[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-path-of-immortality":3,"chapter-the-path-of-immortality-the-path-of-immortality-chapter-110":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Path of Immortality",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2271260,4436,"Chapter 110: At Last","the-path-of-immortality-chapter-110",110,"\u003Cp>“Again no affinity? Again picking and choosing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing the young Daoist’s reply, the voice suddenly rose several octaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, it shouted again loudly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Northern Pole Garden already has few members, barely different from the Grand Symbol Palace—no branch halls established, no Dao lineage opened—and yet you still pick and choose like this? When the Great Tribulation comes and all of you exhaust your lifespans, won’t you be left with no successors?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, if you don’t like them, just say so—why didn’t you tell me earlier? You’ve wasted my time these past days here with your empty delays!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Wenxian, you’re truly a despicable wretch! Just like back then, still full of deceitful schemes—makes anyone who sees you want to spit in rage!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these curses, a man in black robes, holding the Great Map of the Realm, materialized from the dark, chaotic void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the young Daoist, he scowled fiercely, as if wanting to smash the Great Map of the Realm onto the Daoist’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he unleashed the seal, ten thousand peach blossoms exploded into bloom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Back at the Dan Yuan Assembly, you lost to me and swore an oath to find me a worthy disciple—one who could inherit my Dao lineage—before you could gain your freedom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s precisely why I spared your life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Wenxian smiled faintly, glancing at him, and said coolly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Du, have you forgotten?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the man in black robes stiffened, subtly pulling back the Great Map of the Realm, gritting his teeth in silent fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His name was Du Ao, an Elder of Xuan Feng Cave, one of the Six Demon Sects, an expert in primordial divination and fortune-telling, and once a designated heir of Xuan Feng Cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he failed to win the Dan Yuan Assembly and nearly got crushed to death by Liang Wenxian’s overwhelming divine power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helpless, he was forced to swear a magical covenant with Liang Wenxian, promising to use his primordial divine divination to find him a worthy disciple—only then was his life spared, and he shamefully withdrew from the Dan Yuan Assembly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of this, he fell out of favor with the Dao Lord of Xuan Feng Cave, who deemed Du Ao had lost the dignity and bearing of the True Lineage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, in the sect’s grand trials, he lost all ten battles to Jia Rong, completely losing any hope of becoming Xuan Feng Cave’s heir, and could only continue his quest for immortality as a True Transmission disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Du Ao was still a genius of the highest caliber, having achieved Upper-Grade Golden Core. Even after losing to Liang Wenxian and repeatedly failing before Jia Rong, his reputation had nearly been trampled into the mud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he never lost heart; after thousands of years of life-and-death battles on the Outer Heavens, he steadily advanced with fierce determination—ultimately attaining the Realm of Returning to Emptiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, he has even passed the first of the Three Calamities—the Wind Calamity—and claimed the Pure Yang Position!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet before Du Ao could revel in his triumph and settle into his newly gained authority within the sect, Liang Wenxian summoned him with a golden covenant, forcing him to fulfill the oath he had sworn at the Dan Yuan Assembly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That covenant was sworn before the Dao Lords of the Eight Sects and Six Clans, witnessed by countless Outer Heavens powers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under such glaring eyes, even if Du Ao wished to break the oath, he dared not—otherwise, he would truly become a cosmic laughingstock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Liang Wenxian’s standards were impossibly high, bordering on disdain for all others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ao considered himself to have done his utmost, pouring at least seven or eight tenths of his full effort into every divination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet despite such effort, nearly three hundred years passed and Liang Wenxian still hadn’t found a single disciple who met his approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he not known he couldn’t defeat Liang Wenxian, Du Ao would have already turned on him and fought to the death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No affinity here, no affinity there—what are you really after, Liang Wenxian?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ao made no effort to hide his exhaustion and irritation, sighing deeply:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This one may have a troublesome origin, but your Northern Pole Garden isn’t incapable of resolving that? You’ve been watching him for so long—why abandon him now at the last moment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you afraid of Chen Yushu? Afraid to offend this Daoic Rebel of the Dipper?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ao added a layer of mockery:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re finally afraid of Chen Yushu, just say so—I won’t look down on you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the champion of our Dan Yuan Assembly. Even Jia Rong and you, Liang Wenxian, combined couldn’t match him—you nearly lost your lives to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To fear such a man is only natural. Between brothers, admitting it isn’t shameful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke with genuine resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been nothing but Liang Wenxian’s wandering lackey, roaming aimlessly across the Nine Provinces and Four Seas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They came to Fuyu Lake only because Zhenjing Zhenjun accidentally leaked a trace of his magical aura, which Du Ao had detected through his divination—he dragged Liang Wenxian along to see what spectacle this might be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they’d stayed here for days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ao had assumed Liang Wenxian had finally found his so-called worthy disciple—why else would he pay such close attention?