"Both Taoist friends possess remarkable Daoist Skills," Senior Shan laughed heartily, taking the initiative to come forward and greet them.
"My friend’s cultivation is much stronger than ours," Ding Huan smiled and clasped his fist towards Senior Shan.
Senior Shan spoke with an apologetic tone:
"I just felt the greatness of your Dao and couldn’t help but peek a little. Please forgive my intrusion."
Ding Huan laughed heartily, "Since you’ve spoken about it, it no longer counts as peeking."
Senior Shan already had a favorable impression of Ding Huan, and hearing Ding Huan’s words only increased his fondness.
If he hadn’t spoken up, it would have been like taking advantage of someone else and feigning ignorance. Since he did speak up, Ding Huan’s response virtually permitted his observation.
This allowed him to feel no psychological burden.
"Senior Shan of Datong Academy greets the two Taoist friends," Senior Shan introduced himself earnestly.
Such a familiar name.
"Sect Master Ding Huan of the Blue Star Sect, greets Senior Shan," Ding Huan felt that the name Senior Shan was very familiar, but he couldn’t recall it for the moment.
Fu Qijian already knew who the other person was and hurriedly stepped forward to bow:
"Disciple of the Da Xu Seven Swords, Fu Qijian, greets Senior Shan."
Senior Shan laughed heartily:
"It seems you know who I am. About your master, I think I met him once a long time ago, and if I’m not mistaken, your master went to the Four-layered Sea Canyon."
Fu Qijian quickly responded:
"When Datong Academy still existed, the order in Triple Heaven Star Land was well maintained. Now, everywhere is filled with slaughter and robbery, the air heavy with miasma, and Triple Heaven Star Land deteriorates day by day, provoking sighs."
Senior Shan sighed:
"I will definitely avenge this."
Ding Huan suddenly understood:
"I remember now, aren’t you the one who went to Ascension Tower wishing to ascend to the Immortal Realm, but couldn’t because the Ascension Ring was gone?"
Senior Shan’s expression turned somber:
"Yes, I am that unlucky fellow."
Ding Huan chuckled:
"Not just you, I heard there was also Cang Yongqian and a woman named Qin Huan. But about you, wasn’t your Datong Academy annihilated by Jiuyuan? You don’t want revenge, and just left?"
Senior Shan knew both Cang Yongqian and Qin Huan, not only knew them, but had good relations with them.
But how did Ding Huan know that Datong Academy was annihilated by Jiuyuan?
Senior Shan immediately asked:
"How do you know it was Jiuyuan who annihilated my Datong Academy?"
The fact that Jiuyuan was behind it was kept extremely secretive. He was indeed puzzled as to how Ding Huan was aware of it.
Ding Huan said indifferently:
"How I know isn’t important, what’s important is your sect was annihilated, yet you think of fleeing and have not the slightest intention of revenge, which isn’t quite right."
Senior Shan sighed again:
"I am merely at the Earth Immortal Perfection state, do you know how many at this state exist within Jiuyuan?
Regrettably, I cannot sense the next realm. If I could break through Earth Immortal and step into the next realm, I would definitely go to Jiuyuan.
But now, if I try to take revenge, it would only mean death. Since I know it’s certain death, why go?"
"Jiuyuan is that powerful?" Ding Huan was moved.
He and Fu Qijian had seriously offended Jiuyuan.
Senior Shan sneered:
"It’s even more formidable than you can imagine."
"Senior, isn’t Earth Immortal the highest realm below the Immortal Realm? How can there be another realm? Isn’t the next realm only available after ascending to the Immortal Realm?" Fu Qijian couldn’t help asking.
Senior Shan chuckled:
"If Earth Immortal were the highest realm below the Immortal Realm, we wouldn’t need the help of Ascension Tower’s Ascension Ring to ascend.
It’s precisely because in Triple Heaven Star Land, we cannot sense the next realm, which forces us to rely on Ascension Tower to ascend.
Now that the Ascension Ring of Ascension Tower has disappeared, and we have cultivated to Earth Immortal Perfection, we can only leave Triple Heaven Star Land.
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We come to the Heaven-Splitting Battlefield to seek Immortal Fate, merely to find the next realm, not truly to find a place for direct ascension."
Fu Qijian remained silent.
He was acutely aware of how desperate it was when a cultivator, having cultivated to the utmost, could not sense the next realm.
His master had experienced the same, having cultivated to Immortal Perfection but utterly unable to sense the Earth Immortal realm.
He had a similar experience not long ago.
While preparing for tribulation, his Earth Immortal cultivation had no bounds, and he could no longer sense the Dao Principles of the Earth Immortal realm, making the frustration indescribable for someone who hadn’t experienced it.
"Could it be that the Heaven and Earth Rules of Triple Heaven Star Land are fractured or incomplete?" Ding Huan asked.
Senior Shan nodded appreciatively:
"Exactly, because of this, we no longer have hope of ascending to the Immortal Realm."
"You understand this issue, and the Great Dao you cultivate seems to also guide you in this direction. I think you might really be able to find the next realm in the future."
"If there truly is another realm, I believe Ding Huan will be able to sense it and cultivate it," Fu Qijian said with certainty.
Wasn’t it Ding Huan who helped him when he couldn’t sense the Earth Immortal Realm?
Ding Huan asked:
"Senior, being from Datong Academy, do you know what the realm is after the Earth Immortal?"
Shan Beishu took a deep breath and said word by word, "Immortal Bridge."
