Chapter 1805: Pure World Ice Lotus

Witnessing the Ghost King cast the Eternal Slumber Gaze with his eyes earlier hadn't evoked much emotion. But now, seeing someone suppress the Ghost King with just a glance, various insights suddenly surged within him.

He had never imagined before that eyes could be used for attack, as they were usually considered one of the most vulnerable parts of the body.

What he witnessed and heard today seemed to open the door to a new world.

As swordsmanship was his greatest mastery, he instinctively wondered if sword techniques could be integrated into the eyes.

In the past, he had seen various miraculous eye techniques in anime and TV shows, only viewing them as curiosities. But now, in the world of cultivation, their realization seemed possible.

Although he didn't yet know how to achieve it specifically, having personally witnessed such a miraculous scene today and now knowing the direction, he would eventually be able to devise a method suitable for himself.

Zhao Hao, moreover, couldn't stop trembling. Before today, he had been the most powerful person in that world for many, many years, truly leaving all other heroes helpless. Especially after the Demon Emperor's death, he felt there was nothing left in the human world worth his effort.

There were even times when his heart was filled with boundless pride. He felt that all gods, Buddhas, and immortals across the heavens were but a single sword stroke away. "I am invincible in the human world," he thought, "the Human Emperor who rules supreme. My name cannot be uttered, only revered. I could conquer heaven above and earth below."

Even when facing the Ghost King, his heroic spirit remained unchanged. Although the opponent was powerful, he wasn't overwhelmingly so. It was mainly the soul-sucking and damage-immunity skills that gave him a headache. In a real fight, he might not necessarily lose.

But at this moment, personally witnessing the Ghost King being suppressed and killed by Immortal Monarch Baopu with a single glance—and this was merely a wisp of the Immortal Monarch's remnant soul—

He immediately felt he had been too arrogant. "Distinguished seniors," he thought, "you can just call me Little Zhao from now on."

Of course, this was just a momentary weakness and bewilderment. It was quickly replaced by a desire for even greater power.

"This is the direction I should be heading!"

He seemed to vaguely grasp the direction of immortal fate. At least, he now knew how to proceed on the path beyond Earth Immortals.

At this moment, Chu Chuyan and Pei Mianman asked in shock, "Is the Ghost King dead?"

They had previously experienced how terrifying the Ghost King's power was, and for a moment, they questioned everything.

Immortal Monarch Baopu shook his head. "The Ghost King's nature is extremely special; he's very difficult to kill directly. Therefore, I merely re-sealed him into the deeper layers of the Grand Tomb just now."

A thought stirred in Zu An's mind. He had heard Jing Teng mention before that when Immortal Monarch Baopu purged demons across the world back then, many powerful entities couldn't be destroyed and could only be sealed within the Grand Tomb.

All the way here, whether it was the Death Reapers or the Earthfire Demons, although powerful, even their current power level could barely manage them. So he had been curious why Immortal Monarch Baopu couldn't kill them.

Only now did he understand that those creatures were not captured by Immortal Monarch Baopu at all back then. The Death Reapers and Earthfire Demons were merely monsters in the upper layers of the Grand Tomb. The truly formidable ones were in deeper spaces, like the Ghost King.

Immortal Monarch Baopu looked at Jing Teng. "Having experienced what happened back then, have you awakened now?"

Jing Teng nodded, a hint of hesitation on her face. "But I'm still a little reluctant."

Immortal Monarch Baopu glanced at Zu An subtly. "Everything is fate and destiny. Your ties to the mortal world are not yet severed. You will eventually meet again in the future."

Jing Teng brightened. "Really?"

Immortal Monarch Baopu smiled faintly. "When have I ever lied to you?"

Jing Teng also smiled. "That's true."

Zu An frowned. He realized that Immortal Monarch Baopu, like Jing Teng, was also speaking in riddles. The two seemed to be discussing something incredibly important, but he couldn't understand it at all.

At this moment, Immortal Monarch Baopu turned to Chu Chuyan and Pei Mianman. "Thank you for bringing me news of Bao Gu. I have a small gift for you."

Chu Chuyan and Pei Mianman remained relatively calm, but Zhao Hao in the distance suddenly started breathing rapidly. "Could it be that immortal fate is truly destined for these two women?"

"No matter the cost," he thought, "I must snatch it from them."

Immortal Monarch Baopu took out a talisman. With a flick of his finger on it, a beautiful lotus flower made entirely of ice bloomed in mid-air. It was crystal clear throughout. Although it looked chillingly cold, not a trace of coldness radiated from it.

"This is a wisp of the Purifying Ice Lotus's essence that I acquired in the past," he said. "Unfortunately, it's incompatible with my cultivation method. Since you cultivate ice-type techniques, this item should be of great benefit to you." As he finished speaking, he pointed a finger, and the ethereal ice lotus immediately vanished into the center of Chu Chuyan's forehead.

