At the Cosmic Frontier, stellar remains lay scattered thickly, and vital energy was sparse.
This was a land of nothingness, the universe's wasteland, the edge of chaos. To the universe's countless living beings, it was a true wilderness.
At that moment, within this stretch of void...
Boundless chaotic energy raged here. World-shaking fluctuations of the supreme Dao were slowly fading, and the workings of heaven finally became visible again.
The Heavenly Emperor manifestation behind He Mu's Dao Body had completely dispersed. All that remained was his white-robed figure, standing proudly apart from the world, untouched by a speck of dust.
He Mu seemed like a Banished Immortal who had emerged from the Immortal Domain. The Wuliang Dao Wheel slowly rotating behind his head radiated immortal light, lending him still more transcendent splendor.
Facing him stood Longevity Heavenly Venerable's Dao Body.
The Longevity Dao Sword that Longevity Heavenly Venerable had held was now broken. Only half the sword remained, suppressed beneath countless intricate laws, its light dimmed.
Not only had the Longevity Dao Sword suffered severe damage, but the Heavenly Venerable's manifestation also seemed to have exhausted too much power. It had turned translucent, hovering between existence and nothingness.
Everything before them proclaimed the result of the battle: Longevity Heavenly Venerable had lost, and Immeasurable Heaven Venerable He Mu had won.
Unfortunately, the two venerables had concealed all the workings of heaven during their battle. Otherwise, in an age when Heavenly Venerables rarely met face-to-face, such a god war would surely have stunned the world, entered the annals of cultivation, and been remembered by all.
Within the immortal grotto in the Ziwei Northern Sea, the atmosphere had grown heavy.
Sealed within immortal source, Longevity Heavenly Venerable wore a bitter expression. Even the great Dao around him, previously steady and serene, now showed faint, irregular fluctuations.
Only after a long while did Longevity Heavenly Venerable speak. His voice sounded strained, and the words clearly came with great difficulty.
"You truly are extraordinary, fellow Daoist. In the end, this old man... has grown old."
At that moment, Longevity Heavenly Venerable no longer resembled the supreme Heavenly Venerable who had once reigned above heaven and earth, claiming invincibility throughout the universe. Nor did he resemble an immortality seeker lying dormant in a Life Forbidden Zone, ambitious enough to scheme across eternity. Neither did he resemble the bloody butcher he would become in the future, capable of devouring all living beings and exterminating every soul.
If one had to describe him precisely, Longevity Heavenly Venerable now looked more like an ordinary old man in his twilight years. Like many mortals in old age, confronted with a fate already fixed, he could only let out a reluctant, helpless sigh of resignation.
Still, Longevity Heavenly Venerable had once been a peerless Heavenly Venerable. His Dao heart would not truly gather dust over this.
Such setbacks would only strengthen his Dao heart through repeated tempering. As a Heavenly Venerable, he possessed that caliber.
Soon, Longevity Heavenly Venerable recovered his composure. He straightened his expression and addressed He Mu.
"Fellow Daoist Immeasurable, your mastery truly reaches the mysteries of creation. This old man admits his inferiority. Perhaps one day, you may become a true Heavenly Emperor and behold immortality amid the mortal dust."
After this opening flattery, he came to the matter at hand. Longevity Heavenly Venerable spoke to He Mu again.
"Since you wish to seek out the Lingbao Ruins, I ought to share what I know with you. It is just that..."
Longevity Heavenly Venerable paused there, seemingly waiting for He Mu to understand. In truth, he merely wanted He Mu to take up the conversation.
He Mu naturally understood his meaning. He simply wanted He Mu, who had come knocking at his door, to offer something in exchange. So long as the demand was not excessive, He Mu could agree.
Still, just as expected, if Longevity Heavenly Venerable did not need something from him, why would a Heavenly Venerable speak so sweetly?
Reflecting on Longevity Heavenly Venerable's behavior, He Mu sighed inwardly that the ways of the world were declining and people's hearts were no longer what they had been, then said generously,
"I understand your meaning, fellow Daoist. But what is it that you desire, Fellow Daoist Longevity?"
Hearing this, Longevity Heavenly Venerable dispensed with further pleasantries and said with a smile,
"Since you are so straightforward, fellow Daoist, I shall speak plainly.
"As I understand it, the Forbidden Zones of Flying Immortal once offered you the White Tiger Immortal Medicine to seek peace. The White Tiger Divine Medicine should now be in your possession.
"So all I seek is a little of the White Tiger Divine Medicine's essence. What do you say, fellow Daoist?"
Upon hearing Longevity Heavenly Venerable's words, He Mu narrowed his eyes slightly, then opened them naturally again.
It seemed Longevity Heavenly Venerable also maintained ties with the Forbidden Zones of Flying Immortal. Otherwise, given the circumstances that day, he could not possibly have discovered exactly what He Mu had obtained.
He Mu tucked that thought away without voicing it. The essence of an Immortal Medicine could be obtained once every few thousand years, so it was hardly something extraordinarily rare. The request remained within the limits of what he could tolerate.
Seeing that He Mu had not responded, Longevity Heavenly Venerable felt somewhat uncertain. But the White Tiger Divine Medicine was indeed quite important to him, so he quickly added,
"The Immortal Medicine's essence concerns a secret art this old man uses to prolong his life. I have never managed to find the White Tiger Divine Medicine, and now that it is in your hands, fellow Daoist, I ask that you do me this favor."
He Mu smiled faintly, keeping all his thoughts to himself, and replied to Longevity Heavenly Venerable.
"Since it concerns your grand undertaking, fellow Daoist, I can hardly stand aside with my hands tucked into my sleeves. I shall agree to this request. However, I hope you will recount every clue concerning the Lingbao Ruins, one by one."
He Mu deliberately emphasized "one by one." Longevity Heavenly Venerable, whose age had honed him to a fine shrewdness, naturally understood what he meant.
Still, since He Mu had already agreed to provide the divine medicine's essence, Longevity Heavenly Venerable had no intention of concealing anything further. After all, one less complication was better than one more.
He immediately began recounting in detail everything he had learned and discovered over the years.
As Longevity Heavenly Venerable spoke, everything concerning Heavenly Venerable Lingbao grew increasingly clear in He Mu's mind.
That concludes the second update. I'll do my best to finish the third before midnight. There are still quite a few comments I can't see, so I can't reply for now. Please bear with me. A new author and a new book-please give me your support!
Before you continue