Chapter 1570: The Path to Immortality Opens

The Big Dipper star field appeared to undergo a massive explosion, erupting from a central point and causing numerous stars to plummet and turn into dust.

Brilliant light illuminated the area, and dazzling rays danced. This part of the universe was terrifyingly chaotic, filled with surging saintly auras, and punctuated by continuous roars and cries of alarm.

An earth-shattering transformation was taking place in the Big Dipper star field. Outside the Primordial Forbidden Zone, a massive rift had torn open, rapidly expanding to tens of thousands of feet in length and plunging directly into the forbidden area.

A terrifying, immensely bright light shot skyward, emanating from this very spot, which was now crumbling. This cataclysmic power signaled the imminent appearance of the path to immortality.

"The path to immortality is finally appearing; it will truly manifest in this era!"

"The Heavenly Gate is opening wide, and the Immortal Realm is about to emerge! The ultimate ancient path, awaited for millions of years, will finally bridge the two worlds!"

These pronouncements echoed throughout the heavens and earth like an ancient incantation or a sacred chant. They resonated with immense power, shaking the nine heavens and ten lands, a deafening divine symphony.

The entire star field seemed on the verge of collapse!

The only solace was that the Big Dipper, a cradle of life, remained incredibly resilient. Protected by the formations of Great Emperors and suppressed by numerous ancient Supremes, it resisted any fragmentation.

Without these formations and the Lords of the Forbidden Zones, it would undoubtedly have disintegrated into cosmic dust, just like many stars beyond the region.

Though light pierced the firmament from this location, the place itself remained perfectly still, showing no signs of destruction.

A thunderous 'bang'!

The path to immortality shattered, and a corpse plummeted, deeply unsettling everyone. Its ancient attire suggested it was either an ancient Emperor or a Celestial Venerable. Yet, almost immediately, it dissolved into the Dao, becoming one with the light that surged skyward.

This was a cosmic catastrophe. Saints rushing towards the Big Dipper star field were inadvertently struck by the explosive, overwhelming divine power, instantly dissolving into bloody pulp, utterly unable to resist.

"It won't be long now; it's about to erupt! The path to immortality will appear, and the ancient Supremes will return to their rightful places!"

"Perhaps within mere days!"

People's predictions were proven premature, as another massive collapse soon followed. Various immortal lights danced, and half-charred bodies plummeted, dissolving into putrid blood and then into mere ash.

The reappearance of an Emperor's corpse ignited further chaos, causing the great rift to expand to its maximum extent. From within, roars echoed, as if powerful beings were bellowing.

"It's a true dragon, a true dragon! I saw a dragon soar across the void!"

"No, that's Xue Yueqing, the former Demon Emperor! He almost broke through, but alas, he ultimately fell. This is merely his lingering presence!"

On this day, the entire Big Dipper star field was shaken to its core, and countless formidable beings made their final preparations.

People were not rushing *towards* the Primordial Forbidden Zone; instead, they soared into the sky, fleeing outwards. They understood that the ancient Supremes were likely to emerge, and they had to clear a path for them.

Some individuals, their lifespans nearing their end, remained in the Big Dipper. With little vitality left, they had reached their absolute limit and could not endure further exertion, fearing they might dissolve into the Dao even while attempting to flee to other regions.

Everyone else surged towards neighboring star fields, seeking as much distance as possible, quietly awaiting the pivotal moment.

A resounding 'boom'!

The path to immortality was crumbling. Clouds and mist billowed, as pristine and ethereal as fine gauze, exuding an aura of profound tranquility. Just one breath was enough to invigorate the spirit and swiftly draw one into a state of enlightenment.

"This is true immortal energy! It can nourish both the soul and the physical body, likely benefiting even those at the Quasi-Emperor realm!"

People were astonished. Many ancient cultivators, dragging their decaying bodies forward, desperately absorbed this energy, surprisingly regaining a flicker of vitality that was significantly better than their condition moments before.

