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墨書 Inktalez
The surroundings were dim, and Li Hong still felt the heavy pressure from the spatial passage. After a while, he regained his senses and looked around, his mouth agape in astonishment.
Is this really the Immortal Realm???
The sky was a dull yellow, devoid of any clouds, presenting a lifeless, earthy hue. The ground matched this color, with endless rolling yellow sand that was as fine as dust. There were no undulating sand dunes, no greenery—he couldn't even spot a blade of grass.
The entire world felt lifeless; there wasn't even a hint of spiritual energy. If it weren't for the large, leaning ruins looming before him, Li Hong would have almost thought he was still at the site of Azure Sky Palace in the Northwest Desert.
No, even the Northwest Desert that had been destroyed by Tribulation was more vibrant than this place.
Is this really the Immortal Realm? Could there have been an issue during the transmission?
Li Hong's heart raced with anxiety; he simply could not accept that this desolate space was the Immortal Realm.
According to legend, the Immortal Realm was rich in spiritual energy, where one could bend down and find all kinds of rare treasures. Spiritual roots like Qiong Hua Yao Cao were abundant, and what was powerful in the Human Realm became mere pets for immortals here. The palaces and towers of immortals were everywhere. Even Kunlun Heaven and Azure Garden of the Kunlun, which ranked first in the Human Realm, would seem like a child's simple cave compared to the Immortal Realm.
How could this barren and terrifying yellow sand desert possibly be the Immortal Realm!
There must have been an issue during transmission! Cold sweat trickled down Li Hong's back as he realized another significant problem: Heavenly Torch and Ling Yanzi were nowhere to be found.
When they ascended, the three of them had held hands while entering the spatial passage. Later on, as the pressure increased within that passage, an unseen force compelled them to separate. But Li Hong clearly remembered that Ling Yanzi was in front, he was in the middle, and Heavenly Torch was last. They had been close together, with no more than a hundred zhang between them.
Could it have been at that moment when something went wrong? Did they get sent to the real Immortal Realm while he ended up in this godforsaken desert?
It couldn't be that unlucky! Li Hong quickly steadied himself and tried to sense Heavenly Torch.
After a moment, Li Hong let out a long sigh of relief but was also puzzled. Ever since he practiced that beast-human fusion technique, part of his essence blood had merged with Heavenly Torch's. No matter how far apart they were, they could sense each other. Now Li Hong clearly sensed that Heavenly Torch was also in this space; although not close—at least two thousand miles away—he was indeed present.
Li Hong relaxed; at least he still had a companion in this desolate place. He then began to sense Ling Yanzi. About a quarter of an hour later, Li Hong opened his eyes in disappointment; he did not detect Ling Yanzi's presence. She might not be in this space or perhaps she was too far away; it remained unclear for now.
This is even stranger. Li Hong looked down at his feet.
According to legend, immortals who ascend to the celestial realm must first pass through the Ascension Pool, regardless of whether they practice Beast Cultivation.
The Ascension Pool is not an ordinary place.
After undergoing tribulation, although those who practice Beast Cultivation have already become pure energy bodies of semi-immortal status, it is still not enough. It is said that one must enter the Ascension Pool to undergo another round of celestial spirit refinement; otherwise, they will be unable to enjoy the abundant Celestial Essence of the immortal realm. Afterward, they meet the Immortal Emperor to receive their duties. Those with weaker cultivation become minor immortals under powerful immortals, while the stronger ones gain the right to establish their own immortal abodes. This is the entire process of ascending to become a Fairy Consort in the Cultivation World.
Sometimes, like himself, those ascended immortals with a sect are surely guided by someone sent by their Ancestor immortal, directly reporting to the Immortal Emperor before returning under their Ancestor's sect. Therefore, ascended immortals with a sect have significant advantages; they can directly receive protection from great immortals in the celestial realm and are not easily bullied. This was why Du Yizi agreed to help Nine Li Sect based on this condition.
Now, Li Hong looked at the thick yellow sand beneath his feet, which was as fine as dust. Where was there any sign of an Ascension Pool?
The legendary Ascension Pool is filled with thick Celestial Essence that has turned into liquid, filling an entire large pool. Immortals who ascend must soak in it for varying amounts of time according to their fate and affinity, undergoing a rebirth before donning seamless celestial garments to pay respects to the Immortal Emperor.
What lay beneath his feet was definitely not an Ascension Pool!
Wait… suddenly Li Hong squinted.
The expanse of yellow sand ruins stretched far and wide; looking around, he could hardly see an end. It must cover at least a thousand or eight hundred miles. Everywhere he looked were crumbling stone pillars and walls that were almost reduced to dust. And beneath his feet, about a hundred feet in diameter, there was vaguely a circular mark that indeed resembled a pool.
Li Hong's heart skipped a beat as he quickly flew over to the circular mark. With a wave of his hand, the fine yellow sand flew away, revealing rotten stones underneath.
It turned out to be high-quality white jade! However, it had been burned so thoroughly that it was unrecognizable! He could barely see a hint of Crystal Light, but it would turn into fine dust at just a touch, becoming indistinguishable from the sand beneath his feet.
