Chapter 1011 : The Immortal's Dilemma

"So it is fellow Daoists who have just ascended [achieved immortality through cultivation]."

Hearing this, the old man immediately adopted a respectful demeanor, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Please, follow me."

The old Daoist led them onto the immortal isle before smiling and introducing himself. "This old Daoist is Xander Qian, the Supreme Elder of the Qian Clan on Verdant Rock Island. This is the current Clan Patriarch of our clan, Calligraphy Qian."

As the white-haired elder spoke, Eldrin Chen gained a general understanding of their identities.

Of the two, Xander Qian had achieved the Dao [reached the immortal realm] for over a million years. However, due to insufficient foundational strength and lacking the fate-altering opportunity of Heaven-Defying Fate Alteration, he had remained stuck at the seventh level of the Ascendant Immortal Realm, finding it exceedingly difficult to advance further.

This was something Eldrin Chen had anticipated. While Immortal enjoyed freedom and possessed ageless Longevity, the path to further breakthroughs was fraught with immense difficulty.

This limitation stemmed not only from one's foundation but also from the fact that many Immortal, having attained ageless Longevity, lost the urgent drive to cultivate further once the pressure of mortality was lifted.

For Immortal possessed endless lifespans. Barring the intervention of External Tribulation, even spans of a million or ten million years often meant little to them.

After all, the very purpose of becoming an Immortal was to attain freedom and ageless Longevity.

Now that they had achieved Longevity, many cultivators who felt their path forward was hopeless set aside their fervor for relentless cultivation. Find this and other novels at audio-novel .c om.

Some Immortal [beings who have ascended to immortality through cultivation] seek a life of unfettered freedom, choosing to become wandering recluses, roaming the vast expanse of the Immortal Domain [the higher realm where immortals reside] and even the Great Thousand Universe [the cosmos containing countless worlds and realms], leaving behind numerous immortal ruins and legacies in their wake.

Other Immortal will seek out a Path-Field [a blessed land imbued with spiritual energy, suitable for establishing a lineage], beget descendants, and found an Immortality [the state of achieving eternal life] Immortal Clan [a family lineage founded by an immortal]. Still others act on pure whim; encountering a person of fate, they might take them as a disciple, unknowingly sowing the seeds for what becomes a grand sect.

This Xander Qian was clearly one who had lost hope of further breakthroughs. Knowing his own limitations in reaching the Earth Immortal Realm [the realm of an Earth Immortal, a powerful stage of cultivation], he occupied this Verdant Rock Island Path-Field and founded the Qian Immortal Clan, shifting his focus entirely to nurturing his bloodline descendants.

Yet, for a cultivator to ascend to immortality is a path fraught with ten thousand hardships. Success depends not only on the Immortal Clan's accumulated resources and heritage but also on whether a true seedling of immortality emerges from its ranks.

Since its founding over eight hundred thousand years ago, the Qian Clan lineage has produced Primordial Spirit Path Lord [cultivators who have reached the Primordial Spirit realm and comprehended a Path] beyond counting, yet most were of shallow foundation, their growth forcibly hastened.

They relied on the Immortal Clan's support to achieve Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a high-level cultivator]. Had they been in the Mortal Realm [the world of ordinary humans], they might never have even broken through to Primordial Spirit.

As for true immortal seedlings, fewer than ten have appeared throughout their history, and in the end, only three successfully ascended to immortality.

Aside from the one who left the Lingering Sun Sea Region long ago, the remaining two Immortal had both arrived at this gathering.

After listening to Xander Qian's words, Eldrin Chen gave a slight, acknowledging nod. "Three immortals from a single clan. The Qian Clan lineage has ensured its Immortal succession remains unbroken. Your legacy is destined to endure through the ages, your ancestral fires burning eternally."

"You flatter us, you flatter us," Xander Qian demurred.

Xander Qian spoke with a smile, then shook his head and said, "This old man has painstakingly managed the clan, all in the hope that a future generation might produce an Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to the terrestrial immortal realm]."

"Merely to withstand that..."

The old Daoist's words halted, as if he was unwilling to continue. He shook his head with a bitter laugh, then seemed to remember the matter at hand. "For what purpose have you esteemed guests come?"

"Precisely so."

Exquisite Jiang nodded and said with a smile, "We have only recently arrived in the Immortal Realm [the higher plane of existence where immortals reside] and wish to settle in this vicinity. Therefore, we sought you out to inquire for some information."

"I suspected as much."

Xander Qian gave a slight nod, as if he had anticipated this all along.

For cultivators like Eldrin Chen, who have just attained immortality and are still in a period of rapid cultivation growth, the first thing they typically do after ascension is to find a stable Path-Field [a personal domain or territory for cultivation and seclusion].

Even those Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality and achieved immortality] who wander the boundless Immortal Domain [vast regions of the immortal realms] mostly begin their travels across the endless heavens and earth only when their cultivation has reached a point where further progress seems impossible.

Understanding their purpose, Xander Qian nodded and said, "Within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea is considered a rather remote and desolate region. Immortal Vein [a concentrated ley line of immortal-grade spiritual energy] Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with potent spiritual energy] are truly somewhat scarce here."

