First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1683 - The Secrets of Achieving Divinity

The crowd quickly learned what had happened, but the truth left them dumbstruck. They couldn’t accept it all at once.

The disqualified Immortal Lords hadn’t met with some terrifying disaster, nor had a terrifying competition between camps arisen.

All of these people had lost to a single competitor.

Shen Mu!

The very person numerous Immortal Kings had dismissed had single-handedly crushed a throng of enemies on Torn Space Mountain!

Six unrivaled Immortal Lords had joined forces against him, only for him to defeat them all!

This was just too shocking. The gathered higher-ups were overcome with astonishment, and they couldn’t help but gasp.

Brutal!

Since the start of the Divine Hunt, Gong Nanfeng, Weng Changfeng, and a few other top Immortal Lords had drawn the most attention, but none of them had ever achieved anything like this!

In other words, this was unquestionably the most unbelievable battle since the start of the Divine Hunt!

“He’s just one person, but he completely dominated everyone else present, as if he were invincible. This Shen Mu sure is something!” murmured an Immortal King.

“Brother Tang, just where did Shen Mu come from?” One of the Immortal Kings looked at Tang Jinhong.

Numerous others looked over and pricked up their ears. All of them knew that Shen Mu had gotten into the Divine Hunt through his relationship with the ancient Tang Family.

Tang Jinhong was shaken too, but outwardly, he just grimaced and said, “To tell the truth, this old man doesn’t know either. Fellow Daoist Shen Mu’s identity is extremely mysterious. We suspect he hails from an unknown, otherworldly pure land.”

The Tang Family doesn’t know either? An otherworldly pure land?

The higher-ups’ imaginations ran wild.

Tang Lingqi barely suppressed the urge to laugh. Ancestor Jinhong sure can lie convincingly.

But then, this is for the best. If they try to connect ‘Shen Mu’ with some mysterious and mighty sect, those top factions won’t find any leads even if they investigate!

Before long, someone said gravely, “Did a Great Realm treasure really appear on Torn Space Mountain?”

A Great Realm treasure! Treasures of that level almost didn’t exist in the Immortal Realm. Even Immortal Kings would fight like mad over them.

No one would have anticipated that such an extraordinary stroke of good fortune would appear during this Divine Hunt.

“Based on its description, that golden beast skin really does sound like a Great Realm treasure,” murmured an Immortal King.

The other Immortal Kings’ expressions shifted. Each had their own thoughts.

Tang Lingqi was instantly solemn. This doesn’t bode well. A Great Realm treasure is enough to tempt even those Sovereigns who stand above the Immortal Dao, let alone these Immortal Kings!

Now that Su Yi’s gotten his hands on such a supreme treasure, these Immortal Kings have undoubtedly set their sights on him. Who knows how much trouble that will lead to when the Divine Hunt ends?

This was what they meant when they said that harboring too great a treasure was a sin in its own right.

“If it really were a Great Realm treasure, how could an Immortal Lord have subdued it?” Tang Jinhong said with a laugh. “Those who’ve witnessed the power of Great Realm treasures naturally know that even Immortal Kings like us find them difficult to subdue, let alone an Immortal Lord!”

Many others voiced their agreement. It was true. Great Realm treasures were so wondrously powerful that not even Immortal Kings could control them. There was no way an Immortal Lord could have taken control of one!

“No matter what, that golden beast skin is undoubtedly an extraordinary treasure. Even if it isn’t a Great Realm treasure, it’s got to be far beyond other Immortal King treasures,” an Immortal King said gravely. “When Shen Mu returns from the Divine Hunt, we’ll know the truth as soon as we lay eyes on the beast skin.”

Tang Jinhong’s expression darkened, and he said coldly, “How could a lofty Immortal King covet an Immortal Lord’s good fortune? Aren’t you afraid of bringing shame upon yourself?”

The Immortal King instantly clamped his jaw shut, his expression shifting and uncertain.

Tang Jinhong swept his gaze across the crowd. “The Tang Family is the host of this Divine Hunt, so let me lay this out in the open. Any good fortune a participant acquires during the hunt belongs to him and him alone, no matter what it is. No one is permitted to lay a finger on it! The Tang Family will not allow it!”

His voice boomed throughout the surrounding area. He’d made his position completely clear. Others were not to covet Su Yi’s good fortune!

Tang Lingqi inwardly sighed in relief. Ancestor Jinhong’s announcement was perfectly timed. It would help Su Yi avoid a lot of trouble and adversity.

But Tang Lingqi knew full well that the Immortal Kings wouldn’t give up so easily. After all, this time, Su Yi got his hands on a suspected Great Realm treasure. Of course those Immortal Lords and their factions were dead set on acquiring it!

It was even entirely possible that the greatest factions in the Immortal Realm would get involved!

Fortunately, Fellow Daoist Su is participating under the pseudonym Shen Mu, and he disguised himself before he even got here. No one will realize who he really is. When the Divine Hunt ends, we can see him off immediately to avert future problems, thought Tang Lingqi.

......

The Divine Hunt Demon Mountains, the Divine Abomination Grounds.

A remote mountain pass.

Su Yi sat in his wicker chair, staring intently at the golden beast skin. The hide was as soft as silk, and only about half a foot long. Misty golden light flowed across its surface, both beautiful and mystical.

“Brother Shen, is that really a Great Realm treasure?” Tang Yuyan couldn’t help but ask.

