“Before that, I wonder which senior is watching?”
Tianyi blinked in surprise upon hearing those words. He didn’t think the newly ascended immortal, Dreamwalker, was just testing because he was staring directly at where Tianyi stood. With a chuckle, Tianyi walked out of the void. “Oh, you can actually detect me?”
Tianyi stood a level higher than the true immortals and the non responsive fiend monarch. Since he no longer decided to hide himself, he released a hint of his aura. It wouldn’t cause much pressure, but it would still cause those who felt it to understand the difference between them.
Because of his aura, Fiend Monarch Voidheart gasped and broke out of the illusion. He glared at Dreamwalker, but he also sensed Tianyi’s aura at the same time. When he looked up, he released a horrified shout. “Nine Heavens Emperor!”
Without waiting for a response, Fiend Monarch turned tail and fled. He couldn’t help inwardly curse. As a devilish cultivator, he had always been cautious to avoid those who could kill him. He especially avoided those from the Immortal Court. Even if he could kill a true immortal from the Immortal Court, he wouldn’t dare to do so because all those who committed such an act died. Not a single one succeeded in escaping.
He wanted to use the phenomenon of a new immortal ascending to get a few immortal hearts to increase his cultivation, but he never expected what happened next. He knew that ascending immortals usually had more strength than newly ascended native true immortals, but how could a mere true immortal put him under an illusion?
The fiend monarch had wanted nothing more to break out and kill that unruly true immortal, but when he did, his heart fell to his stomach. If a true immortal that could put him under an illusion could threaten him, then meeting a member of the Immortal Court was a death sentence, especially the Nine Heavens Emperor. “Dammit, why did he appear? Although forces would compete for a newly ascended immortal, it shouldn’t attract the Immortal Court’s attention, right? Especially him.”
Tianyi didn’t immediately take action. He stared at the devilish cultivator’s fleeing back for a moment, then he curled the corner of his lips upward. His eyes revealed a black light that pierced toward the fiend monarch. He didn’t even have time to dodge before the light struck him.
However, when the light dissipated, there was no sign of injury on the body. Not even a mark on his armor. Just as the true immortals present wondered if the legendary Nine Heavens Emperor made a mistake, the fiend monarch’s angle shifted down. It didn’t take long for the fiend monarch to crash into the ground.
One true immortal, who was nearby, gulped and landed next to the fiend monarch. Aside from the dirt on his body, the fiend monarch didn’t have any hint of injury. His body still exuded a large amount of vitality. “His soul is gone!”
Upon hearing the words of the true immortal who checked the body, all the other immortals turned toward Tianyi in awe and horror.
Tianyi’s lips curled up even more. While he wasn’t proficient in soul attacks—Daoyi had him beat in the department by a large margin—he still ranked highly at the forefront of soul attacks thanks to his immensely powerful soul. It was akin to an elephant using all four legs to stamp an ant to death. Sure, it was crude and unrefined, but no one would doubt the soul’s imminent death.
He turned toward the newly ascended immortal, expecting to see shock at his powerful soul attack, but all he saw was Dreamwalker’s calm gaze. ‘Eh, why are you so calm?’
Through his powerful immortal sense, Tianyi could tell that Dreamwalker wasn’t forcing himself to appear calm. Was his willpower so powerful that he didn’t even feel any fluctuation upon meeting someone far stronger than himself? Or did he have some powerful trump card? Did he even know the extent of an immortal emperor’s power?
“Thank you, Nine Heavens Emperor, for your saving grace,” Fairy Moonwisp said, bowing with cupped hands. Her shoulder trembled with excitement. She was rather young for an immortal. Her strength was average at best, but her short time as an immortal meant she was one of the few able to witness Tianyi’s rise, even if it was by hearsay.
Tianyi waved his hand. “I only added flowers to gold. Even without me, this little friend would have been able to help you all escape. I’m curious.”
