Chapter 1011 : The Immortal's Stagnant Path

"So you are newly Fellow Daoist who have just Ascended to Immortality [achieved immortality and ascended to the higher realms]."

Hearing this, the old man's expression immediately turned respectful. He cupped his hands in salute and said, "Please, follow me."

The old Daoist led them onto the Immortal Island before smiling and introducing himself, "This old Daoist is Xander Qian, the Grand Elder of the Verdant Rock Island Qian Clan. This is our current Clan Lord, Rowan Qian."

As the white-haired elder spoke at length, Eldrin Chen gained a general understanding of the two men's backgrounds.

Of the two, Xander Qian had attained the Dao [the fundamental principle or path] over a million years ago. However, due to insufficient Deep-Seated Foundation [the quality and depth of one's cultivation base] and lacking any heaven-defying opportunities to alter his fate, he had remained stuck at the seventh layer of the Ascension Immortal Realm [the initial stage of true immortality], finding it exceedingly difficult to advance further.

This was something Eldrin Chen had anticipated. While Immortal [those who have achieved immortality] enjoy carefree existence and possess ageless longevity, making further breakthroughs remains an arduous path of ten thousand difficulties.

This limitation stems not only from constraints of one's Deep-Seated Foundation, but also because many Immortal, having attained the Dao and eternal life, freed from the shackles of limited lifespan, lose the urgent, driving obsession to continue their cultivation.

For the lifespan of an Immortal is boundless and endless. As long as no External Tribulation [catastrophic external calamities] befall them, even the passage of a million or ten million years often holds little significance to them.

After all, the very purpose for which Immortal seek to Ascend to Immortality is to attain carefree existence and deathless longevity.

Now that they have secured that immortality, many cultivators who perceive their path forward as hopeless set aside their fervor for urgent cultivation. Immerse yourself in the complete world at audi novel.com.

Some Immortals [beings who have transcended mortality and attained immortality] yearn for unfettered freedom, choosing to live as unbound Scattered Immortals [wandering immortals with no fixed abode]. They spend their lives traversing the vast Immortal Domain [the realm of immortals] and even the Great Thousand Universe [the cosmos of myriad worlds], leaving behind numerous immortal heritages and ruins.

Other Immortals seek out a Daoist Assembly Ground [a sacred site for cultivation and gathering], beget descendants, and establish an Immortal Clan [a lineage or clan founded by an immortal]. There are also those Immortals who act on pure whim, taking on disciples whenever they encounter a person of fate and affinity, thus unknowingly founding a grand sect.

This Xander Qian was clearly one who had lost hope of further breakthroughs. Knowing his own limitations in advancing to the Earth Immortal Realm [the realm of Earth Immortals, a higher stage of immortality], he occupied this Verdant Rock Island Daoist Abode and founded the Qian Immortal Clan, shifting his focus entirely to nurturing his bloodline descendants.

However, for a cultivator to achieve Ascending to Immortality [the final ascension to become an immortal] is a path fraught with countless difficulties. This depends not only on the Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound and solid cultivation base] of the Immortal Clan, but more crucially, on whether a true Immortal Sprout [a prodigy with the innate potential to become an immortal] emerges.

Since its founding over eight hundred thousand years ago, the Qian Clan lineage has produced countless Nascent Soul Dao Lords [cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul realm and are addressed as Dao Lords], yet the majority were those with shallow foundations, their growth forcibly hastened.

They attained Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, a key stage before Nascent Soul] only with the support of their Immortal Clan; in the mortal world, they might never have even broken through to Primordial Spirit.

As for genuine Immortal Sprouts, fewer than ten have appeared throughout their history, and ultimately, only three succeeded in Ascending to Immortality.

Aside from the one who departed the Setting Sun Sea long ago, the remaining two Immortals have both arrived here.

After listening to Xander Qian's words, Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and said, "Three immortals from a single lineage. With the Qian Clan's Immortal legacy flowing unbroken, your clan is destined to endure alongside the world, its incense and heritage everlasting."

"You are too kind, too kind."

Xander Qian spoke with a smile, then shook his head and said, "I have toiled to build up our clan, all in the hope that a future generation might produce an Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has attained immortality and become a terrestrial deity]."

"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 honored us with your visit?"

"Precisely so."

Lyra Jiang nodded with a smile. "We have only recently arrived in the Immortal Realm [the higher plane of existence where immortals dwell] and wish to establish ourselves in this region. Thus, we sought you out to gather 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 undergone Ascending to Immortality [the process of transcending the mortal realm to become an immortal], their cultivation is still in a phase of rapid growth. Therefore, the first order of business after ascending is usually to find a stable Daoist Assembly Ground [a sacred site or sanctuary for cultivation and gathering].

Even those Immortals [beings who have achieved immortality] who wander the boundless Immortal Domains [realms and territories of the immortals] typically only begin their travels across the vast heavens and earth when their cultivation has reached a plateau with no further room for advancement.

Understanding their purpose, Xander Qian nodded and said, "Within the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain, the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea is considered a rather remote and desolate region. Truly, Immortal Vein Spirit Mountains [mountains imbued with immortal-grade spiritual energy veins] are somewhat scarce here."

"I cannot speak for other regions, but within this Setting Sun Sea [the vast sea region named for the setting sun], all thirty-six Immortal Vein Divine Islands [islands blessed with immortal-grade spiritual energy sources] have already found their masters, each guarded by an Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to the Immortal Realm]."