This naturally caused a huge stir, and some of those who had been fleeing rushed back, unable to bear the thought of missing out. This was an ethereal immortal energy capable of defying the world, and a single breath could significantly improve one's life force.

With a thunderous rumble, the stars trembled violently. Polar immortal light danced across the sky like a magnificent fireworks display, nourishing an unknown number of individuals. This was a clear harbinger of the Immortal Gate's imminent opening.

Amidst a series of cracking sounds, faint, indistinct silhouettes began to materialize within the darkness of the great rift. They stood colossal and majestic, seemingly immortal within the chaotic void.

Could these be structures of the Immortal Realm? They were truly magnificent, projecting through the world barrier, their vague outlines now discernible.

With a buzzing tremor, the great rift split wider!

Debris actually flew out, enveloped in immortal energy and imbued with an aura of immortality. Faintly, people heard the cries of an Immortal Phoenix, and through a narrow crack, they caught a glimpse of the lush and vibrant Primordial Immortal Realm.

However, ominous clouds swiftly swirled, obscuring everything once more, blocking all sight of what lay beyond.

"It has appeared! This is the day!"

From within the Life Forbidden Zone, an ancient Supreme let out a thunderous roar that caused stars in distant regions to tremble and small celestial bodies to directly plummet – a terrifying, unparalleled display of power.

A deafening 'boom'!

Heaven and earth collapsed. The great rift of the Immortal Realm unleashed blinding light, scattering rubble, withered wood, and debris, which then disintegrated into ash. Deep within, the chaotic qi dispersed, revealing a colossal, majestic pass.

This wasn't a structure of stone but one entirely condensed from fundamental laws. Standing before this rift, even numerous Great Saints and Patriarchs would tremble uncontrollably, unable to maintain their footing.

Aside from the ancient cultivators who were truly unable to move, everyone else fled. The path to immortality had finally appeared, at the precise time and location, just as people had long anticipated!

"Awaiting for eons, it has finally appeared!"

This was the ancient, weathered voice of a Supreme, laden with immeasurable bitterness and helplessness. After eons of waiting and having paid an irretrievable price, they had finally witnessed this era.

"Aooooh..."

From the path to immortality, a creature's roar echoed, shaking the Eastern Wasteland. Simultaneously, a small red bird, wreathed in raging fire, flew out from the majestic pass and hovered there.

"It's a Vermilion Bird! That's a creature from the Immortal Realm!"

Ancient cultivators, too frail to move, cried out, their eyes brimming with tears. Having witnessed an immortal spirit, they felt no regret, even if death claimed them now!

"Roar..." Another tremendous roar, and a colossal, snow-white tiger appeared, as if carved from pristine jade. It exuded an overwhelming pressure that sent shivers through the entire Eastern Wasteland.

"Another immortal spirit! Another creature from the Immortal Realm has descended!"

Some ancient cultivators, unable to wait for that climactic moment, dissolved into the Dao amidst their tears, transforming into a rain of light that drifted towards the great rift.

"Even if I die right now, I have no regrets! I have witnessed the opening of the path to immortality!"

The appearance of these two "immortal spirits" caused many of these elderly individuals, whose lives were nearly spent, to instantly transform into a shower of light, becoming one with the fundamental laws of heaven and earth, returning to the grand Dao of nature.

"Those aren't immortal spirits!" someone suddenly cried out.

"These are merely the laws of the Immortal Realm. The Immortal Gate remains tightly shut, not yet open. These are laws intertwining, guarding this colossal gate and preventing anyone from approaching."

It was unfortunate for those ancient cultivators who, until their last breath, believed they had witnessed creatures from the Immortal Realm. However, perhaps it was for the best, as they found release in a state of contentment.

"Dong..."

As a colossal bell resonated with a drawn-out 'dong,' heaven and earth trembled. The sound originated from the deepest reaches of the cosmos, as a strand of immortal law tore through space, piercing towards the great rift of the path to immortality.

Simultaneously, from beneath the Eastern Wasteland, an ancient pagoda shot forth, descending to suppress the area, causing it to crumble, before swiftly vanishing itself.

