Chapter 2283: True Immortal Emerges True Immortal's Account

"Heh heh, self-crippling your cultivation? If it were that easy to get rid of it, the Immortal Realm wouldn't have kept the Spirit Refining Art on the forbidden list. It seems you don't know that once you begin cultivating this secret art, you can only move forward; there's no stopping halfway. Given your current second-level attainment, if you don't reach the third level of the Spirit Refining Art within ten thousand years, your Spiritual Consciousness Sea will inevitably be unable to contain such immense spiritual power, leading to self-detonation and oblivion. In such a situation, even if you were to seize another body and cultivate anew beforehand, there would be no chance of survival." The man sneered, revealing another piece of information that made Han Li's heart sink.

"Ten thousand years! Well, at least I have some time to plan a solution. But the third level... isn't the Spirit Refining Art only supposed to have three levels in total?" Han Li's eyes flickered a few times before he let out a long breath and counter-questioned.

Naturally, he couldn't fully believe the man's words based solely on his one-sided account, but he still discerned some perplexing details.

"Three levels? Who told you the Spirit Refining Art only has three levels? Oh, I see. You only obtained the cultivation method for the first half of the Spirit Refining Art, not the entire cultivation technique. The complete Spirit Refining Art should have seven levels. You've only cultivated the first two levels; if you wish to survive, your cultivation journey is still long!" The man was momentarily stunned, but then spoke with a sudden realization.

"Thank you for the guidance, but may I ask if you know the cultivation methods for the later levels?" Han Li sighed, then suddenly posed this question.

"Although the Spirit Refining Art isn't considered particularly rare in the Immortal Realm, it's not a common technique either. Furthermore, the Immortal Realm has always forbidden its teaching and transaction, and I myself am an inspection envoy. So, unfortunately, I don't know the cultivation methods for the latter half. However, you don't need to be too anxious. As long as you can cultivate the third level of the Spirit Refining Art, the next crisis for your spiritual consciousness will be postponed by at least another thirty to forty thousand years. With such a long time, given your aptitude, you should have a chance to ascend to the Immortal Realm and then find another solution." The man replied with significant meaning.

"Ascending to the Immortal Realm? That's not an easy feat. If it were that simple, fellow cultivators like me, trapped in the Grand Ascension stage in the lower realms, wouldn't be so numerous." Han Li couldn't help but smile bitterly upon hearing this.

"Haha, that was before you met me. Don't forget, you have a genuine True Immortal right in front of you. If I'm willing to offer assistance, you'll have at least two to three tenths more chance than before to successfully ascend to the Immortal Realm." The man said with a low chuckle.

"As a True Immortal, if you're willing to offer some guidance, this junior might indeed have a slight chance of truly ascending to the Immortal Realm. However, I doubt Senior called me here simply to lend a hand, did you?" Han Li spoke with a sudden sigh after a moment of silence.

"You're a perceptive one! If you were of no use to me, although I would still help you slay that Mother of Grubs, I certainly wouldn't have gone to the trouble of teleporting you here. The reason I did this is because I intend to use your power to help me with something. As compensation for your help, I will provide methods to quickly cultivate the third level of the Spirit Refining Art and to overcome the Heavenly Tribulation for ascension. What do you say?" The man had no intention of hiding anything and spoke frankly.

"If Senior wishes to find help, Fellow Daoist Baohua, as the Sacred Ancestor of this realm, should be more suitable. Why must you seek out this junior?" Han Li wasn't surprised, but he calmly countered with a question.

"Heh heh, if an ordinary Grand Ascension cultivator from the lower realms could help me, why would I have endured so many years here? I would have sought out those local Grand Ascension cultivators who were said to be sealed years ago," the man said indifferently.

"Senior's words imply..." Han Li's heart tensed, and his expression grew somewhat grave.

"Since we've come this far, I won't hide anything anymore. The reason I sought out Fellow Daoist Han is precisely because you cultivate the Spirit Refining Art, a heaven-defying divine ability. Other Grand Ascension cultivators from the lower realms, even if their strength and cultivation were several times higher than yours, would be equally unable to help me in the slightest," the man slowly stated, once again surprising Han Li.

"What? Senior sought me out... because I cultivate the Spirit Refining Art?!" Han Li was genuinely bewildered.

"That's right. Although I haven't mentioned it to you since I've been lucid, given our current predicament, I imagine you can guess a few things," the man said with a wry smile.

"With Senior saying that, this junior does have some lingering doubts about the events of yesteryear, and I hope Senior will enlighten me. Is it true that the Mother of Grubs we're currently slaying no longer possesses the primordial spirit of that fierce beast from back then? Of course, if Senior finds it inconvenient, please disregard my question," Han Li asked cautiously after a moment of hesitation.