“It is,” said Su Yi, subtly inclining his head. “Unfortunately, its source energies are all but depleted, and it’s no longer all that useful.”

Here, he let out a deep sigh. He could tell that this treasure had lain here for far, far too long. The erosion of countless years had left it all but drained.

The passage of time was heartless. It rotted trees and men alike, reducing both wood and bone to dust. Almost nothing could truly last for all eternity.

Throughout the ages, both beauties and mighty warriors hid their white hair from the world. Time always took its toll.

Treasures weren’t exempt either.

The golden beast skin had obviously existed for a long, long time. It was highly likely over a million years old, a relic from the Primeval Era. Just remaining intact that entire time was a rare and impressive feat.

“Can you discern its secrets?” asked Tang Yuyan.

“Let me examine it,” said Su Yi. As he spoke, he split off a portion of his divine sense and inserted it into the beast skin.

Boom!

It was as if he’d returned to the Primeval Era. Countless strange scenes flashed through his mind.

But then, the scene shifted, and a towering divine mountain appeared.

Frigid gales filled the heavens as a man in white stood atop the peak. He was as tall and upright as a spear, and he gazed down upon the world below like a ruler surveying his domain.

An old man in black stood beside him, hugging a black spear. He stood there respectfully, like an elderly servant.

“I’ve reached two conclusions," said the man in white. "The gods have two simple reasons for prohibiting us from stepping onto the Path to Divinity.

“First, they fear a threat to their current status. They’re terrified of falling from their divine thrones and landing back amidst the dust of mortality.

“Second, they fear that the re-emergence of reincarnation will strip them of their control over the natural order of the epochs!”

The man in white sneered, and his eyes flashed with disdain.

“My lord, are we... truly going to declare war against the gods?” asked the old servant in black.

“It’s not that I’ve declared war against them, but that they will not tolerate my ascension to godhood!” The man in white glowered, his eyes full of dense murderous intent. “The most ridiculous part is that they’re foolish enough to attempt to claim me as one of their dogs. They want me to take one of them as my master and serve them as their emissary in this world. They severely underestimate me, Luo Changning!”

“But my lord, what happens if you never make it back...”

“Then I never make it back!” The man in white, Luo Changning, said decisively. “I’ve already seen the Path to Divinity. All I need now is the right opportunity to ignite my Divine Flame and condense my Godhead!

“If I survive the attempt, I’ll be sure to return as a god.

“And if I don’t make it back, so what? How could mere death be worthy of dread?”

The man in white turned and looked at the old man in black. “After I leave, it’ll be up to you to protect Torn Space Mountain.”

The servant in black shuddered, and the rims of his eyes reddened. “My lord, is there truly no other choice?”

The man in white nodded, then took out the golden beast skin and passed it to his servant. “This is the hide of a Cloudlight Void Beast, and it records the secrets of achieving divinity. Remember: you are not to contemplate it without first entering the Great Realm.”

Here, the man in white let out a deep sigh. “Of course, if the Path to Divinity disappears completely in the years to come, it won’t matter if you have an opportunity to contemplate these secrets. You still won’t be able to become a god.

“Enough. I have to get going.”

With that, the man in white shot into the firmament.

Boom!

As he shot deeper into the heavens, his body caught ablaze as he forged further and further. Finally, he slammed into a mysterious, invisible gateway.

Cracks spread throughout the dome of heaven. It looked as if it might fall apart.

Before long, dense tribulation clouds surged forth, and a calamitous power gathered, as if someone had violated a taboo. One after another, grand figures appeared reflected on the dome of heaven, each with a terrifying aura.

“Luo Changning, in the end, you chose to walk the path of no return.”

“How dare you attempt to ignite a Divine Flame and attain divinity? You ought to be executed!”

“Turn back now! It’s not too late!”

...One bellow after another emanated from deep within the tribulation clouds, and those terrifying and mysterious figures seethed with murderous intent.

“What is divinity? It’s just a path beyond the Immortal Dao, no more, no less. Don’t tell me you really take yourselves for the rulers of creation?” the man in white laughed, burning like a blazing sun as he shot further into the heavens.

Boom!!

A heaven-shaking impact rang out, and the scene shattered into countless pieces and disappeared.

Immediately afterward, another vision took its place: utter destruction, turmoil, and bloodshed.

The momentous power of a divine tribulation blanketed the dome of heaven and poured down like rain.

Numerous terrifying figures at the pinnacle of the Immortal Dao suffered the resulting onslaught. Some of them wailed in grief, while others roared in fury.

But in the end, all of them perished beneath the cataclysm.

It was far too brutal. Blood fell like rain, and as these mighty experts died, heaven and earth mourned their passing. The power of the cataclysm was like a divine punishment, ruthlessly reaping the lives of the world’s Great Realm experts.

The elderly servant in black who’d accompanied Luo Changning was there too. He was covered in blood, and his life hung in the balance. He raised his head with great difficulty and gazed into the dome of heaven.

Tribulation clouds blotted out the sun, and lightning surged overhead.

Deep within the clouds, there stood several mysterious, terrifying, and grand figures.

“My lord, I’m afraid your servant cannot wait for you to achieve divinity and return...” the old man said in a raspy voice. “But I have faith that you’re still alive...”

Those were his last words. The power of the cataclysm quickly engulfed and destroyed him, body and soul.

Here, the visions came to an abrupt halt.

Su Yi held the golden beast skin, his expression shifting erratically.

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