Absolute Destiny Game.

Chapter 540 A Hundred Faces of Immortals

Xiao Jie followed the immortals back to the main hall they had come from. He seemed casual, but in reality, he was silently observing the level and strength of these newly joined fellow cultivators.

Although all were among the immortals, their levels of cultivation were still clearly distinct. Among them, Shenjizi's cultivation was the most profound, reaching a level of eighty-one, which was quite remarkable. The other immortals mostly maintained a level of sixty or seventy, and although their auras varied in strength, none of them were comparable to ordinary people.

What puzzled Xiao Jie was that all the immortals had ???

Even his own health points were the same.

Does this mean that an immortal's blood volume is not affected by their constitution? Or is there another way to calculate it?
Upon entering the grand hall, an immortal waved his wide sleeves, and the once silent hall was instantly filled with celestial music—strings and pipes played their own melodies, producing ethereal sounds; mesmerizing light and shadow intertwined, conjuring up the phantoms of graceful dancers; celestial flowers rained down, exotic fragrances filled the air, and nectar poured from pots, filling the glass cups on the table, instantly transforming this tranquil place of cultivation into a realm of blissful bliss.

The immortals took their seats, and made Xiao Jie sit in the center. Some poured wine, others exchanged pleasantries, their hospitality overwhelming Xiao Jie, who thought to himself: "I'm new here, this treatment is a bit too much."

The seemingly kind-faced immortal beside him noticed his unease and patted him warmly on the shoulder: "Brother Suifeng, now that you've joined the ranks of immortals, you're family from now on. You must get to know each other better. In our Lonely Cloud Continent, it's rare to see a new face for hundreds of years. We're tired of seeing the same old guys all the time!"

Beside the man, a middle-aged immortal with a muscular physique beneath his robes clapped his hands and said, "Well said! In the future, as we live long and prosper here, we'll inevitably have to enjoy ourselves and find some fun together. I've heard you're a master at navigating illusionary realms? Let's join forces another day and try out the newly released 'Myriad Manifestations Realm.' We're sure to break the record and get the highest score!"

"Don't listen to that barbarian's clamor! What's so interesting about those fighting and killing illusions? Fellow Daoist Suifeng has quite the talent for poetry, why not join my 'Nine Immortals Poetry Society' and compose immortal songs together, to be sung throughout the Three Realms and proclaimed to all directions? When the sun and moon fall and the world collapses, only our poems will be passed down through the ages. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"Bah! What pedantic poetry can compare to the 'Nectar of Forgetfulness' in my cup? Fellow Daoist Sui Feng, I can tell you're a connoisseur of fine wine. Why don't we brew some wine together another day? Our Drunken Immortal Society is eager for talented people."

The immortals chattered amongst themselves, inviting Xiao Jie to participate in their respective "entertainment activities," leaving him speechless: Don't these immortals have anything worthwhile to do? Why are they all indulging in pleasure?

He couldn't help but tentatively ask, "Now that we have ascended to immortality, what... duties and missions do we need to bear?"

"Hahahaha!" A burst of laughter erupted, and a drunken immortal raised his cup and chanted: "What duties or missions? Immortals are carefree and unrestrained, unbound by heaven and earth, and unfettered by all laws! As the saying goes—"

One day, he entered the gate of immortality and cast aside his mortal body.

Free and unrestrained, carefree and boundless in the world.

The day the universe decays and perishes will be the day we transcend.

"Let us drink together and become blissful immortals!"

He sang with a swaying head, but the immortals reacted in different ways: some cheered loudly and acted unrestrainedly; some looked sullen and casually echoed him; and some, like the Demon-Slaying Immortal Lin Xuance, became even more gloomy upon hearing this and picked up the wine pot to gulp it down.

Someone nearby, disapproving of the look, snorted, "Fellow Daoist Lin, why are you putting on that miserable face again? You're spoiling everyone's fun!"

