Chapter 327

Refining the heart in the red dust, little Daoist!

The seven supreme beings stood like immortal monuments before the sea of red dust, each peerlessly invincible, revered across the nine heavens and ten earths.

Within them, powerful imperial Dao laws danced, and together with their imperial weapons, they were unleashed, sweeping across the heavens.

They were utterly resolute, without a hint of hesitation. Finally, they crossed this sea and reached a boundless immortal path; not far off, a stele appeared, lying before them.

On the ancient stele, simple and clear, there was only a rune; only one who had reached the tribulation of an ancient emperor could recognize it.

Indeed, it was precisely the character for 'Immortal'!

'In this lifetime, it is indeed the correct time, the correct place!'

An ancient supreme being shouted, divine light surging in his heart, he stared intently at the rune that could stir the soul, as if it possessed an irresistible magic.

They did not linger long, holding their imperial weapons as they pressed forward; upon reaching the end of the immortal path, a colossal gate suddenly appeared.

Upon it remained traces of imperial blood, inscribed with words like 'past' and 'future'; even after countless ages, its imperial might did not fade.

One can imagine how mighty the ancient emperors who fought their way here were!

'Mortal bonds, Ming Dao Sword Immortal? We do not need you to teach us how to walk our own path!'

The Stone Emperor fixed his gaze on the lingering imprint on the stone gate, his tone grim and utterly cold; he immediately swung the Desolate Heaven Halberd, severing that imprint in a single strike.

Overbearing and resonant! 'The opportunity to become immortals lies beyond the gate—let us charge in together!'

With a boom, the seven ancient supremes joined forces, unleashing various heaven-defying laws, like cascading star rivers falling, terrifying and boundless.

The various imperial Dao laws, like shocking waves, struck the massive gate one after another.

Yet that gate seemed as ancient as eternity, reaching straight to the heavens; despite enduring that terrifying assault, it remained standing.

'Activate the formation, and together assault this gate!'

After a brief exchange, divine light burst forth from their bodies, connecting to the outside of the immortal path.

Boom!

In the Big Dipper star field, the five great regions of Eastern Wasteland, Southern Ridge, Western Desert, Northern Plains, and Central Province all trembled, as brilliant immortal radiance shot into the heavens, shocking all domains!

'Good heavens, there have long been rumors that the Big Dipper itself is a vast five-colored altar; once activated, perhaps it could truly enable the world to ascend to immortality!'

'It's too terrifying; the Big Dipper seems about to explode...'

Amid universal astonishment, the five regions of the Big Dipper quickly transformed into a five-colored altar, gathering the power of myriad laws.

In an instant, the universe's vital essence was drawn in, its momentum fearsome; under the control of the several supremes, towering divine light surged together toward that immortal gate!

Boom!

This was a world-ending power capable of tearing the universe apart; in a mere instant, its spreading shockwaves turned countless star fields to ash in the blink of an eye.

'Kill!'

The several supremes went mad, their imperial weapons fully revived, driven to the extreme; wave after wave of powerful assaults roared toward the immortal gate!

They are invincible beings of heaven and earth; now joining forces in attack, nothing can withstand them, and they will surely be shattered.

'Boom!'

Finally, with their combined effort and the support of the Big Dipper's great formation, the immortal gate shuddered and collapsed! They rushed inside, arriving at the ultimate end, where before them appeared a chaotic cavern.

Within the cavern, chaotic mist swirled, dim and illusory, faint immortal qi drifting out, mysterious and unfathomable; even the ancient supremes could not discern what lay within.

'Whether one becomes immortal or meets a dead end will be known the moment one steps into the cavern!'

'No need for more words—charge in!'

The ancient supremes' faces were all etched with cold ruthlessness; decisively, all seven entered the chaos one after another.

Thus, the seven supremes vanished.

'Could it be that in this lifetime they were right and we were wrong?'

In other life-restricted zones, a low voice sounded, tone uncertain and doubtful, as if still hesitating.

'Indeed, the supremes of the life-restricted zones are not only these...'

People were shocked; the life-restricted zones truly are chilling—not only seven supremes exist, some remain in dormancy, not yet emerged! 'This is the lifetime!'

Finally, someone could no longer restrain themselves; after a roar, four more immortal figures emerged, swift to the extreme, nearly arriving at the immortal gate in an instant, and they too rushed in.

'What has become of it? Could it be that beyond the immortal gate there truly are immortals?'

'The path to immortality has been driven to its end; have those supremes who entered become immortals...'

The entire universe fell silent, all attention fixed on the direction of the immortality path, hearts lifted to their throats, waiting in anticipation.

'Hummm...'

However, the gate's interior soon reacted, violently trembling, colorful immortal light bursting forth, illuminating the heavenly highways! 'Ah! Where is the way?'