At this point, Xander Qian paused, and with a flick of his sleeve, he manifested an Ethereal Map [a magical, semi-transparent chart of a region]. "If you seek an Immortal Vein [a land blessed with an immortal-grade spiritual energy source], you would do better to look towards the Crimson Dragon Sea [a sea region named for the legendary crimson dragons]."

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

The Crimson Dragon Sea Region bordered the Setting Sun Sea, yet its circumstances were vastly different. It was a rare and desolate frontier, a territory where Deities [powerful spiritual beings who have attained divinity], the Human Race, and the Demonic Tribe [a collective term for demonic cultivators and demon beasts] coexisted, often in conflict.

According to the map Xander Qian had conjured, the Crimson Dragon Sea held sixteen Immortal Islands [islands with immortal-grade spiritual veins] of varying sizes. Yet, the majority were occupied by Deities and Demon Immortals [demonic beings who have attained immortality]. The Human Race held only three, their power there not particularly strong.

This caused Eldrin Chen's frown to deepen. He drew a slow breath and said, "This Crimson Dragon Sea..." For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel`com.

"A spirit flood dragon emerges from the frigid pool, and with one leap to the heavens, transforms into a True Dragon [the supreme, primordial form of dragon, a being of immense power]!"

Xander Qian spoke gravely, his expression solemn. "When I first Ascended to Immortality [achieved the breakthrough to the Immortal Realm], a Crimson Flood Dragon [a powerful, crimson-scaled flood dragon] within that sea attained the Dao [enlightenment on its cultivation path], ultimately cultivating to the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm [the pinnacle stage just below the Earth Immortal Realm]."

"That Crimson Dragon [the ascended form of the Crimson Flood Dragon] shook the realms with its might, dominating that vast Crimson Dragon Sea Region for a million years. It was a rare and formidable power among the Demonic Tribe."

"Alas, thirty thousand years ago, it failed in its attempt to break through to the Earth Immortal [the realm above Immortal, where one becomes an immortal tied to the earth] and ultimately perished, its life force extinguished within the Crimson Dragon Sea Region."

"Now, with the Crimson Dragon Sea Region lacking a true sovereign, many Demon Immortals [powerful cultivators who have ascended to immortality] and Divine Spirits [deities or powerful spiritual beings] have entered its domain, seizing Immortal Islands [islands imbued with potent spiritual energy] to establish their own Daoist Assembly Grounds [places of cultivation and gathering for practitioners of the Dao]."

As he spoke, Xander Qian's eyes flickered, glancing at Eldrin Chen. "While the Crimson Dragon Sea is not as prosperous as the Setting Sun Sea, it lacks the pressure of an Earth Immortal Blessed Land [a territory ruled by an Earth Immortal, a powerful cultivator] looming overhead."

"However, should you seek to contend for an Immortal Island, you will inevitably clash with Demon Immortals and Divine Spirits. That path is fraught with peril."

"If you are not pressed for time, it might be wiser to await a more opportune moment. Within the vast expanse of the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea, Immortal Veins [concentrated sources of spiritual energy] number in the tens of thousands. Every few years, some Immortals [those who have achieved immortality], finding their cultivation progress stalled, choose to journey into the depths of the starry void."

"When that time comes, you might directly purchase an Immortal Island, sparing yourself the mortal danger of a Life and Death struggle."

As Xander Qian finished speaking, his gaze settled once more upon Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen, however, merely shook his head with a faint smile. "We have only just arrived in the Immortal Domain [the realm of immortals]. Even if an Immortal Mountain [a mountain of immense spiritual significance] were for sale, I could not afford it."

"Rather than wait idly, it is better to test our mettle against these Demon Immortals and Divine Spirits, to gauge the true measure of their power."

"Your resolve cuts as sharp as a blade, Fellow Daoist,"

Xander Qian offered no further counsel. He understood all too well that those capable of Ascending to Immortality [transcending mortality to become an immortal] were invariably individuals of towering pride and unyielding spirit.

Was he not the same when he first ascended to the Immortal Realm [the higher realm where immortals reside] all those years ago?

He had once reigned supreme and unchallenged across an entire Great Thousand World [a vast world within the cosmos], the sole individual in a million years to achieve Ascending to Immortality [the ultimate breakthrough to become an immortal being] from that realm. He had believed, with all his heart, that his path after ascending to the Immortal Realm [the higher realm where immortals reside] would be one of boundless promise and glory.

Alas, when one gazes upon the myriad heavens, who among those who achieve Ascending to Immortality [the ultimate breakthrough to become an immortal being] is not a peerless genius of staggering talent?

After muddling through the Immortal Realm [the higher realm where immortals reside] for many years, Xander Qian came to a sobering realization: though he had attained the Dao and achieved Ascending to Immortality [the ultimate breakthrough to become an immortal being], among the ranks of Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality] themselves, he was far from exceptional.

Now, having been an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality] for many years, he had long grown weary of strife and conflict. The greater part of his mind was settled upon his clan's affairs. He occasionally tended to his Spiritual Root [plants that naturally gather and refine spiritual energy] and Immortal Herbs [plants of miraculous properties used in alchemy and cultivation], and seldom deigned to personally enter the fray of combat with others anymore. Continue reading this story at audi0-n0vel.c0m.