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

Chapter 477 Receiving the Immortal Fate

On the snow-capped mountain, the Great Sage Overturning the Seas still coiled his dragon body, which was as large as a mountain. Only occasionally would his golden eyes sweep over the group of mortals below who were cultivating like ants.

After the announcement of the "ten-day deadline," a heavy weight was placed on the hearts of every cultivator.

The Dragon Pool still contains supreme magical power, which is like fine wine to cultivators.

But most people remained like lotus leaves, letting the magical water vapor pass by them, unable to absorb even a trace of it into themselves.

An overwhelming anxiety surged into their hearts, to the point that several cultivators nearly went mad with their inner demons.

Meanwhile, Chen Ye secretly led the disciples of the Yellow Springs Sect to another place.

They euphemistically say: choosing a feng shui treasure land and utilizing the earth's veins might make cultivation smoother.

These words were like a wake-up call. The Yunlu Immortal Sect and Tianxin Island began to seek out other auspicious locations to set up formations and resume their cultivation.

But in reality, this was just Chen Ye's excuse.

Chen Ye led the disciples of the Yellow Springs Sect toward a mountain valley surrounded by glaciers in the distance.

"Sect Master, the wind and snow here are particularly fierce, and the spiritual energy is far less abundant than that by the Dragon Pool. Why choose this place?" Pang Duoduo asked, puzzled.

As she asked, she took out several array flags from her storage bag and carefully inserted them into the depths of the ice layer, following Chen Ye's instructions. She muttered to herself, "This feng shui doesn't look like some kind of blessed land."

Chen Ye smiled and said, "What I want is to isolate myself from the Dragon Pool. This formation doesn't need to be too powerful; it just needs to be able to block our sights and hear us and keep us from making any noise."

The group moved with lightning speed, and in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a seemingly simple yet ingenious isolation formation was set up. From the outside, it was just an ordinary snow slope, and no one would have guessed that it contained a hidden world inside.

Once the formation was fully activated, Chen Ye took a deep breath, his expression becoming extremely solemn.

"Please, Your Majesty, appear."

As Chen Ye called out, a dark figure appeared out of thin air in front of the three of them.

The man wore a rugged deer antler hat and a rough animal skin cloak, with half his face obscured by shadow.

The moment he appeared, an aura of domineering power spread out, causing Pang Duoduo and Mo Suixin to change color and instinctively summon their respective magical treasures as if facing a formidable enemy.

"The Demon Lord Feilian?!" Mo Suixin exclaimed in shock.

Even with her usual composure, she was utterly shocked by this sudden turn of events. The person before her was none other than the undisputed number one figure in the demonic path, the only genuine Dao Integration Realm cultivator in the world!
Although everyone knows that Chen Ye and Fei Lian had an agreement not to invade each other for a hundred years.

However, upon seeing the appearance of this number one figure in the demonic path, everyone still appeared quite nervous.

Only Qu Heng and Chen Ye were truly able to remain calm.

Chen Ye quickly raised his hand to reassure everyone, "Please calm down. The Lord is now... one of our own. He will help us cultivate and integrate that magic power into our bodies as soon as possible."

Feilian Demon Lord merely snorted coldly. He didn't even bother to lift his eyelids at such a trivial matter, and impatiently urged, "Boy, hurry up! I don't have that much free time."

Chen Ye stopped wasting words and turned to Fei Lian Demon Lord, extending his hand and saying simply, "Lord, may I borrow your treasure?"

The Demon Lord Feilian's face twitched, and he squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "If you damage my treasure, I will fight you to the death!"

After saying that, he reluctantly took off the seemingly ordinary jade belt from his waist and threw it to Chen Ye.

Chen Ye took the jade belt and felt its smooth, warm texture, as if it contained an extremely vigorous life force.

This feeling is like smelling the aroma of ginseng fruit for the first time.

Chen Ye turned and handed the jade belt to Qu Heng, saying respectfully, "Grandmaster, please try it yourself."

Qu Heng seemed to have known Chen Ye's arrangements all along, so he put the belt on himself without hesitation, and then his expression changed instantly.

"Truly the greatest treasure in the world!"

Qu Heng's cultivation level was already at the Returning to the Void Realm, but he had cultivated for hundreds of years and had consumed a lot of his lifespan. The moment the belt was tied, he clearly felt as if he had returned to the time when he was just born, with his body containing vigorous vitality.

It turns out that such a magical treasure truly exists in this world, a treasure that can allow ordinary people to ascend to heaven in one step.

After a moment of reflection, Qu Heng took out a small box and, in full view of everyone, took out the Time Arrow inside.

As the arrow of time pierced his body, it seemed as if the years had flowed by in Qu Heng's eyes.

After a moment, Qu Heng took a deep breath.

Chen Ye could sense that this breath was not only filled with the icy air of the snow mountain, but also contained the magical power emanating from the Great Sage Overturning the Sea.

Qu Heng opened his eyes and said to Chen Ye, "It's done. Just as you thought, this belt has offset the loss of my lifespan."

