Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 470 The difference between immortals and mortals
Does Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva wish for the world to be free of immortals?

The thought exploded in Chen Ye's mind, filled with an absurd sense of doubt.

Isn't this just like those who attained enlightenment before cutting off the path for those who follow? They became immortal themselves, yet they want to extinguish the hopes of all living beings? What kind of compassion is this?

Logically speaking, Chen Ye could vaguely guess some of the reasons.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva may have witnessed the heinous sins committed by the gods and Buddhas, which gave rise to the extreme idea that "immortals and Buddhas are the original sin," and he intended to exterminate all immortals and Buddhas and cut off the path for future generations.

But how biased this idea is.

It's like seeing someone kill with a knife and wanting to collect all the metals in the world and melt them together, thinking that this will eliminate the harm of weapons.

The pursuit of a higher, stronger, and longer existence is an instinct etched into the very bones of all living beings. As long as that path remains faintly visible, even if blocked by countless formidable barriers, all living beings will eventually pave a new path to heaven with countless corpses.

Even after the Heavenly Dao was shattered, weren't there still people in the mortal realm who managed to find the path of cultivation and gradually restore the former appearance of immortals and gods?
The saying goes, "It's better to guide than to block."

Could Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva not see through such a simple human nature?
It's likely that no one can answer Chen Ye's question.

The Great Sage Who Overturned the Seas clearly had no interest in such philosophical speculation.

His golden vertical pupils locked onto Chen Ye again, a hint of impatient warning in his voice: "Kid, don't think about useless things. I can feel the Heavenly Court's dog noses will soon be following us. If you don't want to be mistaken for my accomplice and turned to ashes, you'd better hurry up and cultivate. Otherwise, I won't have time to save your life then."

Chen Ye's heart tightened, but he smiled bitterly and said, "Great Sage, you overestimate me. With my meager cultivation, let alone immortal lords and true gods, I can't even stop a random soldier from the Heavenly Court. What use is it to try to save face at the last minute?"

Even if you burn the arrow of time as firewood and exhaust your lifespan, you probably won't be able to harm a single hair on a true immortal's head.

Moreover, he had no intention of getting involved in this battle of the gods!

If it weren't for the fact that the mark of "successor of Ksitigarbha" on his body couldn't be washed away no matter what, he would have made an excuse to run away long ago. But now, Chen Ye estimated that when the people from Heaven came, they would never listen to his explanation of "I didn't know," they would just pack him up and kill him along with this old dragon, saving time and effort.

The Demon Lord Feilian beside him had the same thought, his eyes darting around. Learning the secret technique was a win for him, but risking his life to fight the Heavenly Court would be the biggest loss of all.

The Great Sage Who Overturned the Seas seemed to see through their retreat and let out a sneer full of contempt.

"Of course I know there is a difference between immortals and mortals," he said slowly, his voice carrying the arrogance of a senior master. "But I also know that the 'immortals' you speak of are not the same as the 'immortals' I am talking about."

He suddenly raised his voice, like a booming bell, making both of their eardrums buzz.

"Have you forgotten what I said? Sometimes, what truly matters is overcoming that hurdle. Once you've crossed it, what remains is a contest of supernatural powers, not your ridiculous classification of realms. Right now, I'm going to help you temporarily cross that hurdle!"

Crossing the hurdle between mortals and immortals?!
These words startled Chen Ye and Fei Lian. Did this Great Sage Who Overturns the Seas want to cut off his own dragon flesh for them to eat, so that they could ascend to heaven in one step?
Seeing the two men's expressions of utter disbelief, the Great Sage Overturning the Seas laughed instead, his laughter full of mockery: "What's so surprising? Kid, haven't you experienced it yourself? When you went to unify that so-called Demonic Sect, did you feel invincible and unstoppable? Did you really think the small world I gave you was just for show?"

A word to wake up the dreamer!

Chen Ye's body jolted violently. He instantly recalled the feeling when he activated the Fengdu Dharma Image and struck Tie Shengrong with a palm.

It wasn't just a simple crushing force, but a more fundamental and unreasonable "breaking the rules," as if one were the iron hammer, while the opponent's myriad spells were merely fragile window paper.