"Immortal Bridge?" Ding Huan listened, but this did not sound like a realm, but rather a method.
Shan Bei Shu affirmed:
"Yes, it’s the Immortal Bridge. We ordinary mortals who cultivate need mortal roots. However, no matter how much you cultivate mortal roots, they remain just that.
To become an immortal, you must sever your mortal roots. Whether it is becoming an Immortal or Earth Immortal through mortal roots, those are false immortals.
Only when you truly sever your mortal roots, can you derive immortal roots, break free from mortal shackles, and step onto the path of immortality. This is called the Nirvana Foundation."
Ding Huan slightly furrowed his brow, sever mortal roots?
He had no Spirit Root; the reason he could cultivate was that he had fused his gene to form a gene spiritual root. Does this count as a mortal root?
There must be something he hadn’t quite understood yet.
Seeing Ding Huan fall into thought, neither Shan Beishu nor Fu Qijian disturbed him.
Especially Shan Beishu, who had reached Earth Immortal Perfection. After sensing the Daoist Law Ding Huan cultivated, he felt a slight improvement in his strength, which hinted that Ding Huan’s Cultivation Technique was extraordinary.
It also indicated that Ding Huan’s Daoist Skill might encompass realms beyond Earth Immortal, possibly even the Immortal Bridge that severs mortal roots.
After about 15 minutes had passed, Ding Huan finally emerged from his deep thoughts.
"Senior Shan, what are your plans now?" Ding Huan asked.
Shan Beishu was the strongest cultivator he had encountered since arriving in Triple Heaven Star Land.
In fact, Shan Beishu really wanted to follow Ding Huan, but he was too embarrassed to say it.
If he said he wanted to join Ding Huan, even a fool would know he wanted to follow and understand Ding Huan’s Daoist Skill to sever his mortal roots and step onto the Immortal Bridge.
"I do have a thought. Since Senior Shan has nowhere to go alone, why not join me in following Sect Master Ding and make our mark?" said Fu Qijian succinctly, his thoughts clear.
He knew about the predicament that Ding Huan and he were about to face; once they left from Heaven-Splitting Battlefield, what awaited them was direct conflict with Jiuyuan.
With their combined strength, facing Jiuyuan was still daunting.
They needed to gather more powerful allies for success. Shan Beishu, with his deep enmity toward Jiuyuan, was the perfect ally.
Shan Beishu, delighted to hear Fu Qijian’s words, his fondness for Fu Qijian rising sharply:
"Brother Fu, since we’re both Earth Immortals, there’s no need for formalities; just call me by my name to make us seem more familiar."
Ding Huan thought that if Shan Beishu were to follow him, their chances of success in the Four-layered Sea Canyon would greatly increase.
Thinking this, he also said with a clenched fist, "Brother Shan, Brother Fu is right. You alone are weak; why not join us?
Before, Brother Fu and I eliminated an important figure from Jiuyuan, and we are bound to confront Jiuyuan in battle. Your sect was also destroyed by Jiuyuan; it would be best if we joined forces."
"You killed a person from Jiuyuan? Who?" asked Shan Beishu curiously.
Ding Huan chuckled:
"The City Lord of Jiuyuan City, Wangping Dao."
Shan Beishu stared blankly at the two, finally saying speechlessly after a long while, "Ignorance is indeed bliss."
Perhaps up until now, Ding Huan and Fu Qijian had not understood what killing the City Lord of Jiuyuan City meant.
This meant a relentless battle with Jiuyuan.
Seeing that neither of them seemed too concerned, Shan Beishu added:
"Jiuyuan has wolfish ambitions. The planets they aim to dominate aren’t limited to just Triple Heaven Star Land.
Their chosen flag-bearer in Triple Heaven Star Land was the City Lord of Jiuyuan City; don’t think that just any replacement would suffice after killing the City Lord."
"Isn’t it?" Ding Huan was puzzled.
Shan Beishu shook his head:
"No, back when I was at Datong Academy, an elder told me that the City Lord of Jiuyuan City controlled the main Qi destiny of Triple Heaven Star Land, which was intertwined with his fate.
By killing the City Lord of Jiuyuan City, you’re essentially causing Jiuyuan to lose Triple Heaven Star Land..."
Shan Beishu himself halted abruptly as he spoke, as if he realized something.
"Are you saying Jiuyuan intends to strip a realm of its Qi destiny?" Ding Huan could hardly believe it. This was something conceivable but not achievable.
Stripping a realm of its Qi destiny, he had read some information about it on leather scroll, but it was incredibly elusive.
Shan Beishu said gravely:
"I always thought what the elder meant was that Jiuyuan intended to control Triple Heaven Star Land, to rule over it, thereby enslaving it.
When I inadvertently mentioned stripping just now, I suddenly feel something is not quite right. Sect Master Ding’s words might indeed be true, but this matter seems too sensational.
Perhaps what they’re stripping isn’t Qi destiny, but something else. We’ve had little contact and can’t think of it yet."
Ding Huan earnestly said:
"Regardless of what they’re stripping, it would be a disaster for Triple Heaven Star Land. Brother Shan, what you said could very well be true. There’s always been something off about Wangping Dao.
True or false, we’ll treat it as truth for now. Once we exit this place, let’s devise a way to eliminate Jiuyuan first."
"You think you can leave here?" Shan Beishu looked at Ding Huan and Fu Qijian in disbelief.