead, I want to spend some time alone with my daughter."

Chen Dengming did not continue to show affection to his children and grandchildren, and restrained his emotions.

He had done his utmost to take care of his children and grandchildren; even during long periods of seclusion, his clones would always keep an eye on them.

However, the saying "children and grandchildren have their own blessings" does not mean abandoning them, but rather that children and grandchildren also have their own temperaments and pursuits.

It's like Chen Jing wanting to go to Nanxun when his time was up, wanting to stay in Nanxun, and wanting to be buried in Nanxun.

Chen Dengming could only respect his son's choice.

Chen Yiran has always enjoyed interacting with cultivators and mortals at the lower levels, and she is happy to help others and save lives, sparing no Mental Strength for this cause.

As a father, all he could do was offer support and provide quiet financial assistance.

Besides that, there's not much else that can be done, much less that they will try to stop it.

There's nothing wrong with what the children are pursuing.

His restraint is, in fact, more of a form of protection.

It is not only to protect oneself from developing psychological vulnerabilities, but also to protect one's children and grandchildren from repeating past calamities.

At this moment, he remained in the courtyard with his only daughter, Chen Yiran. He watched as the marks of time around her deepened, and sighed in his heart. He took out Sound Transmission Jade Talisman and sent a message to He Yingyu.

He Yingyu has always treated the two children as her own. She saw Chen Jing off in the past, and now she is here to see Yi Ran off as well.

This is perhaps the greatest tragedy between cultivators and mortals, and it may also be the reason why many cultivators become increasingly indifferent to emotions and mortals as they progress through their cultivation.

The difference between immortals and mortals lies solely in the difference between longevity and a short life.

"Roar--"

Above, in the clouds, the Black Cloud Leopard poked its head out. Its whiskers were already white, and tears streamed from its eyes as it looked down at its kind little master in the courtyard below, who had spent countless years on its back.

Even now, for fear of disturbing ordinary people, they refuse to let it into the courtyard for a farewell.

"The sun is high, yet the evening breeze is still gentle; autumn deepens, and fallen leaves fly. Alone, I lean against the gate tower, gazing at the sunset; the courtyard is filled with fragrant grasses bathed in the glow of the setting sun."

Chen Yiran seemed to see the Black Cloud Leopard in the clouds as well, but her eyes gradually became ethereal. She lay on the rattan chair, smiling and singing a poem in a hoarse voice.

Chen Dengming didn't know who wrote the poem, but he could understand the regret for the passing of time and the positive attachment to life it conveyed.

His grief deepened.

This is the fate of mortals.

This is also the fate of Chen Dengming's children.

This life, like the setting sun, could vanish at any moment.

The tranquil twilight that had initially appeared on the city wall was now gradually enveloping Chen Yiran from all sides.

Chen Yiran felt a chill, as if the darkness of dusk was enveloping her.

She suddenly looked up at Chen Dengming, her father, who, no matter how tall he seemed to her, had always given her a kind and gentle presence, and said in a hoarse voice.

"Dad, I want to chase the sunset, to chase the sun so we can ride on Uncle Hei's back again, just like you used to take me when we were little, and chase it together."

"Good!"

Chen Dengming's eyes trembled slightly as he personally reached out and hugged his daughter's body, which was so thin it was almost weightless.

This weight even gave him the illusion that it was similar to his weight when he was born.

But this is absolutely impossible, because he wasn't by her side when she was born and never held her.

It has been so many years since he last held his daughter.

Chen Dengming flew into the sky, and a shield surrounded him and Chen Yiran, protecting his delicate daughter from the strong winds.

High in the sky, the Black Cloud Leopard roared with joy and excitement, pounced, carried the two of them, and chased after the sun.

As it rose higher, the previously dim sunset seemed to reappear.

It seemed as if Chen Yiran have ended in oblivion, had been extended even further.

The setting sun, like a blazing ember, blazed brightly once more, spraying orange, red, and yellow rays of light across the heavens and earth.

Two people and a leopard chased after the sun, as if pursuing a life that had passed away.

Further away, He Yingyu's figure rushed towards them in a whirlwind, with patches of blooming orange-red sunset behind her, incredibly beautiful, like a long red carpet lifted up in the sky.

"Mother Crane!" Chen Yiran's eyes filled with tears; perhaps it was the last warmth of her life, her vision was gradually blurring.

At that moment, the burning sunset seemed to transform into a ribbon in her eyes, squeezing into a thin, trembling golden snake.

The sun had completely set in the west.

The last few faint yellow rays of light disappeared from the other side of the sky, and the sky darkened, as if a person's life was coming to an end.

"Still!"

He Yingyu arrived at the last moment, and the three of them and the leopard merged into the last glimmer of light in the dim glow of the setting sun. Everything in the world disappeared into a blurry crimson-purple, which was perhaps the final color of mortal life as it came to an end.

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