The three of them stayed there to comprehend Yellow Springs and gain insight into the Corpse Emperor's transformation, occasionally discussing the profound mysteries of the Dao.
The days passed one after another.
On this day, an incomparably majestic Immortal Gate suddenly appeared in the Chaos Sea at the Cosmic Frontier Wasteland. The Extreme Dao aura it emitted shook Heaven and Earth and all living beings.
The Immortal Gate slowly opened, as though revealing an incomparably vast world. The Myriad Dao of Heaven and Earth rumbled, while Nine-Colored Divine Light flashed.
A figure actually appeared there—and it was none other than the likeness of Boundless Heavenly Venerable!
Li Ming was jolted awake as well.
To his surprise, this was actually a newly refined weapon of Boundless Heavenly Venerable. Apart from the Immortal Sword, he had refined a second Extreme Dao Weapon: the Immortal Gate.
The being in the form of Boundless Heavenly Venerable was clearly the Weapon Deity of the Immortal Gate.
Rumble.
The aura of the weapon spread throughout the entire world, shaking countless living beings.
The Dark Supremes who had been awakened turned their curious gazes toward the Chaos Sea at the Cosmic Frontier Wasteland.
The Weapon Deity opened the Immortal Gate, and an elderly white-haired figure emerged from within.
It was Boundless Heavenly Venerable in his old age.
In this lifetime, Boundless Heavenly Venerable had already reached the twilight of his life.
His flesh and Primordial Spirit had already begun to decay, but his eyes still radiated terrifying divine light.
The many Dark Supremes could sense that Boundless Heavenly Venerable had truly entered his final years.
He could either sever his cultivation and become a Dark Supreme, or die just like that.
There was no third path.
Unless he could find a new method to live out another lifetime.
While the Dark Supremes discussed the matter animatedly, and even gloated over his misfortune, one of them suddenly noticed something unusual.
They were astonished to discover that most of Boundless Heavenly Venerable's body had already turned to stone.
Only his exposed head remained flesh and blood.
Boundless Heavenly Venerable, who had vanished for many years before suddenly appearing, once again shook the entire world.
Although Boundless Heavenly Venerable was old, the aura radiating from him was terrifyingly powerful.
This was Boundless Heavenly Venerable in the twilight of his Third Lifetime.
Unless he could successfully live out a Fourth Lifetime, he would truly perish.
Boundless Heavenly Venerable in his Third Lifetime was frighteningly powerful.
The new Extreme Dao Weapon he had forged—the indestructible Immortal Gate—emitted an aura that absolutely surpassed that of ordinary Supremes and Heavenly Venerable Weapons.
On many life-bearing stars, the sacred lands and ancient families with powerful inheritances silently watched the mysterious Immortal Gate that had appeared at the Cosmic Frontier Wasteland.
Sensing the decaying aura radiating from Boundless Heavenly Venerable, they knew that another Dark Supreme might be about to fall.
Of course, he might also become a Dark Supreme and massacre all living beings.
No one had expected that in this era, when Demon Venerable, Netherworld Venerable, and Daode Tianzun were alive, Boundless Heavenly Venerable would appear as well.
People had originally worried that another terrifying Divine War might erupt. Yet when they thought of what Boundless Heavenly Venerable had done, many of them relaxed.
Boundless Heavenly Venerable was someone willing to protect all living beings under Heaven and Earth.
He should not be so evil as to massacre all living beings merely to survive.
At this moment, although the aura around Boundless Heavenly Venerable was decayed, it was still incredibly powerful. Though inferior to Demon Venerable, it was no weaker than Netherworld Venerable or Daode Tianzun.
Many people sighed that Boundless Heavenly Venerable truly deserved to be called one of the Nine Heavenly Venerables.
Indeed, in this era when Emperor Zun had yet to emerge, the addition of Demon Venerable completed the number of the Nine Heavenly Venerables.
If Emperor Zun emerged in the future, he would certainly be the Tenth Heavenly Venerable.
Some people did not even know Boundless Heavenly Venerable, because he was not a particularly high-profile person.
Although his name circulated among the many sacred lands and ancient families with ancient inheritances, they would not easily reveal this secret to outsiders.
After all, he was a Heavenly Venerable. Spreading rumors about him recklessly could truly create karmic consequences, and he might genuinely sense it.
Thus, even more sacred lands and ancient families chose to remain silent.
Now that Boundless Heavenly Venerable had appeared so ostentatiously, he not only shocked the experts of the many sacred lands and ancient families, but also shook the Dark Supremes.
Li Ming, Netherworld Venerable, and Daode Tianzun were all awakened.
They instantly crossed the endless star rivers and arrived at the Cosmic Frontier Wasteland.
