Falling from the Hill-Guarding Immortal's realm wasn't the same as directly entering the circular hall from outside. As if sensing the lingering traces of the Hill-Guarding Immortal's transmission on Li Buren, the scenes on the hall's walls shifted.
Besides the squares representing the monitored Star Seas and the white circle of the Great Void, a figure resembling the Hill-Guarding Immortal appeared, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing down at the Star Seas.
Li Buren focused, probing with his divine sense. After a moment, he realized, "This isn't the Hill-Guarding Immortal himself, but someone like me who received the 'Hill-Guarding Musings,' hence the similar aura."
"However, judging from the intensity of the 'Hill-Guarding' state manifested by this figure…"
"This person likely received the complete transmission of the musings at the Unnamed True Immortal realm, not through a shortcut like me."
But this figure wasn't for Dao-bearing. It seemed to be a recorded image, hidden within the testing ground until activated by Li Buren's similar "Hill-Guarding" aura.
"Immortal Emperor Zhaiyang, ruler of the Zhengzhi era, passed away not long ago."
"It has been a full epoch since the establishment of the Lankedao Domain…"
"Such a long time. So long that even my Immortal memories are fading."
…
The voice didn't originate from the figure before Li Buren, but from beyond, as if conversing across realms.
"When Immortal Emperor Zhaiyang ascended the throne, I was just a servant in the Lietu Star Region. Seven million six hundred twenty-four thousand six hundred and thirty-eight years have passed, and I've reached the Unnamed realm." The figure sighed, still gazing at the Star Seas displayed in the testing ground.
"You remember so clearly. 不愧是worthy of receiving the Hill-Guarding Immortal's inheritance…" The voice from beyond sounded strange, a mix of envy and schadenfreude.
"You knew shortly after the Hill-Guarding Immortal departed. So this place is indeed unclean…" The figure snorted.
"That was the Hill-Guarding Immortal!" The voice sharpened.
"Back then, the Dao Obliteration tide surged, instantly engulfing thousands of Star Regions, claiming countless lives. Immortal Emperor Zhaiyang, leading the Unnamed True Immortals, could only retreat. Fortunately, the Hill-Guarding Immortal descended, single-handedly pushing back the tide of destruction…"
"Such magnificence! Even Immortal Emperor Zhaiyang had to treat him with the respect due a senior! Countless True Immortals viewed him as their savior. Even if he disliked being disturbed, how could his actions escape the notice of so many Immortals? If not for the secrecy of the Lankedao Domain, news of your inheriting his legacy would have spread throughout the world!"
The figure didn't respond to the sarcasm. The voice continued, "Immortal Emperor Zhaiyang reigned for seven million years, not a particularly long life, but already our limit. The Hill-Guarding Immortal lived for over a hundred epochs, witnessing a hundred Immortal Emperors!"
"Don't forget, among them was Immortal Emperor Wuji, who lived for ninety-nine million nine hundred ninety-nine thousand years! The Hill-Guarding Immortal's power is unimaginable! Qingyin, now that you've achieved the Unnamed realm and received his inheritance, even if you can't match his longevity, living through a hundred emperors, surpassing Wuji's lifespan shouldn't be a problem…"
The Unnamed True Immortal, whose name or title was Qingyin, interrupted, "The Hill-Guarding Immortal left Dao-bearing projections in the domain. If you're so envious, come down and experience it yourself. It's almost as good as receiving his personal instruction."
The incessant voice fell silent. After a long while, it chuckled. "Becoming the Hill-Guarding Immortal's disciple isn't easy. Our lifespan, as True Immortals, is tied to the Dao. We come from the Dao and return to the Dao. The waxing and waning of the Dao follows the natural order."
"Living for millions of years is long enough. Like the Hill-Guarding Immortal…"
"Hehehe, having someone like you, Brother Qingyin, is enough."
Qingyin said coldly, "Get to the point. I don't know the Hill-Guarding Immortal's whereabouts. Don't expect to learn anything from me."
The voice quickly changed its tone, getting straight to the point. "With Immortal Emperor Zhaiyang's passing and Immortal Emperor Tianluo's ascension, some things from the previous epoch will be discarded. This Lankedao Domain might be among them. Brother Qingyin, you should prepare yourself."
Qingyin seemed stunned, then asked gravely, "That thing… after searching for so long, are we just abandoning it? Although it didn't appear at the predicted time, it might appear if we wait a little longer."
"…It's complicated. In short, besides the change in rulers from Zhaiyang to Tianluo, it's also related to the Hill-Guarding Immortal. His display of power in repelling the Dao Obliteration tide subtly shifted the mindset of the Immortal Realm. During the Zhaiyang era, with Dao Obliteration rampant and countless True Immortal casualties, everyone, from top to bottom, was pessimistic about surviving the calamity. So they sought external help."
"But the search yielded no results. Just when the Immortal Realm was most desperate, the Hill-Guarding Immortal showed them that Dao Obliteration wasn't unstoppable. Moreover, it's said he left behind multiple inheritances in the Immortal Realm. Any Unnamed True Immortal has a chance to become his disciple. Qingyin, tell me, when one possesses sufficient power, why would they seek external aid?"
Qingyin remained silent for a long time before replying softly, "During the Zhaiyang era, pessimism and despair pervaded the Immortal Realm. Countless True Immortals chose to end their own lives."
"Now, in the Tianluo era, the tide has turned… but such widespread confidence might not be a good thing."
The voice chuckled dismissively. "Let's wait and see! I'm just giving you a friendly warning."
"Of course, if you insist on preserving this Lankedao Domain, I can help. But you'll need to be more discreet, lest other True Immortals discover it. Hehehe, if something happens, don't implicate me. This new Immortal Emperor Tianluo isn't as merciful as Zhaiyang."