"Exactly! Let's drink and have some fun!"

The one chugging the wine was none other than Lin Xuance. Upon hearing this, he slammed the wine pot down on the table with a "bang" and exclaimed, "We immortals are bestowed with the essence of heaven and earth, and are the guardians of the order of the nine provinces! Now, evil demons are wreaking havoc, the dead are rampaging through desolate tombs, monsters are running rampant in the mountains and marshes, and people's hearts are corrupted in the court and the countryside! Heaven and earth are hanging by a thread, the common people are trapped in fire and water, the common people are in danger of falling, and all living beings are in danger of extinction! Instead of thinking about saving the world and ensuring our survival, we spend our days drinking and making merry. What kind of logic is this?!"
"It's one thing for you all to willingly degenerate, but now that a new fellow Daoist has finally arrived, perhaps with a spirit of ambition, are you all going to drag him down with you? Fellow Daoist Suifeng, you must not listen to them..."

"Enough." Shenjizi suddenly slammed his wine cup down on the table. The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly drowned out all the noise, resonating deeply and interrupting Lin Xuance's impassioned speech. He glanced at Lin Xuance indifferently: "Fellow Daoist Lin is drunk. Help him to the side hall to rest."

Lin Xuance was about to argue, but Shenjizi said no more. With a wave of his hand, two fairy maidens standing by appeared silently and, one on the left and one on the right, half-invited and half-supported Lin Xuance, who was still about to lash out, and led him away from the main hall.

“Don’t worry about it,” Shenjizi turned to Xiao Jie, his tone returning to calm. “Fellow Daoist Lin cares about the common people and speaks bluntly, but he has no ill intentions.”

Xiao Jie was even more surprised: "So... all we have to do is drink and have fun here all day long?"

“Of course,” another immortal chimed in. “Immortals are those who transcend the Three Realms and are not bound by the Five Elements. Freed from the constraints of Heaven and Earth, and without any fear of death, they should be able to indulge themselves freely, without any worries, and enjoy eternal bliss.” He paused, then looked at Xiao Jie. “I know you wish to resurrect your old friends and relatives. Go ahead and do it; there’s no need for too many concerns. However, after it’s all over, it would be best not to linger in the mortal realm.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jie's heart stirred. For thousands of years, the immortals had not reappeared in the mortal world, which had always been a mystery, and no one knew the reason. Now, would he finally be able to figure it out?
Is there some taboo preventing immortals from lingering in the mortal realm?
"Why is that? Is there some taboo surrounding it?"

"Hahaha, taboo? Of course not. Why should we immortals care about the opinions of mortal ants?" the immortal laughed.

Shenjizi, standing to the side, said calmly, "There is no taboo. It's just that the signs of the end times are already showing. Staying in the mortal realm for too long will easily cause karma and add to your troubles. Of course, if you do cause any trouble, don't be afraid. We will support you."

Xiao Jie was shocked—Shenjizi had also mentioned the "end of the world"? Combined with Lin Xuance's words just now, could it be that this world is really about to be destroyed? Is this why these immortals are hiding here in seclusion?

But then he thought again: it's just a game; world destruction is commonplace, isn't it? Otherwise, what are players saving? In every game he'd played before, there was always a demon king's resurrection, an evil god's descent, and the world on the brink of destruction. Such a backdrop is quite normal. It's just that in other games, world destruction is usually just a plot device, and the player eventually manages to save the world. But in this excessively "realistic" world, players only have one life. If there really is some world-destroying demon, then…

He wanted to inquire further about the origins of this "apocalypse," but Shenjizi had already smiled and raised his cup, changing the subject. The immortals beside him kept urging him to drink. Helpless, Xiao Jie could only raise his cup in response.

This divine brew is indeed extraordinary. After a few sips, I felt a pure spiritual energy dissipate, making me feel comfortable and refreshed.

