Chapter 1016 : Ancient Immortals of the Kalpa

"A letter arrived from Fire Mulberry Island."

Outside the cave abode, a young man slightly lowered his head and spoke with a rather grave expression.

"Oh?"

The 6 Stars Immortal was momentarily taken aback before promptly emerging from his mountain abode.

He took the letter from the youth's hand and immediately began examining it in detail.

A moment later, he shook his head and said with a faint smile, "Over the past 1 100 1000 years, the Fire Mulberry Island has changed hands 7 times."

"Now that it has fallen into the hands of our human Daoist companion once more, 1 wonders if Fellow Daoist Guixu can hold onto it?"

The young man’s expression remained unperturbed upon hearing this. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, “According to your judgment, Elder Ancestor, should we lend them a hand?”

"Since you are a fellow human Daoist, I naturally cannot stand idly by."

The 6 Stars Immortal remained perfectly composed, stroking his long beard with a faint smile. "Make a trip to the Refined Void and Violet Feather Immortal Isles. Inform the several Immortals there of this matter—they will naturally comprehend my intentions."

"I understand, Master."

The youth nodded, immediately showing an expression of understanding.

In the Crimson Sunset Sea, on the verdant Greencliff Immortal Island, 2 figures sat facing each other within a cave abode veiled in ethereal immortal mist.

2 figures stood there, 1 old and 1 young. The elder was naturally Qian Xuande, while the youth was none other than the head of the Qian Clan, Qian Shuwen.

Qian Xuande took a sip of fragrant tea before speaking, "A letter arrived from the Crimson Dragon Sea—that 1 has succeeded."

"Oh?"

The young man was taken aback upon hearing this. "In just over a month, he actually managed to conquer an immortal island? Such formidable methods?"

Qian Xuande smiled faintly. "As expected."

Qian Shuwen nodded, yet inquired with a lingering doubt, "This disciple has 1 question. The Patriarch has been secluded in spiritual cultivation within the mountains for many years, having disregarded matters beyond the peaks for several 100 1000 years."

"Why would I agree to assist Fellow Daoist Guixu this time, meddling in such karma-entangled affairs?"

Qian Xuande smiled and shook his head, then calmly stated, "Though those 3 appear to have just arrived in the immortal realm, I sense an extraordinary aura about each of them. They likely possess profoundly deep origins."

"In my view, these 3 individuals likely possess boundless prospects, and may very well have the opportunity to attain the Dao Fruit of Terrestrial Immortality."

"So that's how it is."

Qian Shuwen nodded, yet a trace of doubt seemed to linger in his heart. After all, Qian Xuande had remained detached from the mortal world for many years and had not left Azure Rock Isle for what felt like an eternity.

Qian Xuande noticed his expression and understood what was on his mind. He sighed and said, "I know your doubts, so I shall tell you everything."

"You have only recently attained immortality, knowing only the carefree existence of us celestials, yet unaware that we too face our own tribulations."

"Heavenly Tribulation?"

Qian Shuwen (Person Name) froze for a moment, an expression of stunned disbelief dawning on his face.

Qian Xuande gave a slight nod and began, "We immortals draw upon the essence of the sun and moon, enabling us to dwell above the 9 heavens and attain eternal life."

"But the immortals ceaselessly drew upon the spiritual qi, incapable of nourishing the Great 1000 Immortal Domains in return. Should this continue, even the vast expanse of the immortal realm would see its spiritual essence gradually devoured until naught remained."

Qian Xuande began to narrate in a measured tone, unraveling the mysteries of the Boundless Immortal Realm.

His expression was profoundly grave as he spoke with measured gravity: "The Dao of Heaven and Earth is a cycle of perpetual return. To recklessly plunder the celestial providence is to invite calamitous backlash."

"Thus, in the immortal realm, there exists the discourse of the Great Tribulation, the Dao Tribulation, and the Kalpa Tribulation."

Great Tribulation, Heavenly Dao Tribulation, Kalpa Tribulation?

Upon hearing this, Qian Shuwen was utterly astonished, a look of sheer disbelief flashing across his face.

Qian Xuande nodded and continued, "In the immortal realm, roughly every 1,000,000 years, a great tribulation occurs. Only once every 10,000,000 years does a Dao Tribulation descend."