Qingyin cupped his hands. "Don't worry, Brother Ling."
Time seemed to freeze.
After a shift in the images, an unknown amount of time passed. One day, the True Immortal surnamed Ling met Qingyin again, not through a voice transmission, but in person at the Lankedao Domain. The recorded image of Ling distorted and fluctuated, even affecting Qingyin's figure.
"Damn it, those in the Immortal Realm have gone mad. Immortal Emperor Tianluo is the maddest of all!"
"I have a bad feeling. I escaped. But I reckon the Lower Realm Star Sea won't be safe for long either. We brothers need to make plans." Ling paced anxiously.
Qingyin remained calm, but compared to the previous recording, he exuded a more profound, transcendent aura, increasingly resembling the Hill-Guarding Immortal.
"As the Hill-Guarding Immortal's disciple, having inherited his legacy, I can't simply leave."
"However, I sense that he might have already left this world. Perhaps I can follow in his footsteps."
Ling stared at Qingyin, shocked. "You're saying… that rumor is true?"
He grew even more anxious, his pacing quickening, muttering, "Using an ark to cross the sea, traveling to other possible worlds, ultimately achieving complete transcendence, unaffected by the sea's annihilation or the mountains' collapse…"
"Qingyin, you must take me with you!"
Qingyin replied calmly, "We've been through life and death together since our humble beginnings. If I achieve even 'minor transcendence,' I won't leave you behind. However, having inherited the Hill-Guarding Immortal's legacy, I need to fulfill my duty before leaving."
"Duty?" Ling was confused.
"The Hill-Guarding Immortal tasked us with leaving behind Dao-bearing projections to resist the Dao Obliteration Calamity. In the past, this was feasible. But times have changed. The tide is now far more ferocious. The Hill-Guarding Immortal, with his immense power, might be able to resist with projections. But us, his successors…"
"It would be futile, perhaps even harming ourselves in the process. Even if some were willing to sacrifice themselves, it wouldn't be enough against the current tide."
Ling nodded in agreement. "That Immortal Emperor Tianluo is obsessed, pursuing a do-or-die approach, and he's managed to drag a bunch of people into his madness. It's all the Hill-Guarding Immortal's fault, giving them false hope!"
Qingyin didn't comment on the Hill-Guarding Immortal, but continued, "Although I'm unwilling to condense a Dao-bearing projection, it's my duty. I can't simply shirk it."
"Although the Hill-Guarding Immortal has departed, we can't ignore the restrictions he left behind."
"This is the price of inheriting his legacy. He made it clear when he imparted the technique. However, the allure of transcendence was too great, and with the Dao Obliteration Calamity seemingly suppressed, I readily agreed." Qingyin sounded helpless.
"Times have indeed changed." Ling commented casually, then fell into thought.
"So we still need to fulfill our duty… Let me think."
After a while, he exclaimed, "I have a plan!"
At this crucial juncture, the image and sound dimmed. The scene froze before resuming, playing the final recorded segment.
Qingyin stood facing his Dao-bearing projection.
Ling's voice was smug. "Qingyin, what do you think of my plan? Since we can't withstand the true Dao Obliteration Calamity, let's create a miniature version, one you can handle. The current situation is already a mess. One more hole won't make a difference!"
"By plugging that hole, you'll have fulfilled your duty to the Hill-Guarding Immortal, leaving behind a Dao-bearing projection!"
Qingyin looked at his projection and sighed. "Two Star Regions, countless lives, all will perish because of us… I don't wish for this."
"Don't worry about it! Those people are doomed anyway. Helping us achieve minor transcendence is a worthy final act for them!" Ling said dismissively.
Qingyin nodded silently. He pointed at his Dao-bearing projection, which then vanished. After a moment of distraction, he looked up in a certain direction, a hint of joy in his voice. "With all ties severed, I can depart."
For some reason, Qingyin glanced in the direction from which Li Buren was observing. After this trans-temporal eye contact, the recorded figure vanished completely.
…
After a long silence, Li Buren finally recovered. This recorded conversation between two likely Unnamed True Immortals contained a wealth of cryptic information.
"Epochs. Immortal Emperor Zhaiyang, Immortal Emperor Tianluo."
Li Buren hadn't realized that Immortal Realm epochs weren't fixed durations. An epoch's length was determined by the reigning Immortal Emperor's reign.
"Seven million years isn't a long life. True Immortals are indeed different from mortals."
"And that Hill-Guarding Immortal lived for one hundred and twenty-three epochs…" A rough calculation yielded a staggering number.
"Also, that True Immortal Ling said lifespan is tied to the Dao, but then claimed that millions of years was long enough. What does that mean? Could the Great Daos of heaven and earth only last for millions of years? That's impossible."
Li Fan, whose divine sense now reflected the Dao Net, had never sensed any lifespan limitations on the Great Dao.
"The testing ground's recordings wouldn't fabricate such information."
"Could it be…" A thought struck Li Fan. He recalled his theory about the Dao Obliteration Calamity and the Infinite Sea sharing the same source.
"Dao obliterates Dao, and the surviving Daos gradually shed their inherent limitations."
"Has the Great Dao become stronger than ever after being tempered by the Dao Obliteration Calamity?" Li Fan couldn't be certain.
Perhaps the waxing and waning of the Dao was its inherent nature, altered over time by the external threat of the Dao Obliteration Calamity. Regardless, the lifespan limit of tens of millions of years for even Unnamed True Immortals was slightly disappointing. Just like his early fantasies before cultivating, true immortality remained a distant goal.
"However, the Hill-Guarding Immortal, enduring for over a hundred epochs and a hundred Immortal Emperors, is closer to what I seek."
(End of chapter)