"No need to worry, fellow Daoist. You'll still have to take part in the drawing of lots shortly. If you aren't picked, you can go home and enjoy your retirement in peace," Qin Feng said with a smile.
"Drawing lots? You must be joking, fellow Daoist. What drawing of lots?
"The Immortal Domain has plenty of old Supremes like me. I've cultivated for several million years without ever touching the threshold of the Extreme Dao, let alone becoming an undying True Immortal.
"I also have a large clan behind me. If I don't come, that junior of mine who became a Supreme will have to come instead.
"Rather than send a youngster with a better chance of becoming an immortal to his death, these old bones might as well make the trip," the elderly Supreme said with a sigh.
Although many Immortal Kings and True Immortals would be taking part in this expedition to the Primeval Ancient Realm, he still felt he faced nine chances of death and only one of survival.
That junior of his had become a Supreme at just over ten thousand years old and had a chance of entering the ranks of Extreme Dao Supremes. Once there, a few million years of accumulation would give him a chance to become a True Immortal and establish an everlasting clan. As for an old fossil like himself, he would have to go out and stake his life.
Qin Feng nodded at that. It seemed there were plenty of Supremes in the Immortal Domain who were not eligible to draw lots.
"Tell me, fellow Daoist, what does a crisis in the Primeval Ancient Realm have to do with our Immortal Domain? Why should we go help them?" another Supreme asked as he walked over with a sigh.
This Supreme's cultivation was also at the level of an ordinary Supreme. He had not entered the Extreme Dao realm. In the World of Shrouding the Heavens, his strength would have been equivalent to the seventh or eighth heaven of the Quasi-Emperor realm.
"Exactly!" Another Supreme, this one middle-aged in appearance, came over and lowered his voice.
"I heard that for this recruitment, all the Supremes and True Immortals in the Immortal Domain, and even some Immortal Kings, have to draw lots. No one can escape it."
"Well, I have to draw lots anyway. Whatever happens, I'll have to take my chances. Perhaps I'll be lucky enough to escape this calamity and keep cultivating in the Immortal Domain," another Supreme said as he approached.
"Just how bad has the fighting in the Primeval Ancient Realm gotten? Does it really call for such a huge mobilization?" someone asked.
The middle-aged Supreme glanced around and lowered his voice even further. "I heard from a senior True Immortal that the Foreign Realm has already broken through the Primeval Ancient Realm's border defenses. Quite a few Supremes and True Immortals have died. Without reinforcements, I'm afraid the Primeval Ancient Realm won't hold out."
"Didn't the Immortal Domain sign an alliance with the Primeval Ancient Realm? In principle, if our Immortal Kings take action alongside the kings of the Primeval Ancient Realm, the Foreign Realm's Undying Kings shouldn't dare go too far, should they?" the gray-robed elder asked with a frown.
The middle-aged Supreme gave a bitter smile. "They say even Immortal King-level powerhouses have fallen. This war is unprecedented."
Everyone drew in a sharp breath at those words. If even Immortal King-level powerhouses had fallen, wouldn't Supremes like them fare even worse?
As they spoke, another dozen or so golden avenues descended onto the square, one after another. Each descending beam of light heralded the arrival of a Supreme-level cultivator.
Some looked calm, some sighed in despair, and some wore dark expressions without saying a word.
But without exception, not a single one arrived in high spirits.
"Fellow Daoist, I see that your cultivation has already entered the Extreme Dao realm, and your vital energy is vigorous. You're very young-you haven't reached a million years of age yet, have you?" the veteran Supreme from earlier asked Qin Feng.
He had lived for five million years and seen many young prodigies. The man before him possessed exceptionally vigorous vital energy and had reached the Extreme Dao realm before a million years of age. His future attainment of True Immortal status was practically nailed to the board.
"To be honest with you all, fellow Daoists, I've indeed cultivated for less than a million years, and I've already entered the Extreme Dao realm," Qin Feng said.
Strictly speaking, it had actually been less than two hundred thousand years. He had only cultivated for a little over a hundred thousand years and had entered the Extreme Dao realm a hundred and twenty thousand years ago. With his aptitude, just a few hundred thousand more years of cultivation would give him enough accumulation to become a True Immortal.
"Fellow Daoist, with your aptitude, perhaps you could speak to an Immortal King. For a prodigy like you,
"an Immortal King might leave an opening in the net and exempt you from drawing lots," the old Supreme beside him said.
Someone who had become an Extreme Dao Supreme in less than a million years of cultivation was certain to enter the True Immortal realm with a little more accumulation. Such talent was a seedling of the Immortal Domain's future high-level fighting force and could not be squandered lightly.
"Fellow Daoist, you could speak to the lord Immortal King shortly. Perhaps you can avoid this disaster."
"Fellow Daoists, this may be a great calamity for you, but for me, it is a duty I cannot shirk.
"I originally came from the Primeval Ancient Realm to travel through the Immortal Domain. I've spent over a hundred thousand years traveling here. Now that my homeland is in danger, I naturally have to return," Qin Feng said, shaking his head.
His main body was here anyway, so it would not matter if this clone went over and died. It would also let the persona of Qin Feng die for good, ensuring that no one would ever again think about that name registered at the border upon entry.
The veteran Supremes nodded at his words and said no more. There was frequent contact between the Primeval Ancient Realm and the Immortal Domain. Supremes from both realms would visit each other's territory to cultivate and travel.
This was perfectly ordinary. If this man did not take part in the drawing, their own chances of being picked would be a little higher. That was a good thing.
"Are you also from our Primeval Ancient Realm, fellow Daoist?" Just then, a True Immortal wreathed in immortal light descended from the sky, landed beside them, and spoke.
The expressions of the Supremes from the Immortal Domain changed when they saw him, and they respectfully offered their greetings to the lord True Immortal.
"Greetings, Senior. This junior is Qin Feng. I came to the Immortal Domain a hundred and sixty thousand years ago to travel. When I heard that my homeland was in danger, I hurried back," Qin Feng replied politely.
"No need to be so courteous. We're from the same homeland. To reach the Extreme Dao Supreme realm at a little over a hundred thousand years old, you are certain to become a True Immortal. You may even have a chance to break through to the Immortal King realm in the future.
"I've also cultivated in the Immortal Domain for several hundred thousand years. Now that our homeland is in danger, I intend to return and lend aid as well.
"When the fighting begins, you can stay by my side. I'll keep you safe," the True Immortal before him said.
An Extreme Dao Supreme a little over a hundred thousand years old will be part of the Ancient Realm's high-level fighting force in the future. I must find a way to keep this youngster alive.
"Thank you for your protection, Senior. May I ask your honored title?"
"I am also of the Immortal Phoenix clan. You may call me True Immortal Firefeather."
"This junior, Qin Feng, pays his respects to Senior Firefeather." A True Immortal was equivalent to an Undying of the Foreign Realm and could be counted among the upper-level fighting forces in this great upheaval.
Although he was not an Immortal King, he should still be capable of protecting himself. Qin Feng intended to follow him once the fighting began. If all else failed, he would use his own divine abilities to flee.
Just as the Supremes in the square were talking quietly in twos and threes, an overwhelming pressure suddenly descended.
It came not from a single person, but from dozens of immensely powerful auras appearing at once.
Everyone raised their heads and looked toward the eastern horizon.
Dozens of golden avenues unfurled simultaneously, as though dyeing the entire sky gold.
True Immortals! And more than one.