With a single palm strike, all laws fell silent, leaving Tie Shengrong, a cultivator at the Returning Void Realm, with no chance to resist.

That cannot be explained simply by "more spiritual energy"; there must be a more mysterious change that I have not yet understood.

Seeing the thoughtful look on Chen Ye's face, the Great Sage Overturning the Sea nodded in satisfaction and explained, "You mortals have gone down the wrong path from the very beginning! What you are practicing is not 'method' at all, but just 'qi'. In the end, it is nothing but an empty dream."

"What I'm going to teach you now is how to cultivate true magical power!"

The moment the words fell, the massive body of the Great Sage Overturning the Sea trembled violently.

"boom--!!!"

The entire snow-capped mountain and lake seemed to be detonated from the ground, with hundreds of millions of tons of lake water soaring into the sky, transforming into a raging sea of ​​water dragons and ice crystals that obscured the entire heavens.

"Listen carefully to my incantation, and use your souls to sense it."

The next moment, a dragon's roar came from the throat of the Great Sage Who Overturns the Sea.

It was as if a single syllable contained billions of meanings. Chen Ye and Fei Lian couldn't understand a single word, but their souls grasped the true meaning amidst the trembling.

The two dared not delay in the slightest, and immediately followed the guidance of the dragon's roar, pushing their divine senses to the limit and probing into the spray of water that filled the sky.

The moment Chen Ye's divine sense touched a drop of water, an unprecedented sense of tremor spread throughout his body.

He seemed to see a living thing.

Within those water droplets lay a power he had never seen before, completely different from spiritual energy.

If spiritual energy is a gentle flow of air, then this power is a constantly changing living thing.

It can sometimes transform into a needle tip that pierces through everything; at other times, it can transform into a silk thread that wraps around heaven and earth. It combines strength and gentleness, and is incredibly flexible and adaptable.

Fei Lian Demon Lord felt it even more deeply than Chen Ye. He was only one step away from that threshold, and now that he had glimpsed its true form, he almost instinctively frantically circulated his cultivation technique, trying to absorb that power into his body.

He succeeded almost instantly.

A wisp of golden power, exuding an overbearing aura, was pulled into his body. He let out a painful groan, and his skin instantly turned red, as if it were about to burst.

Chen Ye wasn't much slower either. Although his cultivation level was lower, his foundation was stronger and his affinity with immortality was deeper than Fei Lian's.

The image of the Great Emperor of Fengdu suddenly appeared behind him, and his eighteen Qi Seas were like eighteen wildly spinning nebula vortexes. He forcibly pulled that domineering power over and swallowed it into his Qi Seas.

Both of them trembled violently at the same time. The moment they absorbed this power into their bodies, they both understood the meaning of the Great Sage Who Overturns the Sea.

What exactly is the difference between immortals and mortals?
If their previous cultivation involved inhaling and exhaling "spiritual energy," then spiritual energy is like air—inhaled from the heavens and earth, circulated within the body, and exhaled when casting spells. This is a cycle, a form of "borrowing."

But now this power isn't meant to be absorbed, it's meant to be consumed!
It devours and digests, integrating the power of heaven and earth into its body, making it the strength in its bones and the energy in its blood, inseparable from itself.

This is the difference between spiritual energy and magical power.

Chen Ye finally understood why that palm strike could break through all laws.

Even if a cultivator who plays with "qi" blows a hundred breaths at you, how can they stop a punch thrown by someone who truly knows how to use "strength"?
That's where the difference lies.

No wonder Tie Shengrong was powerless to fight back, because the palm strike he unleashed with his Fengdu Dharma Image contained a trace of magical power that had seeped out from the Hungry Ghost Path.

Even a tiny bit of it would be enough to completely shatter Tie Shengrong's defenses.

The two devoured the higher-level power scattered throughout the world with great hunger.

However, the Great Sage Who Overturns the Seas looked at him with disdain.

too slow.

They were just like two fledglings, staring at a vast ocean, only able to peck at the food drop by drop with their tiny beaks.

The magical power he released with that single strike was enough to fill an entire inner sea, yet these two, even with their utmost effort, couldn't even swallow one ten-thousandth of it.