As for the legendary Tribulation of Annihilation, it erupts once every 100 million epochs.

Qian Xuande spoke with utmost gravity, "I have cultivated for over 1 million years and lived through 1 cataclysmic tribulation."

Under such tribulation, the heavenly secrets were obscured, and even immortals must struggle to cross amidst the terrifying calamity. Without cultivation at the Earth Immortal realm, 1 would have little certainty of surviving it.

After hearing this, Qian Shuwen could not help but look somewhat astonished.

His heart brimming with immense curiosity, he couldn't resist asking, "This heavenly tribulation is truly so terrifying that even the Patriarch treats it with such gravity?"

"Far more terrifying than you could ever imagine."

The Old Immortal shook his head, lost in memories, a flicker of terror flashing through his pupils.

After a long while, he shook his head, seemingly unwilling to elaborate further, and merely smiled bitterly as he said, "This old man can only tell you that this kind of heavenly tribulation is incomparably terrifying."

"There exists the saying of the Great Calamity Earth Immortal, the Dao Calamity Heaven Immortal, and the Karmic Calamity Ancient Immortal."

It meant that only a Terran Immortal Patriarch could reliably protect those around them through the Great Tribulation, and only an existence at the level of a Celestial Immortal mighty figure could withstand the Great Dao Tribulation that occurs once in 10 million years.

"As for the ancient immortals who have weathered the kalpic tribulations, such beings..."

Qian Xuande shook his head and extended 5 fingers. "Throughout the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain, there are said to be no more than a handful of Ancient Immortals."

"I once managed to survive a great tribulation by sheer luck, relying on a favor owed to my ancestors and the protection of a Terran Immortal senior to barely make it through."

Qian Shuwen felt a chill run down his spine, his voice trembling with sheer terror as he exclaimed, "How could this calamity be so dreadful? Even we immortals are denied carefree existence?"

"Yet that is not all." The Old Immortal gave a slight nod while stroking his long beard. "Under this great calamity, the host of celestials have shed their mortal forms to return to Heaven—such is the cyclical order of heaven and earth."

"Yet within the heavenly tribulation, there exists an opportunity to attain the Dao."

"Do you know that between heaven and earth, there also exists the concept of tribulations and immortals?"

"Tribulation Immortal?"

Qian Shuwen (Person Name) froze for a moment, a flicker of astonishment crossing his face.

Qian Xuande smiled faintly, stroking his beard with a hint of pride as he said, "The Great Calamity occurs once every 1,000,000 years. If measured by tribulations, this old man might barely qualify as a 1-Calamity Immortal."

"Do not underestimate a First Tribulation Immortal. Those who have survived even a single Immortal Realm Tribulation possess cultivation realms at least at the Late-stage Ascendant Immortal level."

Such an existence has cultivated for 1,000,000 years, further tempered by great tribulations and fortuitous encounters, making them far more powerful than other immortals of the same realm.

Qian Shuwen was utterly astonished, unable to suppress a sharp intake of breath as he murmured, "Beyond the Tribulation Transcendents... could there exist even more ancient beings?"

"So it shall be."

Qian Xuande gave a slight nod, his gaze turning distant as he looked toward the direction of the Setting Sun Blessed Land. "Legend has it that within the Setting Sun Blessed Land resides an ancient immortal who has lived for 5 million years."

"A 5-Calamity Immortal who has weathered 5 great tribulations and gained such fortuitous encounters must be nearing the Earth Immortal realm."

"Though such beings have yet to attain Earth Immortality, they have already transcended the realm of ascension. Further elaboration would be wasted on you."

At this point, Qian Xuande said no more.

He cast a glance at the Crimson Dragon Sea and spoke, "By my reckoning, the next great tribulation is not far off."

"I see that the Daoist of the Returning Abyss is enveloped by an aura of virtuous merit, appearing to be a man of pure character, and his innate potential is truly extraordinary."

"If we befriend him, we'll have someone to rely on during the great tribulation."

"If 1 day he can break through to the Earth Immortal realm, perhaps he will be able to shelter us through the great tribulation. By then, we might also seize the opportunity within the calamity and gain a sliver of hope to attain the Earth Immortal realm ourselves."