His gaze focused on Dreamwalker, yet just like before, he was able to remain calm without a hint of fear. Seeing no signs, Tianyi continued. “How were you able to sense me? I’m confident that even emperors aren’t able to detect my presence.”
Actually, Tianyi was confident that immortal sovereigns could not detect his presence, but he didn’t want to seem too arrogant.
“I was able to sense your thought fluctuations. No matter what, all life will have consciousness and must think. So, my technique is almost impossible to fail,” Immortal Dreamwalker said.
Tianyi held his chin. “Really? What an interesting technique. I never even heard of such a technique. Are you interested in joining the Immortal Court?”
Once he asked, the other immortals couldn’t help but glance at Dreamwalker in envy. After transforming from the Buzhou Immortal Sect to the Immortal Court, it started to allow outstanding immortals from other forces to join. Of course, this didn’t mean betraying the original force, simply that the immortal would have two duties now. Alas, only a few immortals with powerful talent and strength were invited. Their forces also received many benefits.
Contrary to the joy everyone expected him to have, Dreamwalker cupped his fist and rejected Tianyi’s invitation. “I’m sorry, but I have no plans to join any force. I’m used to being free and unrestrained.”
The other true immortals looked as if he was an idiot. Fairy Moonwisp even secretly sent an immortal sense transmission. “You’ve just ascended from the lower realm, so you don’t know, but the Immortal Court is a powerful force that is the overlord of the entire Primordial Realm. Their influence even extends to lower realms!”
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“I have my own plans,” Dreamwalker simply said.
“Oh, that’s a pity. Since that’s the case, I will leave now,” Tianyi said. Once again, his body disappeared. His current conduit returned to the Nine Heavens Universe, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t still observing. He simply formed a portal and hid it. ‘I don’t believe you can detect the thoughts of an entire universe.’
Tianyi’s eyes flashed. ‘Was it my imagination, or did a strange expression flash across his face when I mentioned the Immortal Court? Could he be another protagonist?’
His eyes shone with interest. It felt like he hadn’t seen a protagonist in a while, at least a thousand years. Tianyi contemplated what to do. Maybe he should investigate this guy. Normally, he would order Su Bojing to send someone into the lower realms and search, but since his sperm donor was present, why not personally descend? It would give him a reason to leave, willful as it was.
He nodded. Since that was the case, he would descend. Tianyi glanced at the ever closing dimensional tear to the high-rank realm. He only memorized the coordinate without taking action, since entering that way might alert Dreamwalker of his intention.
Tianyi deployed one of the many conduits he prepared. Once again, that conduit only had the power of an immortal monarch, but it should be more than enough in the lower realms.
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Dreamwalker glanced at the spot the Nine Heavens Emperor disappeared from. He couldn’t feel any thought fluctuations anymore, but he got the distinct feeling that someone was watching him. ‘Hmpf, Immortal Court. When I was at my peak, you were nothing more than a gathering of ants I could stomp to death. Even your ancestor, the Heavenly Lord of Primordial Beginning, is nothing more than a junior in front of me.’
“Do you know what you just did?!” Fairy Moonwisp asked, almost shouting at Dreamwalker. “Although the Nine Heavens Emperor won’t care about your rejection, what about the other forces? Once they hear of your rejection, they might even hunt you down to please the Immortal Court!”
She sighed and glanced at the other immortals present. “It’s too late now. Word of this will spread. You’re better off traveling into the endless sea and changing your title.”
“Don’t make me repeat myself. I have my own plans, you don’t have to care about this,” Dreamwalker said, with no fear. He held his hand behind his back and flew away.
Fairy Moonwisp gnashed her teeth. “Fine then, be that way! I originally advised because you saved me from Voidheart, but since you don’t want to listen, then I won’t say anymore. You better not regret this!”
Her words had no effect, as Dreamwalker had already disappeared into the distance. A week later Dreamwalker held a piece of square jade in his hand. It was a Bronze Xiyi Talisman, the highest rank talisman he could purchase as a loose cultivator.
