Aside from reminiscing about the Primordial Immortal Realm, Chaos was even more intrigued by the Hidden Emperor himself. Ancient legends of the Immortal Realm spoke of Saintly beings possessing the supreme divine ability to guide True Immortals toward Transcendence.
"After the Immortal Realm shattered, the Four Saint Monarchs vanished without a trace. If this Hidden Emperor has truly embarked on the path of [Saint Ascension], then could it be…" Whenever this thought crossed Chaos's mind, he felt an irresistible urge to return and personally visit the Hidden Emperor, no matter the cost.
However, having achieved Dao Integration long ago, Chaos possessed a certain level of composure.
"This matter requires careful consideration. Haste makes waste."
"It would be best to contact the others. I alone might not be worthy of a Saint's attention."
Chaos pondered the various rumors he knew about the Four Saint Monarchs of the former Immortal Realm:
[Taiyi], [Lianshan], [Guihai], and [Jingfen].
Saint Monarch Taiyi was said to be the first living being, having witnessed the creation of the world from nothingness. His wisdom was unparalleled.
Saint Monarch Lianshan opened the path to immortality within [Upper Mountain]. The first Immortal, his true strength was unfathomable. If the potential of Upper Mountain determined the strength of True Immortals, then the one standing at its peak must be Saint Monarch Lianshan.
Saint Monarch Guihai opened the [Infinite Spring], enabling Immortals to further refine their power. After eons of excavation, the Infinite Spring transformed into the vast Infinite Sea, providing every True Immortal in the Immortal Realm with boundless resources. Controlling the sea to shape the mountains, his power rivaled that of Saint Monarch Lianshan.
Saint Monarch Jingfen…
The mere thought of this name sent a chill down Chaos's spine. He silently recited the name, and the intense fear gradually subsided.
Saint Monarch Jingfen was born after the Immortal Realm's celestial phenomena had reached their peak. He was also the last Saint Monarch to achieve Dao Integration in the history of the Immortal Realm.
Although the Immortal Realm had established the Dao of Infinity, the cycle of Dao's birth and death, growth and decline, remained an immutable law of nature. Even the Immortal Realm couldn't escape it.
However, the reason the Immortal Realm was filled with vibrant life, devoid of decay, was due to Saint Monarch Jingfen, who became a living tomb, burying the declining Great Daos. He ensured that their decay and demise wouldn't affect the flourishing Immortal Realm. Only when the Great Dao cycled back to a period of growth and prosperity would he release them.
"Jingfen devours Dao, initiating the cycle, atop the desolate tomb."
This was an ancient proverb of the Immortal Realm.
It was because the Four Saint Monarchs, like celestial pillars, supported the heavens of the Immortal Realm that the boundless and vibrant paradise for Immortals existed.
However, it was also because the Four Saint Monarchs bore such heavy responsibilities that they couldn't manage the myriad Immortals. This led to the successive reigns of Immortal Emperors.
In the early days of the Immortal Realm, the True Immortals knew the names of the Four Saint Monarchs and often expressed their gratitude. But as time passed and the Saint Monarchs remained unseen, although the Immortals didn't forget them, their significance gradually faded, becoming mere symbols.
Perhaps if the Four Saint Monarchs had remained steadfast, the events that followed wouldn't have occurred. The turning point began with Saint Monarch Jingfen abandoning his duty.
Although it sounded disrespectful, it was the truth.
After countless eons of burying and managing the declining Daos of the Immortal Realm, the Fourth Saint Monarch suddenly "quit."
With three loud laughs, he expelled all the declining Daos that hadn't yet completed their cycle.
A decaying gale, capable of eroding all Immortal Daos, instantly swept across the Immortal Realm. Countless Immortal Servants, Immortal Puppets, and Immortal Artifacts crumbled upon contact with this [Graveyard Wind]. Even True Immortals and Unnamed True Immortals couldn't escape its corrosive aura. The Immortal Realm suffered immeasurable casualties and losses.
However, for the Immortal Realm, with its infinite resources, these losses weren't insurmountable. Given time, they could be recovered.
The crucial issue was that [Saint Monarch Jingfen] had abandoned his post.
No one could manage the decaying and dying Daos. They could only endure and evade them.
Furthermore, tainted by the property of infinity, these decaying Daos became even more powerful. Not only did they manifest as corrosive winds, assaulting all corners of the Immortal Realm, but they also gave rise to various apocalyptic phenomena that descended unpredictably. Even the lower Star Seas weren't spared.
One of the four celestial pillars had vanished.
This was bound to bring chaos to the Immortal Realm.