A shower of light scattered outward, within which a figure was wrapped, his body radiant with divine light, yet standing and shouting, filled with sorrow.

'Wasn't there hope of immortality inside? How could this be?'

'Good heavens, does this world truly have immortals, and what kind of world lies beyond the gate?'

All the sages, seeing this, were horrified; although they could not make out who this figure was, there was no doubt it was definitely one of the supremes.

Even after the ancient supremes entered, they met this same fate; as for what lies beyond the immortal gate, it is hard to imagine.

'No... I am unwilling; I have awaited this lifetime, yet no opportunity came...'

Not long after, a second supreme emerged, his whole body covered in blood, flesh mangled, injuries horribly severe, the vital essence within him nearly gone.

'Hahaha, only those who prove the Dao in the present age can enter the immortal realm!'

The third emerged, though laughing, his eyes held unwilling despair; they had cultivated to the ultimate limit, yet this was the result they awaited.

The waiting of myriad households, the changes of myriad ages, all for this lifetime; now the situation—how could it not leave them despairing and chilled? 'This lifetime, both right and wrong, turns out to be thus!'

An ancient supreme roared, and finally, with a tremendous blast, he exploded into a gorgeous rain of light that dissipated.

'The path to immortality deceives people...'

The Kirin Ancient Emperor burst forth, his body covered in wounds, imperial blood flowing uncontrollably, a shocking sight.

Their divine power within was nearly exhausted, their life essence scarce; they exerted their last strength, breaking free from the Immortal Path, descending upon Gu Xing of the Fire Qilin lineage.

Father……

Fire Qilin Child, voice trembling with sobs, rushed over madly, threw themselves into Father's embrace, hugging tightly.

What I saw inside cannot be left to you; let it go to those fated to receive it!

The Qilin Ancient Emperor left all affection to their flesh and blood, smiled faintly, then began to transform into the Dao, ultimately becoming a fragment of principle that merged into heaven and earth.

From then on, a former Ancient Emperor, after failing today to assault the Immortal Path, truly transformed into the Dao!

'One step at the gate, I am no longer in my prime; otherwise this lifetime would surely achieve immortality!' Amidst waves of mournful howls, the eleven supremes each met their fate.

Among them, six withdrew with severe injuries, their lifespans nearing end, while the other five perished within the Immortal Gate!

Seeing this result, the world was shaken; an existence of Ancient Emperor or Heavenly Sovereign level had actually fallen, succumbing in the Immortal Path!

Boom—

At this moment, a heaven-shaking change occurred!

In the western desert of the Big Dipper, on Mount Sumeru, a golden figure of billions of zhang in height now appeared—an old monk, face full of compassion, exuding an air of vicissitude.

'Could that not be Amitabha Buddha the Great Emperor? He hasn't even entered nirvana?'

People trembled, gazing upon the colossal Buddha form spanning the star field, shocked speechless.

Amitabha!

In an instant, countless monasteries of the western desert saw innumerable monks devoutly bowing toward Mount Sumeru, chanting the name 'Amitabha'.

'That bald donkey really isn't dead…'

Stone Emperor coldly regarded that golden form, knowing it was condensed from endless thought-power, yet he had a premonition that Amitabha Buddha the Great Emperor had not truly entered nirvana.

Bang!

Amitabha stirred; boundless faith power surged forth from Mount Sumeru, transforming into the most terrifying assault, striking toward the Chaos Cavern!

In an instant, the entire western desert stirred; every monastery emitted Buddha light that illuminated and converged upon that divine radiance.

Besides that, in the western desert above and below, numerous intricate symbols appeared and flickered, exuding a wave akin to magical power.

Although exceptionally pure, there was also something ineffably strange…

Thud……

Unfortunately, in the end Amitabha Buddha the Great Emperor also failed.

This strike not only exhausted the faith power gathered over hundreds of thousands of years, but also blood-sacrificed all the monasteries of the western desert.

Thereafter, the western desert fell into utter silence; the Buddha fire and ancient monks across millions of li all perished, turning this place completely into a dead land! 'Boom—'

An anomaly stirred in the Ancient Forbidden Zone; a peerless woman emerged, accompanied by a burly figure, arriving upon the Immortal Path.

Everyone now knows that this peerless woman is none other than the master of the Ancient Forbidden Zone—the Wasteland Lord! Though also a life-forbidden zone, the Wasteland Lord possesses some peculiarity, seeming indifferent to the outside world, leaving people puzzled.

Undeniably, she is astonishingly talented and breathtakingly beautiful; someone once hurled a pagoda forged from immortal metal into the Ancient Forbidden Zone, yet what shocked the world was that the Wasteland Lord disdained it, and with a casual slap scattered that pagoda—know that it was a quasi‑imperial weapon! As for the burly figure behind the Wasteland Lord, his frame is massive, his body covered in terrifying red hair, exuding an ominous aura, his limbs tightly bound by iron chains.