"Although the events of that year are somewhat unpleasant to recall, sharing some details with you won't be a problem. When that Mother of Grubs wreaked havoc in the lower realms, she was detected by the Immortal Inspector from the upper realm, who then dispatched me and another inspection envoy to jointly eradicate this demon. Of course, at that time, although it was extremely difficult for us immortals to descend to the lower realms, it was still achievable through certain special means..." After a moment of silence in the alms bowl, the man's recounting voice slowly began.

To be able to hear a participant in an ancient legend personally recount the events of that year was, of course, an experience not every Grand Ascension cultivator could have. Naturally, Han Li focused his full attention and listened carefully.

"Unexpectedly, just as the two of us were about to completely slay the Mother of Grubs, a cosmic upheaval erupted precisely at that moment, directly affecting the various realms. We were immediately struck by the realm power that we had previously suppressed using treasures and secret arts! As a result, the situation reversed instantly; with our magic power suppressed, we were almost devoured by the Mother of Grubs. Later, in desperation, we had no choice but to resort to a mutually destructive method, simultaneously detonating our bodies and employing a certain immortal secret art, which severely wounded the Mother of Grubs. By then, of course, we no longer had any way to break the Mother of Grub's indestructible body. We could only possess two high-level demon cultivators, construct this massive seal, and leave behind some instructions. At that time, we discovered that after the cosmic upheaval, both of us had lost contact with the Immortal Realm and had no way to return there by our original methods. So, we secretly investigated some famous realms in the lower world, using the identities of Grand Ascension demon cultivators. The result was that this cosmic upheaval affected all realms, causing their realm power to increase by almost tenfold compared to before, and indeed, we couldn't find any way to actively return to the Immortal Realm. In desperation, the two of us could only return to this realm's sealed land, set up this small spell formation, and allow our primordial spirits to escape into it and begin slumbering. At that time, we could only hope that some close friends in the Immortal Realm would still remember us and find a way to break through the realms to rescue us. During this incredibly long period, both of us would temporarily awaken once every thousand years or so, but each time was met with extreme disappointment. After such a long time had slowly passed, my companion, in a state of despair, eventually had some disputes with me. After several arguments, upon one awakening, she suddenly restrained me and sealed my true primordial spirit within this current container."

The man's voice echoed repeatedly on the altar, and a strange ripple finally appeared in his words.

"She herself took the Jade Purity lamp oil, which was originally used by the formation to preserve our souls, and went to find the sealed Mother of Grubs. As for what happened to her, you should have guessed part of it when you saw that Mother of Grubs. And if I hadn't been extra careful and left behind a bit of Jade Purity lamp oil beforehand, I might have been annihilated countless years ago, long before her. As for why she did this, she most likely intended to use the Mother of Grubs' body to cultivate a True Pole Body, and then attempt to forcibly break through the realm power to return to the Immortal Realm. Of course, there might have been other intentions. But those are things I wouldn't know." The man finally gave a general account of the events from that year.

"So many things happened back then; no wonder Senior has been trapped here all this time. Is the favor Senior wants from me perhaps to help you regain freedom from this artifact?" After listening, Han Li's mind raced, but he asked calmly.

"Heh heh, although I was initially sealed in this black ebony alms bowl, I've managed to break free for the most part through self-effort over the years. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to help you recently. What I need you to do is to use the powerful spiritual power amplified by your Spirit Refining Art to help me activate a precious talisman in my hand. Once activated, this talisman can transmit a message to a friend of mine in the Immortal Realm, bypassing all realm power. I believe, based on our past friendship, that once he learns of my current predicament, he will do his best to rescue me and bring me back to the Immortal Realm." To Han Li's surprise, the man said this with a serious expression.

"Senior possesses a talisman that can reach the Immortal Realm directly?" Han Li's face showed undisguised astonishment upon hearing this.

"You needn't be too surprised. Of course, ordinary talismans cannot accomplish this. This precious talisman in my hand comes from a renowned Immortal Lord in the Immortal Realm; very few of them circulate outside. And generally, low-level immortals lack sufficient spiritual power to activate such a powerful talisman. That's why I sought out Fellow Daoist Han," the man said with a hint of helplessness.

"Senior means that my current spiritual power, amplified by the Spirit Refining Art, can activate this talisman?" Han Li asked with a furrowed brow.

"While your current spiritual power is indeed formidable, far surpassing that of others at your level, it is still slightly inferior to mine at my peak. I mean that only after you've cultivated the third level of the Spirit Refining Art will you have some chance of accomplishing this," the man replied with a light chuckle.