At this snail's pace of cultivation, let alone fighting against the Heavenly Court, they could probably be torn to pieces even by a lowly soldier guarding the South Heavenly Gate.

Very well. If my magical power is insufficient, I'll make up for it with magical treasures and supernatural abilities for now.

When Chen Ye and Fei Lian felt a sharp pain in their meridians, as if they were about to burst, and could no longer contain even a trace of magical power, the majestic voice of the Great Sage Overturning the Seas rang out again, waking them from their cultivation.

"Enough. Now, immediately use your magic to refine your magical treasures again!" His voice carried a hint of impatience. "The treasures of my Dragon Palace are not your mortal world's worth of scrap metal. Before, in your hands, you couldn't even unleash one ten-thousandth of their power; it was a complete waste!"

Chen Ye's heart stirred, and he immediately tried to mobilize the golden magic power that was rampaging in his sea of ​​qi and inject it into the magic robe he had obtained from the Guixu Dragon Palace.

He had already refined this robe, making it change at will and possessing astonishing defensive power. He thought he had mastered its wonders.

However, the moment that wisp of golden magic was injected, it was as if thousands of dragon scales on the originally ordinary blue robe were instantly awakened.

Each piece burst forth with dazzling light, and a terrifying force arose out of nowhere, like an ancient divine mountain pressing down heavily on Chen Ye's shoulder.

"Pfft!"

Caught off guard, he was like a kite with a broken string, slammed down from mid-air by the immense force, carving a deep furrow in the snow.

"Cough cough!" Chen Ye scrambled to his feet, feeling as if his internal organs had been dislocated.

But the next moment, he felt a lightness all over his body, and the immense pressure transformed into a wondrous buoyancy, lifting him slowly into the air. He didn't even need to use any cloud-riding techniques; the robe itself alone granted him the ability to fly.

This... he had never discovered this feature before.

The dragon scale robe, fully activated by the magic power, had changed its appearance. Chen Ye could clearly sense that a layer of faint water vapor was surrounding him, invisible to the naked eye and untouchable by divine sense, yet it formed a barrier a hundred times more resilient than any protective aura.

"You got a good deal, kid." The Great Sage of the Overturning Sea laughed. "This is a treasure made from my shed scales. That protective water curtain will make you feel like you're in the deep sea no matter where you are. Invulnerability to swords and spears is just its most insignificant function."

For the dragon, being in the deep sea at all times is its strongest home ground.

It's truly a powerful tool.

Chen Ye was filled with excitement and took out the halberd that he hadn't used in a long time, intending to replicate it in the same way.

But just as he was about to infuse his magic power, the Great Sage Overturning the Seas roared in his ears, filled with shock and rage:

"stop!"

It's a pity it's too late.

Before Chen Ye could react, a wisp of magical power had already merged into the Fangtian Halberd.

With a deafening roar, the halberd instantly went out of his control.

It grew thicker and longer with incredible speed, like a pillar supporting the sky rising from the earth. The end of the halberd's shaft slammed into the ground hundreds of feet below, triggering a violent earthquake. Several small hills collapsed instantly, and swathes of forest were flattened. And its sharp tip tore through the clouds, piercing straight into the heavens!

"You're courting death!" the Great Sage Overturning the Sea roared. "This is a divine weapon that I forged in imitation of the Ruyi Jingu Bang. You dare to use your meager magical power to refine it? Do you even have the strength to wield it?!"

As he cursed, he extended a dragon claw that blotted out the sky and casually grasped the pillar-like halberd. With a piercing creaking sound, the raging divine weapon slowly shrank, eventually returning to its original size, which he tossed back to him.

"Magic weapons are also divided into different grades," the Great Sage Overturning the Seas warned sternly. "Especially divine weapons, they don't seek transformation, only ultimate destructive power. If you don't have the ability, refining them will only lead to your own death. Wait until you truly become an immortal before you even think about touching them, otherwise you'll be the first one crushed to death!"

Chen Ye carefully put away his halberd, his body drenched in cold sweat, a wave of fear washing over him. The difference between immortals and mortals was indeed an insurmountable chasm; he had ultimately underestimated the significance of these celestial treasures.