Amid the three men's puzzled gazes, Boundless Heavenly Venerable's dignified and majestic voice spread throughout the entire world.
"I have cultivated and comprehended the Dao for many years. Now, I have finally understood a Longevity Method that can repair the Immortal Platform Rift and allow Dark Supremes to perfectly live out a new lifetime."
"Fellow Daoists hidden within the Forbidden Zones, if you are interested, you may all come and observe carefully. Let us discuss the profound mysteries of the Dao together."
Looking at Boundless Heavenly Venerable's current appearance, Li Ming was also startled.
Could Boundless Heavenly Venerable be planning to publicly reveal the transformation method for becoming a Sacred Spirit?
If these Dark Supremes were willing to emerge, transform into Sacred Spirits, and become Perfected Sacred Spirits sealed away for eternity, they would no longer need to become Dark Supremes. They could seal themselves away and await the opening of the Road to Immortality.
This would absolutely be a boundless act of merit.
Li Ming had originally planned to do this after comprehending the method in the future. He had never expected Boundless Heavenly Venerable to accomplish it first.
This forced Li Ming to marvel. The heroes of the world were as numerous as carp crossing a river. Every person who could leave their name in history truly could not be underestimated.
The many Dark Supremes were also thrown into an uproar after hearing this.
Boundless Heavenly Venerable, who was about to die, could actually continue along the path and keep living?
Moreover, it seemed to be a method that allowed him to survive without devouring all living beings under Heaven and Earth?
Was this method reliable? Was it possible?
To the many Dark Supremes, all Longevity Methods were things they wished to study.
So long as they could continue living, they were willing to pay any price, including their consciences.
They had sealed themselves away for eternity and awaited the opening of the Road to Immortality. They were not merely waiting for the Road to Immortality to open after tens of thousands of years, but also for the Beidou Road to Immortality and Feixian Star Road to Immortality that would appear after millions of years.
They hoped to ascend through the mortal world and enter the Immortal Domain.
Yet now, Boundless Heavenly Venerable was actually being so generous as to teach everyone a Longevity Method?
Many Dark Supremes were half-convinced and half-doubtful.
After awakening, most of them merely condensed incarnations and flew toward the Cosmic Frontier Wasteland.
A few Dark Supremes broke through their Immortal Sources and went to the Chaos Sea at the Cosmic Frontier Wasteland in person.
For a time, divine light flashed throughout the various Life Forbidden Zones, and Extreme Dao Divine Might erupted.
Nearly every awakened Dark Supreme wanted to see this Longevity Method.
The only exceptions were the deepest Dark Supremes, who remained sealed in slumber.
So many dark auras emerged into the world, shaking the entire world.
All living beings under Heaven and Earth watched the divine lights streaking across the sky with expressions of awe.
Even more people gazed curiously at the receding divine lights.
One terrifying figure after another appeared at the Cosmic Frontier Wasteland.
The invincible auras of those who had once ruled over the world caused the Myriad Dao to wail.
Li Ming observed the scene and had not expected there to be so many Dark Supremes in this era.
Some of them were people he had never even detected.
Many Forbidden Zones were extremely mysterious. They could naturally block others' senses, making it impossible even for those who had attained enlightenment and become Supreme.
This could be seen from the fact that after those Life Forbidden Zones concealed themselves in the future, even Ye Fan, despite attaining enlightenment and becoming an Emperor, was unable to deduce them. It showed how difficult it was to find Life Forbidden Zones and Dark Supremes that wholeheartedly wished to remain hidden.
With so many Dark Supremes appearing, even Daode Tianzun and Netherworld Venerable were greatly shocked.
They had never expected that so many Supremes would have been born during the eras when they slept. Some auras were extremely ancient, clearly belonging to beings who had been born before them.
These Dark Supremes all stared at the stone-transformed Boundless Heavenly Venerable with burning, curious gazes.
At this moment, only Boundless Heavenly Venerable's head had yet to turn to stone.
They faintly felt anticipation and began to speculate.
Could this so-called method of transforming into a Sacred Spirit Stone Embryo be the Longevity Method he intended to teach?
A Dark Supreme took the initiative to ask, "Boundless Heavenly Venerable, nearly everyone who should have arrived is here. Can you answer our questions now?"
"That's right. We came at your invitation. I wonder what you can teach us, Boundless Heavenly Venerable?" another Dark Supreme asked.
Boundless Heavenly Venerable looked at the many Dark Supremes. When his gaze landed on Li Ming, he smiled faintly and nodded.
He also nodded toward the familiar Netherworld Venerable and Daode Tianzun.
"Fellow Daoists, you have all seen it. I am about to transform myself into a Sacred Spirit Stone Embryo, preserving only a trace of my undying Primordial Spirit. I will then undergo millions of years of gestation like a Sacred Spirit and become a Perfected Sacred Spirit, living out a new lifetime."