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he’d even gone so far as to bring a single-wheeled flower cart, clearly intending to test him like the Fire Dragon Elder had tested Zhang Taichu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once he took a disciple, Du Ao’s suffering would end—he could return to Xuan Feng Cave, indulge in pleasures, revel in bliss, and calmly pursue the Pure Yang Ultimate Dao Fruit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as the matter was about to be settled, Liang Wenxian shook his head and refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Du Ao’s temper flared—he wanted nothing more than to fight Liang Wenxian to the death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chen Yushu? He truly is a genius. Back then at the Dan Yuan Assembly, I did lose to him. Victory and defeat—no argument there. But to fear him? That’s laughable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Wenxian glanced at Du Ao, smiled, and clasped his hands behind his back:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not even our sect’s Dao Lords or the Northern Pole Immortal—who has already attained true immortality—fear him. Chen Yushu hasn’t even merged with the Dao yet; even if he became a Dao Lord, would our Northern Pole Garden fear him like a lion or tiger?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why not take Chen Heng into your sect? Didn’t you once show him considerable favor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ao’s face was expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This youth… his temperament doesn’t suit my lineage. A pity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Wenxian paused, then shook his head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I originally intended to emulate the Fire Dragon Elder’s test of Zhang Taichu, but now I see it’s unnecessary—I have no master-disciple affinity with him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ao’s brows knotted tightly, his eyes nearly blazing with fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if recalling something, he sneered again:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Affinity? You, Liang Wenxian, have grown more mystical and cryptic than ever! By the way, do you still remember Yan Xi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yan Xi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The one who married the Dragon Lord of the Eastern Sea? Now commands a million aquatic troops? I hear, with the aid of ancient dragons, he’s carved out a paradise called ‘Shunlie Biyun Yuan Gu.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ao said: “He’s now at the Realm of Returning to Emptiness, and Pure Yang is within reach—do you remember?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Wenxian nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three hundred years ago, I had just passed the Wind Calamity and attained Pure Yang—you forced me to fulfill my oath from the Dan Yuan Assembly. Back then, I gave it my all, and through careful divination, I found Yan Xi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ao sneered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you, Liang Wenxian, looked down on him because he only obtained a Ninth-Rank Yellow-White Golden Core, then discarded him entirely because his conduct didn’t suit your taste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did you ever imagine Yan Xi would reach this point? He’s already at Returning to Emptiness—barely a step from Pure Yang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That little cultivator you once threw away like trash is now on the verge of becoming one of us—isn’t that the unpredictability of fate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I truly didn’t foresee he’d have such fortune… I misjudged him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Du Ao’s cold mockery,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Wenxian remained calm, paused briefly, then admitted frankly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the Dao’s patterns are unfathomable. As a mere Pure Yang cultivator, how could I possibly know all the hidden changes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You already misjudged Yan Xi once, treating him as worthless and losing a great ally!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now you claim Chen Heng has no master-disciple affinity with you—aren’t you repeating the same mistake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ao pleaded earnestly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You yourself admitted fate is unpredictable—how do you know Chen Heng isn’t another Yan Xi? Even if he’s weaker than Yan Xi and can’t reach Pure Yang, he’s still a seed worth planting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How about this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spread his hands: “Let me bring Chen Heng back, let him bow and become your disciple, you take him happily back to Northern Pole Garden, and I return to Xuan Feng Mountain—how’s that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you so homesick, friend?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I am! Who wants to waste time with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ao cursed loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had attained Pure Yang, finally gained authority in the sect, and was ready to enjoy freedom and power—yet bound by Liang Wenxian’s covenant, he was dragged around like a dog, utterly humiliated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Jia Rong, who had defeated him ten times in a row, was nearly killed by Chen Yushu’s distant strike during a battle in the Outer Heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he survives only in his paradise, barely clinging to life, his prestige within Xuan Feng Cave utterly shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the perfect moment for Du Ao to seize power and expand his influence!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everywhere he looks, there’s opportunity!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he’s stuck wandering like a headless fly—how could Du Ao possibly be content?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t rush—it’s only been three hundred years,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Wenxian said dismissively: “Since ancient times, good things always take time. When success finally comes, you’ll surely receive your due reward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s your reward worth, anyway?