After he finished tidying up in a flurry, Fu Hai Da Yun Xing turned his gaze to Fei Lian.

A dazzling light shot into the sky from the waist of the Demon Lord Feilian. The jade belt that had previously seemed unremarkable was now radiating a warm yet powerful life force.

The Great Sage Who Overturns the Seas glanced at it and revealed a playful smile: "Hehe, you mortal are quite lucky. You actually picked out this treasure from my treasury."

Feilian was overjoyed and quickly bowed, asking, "Please enlighten me, Great Sage!"

The Great Sage Who Overturns the Seas said calmly, "This jade belt has an extraordinary origin. I took it from the body of the Antarctic Immortal when I killed him. Wearing this treasure can grant immortality."

"Eternal life...immortality?!"

Demon Lord Feilian froze completely. His mind went blank, as if he hadn't understood the meaning of those four words, and he subconsciously repeated, "Immortality...is...it's true...immortality?!"

“Of course.” The Great Sage of the Overturning Sea nodded, his tone as calm as if he were talking about a trivial matter. “Immune to all diseases and endless lifespan. For you mortals, this is all it takes to ascend to heaven in one step.”

The body of the Demon Lord Feilian began to tremble violently and uncontrollably.

Immortality...

After hundreds of years of arduous cultivation, countless life-and-death tribulations, and the ultimate dream that countless predecessors had sought for their entire lives but could not attain, I have finally achieved it.
All you need to do is wear this jade belt?!
He recalled the scene when he obtained this item from the Guixu Treasure Chest. He thought it was just a protective magic treasure with decent defensive capabilities. Who would have thought that it would be a shortcut to immortality?

Absurdity and ecstasy overwhelmed him instantly, almost making him burst into laughter.

"Why so excited?" The Great Sage of the Overturning Seas interrupted his elation, his voice tinged with contempt. "This thing is utterly useless in battle. I'll get you a new one..."

"Don't change!"

Before the Great Sage of Overturning the Sea could finish speaking, the Demon Lord Feilian blurted out.

The Great Sage Who Overturns the Seas sneered: "Heh, no matter how long your life is, you still have to be alive to live."

Fei Lian naturally understood this principle. Even with an endless lifespan, one cannot withstand a killing blow that can obliterate your soul and spirit.

But, I won't change it! Absolutely not!
The Great Sage Who Overturns the Seas ignored him and turned to look at Chen Ye, pondering, "You are still lacking a suitable weapon, but unfortunately I don't have one that you can use at the moment."

These words immediately made Fei Lian feel a pang of jealousy.

This is a blatant double standard. His own treasures are "replaced," but when they come to Chen Ye, they are "given away" willingly. Even the halberd that Chen Ye can no longer use is carefully kept for him. This is simply too much.

But the Demon Lord Feilian dared not show it on his face, and could only suppress this resentment deep in his heart.

He knew that these treasures originally belonged to others, and that not taking them back was already a great favor. He had no right to interfere.
However, Chen Ye completely failed to notice these details, and was even less aware of the almost overflowing jealousy emanating from the Demon Lord Fei Lian.

His entire being was stunned by another sentence from the Great Sage Who Overturned the Sea.

Did that jade belt belong to the Antarctic Immortal?

The Great Sage Who Overturned the Seas killed the Antarctic Immortal?!

The old deity in mythology, always smiling and representing the "longevity" of "fortune, prosperity, and longevity"—almost a symbol of good fortune—was killed by him?!

This was the first time Chen Ye had heard of the fall of immortals and gods. He didn't know who was on whose side in that great battle, or how it could have been so fierce that heaven and earth were shattered.

The Great Sage Who Overturns the Seas didn't bother to explain and ordered, "From today onwards, you two can focus on cultivating this water control technique. Learn as much as you can."

Chen Ye hurriedly asked, "What about the inheritance array's search for Youluozi's lingering remnant spirit?"

"Didn't you say that it would take eighteen people to act at the same time? You can do it when you're ready. It's just a trial for mortals. Once you become an immortal, these things will be nothing."

(End of this chapter)