Chen Ye comforted him, saying, "Grandmaster, don't be so happy yet. Let's talk about it after the belt is taken off."

In Chen Ye's plan, wearing the belt and using the Time Arrow would prevent him from dying of old age. But the question is, once the belt is removed, will the lifespan that was previously offset be restored?
This is also why Chen Ye insisted on letting Qu Heng try it first.

Qu Heng's cultivation level was high enough, and his talent was also extremely high, so he only needed a Time Arrow, and ten years was enough time for him to comprehend this technique of absorbing magical power.

Even if the belt is loosened, lifespan will be deducted again, which will not have much impact on Qu Heng.

But if that's the case, Chen Ye's wishful thinking will fall through, since he only has one belt, and he will never let go of it unless he kills the Demon Lord Feilian.

Chen Ye watched nervously as Qu Heng unbuckled his belt, then heard Qu Heng let out a muffled groan. Chen Ye's heart sank. Did this shortcut not work?

Chen Ye hurriedly asked, "Grandmaster, could it be that the Arrow of Time has started working again?"

Qu Heng shook his head and said, "No, my lifespan has not been consumed. It's just that after I took off my belt, the feeling of vitality disappeared, and I feel a little uncomfortable."

Chen Ye finally breathed a sigh of relief and then smiled.

The plan has succeeded!

Chen Ye laughed loudly, and then said to everyone, "The Great Sage of Overturning the Sea only gave us ten days. Originally, the chances were slim, but I thought of a way to take a shortcut."

Chen Ye held up the belt and explained, "This is the 'Longevity Belt,' a treasure left behind by ancient immortals. As long as you wear it, you will have endless lifespan and live forever."

"Immortality?!"

The crowd gasped in astonishment, their eyes fixed on the jade belt as if they were witnessing the most incredible divine object.

What do cultivators in the world seek? Immortality. All they need to do is wear this belt.

What are those hundreds of years of arduous practice compared to that?
Everyone was incredulous, but Chen Ye could understand. After all, such a method of instant advancement was too frightening, and no one could accept it.

But that was the truth, and Chen Ye didn't have time to let them digest the news. He continued to explain, "You already know the effects of the Time Arrow. What I mean is that you wear this Longevity Belt and then use the Time Arrow to cultivate. Ten days can become ten years, or even a hundred years. No matter how dull your aptitude is, you can integrate the magic power into yourself."

Mo Suixin's eyes widened, and she couldn't help but say to Chen Ye, "Sect Master, such a heaven-defying act is probably..."

Mo Suixin thought that doing this would probably incur divine punishment, since it was blatant cheating. There was no shortcut in the world. If the Longevity Belt and the Time Arrow were inexhaustible, wouldn't one be able to cultivate to the Dao Integration Realm and ascend to immortality in a single day?
The others shared similar thoughts; the idea of ​​ascending to immortality in a single day was simply too terrifying. Chen Ye, however, said, "In ancient times, becoming an immortal was just that simple. Of course, I know you all have concerns. Fortunately, the number of Time Arrows is limited, so I won't insist."

Although I felt that Chen Ye's words were not very convincing, Chen Ye's character was the most convincing reason.

Everyone in the Yellow Springs Sect believed in him unconditionally.

No one questioned Chen Ye's judgment, and naturally no one withdrew.

The question now is... who goes first?

There aren't many Time Arrows available, and those who are at the back of the queue may not necessarily have a chance to rise to the top in one step.

Chen Ye had already made arrangements and said to everyone, "I think we should proceed according to the order of entry, first come, first served. If there are still people who haven't had their turn when the Time Arrow runs out, then it's fate and no one can blame them."

Chen Ye knew that even if only the disciples of the Yellow Springs Sect were considered, the remaining Time Arrows might not be enough for everyone to enter the sect.

Leaving aside others, everyone knows that the three brothers, Fu, Lu, and Shou, are of poor aptitude. It would take an unknown amount of time to get them to comprehend magical power.

Logically, he should have given this precious opportunity to core disciples like Pang Duoduo, Mo Suixin, and his own eldest disciple Fang Hao, who possess both talent and cultivation.

Only in this way can the effectiveness of resources be maximized.

But Chen Ye quickly changed his mind and put such a plan out of his mind.

Before the path to immortality, all beings are equal. Before the Great Dao of Immortality, any calculation driven by self-interest appears ruthless.

If we exclude the three men of fortune, prosperity, and longevity because of their difference in qualifications, then should we disregard human feelings and only consider interests if we have other schemes in the future?
Instead of racking your brains, it's better to entrust your fate to destiny.

Even if Fu Lu Shou's aptitude was poor, they were still his brothers who had followed him the earliest. If they truly exhausted all their Time Arrows, then it would simply be that the Yellow Springs Sect's fate with this immortal destiny had not yet arrived.

The moment he made his decision, Chen Ye's gaze subconsciously swept over his eldest disciple, Fang Hao, and then glanced at Pang Duoduo. Within the Yellow Springs Sect, in terms of talent and cultivation level, these two were among the top, but in terms of the time they had entered the sect, they were quite far behind.

His only worry was that the two of them would feel resentful.