Li Hong began to dig through the sand. With a wave of his hand, large amounts of yellow sand were sent flying into the air, revealing the original appearance of this "pool."
It really did look like an Ascension Pool! Or rather, this place truly resembled a pool-shaped structure. Beneath a foot of thick sand lay flat white Jade Plates measuring three feet long and wide. Surrounding it was once a circle of ten-foot-high White Jade Walls. When Li Hong was teleported from that mysterious passageway, he happened to stand in the center of this circular "pool." Everything matched what was described in legends.
It was clearly the "Ascension Pool"!
Li Hong suppressed his immense shock and flew towards the surrounding collapsed buildings, stopping occasionally to check.
The endless ruins of fallen pavilions and towers were all made of exquisite white jadeite and crystal glass architecture. He could still faintly see a few rotten branches and some remaining immortal fruits in the "flowerbed," which would turn to fine dust at the slightest touch.
Li Hong continuously flew toward the direction of the sensed Heavenly Torch, passing through large areas of ruins. Along the way, he could vaguely make out remnants of gardens, towers, pavilions, and other structures... it was as if he were in an endless celestial palace. But everything was destroyed! Everything shattered at a touch, abandoned here!
There was not a single person in sight, not a hint of life. Not to mention the Celestial Essence being incredibly dense; it seemed to be completely absent here. The air was filled with dust and dirt, murkier than the deserts beyond Middle-Earth.
Li Hong was dumbfounded, growing more anxious and cold as he flew. Now, he could at least be eighty percent sure that this place was indeed the Celestial Realm.
But what had happened here? Had there been a great war among immortals?!
Thinking back to the Ancient Celestial Field and Seventh Space, it seemed that some experts from Star Sect had once fought fiercely there, turning all the outer temples of Seventh Space into ruins that crumbled at a touch, quite similar to this environment. If it were a war among immortals, the power would be unimaginable—overwhelming waves and spatial disturbances could easily reduce the boundless celestial palaces to ruins.
Could it be that the Celestial Realm had been destroyed in a war among immortals? Why had there been no news about it?
Li Hong was filled with dread, his heart twisted in anxiety—Chu Xi!
If the Celestial Realm had been destroyed, what would happen to Chu Xi, who had ascended earlier? He needed to find her quickly!
Upon reflection, all legends about the Celestial Realm were mere speculations passed down by various sects' cultivators who had not ascended. After all, none of the Ancestors from each sect had ever contacted their descendants after ascending. At least, the nine Ancestors from Nine Li Sect had never reached out to their disciples below. Moreover, for three thousand years now, besides Chu Xi and himself during this ascent, no one had ascended in three thousand years. The last recorded ascent in Nine Li Sect's internal texts mentioned Kongtong's tenth-generation Ancestor Ting Gezi, who successfully ascended by entering the Dao with his sword. Since then, for three thousand years, no one had witnessed a Tribulation occurring. Therefore, no one truly knew what was happening in the Celestial Realm.
It was very possible that long before three thousand years ago or even earlier, the Celestial Realm had already vanished in a great war.
Thinking of this, Li Hong bitterly smiled and shook his head. The pursuit of higher celestial paths, dreams of Extreme Treasures and supreme immortal techniques, and the joy of meeting Ancestors—all turned to bubbles. Now he only had one thought: to quickly find his brother and loved one.
Nothing is more important than staying alive. Having cultivated to this level, no one is willing to give up, and Li Hong is even less inclined to do so.
The buildings here are spaced far apart, half-buried in thick yellow sand, covering a vast area. After flying for an hour, the landscape ahead is still a wasteland of yellow sand. Judging by its former scale, it must have been a magnificent celestial palace known as Great City. Now it resembles a ghost town, and it is even worse than that. In a ghost town, one can at least see ghostly lights, but here there isn't even a trace of any activity.
Li Hong began to accelerate. As he flew, he suddenly sensed something was off; an alarm bell rang in his heart. He quickly stopped and chose a stretch of open sand to land on, summoning Lingyi while simultaneously scanning the surroundings with his Divine Consciousness.
He did not touch anything, but he could feel many strange auras around him, growing increasingly numerous and converging from all directions!
Li Hong was greatly alarmed. Ever since mastering his Divine Consciousness, there was nothing in the world that could escape his probing. Now, he clearly sensed ominous signs and felt countless strange auras approaching, yet in his sight and through his Divine Consciousness, there was nothing at all! What kind of terrifying entity could this be?!
At that moment, he felt a tightening sensation on his scalp; something was rapidly darting toward him. Startled, he shivered all over and immediately activated his innate fire. True Fire erupted from his body, forcing the entity to retreat instantly. Li Hong could almost hear it let out a fierce cry before disappearing.
This entity is afraid of fire!
Li Hong felt relieved but was even more puzzled. What kind of thing cannot be seen with the eyes or detected by Divine Consciousness yet can still be sensed? It seems that the celestial realm is not devoid of life; rather, this life form exists in an unimaginable way and harbors ill intentions.
Li Hong decided to unleash the Void Flame Armor, transforming his entire body into a human-shaped torch as he continued to fly forward.
From now on, he must be extremely cautious. This celestial realm is truly very strange.
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