It should be noted that Xiao Jie has now transcended his mortal body and his body is constructed from pure spiritual energy. If it is ordinary food, he will not have any reaction after eating it; it will simply pass through his body.

However, after taking that one bite, spiritual energy instantly filled his entire body, probably equivalent to the hundreds of points of spiritual energy he had painstakingly absorbed in the past! Looking at the jade plates and delicacies on the table, all of them were natural treasures brimming with spiritual energy. Observing them with the Qi Observation Technique, each one was full of spiritual energy.

Xiao Jie immediately abandoned his desire to gather information and decided to eat and drink his fill first. At first, he was somewhat reserved, chewing slowly and savoring each bite, but he quickly discovered that these immortals completely disregarded worldly etiquette, behaving casually about hierarchy and having no reservations about food and drink. So he also let loose and began to feast. While immortals possessed their own internal universes with a continuous circulation of spiritual energy that could be replenished after use, directly absorbing pure spiritual energy from the outside world was always a good thing. After a while, he surprisingly felt a long-lost sense of satisfaction from being "full and satisfied."

Xiao Jie thought that they could get down to business after the banquet, but to his surprise, after the immortals had eaten and drunk their fill, listened to the celestial music, and watched the wonderful dance, they started a new round of idle chatter, showing no intention of ending the revelry.

Those who wanted to drink continued to drink, those who wanted to compose poetry continued to recite, and there were also two or three people sitting around, discussing metaphysics and philosophy.

Even more extreme, when they get into a drunken frenzy, they might conjure up a cloud bed or jade couch and fall asleep immediately; or they might summon clouds and mist to play chess, or attract spirit cranes to dance; or they might even use their supernatural powers to conjure miniature landscapes, performing the wonders of creation within a small space, finding joy in their own way.

Later, an immortal started it up, and all the immortals sang in unison, indulging in sensual pleasures, with decadent music lingering in the air.

Xiao Jie was speechless for a moment. Did these immortals intend to party all night long?
Shenjizi seemed to have read his mind and transmitted his voice, "Fellow Daoist Suifeng, is there something you want to ask?"

"I do have some questions I'd like to ask you, fellow Daoist, but the current situation doesn't seem to be very convenient."

"It's alright, come with me."

The two quietly left their seats and entered a quiet side room next to the hall, shutting out all the noise and singing and dancing outside.

"Fellow Daoist, if you have any questions, please feel free to speak. I will answer them to the best of my knowledge."

"Why is everyone... all like this?" Xiao Jie carefully chose his words. "They seem a bit too... casual."

"Heh, you mean 'lacking ambition, just waiting to die,' right? No need for such subtlety." Shenjizi walked to the window, gazing at the churning sea of ​​clouds outside. "We immortals are, by nature, recluses living in this isolated realm, cultivating our own virtue." He turned around. "Do you know why we have chosen to live in this 'Painting of Mountains and Seas'?"

"Could it be that Guyun Prefecture has been robbed and is no longer suitable for residence?" When Xiao Jie arrived, he did indeed see many terrifying and bizarre scenes of pollution.

“Not bad.” Shenjizi nodded, his tone solemn. “Eight thousand years ago, the extraterrestrial demons launched a massive invasion, plotting to seize this world. I led the immortals of Guyun in a bloody battle for hundreds of years. Although we eventually annihilated their main force, many immortals also perished. The foundation of the immortal realm was damaged, and the beautiful land was polluted and eroded by demonic energy, leaving it scarred and devastated.”

"Five thousand years ago, the barrier between the underworld and the human world shattered, the gates of hell opened, and countless ghosts roamed freely. We, the remaining immortals, once again took action, but due to the enormous losses, we were powerless to completely eradicate the root of the underworld calamity. We could only do our best to seal the rift and plug the loopholes, barely managing to reverse the collapse and save the world, but at a heavy price."