"Thank you, Immortal Monarch!" Chu Chuyan could feel that this was a primordial seed. The ice power contained within it was incredibly profound; even if she did nothing, it would make her cultivation twice as effective with half the effort.

If she could truly comprehend the primordial laws within it, she wondered what terrifying power she would achieve.

"Oh, the Purifying Ice Lotus?" Mi Li's voice echoed in Zu An's mind.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Zu An was startled. Having experienced Old Man Mi's soul possession incident before, and witnessed Zhao Hao's divided soul hidden within the Crown Prince, there were too many soul-possession incidents in the cultivation world. He was afraid something might go wrong with Chuyan.

"Don't worry, there's no problem," Mi Li explained. "That's the most primordial law, without an autonomous consciousness. It's entirely beneficial to the host and poses no harm."

Zu An finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Empress Teacher, do you know about that Purifying Ice Lotus? Tell me about it."

"No idea," Mi Li replied flatly.

"If you don't know, why did you react like that?" Zu An was a bit annoyed.

Mi Li snorted. "I just felt that something of this caliber shouldn't be something Immortal Monarch Baopu could produce. However, it's only a wisp of its essence, not the Purifying Ice Lotus itself, so it's barely understandable."

Zu An was speechless.

"Didn't you just say you didn't know about the Purifying Ice Lotus?"

"And what's with your tone?" he thought. "It sounds like you're looking down on Immortal Monarch Baopu."

One must know that even at your peak back then, you couldn't defeat Qin Shihuang, Ying Zheng. And Ying Zheng was desperate to become an immortal; if he were to meet Immortal Monarch Baopu, he'd probably kneel and call him 'Daddy'.

Facing Chu Chuyan's gratitude, Immortal Monarch Baopu nodded slightly. Then he looked at Pei Mianman. "You cultivate fire-type techniques, and the black flames on your body are quite mystical. It seems you haven't quite mastered how to use their full power yet. I have something here that is destined for you."

As he spoke, he took out another talisman. With a gentle flick, a vivid Manjusaka flower bloomed in mid-air. It was exceptionally beautiful, yet its entire form emanated an intensely oppressive aura of death.

Fortunately, a black butterfly rested upon the flower. Its gentle flapping wings added a faint touch of vitality.

Zu An stared at the butterfly. Although it was very beautiful, its entirely black body invariably made people feel heavy-hearted and think of ominous things.

He saw it flickering in and out of sight on the flower, seeming both present and absent. It seemed to contain countless profound mysteries.

The black flames within Pei Mianman seemed drawn by something, and black flames suddenly erupted all over her body. She reached out and gently touched the Manjusaka flower. The black butterfly, as if sensing something, landed on her crystal-clear, jade-like finger.

The black butterfly gently flapped its wings, and the flower petals swayed. Soon, both transformed into a ray of light and were absorbed into Pei Mianman's finger.

Zu An, standing directly behind her, noticed her beautiful hair fluttering, vaguely revealing the nape of her neck. A coin-sized pattern appeared there, which was clearly the black butterfly, beautiful yet demonic.

Zu An was stunned for a moment. "Huh, why is there only the butterfly pattern?" he wondered. "Where did the Manjusaka flower pattern go?"

At Pei Mianman's cultivation level, she could naturally "see" the changes in her body. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Why did it leave a pattern on my body?"

The key was that the flower's location was too embarrassing...

"Chu Chuyan received an ice lotus that directly merged into her Sea of Consciousness and wouldn't show externally. How pure and flawless! What kind of situation is this for me?"

Thinking this, her face flushed crimson with embarrassment.

Immortal Monarch Baopu was momentarily stunned, not understanding why she had such a strong reaction. He could only reply, "This is the essence of the Netherworld Butterfly's Guidance. I acquired it by chance back then, but unfortunately, I could never use it. It's a joyful thing that you've gained its recognition. This item will naturally merge with your body, and everything follows the most primordial traces of the Heavenly Dao. As for leaving a pattern, you needn't worry. Normally, it will be hidden within your skin and will only appear when your blood and qi surge and your emotions are agitated."

As he spoke, the butterfly pattern on her nape indeed gradually faded from sight.

Pei Mianman finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, she quickly thought, "What if it reappears when I'm intimate with Ah Zu someday? Wouldn't it reappear then? I wonder if he'd like it..."

At this moment, Immortal Monarch Baopu suddenly continued, speaking faintly, "Born on this shore, grown on the other shore, watching over a lifetime, hands unable to meet. Even if the flower and leaves never meet, bone-deep longing resides in the River of Oblivion. I hope the black butterfly's guidance can change this fated tragedy."

Zu An and his companions were completely bewildered. "What exactly is he talking about?"

At this moment, Mi Li's heart stirred. "So that's it," she thought. "This person is skilled in divination and prognostication. He must have glimpsed some heavenly secrets. No wonder he could acquire items of this caliber."