As soon as Boundless Heavenly Venerable finished speaking, the scene immediately erupted.
The divine senses of the many Dark Supremes surged like waves. Clearly, Boundless Heavenly Venerable's words had stirred up monstrous waves in their hearts.
"Is this method reliable?"
"It feels a little like wishful thinking!"
"Several Supremes throughout history have studied this Longevity Method, but I have never heard of anyone succeeding."
"That's right. When we ruled the world, we also studied the Saint Spirit Method. We even captured a genuine Perfected Sacred Spirit, dismembered it, and studied it carefully."
"In the past, a fellow Daoist possessed a Sacred Spirit Stone Embryo, hoping to seize its body before it developed sentience and live out a new lifetime. But in the end, he still failed."
"Someone tried to devour and fuse with a Perfected Sacred Spirit in order to live out a new lifetime, but failed as well."
"Those who tried to transform into Sacred Spirits also failed. To this day, no one has succeeded."
Looking at everyone's doubts, Boundless Heavenly Venerable smiled faintly. "All of your doubts can be answered by examining me."
"You need only investigate carefully, and you will understand."
Li Ming had not expected Boundless Heavenly Venerable to be so generous and magnanimous.
In the original text, Boundless Heavenly Venerable had seemed like a despicable villain. Before the Chaotic Body Wang Bo had attained enlightenment and become Supreme, he had killed him.
He had even refined his corpse into the Chaos Grand Formation of the Beidou Star.
Then, without waiting for the Road to Immortality to open, he had silently died.
He had not even been able to sever his cultivation and seal himself away while waiting for the Road to Immortality to open.
He had simply died in silence—or perhaps vanished—and no news of him had ever appeared again.
Instead, the Chaotic Body Wang Bo had been reborn through Nirvana, attained enlightenment, and become an Emperor, making the Boundless Heavenly Venerable of the original text seem like a clown.
Yet when Li Ming had read the original text, he had keenly noticed that whenever Netherworld Venerable appeared to elevate his own prestige, he would always chant, "Boundless Heavenly Venerable..."
This made Li Ming feel that Boundless Heavenly Venerable might not be as terrible as he seemed.
Perhaps he had even more secrets.
Now that Li Ming had transmigrated into this era, he had discovered Boundless Heavenly Venerable's true secret.
It turned out that Boundless Heavenly Venerable was not a villain at all. Instead, he was somewhat selfless.
Boundless Heavenly Venerable was generously teaching everyone the Sacred Spirit Transformation Method, clearly and sincerely hoping to solve the problem of Dark Supremes causing Dark Turmoils.
At the very least, it could reduce the occurrence of many Dark Turmoils to a certain extent.
There were still tens of thousands of years before the Road to Immortality opened. Yet instead of trying every possible method to survive until that era and attempting to enter the Immortal Domain to become an immortal, Boundless Heavenly Venerable had tried the Sacred Spirit Transformation Method instead. This left Li Ming somewhat confused.
Could Boundless Heavenly Venerable have sensed by chance that even more Dark Supremes would be born in the future and await the opening of the Road to Immortality?
That must be why he wants to teach the Saint Spirit Method...
Li Ming did not know what Boundless Heavenly Venerable was thinking. But since Boundless Heavenly Venerable was so generous, he certainly would not miss this opportunity and stroke of Fortune.
"If that's the case, then we'll investigate carefully."
"Fellow Daoist Boundless is truly generous!"
"Fellow Daoist Boundless, forgive my rudeness!"
"Offend you!"
Ordinary Supremes absolutely would not allow others to investigate their bodies or probe their secrets.
That would expose their weaknesses and might even give someone the opportunity to sabotage them or launch a surprise attack against their flesh and Primordial Spirit.
Now that everyone had gathered here, no one would naturally resort to such despicable methods.
Nevertheless, precautions could not be neglected.
Boundless Heavenly Venerable's generosity instead caused some Dark Supremes with ulterior motives to feel ashamed.
Everyone investigated carefully and soon discovered many of the secrets within.
"Boundless Heavenly Venerable really has transformed into a Sacred Spirit Stone Embryo!"
"He has actually gained the recognition of Heaven and Earth!"
"That means he is guaranteed to succeed this time!"
"After being reborn through the gestation of Heaven and Earth, he will transform into a true Sacred Spirit and become the favored child of Heaven!"
After investigating, the many Dark Supremes were deeply shaken.
"As long as you understand the key, you need only find a sufficiently mysterious and powerful Dragon Vein. You can then attempt your transformation there."
"Alternatively, find a place where a Sacred Spirit Stone Embryo is being gestated and take its place. Then you can attempt to gain the recognition of Heaven and Earth."