Dreamwalker had quickly chanced upon this item upon visiting the first city. He simply took it from the corpse of a cultivator that tried to kill him. To his surprise, it actually self-destructed once he injected his immortal sense into it. Not willing to give up, Dreamwalker tried several more times, but each Xiyi Talisman exploded once he injected his immortal sense.
Although it hurt his pride that he couldn’t use a mere talisman, Dreamwalker purchased a new one. The reason why the other ones failed was because he wasn’t the original owner and he tried to brute force his way into one. ‘This time, it should work.’
He injected his immortal sense into the Xiyi Talisman.
[Ding!]
[Detecting new user. Starting new user registration.]
[Ding!]
[New user immortal sense matches a hacker in records.]
[New user registration failed. Please visit the local Xiyi Talisman Center and pay a fine before attempting to register again.]
[Commencing self destruction sequence in 3… 2… 1]
Boom!
The Xiyi Talisman exploded in Dreamwalker’s hand, leaving behind only fragments. He took in a few deep breaths to calm himself down.
Dreamwalker closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes, his entire aura changed. Even if Fairy Moonwisp saw him again, she wouldn’t even recognize him. Although the appearance remained the same, his entire aura changed. Even a soul cultivator would not have the ability to see through his aura camouflage ability.
Once again, Dreamwalker visited the Xiyi Talisman Center and purchased another one. This time, he successfully registered. To be on the safe side, he just went with a randomly assigned username by the Xiyinet. With access to the greatest information network in the realm, Dreamwalker’s understanding of the Primordial Realm grew by leaps and bounds.
While surfing the Xiyinet, Dreamwalker came upon the information regarding Cultivation Online. According to the rumors, it was an illusionary world that allowed those who entered to experience another life. More importantly, it aided in comprehending the worldly laws. Any who heard about it yearned to experience it for themselves. Unfortunately, only those in the Immortal Court were allowed permission to enter.
Dreamwalker’s eyes lit up with interest. ‘Interesting. Let me see if it is really as extraordinary as the rumors say.’
He split off a portion of his soul and probed the Xiyinet. Although he couldn’t get entrance the legitimate way, his methods far exceeded the firewalls of the Xiyinet. It didn’t take him long to find the entrance to Cultivation Online. Dreamwalker didn’t immediately enter. After all, he had no identity to use, so he waited.
When Dreamwalker sensed someone logging in, he latched onto that person and hid in his aura. ‘Now, let’s see if this illusion is as wonderful as you say.’
‘No, something’s wrong.’ Contrary to Dreamwalker’s expectations, an illusion didn’t befall them. Instead, he felt the soul of the person leave and teleport to a different place. He didn’t dare to probe too much, lest he attract unwanted attention, but he could still tell the air had changed. The worldly laws became more crude and imperfect, but because of that imperfection, it became easier to sense everything.
Dreamwalker wanted to explore more, but before he could, he felt his soul fragment detach from the soul he latched onto and fly into the air. When he looked up, he saw the sun and moon forming a person’s eyes, the night sky transformed into his robes, and the stars were his hair.
“Destruction!”
The cosmic entity only said one word, but it instantly destroyed Dreamwalker’s soul fragment.
In the Trinity Continent, Dreamwalker’s face paled. ‘That’s no illusion. The only method someone could have sensed me was if it was a realmlord. Only a realmlord that could sense all things within their domain could have detected me. The Immortal Court must have discovered a special realm that made the worldly laws easier to sense!’
Dreamwalker didn’t stay for long. He was unsure if the Immortal Court had a method to detect his location, so he abandoned his Xiyi Talisman and fled. Only after moving to a safe distance would he settle down and heal his soul.
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A ripple appeared above an ordinary town. The town was located in an unnamed and unranked realm. All of the denizens were mortal creatures, and immortals and gods have become the stuff of legends. The spiritual qi was too thin and waning, so no one could cultivate.
The ripple expanded and out walked a man in violet. “Godammit it. It took so much effort to find Dreamwalker’s original realm.”