"This is the moment! The correct time, the correct place, it has appeared! The path to immortality will open wide, charge in!"

An ancient Supreme roared, causing all the star rivers across the heavens to tremble and many great stars to shatter. At this very moment, blinding light shot skyward from all major Life Forbidden Zones, as the auras of ancient Emperors and Great Emperors surged and erupted!

The earth-shattering transformation had begun, and with it, the grandeur of this era was now manifest!

Amidst the thunderous roars, fundamental laws danced, and heaven and earth trembled. Immortal melodies ceaselessly emanated from the great forbidden zones, and various Dharma forms shocked the mortal realm. Gigantic figures stretched into the outer regions, each one a primordial cosmos, a manifestation of a supreme Dao!

The ancient Supremes had emerged. They were restoring their Dao Fruits, pushing their combat power back to its absolute peak for a final, decisive battle to break into the Immortal Realm.

Restoring themselves to their past glorious peak came at a severe cost, often resulting in death. This state could only be activated a limited number of times, and once initiated, it became exceedingly difficult to seal themselves away again.

This implied that if they succeeded in breaching the Immortal Realm in this era, all would be well. However, if they were to fail, almost all of them would perish, no longer able to withstand the relentless assault of time.

The Supreme from the Immortal Mausoleum was the first to move. An ancient chariot emerged, and this time, he sat cross-legged upon it, using it as his conveyance.

Myriad Daos and chaotic energy enveloped the area, vaguely revealing a humanoid being whose race remained indistinct. Adorned with a purple-gold crown and draped in a Daoist robe, his true face was obscured. Grayish-brown hair cascaded over his chest and back, and within his eyes flickered visions of suns, moons, and stars being annihilated.

He appeared to be a Daoist, leading to speculation that he might be an ancient Celestial Venerable from the mythical era!

He sat cross-legged on the ancient chariot, an immortal sword resting across his knees. A peerless aura emanated from him, startling the nine heavens, and almost in an instant, the chariot reached the path to immortality.

Perhaps the chariot was unnecessary, but this display was a mark of a Great Emperor's dignity. Whether they would fail or perish in battle, they intended to conclude their journey in glory.

Meanwhile, from the Undying Mountain, a formidable aura surged heavenward. A supreme powerhouse, entirely encased in black armor and shrouded in mist, emerged, exuding overwhelming terror.

He rode upon a colossal divine tiger, its body covered not in fur, but in dense scales that gleamed with a fearsome metallic luster, radiating an infernal aura.

In the hand of the Undying Mountain Supreme was a dark, menacing halberd capable of cleaving the heavens and shattering billions of stars. Forged from dragon-patterned black gold, its blade gleamed with terrifying brilliance, truly an Emperor weapon that shook the world.

This Supreme also emerged, holding the great halberd and riding the colossal divine tiger. Immortal light exploded around him as he instantly arrived before the Primordial Forbidden Zone in the Southern Domain.

In this single instant, two ancient Supremes had appeared, a sight so profoundly shocking that even Great Saints and Patriarch-level figures observing from distant regions via ancient formation platforms felt chills run down their spines. Their power was immense; compared to these two Emperors, they were less than ants!

"Those are true Great Emperors and Ancient Sovereigns!" people exclaimed, trembling.

"Aooooh!"

In the Northern Region, within the Primordial Ancient Mine, immortal light danced, and star rivers descended boundlessly, creating a myriad of phenomena that astounded the ages.

A Qilin was born, immense in size, stretching for unknown tens of thousands of miles. It lay across the heavens and earth, crushing all things in its path! Its body was covered in dense, formidable scales, seemingly forged from immortal metal, shimmering with blue-violet light.

It stepped directly out of the Primordial Ancient Mine, reigning over the cosmos, its immense presence suppressing the nine heavens and ten lands. It seemed capable of instantly shattering three thousand great worlds!

This was a truly supreme being, indistinguishable from the Qilin of the Immortal Realm. A beam of light shot skyward from its skull, marking its Dao Fruit and proving that it had once been an Imperial Supreme.