However, before Chen Ye could speak, the three men, Fu Lu Shou, who were supposed to be the first to step forward, stood up in unison.

Chang Shou was the first to make a bitter face. He rubbed his hands and chuckled dryly, "Sect Master, didn't you say you wouldn't force me? I... my two brothers and I are timid and afraid of incurring divine punishment. This... this kind of immortal opportunity is probably beyond our blessings."

Hou Lu quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, Sect Master, you've forgotten. My physique is only at the Qi Condensation Realm. If a bolt of heavenly lightning really strikes, I'll be reduced to ashes on the spot. I can't withstand it, I can't withstand it."

Finally, Lü Fusheng bowed respectfully, his face solemn: "We appreciate the Sect Master's kindness. However, we are unworthy of such a heaven-defying act, as our cultivation is shallow and our virtue is lacking. Please forgive us, Sect Master!"

Looking at these three faces filled with fear and hesitation, Chen Ye felt a clear understanding.

They weren't afraid of divine retribution at all; they were clearly giving up this incredible opportunity to others.

When it comes to a sense of belonging to the Yellow Springs Sect, perhaps only Chen Ye himself and these three earliest independent cultivators could be considered the most loyal. Their bond was even stronger than that of Qu Heng, the patriarch who was always ready to ascend and escape.

From the moment they met until now, the three brothers seem to have always been taking advantage of the sect, never making any significant contributions.

It's not that they are unwilling, but rather that they are limited by their inherent nature, which cannot be changed by human effort.

Now, Chen Ye, remembering their past relationship, is offering them a chance to rise to the top – this is an act of kindness. But if they simply accept it without a second thought, they would be ungrateful.

There is great terror between life and death, but their lives were saved by Chen Ye and extended by the elixirs of the Yellow Springs Sect.

We can't be greedy anymore.

For a moment, the room fell silent.

Of all those present, who was truly foolish? Who couldn't see through the three men's intentions?

No one expected that these three unremarkable people would have such a noble and virtuous side.

To be able to place "righteousness" before "profit" in the face of the path to immortality is a virtue worthy of everyone's respect.

The three withdrew, and next in turn was Li Fan, the most inconspicuous disciple of the Yellow Springs Sect.

Speaking of which, this person also came from the Hundred Seas Valley as a rogue cultivator. His skill in cultivating spiritual plants was unmatched in the sect, and his own talent was also quite good. He had just broken through to the Profound Realm not long ago.

He was a low-key person and spent most of his time tending to the Blood Bodhi Trees deep in the Green Coffin Mountain, responsible for eliminating the deadly poisonous energy emanating from the corpse of Demon Lord Wujiu. As a result, many disciples almost forgot about his existence.

But Chen Ye did not forget.

Such a fortunate encounter could not have been possible without this unsung hero.

Li Fan had an ordinary appearance and dark skin, looking just like a farmer's son. Now, under the spotlight, he appeared uneasy, unsure of what to do with his hands and feet.

He met Chen Ye's gaze, his lips trembling as if he wanted to decline, "Sect Master, I...I'm afraid too..."

"What are you afraid of!" Chen Ye glared at him and tossed the longevity belt over. "Catch it!"

Li Fan instinctively caught it with both hands, the heavy immortal destiny in his hands making him even more nervous.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, he shakily fastened his belt, then took a Time Arrow from Chen Ye's hand, gritted his teeth, and resolutely plunged it into his own chest.

Time flies, and years pass quickly.

Li Fan's appearance remained unchanged, but when he opened his eyes again, his face was filled with guilt.

"Sect Master, I...I'm afraid I'm not fortunate enough to enjoy this divine opportunity."

Ten years passed in the blink of an eye, and he still hadn't grasped the method of absorbing magical power. Li Fan felt deeply guilty, having wasted the sect's most precious treasure and diminished the chances of his fellow disciples becoming immortals.

Chen Ye had anticipated this; it wouldn't be so easy to achieve everything at once.

Ignoring Li Fan's self-blame, he picked up another Time Arrow, flicked it with his finger, and the Time Arrow transformed into a stream of light, precisely piercing into Li Fan's body.

"Calm down and focus! The more you let your mind wander, the less progress you'll make!"

Chen Ye's voice boomed in Li Fan's mind like a great bell.

"You disregarded your own life to quell the plague for the sake of all living beings; this is a great merit. This destiny to become an immortal should rightfully be yours. As disciples of the Yellow Springs Sect, we should be rewarded for our good deeds; this is the principle of cause and effect!"

The moment the words fell, the Arrow of Time took effect again, and Li Fan's body trembled violently, falling into a daze.

He slowly closed his eyes, and this time, there were no more distracting thoughts.

A moment later, everyone saw Li Fan take a deep breath, a movement remarkably similar to Qu Heng's back then.

Amidst the pervasive magical power, he finally caught a wisp, drew it in, and it slowly merged into his body.

Chen Ye laughed and said, "Good, good deeds are indeed rewarded. Today is the day when my Yellow Springs Sect receives the opportunity to become an immortal!"

(End of this chapter)