Chapter 1133: Immortal's Demise Land

Chapter 1138: The Fallen Immortal's Land

The moment he removed the mark of the Inheritance Flower from his brow, a wave of profound relief spread through Xu Qing's consciousness, rippling invisibly across his heart. It enveloped his entire body, settled beneath his feet, and dissolved into the void. This was a manifestation of the truth: the Dao is not distant, but within one's being; all things are empty, yet true nature remains. Simultaneously, he severed the karmic ties with the Inheritance Flower, preventing his Dao from dispersing outwards. Through his actions, he conveyed to the entity seeking to borrow his Dao: I will not lend it!

Afterward, he ascended to the sky, walking through the heavens, his black hair fluttering, his green robe billowing, as he journeyed further and further. "While the number of Laws can influence combat power, there must be a limit. Otherwise, there wouldn't be instances of immortals severing their extra Laws and passing them on as inheritances. Those lower immortals who bestowed Laws as inheritances surely knew that what truly determined their realm was the completeness of their Laws, not their quantity. Therefore, for me, I don't need those extra Laws. What I need… is to take my Law of Space-Time further, to make it more complete!"

Xu Qing looked up, gazing into the distance, where endless crimson auroras stretched. "The Law of Space-Time is based on the Five Elements, with time and space forming its platform; its foundation is profound, allowing for a great leap. Throughout history, it's impossible that I'm the only one who comprehended the Law of Space-Time. In fact, the moment this Law formed… I had an epiphany. On the path ahead of me, there are other practitioners, but very few. And… none have reached the end. Some stopped, others changed their paths. This path currently has no origin."

Xu Qing pondered as he continued his journey. He had a premonition that once he deepened his comprehension of the Law of Space-Time, whether or not he could form the Ninth Pole, it would undoubtedly elevate his cultivation beyond its current level under the Law's influence. It would form his Ninth Realm, allowing him to reach the Master level! "So, what is this deeper level…?" Xu Qing mused.

He walked between heaven and earth, within space and time, sometimes manifesting his spirit in the past to seek clues, and at other times extending his soul into the future to pursue answers. Seven days later, he stopped, and space-time itself rippled. He looked up ahead. Before him stood a mountain with seventeen peaks, each holding a pond. The pond water was clear, round as a full moon, with a stone pavilion standing beside it. The pavilion had eight corners, and its inner platform seemed to be carved with geographical totems. This was… the location of the Earth Rules, known as the Seventeen Earth Rule Pools.

Beside the ponds grew many exotic flowers and plants, exhaling immortal spiritual energy, which over countless years had imbued them with rich spiritual essence. Occasionally, they would manifest sentient beings, who enacted the myriad experiences of life there, forming a peculiar phenomenon. For countless years, if mortals accidentally strayed into this place, they would often experience a fleeting dream, waking up disoriented. Because this place caused no harm, it had endured to this day, and cultivators frequently came here to seek the Dao. Gazing at this, Xu Qing recalled the description of the Earth Rule Pools in the ancient scrolls recorded by Yunmen Qianfan.

Besides the aforementioned details, there was also a legend about the stone platform totems. The legend claimed these were left by an ancient powerful being who traversed the entire Fifth Star Ring. Their Dao involved measurement, charting the geography of the Fifth Star Ring. Hence, the place was named Earth Rules. However, with the passage of time, people gradually lost the ability to discern the totems clearly, seeing only blurred scrawls, unable to grasp their true meaning. This was because their true essence had been absorbed by the pond water over years, becoming one with it. Therefore, during the transition between two Aurora Vortex Days, if someone gazed into the pond, their desires and obsessions would be reflected within, allowing them to understand their inner world. This was also one of the reasons why many cultivators were drawn to practice here, hoping to purify their minds and achieve spiritual sublimation.

Lost in thought, Xu Qing took a step. He ascended one peak, moving towards the vibrant manifestations of sentient beings currently at the pond's edge on that peak. It was like a world, depicting birth, aging, sickness, death, joy, and sorrow. The moment he approached, the beings, formed from plants, instantly froze, then collectively bowed their heads and knelt before Xu Qing. "Indeed, their spiritual essence is rich," Xu Qing nodded, walked to the stone platform, and observed the geographical totems carved upon it. After a moment, he shook his head slightly. "This is not my Dao." He then continued, standing by the pond, gazing at the reflection of the Dao within the water. At first glance, it was blurred. At the second glance, his own reflection appeared, incredibly clear. Xu Qing remained silent for a long time… then still shook his head, choosing not to look a third time. This place did contain Dao, but unfortunately… it was not what he sought. Thus, Xu Qing took a step to the second peak, observing all seventeen peaks along the way. Finding nothing, he departed and continued southward.

After more than a month, he arrived at the Cloud-Mud Basin. This basin was located south of the Earth Rule Pools, surrounded by mountains, nestled among towering peaks. It was filled with clouds and mist, like smoke and woven silk. The soil within was fine as grease, suitable for cultivation. And a unique flower named "Cloud-Mud Lotus" grew there. Its petals were like clouds, and its fragrance was endless.

In Yunmen Qianfan's records, it was said that this lotus could purify the soul, making one's mind pure and enabling understanding of the Dao of heaven and earth. Hence, immortal cranes often guarded the Dao here, dancing gracefully in their leisure, attracting a chorus of other birds. It was a scene of an immortal realm. Xu Qing arrived, walked into the cloud-mud, gently stroked an immortal crane, and surrounded by hundreds of birds, plucked a petal from a Cloud-Mud Lotus. As it rested in his hand, the petal appeared ethereal and illusory, truly like mist. It indeed possessed some power to purify the mind, but for Xu Qing, whose heart was firm and Dao solid, purification was unnecessary. Even if obsessions existed, this flower could not resolve them. Therefore, he only stayed for three days before ascending into the sky.