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ao muttered a curse under his breath, his expression sour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since the matter is settled, we needn’t linger in the southern region of Dongmi Province—beneath this land lies a corpse-immortal still clinging to life, and its presence makes me feel like thorns are pricking my back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Wenxian shook his head: “You’re skilled in divine divination—who is the next one, and where is he now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“According to your criteria, it’s faintly somewhere in Xisu Province. But to pinpoint the exact location, I must enter the province first before I can proceed with further calculations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ao suddenly added, speaking up:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must intervene to save Chen Hang; without aid, I fear in just a few more days, he will not survive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Wenxian blinked slightly upon hearing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He formed a hand seal, activated his Great Divine Eye, and shone it toward the Mingkong . After nearly two cups of tea’s time, he raised his hand to wipe his eyes and slowly withdrew his arcane power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So it is indeed like this? Master Du’s innate divine divination is truly remarkable. In my view, it is only slightly inferior to Chen Yushu’s Zhongtian Dou Shu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Wenxian suppressed the radiant aura swirling around him and smiled lightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But why should I save Chen Hang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ao fixed his gaze upon him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am not afraid of Chen Yushu. His Pure Yang Thunder Tribulation differs from ours—he is now confined within his Celestial Realm, not daring to step out even a single step. Though fierce, he is but a caged beast, incapable of harming others.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Wenxian shook his head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even so, I have no blood tie or connection to Chen Hang. Why should I bear this calamity for him? I may save him for a moment, but can I save him forever?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is you, though.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Wenxian gave an odd smile and clapped his hands. “You suddenly ask this—could it be you wish to lend Chen Hang a hand? I suspect it is because of that girl named Chen Yan—she—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough! Liang Wenxian, if you still want my help, be quiet! Why so much talk?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ao cut him off, furious and embarrassed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t we going to Xisu Zhou? Why are you still standing around?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Wenxian revealed a faint smile, bowed slightly, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I shall depart first for Xisu Zhou. Brother, do as you please—just don’t delay too long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he finished speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shifted his body, and a flash of light appeared—his presence vanished from the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Du Ao remained, standing alone, stunned, hands clasped behind his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gazed far into the clouds for a long while, then lowered his eyes and sighed deeply within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I had intended to invite Liang Wenxian to leverage the power of the Northern Pole Garden to save you—but this man shows not the slightest mercy… Chen Hang, don’t blame me. I alone dare not face Chen Yushu and risk his displeasure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this sigh, a vision of a smiling young girl seemed to rise before his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ao smiled bitterly in silence, his spirit stirring slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chen Yan, forgive me once again for prioritizing my own survival… If nothing changes, your brother this time truly is doomed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his face bore an expression of cold indifference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a gust of wind,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ao vanished instantly, his presence gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Canhe Car descended from high heaven, light like a canopy poured down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, Chen Hang retrieved the artifact and stepped out from the clouds. Tu Shan Ge, who had already received the message through their spiritual bond, hurried forward with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without dwelling on their exchange, after inquiring and confirming that Chen Hang had been unharmed during his time at Fuyu Lake,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Hang activated the quiet chamber within the mountain’s belly, swept his sleeve, and sat upon the meditation cushion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked around—the furnishings were unchanged from when he left; the vessels and chairs were spotless, clearly cleaned daily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not know whether Tu Shan Ge had done it himself, or if it was the work of the foxes below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The four bonds of wine, lust, wealth, and anger—when desire and emotion are utterly extinguished, one escapes the mortal realm. Not a single thread must cling to the spiritual source; if it clings, the Golden Core cannot form.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Hang softly chanted within his heart, clearing away all distractions and purifying his spiritual altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Chen Hang took out the talisman coin and immersed his spiritual sense in Qi cultivation, at that very moment, tens of thousands of miles from the Southern Region—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eastern Sea, near Jiaodao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Massive waves surged through the clouds, tides crashed against the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ten-thousand-zhang-long Ba She suddenly shot down from a thousand-zhang height like lightning, let out a piercing shriek, and shattered the surrounding Shuo currents instantly—the sound reverberated for a hundred li.\u003C\u002Fp>",2514,"2026-06-19T22:29:59.276Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","122095af3e8650618eb529445659f1f07d5be3457a73d8cf31464b3f747fc259","the-path-of-immortality-chapter-111","the-path-of-immortality-chapter-109",545,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-path-of-immortality-cover.jpg"]