"However, the Sacred Spirit Transformation Method takes an extremely long time. The process is measured in millions of years, and all kinds of changes may occur during that period..."
"It does have flaws, but once it succeeds, it will be more powerful than anything before it. A Supreme will transform into a Heavenly Venerable."
"That's right. Both lifespan and strength will increase explosively."
"More importantly, a Perfected Sacred Spirit can re-attain enlightenment at any time. Without needing to sever his cultivation, he can enjoy endless life and seal himself away for eternity."
"Can this method also repair the Immortal Platform Rift?"
To the many Dark Supremes, their greatest regret was undoubtedly the Immortal Platform Rift that appeared after severing their cultivation. It would grow larger and increasingly difficult to repair until their entire bodies collapsed.
If this Sacred Spirit Transformation Method could give them a chance to undo their regrets and restore them to their original state, they were willing to try it.
After discussing the matter, everyone felt that this method was feasible and worth attempting.
However, whether they could succeed remained uncertain.
After all, no one had truly succeeded in transforming through this method yet.
Thus, many people remained half-convinced and half-doubtful. They still hoped that Boundless Heavenly Venerable would complete his transformation before they made any decisions.
The Immortal Gate carried Boundless Heavenly Venerable and the many Dark Supremes to a pitch-black mountain in the Chaos.
Clearly, this was the transformation site Boundless Heavenly Venerable had carefully chosen.
That mountain was exceptionally sacred and powerful. It was evidently also a place where Sacred Spirits were gestated, and it radiated a primordial aura like the creation of Heaven and Earth.
Everyone was deeply shaken by the sight of this majestic and magnificent divine mountain.
The divine mountain was imposing and towered straight into the firmament, with the sun, moon, and stars orbiting around it. It truly embodied the Fortune of Heaven and Earth.
Although it was inferior to Kunlun Mountain, which Li Ming occupied, it was definitely an extraordinary divine mountain.
"This place could truly be called a birthplace of Sacred Spirits. There's a Cave Heaven within it, and it seems to have nurtured quite a number of Sacred Spirit Stone Embryos."
Many Dark Supremes entered the mountain together.
Ancient trees towered into the sky throughout the divine mountain, their foliage lush and verdant. There were also all kinds of wondrous divine medicines.
Here, everyone also saw broken stone men and stone beasts. Clearly, they were all Sacred Spirits that had failed to reach the Great Perfection.
However, some were obviously the offspring born from unions between these imperfect Sacred Spirits. Every one of them looked bizarre and deformed.
No one knew how Boundless Heavenly Venerable had found such a place, much less occupied it.
Li Ming looked at the divine mountain and said, "Fellow Daoist, transforming here alone will take an incredibly long time, and too many variables may arise. Why not relocate to the Reincarnation Sea?"
After hearing this, Boundless Heavenly Venerable felt that it made perfect sense.
Rumble!
Under Li Ming's support, the Sacred Spirit Divine Mountain was moved out of the Chaos.
That terrifying aura swept across the sky.
Along the way, the lifeforms on countless life-bearing planets saw a vast divine mountain fly across the heavens, blocking out the sun and sky. They were all left dumbfounded with shock.
The numerous avatars of the Dark Supremes among them were even more deeply shaken.
The Sacred Spirit Divine Mountain was relocated to the Reincarnation Sea.
The numerous avatars of the Dark Supremes arrived at the Reincarnation Sea and were filled with endless emotion.
Many of them had personally witnessed Li Ming forcefully kill the Dark Supreme of the Reincarnation Sea and seize this place.
Who would have thought that they would have the fortune to set foot here again—and this time, it was because of Boundless Heavenly Venerable's invitation?
After the divine mountain descended into the Reincarnation Sea, it immediately connected with the Dragon Vein and merged with it perfectly.
As for whether having so many Sacred Spirits in the Reincarnation Sea would cause trouble in the future, Li Ming thought that whenever the mood struck him, he could simply refine them all. He would never give them a chance to cause chaos.
With Boundless Heavenly Venerable transforming here, it was also convenient for him to observe from nearby.
He would even have company during the transformation.
When the time came, he could also invite Daode Tianzun and move his Sacred Spirit Divine Mountain here so that he could transform here as well.
The Reincarnation Sea Forbidden Zone did not keep idle people. Anyone who could come here was unquestionably powerful.
As for Netherworld Emperor Duan De, that fellow already had the Underworld Forbidden Zone. He truly had no need to come here.
Of course, if Netherworld Emperor Duan De was willing to transform here, Li Ming felt that it would be acceptable as well.
Who said the Demon Venerable was unwilling to make friends?
Just look at Boundless Heavenly Venerable, Daode Tianzun, and Netherworld Emperor Duan De. Weren't they all honored guests of the Demon Venerable?
Before you continue