Bang!

Yet the first thing the Wasteland Lord did upon arriving here was to raise a palm and directly strike toward the Chaos Cavern.

But they were not intending to utterly destroy it; rather, they sought to sever the Immortal Path. 'Hold on, I know what you imply, but we are unwilling, not wanting to suffer in vain for this lifetime.'

Just then, a supreme spoke up to intervene, coldly gazing at the peerless woman.

They knew the opponent was formidable, but if they insisted on going alone, they would not mind several joining forces to kill the so‑called Wasteland Lord!

Hum……

The immortal realm of the Longevity Heavenly Sovereign lay stretched out, blocking that palm of the Wasteland Lord, coldly observing the figure bound in iron chains.

Their four eyes met, and instantly an irrepressible long‑cherished vow burst forth.

The Wasteland Lord's state was strange; at this moment they seemed to have lost consciousness, eyes dazed, almost standing motionless in place.

Leaving people puzzled.

'A Great Sacred Body…?'

Beside them, a supreme revealed the identity of the burly man.

'That is… a Great Sacred Body?'

The peerless crowd erupted in disbelief, staring at the figure covered in horrifying red hair, mouths agape.

Until today, the origin of the Ancient Forbidden Zone finally became clear: it was founded by a Great Sacred Body, the first master! 'The later years of a Sacred Body are ominous; truly even a Great Sacred Body cannot escape the curse?'

People sighed; the human race's Sacred Body is worthy of humanity, yet without exception, in old age it erupts in ominous signs, the body covered in strange red hair! 'I stand opposed to the netherworld… that is an irrepressible long‑cherished vow!'

The Great Sacred Body usually muddled‑headed, but now finally gained a spark of consciousness, fighting spirit soaring, they fixed their gaze on the Longevity Heavenly Sovereign.

'I will take them all on.'

In response, the Longevity Heavenly Sovereign showed extraordinary coldness; as one of the Nine Heavenly Sovereigns, their status demands obedience, peerlessly invincible, only I am invincible! They fear no opponent, even though their life essence is now scant, it remains so!

Boom!

At the Eastern Wasteland Holy Cliff, where light shoots to the heavens and aura surpasses ancient and modern, a divine list blazes brilliantly, divine light illuminating the azure skies of eternity, awe‑inspiring the universe! In the next instant, three hundred and sixty‑five talismans flew up, then exploded, turning into three hundred and sixty‑five streams of immortal light that sank into the list, making it even more radiant, blinding those who behold it.

'Damn it, my true self actually came this close… no… you can't treat me like this!'

A desperate cry rang out; in the Holy Cliff, an elderly Daoist sealed by the Gods' List was dragged, bearing a blood sacrifice, into the Immortal Path!

Perhaps sensing the threat of death, or perhaps the resentment of being suppressed for years, the undying Daoist howled and roared, terror unbound…

'You… are Wúshǐ?'

Several supremes, soaked in blood, could not help but ask.

When the world witnessed this scene, they were shocked to the extreme; the Emperor Wúshǐ was too dominant, actually suppressing a being not inferior to an emperor upon the Holy Cliff.

Unafraid of their breaking free, unafraid of their fleeing, even if the self is gone, they can still keep them firmly suppressed—perfectly illustrating what true invincibility looks like! 'Clang!'

At this moment, a bell tolled, reverberating through the cosmos, shaking the six directions and eight wildernesses, the nine heavens and ten earths! The bell's sound was terrifying; in an instant, everyone's body trembled, they were terrified, their hearts subdued.

'Wúshǐ Bell!'

Almost in an instant, all the supremes seemed to react, all turning their gaze toward Purple Mountain.

"Bang!"

Unfortunately, it was already too late; after a tremendous boom, Purple Mountain, this holy mountain that had existed for endless ages, split apart and burst open! Purple Mountain disintegrated, and an ancient simple bell flew out; after tens of thousands of years to this day, the full form of the Beginningless Bell finally reappeared in the world! However, the legendary Beginningless Scripture did not appear; it vanished without a trace, and no one knows where it went.

"Could the Beginningless Great Emperor still be alive?"

People exclaimed, their hearts and spirits trembling uncontrollably, especially the older generation of cultivators, whose hot tears filled their eyes.

"Who is the spearhead at the end of the immortal path!"

Within the Investiture of the Gods List, a divine sound rang out, shaking the heavens, making the entire universe tremble, filled with supreme majesty! Who is the spearhead at the end of the immortal path? Upon seeing, the Beginningless Dao turns to emptiness!

"No… don't!"

Even though the Undying Daoist was unwilling and resentful, it was to no avail; wrapped by the Investiture of the Gods List, they were blood‑sacrificed into the Chaos Cavern.

(End of chapter)