It was said that Saint Monarchs Taiyi, Lianshan, and Guihai, unable to bear witness to the suffering of the Immortal Realm, had jointly pleaded with the "wayward" Saint Monarch Jingfen.
The outcome of their plea remained unknown.
However, after a brief respite of three thousand years, the apocalyptic phenomena resumed, albeit differently. Instead of a single, large-scale eruption, they started small, gradually increasing in intensity and frequency. This at least gave the Immortals time to adapt.
Under the guidance of the three Saint Monarchs, the ruling Immortal Emperor appointed numerous Unnamed Ones to suppress the [Graveyard Wind] and its accompanying phenomena. Through their combined efforts, they managed to restore order to the Immortal Realm.
Chaos had been one of these appointed Unnamed Ones.
That was a long time ago. So long ago that when Chaos recalled it, he couldn't even remember how many Immortal Emperors had reigned since.
Later, the Immortals gradually adapted to the various phenomena brought by the Graveyard Wind and slowly forgot their origin, accepting them as a natural part of the Immortal Realm.
In reality, what in the Immortal Realm was truly innate?
Although Saint Monarch Jingfen withdrew from worldly affairs, he didn't disappear entirely. He sensed every whisper of criticism against him, even those uttered only in the mind.
None of these True Immortals were spared. Saint Monarch Jingfen captured them all and devoured them.
Saint Monarch Jingfen could absorb and transform even the decay and demise of the Dao. To him, the Dao-Integrated True Immortals of the Immortal Realm were no different from delectable treats.
Powerless to resist, they were all reduced to the decaying Graveyard Wind.
Countless True Immortals criticized Saint Monarch Jingfen in their hearts at that time. And he, in turn, consumed them all, indiscriminately.
After this purge, the Immortal Realm felt strangely empty.
This was a great calamity in the early days of the Immortal Realm, but only for the True Immortals of that time.
For the Immortal Realm as a whole, as history later proved, it was a blessing in disguise.
Years after devouring countless True Immortals, Saint Monarch Jingfen gradually expelled the Daos they had comprehended. Some of these Daos enriched the Immortal Realm, while others quickly found new masters.
The Immortal Realm regained its vibrant life.
However, after this incident, few remembered Saint Monarch Jingfen.
Only the phrase, "Jingfen devours Immortals, initiating Dao, atop the desolate tomb," remained among the few surviving True Immortals.
Due to his eccentric actions, although the True Immortals dared not openly criticize Saint Monarch Jingfen, they expressed their disapproval through their actions and words.
On the rare occasions when he was mentioned, they no longer used the title "Saint Monarch."
They simply called him "Great Saint Jingfen."
Perhaps satisfied with this title, Saint Monarch Jingfen didn't object, allowing it to spread.
Chaos had narrowly escaped that calamity, even witnessing an entire Immortal Domain and countless True Immortals being reduced to wisps of green qi and absorbed.
Naturally, he held a mixture of reverence, awe, and fear towards Saint Monarch Jingfen.
He didn't dare imitate others by calling him Great Saint Jingfen, continuing to refer to him as Saint Monarch Jingfen in his mind.
It was precisely because of Saint Monarch Jingfen's "dereliction of duty" that the Saint Monarchs' ability to guide True Immortals towards Transcendence became known.
Saint Monarch Jingfen's act of devouring countless Immortals not only instilled fear but also inspired awe in some. They were so impressed by his power that they became devout followers, even fanatical.
Saint Monarch Jingfen ignored most of these "believers."
But since they constantly thought of him, he peered into their minds.
Three of them found favor with the Saint Monarch.
They were then guided, in full view of everyone, towards Transcendence.
This further fueled the fervor of Saint Monarch Jingfen's followers.
Another purge followed, eliminating both the critics and the fanatics.
Only his name, four simple characters, remained.
As for where Saint Monarch Jingfen went after the Immortal Realm shattered, that was beyond Chaos's knowledge.
…
"That Hidden Emperor's power is certainly inferior to the Four Saints of the Immortal Realm."
"However, having embarked on the path of Saint Ascension, guiding True Immortals towards Transcendence is probably not difficult for him."
"After all, the numerous Grand Emperors and celestial scars within the Primordial Immortal Realm demonstrate his close connection to the Infinite Sea."
"And that connection is crucial for achieving Transcendence and crossing to the other shore."
…
Chaos's thoughts churned. After a long while, instead of seeking out the other Unnamed Ones, he summoned Wuming.
Within the Shuo Star Sea, Wuming had the most contact with the Hidden Emperor.
For centuries, he had been the one running errands and conveying messages.