"I cannot speak for other regions, but within this Lingering Sun Sea Region [a vast oceanic territory named for its perpetual twilight], all thirty-six Immortal Vein [islands blessed with veins of immortal-grade spiritual energy] divine isles have already found their masters, each guarded by an Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality]."

At this point, Xander Qian paused, then with a flick of his sleeve, conjured an illusory map. "If you seek an Immortal Vein, you would do better to look towards the Crimson Dragon Sea [a sea region named for a legendary crimson dragon]."

Eldrin Chen's brow twitched slightly. He studied the Crimson Dragon Sea with difficulty, a deep frown etching itself upon his face.

The Crimson Dragon Sea Region bordered the Lingering Sun Sea Region, yet their circumstances were worlds apart. It was a rare and desolate frontier, a territory where Divine Spirits [innate spiritual beings born of heaven and earth], the Human Race, and the Demon Race [a race of beings, often bestial or monstrous, who cultivate demonic arts] coexisted, their powers intertwined.

According to the map Xander Qian had manifested, the Crimson Dragon Sea held sixteen immortal isles of varying sizes. Yet, the majority were occupied by Divine Spirits and Demon Immortal [a demonic being who has achieved immortality], with the Human Race holding only three. Their strength there was far from formidable.

This caused Eldrin Chen's frown to deepen. He drew a slow, measured breath. "This Crimson Dragon Sea..." Discover more cultivation stories at www . audio-novel.com.

"A spirit flood dragon emerges from the cold pool's depths; in one leap through the firmament, it transforms into a True Dragon [the supreme, sovereign race of dragon-kind]!"

Xander Qian began his tale, his expression grave. "When I first attained immortality, a Crimson Flood Dragon [a powerful, dragon-kin creature] within that sea achieved enlightenment, ultimately cultivating to the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm [the pinnacle stage before becoming a true Earth Immortal, a terrestrial deity]."

"That Crimson Dragon [the ascended form of the Crimson Flood Dragon] dominated the surrounding domains, reigning over the vast Crimson Dragon Sea Region for a million years. It was considered a rare and mighty power among the Demon Race."

"Alas, thirty thousand years ago, it failed in its attempt to break through to the Earth Immortal [a terrestrial immortal, a higher state of being anchored to the world] realm. In the end, it perished, its life extinguished within the depths of the Crimson Dragon Sea Region."

"Now, with the Crimson Dragon Sea Region left leaderless, many Demon Immortals [powerful beings who have transcended mortality through demonic cultivation] and Divine Spirits [innate spiritual beings born from the essence of heaven and earth] have ventured in, seizing immortal isles to establish their cultivation Path-Fields [a cultivator's personal domain for practice and seclusion]."

Speaking to this point, Xander Qian's eyes flickered slightly as he glanced at Eldrin Chen. "While the Crimson Dragon Sea is not as prosperous as the Lingering Sun Sea, it lacks the pressure of an Earth Immortal Blessed Land [a sacred land governed by an Earth Immortal, a powerful cultivator] looming overhead."

"However, if you wish to contend for an immortal isle, you will inevitably face Demon Immortals and Divine Spirits. That path is fraught with peril."

"If you are not in a hurry, it might be wiser to bide your time. The Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea contains thousands upon thousands of Immortal Veins [subterranean currents of concentrated immortal energy that nourish the land]. Every few years, some Immortals [beings who have achieved immortality through cultivation], finding their cultivation progress stalled, choose to wander the Depths of the Starry Sky [the vast, unexplored regions beyond the known immortal domains]."

"When that happens, you might be able to purchase an isle directly, sparing yourself the mortal danger of a life-and-death struggle."

As he spoke, Xander Qian turned his gaze fully towards Eldrin Chen.

He saw Eldrin Chen shake his head with a light laugh. "We have only just arrived in the Immortal Domain [the realm where immortals reside]. Even if an immortal mountain were for sale, I could not afford it."

"Rather than wait idly, I would prefer to test my mettle against these Demon Immortals and Divine Spirits, to see the measure of their strength for myself."

"Your resolve cuts as sharp as a blade, Elder Brother."

Xander Qian offered no further counsel. He understood perfectly well that any being who had ascended to immortality possessed a heart of towering pride and unyielding will.

When he first ascended to the Immortal Realm [the higher realm where cultivators become true immortals], was he not filled with the same boundless ambition?

He had once reigned supreme and unchallenged across his home Great Thousand World [a vast, self-contained world within the cosmos], the sole being in a million years to achieve immortality from that realm. He believed with all his heart that his path after ascension would be one of limitless glory and unimpeded progress.

Alas, when one gazes upon the expanse of the Myriad Heavens [the collective term for the countless realms and dimensions of existence], who among those who attain immortality is not a prodigy of staggering talent and brilliance?

After many years of struggle within the Immortal Realm, Xander Qian came to a sobering realization: while he had indeed achieved the Dao and become an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation], among his newfound peers, he was far from exceptional.

Now, after centuries as an immortal, he has long grown weary of conflict. His focus has shifted largely to his clan, and he spends his time tending to Spiritual Root [plants that naturally gather and refine spiritual energy from their surroundings] and Immortal Herb [rare plants imbued with potent spiritual properties, used in alchemy]. He rarely deigns to personally enter the fray and clash with others anymore. Discover more cultivation stories at audio - novel . com.