Intelligence from Eight Rings, a Showdown, and the Origins of the [Longevity Realm] (Bonus Update-Gifts Appreciated)

(Today's bonus update ʕ ◦`꒳´◦ʔ)

``` [Day eight, in the pre-dawn hours, your [Golden Talent: Listening] activated.]

[Clang!]

[Clang!]

[Clang!]

[Clang!]

[Clang!]

[Clang!]

[Clang!]

[Seven rings again this time. Presumably, the information would still be useful.]

[The Great Dao's Voice reverberated through your Sea of Consciousness—]

[Did you know?]

[During your conversation with the being assimilating the [Longevity Realm], deep within the realm's "Heaven and Earth," much of the information that being provided was wrong.]

[For example, the claimed identity of [Venerable Lord of Yin-Yang Authority], the final destinations of the Jade Pool's Great Emperors throughout the ages, and the rumored Empress of the Ancient Desolation Sacred Land,]

[And... the claim that the passage to the "Immortal Realm" was under that being's control.]

["!!!"]

[You had already suspected the first two points, but what truly shocked you was the final piece of information.]

[—The claim that the passage to the "Immortal Realm" was under that being's control was actually false?!]

[Then was the proposed deal a lie as well?]

[Even the being that had assimilated the entire [Longevity Realm] had no passage to the "Immortal Realm."]

[No, that wasn't right. Not having control over it didn't mean that being didn't know about it.]

[So... that being didn't want you to ascend to the "Immortal Realm." Otherwise, there would have been no reason to Deception you.]

[After all, you really hated Deception now.]

[This bastard had already paved the way to an early grave.]

[But you were still troubled by the question of where this passage to the "Immortal Realm" actually was.]

[Would you really have to wait for [Golden Talent: Listening] to activate again?]

[Who knew how long that would take? After all, there was far, far too much information this talent could eavesdrop on...]

[In the end, you decided