Shrouding the Heavens: The Ultimate Daoist Venerable

Chapter 230 Differentiation
Two flowers bloom, one branch each.

In the endless void, a wondrous immortal land, even more vast than before and shrouded in celestial energy, quietly arrived beside the Heavenly Illusionary Realm. This immortal land was none other than the Immortal Mausoleum, transformed into a blessed land for earth immortals. At this moment, the path to immortality was just about to begin.

Originally, the Immortal Mausoleum consisted of countless hills and ancient steles, resembling a collection of ancient tombs pieced together—a unique and wondrous place where immortal energy and yin energy coexisted. Now, after the Celestial Venerable of Longevity transformed it into a blessed land for earthly immortals, the Immortal Mausoleum has become increasingly vast. These hills, which were not particularly tall originally, have gradually begun to transform into majestic immortal mountains, resembling a fairyland on earth.

Within these hills, spaces resembling natural tombs began to expand and change, showing signs of becoming miniature worlds. The ancient steles that had originally stood outside the hills were no longer visible, but instead began to merge into the interiors of the hills, further supporting the expansion of these miniature worlds.

The most central immortal tomb in the Immortal Mausoleum is the heart of this blessed land of immortals. The burial chamber within is no longer hidden inside, but has moved to the surface and is connected to the Hall of Longevity.

Since the Eternal Celestial Venerable, at the fourth stage of Earth Immortal, had not yet reconstructed his physical form, he could only temporarily condense a body using Dao traces of laws and immortal energy. Therefore, although his strength was at the quasi-Heavenly Emperor level, he could not fully unleash it. Just in case, Liang Yu temporarily lent him the Boundless Dao Stele. That way, relying on the powerful strength and cultivation of a quasi-Heavenly Emperor, even if the Eternal Celestial Venerable only activated the Boundless Dao Stele, it would be enough to suppress and kill a Supreme Being.

The Celestial Venerable of Longevity held the Boundless Dao Tablet in his hand, looking at it back and forth. He clicked his tongue in amazement and said, "I never thought that Boundless could create such a strange creature as you. How come Wuji can always find some strange things and explore some strange routes?"

Although the Celestial Venerable of Longevity was unaware that the Boundless Dao Stele intended to transform into human form to explore new directions, he still discerned its extraordinary nature from its unusual spirituality and wisdom. Moreover, the Boundless Dao Stele had genuinely evolved into a celestial artifact, and this was despite the fact that its master was completely dead.

Faced with this venerable elder who was on par with his master and creator, the Boundless Heavenly Venerable, and who had been born countless millennia earlier, the Boundless Dao Stele, who considered himself a successor of the Boundless Heavenly Venerable, naturally felt that his seniority was inferior. Moreover, the current Eternal Heavenly Venerable was no longer the self-severing Supreme of the past; he had embarked on an alternative path to immortality.

Although it was foreseeable that the Eternal Celestial Venerable's progress would be extremely slow due to his bond with the Great Universe, he had nonetheless truly embarked on the path to immortality. While the Eternal Celestial Venerable had not yet achieved immortality, he was at least equivalent to an enhanced immortal artifact, far stronger than his ordinary immortal artifact. Therefore, the Boundless Dao Stele still held him in high regard.

The Boundless Dao Stele said, "Senior Changsheng, we have arrived at the Heavenly Illusion Mirage Realm. Should we attack directly or try diplomacy first?"

The Celestial Mirage is indeed a special place. Although not a wondrous place, it is still quite unique. Countless illusions constantly arise around the Celestial Mirage, changing endlessly. Throughout history, countless cultivators have seen the people and things they desired within it, thus venturing forth to explore.

Those who are lucky will gain nothing and be unable to get close; those who are unlucky will be drawn into it, lose themselves in countless illusions, and ultimately die.