Further south, a distance unreachable by mortals in a hundred lifetimes, and requiring over a month's journey even for a Master, lay the Fallen Immortal's Plain. The plain was vast, with lush green grass. Rainbows arched across the sky, and colorful clouds drifted ethereally, dreamlike and illusory. This drew Xu Qing's attention. Such a sight was almost unseen elsewhere in the Fifth Star Ring, where the auroras were entirely crimson. Only this place was enveloped in seven colors. Thus, Yunmen Qianfan's records contained a legend about the auroras.

The legend said this was the source of the auroras. Gazing at the plain and the seven colors, Xu Qing fell into thought. He remembered the Aurora Immortal Master mentioned by Li Mengtu. This Immortal Master, once the leader among all Immortal Masters, was suppressed and killed by the Immortal Venerable for betraying the Dao. Their Law was transformed into auroras, and their spirit was cast into this place. Hence, the plain was named "Fallen Immortal." The plain contained more than just flora; countless scattered meteorites were visible. Some were as large as mountains, others as small as beans, all radiating brilliant light and auspicious energy. They exuded an ancient aura. They were not from outer space, and also carried a legend. The legend claimed these meteorites were remnants left over from when the starry sky of the Fifth Star Ring was paved, containing mysterious power.

As he gazed at these, a faint glow slowly appeared in Xu Qing's eyes. His physical body didn't sense much from the place, but as his consciousness spread, he perceived a distinct difference. "This place holds resentment…" "This resentment stirs the spiritual energy, transforming it into an invisible sea." Xu Qing murmured. He continued forward, walking across the plain, past various meteorites. He had reached out to touch them, covered them with his divine sense, and even peered at them through space-time. But what he touched was emptiness! What he sensed was also emptiness! Even viewing through space-time, it was empty! This realization made Xu Qing suddenly pause. "It is indeed the place where an Immortal Master fell…" "Perhaps the Dao I need is here." Xu Qing narrowed his eyes and continued.

Along the way, he perceived all directions, felt the wind blow, and sensed the tranquility of the place. His mind also became immersed, entering a state of ethereal emptiness. After a long time, as he approached the central area of the Fallen Immortal's Plain, a sudden resistance appeared, settling upon Xu Qing's body, hindering his progress. It resonated in his soul like a thunderous bell, reverberating through space-time. His ethereal state shattered, and his thoughts reawakened. He looked up and saw a massive stone stele in the distance. Ancient runes were carved upon it. Its origin was unknown, but its vastness was palpable. After a long moment, Xu Qing withdrew his gaze. "This place is outside of space-time." Xu Qing composed himself, sat cross-legged outside the barrier, and closed his eyes, attempting to explore.

Thus, the wind blew across the land, and auroras flowed. Months later, some people arrived on the Fallen Immortal's Plain. They came from different directions, all heading towards the stone stele in the center of the plain. Unlike Xu Qing, they encountered the resistance much earlier. So, they sat cross-legged around the stele at varying distances. During this time, they also noticed Xu Qing. With a single glance, their expressions changed, and a strong sense of trepidation arose within them. This was partly due to seeing Xu Qing's position, and partly from an intangible feeling. Among these individuals, one felt an even more violent turmoil in their heart, even turning pale, desiring to retreat… However, before they could act on their thoughts, Xu Qing opened his eyes and calmly looked over. "Come."

That single glance caused the person's mind to roar and their breathing to quicken, as if the sky were falling. It also carved a path, clearing the obstruction between Xu Qing and the person he looked at. Thus, the word spoken became divine will, a binding command, preventing that person from retreating. They could only walk painstakingly towards Xu Qing, step by difficult step, finally arriving before him and bowing respectfully. "Long time no see, Earth Spirit Old Ancestor," Xu Qing said slowly. This approaching individual was none other than the Old Ancestor of the Earth Spirit lineage, who had appeared in the Time Desert when Xu Qing was escorting Yunmen Qianfan, agreeing to share a key. The Earth Spirit Old Ancestor smiled bitterly. It had indeed been a long time, but he had never imagined that upon their reunion, Xu Qing would already possess a Law. That glance made him feel as if he were treading on thin ice, his life beyond his control. Recalling it now, there had seemed to be some signs when he first saw Xu Qing in the Time Desert. How could someone who could control time storms be ordinary? The statue formed by his family's genius still stood outside the desert to this day. It was no injustice. "If fellow Daoist is displeased this time, I can relinquish the key," the Earth Spirit Old Ancestor took a deep breath and spoke candidly, then raised a hand to produce a jade bottle. Inside was a drop of fresh blood. It was the blood of the Yunmen Old Ancestor, containing the key. Placing the jade bottle before Xu Qing, the Earth Spirit Old Ancestor lowered his head, awaiting an answer.

After a moment, Xu Qing calmly spoke. "What is the origin of that stone stele?" Hearing this, the Earth Spirit Old Ancestor looked up at the vast stone stele in the distance, not daring to conceal anything from Xu Qing, and spoke in a low voice. "This is where the Aurora Immortal Master's spirit fell, and it's also where their Immortal Palace collapsed. That stone stele… is the gate-guarding stone of the Aurora Immortal Palace!"