After meticulously questioning Wuming about every detail of his interactions with the Hidden Emperor, Chaos tried to discern his temperament.
"It seems he's not particularly difficult to approach."
"Comparatively speaking…"
In Chaos's eyes, turning someone into a stone pillar wasn't a particularly noteworthy feat.
After dismissing Wuming, Chaos contemplated and finally decided he needed to act swiftly.
Thus, the Unnamed Ones of the Shuo Star Sea gathered once more.
The first to speak was the figure in black with the white cat: "What we see may not be real. The Hidden Emperor may not be a true Hidden Emperor. Even if he did create that Primordial Immortal Realm, it doesn't necessarily reflect his true power. After the Immortal Realm shattered, the ruling Immortal Emperor's authority vanished. Perhaps this one simply stumbled upon that authority and is now playing pretend."
"If he were truly a former Immortal Emperor, he would have approached us long ago."
"How could he have quietly remained our neighbor for so many years?"
The white-robed figure with the black cat spoke, their tone laced with sarcasm.
The pair of blue hands echoed their sentiment: "The area occupied by that Hidden Emperor… is rather suspicious."
"It's the former territory of Sacred Merchant."
Upon hearing the name "Sacred Merchant," the expressions of the True Immortals in the room shifted.
During their battles with the Immortal Hunters, their greatest losses were often caused by Sacred Merchant.
After a moment of silence, Chaos spoke: "Brother Boyan, I believe you're overthinking it. No matter how powerful Sacred Merchant was, they cannot compare to that Hidden Emperor."
"Indeed, they developed many powerful weapons, some capable of even injuring us. But none of them involved the power of the Infinite Sea. That is the crucial difference."
The black cat immediately retorted: "Chaos, you seem unaware. Sacred Merchant's predecessor was Merchant Immortal Ark, which split into two. Since there's a Sacred Merchant, who's to say there isn't a Sacred Xuan somewhere?"
"Moreover, you claim Sacred Merchant didn't possess power related to the Infinite Sea? I highly doubt that. They vanished from the Star Sea overnight. Didn't they escape to another possibility? How could they have done so without access to the power of the Infinite Sea?"
The black cat's words left Chaos speechless.
However, his experiences in the Immortal Realm had instilled in him a reluctance to engage in verbal sparring.
So, he remained silent.
The white-robed figure stroked the black cat on their shoulder, silencing it, and the cat returned to its normal state.
The white-robed figure said, "Black's reasoning isn't entirely without merit. Come to think of it, there are many unexplained aspects to the Hidden Emperor's sudden appearance."
"However…"
The white-robed figure smiled. "All of that is completely irrelevant."
"The key is his strength."
"If we can defeat him, it doesn't matter if he's a Hidden Emperor or something else entirely. Everything in that Primordial Immortal Realm, including the authority over the Infinite Sea, will be ours."
These words stirred the hearts of the True Immortals, their expressions filled with longing.
Only Chaos remained stunned.
He couldn't believe that his seemingly rational companions would make such a foolish judgment.
He glanced at the black cat on the white-robed figure's shoulder and, after a long pause, spoke with difficulty: "Do you all remember Great Saint Jingfen?"
"Great Saint Jingfen?"
That was an ancient name.
At least half of those present hadn't heard of it and looked bewildered.
The others, who had heard the name, felt a flicker of instinctive fear.
But they quickly retorted: "Brother Chaos, have you lost your mind? That so-called Hidden Emperor has merely created a small Immortal Domain. How can he compare to Great Saint Jingfen?"
"That Primordial Immortal Realm, despite its grand name, is smaller than my former cave abode. Hmph, if the Immortal Realm still existed…"
"Brother Chaos is exaggerating. If that Hidden Emperor truly possessed Great Saint Jingfen's power, what difference would it make if we became his next meal?"
…
Listening to their rebuttals, Chaos gradually understood.
There were three main reasons why their judgment differed so drastically from his own.
First, they hadn't personally visited the Primordial Immortal Realm. They hadn't experienced the awe-inspiring power displayed by the Hidden Emperor when he established the Immortal Court and appointed the Grand Emperors. Relying solely on his description, it was easy for them to misjudge.
Second, they were driven by greed for the Hidden Emperor's apparent authority over the Infinite Sea.
Third, and most importantly, the force represented by the black cat had given these True Immortals a false sense of confidence.
"Our Star Sea, with its gathered Immortals, is indeed more powerful than a single corner of the Shuo Star Sea."
"But…"
Recalling the voice that had echoed from beyond the heavens of the Primordial Immortal Realm, Chaos quickly made his decision.
"Decide for yourselves."
"I'm not going."
(End of Chapter)