"Three thousand years ago, a demonic star fell from the sky, polluting the heavens and earth with its malevolent energy, and corrupting people's hearts and their bestial nature. Since then, the demon race has become increasingly cruel and bloodthirsty, and the human race has also been plagued by inner demons, with wicked people emerging one after another. Although we joined forces to shatter the demonic star, it has been difficult to cleanse the evil desires and thoughts that have seeped into the blood and marrow of all living beings."

“However, this is not the end.” Shenjizi sighed. “According to our deductions, future calamities will only become more frequent and severe. With the remaining power of the immortals, it is impossible for us to protect this world forever. This realm… will eventually collapse completely. Since that is the case, what is the use of exhausting ourselves? We might as well find this pure land, live a carefree life, until the end of eternity.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jie finally understood why these immortals were so strange. The sense of indulgence and despondency that came from seeing through the final outcome and being powerless to reverse it was almost overwhelming.

"You have just ascended to the celestial realm, so you must not yet have such feelings of despair." Shenjizi looked at him, his gaze clear and cold yet filled with understanding. "It is only because you have not yet experienced the erosion of countless years and the corrosive effects of despair. You must know that even the most resilient will, when faced with an inevitable defeat and after thousands of years of futile struggles and repeated shattering of hope, will eventually become disheartened and give up in despair."

"I have no intention of advising you. Maintaining your fighting spirit and holding onto hope is a good thing. Seeing such a spirited newcomer as you makes me quite gratified. Do whatever you want. Just remember, if one day you feel weary, tired, or disheartened, you can always return here. All your fellow cultivators are here, and the gate to freedom is always open for you."

We gather here together to await the day when heaven and earth are destroyed.

"Thank you for your clarification, fellow Daoist." Xiao Jie bowed solemnly. "If that day ever comes, I will certainly come to meet you. As for now... I still have many unfinished matters to attend to, and I'm afraid I cannot stay any longer. In addition, I do have a request to make."

"But it doesn't matter."

"I wish to learn immortal magic. Having just entered the immortal realm, my mastery of immortal power is still shallow. I wonder if there are any methods suitable for newly ascended immortals to learn here?"

"Of course," Shenjizi smiled. "So-called magic is nothing more than the methods of utilizing the power of the five elements, the principles of yin and yang, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. All variations are based on the same principle. As long as you understand the rules, you can master immortal techniques, demonic arts, supernatural powers, and ghostly incantations. With an immortal body close to the Dao, you can manipulate the spiritual energy of heaven and earth with twice the result with half the effort. The Scripture Pavilion contains many immortal techniques and Daoist scriptures left by the ancestor Guyun. You are welcome to go and study them."

Xiao Jie was overjoyed upon hearing this; it was like entering a treasure trove!
"As for other matters... you can consult with the Demon-Slaying Immortal, the Martial Immortal, and the Mysterious Dharma Primordial Lord."

"Oh? Where are these three fellow Daoists now?"

“No need to search for them, they will come to you on their own—” Shenjizi’s gaze fell on the entrance of the side hall, his tone carrying a sense of relief as if he had seen through the future, “Look, they’ve come.”

Sure enough, three immortals arrived together: Lin Xuance, the Martial Immortal, and a female immortal dressed in a star-moon Daoist robe, exuding an ethereal and otherworldly aura. Upon seeing Shenjizi, the three were slightly taken aback, but did not stop in their tracks.

Upon reaching the two men, the three bowed in unison. Shenjizi returned the bow, saying, "Please continue your conversation; I must return for a few drinks." With that, he turned and drifted away.

“Fellow Daoist Suifeng, we were just looking for you.” Lin Xuance spoke first, his expression solemn.

"What business do you three fellow Daoists have with me?"

The three exchanged a glance, and finally Lin Xuance stepped forward, looking intently at Xiao Jie, and solemnly said, "Fellow Daoist Suifeng, would you be interested in joining our 'Heaven-Mending Alliance' to work together to save this perilous world and prevent the world from collapsing?"

(End of this chapter)