The Celestial Venerable of Longevity gazed at the swirling aura of the Heavenly Illusionary Mirage and detected five Supreme auras. Clearly, the Supremes within this forbidden zone hadn't been recruited by the Celestial Venerable of Freedom, and therefore weren't entirely certain whether to embark on this path to immortality. So they were still observing. However, after the auras of Liang Yu and the other four were revealed, even the Supremes among them couldn't remain still and began to fight with all their might.

But they quickly stopped. This was because the Celestial Venerable of Longevity no longer concealed himself and instead released his aura.

"You are... the Celestial Venerable of Immortality? Didn't you already sever your own life? How can you still possess such a powerful aura? No, this is... you've merged with the Immortal Tomb?"

"This is truly an unconventional method of achieving immortality; no wonder he is called the Celestial Venerable of Immortality."

"However, he's almost completely connected to this vast universe, so I'm afraid he'll never be able to go to the Immortal Realm again." "Is it impossible to have both immortality and becoming an immortal?"

The state of the Eternal Celestial Venerable left the five Supreme Beings in disbelief. However, as former Dao Provers themselves, they quickly grasped the fact that the Eternal Celestial Venerable was almost entirely integrated with the universe, virtually inseparable from it. Thus, they too were filled with curiosity. But the situation was urgent, and they had no time to waste.

The Lord of the Mirage asked, "Fellow Daoist Changsheng, what brings you here? We are on our way to embark on the path to immortality and are afraid we have no time to reminisce with you."

The Celestial Venerable of Immortality laughed and said, "You also sensed those five auras. What do you think of their strength?"

The Lord of the Mirage Realm was silent for a moment, then said, "Far superior to us."

The Celestial Venerable of Immortality said, "Then I must tell you, all five of them feel that the path to immortality is impassable. Therefore, it is a dead end. I have come here to show you a new path."

Upon hearing this, the five supreme beings were immediately shocked. If the Supreme Heavenly Venerable of Limitless, the Supreme Heavenly Venerable of Morality, the Supreme Heavenly Venerable of Spiritual Treasure, the Venerable of the Underworld, and the Supreme Heavenly Venerable of Primordial Beginning jointly certified that this path to immortality was hopeless, then it was indeed a death sentence.

A supreme being asked, "I wonder what new path Fellow Daoist Changsheng speaks of?"

The Celestial Venerable of Immortality smiled slightly, but his voice turned cold and stern: "Let's talk about how to get you to join us first. Three of you five have instigated the Dark Rebellion, so those three must die. As for the remaining two, if you join us now and help me kill the other three, I, the Celestial Venerable of Immortality, guarantee that you can embark on the path to immortality. As for the details, I will tell you after you have killed those three."

Of these five supreme beings, three exude a bloodthirsty aura, bearing deep sins of slaughter; they were people the previous rulers had chosen to eliminate. The other two are merely slumbering here, not yet prolonging their lives by cannibalism. Therefore, to prepare enough whetstones for the outstanding candidates from the Primordial Era, these individuals still need to be courted.

Upon hearing this, the five supreme beings immediately split into two distinct groups. The Lord of the Mirage Realm said, "Fellow Daoists, we have sealed this place together for countless millennia. Are you really going to listen to an outsider and become our enemy?"

The two supreme beings remained silent for a long while, seemingly hesitant. Although the five incredibly powerful auras had convinced them of the Eternal Life Celestial Venerable's words, they still had reservations. After all, the Eternal Life Celestial Venerable clearly wanted them to make a move against the other three to gain their loyalty before he would accept them as his followers.

Putting aside their shared bond, what if the Celestial Venerable of Immortality deliberately sowed discord to eliminate them all? That way, once they were both severely weakened, he could easily take over everyone in this forbidden zone.

Even if the Eternal Celestial Venerable meant no harm, if they were to fight, the other three Supreme Beings, having nowhere else to turn, would certainly take desperate measures and strive for ultimate sublimation. Then they would be dragged down together by the combined attacks of these betrayed Supreme Beings.

It can be said that although the words of the Celestial Venerable of Immortality were very tempting, the risks they faced were too great.

(End of this chapter)